Review: Debra Anastasia's "Poughkeepsie."

@Debra_Anastasia    @KirstyLBooks
Review: Debra Anastasia's "Poughkeepsie."

~ 5 Hearts Review ~

Amazon UK:     http://amzn.to/16o8MbX
Amazon.com:    http://amzn.to/1a3yLtI

Synopsis:

He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others . . . he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day.

Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.

When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she's surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.

Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. Love never fails, right?

In an interwoven tale of unlikely loves and relationships forged by fire, Debra Anastasia takes readers into the darkest corners of human existence, only to show them the radiant power of pure adoration and true sacrifice. Complicated families and confused souls find their way to light in this novel, which manages to be racy, profane, funny, and reverent all at once.

Review: Kirsty Lander:

This book has just bumped itself right in to the top five of my favourite books. It was simply brilliant.

Every single character in this book has a story, some sad, some dark and some happy. Usually in a book you have your two main characters and are introduced to friends, family etc but not in this. Every single character is important in their own right and we learn about everyone. 

Beckett, Cole and Blake spent years together in foster care and shared a close bond over something pretty horrific. Since leaving foster care they've had each others back and never lost contact.

"Beckett's probably the hardest man there is to love. He does life wrong for all the right reasons."

Beckett and Eva were by far my favourite couple in this book and to watch the heart break of Eve's past turn in to a new love was beautiful, no matter how it ended. A scene with the two of them near the end had me in tears, it was just so special.

Cole and Kyle another couple that were special in their own right. Kyle didn't feel as though she deserved to be loved, she just used her body to pretend it could happen. Then along came Cole and everything changed. Cole made her see herself differently, she finally found and believed in love.

And then there's Blake and Livia. Blake was a homeless man sitting in Poughkeepsie train station and every day he would see Livia and her smiles. He noticed her long before they even said a word to each other. It was the start of a truly beautiful relationship. It wasn't rushed and the whole thing was 100% believable. 

You make the rest of the beautiful things in the world cry for even trying at all. 

You make it hard for me to breathe.”

I loved how the characters ended up connected in a way that you least expected it, the author did a really good job of that. It was like a big puzzle all fitting together. It was told in every one's POV so you could really see their thoughts and feelings.

"You're not the guy at the train station. You're my Blake."

I can't believe I took so long to read this book and I can't wait to read the next one when it comes out. Especially as it's Beckett's story. I rated "Poughkeepsie" 5 Hearts