What do you think?
Rate this book
Chosen Paths #3
Out of Focus
"I've been watching you long enough to know something broke you. Something you keep hidden, something that weighs on your soul. You pretend, but your eyes betray you. There's pain hidden within them, but when you smile, really smile, the pain is gone and you're you. Not the person you pretend to be. And like I said earlier, I find that very interesting. I want to know what makes you smile, how to make you smile, and how to keep that smile a permanent fixture on that gorgeous face of yours. And more importantly, I want to know why you feel unworthy of that smile, and how to fix that too."
For years, Cassie Cooper has played the very convincing role of a confident young woman who couldn't care less about what others think regarding her actions. But in reality, underneath her bold façade, lies a very frightened, broken little girl who's suffocating under the weight of her secrets. Out of control, she continues whirling down her very treacherous path in search for anything that will numb her pain. But no one will ever know. With her mask securely in place, she keeps that little girl hidden, safe from the scrutiny of prying eyes.
That is, until she meets Grady Bennett.
The martial arts instructor doesn't just look at Cassie, he sees her.
And with painstaking patience as their relationship grows, Grady works to help Cassie see herself. Her ferocity. Her strength. Her ability to love and to smile. He pushes her to acknowledge and embrace what she really is . . . a survivor.
But when her walls are down and her vulnerabilities exposed, Cassie is forced to face her torturous past, causing her to lose sight and plummet once again into her void of emptiness.
Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to find the necessary strength to land safely.
And sometimes, life has to become completely Out of Focus in order to finally see.
*** Upper New Adult Spinoff Standalone to the USA Today Bestselling Novel, Under the Influence***
***WARNING - The subject matter of this novel centers around the psychological effects due to sexual abuse experienced during childhood. For this reason, as well as sexual situations, language, and adult themes, suggested reading age is 17+.***
For years, Cassie Cooper has played the very convincing role of a confident young woman who couldn't care less about what others think regarding her actions. But in reality, underneath her bold façade, lies a very frightened, broken little girl who's suffocating under the weight of her secrets. Out of control, she continues whirling down her very treacherous path in search for anything that will numb her pain. But no one will ever know. With her mask securely in place, she keeps that little girl hidden, safe from the scrutiny of prying eyes.
That is, until she meets Grady Bennett.
The martial arts instructor doesn't just look at Cassie, he sees her.
And with painstaking patience as their relationship grows, Grady works to help Cassie see herself. Her ferocity. Her strength. Her ability to love and to smile. He pushes her to acknowledge and embrace what she really is . . . a survivor.
But when her walls are down and her vulnerabilities exposed, Cassie is forced to face her torturous past, causing her to lose sight and plummet once again into her void of emptiness.
Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to find the necessary strength to land safely.
And sometimes, life has to become completely Out of Focus in order to finally see.
*** Upper New Adult Spinoff Standalone to the USA Today Bestselling Novel, Under the Influence***
***WARNING - The subject matter of this novel centers around the psychological effects due to sexual abuse experienced during childhood. For this reason, as well as sexual situations, language, and adult themes, suggested reading age is 17+.***
ebook
Published February 19, 2016
45 people are currently reading
1167 people want to read
About the author
L.B. Simmons
10 books1,477 followersAfter graduating from Texas A&M University, L.B. Simmons did what any biomedical science major could do. She entered the workforce as a full-time chemist. Years later, never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined herself a USA Today Bestselling contemporary romance author as well.
What began as a memoir for her children, ended up being her first self-published book, Running on Empty. Initially it was written to chronicle their actions, their phrases, and their silly arguments so that when they were older, they would always have those memories. The memoir soon began to take on a life of its own, morphing into the story of a single mother with three little girls finding love when she least expected it. Soon after, her girls were given reoccurring roles in the remainder of what became the Mending Hearts series.
That's how her journey as an author began, and she hopes to God it never ends.
L.B. Simmons doesn’t just write books. With each new work, she attempts to compose journeys of love and self-discovery so she may impart life lessons to readers. Several novels later, she’s tackled suicide, depression, bullying, eating disorders, as well as physical and sexual abuse, all the while weaving elements of humor into the storylines in effort to balance the difficult topics. Often described as roller coaster rides, her novels are known for eliciting a wide range of emotions in each story she tells.
What began as a memoir for her children, ended up being her first self-published book, Running on Empty. Initially it was written to chronicle their actions, their phrases, and their silly arguments so that when they were older, they would always have those memories. The memoir soon began to take on a life of its own, morphing into the story of a single mother with three little girls finding love when she least expected it. Soon after, her girls were given reoccurring roles in the remainder of what became the Mending Hearts series.
That's how her journey as an author began, and she hopes to God it never ends.
L.B. Simmons doesn’t just write books. With each new work, she attempts to compose journeys of love and self-discovery so she may impart life lessons to readers. Several novels later, she’s tackled suicide, depression, bullying, eating disorders, as well as physical and sexual abuse, all the while weaving elements of humor into the storylines in effort to balance the difficult topics. Often described as roller coaster rides, her novels are known for eliciting a wide range of emotions in each story she tells.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
February 23, 2016
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
“Secrets aren’t meant to be shared. They’re to remain hidden, safe from the judgment of others as they remain a burden for you, and only you, to carry alone.”
L.B. Simmons continues to amaze me as she once again bewitches her readers with her words, prose, raw characters and story line. She is one of my favorite authors who has always seem to know how to capture my undivided attention. Every facets of raw emotions were literally pouring off each page. Words will be just words until you bring them to LIFE. And that's what Ms. Simmons continues to master as she held our hearts hostage with her latest new release, Out of Focus.
Out of Focus was utterly breathtaking, raw, emotional, uplifting, and hopeful. This is not an ordinary tale of finding love. It is a story where love transcends and douses us with pure passion and beauty. It is a story where fire is ignited within oneself in order to keep that spark of hope alive. That hope will be our salvation to heal and mend the broken pieces in our shattered hearts. Where the pieces of brokenness are not just picked up but are glued and fused together to make a heart whole once again.
“I read obsessively to escape my own world. To live the dreams of others when, for so long, the reoccurrence of my nightmares has been my reality. I read to fall in love and find a happily ever after, even if it is purely imagined. With each story I read, I’m able to live and love vicariously through the characters in my books. It’s the only plausible way for me to survive.”
Innocence is often seen as something so pure and beautiful. And so when that is taken away from you, it is something that can never be returned. And for Cassandra Copper, her innocence was ripped out under from her. It destroyed her. Held her under the influence of guilt, shame, sadness, and pain. It broke her. Left her life out of focus. And so begins the tale of the real Cassie Copper. The young girl who is struggling to hold onto any sanity and good thing in her life. The girl who reads to escape. The girl who needs sex to fill in the void. The girl who hides behind the plastered smile. The girl who is trying to get her life out of focus.
So if you read L.B. Simmon's previous books, The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller and Under the Influence, then you will be very familiar with the characters in this story. The prologue alone in Out of Focus immediately held my attention. It spoke to me on a deeper level because I could feel Cassie's pain as to why she hid her secrets and why there is a strong need to escape from reality. Let's face it, we all have our secrets. Secrets that are cherished and then there are those that we want to hide and forget. The ones we just want to stay hidden and kept buried. But in truth, buried secrets are never really kept buried. They can always seem to find their way to haunt and consume you. Darkness begins to creep in and destroy pieces of your soul. And soon these pieces are like a kaleidoscope of shattered glasses that puts your life out of focus.
“What I see is exactly this: You refuse to smile for yourself, but you smile for her. With everyone else, including me, it’s forced, but with her, it’s real. And it’s beautiful. I’m interested in understanding why.” He shrugs. “Call me selfish, but I also want to learn what it takes to get you to flash that gorgeous smile at me. For me.”
Out of Focus is not just a love story. It is a journey. A journey of finding oneself in the darkness and letting light shine. A journey of letting go and washing away all the hate, pain, guilt, and shame. A journey of finding that voice to be heard. To be resurrected. To be healed by love and held under the influence of real unconditional love from the people that really matters. And most importantly writing your story. Embracing each moment of your life. The good, the bad, and the in between. It is a story where words convey so much more and can truly impact how you view yourself and what really matters in life. A story that is meant to be heard. A story that is meant to be written. And most importantly a story that is meant to be read. And so Cassie Copper got her story. A story that deserved to be loved times two.
“As much as I would love to drown in this feeling, as much as I would love to surrender and give myself to him completely, I can’t. I’m damaged. Shattered. I can only offer pieces of what he seeks because pieces are all that remain.”
As I stated earlier in my review, L.B. Simmons did a phenomenal job with this book. She had resurrected her readers to see the light. She had us under the influence as she douses and bathes her readers with raw emotions. And most importantly she has us see nothing is truly out of focus when it comes to earth-shattering love. So if you are looking for a book, that strips you naked as your are drenched with an overwhelming magnitude of raw emotions, hope, and second chances then I highly recommend you to read Out of Focus. And lastly, thank you L.B. Simmons for writing a story that was meant to be read and be out of focus because real life is about writing your own fucking phenomenal epilogue.
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...L.B. Simmons
“Secrets aren’t meant to be shared. They’re to remain hidden, safe from the judgment of others as they remain a burden for you, and only you, to carry alone.”L.B. Simmons continues to amaze me as she once again bewitches her readers with her words, prose, raw characters and story line. She is one of my favorite authors who has always seem to know how to capture my undivided attention. Every facets of raw emotions were literally pouring off each page. Words will be just words until you bring them to LIFE. And that's what Ms. Simmons continues to master as she held our hearts hostage with her latest new release, Out of Focus.
Out of Focus was utterly breathtaking, raw, emotional, uplifting, and hopeful. This is not an ordinary tale of finding love. It is a story where love transcends and douses us with pure passion and beauty. It is a story where fire is ignited within oneself in order to keep that spark of hope alive. That hope will be our salvation to heal and mend the broken pieces in our shattered hearts. Where the pieces of brokenness are not just picked up but are glued and fused together to make a heart whole once again.
“I read obsessively to escape my own world. To live the dreams of others when, for so long, the reoccurrence of my nightmares has been my reality. I read to fall in love and find a happily ever after, even if it is purely imagined. With each story I read, I’m able to live and love vicariously through the characters in my books. It’s the only plausible way for me to survive.”Innocence is often seen as something so pure and beautiful. And so when that is taken away from you, it is something that can never be returned. And for Cassandra Copper, her innocence was ripped out under from her. It destroyed her. Held her under the influence of guilt, shame, sadness, and pain. It broke her. Left her life out of focus. And so begins the tale of the real Cassie Copper. The young girl who is struggling to hold onto any sanity and good thing in her life. The girl who reads to escape. The girl who needs sex to fill in the void. The girl who hides behind the plastered smile. The girl who is trying to get her life out of focus.
So if you read L.B. Simmon's previous books, The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller and Under the Influence, then you will be very familiar with the characters in this story. The prologue alone in Out of Focus immediately held my attention. It spoke to me on a deeper level because I could feel Cassie's pain as to why she hid her secrets and why there is a strong need to escape from reality. Let's face it, we all have our secrets. Secrets that are cherished and then there are those that we want to hide and forget. The ones we just want to stay hidden and kept buried. But in truth, buried secrets are never really kept buried. They can always seem to find their way to haunt and consume you. Darkness begins to creep in and destroy pieces of your soul. And soon these pieces are like a kaleidoscope of shattered glasses that puts your life out of focus.
“What I see is exactly this: You refuse to smile for yourself, but you smile for her. With everyone else, including me, it’s forced, but with her, it’s real. And it’s beautiful. I’m interested in understanding why.” He shrugs. “Call me selfish, but I also want to learn what it takes to get you to flash that gorgeous smile at me. For me.”Out of Focus is not just a love story. It is a journey. A journey of finding oneself in the darkness and letting light shine. A journey of letting go and washing away all the hate, pain, guilt, and shame. A journey of finding that voice to be heard. To be resurrected. To be healed by love and held under the influence of real unconditional love from the people that really matters. And most importantly writing your story. Embracing each moment of your life. The good, the bad, and the in between. It is a story where words convey so much more and can truly impact how you view yourself and what really matters in life. A story that is meant to be heard. A story that is meant to be written. And most importantly a story that is meant to be read. And so Cassie Copper got her story. A story that deserved to be loved times two.
“As much as I would love to drown in this feeling, as much as I would love to surrender and give myself to him completely, I can’t. I’m damaged. Shattered. I can only offer pieces of what he seeks because pieces are all that remain.”As I stated earlier in my review, L.B. Simmons did a phenomenal job with this book. She had resurrected her readers to see the light. She had us under the influence as she douses and bathes her readers with raw emotions. And most importantly she has us see nothing is truly out of focus when it comes to earth-shattering love. So if you are looking for a book, that strips you naked as your are drenched with an overwhelming magnitude of raw emotions, hope, and second chances then I highly recommend you to read Out of Focus. And lastly, thank you L.B. Simmons for writing a story that was meant to be read and be out of focus because real life is about writing your own fucking phenomenal epilogue.
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...L.B. Simmons
January 3, 2023
I had no clue when starting this book that it ran parallel with the events in Under the Influence, but it fit perfectly. I had been drawn to Cassie when reading Spencer and Dalton's story and was so happy to see she was getting her own book. It just so happens that Cassie's book is my favorite out of the Chosen Paths series!
The connection and emotions I felt toward Cassie and Grady were intense and personal. Their pain and hope and love and anger flowed off of the pages with every word LB Simmons wrote. I feel I underestimated Grady during his brief appearance in Under the Influence. He was exactly what Cassie needed. The amount of care, patience, and understanding he posses should have him nominated for sainthood. Cassie's story is just down right heart breaking, but Cassie's epilogue and growth put all the little pieces back together.
*Spoiler*
One thing I absolutely LOVED about Out of Focus is that Grady didn't FIX Cassie. He showed her happiness and supported her. He showed her that she DESERVES to be loved and happy and live the life she wants. But it was ultimately Cassie who found her strength and sought out help from Aubrey. And Cassie put in every ounce of work necessary to heal herself THEN she got her man and her happiness.
Read
April 14, 2016***Upper NA Contemporary Romance***
In Under the Influence, the story centered around Dalton Greer’s internal struggle to keep the road he chose in order to escape his abusive childhood a secret from the girl he loved, Spencer Locke. Along the way, we also met Cassie, her quirky best friend, who was responsible for much of the comic relief throughout the book.
But things aren’t always as they appear, and Cassie it seems has been hiding her own secrets. Secrets she is ready to share with you. Secrets that won’t be easy to write, and probably even harder to read, but ones which must be revealed in order for her to heal from her own tortured past and move forward into the arms of the man she loves.
This book will be able to be read as a standalone, but will also have some of the pivotal scenes from Under the Influence in Cassie’s POV.
All secrets will be revealed early 2016.
In Under the Influence, the story centered around Dalton Greer’s internal struggle to keep the road he chose in order to escape his abusive childhood a secret from the girl he loved, Spencer Locke. Along the way, we also met Cassie, her quirky best friend, who was responsible for much of the comic relief throughout the book.
But things aren’t always as they appear, and Cassie it seems has been hiding her own secrets. Secrets she is ready to share with you. Secrets that won’t be easy to write, and probably even harder to read, but ones which must be revealed in order for her to heal from her own tortured past and move forward into the arms of the man she loves.
This book will be able to be read as a standalone, but will also have some of the pivotal scenes from Under the Influence in Cassie’s POV.
All secrets will be revealed early 2016.
February 18, 2016
Out of Focus by Author L. B. Simmons is book two in the Chosen Paths series. It is a cathartic story of being cleansed from the past, embracing the future, and finding one's Epilogue. It can be read as a standalone. However, if you read this book first, you will be moved to discover the beauty of Under the Influence.
"I was broken a long time ago, and when I was put together again, I was forever changed."
I grew to love Cassie Cooper in Under the Influence. She was the supportive friend who offered hugs, words of wisdom, a place of safety, and, if need be, would knife someone for those she loved. She was well-rounded, witty, loving, strong, and loyal.
"I've done my part. I've kept the secrets thrust upon me with dedicated believability. My portrayal of who I am has become a blurred, hazy version of the once very distinct Cassie Cooper."
Out of Focus was a poignant story that opened the book of Cass's life and gave definition to the girl who became lost in the woman. I really thought I knew Cass. But, I discovered that she was the enigma of her own making, a complete mystery that I had to crack.
"I bet if my center and his center got together, we'd definitely have plenty of natural energy. For days."
The first moment Cass saw Grady, I felt her overwhelming desire and fascination. It was a surreal expression of lust and wanton need; I had to know this man! He was gently inquisitive of Cassie, making her world tilt on its axis because of the kindness and intuitive nature of his touch and visceral gaze. Everything about Grady Bennett screamed for Cass to run, she just wasn't quite sure in which direction to go, toward him or as fast as she could in the opposite direction. But, he became the catalyst for discovery of her past and the renaissance of her future.
"Love isn't an obligation. In fact, it's when you find it so willingly offered in the most unexpected places that you should hold on to it and never let go, because that love is real, unconditional."
There are some things in life that are heavenly to me. The words penned by Author L. B. Simmons quickly became one of these ethereal experiences. They unraveled me, one thought and emotion at a time, turning my complete focus and intent to this macrocosm she created. The characters were absolute perfection in the making. Regardless of their age, they spoke to me, gaining and demanding my undivided attention, to which I happily acquiesced. There was a steady rhythm to the story which made me want to savor every word on every page, knowing that a book like this is a rare and precious find. I was in awe, laughed, cried, sighed, dropped my jaw in amazement, and celebrated it as a beautiful melody that lingered in air. Out of Focus was the perfect escape, captivating my mind from the prologue and lovingly holding it through The End.
"Sometimes even the smallest bit of light can lead you through the darkness. All you need is a spark."
"I was broken a long time ago, and when I was put together again, I was forever changed."
I grew to love Cassie Cooper in Under the Influence. She was the supportive friend who offered hugs, words of wisdom, a place of safety, and, if need be, would knife someone for those she loved. She was well-rounded, witty, loving, strong, and loyal.
"I've done my part. I've kept the secrets thrust upon me with dedicated believability. My portrayal of who I am has become a blurred, hazy version of the once very distinct Cassie Cooper."
Out of Focus was a poignant story that opened the book of Cass's life and gave definition to the girl who became lost in the woman. I really thought I knew Cass. But, I discovered that she was the enigma of her own making, a complete mystery that I had to crack.
"I bet if my center and his center got together, we'd definitely have plenty of natural energy. For days."
The first moment Cass saw Grady, I felt her overwhelming desire and fascination. It was a surreal expression of lust and wanton need; I had to know this man! He was gently inquisitive of Cassie, making her world tilt on its axis because of the kindness and intuitive nature of his touch and visceral gaze. Everything about Grady Bennett screamed for Cass to run, she just wasn't quite sure in which direction to go, toward him or as fast as she could in the opposite direction. But, he became the catalyst for discovery of her past and the renaissance of her future.
"Love isn't an obligation. In fact, it's when you find it so willingly offered in the most unexpected places that you should hold on to it and never let go, because that love is real, unconditional."
There are some things in life that are heavenly to me. The words penned by Author L. B. Simmons quickly became one of these ethereal experiences. They unraveled me, one thought and emotion at a time, turning my complete focus and intent to this macrocosm she created. The characters were absolute perfection in the making. Regardless of their age, they spoke to me, gaining and demanding my undivided attention, to which I happily acquiesced. There was a steady rhythm to the story which made me want to savor every word on every page, knowing that a book like this is a rare and precious find. I was in awe, laughed, cried, sighed, dropped my jaw in amazement, and celebrated it as a beautiful melody that lingered in air. Out of Focus was the perfect escape, captivating my mind from the prologue and lovingly holding it through The End.
"Sometimes even the smallest bit of light can lead you through the darkness. All you need is a spark."
February 18, 2016
When I first read L.B.’s book Under the Influence, I was infatuated with Cassie Cooper because she was the fun, crazy, unfiltered best friend of Spencer Locke. She would sneak in Spencer’s window at night to hang out and spend the night, never using the front door. She was quirky and oftentimes embarrassing with her antics and the things that came out of her mouth. Her loud energy was the perfect complement to Spencer’s quiet calm. I had hoped once I finished reading Spencer and Dalton’s book that Cassie would eventually get her own, because this girl was a force to be reckoned with, there was no way she would go quietly into the night and not demand her story be told.
L.B. has given us the biggest gift ever with Out of Focus, revealing to us what Cassie’s true story is. No matter how many times I tried to guess at what was under the beautiful surface, I was not prepared for the truth. Cassie is subjected to experiences that no 8 year child should ever have to and her life is irrevocably changed. She loses the light she had in her eyes. The only light left in her life comes from her best friend Spencer. Spencer has also experienced unspeakable tragedies, which she has shared with Cassie. Cassie never wants Spencer to lose her light so she does everything she can to make sure that nothing can ever rob Spencer of it, which includes not telling her about what she's been through. Their bond of friendship is deep rooted and if it weren’t for Spencer, Cassie may have just faded into nothingness by now.
Grady Bennett is so freaking swoon worthy he had me drooling throughout the entire book. From their first meeting, Cassie feels drawn to him, not just because he is an incredible specimen of a man, but because she feels like he can see straight into her. As we find out in the story, Grady has suffered through some events in his life that help him understand and accept that Cassie has a lot of broken parts, but he genuinely likes her and those broken parts, and watching him help Cassie navigate the path to healing was beautiful. Whether he was front and center with his help, or watching her from afar while she rode out the roughest patches in the road, he was a rock for Cassie. He just truly made my heart melt.
Oftentimes when reading a book that shows a character’s internal thoughts, I’ve wanted to skip over those parts and get back to the “action” so to speak, but in this book, I found myself completely devouring every internal thought and emotion that Cassie had. L.B. brilliantly guides us through every heartbreaking scene, whether past or present, of what happened to Cassie and the defenses she’s put in place in order to help her survive each day.
This is just an incredible book. I don’t feel like I can sufficiently relay the level of emotion I felt while reading. I wish I could be a Jedi for a day and wave my hand in front of everyone’s face and say, “You WANT to go read this book right now.” I thought I was emotional while reading The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller and Under the Influence, but this book tops them both. And I absolutely loved both of those stories, so saying I loved this one feels insignificant.
Amazing, L.B.!! Thank you so much for writing Cassie’s story!! Love you times two!!
L.B. has given us the biggest gift ever with Out of Focus, revealing to us what Cassie’s true story is. No matter how many times I tried to guess at what was under the beautiful surface, I was not prepared for the truth. Cassie is subjected to experiences that no 8 year child should ever have to and her life is irrevocably changed. She loses the light she had in her eyes. The only light left in her life comes from her best friend Spencer. Spencer has also experienced unspeakable tragedies, which she has shared with Cassie. Cassie never wants Spencer to lose her light so she does everything she can to make sure that nothing can ever rob Spencer of it, which includes not telling her about what she's been through. Their bond of friendship is deep rooted and if it weren’t for Spencer, Cassie may have just faded into nothingness by now.
Grady Bennett is so freaking swoon worthy he had me drooling throughout the entire book. From their first meeting, Cassie feels drawn to him, not just because he is an incredible specimen of a man, but because she feels like he can see straight into her. As we find out in the story, Grady has suffered through some events in his life that help him understand and accept that Cassie has a lot of broken parts, but he genuinely likes her and those broken parts, and watching him help Cassie navigate the path to healing was beautiful. Whether he was front and center with his help, or watching her from afar while she rode out the roughest patches in the road, he was a rock for Cassie. He just truly made my heart melt.
Oftentimes when reading a book that shows a character’s internal thoughts, I’ve wanted to skip over those parts and get back to the “action” so to speak, but in this book, I found myself completely devouring every internal thought and emotion that Cassie had. L.B. brilliantly guides us through every heartbreaking scene, whether past or present, of what happened to Cassie and the defenses she’s put in place in order to help her survive each day.
This is just an incredible book. I don’t feel like I can sufficiently relay the level of emotion I felt while reading. I wish I could be a Jedi for a day and wave my hand in front of everyone’s face and say, “You WANT to go read this book right now.” I thought I was emotional while reading The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller and Under the Influence, but this book tops them both. And I absolutely loved both of those stories, so saying I loved this one feels insignificant.
Amazing, L.B.!! Thank you so much for writing Cassie’s story!! Love you times two!!
January 6, 2016
A story of friendship, love, and hope. Cassie and Grady will own your heart. Full review closer to release.
February 16, 2016
Free falling into 10 million stars
*An ARC was provided for honest review for Wicked Women Book Blog*
One of my top anticipated book of 2016 was Out of Focus and boy did it take me for a ride. L.B. Simmons never seizes to amaze me with her insight into the minds and hearts of the characters she writes about. With Out of Focus, she managed to dive deep into the darkness of Cassie’s soul, strip her bare for us to see the dark within and take us all on a journey that literally made your throat ache and your heart hurt. There were so many times while reading I had to stop because of the tears blinding me. Yet again Ms. Simmons broke my feels.
Cassandra Cooper was not a new character to me, I have been curious about her since I read Under the Influence and fell yet again in love with L.B.’s writing. She was the funny, snarky, loud, best friend of Spencer Locke. When I started Out of Focus, I knew I was going to FEEL. The thing about L.B.’s writing is that she knows how to reel you in. So I started the prologue and learned that Cassie has been hiding her true self from a very young age because of a secret. A secret that is slowly eating away at her soul. A secret that was shrouding her world in darkness. My heart broke, I didn’t wanna believe but I had to. I learned that Cassie Cooper has never stopped pretending since those fateful months. The Cassie we knew and the Cassie that was born that day were two different people.
This book was extremely emotional for me because I actually felt her struggle, her pain, and her darkness. Out of Focus was hauntingly poignant and got me yo-yoing from one spectrum of feels to another. Because one moment I was going all aww because of the sheer adorable-ness of tiny Cassie and Spencer and then I wanted to grab a sledgehammer to bash HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED’s head in because of what was revealed then to flat out swooning and going all gooey for Gray. The feels were running amok all over the place starting with the swish, swish motion of Cassie’s dress, the utter strength of Cassie and Spencer’s bond, the ‘love you, times two’s’, krav maga, the tremors raking Cassie in the middle of the nights, her inner monologues, the voices, intensely dark blue stares, the understanding, the acceptance, the butterflies in the tummy, the giddiness accompanied by his touch, the sheer need to protect one’s best friend at all cost, thinking you don’t deserve to be happy, the past, making new friends, the revelations about Liam (brought back so many feels), Gray’s confession about the look out (swoon moment), Gray understanding her, roller-skates, first dates, flashbacks that destroys your happy, family, Mrs. Locke, first step closer to a new relationship, silent conversations, books that are key to your happy, kisses on the forehead, the fall, the easy moments, the real Cassie, sharing stories with each other, death by Grady Bennett, Daisy Mae gets a surprise embrace, Rat (I had to stop cos I couldn’t see anything at this point), the anger, the fight, wishing and wanting, free falling down to earth, the hospital (the past coming back to haunt me and make me giddy), the crash landing, the past coming back to take away our Cassie, and then came the epic entrance of beloved character that literally make me squeal, then the letters, and then…. well at this point you just have to read to find out.
Will Cassie Cooper be brave enough to fight her demons? Will she overcome them to find her light or will she allow the darkness to swallow her whole. Out of Focus pissed off, made me swoon, go all gooey, tore me apart and emotionally drained me. Yet it portrayed the feelings of those who find themselves visiting the dark. Those who loses themselves because of the parts played by people without conscience, without shame, without a heart. This story is a journey of a little girl, who lost herself in the dark only to find herself craving the light. But when darkness has veiled your soul for so long, it’s hard to come out and face the bright light of love.
*An ARC was provided for honest review for Wicked Women Book Blog*
One of my top anticipated book of 2016 was Out of Focus and boy did it take me for a ride. L.B. Simmons never seizes to amaze me with her insight into the minds and hearts of the characters she writes about. With Out of Focus, she managed to dive deep into the darkness of Cassie’s soul, strip her bare for us to see the dark within and take us all on a journey that literally made your throat ache and your heart hurt. There were so many times while reading I had to stop because of the tears blinding me. Yet again Ms. Simmons broke my feels.
Cassandra Cooper was not a new character to me, I have been curious about her since I read Under the Influence and fell yet again in love with L.B.’s writing. She was the funny, snarky, loud, best friend of Spencer Locke. When I started Out of Focus, I knew I was going to FEEL. The thing about L.B.’s writing is that she knows how to reel you in. So I started the prologue and learned that Cassie has been hiding her true self from a very young age because of a secret. A secret that is slowly eating away at her soul. A secret that was shrouding her world in darkness. My heart broke, I didn’t wanna believe but I had to. I learned that Cassie Cooper has never stopped pretending since those fateful months. The Cassie we knew and the Cassie that was born that day were two different people.
This book was extremely emotional for me because I actually felt her struggle, her pain, and her darkness. Out of Focus was hauntingly poignant and got me yo-yoing from one spectrum of feels to another. Because one moment I was going all aww because of the sheer adorable-ness of tiny Cassie and Spencer and then I wanted to grab a sledgehammer to bash HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED’s head in because of what was revealed then to flat out swooning and going all gooey for Gray. The feels were running amok all over the place starting with the swish, swish motion of Cassie’s dress, the utter strength of Cassie and Spencer’s bond, the ‘love you, times two’s’, krav maga, the tremors raking Cassie in the middle of the nights, her inner monologues, the voices, intensely dark blue stares, the understanding, the acceptance, the butterflies in the tummy, the giddiness accompanied by his touch, the sheer need to protect one’s best friend at all cost, thinking you don’t deserve to be happy, the past, making new friends, the revelations about Liam (brought back so many feels), Gray’s confession about the look out (swoon moment), Gray understanding her, roller-skates, first dates, flashbacks that destroys your happy, family, Mrs. Locke, first step closer to a new relationship, silent conversations, books that are key to your happy, kisses on the forehead, the fall, the easy moments, the real Cassie, sharing stories with each other, death by Grady Bennett, Daisy Mae gets a surprise embrace, Rat (I had to stop cos I couldn’t see anything at this point), the anger, the fight, wishing and wanting, free falling down to earth, the hospital (the past coming back to haunt me and make me giddy), the crash landing, the past coming back to take away our Cassie, and then came the epic entrance of beloved character that literally make me squeal, then the letters, and then…. well at this point you just have to read to find out.
Will Cassie Cooper be brave enough to fight her demons? Will she overcome them to find her light or will she allow the darkness to swallow her whole. Out of Focus pissed off, made me swoon, go all gooey, tore me apart and emotionally drained me. Yet it portrayed the feelings of those who find themselves visiting the dark. Those who loses themselves because of the parts played by people without conscience, without shame, without a heart. This story is a journey of a little girl, who lost herself in the dark only to find herself craving the light. But when darkness has veiled your soul for so long, it’s hard to come out and face the bright light of love.
September 14, 2018
**Received ARC in exchange for an honest review**
4.5 stars
"I read obsessively to escape my own world. To live the dreams of others when, for so long, the reoccurence of my nightmares has been my reality."
I had been excited to read this book as soon as a finished reading Under the Influence. I was really curious about Cassie's story, and wanted to know what happened to her. A lot of people have friends like Cassie who are the life of the party but have something to hide. They act all happy but deep inside they are crying out for help.
"You pretend, but your eyes betray you. There's pain hidden within them, but when you smile, really smile, the pain is gone and you're you."
There is one person who sees right through Cassie's mask. Grady sees right through her. He is such a great guy who goes after what he wants but he also knows that Cassie is broken but he wants to help her heal. For the first time Cassie experiences things she missed out on. There is such a chemistry between the two, it was really beautiful to read. However something happens and Cassie falls back into the dark. She pushes away everyone because she doesn't think she deserves them. It was so heartbreaking to read those parts.
"You were never really alone, Cass. I was watching, making sure you were landing safely, because I knew as soon as you hit that ground, sweetheart, you were mind. You are mine."
Finally Cassie gets the help she needs and starts to heal. It wasn't easy for her to find her way back to the light. But when she did it was beautiful. I loved the reunion between Cassie and Grady. However I wanted to read more about Grady and Cassie developing as a couple after the reunion. Personally I found it too short, after they came together again it was finished. I would've liked there to be one or two chapters extra to see them grow further as a couple. I would've liked to have spend more time with them. But at the end of the day this book was more about Cassie's journey in healing and finding herself than a love story.
"I've been watching you long enough to know something broke you. I want to know why you feel unworthy of that smile, and how to fix that too."
Cassie is such a strong character who is the person who everyone can depend on. She supported Spencer through so much. I especially loved the first chapter which showed how Spencer and Cassie met when they were six years old. Most of the flashbacks were heartbreaking but it perfectly shows how Cassie changed from a very happy little girl to a withdrawn and sad woman who lost herself in the darkness.
I also want to mention that there is a surprise in this book that I absolutely LOVED. I even messaged LB Simmons right away to tell her how happy I was she added this person to the book. The writing was excellent and it was written in a way that makes a reader feel such a connection to Cassie. In some ways I could relate to her, I hope this book will help a lot of people who were in similar situations as Cassie. LB Simmons is one of my favorite authors and I am looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next!
4.5 stars
"I read obsessively to escape my own world. To live the dreams of others when, for so long, the reoccurence of my nightmares has been my reality."
I had been excited to read this book as soon as a finished reading Under the Influence. I was really curious about Cassie's story, and wanted to know what happened to her. A lot of people have friends like Cassie who are the life of the party but have something to hide. They act all happy but deep inside they are crying out for help.
"You pretend, but your eyes betray you. There's pain hidden within them, but when you smile, really smile, the pain is gone and you're you."
There is one person who sees right through Cassie's mask. Grady sees right through her. He is such a great guy who goes after what he wants but he also knows that Cassie is broken but he wants to help her heal. For the first time Cassie experiences things she missed out on. There is such a chemistry between the two, it was really beautiful to read. However something happens and Cassie falls back into the dark. She pushes away everyone because she doesn't think she deserves them. It was so heartbreaking to read those parts.
"You were never really alone, Cass. I was watching, making sure you were landing safely, because I knew as soon as you hit that ground, sweetheart, you were mind. You are mine."
Finally Cassie gets the help she needs and starts to heal. It wasn't easy for her to find her way back to the light. But when she did it was beautiful. I loved the reunion between Cassie and Grady. However I wanted to read more about Grady and Cassie developing as a couple after the reunion. Personally I found it too short, after they came together again it was finished. I would've liked there to be one or two chapters extra to see them grow further as a couple. I would've liked to have spend more time with them. But at the end of the day this book was more about Cassie's journey in healing and finding herself than a love story.
"I've been watching you long enough to know something broke you. I want to know why you feel unworthy of that smile, and how to fix that too."
Cassie is such a strong character who is the person who everyone can depend on. She supported Spencer through so much. I especially loved the first chapter which showed how Spencer and Cassie met when they were six years old. Most of the flashbacks were heartbreaking but it perfectly shows how Cassie changed from a very happy little girl to a withdrawn and sad woman who lost herself in the darkness.
I also want to mention that there is a surprise in this book that I absolutely LOVED. I even messaged LB Simmons right away to tell her how happy I was she added this person to the book. The writing was excellent and it was written in a way that makes a reader feel such a connection to Cassie. In some ways I could relate to her, I hope this book will help a lot of people who were in similar situations as Cassie. LB Simmons is one of my favorite authors and I am looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next!
February 19, 2016
Dear Cassie
I first met you as Spencer’s quirky friend in Under The Influence. You were the loud one. The happy one. The crazy one. You had me fooled. I had no idea the amount of pain you were hiding beneath your brash sense of humour and your bright smile. I had no idea that every single day was a battle to stay out of the darkness, a fight against your demons.
You said you were exhausted. As I read your story and got a glimpse into your mind, I can relate. Because I was exhausted too. Watching you struggle with yourself was exhausting, but more than that it was frustrating because you couldn’t see your beauty. You were so caught up in the voices in your head telling you that you were undeserving and vile that you couldn’t see your good qualities. You’re funny and loyal and gorgeous and the best friend possible and unbelievably strong and brave. How couldn’t you see that?
So I was elated when you met Grady. Recovered from his own hellish pain he was smart enough to recognise the pain in your eyes and cocky enough to call you on it. He is strong and forceful and yet patient and tender. He had this magical ability to break down your walls brick by brick but he was also man enough to pick you up when you fell. He is stubborn enough to push against your defences but also wise enough to know when to step aside and let heal on your own. He is also damn fine – if he wasn’t so perfect for you I might have had to fight you for him.
Your story is told in the pages of this romance novel. But I don’t want to call this romance, even though there certainly is a lot of that, because this is your story. Cassie’s story. The story of a broken but beautiful girl who grew into a fiercely loyal and brave woman that I am happy to have met. I liked you when I first met you. I love you now.
Sincerely
Me
PLEASE NOTE: This is the story of a women battling the sexual abuse she suffered as a child. Although the actual abuse is not descriptive, her pain and suffering is. If this may be a trigger for you I warn you to tread carefully.
(ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review)
February 25, 2016
Okay so as you all know that every week I get the sales links ready for the next week. This is when I start choosing what I’m going to read. Well I’m not going to lie. I saw the cover and I was intrigued.
Then I went to click and see the blurb”
"Shhhh, Cassandra, it’s our little secret.”
Secrets are stubborn things when they refuse to remain hidden. They tear through your soul, clawing and lashing until the pain becomes so unbearable, you’re left no choice but to silently scream your agony.
Ummm that beginning of the blurb I’m not going to lie. Scared the crap out of me. I was so freaking scared to even continue reading the blurb I couldn’t even think about reading this now!
So I’ve made up my mind I can’t do this book. Then I get the special excerpt in my email and I click on it.
[image error]
I can’t undo it. I’ve seen to much. I’ve stepped into the dark side. This is the time I send a little message to the author. I believe at one point I was like what the f*ck is wrong with you? But in a nicer way, maybe not.
She promised me that it would be ok. I wasn’t sure I could trust her. I mean she’s a stranger.
But I have to say I was so intrigued I said I would go into it slowly. Start off one chapter at a time. Well. Let. Me. Tell. You.
I used to be so much stronger. I somehow kept the voices at bay, the memories licked away safely, contained within the confines of my mine. But with each passing day, I feel the glow of my once-luminous strength fading. Darkness encases me now, bowing the walls of protection I put into place years ago. My past is an ever-present nightmare, repeatedly tapping, slowly fracturing the window of my sanity.
My heart starts beating erratically at this point. I’m not sure I can handle this. I’m not sure that I want to even know.
Cassandra is a 23-year-old going down a path that she knows is dark. A path that she believes that she should be on. It’s a path that no one really hears you. You smile, but it never reaches your eyes. You exist but inside your soul id dead, it’s empty. In the end the only one that tortures her is herself. It’s the broken girl inside of her. It’s the lost little girl that grew up way to fast and was a victim. It the cries of the little girl that keep her trying to get lost in everything and anything that could make the voices stop!
But what happens when you’ve become so numb, when everything around you has become so blurred, that you begin to lose focus on the saving grace standing directly in front of you?
The only brightness she has in her life is her friendship with Spencer.
These two had a friendship that every one dreams of. They met each other when they were just little girls. Their bond is stronger than those of some sisters.
But even some secrets are kept from your best friend. The fear to look into her eyes and see pity, the fear to look into her eyes and see the sorrow, but the pain that you will look into her eyes and she will be there breaking with you. That is how strong their bond it. It was always like that. It was a love that was times two!
But little does she know that there is more light coming to shine on her dark. That a light is coming to guide you out. And his name is Grady!
[image error]
Let me say that I fell deeply in love with this character. I fell in love with his heart. I feel in love with his soul and I especially fell in love with his heart.
And just like that he weaves himself into her life. He maneuvers her life around so that you can learn to trust again. So she can learn to live again.
I’m not falling…
I’m flying.
I’m weightless.
I’m free
And in that moment, my shackles no longer remain.
Just when the inner broken girl starts to be whole. Just when she tarts to seal up the cracks. Fate has other plans for her. Just when you think the end is near it sucks her right back to that time that ruined her life. To that place she’s been so desperately trying to escape.
But the pull is too strong. The demons to loud. But she’s a little stronger now. She’s ready to get to the little girl again. She is ready to live again. She is ready to take control.
It is not an easy road. It is not a road that is smoothly paved. The road is long and it’s winding but she needs to start healing from within and in order to do that she must accept the past, she must free the secrets that are holding her down.
Well, my name is Cassie Cooper, and it’s time.
No more secrets.
This is my story.
It’s a story about heartbreak, sorrow, hurt, pain, disgust, self loathing, pain, healing, and love. Loving yourself before anything else.
I adored this story. It has touched a piece of me inside and I know it’ll be a book that I won’t soon forget
Then I went to click and see the blurb”
"Shhhh, Cassandra, it’s our little secret.”
Secrets are stubborn things when they refuse to remain hidden. They tear through your soul, clawing and lashing until the pain becomes so unbearable, you’re left no choice but to silently scream your agony.
Ummm that beginning of the blurb I’m not going to lie. Scared the crap out of me. I was so freaking scared to even continue reading the blurb I couldn’t even think about reading this now!
So I’ve made up my mind I can’t do this book. Then I get the special excerpt in my email and I click on it.
[image error]
I can’t undo it. I’ve seen to much. I’ve stepped into the dark side. This is the time I send a little message to the author. I believe at one point I was like what the f*ck is wrong with you? But in a nicer way, maybe not.
She promised me that it would be ok. I wasn’t sure I could trust her. I mean she’s a stranger.
But I have to say I was so intrigued I said I would go into it slowly. Start off one chapter at a time. Well. Let. Me. Tell. You.
I used to be so much stronger. I somehow kept the voices at bay, the memories licked away safely, contained within the confines of my mine. But with each passing day, I feel the glow of my once-luminous strength fading. Darkness encases me now, bowing the walls of protection I put into place years ago. My past is an ever-present nightmare, repeatedly tapping, slowly fracturing the window of my sanity.
My heart starts beating erratically at this point. I’m not sure I can handle this. I’m not sure that I want to even know.
Cassandra is a 23-year-old going down a path that she knows is dark. A path that she believes that she should be on. It’s a path that no one really hears you. You smile, but it never reaches your eyes. You exist but inside your soul id dead, it’s empty. In the end the only one that tortures her is herself. It’s the broken girl inside of her. It’s the lost little girl that grew up way to fast and was a victim. It the cries of the little girl that keep her trying to get lost in everything and anything that could make the voices stop!
But what happens when you’ve become so numb, when everything around you has become so blurred, that you begin to lose focus on the saving grace standing directly in front of you?
The only brightness she has in her life is her friendship with Spencer.
These two had a friendship that every one dreams of. They met each other when they were just little girls. Their bond is stronger than those of some sisters.
But even some secrets are kept from your best friend. The fear to look into her eyes and see pity, the fear to look into her eyes and see the sorrow, but the pain that you will look into her eyes and she will be there breaking with you. That is how strong their bond it. It was always like that. It was a love that was times two!
But little does she know that there is more light coming to shine on her dark. That a light is coming to guide you out. And his name is Grady!
[image error]
Let me say that I fell deeply in love with this character. I fell in love with his heart. I feel in love with his soul and I especially fell in love with his heart.
And just like that he weaves himself into her life. He maneuvers her life around so that you can learn to trust again. So she can learn to live again.
I’m not falling…
I’m flying.
I’m weightless.
I’m free
And in that moment, my shackles no longer remain.
Just when the inner broken girl starts to be whole. Just when she tarts to seal up the cracks. Fate has other plans for her. Just when you think the end is near it sucks her right back to that time that ruined her life. To that place she’s been so desperately trying to escape.
But the pull is too strong. The demons to loud. But she’s a little stronger now. She’s ready to get to the little girl again. She is ready to live again. She is ready to take control.
It is not an easy road. It is not a road that is smoothly paved. The road is long and it’s winding but she needs to start healing from within and in order to do that she must accept the past, she must free the secrets that are holding her down.
Well, my name is Cassie Cooper, and it’s time.
No more secrets.
This is my story.
It’s a story about heartbreak, sorrow, hurt, pain, disgust, self loathing, pain, healing, and love. Loving yourself before anything else.
I adored this story. It has touched a piece of me inside and I know it’ll be a book that I won’t soon forget
March 30, 2016
3/22/16
I have to give myself some time to think about what I want to say. This just totally blew me away! The writing is phenomenal! It had me in tears as I just was so affected by the author's words. I hope that I can do this author justice as far as how this book really made me appreciate the support of friends and an everlasting love. Not much I can say at this time...
3/29/16
“I’m lost. I feel lost, I guess I should say. Out of control, out of focus, like I can’t get my bearings.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 29)
That is how young Cassie Cooper feels. And, it’s heartbreaking to read about. When Cassie was eight years-old, she was a young victim of abuse. An abuse that no child should be a victim of. It broke her spirit and the payfulness of her young youth that should have been questioned by her parents, but never was. From that moment on, she has been lost and damaged. Such a sad story, but yet one that is unlifting during the most resilient epilogue I’ve ever read. It talks about hope. It talks about love. But, it mostly talks about having a voice to tell your story that could somehow have an impact on others. I’m telling you it was powerfully said! And, how Cassie gets to this most courageous point in her life is actually her story.
The author pulls you into the story with one painful prologue. The reader is introduced to Cassie and her feelings of how dark and unfeeling her life has now become. She hides it well from friends, but when she meets Grady Bennett, he can already see in her eyes that she’s not “with him”. It’s the isolation from people that she’s good at guarding. A personal touch. Someone in her private space. It’s all so suffocating. Grady tells her that she has time to tell her story. Whenever she’s ready. But, she just can’t. He’ll judge her. Find her dirty.
Oh, wow! I was just so sad for Cassie. She’s always the life of the party. The girl always with a smile. Her past was so heartbreaking. And, she totally blames herself and thinks she’s unworthy of being loved. Grady is one hunky dude! And, not only is he a good looker, but he’s sweet and kind, and is totally in it for the long haul. Their relationship is on fire! The intimacy is off-the-charts HOT!!! But, how can she move on when she’s so broken?? And, that’s when Dr. Aubrey Miller makes her appearance. She’s the catalyst to Cassie’s healing.
I loved this book! It was passionate and tender. The writing is beautiful and poignant. The author puts feelings into her words as she shows the reader that it’s okay to be damaged, but it’s the work that goes into healing that is the most important. And, it always helps to have the love and support of your family and friends to plod through the darkest of days. Ms. Simmons agains “wows” me with her courageous characters and powerful storyline. I can’t tell you how much I was affected by Cassie’s story. And, while Cassie was indeed a remarkable woman, Grady was equally a fascinating man. One novel not to be missed!!!
***WARNING – THE BELOW LISTED QUOTATIONS TAKEN FROM OUT OF FOCUS, MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS***
“I read obsessively to escape my own world. To live the dreams of others when, for so long, the reoccurrence of my nightmares has been my reality. I read to fall in love and find a happily ever after, even if it is purely imagined. With each story I read, I’m able to live and love vicariously through the characters in my books. It’s the only plausible way for me to survive.” ~ Cassie (Chap. Prologue)
“Why would he bother? Because he is kind. He is so many things. Deliciously cooked breakfasts. Throughtful. Warm arms wrapped around me when I felt sad or had an awful client. Kind. Sharing his memories of his sister with me. Funny taking me to my favorite ice cream shop just because. Generous. Teaching me self-defense tirelessly. Selfless. Why would he bother? Because he is Grady Bennett.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 27)
“Sometimes, if you’re lucky enough, there comes a point in your life when you stop cowering and somehow muster the courage to raise your head to take a good, hard look at your reflection, and in turn, at your life. A point in time when you finally rise above your manufactured walls to observe exactly where the road you’ve chosen has landed you. And when you see everything at once, all the missed opportunities and numerous broken relationships, the sight is enough to shatter an already broken heart.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 28)
“In avoiding my past, I’ve cut off any chance I’ve ever had to really live. Because the truth is, the past is an extension of one’s self. It’s an integral part of who you are, and if you refuse to acknowledge it, if you refuse to nurture and heal its wounds, that part will eventually dwindle to nothing and its death will spread like a frenzied virus. Before you know it, any remnants of the person you were no longer exists. One day, you’ll wake up and take a long look in the mirror, with absoluately no recognition of the person standing in front of you. Even worse, you will loathe them.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 28)
“But then I met Grady and everything slowed, bringing everything back into focus and forcing me to see what I had been missing. I just started wanting more. Wanting to be happy. Wanting to find love. Wanting things I never thought I could have. And then six weeks ago, I was reminded of why I should never have hoped for those things. My world sped up, and everything became distorted and unclear. I lost my focus. And with it, I lost that hope. I lost him. And lost myself. Again.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 29)
“COURAGE CAN BE SUCH a fleeting emotion. One moment, you feel it rising in your blood, strengthening your resolve as it prepares you to face your greatest fears. The next, it recedes like the tide of the ocean, leaving you bereft, uncertain of its existence in the first place.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 30)
“Love isn’t an obligation. In fact, it’s when you find it so willingly offered in the most unexpected places that you should hold on to it and never let go, because that love is real, unconditional.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 32)
“Thank you, Grady Bennett, for waiting for me to land strong. Thank you for believing in me and guiding me to safety. And thank you, most of all, for showing me what love is. For teaching me the meaning, the unadulterated beauty of the emotion, as it exists between the two of us...The way it was meant to be experienced. Home.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 33)
“Everyone has a story. I can only pray mine has helped someone come to terms with their own. Are you that person? And if so, what do you plan to do with your story? If you hear me, if I’ve spoken to you, then I leave with you the same four words that changed my life. The choice is yours.” ~ Cassie (Epilogue)
ANOTHER COVER THAT IS SIMPLY GORGEOUS!!!
I have to give myself some time to think about what I want to say. This just totally blew me away! The writing is phenomenal! It had me in tears as I just was so affected by the author's words. I hope that I can do this author justice as far as how this book really made me appreciate the support of friends and an everlasting love. Not much I can say at this time...
3/29/16
“I’m lost. I feel lost, I guess I should say. Out of control, out of focus, like I can’t get my bearings.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 29)
That is how young Cassie Cooper feels. And, it’s heartbreaking to read about. When Cassie was eight years-old, she was a young victim of abuse. An abuse that no child should be a victim of. It broke her spirit and the payfulness of her young youth that should have been questioned by her parents, but never was. From that moment on, she has been lost and damaged. Such a sad story, but yet one that is unlifting during the most resilient epilogue I’ve ever read. It talks about hope. It talks about love. But, it mostly talks about having a voice to tell your story that could somehow have an impact on others. I’m telling you it was powerfully said! And, how Cassie gets to this most courageous point in her life is actually her story.
The author pulls you into the story with one painful prologue. The reader is introduced to Cassie and her feelings of how dark and unfeeling her life has now become. She hides it well from friends, but when she meets Grady Bennett, he can already see in her eyes that she’s not “with him”. It’s the isolation from people that she’s good at guarding. A personal touch. Someone in her private space. It’s all so suffocating. Grady tells her that she has time to tell her story. Whenever she’s ready. But, she just can’t. He’ll judge her. Find her dirty.
Oh, wow! I was just so sad for Cassie. She’s always the life of the party. The girl always with a smile. Her past was so heartbreaking. And, she totally blames herself and thinks she’s unworthy of being loved. Grady is one hunky dude! And, not only is he a good looker, but he’s sweet and kind, and is totally in it for the long haul. Their relationship is on fire! The intimacy is off-the-charts HOT!!! But, how can she move on when she’s so broken?? And, that’s when Dr. Aubrey Miller makes her appearance. She’s the catalyst to Cassie’s healing.
I loved this book! It was passionate and tender. The writing is beautiful and poignant. The author puts feelings into her words as she shows the reader that it’s okay to be damaged, but it’s the work that goes into healing that is the most important. And, it always helps to have the love and support of your family and friends to plod through the darkest of days. Ms. Simmons agains “wows” me with her courageous characters and powerful storyline. I can’t tell you how much I was affected by Cassie’s story. And, while Cassie was indeed a remarkable woman, Grady was equally a fascinating man. One novel not to be missed!!!
***WARNING – THE BELOW LISTED QUOTATIONS TAKEN FROM OUT OF FOCUS, MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS***
“I read obsessively to escape my own world. To live the dreams of others when, for so long, the reoccurrence of my nightmares has been my reality. I read to fall in love and find a happily ever after, even if it is purely imagined. With each story I read, I’m able to live and love vicariously through the characters in my books. It’s the only plausible way for me to survive.” ~ Cassie (Chap. Prologue)
“Why would he bother? Because he is kind. He is so many things. Deliciously cooked breakfasts. Throughtful. Warm arms wrapped around me when I felt sad or had an awful client. Kind. Sharing his memories of his sister with me. Funny taking me to my favorite ice cream shop just because. Generous. Teaching me self-defense tirelessly. Selfless. Why would he bother? Because he is Grady Bennett.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 27)
“Sometimes, if you’re lucky enough, there comes a point in your life when you stop cowering and somehow muster the courage to raise your head to take a good, hard look at your reflection, and in turn, at your life. A point in time when you finally rise above your manufactured walls to observe exactly where the road you’ve chosen has landed you. And when you see everything at once, all the missed opportunities and numerous broken relationships, the sight is enough to shatter an already broken heart.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 28)
“In avoiding my past, I’ve cut off any chance I’ve ever had to really live. Because the truth is, the past is an extension of one’s self. It’s an integral part of who you are, and if you refuse to acknowledge it, if you refuse to nurture and heal its wounds, that part will eventually dwindle to nothing and its death will spread like a frenzied virus. Before you know it, any remnants of the person you were no longer exists. One day, you’ll wake up and take a long look in the mirror, with absoluately no recognition of the person standing in front of you. Even worse, you will loathe them.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 28)
“But then I met Grady and everything slowed, bringing everything back into focus and forcing me to see what I had been missing. I just started wanting more. Wanting to be happy. Wanting to find love. Wanting things I never thought I could have. And then six weeks ago, I was reminded of why I should never have hoped for those things. My world sped up, and everything became distorted and unclear. I lost my focus. And with it, I lost that hope. I lost him. And lost myself. Again.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 29)
“COURAGE CAN BE SUCH a fleeting emotion. One moment, you feel it rising in your blood, strengthening your resolve as it prepares you to face your greatest fears. The next, it recedes like the tide of the ocean, leaving you bereft, uncertain of its existence in the first place.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 30)
“Love isn’t an obligation. In fact, it’s when you find it so willingly offered in the most unexpected places that you should hold on to it and never let go, because that love is real, unconditional.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 32)
“Thank you, Grady Bennett, for waiting for me to land strong. Thank you for believing in me and guiding me to safety. And thank you, most of all, for showing me what love is. For teaching me the meaning, the unadulterated beauty of the emotion, as it exists between the two of us...The way it was meant to be experienced. Home.” ~ Cassie (Chap. 33)
“Everyone has a story. I can only pray mine has helped someone come to terms with their own. Are you that person? And if so, what do you plan to do with your story? If you hear me, if I’ve spoken to you, then I leave with you the same four words that changed my life. The choice is yours.” ~ Cassie (Epilogue)
ANOTHER COVER THAT IS SIMPLY GORGEOUS!!!
February 18, 2016
5+ stars!
Heartbreakingly beautiful must read!
I was introduced to Cassie's character while reading Under The Influence. That story was not only one of my favorites in 2015, it is - in my opinion - a rare and precious gem in the indie book world. Cassie was the flirty, outspoken friend of Spencer who grew up next to her. She was the girl that offered endless love and support but was in return guarding her heart at any cost. I always had the feeling that there was so much more to Cassie Cooper than meets the eye. That she has a story to tell, a sad one, that will not be all rainbows and unicorns. One that has great potential to break my heart into million pieces. It turned out I was right .....
Cassie's life changed the day she made acquaintance with the skinny and sad girl living across the street - Spencer Locke. She promised herself that she will do anything to make her new friend smile again. Cassie is going to protect her from any harm. Little did she know that she would need protection herself very soon from a devil in disguise she never saw coming. Several years later Cassie is still haunted in her dreams by the demons from her past. She is trying to drown her fears and insecurities in alcohol and mindless flings until the day she meets Grady Bennett, a sexy police officer and krav maga instructor. For the first time in a very long time she is intrigued by a man. Grady is respectful and very caring towards Cassie. He sees that she is hiding something deep inside her and he is giving her enough space and time to decide to open up to him. Grady needs Cassie to understand that he wants her - all of her - and that he is ready to help her to find her footing again. Will Cassie allow herself to open up to him? Is she ready to reveal her secrets and to finally set herself free from her torturing past?
I can tell you with absolute certainty that your heart is going to break for Cassie. The horrible thing that happend to her and all the aftermath she was forced to face on her own made me admire her for her strength. Was it wrong that she kept it a secret and didn't talk about it sooner? Probably yes, but I don't blame her for choosing this path because she was so young and didn't know it better. Cassie always put the people she loved first. Her friend's happiness was more important to her than her own because she didn't think that she deserved it for herself. Grady is a man every woman dreams about. He is attentive, loving, romantic and protective. He saw through Cassie's facade and false bravado and right into her battered heart and soul. And he liked what was looking back at him - a survivor, a strong woman whose fighting spirit was slightly fractured but still there. Grady helped Cassie to realise that she is worthy of love and that she has to fight the demons from her past in order to be able to build a future together with him.
If you want to read a book that is going to give you all the feels, rip your heart out of your chest and put it back again in the end then this is the right story for you. Grab it and fall in love with the beautiful and captivating writing of L.B. Simmons!
I received an ARC of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Heartbreakingly beautiful must read!
I was introduced to Cassie's character while reading Under The Influence. That story was not only one of my favorites in 2015, it is - in my opinion - a rare and precious gem in the indie book world. Cassie was the flirty, outspoken friend of Spencer who grew up next to her. She was the girl that offered endless love and support but was in return guarding her heart at any cost. I always had the feeling that there was so much more to Cassie Cooper than meets the eye. That she has a story to tell, a sad one, that will not be all rainbows and unicorns. One that has great potential to break my heart into million pieces. It turned out I was right .....
Cassie's life changed the day she made acquaintance with the skinny and sad girl living across the street - Spencer Locke. She promised herself that she will do anything to make her new friend smile again. Cassie is going to protect her from any harm. Little did she know that she would need protection herself very soon from a devil in disguise she never saw coming. Several years later Cassie is still haunted in her dreams by the demons from her past. She is trying to drown her fears and insecurities in alcohol and mindless flings until the day she meets Grady Bennett, a sexy police officer and krav maga instructor. For the first time in a very long time she is intrigued by a man. Grady is respectful and very caring towards Cassie. He sees that she is hiding something deep inside her and he is giving her enough space and time to decide to open up to him. Grady needs Cassie to understand that he wants her - all of her - and that he is ready to help her to find her footing again. Will Cassie allow herself to open up to him? Is she ready to reveal her secrets and to finally set herself free from her torturing past?
I can tell you with absolute certainty that your heart is going to break for Cassie. The horrible thing that happend to her and all the aftermath she was forced to face on her own made me admire her for her strength. Was it wrong that she kept it a secret and didn't talk about it sooner? Probably yes, but I don't blame her for choosing this path because she was so young and didn't know it better. Cassie always put the people she loved first. Her friend's happiness was more important to her than her own because she didn't think that she deserved it for herself. Grady is a man every woman dreams about. He is attentive, loving, romantic and protective. He saw through Cassie's facade and false bravado and right into her battered heart and soul. And he liked what was looking back at him - a survivor, a strong woman whose fighting spirit was slightly fractured but still there. Grady helped Cassie to realise that she is worthy of love and that she has to fight the demons from her past in order to be able to build a future together with him.
If you want to read a book that is going to give you all the feels, rip your heart out of your chest and put it back again in the end then this is the right story for you. Grab it and fall in love with the beautiful and captivating writing of L.B. Simmons!
I received an ARC of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2016
5+stars
I was over the moon when LB Simmons announced that she is going to write a book about Cassie Cooper, Spencer Locke's best friend from Under The Influence, which was one of my favorite books of 2015.
We all know Cassie as the flirty, funny and fierce side-kick of Spencer. They are best friends since childhood who are living in the same neighbourhood. Spencer is the gentle, perceptive and romantic one of the two while Cassie doesn't really believe in love and jumps from one bed to the next never looking back.
I always assumed that there must be so much more to Cassie than meets the eye. From time to time a vulnerable side of hers would emerge only to be hidden soon after.
Out of Focus is Cassie's story showing us the real her. The one she is desperately hiding behind layers of false bravado and cockiness. What nobody knows is that Cassandra is carrying secrets with her for so many years. These secrets are connected to some traumatizing events from her past that still haunt her in the present. The agony she feels is slowly tearing her apart making it impossible to pretend anymore. To pretend that she is ok, to pretend that she is happy, because she isn't! The cheerful and buoyant little girl she once was is long gone. Cassie is only a shadow of her true self. She is out of focus...
This book made me feel so much. I was already crying after the prologue! My heart was breaking for Cassie and I desperately wanted to hug and comfort her. But luckily she had Grady Bennett for that. The swoon-worthy and sexy police officer who was the only man that was able to look at Cassie and really see her. Grady knows that Cassie is hiding something but he doesn't push her to tell him her secrets. Instead he helps her to come out of her shell and experience true love for the first time.
Can Cassie face her demons from the past and fight them? Will she find herself again and put her past behind her moving on into a happy future with Brady?
In order to find out you need to read this amazing book! I thought I couldn't love Cassie more than I already did but I was wrong. Getting to know her, even the broken parts, made me love and admire her more than ever. She was a fighter, even though she didn't saw it herself. Thank God Grady entered her life and made her feel and see things she never thought possible. These two will forever have a piece of my heart!
5 outstanding stars for LB Simmons!
I was over the moon when LB Simmons announced that she is going to write a book about Cassie Cooper, Spencer Locke's best friend from Under The Influence, which was one of my favorite books of 2015.
We all know Cassie as the flirty, funny and fierce side-kick of Spencer. They are best friends since childhood who are living in the same neighbourhood. Spencer is the gentle, perceptive and romantic one of the two while Cassie doesn't really believe in love and jumps from one bed to the next never looking back.
I always assumed that there must be so much more to Cassie than meets the eye. From time to time a vulnerable side of hers would emerge only to be hidden soon after.
Out of Focus is Cassie's story showing us the real her. The one she is desperately hiding behind layers of false bravado and cockiness. What nobody knows is that Cassandra is carrying secrets with her for so many years. These secrets are connected to some traumatizing events from her past that still haunt her in the present. The agony she feels is slowly tearing her apart making it impossible to pretend anymore. To pretend that she is ok, to pretend that she is happy, because she isn't! The cheerful and buoyant little girl she once was is long gone. Cassie is only a shadow of her true self. She is out of focus...
This book made me feel so much. I was already crying after the prologue! My heart was breaking for Cassie and I desperately wanted to hug and comfort her. But luckily she had Grady Bennett for that. The swoon-worthy and sexy police officer who was the only man that was able to look at Cassie and really see her. Grady knows that Cassie is hiding something but he doesn't push her to tell him her secrets. Instead he helps her to come out of her shell and experience true love for the first time.
Can Cassie face her demons from the past and fight them? Will she find herself again and put her past behind her moving on into a happy future with Brady?
In order to find out you need to read this amazing book! I thought I couldn't love Cassie more than I already did but I was wrong. Getting to know her, even the broken parts, made me love and admire her more than ever. She was a fighter, even though she didn't saw it herself. Thank God Grady entered her life and made her feel and see things she never thought possible. These two will forever have a piece of my heart!
5 outstanding stars for LB Simmons!
February 26, 2016
5 "FUCKING PHENOMENAL" STARS.
I cried my eyes out through the end of this book, and I loved every minute of it.
"My name is Cassie Cooper, and it's time.
No more secrets.
This is my story."
And what a beautiful story of love and self-discovery.
We met Cassie Cooper in Under the Influence, and even though I loved Spencer to pieces, Cassie was a character that was bugging me during the whole book, I wanted to know her, wanted to know the reason behind her actions, I just wanted to know everything about her.
And when I did, oh boy.. she broke my heart. She was such a strong character, a survivor, but the thing is that she did not know it, she did not believe in herself, the fucking voices in her head did not let her, and it was so sad to witness her self-destruction.
"Sometimes even the smallest bit of light can lead through the darkness. All you need is a spark."
I believe she had the spark in herself, and Grady just gave her the little push she needed, and I loved that she went through all this by herself, yes, Grady helped her but he was not the main reason of her recovery.
The emotions that poured off each page, were raw, hopeful, and beautiful. At the beginning of the story, I wanted to read Grady's POV but then... it was not neccesary. I would not change anything about it, because Cassie made the book for me.
I'm going to love her fore-fucking-ever!!!
And just for you to know, there's always light after the dark, and you have the power to step out of it and conquer it, and when you have done it, you will be able to write your own fucking phenomenal epilogue.
I cried my eyes out through the end of this book, and I loved every minute of it.
"My name is Cassie Cooper, and it's time.
No more secrets.
This is my story."
And what a beautiful story of love and self-discovery.
We met Cassie Cooper in Under the Influence, and even though I loved Spencer to pieces, Cassie was a character that was bugging me during the whole book, I wanted to know her, wanted to know the reason behind her actions, I just wanted to know everything about her.
And when I did, oh boy.. she broke my heart. She was such a strong character, a survivor, but the thing is that she did not know it, she did not believe in herself, the fucking voices in her head did not let her, and it was so sad to witness her self-destruction.
"Sometimes even the smallest bit of light can lead through the darkness. All you need is a spark."
I believe she had the spark in herself, and Grady just gave her the little push she needed, and I loved that she went through all this by herself, yes, Grady helped her but he was not the main reason of her recovery.
The emotions that poured off each page, were raw, hopeful, and beautiful. At the beginning of the story, I wanted to read Grady's POV but then... it was not neccesary. I would not change anything about it, because Cassie made the book for me.
I'm going to love her fore-fucking-ever!!!
And just for you to know, there's always light after the dark, and you have the power to step out of it and conquer it, and when you have done it, you will be able to write your own fucking phenomenal epilogue.
June 30, 2016
LB has done it again penning a beautifully painful, moving story of a broken girl, a hero who is determined to break through her walls, and the love they shared. The circumstances that surround these main characters, Cassie and Gray, have dark, soul crushing undertones. It’s a story of healing, coping with loss, moving beyond past traumas, self-discovery, and opening oneself up to the endless possibilities of love. This was by no means a light read, but very well worth the tears I shed seeing their life experiences. Gray was magnificent. And Cassie pulled on my heartstrings. Looking forward to LB's next book.
February 15, 2016
Actual rating 3.75 stars.
It's clear that L.B. Simmons is highly adept at writing emotionally-charged, character-driven stories that deal with complex issues which really tug at the heart strings. Out of Focus, like its predecessor Under the Influence explores the difficult subject of child abuse. Major kudos to the author for her willingness to tackle such heavy subject matter head on. She does this is in a very credible way. It's dark, raw, painful, gritty, heartbreaking. For me, this book was extremely difficult to read at times because of how skillfully the author created and developed the story.
Cass was one of my favorite characters from Under the Influence. She was a total riot, and I was expecting more of the same here, but we saw a completely different side to her. It made sense. She was the party-girl, full of life, always the center of attention, provocative, loud and in your face. But that's all a mask to hide the inner turmoil brewing to storm-like proportions inside her head.
This book explores that inner turmoil in great depth. It was so believable that I actually felt quite depressed reading it at times, and was tempted to put it down on more than one occasion. Anything that speaks to hurting children really impacts me as a mother and a human being, and this was no exception. It is testament to the considerable skill of the author that it had such a potent effect on me.
However, I did feel that it was far too repetitive in parts and overall the darkness overpowered the light. Although Cass did heal, and she came out the other end in a much better place with the prospect of a happy future, the hope generated by her path to self-discovery was overshadowed, for me, by the extreme despair of the journey. Under the Influence was more balanced, and I finished reading that believing in the redemptive power of love. Not so much here. I've been in a real funk all day. Perhaps, I just wasn't in the mood for it or I still have a book hangover from the last book, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected to.
Grady was an amazingly supportive man and Cass was so lucky to have him in her corner. However, we didn't really get much of his backstory and I felt the book lacked somewhat, as a result. I wanted to know how long he had been shadowing her and how/what exactly it was that drew him to her in such a strong way.
Her parent's treatment of her was horrendous. Again, that wasn't delved into in any depth and I wanted to understand what would turn loving parents into the kind that would turn a blind eye for years and then refuse to accept what they had always known was right in front of their face. Cass had majorly hit the self-destruct button but they just looked down their noses at her. I wish this had been explored more. It would have made it a little more interesting.
If twenty percent of the repetitive inner monologue was cut, Grady's character developed a bit more, and the plot line with the parents explored in more detail, I feel this book would be a better read for it. But that's just my own personal view.
I adore L.B's writing. Her prose is simply stunning, and I was highlighting like a crazy person at times. See some fav quotes below.
Reading back over this review it might appear that I didn't like this book, which isn't the case at all. I just found it heavy going. It is well-written in the main, and it handles a very sensitive subject in a realistic manner. Just be prepared going into it, and I think you will get more out of it that way.
Fav Quotes from the ARC I read:
"To me, there's nothing more vindicating than the ability to find the strength necessary to turn the worst experience imaginable into something so beautiful, it eclipses all the ugliness. It helps to find reason, to find purpose, in something so senseless."
"Courage can be such a fleeting emotion. One moment, you feel it rising in your blood, strengthening your resolve as it prepares you to face your greatest fears. The next, it recedes like the tide of the ocean, leaving you bereft, uncertain of its existence in the first place."
Thanks to the author and Inkslinger PR for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This review will appear on my blog on February 22nd. http://myyanabookobsession.com
It's clear that L.B. Simmons is highly adept at writing emotionally-charged, character-driven stories that deal with complex issues which really tug at the heart strings. Out of Focus, like its predecessor Under the Influence explores the difficult subject of child abuse. Major kudos to the author for her willingness to tackle such heavy subject matter head on. She does this is in a very credible way. It's dark, raw, painful, gritty, heartbreaking. For me, this book was extremely difficult to read at times because of how skillfully the author created and developed the story.
Cass was one of my favorite characters from Under the Influence. She was a total riot, and I was expecting more of the same here, but we saw a completely different side to her. It made sense. She was the party-girl, full of life, always the center of attention, provocative, loud and in your face. But that's all a mask to hide the inner turmoil brewing to storm-like proportions inside her head.
This book explores that inner turmoil in great depth. It was so believable that I actually felt quite depressed reading it at times, and was tempted to put it down on more than one occasion. Anything that speaks to hurting children really impacts me as a mother and a human being, and this was no exception. It is testament to the considerable skill of the author that it had such a potent effect on me.
However, I did feel that it was far too repetitive in parts and overall the darkness overpowered the light. Although Cass did heal, and she came out the other end in a much better place with the prospect of a happy future, the hope generated by her path to self-discovery was overshadowed, for me, by the extreme despair of the journey. Under the Influence was more balanced, and I finished reading that believing in the redemptive power of love. Not so much here. I've been in a real funk all day. Perhaps, I just wasn't in the mood for it or I still have a book hangover from the last book, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected to.
Grady was an amazingly supportive man and Cass was so lucky to have him in her corner. However, we didn't really get much of his backstory and I felt the book lacked somewhat, as a result. I wanted to know how long he had been shadowing her and how/what exactly it was that drew him to her in such a strong way.
Her parent's treatment of her was horrendous. Again, that wasn't delved into in any depth and I wanted to understand what would turn loving parents into the kind that would turn a blind eye for years and then refuse to accept what they had always known was right in front of their face. Cass had majorly hit the self-destruct button but they just looked down their noses at her. I wish this had been explored more. It would have made it a little more interesting.
If twenty percent of the repetitive inner monologue was cut, Grady's character developed a bit more, and the plot line with the parents explored in more detail, I feel this book would be a better read for it. But that's just my own personal view.
I adore L.B's writing. Her prose is simply stunning, and I was highlighting like a crazy person at times. See some fav quotes below.
Reading back over this review it might appear that I didn't like this book, which isn't the case at all. I just found it heavy going. It is well-written in the main, and it handles a very sensitive subject in a realistic manner. Just be prepared going into it, and I think you will get more out of it that way.
Fav Quotes from the ARC I read:
"To me, there's nothing more vindicating than the ability to find the strength necessary to turn the worst experience imaginable into something so beautiful, it eclipses all the ugliness. It helps to find reason, to find purpose, in something so senseless."
"Courage can be such a fleeting emotion. One moment, you feel it rising in your blood, strengthening your resolve as it prepares you to face your greatest fears. The next, it recedes like the tide of the ocean, leaving you bereft, uncertain of its existence in the first place."
Thanks to the author and Inkslinger PR for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This review will appear on my blog on February 22nd. http://myyanabookobsession.com
June 17, 2016
Cassie has ugly secrets that she hides. One of those stories that destroys you before giving you a lift of spirit. I am a fan of L.B. Simmons and once again, she did not disappoint.
February 5, 2016
5++ "We'll get ya there" Stars!!
This book is just... wow. Although, I am not surprised. If you have read anything that L.B. Simmons has written, then you know that she can weave magic with her words. And if you have read Under the Influence, then you already have met the amazing Cassie. Cassie was hilarious in that book. She was the best friend that everyone wants or wants to be. But she also has a story and I'm so glad that L.B. gave voice to her story.
Out of Focus was heartbreaking and real and beautiful. I absolutely love Cassie and grew to love her even more as the book progressed. She is so strong and brave. I loved watching her grow into the person she was always meant to be. I don't know if I have ever been proud of a fictional character before, but I definitely was proud of Cassie. She gives me hope. Hope for me, hope for you, hope for everyone.
And can I make a side note that I am ridiculously envious of the relationship between Cassie and Spencer? As a person who has had no really close and long lasting female friends, I was completely jealous... but in the best way. So, if you have a Cassie or a Spencer, consider yourself blessed and lucky and never, ever take that person for granted. =]
Ok, now back to the characters... Grady. Grady. Grady. I swoon just saying his name. I have definitely found my new book boyfriend (yes, I have several. but he's totally joined the top ranks). Grady is everything you want a man to be. He's strong (inside and out), sexy, says the most perfect things at the most perfect moment, aggressive and decisive when he knows what he wants, and just all around perfection... oh, and did I mention sexy? I loved him. I loved his actions towards Cassie and the words he gives her when she needs them and the silences he gives when no words are needed. I think I swooned pretty much in every scene he was in. So, prepare yourselves.
Also, there were some characters that I abhorred (hate wasn't strong enough of a word). Three to be exact... well, four if you include the one I hate from Under the Influence. But I will waste no more words on them. You will know who they are when you read.
Oh, and EEK! I love when there are cameos of characters from other books. Let's just say I cheered when I saw who made an appearance in this book!
And last, but definitely not least, I must address the writing. L.B. is so ridiculously amazing when she puts pen to paper. She writes like she sees inside your soul and she finds it beautiful. I think I highlighted about half of this book... at least. There were so many lines that I will come back to and revisit often because of how wonderful they are. L.B. addressed a very serious subject matter in this book and did it with complete grace and finesse. It was so well done.
Ok, I'm done now. This was much longer than my average review. But I had so many things to say. Go read it, you won't be disappointed. I floved it. I can't wait to see what the author does next!
This book is just... wow. Although, I am not surprised. If you have read anything that L.B. Simmons has written, then you know that she can weave magic with her words. And if you have read Under the Influence, then you already have met the amazing Cassie. Cassie was hilarious in that book. She was the best friend that everyone wants or wants to be. But she also has a story and I'm so glad that L.B. gave voice to her story.
Out of Focus was heartbreaking and real and beautiful. I absolutely love Cassie and grew to love her even more as the book progressed. She is so strong and brave. I loved watching her grow into the person she was always meant to be. I don't know if I have ever been proud of a fictional character before, but I definitely was proud of Cassie. She gives me hope. Hope for me, hope for you, hope for everyone.
And can I make a side note that I am ridiculously envious of the relationship between Cassie and Spencer? As a person who has had no really close and long lasting female friends, I was completely jealous... but in the best way. So, if you have a Cassie or a Spencer, consider yourself blessed and lucky and never, ever take that person for granted. =]
Ok, now back to the characters... Grady. Grady. Grady. I swoon just saying his name. I have definitely found my new book boyfriend (yes, I have several. but he's totally joined the top ranks). Grady is everything you want a man to be. He's strong (inside and out), sexy, says the most perfect things at the most perfect moment, aggressive and decisive when he knows what he wants, and just all around perfection... oh, and did I mention sexy? I loved him. I loved his actions towards Cassie and the words he gives her when she needs them and the silences he gives when no words are needed. I think I swooned pretty much in every scene he was in. So, prepare yourselves.
Also, there were some characters that I abhorred (hate wasn't strong enough of a word). Three to be exact... well, four if you include the one I hate from Under the Influence. But I will waste no more words on them. You will know who they are when you read.
Oh, and EEK! I love when there are cameos of characters from other books. Let's just say I cheered when I saw who made an appearance in this book!
And last, but definitely not least, I must address the writing. L.B. is so ridiculously amazing when she puts pen to paper. She writes like she sees inside your soul and she finds it beautiful. I think I highlighted about half of this book... at least. There were so many lines that I will come back to and revisit often because of how wonderful they are. L.B. addressed a very serious subject matter in this book and did it with complete grace and finesse. It was so well done.
Ok, I'm done now. This was much longer than my average review. But I had so many things to say. Go read it, you won't be disappointed. I floved it. I can't wait to see what the author does next!
July 10, 2016
If you haven't read Under the Influence (Spencer's story), then I would recommend you read that, too, although Out of Focus could still be enjoyed as a standalone. Cassandra Cooper is Spencer Locke's best friend since age 6, they grew up across the street from each other and have been through thick and thin together. Spencer is a very optimistic and positive person who wears her heart on her sleeve, so when she's feeling sad, Cassie is always there to lift her spirits. Cassie herself is upbeat, lively and outspoken. In Under the Influence, Cassie comes off very confident and self-assured although she's dealt with heartache and loss, too. At the same time, Cassie tends to sweep her problems under the rug rather than vocalize them openly like Spencer does. In Out of Focus, with Cassie being front and center (the whole book is in her POV), there's so much more to her and getting a firsthand glimpse of the real Cassie, both the vivacious and scarred parts of her, is eye opening.
I absolutely adored the way Cassie loved Spencer and was so protective of her. In the same way that Dalton sees Spencer as a beacon or guiding light, Cassie does, too. While Cassie may not have high hopes for her own life, she will do anything to help Spencer reach that kind of happiness for herself. Cassie has these dark, internal voices that weigh her down - but they must come from somewhere or something and that is Cassie's secret, the one that even Spencer does not know.
Grady Bennett was introduced in Under the Influence and with his assessing and observing eyes, he sees the real Cassie, the one who smiles genuinely for Spencer but not for herself. Grady is a fantastic character, and not because he says the all right things or is sexy and confident, but because he accepts Cassie for who she is and Grady himself has been through his own struggles to know and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses in Cassie.
If you think you know Cassie from Under the Influence, you really don't. Her story is not to be missed, though. Suffice to say that Cassie's journey is sad, emotional and despairing until Cassie makes her own choices to take back control and to pave her own path. Maybe Cassie always thought Spencer was the strong one, but what Cassie doesn't realize is that the strength is there right inside of her, waiting to spring out and all she has to do is grab on to it, tightly. There's a great underlying message, to love oneself first and that it's okay to let others help lift a person up out of the darkness. The source of help for Cassie in this case made me smile widely. Another fantastic book by LB Simmons!
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I absolutely adored the way Cassie loved Spencer and was so protective of her. In the same way that Dalton sees Spencer as a beacon or guiding light, Cassie does, too. While Cassie may not have high hopes for her own life, she will do anything to help Spencer reach that kind of happiness for herself. Cassie has these dark, internal voices that weigh her down - but they must come from somewhere or something and that is Cassie's secret, the one that even Spencer does not know.
Grady Bennett was introduced in Under the Influence and with his assessing and observing eyes, he sees the real Cassie, the one who smiles genuinely for Spencer but not for herself. Grady is a fantastic character, and not because he says the all right things or is sexy and confident, but because he accepts Cassie for who she is and Grady himself has been through his own struggles to know and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses in Cassie.
If you think you know Cassie from Under the Influence, you really don't. Her story is not to be missed, though. Suffice to say that Cassie's journey is sad, emotional and despairing until Cassie makes her own choices to take back control and to pave her own path. Maybe Cassie always thought Spencer was the strong one, but what Cassie doesn't realize is that the strength is there right inside of her, waiting to spring out and all she has to do is grab on to it, tightly. There's a great underlying message, to love oneself first and that it's okay to let others help lift a person up out of the darkness. The source of help for Cassie in this case made me smile widely. Another fantastic book by LB Simmons!
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
February 26, 2016
OMG you guys! I just finished one of THE BEST reads EVER! That's right...I said E V E R! OUT OF FOCUS was my first read from L.b. Simmons and it WILL NOT be my last! I couldn't even pick up another book last night. I am OVERWHELMED, ENTRANCED, and AMAZED at how much this book moved me. Thank you...Thank you LB for sharing Cassie's story.
I'm drained, emotionally spent, and yet, my heart is so goddamn full.
Unspeakable tragedy turns into unparalleled beauty in this absolutely STUNNING read by Ms. Simmons. It's so hard to even put into words what this book means to me, what Cassie's story means to me. I'm angry at myself for not finding this author sooner. Her writing is just spectacular and it just transcends you to another world, another life, another place where heartbreak, passion, beauty, and hope surround you and puts you at ease. You feel every ounce of pain, sadness, and anger, as well as, every ounce of happiness, devotion, passion, and excitement that the characters experience. It's book you just want to hold onto forever. You find peace just thinking about it. It is just an unreal experience and EVERY SINGLE reader, romance fan or not, should stop what they're doing and pick this book up.
OUT OF FOCUS is so much more than a love story. It's an experience. It's an alluring, exquisite, and dazzling literary experience. The artistry...the writing...the characters...the feels...it was just magnificent and one that will proudly be on my shelf for years to come.
*Gifted copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
February 18, 2016
'You are nothing. You are disgusting. No one wants you. You are alone because you deserve to be. You will never be happy.'
These words of self doubt seem to play on a continuously loop through Cassie's mind as she goes through the motions of her daily life. Her past has it's firm grip on her and it is an exhausting way to live. She is tired of portraying a version of Cassie that she lets her friends and the world see, if only to escape the reality of being Cassie and to block painful memories.
Her life wasn't always like this though. Unlike her best friend Spencer, Cassie grew up as a happy child with both of her parents. She was a sweet girl who was very curious, she openly loved and cared for everyone. This all changed one night when she was only eight years old. Nothing was the same for her after that.
Fifteen years later Cassie's inability to work through her painful past has her free falling into darkness. She has finally met someone who really 'sees' her. He knows that hidden in the depths of her beautiful eyes is a story that she is not ready to tell. Grady is determined to show Cassie that he can be trusted and what they have together is worth fighting for, he will always catch her when she falls.
When Cassie starts to lose focus she discovers that her worst enemy is herself and she is going to have to pull herself out of it if she is to land strong.
'Sometimes even the smallest bit of light can lead you through the darkness. All you need is a spark.'
These words of self doubt seem to play on a continuously loop through Cassie's mind as she goes through the motions of her daily life. Her past has it's firm grip on her and it is an exhausting way to live. She is tired of portraying a version of Cassie that she lets her friends and the world see, if only to escape the reality of being Cassie and to block painful memories.
Her life wasn't always like this though. Unlike her best friend Spencer, Cassie grew up as a happy child with both of her parents. She was a sweet girl who was very curious, she openly loved and cared for everyone. This all changed one night when she was only eight years old. Nothing was the same for her after that.
Fifteen years later Cassie's inability to work through her painful past has her free falling into darkness. She has finally met someone who really 'sees' her. He knows that hidden in the depths of her beautiful eyes is a story that she is not ready to tell. Grady is determined to show Cassie that he can be trusted and what they have together is worth fighting for, he will always catch her when she falls.
When Cassie starts to lose focus she discovers that her worst enemy is herself and she is going to have to pull herself out of it if she is to land strong.
'Sometimes even the smallest bit of light can lead you through the darkness. All you need is a spark.'
February 20, 2016
How can someone write a review for book that left him so breathless, broken hearted and know that my own words won't do justice to this amazing book.
Cassie journey is not just a story about a girl with inner demons that ruining her life, is more about the inside war she had with herself, her fight to survive, her amazing journey to find the strength to deal with her past with her present.To fight with the voices that have been haunting her for last 15 years. That convinced her she doesn't worth happiness or love . How pure love can gave her the strength to deal with those nightmares that brought her so low.All the secrets she hold inside her that keep destroy her. Grady is amazing i fell in love with him immediately. He saw that Cassie is broken and has a clue about what happened to her in the past, but still wanted to help her, to make her heal he loved her even when she he saw that Cassie is broken and has a clue about what happened her in the past but still wanted to help her, to make her heal, he loved her even when she pushed him away . Cassie and Spencer friendship is unique and for life, friendship that we all dream about and only rare people got it . This book is emotional rollercoaster . It gave me better understanding of people with addictions,new point of view without beeing judgmental. L.B. SIMMONS is one of my favorite Author. Every book leaves its mark long after I finished reading it. This book is brilliantly been written
Highly recommended
Cassie journey is not just a story about a girl with inner demons that ruining her life, is more about the inside war she had with herself, her fight to survive, her amazing journey to find the strength to deal with her past with her present.To fight with the voices that have been haunting her for last 15 years. That convinced her she doesn't worth happiness or love . How pure love can gave her the strength to deal with those nightmares that brought her so low.All the secrets she hold inside her that keep destroy her. Grady is amazing i fell in love with him immediately. He saw that Cassie is broken and has a clue about what happened to her in the past, but still wanted to help her, to make her heal he loved her even when she he saw that Cassie is broken and has a clue about what happened her in the past but still wanted to help her, to make her heal, he loved her even when she pushed him away . Cassie and Spencer friendship is unique and for life, friendship that we all dream about and only rare people got it . This book is emotional rollercoaster . It gave me better understanding of people with addictions,new point of view without beeing judgmental. L.B. SIMMONS is one of my favorite Author. Every book leaves its mark long after I finished reading it. This book is brilliantly been written
Highly recommended
February 15, 2016
As usual, L.B. Simmons has left me speechless. I finished this book 12 hours ago, and I'm still not able to form the right words to write a decent review. Incredible, beautiful, soul-touching...they all seem to be lacking, but this book is all of those, and more. This author's writing style is one of my absolute favorites! She brings characters and their stories to life with her words, and always deals with difficult and important themes.
I don't want to reveal too much about this one, but there were some fantastic surprises, and a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. In Under the Influence, I knew Cassie had a story, and I'm so glad she was able to tell it in Out of Focus. She's such a complex character, and I am so glad we got to see her from a different perspective. I spent every second of this book falling in love with Grady Bennett. He is absolute perfection!
Grab a box of tissues, a comfy blanket, and snuggle up with this book. You want want to put it down until you've read the entire thing. I had to take some emotional breaks, and some real life breaks, but every time I put my Kindle down, I couldn't wait to get back to it!
*This book is a complete standalone. You do not have to read Under the Influence first. In fact, I recommend you read Out of Focus first, and then Under the Influence, but they can be read independently.
I don't want to reveal too much about this one, but there were some fantastic surprises, and a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. In Under the Influence, I knew Cassie had a story, and I'm so glad she was able to tell it in Out of Focus. She's such a complex character, and I am so glad we got to see her from a different perspective. I spent every second of this book falling in love with Grady Bennett. He is absolute perfection!
Grab a box of tissues, a comfy blanket, and snuggle up with this book. You want want to put it down until you've read the entire thing. I had to take some emotional breaks, and some real life breaks, but every time I put my Kindle down, I couldn't wait to get back to it!
*This book is a complete standalone. You do not have to read Under the Influence first. In fact, I recommend you read Out of Focus first, and then Under the Influence, but they can be read independently.
February 16, 2016
Frist off I had to gather my thoughts before I was able to write this review. Cassie’s story is one of true survival. A story that has you captivated from the moment you read the prologue to the end of the epilogue. I have cried happy tears and sad tears. Happy tears for the joys she experienced, sad tears for the pain she was experiencing dealing with her past. I was so happy when she found Grady who helped her confronting her daemons, trying to show her that you can land safely after you have fallen. But just when you think she has landed safely Cassie is yet again faced with the nightmare that has followed her throughout all her life and she is falling farther than before.
I fell in love with Cassie’s character in Under the Influence, intrigued actually, and was looking forward to read her story. I did not expect to be affected by her story as much as I have. I loved Grady’s character, how he was able to show her the right path to find happiness with his love and devotion.
This is an emotional rollercoaster, one you don’t want to miss. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could. Thank you LB Simmons for bringing this story to us. This is truly my favorite read of 2016.
Copy received for an honest opinion
I fell in love with Cassie’s character in Under the Influence, intrigued actually, and was looking forward to read her story. I did not expect to be affected by her story as much as I have. I loved Grady’s character, how he was able to show her the right path to find happiness with his love and devotion.
This is an emotional rollercoaster, one you don’t want to miss. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could. Thank you LB Simmons for bringing this story to us. This is truly my favorite read of 2016.
Copy received for an honest opinion
Read
February 21, 2016DNF around 50%
Just wasn't for me.
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
Just wasn't for me.
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
May 11, 2017
6 Stars
ONE CLICK this book NOW!
Hello EPIC read!! Thanks for leaving me with one hell of a book hangover!! Seriously, two months later and I still can’t get you out of my head. I’m pretty sure you’ve wrecked me for all book couples to come.
I’ve been sitting on this review for quite a while now, re-reading and re-writing it because I can’t seem to find just the right words to describe how perfect Out of Focus was. And I really want everyone who picks this book up to love it as much as I have. I want them to walk away with the same kind of FEELS that I did. I want them to be so damn moved by this writer and her perfectly flawed and beautiful characters that they can’t stop thinking about them. I want readers to be as consumed as I was. And most importantly, I want those who read this book to see that life isn’t always black and white. That there are many forms of gray. I want them to see that even when you are giving a shitty hand, life is what you make if it.
So without further ado...
Meet Cassie, our newest heroine. Some of you may already know her as Spencer's best friend from Under the Influence. I highly suggest stopping here if you haven't already read book two in the series. While Out of Focus could technically be read as a standalone, I wouldn't suggest reading it that way. In my opinion, the two books go hand in hand. OOF gives us just a small portion of Cassie, which is seen through her eyes. UIF gives us so much more, shown through the eyes of Spencer. And I think in order to feel the whole impact of this character's identity, you need to experience her through both sets of eyes.
You'll quickly learn Cass is a tad bit broken. Okay, maybe a tad bit is an understatement. Cassie's crippled by her past. Her vision of the world is quite jaded, and in all honesty, who can blame her for the huge walls she has erected around her. Trust isn't a word in her vocabulary, unless it's referring to Spencer. Due to that, she's so guarded, keeping everyone at a huge distance. And no one outside of Spencer has breached these walls. EVER. Until she meets a certain hunky and steadfast defense training instructor.
"I was broken a long time ago, and when I was put together again, I was forever changed. My broken self didn’t really piece back together in a way that allowed me to be the same as I was before. Feeling is something I stay far away from, because if I were to shatter again, I know with absolute certainty there would be no coming back from that."
Enter our knight in shining armor. As with L.B.'s other heroes, Grady was the perfect balance for Cassie. He was the peanut butter to her fluffernutter. The flip to her flop. The missing piece to her puzzle. I could go on but you get my drift. Our hero was quite swoon worthy; a true gentleman with a heart of gold. Grady melted my heart, as well as Cassie's, with his patience, love, and sincerity. He treated her like the absolute gem she was, showing our girl that she had so much worth, and he did this by being genuine in his words and actions. Never demanding or pushing for her to trust him, allowing for her to move at her own pace. Grady was the definition of ultimate book boyfriend.
“I love you too, Cass. All of you. I need you to know that. Understand that. Hear me when I say, I love every single piece of you, broken or not. Can you trust me in that, sweetheart?...
And it kills me to have to say this, but you’re right. You’re forcing me to break that promise, because now I have to let you keep falling, sweetheart. It’s the only way for you to learn how to right yourself.”
And despite their major differences, they've demonstrated no matter how f&%$#@ up life is, there is someone out there for everyone. They’ve proven the old adage opposites really do attract. #Grassie are total #relationshipgoals! Out of Focus is a narrative near and dear to my heart, touching me on so much more than an emotional level. Cassie and Grady totally had me falling head over heels in love with them! I can say without a shadow of a doubt that you’ll be as captivated by them as I was. This couple and their all-consuming dynamics will leave you feeling thoroughly focused and satiated.
Just a few of my favorite quotes from the book:
“I read an ungodly amount of trashy romance novels. I’m the overtly sexual and foul-mouthed friend who will say anything to get a laugh. And I have exactly zero fucks to give to what anyone else thinks about my actions...
I read obsessively to escape my own world. To live the dreams of others when, for so long, the reoccurrence of my nightmares has been my reality. I read to fall in love and find a happily-ever-after, even if it is purely imagined. With each story I read, I’m able to live and love vicariously through the characters in my books. It’s the only plausible way for me to survive.”
“I’ve been watching you long enough to know something broke you. Something you keep hidden, something that weighs on your soul. You pretend, but your eyes betray you. There’s pain hidden within them, but when you smile, really smile, the pain is gone and you’re you. Not the person you pretend to be. And like I said earlier, I find that very interesting. I want to know what makes you smile, how to make you smile, and how to keep that smile a permanent fixture on that gorgeous face of yours. And more importantly, I want to know why you feel unworthy of that smile, and how to fix that too.” He gives me a crooked grin and shakes his head. “I guess what I’m saying, is I would very much like the chance to get to know you, if you’ll let me.”
“And regarding fucking you, as you so eloquently phrased it, that will happen only when you can give me all of you. Not the tiny bits of yourself that you offer here and there, but every single piece. Because when I take you, I need you to be there with me. Not in your head, thinking yourself unworthy and sabotaging us before we even get started. I need you to be there. With. Me.
I can see we aren’t there yet, but I can tell you, once we are, it’s going to be fucking phenomenal . . . and definitely worth the fight.”
“You always have a choice. It’s up to you. You can take this jump with me, a jump that has the potential to change your life, or you can say the word and I’ll take you back to the apartment...
But sometimes, Cass, you have to find the courage to take that leap. The fall may be scary as hell, but the landing is what really matters. Once your feet hit the ground, you know that no matter how afraid you were, you landed. You survived. You faced that fear, and you fucking conquered it. And in that moment, you’re awarded a sense of peace in knowing there’s absolutely nothing that can be thrown at you that you can’t handle.”
I also wrote a series review:
"Love. People toss the word around so freely, almost as though it’s merely an afterthought, but the power within that one word can change a life. It can be used to manipulate and control, or it can provide healing and soothe the wounds of the broken. - Out of Focus"
I'm calling it now, THIS series is my TOP READ of 2017!
But...but...but, there's still over half a year left, you say. Yeah, I know. And that means nothing to me. Whether I found these books now or at the end of the year, I seriously can't imagine any other books hitting me in the feels the way this trio has. Each book, each couple absolutely consuming me. So much so, they aren't just "characters" to me. Aubrey, Dalton, and Cassie are mine and millions of other survivor’s stories. Their struggles, their weaknesses and strength, their abuse giving so many a voice that otherwise wouldn't be heard.
The Chosen Path is a series that will stay with me forever. The themes within holding a very real place in my soul, in my own personal experiences. I breathed and lived these enigmas. Aubrey, Dalton, and Cassie concrete in their actions, beliefs, and vitality. Each intricate character, well written and developed, abundant in tenacity, strength, bravery and spirit. Each action and reaction authentic.
I celebrated their ups, as well as mourned their downs. I screamed at them to keep going when the world around them started to become too bleak to even dare try and hang on. I cheered them on when they found pieces of themselves they thought were lost to them forever. I grieved those harrowing moments as if I was the one going through all of the injustice and violations. My empathy and sympathy kicking in when all seemed so lost and crippling. I smiled huge when my heart would skip a beat during each moment of happiness and display of trust and love.
With this series, L.B. delves below the surface showing us that we should never judge a book by its cover. That until you have walked a mile in a person’s shoes, you never know what kind of courage and belief it took for them to become who they are today.
The journeys within the Chosen Path won’t shelter you from the boogie man, instead each book brings you face to face with him, in some of the vilest ways imaginable. And in my humble opinion, this series is nothing short of striking. Beautiful in its execution. These characters are an emotional roller coaster filled to the brim with raw, gritty reality and a bone-deep pain you will feel straight down to your toes. They’re about finding light at the end of a very dark and crippling tunnel. They’re about breaking down the true meaning of love, family, and entity. They’re about the choices one makes in life; choosing whether to wallow or break the cycle. They’re about the long road ahead and discovering just how taxing recovery is.
You’ll find amongst all the weighted heaviness, the messages L.B. Simmons delivers throughout this series are poignant and inspiring. They are uplifting. That underneath all of the pain and destructiveness these individuals experience are hearts that beat as warriors. Souls that plow through the darkness, enabling them to find their identity and true value beyond what nature told them they were worth, because lord knows nurture sure as he-double-LL dealt them one sh*&^ hand.
ONE CLICK this book NOW!
Hello EPIC read!! Thanks for leaving me with one hell of a book hangover!! Seriously, two months later and I still can’t get you out of my head. I’m pretty sure you’ve wrecked me for all book couples to come.
I’ve been sitting on this review for quite a while now, re-reading and re-writing it because I can’t seem to find just the right words to describe how perfect Out of Focus was. And I really want everyone who picks this book up to love it as much as I have. I want them to walk away with the same kind of FEELS that I did. I want them to be so damn moved by this writer and her perfectly flawed and beautiful characters that they can’t stop thinking about them. I want readers to be as consumed as I was. And most importantly, I want those who read this book to see that life isn’t always black and white. That there are many forms of gray. I want them to see that even when you are giving a shitty hand, life is what you make if it.
So without further ado...
Meet Cassie, our newest heroine. Some of you may already know her as Spencer's best friend from Under the Influence. I highly suggest stopping here if you haven't already read book two in the series. While Out of Focus could technically be read as a standalone, I wouldn't suggest reading it that way. In my opinion, the two books go hand in hand. OOF gives us just a small portion of Cassie, which is seen through her eyes. UIF gives us so much more, shown through the eyes of Spencer. And I think in order to feel the whole impact of this character's identity, you need to experience her through both sets of eyes.
You'll quickly learn Cass is a tad bit broken. Okay, maybe a tad bit is an understatement. Cassie's crippled by her past. Her vision of the world is quite jaded, and in all honesty, who can blame her for the huge walls she has erected around her. Trust isn't a word in her vocabulary, unless it's referring to Spencer. Due to that, she's so guarded, keeping everyone at a huge distance. And no one outside of Spencer has breached these walls. EVER. Until she meets a certain hunky and steadfast defense training instructor.
"I was broken a long time ago, and when I was put together again, I was forever changed. My broken self didn’t really piece back together in a way that allowed me to be the same as I was before. Feeling is something I stay far away from, because if I were to shatter again, I know with absolute certainty there would be no coming back from that."
Enter our knight in shining armor. As with L.B.'s other heroes, Grady was the perfect balance for Cassie. He was the peanut butter to her fluffernutter. The flip to her flop. The missing piece to her puzzle. I could go on but you get my drift. Our hero was quite swoon worthy; a true gentleman with a heart of gold. Grady melted my heart, as well as Cassie's, with his patience, love, and sincerity. He treated her like the absolute gem she was, showing our girl that she had so much worth, and he did this by being genuine in his words and actions. Never demanding or pushing for her to trust him, allowing for her to move at her own pace. Grady was the definition of ultimate book boyfriend.
“I love you too, Cass. All of you. I need you to know that. Understand that. Hear me when I say, I love every single piece of you, broken or not. Can you trust me in that, sweetheart?...
And it kills me to have to say this, but you’re right. You’re forcing me to break that promise, because now I have to let you keep falling, sweetheart. It’s the only way for you to learn how to right yourself.”
And despite their major differences, they've demonstrated no matter how f&%$#@ up life is, there is someone out there for everyone. They’ve proven the old adage opposites really do attract. #Grassie are total #relationshipgoals! Out of Focus is a narrative near and dear to my heart, touching me on so much more than an emotional level. Cassie and Grady totally had me falling head over heels in love with them! I can say without a shadow of a doubt that you’ll be as captivated by them as I was. This couple and their all-consuming dynamics will leave you feeling thoroughly focused and satiated.
Just a few of my favorite quotes from the book:
“I read an ungodly amount of trashy romance novels. I’m the overtly sexual and foul-mouthed friend who will say anything to get a laugh. And I have exactly zero fucks to give to what anyone else thinks about my actions...
I read obsessively to escape my own world. To live the dreams of others when, for so long, the reoccurrence of my nightmares has been my reality. I read to fall in love and find a happily-ever-after, even if it is purely imagined. With each story I read, I’m able to live and love vicariously through the characters in my books. It’s the only plausible way for me to survive.”
“I’ve been watching you long enough to know something broke you. Something you keep hidden, something that weighs on your soul. You pretend, but your eyes betray you. There’s pain hidden within them, but when you smile, really smile, the pain is gone and you’re you. Not the person you pretend to be. And like I said earlier, I find that very interesting. I want to know what makes you smile, how to make you smile, and how to keep that smile a permanent fixture on that gorgeous face of yours. And more importantly, I want to know why you feel unworthy of that smile, and how to fix that too.” He gives me a crooked grin and shakes his head. “I guess what I’m saying, is I would very much like the chance to get to know you, if you’ll let me.”
“And regarding fucking you, as you so eloquently phrased it, that will happen only when you can give me all of you. Not the tiny bits of yourself that you offer here and there, but every single piece. Because when I take you, I need you to be there with me. Not in your head, thinking yourself unworthy and sabotaging us before we even get started. I need you to be there. With. Me.
I can see we aren’t there yet, but I can tell you, once we are, it’s going to be fucking phenomenal . . . and definitely worth the fight.”
“You always have a choice. It’s up to you. You can take this jump with me, a jump that has the potential to change your life, or you can say the word and I’ll take you back to the apartment...
But sometimes, Cass, you have to find the courage to take that leap. The fall may be scary as hell, but the landing is what really matters. Once your feet hit the ground, you know that no matter how afraid you were, you landed. You survived. You faced that fear, and you fucking conquered it. And in that moment, you’re awarded a sense of peace in knowing there’s absolutely nothing that can be thrown at you that you can’t handle.”
I also wrote a series review:
"Love. People toss the word around so freely, almost as though it’s merely an afterthought, but the power within that one word can change a life. It can be used to manipulate and control, or it can provide healing and soothe the wounds of the broken. - Out of Focus"
I'm calling it now, THIS series is my TOP READ of 2017!
But...but...but, there's still over half a year left, you say. Yeah, I know. And that means nothing to me. Whether I found these books now or at the end of the year, I seriously can't imagine any other books hitting me in the feels the way this trio has. Each book, each couple absolutely consuming me. So much so, they aren't just "characters" to me. Aubrey, Dalton, and Cassie are mine and millions of other survivor’s stories. Their struggles, their weaknesses and strength, their abuse giving so many a voice that otherwise wouldn't be heard.
The Chosen Path is a series that will stay with me forever. The themes within holding a very real place in my soul, in my own personal experiences. I breathed and lived these enigmas. Aubrey, Dalton, and Cassie concrete in their actions, beliefs, and vitality. Each intricate character, well written and developed, abundant in tenacity, strength, bravery and spirit. Each action and reaction authentic.
I celebrated their ups, as well as mourned their downs. I screamed at them to keep going when the world around them started to become too bleak to even dare try and hang on. I cheered them on when they found pieces of themselves they thought were lost to them forever. I grieved those harrowing moments as if I was the one going through all of the injustice and violations. My empathy and sympathy kicking in when all seemed so lost and crippling. I smiled huge when my heart would skip a beat during each moment of happiness and display of trust and love.
With this series, L.B. delves below the surface showing us that we should never judge a book by its cover. That until you have walked a mile in a person’s shoes, you never know what kind of courage and belief it took for them to become who they are today.
The journeys within the Chosen Path won’t shelter you from the boogie man, instead each book brings you face to face with him, in some of the vilest ways imaginable. And in my humble opinion, this series is nothing short of striking. Beautiful in its execution. These characters are an emotional roller coaster filled to the brim with raw, gritty reality and a bone-deep pain you will feel straight down to your toes. They’re about finding light at the end of a very dark and crippling tunnel. They’re about breaking down the true meaning of love, family, and entity. They’re about the choices one makes in life; choosing whether to wallow or break the cycle. They’re about the long road ahead and discovering just how taxing recovery is.
You’ll find amongst all the weighted heaviness, the messages L.B. Simmons delivers throughout this series are poignant and inspiring. They are uplifting. That underneath all of the pain and destructiveness these individuals experience are hearts that beat as warriors. Souls that plow through the darkness, enabling them to find their identity and true value beyond what nature told them they were worth, because lord knows nurture sure as he-double-LL dealt them one sh*&^ hand.
March 1, 2016
I have to confess that I had to read this one twice. Not my usual way but I needed to give this story the attention it deserved. I honestly felt at first that I had short-changed both the book and the author by not loving it as much as others did. Maybe I was missing something. I am now happy to report that after my second time around, this truly is a powerful read and one very worthy of your time.
We watch as Cassie Cooper, who was introduced in Under the Influence (UtI), try to muddle through her life, convinced she is unworthy of any man’s true love, knowing that perhaps her one chance was taken away so horrifically 5 years prior. Following the same timeline as UtI, we get Cassie’s side of things. How she ends up with the man who only wants to help her find her way out of the darkness and into the light, hopefully by his side. And that man…Grady. Oh wow, what a wonderful guy. From the start, he gets her and it’s his indomitable spirit that made me adore him. Never pushing Cassie, letting her feel her way into a life she only thinks she can’t have. Perfection, really.
Although it was easy to spot what her demons were early on, I was impressed at how the author presented Cassie’s personal horror. Nothing distinctly or graphically described but you get the gist immediately. Sincere and gut-wrenching confessions to loved ones and not so-loved ones gave a glimpse of what Cassie has entailed and it was written very thoughtfully and sensitively. I will wonder if this story-line could trigger reactions in others who have suffered the same fate as Cassie. I’m of the opinion that it just might help those realize you can truly land strong after being in free-fall for far too long.
Overall this is a good book and I’m happy to say that we get glimpses of Dalton and Spencer and a surprise cameo from a character that was featured in yet another book from this author. I do believe strongly that you need to read UtI first to get the whole story though. I found myself wanting to go back and get lost in that tale for one more go-round, many times throughout this one. It’s not that it didn’t keep my attention, but that I was more intrigued by that story once again. I wonder if the timeline could have been separate, away from that of UtI, then perhaps I would have enjoyed it more. I was happy at the conclusion but the feels just weren’t there for me. I guess, maybe, I perhaps wanted a new story with new characters. Especially since the author typically puts only one book out a year.
But read it for yourself. It’s full of heart and soul and I know the author gave her all in crafting this one.
A solid 4 stars.
We watch as Cassie Cooper, who was introduced in Under the Influence (UtI), try to muddle through her life, convinced she is unworthy of any man’s true love, knowing that perhaps her one chance was taken away so horrifically 5 years prior. Following the same timeline as UtI, we get Cassie’s side of things. How she ends up with the man who only wants to help her find her way out of the darkness and into the light, hopefully by his side. And that man…Grady. Oh wow, what a wonderful guy. From the start, he gets her and it’s his indomitable spirit that made me adore him. Never pushing Cassie, letting her feel her way into a life she only thinks she can’t have. Perfection, really.
Although it was easy to spot what her demons were early on, I was impressed at how the author presented Cassie’s personal horror. Nothing distinctly or graphically described but you get the gist immediately. Sincere and gut-wrenching confessions to loved ones and not so-loved ones gave a glimpse of what Cassie has entailed and it was written very thoughtfully and sensitively. I will wonder if this story-line could trigger reactions in others who have suffered the same fate as Cassie. I’m of the opinion that it just might help those realize you can truly land strong after being in free-fall for far too long.
Overall this is a good book and I’m happy to say that we get glimpses of Dalton and Spencer and a surprise cameo from a character that was featured in yet another book from this author. I do believe strongly that you need to read UtI first to get the whole story though. I found myself wanting to go back and get lost in that tale for one more go-round, many times throughout this one. It’s not that it didn’t keep my attention, but that I was more intrigued by that story once again. I wonder if the timeline could have been separate, away from that of UtI, then perhaps I would have enjoyed it more. I was happy at the conclusion but the feels just weren’t there for me. I guess, maybe, I perhaps wanted a new story with new characters. Especially since the author typically puts only one book out a year.
But read it for yourself. It’s full of heart and soul and I know the author gave her all in crafting this one.
A solid 4 stars.
February 17, 2016
This book was so full of emotions and so real. Cassie’s story hits you in the heart and makes an impact. We met Cassie in Under The Influence (Spencer’s story) though you don’t need to read it beforehand, I think you should to get the full experience.
Cassie suffered a horrific event when she was younger. And she coped with it the best way she could. When she meets Grady, she can’t control the reactions that she has. But she believes that she is broken and that nothing can work with him. Well, Grady knows what he sees in Cassie and how he feels and he does whatever he can to make her see who she really is. This was not only a love story about two people but also one about loving yourself. I love how Grady was with Cassie. What a guy. He was so attentive and patient and sweet-just what she needed. The journey that Cassie goes on in this book is tremendous. I felt with her throughout the story. Just a strong and courageous and loving woman that needed to be unleashed after being hidden for so long. I also loved the friendship that she had with Spencer. It was a sister-like bond. A friendship like that that everyone should have. Another thing that I loved about this book was seeing Dalton and Spencer again. I loved those two.
Overall, Cassie’s story is a powerful one that will tug at your heart. Definitely felt all the emotions with this. LB wrote a beautiful story. Her writing is fantastic and the characters are wonderful. And that epilogue- ahh I loved it. This is a story that should be read and experienced.
Cassie suffered a horrific event when she was younger. And she coped with it the best way she could. When she meets Grady, she can’t control the reactions that she has. But she believes that she is broken and that nothing can work with him. Well, Grady knows what he sees in Cassie and how he feels and he does whatever he can to make her see who she really is. This was not only a love story about two people but also one about loving yourself. I love how Grady was with Cassie. What a guy. He was so attentive and patient and sweet-just what she needed. The journey that Cassie goes on in this book is tremendous. I felt with her throughout the story. Just a strong and courageous and loving woman that needed to be unleashed after being hidden for so long. I also loved the friendship that she had with Spencer. It was a sister-like bond. A friendship like that that everyone should have. Another thing that I loved about this book was seeing Dalton and Spencer again. I loved those two.
Overall, Cassie’s story is a powerful one that will tug at your heart. Definitely felt all the emotions with this. LB wrote a beautiful story. Her writing is fantastic and the characters are wonderful. And that epilogue- ahh I loved it. This is a story that should be read and experienced.
February 14, 2016
"I read obsessively to escape my own world. To live the dreams of others when, for so long, the reoccurrence of my nightmares has been my reality."
I fell into like with Cassie while reading Under the Influence but was given no choice to fall in love with her in Out of Focus. As always, L.B. Simmons has written an amazing, heartfelt novel.
Filled with heartache, strength and self-loathing, Out of Focus made me cry, laugh and cheer for Cassie's journey to redemption. Not redemption for another person but redemption for herself. It was beautifully written and so easy to relate to. Who hasn't had a time in their life where escaping felt like the best option? For Cassie, her nightmares haunted her daily. She kept her pain to herself, always putting a fake smile in place, and only truly smiling while helping Spencer through her own despair. Not only was this book a great example of how to find strength to fight your own demons but it was a true demonstration of friendship.
While this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend picking up Under the Influence before doing so. The back story is pretty important to get the full range of emotions this book can guarantee you. ~ Kelly, 4 stars
I fell into like with Cassie while reading Under the Influence but was given no choice to fall in love with her in Out of Focus. As always, L.B. Simmons has written an amazing, heartfelt novel.
Filled with heartache, strength and self-loathing, Out of Focus made me cry, laugh and cheer for Cassie's journey to redemption. Not redemption for another person but redemption for herself. It was beautifully written and so easy to relate to. Who hasn't had a time in their life where escaping felt like the best option? For Cassie, her nightmares haunted her daily. She kept her pain to herself, always putting a fake smile in place, and only truly smiling while helping Spencer through her own despair. Not only was this book a great example of how to find strength to fight your own demons but it was a true demonstration of friendship.
While this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend picking up Under the Influence before doing so. The back story is pretty important to get the full range of emotions this book can guarantee you. ~ Kelly, 4 stars
January 30, 2016
I'm once again honored to be able to experience the wonderful work of the lovely LB Simmons! When her fingers hit the keyboard, I know that her books will always be one of my most anticipated reads.
This one deserves more than 5 stars, because it's seriously her best book yet. This story, these characters... It needs to be read. Grady Bennett is every girl's dream... and Cassie Cooper is the sassiest ball of fire that will keep you on your toes. I also loved how much Spencer (Under the Influence) is pulled into the story, because her relationship with Cassie is heartwarming and hilarious.
I keep hitting backspace trying to figure out what to say, because I don't want to give anything away. So I'll just leave you with this...
Cassie has a powerful story to tell. You will experience all the feels with this book and it will make you think about so many things we often take for granted. Things are not always as they seem, so open your eyes to the people surrounding you. They may be living in a world that is pulling them under while they put on a mask to face the day to day of life.
This one deserves more than 5 stars, because it's seriously her best book yet. This story, these characters... It needs to be read. Grady Bennett is every girl's dream... and Cassie Cooper is the sassiest ball of fire that will keep you on your toes. I also loved how much Spencer (Under the Influence) is pulled into the story, because her relationship with Cassie is heartwarming and hilarious.
I keep hitting backspace trying to figure out what to say, because I don't want to give anything away. So I'll just leave you with this...
Cassie has a powerful story to tell. You will experience all the feels with this book and it will make you think about so many things we often take for granted. Things are not always as they seem, so open your eyes to the people surrounding you. They may be living in a world that is pulling them under while they put on a mask to face the day to day of life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews