Wow...that's all a girl can say. July of 2013 I decided to hit publish on a little story called Save. Little did I know what would happen next. I started to get reviews...fan mail...Facebook and Twitter requests. To say I was floored is an understatement. I'm so touched by the welcoming response. More than anything, I am humbled by the thought that you...yes you...downloaded my work and liked it. Sure, I can't please everyone. That being said, the fact that you enjoyed my story/stories means so much more to me. I wish I could hang out with each and every one of you and make you understand what this all means to me. For now...I will say 'Thank you'. And, I will do my best to keep knocking out books as long as you keep reading them. Love, Ella
Es una trama muy simple, entretenida, sin mayores pretensiones. Caydon y Reece tienen un enamoramiento en la adolescencia, el destino los separa y los vuelve a juntar muchos años después.
I first want to give a huge thank you to Ella Col for gifting me her book. I’ve had the chance to read her three books over the last year and have loved each and every one of them.
I loved the concept of this story. The prologue sets the tone perfectly, two ten year old kids – both with their own feelings of disrepair find solace in the fact that they both seem to not feel alone. But they don’t know each other, they speak barely a few words to one another... But then she’s gone and Caydon is left yet again by someone that he cared about.
Reece left when she was ten years old, leaving behind her father and grandmother to live in Florida with her mother. She never expected that after a few short months that she’d be the one taking care of her, but after eleven years she is finally coming home.
Caydon has always looked to someone else to feel worth something. The boy from the wrong side of the tracks that always got the pitiful looks. Winning Hannah made him feel like he was deserving. But after she leaves for college his relationship is slipping further and further away.
Enter Reece... There is something about this girl that just gets under his skin. With his relationship with Hannah over he can finally explore his feelings for Reece. But he has no idea just how long of a history they already share until that one moment...
This was one of those stories that I just fell in love with. It wasn’t about anything but the story for me with this one. Not stopping for a moment to take a break, I was completely involved. I absolutely adored the concept of these two finding each other again after eleven years, a brief connection shared by kids that felt lost morphing into a bond that they may not have understood as adults, but nevertheless it was still there.
Reece suffered so much loss in her life and when she was having to face it yet again, I was done for. Typically I want to punch the heroine in her throat when she does the whole push-him-away-to-save-him routine, but for Reece, I had nothing but sympathy.
Ella Col did a wonderful job with this story; love, fate and second chances with a little bit of drama that was realistic feeling rather than just manufactured angst tossed in for effect. I am looking forward to seeing if she will give Nash a book of his own, I think he has a story that needs to be told.
4 stars and recommendation for Contemporary Romance genre
I was gifted this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This short story packs a punch and right out of the gate, you will find yourself sucked in. The story opens from the POV of one 10-year-old child named Caydon. He has made himself the protector of another child, a little girl named Reece. In the opening, we see Caydon jumping in to defend Reece (whose name is unknown to him), from the bullies she encounters on the school playground. One broken promise, and ten years later, we land in the thick of a great story.
Ten years on, we find Caydon pining away for his girlfriend Hannah, who has gone off to college. Their contact is limited and something seems very off about this. Caydon is striving to control issues managing his anger as being with Hannah anchored him. Into his life walks a dark hair beauty named Reece. She is an introvert and a very cautious girl, and for good reason. After spending the past few years taking care of her dying mother, she is back to living with her father and going to college. That experience hardened her at a young age and she is wary of socializing out in the bar scene/party at all, let alone being around the town bad boy.
When they meet, there is immediate tension but nothing completely unpredictable happens between them, except for the very instinctive dislike they have for each other. Caydon is in position of now questioning his devotion to Hannah and goes off the rails. There are some surprise connections between Caydon and Reece but any time they spend together, they just seem to antagonize and annoy each other.
As I was reading, I was cognizant that this was a short story, just a hundred plus pages, and what went through my mind was that I felt, really felt these people. The descriptions of them, their inner dialogue is really very well done. The characters were easy to like, and sometimes despise, but we were in their heads and understood why. For me, the dislike really stems from frustration as the chemistry is evident and well, we just want a happily ever after. There are some wonderful secondary characters; Reece’s cousin Maria, her father Mark and Caydon boss Shortly, plus his archenemies Nash, who likes to stir things up a bit and has his own history with Reece.
The story is told in alternating points of view and gives us that 360 view of our main characters. It is a well-developed storyline and the writing is solid. I never felt that the story was rushed and it unfolded perfectly. We saw some sweet and gentle characteristics in Caydon and a strength in Reece that was hidden behind her shy nature. I would love to see what’s happens next for Caydon and Reece and maybe get a peek at Nash’s life as well.
Once again, I am blown away by Ella Col's work of art. She never ceases to amaze me!
Reece has had a hard life. After raising an alcoholic mother who should have been raising her, she starts fresh in a place she used to know. All she wants to do is study and breathe. But when Reece is dragged to a party by her cousin, she has no idea that a chance encounter will change her life.
Caydon is pissed off. Always the kid from the wrong side of the tracks, he's tired of having to prove himself. When Caydon meets Reece, he is both infuriated and drawn to her. Naturally, he makes an ass out of himself. Surprisingly, Reece gives as good as she gets, and Caydon is left even more infuriated than he began. But when Caydon's world falls apart, and himself with it, can he allow Reece to help him? Or is he too locked into his anger to let her try?
Watching as Caydon and Reece evolved, I was amazed. I literally could not put this book down. I had to know what happened next, and I was not disappointed. Reece is a kind soul who wants to help everyone she can. Caydon has used anger as the drive to keep him going from day to day. I very rarely feel for characters the way I felt for Reece and Caydon. A great read that is highly recommended!
This is such a sweet story! The book begins when the kids are 10 years old. Caydon notices a little girl across the street, she is beautiful and shy. He watches the other girls tease her. He goes over and helps her up they lock eyes. There is a connection and all he wants to do is save her. They agree to meet up at the park but he never sees her again!
Reese had to deal with alot in her life especially taking take of her alcoholic mother at such a young age. Finally after all those years she is finally coming home.
Caydon hasnt had a easy life either, he never stopped missing the beautiful 10 year old girl.
I fell in love with this story from the very beginning. Its a quick read but you will have many emotions, there will be lies, fighting, deceiving, love, fate and second chances. This was a great read and I highly recommend it.
Another awesome 5 star book from Ella! I loved the characters, not only Caydon and Reece, but Maria, Shorty, and especially Reece's dad Mark. I enjoyed seeing how Caydon and Reece's pasts collided with the present and how fate blessed them with a second chance. I also loved the development of Reece's relationship with her dad throughout the story. And I wont give any specifics away, but the ending was so sweet and spectacular and could not have been more perfect. The whole story was woven together wonderfully from beginning to end!
I've not read anything by Ella Col but that's gonna change after reading this brilliant book. This is a really lovely romantic story about first time love. Reese hasn't had a good time growing up. After moving away to live with her mum she ended up taking care of her mum when she got sick.
Caydon has gone through years thinking about his first love. This is a really great story. I literally sat and read this in one sitting. I was gripped and really wanted to know how life was gonna pan out for these two.
I LOVE Ella Col and the ALPHA hotties that she writes about. Again, Caydon started out as a douche (although i TOTALLY get why he was the way he was...), but Ella turned him into SUCH A SWEETIE for Reece in the end *AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW* LOVED IT!!!!
And i would LOVE to see Nash have a story... just saying ;)
“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”
This book was one I instantly fell in love with. There wasn’t one thing that was better than the other, it was just love. I started and I just felt it, I felt the words, I felt each thing and I couldn’t leave these characters until I couldn’t turn another page. I loved this concept, I adored that there was this connection made between two ten year old kids and that that connection became a bond when years later they are brought back together, Fate.
“Fate has thrown us together twice. I’m afraid that if we don’t take this second chance that she is going to be pissed and never offer us another chance again.”
I loved how this story started, the prologue was perfect, two ten year old kids, both needing someone. But the thing is these two don’t know each other, they have stared at each other and shared these moments with their eyes. Then the day they do share a couple words to one another… they disappear from each other and at that moment they alone again.
“If you leave someone at least tell them why, because what’s more painful than being abandoned; is it knowing you’re not worth an explanation.” ~Unknown~
You are then put in the present and we find out quick that Reece has had a hard life. She has cared for her alcoholic mother and was more or less on her own but she is coming home to her father, the one she left at ten. There is something about Reece that instantly bonds you to her, she is so strong, so feisty that you can’t help but laugh at her while at the same time you feel for her and understand her. Because of the background Reece has she can’t help but want to take care of everyone. I loved her, I wanted to hug her and I wouldn’t mind if my daughters had a little bit of Reece’s qualities when they got older.
“Feisty. Spicy. Challenge accepted.”
Reece and Caydon meet and instantly it is explosive, these two are like a time bomb. Caydon is pissed off, and Reece is something that he is instantly drawn to. Caydon is a bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks and he is everything I love.
“My heart stops beating. I can’t think. All I want to do is consume Caydon… make him part of me."
Caydon is coming out of a broken relationship with a girl he isn’t even sure he loved. But it’s the relationship that helped him with his anger. Caydon has a serious temper and he also has this image he puts off but the real Caydon freaking melted me to my core. He is this broken, tattooed, pierced perfection. He is the bad boy all girls want to tame but he just wants one thing.
“You don’t need to ask, Caydon. I’m your now.” Oh holy hell. I’m a goner.
Watching as Caydon and Reece evolved, I was amazed, I was in love and I literally could not put this book down. I had to know what happened next, and I didn’t care about anything else. I love when a book grabs me like this one did and I love it even more when it doesn’t disappoint. I have never read Ella Col’s books before but I can tell you with an appearance like this I will not be missing any more of what she writes.
"Love is perfect. Caydon is perfect. Everything is perfect."
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
You know, Amazon says that this is 113 pages long. It didn’t feel like it. I think it is because there was so much emotion, so much of Reece and Caydon in it. With some shorter books, you don’t feel like you get enough, like you have enough time to get to know the characters, but when I was done with this, I felt like I knew these two inside and out, what made them tick, why they acted the way they do, why they had so much angry, why they were so drawn to each other.
The beginning of the book sets the tone for this perfectly. The two ten year olds, one saving the other, then the abandonment. The pain that Reece had growing up, the anger Caydon had during his own childhood, plus Hannah. Hannah is a wench. When these two meet as adults they both have their own defense mechanisms in place to keep themselves from any more pain and I honestly didn’t know how this would end. I hoped, but I didn’t know.
I think this is the first book I have read by Ella Col and I am really looking forward to picking up more of her work. This was a beautiful sexy story and I am so glad I got to take part in the tour. Thank you for my ARC!
I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it away. Ella is an amazing author and can weave and amazing story. I can honestly say I have not read a book with this general story line before and I absolutely adored it.
Reese and Caydon meet when he saves her from bullies when they are ten years old. Reese moves away and they both dream of finding each other one day. He was her protector and he felt whole when he looked at her. When they meet again neither of them recognize each other since it is eleven years later. Their first couple meetings end up being completely awful but things very well for them.
The book is extremely well written and the characters are well thought up. If Caydon were my boyfriend I would have all kinds of tattoos, even with my fear of needles. Caydon is dreamy and I fell madly in love with this character and Reese is a fighter that has been looking for love. I can't wait to read more books by Ella in the future.
This is such a sweet story! The book begins when the kids are 10 years old. Caydon notices a little girl across the street, she is beautiful and shy. He watches the other girls tease her. He goes over and helps her up they lock eyes. There is a connection and all he wants to do is save her. They agree to meet up at the park but he never sees her again!
Reese had to deal with alot in her life especially taking take of her alcoholic mother at such a young age. Finally after all those years she is finally coming home.
Caydon hasnt had a easy life either, he never stopped missing the beautiful 10 year old girl.
I fell in love with this story from the very beginning. Its a quick read but you will have many emotions, there will be lies, fighting, deceiving, love, fate and second chances. This was a great read and I highly recommend it.
Ella Col is an amazing author and she did not disappoint with this book. Reece has had a hard life, nothing has ever been easy for her. Caydon hasn't had an easy life either, he just found out that the girl he loved was using him through their entire relationship. But fate has plans for these two. I love the way that Ella Col always slips at least one Bob Marley quote into her books at just the perfect point. The characters in this book were very well developed and I loved the emotions that flowed throughout the entire story. I am looking forward to the next book in this new series. I really hope that there will be a book about Nash, I think he has a story that is just waiting to be told.
I loved the prologue, but chapter one is about how the hero loves another woman, Hannah. How Hannah makes him feel, how Hannah is good for him, how he loves Hannah. Hannah is not the heroine. I don't want to hear how the hero loves another woman who is not the heroine. Plus, Cayden sounds like a desperate, weak man when it comes to "perfect Hannah"...his love, until she no longer wants him.
"Hannah is my everything. She is the sun. She is the moon. She is my star. loc 445
Did I already meantion that Hannah is not the heroine!?!?!?
Hannah breaks up with Cayden. When he meets Reece, he is thinking about "using" Reece to get Hannah out of his head. The first quarter if not more of the book, Cayden is pining over Hannah.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wow this was another amazing book by this author!!!! Read it!!! its worth the money i do not want to get into a big review on this one i will end up having spoilers all over the place and i do not want to ruin this for anyone so that means please just take my word and go get this and read it right away. I love the characters! I love the chemistry! Fate will bring two people back together. They burn for each other. Will they give it a try? will they break down their their walls?
I love Caydon! at first he was really pissing me off but hot damn i really warmed up to him!!!
Thank you so much Ella for sending me a copy of this book. This book was soooo good!! I loved the names of the characters. Caydon is such an amazing guy, with such a big heart...and of course the tats and piercing help. Reece is sweet and insecure. Their story is perfect. I really liked Mark too, he was pretty great for an old man! Please Ella, you have to write Nash's story. I bet it would be a good one. You're definitely becoming one of my favourite authors.
Sometimes I like reading books that are a great read and that have a to the point storyline. So I say thank you to Ella Col because Locked is just what I needed. This book had everything: a great story, suspense, emotion invoking, & hotness. I love Caydon. I have a thing for book bad boys and he has been added to my list of book boyfriends. I hope Caydon & Reece's story is not over. And can Nash please get his own story??????
"I’m afraid to tell you I love you, Caydon. Everyone I love leaves me. They either die or go away. If you go away, I will die inside. You’re the one thing that I have left."by Reece
This was an easy read and not too long! Still plenty of time to develop characters and fall in love with some drama along the way. Oh, and not forgetting the steam!