The Scars that Made Us by Ina Herwood _ Book Review

Ultimatums suck.

I should know. I was handed one on my eighteenth birthday by my mogul of a father. And it’s all because he refuses to believe that I can take care of myself, that I don’t need a man to fall back on in case my college dreams fail. But as much as I hate to admit it, his doubt comes from a logical place. It all stems from the nightmare incident that happened to me when I was seven years old. An event that has left scars of both the physical and emotional variety on me, leaving my body weaker than most.

But what is the ultimatum, you ask?

I either marry a man of his choosing for a stable financial future, or else I don’t get his check to go to college and complete my dreams of becoming a doctor.
Tell me, how do you trust a man who only wants to marry you for the check your father is so obviously writing him? The answer is you don’t.

But when Jagger Wells, my ridiculously gorgeous intended, explains the real reason behind his going along with this scheme, I begin to see the man beyond the pretty face; a guy just trying to do right by his family. And I decide that maybe there’s a way we can both get what we want without having to sign a marriage certificate in the process. All it would require is a little acting on our part and a couple of well-placed lies.

After a while, though, it doesn’t feel like we’re tricking our families anymore, but ourselves. That’s when lines blur, feelings become something real, and the truth is ultimately questioned.

In the end, I discover that I am not the only one with scars.

(This is clean contemporary/NA romance)

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

The Scars that Made Us was such an emotional read about two people both scarred by their past in different ways. I loved this books so much and once I started reading I couldn’t put it down without knowing how everything turned out for the characters!

Cyvil Montae broke my heart. She is badly scarred over most of her body from a horrifying experience when she was young. She lives in long sleeves and pants in order to not scare people and to avoid looks of horror and pity. Even though her body is weak from her trauma it doesn’t stop her from dedicating her life to helping others, both people and animals. She dreams of going to pre-med school overseas but her parents decide that the only way they will finance it is if she agrees to get married to a man she has never met.

Jagger Wells may not be scarred on the outside, but he is on the inside. His past leads him to live life recklessly, driving a motorcycle and racing cars illegally, with no care for his own well-being. When his fathers company is on the verge of going under, he’s offered the ability to save it by agreeing to marry Cyvil Montae.

Both of them create their own first impressions and are quick to judge. Jagger will do anything to help his family but Cyvil wants her freedom and doesn’t want to be controlled by her father. She comes up with a plan that will get her the collage tuition she wants and still save Jaggers fathers company but without them actually having to go through with getting married.Of course things don’t go as either of them planned. Eventually, Jagger sees past her scars and falls for the woman beneath them but doesn’t feel worthy of her. Cyvil also falls but doesn’t trust that anyone could ever love her. Therefore, they both keep it to themselves and when Cyvil finally decides to voice it, it may be too late. Cyvil and Jagger both have to accept their scars before they can move on in life and be happy.

The Scars that Made Us was beautiful and heartbreaking. [I had to grab tissues towards the end😭] This is my first Inda Herwood novel and it most certainly will not be my last!

P.S – I can’t write this review without mentioning Jaggers friends Moon and Rosy, or Cyvils sister Till. They added so much comic relief and joy to the story line. Especially Moon, he became Cyvils bestie through their love of books and Till with her sarcasm, they are great supporting characters.

“You look like autumn,”he says with a small, curved smile.”