Thursday, June 25, 2015

Promo Sale & Review ~ When We Collide by A.L. Jackson



Rating: 5/5 Stars
Author: A.L. Jackson
Available Formats: eBook, Paperback, Audio
Publication Date: 11-01-12         Pages: 340
From the bestselling author of Pulled and Take This Regret comes a gripping new tale of loss and love.

William has spent six years running from his past and the last eight months trying to rid his mind of the dreams that increasingly haunt his nights. Trapped in a world of false ambitions and feigned affections, William knows he’s reached a breaking point and something’s going to give.

Maggie had lived her entire life without hope until one man showed her what it meant to be loved. He’d been her light in a lifetime of darkness. Six years ago, that darkness stole him away. Without him, she’s surrendered herself to an existence she doesn’t know how to escape.

When the family William left behind is struck by tragedy, he is called back to the one place he’s sworn to never return to again.

In a moment that will change his life forever, William comes face to face with the girl who, with one look, captured his heart. He is unable to ignore the buried desires and the hope for the future they’d once believed they’d have.

Now William is ready to fight to take back what had been stolen from him six years before.

But he never imagined what that fight might cost him.

A.L. Jackson gives you an intimate look into the lives of a family bound by an unseen connection in this new contemporary romance.

My So-Called Review:

I read When We Collide by A.L. Jackson years ago when it was first published so when the opportunity came to join this sales promo I jumped at the chance! Over the years I’ve read many A.L. Jackson books, all of which I’ve loved, but When We Collide has remained my absolute favorite with Pulled and Take this Regret tied for second. I love this book so much that I even placed it on my Goodreads Bookshelf of All-Time Favorite books back in 2013 and it has remained there ever since, currently sitting in 25th place. I never keep more than 50 books on this shelf and I update it surprisingly often which means it has a LOT of current books on it, the older ones tend to slide off the list as their stories fade from my mind over time, very few books on this shelf are over 2 years old. This goes to show you just how much I loved this book and what an impact it had on my soul. I certainly don’t remember every single aspect of the storyline or characters; I read too many books for that! But what I do remember is what I felt and each time I look at this cover I’m instantly transported back to that time and I remember every single emotion and every single tear that I shed while reading this amazing story. This is what makes A.L. Jackson’s books so special, she has and amazing talent for making her readers feel with every stunning, hauntingly beautiful and deeply touching word that she writes.

This story highlights the gut-wrenching horrors of abuse so it’s not for the faint of heart! But it’s also a story about the beauty of second chances, of finding the strength to stand up for yourself and for the people you love. There’s a dedication at the beginning that I feel sums up this book perfectly, “Because it shouldn’t hurt to be touched.” This is such a profound statement and as soon as I read it I knew I was in for one hell of an emotional ride!

When William first meets Maggie he’s instantly drawn to her. Maggie has known no kindness in her life; she lives in a very abusive home and now has a nasty, abusive boyfriend. She’s so damaged that she actually feels unworthy of love. But we see what William sees; that she’s sweetly innocent, kind-hearted, self-sacrificing, and deserves so much more out of life. He wants nothing more than to give her the “more” that she needs, he wants to save her from her life, help her heal and show her what she’s really worth. Little by little she begins trusting him and seeing herself through his eyes, these chapters were so beautiful and touching!

But as we know, this is a story of second chances so unfortunately their happiness wouldn’t last. On the very night they were supposed to run away together something goes horribly, horribly wrong and they are torn apart. William leaves to start a new life and to get away from his tragic memories of Maggie but returns six years later when his family calls him back. He’s not sure what he’ll find when he finally comes face to face with Maggie and when it happens, it’s more shocking then anything he could have prepared himself for! When We Collide is told from William and Maggie’s alternating POV’s as well as a seamless blend of present day and flashbacks. This works brilliantly for this novel and even adds a bit of a mystery as you try and work out what happened the night they were to run away. There’s also a bit of a mystery to figure out in the present day timeline but to avoid any spoilers, I’ll just leave it at that :)

If you’ve never read this book and you love these kinds of gut-wrenching, tortured love stories then I suggest you stop what you’re doing and go grab this book, especially now that it’s on sale! I obviously love this book and am highly, highly recommending it along with all of her other books. A.L. Jackson has never let me down with one of her books; she’s one of those authors that I don’t even need to question, “should I buy this one?” When I see a new book of hers it’s an automatic pick up……….. then I grab my tissue box cause I know I’m gonna need it!

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A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary and new adult romance.

She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student.  She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children.

Connect with A.L.  Jackson online:  www.aljacksonauthor.com

To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe!





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