Crystal learned long ago that love brings only pain. Feeling nothing at all is far better than being hurt again. She guards her wounded heart behind a hard exterior and carries within her a deep mistrust of men, who, in her experience, have only ever used and taken.
A man in need of help . . .
Then Gabriel Dalton walks into her life. Despite the terrible darkness of his past, there's an undeniable goodness in him. And even though she knows the cost, Crystal finds herself drawn to Gabriel. His quiet strength is wearing down her defenses and his gentle patience is causing her to question everything she thought she knew.
Only love can mend a shattered heart . . .
Crystal and Gabriel never imagined that the world, which had stolen everything from them, would bring them a deep love like this. Except fate will only take them so far, and now the choice is theirs: Harden their hearts once again or find the courage to shed their painful pasts.
There are many reasons why this book impacted me the way it did, and why I immediately gave it five stars when I so rarely do that. But the main reason is this: Gabriel Dalton. Sheridan has a knack at creating soft, sweet heroes and Gabriel was all that and more. He was shy and sweet; kind and generous. He was loving, hopeful, optimistic, endearing, and utterly precious. There was an innocence and purity to Gabriel that was surprising considering what he had been through at such a young age, and it was the fact that he could maintain those qualities and remain so kind and loving that made him so special.
Sometimes we wore such hurtful, limiting labels in this life, whether they’d been assigned by others or by ourselves. I’d felt damaged and ruined once, but I didn’t anymore. I was still a work in progress, but I wasn’t a victim. I was a survivor. – Gabriel
Crystal was a character who had suffered loss at a young age and been dealt some cruel circumstances. Working at a strip club to support herself, she had no faith in men and trusted no one. People, especially men, used you, abused you, or abandoned you. She put on an act to get through the nights, but it wasn’t until Gabriel Dalton walked into her life that she felt truly seen. Despite her attempts to push him away, a twist of fate brought them even closer together.
I’d never dared to dream because in my mind, dreams never came true. It was too painful to dream, to hope for what could never be and for what I didn’t trust myself to obtain. - Crystal
Watching these two damaged souls reach for each other and find comfort and solace and understanding in one another was breathtakingly beautiful. Crystal was outwardly brave and resilient but inwardly she would do anything, even deny herself a chance at happiness, to avoid being hurt yet again. Watching her slowly discover her own worth made me want to cheer for her. Gabriel’s quiet confidence, and his willingness to bare his heart to this young woman who had every reason not to trust, helped to create a beautiful, slow-burning romance that was so tender, yet so powerful.
And you, most of all you. You get my heart. You. And, God, I hope you want it. But if you don't, I still won't regret giving it to you. Even then, I won't regret loving you because it means I win. - Gabriel
It's worth mentioning, that at first the chapter headings didn’t make any sense to me. Interesting quotes from oddly-named characters. By the time I understood the meaning, and the representation, I was a sobbing mess. That was an aspect that was so emotional and will stay with me. (Just thinking about it makes my eyes get teary and my heart go to mush.)
Most of All You was an incredible and moving story of healing, of moving on, and finding peace with your life. Mia Sheridan has a way of making characters feel completely real, as if she’s relating a true story, and it’s impossible not to feel their pain and their struggles. But there’s also a healthy dose of hope, acceptance, and truly swoony romance. Simply put, Most of All You was unforgettable. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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