4.5 Smooches!
Synopsis
Former rebel-punk foster child. Has-been golden boy swim champ. Second chance at the love of a lifetime, or all-consuming mistake?
Drowning in guilt, Sage Shepard and Brandon Tiggs have spent the last seven years blaming themselves for their post-graduation break-up. Brand numbs the pain by sleepwalking through his monotonous existence. Sage seeks solace in random strangers—names optional.
When Sage returns to the town she left years ago, she unknowingly walks right back into Brand’s life. Mid-divorce, Brand sees Sage’s return as the opportunity of a lifetime. But Sage doesn’t believe in second chances, and still hasn’t forgiven herself for the mistakes she made in the most important relationship of her existence.
Their all-consuming love reignites, and as passion threatens to undo them, it’s all either can do to stay afloat.
Some mistakes refuse to stay in the past.
Sometimes ‘wrong’ is the best kind of right.
CHLORINE & CHAOS is the first book of the Flawed Heroes series; each book is an interconnected standalone.
Trigger warning: this book contains themes of recovery from abuse that includes flashbacks to abuse and self harm, as well as a situation in which legal lines of consent are blurred during drunk sex, which may be triggering to some readers.
Review
CHLORINE & CHAOS is the first book of the Flawed Heroes series.
Chaos? YES! This book definitely lived up to it’s name. It certainly was chaotic! Sage and Brandon are childhood sweethearts. Well they were up until graduation. Both filled with insecurities and so much guilt on how each one had a part in their separation that neither of them never really wanted to happen. Luck is something that was never on their side but when they get that second chance, can they hold onto it?
‘..Because here she was. Back inside with the one guy she’d loved since she knew how to love. what the hell was she supposed to do with that?‘
When I first read the synopsis of this book I was quite excited and so intrigued! I knew I had never read anything like this before. So I was excited to I start reading it. This book is all about second chances. It’s about love. but it sure as hell isn’t easy, it’s a roller caster ride. It is definitely chaotic and gripping and definitely not a “hearts and fluff” type of story but it had it’s sweet and funny and hot moments too!
“Fuck, Brand, please don’t stop. It’s even better than I remember!”
I loved Jimmy! he is an essential character in the book that we meet- he is Sage’s brother. He steals my heart everytime he says something, everytime him and sage have a conversation, this book needed his character, needed his personality he was the light to the slight darkness to this book.
“Jimmy please sit down. You’re making me dizzy.”
“Oh no, sister, that’s the love making you dizzy”
This story deals with a lot more than just a second chance at love. It deals with very serious, very real issues and Jessalyn Jameson does it very well. I didn’t like the choices Sage made, I thought WHY??!! but I was never angry at her, I always sympathized with her, my heart hurt for her and that was something that surprised me because of the choices she made usually pisses me off but I just hurt for her instead. There was times in this book that you really don’t know where it’s headed and I am not used to that in a book. I love the push and pull between a couple in a book but knowing they will work it out but I just didn’t know in this book and my hand was itching to just skip straight to the end on my kindle to put mysel at ease because I was so anxious and so curious to how this was going to play out. However, I didn’t and I am so happy I didn’t ruin it for myself because even though it was an emotional ride, it was completely necessary.
The style of writing wasn’t my favourite. I love it when it’s the character your reading it through, like your hanging onto every word, experiencing it with the character. Whereas the style of writing Jessalyn chooses, is almost like a third-person writing it, your reading about them instead of with them, but that is just my preference and Jameson has written it so well the writing doesn’t matter as such! Some of the topics aren’t an easy read but so worth it! Even if I tried taking a break from it I couldn’t the story is compelling I needed to know what happened where the story was going to go.
As I mentioned before this is a series. The next book in the series is called WHISKEY BURNED, and will feature new characters and we get a glimpse into this story at the end of Chlorine&Chaos. This book reminded me of the ignite trilogy by Tara Sivec, although this was darker, in my opinion. so if you have read those books and enjoyed them I definitely think you will enjoy this one!
~Jade
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