ABOUT THE BOOK

Jace Walker is a master illusionist, but he can’t keep up the act anymore. His family and friends thought he was happy and healthy and at peace with his past. But that was a lie. Every single moment from that awful day has been a lie. Just one big exhausting routine that he can’t stop. Always having to pretend to deal with the pain of his life lost.

All he wanted to do was feel her again, and the pills always helped. That is until they didn’t. Being forced to open up about his feelings is now his life. His newest distraction is this stranger in town with pink hair and an attitude problem who’s tormenting his mind while slowly bringing him back to life.

One look at AJ, and you’d think she has everything together, but things aren’t always as they appear. After leaving home at 18 to forge her own path, she’s pulled back to her old life by the death of her sister and brother-in-law, now being the only next of kin for her 7-year-old orphaned niece.

With her heart still aching to be free, she now fights the courts for custody of her niece, desperately trying to go back to the life she had. The only problem with her plan is the attractive asshole in the grief support group that she hates with every fiber of her being but who also feels like home.

To an onlooker, these two Grumpy Gus’s are the definition of toxic, but as fate would have it, they’re partnered together to complete their healing journeys.

With darkness around every corner, will the stars align on their road to redemption?

Content warning: The book contains sensitive subject matter related to the loss of a loved one and suicide.

MY REVIEW

My heart!!!  If you’re like me, you probably have read books that you just can’t forget. The books that are number one on your list to recommend to avid readers. This book is the epitome of those books. The emotions that Ms. Turnage evokes are downright savage and extremely beautiful. She presents grief in all of its essence and how it affects everyone differently. Prepare for a journey of devastation, awakening, hope, and peace in the most profound way possible.

I hate that I fell in love with a girl who ruined every piece of me and dragged me into the darkness.

Grief doesn’t have an expiration date. Jonathan “Jace” Walker’s life has been in limbo since her death a decade ago. The nightmares, the triggers, and the guilt has eroded his confidence and his relationships with his family. Why can’t he move on? Then a pink-haired, tattooed, sassy ball of brightness starts tearing away his protective layer exposing all kinds of anger and avoidance. He can’t open his heart to another woman who plans to leave him behind.

Was my sister proud of me? Why? I haven’t done anything to be proud of.

You can’t run away from grief. Aurora “AJ” Jane’s life has changed as she returns to the town that holds so many bad memories. Her estranged sister and brother-in-law are dead and AJ is responsible for her 7-year-old niece, Beatrice “Belle”. Taking one day at a time and waiting for the courts to grant her custody of Belle, AJ is adjusting to being responsible for a small human being and attending grief counseling with a rude jerk who doesn’t respect people’s feelings. All she wants to do is run, but the bonds she is forming with the people of this town are going to be difficult to break.

There are no two people who deserve each other more than Jace and AJ. Their first encounters are brutal and jarring, but when they start to open up and listen to each other, they become a force that cannot be denied. Jace’s story is so tragic. I can’t tell you how many times I teared up for that man. He’s so broken as he insists on keeping his life controlled and tidy to hide his fear of moving on. It’s AJ who challenges his uptight ways and gets him to confront his fears. AJ is a person who is trying to find what’s missing in her life and finally realizes it is right in front of her with Belle, Jace, and a whole plethora of loving family and friends.

I have so many favorite scenes in this book. AJ’s Happy Stars idea is brilliant. Since she was a child she thinks of happy memories, draws them on a piece of paper, and makes it into a paper star to keep. They are used throughout the book in so many lovely ways. I was bawling with Belle’s dance recital scene.  More favorites are Jace’s first tattoo, Belle with Jace’s family, Jace’s first family group hug since his painful journey, and I could go on and on.

This is undoubtedly the most gut-wrenching and memorable contemporary romance I’ve read in a long time. Ms. Turnage’s raw subject matter on suicide, grief, and guilt, is so wonderfully written with unforgettable compassion and courage. There are a number of truly happy and funny scenes as well. This is book 3 in a series I plan to devour. Pick up this phenomenal book; you won’t regret it.

Thank you to Ms. Turnage for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristin Turnage is an indie author that lives close to the beach in Florida with her husband, two daughters, and two cats. She has been writing for eight years and has been chasing her dream of becoming a published author for a long time. The Edge of Happiness from The Edge Series is her first published work and has turned her dream into a reality. She is excited that you are all taking this journey alongside of her.

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