Review: Great risk, great rewards.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 3, 2013
I was really surprised by this book.  Truly.  Kimberly took a pretty big risk making an antagonist from the first book the heroine in this one.  It was worth taking.Audrey is Jax's ex-wife (ish) and shows up a the worst possible time in Beautiful Broken Rules announcing that Jax is her hubby.  I HATED her. Hate hate hated her.  I was sure that this book was going to be a total bust for me for that reason.  I was completely wrong.  Getting to see what was happening in her head throughout all of things that we saw in BBR was enlightening."I was wrong.  It doesn't matter the reasons I had at the time, I was wrong.  I'm so sorry.  I can't seem to get my head on straight around you.  From the very beginning, I should have stepped up and put you first.  If you give me another chance, you'll always be first to me... I swear.  Please forgive me."Audrey quickly won me over, as she did Em.  She was really such a good person, and so perfect for Jace.  When they were together they made perfect sense.  It was really quite beautiful to see how they were with one another.  Jace is SO different from Jax that it is hard to even imagine what the relationship between Audrey and Jax would have been like.  It's mind boggling really."I want to be here foe you from now on.  I want to hold you safe all night and watch you wake up in the mornings.  I want your happy forgiving spirit to ease my soul every day."I was so happy that the entire group was able to actually listen to her story and that she was able to forgive them for the snap judgements that they had made.  I loved how they were able to seemlessly incorporate her into the group, even if there were still secrets being kept."Audrey, I need you to say it.""Say what?" she asks slowly."Say what's written all over your face.  Say what's on your fingers every time you touch me.  Say what's in your eyes every morning when we wake up together.  Say what your body feels every time I'm inside of you.  Please... just say it."Without giving anything away, there is a pretty huge tragedy in this book.  I was shocked by it, but not so much by Jace's actions.  I loved that through everything Audrey was able to see that he was in a place where he wasn't thinking clearly and was still supportive of him (for the most part) and was able to forgive him."Audrey, you've been in my head since the moment I met you and you never left.  Baby, I sure as hell don't deserve you but I can't imagine anyone else being the mother of my children or being the hand I hold at the end of every day.  You're my lucky penny, remember?"I really really liked this book.  I gave it 4 stars.  It was a beautiful story of forgiveness and hope and love.  All kinds of love.  I can not wait for Lane's story in book 3, Beautiful Broken Promises, due out next year.I pull the penny up close and read the words out loud that he's stamped into the metal.Lucky to have found you.Blessed to have you.