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chroniclesofabookreader's review against another edition
5.0
WAIT is a purely heartbreaking and agonizing second-chance love story. There is so much pain and want and need dripping from the pages of this story that it’s indescribable. Jackson’s poetic storytelling helps to encapsulate the pain and beauty between Austin and Edie, and there isn’t a moment that it isn’t felt. If words could bleed, these would.
Austin and Edie are so mired by their pasts that they’re stuck in the quicksand of it. The blackness and bleakness has forced both of them to find refuge in harmful ways, but the one saving grace to their spirals is each other. There’s a sense of calm, peace, and home when the two are near, but the past continues to taint even the goodness they find. Both characters felt so different but also incredibly alike and it helped to build this incredible pull to one another that they couldn’t escape.
WAIT hurt. Painfully beautiful, this love story will tear at you. Both Austin and Edie will rip your heart in half. Jackson wrote this story with poetic prose that exposes every emotion to the reader. The writing was lyrically evocative and captured the true musical soul to these characters . It had its own beat, its own rhythm. And the emotional depth that the writing style evoked was poignant and unmistakable. It pulled me in even further to their shredded souls and exposed the true depths to their baser needs. Every aspect of this story led to an amazing love story that cannot be missed. I absolutely adored it, and trust me when I say that this book is a must read.
**Received an early copy in exchange for an honest review**
Austin and Edie are so mired by their pasts that they’re stuck in the quicksand of it. The blackness and bleakness has forced both of them to find refuge in harmful ways, but the one saving grace to their spirals is each other. There’s a sense of calm, peace, and home when the two are near, but the past continues to taint even the goodness they find. Both characters felt so different but also incredibly alike and it helped to build this incredible pull to one another that they couldn’t escape.
WAIT hurt. Painfully beautiful, this love story will tear at you. Both Austin and Edie will rip your heart in half. Jackson wrote this story with poetic prose that exposes every emotion to the reader. The writing was lyrically evocative and captured the true musical soul to these characters . It had its own beat, its own rhythm. And the emotional depth that the writing style evoked was poignant and unmistakable. It pulled me in even further to their shredded souls and exposed the true depths to their baser needs. Every aspect of this story led to an amazing love story that cannot be missed. I absolutely adored it, and trust me when I say that this book is a must read.
**Received an early copy in exchange for an honest review**
mybookishaffair's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
gabbylovesbooks28's review against another edition
5.0
God! These Sunder boys are doing a number on my heart. I am seriously in love with this series! Wait is another A.L. Jackson must read. My heart hurt for Austin in the previous Bleeding Stars books so I was more than eager to have his story. I was not disappointed. My goodness!! Wait is amazing! It very quickly became one of my favorite second chance romances. I had my kindle clutched in my hands with tears streaming down my face and I loved every second of it! Edie and Austin are perfection.
As I mentioned above, we first met Austin in the previous Bleeding Stars books. The quiet, troubled, younger brother of Sunder’s lead singer, Sebastian Stone, has had a tough time dealing with his heartbreaking past. So, he decided to leave everything he’s known to go find himself. He’s travelled for years, performing in small clubs and bars. Then one night he sees a person from his past. Edie Evans has been running from her own tragic dark past. A past she shares with Austin. With the boy who broke her heart back in her life, the pain she has been trying to escape is back in full force. But, their emotional reunion and their strong pull toward each other may be just what they need to heal.
I loved Edie and Austin! They’re so perfect together. They know what each other needs and they brought a sense of peace that they desperately needed! A.L. Jackson has the gift of making fictional character seem so real. Her words are so damn beautiful. This book, this series is not one you want to miss. So so SOOO good.
As I mentioned above, we first met Austin in the previous Bleeding Stars books. The quiet, troubled, younger brother of Sunder’s lead singer, Sebastian Stone, has had a tough time dealing with his heartbreaking past. So, he decided to leave everything he’s known to go find himself. He’s travelled for years, performing in small clubs and bars. Then one night he sees a person from his past. Edie Evans has been running from her own tragic dark past. A past she shares with Austin. With the boy who broke her heart back in her life, the pain she has been trying to escape is back in full force. But, their emotional reunion and their strong pull toward each other may be just what they need to heal.
I loved Edie and Austin! They’re so perfect together. They know what each other needs and they brought a sense of peace that they desperately needed! A.L. Jackson has the gift of making fictional character seem so real. Her words are so damn beautiful. This book, this series is not one you want to miss. So so SOOO good.
kara_hildebrand's review against another edition
5.0
I always have to sit, wait and process every AL Jackson book when I'm finished reading. The thoughts and feelings need to swirl around in my brain before I can even begin to articulate how I'm feeling. Al Jackson's writing is so ridiculously good. It's like the greatest piece of music flowing off the pages and burrowing into your heart and soul. She writes tortured souls who need to find their other half to mend the cracks in their armor. Wait is the fourth book in the Bleeding Stars series. It can be read as a standalone, but I'm not sure why you would want to do that! Austin is Baz's younger brother and Edie is Ash's little sister. They met as teenagers and formed a strong bond over their inner scars. They quietly fell in love only to be torn apart tragically. Years later they run into each other. Austin can't believe it's really her. It's as if she fell from the sky in his time of need. He left his brother three years ago to be on his own. To find his own mark. To run. He didn't know she was what he needed until she was there. He's not going to let her go again. Edie left town and has been running from her past. She's still scared, she's still alone and she still misses Austin. But, when she sees him, she does what she does best, she runs. But she wants to be caught. She doesn't want to be alone anymore. Can Edie and Austin find their way back to each other after all these years? Will these two tormented souls finally find peace in each other's arms? I love a second chance love story and this one is epic. Austin is sexy, talented and he's going to fight for his love. Edie is beautiful and she's ready to move on. She wants to live. I love this story. Hours later and I still can't stop thinking about them. AL Jackson is one of the best writers around. I know I'm in for a heartbreaking, heart wrenching, soul piercing ride every time I pick up one of her books. But, I also know I'll get the HEA I want as well.
Somehow I wasn't surprised at all that my beautifully broken boy would turn into a devastatingly gorgeous man.
"How do you always manage to do this to me?"
"Do what?"
"Make me feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be."
"Because you are."
"I'll wait. I've been waiting for you forever."
"Austin and I…we're probably all wrong for each other because we're so right."
Somehow I wasn't surprised at all that my beautifully broken boy would turn into a devastatingly gorgeous man.
"How do you always manage to do this to me?"
"Do what?"
"Make me feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be."
"Because you are."
"I'll wait. I've been waiting for you forever."
"Austin and I…we're probably all wrong for each other because we're so right."
jlwright04's review against another edition
5.0
This book is superbly heavy wit the angst.
Two very broken souls drawn to each other and fighting to be together.
It took me awhile to get into this book because of that BUT once it got to a smooth story with some bumpy roads I was hooked.
Austin and Eady. Two broken souls helping each other heal.
Beautifully written and the last few chapters and the epilogue made me smile big.
Two very broken souls drawn to each other and fighting to be together.
It took me awhile to get into this book because of that BUT once it got to a smooth story with some bumpy roads I was hooked.
Austin and Eady. Two broken souls helping each other heal.
Beautifully written and the last few chapters and the epilogue made me smile big.
whatcha_listening_to's review against another edition
5.0
5 Wait Stars
Ok this series has officially stolen my heart. I don’t know if I will ever be that same again.
OH MY GOD the feels this book broke my ever loving heart, just ripped it out of my chest and left it hanging there…Thank god it put it back together again with so much love it was bursting.
I felt these two were so much a part of each other it’s no wonder they found each other again even after all that time. It’s that magnetism that A.L. Jackson does so well the need for one another, it’s that pull.
Edie, is so strong I can’t believe she did everything on her own I mean think about how young she was and where she ended up. I am in awe of her.
And then you have Austin.. I can’t even imagine the torment his own mind did to him over the years. These two NEEDED each other to heal their souls. It was as if they were crying out to one another for help.
I want MORE of this series.. Like can I have it right now please? Highly Recommend.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
Ok this series has officially stolen my heart. I don’t know if I will ever be that same again.
OH MY GOD the feels this book broke my ever loving heart, just ripped it out of my chest and left it hanging there…Thank god it put it back together again with so much love it was bursting.
I felt these two were so much a part of each other it’s no wonder they found each other again even after all that time. It’s that magnetism that A.L. Jackson does so well the need for one another, it’s that pull.
Edie, is so strong I can’t believe she did everything on her own I mean think about how young she was and where she ended up. I am in awe of her.
And then you have Austin.. I can’t even imagine the torment his own mind did to him over the years. These two NEEDED each other to heal their souls. It was as if they were crying out to one another for help.
I want MORE of this series.. Like can I have it right now please? Highly Recommend.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
nb247's review against another edition
5.0
Oh Austin!! How I waited for you!
This beautiful broken boy and girl pulled at my heart!
Sometimes a book just hits you hard in the chest and this is one of them. This was an emotional ride and I loved every second.
This beautiful broken boy and girl pulled at my heart!
Sometimes a book just hits you hard in the chest and this is one of them. This was an emotional ride and I loved every second.
montanna88's review against another edition
5.0
beautiful
Beautiful and heart-wrenching! Absolutely stunning story. Austin and Edie’s love is so beautiful and full of heartbreak but wow their love is powerful.
Beautiful and heart-wrenching! Absolutely stunning story. Austin and Edie’s love is so beautiful and full of heartbreak but wow their love is powerful.
babblingchatterreads's review against another edition
5.0
I have been wanting to read Austin Stone's story since I have gotten a glimpse of him in the previous books in the series. He is Sebastian Stone's (lead singer from Sunder) little brother who has a mysterious and quiet side that I have been wanting to learn more of and explore.
We met the one woman, Edie Evans who was the one that had gotten under Austin's skin and especially his heart. Their connection runs deeper than their intense chemistry as we get the pleasure of witnessing when their paths cross each other once again. The looks and glances and their confessions were some of the things you could not help swooning over along with the ache the heart was experiencing.
"Loving someone will be on the the hardest things you ever do, little brother. It will twist you up and hang you out to dry, It'll fill you with more worry than you think you can stand, then turn right around and fill you with the greatest joy."
Loving fiercely is something Austin and Edie always had with each other whether they were apart and of definitely when they are together; however, how can they move on if they are holding onto their pasts that had broke them?
Not when, Edie. All the damned time. Every second of every minute of every day. I don't know how to stop thinking about you.
Beautiful. Just awwww beautiful. <3 Austin and Edie's story was poetically written in such a way that I felt one with both of these characters while they were reliving and facing the demons they had a challenging time overcoming. Learning their history had me heartbroken but they needed to face their reality and determine where and who they want to be. It was not pretty and it hurts but it is a journey that makes them who they are. They are my favorite couple in the series.
We met the one woman, Edie Evans who was the one that had gotten under Austin's skin and especially his heart. Their connection runs deeper than their intense chemistry as we get the pleasure of witnessing when their paths cross each other once again. The looks and glances and their confessions were some of the things you could not help swooning over along with the ache the heart was experiencing.
"Loving someone will be on the the hardest things you ever do, little brother. It will twist you up and hang you out to dry, It'll fill you with more worry than you think you can stand, then turn right around and fill you with the greatest joy."
Loving fiercely is something Austin and Edie always had with each other whether they were apart and of definitely when they are together; however, how can they move on if they are holding onto their pasts that had broke them?
Not when, Edie. All the damned time. Every second of every minute of every day. I don't know how to stop thinking about you.
Beautiful. Just awwww beautiful. <3 Austin and Edie's story was poetically written in such a way that I felt one with both of these characters while they were reliving and facing the demons they had a challenging time overcoming. Learning their history had me heartbroken but they needed to face their reality and determine where and who they want to be. It was not pretty and it hurts but it is a journey that makes them who they are. They are my favorite couple in the series.
julie_loves_books's review against another edition
4.0
“How do you always manage to do this to me?”
“Do what?”
“Make me feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
“Because you are.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I love A.L. Jackson and I love this series, but this book didn't grab me as much as her others have. Edie and Austin both have traumatic pasts. Two broken people fighting their inner demons. Afraid if they filled the void inside with something good, that they would be moving on from a past that they felt they shouldn't be.
I thought this would have been a much more emotional read, but I didn't feel the pull toward these characters or their story as I have with the others. The emotional connection just wasn't there. And, although I love this writing style, I didn't feel it worked as well here as it has in her other books.
I think one of the other things missing was the band. I love them all and they've been pretty prominent in each of the other stories. I hope we get more of them in the next two books.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“An old friend.” Labeling her as only that? It felt like another damned betrayal. Because she’d been everything.
“She’s really pretty, yeah?” A disoriented chuckle rumbled in my chest. Pretty. Not even close. She was fucking gorgeous. It was like the girl had been created just for me. A replica of my every fantasy.
Sure. I’d met her a few times through the years when we’d been nothing more than little kids. Then? It’d seemed like nothing. Now? It felt like everything.
Fuck. She made me insane. Crazy with lust and delirious with devotion.
Like she couldn’t help herself, she looked back. Back at me. Into me. It felt like with just that look she could reach in and touch all the places that had only ever belonged to her. Hers. I’d been hers for so fucking long.
“You ran.” It was a gruff murmur, my fingertips moving to flutter along the sharp angle of her jaw. Because God. I just needed to touch. Her brow pulled with uncertainty, words soft and sad.
“It sounds to me like you’ve been running, too.”
“Yeah. I’ve been running.” I squeezed her a little harder. “And I don’t believe for a minute it’s a coincidence I found you, either.”
“How do you always manage to do this to me?”
“Do what?”
“Make me feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
“Because you are.”
Her exterior had grown so strong. Kinda like me. Youth scraped away by the years. Yet I knew the inside still harbored all those broken pieces. My mirror.
“Just because we’ve never actually had sex doesn’t mean we weren’t lovers.”
“Do you feel that, Edie Evans?”
“What?” she mumbled, her face tucked against my chest, like she was speaking directly to my heart.
“Me.”
“Did you know she’d come back to me?” I whispered into the driving wind.
Baz had always worried I’d finally go tumbling over the edge. Harm myself in some way because I was missing this piece of myself. A piece I wasn’t ever going to get back. An unknown feeling gripped me. As light as it was heavy. Maybe I’d always known there was a reason. A reason I was here. Tied and bound in an entirely different way. And I knew…I knew. The reason was her.
That’s what I wanted. To be her meaning.
“You steal my breath.”
“And you make me weak,” she returned.
“Gorgeous,” he murmured. He brushed his fingers higher, shivers racing as he traced the line of my jaw. “So damned gorgeous. Can’t see straight when I look at you. Or maybe I’m finally seeing everything right.”
“Do you have any idea how good it feels to wake up next to you?” Awe filled my tone.
“It couldn’t have possibly felt as good as it felt waking up next to you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Edie, because there’s no place in the world I’d rather be than right here with you. So I’d say that ranks it up there somewhere in the range of magical and miraculous.” My throat swelled with affection.
“What’s above miraculous?” I questioned, eyes flitting, searching that striking face. Slowly, he shook his head.
“There’s no such thing.”
“Just…be careful with me.”
Trouble. Yeah. That girl was disorder and the perfect kind of chaos. Sweet as sin. Soft as snow. Firelight.
Bessie was an old girl, dinged up body and rusted from the sea. I’d scrounged together enough money when I’d first left L.A., knowing if I wanted to roam, I needed a ride. I’d figured she wouldn’t get me far. Yet somehow she’d taken me exactly where I needed to be.
“She doesn’t look like much, but she brought me to you.”
“Maybe the emptiness is meant as a reminder. Maybe it’s a gift so we don’t ever forget. So we don’t really have to live without them.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Promise?” She smiled a shy smile. “This almost feels…like a dream.” I tugged her close, murmured at her mouth.
“You are my dream.”
“I was waiting for him.”
“I’m going to love you forever. Touch this body every night. Kiss these lips every morning.”
“Do you feel that?”
“What?”
“Me.” I caressed his twisted brow.
“I’ve always felt you.”
“Do what?”
“Make me feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
“Because you are.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I love A.L. Jackson and I love this series, but this book didn't grab me as much as her others have. Edie and Austin both have traumatic pasts. Two broken people fighting their inner demons. Afraid if they filled the void inside with something good, that they would be moving on from a past that they felt they shouldn't be.
I thought this would have been a much more emotional read, but I didn't feel the pull toward these characters or their story as I have with the others. The emotional connection just wasn't there. And, although I love this writing style, I didn't feel it worked as well here as it has in her other books.
I think one of the other things missing was the band. I love them all and they've been pretty prominent in each of the other stories. I hope we get more of them in the next two books.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“An old friend.” Labeling her as only that? It felt like another damned betrayal. Because she’d been everything.
“She’s really pretty, yeah?” A disoriented chuckle rumbled in my chest. Pretty. Not even close. She was fucking gorgeous. It was like the girl had been created just for me. A replica of my every fantasy.
Sure. I’d met her a few times through the years when we’d been nothing more than little kids. Then? It’d seemed like nothing. Now? It felt like everything.
Fuck. She made me insane. Crazy with lust and delirious with devotion.
Like she couldn’t help herself, she looked back. Back at me. Into me. It felt like with just that look she could reach in and touch all the places that had only ever belonged to her. Hers. I’d been hers for so fucking long.
“You ran.” It was a gruff murmur, my fingertips moving to flutter along the sharp angle of her jaw. Because God. I just needed to touch. Her brow pulled with uncertainty, words soft and sad.
“It sounds to me like you’ve been running, too.”
“Yeah. I’ve been running.” I squeezed her a little harder. “And I don’t believe for a minute it’s a coincidence I found you, either.”
“How do you always manage to do this to me?”
“Do what?”
“Make me feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
“Because you are.”
Her exterior had grown so strong. Kinda like me. Youth scraped away by the years. Yet I knew the inside still harbored all those broken pieces. My mirror.
“Just because we’ve never actually had sex doesn’t mean we weren’t lovers.”
“Do you feel that, Edie Evans?”
“What?” she mumbled, her face tucked against my chest, like she was speaking directly to my heart.
“Me.”
“Did you know she’d come back to me?” I whispered into the driving wind.
Baz had always worried I’d finally go tumbling over the edge. Harm myself in some way because I was missing this piece of myself. A piece I wasn’t ever going to get back. An unknown feeling gripped me. As light as it was heavy. Maybe I’d always known there was a reason. A reason I was here. Tied and bound in an entirely different way. And I knew…I knew. The reason was her.
That’s what I wanted. To be her meaning.
“You steal my breath.”
“And you make me weak,” she returned.
“Gorgeous,” he murmured. He brushed his fingers higher, shivers racing as he traced the line of my jaw. “So damned gorgeous. Can’t see straight when I look at you. Or maybe I’m finally seeing everything right.”
“Do you have any idea how good it feels to wake up next to you?” Awe filled my tone.
“It couldn’t have possibly felt as good as it felt waking up next to you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Edie, because there’s no place in the world I’d rather be than right here with you. So I’d say that ranks it up there somewhere in the range of magical and miraculous.” My throat swelled with affection.
“What’s above miraculous?” I questioned, eyes flitting, searching that striking face. Slowly, he shook his head.
“There’s no such thing.”
“Just…be careful with me.”
Trouble. Yeah. That girl was disorder and the perfect kind of chaos. Sweet as sin. Soft as snow. Firelight.
Bessie was an old girl, dinged up body and rusted from the sea. I’d scrounged together enough money when I’d first left L.A., knowing if I wanted to roam, I needed a ride. I’d figured she wouldn’t get me far. Yet somehow she’d taken me exactly where I needed to be.
“She doesn’t look like much, but she brought me to you.”
“Maybe the emptiness is meant as a reminder. Maybe it’s a gift so we don’t ever forget. So we don’t really have to live without them.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Promise?” She smiled a shy smile. “This almost feels…like a dream.” I tugged her close, murmured at her mouth.
“You are my dream.”
“I was waiting for him.”
“I’m going to love you forever. Touch this body every night. Kiss these lips every morning.”
“Do you feel that?”
“What?”
“Me.” I caressed his twisted brow.
“I’ve always felt you.”