The Night That Changed Rachel

“Trent Randall should come with a warning. Do not attempt this ride if you suffer from a heart condition.”

The life of unrequited teenage love is a hard and bumpy one. Gail wrote a beautiful story of teenage angst, lust, heartache, friendship and love. 
Rachel has some serious emotions and struggles to handle, and thank goodness she starts to understand and get a handle on them all in this book. 

When Rachel gets to college, with the help of some new friends she thinks she can finally put her love and obsession for Trent Randall behind her, but Trent won’t allow that, and now it’s his turn to prove he is the right man for her. But will Rachel’s secret push him away, or solidify his efforts?
Such a wonderful read

This story was well told, but wasn't to my taste. I feel as though it's aimed at the teenage/young adult audience and would go down much better with that market. The artwork doesn't really gel well with the story and to be honest I would look to change that before the book is properly released as it wouldn't attract the target audience, it's just a bit bland and doesn't really capture your eye. The characters were really likeable and you did feel for what each was going through

Copy received from The Next Step PR and I am reviewing it voluntarily and objectively.

Where can I start with this book? If I thought Who is Sarah Randall was an emotional ride, I didn’t know the true meaning of those words until this book. As always, the author pours emotions from the book. Most of this read, my stomach was in knots over the angst, the unknown, and the want. 

Best friend’s older brother/brother’s best friend with an age gap...and a twist! It’s the best of all worlds. Landon Randall, as we know, died at the end of the previous book. His best friend, Rachel, is moving on slowly. Everyone assumes she would have ended up with Landon, but really it was his older brother, Trent, who she really loved. This book isn’t the first they engage in the forbidness of each other, as they had previous hook-ups before. She’s loved him forever but believes he views her as nothing more than a convenient lay. Through the book, we learn what he truly thinks about her. 

This is really the source of the angst and emotion. It’s a bit of a push-pull, where she wants him, he now can be with her, but needs to show her that he does truly care about her. She’s protective of herself - for good reason. 

One of their nights together led into more, making up most of the story and even more of the emotional angst that I just so love about this novel. I won’t say what to avoid spoilers. 

Like the first book in this series, this one too is an experience that needs to happen. The author writes in such a realistic way that makes me feel as if I am Rachel. I smiled, I cried, I worried alongside her. 

And again with this novel, the author does such a fantastic job with all the side characters. Landon plays a part, but not in an annoying-always-mentioned way; we get the fun and calm side of Alice this time; and more of Denise. Given the title of the next book and what we’ve learned in this one, I am guessing it’s an enemies-to-lovers f/f book. Until then, I’ll be thinking all about this one!

A poignant story about the wreckage of love. The Night that Changed Rachel is a coming of age romance, with a bit of age gap/forbidden love trope thrown in. 
Gail Harris writing gives an honest and realistic portrayal of the full scope of what an enduring relationship can withstand. Given the characters age, experiences and current circumstances, Gail gives the reader a believable story line heavily packed with emotions. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
Copy received from The Next Step PR and I am reviewing it voluntarily and objectively.

DISCLAIMER---Although this could probably be read as a standalone, I DO NOT recommend it. This is the second installment to a continuing story that speaks about events and situations from the first book. Yes, the author does a great job referencing these events, but it will make more sense and give you a more complete feeling by reading the first book.

Rachel is the best friend, supposed girlfriend of the middle Randall child Landon. I saw supposed because they never really dated. In fact, they came up with the deal for a number of reasons. But that deal ended up causing some serious issues for Rachel. Why? Because she's been love with Landon's brother since elementary school. And over the years and a few interesting evenings, her past relationship with Landon can jeopardize her future.

Trent is Landon's brother. He's also four years older than Rachel. So imagine watching a young girl who is your brother's best friend and girlfriend grow up in your house right in front of your eyes, having a crush on her and not being able to do anything about it. Yep. That's exactly the issue with Trent. Besides, it's not exactly legal for a twenty year old to date a seventeen year, right? Man, life is complicated.

I'm not going to go in to details about this book, but I think it's made pretty clear within the blurb that one particular night changes the lives of these two. Even though it takes a while for them to finally come to terms with what's happening, not only with Rachel, but with their lives in general, they pull it together and find the happy place they both deserve to live in....together.

ARC gratefully received in exchange for an honest review.

A poignant story about the wreckage of love. The Night that Changed Rachel is a coming of age romance, with a bit of age gap/forbidden love trope thrown in. 

The story begins with Rachel who is starting college and dealing with the lost of her best friend Landon; the boy everyone assumed she would end up with. Instead it always was the older more detached Trent Randall that was the one for her. Constantly feeling as though she was nothing more than a convenience to him, where he has been her whole world/the love of her life, Rachel begins to take the first initial steps into finally breaking from her feelings of Trent. Rachel’s misconceptions of Trent’s feelings is met with his decision to finally show her how he truly feels and his desire to start a real relationship with her. There no longer is a roadblock to their being together and Trent is intent on fighting for her. There is a fair share of push and pull, angst and drama between these two, layer with passion and devotion.

Slowly as the story unfolds the truth behind Rachel’s hesitation and a bit of deceit is unveiled. Rachel is a woman riddle with personal struggles. They say that the friends you make in college can last a lifetime and thats exactly what happens with Rachel. She leans on her new friends to help through some of her most difficult times and decision she most make. This story is a true testament that we all have of issues, but rather than going at it alone, sometimes you just need someone to hold your hand in the dark. 

Gail Harris writing gives an honest and realistic portrayal of the full scope of what an enduring relationship can withstand. Given the characters age, experiences and current circumstances, Gail gives the reader a believable story line heavily packed with emotions. I can’t wait to read more in this series.

4*
Rachel isn't coping well after the death of Landon and the rest of the Randall's are struggling.
The night of Landon's funeral was the hardest for Trent his brother.
Landon knew her feelings for Trent and was grateful for her support thinking others would not understand him.
Another great addition to the Randall family, I can't wait to see what is in store for Denise in "The Blackmail of Denise Randall ".