Review: The Wreckage of Us by Brittainy C. Cherry

THE WRECKAGE OF US

Brittainy C. Cherry
Publication date: September 8, 2020

Series: NA
Genres: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Format: Kindle
Source: Purchased
3.25 Stars

I know I should stay away from Ian Parker.

But when my drug-dealing stepdad kicks me out, I have nowhere to go. Squatting in an abandoned shed on Ian’s grandpa’s farm seems like as good a plan as any.

Ian finds me there, of course, and he insists on me moving into his spare room. I should say no, but the appeal of a roof and a warm bed is too much. Not to mention Ian’s brown eyes and strong arms.

We’re nothing alike, but the spark between us is undeniable. My life is finally looking up.

Until I call the cops on my stepdad and unintentionally get my pregnant mom arrested.

Now I have to sacrifice my dreams to take care of my mom’s baby. She’s the only family I have left. Meanwhile, Ian’s band is taking off; his dreams are coming true.

Ian is my one chance at love. I just hope he doesn’t become the one chance that got away.

Oh boy, my feelings are all over the place with this one. And I think my main issue is that I expected more because it was Brittainy Cherry. From anyone else this might have been okay. But knowing what Cherry is capable of left me confused as to what the heck happened. Honestly, if someone told me that there had been a mix-up and Brittainy Cherry didn’t actually write this one, I would think, “Yes! That explains everything!”

The story: Pretty good. Hazel needs to escape from home and her bottom-feeder, drug dealing stepfather. She finds refuge at the ranch that seems to be the only success story in the poverty-stricken small town. Big Paw and Holly offer a job, a place to stay, and the feeling of family she craves. While she initially butts heads with their grandson Ian, they eventually form a close bond as she helps him with songwriting duties for his band. While Ian’s band, The Wreckage, start to take off and find success, Hazel’s past keeps pulling her down and threatens her future.

The execution: *crickets* This is where the story fell flat for me. Because while the story was interesting enough, and had Cherry’s trademark drama and angst, it felt devoid of any emotion. I mean, I was told (a lot) how Hazel and Ian felt about one another but I can’t say I ever felt it. And the dialogue – oh my God, the dialogue. It was consistently stilted and cheesy and I kept thinking, who would say this, who talks like this? So many lines had me cringing at how unrealistic they sounded. Hence my questioning: is this really from Brittainy Cherry??

I will absolutely continue reading Brittainy Cherry, both her backlist and new releases, because I know what she’s capable of, but The Wreckage of Us surely did not showcase her abilities in the best way.

HAVE YOU READ THE WRECKAGE OF US?

Top Ten Tuesday: Best New (to me) Authors of 2019

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 

Best New (To Me) Authors of 2019

This week's topic is actually bookish discoveries of 2019 but I'm twisting (or refining) that slightly to focus on the best new-to-me authors I read throughout the year. A couple were debut authors so they were new to everyone, and some were established authors and I was just late to the game. #storyofmylife 😉

BRITTAINY C. CHERRY

Books read by the author in 2019: The Air He Breathes

I only read this one book by Cherry last year but I will absolutely be reading more from her this year.

LORELEI JAMES

Books read by the author in 2019: I Want You Back

I discovered Lorelei James because I requested an ARC of I Want You Back on a whim. It totally surpassed my expectations and now I want to go back and read the books in the previous series (I Want You Back was the first book in a spin-off series).

ALEXA MARTIN

Books read by the author in 2019: Intercepted, Fumbled, Blitzed

What a find Alexa Martin was! While Blitzed was more hit than miss for me, I loved both Intercepted and Fumbled. (They can't all be 5-star reads, right?) I am excited to see what 2020 brings from Martin!

KENNEDY RYAN

Books read by the author in 2019: Long Shot, Block Shot, Hook Shot, Flow, Grip

Kennedy Ryan became a new favorite in 2019 with her well-developed characters that felt completely authentic and her emotional storytelling.

MASON DEAVER

Books read by the author in 2019: I Wish You All the Best

Deaver's debut last year pulled me right in and I loved the warmth and heart in how they told Ben's story.

CASEY MCQUISTON

Books read by the author in 2019: Red, White & Royal Blue

McQuiston was another debut author who took me by surprise. RW&RB was smart and funny and clever and swoony.

TARA SIVEC (with Andi Arndt)

Books read by the author in 2019: Heidi's Guide to Four Letter Words

Tara Sivec was already on my radar (and several of her books on my Kindle) when I listened to the audio book of Heidi's Guide. Now I really want to read the other books I own by Sivec - and hopefully Andi Arndt will write more, too.

JEN DELUCA

Books read by the author in 2019: Well Met

DeLuca's Well Met was one of my biggest surprises of the year. So funny and sweet and charming. I am ridiculously excited for DeLuca's next release in September.

EMILY GIFFIN

Books read by the author in 2019: All We Ever Wanted

I'd seen Giffin's books around for years but 2019 was my first time picking one up. I was so impressed with All We Ever Wanted that I gifted copies to my mom and sisters for Christmas. I'll definitely be reading more from her this year.

RAEANNE THAYNE

Books read by the author in 2019: Coming Home for Christmas

RaeAnne Thayne is a mainstay in contemporary romance with over 200 titles on Goodreads, but I wasn't introducted to her writing until I picked up Coming Home for Christmas when I had the urge for a holiday read last December. While the small town/sweet romance was not my usual (sub)genre, I found that it was exactly what I needed at the time. And it definitely made me want to explore more from Thayne.

Have you read any of these authors?
Who was your favorite new (to you) author in 2019?

Hello, I Love You! | Discovering New (to me) Authors

As a reader, there are few things that can match the feeling of discovering a new author. Well, not a new author... but a new to you author. One that you'd been meaning to try - and when you finally did the book just blew you away. Or one you just happened upon by chance - and loved the book so much that the author became an instant favorite.

What's even better? Discovering that new author and then learning they have a big ol' backlist ready and waiting for you to dive into. Book after book just waiting to be devoured. The chance of a new favorite book right at your fingertips! All that possibility! The anticipation! 

So I'm going to share some of my favorite new(ish) author discoveries and the book(s) that helped put them on my radar.

   

I'd seen Kennedy Ryan's name often enough but wasn't familiar with her books. Then my friend Amber @ Du Livre messaged me that I had to read Long Shot. She had listened to it on audio so I did the same. And Oh. My. Goodness. I was floored. It was a tough read at times (one of the main characters was in an abusive relationship) but it was completely gripping and emotional and had me totally invested. I immediately binged the next two books, also on audio, and I am completely sold on Kennedy Ryan.

I downloaded the audio version of Intercepted on a whim as something fun to listen to on my commute. I had no idea how much I would end up loving it! I don't know if it was just the story or the fact that the narration was so perfect, or maybe a combination of both, but it was total enjoyment from start to finish. Alexa Martin made main character Marlee smart and sassy and nobody's fool. And the love interest? Oh yeah, I was a big fan of Gavin Pope. :) And now I'm super excited to continue the series with Fumbled.

I read an ARC of I Want You Back in March and knew immediately that I wanted to read more from Lorelei James. While the story wasn't super original or super memorable, it was still the kind of contemporary romance that I enjoy. (Not every book has to rip my heart to shreds, make me weep piteously, and leave me emotionally bruised and battered. Or so I tell myself.) Realistic characters and situations, believable dialogue, a couple that I connect with and makes me pull for their HEA... Lorelei James delivered that and more and now, since I Want You Back was the first in a spin-off series, I want to go back and devour the original series.

The Air He Breathes is a book that lingered on my bookshelf for a long time (like, at least two years). It was one of those books that I was sure I was going to love... therefore I wouldn't read it. (Yes, I know that is completely illogical but I do this all the time because I enjoy the anticipation.) While it wasn't a 5 star read (I gave it 4.25 stars), it was a story that I flew through and Brittainy C. Cherry made me truly care about her characters and I hurt when they hurt. I absolutely want to read the other books in the Elements series as well as the rest of her backlist. Oh, and her latest release, Eleanor & Gray.

   

Kandi Steiner was a name I'd seen and heard but I wasn't familiar with any of her work. Then I saw one of my favorite BookTubers rave about Steiner's What He Doesn't Know duet. I listened to both on audio, back to back, and was taken by surprise. Kandi managed to do the impossible: make me pull for one guy all through both books and then be happy when the other guy was chosen at the end. Now that's good writing. She didn't take the easy way out and make anyone the "bad guy." Instead, she showed each character as very human and very flawed. And now she has continued the story with a third book so I'm excited to read that one... and everything else she's written.

HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE AUTHORS?

WHICH NEW-TO-YOU AUTHOR HAVE YOU RECENTLY DISCOVERED?

Review: The Air He Breathes by Brittainy C. Cherry

The Air He Breathes
Brittainy C. Cherry
Publication date: September 25, 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Format: Trade paperback

GOODREADS  | AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

I was warned about Tristan Cole. “Stay away from him,” people said. “He’s cruel.” “He’s cold.” “He’s damaged.” It’s easy to judge a man because of his past. To look at Tristan and see a monster. But I couldn’t do that. I had to accept the wreckage that lived inside of him because it also lived inside of me. We were both empty. We were both looking for something else. Something more. We both wanted to put together the shattered pieces of our yesterdays. Then perhaps we could finally remember how to breathe.

M Y   T H O U G H T S

The Air He Breathes has been sitting on my shelf for far too long. It was one of those books that I was sure I was going to love – and that means I put off reading it for a ridiculously long time because I enjoy the anticipation. Not only did the synopsis pull me in – two lost souls who can maybe find redemption in one another *sigh* - but I also had a serious case of cover love. From the cover model (the oh-so-swoony Franggy Yanez) to the muted colors to the overall melancholy feel it gave me, I was hooked. And while this didn’t end up being a five-star read, it was still one that had me utterly invested, captured my emotions and gave me grabby hands for every book by Brittainy Cherry.

Elizabeth left town with her young daughter after suffering a horrific loss. Now back after a year she meets her new neighbor in all his surly, rude glory. Despite his outright hostility, she recognizes a kindred spirit in him - the same kind of loss and devastation she feels. These two together were just all kinds of goodness. There was no insta-love - just two people working through their loss and loneliness the best they could. It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t always pretty. Elizabeth was so kind and so patient. She hurt but she had her daughter Emma to keep her grounded and carrying on. But Tristan, he had lost himself in a pit of grief, guilt and anger and had no motivation to pull himself out – until Lizzie.

The hardest part about losing someone you love

is the fact that you also lose yourself.

Cherry really brought this story to life with not only Elizabeth and Tristan but an amazing cast of secondary characters. I’m usually beyond annoyed with the addition of the super-outgoing/pushy/quirky best friend trope and I admit when Elizabeth’s BFF Faye first made an appearance I was rolling my eyes. But Cherry managed to bring me around and I found myself loving their friendship and Faye’s wackiness. Add in the kindly Mr. Henson, Elizabeth’s in-laws, and others and it made for a small town of characters that came to life.

There were a couple things that kept this from being a five-star read for me. The ending took a turn into over-the-top drama that seemed like I was reading a Lifetime movie script. It was just a bit too much and I didn’t think the dramatics were really needed. Another issue was that the dialogue was sometimes unbelievable and pulled me out of the story. Lines like “Show me the shadows that keep you up at night. Kiss me with your darkness” had me shaking my head because, really, who talks like that? But even with those issues, there’s no denying that this one got to me. My heart ached for the two characters, the chapters told from Tristan’s point of view in the past had me blinking back tears, and the relationship between Tristan and little Emma turned me into a pile of mush.

You know that place between nightmares and dreams? The place

where tomorrows never come and yesterdays don't hurt anymore?

The place where your heart beats in sync with mine?  The place

where time doesn't exist, and it's easy to breathe?

I want to live there with you.

This was a truly emotional love story. Cherry didn’t hold back from diving deep into the character’s grief and isolation and it was painful at times. But she balanced that with a beautiful story of the healing power of love after loss. I know I’ll be reading more from this author… just as soon as my heart can take it.

4.25/5 STARS