Nova and Quinton: No Regrets

Nova #3

by Jessica Sorensen

From the # 1 New York Times bestselling author of Saving Quinton comes a story about giving in to love-body and soul . . . Today is the first day of Quinton Carter's new life. The toxic guilt of his past left him in pieces-but one girl unexpectedly put him back together. Thanks to Nova Reed, Quinton can finally see the world with clear eyes. She's the reason his heart is still kicking behind the jagged scar on his chest. And he would love to have her in his arms every minute of the day . . . but he's not ready yet. Playing drums in a band and living with her best friends are just some of the highlights of Nova's life. But the best new development? Talking to Quinton on the phone each night. She wishes she could touch him, kiss him, though she knows he needs time to heal. Yet shocking news is on the way-a reminder of life's dark side-and Nova will need Quinton like he once needed her. Is he strong enough to take the final leap out of his broken past . . . and into Nova's heart?

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Young Adult, College, Emotional

355 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Jessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.


http://www.jessicasorensen.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica...

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 healing stars!!!

Forgiveness. If only more people could do it. Then maybe there’d be less pain in the world.

Jessica Sorensen is the queen of hitting me right in the feels. Every. Single. Time. Has she written a book I haven’t cried while reading? I don’t think so. She is one of my go to authors. I love her broken characters and heart wrenching stories. Quinton and Nova’s story has been difficult and painful to read. This one had it’s moments, but overall it wasn’t as devastating as the others.

When we last saw Quinton, he was getting the help he needed. With Nova’s help and persistence, he was trying to get better. She has been the one person who has always been there for him and fought for him.



Now he’s back in Seattle with his father, trying to pick up the pieces of his life. Trying to stay sober. And he’s not ready to see Nova yet...

Nova is still in school, still making videos and living with her best friends. She’s playing drums in a band and deciding what she wants to do with her life. Nova hasn’t seen Quinton for a while. She gets updates from Tristan, but that’s not enough. She wants to talk to him herself. So once he’s out of rehab, she calls.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“You.”

“What do you want me to tell you about me?”

“Everything... I want to know everything about you, Nova like the car.”



During this story, Nova has to learn some lessons the hard way. Things are constantly happening that are out of her control. As much as she wants to, she can’t save everyone...



Quinton and Nova continue to talk on the phone. Every day. They are closer now than they’ve ever been. Just friends is working for them, even though some of their conversations start to closely ride the line of ‘just friends’ talk. Quinton holds a lot of guilt about the way things happened in the past. Nova isn’t one to hold things against him. She forgives him and thats that.

“You don’t need to be sorry for anything. I told you that and I mean it. What happened in the past is in the past. We’re moving forward now. Remember, a clean slate.”


Quinton is slowly healing, doing things in his life that mean something. The more Quinton’s life starts to come together, the more things in Nova’s start to fall apart. For once, she will need Quinton to be there for her. Be the strong one. Is he ready for that? Or will the pressure be too much for him to take...


Even though we don’t get much of Nova and Quinton ‘together’ I really did enjoy all of the phone calls and texts. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a fan of The main characters being separated for over half of the book, but at least there was a good amount of communication between them. But the short amount of times they were together. Wow. Nova and Quinton were so different together when they were BOTH sober and okay.

Emotions pour out of us as we grab each other, our tongues entangling, hands grasping each other. All the passion. Heat. Fear. Worry. Longing. Want. Desire. Need. Resistance. It all blazes through my body at once.

I have a soft spot for both of these main characters. I’ve grown to love and care about them as this series has continued. I love my broken boy Quinton, and how he wasn’t quite so broken anymore. He was stronger than he thought. It was nice to see Nova not always being so strong for everyone else at a point in this story. She needed someone to be there for her for once, not the other way around.

The conclusion to Nova and Quinton was good, but it just wasn’t as good as the first two books for me. Lets be honest, after being emotionally invested in these books for the last 7 months, I was hoping for MORE of an ending, an epilogue. Something. That was my biggest issue for this book and the reason it didn’t make the five star mark for me. It was still an engaging story that made me smile, cry, swoon and sob. Perfect combination for this reader.

Overall, this series has been one of my favorites that Jessica Sorensen has written. The characters are damaged, their story is gritty and not always happy, it’s beautiful, emotional and raw at times, and that works for me as a reader. IF that type of series works for you too, I would recommend giving these books a go!

“You give me hope, Nova Reed. Hope that even though life is really, really hard- even if it fucking sucks sometimes- that it’s worth living.”

*ARC kindly provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Healing Stars

I have a love and hate relationship with Jessica Sorensen books. I love her books, but I hate the way it makes me feel. I feel a lot when I read her books and it makes me into a hair-pulling mess, but at the end of it, I kind of like it.

I’m crazy, but I can’t help myself.

It’s the third Quinton and Nova book and wow, what did just happen? After EVERYTHING Nova tried to do, Quinton fell off the deep end.

I was an emotional wreck after I finished Saving Quinton. I just needed some time to process my thoughts. Now, I’m starting Nova and Quinton: No Regrets, I’m ready to start this journey. WHERE EVER IT MAY LEAD ME

The book begins where Quinton is just released from rehab and I’m so happy I don’t have to read his experiences in that place. I just wanted to see how Quinton will function in the real world. Will he relapse? Will he continue to push Nova away? What will he do with himself? I had so many questions.

When Quinton leaves rehab he goes and lives with his father. Quinton is TRYING REALLY HARD not to relapse. His recovery and being sober are the main things he is focusing on. As much as he cares for Nova, he can’t have her interfering with his goal. Hence, why he is keeping her at a distance.

Nova cares for Quinton and even though they haven’t spoken, she keeps tabs on Quinton through Tristan. Nova currently lives with Lea and Tristan and Tristan is starting to get touchy with Nova. Nova is a little apprehensive of this because she still cares for Quinton, but she doesn’t like confrontation.

I know! The whole Tristan and Nova thing makes me super nervous because I can’t stand love-triangles, but is this really a love-triangle? Not really. I liked the whole Tristan dynamic because it added a little something something to the book.

Quinton and Nova do start communicating through phone calls and texts and before you say oh it’s going to be boring, it isn’t! Because I’m so concern if Quinton will relapse, I don’t really notice Nova and Quinton having a long distance relationship.

I never thought I’d experience this ever again. Never thought it would be possible to be with someone else like this and not feel pain and anguish, but for the briefest moment they’re gone and I am free

I feel like this was the perfect third book, in the sense you get a little bit of the calm after the storm. Saving Quinton was a rough read and I needed something mellow to chill my emotions. I liked reading Quinton trying to atone for his actions and yes he is still trying to get over the Lexi thing. Nova isn’t dramatic and she really is trying to be a better person. There’s always that underlying feeling that something may happen and it really keeps you a bit jumpy, but it wouldn’t be a Sorensen if it wasn’t. If you liked the previous books, then continue on!

AN ARC was provided

Series Order
REVIEW | AMAZON
REVIEW | AMAZON
AMAZON (Kindle out now) Paperback available now!

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Duchess Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I've been waiting to love this series since I started it. The writing is undeniably good, the author's passion for the subject matter obvious, the message clear and noble. But I feel a little misled with regards to expectations of what the series is about. Maybe it was simply the covers, or the titles and the covers. But I expected romance.

For me, this was more of a series about drug addiction than anything. It was brutal and honest and pulls no punches at times. Book one not as much; in fact, book one had me rolling my eyes at the obvious "gateway drug" promotion that it tried to shove at the readers. A little pot and beer do not a junkie make, no matter how hard the author tried to make Nova into a downward spiraling, wayward teen. Book two was such a far cry from that, however, in that the entire book was all about Quinton's intense, dramatic, shocking addiction. We're talking shooting up heroine and smoking crystal meth here.

The book was depressing as hell and just felt soo...unexpected. Why a kissing couple on the cover? Nova was trying to save Quinton, sure. But where is the romance here? They guy has track marks up his arms and is whoring himself out. Forget the romance, just go for getting clean.

So this book, the final book about Nova and Quinton, I believe, Quinton is recovering. Tristan and Nova are roommates and live halfway across the country from Quinton, who has left rehab and is living in Seattle with his father.

The entire book is about Quinton trying to deal with real life again, learning to let go of the past and forgive himself not only for causing the accident that killed his girlfriend and cousin, but also for the pain he's caused since the accident. Namely toward Nova, and some toward his father.

Being someone who has dealt very closely with addiction...from the outside looking in and attempting to be the voice of reason, I can empathize with these characters. The physical effects are only a part of what an addict has to learn to deal with. Guilt plays a major psychological role in their recovery, as does the daily grind and learning to handle life again. This part was very well done, I thought.

So I do appreciate the effort and the intensity of this story. However, I think that had I known that this series was not a romance but a very dark, heavy, depressing tale of a group of young people dealing with drug addiction, suicide, death, and survivor's guilt...I'd likely have never started it. I can't say that I enjoyed it, because it's not what I would have chosen to read. I think it's very audience specific and fits a certain niche of readers. It hurt my heart, for sure, and brought back memories and feelings that I don't want to relive again. So...fair warning. There is very little happy here. But it's well done. So there you go.

Oh, and what the hell happened with Nova's band? That was oddly left up in the air, completely unanswered question marks flying around.

Arc provided by the publisher for review

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

”I hope one day I can be okay with everything and so can you.”

I loved the first two books of this series because they were so brutally real and I just LOVE Quinton and Nova. Unfortunately, this last book just didn't do it for me.

I expected this story to showcase Quinton’s struggles once released from rehab but I didn’t realize that it would be LEXI driven for the whole darn book! Let’s face it from what I got from that last two books I felt that she may have been cheating on him or simply wasn’t that into him. Also, I must point out where is his guilt over the death of Ryder (his actual family member?) The constant Lexi thoughts, the struggle to take her picture down, made me crazy…



I'm not totally heartless, I did understand his guilt and the difficulty of releasing it. I just got so sick of hearing about Lexi.

I did like how Nova and Quinton’s relationship worked over the phone even though Quinton was scared to see her in person and a reader has to wait till the last portion of the book for a face to face.

I enjoyed Tristan’s part in the story (I thought Nova sucked in her handling of Tristan's advances.) and I just HATED the reveal about …

Overall, I am proud of the strides Quinton as well as Nova have made. These two have come a long way. Sadly, I have to say this final installment for Nova and Quinton fell flat for me. I hope the author writes just one more about these two and I get what I was searching for when I started this series.

“You give me hope, Nova Reed. Hope that even though life is really, really hard- even if it fucking sucks sometimes- that it’s worth living.”

[Yael · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started a little slow, and its Jessica Sorensen, so my expectations are always very high. But, given what this story is about, it understandable that it had to be portrayed this way.

Hello there Quinton,



First of all my heart went to Quinton, I felt his struggles and feelings as if they were my own. Jessica's flawless writing always manages to stir emotions I didn't even know existed. Some parts were very hard to read because they made me realize just how lucky I am. This stuff is real, addiction/suicide/guilt/loss/death is something people struggle with everyday. I was waiting so badly for that moment when Quinton finally realizes that life is worth living, that I almost missed it.

Also, we get a better insight in Nova's head. I got the answers I was desperately seeking since reading the first book. What I love the most about this series, and pretty much every book JS writes, its that the characters/stories always feel so realistic. People aren't flawless, we have tons of layers of imperfections and love is so much more than lust and desire. As always, it was a very refreshing read.


So, overall, it was nice finale. When I finished the book I got the feeling that it wasn't over. Please, I need more of this story.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Nova and Quinton: No Regrets has been sitting in my kindle for quite some time. A part of me wanted to read this book as soon possible and another part of me was a bit apprehensive since Saving Quinton left me emotionally drained and wrecked. If you have ever read a Jessica Sorensen book then you know this author has a gifted talent of making her readers FEEL. Feel every range of emotions from heartbreak, anger, loss, regret, guilt, and love. So when I finally decided to continue on the Nova and Quinton saga, I had to prepare myself on the emotional journey that Ms. Sorensen will take me on.



In No Regrets, this book picks off were it last left off and Quinton is just being released from rehab. And throughout this book, the underlining question remains will he relapse. The struggle and his recovery was a journey that was so raw and gripping. I loved that Ms. Sorensen allowed her readers to FEEL the raw vulnerability of Quinton. What I loved about this book was the journey and growth of Nova and Quinton. We all knew that they deeply cared for each other and so No Regrets was about the long and heartbreaking journey of them finding the solace and healing they both needed. All I can say, Nova and Quinton's journey was a long and bumpy journey, but in the end they found closure, healing, and a second chance at life. Once again, Ms. Sorensen has beautifully crafted a story that has her readers fully invested into Nova and Quinton. The writing was raw, gritty, and so touching.

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[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

God, I need this series to end on a happier note.

Now that I've read it, I am very happy it did. Lots of angst, but also some joy as well.

[Zairobe25 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Una serie muy triste, gris, no son los libros que me gustan leer.

[Hazel *Craves the Angst Reviews* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find This and Other Reviews At Craves The Angst.

4 Healing, Reborn Stars!
A Beautiful Ending To A Tragic Tale of Loss, Sorrow and Guilt!

Quote Spotlight...
”For everyone who suffered loss and learned how to live again. Know that you’re not alone.”

The Review:
I’ve been a fan of this author for a while and loved all her books, but the Nova series has stuck with me the most because it’s steeped in such tragedy, heartbreak and pain that when I finished the first book, I felt a little lost and a whole lot broken-hearted. These characters go through so much grief it made me heartsick. The story took me to it’s darkest depths and I felt like I was drowning right alongside the characters. It’s wonderfully written and tragically beautiful. I loved every angsty moment of it!

Story/Characters...
This book wasn’t as romantic as I thought it would be. After the first two books, I thought we’d go into this one with Nova and Quinton finally overcoming their pasts and coming together and finding their life together. And we did, but it didn’t really happen until the end. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the slow build and the recovery process and I really enjoyed the direction it took because the healing NEEDED to be explored. This book just took a different direction than the one I anticipated. Quinton had been drowning his mind in drugs since the accident and just coming out of rehab was no time to commit to a serious relationship. I understood that, so I was happy with what this book gave us, it was just unexpected.

No Regrets wasn’t nearly as intense as the first two as our two main characters are finally finding their way towards healing both body and mind. They are struggling to cope with everyday life, but slowly, painfully and with the help of their family and friendships, they are getting there.

Quinton has just come out of rehab and has to learn to live again. He has to face the hardships of life without a drug induced buffer to numb him. He has to deal with the loss and guilt of losing the girl he loved years ago in a horrific accident which he completely blames himself for. It might have been a couple of years since the accident but because he drowned himself in drugs he never dealt with the loss and guilt in a healthy way so he’s having to learn all over again, as if it happened yesterday.

Nova has her good days and her bad days. Things are good for a while, but she, out of everyone, knows nothing good lasts forever. She’s trying to save everyone and keep them safe and healthy. Tristan is living with her and though he seems to be doing better and keeping himself clean, she knows its a slippery slope. And when she realizes his attraction to her isn’t only in the friendship zone, things become awkward and her feelings for Quinton doesn’t leave her heart open for anyone but him. There’s tension, even as Nova is still coping with the loss of her first love all the while trying to keep in contact with Quinton and make sure he stays healthy.

Then there’s news from their past which sends them all reeling.

The Wrap Up:
It was good to see everyone again. To see them progressing towards something good and finding a way to live with everything they’d been through. It was hard for them. Every day was a struggle but as time passes, they heal a little more with each passing day and the pain, loss and guilt become a little less. This series will stay with me for a long time to come. I would have loved to have been given a better sense of what the future held for Quinton and Nova and perhaps we’ll get them as a side story in book three, which I can’t wait for because it will be Tristan’s story!

[Kelli C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Jessica Sorensen for finally giving two really deserving characters Light at the end of the tunnel! A Truly beautiful recovery and road to a read future....FULL REVIEW TO COME!!!

[Angigames · Rating 4 out of 5]

La Sorensen si riconferma un’ottima narratrice.
La serie Nova è quella che in generale ha avuto meno successo perché da molti considerata troppo cupa e troppo pensante.
Credo invece che sia una serie molto valida.
Lo conferma questo terzo, splendido, volume che si discosta molto dagli scritti precedenti dell’autrice.
In questo libro Quinton dovrà per la prima volta fare i conti lucidamente con le emozioni, con l’accettazione e il senso di colpa. Dovrà essere pronto a capire che il perdono molto probabilmente non gli verrà mai concesso. Nova, invece, si troverà a dover compiere delle scelte, ad affrontare diverse situazioni che la metteranno di nuovo alla prova. Ma pur essendo fisicamente lontani i due ragazzi saranno capaci di costruire un legame meraviglioso e salutare che invece di ingabbiarli, li condurrà ad una vera e propria rinascita.
Bravissima la Sorensen, che mette da parte il romanticismo per concentrarsi sulla psicologia dei suoi protagonisti. Il dolore e il senso di colpa vengono sezionati in maniera precisa e approfondita, così che il lettore possa capire fino in fondo cosa voglia dire vivere o aver vissuto determinate esperienze. Ho apprezzato il coraggio della Sorensen che disegna una vita dura, ingiusta e pesante, piuttosto realistica, ma che alla fine lascia un messaggio di speranza, redenzione e nuove opportunità.
Indubbiamente, questo libro vuole lasciare un messaggio ai più giovani. Un messaggio molto forte e preciso e proprio per questo la lettura è molto più lenta e profonda rispetto ai soliti YA, ma per me è stato un viaggio molto bello, che mi ha lasciato molte emozioni.
Io lo consiglio!

[Annie Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

*wipes tears away*

What a wonderful conclusion to Nova and Quinton's heartbreakingly beautiful journey of healing and self-discovery. I'm a bit mentally and emotionally drained since I just read all 3 books in like, 3 days? Wow, what a record for me. But once I was sucked into Quinton and Nova's world, I could not climb out of it. They consumed me and I simply loved every dark and twisted moment spent with them. That's the effect Jessica's books have on me. I'm so glad I finally got to these books after so many years. Definitely a favorite for me. And Quinton and Nova will remain a favorite couple.

I'll write an actual review soon when I've had sleep. I'm just satisfied with how everything worked out for this couple.

I'll leave a favorite quote here for now...

"You give me hope, Nova Reed. Hope that even though life is really, really hard-even if it fucking sucks sometimes-that it's worth living." -Quinton

*full review coming soon*

[Farah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nova irritated me a tad with always "wanting to save everyone"
Honestly I was fighting the urge to roll my eyes a lot!!

[C.K.]

Here is a TEASER for No Regrets:

Jessica Sorensen

You know what I think? I think we need a fun teaser for Nova and Quinton: No Regrets, which comes out on ebook April 15 and is up for preorder now Enjoy!

“It’s okay. You can call it payback for me being cheesy earlier, but I think I’m just a little on emotional overload between this phone chat and our text conversation earlier. You’re giving me a high dose of the feel-goods and I’m starting to get really nervous about how I’m feeling right now. It’s freaking the s*** out of me.” He stops talking and if I listen really closely I can hear the scratching of a pencil across paper. I wonder if he’s drawing and, if he is, what he’s drawing a picture of. “So would you mind if we call it a night and go to the song?”
We started the song thing a week ago, when Quinton asked me for some good ones to listen to. Instead of telling him, I turned some on for him. Every night since then, I’ve picked out a song and we’ve listened to it together before I hung up.
Honestly, I’m not really ready to stop talking, but if that’s what he needs then I’ll give it to him. So I get up from my bed and go over to my dresser to turn on my iPod. “Sounds good, but what kind of one do you want for tonight? Happy? Sad? Angsty?”
“How about a mellow, relaxing one?” he requests. “Because I think I need to chillax a little.”
“Hmm…” I consider my options, then scroll to one that I hope will relax him. “Okay, you ready?” I ask, with my finger hovering over the play button.
“Yep, hit me with your best shot.” He laughs at his own joke, since the other night I picked “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar.
“Hey, no recapping the previous night’s song choice.” I press play. Moments later, Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” comes on. I crank up the volume and stay near the speakers so he can hear it.
He’s quiet, absorbing the guitar solo until it gets to the lyrics, then he finally says, “Excellent choice, although I’ve heard it before.”
“Yeah, I figured, but is that a bad thing?”
“Nah. In fact, I like that I have. Usually you’re so music-superior over me, but now I feel like we’re equals.”
“That’s because I’ve taught you well, young grasshopper,” I joke, turning up the volume a notch.
“Did you seriously just quote Kung Fu?” He’s stunned.
“Yeah, so what? I’m cool like that.” I plop down on my bed on my back, bouncing a little before settling and returning my feet to the wall and tapping them to the beat of the music.
“You know what? You seriously might be the coolest person I’ve ever met, Nova Reed.”
“And vice versa, Quinton Carter.” I lean over and pick up my drumsticks from my nightstand. Then I start drumming them on my legs to the beat as we listen to the song together.
When it gets to the chorus, he tells me, “This song makes me think of you.”
I stop tapping the drumsticks and set them aside. “How so?”
“I don’t know…the lyrics just make me want to see you.”
I rotate to my side, trying not to grin. “That’s secretly why I picked it. So that you’d want me to come out there and see you.”

[pearl. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blah! No Regrets disappointed me! Nova and Quinton were both a bit too emo and all the "poor me, life is hard" stuff bothered me.

Edited to include full review.


First Thoughts

I honestly hate to say this, but I didn't enjoy No Regrets. Nova had always kind of irritated me with her save-the-world complex and rambling emo nonsense into her video camera, but Quinton-- he had always captivated me. Watching the good guy he once was spiral out of control via an addiction to meth and heroin killed me. I was thoroughly ecstatic to read No Regrets because it was supposed to be about Quinton's road to recovery. I wanted a glimpse of that good guy again. Unfortunately, Quinton's dark thoughts and inner demons started to gnaw at my nerves and I just couldn't like him anymore.


What I Enjoyed

When Nova and Quinton finally did the deed. It was cute, it was passionate, it was a long time coming. It was the one part of the story that made me feel good, and--trust me--I was desperate to feel something, anything really, besides annoyance!


What Could Have Been Better

The dialogue. Holy cow, it seemed unnatural and awkward!

"It's okay. You can call it payback for me being cheesy earlier, but I think I'm just on emotional overload between this phone chat and our text conversation earlier. You're giving me a high dose of feel-goods and I'm starting to get really nervous about how I'm feeling right now. It's freaking the shit out of me."

Is this a romance, or what? Quinton constantly obsessed over Lexi and refused to take down pictures of her as part of his therapy. Nova repeatedly found ways to insert Landon into the conversation. I'm sorry, but shouldn't you two be moving on and focusing on each other? Is reminding each other that you each had an epic teenage love supposed to help the healing process??


TL;DR

Too long; didn't read. Meh. Nova was always annoying. Quinton became annoying. They kept dwelling on the past. The dialogue was absurd. The sex scene was the only enjoyable one. The ending seemed like "I don't know what to write anymore so let me end it like this." I'm hesitant to continue the series.




Pearl @ AsteriskPearl's Book Blog

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You give me hope, Nova Reed. Hope that even though life is really, really hard – even if it fucking sucks sometimes – that it’s worth living."

Quinton is finally getting clean, saved by Nova, like the car. Fresh out of rehab, he has a long way to go before he can really free himself of the guilt of his past and learn that he deserves to have a future.

Nova, stuck a state away from the boy that she wanted to save – the one that she thought could make up for the one that she couldn’t.... connected to him only through text and late night phone calls, she knows that she wants more with him, but knows he has to be able to give it to her first.

As Quinton works through his own past and tries to stay clean, he has to learn to accept that loving Nova isn’t going to diminish the way he felt for Lexi. That loving Lexi and falling in love with Nova doesn’t cancel the other one out. Moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting.

As these two remain at a distance, something that they’ve experienced far too much of pushes them together again. When Nova needs someone to lean on, she runs to Quinton. She knows he might not be strong enough yet to carry her burdens, but she will break if he isn’t the one holding her together. For Quinton, having her in his arms scares the shit out of him, but once she is there – he isn’t willing to let her go.

This series has been a roller coaster of emotions. Jessica Sorensen does not write fluffy love stories. She writes gritty, angst filled and fucked in the head stories that, if you’re lucky... you’ll find a glimmer of hope in the mess that is life. I admit that at the start of this installment I was beginning to roll my eyes, wanting to get a move on from the dark to something a little lighter. I mean there is only so much fucked up I can take. But as this story progressed I was able to be drawn back in. The start of this book also left you with a bit of dread. There were two options as to where that scene could lead and although I had a feeling in my gut of which road was going to be taken, I really wanted it to be all a dream.

[Debra Presley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh, I can't believe the whirlwind journey I've been on with all three of these books (Breaking Nova, Saving Quinton and now Nova & Quinton: No Regrets). I've lost sleep and it was totally worth it.

if you've not read the other two books in the series STOP READING NOW!


In this book Quinton is finally clean and he's trying to figure out what the hell to do now. Every emotion, every thought, every memory is raw and causes him so much pain. Getting sober was the easy part for him it's living life and finding peace that's hard.

Jessica really drove me crazy (in a good way) with how long it takes for things to settle and be. I was so worried about both Nova and Quinton. At one point Nova has so much thrown at her that I was tense for her. I just wanted her to stand up and get control. This series was amazing. This book didn't disappoint but I warn make sure you have some tissues. I cried so much. I was just so connected to all of the characters in this book that when they hurt I hurt.

These three books are a wonderful, torturous ride that I can't believe I waited so long to read. Highly recommend.

[Jessica's Book Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nova and Quinton: No Regrets is the third in the Nova series and the final book for Nova and Quinton. If you have read my reviews for the first two books in the series Breaking Nova and Saving Quinton you would know how in love I am with these two very, very…. Very…. broken characters.

Nova and Quinton: No Regrets take place shortly after where book two, Saving Quinton left off. Beware spoilers if you have not read the first two books in the series.

Nova is still recovering from her high school boyfriend’s suicide but has made a better life for herself with finding a friend in Lea, attending college, joining a band, and videotaping her thoughts. She has left the drug world behind and is starting new but cannot forget about the boy who she tried so hard to save. Quinton was driving a car that crashed killing his girlfriend and after that he wanted to forget everything and not feel any pain; he turned to drugs. Quinton became hardcore into drugs and did not feel like he was worthy of living. Even after meeting Nova and a relationship/friendship blossomed between the two he chose drugs over her. Nova saved him from that life at the end of Saving Quinton but they are still far, far away from their happily ever after.

Quinton and Nova are apart 90% of the book. I was a bit disappointed with that to be honest. I wanted the drama, the pushing each other away… I wanted something. Quinton is living in Seattle trying to stay clean and discover himself again. Nova is slowly getting Quinton to put his walls down that he has built for himself as a friend. The scenes of their friendship becoming flirtatious were adorable. I kept cheering for the two to finally get together and admit how they feel but the first half of the book just felt so slow. It was so different than the first two books in the series.

I found myself more interested in the strange dynamic between Nova and Tristan. Tristan is Quinton’s cousin who was also heavily involved in drugs but is now living with Nova staying clean. I do not want to say too much but I saw their drama develop from a mile away but I still really enjoyed it and wish Nova would have confronted it more head on. A scene between the two of them at the end just talking was very much needed. Maybe in Tristan’s book? Hopefully…

No Regrets is your typical conclusion book. It wasn’t my favorite, it wasn’t bad… but it wasn’t great either. I feel the characters went as far as they could and ready to move on to another Jessica Sorensen book.

I give Nova and Quinton: No Regrets 3.5 Stars.


ARC provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.




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[Desiree Mosley - A Love Affair With Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 hearts!

The "Nova" series is exactly why I love Jessica Sorensen. Every time I start a new series from her, my book crush grows to ridiculous heights. She makes you feel so many feels. Her characters are so flawed, yet so beautifully written that you truly believe they are real and want to find them and make their lives better.

In true Jessica fashion, this series is a dark and heart crushing at times read. How she continues to write these characters that have such tragic lives but somehow find the power within themselves and their friendships to be so much more....

In "Breaking Nova" we find out so much about Nova Reed and the pain and tragedy she has had to deal with over her life. She battles her demons and by "Saving Quinton" it appears she is truly on the way to recovery. It may seem like from the dialogue in "Nova and Quinton: No Regrets" that Nova is weak but that is so far from the case. Like all of us who have had to deal with pain, she deals with it the best way she can and in the end, she must learn to have faith in herself and live her life with no regrets.

To read the rest of my review, please visit the blog at A Love Affair With Books.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

*squee* So excited to see that a 3rd book will be coming out! I need it now!!!

So I just finished this after waiting for months & I must say...well worth the wait! I cannot say how much I loved this. The way the emotions played out were just so raw and real. I was right there with Nova and Quinton the whole way. What a journey!

[Ashleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyed it but I wanted for time with Quinton and nova together! Im glad everyone is healing and moving on and sober!!

[Noha Badawi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe around 3.5 stars.

However, I'm happy with how things turned out in the end.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am truly amazed with how brilliantly poignant and gorgeously compelling, Jessica Sorensen is able to realistically portray the open brokenness and painful lives of these beautiful characters that she so lovingly writes about in her Nova series. With every single book, including the novellas, I find myself becoming more and more entranced with these stories and wrapped up in these characters lives as if they are my own. They are stunningly gripping and full of misplaced trust, life altering situations, and the harsh realities of dealing with substance abuse, death, and both physical and emotional abuse at the hands of so many others in their lives that it's unreal. The Nova series has drug my emotions through the gamut and yet, I still keep coming back for more because I simply can't get enough. I absolutely love it, when a book is able to bring me to my knees, only to pull me up higher than anything else with just that one flicker of hope illuminating the darkness. It's a gorgeous and painful illustration of what life is like, in that messy, unguarded, and complicated way that it affects all of us on a day to day basis.

The happiness that Jessica Sorensen writes about within these novels and the way that she drags these stories out over a span of two to three books, is hard won, full of painful personal tragedy, and all the more real and sustainable in the end. They are simply more tangible than anything else I've read and it's so incredibly easy for me to just dive into the murky depths of these complicated books and dissect them from the inside out, because they are so freaking amazing. They've literally turned my reading world upside down and placed it on its head. I just can't seem to see my life without her writing or her books in it and that's saying a great deal, because it takes A LOT to make me feel this way about any one particular author. There are only three and I can count them on all one hand, now Jessica Sorensen has taken up another slot on that list and I wouldn't have it any other way.

After seeing how Saving Quinton ended, I was excited to delve into Nova and Quinton: No Regrets, to see how Quinton was going to deal with living life sober, instead of continuing to numb himself to the tremendous pain and guilt he felt over the losses he suffered and constantly using drugs and aching for death to over-take him once more and get it right this time. His character didn't disappoint me in the least, if anything, he inspired me to want to never run away from or use any other life altering means to numb myself to the world, to life, or to anyone around me who could possibly care about me. He's broken, messy, and all over the place, but he is trying his best to hold on. It's not always a pretty picture, it never is where drug and verbal abuse and overwhelming guilt are concerned. He has his ups and downs, but through it all he manages to make the best of it and realizes in the end that what he wants, what he needs, is okay to have. It doesn't mean that he has to forget, but in order to fully heal and move forward with his life, he does need to let go of some of the things that he lets constantly hammer away at his heart.

Nova is a wonderful force in his life, she is there always and she never judges him. Though, I would argue, that her putting her own mental health on the line to always be there for him is definitely a bit more unhealthy than I'd like to see her. It's one of those things that I also love and dislike about her, but it works when it needs to and I can be okay with it to a point. She is just as fragile as he is and her heart and life has been shattered beyond almost recognition as well. She's managed to pull herself back from the brink of that over-powering darkness that threatened to take her down with it and now, all she wants to do is help to pull Quinton back from the all too familiar ledge as well. She would do anything to make him see just how important he is, just how much he deserves to let himself be happy, and to let go of some of the guilt and pain that's weighing him down.

"You give me hope, Nova Reed. Hope that even though life is really, really hard- even if it fucking sucks sometimes- that it’s worth living." -- Nova and Quinton: No Regrets (Nova, #3) by Jessica Sorensen

These two beautiful tortured souls have had their emotions and their lives put through the gamut and while it took A HELL OF A LOT to get them on their way to healing and letting go, to believing in that flickering little light of hope - they were finally able to embrace it and each other as well. Nova and Quinton are gorgeous and they tear my heart to little bitty bits and leave the pieces lying all over the floor in a scattered mess over and over again. And yet, I wouldn't change anything about these two for the world, because I've loved every single minute of their epic and emotionally painful yet healing inspired journey.

I tip my hat to Jessica Sorensen and what she's been able to do with these characters and their story, but not just their story either. All of the characters stories. I loved more than anything how both Quinton and Nova were able to work through their issues and let down the walls so completely built up around them, by letting the other all the way in finally. This book put them each through so much hell while they were apart from one another and finding their way back to being fully let in, that it was unreal.

I'm glad that I was there to see it all happen the way that it did, because it was gorgeous to finally see Nova realizing that she can't always control the force of life and save everything. That sometimes, you have to just accept how things are and learn to deal with it without letting it affect you mentally. My heart definitely ached for Tristan a little bit more, being so close to the woman he thought he was in love with, and then realizing that she was so completely wrapped up and in love with another totally different guy. I found myself wanting to see him find someone to love him for everything he is, without holding his past against, and to also find that little bit of strength and that flicker of hope buried deep inside of himself that I knew was always there waiting to be let out.

And, then I found myself incredibly sad for the loss of Delilah, even though I had seen it coming after having read and loved Delilah: The Making of Red. It was such an incredibly tragic glimpse into who she was, had been, and who she always wanted to be. There were things about her, that you just wouldn't know if you hadn't read it and it was heartbreaking to see her story end that way and yet, it made all the more sense to illustrate the harsh ugliness of the world around us and the choices that we make everyday. I think, in this one sense, Jessica Sorensen hit on something more powerful and real that even she could possibly imagine. Although, I don't presume to speak for her, it's just a feeling that I have.

This book broke me and put me back together in so many ways, that I can't begin to tell you how amazing this journey has been. If you're looking for a book or a series, that will share with you the harsh realities of this world and the decaying affect that drugs, abuse, and violence can have on your life - then this is the book/series that you want to read. All of the happy-ever-afters come with a price and they don't come easily. I think, this is what I love so much about them so much so, that I'm reminded of something another character that I loved with every big of my being said on a distant show that will forever remain a special part of my life.

"They don't write songs about the ones that come easy." -- Logan Echolls; Veronica Mars.

[Jamie :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad this series exists. So painful, so emotional, the depth this book brings out in me and the way it makes me think and look at life makes me feel like I am not alone. I definitely connected to Quinton and the way nova is there for him always had my heart bursting 😩 so deeply emotional Jessica Sorensen knows how to write books that are so honest and raw. Loved this!

5 stars 🌟

[New Adult e dintorni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come già ho riferito nei capitoli precedenti di questa serie, questa non è la classica storia d'amore e non è da considerarsi un romanzo rosa.
Abbiamo assistito nei volumi precedenti a tutta l'evoluzione del dolore e del senso di colpa di Quinton e Nova che li ha spinti anche se in modalità e in entità diverse verso l'uso smodato di droghe (molto pesanti soprattutto per Quinton) per dimenticare il passato che non li lascia liberi.
Nova è riuscita a uscirne fuori prima di Quinton e al termine dell'ultimo capitolo li abbiamo lasciati che si salutavano prima che il ragazzo tormentato dai fantasmi del passato, si convincesse finalmente a entrare in riabilitazione.
Questo ultimo volume inizia con un prologo che ci fa pensare alla peggiore delle sorti per qualcuno, Nova è a un funerale ma non sappiamo di chi.
Poi torniamo indietro e partiamo dall'uscita di Quinton dalla riabilitazione.
Il nostro bel ragazzo ha difficoltà a varcare la soglia della sua camera.
Ha paura ad affrontare la normalità. Prova disagio nell'affrontare il padre. Nel centro si sente protetto. Pensa che il padre non voglia avere a che fare con lui perché lo ritiene responsabile della morte della moglie quando lo ha dato alla luce.
Ha paura a tornare a casa con suo padre a Seattle, si sente soffocato dai ricordi.
Ha paura di cadere in tentazione e di cercare la droga nei posti che era solito frequentare.
Quinton pensa a Nova, è sicuro di essere innamorato di lei.
Ma non si sente ancora pronto ad affrontarla. Addirittura non ha ancora aperto una lettera che lei gli ha mandato, è convinto che lei voglia comunicargli la sua intenzione di essere lasciata libera.

Lui non è ancora pronto a fare a meno di lei. Nova vive con Tristan e Lea in Idaho. Continua a suonare la sua batteria e adesso fa parte di una band. Frequenta un corso di cinema al college e lavora in uno studio fotografico.
Mano a mano che si va avanti con la lettura di questo libro, il senso di claustrofobia che avevamo provato nei precedenti volumi, si dissolve come nebbia, attraverso i pensieri di Quinton. Percepisci la speranza e la luce che inizia a illuminare il suo stato d'animo.
Piano piano, grazie alle sedute con l'analista, capisce che deve affrontare il passato. Anche se disfarsi dei ricordi vorrebbe dire iniziare a guarire e smettere di provare senso di colpa per l'incidente e per la morte delle persone coinvolte.
Un'ulteriore spinta alla guarigione di Quinton proviene dalle sue telefonate con Nova.
In lei trova un motivo per pensare al futuro. Gli piace il suo ottimismo.
Attraverso la scrittura troverà la valvola di sfogo per i suoi pensieri, dubbi, rimorsi e rimpianti.
Dall'altra parte Nova attraverso i suoi video confessa i suoi pensieri come se stesse scrivendo in un diario.
Così data la lontananza e il timore soprattutto di Quinton a incontrare Nova, ci troveremo testimoni del rapporto dei due ragazzi che riprenderà a suon di messaggi che inizialmente saranno amichevoli e cauti ma poi, la vera natura del loro rapporto prenderà il volo, portandoli a flirtare.
L'attrazione fra i due si intensifica. Liberi dagli effetti delle droghe.
Attraverso le righe di questo romanzo che, ripeto, non ha niente di rosa ma che personalmente non sono riuscita a mollare un attimo, troveremo messaggi di speranza e di aiuto per chi ha dovuto affrontare una perdita o per chi si è sentito responsabile di un doloroso evento.
Impareremo che il dolore non va combattuto stordendosi con droghe o altri eccessi ma va trasformato in qualcosa di buono.
Un nuovo evento doloroso metterà di nuovo alla prova Quinton e Nova ma grazie all'amore che li lega riusciranno a superarlo prendendo forza l'uno dall'altra.
Non troverete numerose scene di sesso fra i due ma quello che c'è vi scalderà il cuore e finalmente vi farà tirare un sospiro di sollievo per i due innamorati.
Non potrete non tifare per loro. Assisterete alla rinascita di Quinton come giovane uomo che ritorna a sentire i sentimenti e gli impulsi come è normale che sia alla sua età.
Ma avremo anche dei momenti di forte tentazione e disagio che solo attraverso le telefonate riuscirà a dissipare.
La narrazione a POV alternati per un buon 70% del libro vi porterà all'interno dei pensieri di questi due ragazzi tormentati ma sarà un viaggio all'interno di uno stato d'animo che potrebbe avervi toccato nel cammino della vostra vita.

PER CONTINUARE A LEGGERE CLICCA QUI: http://newadultedintorni.blogspot.it/...

[Tina ♥ Bookaholic · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://martinabookaholic.wordpress.c...

Meine Gedanken zum Buch:
Wie ihr aus meinen vorigen Rezensionen wisst, bin ich eigentlich ein Fan von Jessica Sorensen, sie ist mein Idol und verschlinge alles von ihr, was mir in die Hände fällt. Wenn ihr mir folgt, wisst ihr aber genauso, dass ich meine Probleme mit dieser Reihe rund um Nova & Quinton hatte, und das hat sich leider auch in Band 3 nicht verändert.

Sicher, die Handlung ist eine andere und endlich, endlich sind die Drogen und der Alkohol und die ganzen anderen schlimmen Dinge nicht mehr so aktuell, aber dennoch konnte mich das Buch nicht so begeistern, wie andere Reihen der Autorin. In diesem Teil kämpfen Quinton und Nova jeder für sich auf ihren eigenen Fronten, und sind sich dabei die meiste Zeit körperlich weit voneinander entfernt. Wer also romantische, heiße Szenen erwartet, ist hier fehl am Platz. Hier geht es vor allem darum, seinen Weg zurück in die richtige Welt zu finden, nachdem man abgestürzt ist, einen Sinn im Leben zu finden, das man eigentlich schon abgeschrieben hat. Daher ja, ich würde es eher als Selbstfindungs-Trip bezeichnen, als ein Contemporary Romance Buch.

Nova war mir ja schon immer sympathisch und ich mag ihre sture, positive Art, die sie sich im zweiten Teil zugelegt hat und für das richtige, gute in den Menschen kämpft, sie nicht aufgibt und einfach total lieb und nett ist – ein guter Mensch. Leider ist sie auch etwas naiv und mich hat es hier gestört, dass sie sich immer so zurück genommen und Dinge nicht angesprochen hat – wie die Sache mit Tristan oder lange auch nicht mit Quinton.

Quinton, der nach dem Entzug bei seinem Dad weit weg von Nova lebt, muss seinen eigenen Alltag bewältigen, ohne Drogen, wodurch er alle Gefühle jetzt doppelt so hart fühlt, als vor 2 Jahren, als alles begann. Hier finde ich es gut, dass er sich endlich wieder geändert hat und trotz harter Zeiten weiterkämpft und sich bemüht. Natürlich schafft er das nicht alleine, sondern stützt sich sehr auf Nova, was mir gefallen hat, wären sie nur nicht so weit auseinander oder würde er sich nicht so lange mit Händen und Füßen wehren, sie in seine Nähe zu lassen. Auch, dass er zuerst an sich gedacht hat, als es Nova gegen Ende dann schlecht ging, fand ich doch eine Spur egoistisch, aber okay, ich war ja nie so ganz ein Quinton Fan – er kommt einfach nicht an Kayden ♥ oder Michah ran.

Und Tristan oder die anderen Nebencharaktere haben mir hier auch nicht so gut gefallen, wie in den anderen Büchern. Irgendwie fehlt jemand, der etwas Lockerheit reinbringt, anstatt nur Stress wie Tristan oder wie Heimlichtuereien wie Lea. Schade drum.

Das Ende war dann zwar nach meinem Geschmack, aber dann irgendwie auch zu schnell und zu einfach abgehandelt, wodurch man sich sehr in der Luft hängengelassen fühlt. :/ Außerdem hat man nie erfahren, was Landon eigentlich in seinem Abschieds-Video zu ihr gesagt hat – oder habe ich das verpennt? Kann ich mir aber nicht vorstellen.
Mh, ich weiß nicht, aber momentan stehen ich und Sorensen ein wenig auf unterschiedlichen Seiten, aber ich hoffe, dass ihre Reihe rund um Callie, Kayden, Seth, Violet und Luke bald weiter geht und den alten Zauber verbreitet, der einem zufrieden und glücklich aufseufzen lässt.

Cover:
Meiner Meinung nach ist das deutsche Cover viel hübscher, da man keine Gesichter sieht, was ich ja generell immer besser finde. Außerdem ist es sexy und lässt viel Raum für Fantasien. *sehr gut*

All in all:
Ein guter Teil, der seine Höhen und Tiefen hat, und wie immer mit den guten und schlechten Emotionen der Charaktere spielt, wie ein Jongleur im Zirkus. Leider erreicht der Zauber nicht das gleiche Niveau wie andere Sorensen-Bücher und für mich war das Ende zu einfach gestrickt und die Charaktere nicht so genial liebenswert wie sonst. Zwar schade, aber ich bleibe Sorensen weiterhin als Leserin treu ergeben.

[Shirley Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nova and Quinton: No Regrets starts up at the moment Quinton is about to start his new life sober. Although scared, confused and uncertain of what is about to come, Quinton is still determined to make something of his new beginning. He is set to move in with his father and although he is armed with the tools he learned in rehab to deal with his emotions and difficult moments, he still can't wrap his mind around being back home with his father and where all his problems began. Thankfully, he keeps busy, meets new people, goes to his meetings and most of all reconnects with Nova.

Nova continues to attend college and keeps busy with her job and her video diary. She's in a good place in her life, but has never forgotten Quinton--the guy that got to her when she thought she was about done feeling anything for anybody.

After reading Breaking Nova and Saving Quinton I was most definitely invested in these characters so as you can imagine, I loved this story!

Jessica Sorensen did it again by continuing Nova and Quinton's journey of self-discovery, this time through the use of text messages, phone calls and unexpected moments. What I enjoyed most about this story was the pace of it, the special moments and the intimate confessions. I don't think I would have accepted any other way because from the very start their connection was ever present and only continued to grow.

Once again, the emotions of both characters were at the forefront of the story bringing forth the uncertainty of Nova and Quinton's situation, their hesitations and their struggles about the direction their lives were taking in regards to both their relationship and that of them with other people. While Quinton settled into his new life, dealing with his father, his feelings towards Nova and his struggles with the role his past was playing in his recovery, Nova was struggling with feelings of helplessness, frustration and insecurity in regards to her need to have control over her life and that of the people around her. Both Nova and Quinton experienced growth as individuals and as a couple coming to term to what they were feeling towards each other. They grew strong, showed weakness, crumbled and picked themselves up as best they could and when they finally came together and truly let go they were able to move forward in their lives.

Packed-full of emotions, revealing moments and engaging interactions, the final chapter in Nova and Quinton's journey of healing not only brings them together romantically (finally!) it also brings along all the fear, uncertainty and peace that comes with embracing a new beginning in life. All in all, an excellent conclusion to Nova and Quinton's story.

*I received a copy of this title through NetGalley in exchange of my honest opinion.

[Angie Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

***This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***

*This review may contain spoilers for previous books in the series.

Any time I pick up a book from Jessica Sorensen, I know I’m in for a treat! That’s just what I got with Nova and Quinton: No Regrets.

I had a lot of expectations when I picked up this book, because after over six hundred pages with them, I’d really become invested in Nova and Quinton getting some sort of resolution. My expectations were surpassed!

This book centers on Quinton’s recovery, and while it may not be packed with action, it’s bursting with emotion. As with each of JS’s books, this one put me through the wringer. There were times I was so freaked out, I had to put it down and walk away. I was right there with Nova—desperate for Quinton to stay on the straight and narrow and panicking when I thought he might not.

This book took everything I thought about Nova and tossed it out the window. After finishing Saving Quinton, I really thought it was time for Nova to focus on her own life and try to make sense of her own emotional upheaval. After finishing this book, it seems as though Nova was in a better place than I originally thought. I think in her quest to save Quinton, she had an ‘emotional’ relapse, but once Quinton got of Vegas and into rehab, she was much more functional. I think her actions in the second book were a direct result of her surroundings, and once she was able to leave them, she was back on the road to her own emotional recovery.

Usually when a character comes full circle, you see a bit of who they were at the beginning of the series, but I think Quinton changed so much it was almost as if he became an entirely different person. After the tragic events of his past, I can see this happening. I think he lost a part of himself he’ll never get back, and that changed him enough so he was almost unrecognizable from who he was before the accident. Quinton’s journey to recovery was detailed and accurately portrayed. After the ‘excitement’ of drugs and a life where you were constantly looking to get your next fix, everyday life would be so hard to adjust to. I love that he was led to find a sense of self and worth in doing for others.

I’m not sure I’ve ever been invested in two characters as much as I was Nova and Quinton, and I know I’ve never wanted redemption for anyone more than I wanted it for Quinton Carter. This series has been a definite win for me. There were lots of emotional ups and downs, and I think what made this story so strong was being invested in the characters individually, not necessarily as a couple. Nova and Quinton finally getting together was just the icing on the cake for me!

I went into this book wanting a happily ever after, but I got more of a hopefully ever after. And that fits the story so much better! Nova and Quinton have finally found some peace—as much peace as someone with their pasts can have—but I think that together, they’ll be able to hold onto that peace and make it work.

[Gea · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, I must admit two things: I am not typically a reader of the romance genre and I am a Firstreads Giveaway Winner, hence this review. The cover of this book caught me and is probably the main reason I entered the Goodreads Giveaway contest, yet the cover is quite misleading. This really isn't a romance although it is strangely romantic and addictive. However, it's more of a recovery story about Quinton trying to overcome addiction and survive sobriety. Although there is very little plot, setting, or description there is ample character development and an intriguing voice to Nova and Quinton that drew me into the story and made the book hard to put down.

I have not read the first two books in the series, but it wasn't difficult to figure out what had happened in the earlier books. Both Nova and Quinton are extremely damaged. They're trying to heal and are fearful of intimacy. Over two-thirds of the book takes place with them communicating over the phone or via text message because they are living in two different states. They don't actually meet in person until well over 200 hundred pages into the book. And yet their growing relationship is tender and tentative, open and cautious.

There are a number of odd quirks to this book. For a woman who has written ten novels and is a USA Today best-selling writer, Sorensen leaves strange deficiencies in the story. Setting was very minimal. Quinton lives in Seattle and I don't remember now where Nova lives, but the two cities could have been completely interchangeable. There's also little description in the story. It wasn't until 200 pages in that I learned Nova had blue eyes and long legs. I had pictured her as petite and dark eyed because of the cover. Of course, Quinton's "honey brown" eyes were clear as they were the main description of him recited again and again. And for a "romance", when they finally do come together it's surprisingly anti-climactic. There is little eroticism here. I found Quinton's lack of lust surprising considering he was a young twenty something male, but perhaps he was so damaged and fragile that wasn't predominant in his mind? But he's a young 20 something male! It was, however, refreshing to read a romance that wasn't chock full of completely unrealistic sex and seismic multiple orgasms.

The ending came abruptly and also felt odd. I expected passion, love, eternal devotion but it all was a bit tepid. It felt rushed. Still, Sorensen has a gift for dialogue and sweet, tender romance. She writes characters that feel fragile and real. This is by no means a highly crafted novel, yet it is strangely compelling and addictive. Sorensen writes imperfectly but with a raw emotional honesty that will pull you in and leave you wanting Nova and Quinton to survive. Sorensen has real potential for writing novels of emotional depth and honesty if only she'd devote more energy to the quality of her writing, and less attention to the quantity.