Wreck Me

Nova #4

by Jessica Sorensen

I’d heard stories of near death experiences, although the tales never seemed to be the same.Me, I saw many things.My son.Myself.My sins.The stars.And I also felt.The feeling wasn’t about me, but about another, as if someone was calling out to me, begging me to come back. That they needed my help.Then the stars burned out.And I thought I had died.But I was wrong.When Avery Hensley met Conner Wellings, she thought she’d found the guy she was going to spend the rest of her life with. She got married young and had the most beautiful son in the world. Life seemed perfect. But not everything is what it seems. Turned out Conner had another side to him, a darker side that Avery didn’t see coming. He wrecked and broke her into a thousand pieces, leaving Avery to put herself back together. From then on, Avery vows never to let a man into her life again.But then she meets Tristan Morganson. He’s sweet and sexy and wrecks Avery in a different way than Conner did, the kind of way that makes her feel alive again, the kind of way that makes her think maybe not all guys are bad. But can Avery trust him enough to let her walls come crumbling down?

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Abuse, Ebooks, Dark

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 22, 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 stars!



Since I first read the Nova books, I’ve been dying to get Tristan’s story. I wanted to know more about him, what caused him to turn towards the path he’s taken and most importantly, if he could become sober and turn his life around…

Tristan is Quinton’s cousin, and a recovering addict. He hasn’t had an easy life. Living in the shadow of his sister, never being good enough for his parents, never being loved, constantly using and being used.

I don’t know why, but it just seemed like everyone was suddenly walking forward in a straight line while I was moving against them in an unsteady and crooked path that no one else could see. And the more I stayed on that path, the more my family, and everyone else didn’t want me around anymore.
I became invisible.


Sobriety is not easy for Tristan. If it wasn’t for Quinton and Nova, sometimes I think he wouldn’t bother. Life is so much harder when you have to deal with the realities sober.



Something happens to Tristan. Something, or rather someone, that makes him want to try a little harder. To be a better person. Someone who makes him feel like there is someone out there that really cares and isn’t out to just use him. And her name is Avery.

Avery’s life hasn’t been much better than Tristan's has. Honestly, it’s been worse in a lot of ways. A single mother, recovering alcoholic, full time student, and bartender with an abusive ex-husband to boot. Avery has enough on her plate. She hasn’t been in a relationship in a long time and she is not looking for one. But there is Tristan. There is something about this broken boy that calls her. She doesn’t want to have feelings for him. She doesn’t need these complications. But for some reason, she can’t not care. She can’t stay away.



Through all Tristan’s struggles, I wanted him to get his happy so bad. He is one of the broken boys that ended up stealing my heart. You can’t help but to root for him. To stay clean, to get the girl, to feel loved and wanted. I’m so happy he had a woman like Avery come into his life. Avery is a survivor. I admired her strength. That poor girl. Hearing her history broke my heart. The flashbacks on her life were hard to read.

Avery and Tristan were both in places in their lives where they needed someone. And they found each other. Their chemistry was off the charts and their bond was intense.



Even though the story ended in a good place, I’m really hoping we get something else about this couple. There was no cliffhanger or anything, but there was a lot left that I wanted to know. I would be happy with another book or novella, but if we don’t get one, I’m okay with that too.

There was a lot I loved about this story- but there is one thing I have to point out. I hate to even mention this because it’s something that doesn’t bother me terribly, but there are quite a few errors I noticed in this one. If you’re particular about that, just an fyi.

Jessica Sorensen’s Nova series is one of my favorites. It’s emotional, a tad bit depressing at times, and these characters are broken with a lot of issues. But to see them grow, see them heal, it really is a beautiful thing. It makes their happy ever afters that much more special.

[Ilze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking but truly touching and inspiring <3



I wanted Tristan saved as much as Quinton since Breaking Nova, and I felt for him as much as I felt for Quinton and Nova. Tristan has always been such a huge part of Quinton's and Nova's story, and I couldn't help myself but fall in love with him. Therefore, I was stoked to finally read his story, where he gets saved <3

"I am damned. Ruined. Wrecked. Forever."

Tristan met Avery three months ago while he was building her house, and they shared a moment then. Although Tristan left the town where Avery lived, he couldn't forget her, and Avery still falls asleep reading Tristan's message to her. Now that they are building another house together, they cannot ignore the connection between them. They both have very dark secrets and tragic pasts, can they trust each other without losing anything?

"I'm not scared of death, just tired. So fucking tired of being alive yet never fully breathing."

Wreck Me is the fourth book in Nova series, but it can be read as a standalone, because it is about different couple. However, I would recommend reading first three books, which are about Quinton and Nova, very heart-wrenching, but beautiful. Plus, by reading first three books you get to know Tristan too. Nevertheless, if you want to read just Tristan's story I would highly insist you read Tristan: Finding Hope first, it is a short novella about the first encounter of Tristan and Avery.

"I feel like no one sometimes."

While reading this, I really felt like my heart was ripped out, smashed against a wall and then put back in. Those past flashbacks were so bloody painful, the self-hatred they felt and the hopeless situations they were in, gutted me. Jessica Sorensen really knows how to write a tragic past for her characters, that you can't help but feel for.

I loved Tristan and I liked Avery too, they both were very interesting characters, with different pasts, but very similar emotions and opinions about themselves. I loved how they flirted with each other all the time, but that they also could have a nice serious conversation. I just wish we had more time with them in relationships rather than just as friends. There were more Avarey's POV chapters and her past flashback were longer. I understand that is because we already knew what Tristan was up to, but I wished we still had more of him in the book.

"Life is confusing.
Life is hard.
Life is... life."

As dark as the book was, I really enjoyed it, and I had a hard time putting it down, because I just needed HEA for them. This is a story of two damaged people struggling to deal with their addictions and their pasts. Devastating, but beautiful ♥

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.

**I received an advanced copy of this book,but that did not influence the review**

100 million stars ~ raw, gritty, and real Ok, ok, I know star ratings top out at 5, but if I could give this book, or any book in this Nova series more I would. You guys. YOU GUYS. I loved this series so much. Each and every single installment has owned a piece of my soul and this one was just as amazing as the rest. I can’t get enough of this series, of these characters, of their world, of their struggles. The way these books are written, it’s just magical the way I’m drawn in. I LOVE THESE BOOKS.

I’d met Tristan in the previous books, but now it was time for his story. While we didn’t go through his addiction battle (he was clean when this story started), it was still always there, leering around every page turned. He had demons that he was trying to fight with all he could, and I just wanted to cheer for him, tell him it was ok, tell him to keep going, tell him he was worth it. Because he was worth it, and yes, he feels so real to me.

Avery was burning the candle at both ends and I don’t know how she did it. She just never gave up and worked so hard and finally FINALLY things were going her way. I loved that we met her after she kicked Conner out of her life, because I don’t think that would be a story that would be easy to read, the flash backs were hard enough. But she was strong and she was determined, and she finally got to realize that she was really special too.

The romance in this story is amazing, and it’s just as simple as that. A romance that touches you. It’s all about the hand holding, the kissing (omg, the kissing!!), the touching, the holding. Yes, we get to the hot stuff too, but when we do it means so much at that point that you’ll probably be wiping a tear or two from your eye. This book is about love and trust, and then smexy.

Any critiques? Actually yes, but I still loved this book so much that it couldn’t even put a dent in my 100 million star rating. Avery is not really a great mother, and while she was constantly worried about this, she just never seemed to love her son. I guess that is coming from me being a mom and having my world revolve around my kids, and that was not the vibe I got from her. She was more concerned with her brother, Tristan, or anything else. It seemed like Mason came really far down her list.

The ending was amazing too, just the right pacing, just the right *omgs!* and just enough heart clenching. I’ve read other books by Ms. Sorensen and while they are good, these have some type of spell cast over them and each one is divine, yet so gritty and raw. Every single character has scars, deep scars, and their journey to show them to another human being to start is truly amazing. I can’t wait for Jax’s book, I’m sure I will read that in one sitting because the Nova series owns me.

Thank you for writing this, Ms. Sorensen, I adore you!

[Shania · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably one of the most depressing series I have read. At least eight people died, and there was just so much pain and suffering and emotion!

All the pain I went through reading about Nova and Quinton and they didn't even really get the HEA they deserved. I mean, they did fall in love and stuff, but we as a reader did't really get to see them once they finally did admit their feelings, which was kind of disappointing.

Avery and Tristan were very much screwed up as well. For myself, I would say their journey was a lot more enjoyable than Nova and Quinton's. Avery absolutely broke my heart, so I was happy to see her get the HEA she deserved.
This was my favourite book of the series, however, I most likely won't continue with the rest of the series.

[C.K.]

I was hoping that Tristan would get a story.

Tristan also has a short story called Tristan: Finding Hope that is out now. It's Free! It's kind of a prequel to Wreck Me.

Here is the link to the story on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Tristan-Finding...

Here is a link about it on Jessica's Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...

[Yael]

Quinton's cousin story! Woohoo

[Sakura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wreck Me is the Nova series’ fourth book which features Tristan and Avery. Though this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. In fact, I haven’t started any other books in the series, but I was still able to get into this story. So rest assured, you won’t be confused or feel out of the loop while reading if you haven’t read the other stories either. However, I always encourage people to read the first books if possible so that you can get a better understanding of everyone’s story and get deeper into their world.

"I'm not scared of death, just tired. So fucking tired of being alive yet never fully breathing."

Avery Hensley found hope, love, and an escape when she met Conner Wellings. She thought this boy from the good side of the tracks was going to be able to provide her with a happily ever after.
Unfortunately for her, the old life she had under her mother’s roof sunk back into her new life with him.
Conner used and abused Avery in the worst ways possible. He wrecked her to the point of wanting to die.

During a life-threatening situation, Avery has an epiphany and realizes she needs to kick start her life in a positive direction. Starting with getting far away from Conner. Years later, with her “No Guy Policy” and strong work ethic, Avery assures herself that she’s doing well. Yet there’s still something missing from her life. Complete happiness. Her past continues to haunt her and it’s something Avery needs to control and extinguish from her life. A great fear still lurks within Avery. Conner still poses a threat to her and she never knows when he’ll strike.

Tristan Morganson walked into Avery’s life months ago while building a home for her. Since then, their connection has never been severed despite the distance and lack of communication.
Three months later, they’re reunited and the bond goes even stronger.

As much as these two try to stay apart, there’s this unseen force that draws them back. Is it fate? Are they soul mates?
Avery and Tristan’s dark pasts bind them together. They need one another to help each other and themselves.

Starting off as friends is always a plus for me and that’s just what they did. Their friendship allowed them to really get to know one another and understand each other’s pain. It also helped them overcome their pasts and heal individually. Their romance was so sweet and subtle, and then BAM! Steamy doesn’t even cover it. When it finally happens it’s amazing and meaningful.

The flashback moments with Conner gutted me. It’s hard to read stories like Avery’s, and there was one particular flashback that had me pausing for a break. Nevertheless, those flashbacks strengthened the story and enabled me to comprehend what she went through and what led her to the current point she was at in her life. Even Tristan’s scenes were heartbreaking to read. Of course his story was more detailed in his prequel novella.

The pacing was okay, but for me personally I would’ve liked to have had it a bit more fast paced. There were moments that seemed repetitive, but perhaps it was meant to reinforce ideas into the readers head.
The back and forth between time periods threw me off a bit at the beginning, but I got used to it fairly quickly.
The only other thing that bothered me was Avery’s love for her son. I questioned it a lot of the times during the book. I didn’t feel like he was her number one priority. Instead, her brother seemed to top her list every time. She was always going on and on about him and his well-being. I understand that she felt obligated because of what they had gone through by the hand of their mother, but her son should be mentioned just as much, if not more.

I liked that there wasn’t one character who was messed up and needed saving from the other. Both Avery and Tristan had problems to deal with and they fed off each other’s energy. Even the supporting characters had flaws! This book was just so real in every sense of the word.
There were various aspects of the story that resonated with me and for that reason this story was a winner in my eyes.
If you’re looking for a dark, painful read with two struggling characters finding love and a happily ever after in one another, then pick this book up.

*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I don’t know that anyone would want to pick up Wreck Me without reading Tristan: Finding Hope first. At the time that I read Tristan: Finding Hope, I kind of wondered the same thing. I mean that’s where Tristan and Avery actually meet, and there’s a good bit that happens as setup that is really necessary to know when going into Wreck Me. I can’t say that I was fully paying attention to whether or not someone could read Wreck Me without having read Tristan: Finding Hope first, but I can definitely say that I wouldn’t advise it.

As often happens when I’m reading a series and there’s a side character that has a pretty prominent role, I tend to try to figure out what that character is thinking and feeling based on their actions. But often times once I’m able to read from that character’s perspective, things aren’t quite the way I imagined them. I’ve been getting mixed messages about Tristan throughout the series. During Breaking Nova and Saving Quinton, Tristan seems to be Quinton’s gateway into this life of drugs and various other horribleness. While meth is a no joke drug, Tristan’s preferred drug of choice seemed to be heroine, which Quinton doesn’t branch out into until he’s hit rock bottom. But yet, Tristan didn’t ever seem to have the emotional reasons that Quinton did to get into drugs in the first place. And Tristan went to rehab and got clean first. Yet as I said, all is not as it appears. Turns out, Tristan does have emotional reasons (even though no reason is good enough) to seek solace in drugs. And just because Tristan got clean first doesn’t mean anything. He shows how truly difficult it is to stay clean and how addiction always stays with you.

Avery’s history is no picnic. She grew up around drugs. Her mother is an addict and all she ever wanted to do was “get out”. Get out of that house, get out of that town, get out of that lifestyle. So she latches on to the first hope she sees for escape. It just happens to be via an unworthy man. Though Conner doesn’t appear to have any addictions when he and Avery first meet, he gets dragged into that world, and Avery allows herself to get pulled in as well. Avery would have to have had such a background, I think, in order to make a good match for Tristan. Tristan would have a much harder time trusting that she’s not going to view him as complete trash had she not had her own history of mistakes behind her.

Tristan and Avery’s story does have a little too much parallel for me. Jessica Sorensen not only swaps narrators between both characters, but she also chooses to insert flashbacks from both characters too. For some reason, I don’t seem to mind when a character is having a memory. Yet, I find myself annoyed when the past is written as if it’s the present. You know…like time-jumping. That just doesn’t always sit right with me. So add to that the fact that Tristan and Avery were often experiencing very similar circumstances and events “at the exact same time” throughout their pasts and present. I don’t know…I guess when two characters’ lives are too similar or they think the same word-for-word thoughts I just find that hard to believe. So this aspect of Wreck Me wasn’t my favorite.

I did enjoy that Tristan and Avery had a pretty slow building relationship. A connection was already there from when they met before, but they took time to get to know each other. Each one had to come to terms with their past and find a way to share what they’d been through with the other. It felt authentic. But once things start happening they happen perhaps a little too quickly. The physical boundaries are blown. And the conflict of Avery’s ex-husband, Conner, just seemed to be solved too easily for me.

Wreck Me was a pretty enjoyable read. I was hooked into the story quickly once I got started, and I didn’t really want to put it down. I had a few small issues with the parallels of Tristan and Avery’s pasts, the jumps in chronology, and with how quickly things wrapped up, but that didn’t really change my overall feel of the book. Wreck Me gets 4 Stars. Do be aware about language though. Jessica Sorensen’s characters have no qualms with the f-bomb. Have you read Wreck Me? What did you think? Let me know!

[BookHookup · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.

**I received an advanced copy of this book,but that did not influence the review**

100 million stars ~ raw, gritty, and real Ok, ok, I know star ratings top out at 5, but if I could give this book, or any book in this Nova series more I would. You guys. YOU GUYS. I loved this series so much. Each and every single installment has owned a piece of my soul and this one was just as amazing as the rest. I can’t get enough of this series, of these characters, of their world, of their struggles. The way these books are written, it’s just magical the way I’m drawn in. I LOVE THESE BOOKS.

I’d met Tristan in the previous books, but now it was time for his story. While we didn’t go through his addiction battle (he was clean when this story started), it was still always there, leering around every page turned. He had demons that he was trying to fight with all he could, and I just wanted to cheer for him, tell him it was ok, tell him to keep going, tell him he was worth it. Because he was worth it, and yes, he feels so real to me.

Avery was burning the candle at both ends and I don’t know how she did it. She just never gave up and worked so hard and finally FINALLY things were going her way. I loved that we met her after she kicked Conner out of her life, because I don’t think that would be a story that would be easy to read, the flash backs were hard enough. But she was strong and she was determined, and she finally got to realize that she was really special too.

The romance in this story is amazing, and it’s just as simple as that. A romance that touches you. It’s all about the hand holding, the kissing (omg, the kissing!!), the touching, the holding. Yes, we get to the hot stuff too, but when we do it means so much at that point that you’ll probably be wiping a tear or two from your eye. This book is about love and trust, and then smexy.

Any critiques? Actually yes, but I still loved this book so much that it couldn’t even put a dent in my 100 million star rating. Avery is not really a great mother, and while she was constantly worried about this, she just never seemed to love her son. I guess that is coming from me being a mom and having my world revolve around my kids, and that was not the vibe I got from her. She was more concerned with her brother, Tristan, or anything else. It seemed like Mason came really far down her list.

The ending was amazing too, just the right pacing, just the right *omgs!* and just enough heart clenching. I’ve read other books by Ms. Sorensen and while they are good, these have some type of spell cast over them and each one is divine, yet so gritty and raw. Every single character has scars, deep scars, and their journey to show them to another human being to start is truly amazing. I can’t wait for Jax’s book, I’m sure I will read that in one sitting because the Nova series owns me.

Thank you for writing this, Ms. Sorensen, I adore you!

[✿kawehi.reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆ I received an ARC via Shh Moms Reading in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ☆

3.5-75 stars!!

Life isn’t always hearts and flowers. Sometimes you need to hurt before things can get better.

♫ “I came in like a wrecking ball
I never hit so hard in love
All I wanted was to break your walls
All you ever did was wreck me” ♫

The aftermath of Avery and Connor’s relationship kind of reminded me of Miley Cyrus’ song, Wrecking Ball, in how it left her broken and in tatters.

Avery Hensley once thought that she had the perfect love with Connor Wellings, but boy, was she dead wrong!

He breaks her, wrecks her, and makes her into a shadow of the person she once was.

Determined to never let a man devastate and disappoint her, she develops a NO GUY rule policy and stays clear of all men.

That is, until, she meets Tristan Morganson and the two develop an irresistible pull that neither can seem to shake off or deny. They start off as friends, but as they both begin to learn more about each other, the bigger they realize that each has their own set of obscurities that they need to overcome.

What will become of their newfound love? Will they find the redemption they seek in each other and find their HEA’s? Can they piece together the pieces and make each other whole? Or will their union wreck each other along the way?

Read and you will find out!

♫ “I'm here again, a thousand miles away from you
A broken mess, just scattered pieces of who I am
I tried so hard, thought I could do this on my own
I've lost so much along the way
Then I'll see your face, I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name, I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole” ♫
Pieces by Red

[Tangerine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5 ★s

This series has been my absolute favorite by Jessica Sorensen. There are moments in each one of the books that I won't forget, I find myself thinking about them from time to time. Out of all the books I have read these are the ones that I can probably relate to the most. Depressing, I know.

I loved Tristan and Avery. My only complaint with this book is I would've liked more Tristan and Avery moments. I absolutely loved them together. I didn't need all of the "past" chapters. I also would've liked more with Avery and her son. Other, than those little things I loved it.

[Nicole Rousseau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so happy to have read Tristan's story and that he also found his deserved happy ending.
I have been a huge fan of the Nova series and this one did not disappoint.

Dare I ask if Jax's story might come too?

[Always Addicted · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! I stopped after the third book waiting for this to come out and then it got down on the bottom of my list. Why did I wait so long!? I love Jessica Sorensen! All of her books are amazing! This was Tristan story... He deserves a HEA.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avery and Tristan's stories were heart breaking, but this was a story about to broken people saving each other. I loved it and wish I could of gotten more of Avery and Tristan.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tristan's story is a heart wrenching one. Unloved and unwanted he finds someone who sees him. Emery sees Tristan but she's falling. This is a story about falling, getting up and finding love.

[Diane Plourde TDC Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Georgia Mathers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can’t say I liked this new adult book. I wanted to like it, but unfortunately, I didn’t. It is the fourth book in Jessica Sorensen’s Nova Series. It portrays Tristan and Avery as people who successfully find love despite the circumstances that threaten to destroy them. The novel begins with the stereotypical characterization of sixteen-year-old Avery, whose mother is a drug addict, an alcoholic, and beyond help.

Sixty-three pages into this book, I became tired of the same message being repeated. That is, the innocent Avery will pick up all the pieces in her mother’s place, and despite becoming an alcoholic too, Avery has become a martyr who has suffered the world’s evil despite deserving none of it. More …

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another really good book in the Nova series. I miss the days when Jessica Sorensen wrote actual whole books instead of serial novellas that never seem to go anywhere.

These stories are where she is at her best. Both Tristan and Avery have had issues with addiction. Avery has an abusive ex husband and a 5 year old child she is raising. She is also keeping him a secret from Tristan.

I loved Tristan's character growth in this book and how their relationship slowly developed. Wish we could get more of these series from the author.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

So good I’m soo happy to get a HEA for Tristan.... he needed it
But I have questions I hope get answered one day like...
1) why was Dylan looking for Tristan?
2) how did Avery’s meeting with her sister go?
3) what happened with neighbor Zack?
4) do they ever realize that they met each other at that party in the beginning of the story?
5) does Tristan’s mom every stop being so cruel?

I hope there’s more to this story one day.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The angst, the trauma, the connection between Avery and Tristan… absolute perfection. Books like this are why I fell in love with reading.
I usually am not a huge fan of back and forth time jumps but it honestly flowed so well and didn’t throw me off at all.

[Thirza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is so perfectly balanced I almost can’t comprehend. So raw and full of emotion, heartbreak and heartmending all at once. Words fail me to describe how much I enjoyed reading Tristan’s story.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap! This book was amazing! Jessica you did it again! The way your writing pulls you in, like you are right there in the story! I couldn't put it down! Definitely recommend this book!

[Meckesha Booher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! Good series.

[Isabella Curry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of her books (:

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a smooth time

[Tracey Milito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wreck Me

This was a great read. It will take you through every emotion. It is definitely a must read from me.

[Danielle Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I would say. A bit wordy in parts, too much inner angst. But a good survivor story.

[Michel Reinhard (Saucy Southern Readers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** 5.5 Star Review ****
The Nova series by Jessica Sorensen is one of the most emotional series I have read. I have become invested in the characters lives. I feel like they are like my children or friend’s of my children that I care very deeply about. I was devastated by their poor choices and elated when they began to turn their lives around. I watched them struggle with their past family lives and mistakes that led them down the road of destruction. My heart broke as their lives sank to the lowest points. I breathed a sigh of relief when they finally reached the turning point that would turn their lives around into something positive. I wanted to hold their hand while they struggled to overcome their addictions and become better people. Each and every one of the characters in this series has a piece of my heart. One of these characters stood out throughout the series. He was a lost soul and yet there was something special hidden away from the world. Although he was a leading character throughout the series, his background was lightly touched upon. It has made readers curious as to what drove him over the edge. We are finally getting the full story in Wreck Me. We are finally getting to know the real Tristan Morganson.

Tristan Morganson is finally clean and sober. He is drug free but struggles daily to remain so. His life doesn’t have much direction and he really doesn’t have any personal goals other than staying clean. He is basically existing day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute. Part of his struggle is that he really doesn’t know who he is or where he fits in. He lived in the shadows of his older, overachieving sister. His parents set their expectations of him through her standards, rather than encouraging him to find his own path and strengths. When tragedy strikes the family and his sister is killed in a car accident it sets his downward spiral motion into warped speed. After several close calls with death he finally wants to live. He wants to find his purpose in life and a place to feel like he belongs. He is on a new path in life and that path leads to Avery Hensley.

While working for Habitat for Humanity, Tristan meets Avery when their crew goes to North Carolina to build her a house. One night out with her changes the way the thinks. He has met someone that somehow understood the daily struggles he faced and believed he could make the right kind of choices. He doesn’t have to spill his sordid past or validate his actions. Somehow he senses that Avery has experienced some of the same kind of ugly things he has.

Avery has had a very abusive past. Her ex husband not only ruined her life, he abused her in so many ways. She gave up her hopes and dreams for him. Through their horrific marriage one thing good came out of it. Her son. She will do everything in her power to stay sober and give her son a good life full of love. She struggles daily to keep her head above water, keep the bills paid, and give back the second chance she was given in life. When she meets Tristan she realizes this is her opportunity.

Tristan and Avery begin a beautiful friendship that is built upon their faith in one another. They both seem to understand one another. For the first time they are not only finding what true friendship means, they are finding the good things about themselves. Their past does not define them, it is only one small part of who they are. Together they can conquer some of their demons, find a way to put the past in the right perspective, learn to accept and give love, and look to the future.

When the past comes back in a very threatening way, they will face it together. They will not let it destroy the new lives they have worked so hard to get. They will learn to accept the things they cannot change and move forward.

Wreck Me was a powerful story. It is a story of redemption. It is a story of healing. It is a story of learning to love oneself. It is a story of learning to give unconditional love.

Tristan’s story was well worth the wait and my favorite in this series. Jessica Sorensen gave him the future he desperately needed. She gave him Avery Hensley.

I highly recommend Wreck Me. It can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order. I love the Nova series. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. Avery’s younger brother Jax needs to find his personal happily ever after. He’s a great guy that also survived a very ugly past and came out better than most would of.

[Tabitha (Bows & Bullets Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is also available on my blog, Bows & Bullets Reviews

Tristan Morganson is constantly battling his addiction to drugs. He's doing better, they call to him every single day. The only thing keeping him straight now is that night three months ago when an intriguing lady gave him the choice of taking his drugs back or allowing her to flush them down the toilet. He doesn't know why exactly, just that that particular moment keeps floating back to him when he thinks about finding more drugs. Avery Hensley, the intriguing lady, has had a bad life up until the past few years. She followed her heart as a teen and ended up married with a son before she became legal. Then Conner, the man of her dreams, started showing his darker side and suddenly things are falling apart. She has managed to get her life back together, but she swore she would never again allow a man in her life. That leaves too much up to question and life with a 5 year old son just isn't up for that. Then she meets Tristan and he's so different from Conner. He's real and sweet and fighting an addiction she understands too well. The more time they spend together, the more she longs to break her rules, but is she brave enough to really give it a try?

I think we've covered how much I like Tristan in past reviews, right?

K, so I'll skip the over the top gushing about how awesome he is. I may even like him more than Quinton...maybe...I'm not sure. Either way, he's that sweet, flirty guy who manages to be both cocky and vulnerable flawlessly. He perfectly captures that inner debate I think everyone can relate to, that "Am I really good enough" thing. Besides that, he's, you know, hot.

I sympathized with Avery immediately. This girl is just trying to better herself and enrich her son's life. And she's working her ass off to do it. Balancing school, work, a kid, and helping Habitat build a house to repay them for building her one is nothing to joke about. I don't know how she manages to do it without falling apart. She was in such a bad place and she's come so far. She's a fighter and a lover and she's so determined to do what's right by her kid that her wants and needs don't factor in at all. It was admirable, even when it was infuriating because I know how much Tristan wants to be more than friends and I know his intentions are far from nefarious and I just want her to realize that. JUST GET IT ON ALREADY! ::coughs:: I mean, you know, talk it out....

I think what makes me love Sorensen's characters, and work in general, is her ability to make perfectly flawed characters. She writes characters that have been through bad shit and manage to keep breathing every day. She writes characters that have serious problems and yet I never dislike them. You just don't understand how amazing that it because I have serious issues with drugs and their users. I am also incredibly unforgiving in real life, but somehow Sorensen makes me love her characters even with their addictions and their pasts. I mean, Tristan has done terrible things for drugs. Fuck, Quinton did terrible things for drugs. And yet I love both of them.

This has everything you could want in a contemporary romance. It has love, angst, and just the right level of smut. It's written in that highly addictive way we've all come to expect from Sorensen. I'm being to think that it is impossible for her to write something that I won't love intensely. This one can be read as a stand-alone, but I think it'll mean more if you've read the first three books in this series. Reading the earlier ones also helps set the tone for this. Though Sorensen has delved into dark and disturbing places before, this particular series is more heartbreaking than the rest. Nova and Quinton's story is more brutal than the others and I think knowing that helps you set the stage for this one. Bottom line? Read it. If you're a romance fan at all, you won't be able to stop yourself from loving it!

[Trader (RedHotBlueReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avery has one rule, and that’s "no men". She’s been burned before and she’s not going to go through that again. She’s focused on her own recovery, her son, online classes, an assortment of low to no-pay jobs, a brother who lives with her and her obligations to give back to Habitat for Humanity by donating her time to build the next house. Her plate is full of lots of unrewarding activities, and she’s mostly just tired. She doesn’t time to think about relationships, especially Tristan, the guy she met three months ago. But he’s in her head, and she drops her guard once in a while to read the note he left for her before he moved on.

Tristan is still struggling with his drug addiction, and although he’s clean, he still feels the pain and loneliness that made him turn to drugs. But he’s never met anyone like Avery, and she’s on his mind too. When Tristan returns to build another home in Avery’s town, he finds himself working side by side with her. What follows next is their falling in love story, and it’s not an easy one. Avery still has a “no men” rule, and Tristan is convinced he doesn’t deserve her, but they can’t stop their attraction for each other.

The story is told in alternating POV’s, and also switches between present day and the past so the reader can get Avery’s backstory. It’s a sad tale of a drug addicted mother, absentee father and a marriage that was probably doomed from the start. There’s abuse, drug dealing and alcoholism. My heart really went out to Avery because she really had a lot of bad things happen to her, and yet she’s still determined to make a better life for herself. But she can’t deny her feelings for Tristan, and eventually agrees to be friends with him.

There’s still a struggle regarding drugs when it comes to Tristan, and it’s such a great moment when he interacts with the drug dealers next door and recognizes his past, realizing that he doesn’t want to go back to that place. He’s come so far with his recovery, and even though he slips a little, he’s got great support around him in Nova, Quinton and Avery to not chuck it all away.

Tristan has a lot in common with Avery, especially a cruel mother and being in recovery. They both share a brittle hope that things will get better for them, while carrying around shameful secrets that they have trouble sharing with each other. Gradually, they learn to trust each other, and it’s such an uplifting moment when Avery gives him a chance and their relationship blossoms into something real.

Their new-found relationship hits a bump when Avery’s ex-husband comes back into the picture and his storyline merges with Tristan’s in a devastating incident that had me holding my breath for a few pages. I really love this series for its realism, and I was so happy to read their happily-ever-after. Much like Tristan himself, the story plays out in a semi-quiet fashion until the very end.

I think Nova sums up this story (and series) best when she says... “Drugs are easy to sink into. It’s the coming out part that’s hard.” It certainly is a tough journey for Tristan and Avery, which only made the ending all that much sweeter.

ARC provided for review.

This review also appears on my blog at: http://redhotbluereads.blogspot.com/2014/11/review-wreck-me-by-jessica-sorensen.html