Thursday, January 24, 2019

Her Lifeline by L.A. Casey


From New York Times bestselling author L.A. Casey comes an irresistible tale of first love and second chances.

Erin has had a crush on her brother’s best friend Ward for as long as she can remember. But eleven years ago he disappeared from their lives—breaking Erin’s trust, and her heart.

When the person they both love most—Erin’s brother Tommy—is nearly killed in a terrible crash, she and Ward are thrown back together for the first time. Their lives couldn’t be further apart. Erin still lives at home, working two jobs and dealing with a series of family disasters. Ward, now a multibillionaire entrepreneur and a household name, seems determined to make amends—but it may just be too little too late. And while Erin can’t deny feeling a spark at the sight of Ward, is it a spark of love or burning resentment?

At odds with one another but forced to share their heartache, have Erin and Ward really drifted apart forever, or have they finally found the anchor they both so desperately need?

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Ward has a great life. He is thriving in his business and loves what he does. But his past is something that he's been running from since he left home. Even though he doesn't have a great relationship with his dad, he does try to keep in touch with his half-brother, Jesse. When Ward's best friend from childhood, Tommy, is in a horrible accident, Ward runs home to try and figure out if he can help and to make amends for leaving.

Erin has been surviving. Ever since the death of her father, Erin has tried to keep her family together. She loves her family fiercely and isn't willing to let go of her hangups any time soon. So, when she sees Ward after all of these years, knowing what she knows about his relationship with Tommy and her family, she's hurt and incredibly angry.

Ward knows that he has a lot to make up for, but is hopeful that with his money and history with Erin and her family, that he can make those amends. What he's not expecting is being able to bond more closely with his family.

I think I had the most issue with the bombs that were dropped in this story. There were some huge ones, but they felt glossed over. Also, it didn't really feel that Erin and Ward had great chemistry. I hoped to have their relationship more developed.

In the end, this was just an okay read for me. It had incredible potential, but it just didn't really deliver for me.


Mary Jo☆☆☆☆
This book takes you from epic highs to the lowest of lows. The range of emotion in this book left me hollow and teary eyed at times, yet thankful for my blessings at the same time.

L.A. Casey has done a wonderful job of letting you feel the emotions of both Ward and Erin, the reasons behind those feelings, and the resolution of the hard feelings between them.

I immensely enjoyed this book even though I was an emotional wreck by the end.


Lee’Anne☆☆☆☆☆
I absolutely loved every page – per usual with an L.A. Casey book. I can honestly say I've never cried more when reading a book than with this one, it 100% sucks you in from page one and I wasn’t able to put it down.

Erin has been in love with her older brother Tommy’s best friend, Ward, as long as she can remember. Then tragedy strikes her family and Ward leaves to pursue his and Tommy's dream, leaving Erin and Tommy behind without a backward glance. Now, years later, Erin has harbored a hatred for Ward for taking credit for his and her brother’s invention. Tragedy strikes again – bringing Ward home with the realization that he has feelings for Erin like he never expected.

I love the development of Erin and Ward’s relationship. They go from best buds as kids, to Erin absolutely despising him, to lovers in such an intriguing way. The author does a brilliant job not only with the two main characters but the supporting characters as well. I know this is a standalone but I'm still holding out hope Ward’s kid brother will get a story!


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars rounded up

This is a really emotional story, so expect to need tissues, and maybe read somewhere where tears aren't too embarrassing! There are also a number of issues dealt with which may be triggers to readers; I think they are dealt with carefully and sensitively, without being belittled. I was not a huge fan of the Scots dialect, and whilst it felt like it rang true, I don't really see that it added to the story itself. I appreciate that as an audiobook it would possibly be more effective.

We start at the point that the whole situation starts eleven years ago... and then come into the present day and just how far apart Ward is from his childhood friends, Tommy and Erin, both physically and financially. His extreme wealth, built on an app that he and Tommy dreamed up at school, has led to him leading an unhappy, hedonistic lifestyle, although he runs a charity which is close to his heart, Preventing Secrets. We naturally assume this is based on the fact that he left Tommy behind and never gave him any credit for the app's design. Sadly, as the book goes on, we can guess, and then know, the extent of the secrets which he has been keeping. Undoubtedly this helps us warm to him, even though the anger at his seemingly cavalier disregard of his childhood friends.

Erin has a healthy dislike of all things Ward, and really one cannot blame her. His reappearance due to her brother's accident is like pouring oil on water. I did find her behaviour somewhat extreme at times – she has been a caregiver for years, is a trained teacher, and yet she doesn't listen. I also was confused that she could be so close to Ward's brother, Jesse, and not have a better understanding of how dramatic the issues must have been to keep him away.

Whilst sat in a hospital it may be difficult to show chemistry, but I found it difficult to see it as strongly as it seemingly was. I was glad that the issues were brought into the open, and whilst there is a happily ever after, there isn't really an entirely happy ending, so do heed my warning about tissues!



L.A. Casey is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who juggles her time with her mini-me and writing. She was born, raised and currently resides in Dublin, Ireland. She enjoys chatting with her readers, who love her humor and Irish accent as much as her books.

Casey’s first book Dominic, was independently published in 2014 and became an instant success on Amazon. Now a hybrid author, she is both traditionally and independently published and is represented by Mark Gottlieb from Trident Media Group.

Connect with L.A.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


Montlake –


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Her Lifeline by L.A. Casey to read and review.

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