The danger in pretending is it becoming real...

They are no longer treading water....they are in deep. In the first book She learned many of Sebastian's secrets. But now he is seeing how many secrets Shea was keeping and how intertwined their lives really are. The situation is shocking, terrifying, and dims the hope they were just starting to get a glimpse of.

Baz is a protector by nature and often takes responsibility for others. He is willing to sacrifice his own happiness if needed for those he loves.  But it sometimes gets him in trouble when he makes impulsive decisions or has volatile reactions. I really enjoyed getting beneath his layers and seeing his more vulnerable parts. But there were a few times I wanted to stop him or shake sense into him too. Shea will do anything for her daughter and wants to be strong for her. She also has a protective mode and some of her secrets are to keep those she loves safe. The whole situation brings in questions of trust, exacerbates guilt and self worth issues, and brings in to question the right course of action to help fight most effectively...alone or together?  They are two people that can really see down to the heart of each other, but it is hard to see a way out of the mess their pasts have created.

There are so many issues, secrets, and little connections layered in. Together Shea and Baz break down barriers, fill a void in each other,  and give each other hope. They make each other want to redefine themselves and their future. But in order to have a chance they will have to face past demons and threats. And these threats are significant, prey upon their weaknesses, and the stakes are huge. And even if they can overcome those challenges, they still live in two different worlds and they will have to find a way to merge their present so they can even have a chance at building a future.  

Oh my, the tension and the stress! I just kept trying to figure out any way that their complicated situation would have a chance of working out. This book brought out so many emotions and had me captivated. I adore these characters, flaws and all. Baz and Shea's deep, intense connection is so real, raw and powerful. Their love of little Kallie goes without question.  

The bonds with their friends are strong and supportive. They both already had their make shift families: Him with his younger brother Austin and band members Ash, Lyrik and Zee. And Shea has her Uncle Charlie, April, Tamar, and sweet, precocious Kallie. I love how they all intermix as one extended family group. Shea and Baz have so much love surrounding them and empowering them to fight against the ones that want to do them harm. Every scene with Kallie, especially those between her and Baz tugged at my heartstrings.

I was torn between wanting to savor it and wanting to flip pages faster. I could not figure out how they were going to resolve all of their threats and challenges. I worried, I held my breath, my heart broke, I got mad and frustrated, but I also smiled, laughed, and felt their magnetic connection and love. And I so wanted their love to be able to conquer all. It is definitely a journey with twists, turns, and surprises along the way. It is not easy, they make mistakes, and they have so many external situations to face and the possibility of significant consequences. They also have a lot to learn about themselves and each other along the way. They have to learn to believe, trust, and come to terms with their own personal demons. But despite some of the negative and sad situations, there are also times of sweetness, passion,  and love too. 

A.L. Jackson always manages to blow me away with her layered, in depth stories with intriguing characters, deep connections, and strong emotions. She has a way of bringing you right into the story, making you feel all of the character's hurts and joys. Her style is captivating and immerses you in her lyrical prose and eloquent words while also making you feel the raw need, passion, and intensity. Themes run through this book tying various situations together by a common thread. This one is told in both points of view giving us insight into all of their fears, insecurities, and feelings.

This was a tumultuous, emotional, and powerful conclusion to this duet. I had high expectations and it did not disappoint.  I am looking forward to the rest of the Bleeding Stars series with Lyrik, Austin, Ash and Zee. I am already attached to them and I cannot wait to read their stories. I think I am looking most forward to Sebastian's lost, broken, little brother Austin.

He wanted nothing at all…

Until he found she had everything to give…

Sunder lead singer and guitarist Sebastian Stone has everything—fans, fame, and fortune. He also has a heart full of bitterness and a reputation for a short-fused temper. But an outward reputation rarely reveals the true man inside. Facing assault charges after trying to protect his younger brother, Sebastian is sent to Savannah, Georgia to lie low until the dust settles in L.A.

Shea Bentley is beautiful, kind, and hiding from the very lifestyle Sebastian has always embraced.

When the mysterious, tattooed stranger begins hanging out at the bar where she works, Shea is quick to recognize he is nothing but trouble, but she's helpless to the way her body lights up every time his intense gray eyes tangle with hers.

They both soon find themselves drowning in a sea of desire and passion that won’t let them up for air.

Sebastian knows firsthand secrets never die, and he’s not the only one who’s hiding them.

Loving someone always comes with a price. But will it be Shea’s past that costs them everything?