Synopsis
Every life has a different path full of sharp turns, smooth curves, and steep drop offs.
Hollis Murphy has a plan—college, career, boyfriend, love, marriage, family. A predictable, normal life. She’s on track until an outside force causes her to crash and burn. They call it an accident, because that’s the only word they know to explain what happens to her. It helps everyone move on with their lives, except for Hollis. She holds on to the belief that she’s been targeted for a reason.
Risher Stevenson is intelligent, caring, sweet, and the hottest boy Hollis has ever laid eyes on. He fits perfectly into her original plan for a normal life. Everyone loves him.
Benton Daniels is intelligent, caring, sweet, and the bravest boy Hollis has ever met. He doesn’t fit into her life but gives it purpose and makes it extraordinary. Everyone hates him.
One is bullied. One is tormented. All are judged. How will it STOP?
Hollis Murphy has a plan—college, career, boyfriend, love, marriage, family. A predictable, normal life. She’s on track until an outside force causes her to crash and burn. They call it an accident, because that’s the only word they know to explain what happens to her. It helps everyone move on with their lives, except for Hollis. She holds on to the belief that she’s been targeted for a reason.
Risher Stevenson is intelligent, caring, sweet, and the hottest boy Hollis has ever laid eyes on. He fits perfectly into her original plan for a normal life. Everyone loves him.
Benton Daniels is intelligent, caring, sweet, and the bravest boy Hollis has ever met. He doesn’t fit into her life but gives it purpose and makes it extraordinary. Everyone hates him.
One is bullied. One is tormented. All are judged. How will it STOP?
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24847312-stop?from_search=true&search_version=service_impr
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Release Date: 6/25/15
Okay so far Alison G Bailey is 4 for 4 for making me cry while reading her books. After I was finally able to stop the tears and the trembling - because that is the effect Stop! will have on you - and able to form a cohesive sentence I sat down to write this review. I'm still a little teary eyed just trying to type. The words, the feelings, the ray of hope you cling to, and the characters are just so in depth, so beautiful, so tangible. The fact that Alison wrote a novel centered around not one but two scenarios that affect teens on a daily basis and did it with such humility and honor is beyond me. I was taken aback by Hollis, Abigail, Risher, and Benton. They want to be loved and to be accepted but their fear and insecurities hold them back and they create barriers to try to keep their hearts whole. I felt their stories, their heartache, their pain, and their hope for a brighter a future.
Stop centers around Hollis whose life took a dramatic turn a year ago. From that accident she's lost her self confidence, her friends - except the awesome BFF Maggie-, her hope for love, and her zest for life. She's just going through the motions of everyday life until she decides she will accept her college scholarship and go away to school. There she meets Risher - whom I love - who has some secrets of his own but is pretty much the big man on campus. When he shows interest what will Hollis do?
Hollis' roommate at school is Abigial and boy does she have secrets!! She's all pink and girly and right the opposite of Hollis but yet they hit it off and become friendly. Then there's Benton. The boy in the hoodie. He seems to be every where Hollis shows up at. He's mysterious and different and when they finally do officially meet - what secrets will be revealed then???
Maybe Alison should have named this book, Secrets?!?!?!
This is a story that needs to be read and shared by everyone. It's a story of love, acceptance, learning to trust, and finally living. The characters are so intertwined there's often misunderstandings, mistakes made, and secrets kept and secrets revealed. I wanted to fight for the characters and hell I even had a hard time with not being able hug them. I wanted to kiss away their pain and hurt. I wanted to defend and protect. The momma in me came roaring out and I was taken aback by how defensive I became over them. I was left a squalling blubbering mess but it was so worth it.
There is a lot of love, patience, and growth in this book. Please take the time and sit down and read this journey that Alison Bailey takes you on. There are twists and surprises at every turn. You will not find a book like this one anywhere. It is definitely a top read of 2015.
I was given an ARC to review for Stories and Swag!
~~Shannon~~
Excerpt
“Name?” she said, impatiently.
I was so flustered that for a second I’d forgotten who I was. “Hollis Murphy.”
She scribbled something on a spreadsheet and handed me a packet with my name and the number two hundred ten typed out on the front sticker, which I assumed was my room number.
In a flat bored voice, she said, “Everything you need to know is in the packet. Should you have any additional questions or needs after reading the information, please ask your RA. Have a productive semester. Next!”
Clutching the envelope to my chest, my gaze shifted back down, and I walked quickly out of the office.
As I turned the corner, a loud deep woot! jerked my attention down the hall. I took one step before crashing full force into something solid and warm. Stumbling back, I dropped the envelope. Once my balance returned, my eyes focused on a gray T-shirt with cut off sleeves, stretched across broad shoulders. When I glanced down in search of my envelope, I couldn’t help but spot the narrow hips and round ass covered in black basketball shorts. As I squatted to pick up the envelope, a tanned forearm came into view. My gaze roamed up to find the arm was covered in bulging muscles.
“Oh god, I’m so . . . sor…ry,” I stammered, my cheeks heating with embarrassment.
“Here ya go,” a deep voice said.
Reaching for the envelope, my gaze inadvertently shot up to the warmest green eyes ever created. His dark brown hair was cut short on the sides, longer on top, and tousled. The perfect amount of scuff peppered his strong jawline, with deep dimples framing a sexy lopsided smile. The air was immediately sucked from my lungs. He wasn’t just hot, he was boy band hot.
A deep chuckle drifted down before I realized he had stood up and was extending his hand to me.
Oh boy! I get to touch him.
I slipped my hand into his and felt an immediate jolt of electricity. The muscles in his arm twitched. He felt it too.
“Thank you,” I said, as he helped me up.
“I’m Risher Stevenson.”
He was actually introducing himself to me.
It had become a habit not to look directly at anyone, especially a stranger. I automatically angled my head down and to the left, to hide the messed-up side of my face. But those green eyes locked me in place.
“Hollis Murphy.”
“Nice to meet you Hollis Murphy.”
“Sorry again about running into you. I need to do a better job at watching where I’m going.”
The tip of his tongue slipped between his lips before they formed into a slight smirk. Just as he was about to speak, his name came barreling down the hallway.
“Rish! Get your ass down here. We’ve got a ton of boxes to haul in.” A blond-haired guy was standing at the end of the hall.
“I gotta go finish helping my friends move in.”
I nodded.
Risher took three steps before turning back toward me. “Don’t do too good of a job.”
My eyebrows squished together in confusion.
“At watching where you’re going. I hate to think I won’t get rump bumped again.”
He winked before jogging away.
I Sasquatched those shoulders, those hips, and that ass all the way down the hall.
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