Aestas Book Blog's Reviews > Butterfly Tattoo

Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight

by
5604583
's review
May 29, 12


"Open up your heart and see where it leads you..."

Oh boy! What a beautiful, emotional book with a very unconventional love story.

This book is about love and healing. That love can be found anywhere if you let it - no boundaries, no limits. And to accept it wherever and however it comes into your life. And that no matter how bad things get, it is always possible to heal.

I smiled a lot - there were many sweet moments, I squeed once or twice, and I cried several times. The story was deeply emotional and touching. And of course, has a sweet HEA :)

This book has, honest to god, THE single most complex interconnected family dynamic I have ever read. But I loved it. It just reinforced how little difference a 'conventional' family makes. That family are the people you love and who love you - no matter who they are.

The book centers around the story of Rebecca, a former famous actress who, 3 years prior to the start of the book, was attacked by a stalker with a knife and scarred this ruining her career in front of the camera, and Michael, an electrician who works on her building who is bisexual. He was straight his whole life until he met, fell in love with, and married Alexander with whom he had a relationship that spanned over a decade and with whom he had a daughter. A year before the book begins, Alex dies in a car accident leaving Michael and their daughter devastated. When Michael meets Rebecca, he is surprised to feel a connection and longing for her despite having been with a man for the past 10 years. But their growing feelings for each other and the way that Rebecca and his daughter bond draw them closer together, helping all of them to heal from the scars of their past and learn to love again. Taking love from whatever direction it comes from.

I loved how, through Michael's memories, it almost feels as though his deceased partner Alex is a character in the book. I felt like I knew him as well as I knew Michael, Rebecca and Andrea.

The writing style of the book is beautiful. It really gets right inside the character's heads. Makes you see the world directly through their eyes.

I loved seeing the characters grow and learn to work through their issues. They were both dealing with horrible, scarring events in their pasts and doing their best to move on.

The book deals with many hard questions. Why do bad things happen? How does one move on after them? Is it alright to love again when the person you're in love with dies? Does it betray them to love someone else or is there a way of both honoring their memory and accepting someone new and continuing to live ?

"I'm here, he's not, but it doesn't answer the much bigger question...What am I, precisely, now that he's gone? " ~Michael

Although there is sex, there is no smut in this book. Its not YA by any means. But its more focused on the emotional love connection. And there are no m/m sex scenes (some people were asking me so I thought I'd mention it)

Here's how I see Rebecca and Michael:



For more of my reviews, visit http://aestasbookblog.com

Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read Butterfly Tattoo.
sign in »

Reading Progress

05/09/2012
16.0% "I don't want to put this book down but I have to get ready for bed and early work day. I reeeeally like it. I like the writing style, the characters, the storyline.... I can't wait to get back to it!" 2 comments
05/10/2012
23.0% "Oh boy. This book is beautiful. *tear*" 4 comments
05/10/2012
30.0% "Have to stop cuz it's so late but I really don't want to. Loving the story so far. Really different than anything I've read yet. Can't wait to get back to it tomorrow night!"
05/11/2012
30.0% "Finally sitting down to finish this :)"
05/11/2012
36.0% "*warm, happy, fuzzy feelings* :)"
05/11/2012
43.0% ""Open up your heart and see where it leads you...""
05/11/2012
57.0% "Okay. That is officiallyTHE most complex interconnected family relationship dynamic I've ever read. Mind mildly boggled lol" 4 comments
05/12/2012
63.0% "*tear* oh I love this!"
05/12/2012
75.0% 11 comments
05/12/2012
99.0% "Tears pouring. All done. Review to come. Sniff. Beautiful book!"
show 1 hidden update…

Comments (showing 1-42 of 42) (42 new)

dateDown_arrow    newest »

message 1: by AJ (new) - rated it 4 stars

AJ Hey - you started without me!


Aestas Book Blog Nope! Don't worry! I'm not feeling great tonight so I decided to watch a movie. I'll start this tomorrow night :)


message 3: by AJ (new) - rated it 4 stars

AJ Oh, I was hoping you could give me a little pre-review. I'm hoping to start tonight (morning your time). Enjoy your movie!


Aestas Book Blog Ugh. I'm not feeling the movie. I have an hour Now so I'll try starting this now


message 5: by AJ (new) - rated it 4 stars

AJ Beautiful review Aestas!


Gitte - TotallyBookedBlog Fab review!!! I am crying my way through it....


Becs - Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews Great review Aestas. Lots of my friends have loved this - I really must get around to reading it.


Jenny - totallybookedblog Great review. This book sounds amazing. Moving this up the tbr list.


Katie Great Review Aestas! This is one of my all time favorite books. I think I've read it a dozen times but after reading your review I'm due for a re-read.


Aestas Book Blog Wow guys! Thank you! I'm so glad you all liked the review :))


message 11: by ✿Alyssa✿ (new)

 ✿Alyssa✿ Great review Aestas! I've had so many reservations about this book, but after reading your review, I may have to give it a try :)


Aestas Book Blog aw thanks Alyssa! Its a very sweet story. I hope you like it :)


message 13: by Natalie (new) - added it

Natalie Oh wow. This sounds so good. I have to read it soon...


t'irla  ~The BookSlayer~ I'm so glad you liked it Aestas..now I don't have to duck when you throw thinks at m e for recommending it..LOL I know it went on my Fav shelf....


Aestas Book Blog LOL no ducking! I loved it! *happy sigh*
I owe you one for the recommend :)


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) Great review and love the pics!!!


Aestas Book Blog Thanks! I'll be stalking your updates :)


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) Okay not sure when I will get to this maybe this weekend. Have you read Pulled?? It is by the same author as TTR. I am curious to read more of her writing since I loved TTR.


Aestas Book Blog I did read Pulled as well as Take This Regret. It was good but not as good as TTR. Let's put it this way, I ordered TTr in hardcover but passed on Pulled. If you are interested, I have a review up that explains how I felt about it. It also has pics :)


message 20: by Tom (new)

Tom Thanks for Rebecca!! I don't get much eye candy around here. :o)


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) Okay I will check out your review. Thanks girly.


message 22: by Aestas Book Blog (last edited Jun 13, 2012 02:31pm) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Aestas Book Blog Tom wrote: "Thanks for Rebecca!! I don't get much eye candy around here. :o)"

LOL! I think all my reviews except 2 have women pics as well as guy pics... I try to match them up as best as possible :)


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) You do a good job. I always enjoy your reviews and the detail you provide.


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) So I bought this book and read like the first few pages. Does it start out really slow?


Aestas Book Blog Um... yeah kinda.. it wasn't a fast start and its not a super fast paced book but it does pull you in. Keep going a little. Have you gotten to the part where they meet? It picks up a lot after that :)


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) No I haven't gotten very far at all. I set it aside and started something else. I needed a book with instant gratification.


Aestas Book Blog Ah, yeah, this is not about instant gratification. Its beautiful but that kind of read. What did you start?


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) I started Pleasure's Edge. It is really good so far. I am about half way through it.


Aestas Book Blog oh cool! I hadn't heard of it before. My TBR is too full right now!! lol but thats how I love it :P


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) Mine is full to however I can never find something I want to read. I try and read based on recommendations and reviews. I have had a really hard time deciding what to read. You have any other books you want to recommend?


message 31: by Aestas Book Blog (last edited Jun 15, 2012 10:48am) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Aestas Book Blog Hell yeah!! I see you haven't read The Bronze Horseman (Tatiana and Alexander, #1) yet!! Its book 1 of 3 of the absolute most epic/heart wrenching/wonderful/amazing/guaranteed to make you sob/heart warming love story EVERRRRRRR!!!

Alexander is my #1 book hero *SWOOOOOON*

I gave each of the books 10 stars. They are in a whole untouchable category of their own!


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) Thanks I will have to check them out.


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) I will have to say I am not big on historical fiction though. that is the only reason I have not read it.


Aestas Book Blog trust me, it doesn't feel AT all historical. The language is plain regular, almost modern English. And no long boring history lectures either. It tells you only enough history so that you understand the events that directly affect the characters. I promise at no part does it drag. Its really really character/relationship focused. It starts out a love triangle (but with it clear which 2 are meant to be together), then at about 65% its all Alexander and Tatiana and its only about them for the rest of the series. Its seriously breathtaking. Its really not focused on the 'historical' part. I'd definitely just classify it as 'romance'.


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) Okay with that being said then I will add it to the mountain to read. I love a good romance.


Aestas Book Blog YAYAYY!!! I'm gonna do a reread sometime soon. I don't think I'll ever be tired of them :)


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) So does it move pretty fast? Is it steamy?


message 38: by Aestas Book Blog (last edited Jun 15, 2012 03:02pm) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Aestas Book Blog Yeah it's pretty fast. Definitely not slow. A lot happens! It was the kind of book that never made want to skim or skip a single word. I was just riveted to the story. I had several freak out moments in regards to the plot but AJ helped me in private messages. I'd be happy to answer any questions along that way that you might have. Honestly, I'd say they are just the absolute best books ever. Hands down.

Steamy? Let's put it this way, Alexander and Tatiana have a 75 page detailed honeymoon! :)


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) OMG 75 pages that is crazy!!!!


Aestas Book Blog And HOT!! *grin*


JoJo - JJJ (Jo Anna) Okay I just bought it. I am not in the mood to start it but will most likely begin before the weekend is up. You convinced me.


Aestas Book Blog *HAPPY DANCE* !!!!
It's veerrrrrry emotional so just save it for whenever you are in the mood for that :))


back to top