Skylar Getting away from the wreckage of my past should have been the best thing for me. I believed there was something bigger and better out there. I believed I could whole-heartedly love again.
Finding someone who didn't even have a fraction of a heart to give never crossed my mind. He infuriates, consumes and devastates me. I wish I did the same for him, because I can't bring myself to walk away.
Grayson
One bad decision changed my life. Minutes, seconds, they culminated into the worst thing that's ever happened to me. For years I've been trying to drown the pain and guilt.
Now there's light, beauty, and hope. This shouldn't be mine. She's made me want it; crave it.
But the pills in my pocket are the strongest part of me. They always will be.
*Due to the content and nature of the book it is not intended for readers under the age of 18*
I can usually be found with my nose in my kindle or hanging out with my little guy. I have a serious caffeine problem and love to sing at the top of my lungs while driving. I have an obsession with book boyfriends and tend to over dibs! I am a single mom who found solace in writing and with help of some amazing people, I'm giving the writing thing a shot. My first novel Fractured Paths is available now on all platforms!
Blurb: Skylar Getting away from the wreckage of my past should have been the best thing for me. I believed there was something bigger and better out there. I believed I could whole-heartedly love again.
Finding someone who didn't even have a fraction of a heart to give never crossed my mind. He infuriates, consumes and devastates me. I wish I did the same for him, because I can't bring myself to walk away.
Grayson
One bad decision changed my life. Minutes, seconds, they culminated into the worst thing that's ever happened to me. For years I've been trying to drown the pain and guilt.
Now there's light, beauty, and hope. This shouldn't be mine. She's made me want it; crave it.
But the pills in my pocket are the strongest part of me. They always will be.
Fractured Paths is Heather Anne's debut novel and what an amazing job she did. From the moment I read the prologue I was completely sucked in. It grabbed at my emotions from the very beginning and at that moment I knew that Grayson and Skylar's story was going to be an emotional one filled with pain, grief and guilt. It was a beautiful story that at times will pull at your heart strings. Everything about this book just felt so real, from the main characters, to their friends and family to the storyline. I loved it all.
Grayson and Skylar have both lost someone that they loved and they are both not only still grieving but they are carrying around the guilt of it all. While Skylar has decided to move away and start all over, Grayson and has been drowning himself in drugs for the past four years. When they meet there is this undeniable connection between the two of them. Grayson may have came across as this cocky asshole but once you get beneath the surface, you see that he is just a broken man inside. They are two lost souls trying to find their way. They are both trying to deal with their past but in order for them to be together they truly need to put it all behind them. They need to find a way to move on from it all, forgive themselves for what happened and learn to live life again. Their journey is filled with the struggles of pain, guilt, loss and heartache. But together maybe they can find their way again.
I truly loved this book and all of the characters. At times I wanted to not like Grayson but you see how broken he really is and knowing what he has been through and seeing the real side of him you cannot help but love him. Skylar was an amazing heroine who I felt for on so many levels. To carry the burden of someone's death on her shoulders had to be so hard. Feeling like she was always reminded of what happened is the reason why she needed to move on. And I loved how she picked up and did what she needed to do for herself.
Grayson and Skylar together were perfect. I loved watching the two of them go through all of the emotions and the pain. I loved watching them both grow so much thoughout this story. There wa a connection and chemistry between them that you just felt. What I really loved about this story is that we not only see how Grayson is affected by his drug habit but also his family as well. We see just how much it can ruin relationships and how the people that you love are affected as well. That is what made this story feel so real and true to life.
Fractured Paths is certainly one roller coaster ride of emotions. I felt it all with these characters. Heather Anne did a wonderful job with making you feel. The writing was excellent and the pace of this book was just perfect. Nothing seemed rushed. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next, rooting for these two characters that I loved. Hoping that they both would find their way, put the past behind them, and find their happiness together. I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future. I especially cannot wait to see more of the Davis clan. Great job!!!
Wow! Just wow!! That's the first thing that comes to mind to say about this incredibly well-written debut novel from Heather Anne. It was emotional, raw and gut-wrenching and so very, very real. Grayson is just about as damaged as one man can get and is on a continuous downward spiral. Skylar is running from her past in order to find some peace. These two find each other and do eventually heal each other but only after between his family and Skylar trying to get him to face his demons head-on, Grayson is finally able to heal himself. I cried, so much I cried. I felt disappointment in Grayson but then I felt strength and love. I felt EVERYTHING to my very core! I read this book in one sitting because I just could not even fathom the idea of putting it down. I can't wait for Heather Anne's next book!
Hard to believe this is a debut book. Grayson & skylar both had traumatic pasts, can they overcome & get together. Very emotional book at times. Fantastic writing. Can't wait until we hear more from this family.
It took me about a week to get through Fractured Paths, but not for the reason you think. I read the prologue and was instantly gutted, I honestly didn't know if I could handle that kind of heartache. So after walking away from it for 2 days I decided to dive right in, I prepared myself for the worse, even had Kleenex next to me just in case.
We have all lost someone very close to us, and some of us might even carry the burden of blame for what ever reason. For Grayson and Skylar they knew and carried that grief all to well. For Grayson, his demons were a little harder to bear, so he turned to every outlet he could to numb himself, even if it meant killing himself in the process. But no matter who loves him, he needs to want to make himself better for him, not for the woman he fell in love with.
This story hit close to home. Because no matter how badly we want to help someone, to make them better, we can't. They have to want to do it. And sometimes, no matter how hard we try, they choose not to get help.
"Anything significant that would happen in our lives would be packed away in a shiny box and sent up to the sky so that God could remind us all of all the things we have when are stuck in the loneliness of the night." I'd like to think this is true, some days those shiny boxes are needed.
Heather Annes debut novel is nothing short of amazing. From start to finish you will get wrapped up in truly relatable characters. As someone who has delt with loss and substance abuse this book strikes a cord. Life isn't always rainbows and unicorns it is raw an gritty and is portrayed as such in Grayson and Skylars story. Not every happy ending starts with a happy beginning. I truly cannot wait for the next installment of what I believe will be an amazing series from a very promising new author .
Fractured Path is not a book for the faint of heart. It will make you feel. It will make you love, maybe make you hate at parts, it will make you break, and it will make you feel hope. All in one book. There is not much more that I can say to emphasize how consuming this book has been throughout reading it. The path towards healing is never an easy one and this book really documents just how far some have to go to come back from devastation.
A very emotional, roller coaster read. This book does a wonderful job discussing sensitive topics such as suicide and addition and the guilt that stems from it. Grayson lost his pregnant wife to suicide and has been on a downward sprial doing drugs to numb his pain. Skylar wanted a fresh start and away from the media spotlight after her husband, who suffered from PTSD, went on a shooting rampage at the VA before committing suicide. There was a backlash of the victims family blaming her and even suing her like it was her fault for not seeing the signs. She has lived with the hurt and guilt everyday and even setting up a charity fund for the victims familes who still blame her but take her charity money. It's really sad to think in reality there are people who are greedy and just want someone to blame so they can get money out of it.
Gray and Sky meet and have an instant connection. He thinks he's not good enough while she thinks he is and is ever so patient with him. I really love Sky for who she is as a person. She's never done anything wrong, but does everything she can for others, even the ones who still blame her for what her husband did.
Heather did a fantastic job with this book, showing how people handle grief and guilt differently and the long process to finally come out of it. How everyone needs the support and that you're not alone. Beautifully written story!
I will note that what bothered me is the terrible editing and the formatting. That did not take away from the book and the story, I just wanted to point that out. If you can look past the inconsistencies, it's an amazing book.
I have so many things to say about this beautiful story that brought out many emotions in me from one page to the next. The chemistry in this story is OFF the charts sexy, sizzling, sensual, and CRAZY good. I think the biggest emotion shown in this story is "guilt". Skylar and Grayson happen to have buckets of guilt filled up from a past they had no control of and probably could not have changed if they wanted to.
I was teary eyed when I read the prologue. The story didn't even start and I can feel the emotion that the author obviously poured into this book. I also got teary eyed when Skylar got her very first tattoo. Because it wasn't just any tattoo! It was a tattoo representing Skylar's past, present, and future.
Each page of this story was filled with emotion between the main characters and family members that it was difficult not to cry. I also had some strong feeling for some of the other characters who were not being nice to Grayson. Hudson for one. I loved how this story developed from two people who came from different worlds into one place where they might find peace. I think this story deserves much more than 5 stars. I written well with a good pace. It flowed nicely. The characters were described well and written into the story that supported everything the author was trying to say! I hope to read from this author again. I think some of the other characters had a story of their own.
Grayson & Skylar have a beautiful, rough, emotional story, and I'm so honored to have read this book! Yes, honored. I received an early copy, but due to circumstances was unable to actually READ it early. I started it, and fell so in love in the first few chapters that I immediately purchased a copy. I'm not disappointed in that decision!
This is a debut, and aside from some editing issues (I know ppl don't like those to be mentioned, but the editor in me can't let them go!), is perfection. The depth of writing, of the STORY, is beautiful. There is struggle, and pain, and so much EMOTION in these words. The overall feeling throughout the story, all the way to the end, however, is LOVE. Romantic & steamy love, yes, absolutely. But there's more. There's the love of siblings, and of friends, and through the sorrow & heartbreak that is woven in to Gray & Sky's individual stories and their story together, that is what shines through. LOVE.
I highly recommend this to anyone, but especially fans of Jay McLean & KC Lynn, because I know you'll "get" it. You'll feel it in the same way I felt it. It's been a while since I've felt inspired to write a longer gushy review, but this story inspired me. (Sorry if part of that is rambly!!) And I am SO looking forward to reading more of the Davis clan, so dear Author - keep 'em coming!! : )
I never know what to expect when I read a book by a new author, or a new to me author. I have read some great debut books and I have read some not so great debut books. Fractured Paths, Heather Anne's debut novel is an amazing first book. I absolutely loved these characters and their storyline. I was invested in them, I felt their feeling right along with them. I smiled when they were happy and was emotional when they were struggling. The secondary characters were also just as important to the story as the main and I loved them just as much. Grayson is broken. He faced a horrific tragedy that anyone would have a difficult time coming back from. Skylar has her own demons that she is running from, again another tragic life altering event that she just can't seem to escape. Both Grayson and Skylar are instantly drawn to each other the moment their eyes meet. Neither one of them seems to have the strength to stay away. When pasts become their present everything spirals out of control. The questions is whether Grayson and Skylar are willing and able to stay afloat or will they drown in their demons. This is a book I highly recommend and I am so glad I was able to read it. I look forward to the books to follow!
***I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.***
This love story made me giggle like a little girl and cry at the same time. This is a touching story about two people who meet after having similar pasts that haunt themselves. No matter where they turn, they are pulled to each other. Now the choice is theirs to take the jump and hope everything works out or to just walk away for what could be...
Grayson and Skylar deal with so much struggle, and pain trying to overcome their pasts. This book includes everything from suicide, to drug addiction, to two people trying to overcome their past, but fight it at the same time. The writing makes you feel the struggle Grayson and Skylar deal with, which makes this an extremely emotional read.
I honestly loved this book! I read this within a couple of hours and just couldn't stop! I am a huge fan of supporting new authors, but sometimes you never know how the actual story will turn out. This new author is talented and this was a book I will never forget. The only reason I will not give 5/5 stars is due to the minor editing errors, but they were easy to read through and enjoy the book. I cannot wait for the next book in this series and look forward to more books from the very talented Heather Anne!
Fractured Paths is an roller coaster ride of emotions. Grayson lost his pregnant wife to suicide and for the last five years has blamed himself for her death. Spiraling out of control using drugs, sex and alcohol to numb himself from the guilt and pain. Skylar is running from her past and the memories of a husband she thought she knew until he open fired in a public place killing innocent people and ultimately himself. When Gray and Sky meet sparks fly. They may be what each other needs to start life a new but can Gray make the decision to choose love over addiction? This was my first book by Heather Anne. I was overwhelmed by the emotional story telling in this book. The realistic depiction of loss after suicide and the hard truths about addiction had me enthralled. Skylar is a strong, smart female character who pushes through the problems life throws at her and comes out the other side stronger. Gray is a lost soul looking for redemption. It was beautiful to read about his journey from junkie to recovery. Highly recommended I look forward to hearing about the rest of the Davis clan.
Fractured Paths was simply awesome! It is hard to believe that this is a debut book for Heather Anne! Such a well-written story that takes the reader on a beautiful, heart wrenching journey. I was completely drawn in and found myself so entangled in the story that I spent most of the story furious at the main character, Grayson. I put the book down several times; not sure that my heart could take any more only to come huffing back to it because I absolutely had to know what happened next. You feel so many raw emotions with this story…pain, love, guilt, fear… I couldn’t help but root not only for Grayson and Skylar; but the other Davis brothers as well.
I absolutely can’t wait to see what Heather brings us next!
OMG! I loved this book! I knew going in it was going to make me tear up..but starting in the prologue!!?? Grayson is a self-destructive man with a broken heart. Skylar was women leaving her broken heart behind and trying to start a new judgement free life. The chemistry between these two is off the charts! They can only fight it for so long before they give in to their temptations. But Gray has demons he must battle before he finally give in and give himself fully to Sky. Sky knows he has to put himself first and hope he can beat them. Not only are these two characters so beautifully written but the whole supporting cast as well. I cannot wait to learn about each and every person in this book.I see stories for them all.
I am not even sure where to start with this review. I was lucky enough to get my hands on this beautiful story and it will stick with me for a long time. This author put so many beautiful concepts into this book, it literally tore me apart and put me back together.
For being a debut novel, I was so impressed with the characters. Heather Anne is above and beyond her experience. She put into words the actual pain and love being felt. It seemed to flow from my kindle and straight through me.
Long story short, I am looking forward to so many more books from this amazing lady and I can only hope you enjoy this book half as much as I did!
It's hard to put into words how much I got out of reading this book. It's well-written, it's an outstanding story, a page-turner I couldn't put down, gave me my next tattoo idea (because I couldn't decide how I wanted my s*******n (to avoid spoilers)), and pulled me into a series when I hate reading incomplete series (I don't handle anticipation well). It also brought up so many thoughts and feelings, I'm still processing. Definite book hangover, definitely going on re-read list. And I really don't know what else to say.
Really enjoyed reading this book. Heather Anne hit it out of the park on her first try. Great character development and a very interesting story.
This book had me laughing, crying, and tingling all very. Quite an emotional roller coaster! I found myself loving and hating Grayson at the same time and saying both "you go girl" and "you don't need to stand for that" to Skylar.
Very real characters that I could understand and relate to. Can't wait for book 2!
this book was a new subject matter for me, and while it was hard to get through at some points, i really enjoyed the journey. watching Skylar and Grayson grow and change was a joy. it could be a trigger for someone else, so keep that in mind. overall, it was a really good story and everyone should give this novel a chance.
i hope we get to learn more about the other Davis family members in future books.
The main chick is too perfect, she had no flaws, doesn't make any mistakes, and even has an infinite bank roll. And the dude is horribly damaged, but is magically fixed in one chapter. I'd love to read a romance where both parties are flawed, make mistakes, and are more relatable. Also, who showers immediately after sex ever g-d time?
Holy crap this ride Heather Anne took me on couldn't have been more terrifyingly brilliant! The real and rawness of the characters kept me hooked from beginning to end and when it did end, I missed them and wanted more! This must read debute will not disappoint.
A very emotional, roller coaster read. This book does a wonderful job discussing sensitive topics such as suicide and addition and the guilt that stems from it. Grayson lost his pregnant wife to suicide and has been on a downward sprial doing drugs to numb his pain. Skylar wanted a fresh start and away from the media spotlight after her husband, who suffered from PTSD, went on a shooting rampage at the VA before committing suicide. There was a backlash of the victims family blaming her and even suing her like it was her fault for not seeing the signs. She has lived with the hurt and guilt everyday and even setting up a charity fund for the victims familes who still blame her but take her charity money. It's really sad to think in reality there are people who are greedy and just want someone to blame so they can get money out of it.
Gray and Sky meet and have an instant connection. He thinks he's not good enough while she thinks he is and is ever so patient with him. I really love Sky for who she is as a person. She's never done anything wrong, but does everything she can for others, even the ones who still blame her for what her husband did.
Heather did a fantastic job with this book, showing how people handle grief and guilt differently and the long process to finally come out of it. How everyone needs the support and that you're not alone. Beautifully written story!
I will note that what bothered me is the terrible editing and the formatting. That did not take away from the book and the story, I just wanted to point that out. If you can look past the inconsistencies, it's an amazing book.
Amazing book , great look at , suicide , survivor guilt , drug addiction, recovery, finding that someone who can relate to what you are going through. Love all the supporting cast , Grayson's family , Skylar's friends , their support group friends and how they intertwine in this small community! I’m pretty generous with my five star ratings but this is definitely one of the best 5🌟 books I have read in awhile !!!
I don’t know that I will be able to put into words how amazing and touching this story was. Very hard topics were tackled and done so with the most extreme finesse. Suicide, drug addiction and ptsd. Grayson and Skylar both had a very long and hard journey and you will love every step of the way. It’s going to gut you but you’ll be so glad you read their story!!
OMG!!! Heather Anne’s debut novel is incredible. The storyline was wonderful and kept me hooked. All the detail and description that went in to this story was amazing. Grayson and Skylar are well developed and complex characters that will have you on the edge of your seat, rooting for them throughout the story. The story is full of all the “feels” and had me an emotional wreck till the very end. The book is written so well that I could see myself in the story. Not so much a main character, but a fly on the wall that could see everything as it was happening. I love when I get so engrossed in a book that I do not have the strength to put it down, even for a minute. Sorry, but this book even went to the bathroom with me. I found myself fully invested in the outcome of this story from chapter 2. I am also now waiting (maybe not so patiently) for the next in the series. Heather, I do not care which character is next as I know they will all have their own incredible stories to tell. Love ya girl!
TRACY'S REVIEW 5 STARS
It took me about a week to get through Fractured Paths, but not for the reason you think. I read the prologue and was instantly gutted, I honestly didn't know if I could handle that kind of heartache. So after walking away from it for 2 days I decided to dive right in, I prepared myself for the worse, even had Kleenex next to me just in case.
We have all lost someone very close to us, and some of us might even carry the burden of blame for what ever reason. For Grayson and Skylar they knew and carried that grief all to well. For Grayson, his demons were a little harder to bear, so he turned to every outlet he could to numb himself, even if it meant killing himself in the process. But no matter who loves him, he needs to want to make himself better for him, not for the woman he fell in love with.
This story hit close to home. Because no matter how badly we want to help someone, to make them better, we can't. They have to want to do it. And sometimes, no matter how hard we try, they choose not to get help.
"Anything significant that would happen in our lives would be packed away in a shiny box and sent up to the sky so that God could remind us all of all the things we have when are stuck in the loneliness of the night." I'd like to think this is true, some days those shiny boxes are needed.
DAWN'S REVIEW 4.5 STARS
For a Debut novel Heather Anne knocked it out of the park!! I devoured this book. When a tragedy takes your life down a dark and dangerours road you have to wonder what happens. How do you come back from that? How do you heal all the hurt you caused? Heather does a perfect job of taking you on that dark and dangerous journey. You get to see how you come back from that. How you heal the hurt you caused. I loved every emotional word of this book and can't wait till the next one comes out!! A new author that I can't wait to read more by!!
OMG!!! Heather Anne’s debut novel is incredible. The storyline was wonderful and kept me hooked. All the detail and description that went in to this story was amazing. Grayson and Skylar are well developed and complex characters that will have you on the edge of your seat, rooting for them throughout the story. The story is full of all the “feels” and had me an emotional wreck till the very end. The book is written so well that I could see myself in the story. Not so much a main character, but a fly on the wall that could see everything as it was happening. I love when I get so engrossed in a book that I do not have the strength to put it down, even for a minute. Sorry, but this book even went to the bathroom with me. I found myself fully invested in the outcome of this story from chapter 2. I am also now waiting (maybe not so patiently) for the next in the series. Heather, I do not care which character is next as I know they will all have their own incredible stories to tell. Love ya girl! Reviewed for FMR Book Grind
I loved this book so much!! There were so many hidden gems throughout the book that made you connect with the world that Heather Anne creates. This book deals with some pretty heavy topics as it follows Skylar and Grayson throughout their journeys, both individually and together, and it leaves you completely satisfied, but still wanting more!! This book took me on a roller coaster of emotion...I was in love, I was angry, I was empathetic, and right back to being happy again. Heather Anne did such an amazing job of really showing the true emotions that come with the situations that the characters deal with. It made you care about what happened to them and want them to truly succeed and be their best selves. Becoming emotionally invested and attached to characters is nothing new for those of us who are avid readers, but be prepared for Skylar, Grayson, and the rest of the gang to stick with you long after you finish the last page.