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In Vein #1
Opium Skies
Life is full of variables.
We crave control, but in reality, we have very little.
Hadley left home with a plan to get the full college experience.
After losing her mother, she lost a part of herself and she doesn’t have room for attachments.
Scarred from her past, Hadley just wants her life to be normal.
She wants to have fun and forget the past that she’s leaving behind.
But life doesn’t go as planned and when she meets Ander, everything changes.
Ander lives his life going from one high to the next.
He’s a bad boy with haunting blue eyes and a history of making terrible decisions.
He was never part of her plan, but neither of them can deny what is happening between them.
What starts out as fun begins to develop into something much darker and toxic.
Their love is explosive, but Ander is an addict who is quickly spiraling out of control.
And nothing will stop him from taking her down with him.
Ander is the one variable in her life that she will never control.
And they are destined for destruction.
We crave control, but in reality, we have very little.
Hadley left home with a plan to get the full college experience.
After losing her mother, she lost a part of herself and she doesn’t have room for attachments.
Scarred from her past, Hadley just wants her life to be normal.
She wants to have fun and forget the past that she’s leaving behind.
But life doesn’t go as planned and when she meets Ander, everything changes.
Ander lives his life going from one high to the next.
He’s a bad boy with haunting blue eyes and a history of making terrible decisions.
He was never part of her plan, but neither of them can deny what is happening between them.
What starts out as fun begins to develop into something much darker and toxic.
Their love is explosive, but Ander is an addict who is quickly spiraling out of control.
And nothing will stop him from taking her down with him.
Ander is the one variable in her life that she will never control.
And they are destined for destruction.
344 pages, Paperback
Published October 28, 2020
169 people are currently reading
2343 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Radcliff
27 books1,016 followersC.M. Radcliff writes dark, toxic romance with a touch of suspense. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two kids. If she isn't reading or writing, she's probably on a little adventure with her family.
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January 17, 2021
MY REVIEW AND OTHERS: can also be found on my blog:
➽ KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
'OPIUM SKIES' is the first full length romance book in C.M. Radcliff's 'In Vein' series. Spoken in 'Dual perspectives.'
Purchase Link:
http://amzn.to/3nMVQu9
As soon as I saw this had gone live I was off #oneclicking it. And then once it was on my kindle, game over, I dived right in and devoured this.
Unique, Real, Raw, Riveting.
Its with trepidation as we see Hadley driving away from the only place she's familiar with, it's just her and her father as she lost her mother two years previously. She's attending nursing school at Arizona State University. Arriving on campus and meeting her roomie Abby for the first time, straight away they don't click. She doesn't give off the warm and fuzzies vibe, and can't see them becoming friends anytime in the near future. Hadley pegs her as a stripper, a whore or both.
Hadley does dabble in Xanax which help her with her nerves, she swears she can stop at any time as she's not addicted, but that's to be seen to be believed.
“ We're no different, we both take pills or do whatever we need to escape reality. So what if he makes money off of offering others an escape too. ”
It's there in their dorm room where she meets Ander Capelli who is her room mates brothers friend. Straight away you could feel the attraction between them. He didn't even get her name and he was smitten.
Ander works at a casino, is set to graduate next year with a business degree, the only thing keeping him in school is to sell the drugs he's been handed, which he does dabble in due to an old knee injury which got him hooked on Oxys. But once those run low he starts hitting the harder stuff.
“ I've been drowning in an ocean of him from the moment I dove in headfirst.
With every look, and every touch, he pulls me deeper under the waves with him.
If its sink or swim, I would rather sink than swim to the surface without him. ”
He's spiralling under a drug induced dark cloud
Will Hadley be the one to save him?
* Teaser used is off the authors facebook page. *
This does end on a cliff hanger but *screams* thank god the next book is ready to go live in a matter of hours!!
dnf
September 12, 2024 PRE-REVIEW
starting this because I just watched a pretty edit on instagram, I'm guilty of that.
10%: Hadley just met Ander and they had chemistry. I hope I like them.
15%: Hadley is such a good character omg
starting this because I just watched a pretty edit on instagram, I'm guilty of that.
10%: Hadley just met Ander and they had chemistry. I hope I like them.
15%: Hadley is such a good character omg
November 21, 2020
Genre: N/A Contemporary Romance
Type: Book 1 of 3 from In Vein Series
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Hadley Winters had a clear goal when she enrolled at college - to graduate and work in her dream field. But fate had a different plan by throwing Ander Capelli into her way. Slowly, it became clear that fate might be even crueler than they ever expected.
I’m not into non-standalone series, but if it promised a train wreck, I’m all for it. This series definitely have potentials for that in upcoming books. The first half of the book was quite mild. Thankfully, the second half took the story into heavier matter.
I liked both Hadley and Ander. They were good people who just trying to live a normal life. I loved being front and center when characters spiraled down, and I can’t wait to see which direction the author will take them next.
Opium Skies is a story of obsession and self destruction. It would appeal to readers who enjoy a raw look into inner demons.
Books in the series:
For more reviews/interviews/promo visit:
Type: Book 1 of 3 from In Vein Series
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Hadley Winters had a clear goal when she enrolled at college - to graduate and work in her dream field. But fate had a different plan by throwing Ander Capelli into her way. Slowly, it became clear that fate might be even crueler than they ever expected.
I’m not into non-standalone series, but if it promised a train wreck, I’m all for it. This series definitely have potentials for that in upcoming books. The first half of the book was quite mild. Thankfully, the second half took the story into heavier matter.
“We have choices in life, Hadley, but this—us—this isn’t a fucking choice. This is fucking happening regardless of how hard we try to fight it.”
I liked both Hadley and Ander. They were good people who just trying to live a normal life. I loved being front and center when characters spiraled down, and I can’t wait to see which direction the author will take them next.
Opium Skies is a story of obsession and self destruction. It would appeal to readers who enjoy a raw look into inner demons.
Books in the series:
For more reviews/interviews/promo visit:
January 16, 2021
***5 "DESTRUCTIVE!!!" stars***
"This was our fate, our destiny.
We were destined to destroy each other."
This book wrecked me!!! I'm literally a puddle of ugly crying and messy feelings right now!!!!
This was one of the most hard and heartwrecking stories that I've ever read and call me a glutton of punishment, but I want more, even though I know that i will get out of these story full of emotional scars!!!
So, yes!!! Mrs. Radcliff had managed the impossible and i loved and hate her for that!!!
She made me break and honestly, I'm such a mess that i really don't know how am I going to recover from this story...
"Promises only end up broken." I repeat his words back to him quietly and he nods. "No promises, then."
"No more promises," he repeats.
"Only truths," I counter.
"Hadley... In my world, truths are as deadly as promises."
Well, this book made me feel everything in the highest degree...
Yep, it seemed pretty tamed in the beginning, even though both our characters had their own vices for their own reasons, but quickly things escalated for Ander...
His demons were bigger than his love for Hadley, even though I'm still holding some hope for him!!!
These two were perfect for each other, but addiction is a cruel bitch who brings only destruction in her pass and unfortunately for our heroes, they are sitting in the middle of her wreckage...
What will happen next??? Gawd, I'm sooo scared, but I can't seem to stay away!!!
"Give me all of your lies and broken promises. If you think that the truth and promises are deadly, you have no idea what damage, deception and deceit will do."
"I don't want to lie to her, but that's what I do best. In the end, I always fuck everything up. It's only a matter of time."
I loved Hadley and Ander so much...
They were two college kids that they were having all of their lives ahead of them...
They met, they flirted, they connected in a weird way and they became an item...
But addiction is standing between them to break their hearts and spirits...
They were both good kids, but they got involved on things that were bigger than just the two of them...
"We have choices in life, Hadley, but this -us- this isn't a fucking choice.This is fucking happening regardless of how hard we try to fight it."
"When it comes to him and I, we never had a choice. The choice was already made for us and written in the stars in the sky. The funny thing is though, every single star in the sky eventually falls to its demise."
Hadley was stronger than Ander. She was determined to stand by his side and get him through this dark path on his life....
But Ander's demons are too big to be tamed... He needs Hadley, but his will is not stronger than his addiction!!!
So, he is bringing hell upon their lives and he can not change the dangerous path that he is walking down... Not even his love of Hadley is enough anymore... Or is it???
"I knew Ander had demons -demons that had burrowed their poison-filled claws deep in his flesh- but was I that naive to think that he could shake free from their grip that easily?"
"Heroin has the ability to end my life, but it would be like a simple flip of a light switch.
Hadley has the ability to completely fucking destroy me, but it would be like a decimating bomb.
She wouldn't just destroy me; she would obliterate every fucking piece of me."
OMG!!! My poor heart!!!! Throughout the whole book, my heart was beating wildly inside my chest!!! The agony that these two brought me!!! I was a freakin' mess, along with Hadley and Ander and I was so scared of what the future will hold for them...
How am I suppose to keep reading when I know that i will keep getting hurt over and over again???
Still, this is my new addiction and I will wear my big girl panties and i will go for it!!!
"I'm like a ship lost in the sea, but it has a familiar warmth, one that feels like coming home. I get lost in the undertow as it drags me deeper away from the shore and I slip into the sweet euphoria as everything around me goes black."
And why the hell I thought that this was a duet??? Damn me!!! How am I going to be wrecked for 4 times???
What did you do to me, C.M. Radcliff??? I'm thanking you and cursing you at the same time for this journey on reality!!! It felt so realistic, like I was living it from the inside!!! Well done, C.M.!!! Well done!!!
"You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved..."
**I received an advanced copy of this book for the exchange of an honest review**
"This was our fate, our destiny.
We were destined to destroy each other."
This book wrecked me!!! I'm literally a puddle of ugly crying and messy feelings right now!!!!
This was one of the most hard and heartwrecking stories that I've ever read and call me a glutton of punishment, but I want more, even though I know that i will get out of these story full of emotional scars!!!
So, yes!!! Mrs. Radcliff had managed the impossible and i loved and hate her for that!!!
She made me break and honestly, I'm such a mess that i really don't know how am I going to recover from this story...
"Promises only end up broken." I repeat his words back to him quietly and he nods. "No promises, then."
"No more promises," he repeats.
"Only truths," I counter.
"Hadley... In my world, truths are as deadly as promises."
Well, this book made me feel everything in the highest degree...
Yep, it seemed pretty tamed in the beginning, even though both our characters had their own vices for their own reasons, but quickly things escalated for Ander...
His demons were bigger than his love for Hadley, even though I'm still holding some hope for him!!!
These two were perfect for each other, but addiction is a cruel bitch who brings only destruction in her pass and unfortunately for our heroes, they are sitting in the middle of her wreckage...
What will happen next??? Gawd, I'm sooo scared, but I can't seem to stay away!!!
"Give me all of your lies and broken promises. If you think that the truth and promises are deadly, you have no idea what damage, deception and deceit will do."
"I don't want to lie to her, but that's what I do best. In the end, I always fuck everything up. It's only a matter of time."
I loved Hadley and Ander so much...
They were two college kids that they were having all of their lives ahead of them...
They met, they flirted, they connected in a weird way and they became an item...
But addiction is standing between them to break their hearts and spirits...
They were both good kids, but they got involved on things that were bigger than just the two of them...
"We have choices in life, Hadley, but this -us- this isn't a fucking choice.This is fucking happening regardless of how hard we try to fight it."
"When it comes to him and I, we never had a choice. The choice was already made for us and written in the stars in the sky. The funny thing is though, every single star in the sky eventually falls to its demise."
Hadley was stronger than Ander. She was determined to stand by his side and get him through this dark path on his life....
But Ander's demons are too big to be tamed... He needs Hadley, but his will is not stronger than his addiction!!!
So, he is bringing hell upon their lives and he can not change the dangerous path that he is walking down... Not even his love of Hadley is enough anymore... Or is it???
"I knew Ander had demons -demons that had burrowed their poison-filled claws deep in his flesh- but was I that naive to think that he could shake free from their grip that easily?"
"Heroin has the ability to end my life, but it would be like a simple flip of a light switch.
Hadley has the ability to completely fucking destroy me, but it would be like a decimating bomb.
She wouldn't just destroy me; she would obliterate every fucking piece of me."
OMG!!! My poor heart!!!! Throughout the whole book, my heart was beating wildly inside my chest!!! The agony that these two brought me!!! I was a freakin' mess, along with Hadley and Ander and I was so scared of what the future will hold for them...
How am I suppose to keep reading when I know that i will keep getting hurt over and over again???
Still, this is my new addiction and I will wear my big girl panties and i will go for it!!!
"I'm like a ship lost in the sea, but it has a familiar warmth, one that feels like coming home. I get lost in the undertow as it drags me deeper away from the shore and I slip into the sweet euphoria as everything around me goes black."
And why the hell I thought that this was a duet??? Damn me!!! How am I going to be wrecked for 4 times???
What did you do to me, C.M. Radcliff??? I'm thanking you and cursing you at the same time for this journey on reality!!! It felt so realistic, like I was living it from the inside!!! Well done, C.M.!!! Well done!!!
"You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved..."
**I received an advanced copy of this book for the exchange of an honest review**
October 29, 2020
Wow! What a very powerful story. Hadley Winters is spreading her wings and going away to college. She’s has a lot on her plate not only with college but personal issues as well. The last thing she expected was to meet a man like Ander Capelli. I don’t want to say to much and spoil anything but this is truly a heartbreakingly beautiful depiction of college life for a troubled young lady...a man with his own demons and the journey they need to go through to find themselves. These two are like a symphony together, playing off of each other in their toxic relationship. “In my world, truths are as deadly and promises.” This is a very realistic portrayal of trauma, addiction and other issues. Drug use & possible triggers for some. I cannot wait for the next book as I could not put opium skies down! This does end in a major cliffhanger. Told in dual POV
📸 Teaser Collage by Miss Petite Brunette Book Blog
📸 Teaser Collage by Miss Petite Brunette Book Blog
October 29, 2020
4.5 stars
Knowing some of the authors other works already, I knew before even starting this book, that something will definitely hit me hard. So I dove in blindly only knowing that this is just the beginning of a three book story, most likely ending with a cliffy.
But as much as I liked thinking I was prepared for what will come, I wasn't and I couldn't have been. Like, ever. I had a very strong connection to Hadley and Ander right from the beginning. I felt their chemistry deep within my soul. I got attached to them pretty quickly and the attachment grew with every minute I spent with them.
Opium Skies will take you on a journey that will hit you heavily in your chest. You heart will break for these beautiful souls right in front of your eyes, lying shattered within those pages, between the lines.
This book is loaded with a heavy topic that C.M. Radcliff managed to handle in an incredibly touching and sensitive way. And I can't wait to continue this emotional rollercoaster!
Knowing some of the authors other works already, I knew before even starting this book, that something will definitely hit me hard. So I dove in blindly only knowing that this is just the beginning of a three book story, most likely ending with a cliffy.
But as much as I liked thinking I was prepared for what will come, I wasn't and I couldn't have been. Like, ever. I had a very strong connection to Hadley and Ander right from the beginning. I felt their chemistry deep within my soul. I got attached to them pretty quickly and the attachment grew with every minute I spent with them.
Opium Skies will take you on a journey that will hit you heavily in your chest. You heart will break for these beautiful souls right in front of your eyes, lying shattered within those pages, between the lines.
This book is loaded with a heavy topic that C.M. Radcliff managed to handle in an incredibly touching and sensitive way. And I can't wait to continue this emotional rollercoaster!
March 2, 2021
Updated read: 3/2/21: obviously I'm a masochist reading this book again, but goddamn my heart hurts. How is it possible I'm in more pain this time around than the last? Does that mean I'm going to stop? Hell no. This is raw, powerful writing in its purest form.
Now on to book two!
************************************
This is a hard book to read because of how fucking honest it is. As someone who has both loved and hated -- and most days don't even know what to feel -- for an addict, this book touched the scars on my heart that will never heal. This is a raw form of love, because the love that Ander and Hadley have for one another is so toxic, but so REAL. This isn't a hopeful romance where two broken people fix each other, this is a story that truly resonates that love is not enough to save someone who has no desire to be saved. And then you have to ask yourself the question of how much you are hurting not only yourself, but them by loving and even enabling the person underneath the addiction.
I don't think I've ever read a book that portrays addiction so honestly, so raw and truthful. Even though my circumstances were different, I felt like this author was taking the dark parts of my soul and putting them out on these pages for the world to see. I'm just in awe of the destructive beauty she was able to capture underneath the toxic love.
Be warned, this book ends on one hell of a painful cliffhanger, and even though I knew it was coming, I was still screaming at the heavens. This is certainly a must read!
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!**
Now on to book two!
************************************
This is a hard book to read because of how fucking honest it is. As someone who has both loved and hated -- and most days don't even know what to feel -- for an addict, this book touched the scars on my heart that will never heal. This is a raw form of love, because the love that Ander and Hadley have for one another is so toxic, but so REAL. This isn't a hopeful romance where two broken people fix each other, this is a story that truly resonates that love is not enough to save someone who has no desire to be saved. And then you have to ask yourself the question of how much you are hurting not only yourself, but them by loving and even enabling the person underneath the addiction.
I don't think I've ever read a book that portrays addiction so honestly, so raw and truthful. Even though my circumstances were different, I felt like this author was taking the dark parts of my soul and putting them out on these pages for the world to see. I'm just in awe of the destructive beauty she was able to capture underneath the toxic love.
Be warned, this book ends on one hell of a painful cliffhanger, and even though I knew it was coming, I was still screaming at the heavens. This is certainly a must read!
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!**
December 16, 2020
Wow, this book was something... So heartbreaking, so raw, so addicting.
It's gritty and and captivating. It's draws you in and doesn't let go.
I could not put this book down!
Ander's struggles were real, so gut wrenching and overpowering everything else in his life. He suffered a trauma and never felt the need to work through besides for what he thought he needed or could to help.
Hadley was what he needed, he truly knew that, but something else was his siren song. Calling for him so loud and strong, that he is unable to say no.
Hadley has her own demons to contend with, but she was willing to take on Ander's as well. He just needed to draw her in and not push her away. He was high on his love for her, but it just wasn't enough to quench his need.
Their chemistry was off the charts. Two people destined for each other...but can their love withstand this hell...
𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣. 𝙃𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙚, 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨, 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨, 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙.
I don't want to say too much and give the story away, but wow... This was such a powerful read.
That cliffhanger though!!
It's gritty and and captivating. It's draws you in and doesn't let go.
I could not put this book down!
Ander's struggles were real, so gut wrenching and overpowering everything else in his life. He suffered a trauma and never felt the need to work through besides for what he thought he needed or could to help.
Hadley was what he needed, he truly knew that, but something else was his siren song. Calling for him so loud and strong, that he is unable to say no.
Hadley has her own demons to contend with, but she was willing to take on Ander's as well. He just needed to draw her in and not push her away. He was high on his love for her, but it just wasn't enough to quench his need.
Their chemistry was off the charts. Two people destined for each other...but can their love withstand this hell...
𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣. 𝙃𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙚, 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨, 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨, 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙.
I don't want to say too much and give the story away, but wow... This was such a powerful read.
That cliffhanger though!!
October 4, 2020
Such a great book. So heartbreaking. The struggles Ander faced were real. An actual REALITY for so many people at that age. I felt so deep for both him and Hadley. Hadley wanted to fix him but had her own demons herself that she kept hidden. They were both so young but had been through so much in their lives. This was not a cute girl meets boy and they fall in love at college and have babies romance. This was a boy meets girl in college and they fall in love while trying to find themselves and not drown in their suffering type of romance. Its so easy to find substances to mask your inner pain. That is every life for most people. And I love that it was a focal point in this romance story. It broke my heart. I have been through this. But I know (or I hope) that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel for this couple. It wouldnt be ideal for it to end so easily and quickly. I am happy with the way it ended and I cannot wait for book 2 and to see how these characters grow to overcome their obstacles. Fantastic story. Perfectly written tortured hero and heroine.
October 28, 2020
I am NOT okay you guys! 😭
You know my friends, there will come a time you will read a book that will touch you so profoundly that it will leave you wandering aimlessly for days afterwards in a perpetual state of shock, worry, and frustration. You will go through tears, sadness, still thinking about the book, going back and reading parts again. You will be anticipating the next book and at the same time overcome with so much emotion from the first book.
THIS was my emotional state after reading Opium Skies.I was not only riding the hot mess express, I’m the freaking train conductor of that bitch. I am so blown away and in awe of C.M.Radcliff and at the brilliance that she displayed in this book. If you haven’t read her yet…STOP EVERYTHING NOW!!, and start devouring her books, because you my book lovin buddies, have been missing out.
Ander and Hadley’s story hurts, y’all. I’m not gonna lie. It’s so rivetingly raw and serves you up the harsh truths of love in a world of addiction. What it’s like to be head over heels in love with a liar, with a promise breaker, with someone who will hurt you, because they ultimately love the high more than they love themselves.
This book is gut-wrenching in its realness, it cuts to the core, because it’s so authentic. I felt like I had a front row seat to the events as they unfolded. Because this author's attention to detail was top notch. I could close my eyes and picture every single detail. Sights, sounds and smells. No detail too small, just enough to paint the perfect picture in my mind. I mentally was on this journey with them. From the witty banter fun filled moments, to the sexy and steamy moments.
To the moments that left me crying my eyes out a blubbering mess (and totally getting WTF looks from my family) my friends, be ready to hurt for these characters that I fell so quickly in love with. You will too! Characters that are by no means perfect, but imperfectly perfect phenomenally written characters. They had unbelievable chemistry from the get go which made their obstacles that much more heartbreaking. I can’t wait for the next book because I am literally left on the edge of my seat grasping at any hint of what’s to come of these characters.
I want them to have the future not only I desire for them but that I think they deserve. I’m holding out hope for a HEA, but I also know that it seems like at this point my loves, Hadley and Ander are going to have to go through the nine circles of hell and back to get to that HEA. That is even if they even have a shot… And right now, they have just passed that first circle of hell. Love isn't the issue. One is on a fast path of destruction...Question is will they take the other down with them?
My cr8zysockbookblock blog wrap up for this book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐⭐️-I am SO in LOVE with this book Y’ALL! I could literally go on for days, actually for weeks about this book because it is still on my mind, heart and soul. Get ready y’all because it WILL take you on a crash course of feelings. complete with loop-de-loops and backwards crawls! But I happen to believe there is nothing that feels like the release you get from a good release of the build up of tears that can only come with an epic book hangover kind of therapeutic cry!
🔥🔥🔥🔥- SO FREAKING HOT!! Pearl Clutchers Beware!! LOL
If you can't take the heat get out tha kitchen! They are absolutely smokin!
🌪Cliffhanger Warning- You do NOT get a resolution for this couple in this book!
🔫🔫Trigger Warning- This book contains subject matter that could be a trigger for some folks. I’m not going to give specific spoilers. I will just say both of these two have been through some stuff and it’s not always easy to read about it, but how the characters come out in the end was so important to their journey. If you have any specific questions please feel free to PM me.
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October 29, 2020
SO MANY FEELINGS. Opium Skies is an unflinching look at the nexus of love and addiction, at the toxicity ofSO MANY FEELINGS. Opium Skies is an unflinching look at the nexus of love and addiction, a gentle but unfiltered story about how easily unhealthy coping and codependence can become toxic. This story is swelling with emotional complexity- a narrative that is raw, heartbreaking, and haunting.
This story caught me off guard, and not just at how openly CM addresses casual and destructive drug use. I wasn’t anticipating for it to go where it did, and I’m left reeling from the painful cliffhanger. Ander and Hadley consumed me- I loved them, I hurt for them, and I’m angry at them. Both have past pains and trauma they are trying to hide from, and they can’t confront it, so they both want to hide from it. So they cope with what they perceive as the lesser of two evils-chemical numbing. They need to escape reality, to lighten the weight of their demons. To avoid the war they are in with themselves. And then they meet each other- and their connection is undeniable, magnetic, and shakes up their whole world, because it makes them feel. They are addicted to each other, while silently enabling each other to keep escaping-both in each other and in their vices. But the fine line between addiction and controlled (but destructive) coping is thin, and soon one turns into the other.
This is not the love story you know- because they do not heal each other. They love each other, they see and understand each other, they support each other- but that does not change their need to escape from their pain, from themselves. Love does not make them better. It’s not romantic- because it’s real. It’s TRUTH. Because love is not enough to save someone who does not want to be saved.
I loved an addict for most of my life. And the question this book grapples with is the question that haunts me every day- the questions that are permanently etched in the scars of my heart. Is standing by their side, giving my unconditional love empowering…. or enabling? What is the line? Over and over again- the “I’ll quit….for you.” The broken promises. The destruction. The personality distortion. The steady corrosion of love and trust. I’ve lived it, and I still don’t know the answer. And neither do our characters, but they know the truth of addiction and love. That addiction not only destroys the addict- it transmutes everyone and everything around them.
This is only the beginning- a story about how quickly and easily one can fall into addiction- as easily as you can fall into love. In the blink of an eye. Can love survive a toxic foundation? Is love enough when you are drowning in your demons? Oh, my soul, this book goes there and my heart hurts for Ander and Hadley. I know the journey forward for them will not be easy, but I hope that these two may eventually escape the dark.
dangerous co-dependence and unhealthy coping. This story is swelling with emotional complexity- a narrative that is raw, heartbreaking, and haunting.
Can love survive a toxic foundation? Is love enough when you are drowning in your demons? Oh, my soul, this book goes there and my heart hurts. These two characters are everything.
This story caught me off guard, and not just at how openly CM addresses casual and destructive drug use. I wasn’t anticipating for it to go where it did, and I’m left reeling from the painful cliffhanger. Ander and Hadley consumed me- I loved them, I hurt for them, and I’m angry at them. Both have past pains and trauma they are trying to hide from, and they can’t confront it, so they both want to hide from it. So they cope with what they perceive as the lesser of two evils-chemical numbing. They need to escape reality, to lighten the weight of their demons. To avoid the war they are in with themselves. And then they meet each other- and their connection is undeniable, magnetic, and shakes up their whole world, because it makes them feel. They are addicted to each other, while silently enabling each other to keep escaping-both in each other and in their vices. But the fine line between addiction and controlled (but destructive) coping is thin, and soon one turns into the other.
This is not the love story you know- because they do not heal each other. They love each other, they see and understand each other, they support each other- but that does not change their need to escape from their pain, from themselves. Love does not make them better. It’s not romantic- because it’s real. It’s TRUTH. Because love is not enough to save someone who does not want to be saved.
I loved an addict for most of my life. And the question this book grapples with is the question that haunts me every day- the questions that are permanently etched in the scars of my heart. Is standing by their side, giving my unconditional love empowering…. or enabling? What is the line? Over and over again- the “I’ll quit….for you.” The broken promises. The destruction. The personality distortion. The steady corrosion of love and trust. I’ve lived it, and I still don’t know the answer. And neither do our characters, but they know the truth of addiction and love. That addiction not only destroys the addict- it transmutes everyone and everything around them.
This is only the beginning- a story about how quickly and easily one can fall into addiction- as easily as you can fall into love. In the blink of an eye. Can love survive a toxic foundation? Is love enough when you are drowning in your demons? Oh, my soul, this book goes there and my heart hurts for Ander and Hadley. I know the journey forward for them will not be easy, but I hope that these two may eventually escape the dark.
dangerous co-dependence and unhealthy coping. This story is swelling with emotional complexity- a narrative that is raw, heartbreaking, and haunting.
Can love survive a toxic foundation? Is love enough when you are drowning in your demons? Oh, my soul, this book goes there and my heart hurts. These two characters are everything.
October 30, 2020
Review
We lose track of time as we’re caught in the moment, completely consumed with each other. I’m a mess, we’re both drowning, but neither of us bothers to come up for air. Ander replaces my need for oxygen and I let him fill my body and soul with life.
I've been dying to read this story ever since...
Opium Skies is about Hadley and Ander all-consuming passion. Well, the title kinda given away the plot device of the story yet it doesn't end up with that, the path of these two is way deeper than the exterior transpiring a coarse of emotion.
“Give me all of your lies and broken promises. If you think that the truth and promises are deadly, you have no idea what damage deception and deceit will do.”
Ander was spiralling down because of his addiction and even though he knows he's bringing Hadley to a warpath he, however, decided to be greedy. As for Hadley, she badly yearns to help Ander, but “you can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved, ” right???
When it comes to him and me, we never had a choice. The choice was already made for us and written in the stars in the sky. The funny thing is though, every single star in the sky eventually falls to its demise.
I know from the get-go their romance was doomed and will only end up to the destruction, it's like you're watching a trainwreck, it's inevitable to come to pass.
C.M. Radcliff delivers an impressive ill-starred romance that encircles a raw and bitterly disposition.
“This was our fate, our destiny. We were destined to destroy each other”.
We lose track of time as we’re caught in the moment, completely consumed with each other. I’m a mess, we’re both drowning, but neither of us bothers to come up for air. Ander replaces my need for oxygen and I let him fill my body and soul with life.
I've been dying to read this story ever since...
Opium Skies is about Hadley and Ander all-consuming passion. Well, the title kinda given away the plot device of the story yet it doesn't end up with that, the path of these two is way deeper than the exterior transpiring a coarse of emotion.
“Give me all of your lies and broken promises. If you think that the truth and promises are deadly, you have no idea what damage deception and deceit will do.”
Ander was spiralling down because of his addiction and even though he knows he's bringing Hadley to a warpath he, however, decided to be greedy. As for Hadley, she badly yearns to help Ander, but “you can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved, ” right???
When it comes to him and me, we never had a choice. The choice was already made for us and written in the stars in the sky. The funny thing is though, every single star in the sky eventually falls to its demise.
I know from the get-go their romance was doomed and will only end up to the destruction, it's like you're watching a trainwreck, it's inevitable to come to pass.
C.M. Radcliff delivers an impressive ill-starred romance that encircles a raw and bitterly disposition.
“This was our fate, our destiny. We were destined to destroy each other”.
October 2, 2020
Holy hell I am utterly speechless this is my first read by C.M Radcliff and I can assure you it will not be my last! C.M Radcliff has crafted a beautiful gut wrenching story that will have your heart in your mouth from the very first page to the very last This book is one of my top reads of 2020 buckle up ladies your in for the ride of your life!
“Opium Skies” deals with sensitive subjects this is a book that focuses on addiction and how that can effect your life and your relationships this book is so powerful it’s the most powerful book I’ve ever read
Hadley and Ander were everything they had a beautiful relationship but at the same time it was also very toxic they both had their inner demons to deal with their love was real, raw, gritty and devastatingly beautiful I loved C M Radcliffe’s writing style and how she portrayed this story this was a fantastic way to start what is going to be an EPIC series and I can’t wait to read more from
This series
I can’t recommend this book enough to readers I urge you to add this book to your TBR pile and pre order now you won’t regret it this book will leave you craving more and you will become “addicted” to this story just as I was
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
FIVE STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 7, 2020
☁️🖤𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝑶𝒇 𝑨 𝑩𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘🖤☁️“𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚞𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: Opium Skies, book one in the In Vein Series by C.M. Radcliff is nothing like I expected and better than I ever could have imagined. This contemporary dark romance is heartbreakingly beautiful. I connected and felt so much for both of these characters. I personally have been on BOTH sides of this story. I have been an addict, and I have been in love with an addict. Opium Skies is NOT a sweet romance, this one is a really hard, really freaking tough read that centers around love, and addiction.“𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚍. 𝙻𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚍, 𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎, 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙸 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚍. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚔, 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍-𝚞𝚙 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗-—𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚞𝚙𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚜—𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚝𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚒𝚝.
𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚝𝚎, 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚗𝚎.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚖𝚎.”
I have to hand it to C.M. Radcliff… this is most definitely NOT a topic that I have seen many authors cover. Especially not in such graphic detail. Even though it was a tough read for me, because of my history with drugs, I feel like it was a necessary one. This is an issue that a LOT of people and families are dealing with, or have dealt with, these days even if they don’t talk about it, many people are being impacted in some way or another by this epidemic. So to read a romance novel so real, raw, and uncut as Opium Skies… was mind-blowing in the best way possible.
This is one of those books that reviews could easily ruin. So I’m not going to give a rundown of the story nor the characters. What I will say is that both of these tortured characters have demons and although they both WANT to help each other, they have to learn to help themselves first, and unfortunately… one of them wasn’t quite ready for that.
“𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸, 𝚠𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚊 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚞𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚢.
This is a read that you need to go into blind, and with a completely open mind since it’s not the normal boy meets girl romance story. But I think in the end, it’s a story that really needed to be written and I’m excited to see what Radcliff does with book two. I have a feeling we haven’t seen the worst of this story yet and that there will be a whole lot more turmoil and heartbreak before these two finally get their happily ever after.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎.”
If you are a fan of unconventional, angsty new adult romances, then I highly, highly recommend you get your hands on a copy of Opium Skies ASAP!
💙 (𝑯) 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒐: Ander Capelli, “𝙷𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜. 𝙰𝚗 𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚝, 𝚌𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚢, 𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚐𝚘𝚍. 𝙼𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚢𝚙𝚎. 𝙸’𝚖 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍.”
❤️ (𝒉) 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒆: Hadley Winters, “𝙷𝚊𝚍𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸’𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚍𝚎, 𝚌𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚎, 𝚍𝚛𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜, 𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚗 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍.”
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 & 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎: There was definitely sexual tension and chemistry between Ander and Hadley. But I must admit that I did deduct a star from my rating because of how little build-up of the connection was between them before they were so madly in love. It just didn’t ring true or believable to me and felt more like insta-lust, rather than insta-love or love. I just need to SEE that connection grow organically and it just wasn’t there. Also, the steamy scenes were more of the “fade to black” type of scenes and weren’t as steamy as I would have thought they would be. But bonus points for that dirty mouth of Ander’s! It surely made up for some of what was lacking in the details for me.
“𝚆𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎, 𝙷𝚊𝚍𝚕𝚎𝚢, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜—𝚞𝚜—𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚊 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚠𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚝.”
🌪🌪🌪🌪🌪 𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: YES! This story is FAR from over and as I stated above, I have a feeling that we haven’t seen anywhere near the worst of it yet. Keeping an eye out for book two, Black Clouds of Cotton.
⚠️ 𝑻𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: There are difficult subjects that could be considered triggers. E.g. GRAPHIC DRUG USE! When I first saw this book was about drug addiction… I was nervous to read it because I was scared that it would be a trigger for me but there’s nothing that Radcliff has published that I haven’t read so I didn’t want to miss out on this one.“𝙰 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎, 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚜 𝚊𝚝 𝚖���� 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘 𝚒𝚝. 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜. 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍𝚎𝚛, 𝚍𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎, 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢.”
I must admit… there were a few scenes that I had to skim over. Normally it wouldn’t be a big deal for me, I have over five years clean and sober. But they were just a little too graphic. So, I will say that if graphic drug use is a trigger for you, please proceed with caution.
If you’d like to discuss these triggers more, feel free to DM me!“𝙷𝚊𝚍𝚕𝚎𝚢, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗’𝚝 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚎, 𝚜𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘.”
“𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝙸 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏.”
“𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎, 𝚗𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚠.”
December 11, 2020
The synopsis for this story sounded fantastic. Also, the cover is so pretty. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with it at all. I just couldn't find anything I liked about either character. It felt super insta-lovey and I was annoyed at everyone. The writing felt awkward as well.
Just not for me.
Just not for me.
October 24, 2020
There is not another story that will hit you as profoundly as Ander and Hadley. You don't want to miss a chance to experience the truth in addiction in such a tragically beautiful way.
July 8, 2022
REVIEW COMING SOON!
January 15, 2021
Flawlessly done. CM Radcliff is a wizard with words.
April 18, 2022
DNF @ 32% I'm just not connecting with this and it feels a little OTT with the cliches and even the way they talk is too much
August 29, 2021
UPDATED READ
“We Were Destined for Destruction”.
A destruction in the form of an addiction. A fair warning this book tackles with addiction and a blossoming of a toxic relationship. A relationship that is bound by lies and broken promises.
This book was heartbreak central and was a book that I connected to on a personal level with the whole addiction side. Growing up in a household like that was hard as all you wanted to do was be by their side while they saved themselves but the thing about addictions is that the person has to want to save themselves.
That’s the beauty and the pain in this story! As soon as I read the blurb and the prologue I knew that I was in for such an emotionally charged book.
From the moment that these two characters laid eyes on each other, it was instant, and it was intense. They knew that they were made for each other. He was like a tornado swooping in and wrecking havoc on her life and stripping her bare.
This girl, had the power to make him cave and ruin him. She has that force that she could fuck his life up and it would only going to be a matter of time. Our hero here, is such a complex character that you just want to peel him back layer by layer and uncover all the hidden glory that he keeps hidden so tight. But there is a reason why he keeps everything so tight lipped and I for one need to know more.
As the story unfolded, this book has sunk its claws into me and wasn’t letting go.
These these two characters had become so lost in each other that’s it’s unhealthy with how much they come to rely on each other but in a way it’s the only way they know how. When one falls, so does the other. They are a mess of epic proportions but they are a perfectly imperfect chaotic mess.
But before long, you had this feeling as you’re reading that something was bound to happen. You were waiting for the shoe to drop. But the question is what happens when it does? Will what these two have be strong enough to keep the other from drowning?
Well now that is for you to find out, this is a book that you have to read and feel the impact it has on you. It’s a perfectly imperfect story that has been written in a way that this author nailed their point of views.
You never realise how much addiction can take over someone’s life and to become an anchor of survival. That without it, they have nothing.
*ARC WAS PROVIDED IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
“We Were Destined for Destruction”.
A destruction in the form of an addiction. A fair warning this book tackles with addiction and a blossoming of a toxic relationship. A relationship that is bound by lies and broken promises.
This book was heartbreak central and was a book that I connected to on a personal level with the whole addiction side. Growing up in a household like that was hard as all you wanted to do was be by their side while they saved themselves but the thing about addictions is that the person has to want to save themselves.
That’s the beauty and the pain in this story! As soon as I read the blurb and the prologue I knew that I was in for such an emotionally charged book.
From the moment that these two characters laid eyes on each other, it was instant, and it was intense. They knew that they were made for each other. He was like a tornado swooping in and wrecking havoc on her life and stripping her bare.
This girl, had the power to make him cave and ruin him. She has that force that she could fuck his life up and it would only going to be a matter of time. Our hero here, is such a complex character that you just want to peel him back layer by layer and uncover all the hidden glory that he keeps hidden so tight. But there is a reason why he keeps everything so tight lipped and I for one need to know more.
As the story unfolded, this book has sunk its claws into me and wasn’t letting go.
These these two characters had become so lost in each other that’s it’s unhealthy with how much they come to rely on each other but in a way it’s the only way they know how. When one falls, so does the other. They are a mess of epic proportions but they are a perfectly imperfect chaotic mess.
But before long, you had this feeling as you’re reading that something was bound to happen. You were waiting for the shoe to drop. But the question is what happens when it does? Will what these two have be strong enough to keep the other from drowning?
Well now that is for you to find out, this is a book that you have to read and feel the impact it has on you. It’s a perfectly imperfect story that has been written in a way that this author nailed their point of views.
You never realise how much addiction can take over someone’s life and to become an anchor of survival. That without it, they have nothing.
*ARC WAS PROVIDED IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
October 16, 2020
“He could stuff me full of lies, but none of that would matter because he was right about one thing. When it comes to him and I, we never had a choice. The choice was already made for us and written in the stars in the sky. The funny thing is though, every single star in the sky eventually falls to its demise.”
Wow! This book turned a 180 quick!
While this story seemed to moved extremely fast, I thoroughly enjoyed it and the realism of how intense addiction can bite you. It’s terrifying. If you’ve lived a day near someone who has an addiction, you also know their nightmares. Their demons. You know how heartbreaking and soul crushing it is to watch a friend and/or loved one touch drugs and end up addicted.
Even if they think they’re in control. And we all know they’re not.
“The only thing I can feel is the dope coursing through my veins and I let it consume me, entirely. I’m like a ship lost at sea, but it has a familiar warmth, one that feels like coming home. I get lost in the undertow as it drags me deeper away from the shore and I slip into the sweet euphoria as everything around me goes black.”
I must admit the main character that ends up becoming the addict isn’t the one I thought it would be.
This is a insta-attraction type story. While it’s played out as a love story, I did struggle to believe these two were in love as intently as they claim towards the end of book one.
However, Opium Skies leaves off on a cliffhanger and really, the beginning of this couples story. We haven’t even hit the darkest moments of addiction I don’t think. I’m holding onto this sad, hard, realistic story of addiction and not wanting to let go of the person who refuses to help themselves. I’ll be definitely waiting to read book two.
Wow! This book turned a 180 quick!
While this story seemed to moved extremely fast, I thoroughly enjoyed it and the realism of how intense addiction can bite you. It’s terrifying. If you’ve lived a day near someone who has an addiction, you also know their nightmares. Their demons. You know how heartbreaking and soul crushing it is to watch a friend and/or loved one touch drugs and end up addicted.
Even if they think they’re in control. And we all know they’re not.
“The only thing I can feel is the dope coursing through my veins and I let it consume me, entirely. I’m like a ship lost at sea, but it has a familiar warmth, one that feels like coming home. I get lost in the undertow as it drags me deeper away from the shore and I slip into the sweet euphoria as everything around me goes black.”
I must admit the main character that ends up becoming the addict isn’t the one I thought it would be.
This is a insta-attraction type story. While it’s played out as a love story, I did struggle to believe these two were in love as intently as they claim towards the end of book one.
However, Opium Skies leaves off on a cliffhanger and really, the beginning of this couples story. We haven’t even hit the darkest moments of addiction I don’t think. I’m holding onto this sad, hard, realistic story of addiction and not wanting to let go of the person who refuses to help themselves. I’ll be definitely waiting to read book two.
October 12, 2020
‘𝙄 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙣𝙤. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩.‘
The 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗧𝗘 I found out about this book, I knew a few things.
𝟭. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.
𝟮. 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀.
𝘐’𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘴.
The 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗚𝗟𝗘 for each of these characters trying so desperately to get a hold on something that was ravaging them was absolutely breathtaking. It was heartbreaking, and so incredibly accurately portrayed. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘥.
‘𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜.’
I 𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗 for each character individually, and for their love as a couple.
From the moment we met Ander, I felt the chemistry, the connection, the absolute sense of right with them together. And Hadley was the literal flame, drawing the explosion closer and closer.
I cannot wait for the conclusion of this one. I already know it’s not to be missed.
The 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗧𝗘 I found out about this book, I knew a few things.
𝟭. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.
𝟮. 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀.
𝘐’𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘴.
The 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗚𝗟𝗘 for each of these characters trying so desperately to get a hold on something that was ravaging them was absolutely breathtaking. It was heartbreaking, and so incredibly accurately portrayed. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘥.
‘𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜.’
I 𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗 for each character individually, and for their love as a couple.
From the moment we met Ander, I felt the chemistry, the connection, the absolute sense of right with them together. And Hadley was the literal flame, drawing the explosion closer and closer.
I cannot wait for the conclusion of this one. I already know it’s not to be missed.
December 9, 2020
It had been a while since I had read quite an angsty book, but had expected this one to be a bit heavy especially with a title called "Opium Skies" and the series is about drugs. Hadley is ready for a fresh start and takes a few painkillers and Xanax type pills now and again but isn't addicted and can stop when she wants. When she starts college, she learns that her roommate isn't exactly the type to be her best friends she is the "b" word that rhymes with witch. Meanwhile, Hadley meets Anders who is her roommates' brother Troy's good friend and a bit of a drug dealer as he works at a casino. The pair both have their struggles and pasts and trying to find a way to move on with their lives, however, drugs seem to be their go-to answer. As I said Hadley can give up anytime, but what will happen when the guy she is falling hard for ends up dealing and taking the harder drugs? What happens when she tries to help him and it's like one step forward and two steps backward? When Anders overdoses will that be the last straw for Hadley or will she keep on trying to save him? How do you save someone, who doesn't want to be saved? Find out in Opium Skies, Book #1 in the In Vein series - a dark angsty NA edgy read by CM Radcliff.
October 27, 2020
Feels 3
Steam 2
Storyline 3.5
Overall Rating 3.5
Kindle eArc provided by Author
Reviewed by Stephanie
“Like an uncontrollable whirlwind, he tore through every aspect of my life, stripping me bare of everything I ever had. And for some sick, fucked-up reason through the ups and downs - I loved every minute of it. Every fucking minute, except for one. The very last minute that finally took him from me.”
I don’t usually take a look at reviews when I am done reading a book before posting my own. I was so torn the whole way through on how I felt about this book and wanted to see how others were feeling. I can see from taking a quick peek that I am in the minority with my thoughts on this one. I loved that the author tackled the dark and gritty world that is addiction. Some parts of this book will cut you open and let you bleed out. If you’re looking for a pretty story, this definitely is not it. I love a book that tackles the tough stuff that sometimes people shy away from. I think it’s so important to shed light on the truths that are out there...no matter how ugly that may look.
“Hadley Winters. I should stay away from her. She should have said no. But she didn’t. And now I can’t.”
Hadley is away at her first year of college and getting by with a little help from a friend. Only this friend is a small, blue dangerous pill. They help her get through the day. She feels she isn’t the same without them but doesn’t see that as necessarily an issue. They are all she wants and needs until she meets Ander. Ander has secrets and demons of his own and soon Hadley’s not only addicted to her little blue pills. She’s also addicted to a blue eyed boy.
“I don’t want to lie to her, but that’s what I do best. In the end, I always fuck everything up. It’s only a matter of time.”
These two start a quick and sometimes sweet but pretty toxic relationship. Ander is spiraling out of control. As much as he tries to keep Hadley sheltered from what is happening, it becomes impossible to separate the two. What should be a fun and carefree time in their lives for both of them turns dark and gritty as addiction begins to pull them under and things take a turn for the worse. Can the love they have for each other save them or will their addictions destroy them?
“Give me all your lies and broken promises.”
There are parts of this story that really pulled me in. Mainly the dark parts. I tried to pinpoint where or why I struggled with this whole book but I couldn’t. I applaud the author for not holding back on such a hard topic. I honestly wasn’t a huge fan of either character. I loved their names. I love dark books but this one I couldn't lose myself in. Parts were slow while others went too fast and I lost the connection. A very important topic. Sometimes it was a heartbreaking read but overall it didn't fully connect with me. I am, however, looking forward to the next book and really pulling for these two characters to have their HEA.
Steam 2
Storyline 3.5
Overall Rating 3.5
Kindle eArc provided by Author
Reviewed by Stephanie
“Like an uncontrollable whirlwind, he tore through every aspect of my life, stripping me bare of everything I ever had. And for some sick, fucked-up reason through the ups and downs - I loved every minute of it. Every fucking minute, except for one. The very last minute that finally took him from me.”
I don’t usually take a look at reviews when I am done reading a book before posting my own. I was so torn the whole way through on how I felt about this book and wanted to see how others were feeling. I can see from taking a quick peek that I am in the minority with my thoughts on this one. I loved that the author tackled the dark and gritty world that is addiction. Some parts of this book will cut you open and let you bleed out. If you’re looking for a pretty story, this definitely is not it. I love a book that tackles the tough stuff that sometimes people shy away from. I think it’s so important to shed light on the truths that are out there...no matter how ugly that may look.
“Hadley Winters. I should stay away from her. She should have said no. But she didn’t. And now I can’t.”
Hadley is away at her first year of college and getting by with a little help from a friend. Only this friend is a small, blue dangerous pill. They help her get through the day. She feels she isn’t the same without them but doesn’t see that as necessarily an issue. They are all she wants and needs until she meets Ander. Ander has secrets and demons of his own and soon Hadley’s not only addicted to her little blue pills. She’s also addicted to a blue eyed boy.
“I don’t want to lie to her, but that’s what I do best. In the end, I always fuck everything up. It’s only a matter of time.”
These two start a quick and sometimes sweet but pretty toxic relationship. Ander is spiraling out of control. As much as he tries to keep Hadley sheltered from what is happening, it becomes impossible to separate the two. What should be a fun and carefree time in their lives for both of them turns dark and gritty as addiction begins to pull them under and things take a turn for the worse. Can the love they have for each other save them or will their addictions destroy them?
“Give me all your lies and broken promises.”
There are parts of this story that really pulled me in. Mainly the dark parts. I tried to pinpoint where or why I struggled with this whole book but I couldn’t. I applaud the author for not holding back on such a hard topic. I honestly wasn’t a huge fan of either character. I loved their names. I love dark books but this one I couldn't lose myself in. Parts were slow while others went too fast and I lost the connection. A very important topic. Sometimes it was a heartbreaking read but overall it didn't fully connect with me. I am, however, looking forward to the next book and really pulling for these two characters to have their HEA.
October 18, 2020
Opium Skies by C.M.Radcliff consumed me and wrecked my heart. Such a beautifully tragic story with raw, gritty and undiluted feels. My heart is so heavy with the angst, the pain and the dark emotions. This story is an example of how riveting and inspiring a romance novel can be in hand of a brilliant writer.
This story is about the demons of addiction and how it destroys not only the person but only everything in their vicinity. Their friends. Their love. Their family. Hadley came to college to study nursing and she has a bit complex life with own issues. Then Ander came like a storm and changed everything. They were happy and deliriously in love. Till Ander lost himself in the dark ways of addiction. And all that remains is the ashes.
Addiction is a sensitive and very difficult issue. And my salute to C.M. Radcliff for her execution. For someone who has seen addiction and its destructive power from very close as part of professional life, I can tell you she captured the ugliness beautifully. She captured the desperation, the helplessness, the vicious cycles, the denial, the guilt and the utter breaking of a person piece by piece like a genius.Hadley may have issues but this girl was so lively and oh I love her freaking heart. She was broken, she was hurt but she fought the hopeless pain and she stayed there with Ander in that dark abyss. That is love. Ander is such a complex character. I loved his smirking, cocky, charming and arrogant personality. But he has his demons and they dragged him to hell. They have such an amazing love. Playful, steamy, intense and soul deep. It just killed me to see the downfall. But the story has just started and I trust C.M. Radcliff to put me together in the next book.
Opium Skies by C.M. Radcliff left me speechless and breathless. This is some next level of powerful writing. Even though I am feeling like an emotional massacre, this was a truly rewarding reading experience.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
This story is about the demons of addiction and how it destroys not only the person but only everything in their vicinity. Their friends. Their love. Their family. Hadley came to college to study nursing and she has a bit complex life with own issues. Then Ander came like a storm and changed everything. They were happy and deliriously in love. Till Ander lost himself in the dark ways of addiction. And all that remains is the ashes.
Addiction is a sensitive and very difficult issue. And my salute to C.M. Radcliff for her execution. For someone who has seen addiction and its destructive power from very close as part of professional life, I can tell you she captured the ugliness beautifully. She captured the desperation, the helplessness, the vicious cycles, the denial, the guilt and the utter breaking of a person piece by piece like a genius.Hadley may have issues but this girl was so lively and oh I love her freaking heart. She was broken, she was hurt but she fought the hopeless pain and she stayed there with Ander in that dark abyss. That is love. Ander is such a complex character. I loved his smirking, cocky, charming and arrogant personality. But he has his demons and they dragged him to hell. They have such an amazing love. Playful, steamy, intense and soul deep. It just killed me to see the downfall. But the story has just started and I trust C.M. Radcliff to put me together in the next book.
Opium Skies by C.M. Radcliff left me speechless and breathless. This is some next level of powerful writing. Even though I am feeling like an emotional massacre, this was a truly rewarding reading experience.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
October 29, 2020
4 Addiction Crowns
C.M Radcliff completely and meticulously shredded my heart and soul with this book. Ander and Hadley’s journey is an intensely dark and gritty look at the world of addiction and what it does to not only you but the people around you. Their story is like a million tiny paper cuts, each page turned is a new slice until you are slowly bleeding out all your emotions with no way to stop. I physically ached for these characters and the progression of their addiction and how hard they tried to hold on, tried to be better.
Can you save someone who doesn’t want to be saved? Can you love someone through their inability to stop the destructive path they are on? Is love enough? I had these questions and so many more running through my head while reading this. I think that’s a mark of a truly great writer when you are so invested in the characters you catch yourself wondering if they will be okay. If what they are doing is enough, or if tough love would be better? How do you know what you are doing will ultimately help, or if you are unintentionally making it worse? When do you decided to finally let go and move on? Or do you stay and let their darkness infect your soul and drag you into the depths with them?
This is my first book by C.M Radcliff and I was not prepared for the level of angst and the unwavering and raw look into such a sensitive topic she gave us. This book took me by surprise in the best way, Ander and Hadley have infected my mind and soul. You don’t want to miss out of this profound journey and the unfiltered look inside the abyss that is addiction.
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy
📷 @aundi_living_that_book_life
C.M Radcliff completely and meticulously shredded my heart and soul with this book. Ander and Hadley’s journey is an intensely dark and gritty look at the world of addiction and what it does to not only you but the people around you. Their story is like a million tiny paper cuts, each page turned is a new slice until you are slowly bleeding out all your emotions with no way to stop. I physically ached for these characters and the progression of their addiction and how hard they tried to hold on, tried to be better.
Can you save someone who doesn’t want to be saved? Can you love someone through their inability to stop the destructive path they are on? Is love enough? I had these questions and so many more running through my head while reading this. I think that’s a mark of a truly great writer when you are so invested in the characters you catch yourself wondering if they will be okay. If what they are doing is enough, or if tough love would be better? How do you know what you are doing will ultimately help, or if you are unintentionally making it worse? When do you decided to finally let go and move on? Or do you stay and let their darkness infect your soul and drag you into the depths with them?
This is my first book by C.M Radcliff and I was not prepared for the level of angst and the unwavering and raw look into such a sensitive topic she gave us. This book took me by surprise in the best way, Ander and Hadley have infected my mind and soul. You don’t want to miss out of this profound journey and the unfiltered look inside the abyss that is addiction.
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Complimentary Copy
📷 @aundi_living_that_book_life
April 14, 2021
Well, shit!!! This was a dark mess of a story! I knew going in that it was gonna be raw as hell which is why I read it. I was completely sucked in to this world, I barely left it for anything else. I’m drawn to these fucked up stories and characters but wow...from the beginning I was just beyond hooked. I felt for these two broken souls, knowing they were destined for destruction from the start but hoping they’d beat all obstacles anyway. This was a good look into the world of hardcore drugs and how it fucks a person up without hesitation. Obliterating everything in its path. Not only affecting the person addicted but the people who love them and want to save them. Not everyone can be saved, as it’s in the clutches so deep...there’s no way out.
Fuck me! My head was done in. This world is so dark and gritty...parts made me wince and gasp for air as though I was in its clutches. The writing was just superb and flowed smoothly. The characters flawed but endearing. You wanted to root for them the whole time and you felt your world shatter when theirs did. My heart broke at the end. I was left in scattered pieces on the floor with Hadley. Poor Ander. We love that broken boy and want him to be saved.
Damn drugs and their vice-like grips.
It was the first book in this twisted series, which I’m excited and yet a little apprehensive to see where it goes. I just know it’s gonna get even crazier!
Bring. It. On.
Fuck me! My head was done in. This world is so dark and gritty...parts made me wince and gasp for air as though I was in its clutches. The writing was just superb and flowed smoothly. The characters flawed but endearing. You wanted to root for them the whole time and you felt your world shatter when theirs did. My heart broke at the end. I was left in scattered pieces on the floor with Hadley. Poor Ander. We love that broken boy and want him to be saved.
Damn drugs and their vice-like grips.
It was the first book in this twisted series, which I’m excited and yet a little apprehensive to see where it goes. I just know it’s gonna get even crazier!
Bring. It. On.
September 27, 2020
I'm a big fan of this author but I can honestly say that this book of hers had me seeing her in a whole new light. It was unlike anything I've ever read from her before.
Opium Skies deals with addiction. More than one kind of more than one nature. It's stars Hadley and Ander (God, I even love their NAMES) and their story is as real, uncut and raw as you can get. A gritty love that is as beautiful as it is toxic.
Radcliff will show you a very real side to addiction that we tend to shy away from but you will love it. She'll also tug at your heartstrings real hard and have you fanning yourself a little. You will love the angst and the pain and the hurt and Hadley and Ander so, so much! I'm absolutely aching for more even though I'm not entirely sure my heart can handle it just yet.
The cover is absolutely stunning. Hands down my favourite cover of this author's to date. And the story is phenomenal too. It's a "5 star without thinking twice" kinda book.
Book one of the In Vein Series. Book 2 is titled Black Clouds of Cotton.
*Reviewed by Ali at Fallen For Books.
Opium Skies deals with addiction. More than one kind of more than one nature. It's stars Hadley and Ander (God, I even love their NAMES) and their story is as real, uncut and raw as you can get. A gritty love that is as beautiful as it is toxic.
Radcliff will show you a very real side to addiction that we tend to shy away from but you will love it. She'll also tug at your heartstrings real hard and have you fanning yourself a little. You will love the angst and the pain and the hurt and Hadley and Ander so, so much! I'm absolutely aching for more even though I'm not entirely sure my heart can handle it just yet.
The cover is absolutely stunning. Hands down my favourite cover of this author's to date. And the story is phenomenal too. It's a "5 star without thinking twice" kinda book.
Book one of the In Vein Series. Book 2 is titled Black Clouds of Cotton.
*Reviewed by Ali at Fallen For Books.
October 22, 2020
‘I’ve been drowning in an ocean of him from the moment I dove in headfirst. With every word, every look, and every touch, he pulls me deeper under the waves with him. If its sink or swim, I would rather sink than swim to the surface without him.’
4.5 stars
Days later and I’m still speechless. I’ve tried writing this review a million and one different ways but I just can’t seem to find the right words to describe how incredible this book is.
C. M. Radcliffe has tackle an issue so many people now days are faced with in such a real and raw way. It shows how this issue effects not only the people directly involved, but their loved ones as well.
It’s emotional, it’s angsty as hell and had my heart breaking in so many different ways. I would recommend this read to everyone, especially those who love a heartbreaking angsty book.
Please note: This book does contents that some readers may find triggering and/disturbing. It also ends on a cliffhanger.
Thank you too C. M. Radcliffe and Give Me Books PR for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
Days later and I’m still speechless. I’ve tried writing this review a million and one different ways but I just can’t seem to find the right words to describe how incredible this book is.
C. M. Radcliffe has tackle an issue so many people now days are faced with in such a real and raw way. It shows how this issue effects not only the people directly involved, but their loved ones as well.
It’s emotional, it’s angsty as hell and had my heart breaking in so many different ways. I would recommend this read to everyone, especially those who love a heartbreaking angsty book.
Please note: This book does contents that some readers may find triggering and/disturbing. It also ends on a cliffhanger.
Thank you too C. M. Radcliffe and Give Me Books PR for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2020
Opium Skies by C.M. Radcliff takes a look at the messy and scary side of addiction. This book breaks your heart more and more throughout and is not a read to be taken lightly.
This book touches on addiction in a real way. It doesn't hide beneath anything and is not a fluffy read. It was considerably tough to read and opened my eyes to what addiction can do.
Hadley and Anders have a... complicated relationship. It's steamy with a bit of banter, but like every relationship on the planet, it has its rocky places. Seeing how addiction affected their relationship was truly heartbreaking, especially when addiction is in the mix. Both of them... poor couple, and damn you stupid demons!
This book was very eye-opening to me, and it's been a very long time since I've read a book dealing with addiction. It has left me intrigued as to what will happen, given the huge cliffhanger we were given, and I'm curious, if not hopeful for a happier ending.
An incredible but tough read. Read with caution.
This book touches on addiction in a real way. It doesn't hide beneath anything and is not a fluffy read. It was considerably tough to read and opened my eyes to what addiction can do.
Hadley and Anders have a... complicated relationship. It's steamy with a bit of banter, but like every relationship on the planet, it has its rocky places. Seeing how addiction affected their relationship was truly heartbreaking, especially when addiction is in the mix. Both of them... poor couple, and damn you stupid demons!
This book was very eye-opening to me, and it's been a very long time since I've read a book dealing with addiction. It has left me intrigued as to what will happen, given the huge cliffhanger we were given, and I'm curious, if not hopeful for a happier ending.
An incredible but tough read. Read with caution.
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