ARC Review + Giveaway: The Destiny of Violet and Luke by Jessica Sorensen

One thing that you are guaranteed when you pick up a Jessica Sorensen book is a whirlwind of emotion. You cannot read one of her books and feel stoic about it. Sorensen pulls emotions from her readers and that takes a lot of talent, I think, in a writer. ~ Under the Covers

Jessica Sorensen is one of the best authors I have discovered this year. Each one of her books has had me feeling so many different emotions, from happiness, to angst, to hatred and to shock. One thing that you are guaranteed when you pick up a Jessica Sorensen book is a whirlwind of emotion. You cannot read one of her books and feel stoic about it. Sorensen pulls emotions from her readers and that takes a lot of talent, I think, in a writer.

Luke Price has always been a little misunderstood. After the weird incident in the last book of the series, the opening scene pours light on Luke’s situation at home. As you can guess, it’s not pretty but it was also different than what I had anticipated for him. Now, Luke drowns himself on alcohol and sex, hoping to gain control of his life that way. It doesn’t work and when he falls deeper and deeper into that dark hole, only one person becomes the very distraction he needs.

Violet is a very dark and complex character. She hasn’t been particularly warm and fuzzy but as you read, you realize that in order for her to survive the harsh world she lives in, she needs to be that way. She purposely keeps people out of her life and her reasons are good ones. As that part of the story is revealed, you come to understand her pickliness and her attitude problem. Violet’s character actually reminds me a lot of Beth from DARE YOU TO by Katie McGarry. Both are a product of the foster system and have a huge chip on their shoulders. Unlike Beth though, Violet remains distanced until the very end where you see some of her core showing through.

This is when Sorensen hits you with a twist that will have readers fall into a hysterical tailspin. At 85%, I thought I was going to go mad from it. Thoughts started jumbling in my head. How will Sorensen fix this? At 90%, everything that Sorensen that built in this book comes crashing down. It’s a hard read and because of that, I still don’t how I feel about this book. I love/hate it. I love/hate Sorensen for pulling that stunt at the end and leaving me feeling like a broken heap on the floor.

As I mentioned earlier, you will feel a variety of emotions while reading Sorensen’s books. Although I didn’t cry for this book, it doesn’t mean it’s not dark. The lives that Sorensen writes about are messy. These kids go through so much that the angst that is there feels more genuine and real because of it. Some books feel injected with a heady dose of angst because readers love it. But with Sorensen, I feel like the angst is a product of their hard lives. This is what makes them so relatable. This is what makes us feel what they are feeling. And this is what makes Sorensen’s books so great.

I will be on my knees begging for a sequel for Violet and Luke. My heart refuses to accept that this is the end for them. Please, please, please, Jessica!

*ARC provided by author

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Happy Release Day to Jessica Sorensen and
THE DESTINY OF VIOLET AND LUKE,
book 3 in The Coincidence Series!!

Excerpt

But as he breathes heavily, leaning down, his lips inching nearer, I remain stationary. Frozen by fear and want. The contact of his lips only heightens the fear and desire, the two feelings mixing so persuasively that I start to weakly tremble as the walls I worked so hard to put up begin to crack. I try to keep my mouth closed as he works to kiss me, not wanting to give in, not wanting to give any part of me to him, knowing that eventually he won’t want me anymore. But as my body warms below him, I can’t help it and my lips readily part. Seconds later, his tongue slides into my mouth and he groans against my lips. It sends vibrations through my body and I shiver.
“Jesus, this feels so much better than I imagined…” he moans as his fingers tangle through my hair, tugging at the roots and it feels so good. “I need this…God…” There’s an alarming amount of panic in his voice as he breathes heavily. It’s deafeningly quiet around us and I’m about to say something, when his tongue slips back into my mouth more forcefully and his movements fill with desperation.

Book 1 – The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

Callie has grown up keeping her feelings locked away from the outside world, and as her painful past threatens to consume her life, most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.

For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence has been the only way to survive, until one night when Callie and Kayden’s worlds collide.

After that moment, Kayden can’t stop thinking about Callie and when they end up at the same college, he does everything in his power to convince her that it isn’t coincidence – it’s fate.

Book 2 – The Redemption of Callie and Kayden

The dark secret Kayden has kept hidden for years is out. Worse, he’s facing charges for battery. The only way he stands a chance against the charges is if Callie speaks up, something he’ll never ask her to do.

Callie knows Kayden is going back to his dark place and desperately wants to save him. But saving him means admitting her secrets aloud. Callie and Kayden are stronger than they think, especially when they’re together. Together they move forward, face their demons, and finally start to heal from their traumatic pasts.

Jessica is giving away 5 ebooks of The Destiny of Violet and Luke.
The grand prize is a Kindle Fire. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway