I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Crank Wilson has a bad history. He left home at sixteen, living on the streets, dropping out of high school. He has a volatile relationship with his father, a Boston police officer, and doesn’t speak to his mother. The only person he cares about is his little brother Sean.

Julia Thompson has it all, beauty, brains and a love of music. She also has a damaged past, secrets she has told no one and no desire to allow anyone into her heart. Will she ever open up to find closure?

This was a great story of love and forgiveness. I really loved how realistic this romance novel was. The characters are people you can easily connect with. Julia and Crank had this instant attraction, she wanted no commitment and he wanted the opposite. I spent a lot of time yelling back at Julia’s mother, there were moments that just completely broke my heart. Although this was a love story, they both had to overcome emotional obstacles and there were many tearful moments. Be sure to have some Kleenex ready for this beautifully written romance.
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She's Got Books on Her Mind

Julia has everything under control. She makes sure she's always on top of her homework, she doesn't go out often, and she doesn't date anyone she knows will hurt her. She does all this because before her senior year in High School her once close friend stabbed her in the back and unleashed a secret turned scandal. Now her mother looks her up and down and makes comments of how she didn't raise someone like her. After going through a tough time in High School she takes control of her life even if it means she's not living it. Then she meets Crank, this charming, out of control singer in a band. There's just something about him that puts her instantly on guard. Will he be the one to break her out of the bubble she keeps herself in or will he be the one who finally breaks her?

When I first started reading this book I was pretty interested. After reading and loving A Little Wanting Song any book that had some sort of music theme behind it was a book I wanted to read. Unfortunately the first few pages did not make me happy to read this book. You had Crank on one side. This blond/white bleached hair guy who clearly acted like a "bad boy". He could be summarized by this quote: "I can get a girl to sleep with me anytime. But there's something different about you." That doesn't make me like you Crank. I'm sorry I'm not the "easy lay" that I'm sure you would prefer. On the other side there was Julia that obviously had some tension and secrets. She just ruined her image when she was thinking about Crank and his kiss. It made her whole body shudder or something like that. Let's just say I was deterred by what this book was showing me.

Gloriously it made a comeback and those first couple of chapters were a thing of the past. There were moments where I thought here it is. This is the moment I feel connected with this character. For Julia it was her relationship with her mother that swayed me towards her side. How she must feel worthless when she is around. Her mother would call her a slut for something she did way back then but her mother never asked what happened and more importantly how old she was. It's as bad as it sounds. Julia's life is pretty screwed up. She's living a life she doesn't want. She doesn't want to get into foreign service like her father. She hated moving around every three years. Music is her passion. I grew attached to Julia and her story. I'm sure many of us know what it feels like when someone, anyone thinks you are unable to do something or you are not good enough. Julia also won bonus points with me when she befriended Crank's younger brother but I will get to him later.

I think Crank's moment was when I saw him with his family. I think it was when we saw through Julia's eyes how she saw the tight nit family even if they had arguments a lot of the time mostly about Crank's brother, Sean, and the mother that left them. Something doesn't add up with that and I grew unnerved when I started thinking why she left and possibly who she left because of. His family other than that is one where Julia wishes she had. They fought, who didn't? At least they didn't have this controlling mother who criticized them every minute you got. You really see that towards the end and it's like sheesh. This woman is not a good person. Speaking of Julia's mother I never felt she was redeemed. I think the author did little to do that but that was a good choice because nothing could really be done in a short time to redeem her in my eyes.

I must talk about Sean now. He's autistic and spouts information all the time. I really don't know how to describe him but... is it okay to be in love with him? I seriously think I am. He just melts my heart and I want to hug him even if he won't let me. He grows attached to Julia instantly and there is this scene with her that's just heartbreaking. They bond over each other and their mom issues. His pain is so visible you wonder why his family doesn't realize what he's thinking and must be feeling all the time like he too is a burden. I hate seeing him in pain and want to crush everyone who hurts him. He stole the book for me and is the star in my eyes.

I'm so happy that this book turned around after a few chapters. If it didn't I would completely be disappointed but it did so I'm thrilled. There were a couple of adult moments if you catch my drift which I thought weren't necessary but this is an adult book so what can I expect? It had a great amount of balance with music, family life, and it was close with romance. When I was done with the book I was satisfied with how it all turned out. I also figured out that I had read Just Remember to Breathe by this author too! I can't believe it took me that long to figure it out... Both books are from the same series and it's about the sisters grown up and finding love. In the last book there wasn't really anything about the sisters so I didn't think anything of it. In this book they were there a little and I would like to see them more. The family bonds in this story propel it into such a great book and I think more time with the sisters in the next book would be a perfect addition. I'm really excited what the author has in store with the other sisters. What situations could he possibly put in their way? What kind of guy would they attract? Where will their story lead us? I think the rest of the series is going to be really great. I can't wait to read them. ( )

The most emotional, heart breaking book I've ever read.
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4.5 heartbreaking stars
Quick thought- Lost young girl is used by an older man, without family support she suffers years of issues and has to learn to let them go and trust again. Sounds simple but it's not at all.
I am having a hard time with my thoughts on this book. I connected with the young woman and felt her pain deeply. She was used, an innocent child by a predator who claimed to love her. She was needy, left alone by her disfunction family, unable to ask for advice or help. She was at a manipulator's mercy, and he gave her none. She walked through life, humiliated, bleeding, and fearful, her armor hardened and always in place. Her life is on a track assigned by her family, and as a good girl she follows it.
Enter the man who will upset all her safe set plans and change everything. Crank, is a young man with more responsibly than most grown men. He helps take care of his brother who has Aspergers, he works hard to get his band going and pay his bills. He has issues, and scars, a mother gone, a father distant and a lot of anger. He is everything Julia doesn't want in her life.
This is a bittersweet romance. The story touches on some very ugly moments. it is very realistic and that makes it more heartbreaking. I really liked these two and enjoyed that they were a couple I could cheer for, two very good souls.
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Could be Spoilers. A romance novel, between a towny guy & a tony woman, but she has a sad history that she works out with him. Plus she turns out to be a great band manager.