Book Review: When we Collide by A.L. Jackson

• Review: When We Collide
• Series: —
• Author: A. L. Jackson
• No of Pages: 216
• Release Date: Published November 2nd 2012 by Sapphire Star Publishing
• Received From: SupaGirl Tours
• Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of Pulled and Take This Regret comes a gripping new tale of loss and love.

William has spent six years running from his past and the last eight months trying to rid his mind of the dreams that increasingly haunt his nights. Trapped in a world of false ambitions and feigned affections, William knows he’s reached a breaking point and something’s going to give.

Maggie had lived her entire life without hope until one man showed her what it meant to be loved. He’d been her light in a lifetime of darkness. Six years ago, that darkness stole him away. Without him, she’s surrendered herself to an existence she doesn’t know how to escape.

When the family William left behind is struck by tragedy, he is called back to the one place he’s sworn to never return to again. In a moment that will change his life forever, William comes face to face with the girl who, with one look, captured his heart. He is unable to ignore the buried desires and the hope for the future they’d once believed they’d have. Now William is ready to fight to take back what had been stolen from him six years before.But he never imagined what that fight might cost him.

A.L. Jackson gives you an intimate look into the lives of a family bound by an unseen connection in this new contemporary romance.

My thoughts:

Ok, this is an intense book about seriously intense situations. It killed me to read this but I had to keep going just because it was so good. I am very empathetic and felt every moment when both William and Maggie were sad.

This is a story about a serious issue and it’s one we don’t see in a lot of books. Probably because it’s hard to read but also it takes an amazing author to put this on paper, to make you look at the ugly sides of life and do it in a way that can still keep you wanting to read to the end. I admit, it was tough. I just wanted to yell at Maggie and tell her to get the **BLEEP** out of her relationship! But she feels stuck, in so many ways.

She is a very strong girl. Which is another great thing that A. L. Jackson accomplished. She’s beat down, quite literally sometimes, but she’s still strong enough to fight for her son’s life.

It’s also nice to see William’s point of view. I think we don’t get enough of the male pov and this started with William. We don’t get to see Maggie for quite some time, although we know about her from William.

The only thing that threw me a little was the jumping back and forth. I got used to it but the way the story works is showing you present day and then showing what happened six years in the past, so you can get that background story. It works but it seems just a little clunky, although you definitely NEED to know what happened six years ago so you understand present day happenings. So, like I said, it works but it slowed things down I think.

There were a few parts that I literally was breaking down into tears. A. L. Jackson was able to put so much emotion into this that you’re going to come away a little bit raw. I also am having a hard time rating this. How can you rate a book with a subject matter that cuts so deeply? A book that leaves you crying for the characters and everything they went through. Still it’s a fascinating read and I’m a new fan of this author. Can’t wait to read more!

About the author:

A.L. Jackson first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student.  She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three beautiful children. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves.

Website |  Goodreads |

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Tags: A. L. Jackson, When we Collide