Review: A phenomenal ride like no other!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 23, 2014
I read A Woman Gone Mad and it was a book like no other.  And yes I wanted more. I wanted to know how Leo, the love of Lil's life, felt throughout all the years they were apart.  Well I didn't have to wait long because Kimber Dawn wrote Holding Her in Madness and I am so glad she did.This truly is Leo Phillips's story.  We get inside his head. Inside his heart where the young, innocent Lillian Shaw lives. They met when she was 16 and he was 18 and even though they only spent a summer together, it felt more like a lifetime to them. But her father made sure through lies and intimidation, that they would never spend another day together again.But through the entire time they spent apart, Leo never ever stopped loving his firecracker and even though he moved away he kept tabs on her.  Members of his famiy would give him updates and he even watched her from afar a couple of times.  They both lived their lives. She, never really knowing true happiness and suffering greatly, and he, becoming successful, finding a substitute love but never really feeling happy.The love, the devotion Leo has for his Lil is simply incredible.  He was no more than a rough and tumble punk all those years ago yet he grows into a man who despite his failings, is a truly phenomenal man that cares for others.  That even though he is convinced that he hurts everyone he touches, he still tries to do the right thing and never falters when they need him most.I love this book. I love Leo.  I loved that after the raw, gritty story that Kimber Dawn gave us with AWGM, that she found  and let us see the soft spot, the bright light, in a love truly star crossed, yet almost unattainable.  The author gave us the good in the seemingly bad, the sun when all that seemed to be possible was dark clouds.The difficult journey of Leo and Lil is one that made me laugh, cry yet also smile often.  The honesty portrayed is nothing less than astounding. It is an adventure like no other and one I was thrilled to experience. Not to mention an epilogue that practically had me cheering.I cannot recommend this book enough.  You need to read A Woman Gone Mad first to truly appreciate all that Leo sacrificed for the love of his life.  You will not be disappointed.A huge 5 stars. It is that good.*The author graciously gave me a copy for an honest review*