I will be the first to admit that I am late to the game on a lot of things. Be it a movie, a new band, or every event I’m supposed to attend. I am either the first one there, or the last one to show up.
And unfortunately my same MO of being late to the game applies to books. My kindle is like a bad episode of Hoarders, and my actual never ending book basket weighs as much as I do now. So basically, I own a lot of fantastic and out of this world books that I’ve yet to read.
The Wrecked and Ruined series by Aly Martinez is a prime example of this. And I basically want to punch myself in the face for waiting so long to read these books.
I’m ashamed to admit I let these books sit on my kindle for way too long. Changing Course, has been on there since the last time it snowed. (And I’ll point out the last time it snowed was like 7 months ago.) Stolen Course founds its way on there too soon after, and now Broken Course has been burning a hole on that thing for like 2 weeks.
I finally decided enough was enough and I HAD to read these books.
I knew I was going to love them, but I in no way expected how much I would love and devour them, how much they would make me feel and think, how much they would pull me into these book’s world and refuse to let me go, or how big a book hangover all three of these exceptional books would give me.
I have one mother effing book hangover right now, but boy do I love that. I wouldn’t trade this feeling for the world, and that folks, is the reason I read books. Getting to feel so emotionally invested with a series and its dynamic characters, and fighting with them through it all is what makes a book exceptional for me.
These books were exceptional. These books were extraordinary. These books blew me away repeatedly with their amazingness.
And phenomenal. And painful as all get out. And sweet. And fun. And HOT. And more emotional than my Thursday nights when Shonda Rhimes emotionally ruins my life with her emotionally driven TV shows. (For the record, the books in this series give Shonda a real run for her money, and I FREAKING LOVED THAT.)
Aly Martinez wrote and so breathtakingly crafted some seriously emotionally driven books, and they are nothing short of magnificent. These books made me feel EVERYTHING, and I cannot rave enough about that.
As you all know I am all about spreading the book love, and the book love for these books needs to be spread immediately. So I decided to write a crash course for y’all on the Wrecked and Ruined Series.
It should be noted now that my crash course will not come close to giving these books the justice they deserve, but take my word for it: you NEED these books in your life. I ain’t kidding either.
So let’s start our crash course into this PHENOMENAL series…
Years ago one fateful night changed it all. It sliced through life as these characters knew it, and it put them all on paths they never expected to find themselves on. Those paths are ones laced with so much emotion they will take your breath away. This series follows all of these unique and thoughtfully crafted characters as they try to make sense of it all, all while trying to figure out where they go from the painful night that changed everything.
Changing Course
“When I’m with you, Jess, everything else is silent. It’s magical. I can’t change anything that’s happened. I can however, try to move forward with my life.”
This is where this unforgettable story begins. It lays the foundation for it all it gives you the even that starts it all. In this book you’ll meet many key players to this series including Brett, Jesse, Sarah, and Caleb. While you meet so many of these phenomenal characters, this book is really about the swoon worthy Brett & Jesse and how they come to be, despite the crazy and pain of the past that’s lurking around the corner.
Synopsis:
I met Sarah Kate Erickson when I was twenty-one years old. I was lucky enough to keep her for seven years before a tragic accident stole her from me. She didn’t die, but sometimes I think it would have been easier if she had.
I lived in a haze for those four years after the accident. Catering to her every need, even though she hated the very sight of my face. I tried to hold on to her and the future that we were supposed to build together. But you can’t hold on to someone that doesn’t exist anymore.
It wasn’t until I met Jesse Addison, a barista at the local coffee shop, that I realized I didn’t just lose Sarah that tragic night, I lost myself as well. Jesse taught me how to let go of the past and learn to love again. But what happens when your past haunts your present and the woman you used to love refuses to accept the woman you can’t live without?
Stolen Course
“Our relationship is not simple or straightforward. It’s not perfect the way young couples dream about. It’s rough and flawed, but it’s ours. And sometimes, if you get really lucky, something truly beautiful can come from the imperfections.”
This is where you find out so many more pieces to this magnificent puzzle. You may think you know what happened that night everything changed, but let me tell you now: What you think you know isn’t as it seems, and this book gives you the whole picture. The whole damn extraordinary picture. It also allows you the chance to know and love Caleb & Emma, and let me tell you, those two are pretty darn fantastic.
Synopsis:
I fell in love with Manda Baker eight years ago, and I loved her to the core of her soul. We were supposed to have that elusive happily ever after and spend a lifetime together. But that was all before she was STOLEN from me.
Her best friend, Sarah Erickson, killed her. It wasn’t intentional. It was far worse. Everyone claims it was just an accident, but I can see through the lies. Even if it’s with my dying breath, I will make her pay for what she did.
Fate hates me. It robbed me of my first love and left me to navigate through this world emotionless and numb. Then, one day, spiteful fate gave me a woman to fill my shattered soul and make me feel again. It gave me Emma Jane Erickson. Now I spend my days searching for the answers that will ruin Sarah and my nights falling in love with her sister—the one person who is bound and determined to save her.
But what happens when everything you know to be true explodes around you? Who will be left to pick up the pieces, and who will need to be saved from the wreckage?
Among The Echoes
“Fuck your fairytale. I just want you. I’ll make my own God damn happily ever after. But you’re the one who is mistaken. You’ll be at the end of that story, beautiful. You either come willingly or you force me into the dark after you. It doesn’t matter to me, because either way, I’ll find you.”
This book was just officially added to The Wrecked and Ruined Series. (This was also the first book I ever read by Aly Martinez, and I loved it!) This book is mainly about Slate & Erica’s love story, which isn’t to be missed, but it’s also where you get to meet the one and only Leo James. Slate & Erica’s love story is just as emotional as all the other books to this series, and I for one couldn’t get enough of either of them!
My name was Dr. Erica Hill. I was a victim, then a witness, and then I ceased to exist altogether.
I may still be breathing, but stripped of my identity, I have long since stopped living. I am invisible, and my life depends on my ability to stay in the shadows.
But he sees me.
Slate Andrews is the embodiment of everything I have been taught to avoid. He’s rich and famous, and one image of him with a woman would earn millions for any paparazzi lucky enough to snap it. He has vowed to protect me with his life, yet he exposes me with his every breath. I should be stronger and walk away. I should disappear. But I’m terrified he would come after me.
I’m on the run, determined not to take him down with me but absolutely unable to let him go.
My name is Riley Peterson…at least for today.
Broken Course
“I love you. I love you despite it all, and now, I’m standing here, begging you to love me despite it all too.”
This is Sarah & Leo’s story, and it is one crazy ass ride that you will never forget. This is the culmination of this entire series. This is where it all comes together. Broken Course gives you two majorly flawed characters with some serious pasts between them, but it also gives you one hell of a love story that will leave you in awe while simultaneously taking your breath away.
Seven years ago, my life changed forever. One accident and the person I saw in the mirror no longer resembled the woman I used to be. I was lost and confused inside my own body. I felt alone and disconnected from the world, carrying the incredible weight of guilt and loss that wasn’t even mine to harbor.
Then fate led me to Leo James. He taught me that crazy could be perfectly normal and it shouldn’t hurt to breathe. Don’t get me wrong. Leo isn’t perfect. He has his own cross to bear, and the truth is, that might be why I fell for him in the first place. But despite everything he does for me, learning to forgive myself is infinitely harder than overlooking the flaws of another.
Now, the secrets and lies of our past have begun to dictate our future—threatening to ruin us before we get the chance to try. Perhaps we were cursed from the start. Or maybe, just maybe, the remnants of our fractured lives will fit together to form one whole, where love isn’t questioned and being happy is…well, easy.
Can a second broken soul be enough to fill the voids of my own? Or will such scarred pasts prove too much for our love alone to overcome?
(Oh and I dare you to not get chills or tear up when reading the epilogue to this book. I did both simultaneously. That epilogue is the epitome of this series, and let me tell you that I felt so much in that moment, but I can’t tell y’all any of it because you’ve got to read them all to get that extraordinary feeling!)
So I hope you all enjoyed our little crash course to this series. Remember this crash course does not do this series as much justice as it deserves, but I truly do hope you enjoyed it, because I sure as hell did!
Like I said before, I cannot rave enough about this phenomenal series. Each book took gave me an extraordinary reading experience that I will not soon forget. I promise you that you won’t just read and devour these books.
You will feel these books. You will love these books. You will be in awe of these books.
Each one, its characters, and its powerfully emotional stories will envelope you in whole heartedly without a doubt, and you will relish in that.
After finishing these books you will feel a lot of things. You will be sad to see the books end, you’ll feel grateful for the beyond fantastic reading experience, and most of all you’ll just be so effing happy you had the chance to experience the sheer magic within the pages of this book.
You’ll also have a new and immense appreciation for the vegetable report. And let me tell you, that is one damn fine report. (Read these books and you’ll get that.)
So what are you waiting for, drive yourself into this series today, and be sure to check out the incredible Aly Martinez today!!
Be sure to check out more about these books and the fabulous Aly Martinez at the following links!!
The Never Ending Book Basket 