This one seems like it’s been a long time coming. Book 4 of the McKinney High Class of 1986 series! And of all the seven books in the series, I have to say that this one is my favorite. I think every author has at least one book that they have written that seemed to flow out of them like water down the falls. I barely had to think, and the words appeared on the page. It’s possible this is the book have been meant to write all along. Afterall, I’m a social worker. I’ve worked with some people who have had really bad things happen to them, and have come out on the other side, sometimes somewhat dented or broken. We’ve all had things happen to us that we’ve thought might break us for good. I know I have. This is a story about two young people who experience some bad things, and then some more bad things, until they actually do break. But then they have to find all of their own pieces, and with help, put themselves back together again. This isn’t a book about being saved by love. It’s a book about finding love after saving yourself.

Meet Darlene Feinman

Darlene and Kim Drake have known each other since they were babies. Their mothers are best friends. They were pretty much inseparable as preschoolers. They started kindergarten together, and were placed in different classes. Darlene made a new friend, Michelle, and she felt loved and accepted by Michelle. Over the years, things change between the three girls, and the power differential shifts. Darlene has to make some decisions based on loyalty and making sure that she makes everyone happy. But Darlene has a secret. Everything is really not as wonderful as she leads everyone, including her own mother, to believe. The world is wearing Darlene down, but damn if she ever lets anyone in on what’s going on inside her head. She divides her time between the homes of her mother, who is supportive and giving but oblivious to what is going on, and her father, who is demanding and critical of her every move. She is an only child, so she is often left to her own devises, with her own thoughts. She develops a set of coping skills to help her get through, but sometimes, they just make things worse. As Darlene navigates life in high school, college, and beyond, she must figure things out, and make some major changes, before things go drastically wrong. She feels a sense of loyalty to her friends, and she must honor her promise to one of them that she will do whatever it takes to stay safe. Then she meets someone, and it is like she is hit by lightning. She is finally at a place in her life where she feels she can make good decision, but sometimes, emotions make it impossible to think straight. She will again turn to her friends for advice. Maybe it’s never too late to find happiness in a world that has treated you cruelly in the past.

Meet Stavos Karras

Stavros endured a horrendous loss at a very young age. He had to learn to adjust to go on with his life and help to take care of his infant sister. He has been loved and cared for by his parents, and taught to appreciate kindness and gentle words. But when he experiences another loss as a young adult, he has to learn how to cope. He makes many choices that lead him in a direction that he didn’t originally anticipate. He must use great determination to get himself back on the right path. With the help of his beloved family, he does his best to put the pieces back together. Then, out of nowhere, a new woman falls into his life, and she has had just as many, if not more, challenges than he had. Can Stavros continue to look after his own well-being, while also supporting a wonderful, fragile woman, who might just be the true love of his life?

This story spans 25 years, from the time before Darlene was born, to when both of the main characters are in their mid-twenties. Although they both have relationships throughout the book, they do not meet until the end of part 6. Slow burn? Maybe a little. Second chance romance? Maybe a lot!

Also starring all of your old McKinney High friends, Sally and James, Kim and Carl, Michelle and Chris, and Traci. And introducing the Karras family:

Rebel Karras

Rebel (short for Rebecca) Karras is the wife of Andreas and the mother of Stavros and Drea. She is originally from Pittsburg, but moved to Amherst, MA, after marrying Andreas, for his job at the university. There, Rebel attends classes, and gets a degree in philosophy. She is beloved by her fellow students, and she often brings baby Stavros with her to class and study groups. She cherishes the tine she spends with Stavros, often taking him on long walks, and teaching him to cook food from his Greek and Jewish heritage. Rebel struggles as the Vietnam war rages on, and young men are returned hoe from the war in coffins. She grieves for the losses, and wants to do whatever she can to make the world a better place. She tells Stavros stories, the stories that must be told and passes on through the generations. She reads to him, and when he learns to read, she gets him books to help him learn to be a better person. She would do anything for her children, up to and including the ultimate sacrifice.

Andreas Karras

Andreas is Stavros’s father. He lives in the house he bought along with his wife to raise their family, Stavros and daughter Drea. He is a teacher of Greek literature, true to his Greek heritage. He has a large family that lives in Pittsburg. He is the only male sibling. His sisters can be demanding, but also very kind and helpful. Andreas does not spend much time and attention in choosing his clothing. He often wears blazers with patches on the elbows. He is very wise, and a very patient father. He helps his children learn their own lessons, and he supports them unconditionally. He has endured a lot of loss and pain, but he never lets it slow him down. He would do anything for his children. He takes care of them while encouraging them to learn to care for themselves.

Drea Karras

Drea Karras is the daughter of Andreas and Rebel Karras. She was born during a very difficult period of their lives. She doesn’t know anything different than the life she has lived, and she has been very happy. But she has a lot of questions. For answers, she turns to her brother Stavros, six years older than her and her biggest fan. Stavros and Drea are very close, and are always there for each other. Drea needs her brother and her father very much as she grows up and learns some truths about herself that are difficult to handle, and they are both there for her every step of the way. Drea moves on through life having many experiences and making new friends, but she never imagines that one day she is going to meet the person of her dreams, and fall for them with one short glance. And this person will connect her with the group of friends from McKinney High for the rest of her life.

And now meet…Lindi Leahy

Lindi is a young girl in junior high when she meets Stavros through their mutual friend, Deanna. They become friends, and then they become more. They spend almost their whole high school years together, and Stavros anticipates that their love will last forever. But as all good things, this must come to an end. In this case, it’s Lindi who says goodbye, due to her move to college across the country, and some demons that have lived in her head, and have only gotten worse in the last year. The last thing Lindi wants is to hurt Stavros… You will be able to read Lindi’s full story in the future, in my next book series (it’s actually already written, but won’t come out for some time!).

I hope you have a chance to read this book, and I hope it gives you all the feels, like it does me. If you do love it, please write a review, and then go back and read the first three books, if you haven’t already!

Here again are the links to my Facebook page, Debby Meltzer Quick Author, TikTok, @dbmquick and Instagram, quickdebby_author. Please follow me on these pages. And please explore my page here at debbymeltzerquickauthor.com.

And here’s the link to the new book, at least the ebook version and Kindle Unlimited! Look for the paperback version tomorrow: