THE EPIC FINALE IN THE WHAT HE DOESN’T KNOW DUETLeft or right. It’s that simple, and it isn’t simple at all.If I turn left, the road will lead me back to the man I promised my life to, the one I’d imagined building a family with, the one who’s done everything in his power to get me back.If I turn right, the road will take me to the man I loved first, the man who brought me back to life, the man … man who brought me back to life, the man who would do anything to keep me.
I knew the fork in the road was inevitable; it was the decision I never wanted to make between choices I didn’t know I had.
And I love them both.
My heart is destined to exist in two equal halves — one with each man. But one half beats stronger, the vein running deepest, and holds my choice in silence long before I know it for myself.
The realization of what I have to do, of the heart I have to break, just might break mine too.
Left or right.
All I have to do is take a breath and turn.
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4.50 stars
Spoilers
I really liked this book. I did not always love or even like Charlie but I loved the ending. I was so glad she stayed with Cameron. The more I read book 2 I felt that it was the right decision. I wish it has shown more them going to therapy and rebuilding their relationship and the birth of Daisy.
The review I left for the first book applies to this one, too! I’ve never read a book or series where I was so torn on who to cheer for. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to #Team someone for this book. Every character was so real and so loved. But I finished reading this duet with a smile. It was powerful, and I’m grateful for having stumbled upon this author.
I have reached the end of “What He Always Knew”… so here is the rest of my “to be continued” review.
Make no mistake; Kandi Steiner can weave a story. Sadly, I believe that somewhere, there are two women reading this 2 part story, thinking to themselves; how could Kandi know my story? And probably each of those two women made a different decision than the other. They could both be blissfully happy, or both living their worst Hell.
As I read the first page, my heart beat fast and my breathing was much harder. The plot thickened and the hole seemed to be dug deeper. Eventually, decisions were made and the book ends, but not without a lot of gut wrenching emotions, from me as well as the characters. These two books are not for the faint of heart.
It was wonderfully written. I loved the personalities of the characters. My hero was Graham! And if anyone asks, were you happy with the ending, my answer would be: Yes and Yes!
When I finished the first book What He Doesn’t Know, I was so emotionally torn. Who I first thought I was rooting for completely turned on me in a instant and I changed my opinion and fast. But When I started this book my emotions were all over the place. This book is so emotional, angsty, soul crushing and phenomenal all rolled into one. I swore I held my breath halfway through this book. I knew who I wanted to “win” the whole time but knowing the end could be completely different than what I wanted was heart wrenching too. Breathtakingly beautiful. Love the writing. Love the story and the roller coaster ride it took me on. Kandi Steiner NEVER fails on her words and always has me craving more.
Two books to make our hearts pitter-patter!
Two men to love Charlie completely !
Two months to choose -Reese or Cameron!
Left or right. It was as simple as that, except it wasn’t simple at all.
The truth was simple. I loved them both. My heart was forever severed, destined to exist in two equal halves — one with each man. But one half beat stronger, one half had the vein that ran deepest.
The other half would always be a part of me, but in a softer way
What a dilemma Kandi has put us through ! There’s no solution to this web of heartstrings jumbled together. Each thread runs through all the three hearts at some point or another. Unravelling one could hurt the other. The book is seeping in angst, each word kandi pens,just makes us all gaping and surprised. It’s surprising to see that though Kandi is so young, yet her acute knowledge of relationship pains and travails, far exceeds her young age. She deftly wordshops us into their lives and we get to experience their vicious circle of predicament in 3-D ! I had trouble picking the right person, making a sound decision and turning the wheel of the car , left or right. So I can’t even begin to imagine what Kandi must have endured writing this story. It’s very delicate balance of logic on both sides of the spectrum, but the muscled organ beating in our chests rarely listens to reason, does it.
I applaud Kandi’s attempt to make sense of this maddening, frustrating, heartbreaking story.It touched my heart and is still sitting heavy, making me feel all choked up and broken.
The story is haunting, sexy, infuriating at times, and sentimental & endearing at others.
Loss and comfort walk hand-in-hand.
Fiery passion and undying love war against each other.
This or That?
Him or HIM?
Music or birds?
Home our Tent?
Passion or Love?
By this time I was exhausted trying to reason the actions and I’m thinking so was Charlie. I may not have had the dream ending , yet it made total sense and the best part is that Kandi made it very believable and inevitable.
So hats off to you Ms Steiner! The twist was fantastic, I was taken aback and so was charlie. You changed the rules now
I loved the triple POV, you could see that whatever bed of nails Charlie was tossing and turning over, was poking Cameron like needles too.
Time. It was something I’d never paid attention to before. It felt like an unlimited resource, something I had plenty of. I thought I had forever. Now, I only had weeks.
Life wasn’t a bed of roses for Reese Walker either
It was like watching an entire kingdom crumble in her eyes, and I was the one holding the hammer that took down the first wall.
And in between was a sandwiched, pressurised heart of Charlie!
Was it Reese? Did he wake me up, change me, ignite an old burning flame when he came back into town?
Was it Cameron? Did we hit our breaking point, one coming all along ? Was it his lack of care, his years of apathy, that somehow transitioned me from one point to another?
Or was it me?
I was ready to tear my hair out, gouge my eyes out, out of exasperation, at this point. My irritation level at 1000°
Choose the direction FFS!!!!
The characters I must say, though not unique, were stuck in unique situations. Reese I loved/hated with equal fervour. How he treated Blake was wrong on so many levels. Charlie was very conflicted character( but I get it why). I just fell in love with stoic and staid Cameron though. He was lost and broken. I wanted to hug him and envelope him.
I liked that personalities were flawed and were not prim caricatures. Or that Kandi didn’t seek and easy way out by killing one of them or totally painting any character totally black. That shows writing maturity.
If you love slow burn romances , second chances soaked in tears and angst, this book is for you . Go ahead. Read, cry, bawl your eyes out. Go on this journey to Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Where River Meets The Sea
5 Rip Tide Stars
#BookBistroBlogApproved
I’m not sure how I feel about Charlie. While her story is a heartbreaking one, I think her choices are very flip-floppy. Very complex characters, but I’m just not sure how I feel about how the way things went down.
I was pulling for one man at the beginning of book one and by book two I just wanted to him to bow out already! His “love” for didn’t sell me, plus how handled the “situation” that came up did nothing to help his case.
I love the story, the weaving of these characters that are going through this is relatable and I think that’s why I love this story line as much as I do!
This was a continuation from book one and the do I choose Reese or do I choose Cameron. The first book definitely needs to be read before this book
I don’t want to be a spoiler, but i was hoping she would pick the guy she picked. I was rooting for him the whole way.
I really like this book. I did want to smack Charlie though and I am not sure how Reese and/or Cameron dealt with her and the fact that she loved both of them. I mean honestly, if it was me, I would have left a long time ago!
I see there is another book in this series and I am so excited that it is Reese’s story!
An epic conclusion to this complicated story. It’s hard to pick when you feel so much for both H’s. A must read in this duet.
I liked it because it is always good to see a man can fight for the love of his life. Like she didi in What He Doesn’t Know, Book #1, Steiner’s wonderful writing weaves a psychologically intricate canvas against which each character is called to test their mettle. Between her reality and her dream, Charlie’s choice is not an easy one.
This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased, honest opinion.
I’m so glad I decided to try this author!!! I fell in love with this duet and the author’s writing. This definitely won’t be the last book I read by Kandi Steiner.
I just want to say that I was Team Cameron. I loved that man so much!! I connected with him early on in book one of this duet. I could feel how he wanted to express his thoughts and feelings but just didn’t know how to do so verbally. Cameron showed his love in his actions. It wasn’t that he was trying to buy Charlie’s love, it’s just the way he expresses himself.
This book was hard in the sense that I felt Charlie’s division between the two men. I could feel her being torn in half. I felt her trying to make the best decision and to not hurt anyone even though it was inevitable. Charlie was such an amazing character. I truly enjoyed the times we spent in her POV. It made me appreciate her more and more.
I won’t get into spoilers or tell you what the end result was. I will say to me, it felt like Reese saw Charlie as a price to be won. It wasn’t so much his deep love for her as it was he wanted her and someone else had her. It felt very surface level, puppy love if you will. I just didn’t connect with Reese as well as I did Cameron. I truly felt the bond with Cameron and Charlie. Their road trip together was one of my favorite scenes.
At the end, Charlie’s message to both of the guys was spot on. I got emotional as she was talking to them because you just got this overwhelming sense of emotion. It was like being there in that moment watching it happen as if you were a fly on the wall. I very much enjoyed this series. I hope you all enjoy it too.
The story was great.. the triangle love dillemma had continued and it wasnt an easy road.. It was tough to swallow, some awful truth to hear and reason to choose when you have absolute no clue…
I was confused.. so many questions what if.. this love sound selfish.. its about my feelings and mine only.. its a great read from different perspective of love.. its not all about you when 3 were involved.. it was gritty and heartbreaking..
This book wrapped up Cameron and Charlies story beautifully. Their journey wasn’t all sunshine and roses. This was one hell of a journey that had me wanting to throat punch both Charlie and Reese. I was rooting for Cam from the very beginning and there were times where I felt as if Charlie didn’t deserve him. A lot of her actions seemed selfish. Cam wasn’t perfect but I loved his determination to fight for what was his. However, Reese had moments where I enjoyed him a lot and I wanted him to have his HEA but just not with Charlie. Blake deserved more than what Reese was giving her and he should have been honest with her from the beginning instead of letting her think otherwise. I look forward to reading Reese’s story because even though I wanted Cam and Charlie to make their marriage work, I’m still interested in his character finding his HEA.
Holy Hell! WHAT A JOURNEY! After book one, I thought I knew how I wanted Charlie’s story to end. I give great credit to Ms. Steiner for being able to change my mind because I normally do not waiver from my first instinct. At the end when it becomes clear to Charlie who she’ll choose, her reasoning is perfect. That doesn’t mean I don’t feel horrible for the man she didn’t choose. His last chapter ripped my heart out. You could feel his emotions jump off the page. This duet is a must read.
The love, heartbreak and angst is overwhelmingly real in this highly anticipated conclusion of the What He Doesn’t Know Duet. Readers be prepared for the emotionally captivating rollercoaster that this story will surely take you on…
What He Always Knew broke me down and stripped away the layers of my heart until I was left raw. This story will caught you like a knife with the intensity of love, devotion and hatred that bleeds from the pages. My heart broke and I was shaken to the core of my emotions. They say a story generally has two sides, but this one had three and each voice was stronger then the next. This was unlike anything I ever expected and for that I can say without a doubt in my mind that it blew past every single one of my expectations. After reading What He Doesn’t Know I was torn between Reese and Cam, but in the end my heart followed the “He” of the story and I couldn’t be more ecstatic with Charlie’s choice!
Readers get ready to discover the “He” of this beautifully unique tale. Trust me when I say that you won’t know until the very end. This story will take you on the ride of your life so make sure to hold on tight and proceed with caution. Don’t say I didn’t warn you…
What He Always Knew is book 2 in the What He Doesn’t Know Duet, and if you thought the first book was over the top with angst, you need to prepare yourself for this one!
As usual with Kandi Steiner’s books, it took me some time before I was able to get my words together to express my feelings on this one. From the beginning of book 1 I was on the edge of my seat, and book 2 had my emotions in overdrive. I wanted to smile, cry, laugh & scream all at the same time, and bringing out these emotions in readers is what Steiner does best.
While this topic is a sensitive one, and may be a hard limit for some, this story was written beautifully and without glorifying cheating. Kandi Steiner didn’t shy away from anything when writing this book, giving us every agonizing detail and sitting back to enjoy our turmoil. Each character was developed so fully and realistically, and it was impossible not to get caught up in their story. Each emotion they felt, every inner struggle they battled, I felt like was going through it all right along with them.
I loved each character, but I also hated them at the same time. I changed my mind a billion times throughout this book on how I wanted it to end, and even after reading the last page I have gone back & forth about how I feel. And that is what makes a book not just great but spectacular, when the story and characters stick with you long after you read the final words. And this book, this duet, is just that-spectacular.
What He Always Knew (What He Doesn’t Know Duet Book 2) by Kandi Steiner is a full length, contemporary romance told in multiple POV. Picking up where the previous book ended, the emotional roller coaster continues in this stunning conclusion. Wickedly addictive, I immediately started it after finishing part one and read this in one sitting.
Charlie is as confused as ever. Torn between two men who are fighting for her, she has agreed to make a decision in two months. Will she choose her husband, Cameron, the man she vowed to spend her life with? Or will she choose, Reese, her childhood first love?
“He was the father of my children, the stealer of my heart, the comforter of my soul. He was my family. He was my home. I just didn’t know if that was enough.”
“I hated them both. But I loved them both too. And for that, I hated myself.”
“I’d never understood how love could hurt before, how it could be the knife between your ribs. It wasn’t until that exact moment that I realized love hurts more than anything, because it’s all we want, and yet it never comes easy.”
A perfect conclusion to the duet, and just as heartbreaking as part one. This story completely slayed me. I totally ugly-cried – over and over again. Painfully perfect, I loved every minute. It was beautifully written, heart-wrenching, poetic, captivating, raw, spellbinding, thought-provoking and emotionally gripping. Simply phenomenal! This duet is one of my favorite reads not only of 2018 but of all time. It’s just that good!
5 out of 5 stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I experienced so many emotions and shed so many tears while I read this book that I didn’t think I’d ever recover – and I’m not sure I have yet. I used to think that book hangovers were a farace and people just said that to make authors feel better about the books. O! M! G! They are real and What He Always Knew gave me my first real book hangover and I don’t know if I’ll ever recover.
When I finished What He Doesn’t Know, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this second book in the duet. I thought I would die not knowing what happened with the two couples, four individuals who were all connected through love and loss. Little did I know that I would actually feel like I was dying while I read the second part of their story. My heart still hurts and I had to message the author several times to tell her how much it was breaking! AND then it didn’t end like I thought it should and I almost hated her. AND then I read the epilogue and realized that she knew what she was doing after all!
There are so many amazing quotes and thoughts in this books that I want to share them all, but I will limit it to he best! There was the time Reese and Charlie were at the bar together and Reese was trying to explain why he cared about Charlie:
“Why does rain fall in the desert? Why are diamonds made from dust? Some things just are, Tadpole – no matter how difficult or impossible the circumstances. I care about you because there is no other choice for me, and I love you the same.”
Then there was the time that Cameron confronted Reese about what would happen when Charlie chose which man she would be with. Cameron started the conversation:
“Charlie deserves the greatest love of all time. I think that’s one thing you and i can both agree on. So, I’m just saying, if you’re the one she chooses…”
But Reese finished for him because he knew just what Cameron was thinking:
“Love her like she deserves.”
Really, this duet is making my top 5 of 2018 no matter what else I read this year because it is simply amazing. There isn’t a better story out there and I can guarantee that if you decide to read this story, it will stay with you long after you finish reading!
***I voluntarily read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ***
What a roller coaster of emotions. It’s so hard to talk about the book without giving anything away. I had to talk it out with my husband over dinner tonight. I just had to talk it out to someone! I was all just sit there and nod while I tell you a story, m’kay. Seriously, at one point, I was so done with all three of them that I wanted to put them all in a time out. I’m still not a 100% on Charlie. I was just getting so mad at the pretend people! Then I was like oh hey, slow your roll on those pretend people. They’re pretend for a reason. But overall, this duet was so badass. I’m going to remember this twisty triangle of love for a long time.
And here we are…
The conclusion to this epic triangle.
With baited breath, I flipped the page and dove back into the lives of Charlie, Reese, and Cameron…
add another person that complicates things and we have an explosion of feelings: hurt. anger, lust, pain, love, temptation, sin.
I really got to see Cameron’s side in this book, his past, his challenges, and his struggles. I felt for him. A lot. His love for Charlie is imeasurable and it can be felt through every action and word.
I felt their struggles with each other, the constraints of society while keeping the secrets hidden from family and friends.
That ending…
It was amazing.
Needed.
Loved.
I loved their story, their whole story, from the beginning to the end. The realistic aspect of this duet is amazing.
It talks of temptation, of that saying that grass is greener on the other side. It tells of the struggles in a marriage, the confusion, and the question of “Is love enough?” gets asked time and time again.
I loved witnessing their struggles, seeing how they’ve reached where they are in life, and the confusion they find themselves in.
One thing’s for sure.
the ending is amazing!