Crazies R Us Book Blog's Reviews > Emerge

A coming of age, NA romance with sexual content (mature audiences recommended)

Emerge is Laney Walker's story; an 18 yr old quick witted, athletic, southern girl who lets few get too close and uses her sarcastic zingers to deflect most situations. This is her coming of age journey...starting at a new college, with a new softball team and a quirky roommate, all while living in a co-ed dorm.

One night.
Dane Kendrick.
It changes all which she thought she knew and awakens something, someone, within her that she didn't know existed.

A tale of friendship, loyalty, first love, primal love and...life.


I must say that I wasn't sure what to expect from this book and I was NOT disappointed! I was hooked from the very beginning and I must say that I would have had a hard time being in Laney Walker's shoes. The book starts out by learning that Laney was raised by her father. Her mother had walked out on them when Laney was young. She had three people in her life that she counted on, her father, her best friend, Kaitlyn, and her very best friend, Evan. Laney & Evan had been close since she was 10 years old and that friendship grew into more than a friendship her Senior year when Evan declared his love for her. They would soon be leaving for different colleges and they both were dreading being separated. Evan & Kaitlyn would be attending the same college at UGA & Laney would be attending Southern. Her heart was broken when she learned she wouldn't be attending UGA with her two best friends. She finds out later that she could have attended college with her two best friends but someone sabotaged that for her.

Laney settles in at Southern and makes some really good friends...friends she will keep for a lifetime. One night during a meet & greet in her dorm, she comes face to face with the most gorgeous guy she thinks she has ever seen. Well, Evan is right up there with him and his name is Dane Kendrick. Dane & Laney become close and this scares her a little because it took her years to let Evan get close because of all the walls she had built. But Dane is getting under her skin & she feels so comfortable with him. Laney is very mature for her age and she is completely honest with both guys eventually, once she starts figuring out her feelings.

Laney was a beautiful girl with a promising future ahead of her. She matured through the book and she realized that there is more to life than just her little circle of friends she had back home. She found true friends, true love but most important she seemed to find herself. I really loved this book and my heart broke for her. I was torn in the beginning about who I wanted Laney to end up with BUT it didn't take long for me to figure that out. I was NOT disappointed in her choice.

Everyone should read this touching story and there is going to be a book #2...squeeeeeee. Hopefully, we won't have a long wait!!

5 Stars!!

This book had me hook, line & sinker from the get go.

Kim's Review - Cami's is coming later ;)