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Regret #1
Written with Regret
Every little girl dreams of the fairytale. The one where the white knight rushes in to save her from the clutches of evil. They fall in love, have babies, and live happily ever after.
By that definition, my life should have been a fairytale too.
When I was eight years old, Caven Hunt saved me from the worst kind of evil to walk the Earth. It didn’t matter that I was a kid. I fell in love with him all the same.
But that was where my fairytale ended.
Years later, a one-night stand during the darkest time imaginable gave us a little girl. It was nothing compared to the pitch black that consumed me when I was forced to leave her with Caven for good.
At the end of every fairytale, the happily-ever-after is the one thing that remains consistent. It wasn’t going to be mine, but there hadn’t been a night that passed where I hadn’t prayed that it would be hers.
I owed Caven my life.
However, I owed that innocent child more.
And that included ripping the heart from my chest and facing her father again.
By that definition, my life should have been a fairytale too.
When I was eight years old, Caven Hunt saved me from the worst kind of evil to walk the Earth. It didn’t matter that I was a kid. I fell in love with him all the same.
But that was where my fairytale ended.
Years later, a one-night stand during the darkest time imaginable gave us a little girl. It was nothing compared to the pitch black that consumed me when I was forced to leave her with Caven for good.
At the end of every fairytale, the happily-ever-after is the one thing that remains consistent. It wasn’t going to be mine, but there hadn’t been a night that passed where I hadn’t prayed that it would be hers.
I owed Caven my life.
However, I owed that innocent child more.
And that included ripping the heart from my chest and facing her father again.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2019
2872 people are currently reading
13587 people want to read
About the author
Aly Martinez
53 books8,117 followersOriginally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four young children.
Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, charcuterie boards, and her mildly neurotic golden retriever. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.
She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.
Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, charcuterie boards, and her mildly neurotic golden retriever. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.
She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,598 reviews
May 24, 2019
4 Stars
Aly Martinez is one of my favorite authors and I will read anything she writes. Period. And, while this isn't going to be one of my top favorites from her, I definitely enjoyed it a lot.
This book is told via present/past flashbacks from the POV of both the H and the h. Although...now that I think about it, I think the majority (if not all) of the past flashbacks are from the heroine's POV...
But anywho.
Anyone who has followed me for a while knows that flashbacks are on my "things I hate" list, although I will still muddle through them if required. Albeit grudgingly. Cause, you know, sometimes you just have to persevere when you want to sally forth to new and exciting worlds.
Luckily, however, Martinez is one of the few authors who can do flashbacks throughout a book in a way that I can usually tolerate. I really like her writing. Her characters are always solid and she is a show-er and not a teller. And she brought all that goodness to this book, as usual.
So, why not 5 stars?
Well, I rate like to like. Meaning, I rate books according to what type of book genre/sub-genre it is and by other books I might have read from the author before. And I compare them. And 5-star books for me from this author have been THIS one and THIS one. And, while I enjoyed Written with Regret a lot, I didn't love it as much as those 5-star reads. Thus, it would feel wrong to rate this one any higher.
But I digress.
I'm trying not to say too much else about the story here as I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. So do yourself a favor and don't read too many reviews.
Other than that, as I said, I really enjoyed this book - I read it in one sitting - and I can't wait for book two.
Aly Martinez is one of my favorite authors and I will read anything she writes. Period. And, while this isn't going to be one of my top favorites from her, I definitely enjoyed it a lot.
This book is told via present/past flashbacks from the POV of both the H and the h. Although...now that I think about it, I think the majority (if not all) of the past flashbacks are from the heroine's POV...
But anywho.
Anyone who has followed me for a while knows that flashbacks are on my "things I hate" list, although I will still muddle through them if required. Albeit grudgingly. Cause, you know, sometimes you just have to persevere when you want to sally forth to new and exciting worlds.
Luckily, however, Martinez is one of the few authors who can do flashbacks throughout a book in a way that I can usually tolerate. I really like her writing. Her characters are always solid and she is a show-er and not a teller. And she brought all that goodness to this book, as usual.
So, why not 5 stars?
Well, I rate like to like. Meaning, I rate books according to what type of book genre/sub-genre it is and by other books I might have read from the author before. And I compare them. And 5-star books for me from this author have been THIS one and THIS one. And, while I enjoyed Written with Regret a lot, I didn't love it as much as those 5-star reads. Thus, it would feel wrong to rate this one any higher.
But I digress.
I'm trying not to say too much else about the story here as I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. So do yourself a favor and don't read too many reviews.
Other than that, as I said, I really enjoyed this book - I read it in one sitting - and I can't wait for book two.
February 7, 2025
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 4 Stars ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Another heavily emotional and deeply impactful read. Omg so so good! This author never ceases to amaze me. Her stories are so unique and thoroughly entertaining. I thought I knew where the plot was headed, and that was a big mistake on my part!
I'm just gonna say it lol. If you plan on reading this one - have the second book on hand because the cliffhanger is brutal in this one! You will want to jump right into the second book. Thankfully, both are available on Kindle Unlimited!
This book starts off with a bang and will literally keep you turning the pages as quickly as you can all the way to the end. As all of her books that I’ve read are, this one is very well written, and her character development is so, so good.
She slowly reveals so many different facets of each of the character’s personalities in such a way that you’re never quite sure who they truly are. And that’s part of the reason you want to just keep reading and reading and reading. And then you’ll get to the end and will still be wondering what really makes them both tick, and who are they really??
There's so much I can't say - talking about this book is like walking through a minefield because almost anything could be a potential spoiler. It packs a serious emotional punch right to the gut especially towards the end. Book two clears up any 'loose ends' or questions you may have finishing this one.
Both books a pretty short, around 200 or so pages - under 300. Made for a perfect way to close out 2024 for me. Highly recommend!
❤️Single Dad
❤️Heartbreak
❤️Tragedy
❤️Two Broken Souls Fighting For a Future
❤️Jaw-Dropping twists and turns
❤️FREE in Kindle Unlimited
❤️Gasp Worthy Cliffhanger Ending
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Another heavily emotional and deeply impactful read. Omg so so good! This author never ceases to amaze me. Her stories are so unique and thoroughly entertaining. I thought I knew where the plot was headed, and that was a big mistake on my part!
I'm just gonna say it lol. If you plan on reading this one - have the second book on hand because the cliffhanger is brutal in this one! You will want to jump right into the second book. Thankfully, both are available on Kindle Unlimited!
This book starts off with a bang and will literally keep you turning the pages as quickly as you can all the way to the end. As all of her books that I’ve read are, this one is very well written, and her character development is so, so good.
She slowly reveals so many different facets of each of the character’s personalities in such a way that you’re never quite sure who they truly are. And that’s part of the reason you want to just keep reading and reading and reading. And then you’ll get to the end and will still be wondering what really makes them both tick, and who are they really??
There's so much I can't say - talking about this book is like walking through a minefield because almost anything could be a potential spoiler. It packs a serious emotional punch right to the gut especially towards the end. Book two clears up any 'loose ends' or questions you may have finishing this one.
Both books a pretty short, around 200 or so pages - under 300. Made for a perfect way to close out 2024 for me. Highly recommend!
❤️Single Dad
❤️Heartbreak
❤️Tragedy
❤️Two Broken Souls Fighting For a Future
❤️Jaw-Dropping twists and turns
❤️FREE in Kindle Unlimited
❤️Gasp Worthy Cliffhanger Ending
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
May 17, 2019
4.5 stars
Aly Martinez is an amazing author and she’s one that always has the ability to shock me. I had a feeling there would be something big at the end, but I’ll be the first to say she completely took me by surprise. I did not see that coming, not even a little bit. This story was emotional, angsty, and left me with a punch in the gut. I can’t wait to see where the next one leads…
This is a book you need to read and experience on your own. I don’t want to talk about the plot but I loved the hero and even though I felt conflicted about the heroine, she really grew on me as I continued to read. Aly hooked me with this read. Once I started it, I didn’t want to put it down. And even though the ending has a heck of a cliffy, be comforted to know that the next book is coming out next month so there isn’t much of a wait.
If you like books that make you feel, pick up this book. If you want to be shook, pick up this book. If you don’t mind some angst and like a story about redemption and forgiveness, pick up this book. I can’t wait to read the next one. It was fantastic!!
Aly Martinez is an amazing author and she’s one that always has the ability to shock me. I had a feeling there would be something big at the end, but I’ll be the first to say she completely took me by surprise. I did not see that coming, not even a little bit. This story was emotional, angsty, and left me with a punch in the gut. I can’t wait to see where the next one leads…
This is a book you need to read and experience on your own. I don’t want to talk about the plot but I loved the hero and even though I felt conflicted about the heroine, she really grew on me as I continued to read. Aly hooked me with this read. Once I started it, I didn’t want to put it down. And even though the ending has a heck of a cliffy, be comforted to know that the next book is coming out next month so there isn’t much of a wait.
If you like books that make you feel, pick up this book. If you want to be shook, pick up this book. If you don’t mind some angst and like a story about redemption and forgiveness, pick up this book. I can’t wait to read the next one. It was fantastic!!
Not everything was black and white. It was often in the gray areas where the hardest decisions were made.
May 20, 2019
This quote sums up this book perfectly!!
❝ Not everything was black and white. It was often in the gray areas where the hardest decisions were made. ❞
MY REVIEW AND OTHERS: can also be found on my blog:
➽ KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
WRITTEN WITH REGRET: Is the first full length contemporary romance novel in Aly Martinez' 'Regret Duet.' In this we meet the hero (Caven) his daughter (Rosealee) and the heroine (Hadley)
An unputdownable riveting page-turner that kept me racing through the pages. This author is unstoppable!!
Jumping into this and hitting that ‘prologue’ I never expected it to take us down the road it did, that shock factor came into full play as only this author can do, a dark twist that I never saw coming, at all. My heart broke, it went on stand still, it took awhile for it to go back to its normal rhythm. This sets up the whole storyline perfectly and does flit back to that timeframe regularly.
Like a roller coaster out of control, the anticipation, the angst, the giggles, the swooning, those feels all came crashing together all at once. This book was so good!! Once I started it I was pulled into the storyline straight away!! I don't want to go into the plot too much because I feel like it's a story that needs to be read without any spoilers. The heroine and hero for different reasons will pull on your heart strings. Neither have had it easy. The heroine does take a wee bit of time to warm up to but believe me by the end you've connected with her character fully and you may not or may agree with how she's handled things but either way you end up having empathy for the decision she came to. Yet again she's not had an easy go of things.
❝ Life had never been easy for me. Chaos had been following me like a dark cloud, looming and hovering, casting its shadow far and wide despite how bright the path in front of me should have appeared.❞- Caven
But Caven (the hero) and his daughter Rosealee stole the show. These two melted my heart in two, seriously adorable. Their banter made this story.
I inhaled this in record time!! And like the rest before me I can’t wait for the next book because that ending was a whole new game changer.
* Teasers used are off the authors facebook page *
MY REVIEW AND OTHERS: can also be found on my blog:
➽ KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
WRITTEN WITH REGRET: Is the first full length contemporary romance novel in Aly Martinez' 'Regret Duet.' In this we meet the hero (Caven) his daughter (Rosealee) and the heroine (Hadley)
An unputdownable riveting page-turner that kept me racing through the pages. This author is unstoppable!!
Jumping into this and hitting that ‘prologue’ I never expected it to take us down the road it did, that shock factor came into full play as only this author can do, a dark twist that I never saw coming, at all. My heart broke, it went on stand still, it took awhile for it to go back to its normal rhythm. This sets up the whole storyline perfectly and does flit back to that timeframe regularly.
Like a roller coaster out of control, the anticipation, the angst, the giggles, the swooning, those feels all came crashing together all at once. This book was so good!! Once I started it I was pulled into the storyline straight away!! I don't want to go into the plot too much because I feel like it's a story that needs to be read without any spoilers. The heroine and hero for different reasons will pull on your heart strings. Neither have had it easy. The heroine does take a wee bit of time to warm up to but believe me by the end you've connected with her character fully and you may not or may agree with how she's handled things but either way you end up having empathy for the decision she came to. Yet again she's not had an easy go of things.
❝ Life had never been easy for me. Chaos had been following me like a dark cloud, looming and hovering, casting its shadow far and wide despite how bright the path in front of me should have appeared.❞- Caven
But Caven (the hero) and his daughter Rosealee stole the show. These two melted my heart in two, seriously adorable. Their banter made this story.
I inhaled this in record time!! And like the rest before me I can’t wait for the next book because that ending was a whole new game changer.
* Teasers used are off the authors facebook page *
May 20, 2019
*****FIVE ++++ STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
We were two people who had experienced the inside of Hell and lived to see the other side. Every once in a while, the flames would still devour me. The least I could do was try to extinguish hers.
”WRITTEN WITH REGRET”, the latest by Aly Martinez, is nothing short of absolute literary PERFECTION! This author never ceases to amaze me. Her stories are so unique and thoroughly entertaining. I thought I knew where the plot was headed, and that was a big mistake on my part! I should have known that the author would throw in a twist that would come as such a shock to me by the time I got to the end of this first installment, that I must warn ends with a HUGE cliffhanger! I don’t think I can wait to get my hands on the next book!
If you love single daddy romances, you are going to be in for such a treat!! Caven Hunt was the ultimate playboy who was about to close on a billion dollar high tech business deal. Then one night a tiny newborn baby girl that gets left on his doorstep changes his life forever. It turns out the beautiful redhead he had a scorching hot one night stand with has left him with an impossibly huge responsibility that he's not even close to being prepared for.
The story fast forwards to four years later and Caven has become an adorably devoted father to his cute and precocious little baby girl with curly red hair and expressive green eyes. There is no way readers aren't going to fall madly in love with Caven and little Rosie!
Caven’s world is turned upside down when his long lost baby mama makes a surprise appearance at Rosie’s fourth birthday party. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do to keep his girl safe and Hadley will feel his wrath, but all she wants is a chance to get to know her daughter. Caven is rightfully suspicious of Harley's intentions and keeps his guard way up. There's so much anger and animosity inside of him towards Hadley but when she reveals that they share a connection to a haunting past, he starts to see her in a new light. He's torn up inside with guilt, anger, and burning desire, that he inevitably gives in to. Caven and Hadley reignite their passionate affair, but we know that trouble lays ahead for the two lovers.
Hadley reveals a piece of her past only to us readers during her chapters, and I thought I knew why she was keeping it a secret from Caven, but rest assured, you will be just as blown away as I was at the reveal at the end of book one!
Here are my overall ratings:
Heroes: 5++++++
Heroine: 5
Plot: 5+++++
Angst: 5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
”WRITTEN WITH REGRET” releases on May 23rd. It is a duet and if you hate cliffhangers, you may want to wait until book two releases on June 13th! I promise you this is a story you need to put at the very top of your TBRs!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Qbg6qg
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/WrittenwRegret
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
We were two people who had experienced the inside of Hell and lived to see the other side. Every once in a while, the flames would still devour me. The least I could do was try to extinguish hers.
”WRITTEN WITH REGRET”, the latest by Aly Martinez, is nothing short of absolute literary PERFECTION! This author never ceases to amaze me. Her stories are so unique and thoroughly entertaining. I thought I knew where the plot was headed, and that was a big mistake on my part! I should have known that the author would throw in a twist that would come as such a shock to me by the time I got to the end of this first installment, that I must warn ends with a HUGE cliffhanger! I don’t think I can wait to get my hands on the next book!
If you love single daddy romances, you are going to be in for such a treat!! Caven Hunt was the ultimate playboy who was about to close on a billion dollar high tech business deal. Then one night a tiny newborn baby girl that gets left on his doorstep changes his life forever. It turns out the beautiful redhead he had a scorching hot one night stand with has left him with an impossibly huge responsibility that he's not even close to being prepared for.
The story fast forwards to four years later and Caven has become an adorably devoted father to his cute and precocious little baby girl with curly red hair and expressive green eyes. There is no way readers aren't going to fall madly in love with Caven and little Rosie!
Caven’s world is turned upside down when his long lost baby mama makes a surprise appearance at Rosie’s fourth birthday party. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do to keep his girl safe and Hadley will feel his wrath, but all she wants is a chance to get to know her daughter. Caven is rightfully suspicious of Harley's intentions and keeps his guard way up. There's so much anger and animosity inside of him towards Hadley but when she reveals that they share a connection to a haunting past, he starts to see her in a new light. He's torn up inside with guilt, anger, and burning desire, that he inevitably gives in to. Caven and Hadley reignite their passionate affair, but we know that trouble lays ahead for the two lovers.
Hadley reveals a piece of her past only to us readers during her chapters, and I thought I knew why she was keeping it a secret from Caven, but rest assured, you will be just as blown away as I was at the reveal at the end of book one!
Here are my overall ratings:
Heroes: 5++++++
Heroine: 5
Plot: 5+++++
Angst: 5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
”WRITTEN WITH REGRET” releases on May 23rd. It is a duet and if you hate cliffhangers, you may want to wait until book two releases on June 13th! I promise you this is a story you need to put at the very top of your TBRs!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Qbg6qg
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/WrittenwRegret
May 25, 2019
I have a confession to make... I have waited until the last moment to start reading this one. Reason being...a dreaded cliffhanger. I absolutely hate cliffhangers and normally I avoid them like the plague and wait until all the books are out to start reading. So...why did I sign up for this one ?? Well the answer is pretty simple... because Aly Martinez is one of my favorite authors and I knew I wanted ...no needed to read this book !
So here we are now and I have been left with the mother of all cliffhangers !!!
Thankfully this author seems to love her readers, because she is not making us wait too long, since the next book is already coming out next month...so fear not ;)
I also knew going into this one, that I was probably gonna be hit with a truckload of angst...and sure enough...I was crying within a couple of pages !!
Thankfully, I was also laughing my ass off within no time, so the balance was restored swiftly
Now I can't say too much about the story itself because that would be spoilering and everyone who is familiar with Aly Martinez' work knows it would be a big shame to spoiler one of her books. So I am gonna keep this one very vague...sorry definitely not sorry ;)
As much as I hate cliffies, I am so glad I read this book. And I also have got to say...I didn't even see the end coming. It really took me by surprise and I am still trying to figure out what the hell just happened !!
I don't mind being left in the dark for a little while though...It was definitely worth it and next month will be here before we know it.
I highly recommend this book and everything else this author has written ;)
An ARC was provided to
in exchange for an honest review
May 19, 2019
"Not everything was black and white. It was often in the gray areas where the hardest decisions were made".
I think that I’ve seriously underestimated this author. Her words have definitely been something that I’ve always looked forward to reading but her storytelling is what captures you. As the seconds tick by, you quickly realize that you’re no longer in your world, but her characters world and let me tell you, you will do ANYTHING to stay there.
I’m going to be real right now and say that I had no intention of finishing this book so quickly. My plan was to read the prologue and maybe even the first chapter so I could get the feel of the story and then later on when my house would be quiet, I would start. Let me tell you something. That did NOT happen!! I ignored everyone and everything and dove heart first into this book because after reading that prologue, how could I not?!! It was heartbreaking, gasp worthy and so powerful. If a prologue can make you feel all of these things, what is the rest of the story going to be like?
This story was more than I had ever set out for and I loved that. The element of surprise, the mystery, unconditional love, that unforgettable passion is what kept me on my toes with this book and reading at warped speed while trying so hard to savor every moment. I did have an issue with a certain character and their actions did put my blood pressure at a dangerous level but aside from that hiccup, I really enjoyed this one. Caven was the type of hero that you would want to have in real life and there is nothing that man wouldn’t do for his loved ones.
Now lets talk about cliffhangers because even though I’m not a fan, I’ve learned to accept them for what they are: mindf*ck tortures. But this cliffhanger right here? Have no damn business being in my head! What are we supposed to do with that? I did not and I repeat DID NOT see that coming at all!! You have no idea the amount of f bombs I dropped when I read that final scene because if you did, you would be googling some colorful stuff right now.
I know for a fact that this duet is not one to be missed and there is really no need for me to tell you to read this book. You need to read this right now!! Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2019 so far!!
May 31, 2019
Whoa I didn't see that coming... 😲😲😲 WTF just happened? 🙄🙄🙄
OMG that's why I LOVE Ms.Martinez. She never disappoints and I'm already excited for the 2nd book...
*ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review. ❤❤❤
AUTHOR BIO:
Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four young children.
Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.
She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.
AUTHOR LINKS:
Website: www.alymartinez.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlyMar...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlyMartinezAuth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoralyma...
Newsletter: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/l...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AlyMartinez
Amazon: http://bit.ly/AlyMartinezAmazon
OMG that's why I LOVE Ms.Martinez. She never disappoints and I'm already excited for the 2nd book...
*ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review. ❤❤❤
AUTHOR BIO:
Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four young children.
Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.
She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.
AUTHOR LINKS:
Website: www.alymartinez.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlyMar...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlyMartinezAuth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoralyma...
Newsletter: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/l...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AlyMartinez
Amazon: http://bit.ly/AlyMartinezAmazon
May 26, 2019
4.25 Stars
Told in dual POV, 1st person, it’s the first installment in the "Regret Duet" and ends with a huge cliffhanger, one of those that makes your jaw drops while you’re pulling out your hair to know more! I really didn’t see that coming, I mean I didn’t even guess that! It was well-written, reading this made me feel everything; It was an angsty read, I had some fun and smiled a bit, felt a bit heartbroken, and there were some lovely moments… The story captured my interest from the prologue. The characters were well-developed and I loved all of them, both main and secondary ones. I adored that four-year-old Rosalee, she was freaking cute! Well, I suggest you go in blind, don��t even read the blurb, it’s much better that way! All in all, another great read by my fave author and hope you enjoy it as well!
Told in dual POV, 1st person, it’s the first installment in the "Regret Duet" and ends with a huge cliffhanger, one of those that makes your jaw drops while you’re pulling out your hair to know more! I really didn’t see that coming, I mean I didn’t even guess that! It was well-written, reading this made me feel everything; It was an angsty read, I had some fun and smiled a bit, felt a bit heartbroken, and there were some lovely moments… The story captured my interest from the prologue. The characters were well-developed and I loved all of them, both main and secondary ones. I adored that four-year-old Rosalee, she was freaking cute! Well, I suggest you go in blind, don��t even read the blurb, it’s much better that way! All in all, another great read by my fave author and hope you enjoy it as well!
May 24, 2019
TITLE: Written with Regret
AUTHOR: Aly Martinez
SERIES: Regret Duet #1
RELEASE DATE: May 23rd 2019
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RATING: 5 Stars
CLIFFHANGER: Yes
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
WRITTEN WITH REGRET underscores why I love Aly Martinez so much. She is my go-to author when I'm in a slump - her books pull me out of it, only to push me into a book hangover and this story one is par for the course for this author.
Caven Hunt is a single daddy who made me smile with the way his daughter was able to wrap him around her finger. Although he is filthy rich he doesn't spoil his daughter rotten but makes her earn whatever she wants to have. But he wasn't always like that - in the beginning we see how much having a daughter. who was dropped at his door, scares him. He never wanted kids, he never wanted to spread his own DNA for one specific reason. Yet it happened when he had a one-night-stand with a woman who then stole from him. So to watch him fall in love with this little girl, her becoming his whole world was so incredibly beautiful. His biggest fear, what makes him rage in anger, is that the woman who gave birth to Rosie, comes back to claim her. Because there is no excuse. Or is there?
And of course she comes back. And of course Aly makes us understand, why Hadley couldn't be there for her daughter. I thought that part was quite predictable but that didn't diminish my enjoyment in the least. Hadley's reasons are very, very relatable and I hope everyone feels that way because it is pretty much one of only a few reasons why I would excuse and forgive abandonment of a child.
“We aren’t given a hundred years all at once. Time is doled out one very manageable second at a time. If all you focus on is the big picture and worry about tomorrow, you lose the happiness that can be found in the seconds.” I covered our linked fingers with my other hand. “Thank you for this second, Caven. And for all the other ones you’ve given me in the past.”
Hadley is another reason why I love Ms Martinez's stories. I really love her characters but her female leads are always strong, with a healthy dose of sass. Hadley, who has learned to live in the moment after so much darkness in her life, wants to reconnect with the daughter she had to give up. My heart really felt for her when Caven wouldn't give her the time of day and hear her out. It was really hard to watch - she had essentially nobody and it wasn't even her fault. There were times when I got really angry at Caven because of his pigheadedness and how he lashed out at Hadley. I had to remember that he was scared shitless that she would take his girl away.
Hadley obviously has secrets and while some of them I could guess this last one rocked my world. What a whopper of a surprise. Their pull towards one another was so palpable - Caven fought so hard but ultimately, he couldn't resist Hadley, who got under his skin fast with her gentle personality and smart mouth. I despised the treatment Hadley received from almost everyone close to Caven - they were judgmental jerks who knew nothing about this beautiful, brave woman.
I swore to my entire family that I’d live my life in the seconds. I’m not letting another one pass me by.
Hadley's sass and Caven's dry humor, I suspect, are part of the author's own personality and make a huge difference. It keeps this from becoming an angst fest. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of anxiety but she balances this perfectly. WRITTEN WITH REGRET is the first in the Regret duet that left me gasping in shock, hurting for the main characters and swoon a little and laugh a lot despite the serious mood of the story. Aly Martinez knows how to captivate you with her spellbinding writing She rivets us with an impossible but beautiful romance and puts us through an emotional wringer. I couldn't put this story down. So, can I have the next one please?
"There’s a reason time only marches in one direction. You can choose any second to start over again.”
May 23, 2019
We were two people who had experienced the inside of Hell and lived to see the other side. Every once in a while, the flames would still devour me. The least I could do was try to extinguish hers.
A few things are absolutely true. First, Aly Martinez is the undisputed queen of the DUET. The woman can write a duet like no other. Second, I live for her books. Freaking LIVE for them. And third, this book was awesome. I was hooked from beginning to end!
You know you're reading a great book when you just can't stop and all you want to do is read it. Aly's books usually have that reaction on me, especially when is one of her duets. And this was no exception. And when I was done all I could say was Wow! Wow, she's amazing at carefully building up plots. Wow, she's wonderful at giving me all the feels. Wow, how is this going to end. And holy WOW. I. DID. NOT. SEE. THIS. COMING! And that's how I basically rate my books. Based on how I felt when I read them, how the books took me through all the emotions and definitely by how much an author is able to surprise me with plot twist that I didn't see coming.
You know I can't tell you what this book is about other than what's on the blurb. And the whole trope of mother leaving a child and then trying to reclaim it I've found is one of my weakness. After all, Hate to Love You is one of my favorite books ever. These two characters were absolutely solid, ridiculously well-developed and multi-dimensional how I like my characters to be. And every part of this story was so carefully developed that the delivery and the timing are just fascinating. Other than that, I think you need to read this one yourself to understand the entire story. I don't think I can do it justice or spoil it. I couldn't if I tried.
Anyway, now I have a book hangover and I really hope part 2 comes out soon cause I'm dying, dying to know how it ends!!! I'm so happy this was awesome. May has been an amazing reading month so far and I hope I can continue my awesome reads stride!!! <3 So, I absolutely recommend this, especially if you love angst and overly complicated storylines and characters. This is obviously Book 1 of 2, so this ends in a huge cliffhanger, so you could read it now (comes out 5/23 and you can preorder for 99cents now) or wait until mid-June when the duet will be complete. Either way, it's a must read!!!
PS: I forgot to mention I loved her little nod to Puerto Rico. Aly’s husband is from my hometown after all 😉
A few things are absolutely true. First, Aly Martinez is the undisputed queen of the DUET. The woman can write a duet like no other. Second, I live for her books. Freaking LIVE for them. And third, this book was awesome. I was hooked from beginning to end!
You know you're reading a great book when you just can't stop and all you want to do is read it. Aly's books usually have that reaction on me, especially when is one of her duets. And this was no exception. And when I was done all I could say was Wow! Wow, she's amazing at carefully building up plots. Wow, she's wonderful at giving me all the feels. Wow, how is this going to end. And holy WOW. I. DID. NOT. SEE. THIS. COMING! And that's how I basically rate my books. Based on how I felt when I read them, how the books took me through all the emotions and definitely by how much an author is able to surprise me with plot twist that I didn't see coming.
You know I can't tell you what this book is about other than what's on the blurb. And the whole trope of mother leaving a child and then trying to reclaim it I've found is one of my weakness. After all, Hate to Love You is one of my favorite books ever. These two characters were absolutely solid, ridiculously well-developed and multi-dimensional how I like my characters to be. And every part of this story was so carefully developed that the delivery and the timing are just fascinating. Other than that, I think you need to read this one yourself to understand the entire story. I don't think I can do it justice or spoil it. I couldn't if I tried.
Anyway, now I have a book hangover and I really hope part 2 comes out soon cause I'm dying, dying to know how it ends!!! I'm so happy this was awesome. May has been an amazing reading month so far and I hope I can continue my awesome reads stride!!! <3 So, I absolutely recommend this, especially if you love angst and overly complicated storylines and characters. This is obviously Book 1 of 2, so this ends in a huge cliffhanger, so you could read it now (comes out 5/23 and you can preorder for 99cents now) or wait until mid-June when the duet will be complete. Either way, it's a must read!!!
PS: I forgot to mention I loved her little nod to Puerto Rico. Aly’s husband is from my hometown after all 😉
July 2, 2019
4.5 stars
"Not everything was black and white. It was often in the gray areas where the hardest decisions were made"
That was a hell of a twist...
I’m so glad I waited till the second book was released. I’m not sure how I would’ve survived after that cliffhanger. That massive plot twist was absolutely brilliant!
We were two people who had experienced the inside of Hell and lived to see the other side. Every once in a while, the flames would still devour me. The least I could do was try to extinguish hers.
I’m not gonna talk about the plot, but let me tell you that this was such an emotional, angsty, and heartbreaking book. That book hooked me from the prologue and I wasn’t able to stop. I loved Caven so much. He was a freakin hero. I loved how perfect and protective he was towards his daughter. His love is so unconditional.
I couldn’t connect with the heroine in the beginning, something felt off about her. I couldn’t understand her reasons or why would she do that, her decisions didn’t match her character sometimes, but oh how I was wrong!! Everything started to make sense and she really grew on me and I felt like I really wanna hug her.
"We aren’t given a hundred years all at once. Time is doled out one very manageable second at a time. If all you focus on is the big picture and worry about tomorrow, you lose the happiness that can be found in the seconds.”
I can’t believe that this is my first Aly Martinez book. Her writing is so good. Her storytelling ability is so amazing. This book was so captivating. It has everything! Adorable cute moments. Hilarious moments. Heartbreaking, gut wrenching moments. It’s just so perfect! It’s a highly recommended book that will give you all the feels!!!
"There’s a reason time only marches in one direction. You can choose any second to start over again.”
Song recommendation:
Waiting game by BANKS
The night we met by Lord Huron
Let me love the lonely by James Arthur
"Not everything was black and white. It was often in the gray areas where the hardest decisions were made"
That was a hell of a twist...
I’m so glad I waited till the second book was released. I’m not sure how I would’ve survived after that cliffhanger. That massive plot twist was absolutely brilliant!
We were two people who had experienced the inside of Hell and lived to see the other side. Every once in a while, the flames would still devour me. The least I could do was try to extinguish hers.
I’m not gonna talk about the plot, but let me tell you that this was such an emotional, angsty, and heartbreaking book. That book hooked me from the prologue and I wasn’t able to stop. I loved Caven so much. He was a freakin hero. I loved how perfect and protective he was towards his daughter. His love is so unconditional.
I couldn’t connect with the heroine in the beginning, something felt off about her. I couldn’t understand her reasons or why would she do that, her decisions didn’t match her character sometimes, but oh how I was wrong!! Everything started to make sense and she really grew on me and I felt like I really wanna hug her.
"We aren’t given a hundred years all at once. Time is doled out one very manageable second at a time. If all you focus on is the big picture and worry about tomorrow, you lose the happiness that can be found in the seconds.”
I can’t believe that this is my first Aly Martinez book. Her writing is so good. Her storytelling ability is so amazing. This book was so captivating. It has everything! Adorable cute moments. Hilarious moments. Heartbreaking, gut wrenching moments. It’s just so perfect! It’s a highly recommended book that will give you all the feels!!!
"There’s a reason time only marches in one direction. You can choose any second to start over again.”
Song recommendation:
Waiting game by BANKS
The night we met by Lord Huron
Let me love the lonely by James Arthur
August 20, 2019
Audio- 5 stars
Story- 3.75 stars
I didn't see that twist coming. 😱 I'll admit, I really don't like it, but on to book 2.
Story- 3.75 stars
I didn't see that twist coming. 😱 I'll admit, I really don't like it, but on to book 2.
May 19, 2019
An emotionally gripping powerhouse of a story that's full of twists and turns the likes of which only Aly Martinez can deliver!
Full review to come
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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Full review to come
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
July 28, 2023
NO FUCKING WAY, NOOOO WAYYY💀💀 THE PLOT TWIST BLEW ME AWAY, MY GODDDD😭
Y'all I did NOT expect that, never in a million years. Like WHAT?????
"...had never contributed anything other than a womb to my daughter’s life and she already had the upper hand because she was her mother—a position that should be earned and not appointed."
Caven and Hadley have a looonngg history, a VERY long one🙌🏻 They have a daughter from a one night stand which Hadley abandoned. Caven takes care of the kid for years and eventually, Hadley comes back.
Of course, Caven does not want this woman to be affiliated with his daughter but after her BEGGING him to listen, they figure some things out. Hadley will only see her daughter 2 hours a day to teach her art.
BUT OMG, this kid LOVES Hadley, and Hadley LOVES her♥️ And they were just too cute I can NOTT🤭
Rosalee loved it. After rushing forward, my little girl threw her arms around Hadley’s legs, squeezing her tight.
“Daddy?”
“Right here, baby.”
“I love Hadley.”
OH MY GOD😭😭
Caven starts to grow warmer and warmer to Hadley and he supports her through sooo many things. He includes her in every part of their daughters life and she becomes a part of the family.
“Shhhh, I’ve got you. It’s all right. Everything’s good. You’re good. Rosalee’s good. Everybody’s good,” I whispered into the top of her hair.
AWWWWWW🤭♥️♥️😩
BUT, the ending... the fucking ENDING??!!?!? WHAT WAS THAT???? Like what THE HELL is gonna happen now??
I loved loved loovvedd this book :)
Y'all I did NOT expect that, never in a million years. Like WHAT?????
"...had never contributed anything other than a womb to my daughter’s life and she already had the upper hand because she was her mother—a position that should be earned and not appointed."
Caven and Hadley have a looonngg history, a VERY long one🙌🏻 They have a daughter from a one night stand which Hadley abandoned. Caven takes care of the kid for years and eventually, Hadley comes back.
Of course, Caven does not want this woman to be affiliated with his daughter but after her BEGGING him to listen, they figure some things out. Hadley will only see her daughter 2 hours a day to teach her art.
BUT OMG, this kid LOVES Hadley, and Hadley LOVES her♥️ And they were just too cute I can NOTT🤭
Rosalee loved it. After rushing forward, my little girl threw her arms around Hadley’s legs, squeezing her tight.
“Daddy?”
“Right here, baby.”
“I love Hadley.”
OH MY GOD😭😭
Caven starts to grow warmer and warmer to Hadley and he supports her through sooo many things. He includes her in every part of their daughters life and she becomes a part of the family.
“Shhhh, I’ve got you. It’s all right. Everything’s good. You’re good. Rosalee’s good. Everybody’s good,” I whispered into the top of her hair.
AWWWWWW🤭♥️♥️😩
BUT, the ending... the fucking ENDING??!!?!? WHAT WAS THAT???? Like what THE HELL is gonna happen now??
I loved loved loovvedd this book :)
dnf
May 11, 2019The mother in me is asking how could she have left her baby girl on the hero’s doorstep? And doesn’t return until 4 years later?
May 22, 2019
4.5 Stars!!!
OMFG! What in the actual fuck. THAT ENDING.
I.
AM.
DECEASED!!!!!!!!!!
My heart is still pounding. I can't wrap my head around it. I want to scream and cry, but I think I'm too shocked to even do that. LMAO! I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING. At all. I mean, I knew something was coming, it was all to feel-goodish, but whoa!
Aly Martinez is seriously the QUEEN OF CLIFFS! She leaves you gasping for breath, dying for the next book, and stunned at the places her stories go. She writes with passion and power, and her novels are always heavy and gritty and twisty, they hold NOTHING back. She FORCES you to have feelings. LOTS OF FEELINGS. And you cannot help but fall completely in love with her heroes and heroines!
In this story Caven and Hadley come together in an intense way! The prologue WRECKS you right out the gate and you get ALL THE FEELS from what happens in the rest of the story! Without giving much away, because I really can't say much, Caven and Hadley share a child. She ends up giving their daughter to him because she can't take care of her! Fast forward some time later, and Hadley finally has her shit together and comes back to make things right with Caven and her kid.
AND HOLY HELLLLLLLLLLLL....
You think you know where this storyline is going, but let me say... YOU DO NOT. It's ... I don't even know. A bit crazy, a lot intense, a TON shocking (in a GREAT WAY). And I can't even dealllll with it. I seriously need book two. Every minute of Written with Regret was epic and Caven and Hadley stole my whole heart. I'm desperate to know what's going to happen and my juicy-drama-loving-heart cannot wait to see how this is going to go down. GAH! Absolutely LOVED IT.
OMFG! What in the actual fuck. THAT ENDING.
I.
AM.
DECEASED!!!!!!!!!!
My heart is still pounding. I can't wrap my head around it. I want to scream and cry, but I think I'm too shocked to even do that. LMAO! I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING. At all. I mean, I knew something was coming, it was all to feel-goodish, but whoa!
Aly Martinez is seriously the QUEEN OF CLIFFS! She leaves you gasping for breath, dying for the next book, and stunned at the places her stories go. She writes with passion and power, and her novels are always heavy and gritty and twisty, they hold NOTHING back. She FORCES you to have feelings. LOTS OF FEELINGS. And you cannot help but fall completely in love with her heroes and heroines!
In this story Caven and Hadley come together in an intense way! The prologue WRECKS you right out the gate and you get ALL THE FEELS from what happens in the rest of the story! Without giving much away, because I really can't say much, Caven and Hadley share a child. She ends up giving their daughter to him because she can't take care of her! Fast forward some time later, and Hadley finally has her shit together and comes back to make things right with Caven and her kid.
AND HOLY HELLLLLLLLLLLL....
You think you know where this storyline is going, but let me say... YOU DO NOT. It's ... I don't even know. A bit crazy, a lot intense, a TON shocking (in a GREAT WAY). And I can't even dealllll with it. I seriously need book two. Every minute of Written with Regret was epic and Caven and Hadley stole my whole heart. I'm desperate to know what's going to happen and my juicy-drama-loving-heart cannot wait to see how this is going to go down. GAH! Absolutely LOVED IT.
October 10, 2019
ME
GUSTÓ
DEMASIADO!!!
Aly Martinez nunca decepciona, siempre hace historia que te aprietan un poquito el corazón pero también que te hace sentir bonito.
Amo las historias de Single Dad y esta se va a la lista de favoritas es que Caven y Rosie Posie eran demasiado Cute.
Y Hadley a pesar de que al principio la juzgué también era muy linda.
El pasado de los protagonistas fue muy duro y desgarrador, el evento traumático que sufrieron ay noo mi pobre cora.
Y ese final NO NO NO, quisiera decir que no lo vi venir pero leí una reseña sin querer y esta señorita aventó spoilers sin avisar.
GUSTÓ
DEMASIADO!!!
Aly Martinez nunca decepciona, siempre hace historia que te aprietan un poquito el corazón pero también que te hace sentir bonito.
Amo las historias de Single Dad y esta se va a la lista de favoritas es que Caven y Rosie Posie eran demasiado Cute.
Y Hadley a pesar de que al principio la juzgué también era muy linda.
El pasado de los protagonistas fue muy duro y desgarrador, el evento traumático que sufrieron ay noo mi pobre cora.
Y ese final NO NO NO, quisiera decir que no lo vi venir pero leí una reseña sin querer y esta señorita aventó spoilers sin avisar.
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January 16, 2024
that ending WTF?!?!? not that cliffhanger. omg my heart is on the floor and my mind is: 🤯🤯🤯🤯
i love these two smsmsm BUT WTF JUST HAPPENED.
amazing pacing, plot, characterizations, seamless transitions from past to present, some adorable much needed humor from precious rosie and even from our two MCs, great chemistry and heat, angst, gut-wrenching-sobbing-my-heart-out-moments, and some extremely difficult and tough elements throughout. my emotions are all over the place!!! 💔
i have no further words or thoughts. 😭
jumping to the next book rn, but definitely go into this not having read reviews or spoilers to enjoy all the drama, mystery, secrets, and story so much more bc wow wow wow that twist at the end…didn’t see THAT coming at all.
i love these two smsmsm BUT WTF JUST HAPPENED.
amazing pacing, plot, characterizations, seamless transitions from past to present, some adorable much needed humor from precious rosie and even from our two MCs, great chemistry and heat, angst, gut-wrenching-sobbing-my-heart-out-moments, and some extremely difficult and tough elements throughout. my emotions are all over the place!!! 💔
i have no further words or thoughts. 😭
jumping to the next book rn, but definitely go into this not having read reviews or spoilers to enjoy all the drama, mystery, secrets, and story so much more bc wow wow wow that twist at the end…didn’t see THAT coming at all.
June 22, 2019
3 Stars
**Please take this review with a grain of salt. I didn't write my review right after I finished this read and I was also distracted while reading it. I apologize if I made any mistakes, and please pm me if I did so I can correct my review.**
Overall Opinion: This was alright. I fully admit that I was busy on a family vacation and was distracted where I couldn't give this my attention like usual -- so that could be that. But that being said, it didn't demand my attention either. I didn't feel like I was rushing to get back to reading to find out what happens next (like I've experienced before with other books). I'm honestly over some of my favorite authors doing duets all the time. Did it stop me from picking his duet up? Obviously not, but I wish they didn't feel the need to stretch these stories out into multiple books instead of just having it be one good one. It left us in an intruiging spot where I started the next book right away but I do have the dreaded feeling that there was, and will be, a lot of filler to make up for the fact that it is 2 full books instead of 1. Oh well, I moved on to the next book and will finish this duet with hopefully some good closure 🤞🏻
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Caven and Hadley's story. Caven is shocked to find a newborn baby in his doorstep with a note stating that it's his new daughter from a one night stand. He cannot find the new mother and his life is turned upside down with becoming a single parent. He never expected Hadley to show up at his daughter's fourth birthday party wanting to get to know her, and things get heated pretty quickly. He realizes he's in a bad place and negotiates that Hadley can teach his daughter art so they can get to know each other in a less intimidating way. There are some big past secrets revealed, some heavy baggage for both of them, a few sexy times...and we will continue on to the next book to see if they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Caven and Hadley's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good, but I did feel like it was slowing down in some parts. Otherwise, I thought it flowed well and I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Caven. I liked him. I felt bad for his past, but I appreciated how he stepped up when it really mattered and did what he needed to do even when it was hard.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. I liked her. I felt like she could've gone about some things differently, but I also felt like I understood her reasoning for why she did them the way she did. I appreciated how she cared for the H and the daughter.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Kind of. **BIG SPOILER**
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: I wouldn't classify them as "together" to call it a separation.
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends on a cliffhanger but the next book, Written with You, is available to pick up now and finish the duet.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
**Please take this review with a grain of salt. I didn't write my review right after I finished this read and I was also distracted while reading it. I apologize if I made any mistakes, and please pm me if I did so I can correct my review.**
Overall Opinion: This was alright. I fully admit that I was busy on a family vacation and was distracted where I couldn't give this my attention like usual -- so that could be that. But that being said, it didn't demand my attention either. I didn't feel like I was rushing to get back to reading to find out what happens next (like I've experienced before with other books). I'm honestly over some of my favorite authors doing duets all the time. Did it stop me from picking his duet up? Obviously not, but I wish they didn't feel the need to stretch these stories out into multiple books instead of just having it be one good one. It left us in an intruiging spot where I started the next book right away but I do have the dreaded feeling that there was, and will be, a lot of filler to make up for the fact that it is 2 full books instead of 1. Oh well, I moved on to the next book and will finish this duet with hopefully some good closure 🤞🏻
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Caven and Hadley's story. Caven is shocked to find a newborn baby in his doorstep with a note stating that it's his new daughter from a one night stand. He cannot find the new mother and his life is turned upside down with becoming a single parent. He never expected Hadley to show up at his daughter's fourth birthday party wanting to get to know her, and things get heated pretty quickly. He realizes he's in a bad place and negotiates that Hadley can teach his daughter art so they can get to know each other in a less intimidating way. There are some big past secrets revealed, some heavy baggage for both of them, a few sexy times...and we will continue on to the next book to see if they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Caven and Hadley's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good, but I did feel like it was slowing down in some parts. Otherwise, I thought it flowed well and I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Caven. I liked him. I felt bad for his past, but I appreciated how he stepped up when it really mattered and did what he needed to do even when it was hard.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. I liked her. I felt like she could've gone about some things differently, but I also felt like I understood her reasoning for why she did them the way she did. I appreciated how she cared for the H and the daughter.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Kind of. **BIG SPOILER**
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: I wouldn't classify them as "together" to call it a separation.
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends on a cliffhanger but the next book, Written with You, is available to pick up now and finish the duet.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
July 2, 2020
What a fascinating story!!. Starts with a bang and ends on a slap !
Holy wow of a plot and Holy Shitballs of the cliffy end!!!
Full of surprising twists and turns, this book will keep you occupied even after you've closed the last page
That’s the thing about life though. It operates best on the element of surprise. There were no choices left. No options. No outs.
Stunning, catastrophic and hopeful all at the same time, it manages to punch you in the jaw when you LEAST EXPECT IT!!
Expect a severe Whiplash when truth gets revealed.
The story starts on a beautiful harmonious note. A trip to the mall is all it takes to set the balls rolling.Two kids meet by an accident of fate and Cavin Hunt ends up saving Hadley Banks's life and their fate ties them together forever!!
A three-count to safety. His hand holding mine as he guided me through Hell. They were memories of Caven —the fifteen-year-old boy who had protected me with his own body before he’d ever known my name.
The story progresses casually, with accidents and incidents happening along the way, characters meeting, karma interfering and some unexpected consequences.
Characters are very clear cut, or so it seems. they project expected reactions, have secrets and skeletons in the closet and are coming to terms with their demons. On the path to redemption you end up feeling sorry for them, have forgiveness in your heart.
Lots of OMG, Awww moments till you fast approach towards the end. You think what a wonderful tie up of loose threads, clouds have parted, sun is shining and there's rainbow in the sky.
H.E.MoFo.A Guaranteed!!
“Life isn’t lived as a whole. You aren’t given a hundred years all at once. Time is doled out one very manageable second at a time. Stop looking at the big picture and find happiness in the seconds.”
Then Aly decides to create a seismic explosion and pull the ground from beneath your feet
The characters get torn down like paper, your jaw falls to the floor, love turns to hate and the only sentiment you're left with - She DID NOT just Do THAT!!!
Sucker Punch to your Solar Plexus !!!
“What? Who said anything about dry-heaving?”
I have to rewire my brain, rethink everything and start from the beginning again.... and Wait for the next book 🤦♀️
5 stars for Ferrets, Llamas and Glitter Unicorns
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Holy wow of a plot and Holy Shitballs of the cliffy end!!!
Full of surprising twists and turns, this book will keep you occupied even after you've closed the last page
That’s the thing about life though. It operates best on the element of surprise. There were no choices left. No options. No outs.
Stunning, catastrophic and hopeful all at the same time, it manages to punch you in the jaw when you LEAST EXPECT IT!!
Expect a severe Whiplash when truth gets revealed.
The story starts on a beautiful harmonious note. A trip to the mall is all it takes to set the balls rolling.Two kids meet by an accident of fate and Cavin Hunt ends up saving Hadley Banks's life and their fate ties them together forever!!
A three-count to safety. His hand holding mine as he guided me through Hell. They were memories of Caven —the fifteen-year-old boy who had protected me with his own body before he’d ever known my name.
The story progresses casually, with accidents and incidents happening along the way, characters meeting, karma interfering and some unexpected consequences.
Characters are very clear cut, or so it seems. they project expected reactions, have secrets and skeletons in the closet and are coming to terms with their demons. On the path to redemption you end up feeling sorry for them, have forgiveness in your heart.
Lots of OMG, Awww moments till you fast approach towards the end. You think what a wonderful tie up of loose threads, clouds have parted, sun is shining and there's rainbow in the sky.
H.E.MoFo.A Guaranteed!!
“Life isn’t lived as a whole. You aren’t given a hundred years all at once. Time is doled out one very manageable second at a time. Stop looking at the big picture and find happiness in the seconds.”
Then Aly decides to create a seismic explosion and pull the ground from beneath your feet
The characters get torn down like paper, your jaw falls to the floor, love turns to hate and the only sentiment you're left with - She DID NOT just Do THAT!!!
Sucker Punch to your Solar Plexus !!!
“What? Who said anything about dry-heaving?”
I have to rewire my brain, rethink everything and start from the beginning again.... and Wait for the next book 🤦♀️
5 stars for Ferrets, Llamas and Glitter Unicorns
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May 30, 2019
REVIEW: 4+ STARS
"She kissed me like she was drowning in us."
I don't hide any truths that Aly Martinez is one of my favorite authors. She sits in my Top 5 because I know she will always give me a story that I cannot find anywhere else. It's never the same yet there is always an underlying emotional current that causes my emotions to ramp up. I may want to hate it, but I just can't look away from it at the same time. She can definitely test my patience while telling a magnanimous story because the heaviness is not to be outdone by the brilliance in her writing. She's a master manipulator with her words, and I am always her willing manipulat....ee? I dunno, but I keep coming back for more of her manipulations.
So when that opening scene played out before my very eyes, I was shook. There was an audible gasp while I tried to come to terms with the tragedy unfolding. I mean, lives were forever changed on many, many different levels. Beyond anything I would ever want to begin to process, but to happen to someone so young? My gosh....I'm still shaking my head at the anguish that played out on the pages, but I inhaled the words as it set the stage for a very emotion-laden book.
In the opposite corner of my shock, the face of reality, the giggles coming out of me, were rapt and sharp. I am sure laughing this much after head surgery will most certainly be frowned upon by my surgeon....I'll be sure to send Aly the bill. I couldn't help but giggle at so many parts, even though the heaviness of the situation was a glaring one. It brought a much needed levity to the situation at hand, but it also gave me a better look into the characters' personalities. I think it goes without saying, the underlying sexual tensity between Caven and Hadley was very obvious and well balanced, but I still had a chip on my shoulder.
"She moaned while I whispered blessed curses, the licking of our flesh playing the bassline to our erotic symphony."
Given that synopsis, you're already predisposed to some pretty putrid anger directed at the mom for abandoning her child, but damn that Aly Martinez throwing in that backstory and lining it all up for me. She provided just the right emotion and sorrowful truth that forced my cold heart to feel something and recognize that there's always another side - even though I wanted to refuse her any sympathy, because I certainly had no empathy for her. Everyone's story isn't the same and it takes a lot to make me change my mind on an already closed subject, but of course - that darn impressive writing.
Having said all that, the weird thing was, this was the first time I can remember not knowing what I was going to rate an Aly book. I was conflicted throughout much of the book. I was in love with Caven's heart but I was angry at his lack of staying power to stay angry towards Hadley. What a conundrum, I know. I’m a bitch when it comes to messing with kids. So she left, we all know this - but he gave in too quickly for my bitter bitty tastes. But, on the other hand, I can also see why he did. Dammit. I mean, the reasons were all there. So I’m conflicted. Rare occurrence, obviously. But, again...this is a true testament to the strength of Aly Martinez's writing. I had to talk myself through my emotions....walk the paces myself. It was just....weird bouncing back and forth between anger and hope. But, I finished reading and need to know more. I need to know how this all works out, and that cliffhanger jacked me up!!
Because when I got to that end, I freakin' gasped.
"There is a reason time only marches in one direction."
~BEE
PURCHASE: AMAZON AA Link: https://amzn.to/2QzJoit
ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN ECOPY: http://bit.ly/2WzMYia
"She kissed me like she was drowning in us."
I don't hide any truths that Aly Martinez is one of my favorite authors. She sits in my Top 5 because I know she will always give me a story that I cannot find anywhere else. It's never the same yet there is always an underlying emotional current that causes my emotions to ramp up. I may want to hate it, but I just can't look away from it at the same time. She can definitely test my patience while telling a magnanimous story because the heaviness is not to be outdone by the brilliance in her writing. She's a master manipulator with her words, and I am always her willing manipulat....ee? I dunno, but I keep coming back for more of her manipulations.
So when that opening scene played out before my very eyes, I was shook. There was an audible gasp while I tried to come to terms with the tragedy unfolding. I mean, lives were forever changed on many, many different levels. Beyond anything I would ever want to begin to process, but to happen to someone so young? My gosh....I'm still shaking my head at the anguish that played out on the pages, but I inhaled the words as it set the stage for a very emotion-laden book.
In the opposite corner of my shock, the face of reality, the giggles coming out of me, were rapt and sharp. I am sure laughing this much after head surgery will most certainly be frowned upon by my surgeon....I'll be sure to send Aly the bill. I couldn't help but giggle at so many parts, even though the heaviness of the situation was a glaring one. It brought a much needed levity to the situation at hand, but it also gave me a better look into the characters' personalities. I think it goes without saying, the underlying sexual tensity between Caven and Hadley was very obvious and well balanced, but I still had a chip on my shoulder.
"She moaned while I whispered blessed curses, the licking of our flesh playing the bassline to our erotic symphony."
Given that synopsis, you're already predisposed to some pretty putrid anger directed at the mom for abandoning her child, but damn that Aly Martinez throwing in that backstory and lining it all up for me. She provided just the right emotion and sorrowful truth that forced my cold heart to feel something and recognize that there's always another side - even though I wanted to refuse her any sympathy, because I certainly had no empathy for her. Everyone's story isn't the same and it takes a lot to make me change my mind on an already closed subject, but of course - that darn impressive writing.
Having said all that, the weird thing was, this was the first time I can remember not knowing what I was going to rate an Aly book. I was conflicted throughout much of the book. I was in love with Caven's heart but I was angry at his lack of staying power to stay angry towards Hadley. What a conundrum, I know. I’m a bitch when it comes to messing with kids. So she left, we all know this - but he gave in too quickly for my bitter bitty tastes. But, on the other hand, I can also see why he did. Dammit. I mean, the reasons were all there. So I’m conflicted. Rare occurrence, obviously. But, again...this is a true testament to the strength of Aly Martinez's writing. I had to talk myself through my emotions....walk the paces myself. It was just....weird bouncing back and forth between anger and hope. But, I finished reading and need to know more. I need to know how this all works out, and that cliffhanger jacked me up!!
Because when I got to that end, I freakin' gasped.
"There is a reason time only marches in one direction."
~BEE
PURCHASE: AMAZON AA Link: https://amzn.to/2QzJoit
ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN ECOPY: http://bit.ly/2WzMYia
May 27, 2019
Wow. This story sucked me right in and left me reeling. I was entranced and when I got to the end I’d been so engrossed that blinked into awareness.
Caven is a great hero, imperfections and all. I love how he took to being a father. Our heroine has made her share of mistakes but is trying to do best by the baby. Despite their conflict, these two have a great connection. Their pasts aren’t a fairy tale but they don’t let it define their future.
The book is very well crafted both with the romantic aspects and the suspense. I actually didn’t see the twist at the end coming which was a great because I have pretty good instincts when it comes to figuring things out. I absolutely can’t wait for the next book. Ms. Martinez is one of very few authors I can tolerate a cliffy from because not reading the story simply is not possible.
Complimentary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.
Caven is a great hero, imperfections and all. I love how he took to being a father. Our heroine has made her share of mistakes but is trying to do best by the baby. Despite their conflict, these two have a great connection. Their pasts aren’t a fairy tale but they don’t let it define their future.
The book is very well crafted both with the romantic aspects and the suspense. I actually didn’t see the twist at the end coming which was a great because I have pretty good instincts when it comes to figuring things out. I absolutely can’t wait for the next book. Ms. Martinez is one of very few authors I can tolerate a cliffy from because not reading the story simply is not possible.
Complimentary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.
hell-fucking-no
May 27, 2019Not safe. Hero has way too many sex partners
July 7, 2020
Currently (07/07/20) FREE on Amazon https://amzn.to/3gveOlZ
Written with Regret landed on my kindle the other day and I just knew that it was going to end on a cliffhanger and make me crazy while I waited for the conclusion. But it was an Aly Martinez duet so I drove myself slightly crazy holding off to read it and put myself in a book slump. Then I made the mistake of looking to see what people who had read it were saying about the brutality of the cliffhanger.
Massive mistake as I saw a semi spoiler and spent the whole book waiting to see if my suspicions were correct. And now I still have to wait for the next book. Thankfully this wasn’t as devastating as I was expecting it to be and I actually had a few laugh out loud moments.
Caven was awesome. He was so much better than I expected him to be. He was the overprotective father and he was also the incredibly understanding guy who knew what Hadley had been through and wanted to help her. And I really loved every facet of his personality.
Hadley was a little harder to warm up to for me. I am nowhere near as forgiving or understanding as Caven and although I completely respected everything he did to ensure Rosie’s safety and well being I kinda wanted him to be an unreasonable jerk and run her off. I get where Hadley was coming from too (eventually) but man she went about it all so arse backwards I wanted to shake her.
But OMG Rosie and Ian and Beth were awesome secondary characters and exactly what the book needed and I loved them all so hard. And now I am going to go curl up in a ball until I get Written with You on my kindle.
Written with Regret landed on my kindle the other day and I just knew that it was going to end on a cliffhanger and make me crazy while I waited for the conclusion. But it was an Aly Martinez duet so I drove myself slightly crazy holding off to read it and put myself in a book slump. Then I made the mistake of looking to see what people who had read it were saying about the brutality of the cliffhanger.
Massive mistake as I saw a semi spoiler and spent the whole book waiting to see if my suspicions were correct. And now I still have to wait for the next book. Thankfully this wasn’t as devastating as I was expecting it to be and I actually had a few laugh out loud moments.
Caven was awesome. He was so much better than I expected him to be. He was the overprotective father and he was also the incredibly understanding guy who knew what Hadley had been through and wanted to help her. And I really loved every facet of his personality.
Hadley was a little harder to warm up to for me. I am nowhere near as forgiving or understanding as Caven and although I completely respected everything he did to ensure Rosie’s safety and well being I kinda wanted him to be an unreasonable jerk and run her off. I get where Hadley was coming from too (eventually) but man she went about it all so arse backwards I wanted to shake her.
But OMG Rosie and Ian and Beth were awesome secondary characters and exactly what the book needed and I loved them all so hard. And now I am going to go curl up in a ball until I get Written with You on my kindle.
May 13, 2019
❤️Omg omg omg deep breaths!! Finally ❤️
September 8, 2019
Written With Regret had a very good beginning and I literally couldn't read fast enough to find out what was going on.and there was no stopping--I had to keep reading.
Aly has this amazing ability to grab you and pull you in.The emotions and turmoil made this such a dang good story and then there was the ending. OMG..
Aly has this amazing ability to grab you and pull you in.The emotions and turmoil made this such a dang good story and then there was the ending. OMG..
May 24, 2019
Aghhhhhhhhh. I’ve been waiting a book like this!
Ok so I saw that ending coming from 800 miles away, but I STILL loved this story. Although I thought the circumstances may be a little different, but ANYWAY. This book is good. A mother leaves her child on the ONS fathers doorstep. Mother comes back four years later, and the dad is NOT having it. LET THE ANGST BEGIN.
I loved Hadley and I think the author did an amazing job of writing her. You know that something isn’t all right with her, but she’s so likable it’s hard to stay mad at her.
Caven is an amazing dad who loves his daughter more than he ever imagined he could. So Hadley is this threat to him when she comes back. He’s protective of his daughter and it reads pretty hot TBH.
I have so many questions, but I don’t want to spoil anything. I’m a little heartbroken I have to wait for the conclusion, but MAN was this first bit good. Kept me captivated and on my toes!
Ok so I saw that ending coming from 800 miles away, but I STILL loved this story. Although I thought the circumstances may be a little different, but ANYWAY. This book is good. A mother leaves her child on the ONS fathers doorstep. Mother comes back four years later, and the dad is NOT having it. LET THE ANGST BEGIN.
I loved Hadley and I think the author did an amazing job of writing her. You know that something isn’t all right with her, but she’s so likable it’s hard to stay mad at her.
Caven is an amazing dad who loves his daughter more than he ever imagined he could. So Hadley is this threat to him when she comes back. He’s protective of his daughter and it reads pretty hot TBH.
I have so many questions, but I don’t want to spoil anything. I’m a little heartbroken I have to wait for the conclusion, but MAN was this first bit good. Kept me captivated and on my toes!
avoid
February 24, 2023H is too much of a whore.
SPOILER
- cliffy at the end with the baby not even being the heroines. Sister swapping is the grossest shit ever. Yup, he fucked her twin sister, and had a baby with her. The h is pretending to be that sister. *gag*
SPOILER
- cliffy at the end with the baby not even being the heroines. Sister swapping is the grossest shit ever. Yup, he fucked her twin sister, and had a baby with her. The h is pretending to be that sister. *gag*
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