My dreams were always in black and white, once in a while, I’d be gifted something gray.
Until her.
Then, I broke her. I tore her up. I shattered her. But she was breathing, living, and I knew damn well, she was on the verge of loving, but it couldn’t be me.
I turned from her for the red white and blue. Because war, destruction, hell even death was more welcome than the possibility of hurting her.
I didn’t deserve her, and she sure as f*@^ didn’t deserve me.
MJ Fields is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance novels. She lives in New York with her daughter Miss A, smoochie faced Newfie, Theo and the newest member to the 'fields crew, rescue diva / holy terror Eleanor. When she’s not locked away in the cave, she enjoys doing home improvement projects, spending time with her family, attending live music and sporting events, the theatre, singing off key, dancing to her own beat, listening to audio books, and reading of course.
5 Star Review of Amour Battu by MJ Fields This was my first book by MJ Fields and I have no idea why that is as I found myself totally invested in Oliver and Natasha’s story. This is a story full oh hope, acceptance and love, of coming to terms with what life has dealt you and facing up to the challenges presented. Natasha sees beneath the surface of Oliver and his pain; the relationship that builds between then is truly heart warming. It is a story of self discovery and adversity above all else love. MJ Fields has created characters that had a great deal of depth to them and were “real”. The pain and suffering was palpable and I found myself captivated by her words. Her writing is strong and the complicated journey that Oliver and Natasha find themselves on was an emotional roller coaster which had me hanging on for dear life. Amour Battu is a story that will touch your soul and leave you with a book hangover, it did for me.
I can say it touched me in a way only another girl born with a birth defect can feel it. I know the pain of teasing and hiding scars. I hid mine until my "Ollie" told me my scars did not define me.
Natasha is a girl with big dreams and is about to live them out. She a girl with a "list". She see's the broken in a man that seems so strong.
Oliver a broken soul. His parents were monsters and he lost the only girl he loved. He sees the beauty in a woman who has a hard time seeing it herself.
Maisie...is everything! She is life, she is love and she see's the things her boys don't...the love they have to give. This story is so beautiful and full of love, not just from the herione and hero but all the characters!
I love all MJ Fields work but this story touched me just as her first series did. I can certainly see myself rereading it over and over! I love Oliver...Not more than Lucas but he's second on my list!
The story might be one you are familiar with. A hero who is not worthy. Young, first love. Frequent readers of romance will not have experienced the story quite like this author brings us. If I say nothing else about this book, know this, the author has written an epic tale with so much restraint and finesse, it almost doesn't matter what the outcome of the story is. There is no rush to the finish with Oliver and Natasha. No.... what we get instead is the unveiling of two souls....two people who need to fully come into their own before they can ever hope to be loved and love fully anyone outside of their family.
You will cheer and hope that things will resolve every chapter that passes. Only to find more layers that need to be undone, more of the story to be told. Honestly, both Natasha and Ollie are so very broken but strong at the same time. Your heart will ache for these two. I could not have imagined a better HEA.
Great to see the events of the previous book through different characters eyes. Fantastic read!
*Complimentary copy provided for an honest review.
No spoilers as this is one of those beautiful emotional reads that take you on a journey that you cannot help getting lost in. There was no way I could put this down once I started. I loved Bass and Angela's epic romance, now we get to learn all about her beautiful daughter Natasha. I loved her spirit, fierce determination and strong will. Her growth was a beautiful sight to witness. Then we have Oliver, best friend to Bass and now his right hand man. He is a protector by nature and has his own demons to face.
This was definitely a slow burn romance, but that did not stop the wonderful flow of the story. The characters were given so much depth and I loved every innocent interaction that Oliver and Natasha shared. It felt like a beautiful coming of age story, filled with the emotional bumps along the way that I have come to equally love and hate because they make me so emotional. Another brilliant read!
Another absolutely stunning standalone from MJ Fields! This book consumed me. It totally rocked my world. I basically sat down and read it all in one sitting. There is just so much to love about the story...
Here’s what I love about this book: it’s part slow burn romance and a coming of age story for one of the characters (Natasha). It’s also a journey of self discovery and self acceptance for both Natasha and Ollie.
Oliver Joseph’s is a proud military man who has served his country for the last 8 years, spending most of his time deployed overseas. He’s long since escaped his horrific childhood and he knows first hand the brutality of war. Finally he’s ready to leave the US Army and returns to the Hamptons to the family of his own choosing - brother Bastien (his former foster brother) and Maisie the woman who changed his life. He’s a protector but has his own secret demons holding onto an invisible weight from his a brutal childhood.
Natasha Petrov is a beautiful young woman. Even though she’s smart, intelligent, and beautiful, she’s battled with low self esteem most of her life. She’s had her own trauma in childhood but she’s always had her mothers love, support and guidance. She’s worldly, yet innocent. Now finally she’s in place where she has friends and has realised her passion in life.
Suddenly, their lives intertwine - they become family when Natasha’s mother and Ollie’s brother not only fall in love but also become business partners. There is a connection between the two of them. Something they see in each other is familiar. Ollie knows the ugly truth about her past and accepts her for who she is. He makes her believe in herself, breathes life into her soul which allows her to realise her potential. He’s buried his feelings and the scars from his past, but Natasha makes everything he’s trying to keep buried come to the surface...
Amour Battu by M.J. Fields is the second book in her Timeless Love series and can easily be read as a standalone. The previous book is Cinq A' Sept. While Cinq A' Sept tells Bass and Angela's story, Amour Battu is Natasha and Oliver's story. Natasha is the daughter of Angela and she grew up loved and sheltered. Now she's about to go to college and be on her own. Her mother is happy in her new relationship and her new husband, Bass. And Bass brings a little something into the family, Oliver. Oliver Josephs is a complicated man with a rough past and a lot of issues. And when the young woman falls in love with the battered man nothing about this will be easy. He's obstinate, rude, crude and hung up on his past. Natasha has big dreams, loves her lists, is a strong heroine and never gives up on Oliver.
Amour Battu is a touching story, a slow burn with just the right amount of drama and danger to keep me at the edge of my seat. My heart was bleeding for Natasha and I will be honest here, Oliver is not my favorite character, not at all. Amour Battu is a emotional read and had me in tears more than one time. The writing is great and the author takes his time to introduce the characters in detail, and I loved it.
Favorite Quote: " The past doesn't define you. "
I loved the story, the characters and the writing and give 4,5 stars.
This was another spectacular read from MJ! Natasha and Oliver were a complex couple with pasts. Oliver is the definition of a tragic troubled soul at the beginning of the book but as their story progressed, I loved watching him crack and embrace his past and look to a future. Natasha, despite her struggles when younger knew about love in ways that Oliver did not. She is a young soul who lacks experience in the beginning of this story but as it progresses, she becomes more confident of herself and stronger and continues to try to share her love with Oliver. The tension between the pair was palpable at times and I thought that I could feel it around me at times as I continued to read. I was hooked to this story as I needed to know what happened next with them and was rooting for their HEA as it was not an easy HEA. I loved the return of Angela and Bass as well as Masie in their story and at times found myself laughing out loud or sighing with the wisdom that was expelled from this group. There are so many more words that can be used to describe this book but I don't want to ruin the book for others but I will definitely recommend this book to others.
Amour Battu is book 2 in the Timeless Love Series but it can certainly be read as a stand-alone. This book is very much a slow burn emotional love story it has the perfect mix of love and drama and it’s a story that will captivate you and draw you in. Oliver is a man with a troubled past and that has left him with plenty of issues, he has served his country for many years but it’s now time to leave the US army so he returns to the Hampton’s and the people he looks upon as family . Natasha is a beautiful young woman but she has lead a sheltered life and has battled with low self esteem for many years, she to comes from a troubled childhood but the one difference between her and Oliver is she has always had her mothers love and support. Oliver and Natasha are pretty much thrown together when her mother falls in love and also becomes business partners with his brother, they feel an instant connection but is it because they both share trauma from their childhood or is because they know that together they can be strong and heal the pasts that trouble them both ..... A touching story that will tug at your heartstrings, it’s an emotional read that will certainly have you shedding a few tears but this is a beautifully written love story that takes us on a journey as we get to know two broken souls, we get to see their past, their pain and finally their love. Great job MJ.
Another amazing story by MJ Fields. I love how she wrote these characters. They are both dealing with pain but in different ways. Natasha has been hiding inside herself for what she had to deal with. The torment she lived through. People can be so cruel. Because of her birth defect she was made fun of. Oliver had his own pain to deal with. His childhood was a nightmare. He still carries the pain from it. MJ Fields wrote this story that enabled you to grow with Natasha. You saw her struggles, felt her pain, cheered her success, and so much more. You saw her grow from the protected little girl of Angela to the beautiful woman she turned out to be. MJ Fields does such an amazing job with Natasha and Oliver's growing relationship. Nothing was rushed. It developed over time and what a beautiful love story they created. He never felt that he was enough for Natasha, but she knew in her heart that he was what she wanted. He didn't want to cross over the line but he felt it down deep just how special she was. I absolutely loved this story and was hooked from the first word. I could not put it down. Another 5+ star read by an amazing author.
I instantly fell in love with Natasha. She is fiercely loyal and mature beyond her years. When she was born with a birth defect, she countered many surgeries and many unkind people. She was looking for her tribe and found them in the world of fashion. She has a gift that Bass, her mom’s boyfriend saw in, Cinq a Sept. Natasha rose from the ashes of cruel acquaintances. She found her broken pieces in Oliver.
Oliver was born to unkind people. He knew keeping people away allowed him to feel free and untouchable. When Bass brings him on in his journey, Oliver never knew how much his world could be turned upside down.
The way that MJ unfolds a story is pure talent. I was enraptured by the beginning- thinking I had it all figured out when the story would twist and I would be left trying to guess what was coming (and I never figured it out). The emotions that MJ invoked in me as I read left me thinking of this book hours after I finished it.
My only wish for this book would be that the series continues. I love the Timeless Love series and can’t wait to see if MJ Fields give me more. This is a must read, one-click kind of book!
I love MJ Fields and all her stories. This one was such a refreshing breath of fresh air. I loved this book from start to finish. Amour Battu is unlike anything MJ has published before. I loved this story. I can't put into words how much. I loved that this story is about a girl finding herself. Find that she's so much more than she thinks. Finding that you can have it all, not settle for what you think you want, when the truth is right in front of you.
I loved watching these relationships grow. I loved watching Natasha become her own person, her own woman. I loved watching her fall. I loved seeing Oliver and how he wants nothing more than to shy away from love. He's been hurt before, but when it comes down to it, he can't. He has to fight for Natasha. He has to be all he can, for her. I loved Natasha the daughter as well. I loved watching her relationship with her mother grow and build. I just can't tell you how much this book got to me.
I loved this story from start to finish and I know you will too. Please check it out.
I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that this book was about Oliver and Natasha! Holy cow, I did not see that coming but I was so excited. It was great to get into Oliver’s head and learn about his past. It was also great to learn more about Natasha and what she went through as well. Things were quite a whirlwind for Oliver and Natasha but they both grew tremendously as the story progressed. There were so many emotional moments that really pulled at my heartstrings but at the same time, there were plenty of silly moments that had me laughing out loud. While I enjoyed their story, I wish I could have gotten more of just them. I felt like a good chunk of the story was a retelling of events that happened in Cinq A Sept and while its cool to know the timeline of when things happened, it felt a lot like I was repeating the last story just with a different POV. It would have been nice to experience more of just Oliver and Natasha once things came to fruition instead of feeling rushed at the end.
I have devoured every written word Mj Fields has published and Amour Battu was no different. From beginning to end, she has had me at the edge of my seat, screaming at my phone (Kindle app), and bawling my eyes out. Our leading lady, Natasha, is EVERYTHING! She is such a real person that I feel like I've seen her, like I know her and I absolutely love her. She is brave, she is sweet, she is driven and when she can finally realize her true potential she is fierce! Oliver is beautifully damaged, he is strength, he is an Alpha in every sense of the word. His honor and loyalty know no bounds and he is infuratingly sexy! I alwayw enjoy another adventure in Mj's beautiful mind but MAN my heart almost couldn't take anymore from this one. Definitely a must read, Mj Fields you are amazing!
Absolutely amazing . I volunteer to read and review an advanced readers copy of Amour Battu . I will just say Amazing and Beautiful . I really enjoyed reading this story . This is a beautiful but absolutely emotional storyline . The story is delivered by the wonderful skills of MJ Fields . The characters are fantastic and real especially Natasha she overcame so much . She's a very strong and beautiful soul . This is such a well written work of art . I could not put in down . I read it from start to finish . A must read . A favorite on my to reread list of 2018 . I highly recommend taking the time to read and enjoy .
OMG this book is AMAZING!👏🏻 🙌🏻I can’t even put into words how much this book has moved me. Ollie and Natasha’s love story isn’t just about finding your one true love. It’s about finding yourself and coming to the realization that you are truly worthy of being loved. It’s about being present. It’s about not letting your past define who you are within. It’s about letting love heal the parts of your heart that are broken. It’s about finding that love can lead to a life of true happiness. This book literally broke my me💔 but as always MJ puts it back together. ❤️This book is jam packed with all of the feels and will leaving you wanting more and more.
Amour Battu by MJ Fields is just a unique, complex and breathtaking story that captivated me in from the beginning and held me enthralled until the very end! I loved how this was a slow burn romance between Natasha and Oliver; for the readers got to see their relationship develop over time and see one another weaknesses' as well as their strengths . This book has quite the emotional impact and is full of heat and feels. This book will be on the top of my favorites list of 2018.
This is the second book in the Timeless Love series but can absolutely be read on a stand alone basis.
Amour Battu was a story told in stages and I have to say, I really liked how we got to know Oliver and Natasha on their own standing before we get introduced to them as a couple. This is a slow building romance but there is no denying the connection between Oliver and Natasha from the get go. Their journey is touching and emotional and really moved me.
I really enjoyed Amour Battu and would be happy to recommend it.
An absolute must read!!! MJ never disappoints with her amazing stories!! This one is no exception. She has suck a way of sucking you into a story. She mke it hard to put a book down. This book like so many of her others gives you all of the feels! It will make you laugh, cry angry and so on. I just love the story of Natasha and Oliver. Both of these characters have had a lot of pain in their lives and both have had different ways of dealing. The way that they came together is simply amazing. Just a great read from start to finish!!!
This is the 2nd book in the Timeless love series but can be read as a standalone. This is the story of Oliver and Natasha,who we met in cinq a sept and tells of their journey to love.From the very first chapter I loved Natasha's history and wanted to protect and cherish her future.Which is exactly what Oliver felt too,although he needed to understand himself and put his demons to rest before he gave himself wholeheartedly to her. In the time it took for him to do that I was getting frustrated with him because he just couldn't see what Natasha did and us as readers.He was worthy of her love! This story is deep and gave me all the feels and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Amour Battu is a unique and beautiful story that pulled me in from the beginning and held me captive until the end! It was so well written and the characters so well developed that you felt their pain and their triumphs as they traveled through the challenges they faced. This is Natasha and Oliver’s story of self-discovery and self-acceptance. They each have had their own challenges and adversities to overcome and yet they came out stronger, more confident and better for having gone through the journey.
Wow I can't tell you what an amazing story this was I laughed and cried throughout. Natasha and Oliver went through so much in there lives but for different reasons, Oliver thought that he wasn't good enough for Natasha and fought the attraction hard but in the end something has to give. I cannot recommend this book enough in fact you need to start with book 1, this story is full of heartache, sadness, pain and loss but so well written that you will want to keep reading and not want to put it down. MJ Fields is an incredible author and I have read all her books and have never been disappointed. I would love Stella's story next please.
Another amazing love story from M.J. I absolutely loved this one, it was so emotional and kept you on the edge of your seat to see where things were going to go. I really loved that this was a slow burn between Natasha and Oliver, we got to see their relationship develop over time and see each one's vulnerabilities. This book will be on the top of my favorites list for the year.
Oliver is one over protective hot complicated man. Bass is one complicated man. There friendship has no boundaries. Natasha is one amazing young woman. She sees the world with the eyes of a strong intelligent loving artistic view. This is one complicated amazing epic love story. Could not wait to see where the story would go.
Amazing as always. Oliver has become one of my favorites. I've loved all of MJ Fields' books. Hero or heroine doesn't matter MJ creates worlds where you find yourself enraptured. Amour Battu is no different. I loved this book so much I was barely able to put it down. I highly recommend this book as well as all of her books.
As always MJ gives us a wonderfully detailed saga. The story is great and I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and following along with Natasha's growth as a woman. This is a very long book and cannot be done in a day (it took me 4 days to get through) and I'll be re-reading to clarify a few questions I have. (there were times I thought I'd missed a few pages due to jumps in storyline).
But MJ writes involved layered stories not quickies and it's the reason we all love to come back again and again. Which is what I'll be doing with Armour Battu.
Amazing. What more can you ask for, it's like two stories in one. Being able to read more about Angela and Bass' story along with Natasha and Oliver's story. This book is so well written I felt like I was experiencing all the things that Natasha and Oliver went through in their lives.
Loved the story of how two broken people came together! In true MJ fashion she shows how life and love come together. We all are conquering something and before we can truly be there for someone else we have to be there for ourselves. Loved hearing from the whole gang .. bass ❤️
ABSOLUTELY A MUST READ. This book will give you all the feels. I absolutely love Natasha and Oliver’s story. MJ has a way that makes you get sucked into the story and love every character. Truly an amazing 5 star read that everyone must read.
MJ just has a way to draw you in and give you all the feels. Whether you are laughing at something so insane or your heart is breaking along with the character. Nat and Ollie are a journey not to miss. It's a reminder not to live in the past, but your past helps shape who you are today.