His only hope of salvation: Maddie and her healing
light.
FIVE+++
Unfractured STARS
For
fractured souls are like magnets. Drawn to collide into an impossible bliss..
Tillie Cole has
done it again. How does every book she writes be better than the last? This was
flipping brilliant!!!
Though I am in
contented bliss, I feel a tad bit bittersweet. I’ve wanted this story ever
since I finished It Ain’t Me, Babe last year and now it’s all over. I’m
in a bit of daze to be honest. This was such an emotionally charged story. If
you’ve read the previous two stories, you already know how damaged the Hero
& heroine are. Could a relationship even be possible for two people who
have a past such as theirs?
With the
flames out of my blood I wouldn’t be so sad. Then people wouldn’t leave me,
they would understand me… …if only the flames would die…
Flame. Flame.
Flame. This poor soul. Who knew the demons this man faced. His past is
tragically heartbreaking. The physical and psychological abuse under the hands
of his father was tough to read, but it made me understand the fuel behind
Flame’s madness, including the reasoning behind his infamous self-cutting and his
no-touch rule. And OMG, when you find out why he doesn’t like to be touched,
you will seriously cry. It wasn’t until that scene in It Ain’t Me, Babe
where Maddie hugged him to thank him for killing Moses did he get touched. That
moment changed everything for Flame and for Maddie, too.
My heart
fluttered when I realized I liked the way he watched me. I liked that, when I
was near, the lost pained expression he wore, fell away…leaving the handsome
expression of a lost boy looking at an equally lost girl
If I can be
truly be honest, Maddie MADE this story. Who knew that the smallest and shyest
of the Cursed Sisters, she would be the bravest? She is my HERO! Her strength
and courage shone through the entire book. Flame didn’t stand a chance. The
“little one,” as Viking would call her, won over Flame’s heart. The
similarities between Flame & Maddie were haunting, but it was because of
their haunting past that they were able to connect on another level. And OMG!!
When Flame & Maddie finally touch? Magical.
Two
fractured souls made whole only by the other’s unconditional love.
This was not an
easy road to Flame & Maddie’s HEA, but OMG was that journey so worth it.
Tillie has such a talent to tell such an emotionally charged story. Grab your
tissues because you’re so going to need it. Bring on Rider’s book!!!!!!
**Thank you, Ms. Cole, for allowing me to Beta read this gem.
Truly and honor**
Flame
and Maddie’s story has been one of the most anticipated books of 2015. Hell,
it’s been the most anticipated book since Tillie released It Ain’t Me Babe
(Hades Hangmen #1) in April 2014. Flame didn’t play a huge role in IAMB but
captured the hearts of most who read it. I will admit in the beginning I didn’t
understand the obsession HAHA. I thought everyone was crazy and he was kind of
weird. Until I read Heart Recaptured (Hades Hangmen #2) where this tortured,
broken man stole my heart and I jumped on the bandwagon proud to call myself a
Flame Whore.
Flame is such a dark and tortured soul yet I found him quite beautiful. He was
broken and had every reason to be. He lived a life of pure hell… literally. His
daily struggle tears my heart to pieces and breaks a little more every time I
think about what he went through. How someone can survive everything he went
through and still find it in their hearts to love as fiercely as he does
completely baffles me. This beautifully broken man is own who has embedded
himself in my heart forever.
Maddie is by far one of the strongest, bravest, selfless heroines I have ever
had the privilege of reading and she too will forever have a place in my heart.
Her innocence was taken from her a long time ago; I couldn’t imagine being born
into a place that made you believe your beauty was sin, that you were cursed
and to be punished for this. Maddie still managed to find the beauty in the
world and in the people around her. I am in complete awe of her.
Flame and Maddie’s connection is indescribable. Their love for one another
saved them. Getting to witness them heal
each other is something I will never forget. This book will instil hope into
every single person who reads it. Your heart will break, tears will fall but I
promise the love these two characters have for one another will heal you before
you read the words “the end”. Tillie exceeded every expectation anyone ever had
for Flame there is no doubt about it. Do yourself a favour. Read this series,
read this book.
Excerpt
I sat bolt up right in the chair
and stared at the dark line of the forest. My heart slammed against my ribcage
when a figure emerged from the heavy foliage.
My breathing paused, fear taking
hold, then a familiar pair of leather boots and trousers entered the moonlit
lawn. Blades hung at his sides, and his torso was naked under the heavy leather
cut.
Flame.
My heart, that was already racing,
seemed to beat at an impossible speed. And then Flame lifted his head, and it
ceased to beat at all.
The frown that was on his face
instantly blanked. His lips mumbling something under his breath, stilling mid-speech.
I clutched the blanket lying over
my knees to my chest. I remained frozen, as did Flame. I had not expected him
to come tonight, his friend had taken him back to his home. I could see from my
window how exhausted he had been. I
could see, even in the haze of moonlight, how tired he was still.
Flame’s hands clenched at his
sides. His chest heaved with movement that was too quick, then he abruptly
turned on his heel, and with a rigid back, he headed back into the forest.
My stomach sank as he turned to
leave, and without conscious thought, I slammed my sketchpad shut, shuffled to
the edge of the seat and called out, “Wait! Do not go!”
Flame stopped dead.
As did I.
Swallowing back my nerves, my
shock at what I had just done, I said, “Please, Flame. Do not go… I… I am glad
you are here.”
Flame’s fingers curled and
uncurled at his side, then straightening his shoulders, he slowly turned. His
large frame was rigid as he faced me once more. Then he just stood. Stood at
the end of the forest, his attention fixed forward.
But I wanted him closer.
Still perched on the edge of my
seat, I asked, “Would you like to come closer? I… I have been sitting out here
alone as I could not sleep. It…” I took a deep breath, fighting my natural
instinct to flee, and continued. “It would be nice to have some company.”
Flame remained still, his rigid
body convincing me that he would not come any nearer. Then, to my surprise, he
began walking, his powerful legs bringing him closer to where I sat.
In the still and silent night, I
could hear him counting his steps one to eleven, then repeating it back to
himself under his breath. My head tilted to the side as he approached, a swirl
of anticipation and fear mixing in my stomach.
His skin on his arms looked newly
cut, and I could not help but feel sad for him. For whatever had happened to
make him need to harm himself in such a way.
Grasping the blade in his hand, his fingers tightened on the handle.
Like he needed the blade as a comfort.
As though he was nervous to be
here with me now.
Inhaling a long breath, I asked
quietly, “Would you like to sit?” I pointed at the chair to in front of mine.
Flame looked at the chair through his long black lashes, and exhaling sharply
through his nose, sat beside me. I smelled the oil and leather. I smelled the
rich musk and spice scent that only belonged to Flame and warmth filled my
bones.
He was sat beside me.
Flame was sitting right beside me.
Dropping my eyes to the frayed
edges of the gray blanket wrapped around me, I played with the clustered strands
of wool just for something to help with the nerves accosting my body.
But Flame was absolutely still.
Absolutely silent.
Then I glanced to the side only to
see him watching. As soon as our eyes met, he dropped his. A blush raced to
fill my cheeks, and for some unknown reason, a whisper of a smile pulled on the
corner of my mouth.
Lifting my head, I stared at the
large moon, and found the courage to speak, “I did not think you would be
coming to see me tonight.”
After several seconds of silence,
I believed Flame would not respond. Until I caught him shift in his seat, and
he said roughly, “I couldn’t stay away.”
My pulse raced at his response and
I whispered, “Why?”
Flame’s shoulder shrugged, then
focusing back on the blade in his hand, he said, “I couldn’t stop thinking
about you. And I…” Flame trailed off.
“And what?” I pushed.
“I needed to be near you. I needed
to know you were safe.”
Author Bio
Tillie Cole is a Northern girl through and through. She originates
from a place called Teesside on that little but awesomely sunny (okay I
exaggerate) Isle called Great Britain. She was brought up surrounded by her
English rose mother — a farmer’s daughter, her
crazy Scottish father, a savagely sarcastic sister and a multitude of rescue
animals and horses.
Follow Tillie
It Ain't Me, Babe (Hades Hangmen #1)
Heart Recaptured (Hades Hangmen #2)
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