Release Day Review:My Peace by Courtney Cole

My Peace, the continuation of Pax Tate's story from
IF YOU STAY, is live today! 

 

Happy endings must be worked for.

Pax Tate used to be an effed up asshole, but you’d never know it now.

He’s got a sexy wife, their own little family, a cozy home, and a successful career.

Everything is perfect.

Until his past rears its ugly head.

Pax will do anything to protect his family, even if he destroys himself in the process.

**BUY ON AMAZON **

Note from Courtney

Dear Readers,

I announced recently that I based the character of Pax Tate on my twenty-two year old son, Gunner.

Gunner is a drug addict. He's currently in rehab, and he's doing well, but it's been a long roller-coaster of a journey to get here.

Pax's personality traits are Gunner's. Even though Gunner's moods have been mercurial because of drugs, deep down he is strong and funny, charming and sweet. I wanted that to come through in Pax.

(Of course, when I'm writing the "sexy time" scenes, I'm definitely picturing Jensen Ackles or Alex Pettyfer in my head. :)

Pax's heart is as deep as the ocean, even though sometimes, he can be an asshole. I think readers realized that in IF YOU STAY, and that book sat on the New York Times for twelve weeks back in 2013.

Readers have asked for more Pax over the years, and it is only now, that I wanted to add more to the story. It is only now that I have come to terms with the fact, based on my son's own life, that happy endings must be worked for.

I hope you love Pax's story.

I wrote it with the ending I want for my own son, one of hope, of happiness and of good health.

I will give anything to make that true.

From my pen to God's ear.

I hope you enjoy the story. Thank you for reading!

XO,

Courtney

** BUY ON AMAZON **

What I thought about My Peace

So, it's 5 years after the events in If You Stay, and  Pax Tate seems to have it all.  He's got Mila, a beautiful daughter, and a pretty good life. Then one night, after stopping to help someone with a flat tire, everything changes when he ends up being the person in the hospital.  There's a whole lot more to this situation than anyone realizes at first.

He's left with a lot of physical pain, and his injuries that are worse than he realizes.  When another family tragedy has him moving his family, compounding his pain, his resolve to stay away from drugs is tested.

My Peace could have easily stopped right there and just dealt with Pax's struggle with his pain, but instead, Courtney Cole wraps this addiction storyline around a very tense and frightening situation as old fears and enemies re-enter Pax's life.  I don't want to say much more because it will spoil all the wonderful suspense.  I think I liked that the most about this book.  

This was an ugly-cry book for me. The last 20 percent of this book was so emotionally raw and at times heart-breaking to read. I thought Courtney Cole did a great job of keeping the reader in Pax's story, while at the same time having some significant things to say about addiction in general.  Opiate addition is such a timely topic and this story does a lot to bring some truths about it into the light while giving the reader a great suspense plot.

If you liked If You Stay, this book is a must-read to catch up on what is happening in Pax and Mila's life. This book kept me up into the wee hours of the morning and I read it all in one shot, and that says alot about the quality of writing in My Peace.  It was easy to get caught up in the story and forget about having to get up for work the next day!

This very emotional and suspenseful story was a very satisfying read for me and I recommend it. 

ARC provided for review.