Summary:
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.”
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.
Review:
I have to say that I liked Return to Poughkeepsie better than the original. Gasp....did I just say that?
Okay, since I haven't reviewed the first book on here, I'll give the jest of my feelings on the first book, then move on to the second.
Poughkeepsie is one of those books that everyone raves about. Every review that I personally read loved this book. Even the ratings on Amazon and Goodreads showed that lots of people really like this book, so, all those people can't be wrong.
I really went into this book having no idea where it was going or what it was about. Sometimes I look at the summary, and sometimes I don't.
The story is about 3 "brothers" (brothers from another mother) who will die for each other, literally. They all have their own demons and Poughkeepsie is the story of them fighting them in adulthood and moving past them.
Each brother has a story. The book started out slow for me, mostly speaking about Blake's and Livia's story and how it unfolds. I feel like Debra didn't go into as much detail about either one of the boys stories as much as she did Blake and Livia's, but that could be because she was introducing all the other characters at the same time. -remember, I didn't know anything about the story.
I don't want to say too much because really, anything more at this point would give away plot points, and I just can't do that.
I will say that I found myself less interested in Livia and Blake's story and Cole and his woman's story once Beckett was introduced. All I wanted to do was read about him. So I skimmed. Yep. I said it. I skimmed.
So, moving on to Return to Poughkeepsie. I felt like Blake & Cole's story were wrapped up nicely in Poughkeepsie, but I just couldn't get enough of Beckett and Eve. Man, I'm fucked up in the head. I need counseling to cheer for such a man that can do so much evil, but show heart. I feel like an abused women giving excuses about why I love her man. Well, maybe that isn't an exact analogy, because Beckett doesn't hurt those he cares about, but will kill others without a second thought.
Return to Poughkeepsie had lots of action and lots of moments that had me turning the pages, but it was only when I was reading about Beckett or Eve. I found myself skimming again when I was reading about Blake or Cole. I know, I suck, but I felt like their lives were good already. I needed closure with Beckett.
So, do we get closure with Beckett? Yeah, kind of. If you read until the end of the book, there is closure, but if you read the sneak peak of book 3, no, no closure. You are pissed at Debra. Why.....why did you do that to me.....
So, if you want a HEA, don't read the sneak peak. My advice to you.
Overall rating of Return to Poughkeepsie, 3.5.
5 stars to Beckett's story, but 2-3 for Blake and Cole's. That is just me. If you loved their story and want to see how they continue, you will love this book, but if you found yourself skimming their story in the first book, you will probably do that in parts of this book too. Beckett's story is too good to not read though!
I have to say that I liked Return to Poughkeepsie better than the original. Gasp....did I just say that?
Okay, since I haven't reviewed the first book on here, I'll give the jest of my feelings on the first book, then move on to the second.
Poughkeepsie is one of those books that everyone raves about. Every review that I personally read loved this book. Even the ratings on Amazon and Goodreads showed that lots of people really like this book, so, all those people can't be wrong.
I really went into this book having no idea where it was going or what it was about. Sometimes I look at the summary, and sometimes I don't.
The story is about 3 "brothers" (brothers from another mother) who will die for each other, literally. They all have their own demons and Poughkeepsie is the story of them fighting them in adulthood and moving past them.
Each brother has a story. The book started out slow for me, mostly speaking about Blake's and Livia's story and how it unfolds. I feel like Debra didn't go into as much detail about either one of the boys stories as much as she did Blake and Livia's, but that could be because she was introducing all the other characters at the same time. -remember, I didn't know anything about the story.
I don't want to say too much because really, anything more at this point would give away plot points, and I just can't do that.
I will say that I found myself less interested in Livia and Blake's story and Cole and his woman's story once Beckett was introduced. All I wanted to do was read about him. So I skimmed. Yep. I said it. I skimmed.
So, moving on to Return to Poughkeepsie. I felt like Blake & Cole's story were wrapped up nicely in Poughkeepsie, but I just couldn't get enough of Beckett and Eve. Man, I'm fucked up in the head. I need counseling to cheer for such a man that can do so much evil, but show heart. I feel like an abused women giving excuses about why I love her man. Well, maybe that isn't an exact analogy, because Beckett doesn't hurt those he cares about, but will kill others without a second thought.
Return to Poughkeepsie had lots of action and lots of moments that had me turning the pages, but it was only when I was reading about Beckett or Eve. I found myself skimming again when I was reading about Blake or Cole. I know, I suck, but I felt like their lives were good already. I needed closure with Beckett.
So, do we get closure with Beckett? Yeah, kind of. If you read until the end of the book, there is closure, but if you read the sneak peak of book 3, no, no closure. You are pissed at Debra. Why.....why did you do that to me.....
So, if you want a HEA, don't read the sneak peak. My advice to you.
Overall rating of Return to Poughkeepsie, 3.5.
5 stars to Beckett's story, but 2-3 for Blake and Cole's. That is just me. If you loved their story and want to see how they continue, you will love this book, but if you found yourself skimming their story in the first book, you will probably do that in parts of this book too. Beckett's story is too good to not read though!
Bio:
Debra Anastasia is busy, just like every other mom. There's dinner, the dogs, the two kids, the two kids, and her ongoing battle with...ahem... digestive issues, which combined with her adolescent boy sense of humor makes for colorful and sometimes cringe-worthy social media updates. Her first love and crowning achievement is her thriving career as the weirdest mom on the block.
Her writing started a decent handful of years ago when--along with the animals and humans in her house--the voices of characters started whispering stories in Debra's ear. Insomnia was the gateway to plots that wouldn't give up, wouldn't let go. Now they stalk her everywhere. Halfway through making lunches, a twist takes hold and--fingers full of peanut butter--she finds somewhere, anywhere to write it down.
She's eternally grateful to Omnific Publishing, which has now published four of her books: two in the Seraphim Series and two in the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series, as well as her novella, Late Night with Andres. That one is special because 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. (So go get it right now, please!) She also very much appreciates her open-minded readers, who embrace everything she has to offer, with a focus on anti-heroes and bathroom humor.
Debra lives in Maryland with her family. You can find her at DebraAnastasia.com and on Twitter @Debra_Anastasia. But be prepared.
Debra lives in Maryland with her family. You can find her at DebraAnastasia.com and on Twitter @Debra_Anastasia. But be prepared.
Interview:
Are you more of an introvert or extrovert? I'm an extrovert god help us all. I'm not like a dancing on the table swinging my boobs like helicopter blades outgoing, but I have no trouble talking the people I don't know?
Do you have a book boyfriend and if so, who is it? Right this very second my book boyfriend is Beckett as I write the third book in the Poughkeepsie series. He needs some extra love!
Favorite drink while working? Arizona Iced Tea. The one with the checkerboard on the front. Everyone must love that too because it is always out at my local stores. I buy three gallons at a time it is so rare to see it.
Cliffhangers or no cliffhangers? (do you like to use them) I like a cliff dangler, but I need to give the reader some closure too. I'm not a huge fan of reading them unless the next book is coining out fairly soon.
Music/TV or Silence? What are you listening to while your write? I have to have music. All the time, but especially when I write. In my upcoming Enhanced Poughkeepsie Collector's Edition App, the music plays while you read! Ron Pope is featured because he was always on whenever I write about the Poughkeepsie characters.
What is your guiltiest pleasure? No judging here on Chapter Break. I think it would be easier to tell you what I do that doesn't make me feel guilty!i think I feel the worst about eating chocolate cookie dough when I'm supposed to make cookies out of them.
What is the best best advice you ever received? "If you're not having a good time it's your own god damn fault." That's from my amazing grandfather who wore all white suits and was the life of every party. I miss him!
What is one thing you do better at than most? I like to be loyal to friends. Not sure I do that better than most, but I'm proud of how deeply I love people.
What is one thing that you do worse at than most? I suck at writing down things while people tell me how to spell them. And I can't tell my right from my left without my wedding band. And I can't stop laughing when I fart. I have a lot of problems.
Last words or words of encouragement? Anything else we would love to know? My words of encouragement are always that tomorrow is a hope, not a promise, enjoy the day you're in. I think people need to know that whenever they fart, somewhere I'm cherring them on!
Emmy
Ben
