Review: A Must read of 2013!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 7, 2013
***ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review***WOW!!!I am emotionally drained!'When a tragic accident leaves Rhane Evans -- lead vocalist for the rock band Fate's Crazy -- permanently unable to speak above a whisper and kills the love of her life, she moves across the state to pick up the pieces. Shattered, Rhane struggles to understand what happened the night of the accident, an accident everyone blames her for, even though she wasn't driving the car.Enter Ian Callahan. He's the one person who may have a more tumultuous past than Rhane. Though they try hard to deny the sizzling attraction between them, it proves nearly impossible. When Ian's troubled past threatens to tear them apart, they begin to believe happiness isn't in their cards.Because Fate's Crazy that way...'Release Date: August 2ndI have no words for how DEAPLY this story affected me!!I fell in love with Dalton and Rhane.I KNEW going into this that it wouldn't last, I knew this wholeheartedly and still it DESTROYED me, shattered me and ripped my heart out! I was so attached to these two as a couple. I kept telling myself ' Just stop, you know he's about to die!" But did that stop me?? NO!!"Karma's Desire" was fast becoming recognised as our signature song, I belted out the sultry Ballard about two star crossed lovers. The twins dubbed it ' The Legend Of Dalton and Rhane.'Dalton was a true bad boy with a heart of gold."Ray, you'll always have a little piece of my heart," he says suddenly serious " don't ever leave me babe, a guy can't live with part of his heart missing. "*Enter car accident*6 months later.....The accident left Ray with a fractured wind pipe and voice box. It also killed Dalton instantly.I felt so terrible for Ray. In her own words she is left"An out of work woman mourning the death of the only man I've ever loved. "I ADORED uncle T!What a wonderful man, he was more of a big brother/ father figure, than an uncle."As though sensing my hesitation T tells me, " It's ok Rhane. Nothing's going to hurt you inside that room. Wasn't this once your safe place?"^^ this had me sobbing, as I hadn't recovered from the 'stairs' incessant yet.My heart bleeds for this young woman, her whole world is falling down around her, and her main support person is gone, her two other band members, the twins, want nothing to do with her ( to the point of a law suit) and her 'parents' disowned her when she followed her heart and soul into music, not collage. The only one she has left is uncle T.I heart him!!After moving to the 'house' her Nana left for her, she meets Gwen her nurse and soon to be friend. I loved this woman and her no holds bared attitude. Army chick all the way!There are some rare moments of humour from Ray, and I loved them!'I'm pretty sure washing it in puppy shampoo isn't something I want to make a habit of doing.'So this 'house' needs a LOT more than some tlc, you know, because its not normal to rain inside!  Enter Ian Callahan the carpenter  *sigh*I enjoyed the fact that there was no insta love! Insta lust, yes, but their friendship grew and blossomed into something beautiful.So many ups and downs throughout. When he unknowingly plays 'Karma's Desire' while they're working, Ray totally and expectantly loses it! And let me tell you it CRUSHED ME!When Emmy (Ians daughter) is introduced I fell in love harder with this man that has been dealt one of the worst hands EVER, after what his mother and father did, leaving he and his sister Orphans, he could have easily turned out like his sister an alcoholic, but no-  he turned his life around even after Aubrey O'Meara, a girl he went to school with planed to get pregnant before graduation, not caring who the daddy was but deciding to " Scrape the bottom of the barrel " with the local trailer trash, seeing how her family is very well off and this will royal piss mummy and daddy off!A new depth was brought forward when Ray and Emmy are at the piano."She is completely enraptured by the vibrations coming from the music, which I'd mistakenly assumed only I would be able to hear. "After Ray remembers part of the accident the night that everyone is iced in At her house she has a scene with Ian, later know as the 'bathroom incident' and it is heartbreakingly breathtaking!!"It's ok sunshine, I've got you,go on and cry like nobody's watching, I'll be your rock.""Sometimes when I think of never seeing you again, I can't breathe." "It's alright, Sunshine. I'll be your oxygen," he whispers.I was thinking this had a 'The Sea Of Tranquility' by Katja Millay feel, which is in my top 5 books of all time, so I freaked out when Ian started calling Ray 'Sunshine' just like Josh from'TSOT' ! Weird!I was so mad at Aubrey with the whole Christmas thing, what a horrible person!!I really do believe Ray overreacted at this particular situation ( well more so than usual anyways!!)I felt terrible for Ian.I hated their time apart, but I feel they both grew so much that is was a necessary evil.I think it truly helps that this book just flows so effortlessly, I couldn't stop, I read it cover to cover, only breaking when I could no longer see through the tears.Rays moment with Grams saying"If someone takes a piece of your heart, hunt 'em down and get it back. You're a strong girl Rhane, but ain't nobody able to live with half a heart. "The ending was very nicely wrapped up, although I hope to read more about the journey of Ray and Ian"Because let's be clear here, you're mine, I'm yours. You can have your own toothbrush. No way in hell you're driving my truck, and I definitely won't be sharing you with anyone."Thank you Lori for a beautiful story, you have made my favourites list  :)