Showing posts with label Beautifully Broken Series. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Book Review : My Peace (Beautifully Broken, #5) by Courtney Cole

My Peace

Beautifully Broken, #5
by Courtney Cole

Release Date:
January 13th, 2017

Genres:
New Adult
Contemporary Romance

Add to Goodreads

Purchase Link:
Amazon

Source:
Author

eARC received in exchange of honest review

Synopsis:

Happy endings must be worked for.

Pax Tate used to be an effed up asshole, but you’d never know it now. He’s got a sexy wife, their own little family, a cozy home, and a successful career.

Everything is perfect.

Until his past rears its ugly head.

Pax will do anything to protect his family, even if he destroys himself in the process.

***Letter from the Author***

Four years ago, my book IF YOU STAY released, and it sat on the New York Times bestseller's list for twelve weeks. Why? Because the main character, Pax Tate, resonated with readers.

Pax could be an asshole at times, and at others, charming, witty and lovable. IF YOU STAY began with a drug overdose and a blowjob-- illustrating how much of a bad boy Pax could be. It ended with Pax getting married to his love, Mila, illustrating how much he'd grown.

I announced a couple of months ago that Pax is based on my son, Gunner. (His personality traits). Gunner is a twenty-two year old drug addict, and it has been an emotional rollercoaster during his journey. He is doing well now, and has come through rehab, and is now in a halfway house. But his journey has shown me that happy endings must be worked for.

So, I decided to continue Pax's story...to show what happens when someone's happily-ever-after is challenged.

I ended MY PEACE in the way that I hope my son's story will continue.

From my pen, to God's ear. :)

I hope you love My Peace. I hope my message comes through-- that redemption can find us all.

With much love,
Courtney

Beautifully Broken Series on Goodreads:

My Thoughts:

My Peace is a continuation of Pax and Mila's story from,

If You Stay, (the first story in the Beautifully Broken Series,) and must be read in sequential order. Pax and Mila are happily married and have a beautiful daughter, "ZuZu." Everything is going well in their lives. Pax has been clean and hasn't craved drugs in five years, business is booming, the romance and love that they have for one another has only grown exponentially over time, and they have close friends and family that they cherish. Their lives are full and abundant with blessings and happiness.

Then, everything changes... Danger, malevolence, and deceit enter into their lives. Ghosts from the past come calling, and Pax and Mila are tested. Temptations are provoked, and Pax and Mila's little family is put in danger in more ways than one. Will they all survive?

My Peace was a real page-turner. It portrayed the dark reality of addiction masterfully. It was filled with so much emotion, that I felt everything that Pax and Mila experienced. Their pain and tears became my own. There was a huge twist that I didn't see coming, and it made the story that much more engaging. I couldn't put down my Kindle, even if I had needed to! There was also a spiritual element to the story that made me smile, and cry tears of happiness. It was absolutely beautiful.

I could tell that My Peace was a very personal experience for Ms. Cole. The story flowed so seamlessly and effortlessly. It provoked so many raw emotions in me, and was so very "real." The characters were three-dimensional, and felt like they could have walked right out of the pages. This story really resonated and meant a lot to me, and I know that it will touch many other readers as well.

Another element that I loved in the story was getting reacquainted with Maddy, Gabe, and Brand, who were other characters in the Beautifully Broken Series. I adore this series so much, and was in my happy place reading about some of my all-time favorite book characters.

My Rating:

I give, My Peace, by Courtney Cole, 5 Emotionally-Charged, Beautiful, Raw, Dark, Twisted, Exorcising the Past Filled Stars! Fans of Mila and Pax, and the Beautifully Broken Series, need to read, My Peace. It was the perfect ending to their story! Those of you that love raw, realistic stories filled with romance and angst need to dive in to the Beautifully Broken Series. You'll thank me later!!!

About the Author:

I write books. I’ve always had a huge imagination, and so writing books just seemed like the logical job for me. I love LOVE, so Romance is the perfect genre for me. I love Happily Ever Afters in my books, but I also love a good rocky journey to get there. A difficult journey makes the destination worth it.

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Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Promo Post : My Peace (Beautifully Broken, #5) by Courtney Cole

My Peace

Beautifully Broken, #5
by Courtney Cole

Release Date:
January 13th, 2017

Genres:
New Adult
Contemporary Romance

Add to Goodreads

Purchase Link:
Amazon

Synopsis:

Happy endings must be worked for.

Pax Tate used to be an effed up asshole, but you’d never know it now. He’s got a sexy wife, their own little family, a cozy home, and a successful career.

Everything is perfect.

Until his past rears its ugly head.

Pax will do anything to protect his family, even if he destroys himself in the process.

***Letter from the Author***

Beautifully Broken Series on Goodreads:

About the Author:

Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Twitter | Website

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Book Review: Until We Fly (Beautifully Broken #4) by Courtney Cole

Until We Fly
Beautifully Broken #4
By: Courtney Cole
Release Date: July 7, 2014
Mature Content
Source: Publicist (eARC in exchange for an honest review)
Add to Goodreads

GR's Summary:

Ex-Army Ranger, Brand Killien, has always been good. A good friend, a good soldier, a good everything. . The problem is, good hasn’t gotten him anything but a crushed heart. So after licking his wounds, he decides to move on. And moving on doesn’t include being good anymore. Bad sounds so much better. Jaded and detached, Brand is determined to never open himself up to anyone again. It’s not worth the pain. Instead, he becomes closed, hardened, aloof. But then he’s called back home for a family emergency… a family that he is estranged from. A family that he put out of his mind a long time ago for very good reasons…reasons that involve secrets and pain. Reasons he tried hard to forget. But home is where the heart is, and it just might be where Brand finds his again. Why? Because home is where Nora Greene is. A fiery, red-headed spitfire, Nora is a thing from his past. A beautiful, feisty thing. When Brand left, she was away at boarding school. But she’s back now. And she wants Brand, scars and all.

Beautifully Broken Series:

My Review on If You Stay

My Review on If You Leave

My Review on Before We Fall

My Thoughts:

I have been avidly following the Beautifully Broken Series, and enjoyed reading every single book in this series. However, I have to say that Brand and Nora's story is my absolute favorite. When I first met Brand as a secondary character in, If You Leave, I adored him. It was obvious to me that he was a great friend to Gabe, and extremely loyal. Then, when I read Gabe's sister, Jacey's story in, Before We Fall, I got to know Brand on an even deeper level. He was always there for both Gabe and Jacey, and was a modern day "Knight in Shining Armor."

In, Until We Fly, we finally get Brand as the main character! I feel like I've been waiting on this book forever, and believe me when I say, it was well worth the wait. Brand returns to his hometown, when his mother contacts him, and let's him know that his father has died. From the beginning of the story we realize that there is no love lost between Brand and his mother. When he arrives to the small town of Angel Bay, his heroic actions lead him to Nora, a young woman that has been infatuated with Brand since she was a teenager. Brand sustains severe injuries, and Nora uses this as an opportunity to get to spend more time with him, by offering to help him, until he can get on his feet. As Brand and Nora stay in Gabe and Jacey's childhood cottage home, these two experience sweet summer days, and even steamier nights. While Brand is reluctant in participating in an type of relationship with Nora, she sets her sights on Brand, and he won't be able to resist her for long!

I loved Until We Fly! Brand and Nora were amazing characters! Brand was a genuine good guy. He had a horrible childhood, and many demons to contend with, yet he was still such an amazing person. He deserved someone that saw him for the wonderful person that he was, and Nora was that person. I loved how Nora was the aggressor in the relationship between herself and Brand. In most romances, it is usually the guy that is actively pursuing the woman, so I really enjoyed the role reversal.

This story was extremely fast-paced. There were a ton of plot twists that kept my attention the whole way through. The more I discovered about Brand's upbringing, and Nora's father, the more horrified I became. These two had a lot to overcome, and they both showed their resilient spirit. I loved watching the beautiful connection these two built with one another. Until We Fly was such a touching story, and I felt like I was a part of something special as Brand and Nora finally found a home in each others arms.

My Rating:

Trust me! You want to get Branded!!! Brand was a man with the full package! He was sweet, sexy, courageous, and a genuine good guy. I give, Until We Fly, by Courtney Cole, 5 Heroic, Swoon Worthy, Sexy, "Brand Takes Care of What is His," Filled Stars! Until We Fly has been officially added to my favorite's shelf!!! Don't miss out on this fabulous story!

My Favorite Quote:

"She said...'Branden, the best things in life are worth the greatest risk. Sometimes, before we fall, we fly.' " (eARC, Loc. 2387)

About Courtney Cole:

Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. She loves chocolate and roller coasters and hates waiting and rude people. Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.

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Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Cover Reveal: Until We Fly (Beautifully Broken #4) by Courtney Cole

Are you ready to Get BRANDed?

Get ready because Brand is getting his book! That's right! Courtney Cole is writing a fourth novel in her Beautifully Broken Series, and it's coming out July 7th. Today, we have the amazing and beautiful cover to share with you. So, without further ado... we introduce you to...

UNTIL WE FLY (Beautifully Broken #4)

Are you as excited as we are? Don't forget to go add it on Goodreads!

ABOUT UNTIL WE FLY: Ex-Army Ranger, Brand Killien, has always been good. A good friend, a good soldier, a good everything. . The problem is, good hasn’t gotten him anything but a crushed heart. So after licking his wounds, he decides to move on. And moving on doesn’t include being good anymore. Bad sounds so much better. Jaded and detached, Brand is determined to never open himself up to anyone again. It’s not worth the pain. Instead, he becomes closed, hardened, aloof. But then he’s called back home for a family emergency… a family that he is estranged from. A family that he put out of his mind a long time ago for very good reasons…reasons that involve secrets and pain. Reasons he tried hard to forget. But home is where the heart is, and it just might be where Brand finds his again. Why? Because home is where Nora Greene is. A fiery, red-headed spitfire, Nora is a thing from his past. A beautiful, feisty thing. When Brand left, she was away at boarding school. But she’s back now. And she wants Brand, scars and all.

Cover designed by The Cover Lure

And don’t miss the other Beautifully Broken, now available:

IF YOU STAY

IF YOU LEAVE

BEFORE WE FALL

Praise for the Beautifully Broken Series: "I loved If You Stay. Like, really really loved it. The kind of love that kept me reading until 2:40 am and left me crying, smiling, devastated, and elated. The best kind of book love." - Andrea, The Bookish Babe "Beautiful, raw, gritty, emotional and breath-taking are just a few of the words I can find to describe this book...reading this book was one of the best experiences I have had." -Amanda, Globug and Hootie Need a Book "In If You Leave, we continue the wild ride Courtney Cole started us on in If You Stay. This raw story of heartbreak and hope solidifies Cole's standing as a rising star in hot contemporary romance." --- New York Times Bestselling author of Down to You, M. Leighton "Another raw, gritty masterpiece with a sexy-as-hell Army Ranger to swoon over." --- K.A. Tucker, author of Ten Tiny Breaths

ABOUT COURTNEY COLE:

Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. She loves chocolate and roller coasters and hates waiting and rude people. Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.

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Thursday, December 12, 2013

Blog Tour: Before We Fall (Beautifully Broken #3) by Courtney Cole

Add to Goodreads HERE

Before We Fall

Beautifully Broken #3
By: Courtney Cole
Published: Dec. 3, 2013
By: Forever Romance
Source: Publisher
Mature Content: 18 & Up

GR's Summary

Sometimes, one dark moment is all it takes to turn your world black...

For 24-year old Dominic Kinkaide, that moment took place on the night of his high school graduation. One dark incident changed him forever. He's a hardened actor now, famous in the eyes of the world, but tortured in his own. He doesn't care about much of anything, except for losing himself in the roles that he plays.

23-year old Jacey Vincent doesn't realize how much her father's indifference has affected her. She is proof that sometimes it isn't one specific moment that wrecks a person, but rather it's an absence of moments. She's like a bird with a broken wing-strong yet fragile, as she tries to float through life, finding acceptance in the arms of random guys, one after the other... to fill the void that her father left in her.

Until she meets Dominic.

After jaded Dominic and strong-willed Jacey are thrown together, his secret and her issues create a dark and damaged energy that will soon turn their attraction to each other into an explosive storm.

Even though when the clouds have cleared and the dust has settled, both of them are almost obliterated... they've learned a priceless lesson.

Sometimes, before we fall... we fly.

Beautifully Broken Series:

My Review on If You Stay HERE
My Review on If You Leave HERE

My Thoughts:

I have been following the Beautifully Broken Series by Courtney Cole from the very beginning. Ms. Cole combines angst, life lessons, swoon-wothy males, and the strong women who help them, as well as hot, erotic, and explicit sex scenes. Before We Fall is the third book in the series, and focuses on Jacey, Gabe's little sister, and Maddy's best friend. It also introduces us to Dominic, a sexy, wealthy, and famous movie star.

I didn't care for Jacey all that much in, If You Leave. I remember thinking that she came across as flighty, and was always making bad decisions. So, I was worried about how I would feel about her having her own story. I'm happy to say that Jacey really redeemed herself in this story. I realized that she has a really good heart, and always see's the good in people. She's an optimist, and the reason she has made so many bad decisions (about always picking the wrong guy,) is because she has such a good heart. I was happy that we got updates on Gabe and Maddy, and Brand was also a significant part of the story. I'm hopeful that Brand will get his own story. He is such an amazing character, and my heart broke for him, and the fact that he was in love with Jacey, but she didn't return his feelings.

Dominic was a very interesting, and dark character. He was numb, and in order to feel, he engaged in sexually taboo acts. I was intrigued, and wanted to know what had happened in his life to break him so completely. We were given hints about his secret, but all wasn't revealed, until the very end of the story. We get to meet Dominic's brothers Sin (Sinclair,) and Duncan, who were famous musicians. I wonder if there might end up being a story in the future for these guys.

Jacey, and Dominic end up meeting at one of Sin's crazy parties, and circumstances bring the two of them in close proximity for three months, when they are ordered by the court into mandatory community service, at an at-risk youth community center. Little by little, Jacey, finds a way to break down Dom's walls, just by being her self. He doesn't believe that there are unselfish, and non self-serving, good people in the world. Jacey makes it her mission to prove him wrong.

Before We Fall was a really good addition to the Beautifully Broken Series. The characters we really deep and well developed. Dominic was a complex, dark, and multi-layered character that I found fascinating and loved reading about. I found his deviant sexual urges and actions to be very interesting. Especially, when I read about the stuff that went on in the basement of Sin's parties. However, what I found most interesting was the reasons behind his sexual urges and actions. I've always found Psychology very interesting, and Dominic was a very fascinating character to study.

My Rating:

I give, Before We Fall, by Courtney Cole 4 Dark, Erotic, and Fascinating Stars. This story has very explicit sexual content, some of which would be considered deviant by society's standards, and is not for everyone. However, if you enjoy stories with dark and complex characters, some sexual taboo, and a lot of sexiness, you should try out, Before We Fall. If you have read any of Ms. Cole's Beautifully Broken Series, than you probably know what to expect. However, in my opinion, this installment is the darkest and most controversial in the series.

My Favorite Quotes:

"Women are all the same: they want to fix what is broken and they're willing to do anything to accomplish that." (eARC, Loc. 1171)

~Dominic

"...the best things in life are worth the greatest risk. Falling in love is one of those things. Can it break our hearts? Yes. Most definitely. But more often than not, before we fall, we fly." (eARC, Loc. 3660)

~Brand's Grandma

"When we hate someone so much, we think that we're hurting them. But we're not. We're only hurting ourselves, because carrying that much ugliness around is toxic." (eARC, Loc. 3987)

~Jacey

Book Trailers:

Book Trailer 1

Book Trailer 2

Guest Post:

Top 5 things Dominic loves about Jacey

1. Her tendency to not take his crap.

2. Her ability to see goodness in almost everyone.

3. Her long legs.

4. The way her eyes sparkle when she laughs.

5. Her heart.

Q & A With Ms. Cole

1. Oh, Courtney, we are going to have fun with your Random Facts:

I collect dashboard hula-girls.
I like to have my car stereo volume set at an even number.
I can barely remember my natural hair color.
I am terrified of buoys and birds.
I love cemetery angels. Is that weird?

a. What inspired you to collect dashboard hula girls? Where do you find them to add to your collection?

There is quite an assortment at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet near Pearl Harbor (we moved this summer from Hawaii to Maryland).

Haha, well obviously I’m going to need to come to Hawaii to find authentic hula girls. It’s as good a reason as any! Lol.

A long time ago, I came across the cutest hula girl and I bought her to put on my dash. My husband was mortified, because he thought it was the tackiest thing ever, but I did it anyway. And you know what? Every day that I drove to work, that little hula girl made me happy. She reminded me of warm places and vacation.

So after that, I started buying them whenever I went on vacation. I keep them on a shelf in my office now, and I’m always on the lookout for new ones. 

b. Reference your car stereo volume, you remind me of the TV show, Monk. Did you watch the show?

Oh my gosh. I had totally forgotten about that show. I did used to watch it—I was so disappointed when it went off the air.

c. Reference cemetery angels, it is not weird! What draws you to them? Do you have a favorite one ... or one that is unusual?

It’s not weird?? That’s good!

I’m not sure what draws me to them. There’s just something so haunting and beautiful about them. Maybe it’s because I grew up as a preacher’s kid under the belief that we all have guardian angels. Maybe it’s the idea that even after we die, they stand watch over us… I’m not sure.

My favorite one is this one. It’s in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genova, Italy. It’s titled Love Will Tear Us Apart. There’s something so sad and haunting and beautiful about it, that it’s just remained my favorite over the years.

2. Tell us about Indiana - what is your favorite sight, sound, and smell?

Hmmm. Well, I live in a great location—I live in a tri-state area very close to the edges of Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. While my address is in Indiana, I can literally drive a few minutes and reach either Michigan or Illinois. I’m very close to Chicago, but I can drive a couple of hours and reach Indianapolis in one direction or Toledo, Cincinnati or Kalamazoo in other directions. It’s really cool because we’re never lacking for something to do. The summers are mild, although the winters are harsh. We live close enough to Lake Michigan that we get tons of lake effect snow.

Incidentally, Lake Michigan is my favorite part of living here. It’s vast and beautiful, and has all the benefits of an ocean, without the fear of sharks. Haha. There’s nothing better than standing with my toes in the edge of the icy water and having the summer breeze lift the hair off my face. Perfection!

3. Who or what prompted you to jump into publishing, especially New Adult?

I started out writing New Adult, which was fun. And I still might revisit a couple of story ideas in the future. I didn’t set out to change over to New Adult… but the story idea for IF YOU STAY came to me and wouldn’t leave me alone. Pax insisted that his voice was heard, so I wrote his story. And in order to do his story justice, I couldn’t water it down. It had to be gritty and real and raw. Therefore, there was no way it could be YA. So I jumped into New Adult and haven’t looked back. I love it because I can write about the issues that 20-somethings have, and I don’t have to toe that YA line of propriety.

4. Tell us about the Beautifully Broken Series and your new release, BEFORE WE FALL?

The idea behind the Beautifully Broken series is a simple one…I believe that each and every one of us is broken in some way. We’ve all been hurt, we’ve all experienced loss of some sort. That affects us each in different ways, some of us more than others. My characters all have amplified issues, for the sake of entertainment, but the idea is still the same. Each book features a new set of main characters, pulled from the book before it.

BEFORE WE FALL is book three in the series and it features Dominic Kinkaide, a troubled 24-year old actor. On the outside, it would look like he has the world on a string. He’s famous, sexy and rich. But he’s carrying something inside of him that has been eating away at him for six years. Dominic is my baddest bad boy yet. BEFORE WE FALL is the story of his redemption….and salvation.

5. What's next for Courtney Cole?

I keep saying that I’m going to take some time off, take a breather. But I know that won’t happen. I’m already plotting out a new book in the series, as well as a spin-off series… a series featuring Sin Kinkaide, Dominic’s older brother. 

Thank you so much for having me on your blog today. It’s been a pleasure!

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

About the Author:

Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.

Website | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway:

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