Tyler Grace was many things.A killer. A myth. An outcast. A hero.My prince.My childhood and innocence were stolen when I was kidnapped at five years old. For eleven years I clung to my childhood fairytale books, waiting for the prince I hoped would someday save me and carry me off to a happily ever after. I had no idea my savior would come in the form of a scarred recluse, covered in tattoo’s, … come in the form of a scarred recluse, covered in tattoo’s, who can’t–or won’t–speak a word.
But the moment our eyes met I knew he was the one. My prince.
Tyler Grace is haunted by his tragic past and he’s sentenced himself to a lifetime of solitude in the woods. He’s as lost in society as I am; scarred just as much on the inside as the outside. Just like me.
He saved my life that day he found me and killed my captor with his bare hands. I was warned to stay away from him. But I can’t stop thinking about him. I ache to hear his voice and see him smile. And I want nothing more than to be the one to break through his walls.
I think he’s the only one who can break through mine, too.
Together we can have love, happiness, and a closeness that once felt impossible to have. But can we overcome the horrible twisted past that ties us together?
** Tied can be read as a single book.
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There are truly no words to describe how much I loved this story!! My heart broke for Tyler and Holly, but this author methodically and wonderfully put it back together again.. Another fantastic read! I am super excited and patiently waiting for the next in this series. I will definitely be doing a reread very soon!!
This story wrecked me, such never-ending heartbreak, from living through a horrific event and than having to deal with life after. Definitely not a rose garden. Before I talk about Tyler, lets talk about her brother and his girlfriend, OMG what great characters. I couldn’t believe how compassionate Anna was and not even being apart of the family, was amazing. Poor Lizzy just wanted to get to know her sister but was stopped every time with unbelievable reasons. I absolutely did not understand the dynamics between her and her parents. Now Tyler, holy crap what a fantastic character even with him dealing with his own demons he was still there for Holly. He went out of his way even when he had to over come his issues to make her happy was one of my highlights of this story even though there were several that were my favorites. He went from telling her that he was absolutely not her fairytale to proving that he was. I can’t tell you how many times I teared up in this book , so many different emotions in this story. From such heartbreak to healing. This book is most definitely a must read. One of the best I’ve read in awhile.
Tyler’s book did not disappoint!!! When I finished Torn book one in the All Torn Up series I only got a glimpse of Tyler and I was so excited to find out his book was next one. It did not let me down at all. Tyler made this book so phenomenal and GAH I just can’t get enough of him.
“I can almost believe this girl could love me, scars, damage, ugliness and all. And oh, how ferociously I would love her back if given the chance.”
A beautifully broken young woman rescued by a knight in shining armor or at least her knight in shining armor but he rides motorcycles, has a temper and is a bit demented. Holly was kidnapped at age five, not to be seen for 11 years later when a man walking in the woods helps her escape. Now he is not your usual rescuer, Tyler is scarred and burned from a tragic accident that left him deformed in his mind beyond love or compassion. Holly cannot get Tyler off her mind even after two years of her being rescued. One fateful day has these two running into each other and Holly cannot believe she finally found him. As their friendship deepens you see that they are both trying to overcome their past while trying to look towards a future.
Lord, this book wrecked my heart soooo much!! Both had their reasons for being the way they were, but Holly wasn’t overly whiny or sensitive even after her tormented past. Same with Tyler, he might have had it rough, but he could have been made out to be this huge ass, but he wasn’t. They both were wonderful characters with real flaws that made you want to squeeze them both and not let them go.
Now that I have read book two, I really want the third book, even if it is a continuation of either book or a whole new series. I just know that I am nowhere near ready to let this beautiful world she created go. FIVE GLORIOUS STARS to Cole for making my heart melt and my eyes leak.
An amazing story of love and survival.
You never know just how your prince will show up. Will he be riding a white horse like in a fairy tale? In Holly’s case, her prince rescued her from the man who kidnapped and held her captive for eleven years. Tyler was scarred, physically and emotionally. He had a love for animals and nature; people, not so much. He had a heart of gold, but it would take someone very special to help him shine. Holly was just what he needed. It just took some time for him to figure it out. Two years after her rescue, Holly still dealt with low self esteem and anxiety from what she went though during her captive years. The only person who truly understood how she felt was Tyler. Holly and Tyler help each other heal and learn to trust and love again, but it was a process with many setbacks.
When I came to the end of this book, I was like “nooooo”, it can’t be over already. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters. They felt so real and I became attached to them. Their story totally blew me away. It was heart-wrenching and beautiful at the same time.
I loved this book. This is a story Tyler and Holly, their very battered souls, their life and personal battle after tragedy and unspeakable abuse. Their lives are intertwined and as this story unfolds their fight for each other has highs and lows. These character have depth and very complex back stories. Tyler finds and saves Holly from a monster who kidnapped her as a very small child and she has a lot of work to do to understand the world as a young woman. Tyler has his own very tragic story as well as a history of substance abuse he has overcome. As he and Holly become friends, there are many parts of this story that I felt in my heart for them both and I did shed some tears for them. They reach their HEA gently after fighting for it and it’s everything.
I really liked this story. Ty and Holly are perfect for each other. Both have social anxieties for different reasons. This was a really heartbreaking story.
I have so many thoughts on this book. I have such a book hangover. I really loved Toren’s book but Tyler’s book was something else entirely. It took something from me I will never get back. From the very beginning of the story to the very last sentence I was hooked. I listened to the audio because I loved Torn’s audio so much and I am so happy I did because it made the experience 10 times better. I listened ALL day and night. Its taken me days upon days to write a review.
Holly’s abuse from her captor was horrifying and in the beginning of the story I wondered how long it would take her to heal. Then as we progress with the story you see just how much abuse Tyler has been through in his life too and you see that they both need each other to heal. And Poppy of course.
Just thinking of certain parts in this book right now is making me chest ache. This author is a master story teller. Holly’s family really irked me on her behalf. There were SO many twists and turns I didnt see coming. Ughh so good. I cannot even wait to read more and more books by this author. 5 stars isnt enough for this!
I Give this Book a 4/5 Star Rating.
HEA(?): Yes
Heat: 3.5-4ish/5
Romance: 4-4.5/5
Suspense: 5/5
Drama: 3.5/5, while the Suspense is high for me, the Drama in actuality is surprisingly low, I was expecting just a little bit more Drama.
I do think there are some things are still unanswered, and precious/meaningful and/or serious scenes were kinda dismissed.
Pacing: Mid Fast, Kinda Briskly Fast Paced at Times.
I didn’t like the pacing at some points in the book.
Dark(?): No.
Relationship Type: MF
Format Read: Audiobook
Audiobook Review: 4/5
Narrator: Dual Narration, they were both good in their own way and fit the characters well.
Ok so… I personally rather would’ve avoided hearing the Bonus Scene (which is very quick), I didn’t realize what I was hearing till midway of it, and I would’ve just preferred not to have heard it.
I’d rather end a book happy rather than tear up.
These characters! I loved Tyler just so much. And his love for Holly was such a beautiful thing. The two of them deserved their happy ever after. Great read.
Something about Tyler intrigued me immensely from the very first glimpse of him in Torn, book one in the series. He is tragically misunderstood. Life has a way of repeatedly kicking him while he is down. Holly almost broke me. Her past and her current struggles are incredibly hard to experience although I do think that Cole does a masterful job of conveying the darkness surrounding her. Their story is beautiful, tragic, heart wrenching, emotional, romantic, and difficult to read. Life, their story is basically life. Sometimes you have to experience the bad before you can get the fairy tale happily ever after.
The more I read in this series the more I grow to love it. I sincerely hope that Cole gives us more books in the series soon!
TIED (All Torn Up Book #2) by Carian Cole
I was so addicted to this story I could barely put it down. Two broken people that have so much to over come. Bravo Carian Cole! Definitely a 5 star read.
“Tied” from Carian Cole is the second book from All Torn Up series and it’s a wow book. A bit of warning about the story line, it has child kidnapping, abuse, and torture; for those that cannot read about it. But Carian the author did a great work with the story line that you can really feel what the main female character goes through. Not only the main female character but her prince Ty too. This is a must-read book, that once you start you will not want to put it down. It is a page turner; you just want to find out how Holly is coping with everything new to her and how Ty is coming out of his cocoon. Hold on because it is a roller-coaster of emotions as you read. It is a great story and I cannot wait to read what else Carian comes out with.
As always this author’s words kill me with emotion overload… Tyler and Holly’s path to love was one filled with past horrors. No two characters deserve to be at peace than these two.
Carian’s writing wraps around you like a comfort blanket. I love nothing more than to get lost in her words. There are some really beautiful quotes along the way that I wish I had highlighted.
A true romance novel that will make you glad you went along for the ride!
Two broken individuals finding love ad comfort in each others arms.
I read this via my ku subscription and am leaving my review voluntarily. This story totally gutted me. It is part 2 and there are crossover characters from book 1 and the Ashes & Embers series..At the very least start with Torn. Grab a few tissues before you start reading.
Triggers: a child kidnapping and years of sexual assault. drug/alcohol abuse, self defense murder
**spoilers**
Tyler Grace, popular, outgoing and good looking before tragedy took it all away.
Holly Daniels, kidnapped as a child and held by a p.o.s., enduring assault and torture for years.
These two broken and damaged people are drawn to one another. Outsiders don’t understand their relationship.
I won’t detail everything here. I wrote the triggers. If that is hard for you, do not read this story. This is a quick read but full of feelings. The author took a very disturbing and delicate subject and handled it as well as can be expected.
There is a HEA.
I promise you with this book that you will never have read anything so raw and heartbreaking. A story so special I almost couldn’t believe I was reading it! This book was like no other from the characters to the setting to the storyline. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it certainly won’t be my last, I loved her way of writing and her originality.
This book was filled to the brim with passion and sadness and it is definitely one of my new favourite books, I can’t wait to read it again!
The description and thought put into this book was inspiring and did the characters and their stories justice!
Tyler and Holly were soul mates, I knew that from the start! Their love felt so real, even through the screen of my kindle!
Another 5* read for me.
WOAH- I did not anticipate to be as engrossed and as moved by this story- I just happened upon it in my book recommendation, was new to the author, and the blurb and cover caught my eye.
Holly, our heroine, was kidnapped as a child- mentally and physically tortured and assulated, isolated, and forever traumatized- she remained the prey of her kidnapper for 10 years, trapped in a room with only a dog that her kidnapper used to coerce her. Our hero- scarred (physically and emotionally) and traumatized by his own past, both being the victims of others and his own wrongdoing, has lived isolated by choice. He hides away in the woods in his cabin- away from the rest of the world with his pet fox (yes, FOX!), helping his family rescue animals but barely even seeing them. One day, by fate or chance, he happens upon a dirty, terrified, and scrawny teenage girl and her dog in the ground- Holly. He rescues her from her captivity- she sees him as her prince charming, the man from the fairy tale books her capture allowed her to read. He sees himself as a monster, and he goes back into his isolation.
Our story then jumps forward- a smart move since it would be unrealistic after all this time for Holly to be ready to engage in any sort of relationship with a male- so in the interim she’s spent time reacclimating with a world as a young woman when she’s not been socialized or educated beyond early childhood. She’s made some progress, but she lacks trust, has few relationships, and can’t figure out how she fits into her family’s life who have somehow replaced her with a baby sister and have no interest in reintegrating her into their home or day to day. She’s not sure how to function- or who she even is and what her place is. She misses her dog (that she believed ran away), and she longs to find her prince charming.
A chance encounter brings these two back together- Holly feels a sense of safety and belonging with Tyler, and she feels like she can be herself- a confused girl trying to figure things out. She doesn’t feel like an outsider or lost- she can just be. Tyler feels drawn to her but unsure- she has so much baggage and requires so much care- he’s not sure he can be the friend she needs.But, they share an unbreakable bond- not only her rescue but the fact that they are both individuals who have been shattered by their pasts, judged and shunned by others and living on the periphery, their differences and backgrounds making other unsure, uncomfortable, and even afraid of them- when all they want is to be less lost and find some inner peace. Through this, an intense emotional bond develops- that slowly makes its way to a romantic one. This is done with tender care and is far more believable than other romance tropes- so this is more of a slow burn in terms of the physical aspect.
Both of these characters are both beautiful and heartbreaking. Tyler is scarred in many ways, and he believes he is undeserving of care or love- he’s been punishing himself. But, he’s chivalrous and kind, incredibly empathetic and giving underneath his pain- someone yearning for connection and forgiveness. Someone scared of rejection. Holly, despite her trauma, is naive and open minded- looking at the world with wonderment for the first time. She’s somehow secure in her own skin but tentative, hopeful but lost. The connection between them is deeply emotional, a cathartic experience for them and us as readers. Holly figures out who she is, Ty learns how to forgive himself. Both learn through love that their scars don’t limit them but actual can empower them- that love can liberate them from the cages they find themselves in.
Since reading this, I’ve come to realize Carian has a unique gift when it comes to stories like this- relationships with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, incredible emotional connections and resonance, and deeply painful histories. (This can be read as a standalone ( I read this before I read Torn)- the characters in the first book make a minor appearance but you don’t need more context than what you get in this book.)
not your normal read, new plat , new story, just FAB
Exquisite and Hauntingly Beautiful… I’m unsure I can write a review that does this book proper justice. It stirred reactions and feelings beyond what I can fully explain in words. And In all honesty, it took my breath away and will forever be stamped into my soul.
Carian Cole’s storytelling in Tied is exquisite. Her portrayal of Tyler and Holly’s journey, both as individuals and together, hauntingly beautiful. It is irrevocably soul piercing. I had to stop at points throughout to catch my breath and wipe away tears. The compassion and care Tyler gives to Holly leaves you aching – this man – broken in both body and mind, deeply pained from his own demons, working so hard to care and mend Holly’s shattered soul is beyond breathtaking. Holly’s soulful sweetness toward him despite her own trauma, delicately tender. And their joint resolve to heal honest and pure. The love that comes from their shared pain and experiences blinds the universe with their determined light and is beyond mortal comprehension.
Their story, of Holly’s horrific ordeal and Tyler’s self tortured life violently binds itself to your heart as you read. I could not put this book down! And still have tears streaming down my face as I write this. Tied touched me in ways I can’t yet admit. Leaving me in a deeply reflective state…
I personally related to Tied in unexpected ways. As a daughter of a father who lived with similar life demons that led him down a path of alcohol and addiction which ultimately took his life I sobbed at Tyler’s pain. As a survivor of sexual abuse I understood Holly’s struggle to understand and cope. Tied gutted me emotionally. It stripped my senses. It made me look back at the memories of my own childhood long ago buried and locked away. No book has ever touch my soul in such a unique and definitive way before.
I rarely buy physical books anymore, but this is one I must own beyond kindle form. It is hands down the best book I’ve read, ever.
Ty was the hero who rescued Holly from her kidnapper. Of coarse the police immediately suspected him. Holly lives in a facility for therapy and help in finding her place in this world. She often wonders about the Prince who rescued her but has not seen him again. Ty lives his life hidden away in the woods and avoids people at all costs. Can these 2 broken souls teach each other how to live again?
I am fairly new to Carian Cole having just read Torn prior to this. So far she seems to be an author who takes pretty deep subjects to incorporate into her stories. This is a beautiful book about 2 people who have been through something so traumatic it will live with them for the rest of their lives. They both have to learn to trust and have faith in one another. Very emotional read! Looking forward to reading more by this author