What do you think?
Rate this book
Dust
To kill is easy…
Killian knows the nickname fits. He’s a cursed man with a screwed up childhood and a hellacious hot temper. With school, work, anger management sessions, and taking care of his ailing granddad, he doesn’t have a social life. The demons from his past won’t let him get close to anyone even if he wants. His one respite is art. When he gets lost in a project, he can ignore the monster lurking within. A temporary cleanse that never lasts.
To live is torture…
Olivia never dreamed she would return to Louisiana, not after that fateful day ten years ago that changed her forever. But Liv didn’t argue with her mom when she’d encouraged her to transfer. Why bother? She has zero friends. Hell, she isn’t even daddy’s little angel anymore. She just exists, destined to live in a shell of her past’s crumbled embers. And even those pieces are too tiny, too many. She’s blanketed in them, her dust.
To try is hard…
When Liv sits next to Killian in art class, he realizes she could help him with the one major assignment standing between him and his degree, and she reluctantly accepts he can help her with more than an art class. The two embark on a relationship previously uncharted for either and quickly discover how hard it is just sifting through life’s ashes. Can two damaged souls find a way to heal old wounds, or will trying only ruin them forever?
Killian knows the nickname fits. He’s a cursed man with a screwed up childhood and a hellacious hot temper. With school, work, anger management sessions, and taking care of his ailing granddad, he doesn’t have a social life. The demons from his past won’t let him get close to anyone even if he wants. His one respite is art. When he gets lost in a project, he can ignore the monster lurking within. A temporary cleanse that never lasts.
To live is torture…
Olivia never dreamed she would return to Louisiana, not after that fateful day ten years ago that changed her forever. But Liv didn’t argue with her mom when she’d encouraged her to transfer. Why bother? She has zero friends. Hell, she isn’t even daddy’s little angel anymore. She just exists, destined to live in a shell of her past’s crumbled embers. And even those pieces are too tiny, too many. She’s blanketed in them, her dust.
To try is hard…
When Liv sits next to Killian in art class, he realizes she could help him with the one major assignment standing between him and his degree, and she reluctantly accepts he can help her with more than an art class. The two embark on a relationship previously uncharted for either and quickly discover how hard it is just sifting through life’s ashes. Can two damaged souls find a way to heal old wounds, or will trying only ruin them forever?
- GenresNew Adult Romance
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2016
3 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Mandy Harbin
53 books296 followersMandy Harbin is a USA Today Best‐selling author who loves creating stories that explore the complexities of everyday relationships...with some kissing thrown in. She also writes young adult romance as M.W. Muse because teens like kissing, too.
Join Mandy's newsletter and get a FREE book ➜ mandyharbin.com/newsletter
Find her online at:
Bookbub ➜ BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mandy...
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/Author.Mandy...
Instagram ➜ @Mandy_Harbin https://www.instagram.com/mandy_harbin
Twitter ➜ @Mandy_Harbin twitter.com/Mandy_Harbin
The Bang Shift Series
Tender Tarts
Woods Family Series
Join Mandy's newsletter and get a FREE book ➜ mandyharbin.com/newsletter
Find her online at:
Bookbub ➜ BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mandy...
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/Author.Mandy...
Instagram ➜ @Mandy_Harbin https://www.instagram.com/mandy_harbin
Twitter ➜ @Mandy_Harbin twitter.com/Mandy_Harbin
The Bang Shift Series
Tender Tarts
Woods Family Series
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 13, 2016
Olivia "Liv" Musgrave is no stranger to tragedy and heartache. Yet she can't muster up enough of an argument with her mother over changing schools prior to graduating. For Liv, coming back to Louisiana is steeped in good and bad memories of things she'd rather forget. Liv is happy being an outcast which means she doesn't have to fit in. Killian Ashley is one semester away from graduating. He's got a very short fuse which landed him in trouble with mandatory counseling sessions. Killian meeting Liv turns his world upside down along with her own. Killian and Liv keep telling themselves there only friends but it's clear they've got passion. Will Liv's past come back to haunt her? Can Killian get past his anger? Your answers await you in Dust.
This new to me author really brought this powerful drama to life. The story and characters are complex, compelling, raw, gritty, honest, and real. I look forward to more from this author in the future.
This new to me author really brought this powerful drama to life. The story and characters are complex, compelling, raw, gritty, honest, and real. I look forward to more from this author in the future.
August 6, 2016
Liv was back in Lousiana, a place she never wanted to be again, too many memories, too many nightmares. At school at LSU now, she is expecting to live like she has. Invisible. Safe. Her roomie and a fellow student in her art class have other ideas.
When Liv sits next to dark and sexy student Killian in art class. He is drawn to her. When she bolts at his incessant talking and quick tempered rhetoric he knows he needs to apologize. When he learns why he taught pissed her off wasn't what did it he is intrigued to learn why his use of one single word did. Using his need for help is a paper with her need for help in art class they strike a deal to help each other and be friends...friends only. We all know how well that will work out for them, LOL.
Killian has his own secrets. His dad, his villain. His fear that that man's blood runs through his veins scares him most. On probation with the school for an altercation with his former best friends, his future hangs on a breaking branch in a windstorm.
As they grow close, they both fight the feelings developing while also lying to themselves about it too. Lines are crossed, feelings searched and all is thrown into hell when the past awakens and rears its ugly head once again. Will their love survive? Will they survive?
Really enjoyed this book. A little winded but a good plot with a few nice, unpredictable twist and turns. Strong characters.
When Liv sits next to dark and sexy student Killian in art class. He is drawn to her. When she bolts at his incessant talking and quick tempered rhetoric he knows he needs to apologize. When he learns why he taught pissed her off wasn't what did it he is intrigued to learn why his use of one single word did. Using his need for help is a paper with her need for help in art class they strike a deal to help each other and be friends...friends only. We all know how well that will work out for them, LOL.
Killian has his own secrets. His dad, his villain. His fear that that man's blood runs through his veins scares him most. On probation with the school for an altercation with his former best friends, his future hangs on a breaking branch in a windstorm.
As they grow close, they both fight the feelings developing while also lying to themselves about it too. Lines are crossed, feelings searched and all is thrown into hell when the past awakens and rears its ugly head once again. Will their love survive? Will they survive?
Really enjoyed this book. A little winded but a good plot with a few nice, unpredictable twist and turns. Strong characters.
July 24, 2016
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
After the first few chapters I really thought I would dislike this book. Everything seemed so gloomy and kind of slow. I'm really glad I stuck with it though because it got to be really good!
The MCs grew on me until I loved them both.
The story is full of twists that the author pulled off flawlessly. I did guess the major twist (because I read too much to believe what I'm told) but every time I expected something, it's like she knew what was expected and went the other way. Loved that!
There were some editing issues, but this being an arc, I hope/expect that to change.
The story hooked me and the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because there were some inconsistencies. For example, and I don't see this as a spoiler, as soon as the H is introduced he talks about his diagnosis with his mental health. I know not every case is textbook but his condition and the character I read made ZERO sense. It would have made more sense to say he had anger issues (that we never really see) and adhd than to go big with that other one. Being worried about having something based on genetics and actually being diagnosed are waaay different. Anyway, I put that aside and the rest of the book I enjoyed.
I'm really glad I was able to receive a copy of this book because it was a great way to spend the day.
After the first few chapters I really thought I would dislike this book. Everything seemed so gloomy and kind of slow. I'm really glad I stuck with it though because it got to be really good!
The MCs grew on me until I loved them both.
The story is full of twists that the author pulled off flawlessly. I did guess the major twist (because I read too much to believe what I'm told) but every time I expected something, it's like she knew what was expected and went the other way. Loved that!
There were some editing issues, but this being an arc, I hope/expect that to change.
The story hooked me and the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because there were some inconsistencies. For example, and I don't see this as a spoiler, as soon as the H is introduced he talks about his diagnosis with his mental health. I know not every case is textbook but his condition and the character I read made ZERO sense. It would have made more sense to say he had anger issues (that we never really see) and adhd than to go big with that other one. Being worried about having something based on genetics and actually being diagnosed are waaay different. Anyway, I put that aside and the rest of the book I enjoyed.
I'm really glad I was able to receive a copy of this book because it was a great way to spend the day.
September 26, 2016
I really enjoyed Dust by Mandy Harbin. Liv starts out as such a sad and tortured soul. She has so much to overcome. Killian has his own demons, but a chance meeting in an art class puts these two social misfits together. Hard to swallow at first, Killian gets under Liv's skin. He means well, but due to his own issues, he is quick to speak without realizing that he may be saying the wrong thing. They each have needs the other one can help with and because of this, they form a quick friendship. Liv brings out feelings in Killian he never wanted to feel and Killian helps Liv get over her childhood trauma and fear of men. The bond and closeness these two form is sure to lead to something more than friendship, right? How is Killian going to deal with his self-proclaimed no relationship status?
Dust is a great read. It has a few twists that I was not expecting. I loved Liv and Killian's characters. They both called to me and made me want to read more of their story. I loved the dialogue between these two characters. They were fun and sexy. I look forward to reading more by Mandy Harbin.
Dust is a great read. It has a few twists that I was not expecting. I loved Liv and Killian's characters. They both called to me and made me want to read more of their story. I loved the dialogue between these two characters. They were fun and sexy. I look forward to reading more by Mandy Harbin.
July 30, 2016
Dust is a compelling, well-written story about two damaged individuals who find love despite the darkness they feel inside. Liv and Killian's pain filled pasts have left them both with bleak outlooks which are responsible for the solitary lives they lead. As determined as they are to hold themselves apart from others, they are drawn together in a tenuous friendship that blossoms into a romantic relationship, but is the past too much to overcome?
This is the first book I have read by Mandy Harbin and I was bowled over by it. The characters are complex, the story emotional, right through to the gripping conclusion. I couldn't put it down! This book is an awesome read which I received in return for an honest review.
This is the first book I have read by Mandy Harbin and I was bowled over by it. The characters are complex, the story emotional, right through to the gripping conclusion. I couldn't put it down! This book is an awesome read which I received in return for an honest review.
July 20, 2016
I received Dust as a free copy from the author (via InstaFreebie). The gifting did not determine the review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion. I'd read and enjoyed other books by this author, but this surpassed the moderately enjoyable read I expected. The characters were complex, with real issues they had to overcome. I loved the way the writer blended two broken people into a romance with lots of layers and emotion. This is the best thing I've read by this author and it will probably resonate with many readers. Well done.
September 12, 2016
Killian and Olivia's story had me captivated from the beginning, they're are two people with deeply damaged souls merely existing and not living life who meet in an art class and will have their lives changed forever.
Personal demons will be bought to light that they have tried to hide from and will have to delt with if either of them ever hope to experience what it is to feel alive again.
This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster that's for sure but it's a rollercoaster that is definitely worth the ride.
Personal demons will be bought to light that they have tried to hide from and will have to delt with if either of them ever hope to experience what it is to feel alive again.
This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster that's for sure but it's a rollercoaster that is definitely worth the ride.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews