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Choices #2
A Forever Kind of Love
Every choice has a consequence.
I believe in soul mates. Why? Because I have one and her name is Lily Madison.
I’ve loved Lily my whole life. She’s all I’ve ever known. All I’ve ever seen. Everything. To me, she is perfect.
Sometimes, when something has always been there, it is hard to recognize it for what it is. It is easy to take for granted. I didn’t realize how deeply Lily was ingrained in every fabric of my soul because I’d never had to feel her absence.
It’s all so obvious now, but at the time it was not. I had to figure it out on my own.
I wish I could have realized what it was that was truly important in life because once choices are made and paths are altered…it is so hard to go back, sometimes impossible.
I know this because I stand here with a two-carat engagement ring in my hand waiting to ask someone to be my wife. I’m ready to love and cherish her ‘til death do us part. But, there is just one problem.
She isn’t Lily.
Will the choices that have been made change our path forever or will fate find its way?
***intended for adults 18+ sexual content
***This is the 2nd book in the two book Choices Series. The first book, A Beautiful Kind of Love needs to read prior to reading this book.
I believe in soul mates. Why? Because I have one and her name is Lily Madison.
I’ve loved Lily my whole life. She’s all I’ve ever known. All I’ve ever seen. Everything. To me, she is perfect.
Sometimes, when something has always been there, it is hard to recognize it for what it is. It is easy to take for granted. I didn’t realize how deeply Lily was ingrained in every fabric of my soul because I’d never had to feel her absence.
It’s all so obvious now, but at the time it was not. I had to figure it out on my own.
I wish I could have realized what it was that was truly important in life because once choices are made and paths are altered…it is so hard to go back, sometimes impossible.
I know this because I stand here with a two-carat engagement ring in my hand waiting to ask someone to be my wife. I’m ready to love and cherish her ‘til death do us part. But, there is just one problem.
She isn’t Lily.
Will the choices that have been made change our path forever or will fate find its way?
***intended for adults 18+ sexual content
***This is the 2nd book in the two book Choices Series. The first book, A Beautiful Kind of Love needs to read prior to reading this book.
262 pages, Unknown Binding
First published June 4, 2015
186 people are currently reading
929 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Wade
44 books1,118 followersEllie Wade resides in southwest Michigan with her husband, three young children, and two dogs. She has a Master’s degree in education from Eastern Michigan University and is a huge University of Michigan sports fan. She loves the beauty of her home state, especially the lakes and the gorgeous autumn weather. When she is not writing, you will find her reading, snuggled up with her kids, or spending time with family and friends. She loves traveling and exploring new places with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
June 24, 2015
I wanna say that I've never read the original ARC for this book. I signed up for a review before I even read the first book thinking I will love it. But I didn't like the first book as much, so I decided to forego reviewing the second book. But I have heard from trusted friends who got ARCs how this book became much about Stella and Jax rather than Jax and Lilly. So I sat there thinking I dodge a bullet.
So imagine my surprise when I got an email saying a copy of A Forever Kind of Love has been sent directly to my Kindle. So went and checked. Lo and behold, I got the newly revised ARC. So what's a girl to do?
Read it and hope for the best.
Unfortunately, all my fears were confirmed when I read this.
WARNING
AFKOL started where ABKOL left off with Lily learning about Jax's engagement to Stella. I was ready to give Jax a chance. There's got to be an explanation for his behavior, right? Starting with how he dumped Lily in the first place? I was ready to find out the answers. Unfortunately, they're definitely not the ones I was expecting. The first 30% or so of the book was a rehash of what happened in ABKoL albeit in Jax's POV. We also get to read about Jax and Stella getting closer and closer to each other despite Jax pining for Lily. Right up until 60% or so, we get to witness Jax fall in love with another woman, married her, lost her and felt guilty about losing her. 60% until almost 90% was spent in Jax's head while he pushes Lily again and again all the while feeling guilty for betraying Stella. At this point, I couldn't care less if they end up together anymore.
I wasn't just mildly annoyed at Jax, I was beyond livid.
First of all, Jax's reason for breaking up with Lily in the first place was lame and confusing. Jax broke up with her because he could not make her his number one priority. Not with his studies, football and his father breathing down his neck.
SPOILER ALERT: Lily—not once—did she ever demand or ask Jax to make her his number one priority. NEVER. In fact, Lily went out of her way to assure Jax of his place in her life and that she understands he's busy. And yet Jax just made an arbitrary decision to break up with her because he couldn't make her number one?
Another thing that had really upset me was the how different the characters have become from book one to this book. Stella became the sainted wife whose life, kindness, peace and serenity has touched every single person she came in contact with while Lily lost her personality, her backbone along with her dignity. And Jax—well Jax became even more of a douchebag in this book. If that's even possible.
I never hated a hero as much as I hated Jax. In fact, he just replaced Patrick as my douchiest douchebag hero ever. And that's saying a LOT. And no matter how hard the author tried to sell Jax's character as noble, he's still a douche to me.
Seriously, there's nothing honorable about marrying someone when you're supposedly in love another one. You just don't. The author tried to make him into this self-sacrificing martyr when in reality, Jax is nothing but a coward who couldn't even stand up and fight for his supposed "soul mate."
Hero?
A hero, he is NOT.
But more than that, what really tipped me over the edge was what I call the Saint Stella love fest that went on in this book. A friend of mine said it best, readers don't care if she's a saint or a bitch. She's the other woman keeping Lily and Jax apart. Period.
After awhile I got sick and nauseous reading about how good, and kind and beautiful, and wonderful and ahhh-may-zinnnng—how perfect Stella is. Or how much good she's done in her short life compared to others. Or how much she makes everyone around her happy. Or that her shit doesn't stink and how she poops rainbow on a daily basis.
Srsly. Stahp. You can't make me like her. In fact, the more Jax or Lily or every other person tried to convince me otherwise, the more I hated her. And newsflash: giving her cancer doesn't automatically make her a sympathetic person to me. NOPE.
Maybe it would have been easier to swallow if Lily got equal screen time and got herself a man and a backbone but she didn't. Lily wasn't just dumped by her so-called soulmate, she also got cheated on and betrayed. And worse than that, she became the doormatiest doormat ever. Who in their right mind would volunteer to become the photographer for your soul mate's wedding to another woman? Even when she was obviously hurt by what she has witnessed, she decided to wait for him and not date anyone else. And this was before she knew Stella was dying, by the way. So am I to believe she will put her life on hold while Jax lives HEA with another woman.
Also, to me, the whole thing didn't make sense. In the first book, we were "told" basically that Jax and Lily are soul mates. That they love each other and that Lily was everything to Jax. And yet the first sign of pressure from his dad, Jax caved in and dumped Lily. But here comes Stella. A good friend but not as good or as close as Lily. She comes in and suddenly Jax became so devoted to her and finally stood up to his father so he can marry Stella? I don't get it. It doesn't make sense. How in the world did Stella manage to capture his devotion whereas Lily had to be the one to fight for him? It boggles the mind.
The only answer I could think of is that Jax never really loved Lily in the first place despite of what he says. If Jax didn't love her then his actions would make sense now. I just couldn't buy into this whole soul mate idea when the actions of the characters are so contrary to what they were saying.
And the kicker? Jax only moved on after he found Stella's letter essentially giving him permission to be with Lily.
Not really, Loki. Not really.
ARC provided by the author for the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.
So imagine my surprise when I got an email saying a copy of A Forever Kind of Love has been sent directly to my Kindle. So went and checked. Lo and behold, I got the newly revised ARC. So what's a girl to do?
Read it and hope for the best.
Unfortunately, all my fears were confirmed when I read this.
"…I'm standing here with a two-carat engagement ring in my hand, waiting to ask someone to marry, to be my wife. I'm ready to love and cherish her till death do us part. But there is one problem. She isn't Lily."
WARNING
AFKOL started where ABKOL left off with Lily learning about Jax's engagement to Stella. I was ready to give Jax a chance. There's got to be an explanation for his behavior, right? Starting with how he dumped Lily in the first place? I was ready to find out the answers. Unfortunately, they're definitely not the ones I was expecting. The first 30% or so of the book was a rehash of what happened in ABKoL albeit in Jax's POV. We also get to read about Jax and Stella getting closer and closer to each other despite Jax pining for Lily. Right up until 60% or so, we get to witness Jax fall in love with another woman, married her, lost her and felt guilty about losing her. 60% until almost 90% was spent in Jax's head while he pushes Lily again and again all the while feeling guilty for betraying Stella. At this point, I couldn't care less if they end up together anymore.
I wasn't just mildly annoyed at Jax, I was beyond livid.
First of all, Jax's reason for breaking up with Lily in the first place was lame and confusing. Jax broke up with her because he could not make her his number one priority. Not with his studies, football and his father breathing down his neck.
SPOILER ALERT: Lily—not once—did she ever demand or ask Jax to make her his number one priority. NEVER. In fact, Lily went out of her way to assure Jax of his place in her life and that she understands he's busy. And yet Jax just made an arbitrary decision to break up with her because he couldn't make her number one?
Another thing that had really upset me was the how different the characters have become from book one to this book. Stella became the sainted wife whose life, kindness, peace and serenity has touched every single person she came in contact with while Lily lost her personality, her backbone along with her dignity. And Jax—well Jax became even more of a douchebag in this book. If that's even possible.
I never hated a hero as much as I hated Jax. In fact, he just replaced Patrick as my douchiest douchebag hero ever. And that's saying a LOT. And no matter how hard the author tried to sell Jax's character as noble, he's still a douche to me.
Seriously, there's nothing honorable about marrying someone when you're supposedly in love another one. You just don't. The author tried to make him into this self-sacrificing martyr when in reality, Jax is nothing but a coward who couldn't even stand up and fight for his supposed "soul mate."
Hero?
A hero, he is NOT.
But more than that, what really tipped me over the edge was what I call the Saint Stella love fest that went on in this book. A friend of mine said it best, readers don't care if she's a saint or a bitch. She's the other woman keeping Lily and Jax apart. Period.
After awhile I got sick and nauseous reading about how good, and kind and beautiful, and wonderful and ahhh-may-zinnnng—how perfect Stella is. Or how much good she's done in her short life compared to others. Or how much she makes everyone around her happy. Or that her shit doesn't stink and how she poops rainbow on a daily basis.
Srsly. Stahp. You can't make me like her. In fact, the more Jax or Lily or every other person tried to convince me otherwise, the more I hated her. And newsflash: giving her cancer doesn't automatically make her a sympathetic person to me. NOPE.
Maybe it would have been easier to swallow if Lily got equal screen time and got herself a man and a backbone but she didn't. Lily wasn't just dumped by her so-called soulmate, she also got cheated on and betrayed. And worse than that, she became the doormatiest doormat ever. Who in their right mind would volunteer to become the photographer for your soul mate's wedding to another woman? Even when she was obviously hurt by what she has witnessed, she decided to wait for him and not date anyone else. And this was before she knew Stella was dying, by the way. So am I to believe she will put her life on hold while Jax lives HEA with another woman.
Also, to me, the whole thing didn't make sense. In the first book, we were "told" basically that Jax and Lily are soul mates. That they love each other and that Lily was everything to Jax. And yet the first sign of pressure from his dad, Jax caved in and dumped Lily. But here comes Stella. A good friend but not as good or as close as Lily. She comes in and suddenly Jax became so devoted to her and finally stood up to his father so he can marry Stella? I don't get it. It doesn't make sense. How in the world did Stella manage to capture his devotion whereas Lily had to be the one to fight for him? It boggles the mind.
The only answer I could think of is that Jax never really loved Lily in the first place despite of what he says. If Jax didn't love her then his actions would make sense now. I just couldn't buy into this whole soul mate idea when the actions of the characters are so contrary to what they were saying.
And the kicker? Jax only moved on after he found Stella's letter essentially giving him permission to be with Lily.
Not really, Loki. Not really.
ARC provided by the author for the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2016
★★★ 2.5 Stars ★★★ Now LIVE!
This review is based on an ARC (not a draft copy) that was received in good faith on 18th May. I have made edits in bold to my original review.
This is a continuation of A Beautiful Kind of Love and the conclusion to Jax and Lily's story.
* * * BEWARE SPOILERS AHEAD * * *
OK here goes, this book was extremely hard for me to rate. One one hand, it was a complete clusterfuck and on the other, it was actually a really beautiful love story. Unfortunately for lovers of book 1, the love story we got in this book, was mainly between Jax and Stella.
The prologue starts off at the exact moment where ABKOL ends when Jax drops his heartbreaking bombshell that in the six months since Lily told Jax where to go, he has started a relationship with study buddy Stella. Not only that, but they are engaged to be married.
We are then taken back to Jax's POV for the angsty parts in ABKOL, a lot of repetitiveness but we do get a glimpse as to why he made the decision to end things with Lily, albeit a lame one. This takes us to the 30% ish mark and this is where things take a turn that I feel most people will HATE.
Jax falls in love with Stella, and he really, really does love her. I even fell in love with Stella a little bit, she was a sweet and genuine person who loved Jax with all her heart. She didn't try and get in Jax's pants until after Lily was out the picture, she waited it out and, if Lily hadn't turned down Jax's offer of a reconciliation, none of this whole mess would have happened.
Stella knew that she wasn't the love of Jax's life, and she acted selfishly by not letting him go, but to be honest who could blame her under the circumstances (which I won't reveal) and I really don't think Jax would have left her anyway, he was determined to love her until he couldn't any more and that is exactly what happened.
If I was rating this book purely on the love between Jax and Stella, my rating would have been much higher but this was supposed to be Jax and Lily's story and I feel that it was just too brutal to read about him and the other woman. Especially as this continues until around 60%.
When Jax and Stella asked Lily to be their official wedding photographer - WT actual F? And she said yes, I just could not fathom this. Jax constantly hurt Lily throughout both books and I will not ever understand why he was ever forgiven so easily. His love for Stella, however, I totally bought into that. Apparently in the revised version, Lily makes the offer to be their wedding photographer - I still find this unbelievably heartbreaking and does not alter my opinion.
I feel that Lily won the guy by default, he most definitely grew as a man during his time with Stella, and I do believe it was essential to his and Lily's journey, but the fact that Jax was often causing Lily so much pain just didn't sit well with me. I lost count of the amount of times that he slept with her and left her. I just couldn't forgive him for any of his behaviour.
Lily didn't really have much character development either, she was hardly in it for a start.
I am going with a3 star2.5 star rating because:-
1. I preferred this book, to the first
2. The writing was much better, I saw a significant improvement
3. OK don't lynch me, but I actually loved Jax & Stella together, even though it made me feel a little sick/angry/didn't want them together really AT ALL
4. Although I preferred this book to the first, it was still rage inducing and not my idea of a beautiful love story
If you are hardcore, then by all means go ahead and read this series, but be warned, the angst is fucking high on the angst meter. Even I struggled with this and I am tough as old boots when it comes to angst.
P.S you were lucky you got a fade to black scene with J&S, I had to witness that shit!
I would love to read more from this author, but please NO MORE TRIANGLES, I don't think I could cope!
Told in dual POV, but mainly from Jax
ARC gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review
This review is based on an ARC (not a draft copy) that was received in good faith on 18th May. I have made edits in bold to my original review.
This is a continuation of A Beautiful Kind of Love and the conclusion to Jax and Lily's story.
* * * BEWARE SPOILERS AHEAD * * *
OK here goes, this book was extremely hard for me to rate. One one hand, it was a complete clusterfuck and on the other, it was actually a really beautiful love story. Unfortunately for lovers of book 1, the love story we got in this book, was mainly between Jax and Stella.
The prologue starts off at the exact moment where ABKOL ends when Jax drops his heartbreaking bombshell that in the six months since Lily told Jax where to go, he has started a relationship with study buddy Stella. Not only that, but they are engaged to be married.
We are then taken back to Jax's POV for the angsty parts in ABKOL, a lot of repetitiveness but we do get a glimpse as to why he made the decision to end things with Lily, albeit a lame one. This takes us to the 30% ish mark and this is where things take a turn that I feel most people will HATE.
Jax falls in love with Stella, and he really, really does love her. I even fell in love with Stella a little bit, she was a sweet and genuine person who loved Jax with all her heart. She didn't try and get in Jax's pants until after Lily was out the picture, she waited it out and, if Lily hadn't turned down Jax's offer of a reconciliation, none of this whole mess would have happened.
Stella knew that she wasn't the love of Jax's life, and she acted selfishly by not letting him go, but to be honest who could blame her under the circumstances (which I won't reveal) and I really don't think Jax would have left her anyway, he was determined to love her until he couldn't any more and that is exactly what happened.
"I've been lucky enough to love two women in my life.
One taught me how to love unconditionally, how to laugh, and how to feel the most incredible sensations..."
"The other one taught me how to appreciate it all."
If I was rating this book purely on the love between Jax and Stella, my rating would have been much higher but this was supposed to be Jax and Lily's story and I feel that it was just too brutal to read about him and the other woman. Especially as this continues until around 60%.
When Jax and Stella asked Lily to be their official wedding photographer - WT actual F? And she said yes, I just could not fathom this. Jax constantly hurt Lily throughout both books and I will not ever understand why he was ever forgiven so easily. His love for Stella, however, I totally bought into that. Apparently in the revised version, Lily makes the offer to be their wedding photographer - I still find this unbelievably heartbreaking and does not alter my opinion.
I feel that Lily won the guy by default, he most definitely grew as a man during his time with Stella, and I do believe it was essential to his and Lily's journey, but the fact that Jax was often causing Lily so much pain just didn't sit well with me. I lost count of the amount of times that he slept with her and left her. I just couldn't forgive him for any of his behaviour.
Lily didn't really have much character development either, she was hardly in it for a start.
I am going with a
1. I preferred this book, to the first
2. The writing was much better, I saw a significant improvement
3. OK don't lynch me, but I actually loved Jax & Stella together, even though it made me feel a little sick/angry/didn't want them together really AT ALL
4. Although I preferred this book to the first, it was still rage inducing and not my idea of a beautiful love story
If you are hardcore, then by all means go ahead and read this series, but be warned, the angst is fucking high on the angst meter. Even I struggled with this and I am tough as old boots when it comes to angst.
P.S you were lucky you got a fade to black scene with J&S, I had to witness that shit!
I would love to read more from this author, but please NO MORE TRIANGLES, I don't think I could cope!
Told in dual POV, but mainly from Jax
ARC gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review
June 8, 2015
Yet another POS masquerading as an H. Word to the wise here, when the your supposed soul mate dumps you at daddy's behest, cheats on you and marries another bitch who is REALLY his true lurve and she then pre-empts your wedding idears, that is NOT your soul mate. I don't care how much you believe in fate, you need to believe that therapy is necessary to get over your compulsion and get medication if necessary.
The HEA here is impossible to believe, The H will not be faithful as he will be lost anytime he walks into an animal shelter with a cute caretaker. He will not be reliable because he is inherently incapable of putting the h's needs before his own and he is so pathetically parasitic and morally bankrupt that there is no way he should be procreating and lowering the intellect quotient of humanity as a whole. He is only with the h because he cannot stand to be alone, (and given how disgusting he is, I can totally understand that), but still, the h needs shock therapy to cure her of the Jax disease and get him out of her life.
The best possible outcome here would have been for the H and his beloved wife Stella to be vaporized in a fiery meteor strike, since that did not happen, I am praying that the h wakes up one morning and realizes the last five chapters were just a horrible nightmare and then goes on to meet her REAL soulmate, who is in no way, shape or from resembling the scum sucking nematode portrayed in this book.
The HEA here is impossible to believe, The H will not be faithful as he will be lost anytime he walks into an animal shelter with a cute caretaker. He will not be reliable because he is inherently incapable of putting the h's needs before his own and he is so pathetically parasitic and morally bankrupt that there is no way he should be procreating and lowering the intellect quotient of humanity as a whole. He is only with the h because he cannot stand to be alone, (and given how disgusting he is, I can totally understand that), but still, the h needs shock therapy to cure her of the Jax disease and get him out of her life.
The best possible outcome here would have been for the H and his beloved wife Stella to be vaporized in a fiery meteor strike, since that did not happen, I am praying that the h wakes up one morning and realizes the last five chapters were just a horrible nightmare and then goes on to meet her REAL soulmate, who is in no way, shape or from resembling the scum sucking nematode portrayed in this book.
June 8, 2015
If this is how u treat ur soulmate by marrying another woman and actually falling in love with her and being content well I never want to be someone's soulmate! This book pissed me off no way did I feel his love for the heroine he was more into Stella and if she had not died he would have had a happy and content life with her, the heroine was pathetic I actually felt like slapping some self respect into her. Love is not supposed to make u feel insecure or unhappy and it certainly does not mean u accept your only love being in love and marrying another woman! Hated both the characters and wish I never read it!
June 5, 2015
What a piece of shit! I hated the guy. The girl gets shitted on for two repetitive books but still the author tries to make him into some kind of Prince Charming. Please.....get a backbone and tell him to go f&$@ himself! I have no respect for female characters with NO SELF WORTH. Couldn't even finish it. Later asshole I am off to find an alpha male worth swooning over.
June 4, 2015
This review is based on the original advanced review copy received for A Forever Kind of Love. The ARC has since been edited by the author. We have not reviewed that copy and can not comment as to the changes.
3.5 stars
Review by Jen Hagen
My chest still hurts even after completing this book 12 hours ago. The pain is indescribable. My partner in angst best described it as a bullet through our chests. It was not necessary to put that bullet in our trajectory, and for as much as I was waiting for this book, I really wish I had just read the ending and stayed in my happy place. The journey to that happy place is not something I want to take again – it was filled with a lot of pain and a lot of hate. There aren’t many characters that I can say I hate, but for Jax I can use a lot of words to describe him and hate is one of them, along with loathe…and asshat…and a bunch of f-bombs that I will refrain from using. I don’t know how to write this review without giving away the entire plot, so in a format that I’ve never done before, I will be describing each character.
Stella – I hate her as much as I hate Jax. Don’t feel sorry for her. She may come across as being saintly, but I see her in a different light. She is a manipulative bitch who was thinking of only herself. She knows the truth because she said it,
“I never owned your heart, but you took me anyway,”
but the part that infuriates me is,
“I am so sorry. I was selfish. I knew it at the time, but I didn’t care…I wanted you, knowing that you were in love with Lily.”
I can’t stand her. She took happiness away from Jax and Lily! She had an agenda with every calculating move she made. She threw salt into Lily’s gaping wounds at a time when she knew it would hurt the worst…and Jax went along with it!! I know it was her that had the Elvis song played that Jax specifically said not to play. That was Jax and Lily’s song. That was probably the hardest scene in the entire book for me to read.
Lily stands rigid, her eyes wide and full of unshed tears. Her stare hits me with a tsunami of sadness.
Jax – I can’t make it any more evident than I already have how much I despise him. He could have made this all better, but he chose not to. He should have tossed Stella aside when Lily came to him and professed her love to him, but instead he was going to do the right thing and marry Stella. Then Stella comes up with an ingenius plan to have Lily be their wedding photographer (see?? Manipulative calculating bitch). At what time did Jax ever think that was a good idea? But he carried through with Stella’s wishes and let the salt work its way through every jagged edge of Lily’s open wound. But the worst part…he actually loves Stella!
“I gave away my heart a long time ago, but in this moment, every bit of it that I have left, I’m giving to Stella. I love her…”
And get a vomit bag ready because when they have sex it was not indigestion causing my chips/pop combo to come back up. Where I really, really hated him the most was when he had the opportunity to finally be with Lily not once but twice and he pushed her away.
“Don’t do this. Don’t leave me.”
“I’m sorry,” I say again.
“You’re breaking my heart,” she cries. “Please stay.”
“I told you, Lil. I’m broken,” I say sadly, a surge of helplessness consuming me. “This is what broken does. It leaves.” With that, I turn and walk away to the sounds of her heart shattering – again.
Bastard. He lets a picture of a saintly woman in an idealic life cloud his judgement. When he finally pulls his head out of his ass, he needs to provide a grand jesture, but he doesn’t. He never redeemed himself to me and for that, I cannot justify liking him. He needed to grow a pair.
Lily – Is a doormat. She may have matured into her own person since moving to New York City and being on her own, but she is letting Jax walk all over her and control her from miles away. He still manages to be the source of her pain even after having been broken up for a couple years and he being engaged. She has not been in a relationship and is hesitant to put herself out there again. She is stronger and a little feistier than what Jax knew of her, but he always seems to turn her brain to mush when he’s around her and she can’t think on her own. She should move on and cut her loss, but she is still so devoted to Jax.
“Only you can love me the way I need. Only you were put on this earth with the ability to give me a lifetime of pure happiness. You are everything to me.”
Jerome – He doesn’t have a large part in the book, just a few scenes, but he is the man Lily should have been with!! He should have stolen the thunder. If I had a chance to get the story rewritten, this is who I would have Lily end up with.
Here’s my real issue with the book…this is Stella and Jax’s love story. The first 30% takes us back to where he comes to his decision to break up with Lily and brings us up to speed to how he ends up being engaged to Stella. From there to 60% it’s all about him and Stella, and 60-90% is Jax being a guilty ass. There is very little Jax and Lily interacting together in this story, in fact there is hardly any Lily as this is told in Jax’s POV except for a very few small chapters that are from Lily.
As much as I did not care for the storyline, I do have to give credit for the writing. I don’t have a problem at all with her writing, in fact I think it was better than the first, but this is not the story I was expecting. Granted, I love angst, but I tend to only like to feel that stomach-plummeting sensation for 5-10% of the book, not 90%. I had physical symptoms following the conclusion of this book. I want to stop thinking about this book because it makes me angry every time I think about it. I need to move on and never think about Jax Porter again because he doesn’t deserve my thoughts.
3.5 stars
Review by Jen Hagen
My chest still hurts even after completing this book 12 hours ago. The pain is indescribable. My partner in angst best described it as a bullet through our chests. It was not necessary to put that bullet in our trajectory, and for as much as I was waiting for this book, I really wish I had just read the ending and stayed in my happy place. The journey to that happy place is not something I want to take again – it was filled with a lot of pain and a lot of hate. There aren’t many characters that I can say I hate, but for Jax I can use a lot of words to describe him and hate is one of them, along with loathe…and asshat…and a bunch of f-bombs that I will refrain from using. I don’t know how to write this review without giving away the entire plot, so in a format that I’ve never done before, I will be describing each character.
Stella – I hate her as much as I hate Jax. Don’t feel sorry for her. She may come across as being saintly, but I see her in a different light. She is a manipulative bitch who was thinking of only herself. She knows the truth because she said it,
“I never owned your heart, but you took me anyway,”
but the part that infuriates me is,
“I am so sorry. I was selfish. I knew it at the time, but I didn’t care…I wanted you, knowing that you were in love with Lily.”
I can’t stand her. She took happiness away from Jax and Lily! She had an agenda with every calculating move she made. She threw salt into Lily’s gaping wounds at a time when she knew it would hurt the worst…and Jax went along with it!! I know it was her that had the Elvis song played that Jax specifically said not to play. That was Jax and Lily’s song. That was probably the hardest scene in the entire book for me to read.
Lily stands rigid, her eyes wide and full of unshed tears. Her stare hits me with a tsunami of sadness.
Jax – I can’t make it any more evident than I already have how much I despise him. He could have made this all better, but he chose not to. He should have tossed Stella aside when Lily came to him and professed her love to him, but instead he was going to do the right thing and marry Stella. Then Stella comes up with an ingenius plan to have Lily be their wedding photographer (see?? Manipulative calculating bitch). At what time did Jax ever think that was a good idea? But he carried through with Stella’s wishes and let the salt work its way through every jagged edge of Lily’s open wound. But the worst part…he actually loves Stella!
“I gave away my heart a long time ago, but in this moment, every bit of it that I have left, I’m giving to Stella. I love her…”
And get a vomit bag ready because when they have sex it was not indigestion causing my chips/pop combo to come back up. Where I really, really hated him the most was when he had the opportunity to finally be with Lily not once but twice and he pushed her away.
“Don’t do this. Don’t leave me.”
“I’m sorry,” I say again.
“You’re breaking my heart,” she cries. “Please stay.”
“I told you, Lil. I’m broken,” I say sadly, a surge of helplessness consuming me. “This is what broken does. It leaves.” With that, I turn and walk away to the sounds of her heart shattering – again.
Bastard. He lets a picture of a saintly woman in an idealic life cloud his judgement. When he finally pulls his head out of his ass, he needs to provide a grand jesture, but he doesn’t. He never redeemed himself to me and for that, I cannot justify liking him. He needed to grow a pair.
Lily – Is a doormat. She may have matured into her own person since moving to New York City and being on her own, but she is letting Jax walk all over her and control her from miles away. He still manages to be the source of her pain even after having been broken up for a couple years and he being engaged. She has not been in a relationship and is hesitant to put herself out there again. She is stronger and a little feistier than what Jax knew of her, but he always seems to turn her brain to mush when he’s around her and she can’t think on her own. She should move on and cut her loss, but she is still so devoted to Jax.
“Only you can love me the way I need. Only you were put on this earth with the ability to give me a lifetime of pure happiness. You are everything to me.”
Jerome – He doesn’t have a large part in the book, just a few scenes, but he is the man Lily should have been with!! He should have stolen the thunder. If I had a chance to get the story rewritten, this is who I would have Lily end up with.
Here’s my real issue with the book…this is Stella and Jax’s love story. The first 30% takes us back to where he comes to his decision to break up with Lily and brings us up to speed to how he ends up being engaged to Stella. From there to 60% it’s all about him and Stella, and 60-90% is Jax being a guilty ass. There is very little Jax and Lily interacting together in this story, in fact there is hardly any Lily as this is told in Jax’s POV except for a very few small chapters that are from Lily.
As much as I did not care for the storyline, I do have to give credit for the writing. I don’t have a problem at all with her writing, in fact I think it was better than the first, but this is not the story I was expecting. Granted, I love angst, but I tend to only like to feel that stomach-plummeting sensation for 5-10% of the book, not 90%. I had physical symptoms following the conclusion of this book. I want to stop thinking about this book because it makes me angry every time I think about it. I need to move on and never think about Jax Porter again because he doesn’t deserve my thoughts.
June 5, 2015
****NAME CHANGE FOR BOOK*****
I hereby dub thee "AN ODE TO SAINT STELLA"
Let me start off by saying I LOVED book one (ABKOL) 5 stars. ****There are SPOILERS so proceed with caution***** Therefore was waiting anxiously for the continuation of this epic love story between these two soulmates. What I received was a MONUMENTAL disappointment and a HUGE slap in the face. How can this book be touted as Jax’s journey when the bulk of this book is dedicated to his all consuming LOVE for STELLA (not his soul mate Lilly) now I get that the path to your HEA contains bumps and detours – but THIS was completely and utterly off the beaten path – Jax needed GARMIN SIRI… to find his way back. I think he was more lost than Sandra Bullock was in Gravity.
1. The bulk of this book is completely dedicated to the Jax/Stella love fest. Jax is not obligated to marry her as we were led to believe at the end of book 1 – he is head over heels madly passionately in love with her . How is that possible to replace the one person you have loved for your entire existence in a matter of months, put this person before said “love” and have this usurper be your end all be all, to the point you marry them. Then have said love of your life be your wedding photographer and subject her to emotional torture by witnessing your incessant gushing over Saint Stella. And have her watch you dance to "your song (Lilly)" with HER… WTF??? You dedicate the majority of story to a secondary character who in essence is the transitional person for jax. Umm am I missing something here, is this Jax’s journey or Stella’s story??
2. Lilly is basically nonexistent – how can this be Jax’s journey w/out the presence of his soulmate ?? She is an afterthought on all levels. You reduce her to a spineless doormat. Why give Jax this epic love between them finding each other again and all Lilly gets is Trenton the douche, and Rob??? Really – you keep her on a perpetual stand by while Jax is basking in glow of his LIGHT. Lilly did not deserve that – she is a shell of her book 1 self and is made to be a complete mockery in book 2
3. Stella is dying – so this should make us all like her – because naturally dying = sainthood. NO , not in my book. She was selfish and manipulative – she knew that Lilly was the love of Jax’s life and she never owned his heart – these are her words to Jax in her goodbye letter. So this whole time we reading that Jax LOVES her that she healed him brought him back to life – BLAH BLAH - she still felt like sloppy seconds?? So which is it – if that is what Jax truly felt for her, a compassionate love out of deep caring – THEN it should have written as such, subdued caring & compassionate NOT write it as if she were MORE than Lilly??? That Jax was truly madly deeply in love with her – it is completely contradictory. Again it is a way to absolve Saint Stella of any sin and make her likable to the reader. It did not sway me in the least – it actually made me dislike her more
4. Jax finally decides to go after his LOVE after Stella meets her fate. So if Stella had never died – Jax and Stella would live out their HEA. Jax is only with Lilly because Stella died – not becasue he truly came to the conclusion he should be with his real SOULMATE LILLY – Nope – one had to go for him tobe with her. Again – REALLY??? - I would have much preferred for Jax and Stella to stay together and find Lilly a fantastic man who truly loved her and put her first –not a guy who put someone else before you every damn time – someone relatively speaking that he just met. Because of course you would do the same in Jax place, put your other half, someone you have knows/loved your entire life on the back burner for a really nice girl??? Makes no sense
I still cannot for the life of me understand this “journey” – anyone invested in Jax/Lilly cannot be on board with the direction of this book. There is no rational justification. My only thought is that somehow the author personally relates to the character of Stella, thus wanting the reader to empathize, relate and like her. Changes made to original version were specifically done to absolve Stella of some not so nice deeds and make her more likable. I am very sorry but I cannot board the Stella train nor will I ever drink the #StellaKoolAid. It is a shame this book could have been an EPIC culmination these two so deserved . Instead we are left with a jagged bitter pill to swallow. Buyer beware
I hereby dub thee "AN ODE TO SAINT STELLA"
Let me start off by saying I LOVED book one (ABKOL) 5 stars. ****There are SPOILERS so proceed with caution***** Therefore was waiting anxiously for the continuation of this epic love story between these two soulmates. What I received was a MONUMENTAL disappointment and a HUGE slap in the face. How can this book be touted as Jax’s journey when the bulk of this book is dedicated to his all consuming LOVE for STELLA (not his soul mate Lilly) now I get that the path to your HEA contains bumps and detours – but THIS was completely and utterly off the beaten path – Jax needed GARMIN SIRI… to find his way back. I think he was more lost than Sandra Bullock was in Gravity.
1. The bulk of this book is completely dedicated to the Jax/Stella love fest. Jax is not obligated to marry her as we were led to believe at the end of book 1 – he is head over heels madly passionately in love with her . How is that possible to replace the one person you have loved for your entire existence in a matter of months, put this person before said “love” and have this usurper be your end all be all, to the point you marry them. Then have said love of your life be your wedding photographer and subject her to emotional torture by witnessing your incessant gushing over Saint Stella. And have her watch you dance to "your song (Lilly)" with HER… WTF??? You dedicate the majority of story to a secondary character who in essence is the transitional person for jax. Umm am I missing something here, is this Jax’s journey or Stella’s story??
2. Lilly is basically nonexistent – how can this be Jax’s journey w/out the presence of his soulmate ?? She is an afterthought on all levels. You reduce her to a spineless doormat. Why give Jax this epic love between them finding each other again and all Lilly gets is Trenton the douche, and Rob??? Really – you keep her on a perpetual stand by while Jax is basking in glow of his LIGHT. Lilly did not deserve that – she is a shell of her book 1 self and is made to be a complete mockery in book 2
3. Stella is dying – so this should make us all like her – because naturally dying = sainthood. NO , not in my book. She was selfish and manipulative – she knew that Lilly was the love of Jax’s life and she never owned his heart – these are her words to Jax in her goodbye letter. So this whole time we reading that Jax LOVES her that she healed him brought him back to life – BLAH BLAH - she still felt like sloppy seconds?? So which is it – if that is what Jax truly felt for her, a compassionate love out of deep caring – THEN it should have written as such, subdued caring & compassionate NOT write it as if she were MORE than Lilly??? That Jax was truly madly deeply in love with her – it is completely contradictory. Again it is a way to absolve Saint Stella of any sin and make her likable to the reader. It did not sway me in the least – it actually made me dislike her more
4. Jax finally decides to go after his LOVE after Stella meets her fate. So if Stella had never died – Jax and Stella would live out their HEA. Jax is only with Lilly because Stella died – not becasue he truly came to the conclusion he should be with his real SOULMATE LILLY – Nope – one had to go for him tobe with her. Again – REALLY??? - I would have much preferred for Jax and Stella to stay together and find Lilly a fantastic man who truly loved her and put her first –not a guy who put someone else before you every damn time – someone relatively speaking that he just met. Because of course you would do the same in Jax place, put your other half, someone you have knows/loved your entire life on the back burner for a really nice girl??? Makes no sense
I still cannot for the life of me understand this “journey” – anyone invested in Jax/Lilly cannot be on board with the direction of this book. There is no rational justification. My only thought is that somehow the author personally relates to the character of Stella, thus wanting the reader to empathize, relate and like her. Changes made to original version were specifically done to absolve Stella of some not so nice deeds and make her more likable. I am very sorry but I cannot board the Stella train nor will I ever drink the #StellaKoolAid. It is a shame this book could have been an EPIC culmination these two so deserved . Instead we are left with a jagged bitter pill to swallow. Buyer beware
June 5, 2015
Current mood: PISSED OFF
I believe in soul mates. Why? Because I have one and her name is STELLA!!!
This killed the authors books for me....and it isn't because she wrote a book I don't like...its not that...its how she has handled the criticism that has killed her as an author for me...She claims she wasn't aware of the s*** her Betas/family were pulling is total BS...she has been given great advice from bloggers, readers, and authors and didn't listen to a freaking thing! If she truly believed in her story then she should have stuck with it. She should have stood by her book with everything she had....maybe change the blurbs and teasers because they were so misleading but she didn't....Like I said I don't dislike her because she wrote a book I didn't like...I am mad because of how she has now acted and has allowed others to act. SMH...The blurb, teasers, promos, pictures, etc were completely misleading and unfair to the reader! False advertising!
This book is about Stella, 100% STELLA....The whole book was an attempt to make EVERYONE love her...well guess what...NOPE Not at all Not ONE BIT! And it that is how you wanted it to go...You need to change BOTH books not just this one.
I'm going to quote a great author here as a word of Advice:
"Authors lose their voice for basically everything once they publish a book. You are your brand. The end. Be all, end all. Once you f#$% up your brand, you can't really FIX it."
I really liked Ellie and I'm all about second chances...so prove it!
I believe in soul mates. Why? Because I have one and her name is STELLA!!!
This killed the authors books for me....and it isn't because she wrote a book I don't like...its not that...its how she has handled the criticism that has killed her as an author for me...She claims she wasn't aware of the s*** her Betas/family were pulling is total BS...she has been given great advice from bloggers, readers, and authors and didn't listen to a freaking thing! If she truly believed in her story then she should have stuck with it. She should have stood by her book with everything she had....maybe change the blurbs and teasers because they were so misleading but she didn't....Like I said I don't dislike her because she wrote a book I didn't like...I am mad because of how she has now acted and has allowed others to act. SMH...The blurb, teasers, promos, pictures, etc were completely misleading and unfair to the reader! False advertising!
This book is about Stella, 100% STELLA....The whole book was an attempt to make EVERYONE love her...well guess what...NOPE Not at all Not ONE BIT! And it that is how you wanted it to go...You need to change BOTH books not just this one.
I'm going to quote a great author here as a word of Advice:
"Authors lose their voice for basically everything once they publish a book. You are your brand. The end. Be all, end all. Once you f#$% up your brand, you can't really FIX it."
I really liked Ellie and I'm all about second chances...so prove it!
May 28, 2015
(Major negative rant ahead)
...........................
Okay so yes I went ahead and spoiled it for myself... AND THANK F*CKING GOD!
Jax you asshat! F*ck you for going ahead and falling in love with another girl you f*cking piece of sh*t.
I'm so angry I even started this series if that's how it's going to go. Yeah they end up together in the end but with Jax hurting Lily constantly and Lily forgiving too easy like a f*cking doormat. HAVE SOME DAMN DIGNITY LILY! I don't care if Stella was a nice girl, it was supposed to be Lily and Jax but now I think Jax can just poof into nothing because f*ck him! Sh*t I'm so annoyed and URRRGH! I don't need to read the whole book to know that I'll end up f*cking disappointed.
Sh*t. I could've used that money for the chocolate on sale at the supermarket.
.....................
Know this is my current feels. I've re-read my review and I know it's harsh...very harsh but it's what I'm feeling atm so meh.
...........................
Okay so yes I went ahead and spoiled it for myself... AND THANK F*CKING GOD!
Jax you asshat! F*ck you for going ahead and falling in love with another girl you f*cking piece of sh*t.
I'm so angry I even started this series if that's how it's going to go. Yeah they end up together in the end but with Jax hurting Lily constantly and Lily forgiving too easy like a f*cking doormat. HAVE SOME DAMN DIGNITY LILY! I don't care if Stella was a nice girl, it was supposed to be Lily and Jax but now I think Jax can just poof into nothing because f*ck him! Sh*t I'm so annoyed and URRRGH! I don't need to read the whole book to know that I'll end up f*cking disappointed.
Sh*t. I could've used that money for the chocolate on sale at the supermarket.
.....................
Know this is my current feels. I've re-read my review and I know it's harsh...very harsh but it's what I'm feeling atm so meh.
June 5, 2015
Review to come closer to release date.
I was given an ARC for an honest review.
I FEEL THE NEED TO EDIT AND UPDATE MY CURRENT REVIEW FROM ARC TO REVISED BOOK
3 STARS FOR THE WRITING
1 STAR FOR THE OVERALL OF THE STORY
I have taken my time to digest it, and see if with given myself time I would change my mind. But the more I think about it, the angrier and disappointment I get. I loved these characters, Lily and Jax from book 1. I knew and was expecting more angst and a bumpy road to their HEA; I just never expected that their story would take such a sharp turn and become the story of Jax & Stella. The choices you make come with consequences. And I get that life throws you curve balls, but this was not a curve at all this was tsunami of epic proportion.
This story took of to a totally different direction of what we were led to believe, “soul mate, love of my life” NO it was nothing about their journey, this story was the journey of Jax & Stella from 1-60sh% its all them two. Like a friend told me the title should have been “Where is Lily”!
I get what the author tried to portray Jax as being a good person, but I would have liked to have seen him struggling with his decision, suffering and missing “the love of his life” which was not the case. At least I did not read it.
I did NOT feel a bit of sympathy for Stella, I did not buy that she was a good, sweet person. She was a skimming bitch, which bided her time and waited on the sidelines to make her move. That “SONG” was no accident.
I felt Lily was always his second and third choice, and his doormat waiting until the end of never for Jax to come to his senses.
I did love the Epilogue but it was too little too late.
***************************ADDITION********************************
1 STAR
6/5/2015
I thought I was stunned when I first read the ARC, the original ONE that was planned on being PUBLISHED...but that ARC was revised after not favorable reviews from blogger/reviewers!!!
But, this new version is much worse than the revised one. I thought she would edit and add Jax inner struggles with his choices and missing and thinking about how much he loved LILY "the love of his life", but that was not the case at ALL.
Changes: Were deleting sex scenes or glossed over.
The "SONG" in order to make sure the readers think this was NOT Stella's doing, Lily took the fault for it or her mom did.
Now, Stella did not request for Lily to photograph their wedding, it was LILY who offered to do it as their wedding gift. SHM
All in all, this author's intention and sole purpose was to make her readers like/love Stella the Saint. And I wonder in reality who Stella really is?!! Hmmm, I think I have pretty good idea.
I can't say that I hated JAX because the creator was the one that destroyed his character in this book.
I still felt zero empathy or sympathy for STELLA the SAINT, did NOT like her, still hated her and this story. Lily remained the doormat she set her out to be in book 2.
I was given an ARC for an honest review.
I FEEL THE NEED TO EDIT AND UPDATE MY CURRENT REVIEW FROM ARC TO REVISED BOOK
3 STARS FOR THE WRITING
1 STAR FOR THE OVERALL OF THE STORY
I have taken my time to digest it, and see if with given myself time I would change my mind. But the more I think about it, the angrier and disappointment I get. I loved these characters, Lily and Jax from book 1. I knew and was expecting more angst and a bumpy road to their HEA; I just never expected that their story would take such a sharp turn and become the story of Jax & Stella. The choices you make come with consequences. And I get that life throws you curve balls, but this was not a curve at all this was tsunami of epic proportion.
This story took of to a totally different direction of what we were led to believe, “soul mate, love of my life” NO it was nothing about their journey, this story was the journey of Jax & Stella from 1-60sh% its all them two. Like a friend told me the title should have been “Where is Lily”!
I get what the author tried to portray Jax as being a good person, but I would have liked to have seen him struggling with his decision, suffering and missing “the love of his life” which was not the case. At least I did not read it.
I did NOT feel a bit of sympathy for Stella, I did not buy that she was a good, sweet person. She was a skimming bitch, which bided her time and waited on the sidelines to make her move. That “SONG” was no accident.
I felt Lily was always his second and third choice, and his doormat waiting until the end of never for Jax to come to his senses.
I did love the Epilogue but it was too little too late.
***************************ADDITION********************************
1 STAR
6/5/2015
I thought I was stunned when I first read the ARC, the original ONE that was planned on being PUBLISHED...but that ARC was revised after not favorable reviews from blogger/reviewers!!!
But, this new version is much worse than the revised one. I thought she would edit and add Jax inner struggles with his choices and missing and thinking about how much he loved LILY "the love of his life", but that was not the case at ALL.
Changes: Were deleting sex scenes or glossed over.
The "SONG" in order to make sure the readers think this was NOT Stella's doing, Lily took the fault for it or her mom did.
Now, Stella did not request for Lily to photograph their wedding, it was LILY who offered to do it as their wedding gift. SHM
All in all, this author's intention and sole purpose was to make her readers like/love Stella the Saint. And I wonder in reality who Stella really is?!! Hmmm, I think I have pretty good idea.
I can't say that I hated JAX because the creator was the one that destroyed his character in this book.
I still felt zero empathy or sympathy for STELLA the SAINT, did NOT like her, still hated her and this story. Lily remained the doormat she set her out to be in book 2.
September 23, 2015
Im not one to write/rant in reviews. BUT... **spoilers ahead beware***
Let me just start by saying that this book took a turn for me and not for the better. I felt like this book was actually the demise of Jax and Lily. Not the road to their beginning or the end however you want to look at it. And in Jax own words about Lily "Well, That's done at least" (jerk) let me make it clear that my MAIN issue with this book is the LACK of Lily. And the lack of Jax AND Lily, Simple. How can you expect to give a Book about Jax and his journey with Stella and think that this would be ok? Seriously change the blurb. Because is so misleading. Making us think Jax is suffering so much by having to do this things which in turn kept him away from his soulmate. So not the case.
To me this was Jax and Stella's book. To me Lily was a part of his life that ended. And to be quite honest it should have. I felt that the connection between them brake and burn. When Lily walks away from Jax at the end of book 1 and tells him that she lost him, she was right And this book was the proof.
Throughout his book he totally set Lily aside but in her book he was a huge presence.
Where was that from Jax to Lily?
Why does Jax gets the Epic Love story with Stella and Lily gets screwed over by everyone in her life. Starting with Jax, Tabitha and ending with Trenton?
What was the point of all that If you will eventually make her a doormat? And then she is MIA until almost the end of the book waiting until Jax is ready for her. I mean I can't even type this without wanting to break shit. Making Lily be part of his wedding felt like the biggest slap in the face. I wont even get into all that.
Meanwhile Jax is happy as a clam with Stella. And THEN shit happens and THEN he goes after the "love of his life" if you can even call it that.
Im so so so confused with this book. It seems like the author wanted us to love Stella or make her this "Perfect selfless person". which is weird.
Jax repeatedly placed Lily second and third and all of the sudden he is this Amazing understanding selfless person with Stella? WTF?? This book is not about soulmates at least not About THE "soulmates". He didn't fight for Lily. Not once. in the end i felt like Lily was the rebound. He settled for Lily and he Lost the love of his life which was Stella. I don't know if i should cry, scream or Laugh. Where was his suffering for Lily? His struggle? Jesus... show me anything at all that proves that Lily was truly his ONE! Show me where was his suffering because he had to do and go through this Because he was trying to do the right thing but struggling because he was away from the love of his life?
I never felt that. And this is the main reason the story took a nose dive to the bottom of the blackest hole. By the time i read the Epilogue it was too little too late for me. And that its so disappointing.
For the record if you didn't noticed i have Zero sympathy towards Stella. I wouldn't want to spend the last moments of my life knowing i kept 2 people that "love" each other from being together. That is not the legacy of someone so pure so "good" and so selfless. #SorryNotSorry apparently being sick gives you free rein to be selfish. And Doormat is the new Female super power. Smh. No words.
So in recap this is Stella & Jax epic love. Lily is his rebound Bitch. And Jax is a selfish asshole to his Soulmate BUT he is so amazingly selfless to his "friend/wife" Stella. I can't even (yes i said it). I hope his Journey was worth it because for me it wasn't enough.
Peace out✌
Let me just start by saying that this book took a turn for me and not for the better. I felt like this book was actually the demise of Jax and Lily. Not the road to their beginning or the end however you want to look at it. And in Jax own words about Lily "Well, That's done at least" (jerk) let me make it clear that my MAIN issue with this book is the LACK of Lily. And the lack of Jax AND Lily, Simple. How can you expect to give a Book about Jax and his journey with Stella and think that this would be ok? Seriously change the blurb. Because is so misleading. Making us think Jax is suffering so much by having to do this things which in turn kept him away from his soulmate. So not the case.
To me this was Jax and Stella's book. To me Lily was a part of his life that ended. And to be quite honest it should have. I felt that the connection between them brake and burn. When Lily walks away from Jax at the end of book 1 and tells him that she lost him, she was right And this book was the proof.
Throughout his book he totally set Lily aside but in her book he was a huge presence.
Where was that from Jax to Lily?
Why does Jax gets the Epic Love story with Stella and Lily gets screwed over by everyone in her life. Starting with Jax, Tabitha and ending with Trenton?
What was the point of all that If you will eventually make her a doormat? And then she is MIA until almost the end of the book waiting until Jax is ready for her. I mean I can't even type this without wanting to break shit. Making Lily be part of his wedding felt like the biggest slap in the face. I wont even get into all that.
Meanwhile Jax is happy as a clam with Stella. And THEN shit happens and THEN he goes after the "love of his life" if you can even call it that.
Im so so so confused with this book. It seems like the author wanted us to love Stella or make her this "Perfect selfless person". which is weird.
Jax repeatedly placed Lily second and third and all of the sudden he is this Amazing understanding selfless person with Stella? WTF?? This book is not about soulmates at least not About THE "soulmates". He didn't fight for Lily. Not once. in the end i felt like Lily was the rebound. He settled for Lily and he Lost the love of his life which was Stella. I don't know if i should cry, scream or Laugh. Where was his suffering for Lily? His struggle? Jesus... show me anything at all that proves that Lily was truly his ONE! Show me where was his suffering because he had to do and go through this Because he was trying to do the right thing but struggling because he was away from the love of his life?
I never felt that. And this is the main reason the story took a nose dive to the bottom of the blackest hole. By the time i read the Epilogue it was too little too late for me. And that its so disappointing.
For the record if you didn't noticed i have Zero sympathy towards Stella. I wouldn't want to spend the last moments of my life knowing i kept 2 people that "love" each other from being together. That is not the legacy of someone so pure so "good" and so selfless. #SorryNotSorry apparently being sick gives you free rein to be selfish. And Doormat is the new Female super power. Smh. No words.
So in recap this is Stella & Jax epic love. Lily is his rebound Bitch. And Jax is a selfish asshole to his Soulmate BUT he is so amazingly selfless to his "friend/wife" Stella. I can't even (yes i said it). I hope his Journey was worth it because for me it wasn't enough.
Peace out✌
June 5, 2015
I just want to unread what I just read. I am so sad that six hours of my life was wasted on this. Really sold on the precipice that this was a soul mate love story between Jax and Lilly .. I mean I read the first book and that is what I thought the " conclusion " would be about !
Well nope we get the real true love story of Jax and his real love ... Stella because you see he always puts her best interests first and falls madly and passionately in love with her. Not Lilly no she is the consolation prize.
No one puts her best interests first. She just gets douche after douche until she ends up with the biggest one of all JAX! Did he ever put his so called Lilly the soulmate first ? Nope ! Did he ever question his decisions or regret it ? Again Nope! Did he ever fight for Lilly or prove any redemption ? Again that would be a nope ! If he is the so called soul mate bad best friend material never sign up for that ! Run fast and as far as you can.
Lilly needed a true soulmate of her own because we were never shown that side of Jax to her not once ! Never.
Well nope we get the real true love story of Jax and his real love ... Stella because you see he always puts her best interests first and falls madly and passionately in love with her. Not Lilly no she is the consolation prize.
No one puts her best interests first. She just gets douche after douche until she ends up with the biggest one of all JAX! Did he ever put his so called Lilly the soulmate first ? Nope ! Did he ever question his decisions or regret it ? Again Nope! Did he ever fight for Lilly or prove any redemption ? Again that would be a nope ! If he is the so called soul mate bad best friend material never sign up for that ! Run fast and as far as you can.
Lilly needed a true soulmate of her own because we were never shown that side of Jax to her not once ! Never.
June 6, 2015
Couldn't stomach all of it. It's an emotional roller coaster but in a bad way. =/ You'll find no book boyfriend material here. Instead, you'll find I know it's harsh/crude but like I said, it's an emotional roller coaster and these are the emotions that I'm feeling. This whole book left me very unsatisfied and disappointed. Keep your $2.99 and check out some good angsty books: Tarryn Fisher's Love Me with Lies series or M.J. Fields' Love series.
June 19, 2015
3 - 3.5 ★'s
When my good friend, Mysza, read this book and did.not.like.it, I knew there was trouble. I was torn because, of course, I had to know what happened but then again, do I really want to read something awful? Then, the author pushed back the release date to do some changes so that was encouraging and I decided to give it a shot.
The problem is that I liked it and I didn't like it and I figured the best way to do this review was to give you both sides.
And let me just preface this by saying that I'm all for the author writing "her" book however she wants to. I can actually appreciate that she didn't follow the rules even though I didn't like the direction she took.
The book appeals to my "emotional junkie" side. There's all kinds of drama and angst and I really enjoyed it. The back and forth, will they or won't they...it kept my interest and I couldn't put the book down.
On the other hand, there's a lot of stuff that's hard to read. In the first book, A Beautiful Kind of Love, there are two people who are suppose to be soul mates. There's some drama but as with most romance, you always know they'll end up together.
I won't spoil it for you but there are plenty of reviews that lay it all out on the line if you need to know. I'm just really thankful that I didn't read the first version...I KNOW I would have a hard time with that one. (thanks again to Mysza for filling me in on the changes!) I'm just really curious why the author went the direction she did.
I do feel let down by Jax. He says one thing but does another and he really put Lily through the ringer. I was really hoping she would find someone else when she was in New York. ~sigh~
However, I do like the ending and the epilogue. Was it enough? Well, IMO, I don't think Jax groveled enough and he certainly didn't make things up to her...not by a long shot.
The Good Stuff:
Dual Pov's? We got a lot of Jax especially with the past and then alternating in the present.
Steam Factor? (Scale 1 - 5) 2ish...maybe. There's just some other things involved that made it hard to believe it.
Angst? (Scale 1 - 5) 4...definitely some good angst although not always the good kind.
Next book? This is it.
Favorite quote:
♥ “You are everything,” I enunciate each word. “Everything I see. Everything I want. Everything that matters. To me, you are the only thing that matters. A life without you wouldn’t be much of a life at all.”
When my good friend, Mysza, read this book and did.not.like.it, I knew there was trouble. I was torn because, of course, I had to know what happened but then again, do I really want to read something awful? Then, the author pushed back the release date to do some changes so that was encouraging and I decided to give it a shot.
The problem is that I liked it and I didn't like it and I figured the best way to do this review was to give you both sides.
And let me just preface this by saying that I'm all for the author writing "her" book however she wants to. I can actually appreciate that she didn't follow the rules even though I didn't like the direction she took.
The book appeals to my "emotional junkie" side. There's all kinds of drama and angst and I really enjoyed it. The back and forth, will they or won't they...it kept my interest and I couldn't put the book down.
On the other hand, there's a lot of stuff that's hard to read. In the first book, A Beautiful Kind of Love, there are two people who are suppose to be soul mates. There's some drama but as with most romance, you always know they'll end up together.
I won't spoil it for you but there are plenty of reviews that lay it all out on the line if you need to know. I'm just really thankful that I didn't read the first version...I KNOW I would have a hard time with that one. (thanks again to Mysza for filling me in on the changes!) I'm just really curious why the author went the direction she did.
I do feel let down by Jax. He says one thing but does another and he really put Lily through the ringer. I was really hoping she would find someone else when she was in New York. ~sigh~
However, I do like the ending and the epilogue. Was it enough? Well, IMO, I don't think Jax groveled enough and he certainly didn't make things up to her...not by a long shot.
The Good Stuff:
Dual Pov's? We got a lot of Jax especially with the past and then alternating in the present.
Steam Factor? (Scale 1 - 5) 2ish...maybe. There's just some other things involved that made it hard to believe it.
Angst? (Scale 1 - 5) 4...definitely some good angst although not always the good kind.
Next book? This is it.
Favorite quote:
♥ “You are everything,” I enunciate each word. “Everything I see. Everything I want. Everything that matters. To me, you are the only thing that matters. A life without you wouldn’t be much of a life at all.”
no-way-jose
May 3, 2018https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Maybe I have 0 right to write about this book. But after reading all the reviews, I think the meaning of soulmate is lost in this book: TOP DEFINITION
soulmate
"A person with whom you have an immediate connection the moment you meet -- a connection so strong that you are drawn to them in a way you have never experienced before. As this connection develops over time, you experience a love so deep, strong and complex, that you begin to doubt that you have ever truly loved anyone prior. Your soulmate understands and connects with you in every way and on every level, which brings a sense of peace, calmness and happiness when you are around them. And when you are not around them, you are all that much more aware of the harshness of life, and how bonding with another person in this way is the most significant and satisfying thing you will experience in your lifetime. You are also all that much aware of the beauty in life, because you have been given a great gift and will always be thankful."
Also: cancer, any kind of lethal disease or death doesn't turn anyone into a good person or a saint. It's just a sick person or a dead one. Period. And this Stella is probably in purgatory burning and drinking hot water when she’s thirsty. The only thing, the so called hero should be there too.
Maybe I have 0 right to write about this book. But after reading all the reviews, I think the meaning of soulmate is lost in this book: TOP DEFINITION
soulmate
"A person with whom you have an immediate connection the moment you meet -- a connection so strong that you are drawn to them in a way you have never experienced before. As this connection develops over time, you experience a love so deep, strong and complex, that you begin to doubt that you have ever truly loved anyone prior. Your soulmate understands and connects with you in every way and on every level, which brings a sense of peace, calmness and happiness when you are around them. And when you are not around them, you are all that much more aware of the harshness of life, and how bonding with another person in this way is the most significant and satisfying thing you will experience in your lifetime. You are also all that much aware of the beauty in life, because you have been given a great gift and will always be thankful."
Also: cancer, any kind of lethal disease or death doesn't turn anyone into a good person or a saint. It's just a sick person or a dead one. Period. And this Stella is probably in purgatory burning and drinking hot water when she’s thirsty. The only thing, the so called hero should be there too.
January 16, 2019
Dear Stella, I hate you...
...with a passion!
SPOILERS!
Did you see me? At the funeral? I was the one dancing on Stella's grave. You tried to make me like her, but it didn't work. She's a selfish, manipulative bitch.
After ABKoL, this love story had the potential to be epic; the best I've ever read. But now it's tainted...because of Stella. "My Stella," "My beautiful Stella." "She's comfort." Blah, blah, blah. Who's the soul mate? Why not make her pregnant, too, and then Jax could've had a piece of his beautiful Stella to raise with his beautiful Lily?
When Jax and Stella went to his family to announce their relationship and their engagement, why not have dear old Dad redeem himself by acknowledging that he helped create this effed up mess, and have him tell Jax what a huge mistake he was making?
Sorry, Ellie, but you ruined it. By the way, the one star is for how Jax proposed to Lily...
...with a passion!
SPOILERS!
Did you see me? At the funeral? I was the one dancing on Stella's grave. You tried to make me like her, but it didn't work. She's a selfish, manipulative bitch.
After ABKoL, this love story had the potential to be epic; the best I've ever read. But now it's tainted...because of Stella. "My Stella," "My beautiful Stella." "She's comfort." Blah, blah, blah. Who's the soul mate? Why not make her pregnant, too, and then Jax could've had a piece of his beautiful Stella to raise with his beautiful Lily?
When Jax and Stella went to his family to announce their relationship and their engagement, why not have dear old Dad redeem himself by acknowledging that he helped create this effed up mess, and have him tell Jax what a huge mistake he was making?
Sorry, Ellie, but you ruined it. By the way, the one star is for how Jax proposed to Lily...
September 23, 2015
Im not one to write/rant in reviews. BUT... **spoilers ahead beware***
Let me just start by saying that this book took a turn for me and not for the better. I felt like this book was actually the demise of Jax and Lily. Not the road to their beginning or the end however you want to look at it. And in Jax own words about Lily "Well, That's done at least" (jerk) let me make it clear that my MAIN issue with this book is the LACK of Lily. Simple. How can you expect to give a Book about Jax and his journey with Stella and think that this would be ok? Seriously change the blurb. Because is so misleading. Making us think Jax is suffering so much by having to do this things which in turn kept him away from his soulmate. So not the case.
To me this was Jax and Stella's book. To me Lily was a part of his life that ended. And to be quite honest it should have. I felt that the connection between them brake and burn. When Lily walks away from Jax at the end of book 1 and tells him that she lost him, she was right And this book was the proof.
Throughout his book he totally set Lily aside but in her book he was a huge presence.
Where was that from Jax to Lily?
Why does Jax gets the Epic Love story with Stella and Lily gets screwed over by everyone in her life. Starting with Jax, Tabitha and ending with Trenton?
What was the point of all that If you will eventually make her a doormat? And then she is MIA until almost the end of the book waiting until Jax is ready for her. I mean I can't even type this without wanting to break shit. Making Lily be part of his wedding felt like the biggest slap in the face. I wont even get into all that.
Meanwhile Jax is happy as a clam with Stella. And THEN shit happens and THEN he goes after the "love of his life" if you can even call it that.
Im so so so confused with this book. It seems like the author wanted us to love Stella or make her this "Perfect selfless person". which is weird.
Jax repeatedly placed Lily second and third and all of the sudden he is this Amazing understanding selfless person with Stella? WTF?? This book is not about soulmates at least not About THE "soulmates". He didn't fight for Lily. Not once. in the end i felt like Lily was the rebound. He settled for Lily and he Lost the love of his life which was Stella. I don't know if i should cry, scream or Laugh. Where was his suffering for Lily? His struggle? Jesus... show me anything at all that proves that Lily was truly his ONE! Show me where was his suffering because he had to do and go through this Because he was trying to do the right thing but struggling because he was away from the love of his life?
I never felt that. And this is the main reason the story took a nose dive to the bottom of the blackest hole. By the time i read the Epilogue it was too little too late for me. And that its so disappointing.
For the record if you didn't noticed i have Zero sympathy towards Stella. I wouldn't want to spend the last moments of my life knowing i kept 2 people that "love" each other from being together. That is not the legacy of someone so pure so "good" and so selfless. #SorryNotSorry
So in recap this is Stella & Jax epic love. Lily is his rebound Bitch. And Jax is a selfish asshole to his Soulmate BUT he is so amazingly selfless to his "friend/wife" Stella. I can't even (yes i said it). I hope his Journey was worth it because for me it wasn't enough.
Peace out✌
Let me just start by saying that this book took a turn for me and not for the better. I felt like this book was actually the demise of Jax and Lily. Not the road to their beginning or the end however you want to look at it. And in Jax own words about Lily "Well, That's done at least" (jerk) let me make it clear that my MAIN issue with this book is the LACK of Lily. Simple. How can you expect to give a Book about Jax and his journey with Stella and think that this would be ok? Seriously change the blurb. Because is so misleading. Making us think Jax is suffering so much by having to do this things which in turn kept him away from his soulmate. So not the case.
To me this was Jax and Stella's book. To me Lily was a part of his life that ended. And to be quite honest it should have. I felt that the connection between them brake and burn. When Lily walks away from Jax at the end of book 1 and tells him that she lost him, she was right And this book was the proof.
Throughout his book he totally set Lily aside but in her book he was a huge presence.
Where was that from Jax to Lily?
Why does Jax gets the Epic Love story with Stella and Lily gets screwed over by everyone in her life. Starting with Jax, Tabitha and ending with Trenton?
What was the point of all that If you will eventually make her a doormat? And then she is MIA until almost the end of the book waiting until Jax is ready for her. I mean I can't even type this without wanting to break shit. Making Lily be part of his wedding felt like the biggest slap in the face. I wont even get into all that.
Meanwhile Jax is happy as a clam with Stella. And THEN shit happens and THEN he goes after the "love of his life" if you can even call it that.
Im so so so confused with this book. It seems like the author wanted us to love Stella or make her this "Perfect selfless person". which is weird.
Jax repeatedly placed Lily second and third and all of the sudden he is this Amazing understanding selfless person with Stella? WTF?? This book is not about soulmates at least not About THE "soulmates". He didn't fight for Lily. Not once. in the end i felt like Lily was the rebound. He settled for Lily and he Lost the love of his life which was Stella. I don't know if i should cry, scream or Laugh. Where was his suffering for Lily? His struggle? Jesus... show me anything at all that proves that Lily was truly his ONE! Show me where was his suffering because he had to do and go through this Because he was trying to do the right thing but struggling because he was away from the love of his life?
I never felt that. And this is the main reason the story took a nose dive to the bottom of the blackest hole. By the time i read the Epilogue it was too little too late for me. And that its so disappointing.
For the record if you didn't noticed i have Zero sympathy towards Stella. I wouldn't want to spend the last moments of my life knowing i kept 2 people that "love" each other from being together. That is not the legacy of someone so pure so "good" and so selfless. #SorryNotSorry
So in recap this is Stella & Jax epic love. Lily is his rebound Bitch. And Jax is a selfish asshole to his Soulmate BUT he is so amazingly selfless to his "friend/wife" Stella. I can't even (yes i said it). I hope his Journey was worth it because for me it wasn't enough.
Peace out✌
June 5, 2015
I just have to say for the love of goodness ... WHY?
This was sold to me as a soulmate love story between Jax and Lilly but that was soo NOT the case.
Spoilers
This was the love story of Jax and Stella who we were portrayed to see as the TRUE soul mates! We were told how he was madly in love with Stella and how she healed him ect.... So why is Lilly his soul mate then ? I mean Jax always has Stella's best interests in mind shouldn't Lilly deserve the same. This is where it fell apart for me! If the story was going in this direction then Lilly needed her own TRUE soul mate who put her best interest first because Jax never did ( soul mate ? Best friend ? Please don't make me laugh! If this is the case don't sign me up to have either !) Jax was never portrayed as worthy of Lilly and did he once show any struggles about his choices ? The big answer is NO.. Did you see any redemption on his part ? NO... Did he try to prove his true soulmate love for Lilly ? That is a Hell No .. But oh how many times did he do all these things for Stella ? More times than I can count so no Lilly was not his soulmate that would be Stella ! Lilly was the consolation prize. I wish I could unread but hey those who love a HEA you get one thrown in as a bonus
This was sold to me as a soulmate love story between Jax and Lilly but that was soo NOT the case.
Spoilers
This was the love story of Jax and Stella who we were portrayed to see as the TRUE soul mates! We were told how he was madly in love with Stella and how she healed him ect.... So why is Lilly his soul mate then ? I mean Jax always has Stella's best interests in mind shouldn't Lilly deserve the same. This is where it fell apart for me! If the story was going in this direction then Lilly needed her own TRUE soul mate who put her best interest first because Jax never did ( soul mate ? Best friend ? Please don't make me laugh! If this is the case don't sign me up to have either !) Jax was never portrayed as worthy of Lilly and did he once show any struggles about his choices ? The big answer is NO.. Did you see any redemption on his part ? NO... Did he try to prove his true soulmate love for Lilly ? That is a Hell No .. But oh how many times did he do all these things for Stella ? More times than I can count so no Lilly was not his soulmate that would be Stella ! Lilly was the consolation prize. I wish I could unread but hey those who love a HEA you get one thrown in as a bonus
June 15, 2015
I'm going to be honest here .... I did not enjoy this book at all. My stomach hurts and I just want a do-over.
June 5, 2015
What the heck! Why are there 2 versions of this book on Goodreads??
Link to original review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Link to original review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
June 8, 2015
1 star.
Firstly, I have nothing against this author and this is my opinion Based on this Book.
The author needs to revise what she thinks the meaning of "soulmate" is. Extremely unlikeable hero (treats his supposed soulmate like dirt, Using her for his own needs and then tossing her away multiple times because... Well because he can).
Extremely unlikeable heroine (lily is a doormat, she has NO BACKBONE who let's jax use her and throw her away like garbage over and over again yet is ultimately ok with his behaviour and acts like it's her fault and...waits for him to okay her back into his life).
The Ending to this supposed "soul mate" series is a wowzer. I have no idea What the author was thinking but in order for her to make a successful storyline/plot. One has to have likeable characters.
I Read the first book. It was ok so I thought I would read the second as it is the sequel and finale to the "story of jax and lily".
To be quite frank, I feel very misled about this book and it's blurb. This is not a story about lily and jax. This is a story about jax and how much he loves his perfect saintly Stella whom he does everything for and treats right, meanwhile, treats his supposed soulmate like dirt.
No matter how well you write a book if the hero and heroine are unlikeable, there Is no way to enjoy the book.
Also Stella, who is described as perfect is in actual fact jax's soulmate. Why? Because he MARRIED her shortly after supposedly broken up over the love of his life (whom he threw away) and then proceeded to only get back to lily AFTER Stella had died and he found her written a letter saying that she gives him her blessing to be with lily (after he had once again mistreated and used lily...again).
You do not treat the love of your life like dirt, and jax didn't Because Stella is his soulmate Not lily. Actions speak louder than words.
(FYI if you are able to move into another relationship and love this girl, calling her your light within 3 months, then your feelings for your "soulmate" and "love of your life" was pretty damn shallow. )
yes, I know Stella was diagnosed with brain cancer (he found this out after falling in love with Stella and praising.how amazing she is) but the storyline to make jax seem like prince charming/hero doesn't come off as well as the author would like DUE TO THE FACT that he constantly sprouts how you don't abandon the ones you love (and this is reiterated over and over again to justify him being with Stella), yet he doesn't do that lily...EVER.
He mistreated lily, abandoned her, NEVER EVER FOUGHT FOR HER and yet she is his soulmate and the love of his life. Yeah, sorry not buying it. he even wasn't able to make a grand gesture to win lily back in the end. All it was was him basically turning up and saying "yo, I'm ready to have you in my life now. After mistreating you throughout our relationship (for sex) and showing you not an ounce of loyalty or consideration. I'm ready to allow you back into my life as something more". as to which she cries and says "yesssssssss....".
Also, lily's supposed best friend charlie is kind of crappy. Here is a guy who hurt her "best" friend over and over again, and instead of protecting her she just puts up a half assed "you hurt her...go away" but turns 180, all cheery with no reserve when jax basically says. "so where's lily? I'm totally ready to be with her now despite using (and let's face it, emotionally abusing) her.
blah. yeah, this author also needs to understand the dynamics of a person's need to protect their friend from a guy who mistreats her. Friends don't automatically smile and let the douchebag off the hook for playing with a friend's feelings.
HAVING said all that...let's once again go back to an important fact. JAX WOULD NOT BE WITH LILY IF HIS BELOVED SAINTLY STELLA HADNT WRITTEN HIM A NOTE GIVING HIM PERMISSION TO BE WITH HIS CONSOLATION PRIZE (oh sorry.. I meant soulmate) LILY.
So to recap this whole drama, if Stella hadn't died, Jax and Stella would have lived happily ever after.
ALSO, if jax hadn't found Stella's letter, he would have just let lily wait for him, use her, then leave her again because he's "confused" and "guilty" about wanting to be with his soulmate and the love of his life (confused? yeah me too.)
Oh, and in order to win her back he basically shows up and says..."yo, I can totally be with you now due to my saintly dead wife Stella. You know, the one that was "my light"? (I kid you not he calls stella his light in the book.)
Stella, who was so amazing and touched so many people's life thus healing me (from God knows what with his shallow feelings) and showing me to appreciate life and on every damn 2nd or 3rd page I waffle about how AAAAAMMMMMMAAAAZZZZIIINNNGGGGG she is?
yeah well my Stella left me a note saying she gives me permission to be with you coz well, without this note I would still be using you and then leaving you...Because without the note and her permission I would not be over the guilt of... Well stuff. So let's once again thank the amazing Stella!!!!!!"
Yeah. Not kidding. This is how the plot went.
So this series is about a girl (lily) who is a consolation prize to a guy (jax) whose perfect wife (Stella) died.
P.s. Just because you kill off a character due to cancer doesn't automatically mean you get the reader's sympathy and to love said Character. In the end I just rolled my eyes...of COURSE saintly Stella would die yet still be the reason why Jax will now be with lily.
I have no idea where this author was going with Stella's character. It seems to me the author is confused about a lot of things in this book.
If this is how a soulmate and "the love" of one's life is treated then hecks no. You can keep it. I would rather be single and fab-uuu-lous ~
peace out.
Firstly, I have nothing against this author and this is my opinion Based on this Book.
The author needs to revise what she thinks the meaning of "soulmate" is. Extremely unlikeable hero (treats his supposed soulmate like dirt, Using her for his own needs and then tossing her away multiple times because... Well because he can).
Extremely unlikeable heroine (lily is a doormat, she has NO BACKBONE who let's jax use her and throw her away like garbage over and over again yet is ultimately ok with his behaviour and acts like it's her fault and...waits for him to okay her back into his life).
The Ending to this supposed "soul mate" series is a wowzer. I have no idea What the author was thinking but in order for her to make a successful storyline/plot. One has to have likeable characters.
I Read the first book. It was ok so I thought I would read the second as it is the sequel and finale to the "story of jax and lily".
To be quite frank, I feel very misled about this book and it's blurb. This is not a story about lily and jax. This is a story about jax and how much he loves his perfect saintly Stella whom he does everything for and treats right, meanwhile, treats his supposed soulmate like dirt.
No matter how well you write a book if the hero and heroine are unlikeable, there Is no way to enjoy the book.
Also Stella, who is described as perfect is in actual fact jax's soulmate. Why? Because he MARRIED her shortly after supposedly broken up over the love of his life (whom he threw away) and then proceeded to only get back to lily AFTER Stella had died and he found her written a letter saying that she gives him her blessing to be with lily (after he had once again mistreated and used lily...again).
You do not treat the love of your life like dirt, and jax didn't Because Stella is his soulmate Not lily. Actions speak louder than words.
(FYI if you are able to move into another relationship and love this girl, calling her your light within 3 months, then your feelings for your "soulmate" and "love of your life" was pretty damn shallow. )
yes, I know Stella was diagnosed with brain cancer (he found this out after falling in love with Stella and praising.how amazing she is) but the storyline to make jax seem like prince charming/hero doesn't come off as well as the author would like DUE TO THE FACT that he constantly sprouts how you don't abandon the ones you love (and this is reiterated over and over again to justify him being with Stella), yet he doesn't do that lily...EVER.
He mistreated lily, abandoned her, NEVER EVER FOUGHT FOR HER and yet she is his soulmate and the love of his life. Yeah, sorry not buying it. he even wasn't able to make a grand gesture to win lily back in the end. All it was was him basically turning up and saying "yo, I'm ready to have you in my life now. After mistreating you throughout our relationship (for sex) and showing you not an ounce of loyalty or consideration. I'm ready to allow you back into my life as something more". as to which she cries and says "yesssssssss....".
Also, lily's supposed best friend charlie is kind of crappy. Here is a guy who hurt her "best" friend over and over again, and instead of protecting her she just puts up a half assed "you hurt her...go away" but turns 180, all cheery with no reserve when jax basically says. "so where's lily? I'm totally ready to be with her now despite using (and let's face it, emotionally abusing) her.
blah. yeah, this author also needs to understand the dynamics of a person's need to protect their friend from a guy who mistreats her. Friends don't automatically smile and let the douchebag off the hook for playing with a friend's feelings.
HAVING said all that...let's once again go back to an important fact. JAX WOULD NOT BE WITH LILY IF HIS BELOVED SAINTLY STELLA HADNT WRITTEN HIM A NOTE GIVING HIM PERMISSION TO BE WITH HIS CONSOLATION PRIZE (oh sorry.. I meant soulmate) LILY.
So to recap this whole drama, if Stella hadn't died, Jax and Stella would have lived happily ever after.
ALSO, if jax hadn't found Stella's letter, he would have just let lily wait for him, use her, then leave her again because he's "confused" and "guilty" about wanting to be with his soulmate and the love of his life (confused? yeah me too.)
Oh, and in order to win her back he basically shows up and says..."yo, I can totally be with you now due to my saintly dead wife Stella. You know, the one that was "my light"? (I kid you not he calls stella his light in the book.)
Stella, who was so amazing and touched so many people's life thus healing me (from God knows what with his shallow feelings) and showing me to appreciate life and on every damn 2nd or 3rd page I waffle about how AAAAAMMMMMMAAAAZZZZIIINNNGGGGG she is?
yeah well my Stella left me a note saying she gives me permission to be with you coz well, without this note I would still be using you and then leaving you...Because without the note and her permission I would not be over the guilt of... Well stuff. So let's once again thank the amazing Stella!!!!!!"
Yeah. Not kidding. This is how the plot went.
So this series is about a girl (lily) who is a consolation prize to a guy (jax) whose perfect wife (Stella) died.
P.s. Just because you kill off a character due to cancer doesn't automatically mean you get the reader's sympathy and to love said Character. In the end I just rolled my eyes...of COURSE saintly Stella would die yet still be the reason why Jax will now be with lily.
I have no idea where this author was going with Stella's character. It seems to me the author is confused about a lot of things in this book.
If this is how a soulmate and "the love" of one's life is treated then hecks no. You can keep it. I would rather be single and fab-uuu-lous ~
peace out.
June 7, 2015
A forever kind of lova a tale of dying saint
Stella is this Stella is that blah blah blah. So lets talk about Stella
as a friend : a wolf in sheep's clothing- when Jax broke up with Lily never once she suggested that Jax should communticate with Lily about what was going on in his mind, what was bothering him. She happily accepted it and kissed him the first chance she got. But when jax said " he still in love with Lily" what she did. Oh yeah she waited for the perfect opportunity and she accepted with both hands.
as a girl friend : nothing but a rebound. He din't tell any one for 3 months that she was his girl friend. He waiting for Lily tovcome back to him. But when he thought Lily is not coming back he decided to move on. And for that Stella was there.
as a cancer patient : to trap a man who she wanted from freshman. When Jax asked her what could he do to help her what she said " please love me through it" . I lost count how many times she used that phrase. Oh dear this is called emotional blackmail if you just wondering.
As a Fiancee : a sorry excuse. Jax was feeling guilty while proposing her. And later also thlught Lilly was his everythi g.Pathetic. He has to remind himself again and again that Stella was dying to love her. So that his mind won't divert to his everything. Again pathetic. But payback is a bitch she used her illness so did Jax. Hopeless.
as a bride : a disaster. Oh dear Jax was thinking about his acting skills before the D- day. And icing on the cake, on her wedding day he said to Lilly he loves her even more than before and wants to be with her but can't.
as a wife : one line " please love me through this".
on her deathbed : a coward. She should have said all those stuff she mentioned in the letter to Jax face to face. But again she took an easy way out.
after death : Jax blaimed himself not to love her enough while she was alive. He knew he was not in love with her so he put more effort to save her so that he could satisfy himself. But that adversly affected him when she died. Plus he really wanted with Lily while he was with his so called wifey and when she died he felt free to be with Lily that intensified his guilt. But problem was he was in illusion that he loved Stella and he thought it would be hard for him to move on from her wife. But that was not the case. So he refused Lily to prove himself that he loved Stella. Stella din't only manipulate Jax while she was alive but also got succeeded to manipulate him after her death.
as a person : out of this world. I was not able to connect with this character at all. Jax is always she is very good person, she is light, she is so good with others. She could give a complex to Dalai Lama. Due to Her greatness she din't click with Jax also. Whenever Jax thoght about stella it was all about how she was with others. Never once he mentioned how much she affected him as he always mentioned about Lily.
I have never written a review before. But the greatness of Stella compelled me to write my first review. Hail Stella. RIP
Stella is this Stella is that blah blah blah. So lets talk about Stella
as a friend : a wolf in sheep's clothing- when Jax broke up with Lily never once she suggested that Jax should communticate with Lily about what was going on in his mind, what was bothering him. She happily accepted it and kissed him the first chance she got. But when jax said " he still in love with Lily" what she did. Oh yeah she waited for the perfect opportunity and she accepted with both hands.
as a girl friend : nothing but a rebound. He din't tell any one for 3 months that she was his girl friend. He waiting for Lily tovcome back to him. But when he thought Lily is not coming back he decided to move on. And for that Stella was there.
as a cancer patient : to trap a man who she wanted from freshman. When Jax asked her what could he do to help her what she said " please love me through it" . I lost count how many times she used that phrase. Oh dear this is called emotional blackmail if you just wondering.
As a Fiancee : a sorry excuse. Jax was feeling guilty while proposing her. And later also thlught Lilly was his everythi g.Pathetic. He has to remind himself again and again that Stella was dying to love her. So that his mind won't divert to his everything. Again pathetic. But payback is a bitch she used her illness so did Jax. Hopeless.
as a bride : a disaster. Oh dear Jax was thinking about his acting skills before the D- day. And icing on the cake, on her wedding day he said to Lilly he loves her even more than before and wants to be with her but can't.
as a wife : one line " please love me through this".
on her deathbed : a coward. She should have said all those stuff she mentioned in the letter to Jax face to face. But again she took an easy way out.
after death : Jax blaimed himself not to love her enough while she was alive. He knew he was not in love with her so he put more effort to save her so that he could satisfy himself. But that adversly affected him when she died. Plus he really wanted with Lily while he was with his so called wifey and when she died he felt free to be with Lily that intensified his guilt. But problem was he was in illusion that he loved Stella and he thought it would be hard for him to move on from her wife. But that was not the case. So he refused Lily to prove himself that he loved Stella. Stella din't only manipulate Jax while she was alive but also got succeeded to manipulate him after her death.
as a person : out of this world. I was not able to connect with this character at all. Jax is always she is very good person, she is light, she is so good with others. She could give a complex to Dalai Lama. Due to Her greatness she din't click with Jax also. Whenever Jax thoght about stella it was all about how she was with others. Never once he mentioned how much she affected him as he always mentioned about Lily.
I have never written a review before. But the greatness of Stella compelled me to write my first review. Hail Stella. RIP
will-not-be-reading-no-thanks
May 22, 2015June 7, 2015
Oh no no no no no
This IS soooooo f*cked up!!!
This is about how much Jax loves Stella and their marriage. It's about Lil being a stupid weak doormat.
Jesus Christ how I wished I haven't wasted the time Reading this!!!
Freaking annoyed and beyond pissed!
This IS soooooo f*cked up!!!
This is about how much Jax loves Stella and their marriage. It's about Lil being a stupid weak doormat.
Jesus Christ how I wished I haven't wasted the time Reading this!!!
Freaking annoyed and beyond pissed!
June 8, 2015
Oh how I hated this book! Actually I don't remember many books I've hated as much as I hated this book. I can't believe I was looking forward to reading this one and trust me it wasn't worth it at all. In fact, I'm so stinking mad I could beat the hell out of Jax. I saw a few reviews before reading this but still took the chance which now I know I clearly shouldn't have.
It was a story of Jax and Stella, not of Jax and Lilly. The blurb is misleading giving us the assumption that Jax was pining for Lilly. When in reality he was pining over Stella and what a saint she was. I hated Jax and how he hurt Lilly over and over. I hated how he dumped Lilly because he couldn't make her his priority but he didn't have that problem with Stella at all. I thought he was just being young and stupid when he dumped Lilly, but when he still went ahead and married Stella, I knew that he never really loved Lilly. Maybe he just loved the idea of being in love? Because how could he claim to love Lilly when within six months not only did he fall in love with another woman but also married her? I hated Lilly too, for being such a doormat, for not standing up for herself. She was still holding out hope that Jax would come back even after he was married to Stella. And yes, he did. But you know what the kicker was? He came back after Stella died. So Lilly was basically a consolation prize. She wasn't his first choice. He chose her by default. I also didn't feel like he did anything to redeem himself.
After I read the first book I knew their journey back to each other would be a bumpy road. What I didn't know was that it would be a journey of Jax and Stella where Lilly would get the scrap of Jax. I wish I could unread the book.
I don't recommend this book unless you want to torture yourself reading about Jax being a douche bag at every turn and Stella being a conniving bitch and Lilly losing her self-respect and dignity.
It was a story of Jax and Stella, not of Jax and Lilly. The blurb is misleading giving us the assumption that Jax was pining for Lilly. When in reality he was pining over Stella and what a saint she was. I hated Jax and how he hurt Lilly over and over. I hated how he dumped Lilly because he couldn't make her his priority but he didn't have that problem with Stella at all. I thought he was just being young and stupid when he dumped Lilly, but when he still went ahead and married Stella, I knew that he never really loved Lilly. Maybe he just loved the idea of being in love? Because how could he claim to love Lilly when within six months not only did he fall in love with another woman but also married her? I hated Lilly too, for being such a doormat, for not standing up for herself. She was still holding out hope that Jax would come back even after he was married to Stella. And yes, he did. But you know what the kicker was? He came back after Stella died. So Lilly was basically a consolation prize. She wasn't his first choice. He chose her by default. I also didn't feel like he did anything to redeem himself.
After I read the first book I knew their journey back to each other would be a bumpy road. What I didn't know was that it would be a journey of Jax and Stella where Lilly would get the scrap of Jax. I wish I could unread the book.
I don't recommend this book unless you want to torture yourself reading about Jax being a douche bag at every turn and Stella being a conniving bitch and Lilly losing her self-respect and dignity.
July 23, 2015
Loved It as much if not more than the first book.
The road to happily ever after is paved with struggles, heartache, and hard choices…but, if we take the lessons from our journey and learn from them—our happily ever after will be so worth it.
-Jax Porter
Let me start by saying I love Ellie and everything she writes, this book included. She does angst so brilliantly. And if you know how Book 1 ended them going in to Book 2 you should not expect a quick fluffy HEA with a big bow on top. That is not Ellie's writing style. She doesn't write the fairytale. She writes the realistic story. Yes the blurb and book 1 talk a lot about Soulmates but It's called the "Choices" series for a reason. And the tag line of the book - "Every choice has a consequence." -again this warns the reader it's gong to be a bumpy ride and not just an easy HEA. If that's not your cup of tea then don't even start the series. If you do enjoy these type of books then get ready because she gives us a great journey. (And yes I'm purposely referencing what Lily says in book 1) One that I loved every second of and I wouldn't change a bit.
***Spoilers for book one below****
In Book 2 we finally get to know what Jax has been thinking. The beginning of it goes in the past to just before Lily leaves for college. We get to see the full pressure being put on him and ultimately his reasons for letting Lily go in the first place. Then his heartache when she doesn't take him back and chooses Trenton over him.
In the next part of the book (to some reader's disappointment), we get to see him fall in love with Stella. -yes I said he's "in love" with someone else other than Lily- I know this comes as a shock to some people but if you read how Book 1 ended it shouldn't shock you. Now we get to understand why. And again some readers think this book was too much Jax and Stells but I would have been more upset if we just had Insta love without being able to understand how he allowed himself to move on (While Lily was still with Trenton at this point). And it's not an easy choice for him, he does struggle with it. "On one side is my future, fighting to move on, and on the other side is my past, insisting on holding on to the memories for a little longer. I know what I need to do. No one can live their life in the past. The only problem is, my past includes Lily, and she makes it impossible for me to let go."
And later he also says "If things were different would I be driving home with Lily right now instead of with Stella? I know the answer to that question, but even voicing it in my head is too painful to bear."
Then the big Stella reveal chapter comes and of course I won't tell you what it is but just know it obviously plays a part in how quickly their relationship progresses. "A small part of me feels guilty because if things were different, then I wouldn’t be proposing to Stella right now. But things aren’t different." It deepens his feelings for her and we can understand why he doesn't run back to Lily when, months later, she finally comes back to him. (And trust me his intentions are very Noble why he picks Stella over Lily- much more so then why Lily picked Trenton over him so don't get too angry with him) So now we are at the point where book 1 ends. And again I don't want to spoil anything else, but yes his relationship with Stella continues. Again it's part of the journey and essential to the plot that it doesn't just get grazed over. It changed my mind about Stella and again helped me see what Jax saw in her, even feel some of what Jax did. During this time, we don't see a lot of Lily. I think that's for two reasons- of course Jax still loves her but I think he knows she needs her space in NY, He feels guilty for not choosing her and wants to allow her to move on if she needs to. Also he wants to focus on Stella (again- his reasons are noble and you will understand it once you read it.) On the flip side, Lily may not be contacting him as much either because she is hurt, he made his choice and since he's engaged, she is not fighting for him. Then there is another turning point in the book and things shift again. I won't spoil anything else but Lily comes back into the picture in a big way. You will have to read the book to see what happens next and I was not disappointed.
If you want the fluffy fairytale, look somewhere else. If you want to laugh, cry, hate characters, love characters, cry some more, slap characters, love characters again and in the end thank the author for doing such an extraordinary job making you feel all that, READ THIS BOOK!
The road to happily ever after is paved with struggles, heartache, and hard choices…but, if we take the lessons from our journey and learn from them—our happily ever after will be so worth it.
-Jax Porter
Let me start by saying I love Ellie and everything she writes, this book included. She does angst so brilliantly. And if you know how Book 1 ended them going in to Book 2 you should not expect a quick fluffy HEA with a big bow on top. That is not Ellie's writing style. She doesn't write the fairytale. She writes the realistic story. Yes the blurb and book 1 talk a lot about Soulmates but It's called the "Choices" series for a reason. And the tag line of the book - "Every choice has a consequence." -again this warns the reader it's gong to be a bumpy ride and not just an easy HEA. If that's not your cup of tea then don't even start the series. If you do enjoy these type of books then get ready because she gives us a great journey. (And yes I'm purposely referencing what Lily says in book 1) One that I loved every second of and I wouldn't change a bit.
***Spoilers for book one below****
In Book 2 we finally get to know what Jax has been thinking. The beginning of it goes in the past to just before Lily leaves for college. We get to see the full pressure being put on him and ultimately his reasons for letting Lily go in the first place. Then his heartache when she doesn't take him back and chooses Trenton over him.
In the next part of the book (to some reader's disappointment), we get to see him fall in love with Stella. -yes I said he's "in love" with someone else other than Lily- I know this comes as a shock to some people but if you read how Book 1 ended it shouldn't shock you. Now we get to understand why. And again some readers think this book was too much Jax and Stells but I would have been more upset if we just had Insta love without being able to understand how he allowed himself to move on (While Lily was still with Trenton at this point). And it's not an easy choice for him, he does struggle with it. "On one side is my future, fighting to move on, and on the other side is my past, insisting on holding on to the memories for a little longer. I know what I need to do. No one can live their life in the past. The only problem is, my past includes Lily, and she makes it impossible for me to let go."
And later he also says "If things were different would I be driving home with Lily right now instead of with Stella? I know the answer to that question, but even voicing it in my head is too painful to bear."
Then the big Stella reveal chapter comes and of course I won't tell you what it is but just know it obviously plays a part in how quickly their relationship progresses. "A small part of me feels guilty because if things were different, then I wouldn’t be proposing to Stella right now. But things aren’t different." It deepens his feelings for her and we can understand why he doesn't run back to Lily when, months later, she finally comes back to him. (And trust me his intentions are very Noble why he picks Stella over Lily- much more so then why Lily picked Trenton over him so don't get too angry with him) So now we are at the point where book 1 ends. And again I don't want to spoil anything else, but yes his relationship with Stella continues. Again it's part of the journey and essential to the plot that it doesn't just get grazed over. It changed my mind about Stella and again helped me see what Jax saw in her, even feel some of what Jax did. During this time, we don't see a lot of Lily. I think that's for two reasons- of course Jax still loves her but I think he knows she needs her space in NY, He feels guilty for not choosing her and wants to allow her to move on if she needs to. Also he wants to focus on Stella (again- his reasons are noble and you will understand it once you read it.) On the flip side, Lily may not be contacting him as much either because she is hurt, he made his choice and since he's engaged, she is not fighting for him. Then there is another turning point in the book and things shift again. I won't spoil anything else but Lily comes back into the picture in a big way. You will have to read the book to see what happens next and I was not disappointed.
If you want the fluffy fairytale, look somewhere else. If you want to laugh, cry, hate characters, love characters, cry some more, slap characters, love characters again and in the end thank the author for doing such an extraordinary job making you feel all that, READ THIS BOOK!
Read
October 8, 2021A really hard book to read. Not the text book definition of soul mate. Or perhaps not how someone should ever treat their soul mate.
June 16, 2015
Disappointed - definitely! This train wreck certainly wasn't what I envisioned for two self-proclaimed soul mates and their happily-ever-after. It hurt to watch all the ridiculousness that erupted on the pages of this book. I wasn't gullible enough to fall for it as believable or realistic. What I felt at the end of Book One was shock and stress over where this author would take us before readers got back on track with Jax and Lily. I never anticipated all the nonsensical excuses Jax could spew from his mouth in order to try and make himself out to be more than he was. And Lily just bit the green weenie and turned into a sniveling and weak whiner. And Stella - I don't even want to touch that one with a ten-foot pole. All three got a complete make-over in personalities from their original appearances. Some of their actions were deplorable and pathetic. And nothing I read called to me and said, this is a story of soul mates who were made for each other.
And even though there appears to be a happily-ever-after in a nicely written Epilogue -- I'm not trusting anything in the world of Lily and Jax!
And even though there appears to be a happily-ever-after in a nicely written Epilogue -- I'm not trusting anything in the world of Lily and Jax!
May 22, 2015
3.5 stars.
Honestly... I found myself skim reading a lot of parts of this story. But in saying that, there's something about this author that hooks me in.
My feelings and thoughts in a nut shell consisted of this:
I hate you.
I hate you.
Oh my god, I want to cut you.
Nope.
Hell no.
**crucial part in story** YES!!! Ha! Sorry, but, best news ever!!!
Ugh.
Still hate you.
You make me stabby.
Poor Lily. Just junk punch him, Lil!
**big thing happens** FINALLY!!!
Aw yay.
Noooooooo.
Yay again!
Booooo again.
Screw you.
And you.
Everyone can go get screwed!!!
Sigh. I'm too bitter to be happy about this.
And you know what, I love feeling all these feelings!! If I can feel this passionate about a story -good or bad-, then it's a good story IMO.
In the end, they say that they'd never choose a path other than what they had, but right now, with my emotions still raw,I don't want to accept that!!! For once, I don't want the happily ever after. I don't know what I want. Sigh.
Honestly... I found myself skim reading a lot of parts of this story. But in saying that, there's something about this author that hooks me in.
My feelings and thoughts in a nut shell consisted of this:
I hate you.
I hate you.
Oh my god, I want to cut you.
Nope.
Hell no.
**crucial part in story** YES!!! Ha! Sorry, but, best news ever!!!
Ugh.
Still hate you.
You make me stabby.
Poor Lily. Just junk punch him, Lil!
**big thing happens** FINALLY!!!
Aw yay.
Noooooooo.
Yay again!
Booooo again.
Screw you.
And you.
Everyone can go get screwed!!!
Sigh. I'm too bitter to be happy about this.
And you know what, I love feeling all these feelings!! If I can feel this passionate about a story -good or bad-, then it's a good story IMO.
In the end, they say that they'd never choose a path other than what they had, but right now, with my emotions still raw,I don't want to accept that!!! For once, I don't want the happily ever after. I don't know what I want. Sigh.
July 17, 2020
Also known as 101 reasons not to read this duets. Check out the highlights and this quote of the hero having sex with his WIFE, who is not the heroine
I break the kiss. I turn off the water, and we dry off before heading to her bedroom. We drop our towels and stand there, looking at one another. We stand like this, motionless, and stare into each other’s eyes, searching for answers where there are none. The anguish filling the air is so tangible that I can feel it against my every pore. “I love you, Stella.” “I love you, Jax.” Our bodies come together, and I lay her down on her bed. I take my time loving her body with my hands and mouth. The rest of the world has fallen away, and it is just Stella and me in our own universe. We are able to focus solely on one another, and for this small moment in time, nothing else matters. In our world, there is no pain, and there is no death. There is only love, and it is a gift.
I break the kiss. I turn off the water, and we dry off before heading to her bedroom. We drop our towels and stand there, looking at one another. We stand like this, motionless, and stare into each other’s eyes, searching for answers where there are none. The anguish filling the air is so tangible that I can feel it against my every pore. “I love you, Stella.” “I love you, Jax.” Our bodies come together, and I lay her down on her bed. I take my time loving her body with my hands and mouth. The rest of the world has fallen away, and it is just Stella and me in our own universe. We are able to focus solely on one another, and for this small moment in time, nothing else matters. In our world, there is no pain, and there is no death. There is only love, and it is a gift.
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