This is Book 2 of the Soul Series. You MUST read Book 1, My Soul to Keep, first.
RHYSON
She doesn’t wear my ring.
We never stood before a preacher.
The only vows exchanged were between our bodies; between our souls.
But she was mine and I was hers until I ruined it. I have to believe that every day, every step, every breath brings me closer to making things right.
To making her mine again.
… closer to making things right.
To making her mine again.
KAI
I’ve seen promises broken.
I know love makes no guarantees.
But things were different for Rhys and me, until he lied, and I walked away. Only there’s a chain between our hearts that I can’t break. Even if I forgive him, a shadow from my past hangs over us; over this love that reaches all the way down to my soul.
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The story of Rhyson and Kai continues on Down To My Soul.. people still trying to keep them apart, a lot of things are happing that are not making their relationship easy.. but they are stronger than ever and no matter how much they try for them to fail, they will never give up and fight until the end for that pure love..
In Down To My Soul, the roles reverse and now we get to see the mistakes Kai made.. but at the same time, we get to see how both characters grow so much from these situations.. at one point I felt like I was reliving what happened with Rhys in My Soul To Keep and now Kai was living the “same” but on the other side of the sidewalk.. This helped me so much to see both sides of the stories, feelings, and reactions.. I really love how Kennedy made us see all this.
“I want to be known, Pep, and I want to know you. Fully. I need to believe there isn’t any dark part of me I can’t trust you with, and I need you to believe the same.”
Kai is fighting to keep Rhys safe from something that may harm their relationship but sooner or later things are going to become way more complicated, she will have to decide if she wants to finally bring these problems and lies to an end or keep hiding things that sooner or later will bring chaos and harm to what she loves the most..
“Not an ocean, not forever Nothing wide or deep Will ever end this love between us My soul is yours to keep”
Rhys is fighting his own demons, his control, his family, the press and so many other enemies who are trying to bring him down.. The only thing keeping him strong is his love for Kai.. but sooner or later something will come up that will bring all those insecurities and doubts alive .. is a matter of time to be able to move on and trust again ..
“She blurs everything. Erases every line I’ve drawn in the sand. Forces me to rethink the boundaries of right, wrong, acceptable, never would, and couldn’t ever. She’s my absolute. It should scare me, but I’m just too damn grateful to have her.”
The love of Rhyson and Kai was very beautiful, Kennedys characters always love so deep and Down To My Soul was not the exception. we saw and felt Rhysons love for Kai since the first moment they saw each other.. their chemistry was off the charts, you could feel their connection through the pages.. no matter how many times life and people tried to bring them down and keep them apart.. their love was stronger than anything and anybody.. love conquers everything..
“You went deeper than anyone ever had. You peeled away every layer of skin, sunk through the flesh, and I felt you right next to my bones. For the first time in my life I felt fully . . . known.”
Once again Kennedy has blown me with her writing, I have so many things to say about Down To My Soul it was beautiful, breathtaking, full of love.. but I’ll leave you with this:
“No matter what happens, my heart and my soul, I give them to you. They’re yours to keep.”
After the amazingness that was My Soul to Keep, I expected the love between Rhyson and Kai to be strong and passionate. And it definitely was. But there was a lot more conflict in this one. And I couldn’t give this one the same five-star rating because of how crazy Kai made me. She should have listed to San all along and just been honest with Rhyson. Of course he would have been upset, but the lie was even more of a betrayal, especially since she didn’t do anything wrong in the first place. I spent most of the book feeling like Genie from Aladdin, begging her to just come clean. And then it bothered me how it was so easy for her to hold a grudge, but she couldn’t take it. Storytelling-wise, this book was great, but it certainly did a number on my emotions.
Kennedy Ryan stuns me with her writing every time. I always think I’ll be able to get through one of her books without crying my heart out, and feeling the warmth of the love she offers every word. Kai and Rhyson are no different.
“I felt you, Rhyson. Even when I ran and resisted and said we could only be friends, I felt you. For the first time since that day at Grady’s, I don’t feel you.”
Rhyson and Kai are trying to build a relationship when neither of them has ever had a real example of what a healthy relationship should look like. Rhyson, thinking he knew better than Kai, made a decision for her and took away her ability to see something through thereby hurting her so badly she leaves. She may not have much experience, but she knows she needs to do this on her own.
As she shuts Rhyson out, Kai makes herself vulnerable to all the evil manipulation Rhys saw possible, and when Kai figures out exactly how bad it is she knows she has to keep Rhyson from ever learning about it.
Both of them have tried loving each other the only way they ever saw or received love as they grew up, through deception and control. Now they have to learn to navigate their relationship, and their love, from a place of complete vulnerability and honesty. And when Kai can’t bring herself to be honest with Rhys, out of a completely natural fear, she may have ruined what they just got back before it even starts.
“Don’t just act out of what you think is best for her.” Because none of us are perfect or live forever. We’re just human beings who make mistakes and die eventually. When you love someone like that, so completely, they can hurt you without even meaning to.”
When Kai is surprised at home in Georgia by someone whose apology may never he enough, she realizes she’s been trying to love Rhys without sharing her deepest secrets, her fears, without truly trusting him. She must make it right, but in doing so will Rhys ever trust her again?
Rhys learns very quickly that he’s done exactly what her Aunt Ruthie warned him against. He’s loved Kai with a set of expectations that made her slip from the pedestal he placed her on almost intolerable. And as he seeks to fix the last lie and pothole in front of their forever, Rhys learns finally, he’s not fixing it for himself. He’s fixing it for Kai, because she is worth everything. Because Kai is the one person that knows Rhys down to the bone.
And at the end both know “we are completely known. Completely loved down to our very souls.” The way it should always be.
This book is worth all the stars I can give it, and deserves 10 more after that! I can’t wait to see Ms. Ryan’s final opus for Kai and Rhys in Refrain!
DEEP CALLS OUT TO DEEP
DOWN TO MY SOUL is Book 2 of The Soul Series, about Rhyson and Kai… and I couldn’t put it down….These characters are so connected and imperfect, and they just draw you in…even in the mistakes they make, it’s understandable as to why they made them in the first place…This is real love….and Rhyson and Kai are smoking hot!!!
There is usually a sense of humor in Kennedy Ryan’s books which gives us a little insight to the author and her sense of humor….This line cracked me up…”I’ve met dentures less fake.”…..There’s nothing fake about Kennedy Ryan…She’s the real deal….and so is this book….
When we left Kai and Rhys in My Soul to Keep, they were in tatters. Shattered by betrayal and lies, Kai left on her tour. Rhys left alone filled with regret.
Down to my Soul is a continuation of My Soul to Keep. You will not understand the gravity of the situation or their relationship without reading it.
Down brings us back to the heartache and distrust looms in the air. Too many secrets and nothing laid bare.
Kia is suffocating under Malcolm’s oppressive nature.
Rhys is suffocating in his remorse and broken heart.
Both long for what they had, but Kai is afraid.
Afraid to keep loving
Afraid to trust
Afraid to lean on Rhys
Afraid that it will all be ripped away
If you give your fear power, you will never get rid of it. Kia is about to learn what is truly scary.
I really hope this series continues. I need to know if Marlon gets what his heart desires, Luke gets a girl, if Bristol ever settles down. So many characters that have apiece of your heart…
This story is a gorgeous conclusion to the many questions racing through your head at the end of My Soul to Keep. (It may even encourage a wave of tattoos.) The pull you feel between Kai and Rhys is very strong and so right. It was a great book.
Great series.
“Your love goes past the heart,” I sing, barely remembering the melody, but knowing the words for sure. “Your love goes to the deepest part. Your love, Your love, Your love, Your love. Your love goes all the way down to my soul.”
Kai and Rhys never had it easy but they fought tooth and nail to be with each other and have the happy ending they deserved.
I loved everything about these two, they are relationship goals. There’s so much stuff that tries to pull these two apart, and so many problems they have to deal with, but they pull through and work through everything, together. I just seriously love their relationship and how they do everything to make it work. I just love Rai.
4.5 Stars!
I absolutely LOVE Kai & Rhyson’s story, through every little UP, down & all the movie lines between…..
Kennedy Ryan weaves a wonderful world with her words.
Rhyson and Kia are an amazing lesson in forgiveness and love, and although I was sooo frustrated with Kia through most of this book, I understood her. Rhyson and Kia are an amazing couple who learn that love is truly all you really need( ok and maybe some truthful communication)!
I loved this second book. Narration was still more like a radio program with each person doing their “lines”.
The secrets still drove me crazy, but happy Kai came to her senses.
You read book 1 and you completely fall in love, you are so excited that you can’t stop reading, and the ending blows you away. Then book 2 is here.. so anxious to read and you completely fall in love all over again. I can’t even describe the feels I’m having right now. Phenomenal!!
This book starts off with the ending of book 1, and you truly have no idea how it’s going to go. Rhyson is being the perfect guy. I’m so in love with him, because he’s trying so hard… Bless him. Kai is on the road doing her new thing, making something great for herself, trying to get used to being the new extraordinary singer that everyone knows she is. Still trying to make sense of how things can continue with Rhys, learning to forgive and love. With everything going on, and their relationship in limbo, people start getting in the way. This is where things start to get tricky.
Kai has a secret, and I completely understand how she doesn’t feel right saying anything right from the start, because things are not great in her relationship with Rhyson. I get that, but as time goes on this issue needs dealt with and she doesn’t have the ability to address it on her own, and it’s not getting any better. Can this problem fix itself, or is it going to blow up and ruin everything???
With all of their history, and the immense love they have for each other, I cannot even begin to think of them not being together. Rhyson and Kai belong with each other.; there is no doubt about that. Sometimes you read books and you get no connection between the H/h, but That definitely doesn’t happen here. They are locked together in their souls and that is believable. Its immense and intense and heartbreaking and driven by the heavens. This book was so profoundly written that I couldn’t stop. I was so drawn into it that it was like I was reading both books together. This series is so amazing.
I received an ARC from the author for an honest review. If I could give more than 5***** I would. This book is a 10 for me. I promise it’s so worth the wait.
I loved the continuation of this story! The pull and tug of Kai and Rhyson was so strong. You could feel them both wanting more more more. This was one of those books where you wish you could crawl inside and talk sense into both of them. I loved how Kai grew stronger in her role. Rhyson also had to find more of himself again, keeping Kai in mind. Loved this one and can’t wait for more.
I loved this dramatic and passionately beautiful second installment to the Soul series! I was so shocked after reading the sneak peak for Down To My Soul at the back of the heartbreaking end of My Soul To Keep, that I couldn’t wait to read what happened next! Kai wanted to prove herself as a talented performer without anyone questioning her success. Rhyson just wanted to help her and keep her safe. In an industry where money and power can create an atmosphere of immoral actions and false loyalty, Kai is learning it’s hard to know who she can really trust. Rhys will do whatever it takes to earn her trust again. But will Kai, who only saw broken promises growing up, recognize that before it’s too late? Will the luxury she experiences on tour overshadow the deep soul connection she has with Rhys? I was a little nervous and frustrated with Kai and her decisions at the beginning but quickly understood her reasoning’s thanks to Ms. Ryan’s masterful writing. Oh why did I question where she would take me, because I have learned that Ms. Ryan never disappoints! She expertly weaved a tale of loyalty and betrayal, of love and heartbreak, and ultimately of hope and faith. I grew more in love with Rhys and Kai and their families. They were all well developed, honest and organic. The story has exciting twists and turns that only picks up speed as it progresses. I was fully engaged from start to finish and was not ready for it to end. I can’t recommend this book/series highly enough!
I’m so very much in LOVE with this story, with the characters, with the words. I can even put into the right words. How to describe how deep it touched me.
To say it was beautiful does no justice.
This book gave me ALL the feels even those I didn’t know existed.
I am really truly beyond happy
To have the absolute privilege and great fortune of getting beautifully lost in worlds created by Kennedy Ryan is something I greatly cherish. Down to My Soul comes as the much anticipated sequel to the highly rated first book My Soul to Keep and must be read in succession after book one. Book one, having been one of my favorites in 2015, really raised the bar for Ryan’s storytelling. As a writer Ryan improves leaps and bounds with every story garnering new romance fans who stick by her side waiting patiently for whatever she has to tell. The picture she paints with Down to My Soul so easily jumps from her pages into the imaginations of romance readers making us fall irrevocably in love with these insightful characters. With this sequel, Ryan once again proves her strong presence in the romance writing world as she knows how to hook, captivate, and satisfy her loyal readers.
I just finished reading Down To My Soul and my heart is bursting with love and admiration for Kennedy Ryan. Wow! She’s just a phenomenal storyteller and her writing is simply flawless. I love how she uses and plays with words. It seems so effortless when it’s anything but that. It makes her writing more interesting and it captures me immediately.
Down To My Soul picks up right where My Soul To Keep ended and it does with one hell of a bang. I was drawn back in instantly.
I didn’t think it was possible to fall more in love with two characters but that’s what happened to me. I loved Kai and Rhyson and it didn’t matter which POV I was reading. I just wanted to peel more layers of and get under their skin to find out what made them tick. Thankfully Kennedy Ryan revealed so many new sides to Kai and Rhyson that saturated every need in me.
There were so many important and beautiful moments in this book just like My Soul To Keep. I don’t want to give anything away except say, that I could feel their love pouring off from the pages. How Kennedy Ryan wrote their love and made it clear from their actions were phenomenal. It was so Kai and Rhyson and it made me believe/have faith in their love even more. They truly were each other’s constants. Soulmates.
I have to say the respect Rhyson has for Kai’s Auntie Ruthie was the last drop for me. I thoroughly understand why Kai fell head over heels in love with that man. So sexy and yet funny. Just Rhyson!
Kai was such a strong woman and didn’t let anything or anyone compromise her beliefs or her goals. I respect that!
I enjoyed the look back at both their pasts and their struggles with their parents. Some things we can’t out run and are a part of who we are. But how Kai and Rhyson look at that as an opportunity to learn and grow from that was admirable.
Kennedy Ryan is truly a skilled and talented writer and storyteller. Her wordplay is interesting and unique. When I read I look forward to her next word in a sentence. I’m entertained and invested in her stories. But most of all – she makes me feel. I couldn’t ask for more.
Simply fan-f***ing-tastic.
5 BadAssDirtyILiveYouStars
Kennedy Ryan did it again! Down to my Soul is a perfect continuation of Rhyson & Kai’s story. These two characters love each other so much, yet some of the things they do are absolutely heartbreaking. Kai is determined to take care of the blackmail hanging over her head, but ugh….I wish she would have just told Rhyson from the beginning. Yes, he may have been hurt – but that man loves Kai more than I think anyone has ever loved another person. Yes, I know they are fictional characters, but there is something so real about these characters that Kennedy has created. So much love for this book and author!
An angsty yet beautiful conclusion to Rhys and Kai’s story. Could not put it down. Highly recommend reading this. The feels!! Amazing writing style.
*** 4.5 stars ***
I don’t believe I have ever read a book that more clearly portrays unconditional love than Down to my Soul. Ryhson and Kai are a study in love that not only endures , but also prevails. No matter what other emotions they experienced, the love they have for each other overrides those feelings every time.
This unconditional love is the elusive stuff of dreams and fairy tales. But, Kennedy Ryan makes it seem so real and tangible. She doesn’t shy away from the pain and hurt that result from the poor decisions we, as humans, make. She doesn’t disguise the ugly at all. What Kennedy Ryan does so incredibly well is show us true love trumps the everything else life will challenge us with. She shows us the only emotion that can not be overcome is love. Love is embedded in our souls.
This second installment of Rhyson and Kai’s journey together is as painful as it is beautiful. It happens in real time and withholds nothing. This love is a physical entity that will hold your hand, then punch you full-force in the gut, and finally enfold you in a full body hug that will heal you with its bold reassurance.