The Scars and Sorrow Saga: The Complete Box Set Paperback – November 28, 2015

There are not proper words that I can use to describe the experience of this book. You will be fighting right along with the characters. Layla will have you breaking with her. This raw and touching series will leave an imprint, these characters will never be forgotten. This series will grip your soul and you will be forever changed. Another wonderful series by an author who never leaves me disappointed.

Had a hard time finishing this book.

My heart breaks in the first chapter for Lyla Elizabeth Harper.The story is told as if Lyla is writing everything down in a journal, about how unjust her life is and when all of your beliefs and dreams have constantly been trampled on that you only see yourself as NOTHING.Lyla is faced with everyday real life issues and while I do no not feel pity for Lyla I only see her as a strong teenager turning into an ever stronger adult.Mary certainly knows how to write a raw and gritty story about subjects that are constantly pushed under the table and that people are too scared to talk about.Thankyou Mary for bringing these issues to surface again.SUCCUMBING BOOK 2HE HAS RO BE MY PARADISE FOUND.He has to be my paradise found4 1/2 STARSLyla Harper finally leaves Kansas and starts an Internship in Chicago. Just when she thought she was safe from the douch bags of the world in comes Mr Thomas, her new boss. He likes to prey on broken women and it seems that Lyla can spot them a mile away.In an off chance, while out with her friend she meets the charismatic Man that is Everett Brown. While their romance blooms, Lyla still can't shake off her past when it collides with her present and future.Lyla is just as strong and determined as ever but I have to wonder how much bad luck can one person have? The answer is endless. I realy connected with Lyla and Everett and Mary Palmerin held nothing back when writing about taboo subjects and went into great detail. That's one of the thing I like about her, go hard or go home, so to speak.The story is still being told as if Lyla is writing in a journal. I did have a WTF moment and could not believe what I was reading so Thankyou Mary for writing such a believable story.I can't wait to start the next book and find out what makes Everett tick. (less)

it took me a little while to read this. don't have as much time to read as i want. this was one of the best series i have read. i cried at some parts but it was well worth it. love all her books!!!

Such a fantastic series.I am very excited to see this in a box set.Lilas story is definitely one that will stay with me for a long time to come.

This series made me fall in love with anything and everything Mary writes and my love for dark books. A truly unique love story. I love every character ♡

Broken: 5/5So I started reading this book when I left school to go to the doctor's for a check-up. I didn't read the description before starting it, so I didn't know exactly what I was getting myself into. As I started to delve into Lyla's story, my heart started to break, and my eyes started to tear up. Maybe if I was in a different setting, I would have been able to toughen up to the story a bit more, but I've had some minor problems with things like my weight and how I perceived myself, and so being at that office, possibly about to get interrogated by my doctor on whether I am mentally okay, I could somehow relate to Lyla's thoughts. I know just how terrible things can get, and to see Lyla go through everything that happens to her unhatched memories of my own. I could relate to Lyla, even if it is on a completely different level.Lyla hates herself. She doesn't want to, but the people in her school says otherwise, and eventually, Lyla believes them. When Davis, her problem, meddles with her life even more, everything seems unbearable to Lyla, and she tries to give up. She tries, but fails.Lyla is the strongest character I have ever met in my life. Her subconscious determination and love for her family is what keeps her going. She dreams of a life outside of her small town in Kansas. Her heart is set on Chicago, and she's determined to get there.In this book, Palmerin takes you on a raw and emotional journey with Lyla, a girl who is broken inside. It is a powerful story that must be read. It was amazing.Succumbing: 5/5Oh gosh, where do I begin...So we left off with Lyla finally moving to Chicago and escaping the things that plagued her in her hometown: Rigdon, Kansas.One thing I love about this story is that a guy doesn't come to immediately save Lyla. That's not what always happens in real life: sometimes there IS no knight in shining armor, and you are left to deal with your problems either by yourself or with your family. Sometimes there IS no man to be there and save you. This may go on for the rest of your life, or it may be that the one guy that's meant for you won't come out for a while. That's what makes this story is so true. The author depicts the truth of life and just how cruel reality can be. She doesn't have Mr. Perfect in her life to save her from her problems for almost five years... until Everett.Lyla meets Everett Brown, and everything clashes.It's love at first sight: Everett sees Lyla and falls for her. Lyla sees Everett and starts to have a glimmer of hope.Hah. You thought there was gonna be a happily-ever-after thing going on, didn't you?Like I said, Mary E. Palmerin helps depict the realities of life, and that life really does freaking suck.Because Lyla's past isn't going to go away. Her problem haunts her life once more with the addition of her psychotic boss, Michael Thomas. Get prepared for an extreeeme plot twist...This book leaves you wondering, hurting, loving, and hanging... Lyla's life is now combined with Everett's, and Palmerin created one hell of a journey for all of the characters in this series.Shadows: 5/5Book three of the Scars and Sorrow series is mainly written in Everett's point of view.After meeting Lyla and being together in book 2 (won't say much because I don't want to spoil anything), Everett is having trouble with coming clean to her about his family. He knows a lot about Lyla, but it isn't quite the same vice versa. Because of this, things between Lyla and Everett aren't always the best.What I love about this book and the previous books in the series is that everything within the story is on the road to a good ending, but it seems like this almost halfway through the story. So here I am thinking, "Oh God, what does Mary have up her sleeve now..."And she seriously does not disappoint.From different problems that Lyla, Everett, and the others that are on their journey have to the mind-blowing tie-ins from one character and situation to another, this book (and series) doesn't get old. Once I started reading, I didn't want to stop. When I did have to stop, however, I was able to get back into the story right away, as if I never stopped reading.The only "problem" that I had was that the sex scenes were kind of the same, and I found myself not paying as much attention to them.This book ends in a cliffhanger, BUT it's not a bad kind of cliffhanger. It stops in a way where you know there's going to be more, and you need more of it, but it's bearable. It's not one to piss you off. It's a kind of sweet and calm cliffhanger. Loved it!Armored: 4/5This book tells the story of Lyla's brother, Garrett, and how he is coping with demons of his own.After serving in the Marines and seeing his best friend die, Garrett is a mess. He has closed up to everyone and won't let anyone in.Until he starts seeing Brooklyn again...And guess who Brooklyn is?His dead best friend's sister.And she's not okay.It was refreshing to read the story of two other characters from Lyla and Everett's story. I just wish there was a bit more to it. I felt like it kind of jumped rather quickly from being distant to being lovers. Also, the sex scenes were a bit similar to the ones from the other stories... it's kind of like a pattern.Nonetheless, this story was also great and heartbreaking... it hasn't finished yet, however, and I can not WAIT to see how Mary E. Palmerin ends their story...Trials: 5/5So this book mainly takes place during Lyla's time in Chicago, before she met Everett.In this story, you see a glimpse of Lyla's life and how she coped... and who she met.Professor Blaine is all Lyla could think about in the beginning, and when she and him kick it off and start meeting each other outside of class, a whirl of confusion and emotions swirl around both Lyla and Blaine.Blaine tries to get Lyla to see that she is beautiful and worth it, but Lyla just can't seem to believe him. Because of her past, she doesn't trust Blaine and doesn't believe that he will stay.Ohhhhhh MAN. This book is full of huge twists! You see what Lyla's life was like in terms of relationships before Blaine, and I don't know about you, but I adore Blaine now along with Everett.But here's the question... Does Blaine actually have feelings for her, or is she just someone he goes to for release? What is his intention and ultimate goal?S*** gets real serious, man. I'm telling you. This series is reeeeeeaaaallly getting to me!!Succumbing: 5/5Where to begin...So as I've probably stated in my previous reviews, before you read this, you really need to read the other books in the series. Otherwise, you'll be lost and won't understand why this book is so heart-shattering and full of emotional rollercoasters.I haven't really talked about the villain much in my previous reviews, so I will take the time to do it now. Because this needs to be addressed.Michael Thomas is the most evil and cruel person out there. He is beyond manipulative, demanding, and always get his way. He's messed up. As you read you will literally want him to die in the most inhumane way possible, even if you are one who does not believe in violence. Because that's how terrible he is.But he's realistic. And it's really scary to think that there are people like him out there. Mary E. Palmerin is freaking brilliant. She has created this character who is able to cause mayhem in not just Lyla's life, but in the entire Harper family's lives as well. Michael Thomas is genius. He can get away with it all. But it's only a matter of time...Like I said, it's realistic. So that being said, the reaction of some of the members of the Harper family are realistic as well... (go read Armored [#4] if you have not already. What are you waiting for???)I cannot stress this enough: the lives of all these characters intertwine in a way you never saw coming. And it works.Lyla is conflicted. She is hurt. She is angry. She wants out. When you end up being as abused and torn apart as Lyla, the past ceases to go away. It's hard to move on and love yourself. And most importantly, it's hard to believe that there are finally people who care and want to fix you and treat you well. So when something happens and you take it in the wrong way, rational thoughts like "Oh, maybe I should figure out what's really going on" dissipate from your mind and you automatically go back to the way you have always perceived yourself as: a piece of s*** who doesn't deserve anything good.I was an emotional mess while reading this book.Mary E. Palmerin's style of writing is beautiful. In a way, it's poetic. It flows beautifully and has a way of affecting the way you see life as a whole. Her writing is like fluid, it's like water moving down a peaceful stream. I mean, I finished this book in a day and I was left with my mouth open. When I eat food, I eat and even if I'm bloated, I want more. Just like food, I wanted more from Palmerin: I wasn't satisfied and greedily wanted more.Amazing book. It leaves you hanging in the right place and makes you painstakingly wait for the conclusion of this story. This story is amazing and affects all.Overall, this series was amazing. It tells a story of loss, heartbreak, life, and redemption. This is a sure must-read.

I`m sure that nothing i write in this review could ever do justice to these book. Unlike Mary`s other books this does have a more traditional HEA ending. Just like her other books this is beautifully written and the characters get under your skin and drag you through the emotions with them, they make you feel their pain, sorrow, joy, love, grief, confusion. The emotional roller coaster that it takes you on will break your heart, stomp on it a few times and even spit on it for good measure. Do not be fooled by that statement this book is not all darkness and depression, it is about trying to escape the pasted, to survive to become more. No matter what life throws at Lyla she will fight the demons in her own way even if it means running away from them. You will also meet Garrett and Ros, Lyla`s brother and sister who have there own stories to tell and the endings they need. A beautiful story that had me sobbing, growling, shaking my kindle shouting NO NO that can`t be right that isn`t fair! Carpe F@&king Diem! This has just become my favorite series

5++++++++++++RAW REAL HEARTBREAKINGLyla’s Story will stay with me for a long while it is Raw, It is Real, the Struggle the pain the horror I felt while reading.I connected with Lyla a lot I had tears at some parts while reading In this box set you get different POV and get to hear from other Characters this story isn’t an easy one to read Lyla has so much pain abuse in her life.I loved how strong she was even after everything she had gone through you just wont to climb in the book and hug her.I am happy she got her HEA Mary had me worrying there for a while thinking Lyla was never going to get it.This book series is one of my top reads for 2015

What can I say about this amazing series?This series sparked my love of all things Mary. From the first book I was hooked.mary has a fabulous writing style that draws you in and keeps you captivated.This is a raw, gritty, heart wrenching collection of books, have the tissues to hand your sure going to need them.Take a chance on this fabulous selfless indie author you won't be disappointed xx;) xx