“I couldn’t put it down! The incredible premise and the tension will keep you turning the pages until dawn.” -Sarina Bowen, USA Today bestselling author
Release, an all-new powerful and emotional standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez, is available now!
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Blurb
Growing up, Ramsey Stewart branded my soul in ways time could never heal.
At twelve, he asked me to be his girlfriend.
At thirteen, he gave me my first kiss.
By sixteen, we’d fallen in love, planned a future together, and had our eyes set on the horizon.
Love never fails, right?
But for Ramsey, it did.
Love failed him.
I failed him.
The entire world failed him.
At seventeen, Ramsey was convicted of killing the boy who assaulted me.
Move on, he wrote in his first and only letter from prison.
Start a new life, he urged.
I don’t love you anymore, he lied.
There was no such thing as giving up on Ramsey. Love may have been our curse, but he was mine—then, now, and forever.
So here I am, twelve long years later, waiting for a man I don’t even know to emerge from between the chain link gates.
Review
“Sometimes you have to let go of the life you planned in order to live the one you’re given.”
4.5 stars
From the moment I read the blurb of this book I knew I had to have it. Not only is it Aly Martinez, but a dramatic and emotional second-chance-romance where the hero is sent to prison for defending his love? OMG, yes! I was sucked in from the very beginning and I relished in the rollercoaster ride, and I freaking loved it!
Thea and Ramsey met as children. On the day when 10-year-old Thea lost her mother, she and Ramsey met and he attached himself to her when she was at her lowest point and wanted nothing to do with him. It didn’t take long for a friendship to form and naturally over the years that friendship turned to more and they fell into first, life-changing, all-consuming love. In lives full of hurt and struggle they were each other’s whole worlds, and they dreamed of the future they would have together.
“I swear. It’s me and you forever, Ramsey.”
“I swear too.”
His voice only became more urgent. “I can’t do this without you.”
“Do what?”
He lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “Breathe.”
But then it all went horribly wrong. At 16, Thea was brutally assaulted and 17 Ramsey was convicted of killing the boy who attacked her. She promised to stay true to him, but Ramsey’s first letter from prison was to tell her to move on. She never did. He was her love and her life, and she waited for his release, still planning for the life they would have together. But when his long-awaited freedom comes, their reunion is far from the happy occasion she dreamed of, and Ramsey wants nothing to do with her.
It’s a heartwrenching situation. Ramsey has been through so much and I could completely understand what he was feeling as he continuously pushed Thea away. He has spent almost half of his life in jail, he practically grew up there, so watching him adjust to the real world broke my heart. And then to see all of his turmoil over Thea as well just made me want to hug him so bad.
“There was never a day when I didn’t want you to be mine, Sparrow. I just loved you enough to hope you wouldn’t have to be.”
It’s dramatic and angsty, and oh it hurts, but I could deal with it not only because I loved Ramsey so much, but because Thea is just so freaking awesome! She’s strong, confident and feisty, she loves her man, she doesn’t hide it and she never gives up on him. In fact she pushes him, fighting hard for him, and I freaking love that!
“You’re mine, Ramsey. You can try to fight me. You can hate me. You can lie to yourself for the rest of your life … But wherever you are, however long you are there, you are always mine.”
We get to see their past play out on the page, so we can see the depth of the connection between them and feel their love for each other – the sweet and special moments, as well as the laughter and teasing that are such a pivotal part of their relationship. And it makes their disconnection in the present so much more painful!
There had never been a point in my life that I hadn’t been in love with Thea Hull. It was exactly why I let her go.
It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and I couldn’t put the book down as I watched them work through it all.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen to us. It’s been almost thirteen years. You haven’t moved on. I can’t keep my hands off you and my heart is sick and fucking tired of trying. We have a lot of things to talk about, some of which are going to be an absolute dumpster fire. But I don’t know how to stop loving you, Thea. I’ve tried. And tried. But here we are. Fucked up and in love.”
Yes, it’s dramatic, and there are a few shocks along the way, but there are fun and sweet moments throughout the story as well, which I loved, and which balance everything out really nicely. And of course the romance is just gorgeous as Thea and Ramsey find their way back to each other.
“I’m yours. I’ve always been yours. Even when you didn’t want me to be.”
I loved this story. Beautifully written as always, the characters are fantastic, and I’m hoping we get to see more of them (fingers crossed for a story for Ramsey’s younger sister – and Thea’s best friend – Nora). It’s emotional and dramatic with a gorgeous second-chance-romance, and I couldn’t put it down.
4.5 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
There is a follow on book for Ramsay’s sister, Nora. Reclaim can standalone
Reclaim
Review
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About Aly Martinez
Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her husband and four young children.
Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.
She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.
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