Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

by - Saturday, March 31, 2012


              


He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others . . . he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day. 


Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe. 


When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she's surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives. 


Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. Love never fails, right? 


Dark, intense and PHENOMENOL.

Poughkeepsie left me breathless and seeking for more. Caught by the promising cover and bound by the astounding trailer, I knew I was a goner as soon as I laid eyes on it. Soon enough, I was 'preaching' and 'spreading news' about the book to my friends without even reading it priorly. I was that captivated by the book that I impulsively used my Amazon gift Card to buy it and had it shipped to my country. (And gone is my carefully structured plan to use my maybe-once-in-a-lifetime gift card diligently.)

I had high hopes for the book even though it was from a new author and from a publishing company that I am not familiar with, I ignored the bad reviews (although I secretly enjoyed reading them) and took the gamble. I never expected Poughkeepsie to exceed my expectations by a whole lot!

Beautifully crafted and sophistically written, Debra's writing had amazed me and I am proud to add Poughkeepsie to my list of MUST read books. Being a teenager who adores contemporary romance, Poughkeepsie is something extraordinary compared to the typical stories that I've read. Intense, dark and thrilling, Debra dived into society's taboo and cruelty, yet in the midst of it all showeed humanity. Poughkeepsie is a mix of thriller, action and romance, a tale that will surely touch your heart.

It will take a long list for me to point out what I adore about this book, but to emphasize, I really respect the diversity of personality of each character, that to me, every character is the main protagonist. Each character has their own tale to tell, their own secrets to share, their own pasts to hide that you can't just ignore. And each character is so different yet so alluring that you just can't fight the attraction. Beckett, Blake's brother from his foster home is a hard man with a soft heart. Everything he does, he does it self-sacrificially for the sake of protecting his brothers.

“Beckett's probably the hardest man there is to love," Blake said. "He does life wrong for all the right reasons.”  

One of my favorite character in the story is probably Beckett, he says the funniest thing, swears the most and God knows what he worked as, but all those aside, he is the most loyal guy who puts his brothers above anything and everything including himself. He would fight for them and even kill for them if it puts a smile on their face. He might be notorious and has 'WANTED' spelled across his forehead, but he has the most beautiful soul that I've ever read about. Then there's the second brother, Cole who is training to become a priest. He's quiet and conservative and a total opposite of Beckett, but like him, he is loyal to his family. Then there's Blake who's heart is so fragile and innocent that he come across as childlike. Pride was all he has besides his cardboard piano and his talent in creating music.

In one word, adoration. Debra did a great job telling the horrific past of the three brothers that formed their unbreakable bond and how their future was weaved from the first time Blake counted Livia's smile. It was a true romance novel that defies all norms, filled with intense scenes that leave your heart pounding. I was swooned by Blake and Livia's blossoming romance, respected Cole's impeccable behavior, love Beckett for being hard ass and funny, awed by Eve's quick comebacks and adore Kyle and Livia for being who they are. Poughkeepsie was metaphorical, and I just loved everything about it.

From family values to human's ugliness, Poughkeepsie has it all. Let Debra whisked you away to Poughkeepsie and embark on a reading journey that will enchant you all! (I'm feeling poetic)

If I can 'chase' this book down till the ends of the Earth, I believe it is worth a read.

*sigh* Mission accomplished. One book off my DESPERATELY-NEED-TO-READ Wishlist.

Due to certain violent and sexual content, this book is not suitable for readers of certain age. All in all, I love it!

This is the trailer that started it all....


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4 comments

  1. I somehow think it's fated :P I won the gift card just almost the same time I discovered the book XD

    THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING!

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  2. It's on my to-read list. I saw several reviews pop up around the bloggerverse. Having read your review...I really, really want to buy it lol. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
    _yay_ @ BookthatThing!

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  3. Thank you for liking it :) I really loved the book and hope you will too!

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