Title: Resurrecting Phoenix
Author: Isabel Lucero
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: September 24, 2015
Anniversaries are usually occasions worth celebrating, but when your fourth wedding anniversary is also the first anniversary of your husband’s death, you’ll only want to drink your sorrows away. And that’s exactly what Phoenix Nightingale does.
In the small town of Breckshire Wyoming, everybody knows everybody, so when Evan Tyler walks into the same bar she’s drowning her grief in, Phoenix knows that he’s new in town. What she doesn’t know is that he’s just moved in a few houses down from her and is about to try his hardest to break through the wall she’s had up for a year.
Phoenix has experienced a tragedy that nobody ever wants to experience. In the year following her husband’s death, she’s had what her parent’s considered embarrassing public meltdowns, and lost some friends along with her career. Just as she feels she’s at her very lowest, Evan barges into her life, forcing her to get out of the house and look at life a little differently.
He vows to help her, encouraging her to rise from the ashes and live once again. Evan doesn’t know that just by being in her life, he’s bound to send her into a tailspin, because both of them are keeping things from each other, and Phoenix may not be strong enough to handle what she finds out.
Will she pull him into the dark with her, or will he be able to resurrect Phoenix, freeing her from the depths of her depression, and show her that surviving isn’t the same as living?
“It looks like you have freckles,” Evan says, touching a dot of paint on my face.
I give him a small smile and take a step back. He runs his hand through his hair, pushing the longer pieces back into place. I laugh when he looks back at me.
“You have a large dollop of paint on your forehead,” I laugh.
“What?” he asks, putting his hand to his forehead.
“How much paint did you have on the roller that a huge glob fell onto you? And how did you not feel that?” I say, still laughing.
“Find that funny, do you?” he says with a wicked gleam in his eye as he takes a step forward.
“Oh no. Don’t you dare!” I exclaim, moving back.
“What? I just want you to help me get it off.” He places a small paintbrush near the can of paint.
“I don’t believe you,” I say, moving slowly away from him.
A huge grin breaks out on his face at the same time he lunges towards me. I let out a girly squeal as he grabs me and runs a paint coated finger across my cheek, under my eye.
“You have a streak of paint on your face,” he announces.
I pull away from him, my mouth open in shock. “I can’t believe you just did that,” I say, amusement clear in my voice.
I step past him and towards the paint can. Dipping my forefinger in the thick color, I turn around to look at him.
“I think we’re even,” he says, looking around the room for an escape route.
I wipe my finger across the skin under my other eye, and put my hands on my hips. “Fine. I’ll just finish painting your wall.”
Turning around, I bend down to pour some more paint into the tray. I can hear his slow and cautious steps coming towards me.
“So, we’re good?” he asks.
“Yep. Now, come help me.”
He bends down next to me and as soon as he does, I dip my hand into the paint, coating only my palm, and quickly touch his face and run it down his neck.
I’m up and running instantly.
“Oh, you’re gonna get it!” he calls.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I screech, not knowing where to run.
I go towards the bathroom, laughing the hardest I have in a long time. Evan is behind me and turning me towards him with a pull on my arm. He then puts his own paint covered hand on my cheek.
As we stand in the dim hallway, our bodies touching and chests heaving, I look into his honey brown eyes, and then to his mouth. Our laughter dissipates into a silent staring contest. His lips are perfectly proportioned, both almost the same size. Not too full, but not too thin.
Feeling a little uncomfortable with where my mind is taking me, I speak up. “I guess we’re even now.” My voice is husky as I speak the words.
Those perfect lips quirk up on the side. “I guess so.”
Foxy Rating = Five Beautiful Stars
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
This book was one of those little gems that come along once
in a while that draw you in completely. For me it is one of the most
outstanding reads of this year. It was different to what I was expecting but
absolutely pleasantly so.
Phoenix Nightingale has been through hell, the most
impossible time that few could bare but surprisingly she has survived but not
without losing part of who she used to be. The person she is now is somebody
she would never have envisioned she could ever be. Three years ago she lost her
husband. On their third anniversary. They were so happy with their bright
future clearly laid out for them to see until one horrific night he was taken
so violently from her. But she has survived even though she has lost her friends
and family she has found her coping mechanism at the bottom of the vodka
bottle, so yes she is surviving but barely so. Then Evan Tyler comes to live in
her town, on her street. Her new neighbour sees her struggling and recognising
some of the pain she is in, he attempts to break down the brick wall she has so
cleverly erected around herself.
This was a beautifully written story of loss, betrayal and
such desolate despair. The journey that Phoenix goes through starts off so
hauntingly sad that you instantly feel for this beautiful young woman. I loved
how the despair gradually turns to recognition of her loss, her attempt to claw
her way back and finally hope for the future. But all this is down to Evan
being there for her, constantly drawing her out of her emotional prison. The way
that the story evolves to one of romance was so cleverly interwoven that the
flow was so natural to become invested in.
Evan was like a breath of fresh air, so devilishly handsome
with his washboard abs and his captivating smile and easy manner, he was so
easy to fall for. Everybody should have an Evan. He was funny too, had me
cracking up with some of his subtle smutty one liners. The way he eventually
got Phoenix to smile again and then finally to laugh along with him was
perfect.
So although this story starts off with a heart wrenching
prologue this evolves into one of the most romantic love stories I have read.
This was more of an emotional love story than an erotic one but don’t get me
wrong there were still some passionate times between the sheets or on the couch.
Evan knew how to turn a woman on!
What I also liked was how Evan was so supportive and
understanding about Phoenix feelings towards Gordon, her late husband. He didn’t
let Gordon become a subject to be avoided, he actively encouraged Phoenix to
remember her love for him. Yes she could love again and once she let that guilt
go she was relieved of the burden she was unnecessarily carrying.
If you have gone through loss then this story will resonate
with you. The journey of that loss and grief and how this transcends into
acceptance and moving on to a new path in life. A really beautiful read with a
wonderfully happy ever after.
Five stars.
Isabel Lucero is the author of the romantic suspense novel The Secrets That We Keep and the bestselling erotic romance books Living in Sin, Unforgivable Sin, and Sins & Mistrust; books one, two, and three in The Escort Series. She also penned the crime drama, WAR.
She was born in a small town in New Mexico and was lucky enough to escape and travel the world thanks to her husband's career in the Air Force. She's been married for eleven years to the love of her life and Jr. High School sweetheart. Together they have two of the best and most beautiful kids in the world.
Isabel's love for reading is anything but new, she's been reading since before she was a teenager.
She’s a multi-genre author, tackling genres such as romantic suspense, erotic romance, crime drama, and contemporary romance.
She currently lives overseas and is constantly coming up with new book ideas, so keep an eye open for new stories coming your way. Isabel loves connecting with her readers and fans of books in general. You can find her on her personal website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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