Blog Tour Review: Blue Horizons by Kathryn Andrews

Title: Blue Horizons

Author: Kathryn Andrews

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Published: October 19, 2015

Will Ashton Music is my motivation. I’ve always believed that, because of it, I would be somebody. Somebody to someone, and something to myself. At age four, I picked up my grandfather’s acoustic guitar and, up until three weeks ago, I’ve never put it down. From a single chord to a full arrangement, music fed my soul. I craved it with every fiber of my being, but now, I just don’t know. That driving force that’s always pushed me has somehow stalled, along with the thrill, the passion, and the familiarity . . . it’s all gone. I’m beginning to worry that my love for music just isn’t enough. As the summer tour finally comes to an end, I head to the Blue Ridge Mountains instead of returning to Nashville. It’s here that I’ve always been able to lose myself amongst the solitude and the lake, but what I didn’t expect to find was her. Wild blonde hair, light blue eyes, and a laugh I find myself trying to coax from her has me completely enamored. She’s quiet, incredibly poised, and driven by secrets as big as the mountains around us. They’re what’s made her untouchable, and left me wanting to know more. Maybe that’s what I need. Maybe I need more. Maybe I need her. Ava Layne They say that life isn’t about how many breaths we take, but how many moments take our breath away. But what if those moments aren’t filled with happiness and love, but something dark and haunting? For me, it’s those moments that’ve shaped and taken over my life. I can’t change who I am, God knows I’ve tried, and, because of this, I’ve accepted the silver lining . . . I’m alive. Fifty-two white keys, thirty-six black keys, ten fingers, seven notes, two friends, and one stage. At the piano, on the stage, with my two best friends, I finally found myself, and I live for those moments. One by one, I collect them, cherish them, patiently waiting for the next, until it arrives and changes everything. That’s the moment I meet him.

Amazon - Amazon CA - Amazon UK - Amazon AU


My Review

I've got two words for you: simply amazing!  And just so you know, I was adding this to my top recommendations list before I even finished reading it...that's how much I think of this book.

Let me tell you something about these characters--they are written so well that you feel like you know them, feel thoroughly invested in their lives and emotions, and especially for Ava...feel her extreme responses right down into your heart, which will truly ache for her and what she's been through (and still goes through as the story unfolds).  Even as a reader, I felt very protective of Ava's character.  And the way that Ash instinctively knows just what to do when interacting with Ava is just extraordinary.  It is plain to see as the story progresses that the two of them are two halves of a whole, and while Ava's issues are completely heartbreaking...the two of them together are absolutely heartWARMING--not to mention healing, loving and just wonderful.

If you think I'm going overboard, I'm seriously not.  

The story itself flows seamlessly and draws you in effortlessly, keeping you solidly ensconced within its pages to the point that you won't want to put it down.  It has a strong cast of supporting characters whose stories you'll be clamoring to hear as well once you're done (I'm particularly interested in Clay, Ash's best friend).  There's a bit of misunderstanding toward the end to rile things up a bit-just enough to make you worry-and emotional turmoil all throughout.

I know I'll be re-reading this many times, it's too wonderful a story to only read once.  I highly recommend this deeply emotional, absolutely stunning story...and as I'm sure you've already guessed, this was a 5-star read for me.  Be aware that this book does cover the sensitive topic of domestic violence, and some parts may be a trigger for some readers, which leads me to caution that it be for 18+ due to the delicate subject matter.  But rest assured, these parts are handled with care and compassion.

OVER TEN YEARS ago my husband and I were driving from Chicago to Tampa and somewhere in Kentucky I remember seeing a billboard that was all black with five white words, “I do, therefore I am!” I’m certain that it was a Nike ad, but for me I found this to be completely profound. Take running for example. Most will say that a runner is someone who runs five days a week and runs under a ten minute mile pace. Well, I can tell you that I never run five days a week and on my best days my pace is an eleven minute mile. I have run quite a few half marathons and one full marathon. No matter what anyone says . . . I run, therefore I am a runner. I’ve taken this same thought and applied it to so many areas of my life: cooking, gardening, quilting, and yes . . . writing. I may not be culinary trained, but I love to cook and my family and friends loves to eat my food. I cook, therefore I am a chef! My thumb is not black. I love to grow herbs, tomatoes, roses, and lavender. I garden, therefore I am a gardener! I love beautiful fabrics and I can follow a pattern. My triangles may not line up perfectly . . . but who cares, my quilts are still beautiful when they are finished. I quilt, therefore I am a quilter. I have been writing my entire life. It is my husband who finally said, “Who cares if people like your books or not? If you enjoy writing them and you love your stories…then write them.” He has always been my biggest fan and he was right. Being a writer has always been my dream and what I said I wanted to be when I grew up. So, I’ve told you who I am and what I love to do . . . now I’m going to tell you the why. I have two boys that are three years a part. My husband and I want to instill in them adventure, courage, and passion. We don’t expect them to be perfect at things, we just want them to try and do. It’s not about winning the race; it’s about showing up in the first place. We don’t want them to be discouraged by society stereotypes, we want them to embrace who they are and what they love. After all, we only get one life. In the end, they won’t care how many books I actually sell . . . all that matters to them is that I said I was going to do it, I did it, and I have loved every minute of it. Find something that you love and tell yourself, “I do, therefore I am.”

Hosted By: