When I was fifteen, a single bullet changed my life. I spent the next decade trying to outrun the devastation of my past, building an empire that would shield me from whatever life could throw at me.But all the money in the world couldn’t help me when I found a screaming newborn abandoned on my doorstep.I’d never wanted to be a father. Passing the sludge that ran through my veins down to an … veins down to an innocent child seemed like a tragedy. But there she was—pink cheeks, red hair, and mine.
Somehow, against all logic, that little girl became the best thing that ever happened to me. It was impossible to stay lost in the past when I was the only one who could protect her future.
Which is exactly why, when her mother came back four years later, I was ready for battle.
If only I could stop myself from falling in love with her during the war.
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4.5 stars for – Written With You – the second book in the Regret Duet by Aly Martinez. Book one – Written With Regret – must be read first in order to fully understand what is going on. This book picks up right after the jaw dropping cliffhanger in book one and it will hold you captive until the very last page. Martinez doesn’t disappoint and takes you on one heck of a ride with twists you won’t ever see coming.
Caven Hunt lived through things other people only read about it in the news and yet he turned out to be a decent man and excellent father. His daughter – Rosie – comes first regardless of what happens and how he feels so suddenly having her mother back in their lives has been life changing for the both of them. Caven vowed long ago to do whatever he has to do for his daughter and he never imagined the lengths you go to when you’re a parent.
This was an emotional, sexy and very intriguing duet that I highly recommend reading ASAP!
I am still in a state of shock days later after reading the conclusion to this freakin amazing duet!!! There were twists and turns and surprises that I NEVER saw coming I swear it felt like at every corner with this story. I absolutely loved everything about this book….my heart ached for Hadley and the demons she was fighting against. I laughed, swooned, and shed a lot of tears but it was worth it. This talented author delivered such a phenominal story that I know it will stay with me for a very long time. If you haven’t read it grab the books asap you will not regret reading Caven and Hadley’s story….promise. I can’t wait to read the next book this amazing author puts out next….well done!!!!!
Maybe you are afraid to read this story because you saw everyone losing their minds over the way Written with Regret ended. Maybe you are afraid to read this story because it looks emotional and angsty and like it might mess with your head a little bit. Maybe you don’t like cliffies or you don’t like duets or you don’t like…I don’t know, really freaking amazing books. Whatever reason you have for holding off, can I just beg of you? READ THESE BOOKS.
READ THEM.
I 100% promise you it is worth it.
I mean, there is a cliffy. But with this book, the entire duet is now available, and I assure you that while it twists and turns at what sometimes feels like breakneck speed, that cliffy is ultimately resolved in a spectacularly satisfying way.
And yes, it is emotional and angsty and holy hannah will it ever mess with your head. And your heart. And maybe your blood pressure a little bit. But I couldn’t put it down. I tuned out my entire family and the whole world around me and I lost myself completely in the conclusion of this unbelievable story and these amazing characters.
I can’t tell you the last time I felt such an intense book hangover, or such a feeling of loss now that the story is over. This story was intense and addicting, and heartbreaking, and adorable, and funny, and horrifying and somehow so so beautiful. It was literally all the things in the most perfect way you could ever imagine.
I am blown away.
I am so in awe.
I am so in love.
I am bouncing up and down, shouting from the rooftops: READ THIS BOOK! ~ 6 Stars
“I don’t believe there is a reason for anything that happens. There are only actions, consequences, and unorchestrated coincidences. But every now and then, after the pain and heartache settle, beauty can be found in the consequences.”
Beauty…that’s something that the hero and heroine of Aly Martinez’s The Regret Duet haven’t had much of for most of their lives due to other people’s malicious intentions and machinations. But while their pasts still very much define their present and make everything that’s happened overwhelming and confusing, there’s also a bond there – one that hopefully will sustain them through the pain, the devastation, and the uncontrollable emotions and memories that still carry an incredible amount of weight in determining how they proceed.
But regardless of how much time these two have spent apart, their lives were written with each other since their initial tragic interaction and while they’ve had to wade through so much baggage and too many elephants threatening to trample them, they’re alive…they’re together and that has to be enough…AND, it so is because when they add in a giggling and beyond precious 4 year old who loves them with all of her heart, they can’t be anything but, and even though their scars will always be with them, they can let go of the guilt and the regret that once consumed them as long as they remember that living and feeling are exactly what those they loved and lost would want them to do.
Aly Martinez is a phenomenal writer who seamlessly weaves suspense, drama, and passion together in a way that readers can’t help but be consumed with, and her latest duet, Written with Regret and Written with You, is everything that I’ve grown to love about Martinez’s storytelling and character development as well as the twists and turns she takes readers on as they attempt to figure out how the plot’s conflicts will be resolved and let me tell you, the ending of this duet is something I never saw coming, which is exactly why I adored it!
4.5 Poison Apples
I’m not usually a cliffhanger fan, but somehow Aly Martinez creates duets (with cliffys of course) that slay me and I’m simply addicted! I don’t mind (in fact I LOVE) being on the edge of my seat while reading her stories. There’s always a twist or two I don’t usually see coming and I love that OMG moment every time. After reading Written With Regret, I was so excited to finish the story with Written With You. The Regret Duet is completely unique and this story was incredible. Go into this one blind and ready for a ride. Written With You and Written With Regret and both brilliant- if you enjoy romantic suspense, the duet is a must read!
“There are only actions, consequences, and unorchestrated coincidence. But every now and then, after the pain and heartache settle, beauty can be found in the consequences.”
I anxiously read the conclusion of this duet. I read cover to cover without putting it down. I was an emotional mess. You can’t know another’s internal demons by looking at them. You will only know if they want them revealed.
This book is filled with love, regret, guilt, lies, betrayal, hope, friendship, loyalty and forgiveness.
“It’s okay to live with regret… But it’s something totally different to live in regret.”
How much pain, deceit and lies can one handle? How many times can your guardian angel protect and guide you? How much can you forgive?
This is the second book in the series and Written with Regret must be read first.
The end of the first book leaves us with our jaw dropping as Trent Hunt has figurered things out but the question is what happens now.
When Caven Hunt is able to figure things out with help from his best friend Ian Villa he wants Ms. Banks out of his and Rosalee’s life for good. Yet he is also torn as he has fallen in love and now is struggling to pick up the pieces.
Ms. Banks had everything torn from her when she was 8 years old and saw her parents murdered in front of her but she was saved by a hero whom she always hung onto the memory of but her sister wasn’t so lucky and she was never the same after that day. Now all she has left for family is Rosalee and she doesn’t want to give that up.
As Caven and Ms. Banks struggle to deal with the past they must all face their love for one another and see if they can overcome all of the lies and secrets.
Yet soon both of them discover the past has a way of rearing it’s ugly head when you least expect it.
OMG – this was such an incredible conclusion!! In one sense I really wanted more but at the same time I was still reeling on the surprises and twists that this one had that left me with my jaw open and hanging down in shock!
I completely understood why Caven was so hurt after being lied to and deceived but he completely blew up and was so mad that my heart broke for Rosalee. She was too young to understand why and she loved Hadley so much. I was so shocked that it was Ian who made Caven see things differently which ended up helping so much!
I knew already that there was some deception with Ms.Banks but I also knew that there had to be a good reason and slowly we figure out why. Yet we also know that there is still some danger for Hadley when she is personally attacked and saved by Ian. That begins setting everything else into motion and we realize how much Caven still cares.
There was so much chemistry between the two but they needed to figure things out from the bottom up to the lies and because of each of their respective pasts. Each of them had to come to terms with certain events and how that influenced the rest of their lives.
When a certain puzzle piece falls into place at Ms.Banks place it was like OMG!!! I was so shocked yet at the same time it made sense for the day at the mall. The ending was pretty intense and I was very surprised at everything revealed about one character.
The epilogue was awesome and I am so happy for how everything turned out although I hope we get more of these characters in another book!
WOW! What an amazing ending to this duet! Aly Martinez does it again! Hadley and Caven’s story picks up right where Written with Regret left us. I was able to read this book in just one day. I was so excited about this story and I was not disappointed! FIVE STARS!!
5 stars!
I really can’t say anything about this book without spoiling the first in the duet so this will be vague. But if you loved Written with Regret, then you are going to love this conclusion to the story.
This book picks up immediately after that massive cliffhanger that changed everything for Caven and Hadley, and I was immediately sucked back into these characters’ lives. Through happiness, heartache, angst, devastation, grief, guilt and back, I felt it all, and I was on this wild ride right along with them.
“God, why does this hurt?”
“Because love is an impossible game. Especially when only one person knows the rules.
This book answers all of the questions that I had, and provides even more depth to this amazing story. Everything that I wanted to know is explored in great detail, and there are even more twists and turns revealed. It’s jaw dropping and exciting, dramatic and beautifully emotional and I loved it all!
“The only reason I hate you is because I can’t figure out how to fucking hate you at all.”
These characters have been through SO much, and they are still wrestling with the ghosts of their past. They have a lot to overcome before they can claim their HEA, and though my heart ached for them, I have so much love for them both and I loved watching them work through it as they found their way forward together.
“Tonight, we are living in the seconds. And in this second … you are okay. We can fix the rest of it.”
The love story is dramatic, thrilling, unexpected and exciting, it’s sexy and sweet and so freaking romantic. Little Rosalee continues to light up every scene she is in, and I came to love Caven’s best friend, Ian, even more. I’m hoping that we get a book for him in the future.
Aly Martinez proves once again why she’s one of my favourite authors. She sucks you into her stories and makes you feel everything before leaving you on a glorious high. I loved this one!
5 stars.
The way the first part of the duet ended had my jaw hanging open and begging for me. Thank goodness Written With You picked up right where things left off because there was no way I could let that bombshell go!
It was only a matter of time before the secret Hadley was keeping came to light and when it did, the earth shook beneath Caven’s feet. He was a mix of angry and sad and overwhelmed. And he wasn’t sure how he was going to break it to sweet Rosie. Talk about a heartbreaking sacrifice. The things that Willow did for Hadley, for Rosie for Caven were so selfless that I couldn’t help but hope something good would happen for her.
Mini spoiler alert….things got worse before they got better. But when Willow was threatened, it was all Caven could do to keep his wits about him. There was a lot of soul searching, more confessions and even more forgiveness. Just when I thought things were going to be alright, that they had all settled into their new normal, the other shoe dropped again.
Oh my goodness. Aly Martinez, I hereby dub thee QUEEN OF THE PLOT TWIST! I didn’t see that coming in the slightest. I was just as blindsided as Caven and Willow. My heart was racing and I was reading as fast as my eyes would let me and it still wasn’t fast enough. Written With You gave me emotional whiplash. I went from shocked to upset to happy to fearful in the span of a few chapters. But that ending, it was the kind of happy that put a smile on my heart. It was what that they all deserved after the hell they had been through.
The conclusion we’ve been waiting for is here!!! Read this duet immediately. You’ll never be the same.
The incredible conclusion to the Regret Duet. All the answers, all the emotion, get you to the finish line of this maze of lies and illusions. All while Hadley and Caven figure out who they are, how they work and where they go from here. This story and their connection had me. I couldn’t look away and I damn well couldn’t put it down. I needed to see how they survived. Together or apart. If you’re looking for a pulse pounding read to keep you wanting more, look no further.
Book starts exactly where the cliffhanger left us… this one is a must read it for yourself duet..no spoilers..
Shocking and intense but definitely a great conclusion.
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 5/5
Secondary Characters~ 5/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 5/5
Addictiveness~5/5
Angst~ 5/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 5/5
Theme or Tone~ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 5/5
Book Cover~ Haunting but beautiful
Source~ Kindle eBook – ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Aly Martinez has delivered an absolute masterpiece with this conclusion in The Regret Duet! I thought I knew what to expect, what the outcome would be, but let me tell you that NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING could have prepared me for the twists, turns and bombshells that dropped while devouring this book! I was hanging on the edge of my seat, not sure if I wanted to turn the next page, afraid of what would happen next because my heart was racing with anticipation and intrigue all because……I COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN! If you read anything this year READ THE REGRET DUET!!! This is without a doubt one of the best duets I’ve read this year abd one that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
THRILLING & STUNNING LOVE STORY!!
AN ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING DUET!!
You guys! You know how you read a duet and the first book is truly amazing but then you get to the second book and it’s like the author lost their steam and it falls short….yea? Okay, well…..
THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE! Aly Martinez will BLOW YOUR MIND all the while making you fall in absolute adoration for the little family building!
The level of forgiveness in this book! Both of others and yourself…prepare to be emotional! At times it’s tough! One of the purest love stories wrapped in tragedy, secrets and self-loathing. I cried more during this second book than I did the first! Be prepared to FEEL EVERYTHING!
I love the heroine, the hero and the cute little sidekick!
Side note: Caven is absolutely EPIC as a dad! No doubt! Hands down one of my favorites! EVER!
I’m not a spoiler, but I just have to say one thing! I love that the author did not make everything MAGICALLY better in this story! Life freaking sucks sometimes and we don’t always get what we want! That is not a reflection of the people you love but rather the events that happen around you while you’re creating this perfect little world for yourself to hide away in. You could live in the sorrow and regrets of what you couldn’t have but what kind of life is that….you have to take what you do find, hold onto it tightly and make the absolute best of it!
This duet was my first time reading Aly Martinez!! Let me tell you what, if you have some of her books on your TBR but you haven’t taken that plunge yet for whatever reason…BUMP HER TO THE TOP!! I can’t wait to dive into more of her work!
Just when you think there could be no more secrets….
Honestly, I don’t really know what I could say with this review that everyone hasn’t already said. If book one Written with Regret did not completely blow your mind with the plot twists and secrets than Written with You will!!
“God, why does this hurt?”
“Because love is an impossible game. Especially when only one person knows the rules.”
Caven is just as wonderful and loving but now without a doubt I can say I LOVED our heroine!! She was so much more than I thought she was from book one and then some. Then Rosalee, that little girl moved my heart and made me laugh just when I needed it
I finished this duet in less than 24 hours and I regret NOTHING! These are my first novels by Aly Martinez, and she did not disappoint. Heres to finding more incredible stories that break my heart and wound my soul just as these two did.
Caven is a memorable character.
SPOILERS POSSIBLE! I listened to this on Audible.com because I love Fox and Ardnt as they always add more to any story they narrrate.
OMG! The only reason I did not ball my eyes out several times is that I already have a migraine and it would just get worse. But let me tell you that this book deserves 6 stars and 6 boxes of kleenex.
This book had more twists and turns and secrets than the winding roads of Connecticut I grew up surrounded around. Just when I would think I knew the story and could sit back, relax, and enjoy the unfolding of the rest of the story, another twist would happen.
Powerful Story, Powerful Beginning, Powerful Ending, Unbelievable In Between!!!!! Love the crazy wounded main characters and their crazy little family.
And here i thought we got all the twist and turns in the first book but holy goodness that was just the start.
This book was phenomenal i loved absolutely everything about it. God i loved Caven he was such and innocent in the this whole storyline and he was like he got so stuffed over by everyone in his life he got lied to, his family kept him in the dark the only person he could trust was his daughter Rosalee and that broke my heart.
I did love Willow even though she was one to lie to Caven but i could also see why, she had been through so much as well as Caven and it was awesome like they were both just surviving until they were able to trust each other.
Holy hell this book had it all no it wasn’t super steamy but for me that did not matter it was all about the storyline and it was absolutely amazing.
This would have to be one of my favourite duets ever and the twists and the things we didn’t see coming had me putting the kindle down regrouping and finishing this story in one go.
I would and will be recommending this duet to anyone and everyone loved loved loved it. I still have left this vague but you need to go in blind and and just really take the story in second by second, word for word it was beautiful, funny, emotional, heartbreaking and couldn’t recommend this anymore
Written with You is the bewildering conclusion of The Regret Duet. This duet is absolutely amazing, kept me enthralled and entertained throughout all the twists and turns, the ins and outs of how two people who met in a food court a decade ago become entwined in each other’s lives.
They both took a bullet, both survived, one ended up with a child left at their door and that was the beginning of another life thrown in the mix of the past and the present.
I cannot say enough about the talents of Aly Martinez, her writing style and the ideas that she creates is astonishing.