Return to Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia….Blog Tour Stop, Giveaway & Review

Welcome to my stop on the Return to Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia Blog Tour!

I am beyond excited for this release!

Along with my review today, and the tour-wide giveaway, I have a set of the Poughkeepsie eBooks to give away to one lucky winner! Comment on this blog post to be entered to win.  I will be picking a winner on Saturday morning (1/4)…..

enjoy and thanks so much for stopping by!

Book Links:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble  ~   Goodreads

Synopsis:

Beckett Taylor is a murderer. His calling, his craft are destruction and intimidation—whether he wants it that way now or not. He left Poughkeepsie to keep his brothers safe, to keep Eve safe. Set up with happy lives to live, they’re better off without him, right?

But all his willpower crumbles when he hears his brother Blake’s frantic voice on the phone. An unknown enemy has moved in on his old territory, and Livia’s been taken. In an instant, Beckett knows it will take an attack only he and Eve can execute to bring her back. All his self-imposed embargoes are torn to shreds, perhaps along with the new man he’s struggled to become.

“Brother, call Eve. I’ll be there soon.”

In this emotional and action-packed sequel to Poughkeepsie, Debra Anastasia conjures a tale of love at its most raw and ragged. With Beckett and Eve, how could we expect anything less? But even when it’s messy, not magical, true love perseveres. Real love finds a way—for better or for worse until death does part.

 

My review:

Return to Poughkeepsie is the second book in author Debra Anastasia’s Poughkeepsie series and follows Poughkeepsie…..a book I adored so much so I got the tattoo (of course!). I have been DYING for this book and *dreamy sigh* Debra has done it again.  It was amazing.

Ok…so you all know I don’t do spoilers and there is a whole lot I need to be tight lipped about, so bear with me here while I do my best to not ruin one single second of this kick ass book for you…..

Beckett Taylor has left Poughkeepsie behind…physically that is.  There is no way he would ever be able to forget his brothers or Livia or Kyle…or Eve.  He knows leaving was best for everyone, even if it still hurt like hell to be away from the only family he’s ever known.  And don’t even get him started on missing Eve.  He left his heart with her.  He only hoped she had done what he wanted her to do and live a life without him filled with only the good things life had to offer.  Not murder, death and deceit, which were the only things he could offer.  He had settled in a small town and was doing the best he could, despite being a hardened killer.  He still quietly kept tabs on Poughkeepsie and had been hearing there was a new player in town trying to take over his former “businesses” in the area.  As long as nothing got too crazy, Beckett didn’t mind what was going on in the underbelly of society there.  Yep, things were going ok until he gets a phone call from Blake.  That phone call would change his life.  Livia had been kidnapped and Beckett knew he had no choice but to go home and save his family.  Yes, he was still a wanted man.  Yes, he knew if he saw Eve his heart would break all over again.  No, there was no way in hell he wouldn’t do whatever it took to get his brother’s wife back.

The crime-filled mess Beckett has to dive head first into to get Livia back was a way bigger and more “organized” mess than he ever expected.  One his Eve was somehow a part of, too.  Now, they’ve got to work their ass-kicking magic together to bring down a problem much bigger than just the kidnapping.   But there’s nothing Eve and Beckett do better than kick ass and take names.

Hold on, I’ve give my fingers a stretch here, they are a bit cramped….I have just finished reading this book, you see, and I swear my hands practically crushed my eReader from the death like, white-knuckled grip I had on it while reading.  Talk about one hell of a ride!  I don’t think I can even begin to list all of the emotions I experienced while reading this book.  Even if I did, it wouldn’t do this book justice.  Equally gut wrenching and tender, hard assed and feather soft, Debra rocked my world.  This book was a lot grittier than Poughkeepsie, and very fitting as it centers on Beckett and Eve.  They are both just as wounded and dark as before but seeing their emotions in depth was so heartbreaking.  If ever two wounded souls needed one another, these two are it.  I love Beckett and Eve.  They both had really awful lots in life and are the products of that.  The amazing quality about them is that even though they have seen and been a part of so much darkness and pain, they have true emotions and are capable of such love…even if it is buried deep.  Two broken pieces that make up an imperfect whole…but a whole nonetheless.

Blake and Livia are even more amazing than before…even through the horror of the kidnapping.  The tender moments between the two of them reminded me of exactly why I adore them and their unique and beautiful relationship.

Cole and Kyle….broke my heart.  Cole is just so freaking amazing and with every scene I grew to love him more.  His words to Kyle are full of his love for her.  He is real and wise and speaks from his soul.  Kyle is the same feisty and foul-mouthed girl I love but shows a soft side that was humbling to read.  I honestly love these two…big time.  They are going through an exceptionally rough time in this book and I cried my eyes out more than once for them.  My lips are sealed, but trust in Debra that she gives them happiness in the end….doesn’t she always?

Oh, and the even better thing?  There’s another Poughkeepsie book in the works!  Yep, if you didn’t already know, we will be getting book #3! *happy dance*

Now, I hope I was able to convey how amazing this book was without giving anything away.  Debra wrote one hell of an emotional, pulse pounding book and it’s one that you deserve to experience first hand without knowing what’s coming next….truly, it’s a gift to read a book like Return to Poughkeepsie.

Thank you, Debra, for giving us more Poughkeepsie.  Thank you for making me laugh, cry, gasp and smile like only you can do.  Love you, girl! (and my tattoo loves you, too!)

Five Loves

 

My Poughkeepsie tattoo 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author:

Debra Anastasia is busy, just like every other mom. There’s dinner, the dogs, the two kids, and her violent IBS–which is under control thanks to medication except for occasional multi-tonal farts. Her first love and crowning achievement is her thriving career as the weirdest mom on the block.

Her writing started a decent handful of years ago when–along with the animals and humans in her house–the voices of characters started whispering stories in Debra’s ear. Insomnia was the gateway to plots that wouldn’t give up, wouldn’t let go. Now they stalk her everywhere. Halfway through making lunches, a twist takes hold and–fingers full of peanut butter–she finds somewhere, anywhere to write it down.

She’s eternally grateful to Omnific Publishing, which has now published four of her books: two in the Seraphim Series and two in the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series, as well as her novella, Late Night with Andres. That one is special because 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. (So go get it right now, please!) She also very much appreciates her open-minded readers, who embrace everything she has to offer, with a focus on anti-heroes and bathroom humor.

Debra lives in Maryland with her family. You can find her at DebraAnastasia.com and on Twitter @Debra_Anastasia. But be prepared…