At Peace
By: Kristen Ashley
Synopsis
Violet Winters once had it all but lost it when her husband was murdered by a criminal madman. During a cold winter night Violet has to leave her warm bed to tell her neighbor to turn the music down. And that’s when she meets sinister, scarred, scarily attractive security specialist, Joe Callahan.
She wants to deny it, but Violet can’t beat back the hunger she feels for Joe so she gives in again and again. Feeling it himself, Joe feeds Vi’s hunger, breaking his own rules to keep her in his bed.
Even though Violet had only one man in her life, she’s sure Joe is giving her the signals and Vi decides she’s ready to take a second chance at life and, maybe, love. But Violet doesn’t know the dark secrets in Joe’s past, secrets so soul-wrenching, they’ve drained him dry. With nothing left to give, Joe’s determined to live his life alone and he breaks Violet’s heart.
Crushed by Joe’s betrayal, Violet comes to terms with the fact that, no matter what signals he gave, Joe was not theirs to win. But Violet’s husband’s murderer is obsessed with her and heartbreak again haunts the door of the Winters home. When it does Joe is forced to face the knowledge that he can’t fight Violet’s pull, she’s under his skin and filled him full to bursting.
Joe needs to win her back and put his life on the line to keep Violet safe. But, having had it all once, can Violet endure losing Joe?My Thoughts
Violet is starting over in Indiana after a heartbreaking ending in Chicago. Her husband has been murdered and with a stalker haunting her every movement, she flees to a small town in Indiana to lick her wounds, raise her girls, and find herself. In the midst of all of that, she finds her sexy next door neighbor, security expert, and ultimate hottie, Joe Callahan.
Upon their meeting, Violet hated Joe. Pushy and invasive, Joe seems to think he knows what’s always right. Suddenly a surprisingly passionate kiss leads to more and both Vi and Joe want to see where it goes. And even though the two begin to care for one another, they spend much of their time finding ways to push one another away in fear of hurting each other. Heartbreaking at times, Vi and Joe seem to be pulled together as if they are two halves of the same whole.
At Peace is a huge, huge book coming in at over 500 pages. It’s daunting when it starts, but honestly, once you are wrapped up in the story, you don’t even notice it. Violet and Joe’s story is so volatile and engaging, I knew it was an Ashley book because I never wanted it to end!
I think the major theme I would associate with At Peace would be...drama, drama, drama! Now I like drama don’t get me wrong, but there is something happening on every single page. Vi’s got a crazy stalker that is basically hunting her family down in order to gain her attention. Super creepy and discomforting, but absolutely an integral part of Joe’s continued involvement with Vi until he finally admits that she truly means something to him.
Vi has two teenage daughters, who while dealing with a murdered father, are also dealing with a new home, new town, teen drama and their mother finding a new man. Well written though, I found the two girls to be the comic relief for much of the book, and it helped tone down some of the more serious themes.
I can’t not talk about Vi and Joe themselves! Wonderful together and worse apart, these two fought their relationship with everything they had. Joe was intense but in such a good way! Oye. Makes me a little hot under the collar, in a very good way, wink wink! No holds barred, Joe made his own way in the world and taught Vi some pretty valuable lessons in never having any regrets.
Utterly romantic and unforgettable, At Peace is likely to stay with me for a while. I reread Ashley books quite a bit and I’ve already began the epic reread. Part of the Burg series, I haven’t read the other titles but am planning on picking up the others. I had heard At Peace was a roller coaster, and I’m here to say, it was one of the best!
The Burg Series
1. For You
2. At Peace
3. Golden Trail
4. Games of the Heart
5. The Promise (2014)
Book Details
# of Pages: 568
Date of Publication: May 2nd, 2011
Location: Brownsburg, Indiana
ASIN: B004Z1GHG6
Source: Self Purchased
I knew the cover looked familiar, that's because I have bought For you, #1. I hope I'll enjoy reading it as much as you did, thanks for sharing !
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