Written in the Scars

Publisher's Summary

Falling in love is easy.

Falling out of love is the hardest thing in the world.

And Elin and Ty Whitt are terrible at it.

The first time the local basketball star smiled at Elin, she was a goner. It was just so damn easy to fall for the dark-haired hometown hero with his charming smile and strong, athletic build.

Thousands of sleepy smiles, aimless drives down country roads, and squeaks of the backdoor after a swing shift later, reality hits. And it hits hard. Falling in love was definitely the easy part. Watching it break apart was impossible.

Through the tears, the second-guesses, and the memories of a life built together, the world keeps spinning. With each turn comes clarity and hope - sometimes in the form of a pair of muddy boots by the back door or from the words of a wise friend.

When Ty shows back up with a newfound determination to put his family back together, Elin's torn between the fights of the past and the possibility of a new start. This is the man that holds her heart, the man she loves beyond anything else. But this is also the one person in the world that can cause her the most pain.

Life's not always easy. Love's not for the faint of heart. But with life comes lessons and Ty and Elin have the scars to prove it. But it's their love written in those scars that will hold them together...or break them apart.

A brand new standalone romance from USA Today best-selling author Adriana Locke.

©2016 Adriana Locke (P)2016 Adriana Locke

My Two Pennies

Ty and Elin have this connection that you only dream to have yourself. We're taking on such a roller coaster ride with these two that you can't help but cheer them on. This book, this story hits hard and there is no way you can't be touched deeply from it. There are times I feel like screaming at Elin and want her to do what she refuses to and at other times I want to do the same with Ty. There's a point where your whole world gets turned upside down and from that point on I had tears in my eyes non stop. This is such a beautiful story and no doubt in my mind that it will stay with me for a long time if not forever. Written In The Scars is a must read but as I said make sure you have your tissues close by. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

So Emotional!

What an emotional story! I really enjoyed this book, it was nothing that I expected when I started it. I love going into a book blind because I feel like starting with no expectations make your thoughts and feelings throughout the book real and true. You don't go into it already planning to like or dislike a character or expecting it to make you feel a certain way. This book has so many hard subjects that I won't mention as to not spoil it for anyone but I loved these characters for the way they deal with all of the issues they face in this book. They didn't just do and handle things the right way, they each handled them differently whether it was the best way or the worst. I also loved the setting in this book. It was not the same thing we've all read a 100 times already. I didn't cry but I can see why so many did! This author has become an auto buy for me!

The narration was great Kai and Wen always do a fantastic job at duet narration!

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

Hold onto your hearts!

What made the experience of listening to Written in the Scars the most enjoyable?

The emotional performances by Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross were phenomenal. You could feel all the pain and anguish as well as the joy and love. This was my first audiobook with duet narration and it was perfect!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved Ty and Elin, as well as Lindsay and Jiggs, but Cord really stole the show. He was fiercely loyal and supportive, and had a gentle honesty about him. A character who grew up feeling unwanted and cast aside, but who was actually cherished by those that knew him.

What about Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross ’s performance did you like?

I loved how expressive they were as Ty and Elin. I felt like I was right there in the story and couldn't believe how real it all seemed. The chuckles, sighs, and cries only heightened the emotions and made it impossible to not feel deeply for these characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The last 10-15 chapters had me on the edge of my seat. I both couldn't wait to find out what the outcome would be and dreaded what would happen to all these characters. This was where the dual point of view truly shined. Kai Kennicott's narration was especially powerful and heartbreaking.

Any additional comments?

This was a raw and honest story with realistic characters and events. The narration by Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross was outstanding! Definitely recommend it!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

It Just Wouldn't Let Go!

This story grabbed my heart and just didn't let go. The emotions felt so real I almost felt like I was right there with Ty and Elin and going through their marriage struggles right along with them. Adriana Locke wrote another poignant love story that leaves you satisfied yet still wanting more. The narrators delivered such a wonderfully captivating performance that I didn't stop listening until the very end -- one sitting.

I have listened to all of Adriana Locke's books that are available and I can't wait for the next book to be released.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Stellar performance! Beautiful story!

Beautiful story of love and loss. Of working hard at relationships to enjoy the true beauty of love. It's about the goodness of people and sacrifices made. It's about friends and family; family by blood and by choice.

The narrators were stellar and made this story even better. They demonstrated the emotions you feel as a reader: sadness, anger, anguish, hope, love, sarcasm, fear, and devastation. A top performance by these two.

This was a re-read for me and was truly better the second time and that much more touching and emotional with audio.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

tear jerker

this was an incredible journey....I commend Adrianna for an amazing story. the cast of characters was outstanding. we are able to identify with each one. The story was about a close group of friends as well as a married couple going through battles of life. Love, hope and a strong bond of friendship. I have to say the ending was a big tear jerker....I was saying to myself I can't wait for Cords story....True friendship was a big part of this HEA. I believe the hero was really Cord in this story. Typically and Elin were amazing soul mates. I recommend this book to anyone that can appreciate a soul searching journey of love.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Simply love this book

This book is amazing and exciting, I laughed and cried with the characters. I listen to this book in two days because, I was unable to put it down. I am in awe for this book., you will not be able to stop. Loved this book, kai Kennicott and Wen Ross are among some of my very awesome narrators I just love listening to.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

For Better or for Worse...

Would you listen to Written in the Scars again? Why?

I would definitely listen to it again! A friend of mine had read this book and told me how much she loved it and that I should read it, once I saw it was on audible I thought I'd listen to it. I am so glad that I did! It was amazing!

Which scene was your favorite?

There is this scene where Ty shows up at their house and starts making a scarecrow because it's what they do every year, you can tell he's trying and she is so torn with being mad at him/in love with him, but she still tells him he needs to stop. He tells her, “I’m not letting you walk away from me. If I have to spend the next ten years winning you back, I will. I’m prepared to do that. I promised you for better or worse, until death do us part. This is the worse part. I’m aiming for the better now. [...] Even if it takes me until the death part, I’ll try. I love you, Elin. I’m going to remind you of that until you believe it.” She responds, “It could take a long time. I don’t think your patience would last very long.” He tells her, “Probably not. So you should just give in now."

It's a great example of the push and pull that happens throughtout the book, but this scene and a lot of the scenes where the two are fighting are done phenomenally and with so much emotion in the audiobook.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to this book all in one sitting, I listened to it at a faster speed though so it didn't take the full time to get through.

Any additional comments?

Elin and Ty have been together since they were in high school and married for several years but we enter the book at a time where everything in their relationship has broken down. Ty had been injured from an accident on the job and wasn't working putting some financial strain on them. The two of them had also been trying to get pregnant for quite some time and already had a miscarriage putting more strain on their marriage. It seems that every time they are in the same room it ends up in a fight. At one point before the story begins Elin had gone to the bank to find out that Ty had taken out a thousand dollars and when she confronts him about it they have a blowout fight that results in her telling him to leave and he does. She didn't really mean it and is upset at how easily he could walk away from the life they had. The book (after a sweet prologue that shows a pre-wedding scene) starts with him coming back into town a few months after their fight.

I have to say that I loved this book. LOVED it! A lot of that was due in large part to the narration, which was top notch. Both Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross deliver a powerful performance from the fight scenes to the sex scenes and also the scenes that the two leads banter in. They show such passion when needed and also a lightheartedness in the perfect spots. They add layers to their characters, on top of an already solid and wonderful story. I also liked that Kai performed all of the female lines while Wen did the male lines. I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but ended up loving it once I was engrossed in the story.

This audiobook made me smile, laugh, cry (a lot), it made me Feel - a lot. I felt very connected to the story and the characters in it. The story is solid and sound, and it's not only believable but also relatable in a lot of ways. The struggles of marriage, of loving someone but being so mad with them it's hard to see past it, the way two lives are intertwined, the moments of falling in love, of having a partner to share life's moments with, and of feeling betrayed for whatever the reason may be. Trials and tribulations, love and heartbreak. This book has it all. I highly recommended it!!!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL story!

If you don't receive a clear message from listening to this book, you better check for a pulse. This book is phenomenal!!! The author, the narration, everything is just amazing!! WELL WORTH THE CREDIT!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A POIGNANT & POWERFUL LOVE STORY

Ty fell in love with Elin in the eighth grade and they've been inseparable ever since but now the tension of trying for a baby, too many fights, the damage of a Mine accident and the heartache of a miscarriage has finally taken its toll on their marriage and Ty does the unthinkable - he walks out on the love of his life. Erin is left broken but not alone - she has her best friend, her brother and another close male friend so, for weeks, they support and guide her.. until Ty walks back into her life - and this is where their emotional story starts (well after the sweet prologue).

Ty and Erin were, and are, deeply in love but the building stress of their lives got in their way and this is an account of a lost husband desperate to claim back his devastated wife, his life and his future but it isn't going to be easy.. but it will be worth it. And it's the story of a shattered wife whose broken heart needs to forgive, to heal and to build up faith that her trust won't be shattered again. It's also a story of close friendships and how their wisdom - and their sacrifice - can change lives.

A romantic dual POV plot as Ty and Erin slowly find their way back to each other and there's also nail-biting haunting drama that left me in tears. It has sex, angst, humor and passionate tender loving pleas that just made me want to swoon. Kai and Wen did a fantastic job as usual and their style of narration (where Kai does the male voices and Wen does the female ones) brought realism as each scene to life and their pain, heartache, anguish, love and hopes came across loud and clear.

Worth a credit? YES definitely it touched my soul - but not if you want a light listen or an easy-going listen.. because, at one point, I'm sure you'll be in tears too. Spoiler/reassurance - no cheating involved.

7 of 9 people found this review helpful

Grab your tissues!!

This storyline packs quite a punch. I sobbed like a baby. Tissues are a must. I found the beginning a little slow to start however it was such a great read. Lovely characters and wonderful performances.

A 5 star listen

This was a great story so much emotion. I loved the relationship between the 5 characters. The heart breaking story of Elin and Ty trying to deal with the aftermath of an accident at work that resulted in a break down in their relationship and how their friends try and make them see how perfect they are for each other. Kai Kennicott & Wen Ross are amazing at making you feel the story. I just love how they act out the words not just say them they are both amazing. I found the part down the mine so emotional I got quiet upset listening. Adriana Locke writes so well she makes you feel how the characters are feeling so well and with the fab Kai & Wen the story made me so emotional. I have had this book on my wish list for a while and so glad I got the chance to listen to it. I got through it in such a short time as I could not stop once I started. This book is well worth a listen such a touching story of overcoming heartbreak.