An all new emotionally charged second chance romance.What happens when you fall for the boy next door?Bea Norwood had the market on normal.Drama free life? Check.A single-mother who doubled as her confidant and partner in crime? Check. A neighbor and best friend she trusted more than anyone? Check.But that was until the day her mother remarried. The day that changed everything.When her best … changed everything.When her best friend’s cousin, Liam Falcon, is sent to live with his aunt and uncle to clean up his act, Bea finds herself falling for the boy next door. With their hearts so infinitely entwined, Bea turns to Liam as her only escape from her new step-brother’s daily torment at home. Bea thought their love could conquer anything. But she was wrong. Love was for fools, and she was the biggest fool of them all. When Liam left Lakeport, he took her heart with him, shattering the organ to pieces.
Six years later, Liam takes a trip back to Lakeport to visit his family, and to see HER.
His first love.The girl who holds his heart.The same girl who shattered it six years ago without looking back.
Liam is hell-bent on seeing Bea again after six years, but what he finds tears his heart in half. Bea Norwood is a shell of the girl he fell in love with. Underneath the baggy clothes, and pale skin, he knows she’s still in there somewhere, he just needs to find her. Liam will stop at nothing to win his girl back, but sometimes, ignorance is bliss, and Liam isn’t prepared for Bea’s truth.
Some aspects of this story may be sensitive for readers.
more
From the first few pages my heart was racing this ENTIRE book! I’m not going to lie – it’s not easy to read. It is so real and raw that you will cry many tears for this heroine and hero, yet at the same time you will become consumed with their love – with their dreams – with their hope, and you will push through all the bad just to get to the good. And there is good!!
I don’t think I’ve read a book with a more perfect title….ACHE. My heart ached for them. My body ached for Bea. My female spirit ached for her dreams and desires. SM Soto brilliantly weaves this one single word “ache” into so many different instances in this story. “I’ll never forget the pain I felt that day. It was an all consuming ache.” “…she’s a shell of the girl I used to know, and my heart aches at that realization.” “My belly flips down low with an ache when his tongue meets mine.” “Thank me when that ache,” she says, gesturing to my chest, “finally disappears.” “That sweet, delicious ache brews in my core.” “There’s a blissful ache in my heart that yearns for her…” This one word held so much emotion and so many different meanings…but they all led back to this broken girl and couple.
Bea & Liam epitomize young love…they are drawn to each other instantly, yet their feelings toward one another grow organically over time. They have a string between them that is constantly pulling them together – an energy that makes them aware when the other is near – it is real and raw, and I cheered for these two from early on in their story. From the flashbacks to their younger years to the present, Liam’s loyalty and love for Bea never wavers. He never gives up on her, and his fierce passion and determination to “get his girl back” was so endearing that at times it brought tears to my eyes.
Bea had truly become a shell of her former self, and throughout her story I remained hopeful that those who cared for her the most would remain loyal to her and stay by her side. She was a fighter – and she was selfless in the fact that she took the punishment to save those she loved from pain. She endured so much, and although at times you want to yell, you want her to run, you want her to scream and fight…you can’t judge her. You can’t do it for her. She had to get there on her own, and her resilience and perseverence to get her life back was awe-inspiring. Liam’s unwavering compassion and loyalty to her, even when he did not have the answers he was looking for, made me fall for him that much more. His own determination, fight and passion for Bea was so real, and exemplified unconditional and everlasting love.
This story will break you and slowly put your heart back together as Bea’s human spirit starts to heal. I became Bea reading this story – I felt her abuse, her shame, her fear, her self-doubt; but I also felt her undying love from Liam, unconditional love from her best friends and mother, and finally the affirmation and acceptance of a peer who understood her all too well. As a female, and having lived through many #metoo moments, I commend SM Soto for writing such a heartbreaking story with a brilliance and boldness that not many authors are brave enough to do. This story will rip your heart into pieces, but at the same time remind you of the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of true love. There are not enough stars in the sky for these star-crossed lovers who will hold a special place in my book-loving heart for a long time to come! Well done SM Soto!!
This one comes with all the trigger warnings and hurt alerts, y’all. If sexual / physical abuse are an issue for you, skip this one or proceed with EXTREME caution. While this story does have a HEA, it’s a rough journey to get there!
Liam and Bea are star-crossed. He’s her BFF’s (and next door neighbor’s) cousin and there is chemistry immediately when they meet as teens. Then… life. Her mom marries a new man and her stepbrother isn’t at all what he seems. There’s loss, and heartache, and just so much hurt all the way around. This story is about what happens when enough is enough, and their love gets a second chance.
It’s hard to read, but also full of hope. If you need a story that will make you ache – this is a must read.
Ache has to be one of the most heartbreaking, yet best books that I have ever read. It has taken me a few days to sit down and write this review because I kept thinking about the book and not sure where to even begin. This is a story of the ultimate star-crossed lovers that spans over 9 years. It is a second chance romance and you will feel your heart break many times over and then have it mended together. Liam and Bea met when she was just 13 years-old and the connection between them was nearly instantaneous. Over 3 years, a deep love developed between them and it never wavered even after they both broke each other’s hearts. Liam is sweet and romantic. He cares and loves Bea so much. What Bea went through was absolutely devastating and heart wrenching, but she is a strong survivor. The author tackles very deep subject matter with respect and sensitivity. At times, it was hard to read and I couldn’t stop crying, but I also knew there was hope. Ache is told from Liam’s and Bea’s POV which I think was perfect for this book. You could actually feel what they each were going through and the gravitational pull between them. The story goes back and forth between the past and present. I would have liked to have read more about the first 3 years of their relationship – to see more how they fell for each other and to feel more of that bond between them. There was a character that I loathed with every part of my being and characters that I wanted to knock some sense into as I wondered how could they not see what was happening right in front of them, but I loved Myrah. I like how the author didn’t gloss over things. She was raw and honest. Ache does end in a HEA with no cliffhanger. I received this book for free.
Have you ever read a story that made you want to rage and cry? I mean RAGE and CRY at the same time. Ugh… There were a few characters that needed a good slap up side the head. Bea, Liam, Myrah, and Melody-those are the characters I loved the most. The others I could leave without. I say live without because they brought so much pain in the lives of Bea and Liam. The pain, this couple experienced, wasn’t just physical but emotional. It was draining. They were fighting for love. They were fighting to live. When you pick up Ache, get ready to laugh a little and cry a lot. The pain at the end will be worth it. I guarantee.
ACHE
By S.M Soto
Release Date April 9
**First off I’d like to say that there is mentions of rape and abuse so if they are triggers just a heads up.**
Heartbreaking beautiful. Two words to describe this story by S.M. Soto. It is so raw and deep. I struggled in the beginning, not because the story was horrible but because it hurt me to read how cruel one can be. It was gut wrenchingly beautiful and riveting. How memories of what once was was her only solace. I hurt for the young girl and the young adult she became. There were moments when I had to take breathers. God, I was so captivated by the poignant memories Bea recollected and yet still felt so much disgust.
“And I wanted to hate him for not saving me…But in all honesty, I didn’t really hate him, or even want to hate him. Love and hate are the same feelings under different circumstances—two sides of the same coin.”
I shed tears of frustration, sadness and happiness. My emotions were all over the place. My heart shattered into a million little pieces like the stars scattered in the sky.
“One day I’ll give you the universe, Bea.” “You already have…”
Bea and Liam has a connection only one could dream of. Their love was definitely written in the stars. Like a star, their love burns just as bright. Liam and Bea found their way back to each other reconnecting their heart, soul and mind.
“Bea’s my sun, my moon, and all my stars—the entire universe combined.”
I recommend going into this book with an open mind as there are some issues that may a hard limit for you so, remember there is a hea. With that being said, I highly recommend this book. Your heart will be broken and you heart will be healed with S.M Soto’s beautifully honest written words.
“Liam Falcon is the boy who captured my heart, and the man who saved my life. He’s my soulmate. He’s my one and only. He’s my happily ever after, and this was our story.”
When i started this book i went blind because i love everything by this author and of course i had to read this one as well, as one of my favourite tropes is second chance romance.
I had my heart broken in million pieces and had to step away from it for few days because i just couldn’t read it, it’s a story that will make you cry all the tears and more. A story that may as well be a real story of real life, of a girl who is a survivor in a word full of bad things that happens mostly because of the ignorance that people are living in our days, of the self-centred and no feeling of empathy or anything else but egoism.
Bea is a girl that becomes a woman who will fight until her last breath to protect the ones that she loves and i love her so much for it, for growing to stand up against all the abuse and suffering that she had to go through, to stand up for what she wants and to get out of the situation that will mark her forever.
Liam is so sweet as a boy and so caring and compassionate as a man as well. I did want to smack him at times but he comes around and redeems himself and is forgiven.
I could never say enough about this book, the writing is great as usual, the story will break your heart and make you realise that sometimes not everything that you see it’s what it means and maybe you have to pay more attention to smaller things in life.
Heartbreaking but love will always find a way to fight everything and anything in its way.
5 Soulful Stars!!!
Okay, this one is going to be short because it HAS to be. This is my first book by Ms. Soto and it’s beautiful, tragic, stunning and angsty in every way possible. Bea and Liam are two people that star-crossed lovers. There’s a beauty in their young love and how Liam brought light to her life.
Then one day, everything changes and there’s only darkness in this beautiful girl’s life. There were points in this book that had tears streaming down my face. Through the darkness, light starts to come through when Liam comes back to their town. Unfortunately, his girl isn’t able to see this light. She’s buried in such darkness that not even the love of this man has for her can reach into her heart….at first. Seeing Bea come out of her darkness was truly moving. She has so much on her shoulders that as she started to live again, I could see the light and love come back to her heart.
Ms. Soto has written a book that moved me in so many ways. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to finish it in all honesty. But there was a point at about the 30% mark that I was all in and consumed with finishing this book. I started and finished this book in one sitting. I will forever remember this book, Liam and Bea and the love they had to fight so hard for. Bravo to Ms. Soto for writing a book that has themes that are tough to acknowledge let alone read about. But know that once you go into this book, you won’t want to stop until you’ve read to the very last page.
It was extremely hard for me to read this book.
There was a warning at the beginning of the book,but still I wasn’t expecting it to be that hard.
And honestly,I have no idea how to write this review.
Everything in Bea’s life is perfect up until the moment her mother remarries.Her new step-father is okay,as far as she can tell,but her new step-brother Connor is creepy,to say the least.With the two of them joining the family Bea’s life changes completely.There is no more mother-daughter time and it seems like her mother is more on Connor’s side than her daughter’s.The only people making Bea happy are her best friend and her boyfriend Liam.But when Liam leaves for college,he takes Bea’s heart with him,and once again her life is completely changed.
The reason why I loved this book are the fact that the Bea and Liam’s love was amazing and beautiful,and the way it was written was perfect.I love this author writing style,she is amazing.Her words are always beautiful and I always want to read more.
But that wasn’t the case here.
***Minor spoilers ahead,read at your own risk***
This book made me rage numerous times.It was very hard for me to read some scenes,and there were a few that I just skipped.I really couldn’t read it.The thing is,Bea’s step-brother Connor is sexually,mentally and physically abusing her.The scenes are VERY graphic and disturbing.It was very hard for me to read them.He abuses her for six years straight,and even though she changes her behavior completely,nobody notices that something is very wrong with her.Bea is the one who is suffering from all of that and I can understand why she didn’t say anything and why she was so scared and sad.It always takes a lot of time for a victim to stand up for herself and asks for help.The person that I don’t understand at all is Bea’s mother.Even when her daughetr tried to kill herself she didn’t stay with her,she didn’t try to help her and support her.What kind of mother is she?When everything was revealed SHE wasn’t able to deal with that.Are you serious?I just can’t understand her.Bea is her daughter,how could she?I just hated her mother.
This are the things that I hated about this book and that made me lower my rating.If I’d know that this book would be this graphic I would never picked it up.
Again,if you are sensitive and if very graphic rape scene can cause you harm then don’t read this book. It’s not for everyone and it wasn’t for me either.
Do you ever read a book and now know how the hell you are supposed to write a review for it? Because that is where I am at right now. I have absolutely no idea how to put my feelings on this book into words. This book had me on edge the whole time. I don’t think that I have read such an emotional book in quite a while. This book does deal with a very difficult topic, and it won’t be for everybody. But for those who can handle the subject matter…. it is worth it! This book had me in all kinds of heartbreaking tears. There were many times when I just wanted to throw my kindle and drown my feeling in a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream. And then there was my husband making me leave to go grocery shopping when all I wanted to do was read the damn book to find out how things work out for Bea and Liam. Their love is the stuff of legends and totally written in the stars. I honestly developed some very real feeling (both good and bad) toward the characters in this story… and not just the main characters. Through the whole thing I kept asking myself so many questions… I was having to message another book friend because, even though I knew she was not going to conform or deny my ideas, I just needed to get them out so that I could continue to take in more of the story. While there were times when I wanted to ring Liam’s neck… I just could not let go of my faith in him. I also felt very very inspired by Bea and her strength, then her ability to rediscover hope no matter how many times it was taken away from her…. if I could give this book more stars I would…..
THE ACHE IS REAL PEOPLE!!! THE ACHE IS REAL!!!
The title of this book is so appropriate because that’s exactly how I felt whilst reading. I’ve read a lot of books that deal with this subject but NONE have had such a profound effect on me. The writing is phenomenal the author very cleverly straddles that line between the emotion of the story and the love story.
I’m not going to pretend this is an easy read because it’s not. My heart and soul ached for Bea. Several times I had to stop because I couldn’t read the words in front of me. Saying that Bea is strong is too weak a description what she endures literally broke me. Liam is her first love her one and their separation didn’t only affect Bea, he has missed her every day and when he comes back everything falls apart but In a good revelatory way. Of course Liam is an important part of the story how he deals with Bea when it all implodes is heartwarming.
This is a book I’m not going to forget Bea and Liam will stay with me for a long time. A story of resilience, a story of strength, a story of hope.
reviewed by Sweet Spot Sisterhood
Ache is a phenomenally beautiful, heartbreaking, romantic, and amazing!!!!!!! Ache was beautiful, swoony goodness!!!!! Get ready for an amazing book hangover!!!!! S.M. Soto knows just how to break your heart and mend it!!!!
Heart Wrenching. Life changing. Difficult situations. Trigger Warning.
There are stories that you immediately see the warning. You prepare yourself the best you can. Yet, it still slays you and makes it hard to breathe at times. This is that book. It will alter your life. It makes you face difficult situations and make you uncomfortable. But, it helps you see that there is hope regardless of circumstances. You will realize and witness first hand how people can rise up against those who take advantage and hurt others.
Liam and Bea are tough, real, and amazing because of everything they have been through. Bea has endured way more than one person should in a lifetime. She is left with no choice and no one to turn to for help. She learns to fight for happiness when she meets a new friend.
Liam was always Bea’s biggest cheerleader. He showed unconditional love through the whole entire book, with the exception of one part (you’ll want to kill him). But, he remains a constant for her and never lets her down through good and bad times.
The author was truly amazing and brave when she wrote this book and wasn’t afraid to put it all out there. She does an amazing book that starts out broken and turns into beautiful by the end. I can honestly say I could FEEL all of the emotions during this book. At times, it was quite overwhelming. The way she intertwined the past and present helps you understand what she went through then, and how things are now. It is brilliant and captivating.
This book takes strong characters and breaks them at times. It makes them question and have to dig deep to be strong. This was unlike anything I have ever read!! I can’t say enough about this book and how it affected me. The words I can say about this book could go on, but truly, you need to read it for yourself and experience it. It’s one amazing, heart wrenching, story of redemption and rebuilding.
I kindly received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion. Thank you!!
OH MY HEART!
This story was gut wrenching, soul shattering, and heart breakingly beautiful. I am still in tears as I write this review. This story gutted me…I finished it in one sitting because this incredible story is not the kind you can just start and put down. Wow….just, wow.
I mean I don’t even know how to form my words right now for this review, I’m utterly speechless. This story completely made me ache with pain, ache with an immense amount of hope, and ache with happiness.
This is not your typical second chance romance..it’s beautiful yet haunting, its mesmerizing yet soul shattering, and it will stick with you long after you finish it.
I loved Liam more than words could ever describe! I kept hoping and praying that he would catch on, that he would see what was happening. My heart literally broke into a million little pieces and died a hundred deaths for the pain that Bea had to endure. Poor sweet Bea….But even despite the horrifying things that she endures, she comes out stronger. She’s a fighter and she won’t go down easily.
This story is so, so much more than a romance. It’s a story of a girl’s journey to overcoming a horrifying situation and trusting in those that care about her and believing in the power of love and overcoming her demons. It’s a story of two star crossed lovers finally being pulled back together, showing that love can overcome anything, even the most heartbreaking truths.
This book is 100% a top read of 2019!!!
You have truly outdone yourself SM Soto!
I received an ARC in return for an honest review. I’m not going to lie this story was nothing like what i thought it would be. Fair warning, if you can’t handle sexual and physical abuse this story is not for you. That being said, I truly liked it. Obviously there were a lot of moments that were upsetting but overall it was a great story of love, pain, and courage. I just don’t understand how no one around Bea knew what was happening to her. I know she was heartbroken when Liam left but how do you miss all those signs?! While that annoyed me, it’s real life. I felt so many emotions reading this book but in the end all I felt was happiness.
Shes the girl who dreamt of the stars, hes the boy who wanted to give her the night sky, and then theres the other. The one with the eyes that follow her.
But now as he walks away shes alone and lost. Her heart breaking.
The eyes that followed her visit her in the darkness. Ugliness, threats and fear are her life now. Shes not who she was.
The boy who dreamt of them returns, and their eyes meet but nothing is the same…
Oh my gosh What did I just read!! I knew when I saw the cover this was going to be something special and it was!!
I do feel like my emotions have been put through the wringer that’s for sure!
Love, heartache, devastation secrets and despair lie at the heart of this.
The subject matter is hard to read about, but it’s written in such a way that to me I didnt shy away from it or skim read, I took in every word, and felt the pain behind each and every one.
It broke my heart, and I felt raw. Tears escaped, but then hope bloomed and it was worth it.
The characters will steal everything that is yours. From your time, to your heart and embed themselves in your thoughts and dreams.
I cant begin to describe how I feel about Bea without giving the whole story away so I’m just going to say I heard her voice and she spoke to me.
Liam is the guy we all want in our lives. He is all that is good.
Tonight I will dream of consolations and in them I will see Bea and Liam that’s how effected I am by this book.
It’s a read that wont be forgotten, one that will stay with me for long time and if you only care to read one book this month.. I suggest this be it.
This story completely blindsided me out of nowhere. Ache by S.M. Soto is such a fitting title for this profound and emotionally charged story. This story was gut wrenching, soul shattering, and enrapturing. I finished it in one sitting because this phenomenal story is not the kind you can just start and put down.
Your heart will experience every single emotion and more while reading this story. You will feel pain, you will feel devastation, you’ll be shattered and be destroyed. I won’t lie, this book is extremely tough to read at times. But through this book I believe we are told much more than just a harrowing story. We are shown that despite many horrors, love can prevail all and make you dare to hope and heal every hurt. I honestly believe the best stories sometimes have a harder path to lead you down but the endings are worth every gut wrenching moment. Reading this book is so worth it. I give massive praise and admiration to S.M Soto for having the guts and the tenacity to write this powerful story. It’s so complex and distressing yet a stunning and heart wrenching beautiful story that needs a very talented and skilled writer to walk this very fine line.
Ache is one of the most powerful books that I have ever read. This story is a true embodiment of hope, strength, survival, friendship and ultimately, a never ending love that is so pure and true. These extraordinary characters have left their imprint in my mind and heart. This is a story I shall never forget.
“He’s my planet. All my stars. My whole world. My solar system. My entire universe.”
One Line. You need to read this book. I can write pages in praise of Ache by S.M.Soto. But even that won’t be enough to express how great this story is. I can’t really make you feel the extreme emotions I had while reading this book. This is epic ,raw, sensational and angsty romance at it’s finest. This is S.M.Soto at her best.
Whenever I pick up any book by S.M.Soto, I prepare myself for emotional torture. But nothing, I mean nothing could prepare me for Ache. Liam and Bea’s story goes back and forth in time. The horrors of Bea’s present life and the sweet moments of young love from years back are written in almost alternate chapters. Their story started with dreamy swoony loving days and soon it turns into an absolutely devastating and heart breaking tale. Liam is back in town after seven years but his sweetheart and first love is gone. May be not physically. But mentally the soft innocent girl is gone. Will the light be back?
I don’t think I cried this much while reading any other story recently. S.M.Soto is unapologetically honest and raw in telling the story. The pain, the humiliation, the degradation, the devastation and the struggle of Bea were brought alive with her skillful writing. I confess it was a really difficult story for me. I had stopped so many times to get a grip on my rogue emotions. But I had to reach the end of the nightmare. It was like running in a dark tunnel where everything is compressing me , filling me with adrenaline and I only want to reach the light. S.M.Soto is simply genius. She writes the story in her own unique way where every thing is just intense enough. Bea is my hero. She is the woman who has changed and survived the hell on earth. And Liam deserved her. A guardian angel, Liam helped her to fight her demons literally. Their love is so strong and resilient. The kind that goes above and beyond every thing. This is about survival. This is about becoming stronger and better. This is so much more than a simple love story. This is the kind of story that will give me strength when I feel down.
My heart shattered into a million tiny pieces. My inside is literally aching with the angst and love. I physically feel the pain and beauty in every molecule of my body and mind. And I can confidently say Ache by S.M.Soto is one of the most riveting and life-changing books I have ever read. Ever.
Received ARC for Honest Review
If you have never had the pleasure of reading a novel by Author S.M. Soto, then make sure that you check out Ache. Ache is a heart wrenching, gut punch of a novel filled with love, hate, and everything in between.
First off, let me say, this novel may or may not be for you. Soto can write one hell of a deliciously dark story that will creep into the crevices of your heart and mesmerize you. While this is a love story, it is filled with tragedy along the way. It’s so real, yet so raw that you’ll be a fan of Soto’s but also questioning how could one person come up with such a story without having lived it? I’m always left with that feeling after reading Soto’s books. Which is why I continue to come back time and time again for her exceptional storytelling.
Ache is packed with extraordinary characters, both dark and beautiful. Bea is a sweet girl who falls for the guy next door. However when he leaves her the unthinkable happens forcing her away from everyone she has ever loved. Years later, she gets a second chance at love when he returns. Bea’s story is as star crossed as one can get. It’s a brutal love. A passionate love. One I think readers will long remember after taking a chance on reading. While there are certain triggers, Soto will leave nothing behind as she tells Bea’s true story of survival, love and learning to live…. Again.
My heart is still aching from this story. It is one that you will not forget reading. It reminds anyone that is struggling that it will get better and they can make it through. It also reminds those of us that thankfully have not been victims of things such as sexual abuse and vilence to pay attention to the people around us. Sometimes people in these situations feel they can’t go to those close to them and take comfort in a stranger that could be their saving grace. As much as my heart broke for Bea by the end it was mostly put together again! This was definitely worth the read and I could not put it down. I had to know how Bea’s story would end.
First off let me start off by saying that this easily one of my top reads of 2019! Although this book deals wiith some heavy subject matter, if the reader can push though it they will love the underlyling message that this book has and that is that love does conquer all in the end.
Bea and Liam are the ultimate couple because they share a powerful bond from the instant they meet and it carries on through the years despite the distance that separates them both physically and emotionally. Both Bea and Liam had to face obstacles while apart, but one thing that remains constant is their love for one another and the way it helps them transform into the people they were meant to be. Each was forced to deal with issues that left them incomplete, a shell of who they use to be; but once faith steps in their paths cross gain and everything comes to light- making thier love stronger than before.
This book is so much more than a love story, it is about forgiveness, self- love and the power we have to change our circumstances despite how bad it might seem. Anything is possible if you believe you deserve to chase your happiness even after tragedy leaves us feeling helpless. What a beautiful, heart wrenching story about two people finding love again after everyone tries to tear them apart. If something is meant to be it always finds its way back to the source. Great job!!