Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway of Written on my Heart by Cole Gibsen

Book Blurb:

It's been six months since Ashlyn Daniels was kicked out of her home. Six months since she stood up to her abusive stepfather and got a busted rib—and seeing all her things set ablaze in a backyard bonfire—for her trouble.Never going back. She doesn't need trouble...especially if trouble is tattoo artist Lane Garrett, who's six-feet-plus of tattooed hotness and a complete ass.

Lane has spent the last decade fighting to support his family. To protect them. There's no room for romance, even with a fragile (yet amusingly feisty) stunner...even if she somehow manages to invade his world and his heart.

But while some secrets are as visible as ink on the skin, others must remain hidden at all costs...

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My Review:

4 Out of 5 Stars

Genre: New adult--

Ashlyn has spent the last year trying to save enough money to get a place to live after being thrown out of her house. She understand the meaning of rough times. At her job as a barista, Ash meets Emily, a spunky girl who takes refuses to take no for an answer. Emily pushes her to cover the regretful tattoo she has of her ex-boyfriends name branded on her arm. Through Emily, Ash meets Lane, the gorgeous moody tattoo artist who will cover up the bad error in judgement as a favor for Emily. Against her will, Ash is drawn to Lane, even when she knows he has another woman in his life, but circumstances keep throwing them together. Lane wants to stay away from Ash because his heart belongs to another girl, his 10 year old daughter. The two of them try to stay neutral but may need each other to fix the broken pieces of their lives.

So after reading this book, I realized a trend in my new adult preferences- I absolutely love the stories with broken hot mess characters. They are my favorite, which probably says something about me, but that is for another time. That being said, I absolutely loved this book and inadvertently ended up reading it in one sitting because I could not put it down. I started the book and without knowing it, it was hours later and I was finished. The story flowed well with out awkward transitions or random tangents and the characters felt like real believable people who I bonded to and rooted for. This is a stand alone contemp romance and it had a happy conclusion for those hopeless romantics out there.

Ash spent the last 10 years living under her verbally abusive and controlling step-father. She is full of insecurity and feels worthless. Her every action is tempered with thoughts of doubt that I just wanted to wrap her in bubble wrap and give her some anti-anxiety meds for the panic attacks. To sum Ash up, she is a hot mess emotionally, starved physically and has nothing tangible. I absolutely loved that regardless of how the puppy got forced on her, she took full responsibility to make sure he had the love and attention he needed. It would have been easier for her without Hank, but she refused to let him go and it made me like her more. I wanted her to get her happiness regardless of her flaws. There were a few times in the story where I wanted to shake some sense into Ash and make her see the truth about herself and Lane, especially when she wanted to run away again, but consistently throughout the book I wanted her to get a slice of happiness she so desperately needed.

Lane is freaking dreamy. And no, I am not talking about physically, even though he is pretty hot too, but he is dreamy based on his personality. The book kept talking about him being flawed, but if having a big heart and a strong protective instinct are flaws, then let every man be flawed in that way. He sacrificed his happiness to give his family what they needed and really never asks for anything in return. If anyone needed a happily ever after, it was him. He may have started off moody and snarky, but that man is made of rainbows and marshmallow fluff and I may be crushing on him. He really was the best father Harper could have asked for, and such a decent man in general.

The end was sweet, perfect and I could not have asked for more. I like that the characters had issues and difficulties, but that the story was not overpowered with angst. This is perfect for anyone who wants a fast romance read, with a few hot scenes and strong characters. I can't wait to read more form the author to come because she is a new favorite.

I received this title from YA Bound Tours in exchange for my honest review.

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Author Bio:

Cole Gibsen first realized she different when, in high school, she was still reading comic books while the other girls were reading fashion magazines.

It was her love of superheroes that first inspired her to pick up a pen. Her favorite things to write about are ordinary girls who find themselves in extraordinary situations.

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Tour and book provided by YA Bound Book Tours