Review: Imperfectly perfect characters with intense backstories and a shocking ending
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 5, 2014
Author: Jessica SorensonGenre: Romance/LoveTitle: The Destiny of Violet & LukeSynopsis: Taken from goodreadsLuke Price's life has always been about order, control, and acting tough on the outside. For Luke, meaningless relationships are a distraction-a way to tune out the twisted memories of his childhood. He desperately wishes he could forget his past, but it haunts him no matter what he does.Violet Hayes has had a rough life. When she was young, she was left with no family and the memory of her parents' unsolved murders. She grew up in foster homes, living with irresponsible parents, drugs, and neglect, and trying to fight the painful memories of the night her parents were taken from her. But it's hard to forget when she never got closure-and she can't stop dreaming about what happened that tragic night. To make it through life, she keeps her distance from everyone and never allows herself to feel anything.Then Violet meets Luke. The two clash instantly, yet they can't seem to stay away from each other. Although they fight it, they both start to open up and feel things they've never felt before. They discover just how similar they are. But they also discover something else: The past always catches up with you...Characters: The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden was the first book I ever read by Jessica Sorenson and from the beginning I fell in the love with the darkness behind her characters because they are actually believable. I read books all the time where the characters are written in such a way that makes me vocalize to my iPad ‘no one would ever say that, please shut up’. The flaws of the characters make the book more believable. It also allows the book to stay with you and relate…well I can’t relate to either Violet or Luke but I’m betting some readers can.“They’re smiling as they talk to each other and they make it look so easy, so natural, like it’s as simple as breathing. But even breathing is difficult for me sometimes.”The characters unraveled in this book the way I expected them too. You get to see more about their background than their transformation, which is expected since this is not the last book with Violet and Luke (yippee!)“Even though the odds are in my favor, doesn’t mean they’ll end up that way. First rule of cards. And of life.”I loved that this book was solely about Violet and Luke with minor mentions of Callie and Kayden, It made me want the next sequel of Callie and Kayden more (I see what you did there).“It's all about her. Every movement, every breath, the way my heart beats fiercely inside my chest, is all because of her. Violet owns me.”Writing Style (POV): This book alternates between Violet and Luke’s point of view. There are very few flashback scenes but enough to grasp the context of the ‘present’ day.Background: As you read in the synopsis that both characters suffer from intense, dark childhood and early life experiences. Both characters come to the table with large issues but that doesn’t make this book depressing to me. In their own way they are going to save one another. They are going to both be able to relate and love on a level that most can’t because of their ‘issues’ and their ‘destiny’. Is this book sad? Yes, it is. But this book is also setting the stage for relief in both of their lives. You can see where they are both just so tired of relying on their own self. You’re going to see them gravitate to one another and hurt one another because they don’t know how to exhibit healthy love.Cliffhanger/HEA: Let me just say…. WHAT. I was NOT expecting the end of the story. I honestly love how unpredictable Jessica’s writing is. I would be bored if I could guess the ending. I’m anxiously awaiting the next book of their story. HEA? I think eventually, yes. I can’t wait to see what she does with the story.Evaluation: I thought this was a fantastic book. I have books on my ‘read’ list on here that by the title alone I can’t remember the story and I have to go back and read the reviews to even remember the character’s names. Jessica Sorenson writes in a way that her characters impact you and don’t forget. Isn’t that the point of writing? Telling a story that impacts a reader? Not every love story is a match.com commercial and the sadness in this story is more a reality than an instant HEA. So to me, Jessica did not disappoint.This is a 5 star book for me because:1) It’s part of a continuous series. I love series. I hate movies but love TV shows because of the continuous story line.2) The characters had a ‘realness’ to them. Life is not always rainbows and butterflies.3) I am confident I will remember this storyline based on the title alone 20-30 books down the road.