Book Review: The Fall Up by Aly Martinez

From Goodreads

I wanted to jump.
He made me fall.

As a celebrity, I lived in the public eye, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost myself in the spotlight.

Until he found me.

Sam Rivers was a gorgeous, tattooed stranger who saved my life with nothing more than a simple conversation.

But we were both standing on that bridge for a reason the night we met. The secrets of our pasts brought us together—and then tore us apart.

Could we find a reason to hold on as life constantly pulled us down?

Or maybe there’s only one direction to go when two people fall in love at rock bottom—up. 

My Review

4.5 Falling... Stars!

My career was soaring while, personally, I was plummeting. Every single day felt like a terrifying free fall in no particular direction. I was stuck in the middle with no way up - or down. 

Levee Williams is a world famous pop star that has it all... at first glance. She's constantly in the spotlight, and between spending all her possible free time in the pediatric cancer ward brining smiles to sick kids' faces, grieving for the sister she lost to the same disease as a child, and pasting on a smile for the world to see, she's run herself into the ground. 

Every night for the past several days, she's found herself on a San Francisco bridge...contemplating. 

Enter Sam Waters.  Gorgeous, tattooed, and chain smoking, he's on that bridge to remember. When he catches a glimpse at the beautiful woman hiding behind oversized glasses and a wig, clinging to the railing, those memories are dredged up. Hoping to step in and prevent what he couldn't before, he starts talking to her, drawing her attention away from the water below. 

With that simple act, a bond starts to form between the raw characters that was so beautiful it made me tear up on more than one occasion. The couple has a long journey ahead of them, and we get a front row seat to everything between them.

I had absolutely no business trying to pursue something with her. We came from different worlds - and only part of that had anything to do with her being famous. Hell, that was the easy part. We were both so filled with pain. Only she was determined to escape it, while I physically ached to stop her. We'd be a fucking train wreck together. 

I adored this one! Aly Martinez is one of my favorite authors, and I was thrilled to get an ARC of one of my most anticipated releases of the year. The woman can do no wrong in my eyes! Her stories are captivating, emotional, hilarious, fresh, and gorgeously romantic. The Fall Up was no exception! 

This story was gorgeous. Completely, utterly gorgeous. I was pleasantly shocked at how the subject of running yourself so ragged and becoming depressed was handled! It wasn't overly dramatic. It wasn't selfish. It wasn't an angst-fest. It was funny, romantic, honest, swoon-worthy, and so realistic! 

The characters were so vivid! Each and every one, from Sam and Levee to the side characters, felt like tangible people that would come alive from the pages. This is Martinez's specialty, and I love it.

I was falling fast for that man, and I could only hope I was taking him with me. 

Levee was such an enjoyable heroine! She was so down to earth, funny, and just a genuinely good person. She wasn't the vapid pop princess you'd expect from that line of work, which I really appreciated. I was surprised at how much I could empathize with what she was going through; Martinez did a fantastic job of showcasing what happens when you help others without helping yourself. The circumstance as it was written felt like it could happen to anything, and it made Levee even more relatable.

"I'm not perfect, and I'd like to pretend you aren't, either."

Sam....!!! God, I loved him. He was the perfect hero in that he wasn't perfect, and he didn't think he was. He was so sweet, funny, humble, and honest. He, like Levee, was such a good person, with an enormous heart. The level of love and tenderness he had for Levee was gorgeous, of course, but he cared for everyone in his life with such dedication. He was an admirable character, and a fresh take on heroes that completely bypassed the asshole alpha trend. The world needs more men like Sam Waters. 

"That bitch!"
"She's nice enough, just -"
"Nice enough? I'm gonna put a hit out on her!"
"Okay, hold on there, Tony Soprano. No one's putting a hit on anyone." I paused. "Just to be clear, you don't have those kind of connections, do you?"
"No, but I have money! I'm sure I can buy some connections."

The chemistry and connection between Sam and Levee blew me away! They were broken, fragmented people that somehow still fit together perfectly. In any other story by any other author, their connection would have been insta-love. Not here, though. The way the met was so intense and so raw that it was no wonder they formed such a connection from it.

"From the moment I first met you, you made the world lighter. You didn't even know you were doing it at first. But just knowing you would be on that bridge every night soothed the madness that was ricocheting around inside my head. You made me laugh, and you made me feel special. The relief I felt in your arms made the craziness manageable. You were never a distraction to me, Sam. You were always my reprieve."

Their sex scenes were smoldering, and I laughed out loud on more than one occasion at their banter! They were hilarious together, and once again, so real.

"Your dick's pierced." 

"I...fuck...ugh. Is it? I thought they all looked like that."

The story was told in alternating perspectives, and it was so fun to see both their points of view. They had distinctive voices I could differentiate just on tone, without having to even read which was talking. 

The secondary characters were just as funny and enjoyable as Sam and Levee! I really hope Sam and Levee's best friends get their own novels. 

"Just make sure she keeps her mouth shut, yeah? Levee and I aren't telling people we're together yet."

"No problem. I had her sign a nondisclosure agreement."

"Who the fuck are you? Christian Grey?"

"Who the fuck are you? A post-menopausal woman? Why do you know anything about Christian Grey?"

There wasn't any sort of big reveal or anything, which I enjoyed. It was their story, no lies and no pretenses. So refreshing!

There was a point around 80% where I had expected the story to end on an all too prefect happily ever after, but it didn't. It went on to show that life isn't that easy or that perfect, and I was so thrilled to see that. We did get a very adorable, very happily ever after, but only after some very hard work from both of them. It was such a satisfying ending, too!

Levee and I were in love - there was no doubt about that. But we were still getting to know each other on so many levels. 

Not our bodies, though. They were sexual soul mates. 

Despite the very heavy subject matter, this was a beautiful, hilarious romance that perfectly balanced the happy and light with the serious. I loved it, and it resides on my all time favorites shelf!

"At the end of the day, you have to be the one to want to live. All I can do is be at your side while you do it."

Overall, The Fall Up was a beautiful, swoon worthy romance between relatable people. It sucked me in from page one, and I finished it in a day and a half. It was one of those books that just leaves you with a smile and a content feeling. Highly recommend! If you're new to the author, this is a great place to start.

Stats:

Rating: 4.5 stars

Genre: New adult, contemporary romance 

Series: Standalone

POV: 1st person, dual perspective

Steam/sexual content: Deliciously steamy, explicit sex

Warnings: Sex, swearing

Cliffhanger: No

HEA: YES!

On My Goodreads Shelves: 2015 releases, 4.5 Stars, ARCs, A Slut For Smut, Book Boyfriends, Enjoyed, Favorites, Forget Boyfriend I'd Marry Him, I Ship Them So Hard, Steamy, Sweet Romance

Length: 260 pages

Published: October 26th, 2015

ARC to Review

Goodreads

- The Bibliophile Babe 

Cover Lust No. 2

The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent

Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.

This fantastic young adult urban fantasy/paranormal/romance has been on of my favorite books of the year! Rachel Vincent can do no wrong in my eyes, and The Stars Never Rise is some of her best work yet. 

My review can be found here! :)

I can't wait for the second book, even though it comes out in damn June of 2016. Its cover's gorgeous, too!

Waiting On Wednesday No. 4

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine and is a fun way to see what books other bloggers just can't wait to get their hands on!

November 9 by Colleen Hoover 

Nov. 10

Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day of her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

1. It's Colleen Hoover.

2. I love the cover.

3. That plot!

4. It's Colleen Hoover

Outtakes From The Grave by Jeaniene Frost 

Dec. 22nd

Rediscover your love of Cat and Bones with this “director’s cut” collection of deleted scenes and alternate versions from the first four novels in the Night Huntress series, with author commentary on each selection. Collection includes the original beginnings of Halfway To The Grave, One Foot In The Grave, At Grave’s End and Destined For An Early Grave, plus the “white wedding” between Cat and Bones that readers never saw, a chapter written in Bones’s point of view, alternate versions of sections of Halfway To The Grave, One Foot In The Grave, and Destined For An Early Grave, plus much more!

                                                              More Info Here

Ohhhhhh myyyyy goddddddd!!!!!!!! EPIC FANGIRLING!!!!! I NEED THIS RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!

*clears throat*

Moving on......

This is in my top 10 most anticipated releases of the year! Go read those teasers....!

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Creepy/Paranormal/Whatever Books Perfect For The Halloween Spirit

Hey, ladies!

It's once again time for The Broke and The Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday! This week's theme is a Halloween Freebie, one I've been looking forward to for quite a while. You can do whatever you like so long as it keeps with the Halloween vibe, be it 10 scariest books, 10 vampire novels, ect. A fun topic!




I'm doing a bit of a hodgepodge of ideas, from books that are creepy, to a few that actually scared me, to some great paranormal ones. Too ADD to stick to one category! Regardless, they're all fantastic Halloween reads. ;)

If you want an absolute mindfuck, try.....

10. Nocte (Nocte, #1) by Courtney Cole

This is a fantastically dark and twisted tale, full of mystery, madness and romance. Click here for my review.

If you like things on the lighter side of paranormal, try....

9.  Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires, #1) by Chloe Neill

This was a lighter read that was funny, enjoyable, and a page turner. It was an unusual take on vampires, since the human population is totally aware that the fanged ones live amongst them. I'm looking forward to starting the next book!

If you want action, killer (literally) characters, and some seriously sexy times, try.....

8. Halfway to The Grave (Night Huntress, #1) by Jeaniene Frost

My favorite paranormal series! It's action packed with an awesome heroine, tons of humor, delicious smut scenes, and one of the best casts of side characters. The narrator for the audiobook is fantastic, and it's one of the only series where I'd suggest the audio version over the printed. Plus, Bones. <3 

If you want to sleep with the lights on, try.....

7. Dead Sky Morning (Experiment in Terror, #3) by Karina Halle

I don't scare easily in books. Oh, I'll get a bit freaked out, but not genuinely, sleep-with-the-lights-on afraid. This book, though....scared me shitless. The series is  romantic horror with some paranormal elements, and is one of my all time favorites.
This is the third in the series, and they need to be read in order. All I'll tell you on this one is: ghosts, a horrifying child that left me with nightmares, and being trapped on an island. It was my own personal nightmare, and I freaking loved it. 

If you'd like to emotionally scar a pre-teen, try....

6. Pet Semetery by Stephan King

I was...11, maybe 12 when I read this. It took two weeks before I was comfortable in the dark again. 

If you want an unusual take on YA paranormal, try....

5. My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers, #1) by Rachel Vincent

This series deals with banshees, and I'd never read about that before. It was really interesting! The series doesn't start out that strong, but each book is better than the last, and the last three are fantastic! Love triangle warning, but I actually didn't mind it and was happy with who she ended up with.
You'll love Tod, by the way. *swoon*

If you're in the mood for a funny ET, try....

4. Obsidian (Lux, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout 

The entire series was a solid 3 stars and complete guilty pleasure for me. While pretty much everyone adores this series, it has a lot of issues. I admittedly think JLA can be a bit of a lazy author, but for a guilty pleasure, easy to not think read? You can't beat her.
This was funny, and for the most part enjoyable!

If you want something truly spine chilling, try....

3. The Hallowed Ones (The Hallowed Ones, #1) by Laura Bickle 

This was such an unusual book! I loved the way it handled vampires; they weren't the seductive, genteel creatures you've become accustomed to. No, these are true monsters.
Click here for my review. 

If you want a grim reaper, try....

2. First Grave on The Right (Charley Davidson, #1) by Darynda Jones

While I'm not as crazy about this series as everyone else, it's a really enjoyable story with a quirky heroine, a smoldering love interest, and tons of humor.

If you want travel, Fae, kick-ass action, world building, and the best alpha of all time, try.....

1. Darkfever (Fever, #1) by Karen Marie Moning

This is more Urban Fantasy than Paranormal, but it's still worthy of note! It's creepy, intense, wickedly sexy, and has some of the best character development I've ever read, not to mention gorgeous world building. The first one isn't the best, but the others? God.

Oh, and do you want to meet the best alpha male ever created? You can if you read this. Jericho Barrons...mmm. These are my thoughts on him:

- The Bibliophile Babe

Book Review: Nocte (Nocte, #1) by Courtney Cole

Hey, everyone!


Happy Monday. :D Can you believe we're on the last week of October? It's crazy to me! This year's flown by.

October has had some fabulous new releases, and one of my most anticipated releases of the year comes out on the 28th. That book is the conclusion of the Nocte trilogy by Courtney Cole, so I figured the first book would be a good one to review today! That way if you decide to read it, and get completely hooked like I did, you won't have to suffer through months of a killer cliffhanger.
Nocte was one of my favorite books of the year, so let's dive right into it!
I won't be doing any form of recap on this one, because I went into it blind and I truly think that's the best way to go into this story.

From Goodreads

My name is Calla Price. I'm eighteen years old, and I'm one half of a whole. My other half—my twin brother, my Finn—is crazy. 

I love him. More than life, more than anything. And even though I'm terrified he'll suck me down with him, no one can save him but me. 

I'm doing all I can to stay afloat in a sea of insanity, but I'm drowning more and more each day. So I reach out for a lifeline. Dare DuBray. 

He's my savior and my anti-Christ. His arms are where I feel safe, where I'm afraid, where I belong, where I'm lost. He will heal me, break me, love me and hate me. 

He has the power to destroy me. Maybe that's ok. Because I can't seem to save Finn and love Dare without everyone getting hurt. 

Why? Because of a secret. 

A secret I'm so busy trying to figure out, that I never see it coming. 

You won't either.

My Review

5 "Dark, Twisted, Sexy and Head Spinning" Stars!

Wow! Just. Freaking. Wow. This was my first Courtney Cole book, and it's been a while since I've read such a genuinely gifted author.
This book was beautifully crafted; full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat with racing thoughts and a pounding heart, the story was spectacular. It's the perfect blend of suspense, mystery, grief, family, romance, loss and insanity. It was creepy and weird, passionate and haunting, confusing and fascinating.

There is nothing quite so terrifying as the descension of the human mind into insanity.

The style of writing was a bit unusual for me, and I don't think I've read anything quite like it before. It's almost simplistic, without much detail given to allow the reader to flesh out the story within the confines of the author's image. Usually that would bother me, but it worked so well for this story, and I wound up loving it. Without the layer of details you're accustomed to, you can really bend the story to your own will, letting your mind run totally wild in an attempt to build this world to your specifications.

Save me, and I'll save you. 

The story is told in alternating perspectives between Calla and her twin brother, Finn.

Calla was an interesting heroine, one I wasn't sure I liked at first, but grew to love and be absolutely fascinated by. She was quietly brave, fiercely protective of her brother, intelligent and relatable. She seemed so much older than her 18 years.
The bond she had with her twin was both amazing and a bit creepy at times, and added such an intense layer to the story.

I want her to be happy, I do.

I do.

But...not yet. I just can't be without her yet.

Calla quiets the voices.

Finn is actually crazy. He's had mental issues his entire life. A brilliant boy, but definitely unhinged. His love for his twin sister is so fierce that it frequently felt a bit obsessive. It never quite reached the line of incest/romance, but it got a little close on more than one occasion, at least in my perspective.

I would plunge to the bottom of the ocean for you. I'd comb it for shells and make you a necklace, and then hang myself with it. Because if you aren't here, I don't want to be, either. 

The short chapters from Finn's point of view were fascinating to see, the snippets from his journal only adding to his madness and slowly unraveling loss of control. His mind was a dark and twisted place, and while I was glad to be back with Calla when his chapters were over, I was anxious to get back to him all the same.

He's kisses me with abandon, like he's not afraid of the consequences, like it's only him and me, and there's nothing else around us.

Dare...well, I honestly don't know how I feel about him, aside from swooning at his British accent (how can you not love those?!). I was suspicious about him from the get-go, and so was Calla. That wound up making slight sense by the end of the book, but I still couldn't get a good read on him even after the second book. He's definitely an interesting character, that's for damn sure!
He and Calla had great chemistry, and their scenes together were scorching. Romance wasn't the primary focus of the book, but it was integral to the plot and very well done.

I've got to do what is right.

What is right.

What is right.

ProtectYourSecret.

The other voices come back, hissing, reminding.

My secret.

That's what is comes back to now.

Always.

No matter what. 

It did take around 100 pages for me to really get into this, and to see it as something more than an average contemporary. That's something wound I liked about it, though: you're lulled into a false sense of security, and are then mercilessly thrust into a world of absolute darkness.


That ending....! Holy shitballs, I did not see that coming. At all. I had a million theories, and none came even close to what happened. The cliffhanger was wicked, and the second book just as good (also with a cliffhanger)!
I honestly don't know what the hell is going on. I'm not sure if it's a paranormal factor or mental illness, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!





Overall, I highly recommend this dark and twisted tale. I was on the edge of my seat while reading this, cried more than once, and immediately bought the second one upon finishing Nocte. It's a mindfuck of epic proportions! One of my favorites for 2015! The first and second book are $0.99 on Amazon for a limited time right now.

Stats:

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: New adult, contemporary, romance, suspense, dark, mystery

Series: Nocte Trilogy, book 1

POV: 1st person, dual perspective

Steam/sexual content: Very steamy, one fairly clean sex scene

Warnings: Mental illness, sex, some violence, some language

Cliffhanger: YES!

HEA: Not a freaking clue

On My Goodreads Shelves: 2015, 5 Stars, Cliffhanger, WTF is Going On, Freaky and Scary, Heartbreaking, Great Characters, Kept Me On The Edge of My Seat, Holy Mind Fuck

Length: 319 pages (paperback)

Goodreads

My own copy

- The Bibliophile Babe

The Sunday Post/It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Hey, everyone!

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next. 





Ugh, I'm so glad this week is pretty much over. It's been really crappy all around, between caring for the emaciated, mangey puppy I found on the side of the road, having four trips to the vet, working, having no energy to write blog posts, and getting a nasty cold. I'm freakin' beat. 




If you missed the post about the puppy, go right up there ^^ and click that link to read about her. She's being called Lucky right now, and has been here a week as of yesterday afternoon. She had an awful week, too! A vet visit on Monday diagnosed her with a wealth of problems: 
- Demodex mange (not contagious to other dogs or people)
- Completely emaciated
- Tape and hookworms
- Yeast infection in both ears
- Yeast infection in her left paw pads
- Massive pressure sore on her rump
- Anemia 
- Dozens of oozing cuts and sores
- Conjunctivitis in both eyes
- Ridiculously long nails

She had a worming shot as well as her rabies. She was prescribed medicated ear wipes, ear ointment, eye ointment, medicated shampoo, medicated skin spray, hookworm wormer, antibiotic, and Ivermectin for the mange. The vet thinks she's between 5 and 8 months old, and is a Great Dane mix. She weighed in at a skeletal 23.8lbs.
Late Tuesday afternoon she developed severe balance issues and what looked something like a seizure. Repetitive jerking of her head and body, roaming gaze, but she was alert. Rushed her to the vet that evening, and he said it thankfully was not a seizure. It was some kind of vestibular disease issue causing the tremors. Could've been brought on by any number of things, from too much medicated to too much food to fast to just an inherited quirk. She had blood drawn and had low levels, but not that unexpected for a dog in her shape. We quit most of the meds and were told to be very watchful of her.

Wednesday she was still twitching and couldn't stand unassisted. Brought her back in to the vets, and spoke at length with the head vet as to whether or not it was cruel to keep trying to save her. In their opinion, they thought she could be saved. It would just take a lot of time and care. So long as we didn't see her worsen, they thought she had a fighting chance. 

Thursday there was no change, aside from her being a bit more alert. Friday came, and with that our recheck at the vet. They noted she was much more perky and alert, though still couldn't stand at all. They checked her blood again, and were thrilled to find her levels had risen 3% since Tuesday evening. She'd also gained 1.5lbs! She had her nails trimmed, and they sent us home cautiously optimistic. 
I was getting very, very discouraged. I started questioning myself if it was fair to keep her like this, unable to even stand and looking miserable. Spent most of the day wanting to cry. That afternoon I'd given her a small bowl in her crate and left the door open while I filled up her water bowl. I heard a scrabbling sound behind me, turned around, and saw Lucky walking towards me completely unassisted!! I couldn't believe my eyes! She couldn't stand without face planting that morning, and here she was walking. Slowly, but surely. 
She's still walking well, and her tremors have lessened hugely. Her progress in the last day and a half has been staggering. We have a recheck with the vet on Friday, but I'm completely confident in her recovery!




My body does not handle emotional stress well, as I've found out. Physical stress is fine (I just eat...everything), but emotional just saps my immune system. I developed a nasty cold Wednesday evening, and am still battling the damn thing. My throat is so raw from coughing it hurts to to even talk. Ugh. I'm on the mend, but my god does this suck. I am not one of those people that can sleep in when sick. Oh no, I've been up at 6:45-7am without fail. I need a nap!!



My steps have been awful this week, between being at the vet's during my evening walk time and being miserably sick, I've been moving less than I have in a long time.

Sunday - 12,633
Monday - 6,771
Tuesday - 19,582
Wednesday - 14,180
Thursday - 9,181
Friday - 6,145
Saturday - 11,505

Total - 79,997 

Read This Week

There's been no time for reading this week!

4-ish star read. Review should be up this coming week!

Currently Reading

Yeah....it's still here, through no fault of its own. 

Not too far into this one, and not sure how I feel about it. I'm not sure if the hero is an idiot, a douchebag, or both. 

What Will I Read Next?

Not a clue!

- The Bibliophile Babe

Kindle Kandy No. 4

Kindle Kandy is a Friday weekly bookish feature hosted by The Book Dame. We scan our shelves and eReaders to rediscover books that we own but have not read, to this point little more than shelf or Kindle Kandy.

Tall, Tatted and Tempting by Tammy Falkner 

She’s locked up tight. But he might be the key.

Logan Reed is tall, tatted and tempting. Kit’s a woman with a mean right hook and a secret.

Kit wants a tattoo, but Logan sees more than she intends to share in the drawing of the tat she wants. He sees her in ways no one ever has.

Logan’s not disabled; but he hasn’t spoken in eight years. He hasn’t needed to. Until he meets Kit.

Logan doesn’t know everything about Kit. Kit doesn’t know anything about herself, until she has to sacrifice all she ever wanted to save what’s most important to him.

This book is not meant for individuals under the age of 18 due to adult language, adult sexuality and adult situations.

This was a freebie I grabbed a while ago and have heard great things about! The hero is deaf, and it's suppose to be the perfect blend of humor, steam, and emotion. 

Broken Course by Aly Martinez

Seven years ago, my life changed forever. One accident and the person I saw in the mirror no longer resembled the woman I used to be. I was lost and confused inside my own body. I felt alone and disconnected from the world, carrying the incredible weight of guilt and loss that wasn't even mine to harbor.

Then fate led me to Leo James. He taught me that crazy could be perfectly normal and it shouldn't hurt to breathe. Don't get me wrong. Leo isn't perfect. He has his own cross to bear, and the truth is, that might be why I fell for him in the first place. But despite everything he does for me, learning to forgive myself is infinitely harder than overlooking the flaws of another.

Now, the secrets and lies of our past have begun to dictate our future—threatening to ruin us before we get the chance to try. Perhaps we were cursed from the start. Or maybe, just maybe, the remnants of our fractured lives will fit together to form one whole, where love isn’t questioned and being happy is…well, easy.

Can a second broken soul be enough to fill the voids of my own? Or will such scarred pasts prove too much for our love alone to overcome?

I'm a huge fan of this author's On The Ropes series, and I've heard such good things about this one!