Save Me from Me by Erika Ashby

Dani refuses to lose another parent due to her absence from their life. After pulling herself back together following the death of her father, she moves back to her childhood town to live with her mom. She’s slowly pulled back into the lifestyle she worked so hard to get away from ten years ago. She accepts that this is the life she has always been destined to live. Getting a job at the store down the road and hooking back up with her first love Gage, seems to be the logical way to go…that is until she meets Holden Reynolds.

Now that Holden is finally back home from the Navy he plans on following in his father’s footsteps. Still trying to move on from the one woman who had his heart, he busies himself in work and returning to the country boy lifestyle he’s always loved. The best way to get over someone is to get under someone, right? That’s his mindset as he travels town to town with his job perfectly content with being a rambling man…that is until he meets Danielle Brooks.

When Dani isn't leaving and Holden isn't staying will they be able to keep themselves from getting too attached? Or will they be just what each other needs to cut all the strings that have them bound?

“You can’t save me from me, Holden.” -Dani

First I will start off by saying I loved the idea of the story. Going back to where you are from and finding who you are.

When I first started the story and read the first part about how Dani felt losing her father, I cried and could relate to every word. I loved it. You can tell the author has gone through a serious loss in her life to know every thought and feeling someone goes through when losing someone major in their life. I loved Holden in the story and I loved the happily ever after at the end. I love that he went after her after what his father did to them and I love that he knew what he wanted and wasn't going to stop until he had her. What I didn't like however outweighed all of that for me unfortunately.

While reading the story it felt disjointed; like the time spaces weren't flowing quite right. The characters were in their late 20's which I found out later in the book (and honestly if I had thought about the time frame of the story I would have known) and I was in complete shock. I found myself shaking my head multiple times during the book at some of the phrases and actions of the characters and then would think; well maybe when you are 20, it was like that.

Once I got to the point of finding out her exact age, I just felt some of the actions were completely unrealistic for someone of that age. The author also dabbled with some addiction in the book however it seemed she only brought that up when it was convenient. Dani's brother and sister were the epitome of addicts and how they behave. I just feel this should have been a continuing theme throughout the book however it was only brought up hit or miss.

She threw me for a loop with Gage however. I thought he was the good guy this whole story only to find out his true colors. Nice surprise on that one! I love it when I don't see something coming. I think if she got a really good editor and allowed them to redo some of the book, that it would improve it tremendously.