***This is Book 2 in the Surrender Series. It is recommended you read book 1, Surrendering, before reading Surviving.***
Raven Hayes experienced a love she thought would last forever. Declan Collins consumed her from the moment she fell into his arms. Their love was what fairytales are made of. But when his band is given an opportunity of a lifetime, he made the one choice that would tear them apart. Walking away from him and leaving for the summer seemed to be the best idea to mend a broken heart. With the love and support of her best friend, the pain eases, but a decision has to be made. Is Declan her forever? Is she prepared to have a place in his rock star life? Declan’s broken when Raven leaves. She tamed him and taught him what all- consuming love is. So many factors tried to pull them apart, but his choice was the one to push her away and possibly into the arms of another man. Losing her is not an option. Now he’ll do anything to get her back. And this time she will never doubt the depth of his love and commitment to her. The journey to their happily ever after is paved with obstacles and challenges, will their love survive?
*Due to graphic language and explicit sexual situations, this book is recommended for readers 18+.
USA Today Bestselling Author Ahren spent her formative years living in an active volcano. There her family made collectible lava art. She studied rock collecting at the Sorbonne in France. There she met the love of her life-her pet pig Sybil. She returned to the states and started writing. She is happily married to a guy who used to live under a bridge and she met while pole-dancing.
Now, meet the real me. I grew up in the south and consider myself a true “Southerner”. Most of the special locations mentioned in my books are reflections of my favorite places. Living on the Florida coast, my family spends a lot time at the beach which is where I usually can be found with a book in my hand.
ok - I am just going to put this entire review as a spoiler so I do not have to tag each item. So please do not read this if you do not want details on this book!
First - a disclaimer! I did NOT read the first book. You might be thinking..."hey, CC, why the hell did you do that?" well...I did not know which book was first and popped open this one and started reading. Of course, I noticed immediately that this was the second book. However, I could also tell immediately that I would not like the first book, so I just kept plowing ahead.
The overarching thing I kept thinking during this book is an expression I have never used in my life, but it is appropriate!
SAVE YOUR DRAMA FOR YOUR MAMA
This is a DRAMA filled (angst filled) relationship. I can only imagine the first book was 1000 times worse and I would have hated it. Plus it sounded like their separation was caused by lack of communication, selfishness, being obtuse and immaturity. Not my favorite plot devices. From reading this book, I could basically gather everything that happened in the first book. Aside from a couple of events, I am not curious about it.
This reads like a NA book, even though they were mid - late 20s, which is not my favorite thing. This book is LOOOONG. Or at least feels that way. It could have been cut in half. You will like the epilogue though.
ok - the good stuff - Declan was totally over the moon in love/obsessed with Raven. It was sweet, funny and gave me warm and fuzzies.
Raven - once they were back together - was pretty ok with his obsession and did not create unneeded angst and drama over it. She also dealt well with the rock star life - whores and crazy people. She had her moments, but in general this couple communicated VERY well the second time around. This gets me to three stars because nothing that follows does.
The beginning - the separation/break/break up? who knows?!
I thought I would be ok with her dating - I was NOT! Because it was not a couple of dates and some kisses. It was serious and he told her he was in love with her and she said she loved him too (but you knew that meant not the same way). They spent six weeks "dating" plus the prior two or three together as just friends. That was a pretty real relationship.
The ONLY reason they did not sleep together is because Finn was such a stand up guy and refused her naked in his shower asking him to fuck her. (an immature reaction to something she thought Declan had done)
Plus I found out that she left Declan with a NOTE and her ring and would never speak to him about her issues (they were ENGAGED at the time!!!). This was not the result of him cheating or anything even close to that. He was freaked and called and texted her every day - which she would not answer. At the end of the trip, at least Finn recognized that things were not really settled between her and Declan and he basically "sent her back".
Declan was a drunk mess for the first few weeks. Culminating in going out for a smoke and his band mates sending a slut out to give him a blow job in the alley. She manages to kiss his neck and get his pants down and he "cannot" say no, because he is too drunk and his mouth won't move. Huh? But he can go out for a smoke?! Seriously?! One of his actual friends comes outside and stops it. If not for Ryan, I 100% believe she would have gotten her lips around his dick.
So I guess they deserve each other.
The middle/end
What she did with Finn continued to cause them problems for almost the entire book. In the form of pictures of her and Finn all over Paris at all the romantic sites! Lovely. She seriously sent these to her friends, who include Declan's two sisters! BITCH! It really hurt Declan and he had to live with it and have Finn in their wedding party to make her happy! BITCH again! Finn was gracious and I do believe he realized that she was not the one for him, but he was hurt. Of course!
Her friends bugged me more than entertained. There were too many of them, but they provided filler that was not needed in an already bloated book!
The little dramas that kept popping up just dragged the damn book out. They as a couple were resolved by 50%, I did not need more than an epilogue after that!
I could go on, and on, but I figure I will hit a rant character maximum soon!
At the end of the day, for all my bitching I actually did read the entire book. So it kept me somewhat interested. I think a lot of that had to do with Declan obsessive behavior, which I loved!
ok one last note - a little comedy. I LOVED how she taught him not to sign his autograph on women's body parts! He was going to sign a woman's breast. She stopped him. He was confused, because that was where the woman wanted him to sign...what's the problem? Instead of having a hissy fit, she starts to pick up her shirt and when he asks what she is doing she tells him that she is going to get certain guys to sign her stomach, lower back, etc. He gets the picture real quick!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
All I have to say about this book is .... 4.5STARS for all the HOTNESS and sexy male characters.
Yes that's the feeling I have after the long read and at times I nearly just skipped to the ending but nope you want to enjoy the ride of Declan and Raven. Even though the drama was unfolding and it was like their life story was written in nearly every chapter you won't be disappointed cause I actually feel in love with the characters. Declan will always be a crack-up and I like his no filter attitude and he just oozes all this charm and you will feel it coming through the book.
For each character, each event and each drama brought tears, laughter and lots of craziness to this length of story that at times wasn't necessary but really worth this read but I'm not yet ready to say goodbye to Declan, Raven Finn Robbie amd the rest of the characters and most of all I'll miss Finn, he was my favorite and throughout the book I knew while reading that he was not the one and I'll forever probably silently wish for (TeamFinn).
Surviving leaves off where Surrender ended. I don't want to delve in too much into where Raven Hayes and Declan Collins are in their relationship but Declan has no plans of letting Raven get away, she is his everything. I thought this as a fantastic follow up. Has a few surprises along the way. This series is a bit of a time investment but well worth it.
Just to let everyone know, this is the continuation of Raven and Declan's story from the book Surrendering. If you haven't read book 1, you must read that one first. Also, I wouldn't advise reading this review as there will be some spoilers for the last book.
So...where do I start? I have mixed feelings about this one. I hate writing reviews when I'm feeling conflicted. I feel like I'm not going to write a fair review since I'm not 100% clear on what to rate it/think about it. So to give the most fair review I can, this review will be my personal pros and cons of the book. What worked for me, what didn't. And hopefully you all can decide if this series will be for you.
First of all, what I LOVED. Not liked, loved. Yes, there were some things that I was crazy about (in a good way) and my feelings are still inconsistent.
I LOVED Declan in this book even more than the first one. He became the ultimate book boyfriend for anybody who loves hot as hell rockers. What wasn't to like? I mean, he's inked and pierced in places you can see AND places you can't...if you know what I mean. And he uses those piercings to his full advantage. He takes direction well. For example, while she was in Paris, he found her smutty romance books and educated himself on some new moves and tried each and every one of those bad boys out. He's that perfect blend of possessive, jealous, and protective. The trifecta of BBs that we ladies all search for. He treats her like she's made of glass-if anyone dares to mess with her, he's in their face protecting his woman. All I can say is, he pulled his head out of his ass and got his shit together. After taking her for granted and making his band his priority over her in the last book, he snapped back to reality and realized what he had to do after she went to Paris. She is the number one most important thing in his life and he's not afraid to tell the world. And he makes sure that she knows as well.
Finn, her best (guy) friend and surprise love interest. I loved Finn's character. He went out of his way to make sure that Raven made the choice that was best for HER. Even though he was in love with her, he didn't push her to do anything unless she was completely sure it was what she wanted. He could have taken advantage of her in her vulnerable time, but he was a perfect gentleman and was very supportive of her. He did some amazing and romantic things for her in Paris and I fell a little bit for him when he took her to the Wall of I Love You's. It was SO sweet!
I loved the music scene in the book and everything involved: cutting an album, the fans, making a music video, the touring, concerts. Seeing someone rising to stardom might go through was pretty great. It wasn't just about how hot the band was and how all the women wanted them. It was about the music and the experience. That was refreshing.
What I didn't love.Mainly it was two things.
1) I didn't like how Raven acted in Paris.
2)Mixed feelings on the supporting characters
Ok, there is a HUGE cast of characters here. I mentioned that about the first book and I felt the same way about this one. In fact, there were actually a few NEW characters added on! There was a brother, 2 sisters, 3 band mates, 10 friends, (I think) 3 parents, and a couple other minor people. They weren't just thrown in, they had a major part in the story as well. It had to be the biggest supporting characters I've seen in a contemporary romance. Paranormal/ Urban Fantasy, this is normal. Not CR. I did like that they were so close to their friends and family and that they were a part of their lives in a big way. It was sweet, they were a riot at times, and it made the book more fun. BUT...I think I could have done with less of them. They seemed to take away from the main characters' story a bit and let me tell you, it's been a few months since I read the last book, so I had to go and read my review and remind myself who was who. And poor Raven was struggling to find some alone time with with her man with all the people around all the time.
Declan is in for the fight of his life to prove to Raven that he's come to his senses and he's ready to make things right. Raven is doubtful, but with a little communication, can they repair what's been ripped apart?
To sum it up, there was a LOT going on in this book. It's very action packed, lots of friends and family hanging out, hooking up, making up and breaking up. There's an awesome music scene that's fun and different from the usual rockstar plot. There's hot ex-military security men, rockstars, and sassy friends. I enjoyed the conclusion to this story and the epilogue especially was fabulous! I'm going with 3.5 stars because I just can't make my mind up between 3 and 4 but don't let that scare you off. This series has a lot going for it and there's a lot to love.
Thank heavens!! I was soooooo ready to read this freaking book, and I must say I was NOT disappointed. This year so far has been a roller coaster of emotional books for me, so it was wonderful to sit back and read what true love feels like, without all the bull shit. Oh there was plenty of drama, but more so than that, was friendships, band mates, new love, and more hotness that had me facebook Ahren to tell her how hot that scene just was. Now lets get to it….
Welcome back Ravenl (Raven) Hayes! If you read book one, that cliff hanger on the end, had EVERYPNE upset that Raven had given up (the love of my life) Declan Collins, and her BFF Finn, was there on the plane to pick up the pieces. I was like “NOOO!! Don’t do this to me!” at the very beginning of the story. I could not read Raven making a big mistake, did it happen though? Ohh…you will have to read and see. Now Declan “mother fucking” Collins; that is still one sexy beast. He’s everything you could want in a rocker boyfriend, husband, lover, etc. He will do absolutely anything for Raven and I appreciated that about him. But, before you get to the good stuff of the meat in the relationship, you have to read what happened while Raven was away, and the dumb ass decisions, Declan found himself making….
Now, Ahren got straight to it with this book, not keeping her main characters separated for long. I liked that, I was afraid it would be too long for the characters to even interact, but when they hit the homecoming fireworks took off from there. The drama, press, girls, Finn, and family….nothing was left unsaid, and surprises were definitely made. I literally could not put this don, and when I finally finished it I was pissed at myself for not having more restraint in the first place. LOL. This is a must-read for anyone out there who loves a good rock n roll book and sexy times.
10+STARS! DECLAN IS BACK AND HOT AS EVER! You know, I must say, this is way up there on stories I have read. I love every character in this read. The "protecters" could protect me any day! Declan has ruined me for my book boyfriends~ still my number one. I can't tell you how many times I smiled and laughed at things he did (he hasn't changed by the way)and things that happened to him...I couldn't stop laughing...Raven, still loved her, is it possible to be jealous of her? yeah, I think so. Finn isn't to bad either BUT no one holds a torch to Declan. AHREN SANDERS, you know how it's done for girls out there who love an alpha as strong as Declan (over the top) I'm going to miss the whole gang. I can recommend a read that a hottie falls right under Declan (for me anyway) and it is called THIS REGRET, it is a love triangle between 2 brothers Kade & Kellan and let me tell you it's the best love triangle I've read yet. KELLAN IS HOT, and o so YUMMY he made me drool the entire time. It is a standalone and worthy of the read.
All I got to say is DECLAN COLLINS.. I love you!! I'm a Sayge groupie for life! I totally needed this read. I missed reading about sexy rock stars and Mr. Collins has made it on my list of hot rockers! I was immediately drawn into this series. I loved everything about it. Raven was used to having protective male figures in her life. She has Robbie and her dad and all her guy friends who want nothing but the best, including her best friend Finn. I liked that they had a whole posse with them the whole time. It's one big family!
This time around Sayge has grown into a major band. They have tours, and lots of promo so they're now in the limelight. But that hasn't affected Declan and ravens relationship. They're love is still so strong and so intense I loved it all. There were some ups and downs but I knew that they would survive it. I really truly would recommend this to everyone, it's such an amazing, steamy story. Amazing job Ahren Sanders! And the ending was just how I pictured it. Perfect!!
This had an interesting theme. I really liked Declan. He was very alpha and just very awesome. The side characters were all very interesting. I liked that Raven was not a doormat. The things I didn't like. This was a long book and it should have been at least 100 pages less. I skimmed a lot. There was a lot of sex. There were too many people in this book. There were ten male besties six to eight female besties. They were always mentioned in the book. I think 20% of the book was spent on name listing alone. The heroine was not my fav. She was snarky but in an arrogant way and too often I thought she was a snobbish bitch. All the hugging, jumping into guys arms, kissing and flirting. Blah! No wonder Declan was a jealous control freak. She wasn't very smart. I don't know how many times she'd been groped by guys or assaulted by women yet she was always wandering off by herself. She rationalizes to Declan her male friends are protecting her but she always takes off without telling people. Then the skimpy out fits. She fights Declan and the guys on her lack of attire but doesn't understand why a guy would think she is a groupie and accosts her after she's wandering in a dark hallway. Everyone was sweet, smart, loyal, gorgeous and perfect. Perfect jobs, perfect family, perfect friends and perfect spouse/lover etc. over kill. Too much of everything! 2.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Absolutely ADORE Raven and Declan!!! I have re-read Surrender several times and will continue to do so again and again. The same goes for Surviving!!! I don't think I will ever get tired of this series. The story is one of the best I have ever read. I hated to see it end. But the ending was perfect. Ahren Sanders will always be in my top five storytellers. Can't get enough of her!!!
Warning!!! Please do not read this review if you have not read book one, Surrendering.
Sometimes you read a book and you love it, you talk about it and then you move on to another author and their book. But when you read a book and you can’t stop thinking about it, and you can’t wait to tell everyone how amazing it is and it is, books that will stay with you forever.
Well let me tell you right now Ahren Sanders gave me a gift with her debut novel, Surrendering. The story is everything I want in a book. I adore books when the main characters become the center of my world and to top it off it has an ensemble cast of characters and you can connect with every one of them. I like when an author continues a series with other characters but I love it more when I get to know their stories right along with the main story. I can’t imagine it being easy writing so many differently personalities at once.
Surviving is part two of Declan and Raven’s story. Surrendering left you with a big gasp moment and I could not wait to get my hands on Surviving. It begins where the first left off and I promise that you will get your answers pretty quickly. I was so scared to find out which way the story was going to go and the author really played it out in a way that caused me squirm in my seat in anticipation.
I will say that part two of the story was just as fantastic and smoking hot as book one. The sexy hot tourage is back and in full force and provided me with more laugh out loud moments. It continued to be full of highly erotic sex that only Declan and Raven can do. WARNING!! Declan’s dirty mouth will still set you on fire! HAVE A FIREMAN ON SPEED DIAL! YOU CAN USE HIM TO PUT THE FIRE OUT OR IGNITE IT TO BURN MORE, IT IS UP TO YOU! I know what I would choose.
I think what I loved most about the second part of this story besides Declan being naked is that it is not full of angst and crazy misunderstandings that cause riffs with this couple even though there are people that try to tear them apart. Declan and Raven, communicate with each other, they discuss the obstacles that can get in their way and how best to deal with them. Declan usually gets his way, he is super alpha when it comes to Raven and she can’t seem to say no to him. Declan can be very, very persuasive. Their lives are changing and growing and I love how they grow with it. You know the saying “There is no I in TEAM” that is what Declan, Raven and even their friends are, 100 % team. It is a pleasure watching the love grow stronger and the relationship maturing. That is what real life is about. Not everything is perfect all the time but everything can be made better or damn near perfect with communication, love and support. I loved how strongly they loved each other; it was very powerful.
If you are a follower of my reviews and have liked what I have offered as great reads in the past then you will absolutely love Ahren Sander’s books. There were some amazingly beautiful moments in this story that had me grabbing for the tissues. I am so delighted that most of those tears were from happiness. The story had the greatest of Happily Ever Afters and left me very satisfied but sad that it had to end.
Review to come during tour- I LOVE DECLAN! The sequel to Surrendering, this book was even better for me. Don’t get me wrong I loved the first book! Yet reading the ins and outs of actually making their commitment work was fantastic. Learning to live together and compromise all the while dealing with the new fame that surrounds Declan and Sayge- easy, right?!?!
Raven truly comes into her own. Standing up for herself and making her needs known. Supporting Declan and Sayge with their climb into the spotlight, while finding her place in the madness.
Then there is Declan. Alpha to the core. Protective to the extreme-which is necessary with the crazies in their life! Completely and utterly devoted to Raven. He won’t make the same mistake again. Fortunately he has the support of his brothers in his band and their friends and family.
There are still ups and downs. But they’ve both stopped running.
The chemistry and passion between them continues to grow and intensify. Can we say yummy piercing???
The secondary characters continue to shine and help the story move along. A truly incredible group of friends.
Dual POV is done well. Characters grow and mature and their honesty rings true.
An perfect ending for Declan and Raven. I’ve enjoyed my time in this colorful world that AS has made real. At times raw and frustrating, yet ultimately a beautiful love story. Exactly what Declan and Raven deserve!
Fortunately, both hero and heroine didn't cheat during their short separation. Although Declan acted like a jerk when he chose his band over Raven, and Finn was definitely a sweeter and more reliable man, we all knew women tend to love bad boys, so... hope Finn can get his HEA in another book.
What I liked: I liked how they finally got everything worked out and a HEA
What I didn’t like: There was no need for a second book. I felt if we took away some of their everyday life it could have been one book instead of two. Also, I knew right away who was leaking the pictures and I wish they both got more of a punishment.
How hot was it: 3 out 5
Triggers: None
Final thoughts: This was the second book for the same couple and I’m glad they got a HEA. A lot of people recommend Hot Shot so I think I will give that book a try and skip the third book in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Surviving Review 5+++ Stars (Spoilers if you haven’t read Surrendering)
Surviving picks up right where Surrendering left off. Raven has left Declan (and returned his engagement ring) to take a summer job in Paris after Declan chose his band Sayge over her. Raven is devastated but feels leaving is the right thing to do. While on the plane Finn surprises Raven and she is happy to have her close friend with her. What she doesn’t know is that Finn is in love with her. That’s where Surrendering ends and Surviving picks up.
As predicted Declan is a mess. He can’t believe he screwed up so bad. He wants to go to Raven but his sisters and friends tell him to give her the space she asked for plus the band is scheduled to tour. Declan texts and calls Raven daily but she refuses to answer. The first part of the book centers on Raven and Finn in Paris. I won’t go into details but this part of the book explores the possibility of what kind of relationship Raven and Finn may have. It also has great descriptions of many of Paris’s many wonderful sights as Raven and Finn explore the city together.
During Raven’s time in Paris we watch Declan self-destruct while on tour. Finally someone you least expect pulls him out of his funk and helps him get his shit together before Raven comes home. This person wants Declan to fight to win Raven back.
All of your favorite characters are back in this book making you feel like you’re back within the fold of this close knit family and friends. There are Declan’s two sisters Abbi and Ella. Then there are Cooper, Blake and Nate, the band members. Raven’s girlfriends, Kendall, Harper and Charlie are back and of course Raven’s brother Robbie and his close knit group of friends, Jimi, Gabe, Tripp and Finn, who have always thought of Raven as their little sister. And finally Raven’s parents, James and Jenna, and Declan’s dad are back as well.
One of things I liked best about this book is that when Raven and Declan finally reconcile they face all of the adversity and trials in their relationship together. Too many other books with sequels have the hero and heroine breaking up and filling the reader with angst again and again. In this book the Declan and Raven face many obstacles and scary events but they face them together. They also have the support of all of their friends.
There are definitely moments that will have your heart racing and storylines that will throw you for a loop. There is a lot of suspense and several events that you never see coming!
The sex in Surviving is just as hot as it was in Surrendering and the HEA is not just a page or two. (This is a major plus for me!) Declan and Raven enjoy a long HEA even though some of that is plagued by an unknown person who threatens Raven’s life at every turn. Raven’s father, brother and her brother’s friends (all top security experts) are all working hard to find the threat to Raven but in the meantime Raven has to have constant protection. Declan is very protective of Raven and does all he can to keep her safe. There is a lot of terror and suspense involved in this part of the book’s plot.
Of course the reconciliation of Declan and Raven is not the only major storyline. Declan’s band Sayge is on the rise. It’s exciting to see the band as they make the climb to the top and to see the behind the scenes happening, good and bad, that fame brings.
Some of your other favorite characters also have their own storylines and what happens to poor Finn?
This book is my favorite sequel book ever! Author Ahren Sanders is brilliant! I can’t say enough good things about this book and look forward to further books from Ms. Sanders!
I was given a ARC copy of this book in return for my honest review.
A solid 4.5 stars for the follow up to Surrendering! I swear I have been waiting for this book to release for months. After Raven left for France with Finn, I drummed up all kinds of storylines in my head on how the two of them could ride off into the sunset together. But yeah… I kinda knew that wouldn’t happen because Raven really does belong with Declan, who I also adore. I give credit to Ahren for not dragging this into a love triangle because I don’t consider it one. Yes, there is a tiny element of this in the story but you know very quickly who Raven will wind up with and I think even the blurb makes it pretty clear she will be with Declan so I don’t consider this a spoiler. Despite this, the storyline is handled well and I think the Finn lovers will be pleased that storyline didn’t drag on.
Really the story focuses on Raven and Declan’s fight to regain their trust and repair the relationship they both had a hand in hurting. Though I was pretty ticked off at Declan towards the end of Surrendering, he totally redeemed himself this time around. Yes, he can be a possessive butt sometimes but never can you doubt his love for Raven and he does whatever it takes to prove it to her. He is pretty high up on the book boyfriend list right now with his sexiness as well. And yes, be prepared cause there are a lot of sexy times in this book.
I didn’t rate the book five stars because though Ahren’s writing did show improvement, a lot of the sentence structure was still a bit choppy for me. Also, Raven just really gets on my nerves sometimes. I like her, she’s actually a pretty good heroine but too much of a drama queen for my taste. By the end, she had grown on me quite a bit as her character matured.
I definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves a tattooed bad boy turn sweetheart and an entire supporting cast of book boyfriends and feisty heroines. I *hope* that Finn will get his own story or novella because really, he is the only character not to have some closure at the end. Kudos to the author for a great debut series and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.
I suggest you read Book #1 SURRENDERING before reading SURVIVING. Go ahead, read them, you won't be sorry. They are both very entertaining reads. In Surviving we pick up where Surrendering left off with Declan and Raven. Raven has taken off to Paris after feeling jilted by Declan. That's the way she sees it after Declan chooses his band over her. Who shows up on the plane to surprise Raven? Long time bestie Finn. Turns out Finn has always loved her. I loved Declan. I also loved Flinn. Actually, I loved the entire supporting cast in this kinda sorta but not really a love triangle story by Ahren Sanders. We find out quickly that Raven & Finn are not meant to be. Honestly, I'm glad because I read a series that dragged this out and that ending pissed me off!
Anyway, back to Declan....
Once again Declan's jealousy and temper get the better of him. He is self destructing without a Raven. Not wanting to spoil this book for you I can say that here you will find everything you look for in a satisfying read. It is angsty, it is funny, it is hot, very hot, yet we experience pain and heartache here. We become witness to these two people, though they love each other, have issues to work through if they are going to survive as a couple. One of the elements that is different here is that the danger that is hinted at in Surrendering becomes very real in Surviving. Watching Declan's band climb the fame ladder is also interesting cause by this time these guys feel like old friends. After all is said and done this was a great conclusion to the series. Would I read Ahren Sanders next book? Absofreakinglutely!
Raven Hayes experienced a love she thought would last forever. Declan Collins consumed her from the moment she fell into his arms. Their love was what fairytales are made of. But when his band is given an opportunity of a lifetime, he made the one choice that would tear them apart. Walking away from him and leaving for the summer seemed to be the best idea to mend a broken heart. With the love and support of her best friend, the pain eases, but a decision has to be made. Is Declan her forever? Is she prepared to have a place in his rock star life?
Declan’s broken when Raven leaves. She tamed him and taught him what all- consuming love is. So many factors tried to pull them apart, but his choice was the one to push her away and possibly into the arms of another man. Losing her is not an option. Now he’ll do anything to get her back. And this time she will never doubt the depth of his love and commitment to her. The journey to their happily ever after is paved with obstacles and challenges, will their love survive?
I really liked how the author is so descriptive. This book was beautifully written. Loved the fireworks between Declan and Raven. I enjoyed the suspense and the plot twists and turns. I just couldn't put it down.
I loved how the author made the other characters just as important as the main characters. . I really loved that the author put the song that they talk about at the end of the book. The song made me cry. While reading this series be sure to have tissues handy. I highly recommend this series. Well, written, rich characters, and Storytelling at its best! 5Stars for both books, a must read!!
Surviving begins right where Surrendering (book 1) left off. It is a must to read Surrendering first.
I absolutely LOVED Surviving!!! Up and coming rockstar Declan shows Raven how much she needs to be a part of his life and his band mates realize her importance and what she means to them as well. The bond grows among all, there is drama that surrounds them as with any celebrity status would. They learn how to handle the rumors and move forward. It was refreshing that Raven was a strong heroin and did not let the rumors determine the relationship and run. Loved how protective all the men around her were. So much feeling and sexy as sin, heart stopping testosterone....I so wanted to be apart of that Entourage!!! I laughed, cried and became hot and heavy more often than not. I loved how the story ended and felt close to all the characters, but I could truly see any one of the other characters having there own spin off...Finn ;)
Thank you sooo much Ahren Sanders, this was truly a special gift to read Surviving. I loved every single part of this story and am some what saddened that I finished.
***I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review***
Ahren did it again! Another hit on her hands!!
The chemistry between Raven and Declan was clearly there in Surrendering but this story heats it up even more. We get to see relationships grow and new ones form in this story. I am totally a fan of Finn's and I really, really hope Ahren is planning another book with this cast of characters but with him as the main person. Surviving is the title of Sayge's new song and I was hoping that the lyrics were available to read and I was thrilled to see that they were at the end of the book.
Thank you Ahren for the Advanced Readers Copy, I was anxiously awaiting your finishing this book after I was left hanging with the cliffhanger from surrendering. I can honestly say I was not disappointed at all!!!
Who needs an adrenaline shot when you have Declan and Raven!?!?!?! Well written and well researched, an amazing continuation to an already fantastic story, with still wonderful characters, rock n roll twists and plots, this book is the second of a series that is A MUST READ!!!! Completely addictive this sequel picks up exactly where we left Declan and Raven off!!!! I had crazy butterflies from the start and couldn't put it down!!!! In pure Ahren Sanders' style you feel everything, the story puts you in a trance, you cling on every word and everything becomes still to you!!! I Lived and Loved every single moment of that story! And the greatest surprise: the end is just fabulously soothing, calming with a sense of finality that makes you come back to reality!!!! A perfect end for a perfect story!!! I will miss them!!! Ahren Sanders did it again! She rocked my world!!!!!
Overall I enjoyed the story but there were a couple of things that threw me off... Raven was extremely weepy throughout the book. She's supposed to be strong and a survivor of the all these terrible things and I guess she is, but with just a tad too many tears for me. And while I really liked Declan, he didn't read as alpha male to me. I really enjoyed his realistic personality and demeanor though. He is just a really cool guy in a band with insecurities (like the rest of us), heart and a really cute lip ring. The story didn't really flow like I'm used to. I kind of got the sense that I was being told a story of what happened as opposed to actually reading it and feeling like I'm there (if that makes any sense). I do look forward to reading some of the other books from this author though.
**ARC**received for a honest review. Closer to 3 1/2. Surviving starts right where Surrender left off - Raven left for the summer with Finn in tow. Declan kicking himself for believing in everyone except what he and Raven had.... Finn tells Raven how he feels but knows she has never stop feeling for Declan. Summer is over but can they get back what they had and felt? This story is a about love, family, friends and trust. Even through it drags sometimes we get to feel what Raven & Declan feel. I could do with out so much crying but what's ya gonna do?! Really like that all ends are tied up with the epilogue.
After reading 8 novels, I've decided to read the 2nd part of Raven and Declan's story. Book 1 ended pretty bad, Raven ended up in France, with Finn and Declan was left behind, which is sooooo not exciting at all, so I've decided to take a breather.
I think around 10% of the story, Raven and Declan reunited, I thought it would take at least 30% of the story for them to reunite, not that I'm disappointed.
At 50% of the story, I just breezed through it... Things between the 2 main characters were going well so... everything was a blur..
I didn't feel the excitement I felt in book 1 and I wanted to pause for awhile but decided to just get this over with...
So sad to see Declan and Raven's story come to an end. This series had everything: drama, angst, jealousy, love, family, friends, stalkers, psycho ex's, crazy sabatogers, rock stars, girl's night out, bodyguards, alpha guys, hot guys, hilarious girls, piercings, tattoos, etc. And I'm pretty sure I'm missing a few things. That's how amazing this series was.
I was hooked from the start and I need more!! I can't wait for Ember and Robbie's story in "Salvation!"
I received an ARC for an honest review. All I can say is that I will have a major book hangover after this one. I haven't read a book that I loved this much in months. I loved the first book by Ahrensanders Sanders but I can safely say this one was even better. Beautiful story and it is definitely a must read. Thank you for letting me read this book Ahren. Now I want more!!!
Raven got to me in this book, Her incessant crying in each chapter was beyond ridiculous. Couple that with her being the centre of attention amongst her friends - her character as a whole became a complete turn off for me and by the end I was skimming.
All in all, I do want to read more about the secondary characters and I hope we don't have to wait too long for their stories !