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Natexus #1
Let Him Go: Natexus
We started as two strangers. We ended with only one of us in love.
Alex Law wasn’t meant to be there on the darkest night of my life. Seven breaths left in my sister’s chest, yet I looked back at him—the new boy who continued to make a habit of showing up when I least expected him, determined to turn my tender grief into some kind of twisted happiness I was too weak to resist.
But Alex had demons of his own he tried to hide from me. When his truths were finally set free, so was he. Not all love stories go the same way, and when he gave up on us and walked away, he dragged my broken young heart with him.
I knew there had been life before Alex Law. Now I had to figure out if there was life after him.
That beautiful, tragic first love of mine.
- Natalie Vincent.
Alex Law wasn’t meant to be there on the darkest night of my life. Seven breaths left in my sister’s chest, yet I looked back at him—the new boy who continued to make a habit of showing up when I least expected him, determined to turn my tender grief into some kind of twisted happiness I was too weak to resist.
But Alex had demons of his own he tried to hide from me. When his truths were finally set free, so was he. Not all love stories go the same way, and when he gave up on us and walked away, he dragged my broken young heart with him.
I knew there had been life before Alex Law. Now I had to figure out if there was life after him.
That beautiful, tragic first love of mine.
- Natalie Vincent.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2016
108 people are currently reading
495 people want to read
About the author
Victoria L. James
21 books526 followersVictoria's reader group ➤ https://goo.gl/cRh7VM
Facebook ➤ https://goo.gl/38RTYH
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Website ➤ www.victorialjames.com
WITHOUT FOREVER... Releasing June 18th. Are you ready to say goodbye to Drew and Ayda?
Victoria L. James is a teenage girl stuck inside a thirty-something-year-old’s body. A Corona and nacho appreciator with a ridiculous obsession for all things Rocky Balboa, she currently lives in Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two baby boys. Having had a strong passion for words and stories going as far back as she can remember, she credits her love of literature to her Grandma Bess who taught her that you don’t need a lot of money to travel to different worlds, experience new places, and live a thousand lives.
Facebook ➤ https://goo.gl/38RTYH
Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/victoria_lj...
Website ➤ www.victorialjames.com
WITHOUT FOREVER... Releasing June 18th. Are you ready to say goodbye to Drew and Ayda?
Victoria L. James is a teenage girl stuck inside a thirty-something-year-old’s body. A Corona and nacho appreciator with a ridiculous obsession for all things Rocky Balboa, she currently lives in Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two baby boys. Having had a strong passion for words and stories going as far back as she can remember, she credits her love of literature to her Grandma Bess who taught her that you don’t need a lot of money to travel to different worlds, experience new places, and live a thousand lives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
February 6, 2016
Review by Jen Hagen
Two things you must know about me: 1) I jump to the ending of a book after I’ve been reading for 5 minutes, and 2) I seldom read stories that involve teenage love. Having said that, I went against the grain on both these items and can sum up the book in one word – INTENSE. For whatever reason I decided I didn’t want to know any spoilers – I purposely closed my Goodreads window so that I wouldn’t be tempted to take a peek. This story was INTENSE (I said it again) and I became a selfish person just so that I could finish it– my children’s homework got ignored and my little girl didn’t get her bath so that I could finish the book.
I knew from the very first chapter that this author was going to have me under her spell with her writing. It is phenomenal! There is so much dialogue without a lot of speaking. She is able to convey EVERYTHING a person is thinking and feeling…oh the feels…she was ripping my heart out the entire way.
Natalie meets Alex for the first time on a night that will forever change her world and fill it with grief. Alex was a witness to this moment and he too was affected by its profound impact. After this evening their interactions are very brief with only occasional glances and practically no speaking. But the bus rides to school…oh my gosh…how much sweeter could a 17-year-old boy get?
“I saw your pain, Natalie. I saw it and I guess it’s why I get on the bus each morning. I look at you every day because I want to…because I need to. Something happened to me that night that I can’t explain. I don’t need to hear you speak. I’m not hot on conversation myself. I just need to get on that bus every day, see you and make sure you’re alright.”
Did your heart expand outside its cavity size yet? Alex is amazing. This young lad is wise beyond his years with an old soul. My main reason for not particularly enjoying a young adult read is I have a difficult time believing how somebody can profess they are madly in love with another at such a young age. This book had me believing that it’s possible for a 16-year-old to know more than I can at 44 years.
He quietened my mind. He took charge of my fear. He made the world fall away and the warmth take over. He woke me up.
Natalie’s despair disappears when Alex surrounds her. Things are great between them. They both require little speaking to convey their thoughts, and one thing that is definitely not spoken about is Alex’s family or anything about Alex’s background. Where did he suddenly come from? Whereas one night changed everything for Natalie, the same can be said for Alex – one night will forever alter his course.
The Alex I’d come to know and love was gone, and in his place was a broken boy with hatred in his heart and defeat fresh in his mind. I was losing him.
How do you move on from losing the love that became as normal to you as the sun rising? What Natalie does is pretend…
I pretended not to think of him on my 18th birthday.
I pretended not to dream of him on my 19th birthday.
I pretended not to remember him on my 20th birthday.
I pretended not to wonder about him on my 21st birthday.
I pretended not to miss him on my 22nd birthday.
I debated putting that last quote in regarding her birthdays because it gives you the spoiler that this book spans years. It’s not just a quick romance as some teenage loves can be but it’s a life-altering love that never ceases. It truly is beautiful and one of the most gorgeous love stories I have read for a very long time.
“My love for you is unconditional, whether you love me back or not. I know that now. It’s not just there if you’re available, or if you’re in trouble. It doesn’t just live in me if you’re by my side. It’s a lifelong thing. I can’t help it any more than I can help breathing. You’re a part of me now.”
Alex just made my heart burst again. But look up and read the quote…do you see the word available? Is Natalie available after all these years? Somebody was there to pick up her pieces and put her back together again. I won’t say who it is, but it is somebody that is strong and loving. He knows the ghost he competes with and he has assurance that Natalie and he are solid. He is a good, good man. He almost made me cry with his goodness and sincerity.
If ever there was a man who was capable of loving someone selflessly, it was [I’m not saying!]. He was made to be that guy – the one who put everyone else before him. He was born to make people safe, make them feel cherished, make them feel wanted.
Natalie has a very difficult choice to make and no matter who she chooses there is a going to be a decent man moving on.
“I don’t want a life without you in it,” I admitted to him, my throat aching and tight.
“You won’t have to have a life without me in it. Maybe we just always meant to be the best of friends.”
Is your heart breaking yet? This is an INTENSE (the perfect one-word adjective) read. My Kindle highlights for this book have surpassed any other book. I had such a difficult time choosing what to use. There are so many paragraphs highlighted at a time, sometimes leading into an entire page of highlights.
Not only is the story empowering, but the writing is breathtaking. I hope you all give this writer with her unique writing a huge chance. One last thing to know about me…I rarely give out 5 stars. I can count on one hand how many I gave out last year…I give this book a solid 5!!
Two things you must know about me: 1) I jump to the ending of a book after I’ve been reading for 5 minutes, and 2) I seldom read stories that involve teenage love. Having said that, I went against the grain on both these items and can sum up the book in one word – INTENSE. For whatever reason I decided I didn’t want to know any spoilers – I purposely closed my Goodreads window so that I wouldn’t be tempted to take a peek. This story was INTENSE (I said it again) and I became a selfish person just so that I could finish it– my children’s homework got ignored and my little girl didn’t get her bath so that I could finish the book.
I knew from the very first chapter that this author was going to have me under her spell with her writing. It is phenomenal! There is so much dialogue without a lot of speaking. She is able to convey EVERYTHING a person is thinking and feeling…oh the feels…she was ripping my heart out the entire way.
Natalie meets Alex for the first time on a night that will forever change her world and fill it with grief. Alex was a witness to this moment and he too was affected by its profound impact. After this evening their interactions are very brief with only occasional glances and practically no speaking. But the bus rides to school…oh my gosh…how much sweeter could a 17-year-old boy get?
“I saw your pain, Natalie. I saw it and I guess it’s why I get on the bus each morning. I look at you every day because I want to…because I need to. Something happened to me that night that I can’t explain. I don’t need to hear you speak. I’m not hot on conversation myself. I just need to get on that bus every day, see you and make sure you’re alright.”
Did your heart expand outside its cavity size yet? Alex is amazing. This young lad is wise beyond his years with an old soul. My main reason for not particularly enjoying a young adult read is I have a difficult time believing how somebody can profess they are madly in love with another at such a young age. This book had me believing that it’s possible for a 16-year-old to know more than I can at 44 years.
He quietened my mind. He took charge of my fear. He made the world fall away and the warmth take over. He woke me up.
Natalie’s despair disappears when Alex surrounds her. Things are great between them. They both require little speaking to convey their thoughts, and one thing that is definitely not spoken about is Alex’s family or anything about Alex’s background. Where did he suddenly come from? Whereas one night changed everything for Natalie, the same can be said for Alex – one night will forever alter his course.
The Alex I’d come to know and love was gone, and in his place was a broken boy with hatred in his heart and defeat fresh in his mind. I was losing him.
How do you move on from losing the love that became as normal to you as the sun rising? What Natalie does is pretend…
I pretended not to think of him on my 18th birthday.
I pretended not to dream of him on my 19th birthday.
I pretended not to remember him on my 20th birthday.
I pretended not to wonder about him on my 21st birthday.
I pretended not to miss him on my 22nd birthday.
I debated putting that last quote in regarding her birthdays because it gives you the spoiler that this book spans years. It’s not just a quick romance as some teenage loves can be but it’s a life-altering love that never ceases. It truly is beautiful and one of the most gorgeous love stories I have read for a very long time.
“My love for you is unconditional, whether you love me back or not. I know that now. It’s not just there if you’re available, or if you’re in trouble. It doesn’t just live in me if you’re by my side. It’s a lifelong thing. I can’t help it any more than I can help breathing. You’re a part of me now.”
Alex just made my heart burst again. But look up and read the quote…do you see the word available? Is Natalie available after all these years? Somebody was there to pick up her pieces and put her back together again. I won’t say who it is, but it is somebody that is strong and loving. He knows the ghost he competes with and he has assurance that Natalie and he are solid. He is a good, good man. He almost made me cry with his goodness and sincerity.
If ever there was a man who was capable of loving someone selflessly, it was [I’m not saying!]. He was made to be that guy – the one who put everyone else before him. He was born to make people safe, make them feel cherished, make them feel wanted.
Natalie has a very difficult choice to make and no matter who she chooses there is a going to be a decent man moving on.
“I don’t want a life without you in it,” I admitted to him, my throat aching and tight.
“You won’t have to have a life without me in it. Maybe we just always meant to be the best of friends.”
Is your heart breaking yet? This is an INTENSE (the perfect one-word adjective) read. My Kindle highlights for this book have surpassed any other book. I had such a difficult time choosing what to use. There are so many paragraphs highlighted at a time, sometimes leading into an entire page of highlights.
Not only is the story empowering, but the writing is breathtaking. I hope you all give this writer with her unique writing a huge chance. One last thing to know about me…I rarely give out 5 stars. I can count on one hand how many I gave out last year…I give this book a solid 5!!
April 15, 2017
He loved me. And I loved him too, despite the dents in my heart that sometimes made it awkward for him to get comfortable there.
There's a kind of simple beauty to prose like this. Where a profound statement can be expressed in twenty or so words. This book is full of moments like that; the kind I eat up with a spoon. Where the author is effortlessly smart about choosing a simple combination of words to create a deep moment or thought.
This romance is very realistic. It doesn't pull any emotional punches but sucks you in from the get-go, and treats its subject with honesty. I felt these characters could be real people and while I sometimes doubted how on earth the were going to find each other, I was captivated by the journey. I loved Nat as a heroine. Sweet but tough and not afraid to tell the boy who broke her heart that she's not going to stand for it again.
I love smart writing, and when you add it to emotional realism you get a winner.
There's a kind of simple beauty to prose like this. Where a profound statement can be expressed in twenty or so words. This book is full of moments like that; the kind I eat up with a spoon. Where the author is effortlessly smart about choosing a simple combination of words to create a deep moment or thought.
This romance is very realistic. It doesn't pull any emotional punches but sucks you in from the get-go, and treats its subject with honesty. I felt these characters could be real people and while I sometimes doubted how on earth the were going to find each other, I was captivated by the journey. I loved Nat as a heroine. Sweet but tough and not afraid to tell the boy who broke her heart that she's not going to stand for it again.
I love smart writing, and when you add it to emotional realism you get a winner.
December 10, 2017
Livro lindo! Second chances....
Gostei da narração, muito bem desenvolvida, com um quê de suspense e um romance maravilhoso.
Vale a leitura
Gostei da narração, muito bem desenvolvida, com um quê de suspense e um romance maravilhoso.
Vale a leitura
January 30, 2016
Favorite Quotes:
“Never let the end of one thing stop you from enjoying the beginning of another.”
“I’d been searching for a way to describe it for months, but I got it then, I got it. I knew that Alex felt like peace to me. When I was near him, the noise in my head fell quiet. I didn’t find myself thinking so much. I was too busy staring, analyzing, and daydreaming.”
“‘I have a good memory for nice moments, Natalie.’ Alex tilted his head to one side and smirked as he narrowed his eyes. Natalie. He said my name like he cherished it. I’d never heard it spoken that way before.”
“‘You cow! This dental floss g-string is made of delicate lace.’ Danni quickly glanced back at my parents and offered them a full, beaming smile along with a wave that replicated The Queen’s.”
“Our time together back then is one of those moments in life that we will always regret because we didn’t try, not because we tried and failed. Those kinds of stories, they’re the ones that kill us from the inside out. They’re the ones we’ll think about until the day we die. That’s what regret does. It burns under the skin. It taunts you with the possibilities you turned down, and in the end, there’s nothing we can do to get rid of that. Nothing we can do at all.”
“How was it possible to care for two men and love them in two completely different ways? How was it possible to feel like your body and soul were going in two totally different directions? One half wanted to save someone; the other half wanted to be saved.”
“I can promise to love you like no man has ever loved a woman, and I can promise to do that forever.”
My Review:
Reading Natexus nearly wrecked me. Oddly, I have never been so delighted to suffer such conflict, and doubt I ever will again as I cannot envision this intangible quality ever being replicated. I was enthralled and completely engrossed, yet tense and somewhat on edge; a condition I generally don’t appreciate, but I didn’t seem to mind it at all, and remain totally enamored with Victoria L. James – she has mad skills. My cold heart received the equivalent of a thorough cardio work-out while reading, the poor old thing alternated between thumping with anxiety, sinking, pounding in excitement, soaring, then shattering at least 4 times. My eyes remained rather misty, a rare occurrence for me, and there were also a few occasions accompanied with ugly bouts of sobbing. However, by the nail biting conclusion, my fist-sized muscle was singing yet again. While I skipped the gym yesterday without guilt – I find I am now in need of a spa day.
The story was beautifully written, and nothing short of exquisite - tender, sweet, romantic, tear jerking, heart squeezing, mesmerizing, relevant, touching, occasionally steamy, frequently devastating, and highly emotive. If I had to pick one word – it would be poignant. The characters were fully fleshed out, intriguing, and complicated, each having experienced tragedy in their childhoods that would significantly shape, scar, and continually alter their life view. His through trauma and a ghastly home life, hers from the grief of living with and losing a chronically ill sibling. They meshed perfectly as only young/first/epic lovers can. But of course - trouble erupted and it all fell apart. I was deeply conflicted and could not decide whom to root for! I had marked six pages of favorite quotes… six pages… all deeply profound, painfully insightful, or cleverly humorous – it was nearly impossible to narrow it down! Victoria L. James must have been blessed by the pixies as she has magical powers in the use of words. Sigh.
“Never let the end of one thing stop you from enjoying the beginning of another.”
“I’d been searching for a way to describe it for months, but I got it then, I got it. I knew that Alex felt like peace to me. When I was near him, the noise in my head fell quiet. I didn’t find myself thinking so much. I was too busy staring, analyzing, and daydreaming.”
“‘I have a good memory for nice moments, Natalie.’ Alex tilted his head to one side and smirked as he narrowed his eyes. Natalie. He said my name like he cherished it. I’d never heard it spoken that way before.”
“‘You cow! This dental floss g-string is made of delicate lace.’ Danni quickly glanced back at my parents and offered them a full, beaming smile along with a wave that replicated The Queen’s.”
“Our time together back then is one of those moments in life that we will always regret because we didn’t try, not because we tried and failed. Those kinds of stories, they’re the ones that kill us from the inside out. They’re the ones we’ll think about until the day we die. That’s what regret does. It burns under the skin. It taunts you with the possibilities you turned down, and in the end, there’s nothing we can do to get rid of that. Nothing we can do at all.”
“How was it possible to care for two men and love them in two completely different ways? How was it possible to feel like your body and soul were going in two totally different directions? One half wanted to save someone; the other half wanted to be saved.”
“I can promise to love you like no man has ever loved a woman, and I can promise to do that forever.”
My Review:
Reading Natexus nearly wrecked me. Oddly, I have never been so delighted to suffer such conflict, and doubt I ever will again as I cannot envision this intangible quality ever being replicated. I was enthralled and completely engrossed, yet tense and somewhat on edge; a condition I generally don’t appreciate, but I didn’t seem to mind it at all, and remain totally enamored with Victoria L. James – she has mad skills. My cold heart received the equivalent of a thorough cardio work-out while reading, the poor old thing alternated between thumping with anxiety, sinking, pounding in excitement, soaring, then shattering at least 4 times. My eyes remained rather misty, a rare occurrence for me, and there were also a few occasions accompanied with ugly bouts of sobbing. However, by the nail biting conclusion, my fist-sized muscle was singing yet again. While I skipped the gym yesterday without guilt – I find I am now in need of a spa day.
The story was beautifully written, and nothing short of exquisite - tender, sweet, romantic, tear jerking, heart squeezing, mesmerizing, relevant, touching, occasionally steamy, frequently devastating, and highly emotive. If I had to pick one word – it would be poignant. The characters were fully fleshed out, intriguing, and complicated, each having experienced tragedy in their childhoods that would significantly shape, scar, and continually alter their life view. His through trauma and a ghastly home life, hers from the grief of living with and losing a chronically ill sibling. They meshed perfectly as only young/first/epic lovers can. But of course - trouble erupted and it all fell apart. I was deeply conflicted and could not decide whom to root for! I had marked six pages of favorite quotes… six pages… all deeply profound, painfully insightful, or cleverly humorous – it was nearly impossible to narrow it down! Victoria L. James must have been blessed by the pixies as she has magical powers in the use of words. Sigh.
January 27, 2016
I wish I were an author so I could write the review worthy of this book. Natexus was so beautifully written that it will stay with me for a long time. From seeing the teasers and watching the trailer, I knew this book would be amazing but I under estimated just how amazing it would be.
Instantly I was pulled into Natalie’s world and didn’t want to come out. This book had me, smiling like a loon and crying, my heart breaking and soaring, and my mind torn between how I wanted the story go.
I cried many times throughout Natexus. There was a lot of angst but not the normal – just get together angst, but rather, how is the amazing love story going to end.
This book should really come with a big box of tissues for all the heart wrenching tears you will shed but also for the happy tears. Sometimes they will fall at the same time.
ALL the characters in this book were phenomenal. I was able to relate to each of them and enjoyed watching the characters grow into their own as the story went on. I loved especially watching how Natalie coped with everything she was dealt with. Alex and Marcus were amazing, sweet, funny, and loyal which is why this became all the more heart-breakingly sweet story.
I could not put this book down. As I was doing laundry, making dinner, everything, I had this book in my hand. Even when I took the dog out to relieve himself I had my nose buried in the book. My dog actually peed on my boot because I was so enthralled in the story and I didn’t even realize he did it until I was back in the house taking my boots off. How many books have your read that are boot pissing good?!
You need to read this book. It will definitely give you a hangover and nostalgic to go back and read it again once you are finished. Natexus is a story that I would love to be able to erase from my mind so I could read it all over again without knowing what was going to happen. Every time I think of this book I can feel my heart reaching out to the characters wanting to immerse myself in the story all over again.
Instantly I was pulled into Natalie’s world and didn’t want to come out. This book had me, smiling like a loon and crying, my heart breaking and soaring, and my mind torn between how I wanted the story go.
I cried many times throughout Natexus. There was a lot of angst but not the normal – just get together angst, but rather, how is the amazing love story going to end.
This book should really come with a big box of tissues for all the heart wrenching tears you will shed but also for the happy tears. Sometimes they will fall at the same time.
ALL the characters in this book were phenomenal. I was able to relate to each of them and enjoyed watching the characters grow into their own as the story went on. I loved especially watching how Natalie coped with everything she was dealt with. Alex and Marcus were amazing, sweet, funny, and loyal which is why this became all the more heart-breakingly sweet story.
I could not put this book down. As I was doing laundry, making dinner, everything, I had this book in my hand. Even when I took the dog out to relieve himself I had my nose buried in the book. My dog actually peed on my boot because I was so enthralled in the story and I didn’t even realize he did it until I was back in the house taking my boots off. How many books have your read that are boot pissing good?!
You need to read this book. It will definitely give you a hangover and nostalgic to go back and read it again once you are finished. Natexus is a story that I would love to be able to erase from my mind so I could read it all over again without knowing what was going to happen. Every time I think of this book I can feel my heart reaching out to the characters wanting to immerse myself in the story all over again.
Read
November 1, 2019I've been deliberating for days over what to say about this book and if I'm being honest, my brain is still something of a jumble, but I'm going to do my best to arrange them into some sort of coherent review.
The first thing to say is that I absolutely adored this book. Despite my sometimes slightly aggressive thoughts towards the author, I genuinely did love it.
The writing itself was what stood out to me more than anything. As a fan of Miss James' work, at this point I would probably read the phone book if she decided to write it. But I do feel that with Natexus, she has created something truly special. The words are crafted so perfectly, so poetically, that they seem to weave their way off the page and straight into the squishiest places in your heart usually reserved for Nicholas Sparks movies and repeat watchings of Titanic. Yes, this is an ugly crying sort of book. It's a Kleenex guzzling, twenty five (at least) Creme Egg scoffing, burying your head under the covers at 3am in case anybody catches you snot sobbing kind of book. It's a book with characters so real and so wonderfully written that you feel like they're truly a part of your life. It's a book where you read for hours and hours and when you look up, you find yourself surprised that the real world is still going on around you.
The characters are far from perfect, which is an automatic turn on for me in a book. They make mistakes, they fall down and ultimately rely on one another to pick them up again.
Natexus is, at its heart, a romance story. Boy meets girl, etc, etc, etc. But in fact, beyond that it is so much more. It deals with the sorts of very real issues that people have to live with day after day.
We have a young man, Alexander in a horrible and impossible situation at home, doing everything he can to keep his head above water while desperately trying to keep the girl he loves out of it. Alex is a wonderful and compelling concoction of a tortured and broken soul, and a cheeky, intelligent and fun young man who ought to have the world at his feet. Fair warning: you WILL fall in love with him.
Then we have a young girl, Natalie, dealing with the crippling grief that goes alongside losing a loved one. And I absolutely cannot sign off this review without mentioning the way that this is written. As somebody who has experienced the very loss Natalie is dealing with, it blew my mind at times how intelligently and how insightfully the author wrote about it. At times, it was like looking in a mirror, and the struggles on the page were so very familiar that the ugly crying almost became relief crying that this character (and clearly the author, too) knew exactly how it felt. When a book or character can make you feel a little less alone when you're hurting, it's a truly magical thing.
This book is a magical thing.
Step aside, Leo and Kate - I have a new go-to place for my ugly crying needs. Your services are no longer required!
I give this book 5 (would be a zillion if I was allowed) stars. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. This is Victoria L. James' masterpiece, and I urge you to read it!
The first thing to say is that I absolutely adored this book. Despite my sometimes slightly aggressive thoughts towards the author, I genuinely did love it.
The writing itself was what stood out to me more than anything. As a fan of Miss James' work, at this point I would probably read the phone book if she decided to write it. But I do feel that with Natexus, she has created something truly special. The words are crafted so perfectly, so poetically, that they seem to weave their way off the page and straight into the squishiest places in your heart usually reserved for Nicholas Sparks movies and repeat watchings of Titanic. Yes, this is an ugly crying sort of book. It's a Kleenex guzzling, twenty five (at least) Creme Egg scoffing, burying your head under the covers at 3am in case anybody catches you snot sobbing kind of book. It's a book with characters so real and so wonderfully written that you feel like they're truly a part of your life. It's a book where you read for hours and hours and when you look up, you find yourself surprised that the real world is still going on around you.
The characters are far from perfect, which is an automatic turn on for me in a book. They make mistakes, they fall down and ultimately rely on one another to pick them up again.
Natexus is, at its heart, a romance story. Boy meets girl, etc, etc, etc. But in fact, beyond that it is so much more. It deals with the sorts of very real issues that people have to live with day after day.
We have a young man, Alexander in a horrible and impossible situation at home, doing everything he can to keep his head above water while desperately trying to keep the girl he loves out of it. Alex is a wonderful and compelling concoction of a tortured and broken soul, and a cheeky, intelligent and fun young man who ought to have the world at his feet. Fair warning: you WILL fall in love with him.
Then we have a young girl, Natalie, dealing with the crippling grief that goes alongside losing a loved one. And I absolutely cannot sign off this review without mentioning the way that this is written. As somebody who has experienced the very loss Natalie is dealing with, it blew my mind at times how intelligently and how insightfully the author wrote about it. At times, it was like looking in a mirror, and the struggles on the page were so very familiar that the ugly crying almost became relief crying that this character (and clearly the author, too) knew exactly how it felt. When a book or character can make you feel a little less alone when you're hurting, it's a truly magical thing.
This book is a magical thing.
Step aside, Leo and Kate - I have a new go-to place for my ugly crying needs. Your services are no longer required!
I give this book 5 (would be a zillion if I was allowed) stars. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. This is Victoria L. James' masterpiece, and I urge you to read it!
Want to read
July 2, 2018💝FREE on Amazon today (7/2/2018)!💝
Blurb:
We started as two strangers. We ended with only one of us in love.
Alex Law wasn’t meant to be there on the darkest night of my life. Seven breaths left in my sister’s chest, yet I looked back at him—the new boy who continued to make a habit of showing up when I least expected him, determined to turn my tender grief into some kind of twisted happiness I was too weak to resist.
But Alex had demons of his own he tried to hide from me. When his truths were finally set free, so was he. Not all love stories go the same way, and when he gave up on us and walked away, he dragged my broken young heart with him.
I knew there had been life before Alex Law. Now I had to figure out if there was life after him.
That beautiful, tragic first love of mine.
- Natalie Vincent.
Blurb:
We started as two strangers. We ended with only one of us in love.
Alex Law wasn’t meant to be there on the darkest night of my life. Seven breaths left in my sister’s chest, yet I looked back at him—the new boy who continued to make a habit of showing up when I least expected him, determined to turn my tender grief into some kind of twisted happiness I was too weak to resist.
But Alex had demons of his own he tried to hide from me. When his truths were finally set free, so was he. Not all love stories go the same way, and when he gave up on us and walked away, he dragged my broken young heart with him.
I knew there had been life before Alex Law. Now I had to figure out if there was life after him.
That beautiful, tragic first love of mine.
- Natalie Vincent.
January 8, 2016
**Advanced copy given in an exchange for an honest review**
"I didn’t even hear him get on the bus that day, and in some strange way, it was like he knew how much I’d come to crave our routine, and he knew how much I would struggle without it that morning if I didn't get to see him at all."
“Why little? Why not something that could soar and be seen from miles away by hundreds of people?”
“Because I believe the bigger a person’s presence in the world, the lonelier they are.”
“What has happened to you, Alex?” I whispered.
“The same thing that ruins us all eventually.”
“And what’s that?”
“Grief.”
"You think that there’s just some door you walk through at eighteen that suddenly gives you all the answers on how to be an adult and deal with this stuff? Not even close. We are who we are, we’re all winging this growing up shit. The only way we really learn is by going through it all. The happy, the sad, the hurt, the pain…”
"You didn't look like them, they looked like you. Only cheap imitations."
"You want to know what real desperation is? It’s watching a good soul die too soon and clinging on to its fingertips for as long as you possibly can, just so you can still feel their warmth on your hands. Desperation is watching the rise and fall of their chest through the sea of tears in your eyes and begging – and I mean really, truly begging the afterlife to take you instead.”
Have you ever read a story that grips you from the start? That takes ahold of your heart and drags you onto a roller coaster of emotions, never once letting go, even long after you've turned that last page?
Well, Natexus did just that.
I went into this story not knowing the journey it would take me on. Having read Victoria L. James' previous novels - both being completely different to the other - I had no clue what to expect. I did however, know that the writing would be beautiful, lyrical and everything in between.
But what I hadn't expected, was to have my heart brutally torn from chest and then for it to be repeatedly stomped on with an eight inch stiletto, leaving nothing but a pile of aching dust.
Ok, maybe it wasn't that dramatic, but it was pretty damn close.
Victoria has a genius way of bringing each character to life. They each drew me in from start to finish, never wavering. They held my attention and I listened to what they had to say because that's how strongly they were portrayed and written.
Victoria's writing style has always been a top favourite of mine. She enticed me to continue through each and every page with words of beauty and charm. If I didn't have three kiddies begging for my attention each day and night, then I would have easily read this in one sitting. It really was, THAT GOOD!!
Natexus not only stole my heart. It has now ruined every other book for me on my tbr list.
The heartache, the joy, the sorrow and tears.. I went through it all and felt everything, and although my heart still hurts, I truly cannot wait for the next Victoria L. James masterpiece to grace my kindle.
I give Natexus 5 big, shiny fat stars.
"I didn’t even hear him get on the bus that day, and in some strange way, it was like he knew how much I’d come to crave our routine, and he knew how much I would struggle without it that morning if I didn't get to see him at all."
“Why little? Why not something that could soar and be seen from miles away by hundreds of people?”
“Because I believe the bigger a person’s presence in the world, the lonelier they are.”
“What has happened to you, Alex?” I whispered.
“The same thing that ruins us all eventually.”
“And what’s that?”
“Grief.”
"You think that there’s just some door you walk through at eighteen that suddenly gives you all the answers on how to be an adult and deal with this stuff? Not even close. We are who we are, we’re all winging this growing up shit. The only way we really learn is by going through it all. The happy, the sad, the hurt, the pain…”
"You didn't look like them, they looked like you. Only cheap imitations."
"You want to know what real desperation is? It’s watching a good soul die too soon and clinging on to its fingertips for as long as you possibly can, just so you can still feel their warmth on your hands. Desperation is watching the rise and fall of their chest through the sea of tears in your eyes and begging – and I mean really, truly begging the afterlife to take you instead.”
Have you ever read a story that grips you from the start? That takes ahold of your heart and drags you onto a roller coaster of emotions, never once letting go, even long after you've turned that last page?
Well, Natexus did just that.
I went into this story not knowing the journey it would take me on. Having read Victoria L. James' previous novels - both being completely different to the other - I had no clue what to expect. I did however, know that the writing would be beautiful, lyrical and everything in between.
But what I hadn't expected, was to have my heart brutally torn from chest and then for it to be repeatedly stomped on with an eight inch stiletto, leaving nothing but a pile of aching dust.
Ok, maybe it wasn't that dramatic, but it was pretty damn close.
Victoria has a genius way of bringing each character to life. They each drew me in from start to finish, never wavering. They held my attention and I listened to what they had to say because that's how strongly they were portrayed and written.
Victoria's writing style has always been a top favourite of mine. She enticed me to continue through each and every page with words of beauty and charm. If I didn't have three kiddies begging for my attention each day and night, then I would have easily read this in one sitting. It really was, THAT GOOD!!
Natexus not only stole my heart. It has now ruined every other book for me on my tbr list.
The heartache, the joy, the sorrow and tears.. I went through it all and felt everything, and although my heart still hurts, I truly cannot wait for the next Victoria L. James masterpiece to grace my kindle.
I give Natexus 5 big, shiny fat stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2016
~ “There were so many questions burning me from inside out – so many conflicting emotions. All the things I wanted to say didn't matter and all the things that did matter, I didn't dare speak. He had a hook in my mouth and I was struggling to break free.” ~
Sometimes when you read a book, the story is what grabs you and forces your hand through the pages; cliff-hangers at the end of each chapter that keep you hungry for what is yet to come.
There are twists and turns in this story of teenage love and angst and I was of course always curious to find out how Alex and Nat, Nat and Alex would leap the next hurdle, how they would withstand the forces of a greater being that seemed to want to destroy everything, always.
Sometimes when you read a book, it is the beauty of the prose and the author’s ability to choose words and language that sweep colour and depth across the pages. It is the way an author is able to look inside a person and transcribe feeling and emotion with a metaphor that seems so perfect for that moment, right there. James has this ability.
There’s story-telling and there’s story painting, and story painting is what Victoria does, throughout the book.
Natexus is beautifully written. I kind of imagine her in a dark room wearing a wizard’s cloak surrounded by mixing pots of colour, velvet bags of musical notes and jars of flavours. I imagine her whisking and rolling and moulding her ingredients until they are ready. And then, when she is absolutely sure that she has the texture and the tone just exactly right, I imagine that she dips her brush and sweeps it across the paper.
Of course the reality of it is that she sits in her sweats swigging corona and cursing like a squaddie... But the illusion is there.
She does not simply arrange words on a page. She creates sensations that are alive and flowing.
There is a wise insightfulness to James’ ability to portray human vulnerability and it is this that kept me reading. It is the delicate understanding of a single emotion that is then articulated in a way that had me stopping, and thinking and saying, ‘Well would you look at that. That’s exactly how it feels.’
If you want a love story about real life, then I would recommend that you add this to your list of books to read, but more than that, you should be adding this book to your list because of the way Victoria writes.
~ “There’s no such thing as being swept off your feet and magical happily ever afters, as beautiful as those stories are. You have to learn to find a way to carry each other when it’s time, but also let each other wander when it’s needed, too.” ~
Spot on that, Miss James. Spot on.
Sometimes when you read a book, the story is what grabs you and forces your hand through the pages; cliff-hangers at the end of each chapter that keep you hungry for what is yet to come.
There are twists and turns in this story of teenage love and angst and I was of course always curious to find out how Alex and Nat, Nat and Alex would leap the next hurdle, how they would withstand the forces of a greater being that seemed to want to destroy everything, always.
Sometimes when you read a book, it is the beauty of the prose and the author’s ability to choose words and language that sweep colour and depth across the pages. It is the way an author is able to look inside a person and transcribe feeling and emotion with a metaphor that seems so perfect for that moment, right there. James has this ability.
There’s story-telling and there’s story painting, and story painting is what Victoria does, throughout the book.
Natexus is beautifully written. I kind of imagine her in a dark room wearing a wizard’s cloak surrounded by mixing pots of colour, velvet bags of musical notes and jars of flavours. I imagine her whisking and rolling and moulding her ingredients until they are ready. And then, when she is absolutely sure that she has the texture and the tone just exactly right, I imagine that she dips her brush and sweeps it across the paper.
Of course the reality of it is that she sits in her sweats swigging corona and cursing like a squaddie... But the illusion is there.
She does not simply arrange words on a page. She creates sensations that are alive and flowing.
There is a wise insightfulness to James’ ability to portray human vulnerability and it is this that kept me reading. It is the delicate understanding of a single emotion that is then articulated in a way that had me stopping, and thinking and saying, ‘Well would you look at that. That’s exactly how it feels.’
If you want a love story about real life, then I would recommend that you add this to your list of books to read, but more than that, you should be adding this book to your list because of the way Victoria writes.
~ “There’s no such thing as being swept off your feet and magical happily ever afters, as beautiful as those stories are. You have to learn to find a way to carry each other when it’s time, but also let each other wander when it’s needed, too.” ~
Spot on that, Miss James. Spot on.
July 11, 2018
Why has it taken me this long to discover this amazing author?
5 solid all the feels stars!
5 solid all the feels stars!
January 25, 2016
I love to read. I would even go so far as to call it a passion, and it’s only once in a blue moon that a book comes along and really encapsulates me, and Natexus is one of them. I was enamored from start to finish, and so completely invested in each of the characters that by the end of it, I felt like I was leaving friends behind.
Miss James has woven together a story filled with heart and soul that grips you from the get go. Every pain and emotion these characters feel is raw and real, and the way in which she paints the picture leaves you no choice but to feel it with them.
Natalie has a great head on her shoulders, even with her home life being thrown into upheaval. She knows the cost of what is about to happen, and you can feel it from the moment you meet her. Enter Alex – force of nature, impossible to ignore and a heart of gold that exists in spite of the skeletons in his closet. Even though their lives are messy, you can’t help but cheer for these two, but as the byline tells us, not all love stories are the same, and this one is certainly different.
The journey through this book is emotional, but it is raw and real. It breaks you down until you’re sobbing around a box of tissues, and builds you back up again until you’re unsure of where the path will lead you. The beautiful supporting cast are just as thoughtfully detailed as our main players, all of which you find yourself wanting more.
I can’t say enough good about this book and this author. This masterpiece needs to be experienced. The emotions need to be felt. This book achieves what so many strive to reach when they write about love and the effects it has on our lives. I see a bright future for Victoria L. James.
Miss James has woven together a story filled with heart and soul that grips you from the get go. Every pain and emotion these characters feel is raw and real, and the way in which she paints the picture leaves you no choice but to feel it with them.
Natalie has a great head on her shoulders, even with her home life being thrown into upheaval. She knows the cost of what is about to happen, and you can feel it from the moment you meet her. Enter Alex – force of nature, impossible to ignore and a heart of gold that exists in spite of the skeletons in his closet. Even though their lives are messy, you can’t help but cheer for these two, but as the byline tells us, not all love stories are the same, and this one is certainly different.
The journey through this book is emotional, but it is raw and real. It breaks you down until you’re sobbing around a box of tissues, and builds you back up again until you’re unsure of where the path will lead you. The beautiful supporting cast are just as thoughtfully detailed as our main players, all of which you find yourself wanting more.
I can’t say enough good about this book and this author. This masterpiece needs to be experienced. The emotions need to be felt. This book achieves what so many strive to reach when they write about love and the effects it has on our lives. I see a bright future for Victoria L. James.
January 30, 2016
If Natexus were an emotion it would be “intolerable heartbreak that ultimately heals you.”
It’s one of those stories that will break your heart into pieces and even though you will look whole, you will never be the same again.
Here at BNW HQ Natexus is affectionately known as “THAT F*****G BOOK” – it broke us all and yet fixed us too.
Natalie, Alex & Marcus you will feel for them all.
Natalie has been through so much as such a young age, she is quiet, shy and brave.
“Seven breaths left in her chest, yet I looked back at him. He wasn’t meant to be there on the darkest night of my life, but the mysterious Alex Law continued to make a habit of showing up when I least expected him.”
Alex a beyond handsome young man, who’s ability to see Natalie’s struggle makes him wise beyond his years. He’s so protective toward her and yet he is hiding a dark secret that will ultimately be their downfall.
Life can be so unfair, young love should concur all, shouldn’t it?
“I knew there had been life before Alex Law.
I just had to figure out if there was life after him…”
Marcus is a hero in this story for me, devoted, funny and his arrival in Natalie’s life seemed like fate, as if the stars aligned and knew that this was what they both needed. There was purpose to their relationship, which only really becomes clear toward the end of the book. It made sense, it made me happy and sad, but it felt right.
The colour purple is both significant and profound, I can’t tell you why but it was one of the many moments that took my breath away.
I cried a lot throughout the book, I made several threats to Ms James wellbeing, she should think herself lucky she lives many miles from me.
I loved this book the first time I read it, I loved this book the second time I read it and I will love it every time I read it in the future, because it simply cannot be read only once.
Congratulations Plum, can’t wait to see you in Leeds, I shall be cashing in on that booby squeeze you promised for breaking me.
All joking aside, it’s a very moving story, there were many moments in this book, that made me realise that Victoria L James is not just a wordsmith, she is an artist, painting a picture so vivid with her words that it is impossible not to see her characters, to feel the emotion and to care about their fate.
It’s one of those stories that will break your heart into pieces and even though you will look whole, you will never be the same again.
Here at BNW HQ Natexus is affectionately known as “THAT F*****G BOOK” – it broke us all and yet fixed us too.
Natalie, Alex & Marcus you will feel for them all.
Natalie has been through so much as such a young age, she is quiet, shy and brave.
“Seven breaths left in her chest, yet I looked back at him. He wasn’t meant to be there on the darkest night of my life, but the mysterious Alex Law continued to make a habit of showing up when I least expected him.”
Alex a beyond handsome young man, who’s ability to see Natalie’s struggle makes him wise beyond his years. He’s so protective toward her and yet he is hiding a dark secret that will ultimately be their downfall.
Life can be so unfair, young love should concur all, shouldn’t it?
“I knew there had been life before Alex Law.
I just had to figure out if there was life after him…”
Marcus is a hero in this story for me, devoted, funny and his arrival in Natalie’s life seemed like fate, as if the stars aligned and knew that this was what they both needed. There was purpose to their relationship, which only really becomes clear toward the end of the book. It made sense, it made me happy and sad, but it felt right.
The colour purple is both significant and profound, I can’t tell you why but it was one of the many moments that took my breath away.
I cried a lot throughout the book, I made several threats to Ms James wellbeing, she should think herself lucky she lives many miles from me.
I loved this book the first time I read it, I loved this book the second time I read it and I will love it every time I read it in the future, because it simply cannot be read only once.
Congratulations Plum, can’t wait to see you in Leeds, I shall be cashing in on that booby squeeze you promised for breaking me.
All joking aside, it’s a very moving story, there were many moments in this book, that made me realise that Victoria L James is not just a wordsmith, she is an artist, painting a picture so vivid with her words that it is impossible not to see her characters, to feel the emotion and to care about their fate.
January 29, 2016
Wow.....not sure I need to say anything else, just wow. Natexus by Victoria L. James is a very special book. I am not going to take up space telling you about the story, you can find the synopsis for yourself. I am going to tell you that Victoria L. James is blessed with a very rare gift and we are so fortunate that she is sharing it with us.
A good author makes you care about the story. A great author gets you to actually feel deep emotions. A master can make you lose yourself in the world they have created. I feel like I need my passport stamped to return home after finishing this journey.
This story that she weaves in Natexus is riddled with sharp edges that will cut you as the pages turn, but the pain is too seductive to turn off and stop reading. You will catch yourself pulling both for and against all of the main characters that don't simply work their way into your heart, they move in and set up shop. Along the way you will also become reflective and feel somewhat like Natalie when she said "I was being stripped naked without shedding a single item of clothing". This book is a wonderful, horrifying, drama filled rollercoaster that everyone should be lining up to get their ticket for the ride. The Devil awards this 5.0 pitchforks
A good author makes you care about the story. A great author gets you to actually feel deep emotions. A master can make you lose yourself in the world they have created. I feel like I need my passport stamped to return home after finishing this journey.
This story that she weaves in Natexus is riddled with sharp edges that will cut you as the pages turn, but the pain is too seductive to turn off and stop reading. You will catch yourself pulling both for and against all of the main characters that don't simply work their way into your heart, they move in and set up shop. Along the way you will also become reflective and feel somewhat like Natalie when she said "I was being stripped naked without shedding a single item of clothing". This book is a wonderful, horrifying, drama filled rollercoaster that everyone should be lining up to get their ticket for the ride. The Devil awards this 5.0 pitchforks
July 20, 2016
5+ Alpha Omega Stars
This book.....
Me reading this book....
Never let the end of one thing stop you from enjoying the beginning of another.
Alpha & Omega. What will be will be. When one door closes, another door opens. Yes, all of those phrases that mean "Life Goes On". Because it does. Except after reading this book. This one may stop me in my tracks. So mind boggling. So mind boggingly good.
Natalie's world changed the night her sister died. She lost her best friend, confidant, and role model. So she melted. Melted into her surroundings. The school halls. The dining room table. The sidewalk. She became invisible and silent. Not because she didn't have anything to say....it just took too much energy.
I had no reason left in me, and I had no clue what our time on earth meant to any of us.
Alex was in the right place at the right time. Or maybe it was the wrong place right time. You get the picture. Alex was someplace he wasn't supposed to be. Saw something he wasn't meant to see. Or maybe he was exactly where he was supposed to be. Needed to be. Meant to be.
"Let him be here." she mouthed so only I could hear. "Let him in."
Alex saw Natalie at her most vulnerable. And he holds that close. Held her close and held her up.
It was what Alex Law always did to me. he temporarily made me unafraid to fall.
Until he pushes it away.
There had been life before Alex Law...and this was my life after him.
Now you know I don't do spoilers which means I can only give you so much information. Because i want you to have the same "What the Hell" Moments I had. I would never deprive you of the internal turmoil you are going to experience.
She was grieving for a love she'd lost while I was grieving for love I never had..
I absolutely loved this book. Ms James has given us a saga of love and choices and choosing love. The characters are raw with emotion and the writing is flawless. I underlined so many beautiful quotes. I suffered with Nat in her decisions and with Alex in his noble intentions. And with both of them in their grief. Their bottomless grief that could only be soothed opening themselves up to more grief.
Our time together...is one of those moments in ife that we will always regret because we didn't try, not because we tried and failed.
Natexus is definitely on my Best of 2016 List. It is a beautiful painful story of fate and faith. Faith in letting go. Faith in someone to catch you. Faith in your own decisions.
This book.....
Me reading this book....
Never let the end of one thing stop you from enjoying the beginning of another.
Alpha & Omega. What will be will be. When one door closes, another door opens. Yes, all of those phrases that mean "Life Goes On". Because it does. Except after reading this book. This one may stop me in my tracks. So mind boggling. So mind boggingly good.
Natalie's world changed the night her sister died. She lost her best friend, confidant, and role model. So she melted. Melted into her surroundings. The school halls. The dining room table. The sidewalk. She became invisible and silent. Not because she didn't have anything to say....it just took too much energy.
I had no reason left in me, and I had no clue what our time on earth meant to any of us.
Alex was in the right place at the right time. Or maybe it was the wrong place right time. You get the picture. Alex was someplace he wasn't supposed to be. Saw something he wasn't meant to see. Or maybe he was exactly where he was supposed to be. Needed to be. Meant to be.
"Let him be here." she mouthed so only I could hear. "Let him in."
Alex saw Natalie at her most vulnerable. And he holds that close. Held her close and held her up.
It was what Alex Law always did to me. he temporarily made me unafraid to fall.
Until he pushes it away.
There had been life before Alex Law...and this was my life after him.
Now you know I don't do spoilers which means I can only give you so much information. Because i want you to have the same "What the Hell" Moments I had. I would never deprive you of the internal turmoil you are going to experience.
She was grieving for a love she'd lost while I was grieving for love I never had..
I absolutely loved this book. Ms James has given us a saga of love and choices and choosing love. The characters are raw with emotion and the writing is flawless. I underlined so many beautiful quotes. I suffered with Nat in her decisions and with Alex in his noble intentions. And with both of them in their grief. Their bottomless grief that could only be soothed opening themselves up to more grief.
Our time together...is one of those moments in ife that we will always regret because we didn't try, not because we tried and failed.
Natexus is definitely on my Best of 2016 List. It is a beautiful painful story of fate and faith. Faith in letting go. Faith in someone to catch you. Faith in your own decisions.
February 1, 2016
It was an absolute honour to be asked to beta read the latest novel by Miss James.Natexus.
How do you put into words a book that is as beautifully written as this,you just can't.Natexus is a pure piece of written art.
You will sob and most certainly ugly snot cry a few times during this story,but you will also end up snaughling,lol.That is how brilliant this author is.Read this book once and you will reread it many times.It gets inside you,in your heart and soul.Ive just read it for the fourth time.
Their story is one that will forever stay with me,in my heart,nestled in between the HOB and WL,Until The End Of one thing.The beginning of another.Forever starts today.
Thank you,thank you,thank you for writing such a mesmerising,beautiful story.Thank you.
How do you put into words a book that is as beautifully written as this,you just can't.Natexus is a pure piece of written art.
You will sob and most certainly ugly snot cry a few times during this story,but you will also end up snaughling,lol.That is how brilliant this author is.Read this book once and you will reread it many times.It gets inside you,in your heart and soul.Ive just read it for the fourth time.
Their story is one that will forever stay with me,in my heart,nestled in between the HOB and WL,Until The End Of one thing.The beginning of another.Forever starts today.
Thank you,thank you,thank you for writing such a mesmerising,beautiful story.Thank you.
January 29, 2017
My love for this book was emotional, and magical. It was such a heartfelt journey between two characters named Alex and Natalie (Nat), who began as friends, but when tragedy struck it was inevitable they'd be best friends. They were each other's first, and it didn't come without complications.
They were longing to be lovers, but both knew all along they were soul mates. They were Natexus always. They went through the worst, but life's full circle had other plans.
Omg! Just fantastic. I read straight thru, couldn't put the book down. What a special touching story. The kind that marks your heart forever. Xx
They were longing to be lovers, but both knew all along they were soul mates. They were Natexus always. They went through the worst, but life's full circle had other plans.
Omg! Just fantastic. I read straight thru, couldn't put the book down. What a special touching story. The kind that marks your heart forever. Xx
December 1, 2017
Oh my gawd. What have I just read & why oh why have I not opened these pages & lost my heart to everything Alex & Nat sooner. My whole heart has been shattered into a million pieces, as I’ve walked this journey hand in hand with these beautifully broken individuals, only to have them glue it back together ~ less a few pieces, through their sheer love, hope, belief & destiny.
From the first time their eyes met, their connection truly felt like something I could reach into the pages & touch. No matter how much or hard my heart broke, how sad my soul felt or how frustrated I became with such tragic first love, their pain became mine as did their hurt & regret. Every single emotion that VLJ gracefully & painstakingly layered into this stunning, second chance story of love, owned me.
Alex & Nat, Nat & Alex. Two people who carry some many scars & such profound sadness, but who see the sunshine in each others soul. Who learn the hard way about love & regret, but who are courageous enough to listen to the hearts whispers.. Even if they may never be heard, or maybe they will but it will be too late to reply.
I loved them at 15 but wow did they consume me at 22. Victoria’s development of them was breath taking on every level, Who they were & the path they had to travel to finally become who they were destined to be was so powerful. The way in which she made them real in even the most tragic of circumstances, stripping them bare, showing them vulnerable & unsure, really highlighted the depth of their character & with such beautiful poignant dialogue, ensured their world became mine ~ no questions asked.
A second chance love, a couple lost then found & some fabulous side characters that brought sunshine & sparkles means I won’t forget this story ever. Their footprint on my soul is permanent.
From the first time their eyes met, their connection truly felt like something I could reach into the pages & touch. No matter how much or hard my heart broke, how sad my soul felt or how frustrated I became with such tragic first love, their pain became mine as did their hurt & regret. Every single emotion that VLJ gracefully & painstakingly layered into this stunning, second chance story of love, owned me.
Alex & Nat, Nat & Alex. Two people who carry some many scars & such profound sadness, but who see the sunshine in each others soul. Who learn the hard way about love & regret, but who are courageous enough to listen to the hearts whispers.. Even if they may never be heard, or maybe they will but it will be too late to reply.
I loved them at 15 but wow did they consume me at 22. Victoria’s development of them was breath taking on every level, Who they were & the path they had to travel to finally become who they were destined to be was so powerful. The way in which she made them real in even the most tragic of circumstances, stripping them bare, showing them vulnerable & unsure, really highlighted the depth of their character & with such beautiful poignant dialogue, ensured their world became mine ~ no questions asked.
A second chance love, a couple lost then found & some fabulous side characters that brought sunshine & sparkles means I won’t forget this story ever. Their footprint on my soul is permanent.
March 10, 2019
This one had emotions out of the wazoo throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed it!!
January 31, 2016
** Provided on behalf of the author for an honest review **
This is Natalie's story.
You're young, just 15 years old.
You should be free spirited, carefree, spending time with your friends.
You should be simply enjoying being a teenager.
But you can't.
The hurt you carry is unbearable.
The grief you feel sits heavily on your chest, creating an ache that's indescribable.
Your life is dark, surrounded by sadness and pain.
Because you are going to lose the most precious person in the world to you.
Because you are going to lose your best friend.
You are going to lose a part of yourself, your heart, your soul.
And there isn't a thing you can do about it.
Your life will become shrouded in darkness, colour will be non existent.
This is Alex's story.
You're young, just 15 years old.
You should be free spirited, carefree, spending time with your friends.
You should be simply enjoying being a teenager.
But you can't.
Your life is dark, surrounded by constant battles.
Your life is painful, surrounded by constant scars.
Your life will is shrouded in darkness, colour is non existent.
Two young people, living two very separate and different lives that will be joined together when they least expect it.
Two lives that will ultimately be entwined forever.
Two lives that will be completely destroyed.
Two lives that will be completed broken.
Two lives that will eventually see colour.
They just don't know it yet.
Omfg Naxetus what an absolute, heart wrenching, ugly cry, painful, raw, gritty, breathtaking, heart-warming read.
We were held captive, absolutely transfixed with every turn of every page.
So emotionally charged we found ourselves either holding our breath, crying our eyes out, laughing our butts off, or simply wanting to fling our kindle out the damn window in sheer hurt and frustration. We loved, loved, loved it.
To Victoria L James we say this.....What you have given us in Natexus is nothing short of absolute sheer brilliance. It was written with such depth we couldn't help but be moved with every word read. We were simply transfixed hanging on to every feeling, every emotion that you were able to evoke from us. We were just spellbound. It's hypnotic and alluring.
In a nutshell.......Brilliant!!
We absolutely without a doubt recommend Natexus to everyone. A read that shouldn't be missed.
A read that will have you gripped from beginning to end that will leave you speechless. But most of all its a read that shows us that love, and we mean true love, no matter the obstacles, no matter the time, no matter the hurt, pain, scars and torment, will always find its way.
A HUGE 5 star read.
This is Natalie's story.
You're young, just 15 years old.
You should be free spirited, carefree, spending time with your friends.
You should be simply enjoying being a teenager.
But you can't.
The hurt you carry is unbearable.
The grief you feel sits heavily on your chest, creating an ache that's indescribable.
Your life is dark, surrounded by sadness and pain.
Because you are going to lose the most precious person in the world to you.
Because you are going to lose your best friend.
You are going to lose a part of yourself, your heart, your soul.
And there isn't a thing you can do about it.
Your life will become shrouded in darkness, colour will be non existent.
This is Alex's story.
You're young, just 15 years old.
You should be free spirited, carefree, spending time with your friends.
You should be simply enjoying being a teenager.
But you can't.
Your life is dark, surrounded by constant battles.
Your life is painful, surrounded by constant scars.
Your life will is shrouded in darkness, colour is non existent.
Two young people, living two very separate and different lives that will be joined together when they least expect it.
Two lives that will ultimately be entwined forever.
Two lives that will be completely destroyed.
Two lives that will be completed broken.
Two lives that will eventually see colour.
They just don't know it yet.
Omfg Naxetus what an absolute, heart wrenching, ugly cry, painful, raw, gritty, breathtaking, heart-warming read.
We were held captive, absolutely transfixed with every turn of every page.
So emotionally charged we found ourselves either holding our breath, crying our eyes out, laughing our butts off, or simply wanting to fling our kindle out the damn window in sheer hurt and frustration. We loved, loved, loved it.
To Victoria L James we say this.....What you have given us in Natexus is nothing short of absolute sheer brilliance. It was written with such depth we couldn't help but be moved with every word read. We were simply transfixed hanging on to every feeling, every emotion that you were able to evoke from us. We were just spellbound. It's hypnotic and alluring.
In a nutshell.......Brilliant!!
We absolutely without a doubt recommend Natexus to everyone. A read that shouldn't be missed.
A read that will have you gripped from beginning to end that will leave you speechless. But most of all its a read that shows us that love, and we mean true love, no matter the obstacles, no matter the time, no matter the hurt, pain, scars and torment, will always find its way.
A HUGE 5 star read.
May 13, 2017
Magic. Love. Heartache. Soul aching, breathtaking, beautiful. These are some words that come to mind after reading Natexus and its accompanying novella, All of Me. My heart. My stomach. Chills down my spine and goosebumps all over my entire body.
These are the kinds of books I live for. When I dove into Natexus, I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. I had grabbed the sample and I couldn't stop. I was lost in a love story that melted my heart and kept me glued to my kindle.
Victoria L. James is a new-to-me author and God, I love discovering these hidden gems. Her writing is fantastic—not only did she give you all the feels, she transported you to the city of Leeds where you are living and breathing this story.
A love story that spans over a decade. We meet Alex and Natalie—two broken souls who complete one another. Together they heal the other's broken and shattered hearts. They are soul mates who meet and... fireworks!
"Alex Law had wings, even though he didn't know it yet. He was born to fly and be seen by everyone. He was here to make the blank canvas of the sky more appealing for the rest of the world."
We all know that feeling of first love. You soar, you complete each other in ways that you've only dreamt about.
"He was the dream I never knew I'd had, the spark that was always going to set me aflame and make me feel alive right before I burned to death."
So many obstacles stand in their way of getting their fairly tale ending. There were moments I wanted to hug my kindle and others I wanted to throw it across the room!! BEST. FEELING. EVER.
"Real love, the love that seeps deep down into your bones, it's awkward. It's complicated and it's raw. There's no such thing as being swept off your feet and magical happily ever afters, as beautiful as those stories are. You have to learn to find a way to carry each other when it's time, but also let each other wander when it's needed, too."
I know I'm not giving a lot away here, but you truly need to go in blind and just savor it all.
Ms. James's words had me feel every emotion possible. I laughed, I cried, I bled. The amount of times I highlighted was crazy. Her words are that incredible.
If you're looking for a love story for the record books, you have to grab Natexus and All of Me. Cancel all your plans, grab a glass of wine (maybe the whole bottle) and get ready to fall in love.
February 5, 2016
People enter our lives for various reasons. To love us, hurt us, protect us, teach us. Whatever the reason, they all make an impact on our souls. But what happens when you keep losing the same person over and over? How can you ever recover?
"Truth be told, I didn’t see anyone or anything. There were only sounds of life and blurred images all around me. I was stuck in some kind of tunnel –a tunnel that was leading me on a path to an unknown destination. I couldn’t see where I was travelling, because all I could ever see, awake or asleep, was her."
Natalie Vincent...young and shut off from the world. She was experiencing one of the biggest heartaches she has ever known, when in walks Alex. Also shut off from the world and dealing with his own set of heartaches, Alex finds that he gravitates towards Natalie. But when pain, suffering and questions with no answers threaten their lives, they have to dig deep and figure out how to overcome the worst scenario.
"I couldn’t tear my eyes away from that look he was wearing, and something told me that no matter how many times I told him that it would just be for today, what I was about to enter into was going to be a much longer contract than I could ever have imagined. I just couldn’t find it in me to give a damn about the consequences of any of it. Not one single damn at all."
This book changed me. It made me look at my life and the world around it differently. The words that Victoria used to write this amazing book drew me in so deep, I'll never be able to forget them. I was moved from start to finish, and I'm still reeling over Natexus! This is a definite must read! I believe that it is a life changer!
"Growing up, I’d always heard the age-old saying: ‘If you love somebody, you set them free.’ If You Love Somebody You Set Them Free. And here I was, setting free the man I loved limitlessly."
Tara
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Truth be told, I didn’t see anyone or anything. There were only sounds of life and blurred images all around me. I was stuck in some kind of tunnel –a tunnel that was leading me on a path to an unknown destination. I couldn’t see where I was travelling, because all I could ever see, awake or asleep, was her."
Natalie Vincent...young and shut off from the world. She was experiencing one of the biggest heartaches she has ever known, when in walks Alex. Also shut off from the world and dealing with his own set of heartaches, Alex finds that he gravitates towards Natalie. But when pain, suffering and questions with no answers threaten their lives, they have to dig deep and figure out how to overcome the worst scenario.
"I couldn’t tear my eyes away from that look he was wearing, and something told me that no matter how many times I told him that it would just be for today, what I was about to enter into was going to be a much longer contract than I could ever have imagined. I just couldn’t find it in me to give a damn about the consequences of any of it. Not one single damn at all."
This book changed me. It made me look at my life and the world around it differently. The words that Victoria used to write this amazing book drew me in so deep, I'll never be able to forget them. I was moved from start to finish, and I'm still reeling over Natexus! This is a definite must read! I believe that it is a life changer!
"Growing up, I’d always heard the age-old saying: ‘If you love somebody, you set them free.’ If You Love Somebody You Set Them Free. And here I was, setting free the man I loved limitlessly."
Tara
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 29, 2017
Oh my… My My My My My- I honestly don’t know what to say or how to start this. This author rips your heart out and at times you are not sure if it will be put back together before the story ends.
Getting about 25% into the book and wanting to know how messed up I was going to be when I finished this story, their story. So I did it.. I went to the last chapter and read it before continuing. I needed to know just how bad my heart was going to break. I’ve never had to do that before.
Alex and Natalie, Natalie and Alex. Natexus- All the Way!
Teenage love… You never know if it will last, how it will last. The ups and downs, finding out who you are and who everyone else is around.
”Never let the end of one thing stop you from ending the beginning of another”
Natalie knew love, but she also was unfortunate enough to have lost as well. Grieving the of a loved one is never easy. Never something you’re truly prepared for but, when the time came- he was there. In the doorway someone whom she’d just met minutes ago, A boy who wasn’t supposed to be there just trying to figure out how he would bring her back to life.
”We’re both made up of scars, Alex. You just can’t see mine”
Alex Law was the quiet one with the football under his arm. The boy she had never seen before. The boy who would walk her home and change her life. But, under everything he was a boy that was hurting the most. The one that was lost and the one that she didn’t know how she would survive after Alex.
These two will be put through so much, tested, broken and needing to be pieced back together.
“You’re the biggest regret I never allowed myself to have”
Amazing read that I highly recommend every romance reader to get lost in!
Getting about 25% into the book and wanting to know how messed up I was going to be when I finished this story, their story. So I did it.. I went to the last chapter and read it before continuing. I needed to know just how bad my heart was going to break. I’ve never had to do that before.
Alex and Natalie, Natalie and Alex. Natexus- All the Way!
Teenage love… You never know if it will last, how it will last. The ups and downs, finding out who you are and who everyone else is around.
”Never let the end of one thing stop you from ending the beginning of another”
Natalie knew love, but she also was unfortunate enough to have lost as well. Grieving the of a loved one is never easy. Never something you’re truly prepared for but, when the time came- he was there. In the doorway someone whom she’d just met minutes ago, A boy who wasn’t supposed to be there just trying to figure out how he would bring her back to life.
”We’re both made up of scars, Alex. You just can’t see mine”
Alex Law was the quiet one with the football under his arm. The boy she had never seen before. The boy who would walk her home and change her life. But, under everything he was a boy that was hurting the most. The one that was lost and the one that she didn’t know how she would survive after Alex.
These two will be put through so much, tested, broken and needing to be pieced back together.
“You’re the biggest regret I never allowed myself to have”
Amazing read that I highly recommend every romance reader to get lost in!
June 28, 2016
When Alex finds Natalie, she's shy, broken and barely existing. Her family is in the midst of dealing with something no parent or family should ever have to face. Natalie is left feeling guilty for wanting more attention, but not wanting ask for it as she believes her sister needs it more. Alex sees beyond her shyness and offers to see her home safely. That night Alex is witness to the end of a relationship that is very special to Natalie.
With the end of that relationship, I believe this was the point where Alex vowed that it would be the beginning of their special relationship. Alex was so patient with Natalie, never forcing himself on her or into her life. He was just there as if he'd always been there and he let things happen at Natalie's pace.
There are very few books that I've read where I've had a lump in my throat the entire time. I still get misty eyed and emotional just trying to think back on all the sad and beautiful moments to write this review. Word of warning... do not read this book without a box of Kleenex near by. This story is so beautiful and sad all at the same time. My heart was not sure what it wanted to do from one moment to the next. It went from aching to bursting with love. I seriously think the most beautiful moment for me, was their first time together. It was so honest, heartfelt and real.... That should be what all first times should be like. LOVE...Alex absolutely loved Natalie and she, without a doubt loved him in return.
There, of course, is so much more to this book. I won't want to ruin this experience for any one. This is absolutely something to experience, you won't be sorry that you did.
With the end of that relationship, I believe this was the point where Alex vowed that it would be the beginning of their special relationship. Alex was so patient with Natalie, never forcing himself on her or into her life. He was just there as if he'd always been there and he let things happen at Natalie's pace.
There are very few books that I've read where I've had a lump in my throat the entire time. I still get misty eyed and emotional just trying to think back on all the sad and beautiful moments to write this review. Word of warning... do not read this book without a box of Kleenex near by. This story is so beautiful and sad all at the same time. My heart was not sure what it wanted to do from one moment to the next. It went from aching to bursting with love. I seriously think the most beautiful moment for me, was their first time together. It was so honest, heartfelt and real.... That should be what all first times should be like. LOVE...Alex absolutely loved Natalie and she, without a doubt loved him in return.
There, of course, is so much more to this book. I won't want to ruin this experience for any one. This is absolutely something to experience, you won't be sorry that you did.
February 1, 2016
NOT YOUR AVERAGE LOVE STORY!!!
Where to begin that will do Victoria L. James and "Natexus" justice?
Ok so bear with me as I write this after 9hours of solid reading, yes 9! I write with bleary eyes and tear stained cheeks, my emotions and heart have gone through the wringer.
Victoria writes in her acknowledgements that Natalie and Alex spoke to her so much she had to write "Natexus" in one go. All I can say is I HAD to read "Natexus" all in on go, I had a need to know how each character was fairing and ultimately which path their love story would take.
Natalie is truly a shell of a girl before Alex and truly throughout the whole book I wasn't sure if their would be life after Alex either. Thrown together by circumstance their story continues to spiral through the angst of these circumstances outwith eithers control. "Natexus" truly is a love story that will sweep through your heart like a tornado and leaves you breathless wondering what the hell just happened right up to the last page.
Where to begin that will do Victoria L. James and "Natexus" justice?
Ok so bear with me as I write this after 9hours of solid reading, yes 9! I write with bleary eyes and tear stained cheeks, my emotions and heart have gone through the wringer.
Victoria writes in her acknowledgements that Natalie and Alex spoke to her so much she had to write "Natexus" in one go. All I can say is I HAD to read "Natexus" all in on go, I had a need to know how each character was fairing and ultimately which path their love story would take.
Natalie is truly a shell of a girl before Alex and truly throughout the whole book I wasn't sure if their would be life after Alex either. Thrown together by circumstance their story continues to spiral through the angst of these circumstances outwith eithers control. "Natexus" truly is a love story that will sweep through your heart like a tornado and leaves you breathless wondering what the hell just happened right up to the last page.
November 26, 2017
Oh wow!! Why have I waited so long to read this book? I was gripped from the first chapter and sucked in to the pages, completely immersed, even when I had put the book down and was carrying on with every day life I was thinking of these guys. This book was intense, griping, heart breaking and heart stopping. It had a huge undercurrent of love swirling around each page wrapping around your heart, squeezing it with the raw emotions that poured out of each sentence. I can't recommend this read highly enough, one click, you will absolutely thank me for it!
January 30, 2016
"Nat. Alex" he shrugged "Us"
"NATEXUS" I whispered trough a shy smile
"NATEXUS" he repeated back to me "I like that"
-------------------------------------------------
I LOVED it!! I don't know what to say just WOW!!
That book was WOW! Everything about it was perfect. All the emotions in this story.....you have to go read it and see for yourself.
As always beautifully written by Victoria L James
"NATEXUS" I whispered trough a shy smile
"NATEXUS" he repeated back to me "I like that"
-------------------------------------------------
I LOVED it!! I don't know what to say just WOW!!
That book was WOW! Everything about it was perfect. All the emotions in this story.....you have to go read it and see for yourself.
As always beautifully written by Victoria L James
June 9, 2017
Couldn't put it down.
Finished it in a day!
Loved it all minus the name "Natexus"
Worst name ever! Lol
4.5 stars for me!
"...it was better to have a fragile heart filled with too much happiness, no matter how temporary, than to have a heart made of stone, aching with emptiness and permanent longing."
Finished it in a day!
Loved it all minus the name "Natexus"
Worst name ever! Lol
4.5 stars for me!
"...it was better to have a fragile heart filled with too much happiness, no matter how temporary, than to have a heart made of stone, aching with emptiness and permanent longing."
December 13, 2017
re-read 2017
May 28, 2018
This was my first read by James, and other than my best friend telling me how much she loved this series, I had no idea what to expect, except for some angst and unrequited love, which I’m a secret sucker for. Drawn together by their shared experiences of loss and pain, Natalie and Alex seem perfect for each other, until he repeatedly pushes her away and into the arms of another man after he breaks her young and fragile heart. James has a really beautiful and poetic way of writing, with unusual and descriptive metaphors that really cemented the scenes that she wrote. On paper this should have been an all out 5 star read for me, as it had the romance, the angst, and some emotional scenes, but, for my personal reading preference, the style of writing slowed down the pace of the story which took away from some of the emotional pull and connection I should have felt given the topics involved. There was also one scene near the beginning that nearly stopped me reading, as it seemed too bizarre, but maybe that made it all the more compelling to keep going, as I did keep reading because I wanted to find out why the hell that had happened, even though it was never really explained. . I’m definitely going to read more from James, as the storyline was compelling, and there really was an immense beauty in the way that she wrote - If there were more dialogue to quicken the pace, I’m sure that would elevate my rating from a 4 to one of my rare 5 star ratings next time. A recommended read!
March 14, 2018
I wish it hadn't taken me so long to read one of Victoria's books.. but now I have, I know I will binge read them. She has an amazing way with words that I can't do justice with a review, she draws you in and makes you feel everything through her characters.
There are times I cried, there are times the warm smile of her characters reached my lips. There were times I wanted to hate a character but i couldn't because I could feel their pain, their heartache - even Nicolas Law; when my heart was thumping out of my chest in anger at him the tears were still trying to break free !
I loved the authors writing style, it was fresh and different to anything I've read before. Her descriptions set scenes that take you along for a bumpy ride - "The plain, dusky pink duvet was marked with teardrops," .... and so was my pillow !!
Lizzy's oh-so-wise words “Never let the end of one thing stop you from enjoying the beginning of another.” stay with you throughout the story and play a huge part in Natalie's journey.
Friendships come into their own so many times, the crazy Danielle, the lovable Suzie and Paul, the best-friend-ever quirky Sammi - I loved them all !
This story is intense, it has angst, it has tears and it will stay with me.
There are many special people in this book and my heart hopes for a HEA for every one of them.
There are times I cried, there are times the warm smile of her characters reached my lips. There were times I wanted to hate a character but i couldn't because I could feel their pain, their heartache - even Nicolas Law; when my heart was thumping out of my chest in anger at him the tears were still trying to break free !
I loved the authors writing style, it was fresh and different to anything I've read before. Her descriptions set scenes that take you along for a bumpy ride - "The plain, dusky pink duvet was marked with teardrops," .... and so was my pillow !!
Lizzy's oh-so-wise words “Never let the end of one thing stop you from enjoying the beginning of another.” stay with you throughout the story and play a huge part in Natalie's journey.
Friendships come into their own so many times, the crazy Danielle, the lovable Suzie and Paul, the best-friend-ever quirky Sammi - I loved them all !
This story is intense, it has angst, it has tears and it will stay with me.
There are many special people in this book and my heart hopes for a HEA for every one of them.
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