Title: Stolen Course (Wrecked and Ruined #2)
Author: Aly Martinez
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 19, 2014
Blurb~
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?
**Each book in this series can be read as a stand alone.**
Buy the Books~
Stolen Course (Wrecked and Ruined #2)
Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined #1)
Excerpt~
“Do you always act like a kindergartener when you like a girl?”
“Who said I like you?” I mock surprise.
Yeah, I gave myself away. She knows that I think she’s hot, but wanting to have sex with someone is very different than actually liking them. At least it is in my world. I’ve had sex with numerous women since Manda. Never once have I even thought twice about them though. That is until Emma ran into my life.
“You called back, didn’t you?”
Damn it, busted again! She’s right. I like her even though I know absolutely nothing about her. I need to remedy this without acting like a broody, sullen teenager. Who knows. Maybe I will be able to shake her once I get to know her a little better.
“What’s your favorite color, Emma Jane Erickson?”
“What is this, the get-to-know-each-other portion of the night? I never thought you would be so cliché, Detective Jones.” She laughs for a second before answering, “Orange.”
“Oh, come on. No one likes orange.”
“I do.”
“Why?”
“Why not? It’s different and bold. It stands out amongst a blank world of black, white, and gray. Orange is the early morning sun stretching across the sky and the color of a burning ember standing tall in the middle of a beach bonfire. It’s leaves in the fall, carrots in Nana’s vegetable soup on a cold winter day, tulips in the spring, and the ladybugs in the middle of the grassy park on a hot summer afternoon. Orange is life. It’s unexpected but beautiful.” She stops talking, and her depth silences me too.
I consider myself a very artistic person. I draw, paint, and build. Creation is my escape. And to listen to this woman wax poetic about a single simple color steals my breath. It embeds itself somewhere deep inside. A place where no woman, especially an Erickson, has any business being.
“Oh, and it’s my favorite flavor of candy too.”
And with those simple words, I know I’m in trouble. So fucking much trouble. I begin to laugh, and I mean really laugh. The kind that sticks with you even after the joke is long since forgotten, and I do it for the first time in almost five years. Fuck.
✯✯5 Huge Heart Breaking Stars!!✯✯
Manda was stolen from me. Stolen from herself. Stolen from a world that is clueless as to what they are missing but will ne nonetheless worse off without her. She lost her life, and it's all Sarah Erickson's fault. ~Caleb
Aly Martinez has done it to me AGAIN!!! I was an absolute wreck from beginning to end of the book. Not that I was shocked by this. In her first book Changing Course we learned the 2 couples lives were changed forever! Brett & Caleb are police officers.Brett's wife Sarah & Caleb's fiance Manda were involved in a car accident. Sarah survived & Manda did not. We saw in Changing Course Brett moved on with Jesse. At the end of Changing Course Sarah went after Jesse. We ended it with Caleb carrying a broken Sarah out. It was there I knew I was in for it in Stolen Course. But, I was totally not prepared for what I got!!
We pick up exactly where we left off. Emma Jane Erickson who owns a photography business. Gets a call from her brother-in-law Brett. Not that it's out of the blue. He has been keeping her up to date on Sarah's life the past 5yrs. Emma is Sarah's little sister. Sarah has pushed everyone away including her sister. Now that Sarah has gotten herself into serious trouble Emma is on the 1st flight to her.
"I love you too, Caleb. I also hate you because you are a broody ass who hates my sister."
Caleb hates Sarah with everything he has. She killed the love of his life. He has spent the past 5yrs of his life doing the same thing. Working, going to the gym, having one night stand after the other, doing his woodwork in his garage. But, that's not the 2 most important things. He visits Manda's grave every day and every night he takes out the box in his closet. It has everything from that night. Caleb will do everything it takes to prove
Sarah killed Manda.
Caleb broke my heart or I should say he shattered my heart into pieces. He's literally broken inside. Nothing helps him. I honestly don't think anything will heal him. Not even getting Sarah thrown in jail.
Caleb, Brett & Jesse are at the hospital waiting to hear news about Sarah. Then, walks Emma and Caleb's world is instantly turned upside down!! He's instantly attracted to her. Emma quickly makes the decision to move back & help Sarah. Caleb promises her he'd let her know if anything comes up with Sarah before she gets back.
"Emma, no matter how much you try to avoid it, Caleb's past is going to effect you. He is who he is today because of his time with Manda. The same way I am with Jesse because of my time spent with Sarah. Trust me. That was harder for me to accept then anyone else." ~Brett
Emma is home & she can't stop thinking about Caleb. Caleb is in the same boat. He can't stop thinking about Emma. Which is not Caleb!! Well, they start talking on the phone all the time. They totally have an instant connection. Which I really, really enjoyed. It was nice seeing Caleb smile & laugh. And, well enjoying life. He was totally not used to what was happening. It had been 5 long years since he felt anything but hatred!
“I don’t know the what, when, where, or why about my life, but… I suddenly know the who.”
Caleb picks Emma up at the airport. These 2 aren't out to the truck yet & already have World War 3. Why... Easy Sarah!! They realize rather quickly that Sarah is a VERY VERY sore subject. They agree to never talk about her. Which is hard for Emma. I couldn't imagine being in her shoes.
Brett & Jesse still had a good part in this book. Which I loved!! I love how Jesse & Emma became quick friends considering Emma's sister wanting to her Jesse. I loved when the 4 of them were together. Then, add in Kara and OMG you'll be peeing your pants!! I loved how Kara & Jesse got Emma up to speed on the "vegetable report" which by the way is absolutely hilarious!!! But, it was nice that even though Caleb was not there for her when it came to Sarah at all. I mean you can't mention her name without shit hitting the fan. Emma still had Jesse & Kara. Which was really awesome to see!!
“I loved her harder than any person should be allowed. If I’m being honest with myself, I still love her like that. It’s been almost five years and Manda Baker still owns my heart.”
Emma & Caleb are made for each other. Emma knows Caleb has a past and she accepts it. She knows he goes to Manda's grave everyday. She knows most of his body is tattooed in a memorial for her. Caleb;s heart is Manda's & Emma knows it. How she deals with it. The hell if I know!! But, Emma is awesome. Plain & simple.
“Hey, Caleb?… I’m serious about Manda. I don’t have an issue with you having a past. I’m not an insecure girl who is trying to compete with her memory.”
Emma goes & sees Sarah weekly. Which is awesome because we learn exactly what is going on with Sarah. We find out why she pushed everyone away. There is literally so much we learn from the horrible night from everyone involved that my head literally spun & I gasped a lot.
"Hold on to the headboard, baby."
Caleb & Emma get serious pretty quick. To the point that Caleb starts changing. And, in a good way!! Or so you think!! Emma accidentally finds the box. When she confronts Caleb he admits to still trying to find out the truth & still plans on taking Sarah down!
Emma leaves and Caleb is all alone. Again!! Who does he blame? Yup,you guessed it... Sarah.
Of course it doesn't end there. But, I will say A LOT, A LOT, A LOT, A LOT of stuff comes out after that. Good. Bad. Ugly. It all came out!!
Caleb also has to figure out what he wants. In order for him to be happy he needs to let a lot go. But, can he? Emma has to decide a lot of her own stuff out. What to do with Sarah. Can she forgive Caleb for how hes acted towards her sister. For not being there for her.
“My fingers glide over the indentation of her name. I hate this fucking headstone, and not just because it has the date signifying the end of her life. I hate it because it says ‘Manda Baker.’ No matter how many times I see it, it always burns… Her headstone should read Jones. She was mine, and the entire world should know it.”
Aly hit a grand slam with this book!! She made you get attached to the characters. It didn't matter if they laughed, cried, got mad, smiled or were confused. Because whatever they did. Guess what... I did too!! Thanks for that Aly! I for one can not wait to see what happens next. I will tell you this. I know this book is considered a standalone. But, you totally must read Changing Course first!!
"Love me more then you hate her. Please," I plead.
About Aly~
Giveaway!
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