The Year We Hid Away: A Hockey Romance (The Ivy Years Book 2)

The second book in The Ivy Years series reunites us with Bridger, Hartley's best friend from TYWFD. In the first book, Bridger was shown to be a real player. Hockey king, super flirt with a different girl every week, your typical carefree love em and leave em kind of guy. In The Year We Hid Away, we meet a very different Bridger. No longer on the hockey team, holding down several part time jobs and juggling that with an intense school workload, this Bridger has more on his plate to worry about than who his next hook up will be. Much more, as it turns out. Namely in the shape of Lucy, his adorable 8 year old sister. We briefly met Lucy in TYWFD and already got a glimpse of Bridger's dedication to her, but in TYWHA, that is really taken to another level, with Lucy and her care and safety very clearly being his number one priority. Bridger is an absolute star in this book. His determination to take care of his sister and protect her from her difficult home life, his strength and maturity in dealing with her needs under incredibly challenging circumstances, shines out in every line. However, he's more than that. He's funny, super smart and much to his surprise, a loyal and loving boyfriend to the right girl. And that girl, is Scarlet.Scarlet - or Shannon as she is when we first meet her - is a girl running from the nightmare that is her home life. Through no fault of her own, it has turned into a media circus and the once revered family name is now surrounded by tragedy and suspicion. In an attempt to break free from the controversy that has dogged her last year at high school, she starts her first year at Harkness College with her new name and a desire to live as anonymously as she can as Scarlet Crowley. Meeting Bridger was not in the plan, but she cannot help but be drawn to the charismatic redhead. With both of them barely keeping under wraps the problems they are having to deal with and neither wanting to burden to the other, they embark on a strange bit part relationship, enjoying the time they can spend together enormously, but also being aware that they are both holding back huge parts of themselves with the secrets they do not feel they can share. I liked Scarlet immediately. I admire Sarina Bowen for once again, not being scared to tackle difficult topics and for pushing her characters beyond the normal NA dramas. Scarlet has so much to deal with - very cold and unloving parents, a misplaced sense of guilt over something she had absolutely no power over, and the dread of the upcoming court case and all that will bring with it - you could hardly blame her for wanting to leave that all behind and try to start afresh. Her relationship with Bridger grew beautifully, and there was such a level of maturity between the two of them. No unnecessary trivial dramas, as I guess these two, despite their age, understand what real problems are. I was relieved when their secrets were finally revealed to each other, as I felt then they were free to be really open and honest together. Once again, the writing in this book was exceptional. The characters felt real and their reactions true. As with TYWFD, the intimate scenes between the main characters were sweet and tender and felt very honest and true to life. I was pleased to see a little more of Corey and Hartley here, although this was very much Scarlet and Bridger's story. Again, Bowen introduces us to another good supporting character in the shape of Andy, and I very much look forward to reading his novella.So to sum up I would say simply this. I have a few "instant buy" authors whose work I will always preorder and buy on release day. Colleen Hoover, Tammara Webber, Priscilla Glenn to name just a few. Sarina Bowen will now be added to that list. I hope to read much more from this exciting new NA author in the near future. Her books are full of brilliant character connection, of warmth, drama, and passion. Everything you could want in the perfect NA series.

This tackled some very real and sensitive issues and how people cope with them. Shannon's life is very difficult due to the unspeakable actions of her father, she even has to change her name. The best thing she does is get away from home and go to college where she meets Bridger who is living with problems of his own with no one to turn to or help.I thought the author wrote all this really well.Although it deals with college life, it's not for young teenagers to read.

Oh man, this was a rough one on the emotions. Especially for Scarlett. Mind you Bridger didn't have it easy either.Bridger's love for Lucy was undeniable, especially at the thought times. I loved his relationship with his sister. I loved that he wanted to protect her. He has a major plate full this semester and he doesn't know how he's going to get through it.Scarlett is like a prisoner in her own home. He father is up on sexual abuse chargers and everyone has turned against her. He mother wants to project a good image but Scarlett is suffocating. So she does the only thing she can. She finally gets to escape off to college. To reinvent herself, so no-one knows who she is. All goes well for a while but secrets have a way of getting out.She and Bridger weren't looking for a relationship but they find each other anyway. They both keep secrets from each. They don't want to share until Bridger has no options left but tell Scarlett everything. But Scarlett still didn't want to share her problems.I couldn't put this book down. It kept me reading into the early hours, turning page after page. I need to find out what was next. It still kept me up, tossing and turning wondering what was about to happen to next. I loved everything about this book. I'm really, really looking forward to the next book in the series. I love that previous characters had shown up in this book but I would have loved a bit more of Hartley and Corey. I also loved the little bit with Corey and I was amazed by how far she come.When everything fell apart for Bridger, I was ecstatic when he finally realized how much family and support he really had. I was also happy that Scarlett got her happy ever and everything worked out for her.

This is the 2nd book in The Ivy Years series. This book can be read as a standalone. With all that this series has to offer, I would recommend reading this series in order. This way you avoid spoilers, and get more out of the series itself.Scarlet has had all she can take and then some. The past year has pushed her in places she never thought she would go. Now back at school, she just wants to get her education.Bridger understands sacrifice all to well. He finds himself while learning to love the amazing woman Scarlet has become. Only secrets from their pasts coming like a whirlwind towards them can keep them apart.This story happens at such a ferociously fast pace. It is a sweet and yet sexy story, where two very lonely people come together and find that love can reach you in a very dark place. I love the character development we get to read while it happens. I also think the banter is just amazing. Another win for both the series and the author.

I just couldn’t put it down!There was some drama n it kept me going!I just love story of athletes n young adults with their love life!Go grab ur copy u won’t regret it!

Maravilhoso!! Com certeza Sarina sabe cativar o leitor, e o melhor de tudo nos livros dela é que o principal conflito é relacionado a vida de cada personagem, e não aquele vai e vem desses romances “normais”!! Muito bom!!Awesome!! I just love it, Sarina is a very good writer, and I’m sure that now she is one of my favorite ones!! This book is focused more in the personal life of each character than in the romance (different from the “normal” romances, the couple here has no difficulty to get together)!! Love it!!

J'ai trouvé les personnages plus consistants que dans le premier tome. L'intrigue n'est pas si compliquée que ça, mais l'auteur amène des personnages auxquels on s'intéresse et surtout, ce que j'ai aimé c'est le décors de l'université américaine, très documenté, d'un point de vue sociologique on apprend pas mal de choses de la culture américaine. Dans cette catégorie de lectures pas prises de tête, c'est un bon auteur.

good book

The Year We Hid Away is a 6 STAR book....Sarina Bowen wrote a powerful story!Wow! Sarina Bowen blew me away with her first book in The Ivy Years Series, The Year We Fell Down. I was amazed by her writing abilities. Her voice was fresh, entertaining, and held me captivated to the very last word. I gave that book a 6 Star Rating and added it to my 2014 Favorites List. The characters that were introduced in the book became members of my beloved book family. I wanted to know all of their stories. I was biting at the bits for the next book in the series, The Year We Hid Away.The day The Year We Hid Away released I quickly one clicked this book and devoured it. Unfortunately due to my busy schedule I was unable to write my review until now. This book never left my mind and I thought about the characters and their story. I wanted this review to do justice for this amazing book. Again Sarina Bowen has amazed me with her gifted writing. Her characters, their lives, and their stories are fresh, unique, heartwarming, and so much more than your run of the mill new adult romance.The Year We Hid Away is another 6 Star book!The Year We Hid Away is Bridger McCaulley’s story. Let me tell you ladies, this man is going to steal your heart. He is one the most fascinating characters I have read.Bridger McCaulley is a gifted hockey player, a brilliant student, a well rounded person, and quite the ladies man. On the surface it seems he has life by the horns. As we all know, appearances can be quite deceiving. Bridger’s personal life is a mess. His family life is in shambles. He is fighting to hold onto his academic career and keep his family together. His younger sister needs his protection. He will do anything to give her what she needs. Some things will have to go. His social life, his place on the hockey team, and his friends will have to be put on the back burner. No sacrifice is too small or too large. That is okay until he meets Scarlet Crowley.Scarlet Crowley is no stranger to family problems. She is hiding from her own family after her father was arrested for unspeakable crimes. She just wants to attend college and start a new life without her past haunting every move she makes. When she meets Bridger McCaulley she finds a kindred soul. A person that she can call a friend.As their relationship develops into more than just friends their pasts, their family issues, and their lives will hang a dark cloud over them. They will have to join together to hang onto the very things that are good in their lives. Hopefully it will be enough. Hopefully they can hang onto one another.The Year We Hid Away is a highly emotional book. One minute you will be laughing and the next you will be fretting. These two young people have so much on their plate. It amazes me how strong they are.Sarina Bowen wrote an amazing story. She tackled some very heavy issues. She had the guts to write about something that most people can’t deal with. She showed how these things affect all the people they touch. She did not sugar coat anything and found very realistic resolutions for all involved. Add a beautiful romance, great friends, and an adorable little girl and you have the perfect book. The Year We Hid Away is that book!