Blake Carson can’t afford to have a life. Between working full-time as a tattoo artist and caring for his disabled twin brother Jacob, his plate is more than full – and he prefers it that way.But his meticulous planning is turned on its head when he meets the upbeat and beautiful Audrey Wright and her butterfly tattoo.Now, through a complicated maze of coincidence and fate, Blake begins to … Blake begins to question if maybe there could be more to his life than just work and Jacob.
That is, if the guilt doesn’t eat him alive first.
With the help of Dr. Vanessa Travetti and a girl he doesn’t think he deserves, can Blake convince himself that even the bad guy deserves a happy ending?
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This is a beautiful, mystical, gritty, wonderful, romantic story, and yes it left me absolutely exhausted after reading it, to the point where I went back to the beginning to read it again in order to convince myself it was actually as good as I thought it was.
It is. In fact it’s even better. Blake, a talented tattoo artist, is a damaged man who moves through life alone—the only person he actually loves is his twin brother Jake, who is seriously brain damaged from a childhood accident. Blake has carried the guilt of his brother’s injuries since he was a ten year old child, guilt that is reinforced by his parents anger with him—they blame Blake for causing his twin’s injuries.
Into his life comes a beautiful young woman who wants a butterfly tattoo. It has to be exactly as she describes it, and Blake has to be the one who does it. And thus is set in motion an absolutely perfect story. Audrey is not the woman for Blake. He thinks of her as a shallow Barbie, a cute blonde who couldn’t possibly be interested in him. And yet as the story unfolds, and coincidence and events that are somehow connected but so difficult to explain away as happenstance occur, Blake finds himself falling deeper into love with this stubborn, beautiful woman who has decided she wants him.
I absolutely loved Audrey, and there were times I wanted to wring Blake’s neck, but his brother Jake was a pure and loving foil to the two of them. I can’t say enough good things about Warrior Blue. I’ve already read it twice because I’m not ready to consign these wonderful characters to memory. I want to keep them right here with me for just a bit longer.
Once again Kelsey Kingsley has written an absolutely beautiful story, one you’ll find it difficult to set aside. It’s definitely worth five stars, and I’d give it more if that were allowed.
5 stars is not enough, Warrior Blue deserves all the stars. Kelsey Kingsley wrote a beautiful story that is passionate, emotional and inspiring all together. It’s already one of the best books of 2020!!!!!
Blake and his twin brother Jacob have a powerful connection and that special twin vibe that only the two of them can explain. Blake is a kind soul, he’s honest, he’s talented and instantly he will captivate you from beginning to end. He lives a very routine life and has no expectations for the future until he meets Audrey , who challenges him in every way. Audrey is fun, lively, sweet and is very patient , seriously I praise how patient she was with Blake because there were moments where I wanted to slap Blake for her LOL.
This story took me on a ride that I didn’t want to end. There were a few chapters where I cried, I laughed, I yelled at Kelsey Kingsley and her characters but overall, this book is a great and you will enjoy everything that comes with Warrior Blue
I have to say I have read a bunch of broken heroes that sometimes they are even the same as the next one I have read and than there are others that are just so very good that they just get stuck with you after you have finish with their story. Blake this man will be with me for awhile if not forever. His pain, his guilt, his love was is the most amazing, beautiful story I have the privilege of reading. He was just perfect,imperfect kind of way even with his rudeness you just could feel all the pain, the guilt, the love this man had in those big shoulders of him. I can honestly say that I have come across to the best story this new year has brought for me.
5* Emotional Stars
I was a lucky winner of an ARC for Warrior Blue and I am so grateful because I have been introduced to a wonderfully talented author whose writing is simply beautiful and so meaningful. The cover of the book is simply gorgeous too.
This is so much more than just a love story of two people, Blake and Audrey meeting and falling in love. It is about survivors navigating the tragic hardships that they have had to endure and struggling to stay afloat. It is the strong ties of unconditional love between Blake and his twin brother Jake. The care and patience that Blake devoted towards his disabled brother Jake was selfless and boundless. It is a story of redemption and forgiveness within the family and friendships made along the way.
This timeless story was full of feels and was so real and heartfelt. I highly recommend this wonderful read and what a way to start off 2020 with this powerful story.
4.75 Stars
Salem, Massachusetts.
Blake is a 33 year old Tattoo Artist. He’s extremely talented – he could have his own tv show – or at least his own shop and he would be booked for years. But Blake is also the twin brother to Jacob. Jake. And while Jake is also a 33 year old man … he’s also not. He might look like Blake, but inside he’s a five year old kid. We don’t know what happened to him, we just know that Blake loves him madly, but he also feels responsible for him and for whatever happened to him.
Blake’s whole life revolves around Jake. He takes him to daycare and picks him up every day. That doesn’t leave Blake with a lot of free time. No time to have fun, to date, to fall in love.
He thinks he’ll never have that. He has to be there for Jake for as long as they live. Plus he doesn’t deserve to be happy anyway. Not when Jake will never have any of those things either.
But then Audrey comes into Blake’s life. Audrey with her Butterfly tattoo and her smiles – and no matter what he throws at her – she’s just not leaving. And suddenly nothing is as it was in Blake’s sad and boring and lonely life.
What will happen to Audrey & Blake?
Will we get a happily ever after?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!
I loved Blake and Audrey. And Jake!
I wasn’t sure I was going to love this book. First of all I’m not a tattoo fan. And I hate religion – I can’t have it in my books! (With the exception of Tiffany Reisz books!) And I don’t like butterflies! They’re just colorful moths. Bugs. Ew.
But the story was so adorably sweet and heartbreaking and sad and ugh. Tears were definitively involved!!
I just adored Blake. But I also hated him for being so …. I don’t know. He just accepts everything life throws at him. He doesn’t seem to want to fight for himself and for Jake and for Audrey and his happily ever after.
He was way too give-up-ish for me. He gave up his future long before it even started! He thinks he doesn’t deserve anything good!
But of course Audrey will change all that!
And it’s beautiful to watch poor Blake trying to resist her and to fight against that looming happily ever after!
This was such a sweet and beautiful family drama romance. I just adored (almost) everything about the story. I soooo need to see this on Netflix one day!
I also loved the little cameo we got of some guys we might have met before!
I didn’t love the whole religious part – obviously – and I kinda hated that Audrey ‘converted’ Blake back to being religious. Like recruiting him for a cult! I hated that. And I didn’t like the appearances of the two life butterflies at all. Those moments didn’t really have to be in the book – they turned everything into something a little ridiculous!
BUT – that doesn’t mean I didn’t love the book – I really really did! I loved all the moments between the brothers and between Audrey and Blake and Audrey’s family and I hated Blake’s mom soo much most of the time! I loved the Salem moments – the walking through town. It was a really beautiful story.
I’m just not a person for religion and faith and signs and supernatural sh*t!
WARRIOR BLUE was such a beautiful & heartbreaking love story.
Run to your nearest amazon for your own Blake – he’ll be sold out in no time!
”Warrior Blue” has been sitting on my Kindle app for ages. It was time I read it and y’all I AM SO GLAD I DID!
This heartbreaking yet beautifully written story gives us Blake and Audrey which are now some of my favorite book characters to date. Both are broken and hurting, without a clue on how to mend parts of their lives wrecked by loss.
Not only do we see many of the character grow into the best versions of themselves, the creative twists, turns and connections make this a wholly different kind of novel. One you must make time for.
I wanted to read this book for a long time but knew I would have to be in the right mood to handle it. This hero is dark, but I never give up on a broody hero because after laboring through a difficult story the payoff is that much more satisfying, and that was so true about this book. It’s hard to put my finger on all the feelings I have about this story. Did I like it?—Oh yes. Was it hard to read?—Absolutely. Did it make me dig deep?—Very much so. Was it worth it?—Without question.
This story is a mix of philosophy, spirituality and mysticism. The mysterious connection between twins, the auras, the poetry, the idea of soulmates and predestination, and the ability to tap into different parts of the brain all work together to create a multidimensional hopeful story of love and overcoming family dysfunction. It’s a lesson in how facing misfortune with optimism is good for the soul.
This book is not light entertainment. It’s for readers who want to dig deep and are willing to do the work. It’s about love in different forms—romantic love, sibling love, parental love, and most of all self love. The author says this piece was a “passion project” for her. It’s pretty special. Just hunker down and get ready because you won’t want to put this one down. And don’t forget to download the extra epilogue offered at the end of the story. It’s wonderful.
One more comment on how beautifully this author writes. At times absolutely breathtaking. This is just one example:
“We made love in a way that felt like art. Delicate, meticulous strokes, gentle swoops of hips and brushes of hands. A painting, playing out only in my mind, vivid and bright with every color of the rainbow. We collapsed on our canvas and twisted in the aftereffects, sighing and drifting toward a dream I hoped she’d be in. And all I could think was, this was a good day.”
This book will rip your heart to shreds and oh so slowly mend it again. It truly has to be read by everyone who has ever felt hopeless, unloved, or abandoned by family. It’s a wonderful tale of redemption like no other. I guarantee that you will never forget it.
I love going in blind, then it’s even better when you’re moved in ways you never expected. Blake and Audrey’s story did that. This is definitely a tale of personal growth and finding spirituality or a belief in fate. Blake’s redemption was beautiful to read. Plus I loved how there is no such thing as simple coincidence and the normal six degrees of separation is more like two degrees here between all these characters. This one will stay with me for a while.
The first time reading Kelsey Kingsley’s work and I have to say, it was an impressive read. Warrior Blue is a complicated maze of coincidences and fate about two sets of twins, the Carson boys are identical while the Wright sisters are fraternal twins. It’s a heartbreaking story about how our lives are intertwined in wonderfully amazing ways, how angels are sent to look over us and survivors fight for what they believe in without it being a sermon. I would put her writing style similar to the greats like Jewel E. Ann and Emma Scott.
Oh my goodness. I honestly don’t even know where to start with talking about how much I love Warrior Blue. I simply adore this story. This story is riveting, heartbreaking, and oh so good. I wish there was more of this story for me to devour. It is that stinking good. I felt every possible emotion and I loved every second of it. This is only my second time reading Kelsey Kingsley and it certainly will not be my last.
Blake Carson is one of my favorite male leads of any book I have ever read. His story completely captivates you and draws you in. I absolutely love the fact that the entire book is told from his point of view. The story would not be what it is if it was told from anyone else’s point of view. You simply feel whatever this man is feeling. He is so brutally honest about how he views himself and the world. He doesn’t try to sugar coat anything, even if it’s not the most kind or friendly thing to say. I found his character so refreshing, but he made me so unbelievably sad too. Here is a man who no one has ever made feel special. No one has ever made him feel loved and wanted. And no one has ever told him that an accident that happened when he was ten-years-old was never his fault. It was just an accident. He never meant for the outcome that happened. He should have never been made to feel worse than he already felt, especially by the two people in the world who are supposed to love him the most no matter what, his parents. His relationship with his parents about broke my heart. There was so much anger and unnecessary hate in that relationship. It was hard to read at times. The entire family deserved so much more. But gosh, did I love Blake. He was so raw and gritty. And his character development throughout the story was out of this world. I love how he went from a closed-off, angry, and sad man to someone who expressed his feelings and desires and was so much happier and fulfilled in his life than ever before. It was such an amazing journey to be apart of. I loved the fact that he was a tattoo artist as well. Tattoos are fascinating to me and all that they represent to people. It was the perfect profession for him. Blake will always hold a special place in my heart. Always.
Jake Carson had my heart the entire story. This man is the key to his brother’s happiness. The relationship between the twins was beautiful and simply amazing. They connect in a way that most siblings don’t (and trust me I know, I have three and we don’t connect like these two do). And yes, it’s a lot for Blake but I don’t think it would work if anyone other than him was caring, truly caring, for Jake. Jake loves his brother with his entire being, his disability doesn’t change that. I think he still tries to protect Blake, even though he really can’t. It was beautiful to read. And I truly believe the happiness of each brother is connected. When Blake is happy and satisfied with life, so is Jake. Jake is easier to manage, doesn’t have as many breakdowns, and is happier himself. His disability is less of a hindrance to his family and more of a joy. Jake enjoys the simple things in life. He loves his legos and TV shows, his dog and family, and more than anything else in the world, his brother. I absolutely adore their relationship. They truly make my heart happy.
Audrey Wright is an amazing female lead. She is pretty much the exact opposite of Blake. She is the light to his darkness and they just work. She helps Blake see that there is so much more to life than just getting by each day. There is so much more to living and that Blake wasn’t truly living. He was just getting by day to day. Audrey helps Blake truly live and see that even though there is darkness and terrible things in the world, there will always be light and wonderful things as well. You can’t have one without the other. Their relationship was so interesting to watch unfold. I never would have pegged him to end up with Audrey, but they are perfect together. She’s an extremely sweet and thoughtful person. She has faith that everything happens for a reason, whether it’s good or bad. She helps Blake see reason and helps him understand that he deserves love and happiness. God, these two are everything. I also love that she treats Jake like an actual human being and not someone with a disability. She treats him as an equal when a lot of other people don’t. It’s beautiful.
Quick note on the therapist Dr. Vanessa Travetti: she is awesome! Seriously. I loved his therapist. She did not take Blake’s nonsense and always tried to help him work through his feelings and destructive thoughts. She is another reason that I believe Blake realizes he does deserve true happiness and a chance to become something more. She was one of my favorite secondary characters in this story.
Overall, if I could give this story more than five stars I would. It is simply amazing. I don’t even think there are adequate words to describe how much I love this story. I need more of these characters! I don’t think I can let them go anytime soon. They are all simply amazing. I can’t wait to read that bonus epilogue! Thank you Kelsey for writing such a truly amazing and riveting story. You should never doubt how much your readers will love this story. It’s truly amazing.
This was my first taste of this author and she didnt disappoint! Blake and Audrey’s chemistry, the whole story, was so well written, emotional and raw. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!
This book was freaking awesome!! I know Kelsey is an amazing author, but every time she writes a new book she blows me away in a new direction!
This book isn’t what I would call a romance, even though there is a love story in it. It’s more of an evolution. Of family, relationships, self discovery, and self worth. Of dealing with loss and change. Devastation and guilt. Of learning to forgive and love again, both yourself and others.
You will cry and laugh while you read this book. You will cheer and gasp. But most of all, you will FEEL! You will wonder about a higher being, about coincidences, signs, fate, – what it all means and what to do with it all.
Have I intrigued you to read this intriguing book? So, just read it! You won’t be able to put it down, I promise! You just may want to go out and get a tattoo! Definitely a 10 STAR REVIEW!
Of course Kelsey Kingsley did it again! I would expect nothing less from her. I received an ARC of this book for an honest review and I was not disappointed. I loved these characters so much and I loved that characters from other books made an appearance. I will be (im)patiently waiting for Kelsey’s next book!
Blake lives a very routine life where he works and takes care of his disabled twin brother, Jake. Rarely taking anytime to enjoy life for himself. Until he meets Audrey who flips his life upside down and has him doubting everything he has believed for the last 24 years. He finds himself wanting to be selfish for the first time in 24 years (since his brother’s accident) and is beyond conflicted about that as he blames himself for his brother’s accident and disability.
Honest review time: I wanted to quit this book. It was so depressing and I have my own issues with God that I didn’t think I could finish this book. But I didn’t give up and I am so grateful to myself that I did. So, yes this book was slow and painful at first but in the end it was so worth it. I felt so bad for how awful his parents were (mom a hag and dad just indifferent) towards him and how he was content to just wallow in his circumstances; making no effort to enrich his life because of his guilt. He lived in a world of dark. But then Audrey comes into is life and flips everything around and brings light into his world and if that wasn’t the most beautiful and moving thing ever, then I don’t know what is. I loved how she opened his mind to new things and made him realize that he can be happy and have good things happen to him without it being a betrayal to Jake. She also made him feel loved and worthy when his parents couldn’t/wouldn’t. Her unconditional love for Blake was amazing and had me constantly in tears. Gah and the way she was with Jake . . . amazing and just what Jake and Blake needed in their life. She was his light while Jake was his color. Both bringing balance and life to his dark. Amazing read and everyone should read this book.
A journey through the life of a man, who through twists and turns finds love and happiness.
This story is mind blowing.
Heart and soul went into these pages.
I’ll be a better person because of it.
All the twists and turns that lead us down the path of life.
Blake Carlson, is a twin to Jake who was injured in an accident, at the age of ten, that caused his brain to remain a child.
He takes care of his brother, which consumes his life, all the while his parents blame him for the accident.
Blake, is the only one who can calm him down when he is having a tantrum.
The only one Jake wants to be with.
Blake, is angry and dark and feels like he doesn’t deserve to be happy, because his brother will never be able to experience a full life.
He goes to therapy to help talk things out.
He works as a tattoo artist and doesn’t have time for a personal life, nor does he think he deserved one.
Audrey, is also a twin. She lost her sister to cancer over two years ago.
When she goes to Blake, to have the same tattoo that he did for her sister, Sabrina, it leads to several more encounters, that being them closer together.
Through an emotional journey we see how intertwined a life can be.
One of my favorite Kelsey Kingsley, books to date.
Book Review: Warrior Blue
Author: Kelsey Kingsley
FIVE STARS
As a twin, Blake should be on top of the world. Life took a drastic turn for him many years ago and he knows in his heart and his mind that he is to blame for what happened. Many years of therapy and nothing has changed for him. He is still responsible for his brother, he will drop all and do for him no matter what.
Blake has given up everything just to be able to do for his brother. He has no life outside of his brother and work. He doesn’t date, he doesn’t do anything for himself.
Will things change now that he has met Audrey and she has requested a tattoo, one that he can’t remember doing before, will things be different for him or will they forever remain the same.
This book brings out so many feels. Blake is so depressed and Audrey is so full of life. Can Audrey help Blake out of the hole he is in? Why is he so drawn to her?
I read this book cover to cover in one sitting. I could not put it down. Even though Blake brought a dark side to it, Audrey sure helped to brighten up the pages. LOVE them.
KLH
Wow, I just finished this book and I absolutely loved it. This is my first book by this author, and definitely will not be my last. I was blown away by her writing. Her words are beautiful, powerful, and thought-provoking. I loved her poetry.
This is the kind of book that readers live for. It is a different topic that’s not often written about, and I really enjoyed that. It took me on a wild rollercoaster of emotions, that made me feel Blake’s pain and loneliness. I felt his grief and sadness. This book was phenomenal, and I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.
This book is told only in the male POV and I loved that. I love getting to know all of Blake’s innermost feelings and thoughts.
The secondary characters are just as amazing as the main characters in this book. I loved Jake and Blake’s relationship.
This is definitely a must read for everyone. They will not regret reading this emotional rollercoaster. This is easily one of my top reads of 2020 already.
There are no words to describe this story. I was blown away by the story line, how beautifully it portrayed all the characters and the heartbreakingly way that it all came together. I absolutely loved it, so much that I raved to my family about it too!! Highly recommend.
An amazing, unforgettable story of love’s redeeming power. FIVE BRILLIANT STARS!
I’ll be honest. I was so turned off by the profusion of f-words and other profanity that I almost returned this book for a refund at 20% in. Thankfully, something (fate?) told me to keep going, and OMG! I’m so glad I did! This amazing story shredded my emotions and left me in tears. I can’t remember the last time a book touched me so powerfully, and I can only agree with the author, who wrote, “I’m not sure I’ll ever fully recover from this book. I’m not sure I ever want to.” Amen! (I hope she keeps writing her “passion projects,” no matter how scary they are.)
Basically, Warrior Blue is a story of dark and light, as depicted by that gorgeous butterfly on the cover. Blake Carson is dark: a talented tattoo artist tormented by anger, guilt and self-loathing over a childhood accident that left his identical twin brother permanently brain damaged. Psychologically abused by his mother–who blames him for the accident–Blake believes he’s unworthy of love, and he totally rejects the concept of a forgiving God. Audrey is light: a beautiful, caring young woman who is drawn to this bitter, brooding man for reasons she can’t explain (fate?). Blake fights their attraction and pushes her away, certain a monster like him doesn’t deserve her love.
Jake–Blake’s disabled brother–is such a sweetheart! He and Blake adore each other, and their close relationship is truly remarkable. It gave me new insight into the concept of disability, because Jake’s unique abilities add a great deal of interest and “color” to the story (pun intended). In several ways, Jake’s abilities surpass those of so-called normal people–something his parents sadly fail to recognize.
This story is a fascinating dichotomy of dark versus light, blame versus forgiveness, and anger versus love. Despite the rampant profanity, it’s an inspirational, profoundly spiritual journey that eventually leads Blake to an acceptance of God’s redeeming grace. It’s a journey I’ll never forget. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!