Review: A Love Story About Heartbreak & Healing
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 23, 2014
My Thoughts:I discovered Erin McCarthy when I read, True, the first installment of the True Believers Series.  In that installment, I got to meet a strong cast of characters, that I grew to care about deeply.  In True we learned about Tyler and Rory.  I loved True so much, that when Believe came out, I read it in a day.  In Believe, we got Tyler's eldest brother, Riley's story, and one of Rory's good friend's, Jessica's story.  Throughout both of these stories we get to meet family members and friends of both Rory and Tyler.  The best part, of course, is that we are reunited with each of these characters in every installment of the series.In the third installment of the True Believers Series, Believe, by Erin McCarthy, we get Phoenix (Tyler & Riley's cousin,) and Robin's (Rory & Jessica's friend) story.  Phoenix has just been released from a five month stint in jail, after almost beating his mother's boyfriend to death, when he caught the guy raping and cutting his mom up.  Phoenix was a very interesting character.  He looked tough with his tattoos and had an air of danger about him, but nobody really knew him on a deep level.Phoenix had a tough childhood, with an alcohol and drug addicted mother, who neglected him for the most part.  He suffered from, 'Intermittent explosive disorder ' which meant that he would get bursts of anger, and had a hard time controlling it.  For the most part, when he felt his anger coming on, he would exercise himself into exhaustion.  He also stayed completely clear of alcohol and drugs.  I really loved Phoenix's character.  He wasn't the cliche, 'Bad boy.'  He had deep emotional scars, but was family oriented, determined to earn his keep, and acted responsibly.Robin used to be an irresponsible party girl, that never went to class and drank excessively.  One night, due to imbibing too much alcohol, she sleeps with her best friend Kylie's boyfriend, Nathan.  She doesn't even remember it.  She feels horrible about her actions, and does a complete turn around.  She stops partying and drinking.  She buckles down in summer school, and starts dressing more conservatively.  She starts avoiding all of her friends and doesn't leave her apartment.  Her best friend is away for the summer, but Robin has plans to move out of the apartment that they share, before Kylie returns.  She lets Nathan know that she made a horrible mistake.  However, he won't stop calling and texting her.Then, when Robin goes over to visit Jessica, she meets Phoenix.  He notices that she looks sad and lonely, and is drawn to her, because he feels the same way.  They start talking and realize they both love art, don't drink or do drugs, and have a connection.  It's easy to talk to each other and they end up becoming fast friends.  Pretty soon, Phoenix and Robin are spending all of their time together and find healing, happiness, and love with one another.  Unfortunately,  Phoenix is constantly battling his anger disorder, and Robin is worried about losing and hurting her best friend, when the truth comes out.My Rating:Believe was such a riveting page-turner.  I fell in love with the misunderstood and sensitive Phoenix.  I saw that Robin was trying to redeem herself and become a better person.  I enjoyed how the two of them really got to know each other on a deep level, and even though they fell in love quickly, there was no insta-love.  I really felt the connection between Phoenix and Robin.  I was overjoyed to get to revisit all the secondary characters that I have come to love.  We get the whole cast; Tyler, Rory, Riley, Jessica, Jayden, Easten, Kylie, Robin, and Phoenix.  I am really excited about the next installment in the series!  We will get Kylie's story, and after having her heart broken, she deserves her happily ever after.  I give Believe, by Erin McCarthy, 4 Heartbroken, Healing, and Transformative Stars!My Favorite Quote:"Hell, I would do anything she asked, because when she looked at me, I saw love...for the first time in my life, I saw pure, sweet love.  Not sneering, not wheedling, not irritation, not guilt or exasperation, but just love from someone who didn't even have to love me."  (eARC, Loc. 1820)~Phoenix*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape