USA TODAY BESTSELLING LOVE STORY “What do you do when you meet your soul mate? No wait…that’s too easy. What do you do when you meet your soul mate and have to spend a lifetime loving him in secret? I’ll tell you what you do.You lie.” REN Ren was eight when he learned that love doesn’t exist—that the one person who was supposed to adore him only cared how much he was worth.His mother sold him and … doesn’t exist—that the one person who was supposed to adore him only cared how much he was worth.
His mother sold him and for two years, he lived in terror.
But then…he ran.
He thought he’d run on his own. Turned out, he took something of theirs by accident and it became the one thing he never wanted and the only thing he ever needed.
DELLA
I was young when I fell in love with him, when he switched from my world to my everything.
My parents bought him for cheap labour, just like they had with many other kids, and he had the scars to prove it.
At the start, he hated me, and I could understand why.
For years he was my worst enemy, fiercest protector, and dearest friend.
But by the end…he loved me.
The only problem was, he loved me in an entirely different way to the way I loved him.
And slowly, my secret drove us apart.
more
Emotionally-charged, multilayered, coming-of-age romance that deals with strife and heartache and impossible challenges. The most powerful element is the relationship between Ren and Della. It’s harsh and real and sometimes painful to read, but it burrows deep, leaving a substantial, eternal imprint on the soul that separates this story from everything I’ve ever read. Pepper Winters is a master storyteller, and this book is a profound portrayal of her gift. 5 stars!
Million de rubans-étoiles! Ce livre est la perfection du début à la fin.
Sweet baby Jesus! I must be dreaming because I’m still on cloud number nine. The Boy & His Ribbon is a mind-blowing book, a graceful unicorn! Books like this make my heart beat faster in my chest. This book literally blew my mind far away. Pepper Winters has done it again! Her writing is always beautifully elegant and this time she delivers a haunting story.
In all the chapters, Pepper maintains the excitement with the intensity of the story and the complexities of the main characters that make this book such a page-turner. The story line goes smoothly from past to present and it is narrated in dual POV’s. This book is perfection from the begging to the end. Each chapter is filled with brilliant and compelling words that squeezed my heart many times.
This book broke my heart the same times as Della’s young heart and the pieces were put together by Pepper’s writing the same way Ren did with Della. How many times could a book break your heart? This book prove me that it could be infinite times and you will love it and you will hate it a the same time. It is a bittersweet experience.
The plot is brilliantly well developed. The characters are extremely complex. It amazed me the way Pepper could show us how a child could experience the kind of love Della felt for Ren. It is beautiful and forbidden. With her words, she show us what pure love is. Ren and Della are on the top of my favourite book couples. They have a special place in my heart.
There is a little taboo because of the age gap between the characters but trust me. It is well handle by the author. There is nothing filthy. The characters are so real and human. Pepper did an excellent work by the way she told us Della and Ren’s story. The synopsis intrigued the life out of me. I was hooked from the first chapters until the end. This book is the kind of books that you don’t want to end it because you can’t deal with the ending of a fabulous story. I was afraid to end it. Now, I can’t wait to read the conclusion of this Duet. I absolutely recommend you this book. This is a must read with capital letters. Ren and Della have to much to tell. Mark my words: Their love is going to be epic.
“I look back now and wish I had the ability to reach through time and slap myself.”
Mind. Blown. Heart. Broken. I didn’t know what I was in for when I started reading The Boy and His Ribbon. What a title, right? What does it mean? And then the synopsis…too intriguing to pass up. I knew it was a duet from the start, meaning I wouldn’t get the whole story until I read the second book. But I couldn’t wait, I wanted a taste NOW!
The synopsis pretty much tells you everything you need to know going into the story. It gives you an idea of who the characters are and how they ended up in each other’s lives. But let me assure you that when you actually read the story told in dual POV it will hit you much harder than you are anticipating. Being inside the head of a 9 yr old boy facing the gut-wrenching experiences Ren had to deal with opened my eyes and my heart. I became so totally invested in his life and his future that you couldn’t tear me away from my Kindle. And when I learned the significance of the ‘ribbon’ I felt another squeeze in my already ravaged heart.
The author took me back and forth in time, sharing events in the past and the present. She drew me in and made me love them, hurt for them, and with them. “There is no me without him.” As I turned the last page my heartstrings were pulled so tight I couldn’t breathe. My emotions are a mess and the deeply moving scenes I’ve read are playing over and over in my head. Hopefully, the lump in my throat will be gone by the time I get my hands on A Girl and Her Ren. The line forms here…
Oh my gosh. I’ve just finished this book and have instantly one clicked for the next one – A Girl and Her Ren. I’ve been a Pepper Winters fan for some time, but this is her best, without a doubt. It’s the story of Ren – a sold boy of ten years old – and Della, the little girl he accidentally kidnaps. It’s a story of survival, and hope, and violence, and most of all love, in all its different forms. This book will wrench your heart out of your chest, stomp it all over the ground, and stuff it back in again. I won’t give anything away about the ending, but needless to say, I couldn’t possibly imagine not reading the second book. This is a love story at its core, but it’s so much more than that. I think even non-romance readers would enjoy it.
The beginning is gripping and intense. Straight away you feel the great sense of urgency from the Ren. There was so much use of fantastic imagery, it made me feel like I was right there too. Escaping from slavery is something that I imagine is very intense and frightening and those emotions were delivered clearly. Ren finding Della in his bag is just another obstacle he has to face. He contemplates leaving her but our sweet hero could never do such thing!
The pair face many obstacles while growing up. Their journey is filled with so many ups and downs. The reader is constantly rooting for them and when things go wrong it hurts. I could barely see my kindle from all the tears blurring my vision. As both characters get older their relationship too starts to change. The dynamic shifts to something more. Something forbidden.
Ren and Della’s connection and friendship is something you only find in very few books. The bond between them is so strong, the chemistry so thick and when others interfered with that it drove me crazy.
A boy and his ribbon is a story that evoked so many emotions within me. I was so distraught. In my head I was just screaming “why” over and over again. The emotions took over my whole system. I’ve loved Pepper Winters’ writing style for so long and with each book she continues to excel. I can’t wait to read book two!!
I think one of the things I loved most about this story was how ‘real’ it was. The background, the main characters, the side characters, the emotions, the hurdles, the triumphs, their story… everything felt so genuine and authentic, almost like I was reading the entries of a diary. My heart felt gutted for Ren right from the start. With what this young man had to endure, it was no wonder that he was suspicious, wary, and extremely averse to people in general. He’d never had the chance to know kindness and was instinctively distrustful of people who offered it. However, when it came to Della, he was always willing to sacrifice his own comfort for her happiness. His love for her far outweighed his natural urges and he would do anything to make her life better.
The way Ren looked at you made you suffer beneath his expectation and glow beneath his praise. He touched you deeper than any hand could read. He affected you harder than any spoken word ever could.
He cared with his entire soul and committed with entire being.
Everything Ren did was for the sake of Della, his ribbon. She was once everything he hated and became his very reason for existing. She was his world. He raised her from infancy and protected her from all perceived dangers. Somehow, despite his own ignorance, he was able to help her become the beautiful young woman she was. They survived the wilderness together and flourished from the generosity of a family that they couldn’t quite call their own. Through everything, his love for Della and hers for him grew deeper and their bond grew stronger. No matter what or who got in their path, it was always them against the world and no one and nothing could take the place the other had in their hearts. Well, except for each other. What happens when love becomes love and no one is equipped for the repercussions? The Boy and His Ribbon was a love story, but not in the traditional sense. It wasn’t romantic. It wasn’t pretty. And it hurt so bad while hurting so good.
I’m living proof that a heart can be broken a thousand times and still function, still keep you alive – desperately hoping that it won’t happen again, all the while knowing it will.
While Della was a little harder to understand because she started off as a baby and this book ended with her as a coming-of-age adult, her intentions and feelings were clear. Well, clear enough. It was Ren who absolutely owned me though. He was humble, sensitive, wise, and so loving. The ways he loved Della left me in awe. He was selfless and generous, thoughtful and considerate.
He carries this melancholy melody inside him that just makes me want to protect him and have him protect me at the same time.
The Boy and His Ribbon was proof of why Pepper Winters will always remain at the top of my must-read list. It’s books like this that make me drop anything else I’m doing to get my eyes on them. It’s why her books are always deliberate purchases for me. Her writing for this story was not only flawless, it was eloquent and evocative. It had me swinging from bouts of happiness and despair and right back again. The authenticity of her characters and her arguments have me completely devoted to learning how this story will turn out. I really need The Girl and Her Ren asap!! Now that the secrets are out in the open, I can’t wait to see how Della and Ren stitch themselves back together again. That cliffy damn near broke my heart and I’m ever hopeful that somehow these characters will give me the happy ending I’m looking for.
The Boy and his Ribbon, by Pepper Winters
_______________________________________
AMAZING BOOK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—————————————————
WOW……Just Wow! It’s not often a book leaves me speechless! It’s been quite a few days since I finished this, it just blew me away, that writing a review for it was going to be difficult, My favorite book of the year so far has been My Torin by K. Webster. now I have two, OUTSTANDING BOOK.
So what ever I try to write in a review is not going to do this book justice. You need to read it yourself.
I’m a new fan of Pepper Winters and new to her work. After reading this I went back and one clicked a few more of the delightful Ms Winters Books.
I had seen other blogs raving about this book and as I am not yet in the ARC reading crowd I had to wait for it’s release, it literally stopped all activity until finished.
This story and characters both Ren & Della have stolen my heart. This story is heartbreakingly beautiful with every chapter leaving you, holding your breath for the next as it pulls you deeper and deeper into the story that has emotionally and mentally and totally blown me away with all the roller coaster rides of emotions that has left me broken hearted and speechless.
My poor heart! can not take this kind of abuse, its already damaged
I absolutely cannot wait until the 5th June for The Girl and Her Ren. Wishing my life away yet again, all for the sake of a book.I will be counting the days until then and hoping my heart can take it.
I would recommend this to everyone. It’s a MUST READ BOOK OF 2018 !!!!!!!
Its authors like Pepper and K Webster and books like this, is one of the main reason I love to read, they take me on their journey and help me escape my real life if only for a short time and let’s me live a life full of adventure and their imaginary minds and the stories and characters they bring to live truly enchants me They let us love, live and breathe the stories they give us. They weave their pens like a magic wand letting magic sprinkle among the pages breathing live into their tales, for them to the turn around and open their veins for us to read and judge their work and see how we all see and read it differently. To me a writer author what ever they want to call themselves are the ULTIMATE MAGICIANS.
A writer puts their heart and soul blood and guts into the creation of their masterpieces until they are rung out messes. It’s then left to us the readers to breathe life back into the author by been a reader and finish their dream.
So they are cleansed and ready to start again.
he Boy & His Ribbon, Is the first book in this new Duet by Pepper Winters!
Right, I know I say this with every Pepper book she releases but this is my favourite to date and my top read of 2018. I will never do this book justice by this review; this is like no book I have ever read before it is unique. In addition, it is nothing like Pepper Winter has ever written before.
Ren and Della bond is just so unbreakable or is it? These characters will get inside your heart and head and you will not let them go.
I just love Ren as a character he is just the perfect man and everything he does/did was for Della… At times, Della did annoy me but you quickly forgive her, as you can understand where she is coming from on things.
You feel what they feel as you take this journey with them it feels like you are right there with them. I do not want to give anything away about the story you have to experience this book for yourself.
This book will have you turning the pages to find out where Ren and Della story will go… The book is about love, friendship, heartache. It is a beautiful story and very well written.
This will be one of my all-time favourite books by Pepper and This Story will stay with me. I cannot wait for book 2.
One of the best books I’ve ever read. I loved it. It took me two day after reading this book to write my original review (on Amazon) and I am dying for the next part of the book. I can’t say enough about this book, except it’s amazing.
It if were possible to give this series more than five stars, this would be it. I’m in awe of how Pepper took what most may consider a taboo topic and turned it into a burning romance that wrung every emotion possible from me. No spoilers, so I’ll close with, read it and be prepared for one of the best emotional roller coaster rides of your reading life!
Y’all, if you have not read this book right here…PLEASE MAKE IT YOUR NEXT READ!!!
The Boy & His Ribbon by Pepper Winters will definitely be one of my very top reads ever, EVER!!!!
I don’t know how I missed anything about this book when it was released? But I have read it now and ohhh myyyy gahhh it definitely is one of those books that will stay with me forever!!!
It is perfect in every sense of the word of PERFECTION!!!
I wanted to read it in one setting but I truthfully had to make myself stop and do daily life things…lol
I was sooo consumed…I love love LOVED it…can you tell??? lol
I have to say that I would be reading and in my head I felt like I was watching the movie, like I could really see everything that was happening in my head!!! It was that PERFECT!!!
I started this book as a recommendation by a friend due to I had tried picking up serval books and just wasn’t feeling it. I had to put them down and decided to go back to them later, and then she suggested this read….Pulled me right out of my funk from the very first words!!!!
Thank you for this book Pepper…I freaking loved it!!!!
xoxo
I read these beauties last year and still can’t get over them! Pepper you are AMAZING!!
My favourite duet yet from Pepper Winters.
I was so glad that this book was recommended to me. I went in blind and I’m so pleased I did. What I read was such a heartbreaking story. Ren, what an amazing and courageous and selfless boy/man he is. He took the chance to change his life for the better and found he not only had to try and survive himself, but had Della to consider too. The sacrifices he made throughout his life just showed the phenomenal person that he is, and my heart broke for him.
I loved the way that the author writes this book as Ren’s story of the past but I also loved how she wrote chapters where Della is writing in the present, so telling her part too. The complicated lives that they both lived are a must read and I now need to know what happens next.
I’ve read and loved every book Pepper has written, but this one by far, is in a category all by itself. Truly a unique and moving story of love unlike any I’ve read before it. My #1 read of 2018.
One of the best duets I’ve ever read. Della and Ren’s story will stay with me forever. Hugely emotional, this book will give you ALL THE FEELS.
This book will have you questioning everything you think you know about the twisted world we live in. You won’t be able to put the book down once you start!
Heart-wrenchingly beautiful <3
3.5 stars
As always I love Pepper Winters writing. This is different than her usual work but still good. Well written and an unusual story line.
Pepper Winters’ books are often the buzz during author-to-author book chats, but this one took the cake for me. A beautifully detailed twist of fate and torture, sets Ren on a lifelong adventure of love, sacrifice, and growth. This coming of age tale is everything a love story should be: layered, uncertain, pure, and a little corruptPepper Winters . There are chilling moments, moments that put tears in your eyes, and even a few moments that make you squirm. Pepper has knocked it out of the park, again! Highly recommend!