Here Without You

'Here Without You' is book two in Mia Kerick's series 'One Voice', and it follows the lives of Casey, Nate, and Zander as they move from high school to new adulthood. I fell in love with these boys in the debut novel 'Us Three', and I was so excited to see where the author was going to take me. The first journey was stunningly beautiful and I could only hope to be swept away again. I was thrilled to see the author kept the same way of relating each of these men's "voices" - Nate through his diary, Zander via private blog posting, and Casey in first person. Technically all three are in first person but this way separates it and doesn't muddle the writing.

Nate, Casey, and Zander learn quickly that adulting is hard work. Casey and Zander are off at Boston City College but Nate stayed in their home town to protect his little sister from their drunk uncle. I could already see that this was going to be very rough on all of them but hardest on Nate. I knew his insecurities would jump in and have him believing the other two didn't need him. Nate is such a gentle giant but he has a way of really messing with his own self that causes him to doubt everything.

The biggest problem this throuple deals with being separated is the fact that Nate's uncle has a bad tendency of taking his rages out on Nate and beating the crap out of him. Or his little sister would stir the uncle up and when he'd go for her, Nate steps in to protect her and gets the crap beaten out of him. Casey and Zander keep trying to convince Nate that this is a dangerous situation and that he needs to find a different place for his sister to live. They are fairly certain that Nate won’t survive another four years of this.

I was disappointed that I figured out the direction the author was going to go in. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this book, because I did, but predictability can be a good thing or a bad thing, and for me, it didn't work well here. That is, of course, only my opinion. Seeing the guys struggling to make a polyamorous relationship work at their young age was enlightening and I very much liked how the author handled the drama. All in all, a very good addition to a powerful series. Thank you, Mia.

*On a funny side note: I've lived in a dorm with those tiny twin beds. I can guarantee you that those three never fit comfortably and even if they did, they would have had to tie the beds together to have any kind of intimacy. It sure made me laugh remembering my own trials!*

NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews

Mia Kerick has written a story that is full of heartbreak, beauty, and hope. Here Without You is a continuation of Zander, Casey, and Nate's story. Zander and Casey have gone to college while Nate has stayed behind in order to make sure his younger sister is safe from their abusive uncle.
What I loved:
*Mia Kerick's writing. She's got such a poetic and melancholy way of writing, it never fails to draw me in.
*Nate, Casey, and Zander. Love them individually and together.
*Just like in book one, we got all three points of view.
*This book was pretty freakin' hot. The boys are growing up...
*The author did an outstanding job with their relationship. Showing us the difficulties of holding a long distance relationship, the work that it takes to keep a relationship together. There was never any doubt that these three loved each other.
What I didn't love:
*Cindy. She really got on my last nerve. I tried talking to myself, making excuses for her, but in the end she still left me with a sour taste in my mouth.
Although this book was at times difficult to read, I am so glad I did. It is a true story of love. This book made me fall even more in love with these three boys- I should say men-, and I'm hoping there will be a book 3 focusing on Zander. 5 Stars ♥