Welcome to my first “Fandom Friday: post!

If you’re here than your probably one of two things: a reader or perhaps a writer.

I love talking books!! There’s nothing better than getting a recommendation from someone for what’s sure to be the next book on your keeper shelf! Since I want to pass on the author love I’ll let you all know when I read something that gives me the book hangover we all know and love. 🙂

Today I’m telling you about Rachel Van Dyken’s newest release ‘Ruin’. 

Here’s the synopsis:

I’m not your typical girl. I’ve been running away from the memories that haunt me for so long that depression has become my only comfort. I was content in the darkness…until Wes Michals offered to be my light.

I didn’t know that time wasn’t my ally — that every second that ticked past was one step closer to the end of something that was beginning to mean the end of myself. He tried to warn me. He promised me all he was able to offer–each moment as it came–but it would never be enough.

Sometimes when you think it’s the end, it’s only the beginning. Wes thought he could save me, but in giving me everything, he ruined me. Because after one kiss, one touch, I couldn’t–I wouldn’t ever be the same.

And from that moment on, his heartbeat became my own.

I can count on one hand the number of books that have made me cry. This was one of them. I was a sobbing mess at the end of this book. It’s a wonderful story about facing fears, life, death, and serendipitous happenings.

When Keirsten and Weston meet they’re immediately attracted to each other. Kiersten is dealing with events in her own life that have left her depressed, scared and introverted. From the outside Weston is the picture of success as the star quarterback, a hot body, and billionaire father. What we don’t know when we first meet him is that he is dealing with his own mortality. His story slowly unravels as the book progresses.

I really enjoyed Weston’s character. It was a nice change of pace to read a hero that wasn’t all alpha, all the time (you’ll see what I mean when I get you get to the quotes below). There’s a great cast of supporting characters who I can definitely see getting their own spin-off stories.

Without giving anything away I’ll say that as someone who has lost a lot of people in my life over the past few years, this story touched me and had me remembering both happy times and sad. For that reason it was difficult to read in some places, but in the best of ways.

There are lots of sigh-worthy quotes. Here’s a tease:

“I prayed over and over again that God would spare me, not because I cared that much about my own life — but because I cared about hers.”  — Weston

“Time was the most precious thing in the world to me, and I’d just given her all of it. Because I was falling for her. Because I cared for her. Because I wanted to give her something to remember me by, even if it would eventually fade like its namesake. Time… what an absolute horror-inducing word”  — Weston

“Wherever I am, whatever I’m doing, alive or dead, young or old, my heart will always be with yours. Every beat you feel against your fingertips…” His fingers tapped against my chest, once, twice. “… is me calling out to you. It’s you returning the call. It’s us talking, communicating, bonding, sharing, Living — Kiersten, it’s us living.”

If you can’t my word for it than here’s some street cred – it’s been on the New York Times, Wall Street and USA Today Bestseller lists for the past couple of weeks.

Amazon Link – AS OF THIS POST IT’S ON SALE FOR ONLY 97 CENTS!!!

Don’t forget that the contest is still running until September 15th. Enter for your chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a New Adult Romance e-book of your choice, or an ARC of my novel, Rumor Has It.

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