Alex Grayson

At the beginning of the book the author wrote:
"As advised by my super awesome beta reader Marie, here is your warning that tissues are required while reading. Oh, and probably a protective case around your reading device. I hold no responsibility for any crushed reading devices or tear stains on clothing."

You would do well to have several boxes of tissues and I hope your flooring is cushy for your tears will have you dropping your Ereader repeatedly.

Alexander is scarred, physically and show more emotionally over losing his wife and newborn daughter in a car accident. Between a massive case of survivor's guilt and scars from a car fire he has made himself a recluse. People in town whisper, some not so quietly, when he makes his monthly trips in to town but no one gets near enough to see if he's healing or hurting.

Gwendolyn and her kids, Kelsey and Daniel, have recently moved to the area. Gwen's husband passed away from a heart attack. They had no idea he even had issues. Kelsey, their 8 yr old daughter, has something in common with Alexander....a massive case of guilt. Will passed while going to get Kelsey her teddy bear. She went looking for him and the bear and found him in her room. Since then she has refused to speak....except for nightly prayers asking God to bring her daddy back. Prayer's she whispers so no one will hear her.

The way these folks come together is accidental but you start to wonder if there is such a thing as fate since they seem to be drawn to one another from the first moment. Alexander recognizes the pain in Kelsey, he sees it every morning in the mirror. Daniel is in need of a male figure and Alexander is willing to be there for him. It fills a void he didn't realize is as big as it is.

There are moments of emotion so tender and then some so heartbreaking you cry because if you don't you're going to explode. It is a well written story of loss, trying again and the healing power of love. show less

Holy cow!!! This series is rough, in a great way! After every one of the stories, I really needed to take a break but I couldn't. First, I loved Bailey and Jaxon's story. I love that the author doesn't portray only sunshine and roses. She exhibits that not every story is meant to be tied up in a little bow with a cherry on top. She portrays the ugly side of life, as well as the fact that life is definitely not fair. This is also true with Mac and Mia. In Andrew and Jase's story, we are show more reminded just how messy life is, and how things don't always happen on our time, but when they are meant to. And also, how good deeds can come back to bite you in the ass. Then, we come to Nick and Chris. How do we as human beings cope when everything we love and everything we live for is lost? How do you keep going? How do you learn to live again? These stories are so well written and all of her storylines are well explored. This is one of the best books I have read this year. There are a lot of trigger warnings for this book. Unfortunately, to dictate trigger warnings would give away part of the story. If you have triggers, I recommend going to the book pages and looking at the stories individually to see if you can handle it. On a side note, on one of the stories she also gives resources if someone is going through similar events and I think that is awesome. If you know someone or are going through any of these events in any of these stories, please get help. In the meantime, if you are looking for an amazing book to round out your 2016, definitely check this one out. show less

Holy cow!!! This series is rough, in a great way! After every one of the stories, I really needed to take a break but I couldn't. First, I loved Bailey and Jaxon's story. I love that the author doesn't portray only sunshine and roses. She exhibits that not every story is meant to be tied up in a little bow with a cherry on top. She portrays the ugly side of life, as well as the fact that life is definitely not fair. This is also true with Mac and Mia. In Andrew and Jase's story, we are show more reminded just how messy life is, and how things don't always happen on our time, but when they are meant to. And also, how good deeds can come back to bite you in the ass. Then, we come to Nick and Chris. How do we as human beings cope when everything we love and everything we live for is lost? How do you keep going? How do you learn to live again? These stories are so well written and all of her storylines are well explored. This is one of the best books I have read this year. There are a lot of trigger warnings for this book. Unfortunately, to dictate trigger warnings would give away part of the story. If you have triggers, I recommend going to the book pages and looking at the stories individually to see if you can handle it. On a side note, on one of the stories she also gives resources if someone is going through similar events and I think that is awesome. If you know someone or are going through any of these events in any of these stories, please get help. In the meantime, if you are looking for an amazing book to round out your 2016, definitely check this one out. show less

Alex Grayson has left me in a complete and utter mess with my emotions. Never has a book affected me this much. It felt as if my heart was broken in a million pieces and I didn’t know how all the pieces were going to be put back together again. The gut wrenching sadness and despair in this story completely wrecked me. Imagine losing the love of your life, the one you were always meant to be with. How do you find it within yourself to go on or to move on? It was just heartbreaking to see show more the turmoil. What makes life worth living when you lose the one you have loved with your whole heart and soul? Can you ever truly live and love again?

Nick is completely gutted and in such a dark place and sinking even deeper as time goes on that it seems impossible to find a light at the end of the tunnel. He has let the darkness take him over for such a long time and he is sinking further and further down a path of no return. There is hope though, a light at the end of the tunnel. The light to his darkness is Chris, a fiery redhead with enough compassion, love, and determination to pull Nick out of the hole he has crawled into. If only he will let her get close enough. He tries to fight it, to push her away and as much as he hates it, Nick just can’t seem to get Chris out of his mind. For the first time in a very long time he finally feels something even though he tries to stomp it down, refusing to admit that maybe she is what he needs to live again.

I have been a big fan of the romance genre for a very long time (over 20 years). I can probably count a handful of times when a book has made such a huge impact on me and has really played with my emotions. This is one of those times. Lately, I found myself in a rut with my reading, especially in the romance genre, to the point where I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to pick up another romance book any time in the near future. I completely lost it and ugly cried pretty much through the entire story. I am ashamed to admit it, but I did. Alex Grayson has broken that dry spell and has renewed my love of romance once again. AWAKEN ME is truly a masterpiece in the genre and should not be missed. I already know that this story is going to be one of my top 10 books of the year. AWAKEN ME is going right where it belongs – on my keeper shelf. show less