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Lost Souls #1
Forgive Me
"The thing he loves most in the world will kill him. It's only a matter of time . . . "College student Charlotte O'Brien is lost and she can't find her way home. Devastated by her parents' tragic deaths, she aches for any kind of connection . . . and finds it in a man who is all wrong for her. Jason Leer is a rough-hewn steer wrestler from Oklahoma-and the hottest thing Charlotte has ever laid eyes on. Yet he has his own dark secrets . . .Burying herself in Jason, Charlotte soon discovers that life doesn't have to be so painful. When they're together their passion eclipses everything-and Charlotte can finally begin to see a way out of the darkness of her past. Fighting for a future with Jason won't be easy, but for the first time since her parents' deaths, this lost soul might have finally found a place that feels like home.(90,000 words)
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2014
17 people are currently reading
1847 people want to read
About the author
Eliza Freed
18 books232 followersTo keep in touch, sign up at:
http://www.elizafreed.com/love-letter...
Eliza Freed graduated from Rutgers University and returned to her hometown in rural South Jersey. Her mother encouraged her to take some time and find herself. After three months of searching, she began to bounce checks, her neighbors began to talk, and her mother told her to find a job.
She settled into corporate America, learning systems and practices and the bureaucracy that slows them. Eliza quickly discovered her creativity and gift for story telling as a corporate trainer and spent years perfecting her presentation skills and studying diversity. It was during this time she became an avid observer of the characters she met and the heartaches they endured. Her years of study taught her that laughter, even the completely inappropriate kind, was the key to survival.
She currently lives in New Jersey with her family and a misbehaving beagle named Odin. As an avid swimmer, if Eliza is not with her family and friends, she'd rather be underwater. While she enjoys many genres, she is, and always has been, a sucker for a love story…the more screwed up the better.
To keep up with all of Eliza’s new releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter at
http://www.elizafreed.com/love-letter....
http://www.elizafreed.com/love-letter...
Eliza Freed graduated from Rutgers University and returned to her hometown in rural South Jersey. Her mother encouraged her to take some time and find herself. After three months of searching, she began to bounce checks, her neighbors began to talk, and her mother told her to find a job.
She settled into corporate America, learning systems and practices and the bureaucracy that slows them. Eliza quickly discovered her creativity and gift for story telling as a corporate trainer and spent years perfecting her presentation skills and studying diversity. It was during this time she became an avid observer of the characters she met and the heartaches they endured. Her years of study taught her that laughter, even the completely inappropriate kind, was the key to survival.
She currently lives in New Jersey with her family and a misbehaving beagle named Odin. As an avid swimmer, if Eliza is not with her family and friends, she'd rather be underwater. While she enjoys many genres, she is, and always has been, a sucker for a love story…the more screwed up the better.
To keep up with all of Eliza’s new releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter at
http://www.elizafreed.com/love-letter....
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
February 18, 2015
so. many. feeelings!!
full review coming when this week stops being so chaotic.. but, what an excellent start to this series!! can't wait to jump into #2.
highly recommended to anyone who wants a good NA read with some great emotional depth. i loved it!
full review coming when this week stops being so chaotic.. but, what an excellent start to this series!! can't wait to jump into #2.
highly recommended to anyone who wants a good NA read with some great emotional depth. i loved it!
January 2, 2015
Originally posted on Bookish Wanderlove
Opening Lines
**WARNING: CAPS WILL BE USED**
Where do I even begin with this review? I don't even know. I read Forgive Me a couple of days ago now and I'm still trying to get my thoughts and emotions in check, thanks Eliza Freed. The minute I read the first page I was hooked. This author has a way with words, and boy does she know how to tell a story. Her description of the thunderstorm alone had me captivated, I couldn't put this down and I'm happy I finished it in one sitting. Well, happy might be a stretch of a word because I know for sure my heart, head, eyes, nose and throat are not happy with all the ugly crying and struggling to breathe. But what did I expect? Well I knew I was signing myself up for a contemporary new-adult read, but what I didn't expect was how much of an emotional roller coaster this was going to be and how much of me was going to be left sitting here with tears streaming down my face.
I know I probably sound like a broken record but this book broke my heart into tiny little pieces. I cried, I laughed, I got angry, and then I cried some more. And by the end of it all I felt like Forgive Me basically just sat there laughed at me and said "Well hey, now you have to wait until February." Seriously!? FEBRUARY?! GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOK NOW!!! Please? Pretty, pretty please with a fat juicy cherry on top?
Charlotte is by far one a new favourite character. She's a fictional character but everything about her felt real. It takes a serious amount of talent to breathe life into your characters and Eliza Freed did that. I felt so connected to Charlotte it was almost frightening. She's been through so much and all I wanted to do was hug her. As much as I'm not a huge fan of Jason, since he can be a jerk from time to time, I really enjoyed the dynamics of their relationship. We see their long distance relationship put to the test and just when I thought everything was going to be okay, everything got flipped upside down and around! I wasn't expecting the religious aspect to things, and at first I was hesitant on how much of it would be used throughout Forgive Me . Why? Because I'm in a questionable state with my religion at the moment. But Eliza makes it work, she ties in everything and makes it alright to question your faith, love, humanity, and life itself.
What Kept Forgive Me from getting 5 stars?
Can I say the ending? No? Damn. Well then...
Overall, I can't express enough how heartbreaking and beautiful Forgive Me was! I only wish I didn't have to wait until February for Redeem Me, I know it's less than 3 months away but for me that's 3 months too long! Do I recommend picking Forgive Me up? Yes, I can't even express how much I want people to read it! This is seriously an underrated book that more people need to read! If you enjoy reading new adult, contemporaries, romance, a book with substance and that will make you feel things then pick this up. But you can't say I didn't warn you...
Opening Lines
"My foot will bleed soon. Judging by the familiar curve in the road, I'm still at least two miles from home. Of course I end up walking home the night I'm wearing great shoes. The pain shoots through my heels as the clouds flash with lightning in the dark sky."
**WARNING: CAPS WILL BE USED**
Where do I even begin with this review? I don't even know. I read Forgive Me a couple of days ago now and I'm still trying to get my thoughts and emotions in check, thanks Eliza Freed. The minute I read the first page I was hooked. This author has a way with words, and boy does she know how to tell a story. Her description of the thunderstorm alone had me captivated, I couldn't put this down and I'm happy I finished it in one sitting. Well, happy might be a stretch of a word because I know for sure my heart, head, eyes, nose and throat are not happy with all the ugly crying and struggling to breathe. But what did I expect? Well I knew I was signing myself up for a contemporary new-adult read, but what I didn't expect was how much of an emotional roller coaster this was going to be and how much of me was going to be left sitting here with tears streaming down my face.
I know I probably sound like a broken record but this book broke my heart into tiny little pieces. I cried, I laughed, I got angry, and then I cried some more. And by the end of it all I felt like Forgive Me basically just sat there laughed at me and said "Well hey, now you have to wait until February." Seriously!? FEBRUARY?! GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOK NOW!!! Please? Pretty, pretty please with a fat juicy cherry on top?
Charlotte is by far one a new favourite character. She's a fictional character but everything about her felt real. It takes a serious amount of talent to breathe life into your characters and Eliza Freed did that. I felt so connected to Charlotte it was almost frightening. She's been through so much and all I wanted to do was hug her. As much as I'm not a huge fan of Jason, since he can be a jerk from time to time, I really enjoyed the dynamics of their relationship. We see their long distance relationship put to the test and just when I thought everything was going to be okay, everything got flipped upside down and around! I wasn't expecting the religious aspect to things, and at first I was hesitant on how much of it would be used throughout Forgive Me . Why? Because I'm in a questionable state with my religion at the moment. But Eliza makes it work, she ties in everything and makes it alright to question your faith, love, humanity, and life itself.
What Kept Forgive Me from getting 5 stars?
Can I say the ending? No? Damn. Well then...
Overall, I can't express enough how heartbreaking and beautiful Forgive Me was! I only wish I didn't have to wait until February for Redeem Me, I know it's less than 3 months away but for me that's 3 months too long! Do I recommend picking Forgive Me up? Yes, I can't even express how much I want people to read it! This is seriously an underrated book that more people need to read! If you enjoy reading new adult, contemporaries, romance, a book with substance and that will make you feel things then pick this up. But you can't say I didn't warn you...
June 10, 2016
I thought this was a great, guilty pleasure read! Just enough drama, but a bit disturbing in the beginning - I mean really? you leave your parent's funeral to.....I don't want to spoil anything, but at least the main character admits she is a little off! I do love the funny comments throughout...I'm on book 2 now and I love this one too. Great reading for in between heavier material...I'm glad I tried it.
November 4, 2014
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
There’s a well-known movie out there, a cult classic if you will, that has the line “That's what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age…” Now, change that to college boys and that sums up my thoughts on this book. The beauty of book boyfriends is that it’s not at all creepy to lust after someone twenty years younger than yourself. See, I have entered a new era of my life, one in which I have officially reached cougar status…that said, I love Jason Leer.
But first, let’s talk about Charlotte. Charlotte is a student at Rutgers University, majoring in business. She has loving parents and a supportive older brother. She’s back in her hometown over the summer break, and walking home alone one stormy night, wearing sexy, strappy sandals making mincemeat of her feet, a truck pulls over to pick her up. The man behind the wheel is Jason Leer, a high school classmate of Charlotte’s. Jason and Charlotte had a close friendship up until high school, in which they went separate ways, as cliques form as they tend to do in the teen years.
Jason is a student at Oklahoma, and is a steer wrestler in collegiate rodeo. When he picks Charlotte up that night, he manages to irritate the hell out of her, not only by calling her Annie, her middle name, and a name her mother attempted to call her for a year as a kid, but also by asking her questions about her breakup. There is electricity between the two of them, however they both go their separate ways.
When tragedy strikes, turning Charlotte’s world upside down, it’s Jason Leer that steps in and becomes her world. What began as a reunion of annoyance, becomes a torrid, passionate love affair, where each is so absorbed in the other, the rest of the world ceases to be. They’re an unlikely couple, Charlotte the city girl, and Jason the country boy. Their relationship is an emotional story of love against the odds, but is it possible to be too wrapped up in each other? Will the differences between the two of them drive them apart for good?
“You are the only thing I need. The only thing I want. And you consume me every minute of every day. With you, I am alive. Without you, I am not,” he says, and the weight of his words crushes me. “’I love you’ just doesn’t properly convey that.”
Jason is a classic anti-hero. He’s a tall, dark, and handsome cowboy whom you would think isn’t capable of the deep emotion he expresses towards Charlotte. To say that he is swoon-worthy is a major understatement. Their relationship starts as merely sexual. They’re both using their bodies to get through the pain and suffering of losses they have both experienced, but soon their sexual connection becomes deeply emotional. When the summer ends and Jason is set to return to Oklahoma, the couple needs to decide if their relationship is worth fighting for. Jason wants Charlotte to transfer schools, but Charlotte loves her life in the city and the friends that she has made there. The couple tries to make it work, with frequent visits over weekends and school breaks, but when an accident happens, there is another blow to their relationship. How much can they take?
“If I imagine him being hurt,” I push the thoughts immediately from my mind, “I’ll burst into tears. I can feel him in my soul and when he looks at me it’s as if he swallows me whole,” I say, and feel like I’ve done it justice.
They are all still looking at me. Not saying a word.
“What? Does it sound crazy? I ask.
“No, It makes me think every relationship I’ve ever had has been incredibly inadequate,” Wes says, and I exhale, relieved they don’t think I’m insane. I turn on the lights and Julia is crying a little. I look at her, confused.
“I get it now. I get it,” she says, and laughs at herself for crying.
Throughout the book Charlotte has her close friends in her hometown in southern New Jersey as well as her friends, including her friend Wes. They all think that Jason is no good for her; that she is trying too hard to make the relationship work when it seems like he is manipulating her. When things get rough between Charlotte and Jason, will Wes step in at the first opportunity?
I was completely caught up in this story. It is the kind of book that you pick up and you just can’t put it down, it’s that good. The characters are so well developed and multi layered that I completely fell for them. When cracks begin to show between the two and Jason does something to completely jeopardize his relationship with Charlotte, I literally felt like I had been punched in the gut. I felt Charlottes sorrow, anger and betrayal. Charlotte is a strong heroine and I appreciated that she wasn’t willing to let other’s make up her mind; she was always in control of her life. Yes, the story is a New Adult title, however the characters are very mature in their decisions.
When I finished, I had to scour the Internet to find out the release date of the next book. I want it, I need it. NOW. I need to know that Charlotte is o.k. I need to know that things are going to work out. I just need to know. Please, Ms. Freed, I need to know!!! I definitely recommend this one and believe me, I’m not so patiently awaiting the next volume, Redeem Me.
There’s a well-known movie out there, a cult classic if you will, that has the line “That's what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age…” Now, change that to college boys and that sums up my thoughts on this book. The beauty of book boyfriends is that it’s not at all creepy to lust after someone twenty years younger than yourself. See, I have entered a new era of my life, one in which I have officially reached cougar status…that said, I love Jason Leer.
But first, let’s talk about Charlotte. Charlotte is a student at Rutgers University, majoring in business. She has loving parents and a supportive older brother. She’s back in her hometown over the summer break, and walking home alone one stormy night, wearing sexy, strappy sandals making mincemeat of her feet, a truck pulls over to pick her up. The man behind the wheel is Jason Leer, a high school classmate of Charlotte’s. Jason and Charlotte had a close friendship up until high school, in which they went separate ways, as cliques form as they tend to do in the teen years.
Jason is a student at Oklahoma, and is a steer wrestler in collegiate rodeo. When he picks Charlotte up that night, he manages to irritate the hell out of her, not only by calling her Annie, her middle name, and a name her mother attempted to call her for a year as a kid, but also by asking her questions about her breakup. There is electricity between the two of them, however they both go their separate ways.
When tragedy strikes, turning Charlotte’s world upside down, it’s Jason Leer that steps in and becomes her world. What began as a reunion of annoyance, becomes a torrid, passionate love affair, where each is so absorbed in the other, the rest of the world ceases to be. They’re an unlikely couple, Charlotte the city girl, and Jason the country boy. Their relationship is an emotional story of love against the odds, but is it possible to be too wrapped up in each other? Will the differences between the two of them drive them apart for good?
“You are the only thing I need. The only thing I want. And you consume me every minute of every day. With you, I am alive. Without you, I am not,” he says, and the weight of his words crushes me. “’I love you’ just doesn’t properly convey that.”
Jason is a classic anti-hero. He’s a tall, dark, and handsome cowboy whom you would think isn’t capable of the deep emotion he expresses towards Charlotte. To say that he is swoon-worthy is a major understatement. Their relationship starts as merely sexual. They’re both using their bodies to get through the pain and suffering of losses they have both experienced, but soon their sexual connection becomes deeply emotional. When the summer ends and Jason is set to return to Oklahoma, the couple needs to decide if their relationship is worth fighting for. Jason wants Charlotte to transfer schools, but Charlotte loves her life in the city and the friends that she has made there. The couple tries to make it work, with frequent visits over weekends and school breaks, but when an accident happens, there is another blow to their relationship. How much can they take?
“If I imagine him being hurt,” I push the thoughts immediately from my mind, “I’ll burst into tears. I can feel him in my soul and when he looks at me it’s as if he swallows me whole,” I say, and feel like I’ve done it justice.
They are all still looking at me. Not saying a word.
“What? Does it sound crazy? I ask.
“No, It makes me think every relationship I’ve ever had has been incredibly inadequate,” Wes says, and I exhale, relieved they don’t think I’m insane. I turn on the lights and Julia is crying a little. I look at her, confused.
“I get it now. I get it,” she says, and laughs at herself for crying.
Throughout the book Charlotte has her close friends in her hometown in southern New Jersey as well as her friends, including her friend Wes. They all think that Jason is no good for her; that she is trying too hard to make the relationship work when it seems like he is manipulating her. When things get rough between Charlotte and Jason, will Wes step in at the first opportunity?
I was completely caught up in this story. It is the kind of book that you pick up and you just can’t put it down, it’s that good. The characters are so well developed and multi layered that I completely fell for them. When cracks begin to show between the two and Jason does something to completely jeopardize his relationship with Charlotte, I literally felt like I had been punched in the gut. I felt Charlottes sorrow, anger and betrayal. Charlotte is a strong heroine and I appreciated that she wasn’t willing to let other’s make up her mind; she was always in control of her life. Yes, the story is a New Adult title, however the characters are very mature in their decisions.
When I finished, I had to scour the Internet to find out the release date of the next book. I want it, I need it. NOW. I need to know that Charlotte is o.k. I need to know that things are going to work out. I just need to know. Please, Ms. Freed, I need to know!!! I definitely recommend this one and believe me, I’m not so patiently awaiting the next volume, Redeem Me.
February 21, 2015
4 Angsty Stars!!
Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Forever/Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley
Ugh! This book had me angsty the whole time. As I was reading it I knew a bomb shell was coming but I wasn't sure when. Charlotte (Annie) and Jason have been childhood friends but grew apart as they got older. After the death of Charlotte's parents, Jason is the one who comes to her rescue. Instantly that old friendship turns into a burn the sheets relationship that they are more living then being a part of.
"You are the only thing I need. The only thing I want. And you consume me every minute of every day. With you, I am alive. Without you, I am not,"
The more they burn the sheets the more their bond strengthens to something more. Their bond borderlines between soul mates and super dysfunctional. Their main connection is grieving over losing loved ones which makes them both feel alive but needy for one another. On a side note , I may have missed the mention of this in the book somewhere but don't young kids use condoms or birth control anymore??
"I keep telling him he's all I want, but I do things that completely contradict that statement."
As much as they love each other they are both from different worlds. Jason is a steer wrestler and goes to college in Oklahoma where Charlotte is in New Jersey going to university there. The separation is hard for them as Charlotte deals with the absence and her grief with partying and school. While Jason deals with by rodeoing and school. At times Jason comes across as controlling but the root of his fear is losing Charlotte which makes him overbearing and overprotective at times.
"You are naive, Annie. It's the difference between belonging to each other and belonging with each other."
With Charlotte I get her need for independence and all but she's a bit reckless and her friends don't seem like the best influence on her. The more time apart and the worse their relationship gets causing me so much angst I wanted to put the book down, just knowing I'm not going to like what happens.
".... When I'm away from you I am lost. But, when I'm with you I am lost in you. ..."
These two are kind of like watching a train wreck happen where these two used sex and that connection to not deal with reality which caused everything to implode. Which was really inevitable but still hard to watch. And then ..... we are left with a emotional cliffhanger. Argh!! My heart!
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February 5, 2015
My Thoughts:
I was drawn to this trilogy by the beautiful book covers. I have never read a book by Eliza Freed before, but after having finished, Forgive Me, I'm really glad to have discovered an amazing author, and series that has completely grabbed my attention.
Charlotte Annie O'Brien was in a long-term relationship with a really nice guy, who her mother approved of, but didn't make her stomach flutter of her pulse race. She ends up getting reacquainted with Jason Leer, one of her childhood friends that she lost touch with after she attended high school. He gives her butterflies and makes her feel excitement at times, and drives her crazy at other times. Her mother warns her that she doesn't want her daughter to be with a steer wrestling cowboy. Then Annie, is blindsided when her parents are killed in a horrible car accident, and the only person that can make the pain less intense is, Jason Leer.
Jason has been leading a numb existence, and can relate to Charlotte all to well. After his mother died, he's just trying to exist in his life. Charlotte makes everything better for him as well. However, Charlotte and Jason's lives are pulling them in two completely different directions. Jason does not like the city and wants Charlotte to move with him to Oklahoma, where he can continue competing in the rodeo circuit. Charlotte is torn. She enjoys city life, has a close network of friends, and opportunities to work in her chosen field of Statistics in New York, when she graduates from Rutledge. Pretty soon Charlotte and Jason are fighting all the time. Is love enough for their relationship to work?
Forgive Me had angst, friendship, passion, romance, and a lot of ups and downs. There were a few plot twists in the story, and it ended on one very crazy cliffhanger. I'm glad I can jump right in to book two and see what happens between Charlotte and Jason. I have to be honest in saying that this story made me contemplate the fact that love might not always be enough when two people are so very different from one another. Charlotte and Jason has such a strong love and passion for one another, but it looks like if they want things to work, one person is going to have to give up everything else that they want in their life.
I loved all of the secondary characters. Charlotte has a ton of good friends! However, Charlotte's best friend, Noble, fascinates me. He's a sweetheart and genuinely cares about her. The fact that Jason thinks Noble is in love with her has me curious to learn if he really is, and if this is going to come out in the next book, Redeem Me.
My Rating:
I give, Forgive Me, by Eliza Freed, 4 Angsty, Passionate, Rocky Relationship, Sexy Alpha Cowboy Filled Stars!!! I can't wait to see what happens next!
My Favorite Quote:
" 'I love you, Annie, because when most girls would fall apart, you get pissed off. You don't understand the concept of surrender.' I float up, not realizing I'm arching my back at his touch. 'And you can't be tamed.' He pulls me back to him 'And yet I've never met someone with a greater ability to see the good in people. You are the perfect mix of courage and mercy.' (eARC, Loc. 2465)
~Jason
*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape at http://www.abookishescape.com
I was drawn to this trilogy by the beautiful book covers. I have never read a book by Eliza Freed before, but after having finished, Forgive Me, I'm really glad to have discovered an amazing author, and series that has completely grabbed my attention.
Charlotte Annie O'Brien was in a long-term relationship with a really nice guy, who her mother approved of, but didn't make her stomach flutter of her pulse race. She ends up getting reacquainted with Jason Leer, one of her childhood friends that she lost touch with after she attended high school. He gives her butterflies and makes her feel excitement at times, and drives her crazy at other times. Her mother warns her that she doesn't want her daughter to be with a steer wrestling cowboy. Then Annie, is blindsided when her parents are killed in a horrible car accident, and the only person that can make the pain less intense is, Jason Leer.
Jason has been leading a numb existence, and can relate to Charlotte all to well. After his mother died, he's just trying to exist in his life. Charlotte makes everything better for him as well. However, Charlotte and Jason's lives are pulling them in two completely different directions. Jason does not like the city and wants Charlotte to move with him to Oklahoma, where he can continue competing in the rodeo circuit. Charlotte is torn. She enjoys city life, has a close network of friends, and opportunities to work in her chosen field of Statistics in New York, when she graduates from Rutledge. Pretty soon Charlotte and Jason are fighting all the time. Is love enough for their relationship to work?
Forgive Me had angst, friendship, passion, romance, and a lot of ups and downs. There were a few plot twists in the story, and it ended on one very crazy cliffhanger. I'm glad I can jump right in to book two and see what happens between Charlotte and Jason. I have to be honest in saying that this story made me contemplate the fact that love might not always be enough when two people are so very different from one another. Charlotte and Jason has such a strong love and passion for one another, but it looks like if they want things to work, one person is going to have to give up everything else that they want in their life.
I loved all of the secondary characters. Charlotte has a ton of good friends! However, Charlotte's best friend, Noble, fascinates me. He's a sweetheart and genuinely cares about her. The fact that Jason thinks Noble is in love with her has me curious to learn if he really is, and if this is going to come out in the next book, Redeem Me.
My Rating:
I give, Forgive Me, by Eliza Freed, 4 Angsty, Passionate, Rocky Relationship, Sexy Alpha Cowboy Filled Stars!!! I can't wait to see what happens next!
My Favorite Quote:
" 'I love you, Annie, because when most girls would fall apart, you get pissed off. You don't understand the concept of surrender.' I float up, not realizing I'm arching my back at his touch. 'And you can't be tamed.' He pulls me back to him 'And yet I've never met someone with a greater ability to see the good in people. You are the perfect mix of courage and mercy.' (eARC, Loc. 2465)
~Jason
*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape at http://www.abookishescape.com
September 13, 2014
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! From the first sentence to the last, Eliza Freed pulls you into Charlotte's world in a way that consumes your entire being and leaves you wanting more. It is a rollercoaster of emotion, making you both laugh and cry as Charlotte grapples with some of life's biggest questions. And oh yeah, the superhot Cowboy makes the ride all worth it! You won't be able to put it down! Forgive Me by Eliza Freed is a must read!
September 13, 2014
I absolutely love this book! Eliza Freed's characters Charlotte and Jason got into my head and I was caught up in their emotions, their pain, happiness, loneliness, love and anger. Forgive Me made me laugh and cry and once I started reading I couldn't put it down. It is the first book in The Lost Souls trilogy and now I'm begging for more! A sexy must read!
March 3, 2015
Emotionally compelling and incredibly intense, Forgive Me will leave you breathless and anticipating more. Eliza Freed has cornered the New Adult market on writing completely obsessive and dysfunctional romance. Jason Leer isn't one of my favorite characters, I found him to be completely controlling, manipulative, and an all around ass in the way he treated Charlotte. There were moments in the book where I wanted her to realize just how unhealthy their relationship really was. I swear, I just wanted to shake her shoulders and tell to wake up, because there was a much better guy staring her in the face and she never looked twice at him that way once.
Noble Sinclare is one incredibly hot, swoon-worthy guy that would be absolutely perfect for Charlotte if she would just open her eyes. He knows her and it's apparently obvious how much he cares for her. He's the one who could best take care of her, without expecting her to just completely uproot her life and be someone she's not. He certainly wouldn't do to her what Jason did over some stupid fight they had about which function they were going to.
Charlotte is an angry mess right now and that is understandable, given the fact that she just lost both her parents and then hopped into this crazy intense relationship as a way of avoiding the whole grieving process. I sort of have a love hate relationship with this character, but I do like her quite a bit. I'm just not necessarily crazy about some of the choices that she makes in the way that she lets Jason make her feel guilty. This is part of the charm in her character, because her faults make her a little more human and achingly vulnerable. It's a breath of fresh air to read a complicated love story as this one written so realistically that you almost feel a personal connection to it. That's always something that I look for in a book, something that grips me, and makes me reel back in a million and one different ways.
After Noble, Charlotte's friends were probably my second favorite thing about this book, because there were many of them and they each had their own facets and quirks that made me stand out and shine brilliantly on the pages. I love the way they rallied around Charlotte, knew what she needed, and wasn't afraid to tell her what they thought even if it meant an argument because they were doing it as means of having her back and taking care of her in the process. Good friends like family are hard to come by and the honesty that this lot showed was pretty amazing. Charlotte's relationship with her brother was also endearing to read about, because the level of care and love was so apparent between the two. I'll admit I might have chuckled a time or two, when he was trying to buy her a Hummer because he needed her to be safe and he couldn't lose one more person who was that important in his life. As over-protective as he was in a sense, he was really sweet and enjoyable as a character.
As hot and steamy as I like my romance books to be, I have to say that my only little minor frustration with this novel was the amount of sex that was written into it. For a second, I almost felt as if I was reading Fifty Shades and nearly put the book down. Luckily, I came to my senses and decided to keep on reading it. It's not that I have problem with sex written in books in general, with this particular story it was more to the point of it feeling like that's all that there was between Charlotte and Jason and that just didn't sit too well with me. I get that sex is an important and healthy part of a loving relationship and I'm completely fine with that and fine with reading it, but when it starts being all consuming with more of physical nature to the relationship and less about talking and actually communicating on an emotional level that's where I sort of start to draw the line. There needs to be a little bit more of a healthy balance there, in the relationship. As I mentioned before, Charlotte jumped into this crazy intense controlling relationship with Jason, without giving herself enough time to properly grieve the loss of her parents. I wish she would have taken a step back and let herself go through that experience, before deciding that she was all in whatever she was carrying on with that Leer boy.
Forgive Me isn't an easy read in the least little bit. It's messy, complicated, addictive, highly emotional, and definitely manipulative in many ways. It will drag your emotions through the gamut and then leave them gutted. If you are looking for a New Adult romance that will leave you burning in the darkest parts, then this is the book that you'll want to sink into. Eliza Freed does a brilliant job of illustrating just how addictive and emotionally intense a dysfunctional romance can be. Her characters shine on the pages, her writing is beautifully imaginative, and the cliffhanger will leave you gasping for more.
Noble Sinclare is one incredibly hot, swoon-worthy guy that would be absolutely perfect for Charlotte if she would just open her eyes. He knows her and it's apparently obvious how much he cares for her. He's the one who could best take care of her, without expecting her to just completely uproot her life and be someone she's not. He certainly wouldn't do to her what Jason did over some stupid fight they had about which function they were going to.
Charlotte is an angry mess right now and that is understandable, given the fact that she just lost both her parents and then hopped into this crazy intense relationship as a way of avoiding the whole grieving process. I sort of have a love hate relationship with this character, but I do like her quite a bit. I'm just not necessarily crazy about some of the choices that she makes in the way that she lets Jason make her feel guilty. This is part of the charm in her character, because her faults make her a little more human and achingly vulnerable. It's a breath of fresh air to read a complicated love story as this one written so realistically that you almost feel a personal connection to it. That's always something that I look for in a book, something that grips me, and makes me reel back in a million and one different ways.
After Noble, Charlotte's friends were probably my second favorite thing about this book, because there were many of them and they each had their own facets and quirks that made me stand out and shine brilliantly on the pages. I love the way they rallied around Charlotte, knew what she needed, and wasn't afraid to tell her what they thought even if it meant an argument because they were doing it as means of having her back and taking care of her in the process. Good friends like family are hard to come by and the honesty that this lot showed was pretty amazing. Charlotte's relationship with her brother was also endearing to read about, because the level of care and love was so apparent between the two. I'll admit I might have chuckled a time or two, when he was trying to buy her a Hummer because he needed her to be safe and he couldn't lose one more person who was that important in his life. As over-protective as he was in a sense, he was really sweet and enjoyable as a character.
As hot and steamy as I like my romance books to be, I have to say that my only little minor frustration with this novel was the amount of sex that was written into it. For a second, I almost felt as if I was reading Fifty Shades and nearly put the book down. Luckily, I came to my senses and decided to keep on reading it. It's not that I have problem with sex written in books in general, with this particular story it was more to the point of it feeling like that's all that there was between Charlotte and Jason and that just didn't sit too well with me. I get that sex is an important and healthy part of a loving relationship and I'm completely fine with that and fine with reading it, but when it starts being all consuming with more of physical nature to the relationship and less about talking and actually communicating on an emotional level that's where I sort of start to draw the line. There needs to be a little bit more of a healthy balance there, in the relationship. As I mentioned before, Charlotte jumped into this crazy intense controlling relationship with Jason, without giving herself enough time to properly grieve the loss of her parents. I wish she would have taken a step back and let herself go through that experience, before deciding that she was all in whatever she was carrying on with that Leer boy.
Forgive Me isn't an easy read in the least little bit. It's messy, complicated, addictive, highly emotional, and definitely manipulative in many ways. It will drag your emotions through the gamut and then leave them gutted. If you are looking for a New Adult romance that will leave you burning in the darkest parts, then this is the book that you'll want to sink into. Eliza Freed does a brilliant job of illustrating just how addictive and emotionally intense a dysfunctional romance can be. Her characters shine on the pages, her writing is beautifully imaginative, and the cliffhanger will leave you gasping for more.
November 11, 2014
** Josie's 4.5 Star Review **
This was an amazing read, I loved the authors writing and once you start you just keep going. This story is an emotional journey that will make you laugh, cry, scream and leave you with a sense of emptiness. The characters are well developed and I connected with each of them and their stories. This story flows nicely and there wasn’t a minute where I was bored.
Charlotte and Jason have grown up in the small town of Salem County New jersey. After they graduate from high school, they do not see each other for a while. Jason goes to college in Oklahoma and Charlotte at Rutgers. While they are both on break, tragedy strikes Charlotte. Jason is there to help and comfort Charlotte weave through her pain. What starts off as INCRECIBLE sex soon turns into so much more. Jason and Charlotte find love, acceptance and happiness with each other. Even though they will have to return to their lives at the end of summer they vow to maintain their relationship.
I really loved Charlotte character. She is strong, determined and feisty. She has a life and friends in Rutgers but she also loves and wants to make things work with Jason. She is still dealing with the loss of her loved ones and is trying to find her way in life and still be a part of Jason’s world. She travels to Oklahoma as much as she can and accepts that he loves to ride in rodeos. She also loves the way Jason makes her feel protected and loved and of course his dominance in the bedroom helps.
Jason is one h*** of a cowboy, born and raised in New Jersey but loves the rodeo life. He wants Charlotte with him in Oklahoma but he also knows she has to live her life. He just hopes she choose to come with him. He is totally possessive and alpha when it comes to his Annie (Charlotte). He will drop everything he is doing if he fears for her safety. As the year comes to end, he and Annie start to drift apart and cracks start to form in their relationship.
I just knew this book was going to crush me. I don’t know how but I saw it happening and I was not wrong. I swear to God I cried and got angry. Jason makes a wrong decision, a decision that can cost him his soul mate. Annie is being torn between her friends, wanting a life with Jason and trying to have the life she wants but could it cost her Jason. Can miles and mistakes cost Jason and Charlotte their love? Will the love they discovered over the course of the summer be over before it had a chance to start? The author delivers a book that is full of so much passion, love and sadness that I was gripped with the story. I felt every ounce of pain, sadness and happiness the characters went through. I must say that I really want to know what happens next in this series, I want no scratch that I need to know.
This was an amazing read, I loved the authors writing and once you start you just keep going. This story is an emotional journey that will make you laugh, cry, scream and leave you with a sense of emptiness. The characters are well developed and I connected with each of them and their stories. This story flows nicely and there wasn’t a minute where I was bored.
Charlotte and Jason have grown up in the small town of Salem County New jersey. After they graduate from high school, they do not see each other for a while. Jason goes to college in Oklahoma and Charlotte at Rutgers. While they are both on break, tragedy strikes Charlotte. Jason is there to help and comfort Charlotte weave through her pain. What starts off as INCRECIBLE sex soon turns into so much more. Jason and Charlotte find love, acceptance and happiness with each other. Even though they will have to return to their lives at the end of summer they vow to maintain their relationship.
I really loved Charlotte character. She is strong, determined and feisty. She has a life and friends in Rutgers but she also loves and wants to make things work with Jason. She is still dealing with the loss of her loved ones and is trying to find her way in life and still be a part of Jason’s world. She travels to Oklahoma as much as she can and accepts that he loves to ride in rodeos. She also loves the way Jason makes her feel protected and loved and of course his dominance in the bedroom helps.
Jason is one h*** of a cowboy, born and raised in New Jersey but loves the rodeo life. He wants Charlotte with him in Oklahoma but he also knows she has to live her life. He just hopes she choose to come with him. He is totally possessive and alpha when it comes to his Annie (Charlotte). He will drop everything he is doing if he fears for her safety. As the year comes to end, he and Annie start to drift apart and cracks start to form in their relationship.
I just knew this book was going to crush me. I don’t know how but I saw it happening and I was not wrong. I swear to God I cried and got angry. Jason makes a wrong decision, a decision that can cost him his soul mate. Annie is being torn between her friends, wanting a life with Jason and trying to have the life she wants but could it cost her Jason. Can miles and mistakes cost Jason and Charlotte their love? Will the love they discovered over the course of the summer be over before it had a chance to start? The author delivers a book that is full of so much passion, love and sadness that I was gripped with the story. I felt every ounce of pain, sadness and happiness the characters went through. I must say that I really want to know what happens next in this series, I want no scratch that I need to know.
November 21, 2014
***A gifted copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.***
~*Review by Ashton *~
I love reading romance novels just as much as the next blogger, but what I love more is being surprised by how in love I am with a series. For me, this is usually indicated by my desperate attempt to find the next book after finishing the first one and being disappointed after learning the next installment isn't releasing for months. It's a bittersweet moment, and one I had after finishing Forgive Me.
Charlotte O'Brien is an early 20s college girl from rural New Jersey. She attends Rutgers University and enjoys culture and diversity, as well as experiencing all of the joys college life brings. Her family wants her to play it safe when it comes to her romantic relationships, but when her parents die in a car accident; she finds solace in an old high school classmate - the rugged, gorgeous, southern alpha male - Jason Leer.
I've never pictured myself with a rodeo cowboy, but after reading Forgive Me, I've decided I need my own Jason Leer. He attends Oklahoma State University, and steer wrestling is his pride and joy. That is until he takes on Charlotte O'Brien. Jason may be from New Jersey, but his passion for the rodeo and his strength as a competitor makes him a great fit in the south.
Four of the five bloggers at Falling In Fall are from Oklahoma, and three of those five went to school at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva. Even though most of the story takes place in Stillwater, it was really fun to read about the rodeo in our very small neck of the woods.
I couldn't quite give this debut novel a FIVE LEAVES rating, because, at first, I was a little unsure about it. I felt a little lost at the beginning, as though I missed some character back story, but it somehow came together and then I just had to know what was going to happen next. Also, it felt a little slow at times, but I enjoyed the angst and this definitely did not stop me from wanting more.
Forgive Me ends with a pretty good cliff hanger, so be prepared. According to Eliza Freed's website, the second installment, Redeem Me, releases February 3, 2015 and the conclusion, Save Me, releases March 3, 2015.
Forgive Me is a must-read, and I'm looking forward to continuing this series and reading more from Eliza Freed in the future.
Read more reviews by Ashton and the Fallers at http://fallinginfall.blogspot.com
~*Review by Ashton *~
I love reading romance novels just as much as the next blogger, but what I love more is being surprised by how in love I am with a series. For me, this is usually indicated by my desperate attempt to find the next book after finishing the first one and being disappointed after learning the next installment isn't releasing for months. It's a bittersweet moment, and one I had after finishing Forgive Me.
Charlotte O'Brien is an early 20s college girl from rural New Jersey. She attends Rutgers University and enjoys culture and diversity, as well as experiencing all of the joys college life brings. Her family wants her to play it safe when it comes to her romantic relationships, but when her parents die in a car accident; she finds solace in an old high school classmate - the rugged, gorgeous, southern alpha male - Jason Leer.
I've never pictured myself with a rodeo cowboy, but after reading Forgive Me, I've decided I need my own Jason Leer. He attends Oklahoma State University, and steer wrestling is his pride and joy. That is until he takes on Charlotte O'Brien. Jason may be from New Jersey, but his passion for the rodeo and his strength as a competitor makes him a great fit in the south.
Four of the five bloggers at Falling In Fall are from Oklahoma, and three of those five went to school at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva. Even though most of the story takes place in Stillwater, it was really fun to read about the rodeo in our very small neck of the woods.
I couldn't quite give this debut novel a FIVE LEAVES rating, because, at first, I was a little unsure about it. I felt a little lost at the beginning, as though I missed some character back story, but it somehow came together and then I just had to know what was going to happen next. Also, it felt a little slow at times, but I enjoyed the angst and this definitely did not stop me from wanting more.
Forgive Me ends with a pretty good cliff hanger, so be prepared. According to Eliza Freed's website, the second installment, Redeem Me, releases February 3, 2015 and the conclusion, Save Me, releases March 3, 2015.
Forgive Me is a must-read, and I'm looking forward to continuing this series and reading more from Eliza Freed in the future.
Read more reviews by Ashton and the Fallers at http://fallinginfall.blogspot.com
December 27, 2014
**** EROTICA BOOK CLUB REVIEW ****
Forgive Me (Lost Souls #1)
by Eliza Freed
Charlotte O'Brien is devastated after the death of her parents and finds herself taking comfort in Jason Leer a cowboy that is into bull riding. Their relationship develops into a dependant and very intense desire for each other. Jason has always called her Annie and they have know each other since they were children.
I found both characters to be really addictive and the way they clung to each other to try get through the bad times and the hurt especially Charlotte was feeling. I however did feel that because they were trying to have a distance relationship that made Jason very clingy but that is part of his personality and added more to the story.
Honestly I did feel like the book was dragging in places and the lack of contraceptives was an issue for personally but I also found that the author didn't go into every bit of detail about things like that I still really enjoyed reading this and when I put it down (well we all have to sleep) I found I was aching to pick it up again and keep going.
The other characters in the book are likeable and its great to see a lead character with lots of friends rather than having just one or two.
Although I felt it dragged I do really think that it was to pull me in and get attached to this couple and by the end I am left gutted and angry and now going to buy book 2 just to see where it goes from here. I have quite high expectations about it so i'm hoping it doesn't disappoint.
Overall I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.
I received a copy from Netgally in exchange for an honest review
4 stars for Amazon & 4 stars for Goodreads
~Jane~
Forgive Me (Lost Souls #1)
by Eliza Freed
Charlotte O'Brien is devastated after the death of her parents and finds herself taking comfort in Jason Leer a cowboy that is into bull riding. Their relationship develops into a dependant and very intense desire for each other. Jason has always called her Annie and they have know each other since they were children.
I found both characters to be really addictive and the way they clung to each other to try get through the bad times and the hurt especially Charlotte was feeling. I however did feel that because they were trying to have a distance relationship that made Jason very clingy but that is part of his personality and added more to the story.
Honestly I did feel like the book was dragging in places and the lack of contraceptives was an issue for personally but I also found that the author didn't go into every bit of detail about things like that I still really enjoyed reading this and when I put it down (well we all have to sleep) I found I was aching to pick it up again and keep going.
The other characters in the book are likeable and its great to see a lead character with lots of friends rather than having just one or two.
Although I felt it dragged I do really think that it was to pull me in and get attached to this couple and by the end I am left gutted and angry and now going to buy book 2 just to see where it goes from here. I have quite high expectations about it so i'm hoping it doesn't disappoint.
Overall I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.
I received a copy from Netgally in exchange for an honest review
4 stars for Amazon & 4 stars for Goodreads
~Jane~
September 18, 2014
I couldn't put this book down! I was thinking about Charlotte and Jason long after I finished the last page. Wondering what would happen next for Charlotte and Jason and their all-consuming love left me on the edge of my seat and anxiously awaiting the next book in the series!!! Eliza Freed is magical in her storing telling!!
Read
February 9, 2015Thank you for reading and reviewing The Lost Souls Series. These characters stole my sleep every night to get their story to you. I hope you love it as much as I do.
Eliza
xoxoxo
P.S. - Want to keep in touch?
Sign up for Eliza’s Love Letters at http://www.elizafreed.com/love-letter...
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Eliza
xoxoxo
P.S. - Want to keep in touch?
Sign up for Eliza’s Love Letters at http://www.elizafreed.com/love-letter...
Or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/elizabfreed?...
June 14, 2017
This book pulled me out of a 10 month reading slump!
New Adult is my go to genre and after watching many recommendation videos all showing the same books over and over again I came across one video where these books were raved about.
This book follows a girl who loses her parents but finds someone that help her deal with the pain and move on in life.
This book was great but had a few minor problems, like the fact that Charlotte seemed to get over the death of her parents very quick.
I liked the LDR theme in this book, something that I really enjoyed and just shows how hard one is to maintain.
The ending of this book had me shocked and I straightaway downloaded book 2!
I cant wait to start reading the 2nd book but a big thank-you to Alyssa Wubnig from YT for the recommendation. Its just what I needed!
New Adult is my go to genre and after watching many recommendation videos all showing the same books over and over again I came across one video where these books were raved about.
This book follows a girl who loses her parents but finds someone that help her deal with the pain and move on in life.
This book was great but had a few minor problems, like the fact that Charlotte seemed to get over the death of her parents very quick.
I liked the LDR theme in this book, something that I really enjoyed and just shows how hard one is to maintain.
The ending of this book had me shocked and I straightaway downloaded book 2!
I cant wait to start reading the 2nd book but a big thank-you to Alyssa Wubnig from YT for the recommendation. Its just what I needed!
September 22, 2021
I wasn't crazy about this book. It's a romance in which the MC has just lost both her parents in a car accident and falls in love with a guy who has also lost his mother. The fear of losing someone else they care about is the main motivating factor throughout the book.
I liked both the MC and her guy. They were believable, complex characters, each with their own struggles. I liked how the MC clings to her independence and stands up for herself.
I didn't feel the relationship, though. The guy is controlling and they seem to have little in common aside from sexual chemistry. I didn't really get the obsession they have with each other. Another thing I really didn't like was the way drug use was portrayed throughout the book as pretty much harmless fun. That might be just me, though, since to be fair, the MC does take measures to protect herself. I just don't think it's a good idea to use drugs under any circumstances, ever.
So all of this adds up to 2 stars for me.
I liked both the MC and her guy. They were believable, complex characters, each with their own struggles. I liked how the MC clings to her independence and stands up for herself.
I didn't feel the relationship, though. The guy is controlling and they seem to have little in common aside from sexual chemistry. I didn't really get the obsession they have with each other. Another thing I really didn't like was the way drug use was portrayed throughout the book as pretty much harmless fun. That might be just me, though, since to be fair, the MC does take measures to protect herself. I just don't think it's a good idea to use drugs under any circumstances, ever.
So all of this adds up to 2 stars for me.
January 6, 2015
☆☆☆☆☆ 4.5 Stars ☆☆☆☆☆
The story of two lost souls finding each other, when they needed someone to care the most.
Jason and Annie were childhood friends, who lost touch after graduating high school. Until the day Jason found Annie walking on the side of the road, after breaking up with her boyfriend. When he finally got Annie in his truck and checked out her feet and found blisters from her walking. He took her ankle and kissed it, which gave her a shock of want for him. She pulled him in and they kissed for the first time, it was hot passionate that it made them wanting each other more. Then he took her home and made sure she was safe, because the highway patrol basically made them go home.
Not long after, a tragic accident took Annie’s parents' lives, it was the same day Jason decided to save her from falling. Annie’s parents' funeral was nothing but painful to both Annie and her brother. Jason knew and saw the pain in her eyes, so he decided to take her away from it all. He took her and they drove miles away, to give her room to breath. Annie and Jason got lost in each other company and they ended up on the back of Jason’s truck for the hottest Sex of their lives. She wasn’t sure if that was a one time thing, which worried her because without him she was lost in her thoughts. Until he started showing up every night at around the same time, when everybody was gone. After a few times no knocking was needed, he started using the hidden key. When he came, he always smelled like dirt and smoke, from being on rodeo all day. After saying his hello and kisses to Annie, he goes straight to the shower and she follows. This became their routine and they enjoyed each other. These two were always at each other, they couldn’t get enough of each other, sex was never slow with them. It was always hot and rough, just the way they both enjoyed it. Sometimes up against the tree, sometimes tied up in bed and so on. Sometimes talking wasn’t necessary when it came to them, especially Jason. He always knew what Annie wanted or what she was thinking and she loved that about him. Things were great until she had to go back to school and he had to move back to his house miles away to do his rodeo.
Long distance relationship had to happen and it was nothing but hard for them. At times they don’t see each other for months, because there were both so busy. But their love always brought each other back. Jason swore he will wait for Annie as long as she promises him that she will move back with him to Oklahoma after she graduates. But things started to get in the way of it all, Annie’s intern, his rodeo, New York, New Jersey. Everything started to get in the way. Instead of fixing things and making everything alright, Jason makes the biggest mistake of his life that will change everything that they are.
What could have Jason done that could end the love they had for each other?
Will Annie understand that the mistake, is just that and forgive Jason for it?
Will Annie and Jason finally come to an agreement and live their life together happily?
This book was long, sad and sweet. Jason and Annie’s relationship may have been hard, but they were always better together and they knew that. When Jason lost his mom, he was never the same until Annie and he started seeing each other. They save each other and there was nothing more beautiful than the love that they had for each other.
I would just like to say this book ends with the biggest cliffhanger ever, that had me throwing my kindle across the couch from hatred for it. That doesn’t mean I hated the book, because I don’t.. I love it. I just hate, that I have to wait for the conclusion. Oh Eliza please tell me book two is coming like ASAP.
The story of two lost souls finding each other, when they needed someone to care the most.
Jason and Annie were childhood friends, who lost touch after graduating high school. Until the day Jason found Annie walking on the side of the road, after breaking up with her boyfriend. When he finally got Annie in his truck and checked out her feet and found blisters from her walking. He took her ankle and kissed it, which gave her a shock of want for him. She pulled him in and they kissed for the first time, it was hot passionate that it made them wanting each other more. Then he took her home and made sure she was safe, because the highway patrol basically made them go home.
Not long after, a tragic accident took Annie’s parents' lives, it was the same day Jason decided to save her from falling. Annie’s parents' funeral was nothing but painful to both Annie and her brother. Jason knew and saw the pain in her eyes, so he decided to take her away from it all. He took her and they drove miles away, to give her room to breath. Annie and Jason got lost in each other company and they ended up on the back of Jason’s truck for the hottest Sex of their lives. She wasn’t sure if that was a one time thing, which worried her because without him she was lost in her thoughts. Until he started showing up every night at around the same time, when everybody was gone. After a few times no knocking was needed, he started using the hidden key. When he came, he always smelled like dirt and smoke, from being on rodeo all day. After saying his hello and kisses to Annie, he goes straight to the shower and she follows. This became their routine and they enjoyed each other. These two were always at each other, they couldn’t get enough of each other, sex was never slow with them. It was always hot and rough, just the way they both enjoyed it. Sometimes up against the tree, sometimes tied up in bed and so on. Sometimes talking wasn’t necessary when it came to them, especially Jason. He always knew what Annie wanted or what she was thinking and she loved that about him. Things were great until she had to go back to school and he had to move back to his house miles away to do his rodeo.
Long distance relationship had to happen and it was nothing but hard for them. At times they don’t see each other for months, because there were both so busy. But their love always brought each other back. Jason swore he will wait for Annie as long as she promises him that she will move back with him to Oklahoma after she graduates. But things started to get in the way of it all, Annie’s intern, his rodeo, New York, New Jersey. Everything started to get in the way. Instead of fixing things and making everything alright, Jason makes the biggest mistake of his life that will change everything that they are.
What could have Jason done that could end the love they had for each other?
Will Annie understand that the mistake, is just that and forgive Jason for it?
Will Annie and Jason finally come to an agreement and live their life together happily?
This book was long, sad and sweet. Jason and Annie’s relationship may have been hard, but they were always better together and they knew that. When Jason lost his mom, he was never the same until Annie and he started seeing each other. They save each other and there was nothing more beautiful than the love that they had for each other.
I would just like to say this book ends with the biggest cliffhanger ever, that had me throwing my kindle across the couch from hatred for it. That doesn’t mean I hated the book, because I don’t.. I love it. I just hate, that I have to wait for the conclusion. Oh Eliza please tell me book two is coming like ASAP.
September 2, 2016
An emotional tale of two lost souls...
This was an emotional read and this reader is not sure what to make of this well written story which captured and held my attention. It has a killer cliffhanger ending that I hated. I am not sure if I can read the next books. Sometimes authors go places a reader just doesn't want to go or believe in.
Charlotte (Annie) O’Brien is at the beginning of her young adult life, a New Jersey college student, when her parents are tragically killed in an auto accident. The plans she counted on for her future have changed or rather they do not have the same meaning they used to. Life has been dramatically altered; mortality (which surrounds and chases all of us) has reared its ugly existence into her reality. But there is a light in her darkness and his name is Jason. He is very different from her, a college student himself from her home town but also a cowboy who’s a steer wrestler. Their souls connect in a way that cannot be defined and he understands what she is going through having lost his mother a year before. Their chemistry is electric. They move each other in ways that no one else has or ever could.
Jason Leer is a year ahead of Charlotte in his grief. He’s sexy, very much alpha and is more mature than Charlotte. Partying and getting high are not on his list of important things. He goes to college in Oklahoma when he’s not on the rodeo trail or back in his New Jersey home town. He’s very much in love with his “Annie”. She is his home. He always calls Charlotte by her middle name. He is a tumultuous storm as Charlotte describes him yet it is in his arms that she feels safe and calm. He wants Charlotte with him forever but he has to navigate his own grief, their long distance relationship, her stubbornness, and her grieving. Her actions push him to his limits sometimes and perhaps finally cause their destruction. We are left with two lost souls floundering in deep pain.
Facing for the first time the reality of mortality is tough on everyone, more so when you are at a decisive point in your young life and then in an instant you find that everything you depended on, your support system, is gone. You are lost in the grief and sadness that has become your reality. You now have to figure out what is truly important in life which grief and your immaturity complicate. This is Charlotte’s dilemma more so than Jason’s. She vacillates between things that are of trivial importance in the long run and the love she feels for her cowboy which is true. She allows her fear of death as well as what she thinks she owes the dead to cloud her relationship. She hurts the one that loves her most with her actions that are selfish and destructive, fueled by a deep grief that she does not seek help with.
I absolutely hated the ending though I can understand it and how it happened. Charlotte had gutted Jason again and in a drunken stupor he was taken advantage of. Will she forgive him for what her selfishness caused? At her current level of immaturity it is doubtful. This trope has also been overdone.
I am very invested in this couple but I won’t read the next books before I’ve read the detailed reviews with spoilers. Charlotte and Jason belong together, theirs is a passion that is not found again in a lifetime so I need to know that they end up together because I can’t accept any other HEA for either of them, it would be too disappointing and the blurb in the next book concerns me. Settling is something that I cannot abide, choosing what is easier is a cold existence and I do hope that Charlotte finally learns the deep wisdom in the words that we don’t owe the dead anything, the only debt we owe is to ourselves. She knows the words but she doesn’t feel them. Charlotte has a long way to go to grow up much more so than Jason; her immaturity was quite evident in this book. She’s reckless and selfish and in need of therapy. Her parents are turning in their graves at the things she got into; her brother would be appalled if he knew. Jason was so right to constantly worry about her but loving her is very hard and something he can’t help but do because she is the one for him as he is for her.
I would recommend this book for those that like New Adult with serious angst and drama, but be advised that it’s quite an emotional ride with an ending that will floor you.
This was an emotional read and this reader is not sure what to make of this well written story which captured and held my attention. It has a killer cliffhanger ending that I hated. I am not sure if I can read the next books. Sometimes authors go places a reader just doesn't want to go or believe in.
Charlotte (Annie) O’Brien is at the beginning of her young adult life, a New Jersey college student, when her parents are tragically killed in an auto accident. The plans she counted on for her future have changed or rather they do not have the same meaning they used to. Life has been dramatically altered; mortality (which surrounds and chases all of us) has reared its ugly existence into her reality. But there is a light in her darkness and his name is Jason. He is very different from her, a college student himself from her home town but also a cowboy who’s a steer wrestler. Their souls connect in a way that cannot be defined and he understands what she is going through having lost his mother a year before. Their chemistry is electric. They move each other in ways that no one else has or ever could.
Jason Leer is a year ahead of Charlotte in his grief. He’s sexy, very much alpha and is more mature than Charlotte. Partying and getting high are not on his list of important things. He goes to college in Oklahoma when he’s not on the rodeo trail or back in his New Jersey home town. He’s very much in love with his “Annie”. She is his home. He always calls Charlotte by her middle name. He is a tumultuous storm as Charlotte describes him yet it is in his arms that she feels safe and calm. He wants Charlotte with him forever but he has to navigate his own grief, their long distance relationship, her stubbornness, and her grieving. Her actions push him to his limits sometimes and perhaps finally cause their destruction. We are left with two lost souls floundering in deep pain.
Facing for the first time the reality of mortality is tough on everyone, more so when you are at a decisive point in your young life and then in an instant you find that everything you depended on, your support system, is gone. You are lost in the grief and sadness that has become your reality. You now have to figure out what is truly important in life which grief and your immaturity complicate. This is Charlotte’s dilemma more so than Jason’s. She vacillates between things that are of trivial importance in the long run and the love she feels for her cowboy which is true. She allows her fear of death as well as what she thinks she owes the dead to cloud her relationship. She hurts the one that loves her most with her actions that are selfish and destructive, fueled by a deep grief that she does not seek help with.
I absolutely hated the ending though I can understand it and how it happened. Charlotte had gutted Jason again and in a drunken stupor he was taken advantage of. Will she forgive him for what her selfishness caused? At her current level of immaturity it is doubtful. This trope has also been overdone.
I am very invested in this couple but I won’t read the next books before I’ve read the detailed reviews with spoilers. Charlotte and Jason belong together, theirs is a passion that is not found again in a lifetime so I need to know that they end up together because I can’t accept any other HEA for either of them, it would be too disappointing and the blurb in the next book concerns me. Settling is something that I cannot abide, choosing what is easier is a cold existence and I do hope that Charlotte finally learns the deep wisdom in the words that we don’t owe the dead anything, the only debt we owe is to ourselves. She knows the words but she doesn’t feel them. Charlotte has a long way to go to grow up much more so than Jason; her immaturity was quite evident in this book. She’s reckless and selfish and in need of therapy. Her parents are turning in their graves at the things she got into; her brother would be appalled if he knew. Jason was so right to constantly worry about her but loving her is very hard and something he can’t help but do because she is the one for him as he is for her.
I would recommend this book for those that like New Adult with serious angst and drama, but be advised that it’s quite an emotional ride with an ending that will floor you.
February 13, 2015
*3.5 Rating
Review Posted on Reading Lark 2/13/15: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2015/...
What do we owe the dead?
This is a thought that pervades this story as Charlotte reels from the sudden and tragic death of her parents. They wanted her to graduate from Rutgers University, land a job in a city, and marry a man with a white collar job. Their death has Charlotte questioning everything about her future. The only place that she seems to find solace is in the arms of the handsome cowboy, Jason Leer. Jason is the sort of guy Charlotte's parents would not have approved of, but she can't seem to let him go. It doesn't matter that Charlotte and Jason are from two very different worlds with two very different plans for the future; the two are determined to find a way to make their relationship work.
The course of true love doesn't run smoothly for these two. Charlotte is trying to finish up her Senior year of college in New Jersey while Jason is studying and working the rodeo circuit from Oklahoma. Their relationship largely consists of texts, letters, and the occasional phone call in between the moments when they can manage to be in the same state. The struggle that Charlotte and Jason endure is probably fairly typical of long distance relationships. The distance makes everything more difficult. To make matters worse, Jason hates the city and is constantly worrying about Charlotte's safety. Charlotte is headstrong and stubborn so she fights against Jason's controlling nature - even when it's warranted. There are moments when Charlotte seems to be engaged in nothing but self destructive behavior. On the other hand, Charlotte hates the rodeo and the danger it poses to Jason. These two have some serious hurdles to overcome if their love is going to survive.
In so many ways, this novel made me frustrated. There were moments when I liked Charlotte and Jason, but then they would do something stupid or selfish that would leave me wondering why I kept reading. Their relationship had moments of tenderness, but those would soon be trampled by the dysfunction. Both Jason and Charlotte are hurting after significant losses so I understood why they felt they need to lose themselves in each other, but I couldn't help but think about unhealthy their relationship was overall. In many ways, their relationship mimics the unpredictable Oklahoma weather - beautiful one minute and downright hostile the next.
I was also seriously over the volume of gratuitous intimate scenes. I'm a reader who likes something left to the imagination. I know more about these two characters than I ever wanted to know as far as that area of their lives is concerned. Seriously - these two could give rabbits a run for their money. Some readers clamor for this, but it's not my cup of tea.
I went back and forth in my mind with the rating for this one; I waffled between 3 and 4. I loved it and loathed it in equal measures at certain moments. (That ending - GRRRRR) I finally decided if it made me feel so intensely AND I am starting the second installment tonight just to see what happens next that it warranted a 3.5. I just can't get past my aversion to the explicit details and the toxic nature of the romance.
One Last Gripe: I was frustrated that Jason kept smothering Charlotte. He didn't seem to take her goals as seriously as his own.
Favorite Thing About This Book: It was nice to see Charlotte's transition from broken to strong.
First Sentence: My foot will bleed soon.
Favorite Character: Noble - he was solid and unwavering
Least Favorite Character: Charlotte and Jason found themselves in this spot at varying points throughout the novel, but there were also moments when they were vying for the favorite character spot.
Review Posted on Reading Lark 2/13/15: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2015/...
What do we owe the dead?
This is a thought that pervades this story as Charlotte reels from the sudden and tragic death of her parents. They wanted her to graduate from Rutgers University, land a job in a city, and marry a man with a white collar job. Their death has Charlotte questioning everything about her future. The only place that she seems to find solace is in the arms of the handsome cowboy, Jason Leer. Jason is the sort of guy Charlotte's parents would not have approved of, but she can't seem to let him go. It doesn't matter that Charlotte and Jason are from two very different worlds with two very different plans for the future; the two are determined to find a way to make their relationship work.
The course of true love doesn't run smoothly for these two. Charlotte is trying to finish up her Senior year of college in New Jersey while Jason is studying and working the rodeo circuit from Oklahoma. Their relationship largely consists of texts, letters, and the occasional phone call in between the moments when they can manage to be in the same state. The struggle that Charlotte and Jason endure is probably fairly typical of long distance relationships. The distance makes everything more difficult. To make matters worse, Jason hates the city and is constantly worrying about Charlotte's safety. Charlotte is headstrong and stubborn so she fights against Jason's controlling nature - even when it's warranted. There are moments when Charlotte seems to be engaged in nothing but self destructive behavior. On the other hand, Charlotte hates the rodeo and the danger it poses to Jason. These two have some serious hurdles to overcome if their love is going to survive.
In so many ways, this novel made me frustrated. There were moments when I liked Charlotte and Jason, but then they would do something stupid or selfish that would leave me wondering why I kept reading. Their relationship had moments of tenderness, but those would soon be trampled by the dysfunction. Both Jason and Charlotte are hurting after significant losses so I understood why they felt they need to lose themselves in each other, but I couldn't help but think about unhealthy their relationship was overall. In many ways, their relationship mimics the unpredictable Oklahoma weather - beautiful one minute and downright hostile the next.
I was also seriously over the volume of gratuitous intimate scenes. I'm a reader who likes something left to the imagination. I know more about these two characters than I ever wanted to know as far as that area of their lives is concerned. Seriously - these two could give rabbits a run for their money. Some readers clamor for this, but it's not my cup of tea.
I went back and forth in my mind with the rating for this one; I waffled between 3 and 4. I loved it and loathed it in equal measures at certain moments. (That ending - GRRRRR) I finally decided if it made me feel so intensely AND I am starting the second installment tonight just to see what happens next that it warranted a 3.5. I just can't get past my aversion to the explicit details and the toxic nature of the romance.
One Last Gripe: I was frustrated that Jason kept smothering Charlotte. He didn't seem to take her goals as seriously as his own.
Favorite Thing About This Book: It was nice to see Charlotte's transition from broken to strong.
First Sentence: My foot will bleed soon.
Favorite Character: Noble - he was solid and unwavering
Least Favorite Character: Charlotte and Jason found themselves in this spot at varying points throughout the novel, but there were also moments when they were vying for the favorite character spot.
March 29, 2016
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
I have been struggling to write this review since I finished the book. Forgive Me by Eliza Freed has been on my mind ever since I finished though, and I honestly can't stop thinking about it. I loved a lot of the book, but I also had a few things that I had some issues with. One thing I can tell you for sure though is that I need the next book, and I need it as soon as I can get my hands on it. Forgive Me is the first book in the Lost Souls Trilogy, and these are not standalone stories. There is a cliffhanger at the end of Forgive Me and it was definitely a big one.
After losing her parents, Charlotte O'Brien is struggling to make it through her daily life. But she finds herself reconnecting with Jason Leer. Jason and Charlotte had once been friends as children, but over the years they grew apart and started hanging out with different groups. As Charlotte and Jason reconnect, they both find that they feel alive and whole again but only when they are together. They have both lost so much, but in each other they have found peace. But with them both attending different colleges thousands of miles apart, can they find a way to make it through? And what happens when it isn't just the physical distance between them?
I found it hard to connect with Charlotte and Jason at first. Charlotte annoyed me at the beginning of the story, and I honestly wasn't sure that I was going to be able to get behind her story. She was selfish and callous, and I thought that she just seemed to be completely uncaring of anyone but herself. But as the story went on, she really started to grow on me. She was strong and although she struggled, she was a fighter. She was determined and independent and didn't rely on others to make all her decisions for her. She loved Jason and could have easily given up complete control of her life to him, but she was able to draw from his support and do things for herself. Jason was great at the beginning of the story. He was exactly what Charlotte needed, and I loved that he was so protective of her. He gave her what she needed and was everything that she never knew she wanted. But as the story went on, he seemed to lose some of what I had first loved about him. He blamed her for the distance between them, and he wasn't so understanding of her choices. He seemed to punish her if she didn't go along with everything that he said or wanted. He was often jealous despite her giving him no reason to be. I thought that they were great together and had a lot of chemistry. But I also thought that things started to fall apart between these two, and I felt the pain that both were feeling because of that.
I will say that the ending of this one just about killed me. It broke my heart after everything that they had been through, and I was really hoping that things wouldn't go there for these two. I have no idea what Eliza Freed has in store for these two in the future, but I really hope that they can find a way to make it through everything and end up together. I know that these two have a ton left to go through, but I really want them to work things out because I really feel like they belong together. I thought that this book had a lot of back and forth, and at times things got repetitive. I guess that is part of why I am really pulling for these two, because I just can't see any other option for them than to wind up together after everything that they have been through. I can't wait for the next book, and I hope that Eliza Freed will make it worth the wait for the readers and the characters.
**Review Copy Provided by Good Choice Reading & Forever (Grand Central Publishing)**
I have been struggling to write this review since I finished the book. Forgive Me by Eliza Freed has been on my mind ever since I finished though, and I honestly can't stop thinking about it. I loved a lot of the book, but I also had a few things that I had some issues with. One thing I can tell you for sure though is that I need the next book, and I need it as soon as I can get my hands on it. Forgive Me is the first book in the Lost Souls Trilogy, and these are not standalone stories. There is a cliffhanger at the end of Forgive Me and it was definitely a big one.
After losing her parents, Charlotte O'Brien is struggling to make it through her daily life. But she finds herself reconnecting with Jason Leer. Jason and Charlotte had once been friends as children, but over the years they grew apart and started hanging out with different groups. As Charlotte and Jason reconnect, they both find that they feel alive and whole again but only when they are together. They have both lost so much, but in each other they have found peace. But with them both attending different colleges thousands of miles apart, can they find a way to make it through? And what happens when it isn't just the physical distance between them?
I found it hard to connect with Charlotte and Jason at first. Charlotte annoyed me at the beginning of the story, and I honestly wasn't sure that I was going to be able to get behind her story. She was selfish and callous, and I thought that she just seemed to be completely uncaring of anyone but herself. But as the story went on, she really started to grow on me. She was strong and although she struggled, she was a fighter. She was determined and independent and didn't rely on others to make all her decisions for her. She loved Jason and could have easily given up complete control of her life to him, but she was able to draw from his support and do things for herself. Jason was great at the beginning of the story. He was exactly what Charlotte needed, and I loved that he was so protective of her. He gave her what she needed and was everything that she never knew she wanted. But as the story went on, he seemed to lose some of what I had first loved about him. He blamed her for the distance between them, and he wasn't so understanding of her choices. He seemed to punish her if she didn't go along with everything that he said or wanted. He was often jealous despite her giving him no reason to be. I thought that they were great together and had a lot of chemistry. But I also thought that things started to fall apart between these two, and I felt the pain that both were feeling because of that.
I will say that the ending of this one just about killed me. It broke my heart after everything that they had been through, and I was really hoping that things wouldn't go there for these two. I have no idea what Eliza Freed has in store for these two in the future, but I really hope that they can find a way to make it through everything and end up together. I know that these two have a ton left to go through, but I really want them to work things out because I really feel like they belong together. I thought that this book had a lot of back and forth, and at times things got repetitive. I guess that is part of why I am really pulling for these two, because I just can't see any other option for them than to wind up together after everything that they have been through. I can't wait for the next book, and I hope that Eliza Freed will make it worth the wait for the readers and the characters.
**Review Copy Provided by Good Choice Reading & Forever (Grand Central Publishing)**
January 2, 2022
Boy this book was brutal to get through and I spent most of it skim reading. Not a whole load happens it's mostly about a girl who's parents die and then during the early days of that grief she jumps into a relationship with this guy she grew up with and then the book is about said relationship. And boy what a mess that relationship was.
Going into this I already knew the plot points of the three books because I read spoilers for some reason. I thought we were going to get a series where a girl falls in love with a guy who after some hardships screws up in the worst way possible, she leaves him and after some time moves onto another guy and lives happily ever after with a guy who did not knock up some girl one drunken night when he was in a relationship with someone else. I thought I was about to get the book/series I've always wanted where a girl doesn't forgive a guy for his mistake and moves on to someone who treats her right. I instead I got a garbage fire.
The relationship between Charlotte and Jason was toxic as fuck. Like seriously I did not like Jason whatsoever. There were times he would call and yell at her, he would try to control her states away, he got mad when she wore "skimpy" clothes, he got mad when she got a tattoo because he didn't like that another guy touched her, he implied that the reason she was doing well at her job was because her boss fancied her and not because she was a hard worker and he was constantly throwing tantrums. There's a part where her place gets broken into which is very traumatic for her, and rather than comfort her he just gets angry and says she can't live in that place anymore and later at a party when he steps away from her she says she feels lighter when he's not around. Like ma'am why are you with this guy because it doesn't sound like he makes you all that happy. It was like Jason hated that Charlotte had a life outside of him and he would expect her to make these sacrifices for him like moving to his state where her job opportunities are slim to none, yet he never made any compromises for her.
Towards the end of the book they're doing nothing but fighting and she asks him to come up to visit her one weekend for some formal (her last one) but he says no she needs to come down for some graduation party and refuses to discuss it because he assumes he'll get his way. And then when she says maybe we should just do our own thing he gets mad again at her. Like dude, she's already giving everything up despite not wanting to for you and you can't do the bare fucking minimum. I don't know how anyone could root for this guy.
Now after this fiasco Jason gets drunk one night and gets another girl pregnant which is what kills the relationship going into the next book. My problem with the execution of this scene is that the author tried to have this big betrayal thing, but also tried to make Jason as sympathetic as possible by making it seem like he didn't know what he was doing because he was blacked out drunk and semiconscious. I mean we get the scene written from Jason's pov and the guy clearly has no idea what's going on. My problem with this is that this isn't Jason cheating, it's Jason getting raped. Seriously the guy was in no condition to be consenting to anything and I don't think he was awake for a lot of it. The guy was a toxic boyfriend, but he's also a victim in this case. I feel like the author tried to downplay his "betrayal" too far. Like she should have just committed to it so that she doesn't have this big issue here. Because in the next two books no one mentions that Jason never consented to this and he's instead seen as a cheater.
Going into this I already knew the plot points of the three books because I read spoilers for some reason. I thought we were going to get a series where a girl falls in love with a guy who after some hardships screws up in the worst way possible, she leaves him and after some time moves onto another guy and lives happily ever after with a guy who did not knock up some girl one drunken night when he was in a relationship with someone else. I thought I was about to get the book/series I've always wanted where a girl doesn't forgive a guy for his mistake and moves on to someone who treats her right. I instead I got a garbage fire.
The relationship between Charlotte and Jason was toxic as fuck. Like seriously I did not like Jason whatsoever. There were times he would call and yell at her, he would try to control her states away, he got mad when she wore "skimpy" clothes, he got mad when she got a tattoo because he didn't like that another guy touched her, he implied that the reason she was doing well at her job was because her boss fancied her and not because she was a hard worker and he was constantly throwing tantrums. There's a part where her place gets broken into which is very traumatic for her, and rather than comfort her he just gets angry and says she can't live in that place anymore and later at a party when he steps away from her she says she feels lighter when he's not around. Like ma'am why are you with this guy because it doesn't sound like he makes you all that happy. It was like Jason hated that Charlotte had a life outside of him and he would expect her to make these sacrifices for him like moving to his state where her job opportunities are slim to none, yet he never made any compromises for her.
Towards the end of the book they're doing nothing but fighting and she asks him to come up to visit her one weekend for some formal (her last one) but he says no she needs to come down for some graduation party and refuses to discuss it because he assumes he'll get his way. And then when she says maybe we should just do our own thing he gets mad again at her. Like dude, she's already giving everything up despite not wanting to for you and you can't do the bare fucking minimum. I don't know how anyone could root for this guy.
Now after this fiasco Jason gets drunk one night and gets another girl pregnant which is what kills the relationship going into the next book. My problem with the execution of this scene is that the author tried to have this big betrayal thing, but also tried to make Jason as sympathetic as possible by making it seem like he didn't know what he was doing because he was blacked out drunk and semiconscious. I mean we get the scene written from Jason's pov and the guy clearly has no idea what's going on. My problem with this is that this isn't Jason cheating, it's Jason getting raped. Seriously the guy was in no condition to be consenting to anything and I don't think he was awake for a lot of it. The guy was a toxic boyfriend, but he's also a victim in this case. I feel like the author tried to downplay his "betrayal" too far. Like she should have just committed to it so that she doesn't have this big issue here. Because in the next two books no one mentions that Jason never consented to this and he's instead seen as a cheater.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2016
Oh, sweet day in the morning. I'm finally done. That was BRUTAL.
I'm a cheap bastard, ok? I am a library reader. If I had borrowed this, there is NO WAY I would have finished it. But, I paid for this! I paid hard earned money for this book and FORCED myself to finish reading it to the end. I mean, the cliffhanger. So, after all that I get no ending? It was horrid. I guess I'll start ranting...
A big problem with this book is that there are just too many characters that are undeveloped. Names of little known friends are thrown around like confetti. Plus, it drags. A lot. I mean, I can't tell you how many times they traveled back and forth between their locations. Or how many times the two main characters have BORING sex. It got old. These scenes were never written in a sexy or creative way. It always felt like I was reading along and then BAM! They're doing it again. (Fake Quote:) "He's pulling my leg up and ramming in me. I close my eyes and he keeps ramming away." It was pretty much like that every single time. Every single of the ten million times. (I cannot believe I have read a book where I thought there was too much boring sex. That took some weird writing skills, let me tell you.)
Plus, Jason is an asshole. He screams at his girlfriend for risking her life when she goes on an impromptu weekend with her girlfriends to New Orleans, yet he competes regularly in rodeo events. The kind that can put you in the grave or the hospital. Oh yeah, it did put him in the hospital. Nice. I mean, he was always mad at her for doing something. He's just so controlling and he wants her to give up her life to be with him, but he doesn't want to compromise on anything.
But, the main reason I just couldn't stand this book was that the hero and heroine were a train wreck. They didn't belong together. Everyone told them that. They pretty much knew it. However, I can really get into an "opposites attract" type of story where you're rooting for two characters who love each other against the odds. That wasn't how I felt AT ALL. If everyone feels like they shouldn't be together, including the READER, then perhaps we're not dealing with the best romance story.
I will say that this book taught me that there is a "rural" New Jersey. Didn't know that. However, I could NOT get another New Jersey boy's voice out of my head while reading this. That would be Mr. Jon Bon Jovi. He screamed "THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG" over and over again to me while I read this. I agree, sir.
There'll be no need for me to read the next one, because my purchased ebook included the first bit of the next story so I got to see where the story goes from the cliffhanger. And yikes. The train wreck is becoming a nuclear disaster. I'm out.
I'm a cheap bastard, ok? I am a library reader. If I had borrowed this, there is NO WAY I would have finished it. But, I paid for this! I paid hard earned money for this book and FORCED myself to finish reading it to the end. I mean, the cliffhanger. So, after all that I get no ending? It was horrid. I guess I'll start ranting...
A big problem with this book is that there are just too many characters that are undeveloped. Names of little known friends are thrown around like confetti. Plus, it drags. A lot. I mean, I can't tell you how many times they traveled back and forth between their locations. Or how many times the two main characters have BORING sex. It got old. These scenes were never written in a sexy or creative way. It always felt like I was reading along and then BAM! They're doing it again. (Fake Quote:) "He's pulling my leg up and ramming in me. I close my eyes and he keeps ramming away." It was pretty much like that every single time. Every single of the ten million times. (I cannot believe I have read a book where I thought there was too much boring sex. That took some weird writing skills, let me tell you.)
Plus, Jason is an asshole. He screams at his girlfriend for risking her life when she goes on an impromptu weekend with her girlfriends to New Orleans, yet he competes regularly in rodeo events. The kind that can put you in the grave or the hospital. Oh yeah, it did put him in the hospital. Nice. I mean, he was always mad at her for doing something. He's just so controlling and he wants her to give up her life to be with him, but he doesn't want to compromise on anything.
But, the main reason I just couldn't stand this book was that the hero and heroine were a train wreck. They didn't belong together. Everyone told them that. They pretty much knew it. However, I can really get into an "opposites attract" type of story where you're rooting for two characters who love each other against the odds. That wasn't how I felt AT ALL. If everyone feels like they shouldn't be together, including the READER, then perhaps we're not dealing with the best romance story.
I will say that this book taught me that there is a "rural" New Jersey. Didn't know that. However, I could NOT get another New Jersey boy's voice out of my head while reading this. That would be Mr. Jon Bon Jovi. He screamed "THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG" over and over again to me while I read this. I agree, sir.
There'll be no need for me to read the next one, because my purchased ebook included the first bit of the next story so I got to see where the story goes from the cliffhanger. And yikes. The train wreck is becoming a nuclear disaster. I'm out.
November 21, 2014
http://openbooksociety.com/article/fo...
Brought to you OBS reviewer Una
On reading this book I became frustrated with the immaturity of Charlotte and Jason. Charlotte is a 20 year old Rutgers student who on coming home meets Jason and feels an immediate sexual attraction. Her mother’s last words to her before her parents tragic death was not to fall for a cowboy. After the parents death Charlotte goes on a self -destruct pattern as she tries to deal with their sudden deaths. With Jason she is insatiable wanting him sexually more and more as she looks to him to satisfy her need for a connection to the stability of home. At school she is wild and she dabbles in drugs and partying. Throughout most of the book she seems out of control and fighting Jason’s controlling need for her and dealing with her “love” for him. Trying to maintain who she was and who she sees herself in the future consumes her.
Jason on the other hand is dealing with his own grief. He engages in a rough and unstable lifestyle and the roughness comes through in his sexual encounters and the rodeo events he partakes in, trying to deal with the underlying anger he is feeling. He lives the life of a rodeo superstar, and although he “loves “Charlotte, he is constantly wondering if he can save her from everything so he will never lose her. This comes across in controlling behavior which is stifling at times.
The whole book seemed to be a series of crisis and makeup sexual encounters. I must say I was ready to scream at both Charlotte and Jason by the middle of the book. “You both need grief counselling; Get you own life together and maybe your relationship will have a chance” When finally they seem to get their relationship together and the reader breathes a sigh of relief, Jason returns to ask forgiveness. The last page divulges what he needs to be forgiven for and you can see the second book being born. I personally don’t think I can take the drama of the next book unless the story unfolds better and the sex scenes are not so consuming.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Brought to you OBS reviewer Una
On reading this book I became frustrated with the immaturity of Charlotte and Jason. Charlotte is a 20 year old Rutgers student who on coming home meets Jason and feels an immediate sexual attraction. Her mother’s last words to her before her parents tragic death was not to fall for a cowboy. After the parents death Charlotte goes on a self -destruct pattern as she tries to deal with their sudden deaths. With Jason she is insatiable wanting him sexually more and more as she looks to him to satisfy her need for a connection to the stability of home. At school she is wild and she dabbles in drugs and partying. Throughout most of the book she seems out of control and fighting Jason’s controlling need for her and dealing with her “love” for him. Trying to maintain who she was and who she sees herself in the future consumes her.
Jason on the other hand is dealing with his own grief. He engages in a rough and unstable lifestyle and the roughness comes through in his sexual encounters and the rodeo events he partakes in, trying to deal with the underlying anger he is feeling. He lives the life of a rodeo superstar, and although he “loves “Charlotte, he is constantly wondering if he can save her from everything so he will never lose her. This comes across in controlling behavior which is stifling at times.
The whole book seemed to be a series of crisis and makeup sexual encounters. I must say I was ready to scream at both Charlotte and Jason by the middle of the book. “You both need grief counselling; Get you own life together and maybe your relationship will have a chance” When finally they seem to get their relationship together and the reader breathes a sigh of relief, Jason returns to ask forgiveness. The last page divulges what he needs to be forgiven for and you can see the second book being born. I personally don’t think I can take the drama of the next book unless the story unfolds better and the sex scenes are not so consuming.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
November 17, 2014
Charlotte and jason are kindred spirits soul mates and you see this play out throughout the book. Love Jason. The cowboy and student who picks Charlotte up one night and gets under her skin. He tries to get to know her by asking questions and there is a attraction that you see between them. Unfortunately they go their separate ways. Why he is a student in Oklahoma and she at Rutgers. Charlotte goes home for the summer and meets Jason when she was walking home one stormy night. They knew each other in high school and had a close friendship until high school began but the world of the teenager gets in the way. Tragedy strikes Charlotte’s life and her world is messed up. Jason comes back into her life and he becomes her world. At first she thought of this as a irritation and slowly it becomes a passionate love where each is consumed with one another and nothing else exists for them but each other. Two completely different people her a city girl and him a country boy and this just may drive them apart Jason is a swoon worthy sweet cowboy who has deep feelings for Charlotte. When they get together at first, it is a sexual relationship that slowly becomes more. A wonderful development of feelings throughout the book that has you rooting for these two to overcome their differences to be together. They use sex to deal with their suffering but slowly they help each other overcome this and begin to feel. but summer ends and each must go back to school. neither willing to fight for each other or compromise they try to have a long distance relationship unfortunately something happens to put their relationship on a tightrope. Each character has emotion and dimension and are well developed. They will have you get caught up in the relationship of Jason and Charlotte and the dynamics of those around them. When Jason does something stupid Charlotte feels hurt. A story of a complex love that consumes each person and may shatter them. a story of soul mates who struggle to become what the other needs and you watch them mature throughout the book. A captivating story that draws you in and keeps you there until the very end. I look forward to the next in the series.
March 7, 2015
Charlotte is a junior in college and feels that she has her life on the right track. Nothing could go wrong-until a car crash that leaves her an orphan. Unsure of what to do with herself when Jason enters into her life. He has been there for as long as she can remember, but he has never expressed the same kind of interest in her as he does now. With her heart broken the question is could he be the one to put it together and make it his?
I can't deny it, I did enjoy this book. Charlotte, or Annie, was a relatable character. And she was also a character that I almost wish I was while I was in college. She had more guts than I do, that is for sure. And Jason is the cowboy that every girl dreams about finding someday. A man who is controlling of his Annie, but he does allow her to live her own life as well. The characters are easy to fall in love with, especially when they start falling in love with each other. I do wish we could see more of Jason, because the story follows Charlotte and they are apart from one another we mainly get one side of the story. I want to hear Jason's thoughts. And when you finally do it almost breaks your heart. I would like more insight into Jason and what makes him tick.
I must say. The ending is a real heart-wrencher and I am so angry with how things get left. I am glad there is a second book but I'm not sure I can wait until February for the rest of this story to continue on. And there is a part of me that is taking hold of being Charlotte, since you read from her perspective, that I'm almost too angry to pick up the second book. Although I know I will because I cannot leave these two in such a bad state. That is the only reason that I am angry with how this book ended. Couldn't I get a happy ending with a sequel still to follow? No? Well...then I guess I will have to wait until February to find out how their story will unravel. And I cannot wait to see what that rollercoaster has for me!
I can't deny it, I did enjoy this book. Charlotte, or Annie, was a relatable character. And she was also a character that I almost wish I was while I was in college. She had more guts than I do, that is for sure. And Jason is the cowboy that every girl dreams about finding someday. A man who is controlling of his Annie, but he does allow her to live her own life as well. The characters are easy to fall in love with, especially when they start falling in love with each other. I do wish we could see more of Jason, because the story follows Charlotte and they are apart from one another we mainly get one side of the story. I want to hear Jason's thoughts. And when you finally do it almost breaks your heart. I would like more insight into Jason and what makes him tick.
I must say. The ending is a real heart-wrencher and I am so angry with how things get left. I am glad there is a second book but I'm not sure I can wait until February for the rest of this story to continue on. And there is a part of me that is taking hold of being Charlotte, since you read from her perspective, that I'm almost too angry to pick up the second book. Although I know I will because I cannot leave these two in such a bad state. That is the only reason that I am angry with how this book ended. Couldn't I get a happy ending with a sequel still to follow? No? Well...then I guess I will have to wait until February to find out how their story will unravel. And I cannot wait to see what that rollercoaster has for me!
November 29, 2014
Reviewed by Heather
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Reading Forgive Me was like living another person’s life for a few hours. I was able to see the world through Charlotte’s eyes, feel the love she has for Jason and feel the pain she had to endure.
I’ve never been a fan of cowboys, however, Eliza Freed made me fall in love with Jason. Like Charlotte, I grew up in a small town and always dreamed of something more. This made me really connect with Charlotte right from the beginning of the book. She is stubborn, smart and completely in love with a sexy, talented cowboy, Jason Leer. To me, Jason started off as a weak character but quickly became Charlotte’s rock. While dealing with tough life events, Charlotte finds that the only person that can help her is Jason. I love that both Charlotte and Jason grow and change throughout the story. They were both immature in their own way but, honestly, who isn’t?
I was a little disappointed at the amount of sex that was in this book. Yes, it was hot and steamy but it was a bit much. It seemed like sex was the only way Charlotte and Jason ever communicated. Call me old fashioned but I think there is more to a relationship than physical needs.
I absolutely hated the ending. I was left with several unanswered questions and mixed emotions. I couldn’t put this book down but when I finished it, I almost threw my Kindle across the room. I stayed awake for at least 2 hours trying to piece together what might have happened.
Despite the million love scenes and cliffhanger ending, this was an enjoyable book. I think Forgive Me would make a good chick flick. I cannot wait to read the next book in the Lost Souls series.
Favorite Quote: “This is Bourbon Street, isn’t it? Where’s the freakin bourbon?”
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Reading Forgive Me was like living another person’s life for a few hours. I was able to see the world through Charlotte’s eyes, feel the love she has for Jason and feel the pain she had to endure.
I’ve never been a fan of cowboys, however, Eliza Freed made me fall in love with Jason. Like Charlotte, I grew up in a small town and always dreamed of something more. This made me really connect with Charlotte right from the beginning of the book. She is stubborn, smart and completely in love with a sexy, talented cowboy, Jason Leer. To me, Jason started off as a weak character but quickly became Charlotte’s rock. While dealing with tough life events, Charlotte finds that the only person that can help her is Jason. I love that both Charlotte and Jason grow and change throughout the story. They were both immature in their own way but, honestly, who isn’t?
I was a little disappointed at the amount of sex that was in this book. Yes, it was hot and steamy but it was a bit much. It seemed like sex was the only way Charlotte and Jason ever communicated. Call me old fashioned but I think there is more to a relationship than physical needs.
I absolutely hated the ending. I was left with several unanswered questions and mixed emotions. I couldn’t put this book down but when I finished it, I almost threw my Kindle across the room. I stayed awake for at least 2 hours trying to piece together what might have happened.
Despite the million love scenes and cliffhanger ending, this was an enjoyable book. I think Forgive Me would make a good chick flick. I cannot wait to read the next book in the Lost Souls series.
Favorite Quote: “This is Bourbon Street, isn’t it? Where’s the freakin bourbon?”
December 27, 2014
**** EROTICA BOOK CLUB REVIEW ****
Forgive Me (Lost Souls #1)
by Eliza Freed
Charlotte O'Brien is devastated after the death of her parents and finds herself taking comfort in Jason Leer a cowboy that is into bull riding. Their relationship develops into a dependant and very intense desire for each other. Jason has always called her Annie and they have know each other since they were children.
I found both characters to be really addictive and the way they clung to each other to try get through the bad times and the hurt especially Charlotte was feeling. I however did feel that because they were trying to have a distance relationship that made Jason very clingy but that is part of his personality and added more to the story.
Honestly I did feel like the book was dragging in places and the lack of contraceptives was an issue for personally but I also found that the author didn't go into every bit of detail about things like that I still really enjoyed reading this and when I put it down (well we all have to sleep) I found I was aching to pick it up again and keep going.
The other characters in the book are likeable and its great to see a lead character with lots of friends rather than having just one or two.
Although I felt it dragged I do really think that it was to pull me in and get attached to this couple and by the end I am left gutted and angry and now going to buy book 2 just to see where it goes from here. I have quite high expectations about it so i'm hoping it doesn't disappoint.
Overall I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.
I received a copy from Netgally in exchange for an honest review
4 stars for Amazon & 4 stars for Goodreads
~Jane~
Forgive Me (Lost Souls #1)
by Eliza Freed
Charlotte O'Brien is devastated after the death of her parents and finds herself taking comfort in Jason Leer a cowboy that is into bull riding. Their relationship develops into a dependant and very intense desire for each other. Jason has always called her Annie and they have know each other since they were children.
I found both characters to be really addictive and the way they clung to each other to try get through the bad times and the hurt especially Charlotte was feeling. I however did feel that because they were trying to have a distance relationship that made Jason very clingy but that is part of his personality and added more to the story.
Honestly I did feel like the book was dragging in places and the lack of contraceptives was an issue for personally but I also found that the author didn't go into every bit of detail about things like that I still really enjoyed reading this and when I put it down (well we all have to sleep) I found I was aching to pick it up again and keep going.
The other characters in the book are likeable and its great to see a lead character with lots of friends rather than having just one or two.
Although I felt it dragged I do really think that it was to pull me in and get attached to this couple and by the end I am left gutted and angry and now going to buy book 2 just to see where it goes from here. I have quite high expectations about it so i'm hoping it doesn't disappoint.
Overall I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.
I received a copy from Netgally in exchange for an honest review
4 stars for Amazon & 4 stars for Goodreads
~Jane~
November 5, 2014
Review can also be found here:http://www.owlalwaysbereading.com/201...
I love Net Galley. I seriously do, even when they deny me I still love them. I love them because they feature books like Forgive Me that I didn't know about. I mean as soon as I read the synopsis I knew, I just knew this book was going to break me and it did.
I had a hate/love relationship with Forgive Me, It's a roller-coaster read that took me a week to finish. I had to keep putting the book down because Charlotte and Jason are THAT intense. These two have been put through the ringer. But what surprised me the most was Charlotte and her strength. You see her struggling with her life. You see her trying to honor her parents. You see her up and down relationship with Jason. But as soon as she started fighting for her future and her wants I was like "you go girl."
Eliza describes college life with such detail. Yes, in colleges people are doing drugs, having sex, losing family, and experiencing new things. Eliza mentioned it all and I liked that. I liked that she didn't hold back. I liked that she didn't create this perfect world, it was raw, sad, hopeful and everything in between.
Forgive Me wasn't an easy read and I mean that in the best way possible. Oh and I need Redeem Me right now because Eliza just loves torturing me with that oh-my-fucking-gawd cliffhanger.
I love Net Galley. I seriously do, even when they deny me I still love them. I love them because they feature books like Forgive Me that I didn't know about. I mean as soon as I read the synopsis I knew, I just knew this book was going to break me and it did.
I had a hate/love relationship with Forgive Me, It's a roller-coaster read that took me a week to finish. I had to keep putting the book down because Charlotte and Jason are THAT intense. These two have been put through the ringer. But what surprised me the most was Charlotte and her strength. You see her struggling with her life. You see her trying to honor her parents. You see her up and down relationship with Jason. But as soon as she started fighting for her future and her wants I was like "you go girl."
Eliza describes college life with such detail. Yes, in colleges people are doing drugs, having sex, losing family, and experiencing new things. Eliza mentioned it all and I liked that. I liked that she didn't hold back. I liked that she didn't create this perfect world, it was raw, sad, hopeful and everything in between.
Forgive Me wasn't an easy read and I mean that in the best way possible. Oh and I need Redeem Me right now because Eliza just loves torturing me with that oh-my-fucking-gawd cliffhanger.
November 11, 2014
Charlotte loses her parents and her life seems unbearable. She feels lost and that no one in the world will ever understand her. Until she realizes Jason the cowboy understands exactly how she feels. With them both in pain they gravitate to each other and find comfort in one another. The thing is you can have the best connection with someone but in the terms of life and how you want to live it you aren’t even in the same book as each other. This was the complication Charlotte and Jason encountered. This had me very intrigued to see how they would handle this until it became very repetitive for me making the book really long. Jason was very possessive and expected Charlotte to drop everything she wanted in life to be with him so he could protect her. Yes at the begging you think oh this is so sweet he loves her so much but then it becomes annoying. Another thing that I found very strange was the bruising. I wont go into detail about the bruising but it was weird. Midway something happens and it will catch your attention again and it will pull you back in. The book becomes repetitive again but the ending makes you want to throw your kindle and makes you want to read the second book in the story. The author did a great job with making you feel committed to the book with that cliffhanger. I hope the second book flows better and doesn’t drag on. I give this book 3 stars.
-Harper
-Harper
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