When We Collide by A.L. Jackson
Maggie had lived her entire life without hope until one man showed her what it meant to be loved. He’d been her light in a lifetime of darkness. Six years ago, that darkness stole him away. Without him, she’s surrendered herself to an existence she doesn’t know how to escape.
When the family William left behind is struck by tragedy, he is called back to the one place he’s sworn to never return to again. In a moment that will change his life forever, William comes face to face with the girl who, with one look, captured his heart. He is unable to ignore the buried desires and the hope for the future they’d once believed they’d have.
Now William is ready to fight to take back what had been stolen from him six years before. But he never imagined what that fight might cost him.
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Review - 4 stars!
This novel deals with some deeply disturbing issues so if you're trying to avoid those, you might wish to skip this novel. I personally felt like I had been through the emotional wringer during this book, which means the author did her job well writing it.
However, I also try to avoid stories that hit too close to home on certain issues. My reading is for escaping life so I don't often read realistic stories much. Maybe that's why my main genre is paranormal romance, though I will go for contemporary romance if it deals with things like macho military men or romantic suspense.
This little gem didn't strike me as deeply as the author's more recent books, but it deals very well with domestic abuse and how it can trap someone. I really love how well A.L. Jackson deals with the issue and actually gets into the mind of someone trapped in a place she hates so much, yet continues to stay. Not a lot of people understand the terror and trauma of domestic abuse, nor do a lot of people understand why someone would stay in that situation. Sometimes, it isn't as easy as it seems to leave. A.L. Jackson did a wonderful job of portraying that horrible situation in a way that was realistic. For that alone, I almost gave the book 5 stars.
The characterization wasn't as well done as her more recent novels, though, and the poetry was a bit more lacking in this novel then the last few. I also didn't like William as much as most of the author's main protagonists, even though he was a decent enough guy. He just wasn't as likable as say Jared from the Closer to You series.
So this is a great story about domestic abuse and a deep love that lasts through years of separation, so definitely read this is you're an A.L. Jackson fan.
Pulled by A.L. Jackson
Melanie Winters and Daniel Montgomery shared a love most only dream of, a love they believed bonded them together for life. When their world is shattered by the tragic loss of their daughter, overwhelming grief and misguided guilt distorts the truth, and their relationship ends in uncertainty and unanswered questions.
For nine years, they drift through life, each unable to forget the one who holds the strings to their heart. In an attempt to escape the pain of her past, Melanie finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage, while Daniel loses himself in a career that means nothing without Melanie by his side.
Now, when their lives again intersect, neither can deny the connection they felt so long ago. But will the power that drew them together be enough to heal the wounds from their past, and will they have the courage to overcome the insecurities and fears that threaten to keep them apart?
Pulled is a story of attraction and separation, of destiny and duty, of a love so strong it refuses to give up even when all others have.
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Review - 4 stars!
This sweet romance was almost paranormal in its intensity of the 'pull' between Melanie and Daniel, which I seriously liked. (Can't help it, I'm a paranormal romance junkie). This novel of A.L. Jackson wasn't as beautifully written as most of her novels, but I actually think I liked it more. Mostly because neither character did something horrible or silly to keep themselves from the person they're destined for.
However, as of now, I've read every single one of A.L. Jackson's novels and each New Adult novel seems to throw in a child in the damaged mixed. Every series, every novel, every story has an accidental pregnancy, someone doing something stupid about an accidental pregnancy, or has the pregnancy end in the death of the child, causing heartache for everyone. Then the main couple splits up, so each of A.L. Jackson's romances are really second chance romances. Well, except the A Stone in the Sea, so far. I'm a little over these theme right now. But this one is probably the one I liked most, but it wasn't as well written as her other stories, so I couldn't give it a higher rating. I liked the intensity between Daniel and Melanie and I adore how realistic Ms. Jackson writes about hard issues like a loss of a child or domestic abuse.
Definitely worth reading!
Author
(from author's website)A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Pulled, When We Collide, If Forever Comes, Come to Me Quietly, and Come to Me Softly.
She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.
Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children.
Stalker Links
Site: http://www.aljacksonauthor.com/
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