Category: Debra Anatasia

Synopsis

Beckett Taylor is a murderer. His calling, his craft are destruction and intimidation—whether he wants it that way now or not. He left Poughkeepsie to keep his brothers safe, to keep Eve safe. Set up with happy lives to live, they’re better off without him, right?

But all his willpower crumbles when he hears his brother Blake’s frantic voice on the phone. An unknown enemy has moved in on his old territory, and Livia’s been taken. In an instant, Beckett knows it will take an attack only he and Eve can execute to bring her back. All his self-imposed embargoes are torn to shreds, perhaps along with the new man he’s struggled to become.

“Brother, call Eve. I’ll be there soon.”

In this emotional and action-packed sequel to Poughkeepsie, Debra Anastasia conjures a tale of love at its most raw and ragged. With Beckett and Eve, how could we expect anything less? But even when it’s messy, not magical, true love perseveres. Real love finds a way—for better or for worse until death does part.

5 OUT OF 5

My review of Poughkeepsie

——————————————————————–

My Review

If you have been with my from the start of my blog, you will remember that Poughkeepsie and the characters were a major part in the 30 Day Book Challenge and you will also remember just how MUCH I freaking love Poughkeepsie…i think its obvious as its one of my top books this year. When I received a tweet from Debra asking me if I wanted an ARC of Return to Poughkeepsie, I actually could not keep the grin off my face and the second it landed in my inbox I was a goner.

Before you read this review, I want you to buy both Poughkeepsie and Return to Poughkeepsie and read them. I promise you you will not regret divulging your time in these stories and with these characters…you will actually pretty much love them all  (and hate the ones you are supposed to). The story is gritty, its filled with crime and murder…many murder scenes I had to read quickly, but both books are filled to the brim with love and loyalty and despite the fact that Beckett is a murderer, he is so loyal to his brothers that he will do whatever he can to protect them and that they wish and ask for nothing, and that is exactly what he does.

We all know what went down in Poughkeepsie, well the ones of us who have read it and Return to Poughkeepsie is Beckett and I’d say, Eves story too. Beckett is on the run, he wants to redeem himself and after 5 years, 5 years with no contact to his family, one phone call from Blake is all he needs to return. We go through the motions, following Beckett, Eve, Cole and Kyle, Blake and Livias storylines, which all entwine within one another in some way or form. We are also introduced to new characters. Some evil such as Mary Ellen, some I was in two minds over because I adore my Beckett, but in the end I was loving Ryan and I fell in love with Ghandi…you will know who he is and love him too! 😉

All the evils have reasons to go after Beckett; they want to overpower Poughkeepsie for themselves and its up to Eve and Beckett to make sure this doesnt happen. So what in the fucking hell is going to go down with Beckett’s return?

Let’s start with Eve. God, Eve is such a bloody badass! Like seriously, she is deadly, murderous and a girl after my own heart. Hiding a knife in her hair? Uhhh you are awesome. Knowing how to assassin, clear a murder scene, make sure she doesnt get caught, Eve is the epitome of someone who is trained to kill, someone who is careful in her ways but someone who has let love into her heart, no matter how much she told herself she would never love again. Eve was once happy but now? She has seen death, has had her heart ripped out, and this made her change. She’s a trained killer and a bloody good one at that!

She aims to protect her family, and will do whatever she can to do that…if it means going undercover. She has to get information and stay close to Mary Ellen, despite just wanting to kill her. Eve is most definitely a strong character. She loves Beckett even after five years but there is just something about Ryan, the undercover copper she is working with to take down Mary-Ellen. Their banter made me giggle, they had sweet moments too and when shit hit the fan, you knew she cared about him but he didn’t have her heart. She does something in a moment of carelessness but you know the love of Beckett will save her anywhere, any time she needs it. And I was pleading for him to turn up at the right time. She’s strong willed and hides her fear underneath, not wanting to show it at all. I admire Eve a lot, especially with everything she had been through in life. I just hope she had a happy ending…well as happy as can be in book three.

Beckett is a wanted man. We know his crimes, his murders and now on the run from Poughkeepsie, all he wants is to see his family, but he knows the moment he steps foot in Poughkeepsie, the cops will be on him. He thinks everyone will just be better off without him if he dies but something stops him. He wants to be a better man, but its hard for him. He’s always lived this crime riddled life since getting out of the foster system, he built up his empire so his brothers would be safe and cared for, needing nothing when they too get out of the system. He did it for them. We see Beckett try to redeem himself, he tries for five years to be a better man, to help those in need, to care, to not murder and let people deal with things in their own way. He misses Eve like no tomorrow, but he tells himself that he’s not worthy of her, despite loving her and hating the fact she could be with someone else.

His family will always come first and he will always drop everything to run back to safe them, and that is exactly what he does when Livia gets taken. I love Beckett a lot, and if you look past all the murders, there is someone who loves with everything, loves his family, wants them safe and protected and if that means not being around them, not having contact then he will do it. But it kills him not knowing about their life for the past 5 years. We watch him kick into ‘boss’ mode and get all his old ’employee’s’ to help him take down Mary-Ellen and her father from overtaking Poughkeepsie . Yes, its Beckett’s turf, although not being around for 5 years and he can still turn on the charm and the fear into people.

I did enjoy seeing two sides to Beckett. His old self returning and the calmer one, the one who wants to redeem himself, helps other people, even owns a shop! Despite seeing this whole other caring side, you know deep down that it could be enough, but its not enough. He wants Eve with him, wants his brothers and sister-in-laws with him and you know he still has the murder inside him. But WELCOME BACK BECKETT, you utter babe you, with your fierceness, your pet names, your banter and your heart full of love for everyone.

We indulge into the lives of Cole and Kyle so much more in this book. Their story is most definitely heartbreaking and clutches at your chest because of everything they go through. But Cole is there, every step of the way with Kyle when a part of her dies every month and a bigger part of her dies after something happens. She is distraught, blaming herself but Cole is there, holding her, soothing her best he can, telling her just how much he loves her, how he is not going to let her go. You seem them both struggle in their own ways, but their love never falters between them. You know Cole will be there in a heartbeat when Kyle needs him and you now Kyle will do the same.

EEEE Blake and Livia ❤ One of my favourite couples. I loved seeing their story advance. They really went through so much shit in Poughkeepsie and to be standing strong together, to have a family of their own, jobs, a house, it was pure bliss to witness them. To see their love grows each day, that they will fight to their dying day to be together…which is technically what happened, but these two hold a special place in my heart. They banter, they confess their love, they have others who have their heart now too, and they are perfect. When Livia gets taken, Blake will do whatever he can to get her back, and her reverts back to his ‘tramp’ days to find her. Love definitely overpowers these two and I was so glad when Livia was safe and sound, back with Blake and her family. I liked seeing Blake overcoming his sun fear, the one which killed me a little in the first book. We see him overcome so much and it was amazing to see him so content and happy with his life, with his family, with his love for Livia. These two definitely deserve so much happiness together.

The suspense over what will happen will keep you on your toes and turning the pages. From the first page…no the first sentence I was hooked and I knew, I just knew that Return to Poughkeepsie would be another book that stole my heart and had me reading well into the night/morning, not wanting to put it down, needing to know what the eff was happening or going to happen with each and every storyline and character.

Grab it now and get to know each and every character. Fall in love, be on tenterhooks and bug Debra for book three now! I need it after that little teaser in the back.

——————————————————————–

Poughkeepsie links:

Amazon UK || Amazon US

Return to Poughkeepsie:

Amazon UK || Amazon US