It takes a lot more energy to bury pain than it does to confront it.- SavannahSometimes, it was just nice to blend in with people, to get lost and not have to worry about a thing.- SavannahHow do I escape the monotony of my everyday life?- SavannahI fell. I fell fast and deep into an abyss of love and lust.- SavannahI love you so much. You know that right, Peach? That I’ve never loved someone the way I love you. That every night before I go to sleep, your beautiful face is the last thing I picture. I just want you, I need you, and everything always ends up back to you somehow. You’re in my thoughts, in my past, I want you to be in my future.- AndresMaterial things don’t matter when the most important things in life can’t be replaced .- AndresThis wasn’t like pulling off a Band-Aid just to get it over with. This was slow, painful, and etched in my brain.- SavannahI silently cursed myself. There was no doubt about my feelings toward him; I was in trouble.- SavannahI could still read him like a book. It was in the way he spoke to me, low but demanding, jealous but confident. It was in the way he touched me, his fingers leaving soft kisses on my skin with each caress. The whispers in my ear imprinting dirty thoughts that lingered in my mind well into the next day. There was nothing boyish about the way he made me feel. He was a man who knew how to handle his woman.- SavannahI quickly rummaged through my purse, cursing myself for my love of big bags. They seemed like a great idea at the time of purchase but then swallowed up all my belongings.There was no reconnecting with my past — it should have stayed there.- SavannahIf we were constantly waiting for something to change, or perhaps someone to change, the changes we seek are what are actually left waiting. If I wanted changes in my life, they’d have to start with me.- SavannahWithin the frame of a lens, a snapshot holds a memory hostage.- SavannahIt’s a memory to look back at and ponder: what was I doing? Who was I with? And how did I feel? They’re snippets of a story that haven’t been told.- SavannahI didn’t want to know about you moving on. That you had gotten past me.- AndresYou hurt me.- SavannahForgive me. I just wanted to be the best because you deserve nothing less, Savannah. I’ve loved you since that summer we met, ten years ago, and not a moment less.- Andreswhen your heart is set on fire by someone, that’s the person you want to hold on to.- SavannahYou’re mine now.- Andres Does that mean you’re mine, too?- SavannahI’ve always been yours. I need to know where we’re going with all of this.- AndresSo do I, but can we please just take it a day at a time?- SavannahSome things you can’t plan.- AndresYou’re right. I didn’t plan on you coming back to me.- SavannahI don’t want to ever let you go again, Peach.- AndresLife’s too short. Eat dessert first.- SavannahI know you weren’t trying to cause me pain, but the feeling is still there.- SavannahWhy does chocolate have to taste so good?- SavannahSome feelings don’t change no matter how many years go by.- Savannah We are beyond excited to welcome our favorite f-bomb dropping book boyfriend, COLE MURPHY from the Darkness Series by Claire Contreras!!! Like us, Cole is also a big MJ Abraham fan and his review is just perfection!! Thank you so much Cole, we LOVE you!COLE MURPHY’S REVIEW:Claire read this book aloud to me because I personally don’t have time to be reading romance novels. Now, Dre is my boy, so I already knew a lot of his and Savannah’s story. The way Claire read it to me…well, let me just say that I had to call Dre myself and have a little man to man because some of the shit that went down was not cool with me. I promised Claire that I would be “nice” (she’s always telling me to be “nice” as if I’m some kind of asshole, but whatever). Anyway, I told her I would be nice and give you her take on the story too. I guess I should being that she read it to me, whatever. Blake also read this story and loved it, she cried in a couple of parts, got mad at ME in a couple of parts as if I had ANYTHING to do with it. No joke, if I didn’t love MJ Abraham so much, I would’ve been mad at her! But I’ll be mad at Andres and somebody else instead. I’m sure if you read it, you know what parts I’m talking about that made Blake go into an “I hate all men. All men are a piece of shit” mood. Yeah, fun times in the Murphy household.Enough about that, let’s talk about Resplendent.The story starts off from Savannah’s point of view (what’s up, Savannah!), when I say that I already wanted to take that stupid e-reader from Claire’s hand and throw it across the room, I’m not kidding. Dude, it starts off and this girl is already getting screwed over! Her cousin cut her beautiful long hair! I don’t know if you’ve seen Savannah’s hair, but it’s nice! And my man Dre likes long hair (we have a lot in common). So poor Savannah is trying her best not to show that she’s saddened by the fact that her hair got cut. Poor girl. Okay, enough about the hair.I can’t really say much without giving it all away, and I’m used to reviewing things play by play and it’s not really a good idea for me to do that on here because I’ll spoil the whole thing. So I’ll tell you what I like. I like how the story goes on alternating between past and present. I like that it has both Andres POV and Savannah’s POV so you see why certain things happen. I like how cool Savannah is; she’s definitely someone you hold on to. And Dre is, well he’s Dre! He’s cool as hell and he does anything he can to protect his girl. He’s also into sports, so we always have a lot to talk about when we get together.Claire wants me to tell you (can I roll my eyes now?) that it’s a story about first love and about the real things that happen in life that keep two people apart even when they’re meant to be together. She also wanted me to give you these quotes (she’s such a girl)…“You know that drop in your belly you feel from a roller coaster?” He asked. I nodded. His lips brushed against mine. “That’s what I get when I kiss you, but better-and I really like coaster”Why don’t girls get that guys will say anything to make you swoon? Seriously, that’s my boy Dre trying to get in Savannah’s pants…just saying. Okay, I’m not saying that again because both Claire and Blake just attacked the hell out of me.That’s all folks! Go out and buy Resplendent by MJ Abraham! It’s a great read! And shout out to my girls at Fiction & Fashion! Thanks for always hooking me up and showing me love!
What do You think about Resplendent (2013)?
4.5! Review to come. If you liked Happenstance, you will LOVE Resplendent!
—xin
