Dear diary,Once upon a time… thing she could rely on.
No one saw through her looking glass.
No one cared.
No one tried.
Until the villain presented himself as the hero in her life.
He took and took and took some more.
With no regret.
With no shame.
With no apology.
The page never turned.
Their story didn’t end.
Tomorrow never came.
His life of debauchery was their journey to nowhere.
She’d give anything to go back in time.
To walk where she had walked.
To see what she had seen.
One step.
One breath.
One day at a time.
Though in the end, “I love you” were just words.
That destroyed us inside.
more
There were multiple occasions throughout this book from the standpoint of both Cash and Journey where I wanted to plant my Kindle in the wall!
The book is so well written though that I kept turning page after page to see where Cash and Journey were next, to learn if Cash ever grew up, to see what all Journey was hiding from Cash before I eventually ran headlong into a last page I didn’t foresee, and words from Journey I didn’t predict.
I still think Cash is a selfish pri@k so we’ll see if he manages to get another Oak Island girl to fall under his skin!
“… She’d give anything to go back in time. To walk where she had walked. To see what she had seen. One step. One breath. One day at a time. Though in the end, I love you were just words. That destroyed us inside.”
This book is filled with so much emotion, struggles, passion, regret, discovery, love, hurt, hope and the drive to follow your dreams…at all cost.
“In my world of colored chaos, she’d suddenly become my gray area.”
Best friends who blurred the lines. Family that turned their backs. Dreams that destructed. Lost time. Memories that keep you alive. Yet ~ still filled with love, hope, determination and forgiveness. This book has so many amazing life lessons…you won’t be able to put this book down. Can’t wait for ‘TIL the last Lyric to see where the next chapter of Cash’s life takes him.
“Somewhere along the line, I’d lost myself. Becoming everything I was afraid of.”
You learn about Cash’s past and why he’s the way he is, what made him the man he is today. The only time Cash felt alive was playing his guitar which brought only more problems for him. Cash’s father never supports his music, that the one thing he wants, but it only makes him more determined to make a success to that he is good enough.
You learn how Cash formed a bond with little Journey when he would babysit her. He was Cash and Journey decided she was June.
Journey’s all grown up and Cash is still her crush, only Cash doesn’t know how to deal with it with everything that’s gone on, but the bond he had with the Journey he babysat and the grown up Journey is still there if not stronger.
Amazing. I could not get enough of Cash McGraw. My heart feels all his pain. Love the connection between Cash and Journey.
This is a hard book to read, or at least for me it was. This of course has nothing to do with the book itself but the Journey it takes you on. As someone who has lived my whole life around an addict I found myself utterly drawn the the words in this story and I could not have put the book down if I tried. It was brilliant and dark, I did enjoy it even if I found some parts of it really hard to read.
This book. Wow!!!! She does it again. I will say it has a big cliffhanger.
This book is mostly in Cash McGraws point of view and maybe 10 percent of Journey Pierce’s point of view. It does have references to Hated You Then and Loved You Know as a few of the scenes coincide with each other.
You really get a feel for Cash McGraw. My heart actually hurts for him in a way I didn’t know it could.
Can’t wait to dive into Till The Last Lyric.
I will say Monica Robinson is the
Queen of Angst for a reason and she didn’t disappoint.
I am a huge fan of all of the good ole boys and their families. There were times in previous books where I loved Cash McGraw, after all, Dylan F’n McGraw is one of my all time favorite book boyfriends – how could his son not be. But, Cash screwed that up when he stomped all over his best friend’s heart.
Now though, we see some things from Cash’s perspective and damn my heart hurts for him. I never expected the shocking end here and I cant wait for the second book in this duet to put my heart back together.
M Robinson is truly the Queen of Angst. She brings characters with real, serious flaws to life. I suspect there are many more “Cash” surprises for us in the next book and I can’t wait to see how this story ends. I am hopeful for a happily ever after that puts Cash (and the readers) back together. After all, we are all flawed. I think we all hope for our own redemption as we watch her characters overcome their past. If they can do it, surely we can too, right?
I Want To Know What Love Is
In this gut wrenching story of Johnny Cash McGraw and Journey June Pierce, I am beyond hoping they find out. My heart broke for Cash, the misunderstood boy who only wanted to make music. The writing is raw as Cash becomes the quintessential rock star right before your eyes. The good, the bad and the ugly leap off the pages of this book that no matter how it turns out will stay with me a long time.
The queen has done it again! Hands down, M Robinson can make me feel like crying in my tea!!!
From The First Verse is amazing, such a heart altering journey from beginning to end. Be ready, prepare to be patient because you’ll be dying for more.
As always, this authors kinda runs your heart through a meat grinder but we keep reading her books because they’re so emotional, thoughT filled, wonderful. Most of all, they’re worth it! Her writing is spectacular!
I’m kind of a sucker for broken heroes so Cash is my kinda lead. This book is so good. I promise you’ll be dying for the next book, I pinkie promise 😉
Oh. My. Word. This book.
My heart is overflowing with emotions and my eyes streaming tears. Cash’s story slayed me, ripped me apart and made my heart bleed out for him. This beautifully broken man with beautiful soul. I can’t even fully express myself because I’m still running the high from this book.
No lie, starting from the scene with his father right until the end, I never stopped bawling my eyes out. The author didn’t pull any punches with this gripping, emotional journey of Cash and Junie. As of this moment, I’m afraid that the next book will destroy me in every way. But, I need my Cash fix and I want more!
Quote: Wearing pigtails and a pink dress, she gave me a guitar pick. It was the only thing I’d kept from my past. She was the only thing I’d kept from my past.
Quote: I may have been worth millions, but in my eyes, in my mind, in every crevice of my body, I was nothing. An empty shell, a hollow person, a man dead from the inside out.
From the First Verse by M. Robinson was outstanding! I’ve never been disappointed with something written by the Queen of Angst, and From the First Verse—the first book in the Life of Debauchery duet—didn’t break that longstanding streak of excellence I have come to expect with Robinson’s books. While this happens to be a spin-off of her The Good Ol’ Boys series, new readers can pick up the Life of Debauchery duet as if it was a complete standalone. The characters—both primary and secondary—are built from the world Robinson has created in Oak Island, NC and happen to be how I initially discovered the author. Now, as a longtime fan, I’ve read everything that M. Robinson’s written and I was crazy excited that Cash was finally getting his own story. Cash is the son of one of my all-time favorite Robinson characters—Dylan McGraw! So, I was undeniably excited to see From the First Verse hit my kindle! And M. Robinson unquestionably brought her A-game!!!
Quote: “You were always cute as shit. But Christ, Junie. You’re the inspiration behind every love song.”
From the First Verse sucked me deep under its spell from the first chapter and held my attention to the very end—or in this case, the cliffhanger that had me dropping my jaw to the floor!!! This story offers readers all the true hallmarks of M. Robinson’s storytelling: an unmistakably emotional journey between two exceptional characters, rich with character depth, impressive chemistry, angst, and passion. Cash and Journey’s (aka Junie) will live on long after I finish reading the duet. Also, From the First Verse reiterated all the reasons why I look forward to each and every book M. Robinson publishes with so much excitement. She brilliantly wove the past and present together to create a forbidden, rockstar romance that’s unique—something that sometimes feels unattainable for readers like myself, who finish a book or more a day. If you’re new to the author’s work, rest assured that the Life of Debauchery books will leave you so enamored with the author’s considerable talents, that you’ll be binge-reading everything in her catalog—likely multiple times! Pick up From the First Verse immediately and you’ll be ready for the release of Till the Last Lyric, the conclusion to the duet that I’m awaiting with unmatched enthusiasm!!!
Quote: For the first time in I didn’t know how long, I prayed to God… I wouldn’t fuck her up. ’Cuz there was no way, I could let her go.
Quote: In my world of colored chaos, she’d suddenly become my gray area.
To the Author M. Robinson fans out there…THIS is the book you have been waiting for. A book that she will get you to love a character that (if you read the Love Hurts duet) you may have hated…like seriously – HATED.
Well, I might have been one of those people but she turned me around. She gave me the side off Cash that I just didn’t get from the Love Hurts duet.
This book is a spin-off from her Love Hurts series but can be read without reading those first (M. Robinson always gives you all you need in all of her books to “catch” up if needed)
Cash hasn’t lived the life his family and friends who have wanted for him but it’s the life he wanted and I think that’s an important part of his story. He does what HE feels is necessary but honestly – there is some deep-seated hurt in this man and there is only one person who can help him heal.
This book will give you all the feels you expect from M. Robinson and the tears are threatened often while reading which is also something M. Robinson loves to hear!!
And I finished this book and knew that Cash would soon be on my list of book boyfriends! Bring on book 2 in the duet – ASAP!
This story packs a punch. Cash is raw emotion. It’s what makes him such a great musician. But he’s made choices while chasing his dreams that have hurt those dearest to him. But they also hurt him deeply and he hasn’t stopped running.
Journey…Junie. She was this sweet thang and idolized him when she was a child. There was a connection that he can’t identify. But she’s 18 and she’s here. She’s here. The feelings. Denial. Self-hatred. And that one little phone call unleashed every memory onto his soul and reduced him to what his father always said he’d become.
She loves him. She always did. His Junie.
I did not pay attention that this was a duet! Only three weeks until book two. I think I can make it…
Nothing I love more than a bad boy rocker! He has so many levels to him though. It was so good but you know this author is the best at delivering you the angst too. I am so ready for the next book. After that cliffhanger omg!
I read this in just 3 hours and it was the best 3 hours of my life! (ok, that’s just exaggerating)
But I never thought it would surpass the Love Hurts Duet. But by just reading this one, it’s going to be exceptional! I wanted more of Cash’s story because after you read the previous duet, you’ll come to hate him because he ends up being a jerk. But he has his own story to tell and now it’s his time. His point of view throughout this book is heartbreaking. And I can’t wait for the continuation of his story!
OMG!!! I could not and did not want to put this book down! How in love am I with Cash and Journey … This was brilliantly written and I couldn’t get enough! Had to remind myself to breathe a few times … Took me only two afternoons to finish … Left me wanting more! I cannot wait for book 2! This was a masterpiece!!!!!!!!
I really enjoyed this story. It’s typical M Robinson writing – drawing you in and then leaving you hanging.
It’s great to finally get Cash’s story. In previous books it’s been set not to like his character at all, but we really find out more about him & why he’s the way he is in the story.
An interesting first book full of angst and drama, which is almost just ‘setting the scene’ between the characters.
You definitely need to read this but hoping book 2 in This duet brings us loads more.
From the very beginning I did not realize what I was getting into. And till the end, I was hooked, only to be left dangling like bait on a fishing hook. M. Robinson totally captured me with From the First Verse! This may be book one in the Life of Debauchery Duet, but wow did she fill it with power, intrigue, guilt, love, emotion…you get the picture. This is not your ordinary Rock Star story.
Sometimes the best way to tell the story is not to tell the story at all. So I will say, I sat down with this book and with very few exceptions did not stop reading till I was done. I was Totally wrapped up in each character and wondering how they would redeem themselves for decisions made. Watching how each person’s life grew and in what direction they went had me stuck in my seat. Watching a man go from young and energetic to older and so-very-torn-apart was heartbreaking. Watching the trail of destruction and pain he left in his path was heart wrenching.
Yet with all this, there was always hope. Hope for life, hope for grace, hope for healing, hope for a continued effort to correct what had been wronged or lost.
This is book one. Powerful, emotional, mind-blasting, cruel, and in the end, a cliff-hanger that has me looking for that next one already I cannot wait to see how all the pieces fall together.
Amazing job M. Robinson.
When I started this I was nervous as this book features the son of my first main book boyfriend and my all time favourite M Robinson character Dylan McGraw. I never thought she could beat Dylan, and to be honest in my heart she can’t but she gave it a bloody good go and his son is running in second place in my heart.
My heart was batter and bruised in this one, the Queen of Angst is doing what she does best and takes you on one hell of a roller-coaster with your emotions.
Cash is just like his dad in that he loves hard and deeply, but ultimately he will do what he has to, to follow his dream of being a musician. After meeting him in Jackson and Harley’s Duet I wasn’t a huge fan of his but there was something more to him that intrigued me.
When I started this book I was in a serious reading funk, I just couldn’t get into anything or concentrate with the world seeming to pause with all these Lockdowns and life changing temporarily but this one pulled me out of that funk and gave me so peace amazingly. I am super excited for the next instalment and I can’t wait to see what M brings us next after that cliffy.
“Music is what feelings sound like.”
Wow! Intense! The turbulent life of a rockstar! The storm behind his feelings and his regrets! Cash expresses his feelings through music, so he needed to make music his life. In his search for fame, he went through heartaches, and destroyed something so important in his life that from then on, he lived with demons. Only booze and drugs could pacify the beast inside, so that’s how he lived, always high.
This is an off-shoot story from one of my favorite stories of 2019, the Love Hurts Duet. Cash was Harley’s best friend, hated by Jackson. In the Love Hurts duet we learn the story from Harley’s and Jackson’s POV, where Cash and Jackson always compete for Harley’s attention. Cash is seen as selfish and self-centered, and in this book we get a different lookout. He’s driven and conflicted, but his love for Harley is true.
Cash has this compulsion to make music. Music is as necessary, if not more, than food to Cash. His father is his hero and he loves him, but he feels he’s not important to his father. The only person who believed in him is Harley.
“I couldn’t imagine my life without her. She believed in me when no one else did.”
There’s a precious little girl, Journey, who does love him completely. Journey understands music like Cash does and their relation as they grow up is beautiful and tender. Cash’s sign language gesture of “more” at the beginning of his concerts, is for Journey, a promise he made her when they were kids.
He leaves home to find fame and fortune but he’s hounded by the angry way he parted with his father. Part of his determination to succeed is to prove his father wrong. As he starts gaining success, his breakup with Harley, and the circumstances behind it, drive him into a downward spiral. He lives up to the hype of the “sex, drugs and rock and roll”. This is a sad, emotional part of his life because he’s driftless, enjoying all the fame and fortune part of being a rockstar, but living in a haze of drugs and booze. He never knows where he is and what day it is. His only reality starts and ends with his concert which is the only time he comes alive and present. During this phase, the debauchery that he and his bands live in is disgusting. There’s a lot of whoring, illegal substances, breaking apart hotel rooms and a horribly destructive live. It’s pathetic and sad.
“The hole in my heart got bigger, the loneliness larger, the addiction stronger, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I may have been worth millions, but in my eyes, in my mind, in every crevice of my body, I was nothing. An empty shell, a hollow person, a man dead from the inside out.”
Then Journey (Junie) appears in his life, now grown up and gorgeous, and Cash turns a 180 degree change. Junie is feisty, stubborn, and determined. She has her own agenda and it’s on a frontal crash with Cash. The fun is about to start and it will happen on the second part of this duet.
I loved reading this duet. It’s emotional and tragic in some parts. A musician as talented as Cash often lives a turbulent life because their road is so different from others. They feel intensely and their dedication to their craft is so absolute that it overrides any other loyalty. Even so, losing the persons he loved due to distance and enmity, corrodes his soul and saddens his life. His demons drive him to the destructive life and I can only hope that Journey will be his salvation and redemption.