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j_the_bookworm's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Austin and Edie have such an emotional history. Both have dark pasts, things that keep them from letting go a moving forward. When they see each other again, they fight for their future.
pattyfgd's review against another edition
5.0
Again, A. L. Jackson leaves me with a book hangover! This tortured soul story had me enthralled before I even started it. We have previously met Austin in the earlier books of the Bleeding Stars Series, and could not help but feel for this young man. We knew a little of his back story, but this novel has brought it all to us. So as we get to know Austin, we also get to know Ash's little sister Edie who is a tortured as Austin. Together, their journey to finding their happiness and learning to forgive themselves for past mistakes has you cheering for their happy ending. A. L. Jackson has a way of drawing you into her stories, making you feel like you are experiencing the raw emotions of each character. I felt happy, sad(even a few tears!), anger, frustration, name it and this story had the feeling emulate through me.
This audiobook was narrated by Andi Arndt and Zachary Webber, two seasoned narrators. You could not have had a better team emoting the points of view of each character. The two brought the story to the forefront and made you experience it to it's completion.
This audiobook was narrated by Andi Arndt and Zachary Webber, two seasoned narrators. You could not have had a better team emoting the points of view of each character. The two brought the story to the forefront and made you experience it to it's completion.
caseroo7's review against another edition
4.0
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
Wait is the fourth book in the Bleeding Stars series by A.L. Jackson. This is the first book that I have read in the series, and it can be read as a standalone. I do think that this book might have been better experienced when read in order, but it isn't necessary to enjoy it.
Edie and Austin had a connection that was unbreakable, until everything changed. Austin broke Edie's heart and her trust, and when she ran he thought that he would never see her again. Years later, neither of them expects to spot each other from across the room while Austin is on stage and Edie is standing in the crowd. Even though Edie knows she should run, she finds herself drawn to Austin once again. Austin knows that he destroyed everything, but he is determined to get her back even if that means waiting for her to learn how to trust him again.
Austin and Edie both had pasts that had huge impacts on who they were and I really felt for both of them. Their connection was so strong, and no matter what had happened or how much time had passed it remained unbroken. Each of them had so much depth, and I thought that A.L. Jackson did a great job of creating these complex characters that had so many layers to them, revealed over the course of this book. Getting each of their POVs here really added to the story, and I felt as though I was experiencing everything right along with them. I will say that this one was an emotional journey, and I felt it all right from the start.
The one thing I will say is that at times things were a bit slow here and I struggled a bit at the beginning to get into this book. A.L. Jackson has a tendency to be a bit vague and tease the reader a bit before revealing much of anything, and there were times that I was a bit confused and frustrated. Luckily I felt invested in the story and characters and had to find out all the details of both the past and where things were going in the present, and I stuck with it. Things picked up and then I didn't want to put it down! A.L. Jackson has a way with words, and her stories are beautiful. This one definitely brought out all the emotions, and I think that readers will really enjoy this book. I look forward to reading more from A.L. Jackson, and I can't wait to read more in this series!
**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**
Wait is the fourth book in the Bleeding Stars series by A.L. Jackson. This is the first book that I have read in the series, and it can be read as a standalone. I do think that this book might have been better experienced when read in order, but it isn't necessary to enjoy it.
Edie and Austin had a connection that was unbreakable, until everything changed. Austin broke Edie's heart and her trust, and when she ran he thought that he would never see her again. Years later, neither of them expects to spot each other from across the room while Austin is on stage and Edie is standing in the crowd. Even though Edie knows she should run, she finds herself drawn to Austin once again. Austin knows that he destroyed everything, but he is determined to get her back even if that means waiting for her to learn how to trust him again.
Austin and Edie both had pasts that had huge impacts on who they were and I really felt for both of them. Their connection was so strong, and no matter what had happened or how much time had passed it remained unbroken. Each of them had so much depth, and I thought that A.L. Jackson did a great job of creating these complex characters that had so many layers to them, revealed over the course of this book. Getting each of their POVs here really added to the story, and I felt as though I was experiencing everything right along with them. I will say that this one was an emotional journey, and I felt it all right from the start.
The one thing I will say is that at times things were a bit slow here and I struggled a bit at the beginning to get into this book. A.L. Jackson has a tendency to be a bit vague and tease the reader a bit before revealing much of anything, and there were times that I was a bit confused and frustrated. Luckily I felt invested in the story and characters and had to find out all the details of both the past and where things were going in the present, and I stuck with it. Things picked up and then I didn't want to put it down! A.L. Jackson has a way with words, and her stories are beautiful. This one definitely brought out all the emotions, and I think that readers will really enjoy this book. I look forward to reading more from A.L. Jackson, and I can't wait to read more in this series!
**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**
mycatismybookmark's review against another edition
2.0
It was okay. Too much angst and dialogue constantly going in circles. Tired of the same story playing out with these characters. Shea and Baz remain my favorite (for the first two books in the series) because Lyrik and Tamar, and Austin and Edie's stories are the same plot line with tweaked details. Hopefully the next books will be more original.
gabbysreading'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.
briandthemoon's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars!!
Austin and Edie's story is an emotional, heartfelt story of two individuals fighting through their personal past horrors with the possibility of a second chance at love. Austin and Edie both have pasts that torment them and they are not coping well, despite the fronts they show. Austin remains shut off to the world and mentally chastises himself every time he has the slightest semblance of happiness. Edie is on a perpetual path of running from her past, at least mentally. She has guarded herself from anyone that could ever hurt her while she battles guilt and fakes happiness. Long ago, they were once one another's solace from their dark worlds. Now, Austin and Edie come face to face after several years of no communication. Austin and Edie are so well written that their emotions are raw, real, and palpable. Wait is a beautiful yet angsty second chance romance that made me laugh, cry, smile and swoon.
Austin and Edie's story is an emotional, heartfelt story of two individuals fighting through their personal past horrors with the possibility of a second chance at love. Austin and Edie both have pasts that torment them and they are not coping well, despite the fronts they show. Austin remains shut off to the world and mentally chastises himself every time he has the slightest semblance of happiness. Edie is on a perpetual path of running from her past, at least mentally. She has guarded herself from anyone that could ever hurt her while she battles guilt and fakes happiness. Long ago, they were once one another's solace from their dark worlds. Now, Austin and Edie come face to face after several years of no communication. Austin and Edie are so well written that their emotions are raw, real, and palpable. Wait is a beautiful yet angsty second chance romance that made me laugh, cry, smile and swoon.
thebookishattitude's review against another edition
5.0
"Be careful with me"
After meeting Austin in A Stone in the Sea and seeing how broken and tormented his soul was, getting his own story seemed inevitable. 3 years after the events of Stone in the Sea, Austin finally gets his chance to shine.And Ash has a sister! Did not see that coming.
Edie and Austin were clearly perfect for eachother. A.L Jackson wove their broken pieces together to create the perfect Melody.
The flash backs wove the narrative of their past together and their past seperate. And was definitely one of the things I enjoyed.
The decisions Austin made always came from protecting Edie, to making her hurt less, to making her whole.
I couldn't fault this book, there were things confimed from Sebastian and Shea's storyline and definitely some previous things mentioned again. So while this could be potentially read as a stand alone, reading A stone in the sea & drowing to breathe (Sebastian and Shea) are definitely recommend.
After meeting Austin in A Stone in the Sea and seeing how broken and tormented his soul was, getting his own story seemed inevitable. 3 years after the events of Stone in the Sea, Austin finally gets his chance to shine.And Ash has a sister! Did not see that coming.
Edie and Austin were clearly perfect for eachother. A.L Jackson wove their broken pieces together to create the perfect Melody.
The flash backs wove the narrative of their past together and their past seperate. And was definitely one of the things I enjoyed.
The decisions Austin made always came from protecting Edie, to making her hurt less, to making her whole.
I couldn't fault this book, there were things confimed from Sebastian and Shea's storyline and definitely some previous things mentioned again. So while this could be potentially read as a stand alone, reading A stone in the sea & drowing to breathe (Sebastian and Shea) are definitely recommend.
akristinab's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5 Stars
This one is probably my favorite in the series so far.
For the first time since picking up the series I didn't feel the need to rip out my hair and just give up on the book comppletely. I really wanted to know how everything turned out for once.
In the beginning in bugged me that Edie ran away from her problems. But over time she stops running and embraces Austin and everything he stands for.
One thing I've hated about this series is there's always some big secret that is hinted at but you don't find out about what it is exactly until the end. This book has it's secret, but you more or less knew what it was most of the book. It's not until the end that you realize how wrong you are and how obvious it seems. Of course there were minor secrets kept, but not enough to drive me crazy.
I love the chemistry between Edie and Austin. Two beautifully broken souls that are probably so wrong for each other that that fact along makes them so right for each other.
They really evolve in the end. When Austin mess up again in the same way, instead of running, Edie faces her fears head on.
This one is probably my favorite in the series so far.
For the first time since picking up the series I didn't feel the need to rip out my hair and just give up on the book comppletely. I really wanted to know how everything turned out for once.
In the beginning in bugged me that Edie ran away from her problems. But over time she stops running and embraces Austin and everything he stands for.
One thing I've hated about this series is there's always some big secret that is hinted at but you don't find out about what it is exactly until the end. This book has it's secret, but you more or less knew what it was most of the book. It's not until the end that you realize how wrong you are and how obvious it seems. Of course there were minor secrets kept, but not enough to drive me crazy.
I love the chemistry between Edie and Austin. Two beautifully broken souls that are probably so wrong for each other that that fact along makes them so right for each other.
They really evolve in the end. When Austin mess up again in the same way, instead of running, Edie faces her fears head on.
Spoiler
P.S. What's up with everyone having a child hidden somewhere???maferg01's review against another edition
5.0
So many times. A.L. Jackson you love to gut me. I had to take a little break from this story because these characters just survive so much in their lives. I did love how fate kept bringing them back together. They were the light to each other's darkness, filling in a little piece of what was lost and broken.
Austin is still off on his own having left his brother and the band behind. Trying to find himself, he only finds solace in his music. In walks an unsuspecting Edie and these two characters are thrown together again, fate bringing them to one another once again. Past betrayals and new ones, threaten their relationship but the bond that ties them together is too strong.
My heart strings were pulled with this one time and time again. You always love both Edie and Austin through the entire story. You are right there with them through it all the sweet, the profound, the heart-wrenching moments that move you. I came back from my little break and just finished it in one day. I couldn't put it down and had to find out where the journey would take these two lost souls.
Austin is still off on his own having left his brother and the band behind. Trying to find himself, he only finds solace in his music. In walks an unsuspecting Edie and these two characters are thrown together again, fate bringing them to one another once again. Past betrayals and new ones, threaten their relationship but the bond that ties them together is too strong.
My heart strings were pulled with this one time and time again. You always love both Edie and Austin through the entire story. You are right there with them through it all the sweet, the profound, the heart-wrenching moments that move you. I came back from my little break and just finished it in one day. I couldn't put it down and had to find out where the journey would take these two lost souls.
bibliophile90's review against another edition
4.0
**ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review**
"How do you both break my heart and heal it at the same time?"
You can always depend on AL Jackson to come up with beautiful, poetic and emotional stories. I was exciting to get my hands on Austin's book because he was such a broken soul in the previous books. I wanted him to forgive himself, heal and find his HEA. I had no idea who his love interest would be, but Edie Evans was the perfect girl for him.
"A strike of light in the darkness. The one to evoke. The one to inspire. The one to instill this burning hope that flickered and flamed at my insides."
This is a second chance romance. Edie (Ash's sister) and Austin (Baz's brother) know each other from before but haven't seen each other in years. There reunion was emotional and heartbreaking, it was obvious there was still so much love between them. Austin made a mistake and wants to get another chance to make it right. What I loved was that everything in this book was straight forward. No hot and cold or hard to get attitudes. I get really annoyed when certain things are being dragged on longer than it is necessary, I was happy that wasn't the case in this book. The pace of the reunion was perfect, there wasn't a moment I was bored and wanted to skip pages. It is important to keep your reader engaged and hooked to the story, which the author did a great job in.
"He kissed me in the midst of it all. As if I was the center of his world. And I knew without a doubt, this boy was the eye of the storm. The eye of my storm."
Both Austin and Edie are broken and emotionally scarred. Both have them went through a very traumatic past. It broke my heart to read those particular scenes in the flashbacks. Austin makes such a big tranformation from the young depressed teenager he was in the first two books in the series. But he is still fighting his demons. I loved how they healed each other and had someone to talk to. They were a perfect match and I couldn't get enough of them. I loved that we got a glimpse of the old crew towards the end. I really miss them and I can't wait for Zee and Ash to find their HEA!
"The girl who blew me away every time she stepped into the room. Stealing more and more of my breath. Becoming my air."
Wait is a very emotional read with heartbreaking scenes but also a beautiful story of how two broken characters heal each other. I am glad Austin and Edie finally found closure and can move on and live a happy life. They both deserve it so much! Wait is a great addition to this amazing series and the author keeps on delivering quality, engaging, and emotional reads. AL Jackson is an automatic one-click author for me because she just doesn't disappoint! Make sure to grab this book when it releases!
"How do you both break my heart and heal it at the same time?"
You can always depend on AL Jackson to come up with beautiful, poetic and emotional stories. I was exciting to get my hands on Austin's book because he was such a broken soul in the previous books. I wanted him to forgive himself, heal and find his HEA. I had no idea who his love interest would be, but Edie Evans was the perfect girl for him.
"A strike of light in the darkness. The one to evoke. The one to inspire. The one to instill this burning hope that flickered and flamed at my insides."
This is a second chance romance. Edie (Ash's sister) and Austin (Baz's brother) know each other from before but haven't seen each other in years. There reunion was emotional and heartbreaking, it was obvious there was still so much love between them. Austin made a mistake and wants to get another chance to make it right. What I loved was that everything in this book was straight forward. No hot and cold or hard to get attitudes. I get really annoyed when certain things are being dragged on longer than it is necessary, I was happy that wasn't the case in this book. The pace of the reunion was perfect, there wasn't a moment I was bored and wanted to skip pages. It is important to keep your reader engaged and hooked to the story, which the author did a great job in.
"He kissed me in the midst of it all. As if I was the center of his world. And I knew without a doubt, this boy was the eye of the storm. The eye of my storm."
Both Austin and Edie are broken and emotionally scarred. Both have them went through a very traumatic past. It broke my heart to read those particular scenes in the flashbacks. Austin makes such a big tranformation from the young depressed teenager he was in the first two books in the series. But he is still fighting his demons. I loved how they healed each other and had someone to talk to. They were a perfect match and I couldn't get enough of them. I loved that we got a glimpse of the old crew towards the end. I really miss them and I can't wait for Zee and Ash to find their HEA!
"The girl who blew me away every time she stepped into the room. Stealing more and more of my breath. Becoming my air."
Wait is a very emotional read with heartbreaking scenes but also a beautiful story of how two broken characters heal each other. I am glad Austin and Edie finally found closure and can move on and live a happy life. They both deserve it so much! Wait is a great addition to this amazing series and the author keeps on delivering quality, engaging, and emotional reads. AL Jackson is an automatic one-click author for me because she just doesn't disappoint! Make sure to grab this book when it releases!