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Être aveugle n’est pas d’être misérable ; ne pas pouvoir être en mesure de supporter la cécité, c’est cela qui est misérable.
John Milton
Charlotte Conroy, violoniste de Juilliard, était sur le point de connaître la grandeur lorsque la tragédie abattit ses ailes sombres, écrasant ses espoirs et brisant son cœur. La musique qui chantait dans son âme s’est tue, et elle est sur le point de poser définitivement son violon. Pour payer les factures, elle accepte un emploi d’assistante personnelle pour un jeune homme amer et en colère qui a été handicapé par un horrible accident...
Noah Lake était un athlète de sport extrême, journaliste et photographe. Il a parcouru le monde à la recherche de sa prochaine montée d’adrénaline, jusqu’à ce qu’un plongeon le laisse dans le coma. Il se réveille pour constater que sa carrière est terminée, ses rêves brisés, son monde d’une noirceur sans fin qui ne s’éclaircira jamais.
Charlotte commence à voir que derrière l’extérieur colérique et cassant de Noah se cache un jeune homme qui souffre. Elle est déterminée à lui montrer que sa vie n’est pas finie, qu’il a beaucoup de raisons de vivre, n’imaginant pas qu’elle deviendrait la seule lumière dans ses ténèbres, ou qu’il l’aiderait à trouver la musique dans les siennes.
La vie qu’il a connue est terminée. La vie qu’elle veut est juste hors de portée.
Ensemble, ils doivent affronter leurs peurs et redécouvrir ce que signifie vivre réellement.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2015
About the author
Emma Scott
39 books8,800 followersEmma Scott is a USA Today and Wall St. Journal bestselling author and Pushcart Prize nominee, whose books have been translated into eight languages and featured in Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, New York Daily News, and USA Today’s Happy Ever After. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband, daughter, and her dog, who won't stop barking. If she's not at her desk writing her latest ugly cry novel, she's probably playing Baldur's Gate 3. Tell her to stop it and get back to work.
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RECENT RELEASES all available now and FREE with KU
The Muse an MM romance
Between Hello & Goodbye
The Sinner, a paranormal angels and demons romance
The Lost Boys, a three-book series of interconnected standalones
The Girl in the Love Song
When You Come Back to Me
The Last Piece of His Heart
Someday, Someday M/M romance (Winner! LGBTQ Book of the Year, Utopia Con)
A Five-Minute Life
UPCOMING RELEASES:
The Muse 2022
You can follow me on all the places...
emmascottwrites.com
Super-cute NON SPAMMY newsletter: http://bit.ly/2nTGLf6
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2fqUULx
author page: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaScottwri...
Reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/90674...
Email: emmascottpromo@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,693 reviews
April 1, 2016
5 stars!
Anyone who pays attention to my reviews probably knows a few things about my tastes- I love books that make me feel and make me cry, AND my favorite types of heroes are the broken/damaged ones who have something to overcome. This hero is blind. Yes. BLIND. This is my second Emma Scott book and in both books she totally nailed it. It’s like her books are crafted for me with all of my favorite things! Once I started this book, there was no way I was putting it down. I read it cover to cover and enjoyed every moment.
Noah Lake used to be all about the extreme sports and the rush of it all. Until an accident took away his sight and made it impossible to do the things he loved. He is a bit bitter about this, and the last thing he wants is help or anyone to see him in this state. When it becomes an inevitably, his family friend hires a woman by the name of Charlotte. Charlotte is different. She treats Noah different and he likes that. He likes her. He won’t always admit it, but being around her makes him happy and puts some light back into his life.
Charlotte Conroy graduated from Julliard. She should be playing in symphonies, but something happened in her life that stole the one thing that was most important to her. Her love of music. She just can’t feel it anymore. After a few dead end jobs, she ends up taking a job as a helper/caretaker to a blind man named Noah Lake. Noah is much younger and much more handsome than she imagined he would be. He’s also angry, depressed and underneath it all, in unbearable pain. Charlotte sees that. She sees him. The good underneath the bad. She becomes his friend. But it’s so much more than that. Charlotte wants to help Noah. She wants to be his friend and make him smile again.
Nothing makes me happier than damaged characters that find themselves healing by being with that one special person. Noah needed that so badly- but Charlotte did too. They were exactly what the other needed. I loved how Charlotte was the perfect mix of kind and understanding to Noah, as well as tough when she needed to be. She was a strong and fantastic heroine. Noah started off as a bit of a jerk, but my god- his story and how he felt broke my heart. Seeing him take these baby steps to become the best self he could be made my heart soar. I adored him and he and Charlotte complimented each other in the best way.
RUSH is a beautifully written, emotional, heartwarming and special romance. It wasn’t insta-love, the romance had a lot of growth as did the characters. It was a fantastic 5 star favorite for me!
If you’re looking for a book that will give you the feels and make your heart happy- read this one!
Anyone who pays attention to my reviews probably knows a few things about my tastes- I love books that make me feel and make me cry, AND my favorite types of heroes are the broken/damaged ones who have something to overcome. This hero is blind. Yes. BLIND. This is my second Emma Scott book and in both books she totally nailed it. It’s like her books are crafted for me with all of my favorite things! Once I started this book, there was no way I was putting it down. I read it cover to cover and enjoyed every moment.
Noah Lake used to be all about the extreme sports and the rush of it all. Until an accident took away his sight and made it impossible to do the things he loved. He is a bit bitter about this, and the last thing he wants is help or anyone to see him in this state. When it becomes an inevitably, his family friend hires a woman by the name of Charlotte. Charlotte is different. She treats Noah different and he likes that. He likes her. He won’t always admit it, but being around her makes him happy and puts some light back into his life.
An ache clenched my heart so hard I nearly gasped. Companionship. Someone in my space, touching me, talking to me, just sitting next to me and sharing a meal, as if I were whole.
Charlotte Conroy graduated from Julliard. She should be playing in symphonies, but something happened in her life that stole the one thing that was most important to her. Her love of music. She just can’t feel it anymore. After a few dead end jobs, she ends up taking a job as a helper/caretaker to a blind man named Noah Lake. Noah is much younger and much more handsome than she imagined he would be. He’s also angry, depressed and underneath it all, in unbearable pain. Charlotte sees that. She sees him. The good underneath the bad. She becomes his friend. But it’s so much more than that. Charlotte wants to help Noah. She wants to be his friend and make him smile again.
Nothing makes me happier than damaged characters that find themselves healing by being with that one special person. Noah needed that so badly- but Charlotte did too. They were exactly what the other needed. I loved how Charlotte was the perfect mix of kind and understanding to Noah, as well as tough when she needed to be. She was a strong and fantastic heroine. Noah started off as a bit of a jerk, but my god- his story and how he felt broke my heart. Seeing him take these baby steps to become the best self he could be made my heart soar. I adored him and he and Charlotte complimented each other in the best way.
RUSH is a beautifully written, emotional, heartwarming and special romance. It wasn’t insta-love, the romance had a lot of growth as did the characters. It was a fantastic 5 star favorite for me!
If you’re looking for a book that will give you the feels and make your heart happy- read this one!
“You’re the light in my darkness, Charlotte.”
October 5, 2024
if you want to know what this book is about, think ‘me before you,’ but not as sad.
i do appreciate the disability representation. im sorry to admit that ive never thought out how un-user friendly the world is for those who are seeing impaired. this story has definitely made me more aware of those difficulties some people may have. but i also like how the story doesnt feel like its exploiting noahs blindness, but uses it as an opportunity for character growth and development.
in the end, this story is pretty simple and predictable, but it has just the right amount of ‘feel good’ feels and a heartwarming message in the end that i really couldnt help but be moved by.
↠ 3.5 stars
i do appreciate the disability representation. im sorry to admit that ive never thought out how un-user friendly the world is for those who are seeing impaired. this story has definitely made me more aware of those difficulties some people may have. but i also like how the story doesnt feel like its exploiting noahs blindness, but uses it as an opportunity for character growth and development.
in the end, this story is pretty simple and predictable, but it has just the right amount of ‘feel good’ feels and a heartwarming message in the end that i really couldnt help but be moved by.
↠ 3.5 stars
August 3, 2020
4 Stars
As soon as I read that this was another 'beauty and the beast' themed story, I couldn’t resist. Because there’s just something about the reclusive, hermit type that draws me in like a moth to flame.
Despite the well-known 'beauty and the beast' theme, this book is special and unique. It delivers a deep and heartwarming love story with a beautiful message that “beauty is found within”.
But this book is so much more than a love story. It’s a deeply touching and emotional journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance after life-changing experiences. It is extremely well written and the characters are well-developed, likable and realistic. I highly recommend it.
QUICK REVIEW:
Enjoyment:: 4/5
Writing style: 4/5
Storyline: 4/5
Hero: 4/5
Heroine: 4/5
Secondary characters: 4/5
Hotness/chemistry: 3/5
Romance: 4/5
Angst: 4/5
Darkness level: 2/5
Humor: 1/5
Depth of the book: 5/5
POV: dual, 1st person
Triggers:
Books with a similar theme: Broken by Lauren Layne, Making Faces by Amy Harmon, More Than Scars by Sarah Brocious, Vivid by Jessica Wilde
As soon as I read that this was another 'beauty and the beast' themed story, I couldn’t resist. Because there’s just something about the reclusive, hermit type that draws me in like a moth to flame.
Despite the well-known 'beauty and the beast' theme, this book is special and unique. It delivers a deep and heartwarming love story with a beautiful message that “beauty is found within”.
But this book is so much more than a love story. It’s a deeply touching and emotional journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance after life-changing experiences. It is extremely well written and the characters are well-developed, likable and realistic. I highly recommend it.
QUICK REVIEW:
Enjoyment:: 4/5
Writing style: 4/5
Storyline: 4/5
Hero: 4/5
Heroine: 4/5
Secondary characters: 4/5
Hotness/chemistry: 3/5
Romance: 4/5
Angst: 4/5
Darkness level: 2/5
Humor: 1/5
Depth of the book: 5/5
POV: dual, 1st person
Triggers:
Books with a similar theme: Broken by Lauren Layne, Making Faces by Amy Harmon, More Than Scars by Sarah Brocious, Vivid by Jessica Wilde
March 22, 2024
4/5
You know that feeling when you come across a book that you see for the first time in your life and you like its description so much that you immediately decide to read it, which turns out to be a very good idea because it ends up being one of your favorite stories of the year? This book made me experience that feeling again.
It was such a beautiful love story about two people who healed and learned to love life together again. A love story about Noah and Charlotte, Noah - extreme athlete, journalist and photographer who traveled around the world until a terrible accident turned his previously colorful world to black, and Charlotte - a Juilliard violinist who lost her love for music after the loss of her brother and who, struggling to make ends meet, decides to take a job as Noah's new assistant. A job that will unexpectedly change their lives into something beautiful and what they needed most.
I don't want to write much because I think it's best to go into the book without any spoilers, but let me just say that Emma Scott knows how to write emotional stories that will make you cry with both sadness and joy at the end. Noah and Charlotte went through many ups and downs, but in the end they got their own, well-deserved happy ending.
This was my second book by this author and it certainly won't be the last, because despite a few things that I would maybe change a bit, I still loved it.
You know that feeling when you come across a book that you see for the first time in your life and you like its description so much that you immediately decide to read it, which turns out to be a very good idea because it ends up being one of your favorite stories of the year? This book made me experience that feeling again.
It was such a beautiful love story about two people who healed and learned to love life together again. A love story about Noah and Charlotte, Noah - extreme athlete, journalist and photographer who traveled around the world until a terrible accident turned his previously colorful world to black, and Charlotte - a Juilliard violinist who lost her love for music after the loss of her brother and who, struggling to make ends meet, decides to take a job as Noah's new assistant. A job that will unexpectedly change their lives into something beautiful and what they needed most.
I don't want to write much because I think it's best to go into the book without any spoilers, but let me just say that Emma Scott knows how to write emotional stories that will make you cry with both sadness and joy at the end. Noah and Charlotte went through many ups and downs, but in the end they got their own, well-deserved happy ending.
"Because the idea of failure, of living without her in my life, was a nightmare worse than blindness."
This was my second book by this author and it certainly won't be the last, because despite a few things that I would maybe change a bit, I still loved it.
October 4, 2020
Charlotte Conroy is a talented violinist with a glorious future, but after losing her brother, she lost the most important thing to her - her passion for music... and with it, everything she had. 🎻
Noah Lake lost his sight in a tragic accident. He was the envy of all men and the passion of all women, but the most important thing to him was his job, which was full of extreme, speed and rushes - and now he's lost in the dark. 💔
Noah became angry, bitter and depressed and pushed everyone away from him - until Charlotte, who brought light into his dark life. 💥
Noah and Charlotte's lives collides after a family friend hired her to care for him. Charlotte recognizes that beneath all his anger, Noah carries an unbearable pain - and all she wants to do is help. 🙏
And so, from enemies... to friends... to lovers, they both let go of their past, recover, come to terms with the present and become stronger for themselves and for one another. 😍
📚 “𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚.” 📚
I loved this book, but something felt missing. For example, I understood why Noah was so lost, but I needed some background for Charlotte's relationship with her brother to understand the size of her loss, because other than his death, he was not mentioned at all. 💔
Plus, the beginning of this book reminded me of "Me Before You" by JoJo Moyes on so many levels. 🙈🙈🙈
On the other hand, there is nothing I love more than flawed and tormented characters - and they were both tormented (mostly Noah) but at the same time, they were also strong and just what the other needed. 😍
I loved the character and relationship building... the emotional story... the ANGSTY FEELS... and I loved that the plot was believable - there was no unexplained infatuation or love at first sight - because, well, the hero is... BLIND! (Nooo, I'm joking! Damn me 😂😈)
So... if you want a book that will make you cry and laugh at the same time - read THIS book. ❤
• I listened to the AUDIO version. 🎧
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💕 לקריאת הסקירה בעברית, כנסו לבלוג: https://books-romance.com/ 💕
October 20, 2018
5 light in my darkness Stars
Spoilers
“How do you do that? How do you know what to do and say so that I feel…?” “So that you feel what?” “Whole. You make me feel like I have a shot at something more than this misery.”-Noah and Charlotte
OMG I loved this book so much. This is my first Emma Scott book and it gave me all the feels. I loved everything about this book. Everything! I loved the hero Noah. I loved the heroine Charlotte. And I completely loved the plot. This book was so sweet, and super emotional. Noah blew me away. He was blind and bitter about it. He wasn't living, just existing. He had an amazing life before he had an accident that not only left him blind but it took away his dream job. I could understand Noah's bitterness. I felt that Emma Scott did an bang up job showing all the things you lose out on being blind. Not just the big things but all the little simple things that you take for granted when you can see. Charlotte was also very relatable. She had been on top of the world. Had a boyfriend she loved, went to Juilliard and was an up and coming violinist that was going to make it big. Then her beloved brother dies, and instead of being there for her when she needed him the most her boyfriend dumps her for another woman. I could see how that pain would tangle up with her love of music. Both Noah and Charlotte were drowning in pain. Both lost what they loved and felt adrift
“You’re the light in my darkness, Charlotte.”-Noah
“I love you, Noah. With my heart and my soul and this body. With every part of me. I love you so much you don’t have to see it. You can feel it”-Charlotte
I loved how Charlotte and Noah slowly came together. How they both slowly opened up, shared their pain, and fell madly in love. I could feel their connection. I could feel how alive Noah felt and how much Noah's love brought music back to life for Charlotte. I also loved that once they fell in love it didn't magically fix everything. They still had their demons. Noah more so than Charlotte but they still had to work on their problems. My heart bled for both of them. I felt so bad for Noah especially. I could see how hard it would be to live forever in the dark. To never see the person you loved or your kids. It would be crushing. This book was just so touching. I have to say that It's one of my favorite books this year. I will be reading many more books by Emma Scott!
https://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessi...
Spoilers
“How do you do that? How do you know what to do and say so that I feel…?” “So that you feel what?” “Whole. You make me feel like I have a shot at something more than this misery.”-Noah and Charlotte
OMG I loved this book so much. This is my first Emma Scott book and it gave me all the feels. I loved everything about this book. Everything! I loved the hero Noah. I loved the heroine Charlotte. And I completely loved the plot. This book was so sweet, and super emotional. Noah blew me away. He was blind and bitter about it. He wasn't living, just existing. He had an amazing life before he had an accident that not only left him blind but it took away his dream job. I could understand Noah's bitterness. I felt that Emma Scott did an bang up job showing all the things you lose out on being blind. Not just the big things but all the little simple things that you take for granted when you can see. Charlotte was also very relatable. She had been on top of the world. Had a boyfriend she loved, went to Juilliard and was an up and coming violinist that was going to make it big. Then her beloved brother dies, and instead of being there for her when she needed him the most her boyfriend dumps her for another woman. I could see how that pain would tangle up with her love of music. Both Noah and Charlotte were drowning in pain. Both lost what they loved and felt adrift
“You’re the light in my darkness, Charlotte.”-Noah
“I love you, Noah. With my heart and my soul and this body. With every part of me. I love you so much you don’t have to see it. You can feel it”-Charlotte
I loved how Charlotte and Noah slowly came together. How they both slowly opened up, shared their pain, and fell madly in love. I could feel their connection. I could feel how alive Noah felt and how much Noah's love brought music back to life for Charlotte. I also loved that once they fell in love it didn't magically fix everything. They still had their demons. Noah more so than Charlotte but they still had to work on their problems. My heart bled for both of them. I felt so bad for Noah especially. I could see how hard it would be to live forever in the dark. To never see the person you loved or your kids. It would be crushing. This book was just so touching. I have to say that It's one of my favorite books this year. I will be reading many more books by Emma Scott!
https://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessi...
July 27, 2016
*****5 Stars*****
“Love, real love, wasn’t empty, grasping hands, or lies that felt like truths. And it wasn’t perfect or neat or always easy. It was a rising sun on a new day. It was endless possibility.”
WOW! What an amazing, heartfelt and beautiful story, so much so that I read this one in a single sitting. “Rush” by Emma Scott is part of the City Lights series, but can be read as a standalone. To me, Emma Scott can do no wrong. This is my third Emma Scott novel and all three I have rated five stars. She certainly knows how to make me feel absolutely every emotion, each and every page I read. I knew after reading the synopsis that I had to read this one. I love a story with a tortured hero and Rush did not disappoint.
Charlotte is a Julliard trained violinist, who was living her dream. She had dreams of becoming a concert violinist, had a supportive family and someone she thought was “The One,” until tragedy struck and she lost it all. Now working two jobs and struggling to make rent, she has lost all she is passionate about, including her music.
Noah was an extreme sports enthusiast and journalist who had a severe accident while cliff-diving in Mexico. As a result of the accident Noah was in a critical condition and a coma for twelve days; after waking from the coma and multiple surgeries later, Noah was left blind. Noah is very bitter, angry and as a result, has shut himself off from the world, including his friends and family.
There were times in the story that I felt it dragged on a little, but once I had finished, I realised it all added to the anticipation of the story. It kept me captivated each page, because I was desperate to know what was going to happen next. Once Noah and Charlotte meet, the story really picks up and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I became increasingly invested in these characters and their suffering, struggles, their love and ultimately being a witness to them healing each other.
“Rush” was such a stunningly moving story. There was absolutely nothing I did not love about it, everything from the engaging, realistic characters and heartfelt storyline to the amazing backdrop of New York City. I would most definitely recommend this story to anyone who loves their contemporary and new adult romances filled with a unique and deep storyline. I absolutely fell in love with both Noah and Charlotte and was completely captivated as I witnessed them fall in love and ultimately heal one another. I could not recommend this story strongly enough.
“Love, real love, wasn’t empty, grasping hands, or lies that felt like truths. And it wasn’t perfect or neat or always easy. It was a rising sun on a new day. It was endless possibility.”
WOW! What an amazing, heartfelt and beautiful story, so much so that I read this one in a single sitting. “Rush” by Emma Scott is part of the City Lights series, but can be read as a standalone. To me, Emma Scott can do no wrong. This is my third Emma Scott novel and all three I have rated five stars. She certainly knows how to make me feel absolutely every emotion, each and every page I read. I knew after reading the synopsis that I had to read this one. I love a story with a tortured hero and Rush did not disappoint.
Charlotte is a Julliard trained violinist, who was living her dream. She had dreams of becoming a concert violinist, had a supportive family and someone she thought was “The One,” until tragedy struck and she lost it all. Now working two jobs and struggling to make rent, she has lost all she is passionate about, including her music.
Noah was an extreme sports enthusiast and journalist who had a severe accident while cliff-diving in Mexico. As a result of the accident Noah was in a critical condition and a coma for twelve days; after waking from the coma and multiple surgeries later, Noah was left blind. Noah is very bitter, angry and as a result, has shut himself off from the world, including his friends and family.
There were times in the story that I felt it dragged on a little, but once I had finished, I realised it all added to the anticipation of the story. It kept me captivated each page, because I was desperate to know what was going to happen next. Once Noah and Charlotte meet, the story really picks up and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I became increasingly invested in these characters and their suffering, struggles, their love and ultimately being a witness to them healing each other.
“Rush” was such a stunningly moving story. There was absolutely nothing I did not love about it, everything from the engaging, realistic characters and heartfelt storyline to the amazing backdrop of New York City. I would most definitely recommend this story to anyone who loves their contemporary and new adult romances filled with a unique and deep storyline. I absolutely fell in love with both Noah and Charlotte and was completely captivated as I witnessed them fall in love and ultimately heal one another. I could not recommend this story strongly enough.
July 4, 2015
::: FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED :::
What a beautiful, heart-warming story! I read this book in one sitting and loved it! It initially caught my eye because it sounded so different but had something I really love: a tortured, grouchy, reclusive hero. Don't ask me why, but I love those! So, naturally I had to read this book!
The story is about this guy, Noah Lake, who used to be a professional and famous extreme sports athlete who was blinded and severely injured in a cliff diving accident. He's been a daredevil since childhood and he'd turned his passion into a career -- meshing extreme sports and journalism, doing every crazy thing in every remote corner of the earth, testing his limits to the max and living life to the fullest, until the horrific accident that left him and his life in pieces and robbed him of his dreams, his sight, and his reason to live. Although most people considered him lucky to have escaped with his life, he was left bitter and angry. With his life shattered and tired of the constant pity he was receiving, he retreated away from his family and friends and shut himself away the world in his New York home until the heroine, Charlotte Conroy, arrived to work for him as a live-in assistant. She was a prodigy musician who'd just suffered a staggering loss of her own and had lost her passion for playing music. Now in need of a place to live and a job, she agreed to come work for Noah. Although they got off to a rough start, they soon began to be drawn to each other. And as they slowly began to help each other heal, they also fell unexpectedly in love...
Now, I'll admit right off the bat that I found the first few chapters to be a little slow, but once Charlotte and Noah actually met and began to live/work together, I was totally hooked and didn't put the book down until I reached the end... While most of the story is told from Charlotte's POV, we get a few key chapters from Noah's POV too giving us insight into what he was going through and feeling. I thought these chapters were especially well done and really made you understand his character deeply. It was really well balanced between showing us what Charlotte saw from the outside, then allowing us to see what he was going through on the inside.
I really appreciated that Charlotte was a very strong heroine. Despite going through a lot herself, she remained quite strong and I really admired the way she stood up to Noah -- especially in the beginning of the story when he was still (honestly) a total ass to her. But it was like, even though she was frustrated, she kind of understood him in a way and was determined to help him learn to live again. Underneath all the hate and anger that he showed the world was a really good man -- kind, sweet, fun-loving, and I love the way she brought that part of him back.
I was immediately drawn to Noah's character and really loved watching their relationship progress as he slowly began to warm up to Charlotte and come out of the angry shell he'd created around himself. There was a lot of dialogue and a lot of conversations with a lot of showing, not telling, that just really kept me connected to the story.
Towards the end of the story, there are two main events that I was honestly a fair bit frustrated with. I feel like, even though I understood why the characters chose to do that, it still bothered me. To be fair though, this is a very, very personal pet peeve that I'm not very tolerant of. I think most people would be fine with it so it's the kind of thing I work hard to just look past. (PS: for any of you freaking out wondering what it is, I'll just say it's nothing horrible and it's not cheating, it's just personally annoying, but I don't want to give spoilers). I guess I just wish people would be smart enough to choose the right path without having to go down the wrong one first. BUT, I did love that he openly admitted to her later that he should have listened to her first, lol. He got brownie points for that.
The ending was incredibly heart-warming and I absolutely loved the special reveal that Noah made. Really made the whole thing that much more meaningful and beautiful.
This is a standalone romance with a fully resolved ending (and epilogue). It's part of a series of standalones, each one about a different couple, but you can read any of the books alone or in any order you want. This was my first book by this author and it can absolutely be read alone.
RUSH was a unique and moving love story, and I loved following Noah and Charlotte’s together as they fell in love and helped to heal each other. Actually, I’d say if you loved the “feeling” of Me Before You (minus the ugly-crying, I promise this isn’t tragic), then you should definitely try this book!!
Rating: 4 stars! Standalone contemporary romance.
_______________________________________
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“You are the light in my darkness, Charlotte.”
What a beautiful, heart-warming story! I read this book in one sitting and loved it! It initially caught my eye because it sounded so different but had something I really love: a tortured, grouchy, reclusive hero. Don't ask me why, but I love those! So, naturally I had to read this book!
The story is about this guy, Noah Lake, who used to be a professional and famous extreme sports athlete who was blinded and severely injured in a cliff diving accident. He's been a daredevil since childhood and he'd turned his passion into a career -- meshing extreme sports and journalism, doing every crazy thing in every remote corner of the earth, testing his limits to the max and living life to the fullest, until the horrific accident that left him and his life in pieces and robbed him of his dreams, his sight, and his reason to live. Although most people considered him lucky to have escaped with his life, he was left bitter and angry. With his life shattered and tired of the constant pity he was receiving, he retreated away from his family and friends and shut himself away the world in his New York home until the heroine, Charlotte Conroy, arrived to work for him as a live-in assistant. She was a prodigy musician who'd just suffered a staggering loss of her own and had lost her passion for playing music. Now in need of a place to live and a job, she agreed to come work for Noah. Although they got off to a rough start, they soon began to be drawn to each other. And as they slowly began to help each other heal, they also fell unexpectedly in love...
Now, I'll admit right off the bat that I found the first few chapters to be a little slow, but once Charlotte and Noah actually met and began to live/work together, I was totally hooked and didn't put the book down until I reached the end... While most of the story is told from Charlotte's POV, we get a few key chapters from Noah's POV too giving us insight into what he was going through and feeling. I thought these chapters were especially well done and really made you understand his character deeply. It was really well balanced between showing us what Charlotte saw from the outside, then allowing us to see what he was going through on the inside.
“His rudeness, I realized, wasn’t directed at me, but at himself. Noah oozed self-loathing like a vapour, and I decided to show him that I could see beyond the cutting remarks and make a connection.”
“I hated to even think the word ‘tortured’ — it sounded so melodramatic — but that was the impression he gave. His body was meant for swimming in oceans and racing down ski slopes, not sitting hunched in darkened rooms.”
I really appreciated that Charlotte was a very strong heroine. Despite going through a lot herself, she remained quite strong and I really admired the way she stood up to Noah -- especially in the beginning of the story when he was still (honestly) a total ass to her. But it was like, even though she was frustrated, she kind of understood him in a way and was determined to help him learn to live again. Underneath all the hate and anger that he showed the world was a really good man -- kind, sweet, fun-loving, and I love the way she brought that part of him back.
I was immediately drawn to Noah's character and really loved watching their relationship progress as he slowly began to warm up to Charlotte and come out of the angry shell he'd created around himself. There was a lot of dialogue and a lot of conversations with a lot of showing, not telling, that just really kept me connected to the story.
“Losing all that is bad enough. But I lost something else, something I craved and lived off of, almost as much as I did air and food and water.”
“What’s that?”
“The rush. The adrenaline. The thrill of walking the edge of life and death… I didn’t have a death wish, but I loved taunting it… Because only when you’re about to lose it all, do you realize how much you have."
Towards the end of the story, there are two main events that I was honestly a fair bit frustrated with. I feel like, even though I understood why the characters chose to do that, it still bothered me. To be fair though, this is a very, very personal pet peeve that I'm not very tolerant of. I think most people would be fine with it so it's the kind of thing I work hard to just look past. (PS: for any of you freaking out wondering what it is, I'll just say it's nothing horrible and it's not cheating, it's just personally annoying, but I don't want to give spoilers). I guess I just wish people would be smart enough to choose the right path without having to go down the wrong one first. BUT, I did love that he openly admitted to her later that he should have listened to her first, lol. He got brownie points for that.
The ending was incredibly heart-warming and I absolutely loved the special reveal that Noah made. Really made the whole thing that much more meaningful and beautiful.
“I held him, kissed him, afraid if I stopped touching him, he’d vanish in a puff of smoke. He kissed me back, hard, holding me harder, pressing me to him. His hands roamed my back as he kissed my lips, my cheeks, my eyes with desperate intensity before finding my mouth again. I tasted my salt tears, or maybe they were his, and then we couldn’t kiss anymore, but held on to each other as the crowd parted around us.”
This is a standalone romance with a fully resolved ending (and epilogue). It's part of a series of standalones, each one about a different couple, but you can read any of the books alone or in any order you want. This was my first book by this author and it can absolutely be read alone.
RUSH was a unique and moving love story, and I loved following Noah and Charlotte’s together as they fell in love and helped to heal each other. Actually, I’d say if you loved the “feeling” of Me Before You (minus the ugly-crying, I promise this isn’t tragic), then you should definitely try this book!!
Rating: 4 stars! Standalone contemporary romance.
_______________________________________
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December 1, 2016
****4 STARS****
https://prettymessreading.wordpress.c...
This was my 3rd by Emma Scott and I was not disappointed.
OMG, yasssss!!! Another brilliant book.
One of the most important bits of this book is the unfortunate fact that Noah, oh my poor sexy Noah, he had a horrible accident where he lost his sight.
Noah is having a hard time coping with his new disability, which is to be expected. You see, before the accident that left him blind, he traveled the world doing extreme sports and writing about them. To take that from a man is like destroying their soul. Because of this he kind of becomes a grade A asshole to everyone. But if you look closely enough you can see that’s not his true self. That he’s a good person inside.
Noah is not the only one with demons eating at him, Charlotte has many, you just can’t see them.We all know the ones you can’t see are often the ones that hurt the most. Even her friends and coworkers can see it.
She’s was once one of the best violinist in her school, if not the best but she loses the will to play after suffering a major loss. She feels as though that loss also took away her love for music. Oh, and then their is her ex-boyfriend who selfish prick. That didn’t help!
Poor baby, we’ve all made that mistake…
But there is big difference between Noah and Charlotte. She still believes in love but Noah does not. It’s not because he don’t want to love someone, he wants it but doesn’t feel like he can be good to another woman due to his lack of sight.
But you can’t help who you love and once you start loving someone it’s not that easy to stop.
But happens when a man feels unworthy?
They often leave don’t they? Men are kind of stupid in that way.
Women are the strongest thing around. When a woman loves, I mean truly loves someone, they don’t give up easy. A real woman’s love of unbiased and pure. Rush proves how strong women are, how women love unconditionally and how every man needs a bit of female TLC to find themselves in this world.
Everybody knows a man doesn’t reach is full potential until he has the right woman by his side. :)
As she helps heal him, he in turns helps her heal as well.
This is a wonderful book and I truly recommend it for those who love a good love story with a HEA.
Check out my unflited review... https://prettymessreading.wordpress.c...
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This was my 3rd by Emma Scott and I was not disappointed.
OMG, yasssss!!! Another brilliant book.
One of the most important bits of this book is the unfortunate fact that Noah, oh my poor sexy Noah, he had a horrible accident where he lost his sight.
Noah is having a hard time coping with his new disability, which is to be expected. You see, before the accident that left him blind, he traveled the world doing extreme sports and writing about them. To take that from a man is like destroying their soul. Because of this he kind of becomes a grade A asshole to everyone. But if you look closely enough you can see that’s not his true self. That he’s a good person inside.
"His bark is unpleasant but he has no bite, I promise."
Noah is not the only one with demons eating at him, Charlotte has many, you just can’t see them.We all know the ones you can’t see are often the ones that hurt the most. Even her friends and coworkers can see it.
“You’re cute in a sad, smart kind of way.”
She’s was once one of the best violinist in her school, if not the best but she loses the will to play after suffering a major loss. She feels as though that loss also took away her love for music. Oh, and then their is her ex-boyfriend who selfish prick. That didn’t help!
“He told me he loved me and I did something really stupid.”
“Which was?
“I believed him.”
Poor baby, we’ve all made that mistake…
But there is big difference between Noah and Charlotte. She still believes in love but Noah does not. It’s not because he don’t want to love someone, he wants it but doesn’t feel like he can be good to another woman due to his lack of sight.
But you can’t help who you love and once you start loving someone it’s not that easy to stop.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
I pulled away, held his face in my hands.
“Then don’t.”
But happens when a man feels unworthy?
They often leave don’t they? Men are kind of stupid in that way.
Women are the strongest thing around. When a woman loves, I mean truly loves someone, they don’t give up easy. A real woman’s love of unbiased and pure. Rush proves how strong women are, how women love unconditionally and how every man needs a bit of female TLC to find themselves in this world.
Everybody knows a man doesn’t reach is full potential until he has the right woman by his side. :)
As she helps heal him, he in turns helps her heal as well.
This is a wonderful book and I truly recommend it for those who love a good love story with a HEA.
Check out my unflited review... https://prettymessreading.wordpress.c...
Follow all my crazy....
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February 22, 2022
LESEEMPFEHLUNG | 4/5 ⭐️
Beendet: 11.02.2022 | Nr. 20
Wow, ein sehr emotionales Buch mit schweren Themen, allerdings hatte ich wohl zu hohe Erwartungen.
Leider konnte mich das Buch nicht so richtig berühren, da ich zu Noah keine wirkliche Verbindung aufbauen konnte.
Auch die Liebe & Leidenschaft der beiden konnte ich nicht wirklich fühlen - mir ging die Annäherung viel zu schnell.
Trotzdem ist „The Light in Us“ ein schönes Buch, das ich auf jeden Fall empfehlen kann, allerdings kamen die Emotionen nicht ganz bei mir an. Emma Scotts Schreibstil war aber wie immer grandios!
Beendet: 11.02.2022 | Nr. 20
Wow, ein sehr emotionales Buch mit schweren Themen, allerdings hatte ich wohl zu hohe Erwartungen.
Leider konnte mich das Buch nicht so richtig berühren, da ich zu Noah keine wirkliche Verbindung aufbauen konnte.
Auch die Liebe & Leidenschaft der beiden konnte ich nicht wirklich fühlen - mir ging die Annäherung viel zu schnell.
Trotzdem ist „The Light in Us“ ein schönes Buch, das ich auf jeden Fall empfehlen kann, allerdings kamen die Emotionen nicht ganz bei mir an. Emma Scotts Schreibstil war aber wie immer grandios!
March 16, 2020
RUSH is currently FREE right now through March 18 to help alleviate some of the quarantine blues.
Get it here: https://amzn.to/2x4Hn88
http://amzn.to/2pttPLN
Get it here: https://amzn.to/2x4Hn88
http://amzn.to/2pttPLN
April 5, 2017
An Amazing Journey of THEN and NOW
Thank goodness I finally took the time to read Noah and Charlotte's love story. The highs, the lows, and oh the feels, are all here in this incredible read! The author is Emma Scott, so of course, I am not surprised how much I loved ;)
THEN ..... Charlotte Conroy, a senior at Juilliard and a gifted violinist, was on track to perform with the New York Philharmonic. She loved and breathed music. Success was literally at the tip of her fingers ..... until the day she received the devastating phone call. NOW ..... Her pathway to greatness as a violinist is put on suffocating life support and she must chose a new avenue to travel down, as the rent money is due. In just the flick of an eye, her dreams of living out her music career in NYC is reduced to serving as a personal assistant for a rich "temperamental shut-in."
THEN ..... Nine months ago, Noah Lake, a beyond gorgeous, death defying daredevil, lived his life outdoors soaring above the clouds on gliders, screaming down the mountainsides on skis and throwing himself off cliffs and diving into seas all over the world. Extreme sports wasn't just his lifestyle, it was his career. NOW ..... Noah is an obnoxious and bitter shut-in who feels like his life has descended into the bowels of hell. He lays about in his own stench mourning the life he once led as those spectacular adventures have come to an end. He is a prisoner inside his NYC townhouse because NOW ..... Noah is blind!
But fate is set to play one more hand ..... Noah is about to meet Charlotte. The journey they walk on together towards a new and better NOW is profound and completely captivating. This is one fabulous read and I fell in love with Noah and Charlotte. Romance at it's best, and I highly recommend!
August 2, 2024
– 5 stars
Emma Scott has never disappointed me. I didn't read this book for the longest time, because I knew once I do I've read Emma's entire backlist 😭
Charlotte Conroy and Noah Lake are the most precious souls ever. Protect them at all cost (but especially Noah!!!). This story pulled at my heartstring and reading Noah's journey back to life made me just grateful for so many things. ♥️
Love, real love, wasn't empty, grasping hands or lies that felt like truths. And it wasn't perfect or neat or always easy. It was a rising sun on a new day. It was endless possibility.
Emma Scott has never disappointed me. I didn't read this book for the longest time, because I knew once I do I've read Emma's entire backlist 😭
Charlotte Conroy and Noah Lake are the most precious souls ever. Protect them at all cost (but especially Noah!!!). This story pulled at my heartstring and reading Noah's journey back to life made me just grateful for so many things. ♥️
"You deserve more than what's left of me."
March 21, 2017
5 - "If I could see just once more-just one thing in this world-it would be you." Stars!
I am not going to write a review giving you a complete run-down of the plot for Rush I could quite easily and it would probably end up being all gushy and rambling, but I think the synopsis gives enough details about the essence of the story for any reader to work out whether the third book in the City Lights series is going to be something you do or don’t want to read.
This is one of those books that as a reader, I struggle to find on a regular basis. It pulled me in, from the first page, and I became emotionally invested in the characters and their story very quickly, so much so I forwent food (if you knew me, you would understand the significance of that statement!), ignored work and generally just spent the day immersed in Noah and Charlotte’s story.
"What does he need?"
"Someone who stays."
I think the main theme of this story, and the thing that brings them together is grief, and the author explores it in its different forms in this book. Grief from loss of a loved one, and grief from the loss of something so integral to most people’s normal everyday lives. Adjustment; another thing that they both go through, one by closing off her heart to the one thing that makes it really beat, the other closing his life to everyone and everything that he used to know prior to losing his sight.
"I don’t want to let go."
Together they both learn to adapt, and look at life differently, and what starts out a little unpredictable and jagged between them gradually calms and evens out. I liked the build-up and the understanding this couple have for each other as they spend more and more time together, Noah with his boat load of issues, is forced to look at his life differently when Charlotte enters it, and Charlotte is pushed to reassess her goals after seeing the daily challenges Noah encounters and overcomes on his path back to the land of living slightly differently than he did before.
"I think you have been left alone long enough."
We also get a healthy dose of love as well, but it wasn’t insta-anything, everything took the right amount of time to develop and build between them, and I fell in love with them as they fell in love with each other.
Some books make you stop and think, some books make you stop and look at the world around you, and some books make you stop and appreciate that you are luckily enough to be able to just read a book. Rush did all of those things, and I want to thank the author for generously providing me with an ARC, it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest (and hopefully not too gushy) review!
I am not going to write a review giving you a complete run-down of the plot for Rush I could quite easily and it would probably end up being all gushy and rambling, but I think the synopsis gives enough details about the essence of the story for any reader to work out whether the third book in the City Lights series is going to be something you do or don’t want to read.
This is one of those books that as a reader, I struggle to find on a regular basis. It pulled me in, from the first page, and I became emotionally invested in the characters and their story very quickly, so much so I forwent food (if you knew me, you would understand the significance of that statement!), ignored work and generally just spent the day immersed in Noah and Charlotte’s story.
"What does he need?"
"Someone who stays."
I think the main theme of this story, and the thing that brings them together is grief, and the author explores it in its different forms in this book. Grief from loss of a loved one, and grief from the loss of something so integral to most people’s normal everyday lives. Adjustment; another thing that they both go through, one by closing off her heart to the one thing that makes it really beat, the other closing his life to everyone and everything that he used to know prior to losing his sight.
"I don’t want to let go."
Together they both learn to adapt, and look at life differently, and what starts out a little unpredictable and jagged between them gradually calms and evens out. I liked the build-up and the understanding this couple have for each other as they spend more and more time together, Noah with his boat load of issues, is forced to look at his life differently when Charlotte enters it, and Charlotte is pushed to reassess her goals after seeing the daily challenges Noah encounters and overcomes on his path back to the land of living slightly differently than he did before.
"I think you have been left alone long enough."
We also get a healthy dose of love as well, but it wasn’t insta-anything, everything took the right amount of time to develop and build between them, and I fell in love with them as they fell in love with each other.
Some books make you stop and think, some books make you stop and look at the world around you, and some books make you stop and appreciate that you are luckily enough to be able to just read a book. Rush did all of those things, and I want to thank the author for generously providing me with an ARC, it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest (and hopefully not too gushy) review!
October 3, 2016
I read this one back in August. This was gorgeous, beautiful, perfect. Emma Scott is so freaking talented, she writes the most amazing books! I owe a good review for this one, but there are no words. This was perfection!
I have so much highlighted is not even funny. Anyway, I super recommend. I hate to compare books but think as this one as the better, more optimistic version of Me Before You. Ah! So awesome, I still think about this one from time to time. I call it the Emma Scott effect, since I still think about Full Tilt all the time too!
I'll just put some of my favorite highlights below so you get an idea of how beautiful the writing is:
“I bolted upright from that same damn nightmare, the dream that was both fiercely terrorizing and mercilessly glorious at the same time. I gasped for breath, drowning on nothing, while trying to hold on to the images that painted my darkness with vibrant color. There was white snow and blue sky, gold sunset tints and blue-green water. In the dream I could see again. Sometimes that made it worth the terror. Sometimes it made me wish I’d never woken up at all.”
“Noah and I were like planets orbiting the same star: on similar trajectories but only crossing paths once in a great while.”
“Those days felt like little gifts, as if she were singing to me, filling the house with the voice of her incredible talent”
“The rush. The adrenaline. The thrill of walking the edge of life and death, like a tightrope. I didn’t have a death wish, but I loved taunting it. When I was throwing myself out of planes, or skiing down triple black diamonds…that’s when I felt that amazing fear. That chest-tightening, ball-shriveling fear that you’re right there, about to lose it all. Because only when you’re about to lose it all, do you realize how much you have.”
“How do you do that? How do you know what to do and say so that I feel…?”
“So that you feel what?”
“Whole. You make me feel like I have a shot at something more than this misery.”
“My endless black was never going to go away. That was certainty. But kissing Charlotte had been a burst of light streaking across it, like a comet. Maybe. Maybe is gradations of darkness. The sweetest torture. Maybe is hope.”
“Noah’s kiss seeped into my cracks, filled all my broken places. I felt it in the marrow of my bones, and I clung to him, kissed him back with all that I had, knowing that this was what I had been waiting for, that I’d never have something this strong and real ever again”
“Until you, I was lost. Sometimes, you’re the only thing that ever feels real to me.”
I stroked his cheek. “I’ll always be right here for you, Noah.”
“Our hearts were thundering together, then slowing together, and it felt as if her warm, soft body were melting into mine. We lay this way a long time, neither of us saying a word, until she finally lifted her head and kissed me one last time, breathing life into me when nothing and no one else had before”
“Love, real love, wasn’t empty, grasping hands, or lies that felt like truths. And it wasn’t perfect or neat or always easy. It was a rising sun on a new day.
It was endless possibility.”
“You steal my breath away, Noah, and what you’re feeling is me, trying to catch it back, but I never can. Not when you’re this close to me.”
“I love you, Noah. With my heart and my soul and this body. With every part of me. I love you so much you don’t have to see it. You can feel it”
“I have found my hope, my gradations of darkness. I don’t jump out of airplanes anymore but I still fly. I feel the rush of adrenaline through my veins when my love for Charlotte overwhelms me. And I feel it now, as Charlotte touches my hand.”
I have so much highlighted is not even funny. Anyway, I super recommend. I hate to compare books but think as this one as the better, more optimistic version of Me Before You. Ah! So awesome, I still think about this one from time to time. I call it the Emma Scott effect, since I still think about Full Tilt all the time too!
I'll just put some of my favorite highlights below so you get an idea of how beautiful the writing is:
“I bolted upright from that same damn nightmare, the dream that was both fiercely terrorizing and mercilessly glorious at the same time. I gasped for breath, drowning on nothing, while trying to hold on to the images that painted my darkness with vibrant color. There was white snow and blue sky, gold sunset tints and blue-green water. In the dream I could see again. Sometimes that made it worth the terror. Sometimes it made me wish I’d never woken up at all.”
“Noah and I were like planets orbiting the same star: on similar trajectories but only crossing paths once in a great while.”
“Those days felt like little gifts, as if she were singing to me, filling the house with the voice of her incredible talent”
“The rush. The adrenaline. The thrill of walking the edge of life and death, like a tightrope. I didn’t have a death wish, but I loved taunting it. When I was throwing myself out of planes, or skiing down triple black diamonds…that’s when I felt that amazing fear. That chest-tightening, ball-shriveling fear that you’re right there, about to lose it all. Because only when you’re about to lose it all, do you realize how much you have.”
“How do you do that? How do you know what to do and say so that I feel…?”
“So that you feel what?”
“Whole. You make me feel like I have a shot at something more than this misery.”
“My endless black was never going to go away. That was certainty. But kissing Charlotte had been a burst of light streaking across it, like a comet. Maybe. Maybe is gradations of darkness. The sweetest torture. Maybe is hope.”
“Noah’s kiss seeped into my cracks, filled all my broken places. I felt it in the marrow of my bones, and I clung to him, kissed him back with all that I had, knowing that this was what I had been waiting for, that I’d never have something this strong and real ever again”
“Until you, I was lost. Sometimes, you’re the only thing that ever feels real to me.”
I stroked his cheek. “I’ll always be right here for you, Noah.”
“Our hearts were thundering together, then slowing together, and it felt as if her warm, soft body were melting into mine. We lay this way a long time, neither of us saying a word, until she finally lifted her head and kissed me one last time, breathing life into me when nothing and no one else had before”
“Love, real love, wasn’t empty, grasping hands, or lies that felt like truths. And it wasn’t perfect or neat or always easy. It was a rising sun on a new day.
It was endless possibility.”
“You steal my breath away, Noah, and what you’re feeling is me, trying to catch it back, but I never can. Not when you’re this close to me.”
“I love you, Noah. With my heart and my soul and this body. With every part of me. I love you so much you don’t have to see it. You can feel it”
“I have found my hope, my gradations of darkness. I don’t jump out of airplanes anymore but I still fly. I feel the rush of adrenaline through my veins when my love for Charlotte overwhelms me. And I feel it now, as Charlotte touches my hand.”
July 6, 2024
This was recommended by fellow GR reader Jessica and it sucked me in from page one! She described I as “Me Before You” but not so sad. Which, yes! There’s definitely sadness at the start. Charlotte’s life is forever changed by a crushing loss in the opening chapters… as is Noah’s. Charlotte has to find a new job to pay the bills when she returns to New York, and becomes a PA for Noah, who is now blind and suffering from depression and terrible migraines. As someone with intractable migraine, I really loved how accurately this depicted the difficulties of living with chronic pain. I also appreciated the way Noah’s struggles to adapt to a world where he couldn’t see were shown. Charlotte is also suffering, perhaps in a more quiet, private way, and the relationship that slowly grows between these two is beautiful.
September 25, 2022
2 stars
I read this a while ago in German and for some reason wanted to reread it and now I do not like it as much as before.
I thought I would like it again as much but I was honestly a bit disturbed and confused at some scenes and just saw how fully packed this is for such a short book.
Noah had a tragic accident that changed his like forever and he was now dealing with the aftermath and what I would call a post accident type depression where he didn't know what to do with his life anymore since it changed a lot.
I still did not like how he for one treated people that worked for him and his family. I mean he was so rude my dropped at moments and I could not understand how little respect he had for the people that worked for him.
On the other hand there was Charlotte who started working for him after she lost her love/passion for playing the violin. She was a cute character but well I do not know how I feel about her because of the job. For one, she started working for a blind person but did not at all learn anything about it. I mean she was supposed to be this "personal" assistant to help him through the day but she never learned anything about how to help someone who cannot see.
That was pretty noticeable during the food scenes as well as the walking scenes.
Yes she tried to do nice things for him but I still think that it was a bit weird how she never learned anything for this job.
Now the romance okay whatever it was supposed to be cute and I remember it like that as well but rereading it made me think more about the entire scenarios they went through that were a bit weird.
So she falls in love with him because of his looks because it was definitely not his personality that made her like him since he was an asshole. And he falls in love with her because she does her job?
I don't know it was a bit confusing and I since I already knew what would happen I really focused on the chemistry while reading and there was just none.
Also little spoiler below but this is just me:
I would never let anyone touch my face after going on a walk in central park. I mean the man touched the bank they were sitting on and I do not even want to think about the germs that were spread and then he proceeds to touch her face and explore it by rubbing his hands all over her.
I get the method but maybe do it at home after washing hands and not on a dirty bank in central park.
I read this a while ago in German and for some reason wanted to reread it and now I do not like it as much as before.
I thought I would like it again as much but I was honestly a bit disturbed and confused at some scenes and just saw how fully packed this is for such a short book.
Noah had a tragic accident that changed his like forever and he was now dealing with the aftermath and what I would call a post accident type depression where he didn't know what to do with his life anymore since it changed a lot.
I still did not like how he for one treated people that worked for him and his family. I mean he was so rude my dropped at moments and I could not understand how little respect he had for the people that worked for him.
On the other hand there was Charlotte who started working for him after she lost her love/passion for playing the violin. She was a cute character but well I do not know how I feel about her because of the job. For one, she started working for a blind person but did not at all learn anything about it. I mean she was supposed to be this "personal" assistant to help him through the day but she never learned anything about how to help someone who cannot see.
That was pretty noticeable during the food scenes as well as the walking scenes.
Yes she tried to do nice things for him but I still think that it was a bit weird how she never learned anything for this job.
Now the romance okay whatever it was supposed to be cute and I remember it like that as well but rereading it made me think more about the entire scenarios they went through that were a bit weird.
So she falls in love with him because of his looks because it was definitely not his personality that made her like him since he was an asshole. And he falls in love with her because she does her job?
I don't know it was a bit confusing and I since I already knew what would happen I really focused on the chemistry while reading and there was just none.
Also little spoiler below but this is just me:
I would never let anyone touch my face after going on a walk in central park. I mean the man touched the bank they were sitting on and I do not even want to think about the germs that were spread and then he proceeds to touch her face and explore it by rubbing his hands all over her.
I get the method but maybe do it at home after washing hands and not on a dirty bank in central park.
August 25, 2019
Für mich ein Highlight! Emma Scott zählt für mich zu den besten Autorinnen, einfach weil ihre Bücher IMMER etwas besonderes sind.
Große Empfehlung!!
Große Empfehlung!!
Want to Read
March 31, 2018
BRING ON THE FEELShh!
Placeholder: Reading with Liz, CC and WaWa.
Stand-alone (Novella #1.5 available)
Purchase: | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Blurb:
To be blind is not miserable; not to be able to bear blindness, that is miserable. --John Milton
Charlotte Conroy, Juilliard-trained violinist, was on the cusp of greatness when tragedy swooped down on dark wings, crushing her hopes and breaking her heart. The music that used to sing in her soul has grown quiet, and she feels on the verge of setting down her violin for good. To pay the bills, she accepts a job as a personal assistant to a bitter, angry young man who’s been disabled by a horrific accident …
Noah Lake was an extreme sport athlete, journalist and photographer. He roamed the world in search of his next adrenaline high, until a cliff-dive left him in a coma. He awakes to find his career gone, his dreams shattered to pieces, his world an endless blackness that will never lift.
Charlotte begins to see that beneath Noah’s angry, brittle exterior is a young man in a pain. She is determined to show him that his life isn’t over, that he has so much to live for, never dreaming that she would become the only light in his darkness, or that he would help her find the music in hers.
The life he knew is over. The life she wants is just out of reach.
Together, they must face their fears and rediscover what it means to really live.
Books should be read in order:
Book 1: Rush
Book 1.5: Endless Possibility
July 27, 2017
3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a refreshingly different story. I always appreciate stories with one of the mcs having a disability, and this one addressed the feelings that go along with dealing with the disability when it is new. Normally, these type of stories are about people that have been living with their disability for a while, so that was a nice change. I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it either. I did feel like it was a little slow at times, and the ending kind of ticked me off.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Charlotte and Noah's story. Charlotte is having a tough time trying to make rent and make sense of her life after tragically losing her brother and her desire to play her violin. She gets approached to be a personal assistant for Noah who is recently blind and dealing with it poorly. After some bitterness and rude comments thrown her way, Charlotte slowly gets through to Noah and they form a friendship of sorts. This friendship turns into more, and they fall in love. There are some big changes that both of them have to deal with and make, some sexy times, and some sweet moments...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Charlotte and Noah's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Ok. There were times that I felt that it was slow, but I never skimmed. I also had issues with the ending (see closure section below).
Instalove: No, I felt like they had sufficient time to develop stronger feelings.
H rating: 3.5 stars. Noah. I liked him, but his pushing the h away towards the end really bothered me.
h rating: 4.5 stars. Charlotte. I really liked her. She was sweet and compassionate, but also tough when she needed to be.
Sadness level: Low. This does cover some heavy themes, but I never needed tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Moderate/low. I'd say the scenes were more about the emotions than the physical act. Not necessarily sexy, but I think that they fit in well with the storyline.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes and no. Some scenes mention condom use, and others don't. No other mention of birth control, std status, or previous practices that I remember.
OW/OM drama: Mild
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This didn't have enough closure for me. It seemed like we went from their separation to the jump ahead epilogue. I still had unanswered questions, and there wasn't enough commitment for me. I'd call it a HFN ending.
How I got it: It was a loan from an awesome GR friend :D
Safety: Safe with exception
Overall Opinion: This was a refreshingly different story. I always appreciate stories with one of the mcs having a disability, and this one addressed the feelings that go along with dealing with the disability when it is new. Normally, these type of stories are about people that have been living with their disability for a while, so that was a nice change. I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it either. I did feel like it was a little slow at times, and the ending kind of ticked me off.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Charlotte and Noah's story. Charlotte is having a tough time trying to make rent and make sense of her life after tragically losing her brother and her desire to play her violin. She gets approached to be a personal assistant for Noah who is recently blind and dealing with it poorly. After some bitterness and rude comments thrown her way, Charlotte slowly gets through to Noah and they form a friendship of sorts. This friendship turns into more, and they fall in love. There are some big changes that both of them have to deal with and make, some sexy times, and some sweet moments...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Charlotte and Noah's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Ok. There were times that I felt that it was slow, but I never skimmed. I also had issues with the ending (see closure section below).
Instalove: No, I felt like they had sufficient time to develop stronger feelings.
H rating: 3.5 stars. Noah. I liked him, but his pushing the h away towards the end really bothered me.
h rating: 4.5 stars. Charlotte. I really liked her. She was sweet and compassionate, but also tough when she needed to be.
Sadness level: Low. This does cover some heavy themes, but I never needed tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Moderate/low. I'd say the scenes were more about the emotions than the physical act. Not necessarily sexy, but I think that they fit in well with the storyline.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes and no. Some scenes mention condom use, and others don't. No other mention of birth control, std status, or previous practices that I remember.
OW/OM drama: Mild
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This didn't have enough closure for me. It seemed like we went from their separation to the jump ahead epilogue. I still had unanswered questions, and there wasn't enough commitment for me. I'd call it a HFN ending.
How I got it: It was a loan from an awesome GR friend :D
Safety: Safe with exception
July 16, 2015
This was such a great book, a lovely, heartwarming, emotional and uplifting book. Once I started, I had a hard time putting it down. I thought things flowed really well, the characters felt very real and the writing was wonderful.
After a harrowing and difficult year, Charlotte is in desperate need for a break. Graduating from Juilliard with a sparkling future as a classical violinist was supposed to be her destiny, but Charlotte now finds herself almost at rock bottom. A kind word from a stranger soon becomes an offer of employment that can put Charlotte back on the road to financial stability and quite possibly, give her another chance to get back into what she loves. The only problem is, her job as a personal assistant is to Noah Lake, a blind recluse who has a reputation for being a tyrant. But Charlotte and Noah Both have baggage. They both suffered profound loss that irrevocably altered them. Their form of loss may be different, but it doesn't change the fact that thy both suffered greatly in their own way. Slowly things begin to change, and for once in a long time Charlotte and Noah have a chance at happiness.
This started out strongly and never let up. I thought Charlotte was a fantastic heroine. She was endlessly patient with Noah when many others wouldn't have been, she was loyal, respectful, kind and giving in a way that gave back in spades. I have absolutely nothing bad to say against her, I found her completely perfect in every way.
Noah was suffering a great deal. Losing his sight was not just about losing one's ability to see. He lost everything that he'd always held dear. The rush of being an extreme sports fanatic wasn't just a hobby, it provided him with a sense of invincibility and freedom he found nowhere else. It also paid the rent. Noah was a journalist that took first hand experience to the next level. He didn't just write about adventures, he lived them. Losing that was a traumatic event he just couldn't accept.
I'm glad the relationship between Char and Noah didn't just spark. It took time for him to trust her and for her to put aside her fear of truly helping him. But when they did give into each other it was beautiful. There was no excess drama, and with Noah's past I was afraid there would be. This was just a great story about two people who found each other in the dark. Their love was honest and true, and I loved that. The epilogue was perfect, it brought everything full circle. If you're looking for a touching love story about a recluse who never wanted to be found and a woman who never stopped trying, then this is it. And if you're wondering, this can be read as a standalone.
**Arc provided by the author for review **
After a harrowing and difficult year, Charlotte is in desperate need for a break. Graduating from Juilliard with a sparkling future as a classical violinist was supposed to be her destiny, but Charlotte now finds herself almost at rock bottom. A kind word from a stranger soon becomes an offer of employment that can put Charlotte back on the road to financial stability and quite possibly, give her another chance to get back into what she loves. The only problem is, her job as a personal assistant is to Noah Lake, a blind recluse who has a reputation for being a tyrant. But Charlotte and Noah Both have baggage. They both suffered profound loss that irrevocably altered them. Their form of loss may be different, but it doesn't change the fact that thy both suffered greatly in their own way. Slowly things begin to change, and for once in a long time Charlotte and Noah have a chance at happiness.
This started out strongly and never let up. I thought Charlotte was a fantastic heroine. She was endlessly patient with Noah when many others wouldn't have been, she was loyal, respectful, kind and giving in a way that gave back in spades. I have absolutely nothing bad to say against her, I found her completely perfect in every way.
Noah was suffering a great deal. Losing his sight was not just about losing one's ability to see. He lost everything that he'd always held dear. The rush of being an extreme sports fanatic wasn't just a hobby, it provided him with a sense of invincibility and freedom he found nowhere else. It also paid the rent. Noah was a journalist that took first hand experience to the next level. He didn't just write about adventures, he lived them. Losing that was a traumatic event he just couldn't accept.
I'm glad the relationship between Char and Noah didn't just spark. It took time for him to trust her and for her to put aside her fear of truly helping him. But when they did give into each other it was beautiful. There was no excess drama, and with Noah's past I was afraid there would be. This was just a great story about two people who found each other in the dark. Their love was honest and true, and I loved that. The epilogue was perfect, it brought everything full circle. If you're looking for a touching love story about a recluse who never wanted to be found and a woman who never stopped trying, then this is it. And if you're wondering, this can be read as a standalone.
**Arc provided by the author for review **
November 22, 2023
5 stars
Emma Scott is one of my favorite authors so when I saw she had 'Rush:Deluxe Edition' out I knew I had to read it. It was similar to the original, with the novella and some other scenes added in, but it was so great to be back into this world. I love Noah and Charlotte so much! I think I said it all best in my original review, so I'm just going to post it below. If you haven't checked this book out yet, you really should!
Anyone who pays attention to my reviews probably knows a few things about my tastes- I love books that make me feel and make me cry, AND my favorite types of heroes are the broken/damaged ones who have something to overcome. This hero is blind. Yes. BLIND. This is my second Emma Scott book and in both books she totally nailed it. It’s like her books are crafted for me with all of my favorite things! Once I started this book, there was no way I was putting it down. I read it cover to cover and enjoyed every moment.
Noah Lake used to be all about the extreme sports and the rush of it all. Until an accident took away his sight and made it impossible to do the things he loved. He is a bit bitter about this, and the last thing he wants is help or anyone to see him in this state. When it becomes an inevitably, his family friend hires a woman by the name of Charlotte. Charlotte is different. She treats Noah different and he likes that. He likes her. He won’t always admit it, but being around her makes him happy and puts some light back into his life.
Charlotte Conroy graduated from Julliard. She should be playing in symphonies, but something happened in her life that stole the one thing that was most important to her. Her love of music. She just can’t feel it anymore. After a few dead end jobs, she ends up taking a job as a helper/caretaker to a blind man named Noah Lake. Noah is much younger and much more handsome than she imagined he would be. He’s also angry, depressed and underneath it all, in unbearable pain. Charlotte sees that. She sees him. The good underneath the bad. She becomes his friend. But it’s so much more than that. Charlotte wants to help Noah. She wants to be his friend and make him smile again.
Nothing makes me happier than damaged characters that find themselves healing by being with that one special person. Noah needed that so badly- but Charlotte did too. They were exactly what the other needed. I loved how Charlotte was the perfect mix of kind and understanding to Noah, as well as tough when she needed to be. She was a strong and fantastic heroine. Noah started off as a bit of a jerk, but my god- his story and how he felt broke my heart. Seeing him take these baby steps to become the best self he could be made my heart soar. I adored him and he and Charlotte complimented each other in the best way.
RUSH is a beautifully written, emotional, heartwarming and special romance. It wasn’t insta-love, the romance had a lot of growth as did the characters. It was a fantastic 5 star favorite for me!
If you’re looking for a book that will give you the feels and make your heart happy- read this one!
Emma Scott is one of my favorite authors so when I saw she had 'Rush:Deluxe Edition' out I knew I had to read it. It was similar to the original, with the novella and some other scenes added in, but it was so great to be back into this world. I love Noah and Charlotte so much! I think I said it all best in my original review, so I'm just going to post it below. If you haven't checked this book out yet, you really should!
Anyone who pays attention to my reviews probably knows a few things about my tastes- I love books that make me feel and make me cry, AND my favorite types of heroes are the broken/damaged ones who have something to overcome. This hero is blind. Yes. BLIND. This is my second Emma Scott book and in both books she totally nailed it. It’s like her books are crafted for me with all of my favorite things! Once I started this book, there was no way I was putting it down. I read it cover to cover and enjoyed every moment.
Noah Lake used to be all about the extreme sports and the rush of it all. Until an accident took away his sight and made it impossible to do the things he loved. He is a bit bitter about this, and the last thing he wants is help or anyone to see him in this state. When it becomes an inevitably, his family friend hires a woman by the name of Charlotte. Charlotte is different. She treats Noah different and he likes that. He likes her. He won’t always admit it, but being around her makes him happy and puts some light back into his life.
An ache clenched my heart so hard I nearly gasped. Companionship. Someone in my space, touching me, talking to me, just sitting next to me and sharing a meal, as if I were whole.
Charlotte Conroy graduated from Julliard. She should be playing in symphonies, but something happened in her life that stole the one thing that was most important to her. Her love of music. She just can’t feel it anymore. After a few dead end jobs, she ends up taking a job as a helper/caretaker to a blind man named Noah Lake. Noah is much younger and much more handsome than she imagined he would be. He’s also angry, depressed and underneath it all, in unbearable pain. Charlotte sees that. She sees him. The good underneath the bad. She becomes his friend. But it’s so much more than that. Charlotte wants to help Noah. She wants to be his friend and make him smile again.
Nothing makes me happier than damaged characters that find themselves healing by being with that one special person. Noah needed that so badly- but Charlotte did too. They were exactly what the other needed. I loved how Charlotte was the perfect mix of kind and understanding to Noah, as well as tough when she needed to be. She was a strong and fantastic heroine. Noah started off as a bit of a jerk, but my god- his story and how he felt broke my heart. Seeing him take these baby steps to become the best self he could be made my heart soar. I adored him and he and Charlotte complimented each other in the best way.
RUSH is a beautifully written, emotional, heartwarming and special romance. It wasn’t insta-love, the romance had a lot of growth as did the characters. It was a fantastic 5 star favorite for me!
If you’re looking for a book that will give you the feels and make your heart happy- read this one!
“You’re the light in my darkness, Charlotte.”
November 27, 2016
5 amazing stars
Straight into my favourites. Wonderfully written, painfully real and the emotions evoked was unbelievable. Noah and Charlotte, two souls broken by tragedy and when they find each other, it was the best gift life could ever offer.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Straight into my favourites. Wonderfully written, painfully real and the emotions evoked was unbelievable. Noah and Charlotte, two souls broken by tragedy and when they find each other, it was the best gift life could ever offer.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
November 1, 2020
I had to wait to gather myself before writing this but apparently I didn't give myself enough time. I don't think any amount of time would be enough to achieve that because this is the kind of book that stays with you till the end.
This book started off beautifully. That's the only way to put it. I loved the writing, the words. They seemed to flow like water and held together like notes in symphonies. And apparently, this book has me waxing poetic. So you know it's something good.
Noah and Charlotte had lost something in their life, and that too at young age. Their losses were different- so different- yet the same.
Charlotte was a beautiful girl, inside and out. She had kindness and generosity oozing out of her. She seemed perfect but she was broken and lost. Her loss was purely emotional. Something had happened and she had been dealing with the consequences. I don't want to spoil it, but I'll give a clue- sometimes, something happens to someone else but we are the ones who have to deal with the consequences. They simply don't stay long enough to see that.
Noah's loss was physical and emotional. It may appear like his loss was physical, but it was much deeper than that. Every time I read a chapter from his perspective, I was anguished to see how bitter and helpless his loss had left him. I understood him and felt for him in the deepest places of my heart.
Together, they leaned on each other and found their way out of the pain and misery they had been drowning themselves in.She became the light in his dark and he became the music in her heart. The description of their feelings was beautiful. Simple words that held deep meanings. I loved them, I loved the story, I loved the writing. I loved pretty much everything.
I cried. I cried so much while reading this, not always tears, but my heart went out to this book, to the story, to the characters. Maybe it was the fact that I am very close to music, maybe it was something else but just one line from this book, by this author had enough power to fill my eyes. It was perfect with a capital P.
This book started off beautifully. That's the only way to put it. I loved the writing, the words. They seemed to flow like water and held together like notes in symphonies. And apparently, this book has me waxing poetic. So you know it's something good.
Noah and Charlotte had lost something in their life, and that too at young age. Their losses were different- so different- yet the same.
Charlotte was a beautiful girl, inside and out. She had kindness and generosity oozing out of her. She seemed perfect but she was broken and lost. Her loss was purely emotional. Something had happened and she had been dealing with the consequences. I don't want to spoil it, but I'll give a clue- sometimes, something happens to someone else but we are the ones who have to deal with the consequences. They simply don't stay long enough to see that.
Noah's loss was physical and emotional. It may appear like his loss was physical, but it was much deeper than that. Every time I read a chapter from his perspective, I was anguished to see how bitter and helpless his loss had left him. I understood him and felt for him in the deepest places of my heart.
Together, they leaned on each other and found their way out of the pain and misery they had been drowning themselves in.She became the light in his dark and he became the music in her heart. The description of their feelings was beautiful. Simple words that held deep meanings. I loved them, I loved the story, I loved the writing. I loved pretty much everything.
I cried. I cried so much while reading this, not always tears, but my heart went out to this book, to the story, to the characters. Maybe it was the fact that I am very close to music, maybe it was something else but just one line from this book, by this author had enough power to fill my eyes. It was perfect with a capital P.
August 16, 2016
I wanted to read Rush because I fell in love with Emma Scott's writing when I read Full Tilt. I haven't been able to get her words out of my head after I read it and I had to experience her writing again which lead me to Rush.
What can I say? Rush was exquisitely beautiful in its writing and storytelling. I immediately felt a connection to Charlotte and Noah who were both dealing with a loss and grieved in their own way. It was struggle for both of them to accept their losses, to let go and move on but they did by finding each other which was the heart of the story.
The pain they were both dealing with, especially Noah, felt excruciatingly real and believable. I loved how strong and determined Charlotte was in helping Noah. She wasn't faced by his now scarred appearance. When it came to Noah's feelings, when it really mattered, he proved how selfless he was. How loyal and deep his love for Charlotte really went.
Their journey towards letting go of the hurt from their loss was also a journey towards friendship and an all consuming love.
I don't think I'll ever get enough of Emma Scott and her writing. Yet again she captured and mesmerized me with her words. I knew I was a fan after Full Tilt but reading Rush sealed the deal.
5 BadAssDirtyHope&ForeverStars
What can I say? Rush was exquisitely beautiful in its writing and storytelling. I immediately felt a connection to Charlotte and Noah who were both dealing with a loss and grieved in their own way. It was struggle for both of them to accept their losses, to let go and move on but they did by finding each other which was the heart of the story.
The pain they were both dealing with, especially Noah, felt excruciatingly real and believable. I loved how strong and determined Charlotte was in helping Noah. She wasn't faced by his now scarred appearance. When it came to Noah's feelings, when it really mattered, he proved how selfless he was. How loyal and deep his love for Charlotte really went.
Their journey towards letting go of the hurt from their loss was also a journey towards friendship and an all consuming love.
I don't think I'll ever get enough of Emma Scott and her writing. Yet again she captured and mesmerized me with her words. I knew I was a fan after Full Tilt but reading Rush sealed the deal.
5 BadAssDirtyHope&ForeverStars
May 2, 2017
Woah. Emma Scott knows how to write swoony book boyfriends. And Noah is my latest obsession! <3
When we first meet Noah, he's a little bit of an insufferable twat. He's rude to Charlotte and throws his fair share of tantrums. I understand he's struggling and that his situation sucks, but I was glad when he pulled his head out of his ass and started appreciating Charlotte. He's the kind of "asshole" hero I can deal with. I don't like heroes who are cruel for the sake of being cruel, but you can tell that Noah is just struggling with a lot of his own issues, and they have little to do with other people. He doesn't shut Charlotte out for long. They do take a few steps back in the beginning, but it's obvious how drawn to one another they are and Noah quickly tries to do everything he can to make Charlotte happy--I loved how dedicated he was to that. And as their romance progresses, he slowly starts accepting his fate.
I loved the romance here. It was simple and it didn't rely on cheesy or dramatic set-ups to progress the story, Charlotte and Noah's love was able to do that all on it's own. I especially liked that
As always, the writing is phenomenal, the characters are engaging, and the story is unputdownable. If you're looking for a swoon-worthy romance, look no further :) I'm so glad I discovered this author, and I can't wait for more!
June 29, 2020
Another wonderful story by Emma Scott. Although Rush is more sedate comparing to her other books, it is still wonderful. This is more to NA audience.
Noah lost his sight during an accident. He becomes sulky and rude. He pushed away his family and loves one. Charlotte is a violanist who suffer a lost of her brother. It rips her from her career. She lost her inspiration to play again. By chance their world is colliding in a rushing beautiful romance. Both of them realizing their shortcoming and then coming together as stronger characters at the end of this book.
I think the story is ends with HFN. I wish to see more Charlotte's background as she lost her brother. Miss Scott does not bring more in depth of her past and her relationship with her brother.
Overall this is still wonderful emotional read.
4 stars
Noah lost his sight during an accident. He becomes sulky and rude. He pushed away his family and loves one. Charlotte is a violanist who suffer a lost of her brother. It rips her from her career. She lost her inspiration to play again. By chance their world is colliding in a rushing beautiful romance. Both of them realizing their shortcoming and then coming together as stronger characters at the end of this book.
I think the story is ends with HFN. I wish to see more Charlotte's background as she lost her brother. Miss Scott does not bring more in depth of her past and her relationship with her brother.
Overall this is still wonderful emotional read.
4 stars
February 16, 2016
5 'I'll always come back to you' stars!
So, once I finished, How to Save a Life, I was desperate for more of Emma Scott's writing. There was just something so unique in the way she writes her stories, creates her characters in such a way, they become part of your life. You root for them and love them and only want them to have everything they deserve; which is each other. I had this one on my kindle already, having bought it months ago, and decided to dive right in. I knew I was in for a treat. I fully trust her and her ability to keep me hooked from page one. And she didn't disappoint. Of course, I may have read some reviews first just for the hell of it, but then dismissed the thought of getting spoiled and just went for it. Holy hell am I glad I took a chance on Noah and Charlotte. This was my second book by this author and she astounds me.
Anyway...
Noah was a man who had it all. He was popular, talented, well-loved, ambitious, and mostly...he was daring. Maybe that's not the right word. He was...fearless, bold, and of course reckless. But that was him. He lived for the rush where death was just at his feet, so tempting and yet terrifying. He played with death...and lost. Or in a way that made him feel like he lost, because ultimately, it left him blind. Not dead, but sightless. To him, however, was death. In other words, Noah was a journalist/photographer for a magazine called, Planet X. And he was good at everything he did, real good. Until one day, he lost his sight from cliff diving in Mexico while on assignment, which put him in a coma for 12 days. No one thought he'd ever wake up..until he did.
At least he was still alive, right?
That's what everyone else kept telling him. But to Noah, being blind was just as bad as death or possibly worse. He had a hard time coping with his new reality. Never able to see again. Never able to clive dive or rock-climb, or base-jump...he couldn't do any of that anymore. He was bitter, angry, hurtful to all the people who loved him and tried to help him adjust, pushing them away until he was left alone to stew in his rage. He moved to his parents' townhouse in New York City, and there he did nothing but scream at the unfairness of his new existence. Lucien, Noah's parent's finance executor is the only one who sticks around to make sure Noah doesn't kill himself. On accident, that is. He's hired assistant after assistant to help Noah find his way. But after a dozen who quit after getting fed up with Noah's constant bitterness and anger directed at them, Lucien is getting wary to ever find the right person to lure Noah out of his self-pitying shell.
Enter Charlotte Conroy.
She was a talented violinist with a great boyfriend, loving parents and a big brother she always wanted to make proud. This talented violinist was a virtuoso, a prodigy. She was attending Julliard and had been playing violin since she was a child. There was an endless possibility laid before her...until tragedy in her family struck her world, leaving her lost in her grief and taking away her love of music. She moved to an apartment she could barely afford, living with 3 other roommates. She worked two jobs. She never got a moment's peace with all the loudness of the city and her roommates. She was surrounded by people but never felt more alone. She was drowning.
Until a chance meeting with Lucien Caron changed her life in more ways than she imagined...
This was where it got interesting. Once Noah and Charlotte met, there was no going back and I found myself hurled in the middle of a story that both enchanted and consumed me. I didn't know what to expect when I started, but I sure as hell enjoyed every minute of this incredible tale of hope, healing and falling in love when you least expect it. Emma captivated me, or maybe that was Noah. God, Noah. My heart ached for him...
Let's talk a sec about that. I think I read one other book about a character who suffered from blindness. It was good, that I remember, but this one blew my mind. The way Emma described what Noah was going through as he navigated without his sight was so damn fucking heartwrenching. I felt the pain of loss from his old life. He wanted so badly to have that back. He wanted so badly to be able to see Charlotte, for just one second, and I felt that immense pain, like it was my own. I cried for him. The way he described the confusion and fear of no knowing where he was when he was outside, not being able to see the sunlight...all he saw was...nothing. It was so dark and black in his sight, that no wonder he was bitter and hateful. I tried putting myself in his shoes and it made me cry. I couldn't imagine it. Those were simple things we took for granted.
But Charlotte, oh that sweet Charlotte. She was an amazing heroine. Perfect for him. She never thought the scars on his back he had from several surgeries was disgusting and never made him feel any less of a person than he was. She helped him in ways no one else did. Their scenes together were...HOT but also tender and touching. Where he lacked, she made up for. Tenfold. I never felt their relationship was awkward or forced or weird. It was perfection. Like Evan and Jo. And that was what I needed because I was still mourning the loss of them in my life. Noah, though, was just a sexy and wonderful guy, albeit at times a douche, but only because of circumstances. And once he warmed up to Char, he became such a softie. Oh, I loved him! I did, I loved him as much as Evan. The stories were vastly different, but the amount of heart and soul poured onto the pages of my kindle never wavered.
And that is what I call epic. Both stories brought me characters I'll never forget. Stories I'm grateful for experiencing. I'll even re-read them and experience their epic love journeys all over again. And again. I applaud Mrs. Emma Scott for another hit for me. I definitely recommend it to all my book buds, because it must be read. I'm not even sure 5 stars is enough.
One thing I have to add, before I wrap this up, was how awesome the music was. I loved watching Charlotte gain back her spirit and her love of art. I could hear her playing as I was reading it, it was so vivid in my mind. So thank you for not glossing that aspect of the story over. It was a huge part of Charlotte's journey and her growth as a person. She was wickedly talented and Noah made sure she knew how much her music meant to him. Pure awesomeness.
Okay, the moral of this nonsensical review is: read, read, read this book. You won't regret it. And you'll have another book boyfriend to add to your already long list of heroes.
Favorite Quotes:
She made no distinction between scarred flesh and whole. It was just me that she wanted, as I was, and who is ever lucky enough to feel that in this world?
"You can't see me but I'm rolling my eyes at you behind my sunglasses. That I wear inside. Because I'm cool like Bono."
"You're the light in my darkness, Charlotte. You are..."
My endless black was never going to go away. That was certainty. But kissing Charlotte had been a burst of light streaking across it, like a comet.
An ache clenched my heart so hard I nearly gasped. Companionship. Someone in my space, touching me, talking to me, just sitting next to me and sharing a meal, as if I were whole.
"You're more than beautiful." He caressed my cheek. "You're the dawn, Charlotte, and no woman can hold a candle to you."
The only shadow over my happiness was Noah's absence.
...his blindness is only one small part of the man I love.
Love, real love, wasn't empty, grasping hands, or lies that felt like truths. And it wasn't perfect or neat or always easy. It was a rising sun on a new day.
"I love you, Noah. With my heart and my soul and this body. With every part of me. I love you so much you don't have to see it. You can feel it.
"You steal my breath away, Noah, and what you're feeling is me, trying to catch it back, but I never can. Not when you're this close to me.
Well shit, my heart is so full right now. So overjoyed. So happy. Another huge hit for me. I'm so emotionally overloaded.
So, once I finished, How to Save a Life, I was desperate for more of Emma Scott's writing. There was just something so unique in the way she writes her stories, creates her characters in such a way, they become part of your life. You root for them and love them and only want them to have everything they deserve; which is each other. I had this one on my kindle already, having bought it months ago, and decided to dive right in. I knew I was in for a treat. I fully trust her and her ability to keep me hooked from page one. And she didn't disappoint. Of course, I may have read some reviews first just for the hell of it, but then dismissed the thought of getting spoiled and just went for it. Holy hell am I glad I took a chance on Noah and Charlotte. This was my second book by this author and she astounds me.
Anyway...
Noah was a man who had it all. He was popular, talented, well-loved, ambitious, and mostly...he was daring. Maybe that's not the right word. He was...fearless, bold, and of course reckless. But that was him. He lived for the rush where death was just at his feet, so tempting and yet terrifying. He played with death...and lost. Or in a way that made him feel like he lost, because ultimately, it left him blind. Not dead, but sightless. To him, however, was death. In other words, Noah was a journalist/photographer for a magazine called, Planet X. And he was good at everything he did, real good. Until one day, he lost his sight from cliff diving in Mexico while on assignment, which put him in a coma for 12 days. No one thought he'd ever wake up..until he did.
At least he was still alive, right?
That's what everyone else kept telling him. But to Noah, being blind was just as bad as death or possibly worse. He had a hard time coping with his new reality. Never able to see again. Never able to clive dive or rock-climb, or base-jump...he couldn't do any of that anymore. He was bitter, angry, hurtful to all the people who loved him and tried to help him adjust, pushing them away until he was left alone to stew in his rage. He moved to his parents' townhouse in New York City, and there he did nothing but scream at the unfairness of his new existence. Lucien, Noah's parent's finance executor is the only one who sticks around to make sure Noah doesn't kill himself. On accident, that is. He's hired assistant after assistant to help Noah find his way. But after a dozen who quit after getting fed up with Noah's constant bitterness and anger directed at them, Lucien is getting wary to ever find the right person to lure Noah out of his self-pitying shell.
Enter Charlotte Conroy.
She was a talented violinist with a great boyfriend, loving parents and a big brother she always wanted to make proud. This talented violinist was a virtuoso, a prodigy. She was attending Julliard and had been playing violin since she was a child. There was an endless possibility laid before her...until tragedy in her family struck her world, leaving her lost in her grief and taking away her love of music. She moved to an apartment she could barely afford, living with 3 other roommates. She worked two jobs. She never got a moment's peace with all the loudness of the city and her roommates. She was surrounded by people but never felt more alone. She was drowning.
Until a chance meeting with Lucien Caron changed her life in more ways than she imagined...
This was where it got interesting. Once Noah and Charlotte met, there was no going back and I found myself hurled in the middle of a story that both enchanted and consumed me. I didn't know what to expect when I started, but I sure as hell enjoyed every minute of this incredible tale of hope, healing and falling in love when you least expect it. Emma captivated me, or maybe that was Noah. God, Noah. My heart ached for him...
Let's talk a sec about that. I think I read one other book about a character who suffered from blindness. It was good, that I remember, but this one blew my mind. The way Emma described what Noah was going through as he navigated without his sight was so damn fucking heartwrenching. I felt the pain of loss from his old life. He wanted so badly to have that back. He wanted so badly to be able to see Charlotte, for just one second, and I felt that immense pain, like it was my own. I cried for him. The way he described the confusion and fear of no knowing where he was when he was outside, not being able to see the sunlight...all he saw was...nothing. It was so dark and black in his sight, that no wonder he was bitter and hateful. I tried putting myself in his shoes and it made me cry. I couldn't imagine it. Those were simple things we took for granted.
But Charlotte, oh that sweet Charlotte. She was an amazing heroine. Perfect for him. She never thought the scars on his back he had from several surgeries was disgusting and never made him feel any less of a person than he was. She helped him in ways no one else did. Their scenes together were...HOT but also tender and touching. Where he lacked, she made up for. Tenfold. I never felt their relationship was awkward or forced or weird. It was perfection. Like Evan and Jo. And that was what I needed because I was still mourning the loss of them in my life. Noah, though, was just a sexy and wonderful guy, albeit at times a douche, but only because of circumstances. And once he warmed up to Char, he became such a softie. Oh, I loved him! I did, I loved him as much as Evan. The stories were vastly different, but the amount of heart and soul poured onto the pages of my kindle never wavered.
And that is what I call epic. Both stories brought me characters I'll never forget. Stories I'm grateful for experiencing. I'll even re-read them and experience their epic love journeys all over again. And again. I applaud Mrs. Emma Scott for another hit for me. I definitely recommend it to all my book buds, because it must be read. I'm not even sure 5 stars is enough.
One thing I have to add, before I wrap this up, was how awesome the music was. I loved watching Charlotte gain back her spirit and her love of art. I could hear her playing as I was reading it, it was so vivid in my mind. So thank you for not glossing that aspect of the story over. It was a huge part of Charlotte's journey and her growth as a person. She was wickedly talented and Noah made sure she knew how much her music meant to him. Pure awesomeness.
Okay, the moral of this nonsensical review is: read, read, read this book. You won't regret it. And you'll have another book boyfriend to add to your already long list of heroes.
Favorite Quotes:
She made no distinction between scarred flesh and whole. It was just me that she wanted, as I was, and who is ever lucky enough to feel that in this world?
"You can't see me but I'm rolling my eyes at you behind my sunglasses. That I wear inside. Because I'm cool like Bono."
"You're the light in my darkness, Charlotte. You are..."
My endless black was never going to go away. That was certainty. But kissing Charlotte had been a burst of light streaking across it, like a comet.
An ache clenched my heart so hard I nearly gasped. Companionship. Someone in my space, touching me, talking to me, just sitting next to me and sharing a meal, as if I were whole.
"You're more than beautiful." He caressed my cheek. "You're the dawn, Charlotte, and no woman can hold a candle to you."
The only shadow over my happiness was Noah's absence.
...his blindness is only one small part of the man I love.
Love, real love, wasn't empty, grasping hands, or lies that felt like truths. And it wasn't perfect or neat or always easy. It was a rising sun on a new day.
"I love you, Noah. With my heart and my soul and this body. With every part of me. I love you so much you don't have to see it. You can feel it.
"You steal my breath away, Noah, and what you're feeling is me, trying to catch it back, but I never can. Not when you're this close to me.
Well shit, my heart is so full right now. So overjoyed. So happy. Another huge hit for me. I'm so emotionally overloaded.
February 9, 2021
4,5 ⭐️
July 6, 2016
Wow! Just wow! After being in a book funk for weeks I've been lucky enough to read two 5 star books back to back and this is most definitely one of them. A gorgeous story of two damaged people, one to the most horrific disability and one to the loss of a loved one.
I loved their slow build romance from employer/employee to sort of friends to Noah and Charlotte really needing each other to heal and move forward with their lives once they realised how strong their feelings were for each other.
The writing is just beautiful, not once was I tempted to skim or rush to get to the finish - it's just that good. It's the first book I've read by Emma Scott and it most definitely won't be my last. This was one hell of a fabulous read.
I loved their slow build romance from employer/employee to sort of friends to Noah and Charlotte really needing each other to heal and move forward with their lives once they realised how strong their feelings were for each other.
The writing is just beautiful, not once was I tempted to skim or rush to get to the finish - it's just that good. It's the first book I've read by Emma Scott and it most definitely won't be my last. This was one hell of a fabulous read.
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