He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others . . . he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day.
Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.
When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she's surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.
Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.
When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she's surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.
Poughkeepsie
By Debra Anastasia
*scrubs hand over face* WOW!!
I'm not sure I can adequately tell you how much I absolutely adored this book!
I have read some pretty great books, and I have read some amazing books this year. Opinions are always subjective and in my opinion this book fell into the amazing group. This was the kind of book that made me look back and rethink some of the 5 stars I have given this year when I actually just want to give this book more than 5 stars. Poughkeepsie is an amazing story that will definitely stay with me for a while to come. Debra Anastasia has a well put together story, and an amazing, colorful cast of characters that all play a major role in this book.
Let me ask you this: would you ever give a homeless guy a second glance?? I likely wouldn’t either, but Livia McHugh did, Blake Hartt spent his days waiting to see her as she would come and go from the Poughkeepsie train station, counting her smiles. She would always see him there, always keeping to himself in the shadows, never asking for handouts, and it wasn’t until some bully’s were picking on the homeless guy and Livia stood up for him that Blake Hartt and Livia finally met. This setting in motion the events of the story. After seeing Blake up close, she could no longer ignore his handsomeness , with his beautiful green eyes.
As the story begins, Livia has a boyfriend that she’s trying to rid herself of, and after she and Blake meet and start getting to know each other, she really wants to get rid of him. She finally does, but Chris will not accept that Livia is done with him. He’s all about his image, and he feels that Livia has shamed him by dumping him for the homeless guy. All he has on his mind is getting her back, and doing something bad to Blake. He’s just too self absorbed to believe that Livia truly doesn’t want him. There's more to the Chris story, but I'm going to leave that to you.
Blake has two brothers, and while they’re not biologically related, they’re bond couldn’t be stronger if they were. Blake and his two brothers Cole, and Beckett aged out of the foster care system from the same foster home, a home where events happened that bonded them as the brothers they are. Each of the brothers carry a heavy load of baggage from their past that ultimately have shaped them into the men they are. Blake and Cole had someone along the way during childhood that showed they cared, people that didn’t have to but they did and it stayed with them over the years. Apparently Beckett didn’t have that, he was the first to age out of foster care, and his sole purpose was to look after his brothers the best he could, by any means necessary. Beckett is naughty, *eyebrow waggle* and does bad things. His business is all things illegal. I just loved all 3 of the brothers, but Beckett tugged at my heart strings most, I think it’s because he has no concept of his self worth. Yes, he’s a criminal with no limits, but he loves fiercely, he will go insane, and lay down his life to keep his family safe. He has a foul mouth, and I thoroughly enjoyed him. He’s intense one minute, and cracking me up the next, and has quite the knack for stealing a scene. So between Chris’s devious plotting, and Beckett’s dirty business we get the action and suspense of the story.
I could go on and on about the Characters in this book. To say the characters outside of Blake and Livia are secondary doesn’t feel accurate because their stories are just as much a part of this book. They all carry a load of personal issues, and things from their past that have shaped who they are, and Debra Anastasia has woven their stories together beautifully. Blake is a beautiful man, and sweet, and proud. Livia is the only one that seems to have her crap together, full of love and hope. Livia’s sister Kyle has abandonment and misplaced love issues, and absolutely no filter between her brain and her mouth, I loved her. Cole has a lot in common with Kyle, except the filter, and he’s deadly when necessary. Eve…. Where to start with her, stealthy like a ninja, and deadly as an assassin. I love her character, and my heart broke for her back story. Then there's Mouse, I can't go without mentioning this beautiful soul. The ever loyal, brave, and selfless friend.
This is a gorgeous book, just beautiful storytelling, and one of my favorites this year. I’m crossing my fingers for a sequel. Thank you Debra Anastasia, you blew my mind, made my heart pound, brought tears to my eyes, and made me laugh… a lot!
5+ AMAZING STARS!!
By Debra Anastasia
*scrubs hand over face* WOW!!
I'm not sure I can adequately tell you how much I absolutely adored this book!
I have read some pretty great books, and I have read some amazing books this year. Opinions are always subjective and in my opinion this book fell into the amazing group. This was the kind of book that made me look back and rethink some of the 5 stars I have given this year when I actually just want to give this book more than 5 stars. Poughkeepsie is an amazing story that will definitely stay with me for a while to come. Debra Anastasia has a well put together story, and an amazing, colorful cast of characters that all play a major role in this book.
Let me ask you this: would you ever give a homeless guy a second glance?? I likely wouldn’t either, but Livia McHugh did, Blake Hartt spent his days waiting to see her as she would come and go from the Poughkeepsie train station, counting her smiles. She would always see him there, always keeping to himself in the shadows, never asking for handouts, and it wasn’t until some bully’s were picking on the homeless guy and Livia stood up for him that Blake Hartt and Livia finally met. This setting in motion the events of the story. After seeing Blake up close, she could no longer ignore his handsomeness , with his beautiful green eyes.
As the story begins, Livia has a boyfriend that she’s trying to rid herself of, and after she and Blake meet and start getting to know each other, she really wants to get rid of him. She finally does, but Chris will not accept that Livia is done with him. He’s all about his image, and he feels that Livia has shamed him by dumping him for the homeless guy. All he has on his mind is getting her back, and doing something bad to Blake. He’s just too self absorbed to believe that Livia truly doesn’t want him. There's more to the Chris story, but I'm going to leave that to you.
Blake has two brothers, and while they’re not biologically related, they’re bond couldn’t be stronger if they were. Blake and his two brothers Cole, and Beckett aged out of the foster care system from the same foster home, a home where events happened that bonded them as the brothers they are. Each of the brothers carry a heavy load of baggage from their past that ultimately have shaped them into the men they are. Blake and Cole had someone along the way during childhood that showed they cared, people that didn’t have to but they did and it stayed with them over the years. Apparently Beckett didn’t have that, he was the first to age out of foster care, and his sole purpose was to look after his brothers the best he could, by any means necessary. Beckett is naughty, *eyebrow waggle* and does bad things. His business is all things illegal. I just loved all 3 of the brothers, but Beckett tugged at my heart strings most, I think it’s because he has no concept of his self worth. Yes, he’s a criminal with no limits, but he loves fiercely, he will go insane, and lay down his life to keep his family safe. He has a foul mouth, and I thoroughly enjoyed him. He’s intense one minute, and cracking me up the next, and has quite the knack for stealing a scene. So between Chris’s devious plotting, and Beckett’s dirty business we get the action and suspense of the story.
I could go on and on about the Characters in this book. To say the characters outside of Blake and Livia are secondary doesn’t feel accurate because their stories are just as much a part of this book. They all carry a load of personal issues, and things from their past that have shaped who they are, and Debra Anastasia has woven their stories together beautifully. Blake is a beautiful man, and sweet, and proud. Livia is the only one that seems to have her crap together, full of love and hope. Livia’s sister Kyle has abandonment and misplaced love issues, and absolutely no filter between her brain and her mouth, I loved her. Cole has a lot in common with Kyle, except the filter, and he’s deadly when necessary. Eve…. Where to start with her, stealthy like a ninja, and deadly as an assassin. I love her character, and my heart broke for her back story. Then there's Mouse, I can't go without mentioning this beautiful soul. The ever loyal, brave, and selfless friend.
This is a gorgeous book, just beautiful storytelling, and one of my favorites this year. I’m crossing my fingers for a sequel. Thank you Debra Anastasia, you blew my mind, made my heart pound, brought tears to my eyes, and made me laugh… a lot!
5+ AMAZING STARS!!
1 comment:
You Go girl with your sexy reviews!!! Whooo Hooo *waves like a crazy person* Come on peeps show some lovin!
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