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Monday, January 5, 2015

Review: All I Need

All I Need (Stay, #2)All I Need by Emily Goodwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After reading Stay last fall, I couldn't wait for Jackson's story to come out. After some delays, and worry that the author wouldn't publish after all, I'm happy to say, it's finally here!

OMG! What a great book. Reading Jackson's story in this companion book, was, most times, heartbreaking. Realism and plausibility are Ms. Goodwin's strong suit. Most of the time, I felt like I was right there in the house with Jackson. I could feel his pain.



The writing pulled me in, made me a part of the story, it was descriptive in all the right ways. Never overly so, but enough that you could actually picture Jackson doing something as simple as brushing his hair back with his arm. Jackson's pain is real, he has no hope for anything anymore, death would be welcome...



Until Adeline.

Knowing what Jackson was doing and thinking during all those times Adeline was alone in the basement, or being otherwise abused. Knowing that he was thinking about her, falling in love with her, finally having hope. It was so insightful and at times gutwrenching.
After reading Stay, and knowing how the story would end, reading it from Jackson's point of view, was like reading it all for the first time again.

This book made me hurt so much for Jackson, and I'm still feeling the "book hangover" effects of this one. The author, and her research, made this feel more like a true story. And, sadly, I'm sure it is similar to the plight of many in sexual slavery.

Please, before you read this companion book, (even though it *can* be read as a stand alone), and if you enjoy a seriously dark, non-con, taboo story, take the time to read Stay first. You won't be sorry. You'll get Adeline's side of things, and a much more detailed ending.

Reviewers Note: Amazon has stopped selling Stay, but, at the time of this writing, it is available here, on Smashwords

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