From New York Times bestselling author L.A. Casey comes an irresistible tale of first love and second chances.Erin has had a crush on her brother’s best friend Ward for as long as she can remember. But eleven years ago he disappeared from their lives—breaking Erin’s trust, and her heart.When the person they both love most—Erin’s brother Tommy—is nearly killed in a terrible crash, she and Ward are … terrible crash, she and Ward are thrown back together for the first time. Their lives couldn’t be further apart. Erin still lives at home, working two jobs and dealing with a series of family disasters. Ward, now a multibillionaire entrepreneur and a household name, seems determined to make amends—but it may just be too little too late. And while Erin can’t deny feeling a spark at the sight of Ward, is it a spark of love or burning resentment?
At odds with one another but forced to share their heartache, have Erin and Ward really drifted apart forever, or have they finally found the anchor they both so desperately need?
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Going to start off by saying that I’m a big fan of the author, L.A. Casey and her work so I wasn’t surprised that her latest story, “Her Lifeline” was such a great read. I truly enjoyed every minute I spent reading this story and I’m already anticipating more stories just like this, awesome stories, in this new year 🙂
This story has all the right feels and emotions that will probably resonate with some of us, of course, because of different circumstances, but still the same feelings. Here, I laughed, I cried, I was enraged, I was also excited 😉 and then I cried again and I also cheered when I reached the epilogue because truthfully it was an amazing epilogue <3
This read is kind of falling in love with your big brother's best friend trope romance except at the same it isn't... there are twists and secrets you'll discover along the way to see what I'm trying to explain without spoiling anything for you guys 🙂
Also, there were moments I really wanted to nut-punch Ward, for some of his actions and I also applauded Erin for not giving in so easily and forgive Ward for his past transgressions. She made him work for her forgiveness and I loved that here in this story, our heroine is feisty, strong and determined 🙂 Not even the immense attraction she felt towards Ward once seeing him again, swayed her and that was awesome. GIRL POWER!!
Once you read this story, you'll better understand the blurb but still, leaning towards the end, there will be a major twist that had my heart breaking for Erin and her family, even Ward. Luckily, the author, L.A. Casey was able to give us such an emotional yet beautiful ending and if I could, I would give this story 10 STARS instead of the 5 STARS limited. AWESOME READ! 🙂
Her Lifeline is a highly emotional read and not your typical ‘I love my brother’s best friend’ romance. It is full of pain and loss, bitterness and dread, and chock full of heart.
Erin (11) has a huge crush on her brother’s best friend, Ward (19). When tragedy strikes, Ward leaves without a backward glance. Reeling from pain and destruction, Erin builds up walls and comes to resent and hate Ward, while he makes a big name for himself, earning fame and fortune and forgetting those he left behind. Or so it seems. When tragedy strikes again, over 10 years later, Ward comes back to face what he’s done and hopefully he can mend what he’s broken.
If I were to sum up this read with one word, it would be nice. Erin caused plenty of drama and definitely kept things interesting. I wasn’t completely sold on the grand love affair that was Erin + Ward, but I understood what the author was trying to do. It just happened to miss its mark with me. A part of me was disappointed that the last tragedy occurred. I didn’t get why it was necessary because it didn’t do anything for the plot, nor did it further any character development. It was just one more painful event in a series of painful events.
I loved the Scottish elements of this story. I couldn’t get enough of the brogue of the characters. I really need to find more reads with such sexy accents.
I really enjoyed this story. The hero is a little tough to love at first but the author does a wonderful job of developing his story and laying it out in a way that draws you in and wins you over. The childhood crush thing is a bit hard to imagine given the age difference between Ward and Erin but that’s not a huge part of the story so it’s not too distracting. There are a ton of emotional ups and downs in the story which keeps you flipping page after page experiencing all the heartbreak, forgiveness, loss, and hope. Bring the tissues and a copy of this one for a relaxing enjoyable read. I highly recommend it.
This cover and the blurb were the lure and though it took me a bit to get into the story, but once I did I was hooked. It was a true emotional rollercoaster with extreme highs and lows and kept me turning the pages until the very end.
I loved Erin. This girl has had the rug pulled out from under her and her world turned upside down (in more ways than one) but she hasn’t crumbled. She keeps moving forward, no matter the obstacles in her path, and while her world view isn’t all rose colored, she still has an upbeat attitude and gives her all to those she calls her own. Ward was an interesting one. I loved him, I did, but he had a lot of things to sort through before that feeling truly solidified. He has a good heart, but some of his choices were definitely suspect ~ though when everything was said and done, I could empathize with all that he went through ~ thankfully he comes clean and I really did like the man beneath the armour.
I have to say that Erin and Ward’s journey to their HEA surprised me, but in a good way. There was a good bit of angst and the push/pull was real, but the connection they had ~ even though it was tenuous at best ~ showed me that there was hope for the two of them if one could come clean and one could forgive. I enjoyed their bantering, how they worked through the obstacles that stood between them and where they ended up when everything was said and done.
This is my first read by the author and I have to say I really enjoyed it. The writing was engaging, the pacing good and I liked the dual 1st person POV’s. This one definitely gets emotional and the triggers are real, but everything was well done and thought out and gave the story depth and realism. As for the characters, they were all well written and it should come as no surprise that my fav’s were Aiden and Jesse and I wouldn’t mind getting more of both in the future.
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
WTH!!!! This author is great at writing tragedy on top of tragedy. I feel like someone slapped me senseless. This book is very sad and it’s been a while since I’ve cried reading a book. This one broke the dam. But there is no doubt this is a story about second chances. The amount of commitment, loyalty, love, dedication, but at the same time feelings of betrayal, loneliness and despair, is overwhelming.
When it touches the subject about different types of abuse, even with details it’s still done in a delicate way. One were you as a reader can learn from it and can still be proud of these characters at the end. They take to much time consumed by fear. Which is another important topic in the story. But that only allows you as a reader to watch them grow. Watch them make changes to better their lives.
Erin and Ward are pulled together by an attraction that goes beyond looks. They simply care for each other deeply and more than anything respect each other. Tragedy pulls them apart. But it also brings them back together. It’s very rare to find an author that can have you feeling deeply the words on the pages. The sadness and despair of the characters. So get ready with a box of tissues because you will need it.
Man, this one was a wee bit emotional. There were a couple of parts where I thought some sad water was going to come out of my eye holes. I’ve never read anything by this author before so I did not see that coming. I do have a bunch of her other books in my tbr that I desperately need to get to but I’m glad that I started with this one. The writing and storytelling was really good, I finished it all in one sitting.
Casey’s books are books I fall in love with. There hasn’t been one book of hers that I didn’t connect with.
This book had me in tears, and was so touched by Ward and Erin’s story. This wasn’t just a romance story. It was a story about the deep love Erin had for her family. How hard it is to let go when you can’t follow them. Erin thought she was weak, but to go though losing someone who you love, and surviving it made her stronger.
Ward is trying get redemption to get past the guilt. In the beginning he calls himself a coward. It does take a brave soul to admit his wrongs.
This has been one book that I won’t soon forget. It was exceptional
What have I just read? A heart wrenching story of family and friendship, a friends to lovers, or is it enemies to lovers? Not quite second chance romance, but definitely a “gotta crush on my big brother’s best friend” kinda story. At age 11 Erin Saunders was crushing big time on Ward Buckley, until that one fateful night when he let her down when she needed him most. For 11 years Erin has resented Ward leaving her and her family and will not speak of him to anyone, but now he’s back in Scotland determined to make things right between them. A story full of love, loss, family and secrets. My heart broke. How much heart ache can one person take? A wonderful story, beautifully written in dual POV. Don’t forget your tissues. A solid 5 star recommendation from me. I was provided with an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.
* I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
LA Casey has another hit that tugs at the heart strings. If you loved her book, Until Harry, you will love Her Lifeline! And as always, I love that LA Casey writes with the accent of the characters, so I can hear them in my head while I read.
I really enjoyed all the relationships in this book, the good and the bad. I love that Erin was a strong and fierce female, who made Ward work hard to get back in her good graces. The slow build between them was absolutely refreshing. The twists and turns had me so hooked, I couldn’t put it down once I started it!
Emotional and gripping. This book had me hooked from start to finish.
Her Lifeline is an emotionally charged page-turner that had me glued until the very end.
I was following the story with avid interest! I was sad, happy, in tears, and in awe. So many bittersweet emotions and a sweet romance!
First off I have to say beware of driving and listening to this book because tissues are needed. As difficult as it may be, you are going to want to take this book slow. The author takes her time building the characters that you really feel as if you know Erin, Ward, and Tommy. The story starts with Erin at the age of 11. Sure there is a gap in time but the character development is there, so that you don’t feel as if you have missed that time. There are so many emotions with this story, you really feel for each of them. That was one of the things I really enjoyed about the story was it was a story about Erin, her brother Tommy and his best friend Ward. The author had a few hot and steamy sexy scenes but that was not what this story was about. Life is unpredictable and things may happen that you can’t control.
I so enjoyed listening to the story because the narrators did such a great job in bringing each character to life. I loved the accent of them as well and the way they said various words. They also brought that emotion into the telling of the story, you could hear the laughs and cries. I could listen to them speaking all day.
My only wish was that the author would have extended the last chapter more, like the first chapter was very long, so that a little more was filled in between those last two chapters, but that is just me. The story had a great wrap up after all the emotions through the story.
Another great book from L.A. Casey
From the moment I started this book I cried, laughed and cried some more. But it was AMAZING!!!! This story was one to pull you in from the beginning and keep you going until it was over.
I just loved these characters.
I do not want to give anything away so just go read this boom, you will not be disappointed!
Read: 1/26/19
Her Lifeline was a stand-alone by LA Casey.
It began in the past with Erin’s POV, then brought us into the present eleven years later. It was emotional. Tragedy struck and changed the tone of the storyline immediately. We then began getting a double POV from both main characters.
Erin Saunders had seen too much tragedy starting when she was eleven years old. She was a fighter and had managed to survive and thrive as much as she could. When another tragedy hit when she was twenty two she was barely hanging on until her childhood crush and her brother’s ex-best friend arrived. She despised him for who he had become and what he had done eleven years ago.
Ward Buckley was a multi billionaire and household name. He had not been home since he was nineteen but after more tragedy hit the Saunders family, it was time to go home and make amends.
Her Lifeline was well written, well developed, complex and full of depth. It was an incredibly emotional and sad book filled with love, loss, heartache and healing. It’s a must read; however, your mood will be crucial in the timing of the read. It had a happy ending, but it was quite a painful journey. Go into it with that understanding and it will ultimately be an enjoyable experience.
This book was such an emotional read for me! There is a lot of tragedy and heartbreak mixed in with a really good second chance romance.
I loved the Irish slang and accent you could almost HEAR through the author’s writing. I’ve always found the way they talk to be interesting and intriguing.
The story was unique to my reading. I liked how there was a significant age difference to start, that would become to be less important as the years wore on. There’s also a theme of honesty, being true to yourself, and being able to reach out for help when you need it. Most important to me, was the charity that was prevalent in the book. I think it brought light to a very serious cause and in a way that will hopefully make victims feel less alone or ashamed and more powerful.
There are deaths in this book and one in particular just gutted me. I bawled myself to sleep at the end of this book, but it was SO worth the read.
2019published, both-pov, contemporary, easy-to-read, friends-in-love, m-f-romance, read, romance, sex, unforgetabble
It is a sad story, from the beginning to the end. I read all the book, waiting for better moments, there are so much pain and suffering and sorrow. Maybe, half of the book could narrate their sorrow and the other part of their happiness, how they could get to overcome everything.
Besides all of this, all love the characters and how they manage to be close together.
This one pretty much had me in tears the whole time. Not all the tears were sad though. You definitely need lots of tissues. This one was all second-chance. It was also about redemption and healing. I have a book hangover after this one.
This was my first book by this author and I have to say I wasn’t expecting to go on that journey! WOW! I totally finished this book in one day because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! Reading through the transformations, this book brought me laughs and tears. Such a great story that made me feel the heartache and made me feel the strong bonds that could never be broken. It is safe to say I will be looking for more of this author’s books!
This book was an emotional read that I was expecting. I was pulled into this book and pulling for the characters. Erin has had a crush on her brother’s best friend since she was 11 years old. They are eight years older and heading off to college. Erin’s life has been hard since her father died leaving her brother, mother and her behind. Although her mother might as well be gone as well. Things don’t get any better for her as the years go on. She wasn’t expecting Ward to come back into her life.
This was an emotional read that I couldn’t put down once I started. I can’t wait to read more of her work.