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Book Review-Heaven and Hell by Kristen Ashley

by | May 7, 2020 | Book Reviews | 0 comments

Book Review-Heaven and Hell by Kristen Ashley

Book Review-Heaven and Hell by Kristen AshleyHeaven and Hell by Kristen Ashley
on December 28, 2011
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 472
Format: eBook
Source: Self Purchased
Goodreads
AmazonLibrary Thing
five-stars

After making a bad decision when she was very young, Kia Clementine finds herself in hell. Then, suddenly, within the time it takes for a shotgun to blast, her hell changes. Completely. Then out-of-the-blue she sees Sampson Cooper, her celebrity crush. A man the whole world knows is decent. A man the world knows is loyal. A man the world knows is good. All of these very unlike her now dead husband.
He’s sitting at a table right next to hers. And she catches his eye.
Terrified of the interest Sam shows in her, Kia finds the courage to go out with him. Not long after, she shares her dark secrets and Sam shares that he’ll stop at nothing to gain her trust.
As Sam leads Kia to heaven, Kia realizes that Sam is living his own hell. But although he gives her beauty and she gives him everything, he withholds his trust.
Even with all the beauty Sam shows her, Kia wants it all. But Sam forces Kia to make a heartbreaking decision and only she can decide. It’s all or nothing.

Heaven and Hell is a single title from Kristen Ashley, although there is a novella in “Loose Ends” about a couple that we see featured in this book. I have been wanting to work towards reading more of this author and quite frankly she is my NIRVANNA when it comes to romance. I swear I will never get enough of her work and most especially her characters. This is what I am so gravitated towards the most in her stories, the way she just addicts the reader to her character’s personalities and you just want to fight for their story to turn into a happy HEA.

Heaven and Hell begins with our heroine, Kia Clementine, who has suffered abused for seven long years. And now she is free from her late husband who along with his mistress tried to put a hit out on her. Now she has inherited a wealth and now she aches to find the heaven after her hell she has lived. So she heads to Europe, near Greece and meets a man she never expected, a man she has had a girl like crush on for years. A famous football player, Sampson Cooper. There is an instant connection between the two. And even though Kia isn’t sure what to make of Samson, she knows she will regret it for the rest of her life if she doesn’t act. And before she knows it, she is swept away by Sampson and his devotion to her and their relationship and showing her how to conduct a relationship in a productive healthy way. But there are demons from her past, demons she will need to face if she hopes to embrace the bright future with Sampson.

There are very few, very fuckin’ few people, Kia, who get what’s precious in this world. They work their asses off for pure shit and think they’d fight and die to keep it. You don’t fight and die for shit. You fight and die for things that matter. You are the first woman I’ve met outside a life that leads you to understand that shit who gets that. And straight up, baby, you gotta know, I like that a fuckuva lot.

Heaven and Hell was a breathtaking book and from the first chapter I was captivated by this story. I just couldn’t put this book down ….*sigh* boy have I been picking up some goodies lately and Heaven and Hell is definitely going to top the list for best reads of the year. I just loved everything about this book and couldn’t get enough of it. Sampson and Kia made for such a great couple. And I do love seeing a couple get together from the beginning and see such relatability in the relationship we see here. And one of my favorite things…..the balance and showing of what a healthy romantic relationship can be. We just don’t see enough of this in romance. Kia hasn’t really known what its like to be in a healthy balanced relationship. To give and give back, to help each other and be open and understanding completely.

In his arms, pressed close, and feeling something I hadn’t felt in years. Something precious I lost, and even precious, I didn’t notice it was missing, but something I recognized as precious instantly when I got it back. Safe.

Sampson is determined to show Kia what it means to be in such a good relationship and I loved how he stood up to her when she used passive agressive behavior at times. (As someone who relates to this as I used to do this before I realized how abusive it is to others) I really appreciated seeing an author showcase this.

I see it, Kia, and I get this is gonna take effort. But what I’m sensin’ is, you don’t notice I’m makin’ that effort. Don’t fuck up, baby, and out of habit reinforce your shields to hold back a threat that doesn’t exist. You get me?”

Too often I see heroines abused the heroes and what I LOVE about Kristen Ashley is seeing the hero stand up to the heroine in this abuse and set her straight. We need more men like that. Who stand up for positive healthy behaviors in a relationship. But also Sampson does it carefully and gently knowing she has been abused for years. He is so patient and understanding. Kia is a wonderful heroine though. She is always working on being better with Sampson, letting go of her demons and striving for more in her life.

That’s your first block, baby. Use it, step up on it and keep climbing. You’ll get to the other side.

Overall I found Heaven and Hell to be a striking romance that tears through barriers to the heart and soul of a pair and delivers in such a beautiful way.

About Kristen Ashley

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

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