Release date: 15th December 2015
One shy lost soul.
One silent lonely heart.
One love to save them both.
Life has never been easy for twenty-year-old Levi Carillo. The youngest of the Carillo boys, Levi is nothing like his older brothers. He isn’t dark in looks or intimidating to everyone he meets. In fact, he’s quite the opposite. Haunted by a crippling shyness and the tragic events of his past, Levi spends his days with his head buried in his books, or training hard for his college football team. Too timid to talk to girls, Levi stays as far away as possible and completely on his own… until he saves the life of a troubled pretty blonde, a troubled pretty blonde that might just be the exception to his rule.
Elsie Hall is homeless. Or at least that’s all anyone ever sees. Everyday is a fight for survival on the cold streets of Seattle, everyday a struggle to find food and keep warm. Alone in life—a life that’s dangerous and cruel—her will to keep going is an ever-losing battle. In her world of silence, Elsie has given up hope that her life will contain anything but constant struggle and pain… until the beautiful boy she has severely wronged comes to her rescue at precisely the right time.
New Adult novel—contains sexual situations and mature topics. Suited for ages 18 and up
*I kindly received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I have read every one of Tillie’s books and thought that I had already sampled her best work this year, when I read Souls Unfractured from her Hangmen Series.
Levi Carillo is the youngest, sweetest and most innocent of the brothers and I expected his story to have a little of the angst that we have come to expect before Tillie tied up the Sweet Home Series in a nice heart warming bow, what I got instead was a whole lot more of well, everything!
I really should have known that Tillie would throw everything she had at this book. These boy’s are her original babies after all and it show’s.
I knew going in that Levi was suffering, after all he has been through, losing his mum and the guilt he carried , the things he was forced to do for the Heighters and Axel going to jail affected him deeply but I had no idea just how closed off this beautiful man had become. His almost crippling shyness has made sharing his life and his ‘sweet soul’ with someone almost impossible, instead of partying with his friends and acting his age, Levi has thrown himself into his studies and his football believing that he will never have what his brothers have because he is different.
When Levi rescues a very sick girl from danger, although she has previously done him wrong, he doesn’t hesitate to step in and make sure that she is safe. In doing so, an irrevocable bond is formed that is both beautiful and utterly heart breaking to be a part of. In the process of trying to put this silent fragile girl back together, Levi finally has to confront his own past and the demons that he has carried with him. Can he finally let go of the past and embrace the future he deserves? Can the girl he has given his heart to be everything that he needs her to be in order to survive in his world?
Tillie always manages to delivery a message with her story telling. Writing gives an Author a voice and Tillie uses her voice to the very best of her ability, never one to shy away from the taboo subjects that society wishes to sweep under the carpet, this time we find Tillie bringing topics such as mental health, suicide and bullying to the forefront with such utter compassion and soul destroying clarity that it will break your heart and give you something to think about long after you have turned the final page.
I really am in awe of this woman’s writing and her ability to make you care about her characters. I ugly cried at this book like never before but it was worth it, even if I have puffy eyes for days. The poetry in this book is also beautiful and I can only presume that Tillie has written them herself. Is there no end to this women’s talents?? All of the brothers and their gals are there to help along the way providing much needed support and allowing for some of the most poignant scenes in the book, so if you are missing, Rome, Austin or Axel, you will get your fix.
If you haven’t read any of this Author’s work I suggest you do so now and the Sweet Home Series is the perfect place to start.
Well Done Tillie.
Shaz x
PURCHASE LINKS TO FOLLOW AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE
https://twitter.com/tillie_cole
https://www.facebook.com/tilliecoleauthor
Rock Hard Romance 
You must be logged in to post a comment.