I admit it- I am a Lisa fan. Hard core. Her stuff always gets to me- and puts me in the best warm fuzzy mood ever. Her Charistown series is one of my favorites- and it’s because of the thoroughly sculpted characters, the well thought out plot, and the development of “family,” or the secondary characters, that make you want more and more. And my hope of hopes is that Blocked is the first in a series of books from Lisa.
We start off the book with April- who I fluffing loved. She is a kick ass survivor- even when love kicked HER ass. Her “husband” if you could call him that- Ben, left her when their baby was six weeks old, claiming he was not ready for children, cheating on her, and leaving her for someone he was truly in love with. I mean, sucker punch to the gut, to the heart, and to the mind! April guards her heart HARD after douche-nozzle, and rightfully so. A woman can only take so much before she is stripped down. Her mother, who is not the most couth person out there, but really does have April’s best interest at heart- gives her a certificate for a gym membership (I know, HOW RUDE, but just give it time…) and there she meets- Decker Brand. *side note- her son Eli, adorbs!! Totally the cutest little thing- another strike for what’s his name who left April. The way he calls his moms dimples “dents,” is amazing.
Swoony mc Swoon Pants- or as Lisa calls him, Decker, is such a fan-freakin-tastic hero. He himself is a gym buff, an architect and a single dad. His deceased wife- did a number on him as well. And while I shouldn’t talk badly about the dead, she’s fictional and a total ass bag. She messed with his mind so bad, saying he should never be dirty from the construction, never wanting him to talk about work around her because- god forbid he give his MIND to something else beside her. Charlie is Deck’s daughter- and she is a great little addition too. Loved her. And he has been eyeing “Dimples” for a while now.
I loved the secondary characters- everyone from Deck’s brother Ford- to his mom Robyn, or April’s siblings- August and November- don’t ask April’s mom had a “thing” for months. And even Rori- April’s BFF and teaching partner in crime, loved. OH- and if you are a huge fan of the Charistown series, which I am, you will be THRILLED to know there are some tiny cameos from some of the gang, which I absolutely loved!!
Lisa is an author that has a fantastic way with words. She knows how to write a story- and write it well. There are so many cookie cutter romances out there- especially similar to the this story- but with Lisa writing it, it’s like those other books fall to the wayside and this is a completely new book for me. She always has me smiling at sweet terms of endearment (big guy, is now my FAVE), and can gut you with a single sentence or phrase, but have you giggling through tears on the next page.
Last thing I will say, the dedication in this book is spot on for me, and I am a firm believer of the YES I CAN attitude- and it seems Ms. Paul is under the same notion. That just because a certain situation in your life ends poorly, and it seems like everything it BLOCKED, from your head to your toes, we are all thriving survivors- and we CAN do whatever our minds set forth into motion- that we are truly capable of happiness- if we just believe in ourselves, that sensation of being BLOCKED falls by the wayside, and we become happily OPENED, to do and be whoever we want to be. Thank you SO much for that message Lisa, it really touched me. And I am SO happy that I was granted an ARC for an honest review- because honestly, it was one of my favorite books so far this year. And one I will not forget.