Book Review – Changing Course by Aly Martinez

Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined)
I just LOVED IT! I knew I would. I knew it. I loved it so much that I even told my husband all about it today as we were driving home (I was at 75%, and it was all I could think about), and he thought it sounded incredible, too! He agreed… this guy? Total hero. The minute we walked through the door, he handed me my iPad and said:

“Get to your book! I wanna know how it ends.”

Yep. This was right up my alley, and totally right up his, and you know I love a book when I go into detail, recounting it to my husband. I don’t do that for all of them, ’cause I know his attention span is a bit er…. eye-roll-ey. *giggle* He can only tolerate so many of my… “and then… this happened! And then… that happened!!” before he tunes me out completely. But I knew he’d enjoy my retelling of this one.

Darn I’m kicking myself for not having read this the day I realized it existed back in February,

Sara: I read this book this week and thought it was AWESOME! I know you must get a ton of recommendations every day, but this is a new author and her first book and I was blown away!

Jill: Just finished Changing Course. LOVED IT. I was in a book slump and this one  finally took me out of it. Beautiful story with a super sexy alpha cop and a good amount of angst…

… because right when I read that blurb, I experienced my coveted *blurb jolt* and I knew it was for ME!!!! It sounded like such a unique love story promising absolute emotional turmoil, romantic angst and decisions sure to hurt my heart. I hadn’t even read the book yet, but I had already experienced that ultimate *oomph*.

What’s it about? You know what? This is one of those times that nothing says it better than the actual synopsis. Read this part, and you will know, like I did, that it was exactly what I was in the mood for. It promised SO much. And boy did it deliver!

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 that 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?

OMG RIGHT!???

*eeeeeeeeeep!!!* Did you feel that? THAT was the blurb jolt!!! Can you just imagine how this is gonna play out? My mind was right there dreaming up all of the crazy twists and dips in this emotional roller coaster that I was about to climb into.

And yet… I didn’t read it right away. I one-clicked it… but I lost my TBR-list way as I *squirreled* to-and-fro from one awesome-sounding book to the next. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I read some great ones since then, to be sure! Squirreling can be fun.

But I missed out on this one (and I’m appalled at myself for not having jumped into it immediately). It’s been floating HIGH on my TBR list for weeks now. Months, now. And I could have had my “alpha cop” urges fulfilled much sooner. Police? Oh yes… this one has TWO very hot alpha-male police officers. Two. Of. Them. Also known as the “Sexy Detective Duo”. Aka “Officer Hot Ass” (<—tee hee!!! I totally loved the heroine’s roommate. What a kick!!).

“Oh my God, I’m so jealous I actually want to punch you right now!”

*giggle* I love friends like her. And I love when awesome characters have friends like her.

And that’s part of what I absolutely LOVED in this book. It had EVERYTHING!!! While there was an incredible heart wrenching depth to the main part of this heartbreaking love story, there was plenty of humor to keep it from getting too heavy. It had all of that “emotionally dark” potential, but it never drowned us in it. Yes, it explored plenty of the somber sadness. From the initial tragedy, to the hope of healing, to the desperate attempt at regaining what once was, to the painful acceptance of having lost… everything.

Deep down, I know this is just the husk of my wife. My Sarah would never have done this to herself. More importantly, she would have never done this to me. Maybe it takes this level of madness, but I finally realize that I have lost her completely.

There is angst in the original love story.

And because of that, there is angst, blending perfectly within (and sometimes crushing) the hope of the new love story. Not everyone has healed, and not everyone is ready to let go.

But don’t go thinking this one’s heartbreaking story is too overbearing for an enjoyable read. ‘Cause this author’s kind of a… ummm… romance genius. She’s got it figured out. She can deliver the painful angst, right along side the exciting new crush.

Detective Brett Sharp is my idea of the perfect man. Tall, dark, handsome, nice dresser, employed, and since he is a cop, I’m assuming he doesn’t have a criminal record. On second thought, he’s every woman’s perfect man. Which would be precisely why he doesn’t seem to notice that I’m single, available, and very interested. <— side note: Ahhh yes. She flirts, and he just… goes on with his life. LOL!

She delivers that butterflies-in-the-stomach pining, right along with that *eeeep!!!-worthy* edge-of-your-seat tension. She can deliver misunderstandings and emotional realizations, jealous alpha-male tendencies right along side HILARIOUS reactions. OMG you guys!!! This was not a “comedy” romance in the least, but I was giggling… no! Cackling with glee throughout.

Maryse’s Book Blog: Okay so remember when I said I was gonna read “Changing Course” (#1) by Aly Martinez (’cause book #2 was just released)? Well I am. I’m 50% in and it’s really freakin’ goooood!!! It’s got a deepish angsty unique story (really unique) so I’m way into it, just on that alone! But the two main guys in the story? OMG!! THE BEST! They are both best friends and cops that are always fighting and competing, and I LOVE it when they get all alpha-nuts on each other. Even though it’s not meant to be a “funny” story, when it comes to these two beating their chests, I can’t stop laughing!! They are hilarious (and I’m seriously crushing on both! ).

Kim: Just wait for Caleb’s story!!!! OMG!!! So AWESOME I’m reading it now and I don’t think I will be going to sleep I absolutely LOVED Changing Course!!!

Maryse’s Book Blog: YAY! I’m sooooo happy! Great reading choice, and I can’t wait for more Caleb. These guys feel so real!

Erin: I like what your saying. Love “unique” and “real” with a good dose of angst.

Summer: It was a good ready I read it when it first came out. I had no idea there would be a second book.

Nancy: Loved Changing Course & it can be read alone, but who wouldn’t want to read the 2nd book about best friend, as he played an important role.

Debra: I am half way in myself. I love the humor it helps break up what otherwise would be a seriously heartbreaking story.

Danielle: I’m going to give it a try! Thanks

Kathy: Can’t wait to read Caleb’s story. The 1st book was so good!!

Christine: I am reading stolen course now, it’s really good.

Jennifer: I LOVED this book … The ending will not disappoint

And then!!! OMG AND THEN!!!!! There was this part that I sorta saw coming and WOW! WOWWWWW!!! I was SO impressed by how it played out. Blown away, and delighted. Yep. She was a genius again. *claps hands*

Just you wait and see. Oh you must read this!!!! MUST!!! In fact, I loved it so much that I am ABSOLUTELY starting book #2 tonight. It’s about another character from this one, and I can’t WAIT to see where she takes me this time. And I’m hearing… it’s even better than the first one!

Julie: I finished book two last evening and I think I liked it even better than book one. It was more angst and answered a lot of questions carried over from book one. There is also a novella about someone you will meet in book two. I haven’t read it yet. It sounds pretty steamy though.

Maryse’s Book Blog: I was hoping someone would say that!!! I am LOVING these! LOVED!!!!!! I couldn’t even begin to choose between the two of ‘em.

Joyce: You’ll love book #2! It’s such a great story! I liked it better than book #1.

Ahhhhhh…. these men… *swoooooooooooon* Caleb and his sweet “baby girl” endearment. *sigh* And now I get to read him next (Stolen Course) <— YAY ME!!!!!!

4.5 stars!!! It was great!

Not perfect (you know… sometimes I found the heroine a bit quick on the “downtrodden/martyr button” but then again, I adored everything else about her. Like this:

“Excuse me? Did you just say the F-word to me?” I say in disbelief and anger. “What the heck did I do that was so wrong? I thought it would be fun to go to the game together, but I’m sorry I even asked you now. So you can just calm down and wipe the crazy ogre look off your face. I officially withdraw my offer. I’m sure you have better things to do, and other people to swear at. You are a jerk, Brett Sharp. No, you are more than a jerk., you’re a… whatever… you’re something worse than a jerk!” <— LOL!!!!!!!!

My husband just asked me to tell you: “When Maryse read me that line, I thought it was HER talking to me. Jerk and ogre-face. You’ve definitely said that to me before.”

Tee hee!!!!!!! I related to her big time!

So yes. It held me every step of the way. No skimming here. I HIGHLY recommend this fulfilling read! Thanks to that awesome blurb (that could not be denied) and to all that recommended it, I had an amazing night!

Tagged as: 4.5 stars, Aly Martinez, contemporary romance, men in uniform, police, super-angsty