Release Blitz & Review::: Down to My Soul by Kennedy Ryan
Down to My Soul concludes the journey Rhyson Gray and Kai Pearson began in Book 1 of the Soul Series, My Soul to Keep! You must read Book 1 first.
Release Week Pricing
Both Books 99¢ This Week
RHYSON
She doesn't wear my ring.
We never stood before a preacher.
The only vows exchanged were between our bodies; between our souls.
But she was mine and I was hers until I ruined it. I have to believe that every day, every step, every breath brings me closer to making things right.
To making her mine again.
KAI
I've seen promises broken.
I know love makes no guarantees.
But things were different for Rhys and me, until he lied, and I walked away. Only there's a chain between our hearts that I can't break. Even if I forgive him, a shadow from my past hangs over us; over this love that reaches all the way down to my soul.
Book 2 - Down to My Soul
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1530629187/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
iBooks: apple.co/1TzobTg
B&N: Pending
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/down-to-my-soul
GR ➔ http://tinyurl.com/hvyhqaf
5 out of 5 Stars
This review is hard to write because whatever I say won’t do the book justice. This is the 2nd in the series and I loved My Soul to Keep. Rhyson & Kai are two characters that I often find myself thinking about and wondering what they’re up to now...especially before I got to read this novel. Though, let’s be honest, now I’m still going to be wondering what they're doing, just with a little bit happier thoughts for them.
The story opens with both Kai & Rhys on tour - separately as Kai made the rash decision at the end of book one. Rhys is determined to win Kai back, but the blackmail hanging over Kai’s head keeps her at a distance. So many times, I yelled at her (in my head, of course) to just tell Rhys. He would help her. He might freak out a little, but I saw it being so much worse the longer she didn’t tell him.
And Rhys, he’s so great. I mean really, he’s the most swoon-worthy book boyfriend ever. He has some of the absolute best one-liners in this book including but definitely not limited to these:
“You’re not my ex. You’re my always.”
“There’s always an ‘us,’ Kai. You know that.”
It wasn’t love at first sight or anything. I grew in love with her.
As for my mother, I’ve met dentures less fake.
That last one isn’t exactly romantic, but it made me laugh out loud getting me several strange looks from others in the room while I was reading.
And the secondary characters in this series are so much a part of the story as well. I love Aunt Ruthie, Grip (Marlon), Grady, and even Bristol. They all carry so much of the story and the hearts of Kai & Rhys that it’s impossible to imagine this story without them.
This story is such a wonderful tale of love and forgiveness and learning to be together. I can’t imagine not having read this story and I wish I could share it with everyone because it’s that great! Ms Kennedy really puts herself into this story and I can feel it in her writing. I can’t wait to read more from her...maybe a spin-off or something completely original. I don’t care. I just want MORE!
Book 1 - My Soul to Keep
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B017ZXWV2Y
iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/jdpee3t
B&N: http://tinyurl.com/hecj36e
Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/zzzrd7g
Goodreads ➔ bit.ly/1OrzB3r
*Add the Audio Book for only $1.99!
*Soul Series Signed Paperbacks
5 out of 5 stars
This is my first book by Ms Ryan and I promise it won’t be my last. From about 13% in the book, I was wrapped up in these characters and finding myself yearning to go into the book and be a part of their world...like reading it from the outside just wasn’t enough!! Ms Ryan has a wonderful way with words and can really make a person feel all the feels while reading. I’m not even remotely musically inclined, but I could feel the love in my bones that both Kai & Rhyson have for their music.
Kai & Rhyson have that instant connection that we all want. They feel it as soon as their eyes meet, but instead of giving into it, they fight it -- especially Kai. You see, Rhyson is already a world-famous musician twice over and Kai is trying to establish herself in the business and doesn’t want to be handed something. She wants to really go after it on her own and fights this connection with Rhyson tooth and bone as my mom would say!
And though Ryson is a world famous musician, his life is definitely not fairy tale worthy. He’s got his share of troubles and issues, but with Kai, he feels whole and just better about life. Kai gives into being “just friends” with Rhyson and that friendship is very solid, if not a little more than just friendship even if they deny it.
And then there’s Kai’s best friend since childhood, San, who sees the more to the “just friendship” and has possibly the best quote I’ve read in forever:::
“Watching you guys trying to be friends is like watching porn with no penetration. Really hot, but no climax.”
There were times in the novel when I really wanted to strangle Kai for breaking Rhyson’s heart and knowing that she wanted the more that he did, too….THEN there were times I wanted to shake Ryhs and ask what the heck he was thinking. Overall, the story was well developed and the characters really came to life for me and I can’t wait to read more about them.
Ms. Ryan did a great job of using all of the feelings and her subtle humor throughout made me smile at times I think I would have been crying, but there were also times when the utter helplessness of the characters and their sadness became my sadness as well. This is just a wonderfully written book and I hope the everyone will have the opportunity to read it.
E X C E R P T
“Rhys?”
His name rushes from my mouth on a breath, and I’m off the bed, hurling myself at him top speed. Somehow my legs wrap around his waist and my arms tangle behind his neck. I couldn’t hold back and play this cool if I wanted to. Every part of me that’s been fighting to stay focused, to keep working, to be on, collapses against him. Surrenders to the feel of him in my arms and the smell of him. My fingers lace through his hair. I scatter kisses across his face, the sharp angles and taut skin warm beneath my lips.
“So I take it you’re happy to see me?” He chuckles, pressing his forehead to mine, hands squeezing my thighs.
“Happy?” I release something that’s half a sob, half a laugh, pulling back a few centimeters to let him breathe. “What gave you that idea?”
We stop grinning at the same time, laughter dissolving, our bodies exchanging sensual information. My breasts flattened to his chest. His erection growing and hardening against my core. Our breaths mingling and hearts tattooing beats through our clothes and into the other’s skin.
I move first, leaning in to capture his bottom lip between mine, sucking and pulling between my teeth. Licking into his mouth like there’s honey hidden inside. He groans into the kiss, walking backward until we reach the bed and dropping me so I bounce a little, his eyes roving over me head to toe.
“Pep, what the hell are you wearing?” Humor and desire tussle in his eyes.
I look down, laughing when I see the young Jackson brothers emblazoned across my chest, my legs ending in the footed bottoms.
“If I’d known you were coming, I could have made sexier arrangements.”
“Arrangements?” He quirks a dark brow, placing a knee on either side of my legs, hovering over me like a promise. “Lingerie would have been nice. Other rock stars have girlfriends who wear lingerie.”
“Oh, are you referring to yourself as a rock star now?” I grin up at him, feeling whole for the first time since he kissed me goodbye a week ago. “That’s not egomaniacal at all. Is there a club? You guys have rock star meetings? Does one of you take rock star minutes?”
“You are sitting in here listening to my music in the dark.” He leans forward to tug at the zipper beneath my chin. “Maybe you’re actually one of my crazed fans. Or a groupie. I might even find a Mrs. Rhyson Gray t-shirt around here somewhere. My girlfriend doesn’t like those.”
“No, she doesn’t.” I shake my head, eyes never straying from his.
A small frown jerks his brows together. He tugs again at the zipper, but it doesn’t budge.
“Pep, it’s stuck,” he says.
“Sometimes it does that,” I answer easily, enjoying the frustration spreading over his expression as he keeps pulling and it keeps staying.
He places my hand over his cock, hard and poking through his jeans.
“Well, it’s not exactly a good time for it to do that.”
I laugh, grasping my zipper and tugging. Wow, it really is stuck. These are vintage PJs, older than I am and threadbare in places. I’m surprised the zipper hasn’t rusted before now. I sit up, bringing our bodies closer as I jiggle the little hook a few times. Nothing.
“Just how attached are you to this Jackson Five onesie?” His glance burns hot across my subtle curves visible through the thin flannel, telegraphing his intentions.
“Well this is Michael’s original nose.” I release a fake exasperated sigh. “But I do have my sewing kit.”
“All I needed to hear.”
Sorry, boys.
He grabs the two ends of the collar separated by the zip line and pulls until there’s a ripping sound, the panels falling back to reveal my naked breasts and my panties. A wicked grin spreads across lips.
“You naughty girl.” He runs a finger over the writing on the front of my calendar panties, carrying a current that simultaneously hitches my breath and gets me wet. “Wearing Monday panties on a Thursday. My little rebel.”
Release Week Giveaway!
($10 Amazon Gift Card, Rhys + Kai mason jar glass, Reader's Choice Kennedy Signed Paperback)
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About Kennedy Ryan
I just can't write about myself in third person for one more bio! I'm a wife, a mom, a writer, an advocate for families living with autism. That's me in a nutshell. Crack the nut, and you'll find a Southern girl gone Southern California who loves pizza and Diet Coke, and wishes she got to watch a lot more television. You can usually catch me up too late, on social media too much, or FINALLY putting a dent in my ever-growing To Be Read list! I love to hear from readers at kennedyryanwrites@gmail.com.
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