Charlie Hudson was on the verge of figuring that out when her dad—the only parent and friend she ever had—died suddenly. She was barely 18, and she was alone. So she went for easy—playing life safe, running away from a home that harbored nothing but bad memories and challenges and loving a man who would take her away from it all forever.
It’s funny how chance takes over when you need it most. And that’s exactly what brought Cody Carmichael into her life. A former motocross super star, Cody was now happy to be living the blue collar life, spending his days finishing up school and his nights under the hood of some classic car, just trying to keep everything his father taught him alive. Cody and Charlie were living parallel lives, until they finally collided. And the moment he smiled at her, Charlie knew he was the one who would change everything. But was she willing to take the risk?
Cody saw through it all. He saw her—all of her. But would letting him in be too much to take? And if Charlie let herself love him—really love him—could he love her back?
Globug's Take
Charlotte "Charlie" Hudson has no idea she's experiencing an identity crisis. Her mother was bipolar and a drug addict. Charlie didn't meet her father until she was seven years old when her mother dropped her off at his house and disappeared from her life. Over the next ten years her dad Mac Hudson took care of her but didn't spend time getting to know her. He had no clue how to be a father but instincts kicked in when Charlie's first boyfriend becomes abusive. Charlie and Mac start making up for wasted years and become best friends but all they get is a year and then Mac dies tragically.
Three years later Charlie is happy letting life happen. Her boyfriend Trevor is good at planning the their future. The only problem with that is that he doesn't even know her past so does he really know what she wants for her future. He makes Charlie feel safe and everything seems easy so this must be love right? When Cody walks in as the calculus tutor her heart reacts like she's never experienced before. In that instant she begins questioning and denying feelings she should never have for another man.
Cody has had to suffer similar losses as Charlie. The death of his father broke his heart and his spirit. When he meets Charlie it's like the desire to live rushes back to him. Now the only problem is that Charlie's boyfriend just happens to be Cody's step brother and they don't get along at all.
I kept waiting on Trevor to be an ass and reveal some major flaw. But honestly he's a perfect boyfriend. His biggest flaw is his father who finds pleasure in making Cody's life hell. So I was little conflicted reading as Charlie begins falling for Cody. I love Cody and he is the better match for Charlie but Trevor deserves better than what he gets. Just as Charlie is figuring out who she really is and what she wants for her future, that future is stolen from her and Cody. Trevor's father destroys Cody's dreams. Now the biggest question is will they choose to heal or allow their future together to be ruined.
True loves wins in the end which is as it should be. I loved Cody. He's sexy with a huge heart that's been broken a few times but he finds a way to mend it. I would love to read more of what's in Trevor's future. I have to also mention I would love more of the supporting characters Jessie and Gabe.
An Interview with Cody Carmichael from "Blindness" by Ginger
Scott
Warning: CONTAINS SPOILERSQ: So Cody…you didn't seem too happy when you learned that Charlie was dating Trevor. Can you tell us what went through your mind when you found out?
Cody: Ha! Not happy--yeah, I guess you could say I wasn't very happy. But I wasn't surprised. Things sort of went like that for me…you know, life handing out lemons and all? I gotta tell ya, though…when I saw Charlie, for the first time? It's like I woke up. Like I had been living in this dream. This goddamned mundane, wake up, work, go to bed, do it again dream. Then I saw her with Trevor, and I got it.
Q: Got what?
Cody: Well, I've always felt like life was one big tease for me. And meeting Charlie, and then not being able to have her…well, that was one hell of a tease. Just seemed about right.
Q: Do you still think life's teasing you?
Cody: Hell, I hope not! I don't take anything for granted though. I know that any minute, things can change--people, they can be gone in a blink. You have to love them while you have them. And you have to tell them so.
Q: Do you tell Charlie you love her?
Cody: Every goddamned day.
Q: Let's talk about that night at the haunted house.
Cody: What about it?
Q: I wanna talk about the kiss, but before that…when Charlie was scared.
Cody: I felt like such an ass putting her in that position, making her do something she didn't like. She hates being scared; I know that now. But I was just thinking it would be a good way to hold her hand, and maybe hold her close. I just needed a reason to make it okay.
Q: You were pretty quick to take care of her when she freaked out.
Cody: Always.
Q: Okay, kiss time. Did you think she was going to let you kiss her?
Cody: Truthfully? No. I thought she was going to smack me in the face and then knee me in the groin.
Q: Come on, you had to get some vibe.
Cody: I mean, yeah…I got a vibe. But I've been wrong before. I've been wrong A LOT!
Q: But you risked it anyway?
Cody: Damn straight I did! Best risk of my entire life. If I could have frozen time and kissed her for hours I would have. But those few stolen minutes, her lips on mine, her hair threaded through my fingers? I was done. I was hers, and there was nothing I could do about it.
Q: Would that moment have been enough for you? If that was all?
Cody: At the time, I thought it would have been. Kissing Charlie made my heart beat again. And it had been dead for a long time. She would have always been something special to me just for that alone.
Q: What changed?
Cody: The fact that she chose me. When I felt her--all of her--completely giving herself to me…there was no going back for me after that. I would follow that girl to hell and back just for the chance to touch her again, to feel her heartbeat against my chest, to know what her fingers felt like trailing down my back. But it's more than that. She loves me so unconditionally, and that kinda love only comes around once.
Q: Is that how you love her?
Cody: No. That's not a big enough word for how I feel about Charlie Hudson.
Q: How do you feel about her?
Cody: You know how people say that when someone they love hurts, they hurt, too? Well, it's true. Except when you love someone the way I love Charlie, it's about a billion times stronger. When my dad died, I spent a lot of time thinking about the impact one person can have on your life. And when they're missing, it's like you have this hole--and no matter how hard you try, you can never fill it. But you learn, you learn to live without it. And I think that's true…except for Charlie. If anything ever happened to her…if I lost her. Or…if she…died? I would die, too. Because Charlie? She's my heart, my whole entire heart. And without her, I've got nothing.
Q: So, your story continues then, huh?
Cody: Our story will go on forever if I've got anything to say about it.
Q: Well thanks, Cody, for stopping by. Good luck in your next competition. We'll all be rooting for you.
Cody: Thanks. I appreciate that. But, I really only care about one fan. And the minute she tells me I'm done…then I'm done.
AUTHOR BIO AND LINKS
Sounds good really. Kinda like wake up and live again. Might be something I need to read.
ReplyDeleteIf he lifted his hat, he might be able to see better.
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