The Wright Brother by Marie Hall

From the moment I opened my eyes I could only see the world in shades of gray. There was no noise, no sound, nothing. Deaf and colorblind, I was a loner. My world was bleak, silent and empty, until her. Until I met my neighbor, Elisa Jane Adrian. I want her. I need her. The fractured part of me feels whole when she's around. Like the world isn't so dark, isn't so bleak, and so still. I know it's impossible, but when I look at Elisa I swear I can see color, can hear the gentle inhalations of her breath. I know she feels it too, this magic, this desperate desire... 

I first saw him when I was three. Julian Wright was different than any other guy I'd ever known. He sees the world in a way I know I never will. But he intrigues me. The way he looks at me with his sea green eyes, how he hypnotizes me with his smile.

It's dangerous these feelings I have for him. Reckless and stupid. I'm so much older than him, I know better. And I'll fight these desires, no one will ever know how I feel. I'll even pretend to myself that I'm not as hooked on him as he is on me.

I'll move away to Ireland, I'll forget him, but that's the thing about the Wrights, they have a way of getting under your skin, into your soul, and no matter the time or distance, once a Wright sets their eyes on you, there's no going back...ever.

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I'm torn on this one. There were things that I absolutely loved about this story, and then other things that drove me absolutely nuts. What I loved about this story was Julian. He was such a fascinating and enigmatic character. I could feel a pull, a desire to know more about him, just like Elise. I wanted to see the world through his eyes, to jump inside his creative mind. Unfortunately, Marie didn't give us this opportunity. The story is told from the perspective of Elisa, who I have to say got on my nerves on more than one occasion. She seemed to be the cause of many of her own problems, and I had a hard time sympathizing with her. In fact, on more than one occasion, I found myself frustrated with her inability to get out of her own way. The story follows both Elisa and Julian from childhood to adulthood, so I think a lot of the angst was supposed to steam from "growing pains," but it just felt dragged out at times, and I wanted to shake Elisa. In the end, I was happy with the story's resolution. Overall, this was not one of my favorites, but it is a quick and decent read. It's also a standalone, so no worries about getting tied down to a series.

This Time (Moments #3) by Marie Hall

Tor Boler has wanted Jamie Sullivan since the first moment he saw her eight years ago. The problem is, she doesn't see him. Jamie is still wrapped up in her on again off again boyfriend, Angel. However when Jamie receives a phone call that Angel has overdosed again, she wants nothing more than to get lost in someone and forget.

Tor asks her to stay with him, hoping that this time he can make her really see him. But Jamie never imaged that their one night of passion would make her feel alive for the first time in years, or that the consequences of that night would forever change her life. But making a relationship work with Tor isn't simple, especially since her past won't let her go.

This is the third and final installment of the Moments Series, and I wasn't disappointed. I loved this series, mostly because the characters had to overcome some pretty series obstacles to find love. It made for an angsty and emotional ride. The story had everything that you would want in a NA novel - romance, turmoil, steamy scenes, and a happy ending. Definitely worth the read.

Right Now (Moment #2) by Marie Hall

Since he was six years old, Alexander Donovan has had one purpose – to watch out for his cousin, Ryan. After watching his own father commit a heinous act against Ryan, Alex makes it his life mission to keep Ryan from falling apart. Now that Ryan has Lili, he doesn’t need Alex the same way anymore, and Alex finds himself lost. His life has no direction and no purpose. Alex wants to move on from the past. He is seeing a shrink, trying to do better, but the more he tries, the more adrift he feels.

Until he meets Zoe Stone. Zoe is unlike any woman Alex has ever known. She makes him laugh and smile, but most importantly, she sees past the mask to the real him. Alex knows that Zoe is a game changer, but with his propensity towards self-sabotage, Alex could drive away the only thing that would make life worth living. How can she possibly love him if she knew the truth?

Zoe Stone never thought she would see Alex “The Golden Adonis” Donovan again. Back in high school, she pined for the day when he might glance her way. Alex always fascinated Zoe. Even then she could see that the laid back and jovial exterior hid darkness and pain. When Alex walks into Zoe’s tattoo parlor, she instantly recognizes him, even if he has no clue who she is. The connection between the two is instantaneous and intense, but Zoe has no intention of being just another notch. As the two fall deeper and deeper, Zoe fears that Alex will continue to push her away and never let her in.

When his father reappears in his life with a startling announcement, Alex is forced to confront his past. As the drama comes to a head, Alex faces the ultimate decision – Does he let Zoe in? Tell her the ugly truth? Or lose her forever?

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I loved A Moment. Marie’s writing is angsty, emotional, and perfect for new adult romance lovers. While I loved Ryan’s story, I also fell for his cousin, Alex, and I was thrilled to find out that he was getting his own book. Right Now gives us a much deeper insight into Alex and he comes across as a much more complex character in this book than he does in the first. My heart ached for Alex. Here is this man who has lost his purpose and feels immense guilt over something he had no control over, not recognizing that he was a child and a victim too.

For me, Right Now is even better than A Moment. I couldn’t put it down and Marie had me from the very first page. Alex’s story was a roller coaster of a journey. It was torturous at times, leaving a pit in my stomach that these two characters might not end up together. For every step forward, Alex took five steps back and I have to give props to Zoe for being willing to sick around. I really liked Zoe as a character. She was spunky and remarkably comfortable in her own skin (minus a few instances, but these humanized her) and just a perfect partner for Alex. She saw the real him and called him on his bullshit, which I totally appreciated.

This is a fantastic series that I highly recommend. There is a third book in the works – Tor and Jaime’s story – but no details on the title or release date yet.

A Moment (Moments #1) by Marie Hall

Sometimes a moment is all it takes to change your destiny. Liliana "Lili" Delgado's life changed forever when she gets pregnant at the age of 14. Seven years later, Lili finds herself abandoned by her father and taking care of her autistic son, her ailing mother, all while trying to work her way through school.

Ryan Cosgrove's life was forever changed 15 years ago on Valentine's Day, and the demons have been eating at him ever since. Kicked out of the Marines, Ryan is home and is a rising star in the local fight scene. The last thing he is looking to do is get mixed up with a woman, especially one with a kid.

When Alex, Ryan's cousin and roommate, convinces Lili to join him and Ryan for a night out on Valentine's Day, Lili is hesitant to accept. Even as Ryan proceeds to drink himself into oblivion, Lili can't help the draw she feels towards him or ignore the intuition that there is something deeper behind his hatred of Valentine's Day. That night Lili will see Ryan at his lowest point and saves his life.

Months later, the two reconnect and begin a whirlwind romance. Ryan is determined to keep his demons away from Lili, but try as he might, they are always lurking just below the surface. Lili knows that Ryan is haunted by something in his past and wants nothing more but to save him from it, but Ryan refuses to share with Lili. The more Ryan tries to ignore it, the harder it becomes to keep the demons at bay. It all comes down to a choice, a moment of decision - Ryan must trust Lili with everything, the dark secrets of his past, or risk losing her forever.

I found this book through BookBub and actually got it on a sale day for free. I'm so glad that I decided to give this book a chance. I loved it from beginning to end. It is full of angst and romance and I found myself cursing, crying, and on the edge of my seat. It does deal with some fairly heavy subject matter, so be warned. Ryan is drool worthy and the switching perspectives allows you to see inside both Ryan and Lili's heads as the story unfolds. It is a classic story of unconditional love and redemption and I don't regret a moment I spent lost in the story of Ryan and Lili.

There is a sequel to this book called, Right Now, which will focus on Alex, Ryan's cousin. It's scheduled for release in September and I'm excited for it to come out. There was a sneak peak of the book at the end of A Moment and I am definitely intrigued. Check out the blurb below!

Sometimes in life....

Things were supposed to get better when Ryan met Lili. I was supposed to move on, get a life... but I'm stuck and lost. Things with my father are not good. There are demons in our closet, big ones. Ones I want to kill him for, I'm seeing a shrink, I'm trying to get better... but my life feels out of control, like I'm a raft adrift on the sea. I don't know where to look, how to get anchored again, and then I meet Zoe Stone. Something about her draws me out of my rut, makes me laugh for real, smile, and for the first time in years I want to be more. But what will she think when she discovers who I really am?

...all we have...

When Alexander Donovan, aka The Golden Adonis, walks into my tattoo parlor, I know I'll do anything to make that man mine. There's an instant connection, a need to know more about him. Everything about him. But there's also a mystery surrounding the guy, when people look at him they only see the man that laughs, that cracks jokes and makes the world think that everything's okay, but I see the truth... I see the darkness that lurks so deep inside few would ever recognize it. I want to help him, I want to be with him, now I just have to make him trust me enough to let me in.

Is Right Now