When all of my best friends were falling for their soul mates in College, I was left behind. I was Ally, the pretty cousin of superstar quarterback, Romeo Prince. I was Ally, the best friend to the most amazing group of girls I've ever known—a title I loved, but one I became tired of 'just' being. And I was Ally, the one on which they could all rely.
But to me, I was Ally, the girl with the heart no one had claimed... And I was, Ally, the girl, who underneath it all, was heart-breakingly lonely.
I LOVE love; the thought of it, the nervous excitement of falling for Mr. Right, the desire of someone becoming my entire world... of me becoming theirs. I’ve always wanted passion, heart-stopping, epic, life-changing romance... I’ve always wanted the fairytale… I’ve always wanted it all.
It just never seemed like I would get it.
For the past few years I've thrown myself into my career as a museum curator. I’m the best of the best, the person every museum wants to hire, so when an opportunity came up to move to Seattle, I jumped at the chance. My cousin and my best friend lived in Seattle and I needed a change.
I needed a new beginning.
I wasn't expecting to meet anyone in the Emerald City. I wasn't expecting to work closely with the reclusive new sculptor my all-important gallery design was centered around. And I certainly wasn't expecting to fall for him... heart-stopping, epic, life-changing love...
My real life fairytale come true.
But, like in every fairytale, there’s a villain, a dark and tortured soul... I just didn't know that the villain and the hero in my story would end up being one and the same.
New Adult Romance Novel—contains adult content, sexual situations and mature topics. Suited for ages 18 and up.
4.5 "Mia Luce" Stars
This was a story about a broken man and his path to redemption. A story about healing and letting go of guilt. It was about forgiveness and acceptance. And of course... ultimately, it was about love. But not only romance or sex. It was also family love and friendship love.
Ally is a lovely heroine: she's sweet, sassy, and strong. She's a curator for Elpi's show (her favorite artist!).
Elpi is an sculptor. He's flawed, but he's likable. He's hurting so much and he just needs a fucking break. He doesn't know how to erase the shit he made in his past, and he's drowning in guilt.
These two had great chemistry... and when secrets were brought to light, shit hit the fan.
“The most beautiful art is often born from the most desperate of circumstances.”
The story was original, and I enjoyed that the "drama" didn't feel heavy and it was very realistic (I didn't like the first book in the series because the drama was just too much for me). This book read more Adult than New Adult, and I think that was mainly because of the characters' ages (27 and 30)
“You’re not the villain in this story, you’re the beautifully flawed hero. You’re the dark hero who has been sacrificing himself all along.”
I devoured this book. I pulled an all-nighter to finish it, and I don't regret it one bit. The writing was stunning, and it gripped me instantly. Tillie has a way with words, almost like she's making her characters into these breathing, living people that curl around your heart and squeeze until you're bleeding because you love these people as if they were real and you want them to be happy. Her descriptions are vivid and you almost forget that this is all fictional. She took a man I hated and made him the best book boyfriend ever, and an incredible love interest for Ally. That takes some major writing skills! I think this is one of her best works, and I can't wait to read Sweet Soul.
It wasn't a five star read because Elpi cried a little bit TOO much for my liking -I've found most of Tillie's characters do- and certain plot points were a little predictable.
I do recommend reading the previous books in the series since the other couples in the series play a big role in Ally and Elpi's story, and Elpi's back story would be much appreciated too if you had read Sweet Fall.
Amazon & USA Today Best Selling Author, Tillie Cole, is a Northern girl through and through. She originates from a place called Teesside on that little but awesomely sunny (okay I exaggerate) Isle called Great Britain. She was brought up surrounded by her English rose mother -- a farmer's daughter, her crazy Scottish father, a savagely sarcastic sister and a multitude of rescue animals and horses.
Being a scary blend of Scottish and English, Tillie embraces both cultures; her English heritage through her love of HP sauce and freshly made Yorkshire Puddings, and her Scottish which is mostly demonstrated by her frighteningly foul-mouthed episodes of pure rage and her much loved dirty jokes.
Having been born and raised as a Teesside Smoggie, Tillie, at age nineteen, moved forty miles north to the 'Toon', Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, where she attended Newcastle University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts honours degree in Religious Studies. She returned two years later to complete a Post-Graduate Certificate in Teaching High School Social Studies. Tillie, regards Newcastle to be a home from home and enjoyed the Newcastle Geordie way of life for seven 'proper mint' and 'lush' years.
One summers day, after finishing reading her thousandth book on her much loved and treasured Kindle, Tillie turned to her husband and declared, "D'you know, I have a great idea for a story. I could write a book." Several months later, after repeating the same tired line at the close of another completed story, she was scolded by her husband to shut up talking about writing a novel and "just bloody do it!" For the first time in eleven years, Tillie actually took his advice (he is still trying to get over the shock) and immediately set off on a crazy journey, delving deep into her fertile imagination.
Tillie, ever since, has written from the heart. She combines her passion for anything camp and glittery with her love of humour and dark brooding men (most often muscled and tattooed – they’re her weakness!). She also has a serious side (believe it or not!) and loves to immerse herself in the complex study of World Religions, History and Cultural Studies and creates fantasy stories that enable her to thread serious issues and topics into her writing -- yep, there's more to this girl than profanity and sparkles!
After six years of teaching high school Social Studies and following her Professional Rugby Player husband around Europe, they have finally given up their nomadic way of life and settled in Calgary, Alberta where Tillie spends most of her days (and many a late night) lost in a writing euphoria or pursuing a dazzling career as a barrel-racing, tasselled-chap wearing, Stetson-sporting cowgirl... Ye-haw!
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