כאב

by S.M. Soto, יפעה הדר (Translator)

רומן חדש ומסעיר על הזדמנות שנייה.

בי נורווד היא נערה רגילה לגמרי.
חברתה הטובה ביותר גרה בבית הסמוך. אימה, שמגדלת אותה לבד, היא חברתה הקרובה ואשת סודה וכשלבית השכן מגיע ליאם פלקון, שנשלח לגור אצל דודיו בגלל התנהגות פרועה, בי נמשכת אליו מיד.
אבל אז אימה נישאת שוב, והכול משתנה. אביה החורג ובנו, קונור, עוברים לגור עם בי ואימה. בי סובלת מהתעללות יומיומית של אחיה החורג החדש, וכשהיא וליאם מתאהבים היא חושבת שאהבתם תוכל לנצח הכול. אבל היא טועה.

אהבה נועדה לטיפשים, והיא הטיפשה מכולם. כשליאם עוזב את העיר, הוא לוקח איתו את ליבה ומרסק אותו לרסיסים.
כעבור שש שנים ליאם חוזר לעיר, לבקר את משפחתו ולראות אותה.
את אהבתו הראשונה. את הנערה ששבתה את ליבו. את הנערה שלפני שש שנים שברה את ליבו בלי להביט לאחור. אבל מה שהוא מגלה שובר אותו: בי נורווד היא רק צל של הנערה שבה התאהב. הוא יודע שהיא נמצאת במקום כלשהו מתחת לבגדים הרפויים ולעור החיוור, והוא פשוט חייב למצוא אותה.

ליאם לא יעצור עד שיזכה שוב בליבה של הבחורה שלו, אבל לעיתים האמת קשה מנשוא, וליאם לא מוכן עדיין לשמוע את האמת של בי.

• עלילת הספר כוללת נושאים רגישים ולא קלים העלולים להוות טריגר.

***

״אוצר המילים שלי לא מספיק כדי לתאר את יופיו ועומקו הרגשי של הספר הזה.״
סי.אל. מתיוז. סופרת רבי מכר

״לפעמים סיפורי האהבה הטובים ביותר נובעים מהמקומות האפלים ביותר של האנושות"
Musings of the MB

הספר הזה הפך אותי לאדם טוב יותר. האהבה של בי וליאם גורמת לי להרגיש הכרת תודה. זה מסוג הספרים שמאחים פצעים, שמעניקים לאנשים את האומץ ואת כוח הרצון להמשיך לפלס לעצמם דרך קדימה.״ טרילינה פוצ׳י

״אי אפשר להתעלם מהספר הזה. קִראו אותו. תנו למילים לכבוש אתכם. תנו לגיבורים לחדור לתוך נשמותיכם. אין ספק שזהו אחד הספרים הטובים של שנת 2019 !״ הרלו ריי, סופרת ברשימת רבי USA Today.

Genres: Second Chance, Romance, Abuse, Dark, New Adult, Sports, Contemporary

349 pages, Paperback

First published April 9, 2019

About the author

S.M. Soto was born and raised in Northern California where she currently resides with her son. Her love for reading began when she was a young girl, and has only continued to grow into adulthood. S.M. lives for reading books in the romance genre and writing novels with relatable characters. She refers to herself as a bit of a romance junkie. S.M. loves to connect with readers and eat copious of donuts that will surely lead to her demise (carbs are life).

Follow links:
Instagram.com/authorsmsoto
Twitter.com/AuthorSMsoto
Facebook.com/romanceauthorsmsoto

Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

'ACHE' Is a full length second chance romance novel by S.M. Sotto

MY REVIEW AND OTHERS: can also be found on my blog:
➽ KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
A word of warning: This book won't be for everyone. It contains themes of abuse. And may cause triggers.

Just like the title of this book, your heart will ache in the same way as these characters did. My heart broke in two, such a heartbreaking roller coaster of a read that gutted me to the core.



There were things I adored about this book, there were other things even for me were too hard to swallow. I went into this eyes wide open fully understanding what was going to occur and was prepared for the emotional turmoil that I was going to go through. And it honestly did put me through the paces, rage, sadness, disbelief, shock, the emotions just kept coming, and coming, and coming, which is what this author excels at. She's the queen at throwing everything at us readers, and like gluttons for punishment we call just keep coming back for more, but this is what I love so much about her writing.

Her mother pissed me off to no end what I couldn't understand was how her own mother was so oblivious to the behaviours her daughter was displaying. How could she not see the change in her demeanour. Just hard to fathom. That is where the struggle for me occurred. That is where I felt such a deep emotional rage that gutted me..

* Teaser used is off the authors facebook page *

[Mali Mor ❤️ The Romantic Blogger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to start with a warning: this book is not easy to read, it has a million triggers - and just like its name, your heart is going to ACHE. I'm not kidding, my heart literally broke over and over again until it finally healed! 😭
But... It's about a super important topic... Well done S.M. Soto for the courage to write about it. 👏

📚 "𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠?" 📚

After Liam, Bea's first love, broke her heart and left when she was 16, she suffered a cruel and ongoing abuse by her psychopathic stepbrother. At 22, she became an empty shell of the woman she once was. She lost everything - her best friend, the love of her life and mostly... her soul. 💔
But then, the boy she loved came back, only that he was no longer a boy - but a man who fulfilled his dream as a professional baseball player, and he finds out that the girl he once loved has disappeared. Will he make her want to live again...? 🙏⭐

📚 "𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬." 📚

I don't think I've ever read a book with a better name. S.M. Soto intertwined the word "Ache" in so many parts of the story... 😭💔
It got so much emotion out of me - pain, anger, guilt, helplessness and there was even a moment (after I cried hysterically) that I felt really violent! 😂
I wanted to get into the pages and give Bea a big hug... 😭

Although I enjoyed it and I highly recommend it, there were some things I didn't like:
I didn't feel chemistry between Bea and Liam. I felt like the details of how they became close and why they fell in love were missing. Plus, Liam's character had no depth and he did not develop at all... Plus, the book has detailed abuse descriptions through all the plot, and there was a part where they didn't add anything to the story, but felt like the writer's need to "shock" us. 😬
There were a few other parts that didn't add up for me - but I will not elaborate (spoilers).

📚 “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞.” 📚

I will not judge the heroine, because such things happen every day, but I felt that there were times when she could have gotten help to stop the abuse: by telling someone... move to another apartment... pack her things and run away... but again, I can't judge victims of violence, but I can judge all the others! 💔
I was SO angry that no who supposed to be close to her read the warning signs for 6 ling years - Liam... her best friend... and especially her mother - she was so blind that I wanted to hurt her myself!!!!!!!

On the other hand - this was what made it so believable, because this book has shown me AGAIN how blind we are to everyone except ourselves. And I swear, it made me want to be a better person. 🙏😭

this is a tragic and heartbreaking story, but definitely optimistic - because it shows that if you want help, you'll ask for it, and you will receive it. ❤

• I listened to the AUDIO version. 🎧

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📖 ᖴOᒪᒪOᗯ ᗰE Oᑎ IᑎᔕTᗩGᖇᗩᗰ: https://www.instagram.com/the_romanti...

📖 ᐯIᔕIT ᗰY ᗷᒪOG ᖴOᖇ ᗰOᖇE ᖇEᐯIEᗯᔕ: https://books-romance.com/

📖 GOOᗪᖇEᗩᗪᔕ: https://bit.ly/3acMRMP

💕 לקריאת הסקירה בעברית, כנסו לבלוג: https://books-romance.com/ 💕

[Giorgia Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

I finally finished this and it took me awhile because it was not easy to stomach.

This book used violence and extreme abuse as the basis for a wannabe “meaningful” but “heartbreaking” story. Myeah.. I don’t think so.

Using graphic violence of the most disturbing kind, every chapter (slightly exaggerated, but almost true) does not make for a great story. Sure, you get the intended effect. You horrify, you make people sick to their stomachs, you make them wanna cry, scream and curse at the injustice of it all but ultimately all you did was put a character that is a stand in for so many real girls/women through so much pain in order to what?

There was no love story in there. Liam was just there, I didn’t feel anything for him or have any opinions on his relationship with Bea. If he wasn’t featured in the story I would have been content. I think this story would have worked better as a woman’s journey of abuse and recovery. Don’t throw in a random knight in shining armour to save the day it just cheapens the struggle and resilience of the victim. I mean sure, it can work in other books, it didn’t here.

Let’s talk about Bea. I understand that victims come in all forms, shapes, sizes, personalities etc. Each experience and each reaction is different. The very fact that she is still alive and coping is a win, BUT in this book some things just didn’t click for me. Rationalisations about her enduring abuse for 6 years didn’t make sense. Even if you are scared for your life and the life of everyone else around you, you can still have self preservation and a working brain. You don’t become completely brain washed and submit to that kind of psychological and physical abuse for so long. She could have gathered evidence of the abuse early on, she could have told her mother, she could have told a friend, she could have come up with a plan. Anything!! Just do anything! The smallest act of self preservation and defiance. And I know by saying that, I am inviting critique and I understand it. I can accept that some victims are too paralysed and they just go through the motions. It’s just that here, it felt like the author extended her trauma because it made for a better story. The grittier and more painful the better in order to drive her very erronate point home.

Next? Bea’s mom. How do you for 6 years not notice your daughter is a shell of her former self. Sure, she blamed it on different things but that’s a cop out and she knew it. She was too busy living her life and chose not to deal with young adult emotions and dramatics (most likely). I was infuriated by everything and everyone in this book. I felt for Bea but couldn’t like her. I also didn’t feel a connection between her and any other character. Everyone featured in this book, was just there. (I know that doesn’t explain much but basically they didn’t matter).

Ultimately, I think this book was cheap and I’ll tell you why. Because all it did was use the shock factor of physical and psychological abuse that happens so close to home in order to make us feel claustrophobic, trapped, scared, disgusted and indignant. This was not a traumatic love story, a story of healing, a story of resilience or anything along those lines. This was a story of trauma and then we got thrown a bone by putting a love interest in the mix.

I hate it with so much passion when authors resort to such cheap tricks and write books that they call “heartbreaking” and “sad” or you know “emotional” - I mean sure, it was emotional but not because it was good but because characters were exploited too much just for the sake of it.

An excellent book that I will always praise which deals with domestic abuse (slightly different situation but very similar in terms of the abuse itself) is Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan. Damn that book was all kinds of amazing although really hard to read at the same time.

This one is a cheap wannabe. And that’s that.

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 STARS

How do you save someone if you don’t know they need saving?

This book has been on my radar for so long that the second it released, I jumped on the chance to read it. Second chance romance is my catnip. The blurb made me damn near salivate because it sounded emotional and angsty.

Truth be told, I struggled with my rating. Because while there were a lot of things that didn't work for me, it's clear as day that this author has some real writing chops. I'm definitely a new fan and would eagerly read any of her other books. Unfortunately, not every book is for every reader, and this was that case for me.

First of all, I didn't find this to be a romance at all. At best, this read like women's lit with a bit of romance thrown in. But the romance is not center stage. It plays second fiddle to the abuse for practically the entire book. Now normally, I wouldn't have a problem with that. But since I felt absolutely zero chemistry between the hero and the heroine, the romance did absolutely nothing for me. The way they got together in the beginning felt rushed and entirely unbelievable to me. And then the way they get together in the end felt rushed again.

The story is told in two parts, and I'm not really sure why it's broken down that way. Aside from one part being set in the past and the second in the present, there's still flashbacks that continue well into the second half. I suppose because they separate in the first half and reunite in the second? I don't know. It felt a little...blah. But I digress. I struggled with Liam. As much as I wanted to love him, I just didn't have enough of him to love. There was zero, and I mean zero character development to him. He just was. He felt extremely two dimensional, and considering that part of the book is in his POV, that was extremely disappointing.

Look guys, I will tell you to heed that trigger warning. It's no joke. Practically the entirety of this book felt like it was about the abuse. I'm talking graphic, detailed, constantly happening abuse. It got to the point where I just couldn't take it anymore. And not because I couldn't handle the heavy subject matter, but because it was just so much that it stopped adding anything to the story. A story can be just as powerful without the repetitive reminders. It felt like that's all there was to the story, to be quite honest. There's a little of that second chance romance that's slapped in there, but it just felt....off.

As for Bea. Man. I really REALLY wanted to love her. But sadly I just couldn't. This girl was a victim. But as a survivor myself, I wanted to read about her finally finding her courage and being just that. A survivor. But she never came off as that. It takes someone else to constantly ride in to save her. It's never her. And yes, she has one moment where she takes the leap with something. But it wasn't enough. She was a victim until the very end to me. I hate stories like this where the man rides in to save the poor helpless little female. And that's how this felt to me. It was so disappointing.

There's a little romance that happens at the very end but it felt a little too late and definitely not enough. I think had I connected to the rest of the story, I may have felt different. But sadly, it is what it is. Ultimately there were too many character, plot and overall pacing gaps that just took me way out of the story. The author is an incredible story teller, and I enjoyed her writing style. It takes a lot to pull off a story like this, and I give her so much props for doing it. I'm sad that it didn't work for me, but I'm sure I'll be in the minority. So I suggest reading it and seeing for yourself. If you're in the mood for an emotionally powerful book, this one will certainly fit the bill.

Find me on:

[Ari · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 really hard to read star

I can tell you right now, this is book is not for everybody. Hell, I'm not even sure if it was for me or not.

I'll be very short with this, it wasn't an easy read guys, and in this case I'm not sure if it is a good thing either. There are a lot of aspects about this book that I did not like- obviously the very graphic rape was one, and for another, how no one in her life interfered.

For. Six. Fucking. Years!

The mom especially, was irredeemable. All throughout the read, I kept wondering why does Bea just never stand up for herself, even after Liam comes back, why does she just go through with it, and then I realized that the psychological damage goes deeper. And really right until the end, she never says anything, it was other people stepping in for her, so I was very thrown off her character.

And it came to me, when her own mother, who lived in the same fucking house never bothered finding out what the hell happened to her daughter, why would she even think anyone would believe her?

I mean, even after it all comes out, the mother rents a hotel room for herself, and just leaves her daughter in the fucking house where she was fucking brutalized, because mom couldn't deal with it. AAAAARGH!!!!

What a piece of shit mother!

This is the mother in my head—
"Oh dear, you completely changed your attitude and started wearing baggy clothes all of a sudden? Maybe it was just the fact that your teenage boyfriend left you to go build a future for you both. Oh my darling, you tried to kill yourself? Stay at home alone while I go gallivanting all around the world. Oh my dear, you've been depressed for the last six years? Here have some tea!"

Sorry guys, this book really makes me angry. The only character I actually liked was Liam, because the guy actually does something.

For a change.

It was really depressive, and not even in the end did I really feel empowered or anything. Bea survived by dumb luck alone, and I don't think I can appreciate that.

[Michelle Claypot_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Straight into my Forever Favourite Folder

I have now read this story 3 times. I was lucky enough to beta read this one last year and have read it twice since. I have cried every single time. Bea is a warrior. A broken but fierce warrior.

It's not a sweet story, but it is a love story. The kind of story that punches you in the heart. That makes you think. The kind of story that stays with you for days after finishing. You know when an author writes a book so real - so raw - that you feel a little battered? Well that's how I feel again today. It's not a pretty tale of hearts and flowers but it's so freaking beautiful in its honest pain and growth that even through my tears I found myself smiling. Stories like this need to be told.

Packed with extraordinary characters. Real pain. Real love. And so much heartache I almost ran out of tissues... There are definite triggers in this one but for those who can handle that, this is a book that is genuinely one of my favourite reads ever.

Beta Read
ARC Read

[C.L. Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beyond my vocabulary of words for how beautiful and emotional it was.
I've never quite read a book like this, one that consumed my every thought and moment.
I sat and read this until my back ached from the position I was in.
I fell love with Liam, I waited for him to prove me right, to show me the man he is.
And he did.
I loved every single thing in this book. Even the stuff I hated.
Even when I cried.
Even as I screamed.
Even as I threatened S.M. Soto with a divorce.
This book was a masterpiece, weaved with purpose, and told with more emotion than ever.
Loved it.
Fucking loved it.
😭

[Chelé-----4 The Love of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ache (noun) a continuous or prolonged dull pain in a part of one's body.

Your heart will experience this while reading this story. You will feel pain, you'll cry, you'll be completely gutted, devastated, shattered and destroyed. I'm not going to lie, this book is hard to read at times. I really give props to Ms. Soto for having the ovaries to write this, it's such a complex, hurtful, stunning and heartbreakingy beautiful story that needs a very talented author to walk this fine line.

I wanted to judge Bea. I did, it's so easy to say what you would have done. What she should have done or why didn't she do this but you know what? You can't and I can't either.

Bea lives right next door to her soul sister, her best friend Myrah, they're inseparable and do everything together. Bea has a beautiful and simple life but things are about to change when her mother re marries bringing along a new step father and his son, Connor. Another change..... Myrah's cousin, Liam is going to be living with her now.

The moment Bea and Liam meet that "thing happens" an immediate bond, those butterflies, that feeling. Over time Bea and Liam get closer, understanding each other in ways No one else can but as lovely as that feeling is, there's another feeling growing inside Bea.....and that's dread. Things at home are uncomfortable for Bea, her mother is blindly living life in bliss with her new blinded family but Connor is making Bea feel very uncomfortable. There's something off about him, maybe even sinister.

Liam and Bea are separated when Liam leaves town  and what Bea goes through over the next 6 years is stomach churning at best and horrendous at worse. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

This is Bea's story, her story about star crossed lovers, about love that's written in the stars, about friends and the family you choose, about survival, hope, guilt, fear and about learning to breathe again......live again.

I AM SO SHOOK AFTER READING THIS STORY!!

[veronica(ver) terisa [on major hiatus] · Rating 1 out of 5]

He thought his sweet Bea was sad all the time and suicidal because her rapist had a girlfriend; I mean could he understand his sweet Bea whom he "loved, cared and left her even when Bea came out in the open and said how Connor creeped her out even as children" better than that.

"Is this why she seems so broken? Because she has to fucking share Connor with his girlfriend?"

Bea didn’t want Liam to beat up Connor for her but they could have told someone! Her parents or the police; anyone! but they both stayed quiet.
He and Myrah know she is living with a psychopath who has hurt her in the past as a child but they don’t bother to check on her because..?
You would never want a "love of your life" like Liam.

Oh my swoony, dreamy Liam, what to doth with thee?

The only good thing making this trash tolerable was Melody's character which doesn't even come until the last half part.

If the upper conversation doesn't make you run far, far away from this, the atrocious bland writing will sure do.

My first negative review; the author really got through me.

All the 5 stars remain a mystery to me.

Going back to Emma Scott for the much needed cleanse.

[Syndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have high expectation for this book. I thought this book will be that maximum angst and heart breaking drama. The beginning of the book opens with that such gut wrenching scene. Warning: this book is full of triggers. Do not read it if u have faint heart.

Then the story progress. And everything starts to dwendling down. The plot, the layers, the characters are promising. But the writting, the connection between each unfolding scenes desperately need editing. Badly.

Several issues that i have with this book:
1. The cinnection between Liam and Bea is not even on the story. Its like only being summarized that both of them falls in love with each other without development, or in depth story.
2. The heart breaking scenes with Connor is being repeating many times without purpose other that feeling sorry for Bea.
3. Bea itself is a weak character. The majority of this book is told from her POV. And i can not help myself thinking that Bea POV is just to show how she feels sorry for herself instead of being that strong survivor.

With all of those problems, i can not really enjoy the angst. I have admiration for authors who can do proper research about writting with such delicate there like abuse. But Ache really does not have that quality.

I give 3 stars because it is actually a promising story just bad at executing it.

3 stars

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED!!

Let me start by saying that ACHE is most definitely an emotionally charged, deeply personal, heart wrenching, raw, and gritty journey of two people who are destined to be together…destined to give one another everything that they have to give…destined to love one another for as long as they possibly can, but what ACHE also illustrates is that other people’s hatred…their selfishness…their need to dominant and control makes them think they can do whatever they want…makes them take and take, never stopping to think about the person or people they’re punishing for reasons that have nothing to do with them and everything to do with the monster inside of that person…the bastard whose devastating acts must be stopped in order to prevent any further irreparable damage.

Ache is divided into two parts - the first one focuses on Liam Falcon’s, Bea’s best friend, Myrah’s cousin, coming into Bea’s life and the progression of their feelings for each other as they get to know one another and realize that they would give each other the sky and the stars if they could, and the second one that explores what happens when circumstances change for both of them. Part two is 6 years later and the time that has passed has allowed Liam to prosper and Bea to lose every single piece of what defined her all those years ago.

And S.M. Soto brings her A game when it comes to understanding the ins and outs of Bea’s descent into a lonely and dark place - one that seems almost impossible to pull herself out of because of the emotional and physical damage that has been inflicted upon her. There are so many layers to this book and Soto meticulously develops each one in order for her readers to fully understand who Bea was and who she is in the present due to broken promises and the uncontrollable acts of others. All of Bea’s emotional torment, self doubt, and steps forward and back truly show her struggles and just how horrifically difficult it is for her to regain herself…to regain control after everything has been stripped from her.

In so many ways, this book is solely Bea’s story, so it makes sense that her voice would be the only one readers get as the book continues, but Soto brings Liam’s perspective into the second half, providing another significant view of the events that are unfolding and allowing readers to see exactly what Liam’s feelings are when it comes to the girl who he vowed to bring the universe to…

The different representations and meanings of ACHE that are explored throughout Bea and Liam’s story speak to the positive and negative symbolism that, that word connotes, making it the perfect title to capture Bea’s desire for Liam, the love they share, the abuse she suffered, her transformation, and hopefully, her resurrection.

You DO NOT want to miss ACHE by S.M. Soto; she crafted a deeply moving story that does so much more than show a victim of abuse because that’s not where Bea’s journey ends and even though the journey back is both heartbreaking and damaging, through it, readers see a heroine who fights for her life, for the love she deserves, and for a chance to regain control and finally breathe again, and while the the ache will always be there for everything that was lost, for everything that happened, for everything that was forced upon her, it no longer has to dominate and define her.

5 Poison Apples

[Sentranced Jem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Ache
Author: S.M. Soto
Publication Date: April 9, 2019

NOTE: This book is not for everyone. Contains themes of abuse. May cause triggers.

I don't even know what to write to be honest.
If there is a book that is going to make you ugly cry....this book is it.
If there is a book that is going to make you want a glass...heck! A bottle of wine after reading it...this book is it.

I've read my share of romance books that deal with abuse and books that have rather graphic details but this one was a sucker punch to the senses.

Ache has left me feeling hollow.

I can't wrap by head around all the emotions that are buzzing through my veins.
The subject matter in this book is painful. And it makes me so mad....this book makes me so angry with all the injustice and suffering.

Bea's mother pisses me to no end. I have never felt such an extreme need to punch a character!

Bea's story is brutal... utterly brutal but it's honest. it's real. it's heartbreaking.
The story in this book is one where I feel like it kills a part of your soul. Yes, it's emotional...it's sad and horrifyingly depressing but it's as close to real as you can get. The honesty in this book breaks my heart.

Ache is a story that is not sugar coated at all. Every experience, every emotion, every heartache, every flicker of hope and love felt genuine.





 

[Rochelle ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before heading into my review, I want to warn readers: approach this with utmost caution. Written in blunt and honest words, the depictions of harrowing real life circumstances will grip your heart without remorse and brutally tear your emotions into unrecognisable shreds, rendering you speechless and emotionally drained, as the heavy and heart-wrenching scenes aren’t eased in carefully or alluded to in vague detail.

Liam Falcon is the boy who captured my heart, and the man who saved my life.

I experienced a variation of emotions reading Ache, but the one that made a real stand is anger. Pure, intense vexation unrivalled by anything else. Bea’s mother is an irredeemable and irresponsible character wrapped up inside an impenetrable bubble of picture perfect husband and stepson, too blind to notice what occurred inside what is supposed to be a family home.

For six years. Fucking six no one noticed or interfered. And when Bea’s mother’s dream world shattered, life is hard and she abandons her daughter for the nearest hotel because her incompetent degenerate ass can’t cope. And Bea’s mother’s attitude made me realise something: Bea’s fear to admit her truth goes beyond being threatened. When your mother, someone meant to love and care for you, is too self absorbed and self centered to realise something is changing their child in irrevocable ways, then who will listen, or believe your truths?

Bea's my sun, my moon, and all my stars - the entire universe combined.

Separated into past and present, both sections are interspersed with flashbacks that follow Bea and Liam’s romantic relationship as it undergoes an innocent beginning and traverses a heartbreaking separation, until it finally reaches the present day. I find flashbacks difficult to manage and introduce in romance as they disrupt the momentum and create a jarring effect. Bea and Liam's connection could have easily been outlined in flashbacks without needing to separate it into two parts. I lost a connection to this couple’s relationship and discovered innumerous character and romance gaps by this timeframe division that make it difficult to consider this narrative second chance romance.

Our love was written in my scars, just as it was scattered across the stars.

S.M. Soto writes beautifully and brilliantly, but despite her writing ability, I wouldn’t recommend this. Readers might consider this difficult to read. I found the abuse pushed aside the second chance romance, dominating the scenes and actions of almost every character. Considering the abuse's commanding presence, it disappointed me to never witness the heroine become a survivor—she remains a forever victim.



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[Cat Imb || The Reading Cat || · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you SM Soto!

I love it when a book enraptures me like this. When the book is so good I just can’t put it down. When a book is so good I hold in my pee because, well, that’s time wasted which I could spend reading the book. Needless to say I read this beauty in one sitting.

This book tackled difficult subject matter, but just because it is difficult and many dont’t WANT to talk about it, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t NEED to be addressed. Thank you, SM Soto, for your bravery in writing this story; on deciding to share it with the world.

At the end of this book, I felt emotionally drained. I just wanted to stare at my ceiling wishing I could see the stars. My heart was heavy, but light at the same time. It was an odd contradiction, but a beautiful one.

Bea and Liam, god, just writing their names right now gave me chills. They are special, their love was written in the stars. I’m going to permit myself to quote one of my favorite rappers right now:

“the darkest nights make the brightest stars” - Witt Lowry

And Bea and Liam? They are some of the brightest.

I definitely recommend this book. I think everyone should read it. It won’t be easy to get through it, but it will be worth it.

[Book Maniac Forever · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.5 "Sweet B" Stars ⭐️
Ache is so fittingly titled, because it’s exactly what I felt reading this profoundly emotional story! My heart was in a vise; I was losing my breath from the agonising feelings that had me a blubbering mess through a good portion of the book. My throat was raw from all the crying! Bea’s ache from her abuse were transmitted to me as a reader and Soto’s beautiful writing captured the distress of her situation perfectly!

"He's my planet. All my stars. My whole world. My solar system. My entire universe. Liam Falcon is my everything. He' always has been, and he always will be."

The subject matter of this book isn’t easy and the descriptive sequence where Bea suffers from her abuser can be difficult to bear, but this story needed to be told. Sexual abuse is something terrible, but it’s something real too! Liam Falcon, Bea’s first love, comes back into her life when she feels broken from all the mind games and awful treatments she received for the last six years. He certainly doesn’t recognize the girl he fell in love with and is determined to find out why she’s so skittish and closed.

"I do have a life, Bea. You know what else? I also have a girl that I love more than life itself."

I enjoyed the scenes set in the past that provided a beautiful show of Bea and Liam’s teen romance. I would have liked to get longer scenes though, because those moments were so lovely! Liam is perfect with Bea, her forever protective hero! So caring and dreamy really! Years later, he’s still very thoughtful about the way he handles her with respect and care! The way he is so patient with Bea in letting her open up about her trauma is wonderful and so touching. I also enjoy seeing Bea take confidence and learning to breathe again. Not only with the help of Liam, but because she's strong and wants to be better! She's a true survivor!

"Our love was written in my scars, just as it was scattered across the stars."

There’s little details here an there that bothered me throughout the story and kept me from rating it 5 stars, but they weren’t enough to eclipse the whole feel this book gave me. It was a sublime story of perseverance and fighting your demons! A beautiful example of true love never-ending that gave me goose bumps! S.M. Soto unquestionably established herself as a new favorite author of mine in the recent months. Each new book is a punch of feels to the heart and Ache isn’t an exception!

** ARC received in exchange for an honest review **

[Autumn Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta read.
S.M. Soto's writing, the characters, this story... it's everything!
Get ready for this gut-wrenching story!!

[hugsandcookies · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 5star 🌟 MUST READ.

Oh my goodness I struggled with this book and especially with the rating. After so much stopping and taking a breather I knew after finishing about Bea and Liam, I knew my rating will be a 5star.

A word of advice go into this blind don’t read any blurbs cause I did and I regret it. This is why S M Soto has become one of my favourite authors and this writing of hers is so different to her other books. Although her first book will forever be my fave but this book is so powerfully heartbreaking about sexual abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse and no one should ever have to go through life being scared.

I did at times weren’t too sure on their feelings cause I had a hard time trying to grasp on their emotions but in Part II is where I think I fell deeper into these characters. Just take your time to process with this story and you’ll understand why. I in the end did adore Bea and Liam and tbh I don’t think I’ll ever forget this book.

[Livros A Go-Go ~Joyci ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esse livro faz doer. Comecei a leitura dele antes de dormir e já nas primeiras páginas meu coração se quebrou pela personagem principal. Acordei no outro dia pensando ainda no livro e com medo do que mais estava por vir. 💔

Bea passa por muitas situações de violência e degradação ao longo do livro e a autora não poupou o leitor em nenhum desses trechos.

Apesar de tudo que ela passa, Bea ainda é forte e foi lindo de ver ela com pequenos passos tentando viver e retomar a vida depois de 6 anos infernais aguentando o que ninguém merece sofrer.

E Liam, que moço bonzinho! Ele reaparece na melhor hora possível, como se uma força divina o enviasse novamente para a vida de Bea, para ajudá-la a se livrar de todo o mal que a domina.

O livro é dividido em 2 partes, mesclando passado e presente e na primeira, apesar de ser dolorida, não me fez sentir a conexão entre Liam e Bea como deveria ter ocorrido. Já na segunda parte essa química melhorou, pois então a história passou a ser contada com pontos de vista intercalados.

Foram muitos os momentos chocantes em que eu perguntei-me como ninguém desconfiou de nada por todo esse tempo, ou como uma mãe ignora uma filha assim; mas ao parar e pensar um pouco mais, dei-me conta que não é nada impossível, já que lemos nos noticiários casos semelhantes ou piores que esse abordado na história.

É um tema bem pesado e a autora conduziu tudo para outra vertente diferente de outros livros desse estilo. Gostei da maneira como ela desenvolveu mas me deixou sentindo falta de alguns outros arremates melhores.

Arc gentilmente cedido pela autora e InksLingerPr. Obrigada.

[Vanessa (nessreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book*

5 “Survivor” Stars

How? How do I even begin what I want to say? How am I even supposed to form words? I feel like I just ran a marathon and I’m spent. And I’m finally able to release a breath I’ve been holding in since I started reading.

This book is not for everyone. I repeat, this. Book. Is. Not. For. Everyone. This book put me through the wringer. I’m drained, both emotionally and physically. This story took ahold of everything. My mind, my feelings, my heart and soul. It latched on and I had no choice but to hold on as tightly as I could as it took me on one of the biggest emotional rollercoaster rides I’ve been on. With every chapter I read a lost a piece of my heart and little by little those pieces were left scattered on the floor. I was hollow, and was left in an unmovable state. I became very angry and wanted to break everything in my reach. I screamed and screamed and screamed. There was a point where I just couldn’t take it, I wrapped my arms around myself and cried for I don’t know how long. I let all that rage and sadness out and tried to control all my emotions as best I could. And I kept asking myself, why am I putting myself through this? Is all this pain I’m going through worth it? Yes. This book is worth all the tears shed, it’s worth the shattered heart, it’s worth the all the grueling pain. This story is worth it all.

Bea, Bea, Bea. Sweet Bea. *breathe in, breathe out* I have no words. The horrifying and violent things she suffers through left me broken. She does everything to protect the people she loves even though it comes at a cost. All I wanted to do so wrap her in my arms and never let her go. She exemplifies the word survivor in all sense of the word. And my gosh does she fight till the end for her happiness and happy ending. Ultimately her story is one of hope.

Liam is so sweet as a boy and caring and compassionate as a man. The moment he laid eyes on Bea “it” happens. That feeling that overtakes you, it shifts something in you and you know from that moment on you’ll never be the same. Though Liam’s dream of becoming a professional baseball player leads him to leave and start to build a life for Bea and him. And even though with him leaving it doesn’t mean goodbye. But with those years of him being gone everything changed with Bea and him. So many misunderstandings and confusion. It has Liam returning to the place where he gave Bea his heart desperately wanting answers. But when he sees her it’s only to find she’s not the same person she was when he left.

Bea and Liam are written in the stars. It was evident from the very beginning of the connection between them. Their deep and undeniable love is still there even after years of separation. Bea needs Liam more than ever and Liam will do anything and everything to bring the light and life back to Bea. Their love is everything beautiful and together they can conquer it all.

Ache more than anything is Bea’s story. Her story is one of perseverance. She is the epitome of a survivor. Though, Ache is also a story of strength, courage and true love. And yes, the title is most definitely fitting because when reading this unforgettable story my body, mind and soul ached. But like I said, it’s so worth it.

SM Soto, I applaud you for taking the plunge and writing this story. It was hardly easy reading and I can only imagine how excruciating it was to write. You shattered my heart, but in the end you pieced it right back up as I healed right along with Bea. I know that somewhere Liam and his sweet Bea are lying on the grass looking up at the stars and are extremely happy. Thank you for these two extraordinary characters, I will never forget them and they’ll always have a permanent place in my heart.

A DEFINITE TOP READ of 2019

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I’m going to catch my breath and my review will follow. This book was brutally beautiful in the hardest and most intense ways. I absolutely loved it. I clicked this book when it first came out, in all honesty I saw the cover and thought, "this looks like my kinda book." Fast forward 7 months later and I can't find anything to read, so I casually go ebook shopping on my own kindle. I have a problem, yes. I saw this one and thought let's try it...I DEVOURED THIS BOOK IN ONE SITTING. I could not stop reading. It was such a hard read at times, so harsh at times I wanted to scream....but it was also heart-achingly beautiful. The love and friendships forged so early on, although they found themselves dormant at times were discovered and made a difference in a life. A life that had been put on hold by the hands of a monster. This book is NOT for the faint of heart. If you look for trigger warnings of any kind, I don't suggest you read this one. But if you love incredibly written, powerful, stories of triumph and life READ THIS BOOK. It is one of my favorites this year.


CLICK here for blog review --->Ache by S.M. Soto

[Annette Brignac · Rating 5 out of 5]

With an exhausted heart and a worn out soul... I have finished reading the hardest book I have ever read...

This is a story that should be allowed to have more than 5 stars... because it deserves that.

While this book is the hardest I've ever read, it was written with so much love, respect, and heart. This is story about two people finding happiness on the hardest road that anyone on this earth can experience.

I was given the honor of Beta Reading, and have since read it a second time. Liam and Bea's story was just as powerful the second time around and sends and equally powerful message. It's a story that needed to be written and a story that needs to be read.

This is a must read. I know I just repeated myself, but it's that important. You need this book!!!

[queen_of_the_books_18 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book!

5 emotional stars from me.

S.M Soto killed it with Ache.

My heart was not ok reading this book. As soon as I started reading the first chapter I knew I wasn’t going to be ok and now I’ve finished this book- I’ve realised the title is spot on because my heart just...Aches.

I cried like a baby, and then I stopped and then I started sobbing again all the way through this books. The wide range of emotions I felt whilst reading Ache... I’ll admit I wasn’t prepared for.
I felt sad, like I’d been punched in the gut, sick and angry.

Just be prepared because this book won’t be for everybody. It isn’t an easy read but my god was it worth everything that I felt.


Just beautiful.

[TheBookBoutique Brittany_Elizabeth_Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not quite sure I’ll get this right, or be able to do this book any justice but I’ll try. I’ll start by saying after reading straight for 3 hours, I released a breath I didn’t know I was even holding. It was THAT amazing.

This book is a hard read, and probably harder for some than others. But through this book I feel we are told more than just a terrifying story. We are shown that love can prevail all, that loves gives you hope, love heals, and love saves. Sometimes I think the best stories sometimes have a harder road to lead you down but the endings are always so worth it. Reading this book is so worth it.

Bea is the innocence we all remember and still crave. She is happy, the world is at her finger tips and she knows the feeling of her first love.

Liam is the guy that does follow his dream but ultimately realizes that he is missing something. And that something is Bea.

This story was beautifully written and each chapter left an impression on me. When an author moves me to tears, but leaves me with a smile on my face, I think it means their job was executed perfectly. I think it’s always tough to tackle hard subjects, but S.M. was able to accomplish not only telling a true love, redemption story, but also managed to pull every single emotion out of me while still being written tastefully, tactfully and truthfully. She gave a voice to those that will need it one day. This book will change someone or reach someone one day, or it might give someone pause before passing judgement on a situation. It is the gripping story of one girls painful path that leads to something so pure and beautiful that it will stay with you for awhile.

I think the title is most fitting because my soul, mind and body ached while reading and even now as I’m sitting here typing. I know I won’t be alone in knowing this will be a favorite read of 2019 for me. A full 5 stars!

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You make it hard to breathe. You make me smile. And on days like these, you make my heart skip a beat."

Ache was my first book by S.M. Soto and wow, what a heavy start. This book is definitely not for faint-hearted readers. This book is heavy stuff wrapped in one beautiful package of a story that will shake you to the core.

"Bea's my sun, my moon, and all my stars - the entire universe combined."

This book is more.... it's energy will give you chills and makes you feel things you can't put into words. I took my time reading it, because it deals with a heavy topic in a very descriptive way.

"The star crossed lovers who were rewriting the stars, rebuilding our own story."

Liam and Bea have a special chemistry and connection. And I really wish I could have felt this deeper. Even though I loved reading their story, despite the heavy topic that hangs over all chapters, the last final touch in their connection was missing to me.
However, both characters and all secondary characters are wonderfully written, their voices speak loud and clearly and each of them grew easily on me.

"Our love was written in my scars, just as it was scattered across the stars."

Ache is a very intense love story about two star crossed lovers getting a second chance which is going to break you down piece by piece and it will take your breathe away ... but it also gives you hope, gives you back your smile and shows what it means to be strong and stand up for yourself.

"Liam Falcon is the boy who captured my heart, and the man who saved my life.

[Elsa Gomes (BookishAurora) · Rating 5 out of 5]

➳ Rate: 5 / 5 stars

I knew this book was going to be emotional but honestly I didn't know the half of it. This book might have been one of the hardest books I ever had to read and you know I love my emotional reads but this one took the cake man... it was just so heartbreaking to read, it physically hurt sometimes.

This book has constant triggers so beware of that, it is not easy to read, at all. But it was so amazing, it was a story that NEEDED to be told and it was told beautifully.

I loved Bea from the very beginning, she was such a wonderful, smart and interesting girl. And I loved watching her fall in love with Liam, their little moments under the stars were so damn cute. I lived for the myths about the constellations.

Bea was such an energetic and happy person but she lost all her spark when Liam left town and because of Colton and what he did to her. As soon as Liam came back to town (6 years later) she started gaining her spark and life back with help from her new college friend Melody who understood what she was going through. Little by little, she started getting pieces of herself and her old life back and it was amazing to see how much can happen with a little bit of hope.

Bea and Liam were truly written in the stars. These two needed each other to be truly happy and they would do absolutely anything for each other, even if that meant the worst for themselves and there is so much strength and beauty in that. S. M. Soto's writing although brutal to read, was beautiful and magnificent. I loved these two so much. Bea is the epitome of a survivor and that girl fought and fough for her happy ending. I'm so happy that the nightmare she lived in for 6 long and painful years is over and she got the love of her life back.

Prepare to feel this tittle ten fold and to read one of the most powerful books - a true embodiment of hope, strength, survival and true love and friendship. Ache is a story you won't soon, if not ever, forget. These characters will leave their imprint in your mind and heart.

➳ARC kindly provided by author, in exchange for an honest review.

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[Donna ~ The Romance Cover]

I got to 81% and I have no inclination to read the rest of this. I am just so freaking pissed, majorly pissed, royally pissed. I'm just fucking pissed. Full-on rant ahead.

This is a tough book to read, a girl who is repeatedly raped for six years by her step-brother and no-one and I mean no-one has the guts to truly ask her what is wrong. They put it all down to her boyfriend leaving town. This is a girl that tried to commit suicide. She becomes a recluse. She hardly eats. She wears baggy clothes. She doesn't talk. She doesn't want to be touched at all, not even by her own mother. Did they all walk around with blinkers on? Were they really that stupid that they couldn't see the wood for the trees?

A mother so wrapped up in her own love life and new marriage that she goes away on trips (for months at a time) and leaves her only child in the hands of a rapist. His father admits to seeing the look in his son's eyes FFS.

Bea never tells anyone because the bastard threatens her friends and her mother. She thinks she is saving them by taking his brutality. And I mean, he is fucking brutal. She bleeds EVERY TIME and he even sodomises her, and all this is DETAILED.

I think this was written for the shock factor to the detriment of a story that should have been so much better. The constant flashbacks take you out of the story. There is no character connection at all, no character has depth. I didn't feel any connection between the H and h.

When it does all finally come out it is over in the blink of an eye, and then somehow the step-brother is not in police custody and gets back into the house and nearly kills her. Where is mum while this is happening you may ask? She is in a fucking hotel because she cannot deal with the memories the house brings. WTF!!

That was the final nail in this coffin. I'm out.

[Karen Moriarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW...
I will be honest this was a very intense read l will be honest... Hard hitting at times and had me reeling more than l usually like. BUT the subject is emotional and confronting l will not lie, and described in graphic detail, but it is in keeping with the characters and very much required. It was an emotional roller coaster if l am honest but Oh MY Gosh what a ride..

BEA NORWOOD has a spirit about here that just makes you love her from the first time you meet her and LIAM FALCON is the kind of guy every mom should want for their daughter as we fall in love with him thru out the story.

This connection and friendship that Bea and Liam have is beautiful and to see them go thru so many trials and tribulations has you rooting for them before you even realize you are doing it..

This book has so many elements to it, l am finding it hard to do justice to the story so l will say without spoiling it, Take a deep breath and keep reading. It is a story unfortunately that does effect many woman and not all endings are always happy but it is a story that needs to be told regardless.

My hat is off to S M Soto for tackling such a dark and controversial subject and giving it a voice that all people l hope will hear.
Definitely recommend this book to anybody who can appreciate the struggles that one has to overcome in order to be whole again...
To me this was a TRUE LOVE STORY......

[Erika P · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bea's my sun, my moon, and all my stars--the entire universe combined."

Oh my heart!! This story was beautifully told, heart-wrenching, heart-felt, gritty, raw, and rife with pain, intermingled with a love of a lifetime given a second chance. It called to the realness of the dark topic, how it ripples out to those we love, and the strength of those who experience it, even if we don't understand their motivations. I was lost amongst the pages, where at times, even with tears in my eyes, I appreciated every second the Author gave me. Bea and Liam's love was palpable, and even with so much time lost, you felt it so deeply, you couldn't help but want it for them even more than they wanted it themselves. I can feel the emotions lingering well after I finished. An absolute must read, a gorgeous story that will make you think, hurt, heal, and feel so very much. I thank the Author for providing a copy to review.

~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog

[Stephanie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I sit here and try to think of a review on this amazing book it is a hard one to do. This one was a tough one for me to get through but it was so worth it in the end. Even with the tough subject matter, it is a tough this story, that was beautifully written. While the subject matter is something that needs to be talked about, it seems to be swept under the rug.

Bea and Liam's story will live with me for a long time and I can say this is my top read of 2019 and not sure if any will come close. Nothing I say will give this book the review it deserves. I felt Bea's turmoil and her determination to keep those she loved safe even with her own downfall.

I know I will have other epic reads this year but there is something with this one that will stck with me for a long time.

[Manoela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars

Ache brings a story that touched me deeply. A story that broke my heart in a few moments, it was devastating and revolting to read the abuse suffered by Bea.A story that made me feel a mixture of feelings: disgust for what she was going through, disbelief at times asking me how nobody noticed, sadness to know and see in news reports and even in my professional experience that cases so unfortunately happen are not just one fictitious tale and finally hope and joy to see Bea little by little "earning" her life back. Ache it was certainly a read that will not be forgotten quickly.

The book addresses a second chance and I believe that not only in relation to the romance between the protagonists, but above all, a second chance for Bea.It's an emotional story where the author does not skimp on the details of the most difficult scenes, and I sometimes found myself having to take a deep breath to finish reading those scenes. It's a story where I hated characters with all my might while I wanted Bea to be happy.

Let's talk about Bea and Liam? I liked both. Liam I think it reappeared in her life at the perfect time, reminding her of the girl she was once and giving her the strength she needed to "take" her life back. He is a patient, who clearly cared for Bea.And Bea proved to be strong, brave, and the highlight of the book for me was to see her slowly trying to get back to life and get rid of the degrading situation she was undergoing for six years.But although both were great character I could not feel a love connection between them and for that reason I did not give 5 stars. But it's a book that deserves to be read because Bea's journey may be difficult, but seeing resuming her life was worth it.


I Received an unreleased copy of this book ...