Laura's Review of Poughkeepsie (Poughkeepsie, #1) by Debra Anastasia

If you love Crow’s Row by Julie Hockley, Captive in the Dark by C.J. Roberts, and A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness then you LOVE this book!!!!

Basic Summary:  He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station.  And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform.  But Blake Hartt is not like the others…he’s homeless.  Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his sou.  He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day.

                Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city.  She dismisses the kindness as nothing special, just like her.  She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished.  But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.

Blake

                When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man.  And she’s surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend.  After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation.  Their worlds usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them.  But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength.  Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.

                Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm.  Love is patient.  Love is kind.  Love never fails.  Love never fails, right?

                In an interwoven tale of unlikely loves and relationships forged by fire, Debra Anastasia takes readers into the darkest corners of human existence, only to show them the radiant power of pure adoration and true sacrifice.  Complicated families and confused souls find their way in this novel, which manages to be racy, profane, funny, and reverent all at once.

“His eyes scanned her face like it was a million miles of heaven”

Livia

What I Love About This Book:  No character has ever enchanted me more than Blake Hartt.  He is just so amazing and so beguiling that I instantly fell in love with him from page one until the very end of this book.  Every time Livia went to meet him on the platform I had a huge smile on my face because I just love Blake so so much.  He is the quintessential prince charming, even if Livia turns out to be the hero in many instances throughout this story.  Blake is truly a beautiful human being inside and out, and he instantly grabs your heart and doesn't let go. Your heart breaks for him because of the circumstances surrounding his homelessness and his past; I so badly wanted to be his savior taking away all his pain while I was reading. 

Kyle

                There are so many amazing characters in this book, Beckett to me is the definition of an anti-hero, I think Debra Anastasia said it best that he does all the wrong things for the all the right reasons.  He’s essentially a horrible person, and his actions affect so many people negatively as learn from Eve’s back story, but you still root for him.  Beckett scared the crap out of me at first, but eventually he pulled me around and I really began to love him.  He leads a rough lifestyle so he can protect and support his brothers, and who wouldn't love someone like that?  He is often for me at least the comic relief in some scenes but very scary and devious in others.  I feel that Beckett truly found his match when he met Eve, even if the circumstances leading them falling in love are tragic you still want them to be happy together.  I love how Eve and Blake’s story kind of comes full circle at the end, and both find family with each other and with the new lives they've created. 

              

Cole

         I think out of everyone in this book the hardest person for me to get totally 100% behind was Cole, and that was because of his feelings toward Livia.  He is instantly mean to her for circumstances that she was unaware of and out of her control.  I get he is very protective of Blake and he has every right to be but his anger towards Livia is misplaced and unfounded.  I also kind of hate his belief that Blake can never lead a normal life, not really believing in the power of love.  I understand his experiences have made him believe the things he does, and he has a very haunted past but I wish he believed in Blake more.  As the book goes on though he becomes Kyle’s hero and I just absolutely LOVE Kyle!  Like Beckett she is the comic relief in some scenes with her huge mouth and very aggressive attitude.  She is all bravado with such a scarred soul inside, although Kyle and Livia are sisters they experienced life very differently.  I think I can relate the most to Kyle because of her outward toughness that she shows to everyone but inside she’s hurt and hasn't fully recovered from her mother abandoning her as a child.

         I love the brotherhood between Blake, Beckett, and Cole, they are the true definition of unconditional love and family even if they aren't blood related.  All three came together in foster care, and once you meet all three of them you know they would gladly die for each of them.  To me it was one of the most redeeming qualities of Beckett and Cole when they both got the "Sorry" tattoo on the wrist just because Blake got it just symbolize how strong of a relationship the three had.  I love that the tattoo became something new and personal for each of them, and how it meant so much to each of them.  It's probably the most redeeming quality of Beckett and its one of the only reasons why I liked Cole in the beginning.  I love that even after each aged out of the system it was only thing they had to really hold onto and they created their own definition of family, and proved that there are more important things that blood relatives.  

“Livia, you make the rest of the beautiful things in the world cry for even trying at all.  You make it hard for me to breathe.”

Cons: I literally can’t think of one thing that I didn't like about this book.  Every element of this book was amazing, even the writing and details were right on point.  So for once I am going to be leave this section pathetically short.

Eve

Overall:  Debra Anastasia has a way of writing modern day stories like an old beautiful fairy tale.  I can’t get over how amazing this book is.  Each character’s story throughout is so beautifully done.  I feel like I would fight to death for Blake, Beckett, Livia, Kyle, Eve, and even Cole.  The character development in this book is right on point; I didn't feel like there were either too much or too little details about each person.  The pace of the book is really amazing as well, I never felt like there was a lull in the story.  There were so many times in this book that I had to hold my breath waiting to see what was going to happen next.  I was laughing at certain parts of the story, and crying in others.  So many touching moments I can’t even count.  I love how Debra Anastasia writes stories,  I've read her Seraphim series as well and she just spins these amazing stories in such a way that you feel like you’re under a spell. 

Beckett

           So much stuff happens in this one book that by the time I was done and wiping the tears from my eyes I felt like I had read a trilogy not a book.  I had major book hangover after I was done with this book because I can’t stop thinking about Livia and Blake and their happily ever after.  I can’t stop wanting some sort of happiness for Beckett and cannot freaking wait for Return to Poughkeepsie. I need more Beckett, Cole, and Blake in my life!!!!! I’ve never wanted to meet a mysterious man on a train platform before this book but now I’m packing my bags and moving to Poughkeepsie.  This story reminds you to not ignore the less fortunate; they are humans just like the rest of us and certain no person should ever feel invisible.  This book has also taught me that in every situation no matter how horrible or hopeless it might be there is still something to be grateful for and to appreciate every second you had on this earth.  Blake Hartt is truly an amazing character, I didn’t think it was possible to create someone like him and bring him to life in so many ways but Debra Anastasia did that and I thank her so much for it!!!