Three by Kristen Simmons

GoodReads Summary: Ember Miller and Chase Jennings are ready to stop running. After weeks spent in hiding as two of the Bureau of Reformation’s most wanted criminals, they have finally arrived at the safe house, where they hope to live a peaceful and quiet existence—but all that’s left is smoking ruins.

Devastated by the demolition of their last hope, Ember and Chase follow the one thing left to them—tracks leading away from the wreckage. The only sign that there may have been survivors.

Because of their high profiles, they know they can’t stay out in the open for long. They take shelter in the wilderness and amid the ruins of abandoned cities as they follow the tracks down the coast, eventually finding refugees from the destroyed safe house. Among them is someone from Chase’s past—someone he thought he’d never see again.

Banding together, they search for a place to hide, aiming for a settlement a few of them have heard about… a settlement that is rumored to house the nebulous organization known as Three. The very group that has provided Ember with a tiny ray of hope ever since she was first forced on the run.

Three is responsible for the huge network of underground safe houses and resistance groups across the country. And they may offer Ember her only chance to tell the world her story—and to fight back.

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Expected publication date: 11/02/13  

In my opinion, there is nothing better than finishing the last book in a trilogy/series than with a happy sigh.

Three picks up where Breaking Point left off. Ember, Chase and the gang are desperately searching for survivors from the destroyed safe house. Along the way finding clues that they believe are linked to Three, the lucrative organization that heads the resistance. Then just as there hope of finding survivors dwindles they encounter someone from Chase's past who changes everything...

Although the plot is thoroughly engaging, what really stands about this trilogy is the characters. The path that Chase and Ember tread isn't an easy one, it's intertwined with hope, betrayal, and surprises, be that or good or bad. Chase and Ember continue to grow, and so does their relationship. Chase struggles to come to terms with his past, and Ember is always there to support and guide him. Doom and gloom aside, there was also some swoony moments:

"You need a bath."
His muscles loosened by the slightest degree. "Maybe you could take one with me."
I felt his grin against my neck. "Make sure I don't cut any corners."
My stomach fluttered. "Maybe I will."
He went still. 

*sigh* These two are my OTP, they are just made for each other. 

Even the secondary characters are layered and complex. None of them are black and white good guys/bad guys, there's more to them than meets the eye. They all have to face moral dilemmas and make tough decisions. Tucker, however, is the character that surprised me the most. The whole way through reading this I was never quite sure where he stood, I was continually second guessing myself when it came to him. He's the kind of character that will stay with you, I think. He has, in fact, become a favourite of mine. The friendship between Sean, Rebecca, and Ember was also very sweet.

To conclude: I will read anything that Simmons writes.

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