She finally knows the truth. But it threatens to destroy everything they've built.
AJ had questions about her past... but she wasn't ready for the answers. Now aware that she's adopted, she's on the trail of her biological father. But the revelations have left her too fragile to cope with the intensity of her relationship with rock god Bryan. Terrified of getting hurt again, she pushes him away just as she needs him most. And Bryan is about to experience a bombshell of his own, one that changes everything. The downside of the truth is, you're never the same person afterwards... _____
The Upside of Being Let Down is a collaboration between the two bestselling romance authors – Karolyn James (writing as London Casey) & Ana W. Fawkes.
Karolyn is the author of the bestselling rockstar romance series BROTHERS OF ROCK. Under the pen name London Casey, she's written the chart topping motorcycle romance series BACK DOWN DEVIL MC.
Ana is the author of the bestselling motorcycle romance serial series, DEVIL CALL MC. Other projects have included BY HIS COMMAND, FULL MOON MERCY, & RAW RIVER WILD.
This book picks up where book 1 left off. Aj is not sure why she is now finding out she and her sister are adopted and that her sister hid the truth from her. She wants to know her real family , if it is all possible and she wants to know how Bryan seems to know about her family issues. AJ and Brian had a lot of issues in this book. They weren’t able to have that HEA or even HFN in this story. Brian is going through a lot BUT so is AJ-she has found out that she is adopted, her adopted parent knew but never told her, her older sister has always known but was probably never going to share—Now Brian, he too is having a lot of issues after’s his dad’s death and a new girl’s showing up claiming to be his half sister. OH her showing up is all full of twists and turns..I kid you not. Anyway, the book ends on another cliffhanger. I am praying book 3 finally concludes with a HEA where AJ and Bryan are together and that we, the readers have the answers to which have been running through the book since book 1—I do hope in book 3 that we get a HEA and the answers to all these twists and turns that have been in books 1 & 2. So far enjoyed the story and I cannot wait for book 3. *A gifted copy was provided by the author for my honest review*
I received this for an honest review. I have to say I have felt sorry for Bryan from the get go. Though in book 2 I was screaming at him not to try to steal a pair of Wendy’s thongs. Sometimes you just see the destruction happening and no matter how much you scream at the character they just don’t listen.
I think in this book I felt sorry more for Bryan then I ever had. In the book he went to hell (so to speak) and you have to wonder how long he will be there before he comes back. Your heart will really break for him. I even felt at one point he was emotional raped. He needed someone to step in and think on his behalf, defend, and protect him from what was going on. I feel AJ did not do that.
I have so many mixed feelings when it comes to AJ. Half wants to see Bryan and AJ workout and the other part feels Bryan deserves better. You have to wonder how much more Bryan can take. He truly needs things to look up for him. I feel like most of AJ’s problems are small compared to what Bryan has been through. She acts more like a child that needs her hand held in to keep her from throwing a childish fit.
I did not like Taylor at all in this book would love to see her get what is coming to her and to be truthful I am torn how much I like Jon. Hope on the other hand I love. She the the mother like figure that AJ needs. If anyone can knock some sense into her it will probably be Hope.
Did I like the book? The answer would be yes. I always like to look to see if the author might of had some deeper meaning in the story. I know that kind of strange of me, but normally I usually see some type of meaning. In this book you will see love. Bryan loves AJ so deeply and I think AJ loves Bryan she just needs something to shake her up to force her to be honest with Bryan about it. You will also see hurt and betrayal. I do need to warn you this series will keep you on an emotional roll coster but it is well worth the read.
Received ARC in exchange for honest review and I can honestly say that I liked this book a little better than the first one.
The Downside to the Truth is a story of two broken people searching for love, commitment, and family. It's a story where lies are told and secrets unfold. This story will leave you with many questions and very few answers. Looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I have really enjoyed ready the first two books. They sorta keep me on the edge waiting to see what AJ will do next. I will tell all my friends about these books.
this is where AJ’s story continues. she’s still mad and upset at bryan but jumbled as her mind is, things can still get worse. her sisters revelation that they’re adopted hit her hard. having confided in bryan about this, he manages to surprise her. during his “raid” of her sisters panties drawer he came across a familiar photograph. he might be able to help her in her search for her birthparents and the truth about their adoption. AJ isn’t looking for a new family, she just want some kind of closure. as she’s struggling through this ordeal, she can’t help but keep pushing bryan away but also wanting him close, caring about her. during all of this Bryan has one of many fall outs with his alcoholic father, this time being, once again, the last straw and he walks away. later he gets the phone-call he’s been dreading for years: his father got into an accident and didn’t come out of it alive. this sets so much in motion, specially when at the funeral a young woman suddenly appears, claiming to be his sister! will AJ and Bryan battle through these hard times? or will there be more surprises in store for both? so much emotion has been poured into this part of the story. so many hearts broken, mended, broken again. people learning about their past, trying to make sense of things isn’t as easy as you think. then when you get more surprises tossed your way, you sometimes feel like screaming! i know there is more to come, things certainly can’t be left like they are. i’m anxious to read how these young people will deal what is coming their way.
free copy gifted in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as an ARC for a honest review & I just have to say I honestly love this series! At the end of book 1 The Upside of Being Let Down. AJ finds Bryan in a compromising position, his hand in Wendy's panty drawer, and he reveals some interesting information about a picture he finds there. Bryan & AJ try to work through this little situation throughout this story. You'll be surprised when you find out what secrets Wendy has been keeping all these years. AJ has a lot of questions she wants/needs answered & is determined to get them from the only people who know the truth. She finds out life could have been worse & she gets surprising news about Wendy as well. Bryan finally realizes he needs to step back from his dad, when he finds he's back to drinking again. Then it's the start for things to really go wrong for Bryan, like things have been that great so far. AJ starts confiding in Jon, of all people, about everything happening with Wendy & Bryan. Just when everything seems like it's going to work out with everyone, there's suddenly a couple more HUGE surprises for the gang. I can not wait for book 3, this series just keeps getting better!!! I was so into this book that when I got to the end I was like "What the hell another cliffhanger?" but anticipation is golden when the stories are this Great!!!
I just read the second amazing book in this series, “The Downside of the Truth” by London Casey (aka Karolyn James) and Ana Fawkes. They are doing a compelling job continueing the story of AJ and Brian; two emotionally messed up people. We know how the first book ended….well you should know how it ended, and not I will not tell you! Anyway, let us just say something devastating happened that has made AJ question absolutely EVERYTHING, with the exception of her sister Wendy’s love. AJ goes to visit Willie and finds out a lot of history from her family, her….. Nope stop, no spoilers. I will say Brian does get back into AJ’s good graces after what he did in the first book and they become even closer. But then Brian’s dad gets drunk again, steals a car, and ends up killing himself when he crashes said car. These authors have a way that bring you into this sometimes tragic story that makes the reader never want to leave. I know I did not. I cannot wait for the next book in this series. Maybe, just maybe Wendy will possibly find someone??? Hmmmmm.
Thank you for reading my review. Thank you Karolyn and Ana for the ARC of the book. WHAT A RIDE! Kudos again.
The story continues with AJ and Bryan still trying to find their ways and the reality of their relationship.
Bryan’s father, Bob, is still in the rehab halfway house and Bryan is still trying to understand the relationship with his father. When a child is faced with a parent who is an addict, the child has the challenge of growing up and trying to find a path different from that parent or falling into the same traps.
AJ has found a place at the diner, Hope Off Road Café. Her boss, Hope is there to lend moral support and encourage, but forces AJ to make her own decisions. Hope’s nephew, Jon, is flirty and teases AJ every time they work together. AJ still hasn’t decided if she and Bryan are together or if they are just bed partners.
Bob’s roommate, Willie, has a photo on his wall, the same photo that AJ’s sister, Wendy, has in her drawer. A younger Willie and a beautiful young woman. The woman is Wendy and AJ’s mother. When AJ decides to meet Willie she has questions, hard questions.
Life is never fair and AJ and Bryan both know that from experience.
AJ is still a mess and is putting together the pieces of her past. Bryan tries to be there for her but it is not easy with AJ. In addition, he has his own family issues he struggles with as well.
It is hard to know how to feel about AJ. She is not an easy person and the only one she feels comfortable sharing her love with is her sister Wendy. Even that relationship is very complicated and has led to issues for AJ. Bryan is someone who regularly gets taken advantage of by the women in his life and just when it seems he is figuring out more about how to handle AJ, he makes some big mistakes.
If ever a relationship is complicated, it is this one. I enjoy the surprises that keep hitting them. The ending makes you very eager for the next book as it is a real cliffhanger. It will be interesting to see where it all leads for them and if they can be happy together.
Review for THE DOWNSIDE OF THE TRUTH I received this as a gift for an honest review OMG…that’s all I can say. So much going on in this story. AJ and Bryan are really heating up. It is so obvious these two are falling for each other. But there is also so much going on here. AJ has found out the truth about her and Wendy…now she has to figure out what to do about it. Bryan’s dad is drinking again and after AJ confronts her fathers…yes fathers…she is a mess. It doesn’t help that Bryan and his dad had a fight and Bryan walked away. Now Bryan’s life is thrown into turmoil by a supposed sister he knew nothing about. AJ isn’t buying it and isn’t handling it well. When Jon tells AJ ,Taylor, the so called sister is a fake and looking for money, she decides her and Bryan need to talk. But she walks in on them while Taylor is trying to seduce Bryan. He tries to stop her, but she leaves and goes to Jon. What is going to happen now…especially when AJ drops a bomb on Jon??
This is the second part of a trilogy. The Upside of Being Let Down is book one and I would highly suggest reading that before this book so you understand all the underlying issues you will read about between AJ, Wendy and Bryan.
As with book one this is a book that will draw you in and keep you turning the pages wanting to know more and more. Wendy/Wicked and AJ are sisters. Bryan is AJ's something that is never quite defined by themselves or the author. Life is complicated and it get really messed up in this book in a good reads kinda way. We learn more about all three's history and while they are not intermingled by blood they do intermingle by their fathers.
I look forward to book three because this one left me with a HUGE Cliffhanger and I wanted to jump through my kindle and say NO STOP ...DANGER Ahead. I received this book for an honest review.... Hope the next book comes out quickly.
This book takes off exactly where the The Upside of Being Down left off. AJ and Brian are still struggling along. She still lives with him, but they aren't technically anything to each other even with the sex and all the other things they go through together. AJ finds her father, Brian loses his and things get really confusing for them both. The struggle just became real. They say that the truth will set you free and it does to a certain degree, but they also don't tell you that it can also create more problems than you are ready for. Great story! Emotional, heart wrenching, steamy and intriguing in the best way! Enjoy! I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review & I have tried to be positive about this book, but the reason for the narrative simply eludes me. This follow up to "The Upside of Being Let Down" continues with AJ keen to meet her biological father & perhaps find her mother. Her sister Wendy is not interested going down this path but, with Bryan's support, AJ persists. Bryan seems to be in love with AJ who is still telling him not to "ruin it." This story is just not working for me. I can feel empathy for Bryan but AJ & Wendy just leave me unmoved. The writing is sound, it's definitely the characters I don't like. There is another book to come - it might just save this trilogy...
I was given a book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Its not bad...not bad at all.....its really well written and the characters are intresting but its a bit unrealistic....
too much things happen too many bad things going down all to the same cahracters and pretty much what happens to one happens to the other and it just got me to a point where i said "ohhh come on really?"
Still it was not bad at all!!!!
It was fast paced and quite emotional....at some point i was really tearing up.
And of course then came the cliffhanger which i totally hated!
AJ Wants answers but her sister doesn’t want her to get them. Aj is still a messed up woman and still feels like she is still being used. We mostly get AJ p.o.v. and some from Bryan and this is mostly his story involving his father. You will feel bad for them both but also want to reach in a smacks Bryan upside the head a few times especially with there is a new woman that comes in between him and AJ, claiming to be his long lost sister. But is she I won’t say, be surprise is in store from Bryan when Aj can steel her backbone and confess to him what it is. Better than the first but does end in a cliffhanger.
A great addition to the series. Brian is a tortured soul in this one. A.J still cant make up her mind if she wants to be with Brian or now. She finally meets her father and after they talk he disappears. Brian looses his father and falls into a depression. Just when everything starts to look like its on the upswing it falls apart.. I want to smack A.J. majority of the time and really feel bad for Brian. I cant wait to see what happens in the next book.
I was given this e-book by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. My conclusions are my own. I was not compensated in any way.
This is continuing the story of AJ and Bryan. What they both find out about secrets that were kept and lies that were told are huge but how will it effect their relationship. What kind of relationship do they have at all?
AJ is trying to come to turns with being adopted but she just has more questions than answers. She goes in search of those answers but is left feeling hollow when she gets them.
Bryan tries to understand AJ and the need for her to search out answers but when he gets a bombshell of his own and then the news that follows could really change who they each are.
What will happen between AJ and Bryan? Will they grow together or apart?
Ahhh... Bryan and AJ just couldn't take it easy and go for a smooth sailing relationship, can they?
I have to be honest though. Reading the first few chapters.. I had to put the book down for a bit, read another book and then attempt ed this one a second time round. London Casey is a gifted writer, don't get me wrong. But man.. this book was so full of angst. All the characters seem to be orbiting around one another, trying to get over the chips on their shoulders. For a while there, I felt like there was too much going on at the same time. I wish everyone just took a chill pill.
I can't wait to see where this road takes AJ and Bryan next.
The Downside Of The Truth! by London Casey (Author), Ana W. Fawkes (Author) ** I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review** Wow! What a super rollercoaster ride of emotions! In this second book in the series AJ and Brian must face and deal with some pretty heavy truths about their lives. This was a well-written, extremely engaging story. As in book one, we are left on the edge of our seats with a cliffhanger. I cannot wait to see what happens next in the lives of AJ and Brian.
I got this in exchange of an honest review, I liked this book and I loved the main characters the fact that AJ finds out she is adopted and goes trying to find her real birth parents also how things end up with Bryan and how their relationship takes its own up and down with hidden secrets being revealed to them and how their families react to everything I loved the action suspense the mystery in each secret and how it affects them alone and together really enjoyed the sparks as well I love these authors amazing work as always
Wow! This is emotional wave after emotional wave and I loved the ride! AJ is still a moody, hurt girl but the more that is revealed, the more you understand her. Bryan is there for her, even dealing with his own pain, he has such strong feelings for her that I felt for him. With the changes, the pain, and the unexpected thrown in, I'm on the edge of my seat needing to know more! Great, great read!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
AJ meets her father, even though her sister advises against it. Bryan arranges the meeting and when AJ finds out that her mother is also dead she turns to Bryan for comfort. Bryans father dies and at his funeral a young woman sshows up claiming to be his sister, but AJ doesn't believe it. Wow, fantastic book, the unexpected twists kept me reading, loved it!
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
AJ and her sister Wendy are back and as complex as ever, but you still like them a whole lot. Wendy should really get her own story, about how she got in the stripping business in the first place. You like the characters you come across, though some were questionable. It was as a fast paced and enjoyable read and you definitely want to find out how everything is going to end so if you get a chance pick up a copy and continue the story.
I can't wait for the last one to come out. This story has ups and downs. It is easy to fall in love with aj and Bryan. I actually was surprised how it left off. It is really a great story.
Really liked this book. It is strange how fast a persons life can be changed and turned upside down. Can't wait for the next one. I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Things just seem to be going from bad to worse with AJ and Bryan. When a mystery girl shows up, claiming all of Bryan's time, AJ feels threatened and is unsure of where she stands.
Great 2nd book and I'm anxiously waiting for the next. It's like having to wait for your favorite TV show to come back on after the summer! Big fan here! These ladies are an awesome writing team.