Title:  Reft
Series:
Author:  Libby Austin
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  April 1, 2015
Publisher:  Infinity & Beyond Publishing
My Rating:   4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Synopsis:

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. ~
Newton’s Third Law of Motion

Brandon “Brand” Carmichael’s life was the stuff dreams were made of…too bad it was an illusion. As a guitarist for Inert Motion, Brand traveled the world, performing with his brothers in all but blood. He never stopped moving all the while his mind played in a never ending loop. Now outside influences have changed the band’s course, leaving Brand’s life void of the balance he craved. Once again, his dream had become a recurring nightmare. Brand coped the only way he knew how; retreat into solitude.

Magdalena “Layna” Delacroix had achieved the long sought goal of her Ph.D. in Psychology, but success came at a high cost: over one hundred thousand dollars in debt. After being presented with the opportunity to fulfill her desire to help someone in the aftermath of tragedy, along with earning enough money to clear her debt and start a psychology practice of her own, Layna had to balance the means against the outcome. Could she be the force to stop the downward spiral of someone who refused to seek help?

Neither Brand nor Layna expected the reaction they had to one another. It was the opposite of everything they sought.

Could Layna live a lie while pushing Brand to live in the truth?

Would Brand forgive her for committing one unforgivable sin?

Or was he branded by destiny to be… Reft

Read on for my thoughts on Reft  No true spoilers, promise.

It started with, of all things, a dropped jar of pickles.  Which when dropped on a foot can result in some loud swearing and broken bones.  This was Brand’s first impression of Layna – well of her butt actually as she tried to pick up spilled groceries while hopping on a probably busted foot.  All because of a damned pickle jar.  Odd way to meet – but, hey, whatever works.

Brand lives in a very exclusive building, with tight security so he was surprised to find a lovely lady with a very foul mouth hopping around in pain right outside of his apartment door.  Turns out Layna is his new neighbor.  He does the nice guy thing, helping her get into her apartment, r-i-c-e for her injured foot and picks up her scattered food from the hallway.  Brand is very, very much a  loner so it’s a big deal for him to even notice Layna was in trouble let alone help her out.  Seeing she is still in a lot of pain, he finally convinces her to let him take her to an urgent care for that foot — which was broken.

So begins our story of a man who is a member of a popular band coming to grips with his fellow band-mates pairing off into couples and to his mind messing up their group.  Cos you cannot trust a female to not mess up a good thing.

I don’t really know how to get into too much more than a brief introduction to Reft without giving away more than I’m willing to give.

This novel is a journey taken in steps, slowly unfolding and emotional from the first page to the last.  Brand is more than what we see on the surface at first.  Like an onion, there is layer upon layer upon layer to this man.  It has not, by any means, been an easy journey for Brand.  He’s been through hell, as we will gradually find out.

Layna is foul mouthed, bubbly, easy to talk to and seems to be the perfect woman for Brand.  She is all of that… and more.  She holds the key to his happiness in her hands.  Question is… will it last forever?

I read through Reft in one sitting.  Each time I thought I came to a spot where I could step away – I had to keep on to know what was happening next.  There are indications, clues, hints all through this novel about what is happening… will you see them before the ending, maybe or maybe not.  I was looking for them, some are obvious others more subtle.

This is a highly emotional, deep on so many levels, while coming off at first as a light romance novel.  It is a powerful read, treat it that way and you won’t be disappointed at all.  I loved Brandon, he is walking wounded but I was rooting for him throughout this story.  Layna was a charmer, I enjoyed her but all the while I kept thinking, “Oh do not hurt him, do not harm this man.”  You  will  become emotionally involved in this one.  I don’t see how that can be avoided at all.

I know I haven’t given you much to go on — but yes, you should pick this novel up at or soon after release.  It is an excellent novel of survival and love and doing what is best for those you love – no matter what.  It is simply amazing.

*I received an e-ARC of Reft from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*