Lovin' los libros

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“She’s beauty for my ashes. And I’m hope for her heartache.”—Cole Danzer

I don’t know what makes a great love story. Is it that instant attraction when boy meets girl? The passionate kisses and the fairy-tale ending? Or is it a lifetime of tragedy, paid in advance, for a few stolen moments of pure bliss? The pain and the suffering that, in the end, you can say are worth it for having found the missing piece of your soul?

The answer is: I don’t know. I don’t know what makes a great love story. I only know what makes my love story. I only know that finding Cole when I did, when Emmy and I were running from a nightmare, was the only thing that saved me. That saved us. He was more broken than I was, but somehow we took each other’s shattered pieces and made a whole. If that is what makes a great love story, if that is what makes an epic romance, then mine…ours is the greatest of them all.

Contains material that some may find disturbing. Not intended for readers under the age of 18.




After helping with the cover reveal of this book, I knew I instantly wanted to read it. Not only did I love the cover, but the blurb drew me in and I do enjoy a good, emotional love story. I had no idea how emotional this book would be when I received it for review. Having only read Leighton's Bad Boys series, I have to say the content and the emotional depth of this one really struck my heart and when Eden and Cole share their pasts with one another I was in no way prepared for what they have endured and are still haunted by.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Leighton has an engaging writing style and can do intense, emotional so well. This is truly a beautiful story of two broken people finding love even amidst all the pain their pasts have to offer. I really admire Eden for her strength after everything she's gone through and how resilient she is. I can't even imagine the kind of past she's had and while it hasn't been easy, she cannot break down and show weakness for the sake of her adorable little girl, Emmy. Emmy was absolutely precious and I loved seeing her interact with Eden, as well as Cole. She is a very shy little girl so seeing her open herself up to Cole with these tiny little gestures absolutely melted my heart. Kids are so intuitive and it's like she knew Cole was someone she could trust and befriend from the very beginning.

Cole has closed himself off from the rest of the world, and while the small town of Millers Pond talks about his crazy, Eden doesn't let that stop her from ogling the deliciously sexy man who works across the street. She is surprised by the intense need that flares up while she watches him work, especially since she isn't looking to be intimate with anyone. Her daughter is her priority and will always put her first and foremost no matter what. Cole's gruff nature doesn't exactly lend itself to making new friends, but Eden can't help but think about him. She isn't the only one having problems either, as Cole feels the same way. Only Cole is angry that she evokes these feelings in him- feelings that he swore he would never allow himself to feel again. I liked Cole a lot, but there is one scene that really bothered me with him and given the content of the book, I didn't like the way it came across. I know it was inserted to trigger events, but still. I was able to push past it though because he really does care for Eden and Emmy and as much as he wants to believe he doesn't need them in his life, he does.

I am torn on the ending though. I can't say much for fear of spoilers, but I'm still not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand I loved it because it was everything I wanted after an emotional book, but on the other, I was so confused and left feeling like I didn't understand anything. For those of you who have read the book, I think you'll surmise what I'm trying to point out here. I trust Leighton and I'm no stranger to her crazy twists and turns (DOWN FOR YOU!) so I guess I will have to wait and see before I make any final decisions.

This is not an easy book to read. Please heed the warning in the blurb. It is not graphic in disturbing material, thankfully, but it's still enough to make your stomach churn and your heart ache. However, there is hope even after all the darkness these two characters have been through and that is a comforting thing to hold on to.

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author M. Leighton is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.