Violet Winters once had it all but lost it when her husband was murdered by a criminal madman. During a cold winter night Violet has to leave her warm bed to tell her neighbor to turn the music down. And that’s when she meets sinister, scarred, scarily attractive security specialist, Joe Callahan.She wants to deny it, but Violet can’t beat back the hunger she feels for Joe so she gives in again … in again and again. Feeling it himself, Joe feeds Vi’s hunger, breaking his own rules to keep her in his bed.
Even though Violet had only one man in her life, she’s sure Joe is giving her the signals and Vi decides she’s ready to take a second chance at life and, maybe, love. But Violet doesn’t know the dark secrets in Joe’s past, secrets so soul-wrenching, they’ve drained him dry. With nothing left to give, Joe’s determined to live his life alone and he breaks Violet’s heart.
Crushed by Joe’s betrayal, Violet comes to terms with the fact that, no matter what signals he gave, Joe was not theirs to win. But Violet’s husband’s murderer is obsessed with her and heartbreak again haunts the door of the Winters home. When it does Joe is forced to face the knowledge that he can’t fight Violet’s pull, she’s under his skin and filled him full to bursting.
Joe needs to win her back and put his life on the line to keep Violet safe. But, having had it all once, can Violet endure losing Joe?
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This is one of my favorite Kristen Ashley books. At Peace is so many different themes wrapped into one.Violate is a single mom trying to raise her daughters right in a world that killed her husband. Joe “Cal” Callahan is a man with an equally tragic past who isn’t looking for a woman, but when Vi moves in right next to him, he can’t seem to ignore her. He goes into immediate protective mode when he learns that Vi is threatened. This book is not hearts and rainbows. It is gritty and sexy and beautiful and Cal screws up more than once on account of his need to push a good woman away. But once you learn his full story, you realize why. Vi and her daughters were made for him. I highly recommend this book. I reread it at least once a year.
I loved these characters, but Joe…ack! The man had me utterly wrecked in happy tears!
Now that I’ve recovered from my waaay to late book binging and had two hours of sleep…
Joe was my favorite character in the entire book. Even when he was being an ass, and omg was he a complete asshat, I kept hoping there was more than meets the eye about him. I’m so glad I continued on because holy cow, he turned out to be so much more than I expected! The way he handled Vi was crap at the start, eh in the first part, so/so midway, and then things got real…in sad circumstances that turned out to be very good. But the way he finally broke and took the mantle of parenthood with two teenage girls was what finally won me over. Those moments were absolutely priceless and melted my heart to gooey mush!
I didn’t care for the triangle between Joe, Vi, and Mike, but it did serve it’s usefulness for two very hard headed people. Love isn’t always a bed of roses, but when the fight is worthwhile, it makes the win so much sweeter!
The cast of characters where vibrant, full of sass and sarcasm, and made me wish I lived in a neighborhood full of crazy supportive friends. The story sucked me in and frankly had me so absorbed, I actually wanted to take a personal day just so I could finish reading! (But I was good, and went in to do my paperwork, lol) I honestly don’t know why this book resonated so much with me, but it did. I’m glad I gave it a go!
Vi and Joe invaded my thoughts, my dreams, and my world while I listened to this book. There was just so much, so many emotions to unpack, unravel, and decipher. I either had a goofy grin on my face or my eyes were welling with tears. I’m at a loss to say anything more than that, because this was not a book to listen to, this was an event to be part of, and I was. If I could give a million stars, I would, I loved this that much <3
Vi and Cal…SWOON!! An All Time Favorite!!
** spoiler alert ** I get so bummed with books like this. It had so much potential for me of being a 5 star read only for it to take a direction that pretty much ruined the couple for me. There was so much relationship drama in this that I started not caring how much these two hurt each other.
I’m really not a fan of the guy who hurts the girl to get her to back off because he just can’t commit. And I really hate when a man blames the woman for being a bitch because she knew the score and has no reason to complain. And I’m especially not a fan of the woman who doesn’t show any self respect and takes that treatment because she just can’t stand to lose him.
I hate love triangles. It was pretty crappy of the heroine to even entertain the thought of another man when she can’t say no to the first guy. I wasn’t even sad for the hero because he could have stopped it before it even began. Although, I will say that part ended better than I could have hoped.
Even when they finally get together towards the end, their relationship was volatile and I just couldn’t really enjoy it. The biggest bummer is that I could have really loved Joe. He had a lot of things about him that I do like in a hero.
I did like the heroine’s daughters and some of the family moments were nice. I also liked seeing Colt and Feb again. That’s about it.
I have read this book and all the others in the Burg series. Actually I have read most everything by Kristen Ashley I can get my hands on. I love her, and everything she writes. I am always waiting for the next new arrival. I love the characters and I love how they are a all woven throughout a series, loved the Motorcycle Man Series, Chaos, Colorado series, just everything. Buy download or whatever you do to get your books. You won’t be disappointed, I am always sad when a series ends, but I know I can look forward to the next! Thanks Kristen for many hours of joy in reading your thoughtful, exciting and sexy stories. I love you! Rock on!
Such a great book! I wish these characters all lived in my town. So good in every way. I would give it more stars if I could.
I loved it so much I had to treat myself to a signed copy.
Love the characters and the story line! I had to read the next 2 books in the “burg” series and they are just as good! Love your writing Kristin
Loved the characters, beautiful Violet and scary Joe and Violets engaging daughters. Great steamy read!
Fantastic book!!! Score another for Kristen Ashley. Joe and violet are some 2 of my favorite characters. Such drama and so much sweetness
This is the second book in this series, but you don’t have to read the first to fully enjoy this book. That being said the first is just as amazing so you probably want to anyway. I loved this book and everything about it! It pulls out every single emotion you can think of when listening to it and then pulls out some more! Can’t wait to see what happens next and to what couple.
Trashy language. Did not finish. My time is better spent on other things.
Good characters.
Book two in The ‘Burg series is even better then the first! Kit shot right outta the gate with this one and blew me away. Of course, this isn’t hard for her to do. I’m just kicking my own ass for waiting so long to start this series.
Summary:
Violet “Vi” Winters once had it all. A doting husband and two beautiful teenage daughters along with her husband’s family and her own brother. Vi understood she had it all after she was coldly kicked out and disowned by her parents (mostly her mother) after she fell pregnant at seventeen. Luckily, she had the right man. Tim Winters would do anything for Vi and he and his family and Vi’s brother did, giving her the world. It was all brutally ripped away when a psychopathic criminal, Daniel Hart, takes a liking to Vi and dislikes the interference and investigating cop, Tim. He puts a bullet in Tim’s head and starts stalking Vi and her girls. Sick with grief and loss, Vi packs up her girls and moves to the ‘burg. Life is still sad, but she has healthy daughters who are learning to move on. Vi’s world is about to come alive and fill up quickly. Joe “Cal” Callahan lives next door to Vi. He’s not home much as he works security and travels a lot for his clients. When he shows at home late at night to find it invaded by a loud, obnoxious ex-lover, whom Vi is pleading with to get some quiet, he quickly puts his badass alpha skills to work to get rid of her. He takes Vi in and quickly decides he wants her in his bed, but he also believes her to be married and she thinks he’s an asshole. Vi escapes the extremely large, monosyllabic, hot, sinister looking Joe as soon as possible. Joe sees Vi taking care of her place and girls alone, and attempts to be neighborly, but Vi refuses to give an inch no matter how much she hungers for him. When Joe finds out Vi is unattached and runs into her while she’s a bit drunk, he makes his move. He wastes no time taking her to bed and making it clear that if he’s home, she’s welcome to his bed. Vi feels disgust at her behavior and anger at Joe for still being a jerk, but she cant deny how he makes her feel. She needs him on a baser level. Cal has his own demons to banish, though, his own loss. He lost his mother at a young age, and his father (who wasnt much of one to begin with, but still his dad) and his baby son on the same day. This is due to his junkie of an ex-wife. It was tragic and heartbreaking and he’s lived with it for seventeen years. He has trouble with how he feels about Vi and her girls and twice, takes measures to kick them out of his life. Of course, he needs Vi, too, and also her girls. They heal him. After Vi’s brother is found murdered by the same man stalking Vi, Joe realizes what he has in Vi and her family. They can fill his life with the love and happiness he’s always wanted. He stakes his claim and does it in a serious way which is needed as Vi is also wanted by a local detective. Vi cant deny that things are moving fast, but after some time to freak out then more time to get her head sorted, she comes to terms with the fact that Joe is the man for her and her girls. He hands her the world and more just like Tim did, and she cant turn her back on that promise. They quickly become a family unit and the hilarious and emotional family meets tell just how nutty a loving family can be. The future looks bright, but of course, madman Hart isn’t happy someone else moved in on the woman he wants and he takes measures to get her. Forcing Cal to come along with a hostage, and then kidnapping Vi with threats against Joe, Hart starts a shit-storm that could very well end tragically for a lot of people. With Feds, cops from two states, and family on the hunt, will Cal save himself and his secretary in time to get to Vi and an old family friend, Frankie, before its too late for the both of them? Hart’s entire operation is unraveling and he’s getting more unpredictable, Not to mention Vi doesn’t feel like being cooperative. In order to have the happiness they have earned, Cal and Vi must stand brave in the face of bullets and chases through trees all the while having faith in the people they hold dear.
I loved Joe! I really thought he was a jerk, but I still fell in love with him pretty quickly. The story was far from pretty, but it gripped me, and I lost myself in the pages of Vi and Joe trying to figure out how to move on with life when loss was so prevalent. The supporting cast was just as amazing as usual. Vi’s girls were amazing. i really hope that we can see their HEA’s in future. i’m totally rooting for Dane and Kate. i’m a sucker for high school sweethearts. lol.I am so excited for Benny and Frankie’s story. Frankie is a firecracker and I feel for how she has lived the last seven years. Cant wait to see Benny make it all up to her. Onward to the next! <3
Loved This!
While I wasn’t crazy about book one in this series, At Peace has more than made up for any disappointment. This book is all about the feels. Seriously, KA just twists the heart over and over. And even though the book is 615 pages, it never felt overlong. Joe and Violet’s story needed every page. They may be one of my favorite KA couples of all time. Both felt real, filled with flaws, but perfectly small town and blue collar that you could relate even when they’re going through something extraordinary. Loved Violet’s girls and, as always with KA, the supporting cast is so fun you you want to join their group. 5 star all the way
This book is a must read. !!
Kristen Ashley does it again with book two in The ‘Burg Series. Like the other series in Ms. Ashley’s collection the character stories are woven throughout all the books.
“You’re mine, the girls are mine. I’m stakin’ my claim with you right now and, you force it, I’ll do it with him too.”
I couldn’t put this book down!! Joe Callahan is the epitome of the perfect alpha male. While I thought he was a jerk in the beginning I cannot lie I would have done exactly what Vi did. He used his alpha personality in all the right ways!
“You talk about Cal, you look like a woman who’s talkin’ about the man she needs to breathe.”
Joe and Vi have definitely been dealt a crappy hand in the past. They both suffered tremendous losses and its that pain that helped bring them together. I could not imagine moving on after what they suffered but they needed each other to move on and finally be at peace and happy.
“Worth the wait,” Joe muttered and my head tipped back.
“What?”
“Every bit of it. Every day, every week, every year, every fuckin’ second, buddy,” he kept muttering, his eyes intense, his face serious and my breath caught, “this. All of it. Worth the wait.”
This book sucked me in and took over. I need time to recover. If your expecting this to be just a romance get ready because this romantic thriller will have you on the edge of your seats! My emotions are all over the place. I felt every emotion imaginable reading this book. Joe and Vi are one of my favorite couples ever. Amazing job yet again Kristen Ashely!
5 stars
I love this book!
Violet is such an amazing woman, she just keeps fighting no matter what and will not accept ! From the beginning of this book i fell in love with Violet.
Then in came her neighbor, her hot, badass alpha, with to much shit in his life, neighbor. And of course this is a Kristen Ashley book so i loved Cal/Joe.. Every woman should have a Kristen Ashley man in her life…
There is problems from the beginning in this book between Violet and Joe. Violet is a single mom struggling to make life smooth for her kids. She has a mafia boss stalker and her dead husband was killed by this mafia boss stalker! She does not need more shit in her life. But she just cant resist Joe her hot neighbor, no matter what she tells herself and no matter what shit he tells her.
So not only is life around her hard, she may or may not be falling in love with her neighbor, who is never gonna return those feelings.
Joe is an amazing man who have had so much bad things happen to him in life. When i read about his life you could hear my heart breaking and i may have cried a little too. He is just living his life focusing on his work and dont want any woman or complications in it.
You will read about Joe’s struggle with himself and his demons, he will make mistakes but in the end of the day you will still love him and cheer on him, beacuse no matter what happened between Violet and him, no matter what he said his heart was always in the right place and he always stepped up when she needed him.
So all in all Kristen Ashley did it again! This book is on my top 5 of Kristen Ashley books.
At Peace book 2 in The Burg series by Kristen Ashley
Another of my favorites, that even if I reread it for a couple of times I won’t get enough of it. Each one is a cleverly crafted page-turner. The story captivated me from the beginning to the very last words written.
Like the first book you will feel a lot of emotion, there was even a point I hated Joe for how he treated Violet however as the story progress you’ll want your own Joe in your life. As for Vi, she’s one hell of a mother, after what she and her daughters have been through you’ll be amaze on how strong she is. If you’re a fan of romantic suspense – this series is a must read!