Recovery Mya My entire world has been rocked with a loss, and I need to escape. With nothing left to lose, I leave behind the place I grew up and the memories haunting me there. I trust no one. Then I meet him. And he won’t stay out of my way. Jase I trust few. I work hard and mind my own business. But when a friend of a friend needs help, unfortunately, I can’t seem to do that. On the outside, she seems utterly broken. But I see that fire in her flickering under the surface. She’s been through hell, but I’m insanely desperate to bring her back. I know plenty about recovery, after all.
Nicole Dykes is a wife and a professional assistant/mom to two gorgeous girls. Currently residing in Kansas, she’s a lover of coffee, Kansas City Chiefs, and all things romance.
She's found her passion in writing M/M romance because love is love is love. Some popular works include Hostile, The Spark of Hope Series, and The Kensley Panthers Series!
What I love most about Nicole Dykes writing is that her characters are real. They have so much flaw and the characters own it. This book is about two lost souls dealing with tragedy in their own way. Recovery.... This is about recovering from loss, pain, and tragedy. Jace and Mya have so much chemistry emotional and physical. They can read each other most of the time without hearing them speak. This book reminds us that healing can occur especially with friends like the ones in Recovery. This is another emotional masterpiece that Nicole has written so be ready. If you want a quick read and want to feel all your emotions during it, this book is for you!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
Mya's world has turned upside down and she needs to leave St. Louis and all the bad memories with it. She turns to her friend, Rhys, who helps her get a job in Nashville. It's there that she meets, Jase. They have an instant connection, but Mya insists she is not staying there long and to not get attached. That doesn't stop their physical relationship from starting, though.
Jase is a sweet guy that has been through a lot. He can sense that Mya has been through a lot, too, and he just wants to be there for her and help. I love that he didn't stop trying to talk to her and break through her walls.
I loved all the secondary characters in this story and am definitely looking forward to Finn and Charity's story.
“I’ll never change my mind about you, Mya. You’re what I wanted from the day I saw you.”
Recovery picks up right where Clarity leaves off where we met Mya, when she walks into Rhys’ tattoo shop. We also meet the rest of the crew at Lyrics and Ink, James, Tommy, Finn, and Jase, along with seeing Logan and Quinn, from Redemption, again. I loved the glimpses of past characters, but also meeting the new ones.
Mya is trying to get away from the tragedy that just turned her world upside down. She wants to escape the city and all the bad. Start over. Jase is pretty low key. He keeps to himself, but can’t help trying to get to know Mya more.
Mya and Jase have an instant attraction and connection towards each other. Mya has been through so much and is incredibly strong. She tries to keep her distance from him, but there is something that keeps reeling her in. Jase is the sweetest. He sees how strong she is and that she is going through something, and allows her the time and space to open up to him on her own terms. There is something about Jase that Mya can’t figure out, and when she finds out what it is, she automatically judges him for it because of the trust issues she has thanks to her mother.
This book was not as emotional or as heavy as some of Nicole's other books, but it was still heartbreaking. This story was full of hope, and getting a chance at a better life. She never fails to hook you in with her words. She is unapologetic in the way she writes her raw and real characters. This timeline of this book moves fairly quickly, and I would have loved to see more moments of Jase and Mya getting to know each other, but overall I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to Salvation, which is Finn and Charity’s story.
ARC generously gifted in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I wish I could say I’m going to keep my distance now, let her be strong and silent and stay away from all of us. But I know, without a doubt, that’s not true.”
What You’ll Find: ✔️New Adult Romance ✔️Instalust ✔️Tragic Pasts ✔️Steamy AF ✔️Dual POV
Mya’s world has been turned upside down. So she leaves the place she grew up to escape the horrific memories. Trusting no one. Until she meets Jase and he inserts himself into her life determined to light the fire he sees past her brokenness. After all, he recognizes the need for recovery, since he’s been there himself.
Mya and Jase had an instant connection that truly couldn’t be fought. So they give into each other. Mya was so lost. I felt for her and was equally frustrated with her. She was a bit over the top at times. But Jase. Gosh I loved him. A genuine good guy who always wants to help. But allows her to stand on her own two feet. There, waiting for her to make her own moves and decisions.
They both come from tragic pasts and I think their souls just recognized that in each other. Their chemistry heats up fairly quickly with a ton of steam. The story itself moves at a quick pace, it can easily be read in one or two sittings.
There was also a twist I did not see coming but really enjoyed. I was on the edge of my seat with worry for a minute there. I absolutely adored the side characters in this story. And am so looking forward to Finn and Charity’s story!!
I received an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I love how Nicole writes characters with raw and real feelings. They might not always have the best life but Nicole sure helps them find their happiness, of course with some angst along the way. Mya and Jase are both damaged souls with dark pasts. Unfortunate events brought them together but once they meet they can’t stay apart. She’s beautiful and complicated. He’s sexy and feels the need to heal people. Grief. Guilt. Regret. These are their emotions they’ve been dealing with and what they have to overcome to rise up and soar. This story is full of emotion and if you’ve read Nicole’s book before you’ll know there will be ton of emotion and angst and if you haven’t read her I definitely recommend reading this standalone with a guaranteed HEA. I loved this book and it was actually a quick read. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Wow! This is a story of hope! That even if you've given up on the world and let the pain harden you...that sometimes you still stumble upon a HEA. Mya is such a strong woman. At a very young age she has dealt with so much loss. She is running from it all and just trying to get away and start over. Jase made his share of mistakes but learned early on how to overcome. They almost instantly gravitate toward each other and their chemistry is undeniable. This is another great must read from Nicole! And after that ending I will say I cannot WAIT for the next book in this series!
This book starts off hitting you with all the feels!
Recovery is just that; learning to recover from trauma and loss. Learning to put the next foot forward while missing a vital part of yourself. Mya is doing this and thankfully she has a great safety net in the form of friends. This story is hers and how she learns to rely on them and to trust. It is also Jace's as he reveals all that hides underneath his playful smile.
In true Nicole Dykes fashion she puts us through the emotional wringer. The story she gives us here was very real and raw but written so you become very invested in their tale. You'll want to cheer for these characters and be sad when the book is over too soon. Great story from this author!
What a beautiful read, Nicole always knows how to get me attached to characters. She has a magical way of writing that I absolutely feel everything her characters are feeling I hurt with them, laugh with them, and I always feel the genuine connection and love between them, and that doesn’t just mean with the Main Characters romance no, it’s something you feel from every character and friendship in her books and I love it.
This book picks up right after Clarity Rys’s story and is connected to Quinn and Logan’s HEA (I haven’t read their book and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything so I definitely thing this one can be read as a stand-alone)
Mya and Jase’s story was short, but oh so beautiful. Like many of Nicole’s characters they have tragic backgrounds, we watch as maya grieves the loss of her little brother who she raised due to her neglectful addicted mother. As Jase is a light in the world even after everything that he endured losing his dad who was his hero at a young age and had to watch as his mother became a shell of herself, as he tries to gain her affection as a teen and finds himself making mistake after mistake, until he realizes he wants to be better...so he is. Jase is such a strong character for the way he is able to change his own life. And back to Mya, her strength for recovering and finding love is so freaking beautiful. These broken characters who put themselves and each other back together are just absolutely beautiful 🥺.
Also diversity we LOVE to see it!! Besides Mya being bi-racial we also have side characters, who are a gay couple one black the other Hispanic, who were an absolute light in this book!
"Every lyric she sang held her anguish. It was like watching someone break free, even if it was only for a moment."
This was a wonderful story of romance, healing and growth. Jase and Mya both come from traumatic backgrounds. Mya is trying to recover from recent trauma while Jase seems put together even though he had demons that continue to haunt him. These two have an immediate attraction to each other and then walk the line between friends and lovers as they also happen to be roommates. I really loved Jase- he had definitely worked so hard to overcome his prior trauma and was such a loving and loyal person. Mya definitely pulled on my heart as she had seen so much negative in her young life. These two definitely had a connection from the start. I did struggle with Mya not wanted to actually fall for Jase because while I understood her hesitation, Jase was such a good guy and was doing his best not to let his past dictate his future. I also really appreciated the rawness of this story as it definitely seemed realistic. And I was rooting for this couple and loved the ending!
Recovery is Jase and Mya's story and I actually read and listened to this one on audio. I loved the story but I preferred this one in ebook format I felt more connection to the characters and more impact of the hurdles they were facing reading it rather than listening. For me I don't think I quite gelled with Lacy Laurel's performance as Mya. For me personally she wasn't feisty enough, I read her with more attitude so that's probably my preconceived perceptions in place before picking up the audio. I enjoyed Tor Thom's performance as Jase, he had an ease about him as well as a conflict which was great for Jase.
This was an easier read from Nicole not quite as angsty as some of her other books, at times I found Mya a touch on the judgemental side but I think that was in part her fear of not wanting people close to her and being broken by them again. Jase was a softie at heart despite his tall, dark and handsome exterior. I loved the secondary characters too (some we know and other we don't) however I did find myself loving on the scenes with Finn in, he added some levity and his loyalty to Jase was commendable. The little teaser into his story for Salvation has me hooked.
Mya and Jase have pretty instant chemistry, physically, but when they both open up emotionally they really came into their own. I loved how this one turned out in the end and seeing Mya finally learn to breathe and have hope was a magical moment.
While Recovery still grapples with traumatic and complex experiences and certainly still has a hefty dash of emotional angst, this story did feel a little bit easier, a little bit smoother than those interconnected stories. Not a bad thing at all- in fact, it was nice to see two characters who have been so deeply scarred by their painful upbringings come together so naturally and organically and make the explicit decision to commit to each other and work through it together instead of letting it be a barrier. Though, the shorter story length may also have contributed to the there being fewer emotional obstacles. But mostly, as our title suggests, this is a story of recovery- characters who are already well on their way to working through their stuff, figuring out how to live as their full selves while still breathing the smog of their past pain. Of course, they are in two totally different places in their journey- a difference that supplies the central emotional conflict of their coupling. Jace has already done a lot of healing and growth, while Mya is still grappling with the very real and very recent emotional trauma.
I loved both Jace and Mya in their own ways. Mya definitely frustrated me in places- but I also respected and empathized with her need to distance herself from others, with her emotional walls. And Jace is the perfect person to break them down- someone who has long wrestled his own demons and has found a way to fill his life with life and hope. He’s pretty swoony- tender, sincere, flirty, and emotionally complex. I found them so fascinating, I wish we’d had more of their story- got to dig deeper into their connection and past- which is really just a testament to ND’s strengths as a character writer that she gives us such depth in a shorter length, and creates characters that are interesting and nuanced enough for readers to want to dig even deeper into.
While Mya’s resistance and emotional triggers make for an interesting roadmap for these two, overall their story is more sweet and gentle than anything. And, we have some interesting groundwork laid for a story about other characters that all signs point to being a classic raw, emotional, and heart wrenching ND story. Our ending felt more a primer for that story to come, but our couple does get to continue their emotional recovery together, and find a sweet and touching HEA.
I was generously given an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
h: Mya (20) H: Jase (25) (Dual POVs)
Mya has suffered through enough loss that she does not trust anyone and keeps anyone from getting close, with the exception of Rhys, Quinn and Logan. I honestly loved the amount of pride she had and her stubbornness to not rely on or get to know Jase and the other boys, but it was a very strong front she put on. Deep down she was suffering and was scared to be hurt even more. With that being said, it saddened me when Mya’s fears caused her to jump to conclusions and refuse to believe the people who were trying to rationalize with her.
Jase’s interest is instantly piqued when he learns of this ‘chick in trouble’ that’s coming to town. After meeting Mya and being able to see through her cold exterior, he immediately invests his time in trying to get her to open up so he can get to know her and the reason behind the pain he sees in her eyes. I absolutely adored him for persistently trying to make her feel comfortable and trying to take some of her pain away.
I truly appreciated the amount of diversity Nicole put into this book! Something I consistently enjoy about her writing is there is always some unpredictability in her stories and this book was no different! I would’ve liked to have been able to connect with the characters more deeply but, Nicole’s writing was still as beautiful as always.
Favorite Quotes: ”You’ll have to let me go when I’m ready.” “I won’t make that promise.” Her lips find my neck, and she nibbles. “You’ll have to.”
I know his anger comes from how damn much he cares about me which will undoubtedly be his downfall. -Mya
Music has healing properties that nothing else in this world holds.
Nicole is known for hitting you with the feels right away, and this book is no different. This book is lighter in the angst department than her previous books in the series, but it no less still packs a punch.
Jase and Mya are both dealing with a form of tragedy in their lives. Mya having lived in the system like the previous books characters and then Jase who had a football dream taken away from him. I immediately liked Jase, his light heartedness and his wanting to help Mya seeing what she held inside. Jase has such a heart, putting other before himself. Mya, took me a little longer to like, but as always I love the characters Nicole creates for us. These two it was insta-attraction but not Insta-love which I prefer! Nicole makes her characters work for it, and see the beauty that their relationships are.
this is easily my new favorite nicole book. emotional & real. nobody writes broken people like nicole & it’s one of those things i love most about her stories & her writing.
nicole’s characters always feel like real people with real issues & it helps me connect quickly to her books. i read this one in just a few hours & it’s because the pacing was sooooo good.
mya & jace’s story was so well done & the epilogue made me SO EXCITED for the next one.
thanks to nicole for the arc! all thoughts are my own.
Oh Nicole Dykes you always write stories that get me right in the heart. First of all I have to say that I absolutely LOVE Jase he is Amazing and so caring,sexy and just a good man...He was so determined because no matter how much Mya tried to push him away at first,he didn't give up on her. I felt so sad for Mya losing her brother and the grief she felt broke my heart,she was strong but her attitude was hostile in the beginning...she wouldn't let herself get close to anyone. Both of them have their issues,but seem to find something within eachother,that could possibly help them heal. I really enjoy reading about this group of flawed friends,and how they all come together to help eachother out whenever one of them is in need,they always go above and beyond what is necessary.This is exactly what they all did for Mya,when all she wants to do is escape and ends up in Nashville working as a waitress in Lyrics and Ink...Also finding herself living with 4 new male roommates,but it is Jase who she is drawn to. But she thinks Jase is trouble and a danger to her heart and he is someone she needs to stay away from. Although chemistry has a way of ignoring our doubts and they can't deny the allure and draw they seem to have with one another. This story is so emotional but hopeful,sexy and sweet and even though it is tragic and heartbreaking at times it is also beautiful and heartening. Nicole did a wonderful job creating and writing a powerful book with a positive message,and I feel so light and content after reading it. I highly recommend Recovery By Nicole Dykes...Loved it. 5 Stars.
Mya runs from the pain of the loss of her brother and the guilt she feels.
She moves to a new city with the help from rhys and blair. She moves in with four guys who all have their own ghosts from the past but she is awe struck by one roommate in particular Jase.
When she finds out what haunts him she tries to pull away but he won't give up that easy.
It was a quick read I liked seeing past characters lend a helping hand.
Pros about the book... Character diversity. Interesting plot peak towards the end of the book . A woman who is strong and emotional. A cinnamon roll hero who can get spicy.. A strong friend group
What can I say but this book really is about recovering . . . Recovering from a jacked up life that we all live in and no one knows about. This story brings hope and love amongst unimaginable tragedy. Love is love regardless of the outside. . . Because inside is what matters. The light that outshines the darkness and makes us rise.
What an amazing read to inspire and encourage us all to make change. Mya and Jase both have darkness in them from what happened in the past, but choosing to be strong and keep going . . . To do better and be better . . . To rise. . . Makes this story an absolute must read for a boost to make something happen for the good. There is no expiration to when we can rise or make a change, and stories like this make it so much more real and able to grasp.
I hope this story touches your heart as much as it had me. A true inspiration. Thank you for making this book a reality, Nicole! Loved it and will always cherish Mya and Jase for the the light that shines through.
Recovery is the story I didn’t know I needed! Nicole Dykes is one of my faves! I’ve loved everything I’ve read of hers. Recovery was no exception! She pulled me in by my heartstrings!
Mya is heartbroken by a tragedy in her life and seeking a place to heal. She turns to old friends and makes new ones. I loved seeing Mya open up to Jase and open her heart to new friendships!
Jase has come far from his young adult life. Where tragedy struck and he went down a spiral. His compassion completely touched my heart! I loved that this hot tattooed guy could be sensitive.
This story is really touching! The emotions are real and raw! The path of healing from tragedy and loss is a tough one. I love this group of characters and meeting new friends! I can’t wait for more!
This was a short but sweet book! The connection that Mya and Jase had was so beautiful! Like two magnets that no matter how much they try and stay apart they are drawn to each other. Such heartbreaking backgrounds they both came from, yet they overcome it together. They needed each other in order to do so. You also see the immaturity of such young people at times but sometimes you just need others to show you the right way to learn from those immature thoughts. I had times I was mad at Mya and times I was frustrated with Jase. But man did I fall for Jase hard! His heart, although broken was so big and you couldn’t help but love him! Loved getting to see some of our beloved characters from the past too and see how their lives are going! Definitely not disappointed and love the set up for future books in the series!! Already have an idea where we may be headed with the next one and would love to see a story for Spencer too!
I loved Jase - he was open and learned from the mistakes he had made. Mya - took a while to like and I didn’t really warm to her. I know she had had a hard life but the way she treated Jase at the beginning was OTT for me. It was great to see Quinn and Logan. It was a good story but not one of my favourites.
Have you ever read a book that left you with a feeling of complete satisfaction? That's Recovery for me.
It's has just the right amount of everything I look for in a book... Just the right amount of sorrow, angst, clarity, happiness.. seriously just a flawless story. I'm eager to see what happens in the next installment of this band of misfits.
I feel refreshed after reading Mya and Jase's story.
Mya is so broken, strong but clearly she's barely hanging on. The chips and splinters run deep.
Jase is a fixer and he see's Mya. Jase is essentially an incredibly good guy... Super big ego, sexy as all get out but really, really good to the core.
I read this book in one sitting and 100% suggest you grab it!
This story was filled with angst and a group of people who are there for each other when no one else would be. I love how nicole brought out the struggle that so many people deal with on a daily basis. Its a must grab book.
Wow just freaking wow! Seriously, so good . I loved Mya and Jase, their chemistry from the beginning is electric. It’s not just the sexual connection either, it feels as if they have known each other forever and it comes across in the writing. Their ability to read each other even before they truly know each other is one of the best things about them. They are two halves of a whole who complete each other and compliment each other so well. I loved the story and the way Nicole told it, so well written and the characters so relatable and incredible. So damn good !!
There is just never enough! Another heart wrenching story of hurt, pain and love. Mya just lost her brother and needs help and she needs out of St Louis. She turns to Rhys and he sends her to Lryic and Ink in Nashville. Friends from the past hep her with a job and a place to stay. What she wasn’t counting on was big hot inked up roommates. You are probably going to love and hate Mya as this story goes because you will feel protective of Jace and she does his dirty. I love Nicole’s stories because she doesn’t make it all hearts and rainbows. She make it’s raw, gritty and real. So real you’re heart will hurt, your anger will flare and your soul will sing al from the words on the pages. The more of her stories you read the more invested in these Characters you will become and you will root for them with all your might!
Adding audio review I love this book and when I read one I love and it comes out in audio I try to listen because killer narrators take a book and just elevate it. Nicole had an amazing knack for picking the absolute perfect voices for her characters and this one is no exception! They hit it out of the park!
It’s okay. They can try. They’ll learn real fucking quick, I’m not here to play.
Left with nothing but a broken empty heart, Mya is at a loss and her grief on the blink of over taking her. After seeking out an old friend from her past, Mya turns up in Nashville where Quinn is waiting with open arms ready to help Mya in any way that she can.
Mya just wants to escape everything that reminds of her old life. The dangers that haunt her and why her arms are feeling the loss of that one person who she held tightly. Mya may have a place to stay and a job...but this is only temporary. If her past is anything to go by...anything good in Mya's life will get snatched away.
For whatever reason, Jase is dangerous to me.
However, Mya didn’t expect her new home to have four males who are determined to bring down her hard exterior walls! One partially has his eyes on Mya and no matter how many times Mya tries to shut him down..Jase is relentless in wanting to find out more about Mya.
Mya doesn’t want to fall for Jase’s charms but there’s this need inside of her that screams for her to seek Jase...just once...just a moment...just to stop the pain that’s still eating her inside.
Mya doesn’t want to lay down roots...but could she allow herself to bloom?
Good. God. What the fuck was Quinn thinking? She just brought the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen into our loft, said she’s living here now, and expects me not to make a move.
I mean holy fuck
I’m not sure who she thinks I am, but I’m not that fucking guy.
Jase can see there is more to Mya then she lets on but coaxing her to open up could prove to be a difficult task...good job Jase is not a person who gives up easily. Mya is hot as hell...but it soon becomes clear to Jase that Mya could become more than just a one time deal.
With a past of his own, Jase may seem like the cocky carefree guy when in actual fact, Jase might be just as lost as Mya. Fighting each day even with the support of his friends and lifeline of a job that he loves, Jase could have it all..but to have his dream girl by his side too...that could change everything.
“I’m cold, and I try to keep people away. Why can’t you just use my body and let me go?”
“I see you, Mya. The real you. And you aren’t fucking cold. And I’m not fucking nice. I just really...really like you.”
Mya’s touch burns into Jase’s skin...but if she leaves....Jase is left with nothing but a broken heart and his demons could tempt him.
I don’t stop. I don’t slow my pace. I’m not gentle. It’s a possessive need inside of me that wants to claim Mya. Right now, I just want to get lost inside of her.
Mya & Jase…<3 These two were very different and just wanted for that moment...and when it does….!!!! Oh my gosh! Mya is very set in her mind that she does not want any connections with anyone and at first Jase sees this as a challenge to lead her to his charming ways. However, it all becomes clear that these two have their own issues and hurdles they must go cross and overcome. They find each other, their feelings are apparent and free that need that overtakes them. But really, this is just the start of their relationship and nothing is ever easy.
I really enjoyed reading their story, some very touching heartbreaking scenes, the friendships that are formed, catching up with familiar and new characters too...which you just get the feeling that we will become more than just side characters.
Another beautiful story from Nicole Dykes, staying true to herself and her characters. Letting them tell their own stories, pouring their breaking hearts out and expressing themselves on every page.
She says this is temporary. I know she believes it, but I’m not letting this girl go.
I'm like an addicted to these people's story! I end one immediately wanting to start another! It's addictive for sure!
This one takes us back to Logan and Quinn's life. Mya is another lost kids from their past, in need of a fresh start after losing her little brother for the violence of a big city.
Jase is a tattoo artist at Lyrics and Ink.
Like every other couple on this series, they both have a dark past they're trying to overcome and left behind.
I liked this story, but there wasn't really much to it. It was short, with Jase helping Mya heal and trust again. Almost zero angst and drama really. It was sweet to see them falling in love and choosing each other at the end.
Again we have a glimpse of the next couple, with the manwhore Finn and the tortured Charity.
I'm really enjoying to do these audiobooks, because they're fast paced, with no dragging and I can see previous characters, which is always a bonus to me.
🎧 About the Audiobook Narration 🎧
Narrated by Lacy Laurel and Tor Thom I honestly almost switched to the ebook... Their narration wasn't bad, but their dragging voice and accent were hard for me to understand at the beginning, especially hers, and it was kinda of annoying to endure during the whole book. English isn't my first language, so maybe it was my problem, but since this is also MY review, that's how I've felt... Like they could have been more clear with their narration... It was like she was with an egg inside her mouth and he was bored out of his mind.
This was a story about pain, loneliness, friendship, and love. I really liked Jase. I looked forward to his chapters. Mya, I didn't care for. While I understand she was overcoming things, it took forever it felt like to find out anything about what exactly was holding her back. She was just rude to the people that were trying to help her. And worse yet, some of these people were people she considered sisters/brothers. She went to them in her time of need but then refused to say anything about herself. She also was extremely judgmental of Jase. And considering she wouldn't talk about herself at all, it really put me off. In the end, she has her happy ending and becomes nicer, but she's not my favorite from the book.
I really liked Finn, James, and Tommy as well. I loved that they all had Jase's back and were looking out for him. Quinn and Logan I liked as well.
Overall, the story was good. This was my first book by Nicole Dykes. As a new reader, I felt like I was missing something with these characters. I decided to read some of the other reviews and found that it seems that some of these characters have other books. I really wish there was a disclaimer or something to give readers this information. The book doesn't show that it's part of a series. However, it almost feels like that's exactly what this is or should be.
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**
Amazing Book! Recovery is a story of loss, hope, understanding, and of course love.
Mya has known hard time, she has struggled for everything in her life. She would do anything to protect the ones that mattered the most. However, tragedy rips her world apart and shatters her into a million pieces. Maya needs out -- out of her life, and to a place where she will feel safe. Safety is all that matters now. Logan and Quinn help Mya start to find it at Lyric & Ink, but it will be Jase who shows her that no everything is as hopeless as it seems.
Jase has his own demons, and Mya is more than he thought he deserved. He is always in it for the fun, but relationships were not for him. Something about Mya though is familiar, the sadness he sees is reflected in the mirror every time he looks. That familiarity pulls him towards her.
Can the two see past their demons and find a life for themselves, or will each continue to be stuck in their own past? Even for a brighter future?
Once again Nicole Dykes has created a story that gives hope after a tragedy. She builds stores and characters that pull you in, and make you feel like you are part of it all.
A must read! You do not need to have read the previous stories to understand Recovery. However, the it will be much more enjoyable as part of the series.
Oh my god. I can’t even begin to explain how much I loved this book. Nicole captures her characters so beautifully, I literally can not handle it.
We meet Mya who has had the worst childhood that people couldn’t even begin to imagine enduring. Growing up with a junkie mother was one thing but when tragedy strikes she literally crumbles. Leaving behind her old life to escape her awful past she meets Jase. He has been through his own set of struggles and faced dark times. Jase slowly inches himself into her life, which I loved because he wanted to show Mya there is light at the end of the tunnel.
There connection was out of this world even though Mya tried to push him away. When she realized she had fell for him, I had a sense it would be harder for her to walk away. Jase was such a good man that I wish I could find my own. He was loyal and allowed Mya to set the pace. He didn’t push her to spill about her tragic past, but wanted to help her heal instead.
Overall I loved reading this dual POV romance between two individuals that overcame their tragic pasts and found love. Also is it just me... but who is excited about Finn and Charity’s story?? I am 😊
There is one thing I have come to expect from Nicole Dykes books…..emotion. Not just in the storyline and characters but from her as an author. If there is happiness it’s the extreme joy one would love to feel. If it’s angst, ugh you will be grrrr as you read. Let there be sadness and you will be crying. Nicole lays it all on the line when she writes her books.
When I think of the word Recovery, I immediately think of an addict recovering from an addiction. Nicole writes about her characters’ Recovery and it’s not just about addiction, it’s about recovering and being able to forgive yourself.
Mia and Jase are both in Recovery but from different things in their life that have caused them pain. But can they heal each other? Can they see that it’s ok to move on from what has kept them down for so long? This story is full of hope and growth and oh lawd the steamy bits!!!
This is a love story we all need to read. Realistic situations and realistic characters.
Nicole is great at what she does and that's delivering real characters and raw emotion.