This book contains mature subject matter and is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18.Webster’s defines to heal as “to make healthy, whole or sound; restore to health, free from ailment.” But Webster’s also defines to heal as “to free from evil; cleanse; purify: to heal the soul.”My soul is shattered.I’m one hell of a mess because I need both and I don’t know how both can possibly happen. … both can possibly happen. Sure, I know my body will heal. I understand the science of healing, it’s my profession. But I sense the ache in my heart and fear in my head will never heal. Can I ever recover from losing my unborn child at the hands of my abusive husband? Will I ever learn to think for myself again? No, I’ve been trained to fear those who are supposed to love me, conditioned to watch my every move and word so as to not suffer the consequences. I don’t think being healed will ever be a possibility for me.
Or I didn’t until Tony Carpino fixated himself in my life.
Tony is patient. Determined. He knows exactly what I need even before I do. He’s wants to give me everything, make my life beautiful when my life has always been ugly. But as perfectly determined and patient as he is, I don’t know if I can ever be whole again. It doesn’t matter how long I’ve wanted him…and I’ve wanted Tony Carpino for a long time.
This is a story of heartache and broken souls. A story of being exactly what the one you love needs when they need it, even if it goes against every being of your nature. Because love isn’t love unless it’s selfless. Can Tony love Leigh enough to heal the demons that haunt her broken soul and have the woman he missed out on years ago?
This is a love story.
This is the story of Tony and Leigh.
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Leigh and Tony
Out of her abusive marriage, Leigh is feeling broken and lost. Bestie Gabrielle helps her by moving her in with her and Jude. Gabrielle cousin Tony sees this as his chance to stake his claims finally something he wished he had done when they were younger but glad he waited till he was ready and in a mature mindset (least likely to stuff it up) his words not me. I loved it, his claiming her, her accepting reluctantly. He shows her how life’s meant to, beautiful.
I love the whole crazy Carpino family. This is a great series, i thoroughly enjoyed it.
This series is just what I needed- a good family series of standalones with a strong family unit. Overflow started this series strong, and Beautiful Life did a wonderful job of continuing it.
Tony is Gabby’s cousin (from Overflow), while Leigh is Gabby’s best friend. Leigh had a difficult upbringing and married a man who was not good for her (or anyone). Between the childhood and marriage, she is not in a good mental place. But Tony is determined to help her realize she is not broken or unlovable. He works hard at getting Leigh to that point.
Brynne Asher has a promising writing career. Her characters are likable and she develops interesting plots. I can’t wait to read more!
2nd read review: I did a re-read by audiobook. The narrators were wonderful. They easily pulled me into the story and I highly recommend the audiobook version. I enjoyed revisiting the Carpiono’s!
1st read review: I’m loving this series. It’s pretty perfect for my Dominant Alpha preferences. Brynne Asher did a beautiful job of writing a dominant alpha in Tony that was still sensitive, sweet and protective over Leigh who is a victim of domestic violence.
Despite Leigh’s past with her ex-husband, this is a pretty low angst book. The drama wasn’t too much, just enough to bring some excitement to the story. Also, we got more of my favorite man, Jude and Gabby.
The beginning of this book overlapped just a little with the ending of Overflow. You just get the overlap in Leigh and Tony’s pov instead of Jude and Gabby’s. This allows you to read this book as a standalone if you wish. I highly recommend reading both.
I was super excited to read Tony and Leigh’s story and it did not disappoint. I loved how Tony pursed Leigh and didn’t stop at anything to make her his. Such a great story!!!
Tony and Leigh’s story is so good. Leigh has been through hell and really deserves a good man in her life that treats her the way she should be. Tony is that man. He is really bossy to Leigh but in the way she needs it. He pushes her to make sure she cares for herself and stops letting people abuse her. He lets her know that he will not make the mistake of letting some other guy scoop her up before him. They are perfect for each other.
Easy enough to read. I did think their relationship moved too fast for reality, especially after everything Leigh went through. The Carpino’s as usual were awesome.
Some typos noted.
Another amazing book in what is looking to become one of my favorite series. I am totally in love with Tony. He checks all my alpha hero boxes and then some. Despite some of the heavy subject matter of this storyline, the angst here was not very heavy. Overall, a great read.
“Beautiful Life” is the second book in the Carpino Series and I enjoyed this one as much as “Overflow”. This story was filled with so much heartbreak I wasn’t sure if Leigh and Tony were going to make it.
Leigh has a very rough start in the beginning of the book but thank goodness Tony was strong and patient enough to help piece her life back together. Little by little we see Leigh come back to herself but this couple still goes thru their challenges.
Another 5 Star read from Ms. Asher!
Loved this story of strength and love. Humor, suspense and sass all rolled into one. I didn’t see the twist that came and loved this book. It kept me entranced through the end.
I’m currently doing a re read of this entire series. I read them when they were first published and loved them. It’s safe to say that I still love them.
Beautiful Life has a much darker aspect than the rest of the series. Poor Leigh….I admire her strength and her perseverance so much. And Tony not hesitating for one minute to take what he’s wanted for years. Leigh is free again and he’s not wasting anymore time. He will be there for her in every way to help her heal from her horrible/tragic past and they will build a beautiful life together.
Leigh has finally gotten out from under her husbands controlling thumb and after a tragic incident has the courage to divorce him. Tony Carpino takes over her divorce and makes it his mission to help Leigh move on and start living life again. Even when Leigh tries to push him away, Tony doesn’t give up and plans to make Leigh his.
Tony Carpino can make me his, any day! He was so possessive and caring and the epitome of a sweet Alpha. I loved how he didn’t let Leigh push him away and stayed to help her fight her battles. She had to take time to recover from her past with her husband and he understood that. His methods of breaking down her resilience were so cute and I’m really mad that he’s not a real person.
A lot of the book focused on Leigh’s recovery and Tony helping her, which was great, but I did want a little more of Tony’s story. Some of the romance felt rushed and like Tony was pushing Leigh to heal faster. Bottom line, this was a great story and I will definitely be waiting for more from Brynne Asher.
This book was amazing. It broke my heart in places but was full of action, drama and suspense. We get to catch up with all our favourite characters from before. I can’t wait to read the next book now.
Leigh dealt with physical and emotional abuse from her husband for four years. The last time he beat her, she lost her baby. She finally files for divorce after Gabby’s family stepped in.
Tony has always wanted Leigh but lost his chance when she married Preston. Now he is helping her with her divorce.
Tony and Leigh work together to help her heal and learn how to love. She had a messed up childhood and a loveless marriage. Now she is learning what love really is.
Beautiful Life~
Tony and Leigh, should have been together from the start. This book is just as amazing and the first book in the series. I love a second chance romance, and reading their bonus scene made me wish Leigh never went through what she did with her ex, but in turn it did finally lead her to the love of her life.
I really, really enjoyed Ms. Asher’s second book! Tony and Leigh were both great characters to read – Tony with all of his patience and love, and Leigh with all of her growth and sweetness. The Carpino family makes really great secondary characters!
Even though just finished this book, I’m really, really excited for Paige’s story
Leigh and Tony’s story is fantastic. Leigh has had a painful life and suffered atrocities at the hands of her ex-husband. She’s trying to put herself back together, all while avoiding the reality of the life-long crush she’s had on Tony, since she feels that she’s not worthy of much anymore. Tony, on the other hand, decides that maybe it’s time to step up to the plate and show Leigh just what she truly is and what he sees in her. They have some very heartwarming times together to bring Leigh back to herself before truly becoming an “us”, and Tony’s plan works wonderfully. Thanks to Tony, Leigh’s able to see that she’s truly worth more and that life does, indeed, move on.
Overall, this was a painful story, because of Leigh’s past, but I wouldn’t have missed this ride for anything.
4.5 Stars! This is my second book by Ms. Asher, and I was honored to be chosen as Beta reader. Since finding and reading Overflow, Brynne has stayed in my mind as a talented story teller with so much more to come in future. The story of Tony and Leigh was a true “Gem.” Note: this book may contain triggers for some readers. It does deal with some heavy and heartbreaking subject matter.
Summary:
Leigh Briggs’ life is an empty shell of what it used to be. The life she once thought of as her saving grace and bright future has turned into a hell so hot and horrible, that she’s succumbed to the emptiness that threatens to swallows her whole. She should have realized that nothing good in life, ever came to her, what with growing up the way she did, but she wanted to believe in a better future. That she escaped the path her mother had taken, and found something better. But now she’s broken. Mentally, emotionally, physically broken. She just needs this part of her life to be over, so she can forget. Luckily for Leigh, she has the Carpino clan on her side. Although in recent times she’d drifted away from her close relationship with best friend Gabby Carpino, in her hour of need, she proved to be the one person able to save Leigh. With Gabby’s help, determination, and generosity, Leigh can look forward to moving on with life, even if it’s a life alone. She feels she deserves nothing less, not after what she did and the tragic consequences. What Leigh never anticipated was Tony Carpino. Tony is Gabby’s cousin (but acts more as a brother) and he’s known Leigh since her and Gabby were kids. Tony is stunned and more than a little upset to find out what Leigh has gone through, and that the carefree, happy woman he remembers, is totally gone. Tony makes it his mission to bring the old Leigh back, and he wants to be apart of the journey every step of the way. Leigh is struggling, though. So much went wrong before, that the idea of moving on to anything better, especially a man, is incomprehensible. Luckily for Leigh, Tony is determined, gentle, strong, and oh-so-alpha. Can Tony repair what has been broken in Leigh or has she given all she had with none to spare? Will he get a proper chance after Leigh’s past comes back to cause problems for both of them?
I loved this book. It shows perfectly, the effect of tragedy and trauma on everyone around you, not just the person who experiences it firsthand. It also shows the power of of love and a good support system. Leigh was so sweet. A woman who had never had an easy life and experienced such heartache, but who had a heart of gold and deserved only beauty. My only frustration with Leigh was her absolute resistance to Tony. When he was shot, she cut him off when she should have at least been there for him as a friend. Tony was a wonderful hero. He was the sexy alpha male, but sweet and gentle in his winning of Leigh. That’s not to say he wasn’t determined or firm where he needed to be, but in the end he was exactly what a woman with a broken heart and spirit needed. I loved Tony and Leigh together. The fact that they’ve been close since childhood and held secret feelings for each other for years, just made it all the sweeter. This was an emotional book for me. I laughed, I cried, I squealed, I even yelled. Lol. It was a journey of the love of two people who have had a less intimate, close relationship in the past, but only find where they belong by being a couple. A wonderful addition to The Carpino series. I cannot wait to continue reading about this loving, close, gregarious family. I really want to meet the man who’ll win Paige’s heart. A wonderful read, Brynne! Keep ’em coming. <3
We first meet these two in book 1, Tony is Gabby’s cousin and Leigh is her best friend. This is a great book, full of lots of emotions and emotional struggles as well. Not gonna lie, I liked Tony in book 1, but he gets a whole new respect from me in this book. Such a wonderful guy, I really can’t say enough about him. He knows what he wants, and with patience and time he gets it. He is so good to Leigh and treats her like the precious woman she is. As emotional as this book was, it was equally refreshing. Because don’t we all deserve a happily ever after. And I can’t think of 2 people that deserve it more.
This was a safe read, if you read the description, you already know about her abusive husband…so…he doesn’t count in my world, null and void. Such a great storyline, with all the emotional feels. Suspense, which I always love. More of the Carpino family. Sweet heat, an even sweeter epilogue and an hea.
Book 2 in this series, about Tony & Leigh, is just as amazingly fantabulous as the first book! This is a second-chance romance, of a sort. Leigh & Tony have known each other forever, but were unaware of each other’s more-than-friendship feelings. When Leigh gets out of her horribly abusive situation, Tony is RIGHTTHERE to take care of her, help her to heal, and show her what true love is all about.
This whole series (3 books so far – there may be more?) is a 10+++ star read, and is going on my keeper & re-read shelf. I’m already anticipating when I’ll get to re-read them! : )
This book had a totally different feel to it than the first of the series; it was much heavier and had more emotional aspects to it regarding Leigh’s past with her ex-husband. I really enjoyed Brynne’s ability to write a novel with such a different feel and that it wasn’t the exact same as Jude and Gabby. I absolutely loved Tony. He was so protective over Leigh and so patient with her. I loved getting to watch Leigh’s recovery, but I will say at times she annoyed me a bit. But overall, I loved their story and am looking forward to the next in the series!