Review: The Boy Who Paints Me by Sharlay

Synopsis:

Rainie Hart is trapped in a world of secrets, lies and betrayal. Running away is her only option. With her step-dad, Mitch, hot on her trail she knows that she has to keep moving. Running away was easy until her journey lead her right into the path of Daniel Leighton. Falling in love wasn't a part of Rainie’s plan but fate had other ideas. But what will happen when a twisted revelation sends Leighton and Rainie’s world into turmoil? Will love be enough to keep them together or will the secret of their pasts tear them apart?















Nicky's Review

4 Stars

Characters-  The characters were written so well that I felt connected to them and began to feel for them; the good and the bad. And there is a lot of bad, but I promise there is good too.
Plot/Storyline- This story latches onto your heart from the beginning, rips it out and then slowly begins to put it back together as the plot unfolds. There are so many points of anguish, love, and healing and a plot twist I did NOT see coming.
Steam Factor- A lot of special moments of exploration and familiarization. The actual act was very tame and sweet and loving. Just the way it should be for Rai.
Cover- This cover is what pulled my eyes to it. It is amazingly beautiful!!
Cliffhanger- Nope. This is a standalone with a very sweet Epilogue.
Overall- I really enjoyed this book despite the VERY SENSITIVE subject matter. It was hard to read at times, but the story of survival and rebirth was worth the suffering by being able to find the beauty despite and in spite of the ugliness. I would recommend this book to anyone who is not easily offended and is willing to suffer through some traumatic situations in order to see it through to the promise of hope in the end. You did read that it had a sweet Epilogue, so it wasn't THAT traumatic ;)

This story ripped my heart out from the beginning. I was beaten and raw as I followed this story of darkness.  I wanted to know that there was light somewhere poking through the blackness for Rai. I felt so broken for Rai, but wait, the light does eventually peek through in the form of the beautiful boy next door, Leighton. Oh my, could a guy be any sweeter?

Leighton meets Rai and there is an instant draw between them. I am not a fan of insta-love, so trust me, this was not in that category. It was that connection that you have on another level. I understand this because that was EXACTLY what I felt when I met my now husband. I never dated because nothing felt RIGHT with anyone, but I only knew my husband for one week before I had to go away to school for a year. We kept in touch, I came back, and the rest is now history (we've been together for 15 years now ☺). I just say this because I feel that insta-love is thrown around a lot (I've been known to say it, but I only say it when the love connection is not believable at all, when it's clearly just lust that causes an "I love you" to slip and then it begins playing on repeat over and over and over again. You know what I mean), but this is not the case in this book. You will feel and understand their connection. It's not false or lust driven, it's soul driven.

Anyway, the story continues with Rai and Leighton becoming friends and growing closer and closer as time passes.  Leighton is a bit forward when it comes to subtle physical contact (holding hands, hand at low back, arm around shoulders, you get it) and surprisingly to Rai, this contact from Leighton doesn't send her running; instead she begins to crave it! Major breakthrough here guys!

Leighton and Rai's relationship faces MANY conflicts from internal struggles to external issues (ex's, friends, location, etc).  I was so consumed in this story. Page after page I wanted to discover more about Rai's past, more about Leighton; I wanted to see how far Rai and Leighton's relationship would go and I wanted, no NEEDED, to see how their story was going to end.

Now I am one who ALWAYS figures out the plot twist in a book before it happens. It's a fault of mine really because it just takes the gusto out of the HOLY SH#! moment I crave in a book. But let me tell you, I don't know if it was because I was so distracted by everything else going on that I forgot to think about a plot twist, but HOLY SH#! I did NOT expect that twist. I love it when I'm slapped dead in the face with an unexpected moment and this book definitely fulfilled my need for the unexpected shock..... I still can't believe I didn't even consider it.... Oh well. Hehe ;) 

All in all, as I said before, I would recommend this book to anyone who is not easily offended and is willing to suffer through some traumatic situations in order to see it through to the promise of hope in the end. You did read that it had a sweet Epilogue, so it wasn't THAT traumatic ;) Happy Reading and let me just say: WELL DONE SHARLAY!! BRAVO **enter standing ovation with awkward single person clapping right here ;) **

Favorite Quotes:

"Kissing you is the first thing that I think about when I wake up, the last thing that I think about before I go to sleep, and the only think that I ever dream about. And the moment that I allow myself to kiss you," he said before gently, wetting his lips with his tongue, "I'm never letting you go. When I'm sure that you're ready to accept that, then, and only then, will I kiss you, the way that I've wanted to kiss you, since the day that you walked into my life."

"My mom was right, he never his me but sometimes it's the scars that you can't see that are the worst."

"Don't worry, nobody becomes great without failing a few times, try again," he said.

"Sweetheart, there are no rules when it comes to love. When it picks you, it picks you. It doesn't discriminate, and it doesn't care if you're ready or not," Megan said as she raised her eyebrow at me.

"Whether I kiss you in the most private place or in front of the entire world it still makes me feel the same. It changes nothing except the fact that every time that I kiss you, I leave a little bit more of me behind, with you, and I don't want you to give it back to me. I need you to keep it, ok?" He whispered.

"I wanted to trade this life in. I wanted to find the receipt to my life, go right back to where it began and ask for a refund or an exchange, only life wasn't that easy. Life wasn't fair."

"Rai, if I could change everything bad that has happened in the past then I would but I can't, but what I can do is make sure that your future is filled with a whole lot of goods," he smiled as he stroked a strand of my hair behind my ear.

~Purchase This Book~

Kindle Link:

  The Boy Who Paints Me

  ~CAST~

Review: Saving Amy by Nicola Haken

Synopsis:
Eighteen year old Amy’s surname may be Hope, but her life contains anything but. She drinks, she sleeps around, she cuts… anything to help her escape the agonising existence growing up between her mother’s drunken wails and her father’s fists. But nothing works. There is no escape. And Amy wants out…

Enter Richard Lewis – the doctor responsible for saving Amy’s life after her drink and drug-fuelled suicide attempt. Thanks to his own hidden demons, Richard is drawn to Amy and her situation, and despite the incessant warnings from both his own mind and his jealous ex-lover Joanna, he feels compelled to help her.

But how will Amy feel when she discovers Richard’s attachment to her is born out of his own guilt? He was her last resort – her last chance at being saved. Can anybody save Amy, or has she finally reached the end of a very long, torturous road?

(Not suitable for under 18's due to language, scenes of self-harm and sexual content)






Nicky's Review

4 Stars

Characters- I LOVED Richard. Amy was likable but very self destructive and reckless. It took a bit for her to grow on me.
Plot/Storyline- The story was really good but is filled from beginning to end with Amy on self destruct mode. You just don't know when the shoe will drop... The Epilogue is beautiful and tops the story off perfectly :)
Steam Factor- Richard is so freaking hot and sweet. They are perfect together.
Cover- Love it. So pretty and clean. Love B&W photos.
Cliffhanger- Nope. This is a Standalone with a great Epilogue to finish it off :)
Overall- I REALLY enjoyed this book. It was very angsty and took me on an emotional roller coaster ride.  Richard was the main source of comfort and healing, but I loved how Amy was able to save Richard in return :)


This is the story of how one girl is beaten down over and over and over again, but is able to survive... just barely.  

Amy comes from a very abusive family. Her father beats her on a regular basis and verbally abuses her too; while her sorry excuse for a mother stands by and drinks herself into oblivion.  Amy, of course, comes away from this life with some very deep internal scars mentally and emotionally.  She copes through any means of escaping reality for a short while: sex, drugs, alcohol, cutting... Until one night she passes out in the street and wakes up in an unfamiliar bed. Oh no, what happened last night?

Well, here enters Richard. The most amazing guy you will ever meet. I love him so much. I love his heart, patience, and acceptance when it comes to Amy. I also really enjoyed the fact that Richard was able to understand Amy's situation on some levels, which really made me understand why he wasn't running as far away from Amy as soon as he discovered her issues. Instead, he latches on and helps her heal. Have I mentioned how amazing Richard is? We all need a Richard in our lives.

The story is about how Amy and Richard heal each other and are there for each other but it's not a pretty story. Bad things happen, Richard and Amy's relationship is tested, but there is a HEA. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story of survival and finding strength and love along the way. Great job Nicola Haken! I haven't read a book of yours that I haven't fallen in love with. I am looking forward to reading all of your work. XOXO

Favorite Quotes:

“I have this thing about books – a disease almost – that won’t let me give up until I've read to the end.”

“Each and every one of these should be a reminder of how strong you are. You should look at them and remember what you've been through, and feel proud that you’re still here – still fighting.”

"I was growing more attached to him every day and the longer I stayed, the higher the drop would be when I inevitably fell."

"He knew I had nothing and as far as I was concerned, he gave me everything just by breathing."

"I'd never known the meaning of happiness but if this was it I would give up my life just to hang on to it for one extra minute."

"We lay together for what could've been forever. Two guilt-ridden souls, laid bare in every sense of the word- both silently begging to be saved."

"I used to write for hours at a time. It was a sort of escapism I suppose- immersing myself in a world I could only dream of living in. It was the only way I ever got to experience a happy ending... before I met you of course."

"Books, stories... they're always something you can fall back on no matter what life is throwing at you. They offer you a place to go when you just need to escape for a little while."

"Stop it with this desire to be 'normal.' What the hell is 'normal' anyway?" he continued, using air quotes to excess. "'Normal' people as you put it couldn't even begin to imagine the things you've been through, let alone survive them.  Yet here you are, still fighting, striving. You're right, Amy... you're not normal. You are so much more."

  
  

~Purchase this Book~

Kindle Link:

 

  Saving Amy

~CAST~