Series Review // Wrecked and Ruined by Aly Martinez

Today's flashback is the Wrecked and Ruined series by Aly Martinez. This is an emotional contemporary romance that involves very hot athletes and the women that love them. There is pain and strife and I fell in love with this author's writing before the end of book one.

Have you ever read these books? Are you interested?

Changing Course

I met Sarah Kate Erickson when I was twenty-one years old. I was lucky enough to keep her for seven years before a tragic accident stole her from me. She didn’t die, but sometimes I think it would have been easier if she had.

I lived in a haze for those four years after the accident. Catering to her every need, even though she hated the very sight of my face. I tried to hold on to her and the future that we were supposed to build together. But you can’t hold on to someone who doesn’t exist anymore.

It wasn’t until I met Jesse Addison, a barista at the local coffee shop, that I realized I didn’t just lose Sarah that tragic night, I lost myself as well. Jesse taught me how to let go of the past and learn to love again. But what happens when your past haunts your present, and the woman you used to love refuses to accept the woman you can’t live without?

My Review - ★★★★★

Wow!! What an emotional ride!! This book was truly amazing. I heard somewhere that this was the first book by Aly Martinez. I have to say that I see a very bright and successful future for this author. Her writing hit every point I look for in a good book. From the drama, the tears, the pain, the laughs, the sex, etc. This book is definitely a WIN!!

I cannot say that the relationship between Brett and Sarah wasn't annoying and frustrating. I imagined this 6'5" man being manipulated by this woman. She had him by the balls and he allowed it. I know he had misappropriated guilt and loyalty to her but in so many ways she proved that she was undeserving. I loved that he got a second chance with Jesse. I loved Jesse. She was the type of woman Brett deserved. To be honest, the beginning of the book shows us who Sarah is before the accident. I truly didn't like her before so I knew I wouldn't like her after. I think she was always a manipulative bitch. That's just my opinion.

I have some favourite parts that I just have to list because c'mon the book was superb!!

"Benissimo!" When this was mentioned the second time in the book, I was rolling!!

“First off, you sound like an idiot right now. I didn't do shit to steal anything from you. You're doing a bang up job of ruining this all on your own. Secondly, I'm jealous that you're moving on? Where can I preorder tickets to your new comedy show? Because you should take this shit on the road. Moving on? If you really think you’re moving on after what went down this morning, apparently Sarah isn't the only delusional one. Nothing happened between Jess and I, so the next words out of your mouth better be a fucking apology.” Caleb cracked me up so much in this book. I cannot wait to read his book!

“He's lounging on my bed fully nude, and I've see never seen anything sexier in my life. I want to pull a Leonardo DiCaprio and whip out my sketch pad to draw this Adonis, Titanic style. Although, with my artistic abilities, he would end up a sick man with an over-grown mushroom between his legs.”

“Sarah, I have no recipes to share with you, nor do I have any desire to kiss and make up. You can make whatever the heck you want to tomorrow, but just know that at the end of the night he will be in my bed."
Was it dirty to say that to her? Heck yes! Did it feel better than winning the lottery? Heck yes! Did it hurt like crazy when she slapped me across the face? Hell yes!”

I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance with a HEA that is achieved after overcoming painful obstacles. The journey is worth it!

Stolen Course

I fell in love with Manda Baker eight years ago, and I loved her to the core of her soul. We were supposed to have that elusive happily ever after and spend a lifetime together. But that was all before she was STOLEN from me.

Her best friend, Sarah Erickson, killed her. It wasn’t intentional. It was far worse. Everyone claims it was just an accident, but I can see through the lies. Even if it’s with my dying breath, I will make her pay for what she did.

Fate hates me. It robbed me of my first love and left me to navigate through this world emotionless and numb. Then, one day, spiteful fate gave me a woman to fill my shattered soul and make me feel again. It gave me Emma Jane Erickson. Now I spend my days searching for the answers that will ruin Sarah and my nights falling in love with her sister—the one person who is bound and determined to save her.

But what happens when everything you know to be true explodes around you? Who will be left to pick up the pieces, and who will need to be saved from the wreckage?

My Review - ★★★★★

Holy crap I love Caleb and Emmy!! They were so beautiful together. I love that there wasn't much drama between them but I hated that drama did exist. Aly Martinez wrote this book in such a way that you felt the emotions of all of the characters involved. How could you not? Caleb's grief over losing Manda was real. We got more than a glimpse of it in the first book. This man just had so much hate inside of him. I'm so happy that he was able to get past it and finally move on with Emmy. The balloon scene was extremely bittersweet!

Fave lines:

“Don’t be a dick just to keep me at a distance,” she says, shocking the shit out of me. I pull the phone away and look at it as if Siri is going to explain to me how the fuck she just read my mind.”

“Now that part is up to you. You can continue to hate Sarah or you can let it go and choose Emma. That’s a choice you have to make.”
“Don’t you think if it were that easy I would have done it a long time ago?” I say, rubbing a hand over my tired eyes.
“Then make it that easy.” He leans forward like he just unlocked the secrets of the universe when in actuality he just said the equivalent of Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign.”

There were many more but then I'd just be giving the book away for free. Can't have that! Go read it!!

Among the Echoes

My name was Dr. Erica Hill. I was a victim, then a witness, and then I ceased to exist altogether.

I may still be breathing, but stripped of my identity, I have long since stopped living. I am invisible, and my life depends on my ability to stay in the shadows.

But he sees me.

Slate Andrews is the embodiment of everything I have been taught to avoid. He’s rich and famous, and one image of him with a woman would earn millions for any paparazzi lucky enough to snap it. He has vowed to protect me with his life, yet he exposes me with his every breath. I should be stronger and walk away. I should disappear. But I’m terrified he would come after me.

I’m on the run, determined not to take him down with me but absolutely unable to let him go.

My name is Riley Peterson… at least for today.

My Review - ★★★★★

Holy freakin crap that was good!! This book was amazing from the first scene. I cannot believe I slept on Aly Martinez but damn this chick can write!!

All of Erica's fears and awkwardness were completely understandable. Shoot, I was scared too. But Slate... oooh sexy Slate... took that fear and made it his bitch. I loved loved loved his devotion and patience with her. It was beautiful to watch their love story unfold. Slate was definitely Erica's Prince Charming!!

Now Leo... Her relationship with him seemed pretty Stockholm-y but I got it. Beauty can be borne from darkness so I kind of understood. Didn't make it easy to swallow but the love they shared was comparable to that of blood kin. I love how protective he was of Erica and I'm glad the repercussions of his actions were realistic. He should feel guilty but I think he has redeemed himself. He just needs to see it.

The epilogue was toooooo sweet. I hope we get to see more of Erica and Slate in Leo's book. I'm not sure how this book is going to be considering his love interest is Sarah Erickson. I still haven't forgiven her for what she put Jesse through, brain injury notwithstanding. I'm going to read it anyway because I do hope she redeems herself. Maybe that book will be the closure all of the characters need.

Broken Course

Seven years ago, my life changed forever. One accident and the person I saw in the mirror no longer resembled the woman I used to be. I was lost and confused inside my own body. I felt alone and disconnected from the world, carrying the incredible weight of guilt and loss that wasn't even mine to harbor.

Then fate led me to Leo James. He taught me that crazy could be perfectly normal and it shouldn't hurt to breathe. Don't get me wrong. Leo isn't perfect. He has his own cross to bear, and the truth is, that might be why I fell for him in the first place. But despite everything he does for me, learning to forgive myself is infinitely harder than overlooking the flaws of another.

Now, the secrets and lies of our past have begun to dictate our future—threatening to ruin us before we get the chance to try. Perhaps we were cursed from the start. Or maybe, just maybe, the remnants of our fractured lives will fit together to form one whole, where love isn’t questioned and being happy is…well, easy.

Can a second broken soul be enough to fill the voids of my own? Or will such scarred pasts prove too much for our love alone to overcome?

My Review - ★★★★★

Ok. It's official. I love the literary genius of Aly Martinez!! How could I not?! She made me truly fall in love with both Leo and Sarah. I truly had some doubts that these two could be redeemed enough in my eyes to merit a HEA. I should've had no worries. These two characters blasted themselves enough and didn't need my help. I'm glad that their ugly mistakes were not brushed under the rug or made to seem inconsequential. That made it easier to love them despite their past actions and look at the phoenix that rose above that. The remorse they both felt was so deep. It needed to be felt in order for this couple to get my acceptance. And they have it. I started cheering for them pretty quickly. I think it was as early as their first night together. Food poisoning has a way of bonding people together lol.

That epilogue? I am so grateful for that. It was the best closure we could ask for. All of the characters are at different stages of acceptance (though I completely get Brett's hesitance but I'm so happy he's still hanging in there. Beautiful man.). I love that they can all come together and live, laugh, and love.

Fave lines:

“Every single day, good people do bad things. And I’m no different. The hardest part about life is putting one foot in front of the other to move past that pain. But I swear to you, inch by inch, you will get past it. It doesn’t disappear, but it’s no longer staring you in the face. You’ll see—just like I did.”

“No matter how fucked up it may be, in this moment, I’m thankful for the broken course that led me to here. All of the wrongs somehow feel right. And if Leo James is all I ever get, I can honestly still say that this life would be an absolute win.”