Stand Alone Novel No Cliff Hanger“I can’t begin to express my love for this story. SO much depth and honesty, so much LOVE! This is a MUST read!”Best Selling Author, Dylan Allen~ 10 “I need all of Kieran O’Connell’s words” Stars!!!NessReads~ Melissa Trujillo knows suffering. She’s tasted it, touched it, injected it. Sobriety is a gift, but it isn’t enough to wash away her secrets. Kieran … isn’t enough to wash away her secrets.
Kieran O’Connell knows sacrifice. He’s owned it, held it between his fingers, and felt it in his knees. Words are his freedom, and they’ve begun to fade.
Two different worlds, one moment and the Earth shifts—granting them a path.
His eyes meet hers. Her hand fits his.
Kieran finds his muse.
Melissa finds her new addiction.
But, when sin meets virtue, angels fall, and the truth, it becomes a blade. Together they’ll walk the sharp edge, and if her lies cut too deep, not even his words could save her… save them.
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My favourite book in the Avenues Ink series, it was so nice to watch Mel and Kieran fall into each other so effortlessly, but the whole time I was waiting for the ghost in the room to step forward and destroy the nice little life they were building.
“You can’t be afraid of who you were. You must wear every badge, every scar, because without them, you wouldn’t be my Mel, you wouldn’t be my daughter.”
Mel is hiding so many secrets from Kieran, believing that if she were honest with him about her past Kieran wouldn’t want her, rather he would see the dirt tarnishing her soul and reject her out of hand because he wouldn’t want to be trapped under her filth. So Melissa keeps burying the secrets in her life, shutting off or going cold when Kieran asks questions, not understanding that he just wants to know what makes her tick.
“This place, for me, is like church…” I whispered as if I was in the middle of a cathedral. “Because you stand before gods like Whitman, Poe, Keats, Cummings, Hardy… Frost, and every word they’ve written, they will never change, they’re timeless.”
Kieran wants to ignore how strong his feelings for Melissa are, but when he meets her at his favourite bookstore ‘Across The Pages’ Kieran realizes he’s never going to want to let her go. He wants to pour everything he’s feeling in to Melissa, through his words, and the rough innocence of his kisses. But just when they are getting comfortable, when he’s set to meet her folks, Kieran finds out all of Melissa’s secrets in one fell swoop, and he can’t see how to forgive her. He told her at the beginning that a lie of omission was still a lie, and she ignored him.
“He held her happiness safe in his hands, but what would happen to her smile if his fingers began to shake.” A.M. Johnson
When his family, including his sisters in law, try to tell him he’s making a mistake that he might never walk back from by allowing his own weakness to show in the heat of the moment, Kieran realizes he dropped Melissa his own damn self when she needed him most.
A beautiful story filled with the love of 2 families trying convince their beloved girl that she’s never needed to do more to be worthy of their love, she is worthy simply by existing. Author A.M. Johnson’s words, combined with those of other poets builds Kieran and Melissa’s story into the beautiful double rainbow necessary to give everyone joy and peace on the last page. I’m very hopeful we will see the rest of the 2nd generation O’Connell’s when Author A.M. Johnson’s genius strikes again.
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So 5 STARS Isn’t Enough but it’s the Max they will allow me. but….
I can’t think of a book series that has touched me on such a basic human level of emotions than that of The Avenue Ink Series. The O’Connell brothers gave a piece of my soul that I didn’t know I was missing. I felt complete and at peace after each of them. So of course when I began Kieran I knew the final piece would be in place.
Following in the giant footsteps left behind by his larger than life brothers, Kieran had a lot to prove to stand apart and live up to the O’Connell name. He exceeded expectations. Declan’s emotional struggle pulls you in wanting to soothe his pain, Liam’s angst a-hole ways beckons you to see behind his wall of anger, but Kieran… Kieran Kieran Kieran… he’s so sweet and honestly kind. After everything his life was growing up he held onto his inner goodness and that shines in every word of this story.
And that goodness is what shines on Melissa’s dark demons punching holes in their power over her. Johnson flipped the expected with Poet, placing the past demons with the female lead instead of leaving them solely on the males shoulders she lends a fairytale feel to this story. While Kieran’s want to save his woman from herself of moving it is Mel’s inner strength to want save herself that kept me invested.
Kieran is the kind of guy you want to bring home to meet you mother, the kind that you know will give you that fairytale ending, it might not always be perfect but he would make you never want to give up. And Mel is the strength we all want to have. The inner fight to never give up and to always keep going. This series has meant so much to me as a reader and as a person. I am so sad to seem it’s completion but I am so happy to have lived these brothers stories, because once you start you will realize that you don’t just read it you live it.
-Mackenzie
I am so in love with this series and these O’Connell men! I have been looking forward to Kieran’s story and it definitely did not disappoint! Kieran is the youngest of the family and after the sudden loss of their mother, he is feeling lost. He feels disconnected not only from God but from his passion of writing as well. When he finds his muse at mass, he is excited that his sacrifices may not have been for nothing. Melissa has made some tragic choices and lived to make a better life for herself. But it’s not easy and is a daily struggle. She doesn’t believe she is worthy of happiness or for a good man like Kieran. They seem to be opposites in every way. But they both suffer from the guilt of their choices and the naiveté that comes along with it as well. I loved the journey their story took me on. It is so alluring and provocative, it held me captive with its raw and honest emotions and you definitely feel them all.
I love how rhythmic and multifaceted Ms. Johnson’s writing style is. She expertly weaved a heartrendingly beautiful tale of second chances and unconditional love, tackling very sensitive subject matters with honesty and empathy. I was totally mesmerized by the soulful poems she inserted in each chapter along with Kierans exquisite words for Melissa. They made me really understand and care for Melissa and Kieran who were so genuine and perfectly imperfect. I also loved catching up with Liam & Kelly and Declan & Paige, they are so essential in each others lives. I loved this unique and poignant love story. This whole series is a must read!
Poet is the third and final book in this outstanding series. Just like Possession and Kingdom, A.M. Johnson did an incredible job. Poet is a book that lingers in your mind for days and gives you all the feels. Kieran and Mel are so passionate together. I’m glad she wrote Kieran’s book last as he certainly deserved an HEA. I loved his innocence, vulnerability, his loyalty to his family and to his faith. I absolutely adored and admired Mel. My heart broke for her and her battle with her demons. Kieran and Mel have a beautiful connection and pulled at my heart strings. I miss the O’Connell brothers already and I hope A.M. Johnson will grace her fans with a novella about them. A.M. Johnson you definitely saved the best for last.
This book is a piece of Art. I really love the story of Kieran and Melissa. The narration is also very great, easy to listen. This was my first listen to those two narrators. This is a standalone novel, but you really have to listen to the entire Series! I love this Series so much! A.M. Johnson is a very talented author.
Love and Forgiveness
**Read in October 2017
Poet was a beautiful love story. Kieran and Melissa were both characters that I loved. Kieran was a loyal and faithful brother. Since his mother’s death he has been a little lost; questioning his path in life.
Melissa is a survivor. Her past is filled with poor choices and addiction. Even though she has fought for 5 years to make a new path, the guilt of her past weighs heavily on her.
When Kieran and Mel meet, the attraction is potent and immediate. Both characters are excited yet terrified of their feelings. Their interactions are sweet, sexy, and inspired. However, the closer they become the more the past threatens to pull them apart. This is a story about being human, faltering, persisting, and forgiveness.
Wow….I literally am speechless after reading Poet by A.M. Johnson. It is such an amazingly beautiful story, and I loved every word of it. The first two stories in the Avenues Ink series are wonderful, but there is just something special about Poet. Kieran & Melissa just had that magical connection – two people from different walks in life, just instantly drawn together. They truly were incredible together. I also really loved seeing the relationships between all the O’Connell brothers – they are all so different, yet no matter what happens – they will always be there for each other.
Poet is one book that I believe everyone should read. It was just a special story that I will definitely remember. One of my top books of the year!
You’ve read hundreds or thousands of books. You’ve given 5 star ratings, you’ve experienced the beauty of dozens of masterpieces, but you’ve never truly basked in the glory of both poetry and prose until you read Poet. You’ve never truly cherished the depth and emotion a simple sentence can convey until you immerse yourself into Kieran and Melissa’s story, until you soak up the delicious nectar oozing from each and every word.
Touching, stunning, exceptional, exquisite! A once-in-a-lifetime read!
There are some books that the words on their pages will wrap around your heart and soul and Poet is top on that list. This is Kieran and Melissa’s story and one that will take us on a journey of secrets, disappointments, truth, acceptance and a love so powerful that it will light the sky. This book is not only a story of divine love in its purist form but the words that have been written are nothing short of soul gripping poetry. Poet at times will make you smile so wide your face will hurt, at times your heart will ache and the tears will fall but ultimately your soul will soar. Kieran and Mel will show you that sometimes it is your faith in love that will ensure that you can use the mistakes you have made to move forward. This third book in this series is one that is so amazing based on the story, characters and the beautiful words that have created it that it should be rated with an infinity of stars as it deserves nothing less.
These O’Connell brothers are something else lemme tell ya. The youngest of the men Kieran has set different goals and a lifestyle for himself that is much different then his brothers. This poetic man has taken my heart from the very beginning and never let go. Mel has been through so much self destruction but pulled herself together and taken one step forward each and every day to stay on track. When these two come together the chemistry is unbelievably beautiful, two souls that help one another find their way through what gets thrown at them. To see them as they started and then blossom and become who they are today leaves me filled with joyous tears. This series is one of my favorites and Kieran is now my favorite brother of all three, I’m sad to see this series end but what a beautiful ride we have taken with everyone. If you haven’t read Avenues Ink yet I highly recommend you one click your copies now, you will not be disappointed. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.