This is a heartbreakingly emotional romance about domestic violence, infertility, and loss, but also one of hope & courage
Iβm so excitedβyou guys are going to cry ALL
THE
She has posted amazing insight throughout her Facebook page, so I thought I’d gather bits and pieces from her posts and quote them here. The first word of each quote, links to the corresponding Facebook post:
Iβm so glad I decided to push my fears aside and write this story. There are pieces of me in this book. My past. My truths. And I wrote it for every single woman whoβs ever gone through what I have, and worse. All I ever want is to heal people with my writing.
I knew when I wrote it that it was an important story. I knew it needed to be told. And I knew that I would be able to write it in a delicate way, without being overly graphic or shocking for the sake of being shocking.
β β β β β β β β
So many people suffer through domestic abuse & infertility. For this book, I took stories from some incredible women who allowed me to include them. What many of you might not know is that I also took some parts of my own story. You can see that in the moments when Callie finds her voice, and stands up for herself. Writing it was emotional, but it was therapeutic, and it was healing. The one message I want to leave readers with is same one I always leave you with: hope. Even when youβre at your lowest, even when the odds seem stacked against you, even when you feel stuck β there is always hope. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. You might not see it, but itβs there. Love yourself enough to find it.Itβs funny, I actually hate reading sad, realistic books β yet I love writing them
She also mentions that Colleen Hoover’s “It Ends With Us” deeply affected her, made her think and inspired her to write this story. Here’s a snippet from her Facebook post:
…I think my opinion about Ryle says a lot about the kind of person I am: Someone who will put up with a lot of bad shit for the sake of the person who is hurting, even if that person is hurting me in the process. I love how fearless CoHo is in her writing, and how she doesnβt shy away from the topics that will make some readers mad.β β β β β β β β This book inspired me & gave me the courage to write Whatβs Left of Me.
About the abuse aspect in her story, she says:
In this story, I wanted the abusive husband to be someone that we didnβt automatically label as the villain. I wanted to make him someone we knew needed help. I wanted you to see his struggle. To understand why Callie would stay for as long as she did. Not to romanticize abuse, but to shed light on all the difficulties that go along with it. Itβs not easy to get out of a situation like that, even when you know itβs the right thing to do. Even when you want to. I hope my books will always give readers a different perspective, and see things in a different light
So what’s it about?
Callie Kingstonβs life as an Orange County housewife isnβt as perfect as it seems. Her husband isnβt the same man she fell in love with nine years ago, and her home is no longer her safe haven. But sheβs determined to keep up appearances, especially when it comes to concealing the bruises her husbandβs temper leaves behind.
Until Cole Luciano moves into her best friendβs house across the street. Heβs abrasive and rude, but his steel-blue eyes tell a different storyβone with dark secrets that has Callie curious.
After suffering through an unspeakable tragedy, Cole settles into his sisterβs pool house until he can get back on his feet. Heβs convinced that he deserves to live with the guilt he harbors from his past, and wants nothing more than to be left alone. Yet he canβt seem to stay away from his beautiful neighbor. He sees right through Callieβs carefully orchestrated lies and is desperate to help her.
Callie discovers more than an angry and bitter man underneath Coleβs hard exterior. But when Callie finally finds the courage to create a new life for herself, Cole isnβt sure if thereβs enough of his heart left to give in order to be the man she deserves.
Can two broken souls heal each other, or are some just too damaged to be put back together?
Now for the giveaway!
The author is giving awayΒ a signed paperback of “What’s Left of Me”
HowΒ to enter for a chance to win it?
Just leave a comment below (and better yet, tell us your favorite “healing” book), andΒ by 10pm EST, Sunday July 19th, 2020, I will randomly selectΒ oneΒ lucky commenter as the winner.
The winner will be contacted and will have 48hrs to respond confirming their mailing address, so if you are picked, do not delay or you will lose your chance. The signed book will be sent to the winner by the author.
US ONLY (but all are welcome to comment). π
Archerβs Voice. Hands down my favorite healing romance.
Are we related ? Grandparents came from Naples early 1900s hope I win
I’m torn between Making Faces by Amy Harmon and Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover…I love them both!!
My favorite healing book is Slammed by Colleen Hoover. Layken and Will are two tortured souls who help heal each other using poetry.
I cannot wait to read it
It Ends With Us was so hard for me to read. I still want What’s Left Of Me. I’m really intrigued by an abusive husband who isnt just a villain.
I really liked What’s Left of Me! Would love a book for my shelf!
Love the sound of this! It Ends With Us by CoHo!
Hmm Iβm not sure that Iβve found my βhealingβ book yet but I have a suspicion that it will be Credence by Penelope Douglas! π
In the Absence of Light by Adrienne Wilder, Home by Cara Dee and Archers Voice by Mia Sheridan.
It ends with Us. So so good.