Once upon a time, I fell in love with a boy.A beautiful, broken boy who had his own world of struggles. People warned me against our love, but I didn’t listen.We looked weak. Young, foolish. Dangerously in love. We didn’t care.In order to keep our hearts protected from the opinions of others, we became each other’s secret. We shared stolen moments. Tender touches. Secretive embraces.It was our … Tender touches. Secretive embraces.
It was our twisted love story, and it worked for us up until our lives changed forever.
The boy I loved became Hollywood’s newest golden boy.
His career blossomed as mine stalled.
He found massive success as I discovered multiple failures.
He made something of himself, while my dreams never came true.
We moved into different realms where our pieces no longer fit together.
In the fairy tales, love conquered all.
In reality, love was the main reason empires began to fall.
I always knew Landon belonged in my story.
He was my beginning, middle, and end.
The only problem? I wasn’t certain I still belonged in his.
Book Two of the Landon & Shay Duet.
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Overall Grade:
It’s no surprise that Brittainy C. Cherry holds a crown as a queen of angst. Like many of her fellow romance authors, she uses her words well to rip out your heart, holding it in her hand until the end of her book where she brings you the sweetest of releases from the pain she’s inflicted. She’s done this again with the second of her Landon & Shay duet.
The story is a continuation of the duet where we were left with our teen lovebirds, Landon and Shay, distance from each other in opposite areas of the U.S. Through notebook pages, the two stay connected, at least for a time. These two struggle to maintain their love, but, as Cherry does well, this can’t be maintained for long, and these two break. Eventually, they find their way back to each other but resentments and hurts stifle their love, and Cherry makes us guess until the last page if they will find their happily-ever-after.
I love an angsty tale with a deep abiding love between the H and h. At times, I think I’m an emotional masochist. Up to a point. Cherry has written an epic love story for Landon and Shay. She walks us carefully through the heights of their love for each other, but she takes us deep into its pain. It’s in this pain that I struggled with this book. Cherry gives us everything of Landon and Shay, and at times, I found myself needing a break from their story. I know that’s good storytelling, when your reader struggles to suspend his/her disbelief. This is the strength of this book. Yet, I think I would have liked for the story to spend more time after their reconciliation. I want to know more about their happy ending because they have suffered to be together. That’s the part missing in this book.
Cherry has done a brilliant job of creating the chemistry and depth of feeling between Landon and Shay. That’s the other strength of her book. They’re believable together that, as a reader, you are drawn into their story easily. Sometimes, it’s too easy. However, even though I shouldn’t compare, I felt more drawn to Eleanor and Grey’s relationship in their book. I’d like to say that I understand why, but I don’t because I was dying for Landon and Shay’s roman given her disdain for him in Eleanor & Grey.
In the end, I recommend this book and its predecessor. As I’ve stated in this review, Brittainy C. Cherry draws you in easily with her storytelling. She makes you believe in a deep abiding love, one that transcends the difficulties of the relationship. Landon’s character is a keen complex character study of someone living with mental illness and the challenges that befall him as he tries to give his heart to someone else, and Shay’s character illustrates for us the struggles with missed dreams and broken hearts. In the end, Cherry’s Landon & Shay Part 2 breeds hope in happily-ever-afters, hope in giving your shattered heart over to the one who will protect it even after it’s been broken.
*4,5 stars*
This is the second part of Landon & Shay’s story and an end you really don’t want to miss out on. So many things in this story just got to me as many emotions Landon was feeling and going through, not only me but a lot of people have dealt with in life. You can’t help but feel those emotions going through you when reading this book. Sometimes you just hope there’s a little light at the end of the tunnel of darkness you are in… A duet series that you definitely need to read!
Landon and Shay are trying the best they can to get through life but sometimes the path you are on leads you away from the one thing you want most. When tragedy happens, Landon will take a decision that will change their future forever… Years later, after he’s become one of the most succesful actors out there, Landon comes back to town for his best friend’s party and will try to make amends with the one girl that he never stopped loving but Shay will have none of it. Even though Shay still cares so much for the boy who broke her heart, him being back is not enough to let him back into her life. But somehow they gravitate back to each other and although Landon’s slowly breaking down Shay’s walls, it won’t be easy to make her see that he’s not the boy he used to be. With everything going on around them and the fame surrounding Landon, they’ll both have to decide whether or not their love is still worth fighting for…
This is the second half of this couple’s love story and it is no less powerful than the first. My first-half review stated that usually, Ms. Cherry likes to slay her readers in just one part, and it was definitely a torture test to wait for the second half. She’s fantastic at real, angsty, messy love stories.
There’s so much depth to these characters, their situations and their lives. It’s not always easy to follow them around – especially when they start to make terrible decisions – but this duet is just so wonderfully done. We get to see Landon and Shay together, apart, together, apart, their magnetic attraction and need for one another hard at work. It’s beautiful and painful and just so good.
Recommend, all day every day!
When I sat down to write this review, I was at a loss for words. Brittainy C. Cherry brings angst to a whole other level, and she writes words so brilliantly it makes giving her reviews justice difficult.
With that said, I am going to keep this short and sweet. If you’ve read Brittainy C. Cherry then you already know, YOU KNOW, that this book is going to break you down, make you cry, and then epically put you back together. If you’ve never read her, then I implore you to start now. I promise it will be the best ugly cry you never knew you wanted.
“You are the first woman-the only woman-who’d ever awakened every sleeping part of me. You were a defining moment of my life.”
Part One is one of my favorite reads of the year, and I absolutely fell in love with the beautiful and broken characters Landon and Shay. My expectations for this book were sky-high. I couldn’t wait to see how their story would develop after the ending of part one. It was obvious that Landon and Shay were made for each other, and just needed to find their ways back. I was kind of nervous to see how they lost contact. I think the author handled it really great. I think the decisions made were the right ones for the circumstances they were in. They both had to come into their own and discover themselves further. I loved seeing how Landon grew up to be a big Hollywood star. But my heart kind of broke for Shay, because I wanted to see her achieve her dreams as well. They both went through a transformation, but they weren’t complete with each other.
“My heart doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to. I’m afraid of loving you, because that means I can lose you again, Landon, and that terrifies me.”
The reunion between them wasn’t as magical as I would’ve wanted it to be. Part one of this duet made me feel so many things, but with this book it was less. The break up in my opinion happened too late into the story, and the steps towards their second-chance felt rushed. Especially in the last part of the book too much happened in a very short amount of time. I couldn’t keep up, and I just wanted to see them grow as a couple instead of them still trying to find their way back to each other. Regardless of all of that, I still really enjoyed this book and loved seeing Landon and Shay overcome their struggles and heal themselves and each other. But it just didn’t impact and make me feel as strongly as part one did. I think readers who have read and loved part one will enjoy this book as well. It was also nice to see what all the side-characters were up to. Furthermore, I absolutely loved the epilogue and it really made me wish there was another book featuring this beautiful couple.
„Sé valiente. Sé fuerte. Sé amable. Y quédate.
Be brave. Be strong. Be kind. And stay.”
I was waiting on the edge of the seat for the continuation of Landon and Shay’s story. These two captured my heart in the first part of the duet and I was looking forward to their happily ever after. And I finally got it, but first, completely in her style, Brittainy C. Cherry pulled my heart through the emotional grinder, broke it and caused tears, then slowly began to glue the broken pieces together.
I adore Landon. This guy is the greatest warrior. Not only is he struggling with serious problems on a daily basis, but he also fought with determination to regain the best thing in his life – Shay’s love. In addition, he doesn’t allow to be completely absorbed by his problem, he does the opposite – he tries to help others. After years, we still get glimpses of his cocky personality, but what gets me most is his tenderness. I loved him the most when he showed his caring and loving side.
Shay is a warrior on her own. Despite the pain and disappointment, she matured into a strong woman. I liked the fact that despite everything that happened to her, she still wanted the best for everyone and that she didn’t become bitter.
No matter how much time passes and what happens in the meantime, Landon and Shay share an incredibly intense and overwhelming feeling. These two, like a pair of magnets, pull together whenever they are near each other. The chemistry is sizzling, the passion unrestrained and the love ever present. However, the heart needs time to heal, and trust to revive, and Brittainy C. Cherry beautifully showed the path Landon and Shay took to achieve it.
This is a beautiful story about overcoming obstacles, finding yourself and healing. It’s also a unique love story that raises faith in happy endings. Brittainy C. Cherry with her flawless writing once again gave me an unique and heartbreakingly beautiful tale that I will never forget. Highly recommend.
After Landon and Shay part one I was dying to get some some answers in this book! The emotions that both of these books evoked were amazing! I didn’t know whether I was coming or going! All I wanted was for them to get their much deserved HEA!
Neither character was perfect, both had their flaws and were broken in their own unique ways and it just made me love them even more! I loved seeing them grow throughout the books.
Outstanding.
How is my heart this morning? Well it is full – even though it has been broken multiple times whilst reading Landon and Shay’s story.
In the second part of this duet we see Landon trying to fight his demons and overcome his difficulties to be the person that he believes Shay deserves. Landon is broken and complex, and in his young life he has had to deal with situations and feelings that no one should ever experience. I desperately wanted him to be strong and to keep fighting. I would like to applaud the author for her portrayal of depression throughout both books, and also for how she showed us just how others people’s actions can affect a person. I’ve read some tough scenes over the two books that had me reaching for my tissues at times.
Shay continued to be the person I admired in book one. Her personality is incredible and she never stopped caring and being there for others, even when she was having a tough time herself. She is a beacon of light in other people’s dark times and is someone you would always want to have in your close circle of friends.
I love the connection that Landon and Shay have. I sadly lost my own personal connection with the story at times and found that it took me a little time to become absorbed in the story in the very beginning, but when it was there, I was fully engaged and feeling every emotion.
I’ve been thinking about this story since I finished it a few hours ago, recalling Landon and Shay’s journey. I have loved being on this emotional roller coaster and witnessing the twists and turns along the way. The whole story is incredible and is filled with both heart-breaking and heart-warming moments and I adored this. Although there have been tears, there is plenty to laugh and smile about throughout the books too.
I would recommend this story to you without a second thought. There are lessons to be learned throughout and if I was to only take one thing away from this story it would be to choose to be brave over being afraid. You just never know the reward that being brave may bring!
To say I couldn’t wait for the conclusion of Landon and Shay’s story would be an understatement. At the end of the first book I had many questions and was eagerly anticipating how everything would turn out. I desperately needed Landon and Shay’s reunion and their deserving HEA.
“When you find you, come back to me.”
No matter what or how ever long it takes, Shay will wait. After everything she and Landon shared, there’s still so much of their story to be written. And considering all the circumstances, Shay grew and blossomed through pain and mistakes. I loved her strength and loyalty and just wanted her to be happy.
“One day, I’m going to come back to you, and we’re going to live happily ever after, Shay.”
Landon Harrison completely and utterly owns my heart and soul. There were countless times where my heart ached and was torn at everything Landon was going through. He’s an absolute warrior—battling his way through the darkness. It’s taken time, and even though there are still some of those days—his light is so luminous and uplifting.
Landon and Shay have been through so much, both together and apart. They’ve also learned so much about themselves in that time. Landon and Shay were inevitable and there’s no question they were meant to be right from the beginning. Two souls destined to be together—soulmates. Landon and Shay’s love was so beautiful and timeless. A love like theirs no matter the breaks and scars it’ll leave will ultimately survive in the end because it is that strong. Satan and his Chick will forever and always hold a very special place in my heart.
“You’re my story. You’re my final page. You’re my final word.”
Ms. Cherry does exceptional at showing how tough mental issues can be and how they affect the people around us. Not only the struggle with them ourselves or with a loved one, Ms. Cherry took the issue and did a phenomenal job.
Landon & Shay: Part Two was a beautiful ending to Landon and Shay’s story. Their story is everything beautiful and emotional. I’ve loved every word and savored this journey with these characters. I loved this book, the perfect ending to the L&S Duet—simply breathtaking.
DEFINITELY RECOMMEND
Brittainy is known for softest approaches to the matters of the heart. Her words are silent tip-toes that gently meander in and echo for a long time. You can’t remain unaffected when she takes you deep into her sensitive stories about broken characters. She makes them suffer, she makes them stumble, they fall down, shatter into a million pieces and all this I saw through misty eyed awe, when by the end she skillfully collects the pieces and gives us hope.
“First loves were different. You never saw the flames coming before it was too late, and you were left scorched. I didn’t believe you ever fell out of your first love. You simply allowed it to live in a small corner of your heart, taking up prime real estate of your soul.”
What a beautiful couple Landon & Shay are. I’ve watched them since they were high Schoolers, going through adolescence, confused and directionless. Both coming from empty homes, their fear of abandonment ran deep and they both hunkered down their emotions and wore masks for survival.
Sensitive Shay Gable was yang to Landon Harrison’s Yin.
Only deep depression, anxiety and guilt created an unsurmountable wall between them and they were both too young to crawl out of their mind maze.
“He was my weakness, my kryptonite, my gated cage. While I lifted him up, he weighed me down. It confused me how love could feel so much like a war. While Landon was becoming victorious, I was dying on the battlefield. This isn’t love, I thought to myself. This was an addiction. An infectious disease that was going to leave me raw and broken.”
I’ve felt and acute pinch deep in my soul while reading it. Such stories can never be skimmed on the surface. You have to open your soul for some damage by diving deep inside. Feeling ALL THE FEELS, drinking every sentiment. Then and only then will you be able to experience the full effect of this poignant story.
The ending takes a while….misunderstandings, shay’s stubbornness and Landon’s ineptitude in verbalising his thoughts and feelings are huge roadblocks on their way back to each other.
It did get tad stretched too thin at times, but Brittainy knows how best to scoop out tears and despair from her readers till they are begging for relief.
A sensitive exploration of timeless love which has to stand the tests of time and distance only to emerge stronger, deeper, greater….immortal!
4.5 stars for #TeamLay
OMG…. the ANGST and FEELS are back again in this second part of Landon & Shay!!! Part 2 of Landon and Shay is just as emotional and complex story as the first part. Maybe even more so.
As with every Brittainy C Cherry novel, this book will suck you in right from the start and won’t let go until the end. I loved that this book picked up right where Book 1 left off. This story does have a time jump but I thought the way it was written was great !!
I enjoyed this book but I still thought Book 1 was the better of the two. I kind of felt like this book wasn’t really needed. I thought there was a little too much drama in this book, that it eventually lead to my frustration.
I still say no one writes like Brittainy C. Cherry. Her stories are full of heart, emotion and thought provoking storylines. I find her writing to be effortless and truly one of a kind. This book does touch on a subject that is something that plagues many people in the real world. I loved how real this story felt. I will say, that just like in book 1, I thought the story dragged in spots. I truly believe that this book could’ve been made into 1 book.
Landon and Shay Part 2 is the final book in this Duet from Brittainy C Cherry. It is NOT a standalone novel. You NEED to read Part 1 before reading this book. This story is told in Dual POV. I thought the flow of the story was great, but as I said, I did think the pace was a little on the slower side for my taste.
This story truly is an emotional story, but what I loved so much about it, was that Brittainy balances out the heart wrenching emotion with just the right amount of humor, love and friendship. She knew exactly when to add the element of humor to lighten up the story so it didn’t feel like a downer the whole way through. I loved the friendships she forged in this story. These types of friendships are what I think every person strives for in life. People who will have your back no matter what!!!
In this book we continue to follow Landon and Shay’s story. Landon is now living in LA with his mom and Shay is finishing High School and then going off to college. This story follows them through their ups and downs. Their road to a HEA is not an easy one. What happens when old demons surface?? Can Shay still help Landon see the light?? Can these two ever get on the same page and find their HEA?? Read this duet to find out all the answers.
What I found interesting in this Duet was that it is actually set in a time that overlaps Brittainy’s other novel… Eleanor & Grey. We see these characters in this story but we get to see another side of that story. NO you don’t have to read Eleanor & Grey before enjoying this book, but I would say if you haven’t read their story, you need to go and read that books as well. You will want to see how their story turns out.
This is a MUST READ for all romance readers. The characters were captivating and the storyline was emotional, heartbreaking and heartwarming all in one. I know this review doesn’t do this story the justice is deserves, but truly take my word for it….READ THESE BOOKS!!!!
You don’t want to miss this AMAZING Duet!!!! Put this on the top of your TBR list NOW!!!!