About the Book:

Dakota Ames had everything under control, or so she thought.
Ever since her father’s accident on duty as a fireman, she promised herself she would always have a plan. Life couldn’t throw her a curve anymore.
That is until her best friend Alex enlisted in the Navy.
This couldn’t happen. It wasn’t part of her plan. She hadn’t even worked up the nerve to tell him she loved him. Alex was wrong to go and she was going to prove it.
But when she meets Will, one of Alex’s fellow recruits, she finds that things aren’t always so simple.

My Thoughts:

A wonderful and heart warming story of friendship, love, acceptance and the beauty of life. This is a story that will tug at the heart strings of the reader. The ups and downs of life are beautifully portrayed in this story and it’s a pleasure to see the characters grow into stronger people.

Dakota, the main protagonist, has a plan for everything. She thinks that she can control the direction her life takes, including how everyone close to her affects it. What she doesn’t realize is that plans are never set in concrete and life is ever-changing. She is severely affected by the trauma of her father’s accident and the job he used to do, which lead her to be the way she was. Alex, the best friend, has also seen his share of problems in life and in spite of everything, has always been by Dakota’s side. It’s a deep friendship, stemming right from childhood.

The author brings out these minute details in the character’s lives and the introduction of Dakota’s best friend adds more substance to the story. She is so different from Dakota, but is perhaps one of the most caring and time proves that their friendship is very strong. The story revolves around how Dakota meets Will, a Navy recruit and falls for him against all her plans. In parallel, she is also dealing with the fact that Alex has enlisted and she feels betrayed by the same. What follows is a test of the strength of their friendship, their love and all that matters to the people involved.

Life takes unexpected turns, introduces new people to us, and in the end everyone has a role in shaping who you are. The author gives enough importance to all the relationships in this story and the feelings of the people involved. A well-written story with a moving plot, there is no doubt that the reader will fall in love with everything about this book.