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Review: Taken With You by Carrie Ann Ryan
Taken With You
Carrie Ann Ryan
Fractured Connections Series, Book 4
1001 Dark Nights
It all started at a wedding. Beckham didn’t mean to dance with Meadow. And he really didn’t mean to kiss her. But now, she’s the only thing on his mind. And when it all comes down to it, she’s the only person he can’t have.
He’ll just have to stay away from her, no matter how hard they’re pulled together.
Running away from her friend’s wedding isn’t the best way to keep the gossip at bay. But falling for the mysterious and gorgeous bartender at her friends’ bar will only make it worse. Beckham has his secrets, and she refuses to pry.
Once burned, twice kicked down, and never allowed to get up again. Yet taking a chance with him might be the only choice she has. And the only one she wants.
4.5 Stars
Meadow and Beckham both have a dark past that intertwined them together but yet only one of them knows. Both have left behind a life and a version of themselves that they are not proud of but have learned from to be the people they are now. Both have found a place where the meaning of friendship and family mean something very different than they are used to.
Both are very guarded of themselves yet trying to just live life. Beckham and Meadow are both broken and together they find a way to heal. They are sweet and passionate separately and together they are explosive.
Taken With You is a fantastic quick read in the Fractured Connections Series. Meadow and Beckham will make your heart pitter patter while catching up with characters from the previous books in the series.
Falling With You by Carrie Ann Ryan
Falling With You
Carrie Ann Ryan
Fractured Connections Series, Book 3
Published: July 16, 2019
NYT bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan concludes a brand new series where second chances don’t come often, and overcoming an unexpected loss means breaking everything you knew.
The day I lost my best friend was the day I realized that I’d been living in the past. I’ve tried to find a way to heal, to mend that break. Somehow, I came through it partially whole. But I know I couldn’t have done that without Aiden Connolly.
The problem is, he once loved my best friend. And now she’s gone, and I refuse to be in that shadow, or worse, a replacement for someone we both loved.
~~
I left them all behind.
My brother.
My family.
My best friend.
And her.
Only Sienna Knight doesn’t realize what she means to me. But before I can make sure she knows, I need to figure out exactly what that is.
4.5 Stars
Falling With You is an emotional and intimate story of friend to somewhat enemies to lovers. And one I have been waiting for. Sienna and Aiden bickering and banter since the beginning of the series has had these two in my sights.
Aiden is an extraordinary and amazing chef. A man who can make amazing food and has a caring nature that you have to look beyond the layers to see. Aiden is a brute of a man at times but once you get to know him and see beyond the cover, is a man you may have never expected. Aiden is a self proclaimed asshat, but he cares and tries, even if it’s in his own way.
Sienna is a physical therapist extraordinaire. Dedicated to her work and holds the utmost professionalism in what she does. Sienna is a strong and independent, self proclaimed cat woman. To me that just means she has an amazing heart. Sienna is dealing with the loss of her best friend. That loss has shaken not only Sienna’s world but those of her circle as well. Sienna is the type of woman you can count on. A good friend.
I so loved Aiden and Sienna story. A tale that way years in the making. Falling With You is my now favorite read in the Fractured Connections Series. Emotional, deep and intimate on a level that is different from Ms. Ryan’s other works. Sometimes loss draws people together and that is what happens for Aiden and Sienna. Although they had a friendship along the way they became bickering enemies. To allowing each other to divulge their secrets and show their wounds that are soul deep. To finding something together they have never and making something they can’t let go of.
Bust out the tissues ladies. You just may need them.
Falling With You is emotional and deep but leaves you feeling quite good at the end.
Review: Shouldn’t Have You by Carrie Ann Ryan
Shouldn’t Have You
Carrie Ann Ryan
Fractured Connections Series, Book 2
I’ve been many things in my life: daughter, friend, student, lover, wife…and now, widow. Getting past those labels and finding who I could be without them was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
Then I became friends with Brendon Connolly.
Every time I look at him, I see a past, I see a present, and I’m afraid if I look too hard, I’ll see a future.
~~~
I’ve known Harmony Wynham since before she got married. Before she lost everything. I didn’t know that one day she wouldn’t be just my friend but the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
Only I don’t think that can happen.
Not when every time she looks at me, she sees what she lost, and I can only see what I can’t overcome.
I love her, even though I shouldn’t. Somehow, we need to find a balance.
Because if we don’t, walking away will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done—even if it’s the only thing I should do.
4 Stars
Carrie Ann Ryan continues to pull on the heartstrings and emotions with the second book of the Fractured Connections Series, Shouldn’t Have You.
Harmony’s life is not what she thought it would be. Her psyche and soul are damaged after the loss of not only her best friend, also her partner in live. She’s trying, even when it epically fails her. Harmony brushes it off and gets back up. She looking to fill something she’s missing in life, but Harmony is maybe not looking at all the options.
Brendon, too, is picking up the pieces of his past and trying to get on track. He has also felt the loss of losing a friend. Brendon is amazing. Sweet and caring, knows how to be a true friend and is loyal. As his feelings develop, he gentle and respectful. Brendon is what I call one of the good ones.
Shouldn’t Have You is about healing and moving on with and within love. Learning to love again and finding oneself. It’s a fantastic friends to lovers story but so much more. Harmony and Brendon are going to take you on a emotional ride. Intense, raw and real. Ms. Ryan captures the essence of the emotions and transcribes this tale into a journey of healing and love. Mending what’s broken, nurturing what hurt and embracing something or someone new. That’s what Shouldn’t Have You was for me.
Warring: Tissues may be needed.
ARC Review: Breaking Without You by Carrie Ann Ryan
Breaking Without You
Carrie Ann Ryan
Fractured Connections Series, Book 1
From NYT bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan, comes a brand new series where second chances don’t come often, and overcoming an unexpected loss means breaking everything you knew.
I fell for Cameron Connolly at the wrong time. And when he left, I thought my life was over. But then, after the worst happened, I truly understood what that phrase meant. Now, he’s not ready for a second chance, and I’m not offering one. Though given that our families have been forced together after losing one of our own, I know there’s no turning back. Not this time. Not again. Not when it comes to Cameron.
~~
I never wanted to hurt Violet Knight, but there were reasons I had to leave all those years ago—not that she’d believe me if I told her what they were. I not only left her, I also left my foster brothers. Honestly, I didn’t want to come back to Denver to help run my father’s failing brewery. But when it comes to my brothers, I know I’ll find a way to make it work. Perhaps I’ll even earn Violet’s forgiveness and face the connection we both thought long forgotten in the process. Because I wanted her then, but now I know I need her. I just hope she needs me.
4 Stars
Breaking Without You is the emotional and deep beginning to a brand new series, Fractured Connections by Carrie Ann Ryan.
Violet Knight is living through one of the hardest events of her life. Losing her best friend has left Violet with many unanswered questions and feeling empty and numb. For the second time in her life, Violet feels as if she’s broken. On the day of the funeral she (literally) runs into the man that caused her first heartbreak. Seeing Cameron caused a flood of emotions she was unprepared for, and hits her like a bomb. Now how to pick up the pieces and move on……..
Cameron Connolly has a past that most people never to want to think about let alone imagine. He had an addict for her mother, was moved around to foster homes being separated from his brother until a wonderful couple not only open their house but their hearts changing the lives of not just one but young men’s lives. Giving them a family made deeper than blood, made on love. Cameron’s loyalty and dedication to family caused him to make s decision that intern hurt many people he loves. Now back in Denver, Cameron takes tries to fix the fractures that have cracked his life.
Cameron is amazing. Hands down. He made choices that cost him, but in reality they also show the kind of man his is. He tries so hard to rebuild the relationships that have suffered. Cameron never lost his love for Violet and that makes me smile. He’s a dedicated, loyal and so compassionate. Violet is so strong and doesn’t even realize it. Her would keeps throwing curveballs at her and she keeps getting up and going. Even though at times it may not seem like that. Heartache is just as bad as any physical pain and we see Violet going through it all. Cameron and Violet never lost their love for each other but the heart is finicky when it gets broken. Communication is always the key, and at times the keys got lost for Cameron and Violet. Their chemistry was amazing and passion was heart touching. They just had to find their way back home to each other.
Breaking Without You is unlike anything Ms. Ryan has given her readers. There is so much emotion throughout the book it’s so hard not to get lost in all the feelings. Loss is a touchy subject to begin with, then add in all the unanswered questions, the raw emotions and the guilt. That’s a emotional bomb just waiting to go off. Violet loses her best friend to suicide which puts her in a state of unknown, and I must applaud Ms. Ryan for her elegance and grace on handling the subject. The roller coaster of emotions, the bouncing between being fine and being at the end of the string. Ms.Ryan hit the nail on the head so to speak, with the beautiful way she delivers Violet grief.
Breaking Without You, the first book of the Fractured Connections series is everything I have to love for Ms. Ryan and more. Grab some tissue ladies, you just might be needing it for this one.
Coffee Books Life 