Release: A Standalone Friends-to-Lovers Romance (The Release Series Book 1)

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And what a massive stinking lie. She didn't deserve this conniving duo in her life because no matter how we try to explain it away, they deliberately led her to believe that she was the reason he was in prison. No matter how you spin it, Nora fed off her pain because she felt guilty and to assuage her guilt, she encouraged Thea's unhealthy fixation with Ramsey It’s no secret that that I’m a HUGE fan of this author and I truly enjoy her books and this one was no different. I loved the dual povs and the past to present was executed beautifully. The only thing I would have liked to seen was more time in the present and how Thea and Ramsey navigated life “After". That felt a little too rushed for me and I was a bit disappointed but aside from that, I enjoyed this couple's journey and their love. I don’t think I’ve read anything by Aly Martinez before but I loved the writing style, the pace and the angst, it was perfect. Overall, this novel was not just another amazing story by this author, but a powerful portrayal of a couple who came out on the other side after years of painful and tumultous heartbreak. Ramsey and Thea found a safe haven in one another throughout their whole lives and Martinez portrayed that beautifully. Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula ❤ That's how long Nora and Ramsey lie to Thea: Nora killed the rapist; Ramsey took the fall and gave up his life for her

Release | Author Aly Martinez

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Some parts were a win for me and some parts were a failure. Thea was my heroine. I loved her so much. I was disappointed of how Ramsey became because of my love for him as a child and my expectations for him as an adult. Going into this one, I decided to not even read the synopsis and go in blind. When it started, I enjoyed how the author decided to show us how the two characters met and how their friendship bloomed over their childhood. All you knew in the beginning was that the guy was in prison and had cut off communication from the main character. We get to see Ramsey and Thea learn to really trust each other when they're young, become best friends, and then become lovers. The relationship in this was very strong and this book was as much about their development as it was about their second chance in the future. The hero breaks up with her as soon as he goes to prison. He refuses to see her. In his heart, he loves her but he wants her to move on so he doesn’t allow her to visit him. She constantly sends him letters but he doesn’t even read one of them.

With a slow burn and some angsty moments, Release is a second chance romance that would appeal to those looking for a touching story dealing with real life painful issues. The reason I list those is because, when I rate books, I rate them against other books within the same genre or, if I have read other books by that same author, against other books by that author. Thea hated Ramsay when she met him but at that time she would have hated anyone, there was so much bitterness in her. Ramsay's smile, his cheerfulness, his persistence of not letting Thea's abrasive behavior drive him away broke through her walls and they became first best friends, then lovers and then...nothing. The tables have turned and it is now Thea fighting for Ramsay. Isn't that beautifully righteous? And fight she does. Damn that girl can play dirty. I loved how she just soldiered on although she was dying inside from the hurt Ramsay delivered because he thought he needed to protect her. However, as much as I enjoyed this one - and I did - I also can't honestly say I loved it as much as other books I have read by her...thus why this is not quite a 4-star (which is still a really good rating, folks). There were just elements of the story that felt a little weak to me...small things here and there that felt little more rushed than I would have liked them to be, and certain character motivations weren't always 100% clear to me. Sadly, I didn’t feel their connection, or chemistry or love. That’s why, I felt detached and the whole thing felt like a bit forced.

Release (The Release Series): Martinez, Aly: 9781655755026

However, I hate it when a woman pursues a man so hard, I prefer it the other way around so although I loved our heroine and believed that the guy had some good intentions in pushing her away, I didn’t enjoy their story taking all these turns. It killed whatever romance there was between them for me. And when the truth about that night of the murder was revealed, the book lost me forever. I loved the two halves of a story this gives us. There was a sort of poetic justice in seeing Ramsey fight for Thea and do everything she doesn't realize she needs in the first half as they were kids, to then watch Thea return the favor for Ramsey all those years later. She doesn't shy away from his growling and convincing he doesn't need her. She knows the heart beneath the new roughened exterior and she won't rest until she proves that their love isn't so easily forgotten. A coming of age, second chance, roiling angst filled story that will leave you breathless and aching for more. It's stuffed full with funny banter, laughter and love but be warned that the cry-fest it shall induce would dessicate your poor heart Nora rides on Thea's coattails for her entire adult life, to the point of moving into the home Thea bought for them

Thea and Ramsay are two of the most resilient people I've read about in a while - they have that survivor's gene that just won't let them give up, no matter how dire the situation looks. But I guess, when you know you're fighting for your soul mate there is no such thing as giving up. Thea and Ramsay were meant to be but until they were allowed to have their happily ever after my heart took quite a beating. But that's Aly Martinez for you - she makes you hurt and earn those happy moments. She makes sure that you deserve that happy ending when you get there. He, albeit reluctantly, lives in her home, refuses to eat her food, uses her money, time, wears the clothes she buys Time and timing is the theme that drives RELEASE. The time when Ramsay Stewart entered Thea Hull's life. The time it took for them to become friends. When they shared their first kissed. When they went far beyond kissing for the first time. And when Ramsey left Thea's side for just a moment and their lives changed yet again. And the years that followed after, when Thea was counting every day, every minute, every second, until she would see the man again who told her he didn't love her anymore. You're mine, Ramsey. You can try to fight me. You can hate me. You can lie to yourself for the rest of your life... but wherever you are, however long you're there, you are always mine."