Review of Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia

 

bookshelves: adult, contemporary, contemporary-romance, fiction, suspense,  chick-lit, romance

Read from February 21 to 24, 2012 — I own a copy

I loved this book!  Rating:  ( 5 stars)

This was the first book I've read by Debra Anastasia and I will definitely be look forward to reading more of her work.
I really liked the characters, the writing and the story line.

The Characters: 
 
The Brothers:
 
Blake: A homeless man who's spot is at the Poughkeepsie train station.
 
Cole: A priest's assistant.
 
Beckett: A drug dealer, pimp, arms dealer... you name it he does it, but all so he can look after his brothers.
 
The relationship between Blake, Cole, and Beckett was strong, loyal, and unwavering, and the reason for it's birth is tragically sad.
How these men managed to come out of such bad childhood experiences and have even a little bit of goodness and kindness is extraordinary.

The Sisters:
 
Livia: Psychology student with strong morals and convictions, she also goes to the Poughkeepsie Station to take the train to school.
 
Kyle: The younger broken sister who thinks her mom left their family after she was born because of her.

The story is about Blake and Livia getting to know one another as first friends then it developing into so much more.

I LOVED how Blake counted every single smile Livia gave him right from the beginning, and that Livia didn't see Blake as invisible, but She truly did 'see' him as a human being and as a man...that's what first attracted Blake to Livia.
Blake is so adamant about not taking hand outs and only receiving what he's earned. He is homeless, but He never sways from his honor and integrity.
What I loved the most about his character was his manners which were so old-fashioned, but it totally worked for him.
Blake and Livia's relationship has to endure many trials the biggest being He's homeless, and the stigma and prejudice that's associated with it, but in the end with understanding and a lot of work it prevails.

This is such a touching story and one I'll surely not forget.

It was a such a pleasure to read.