LisaP

5 Surfer Girl Stars

I never thought that you would be the one to hold my heart
But you came around and you knocked me off the ground from the start

You put your arms around me
And I believe that it's easier for you to let me go
You put your arms around me and I'm home

How many times will you let me change my mind and turn around
I can't decide if I'll let you save my life or if I'll drown

I hope that you see right through my walls
I hope that you catch me, 'cause I'm already falling
I'll never let a love get so close
You put your arms around me and I'm home

Arms by Christina Perri

[Image from E.M. Abel's Pinterest page.]


Every once in a while you read a book that touches a deep part of you. Freeing Asia by E.M. Abel is so much more than a love story. It is about a young woman who goes on this heartfelt journey and slowly discovers herself and learns to love and accept who she truly is deep down. In order to be strong enough to take risks and give all of yourself and be free, you first need to understand and embrace the person that you are. I loved this book. It brought me back to a time in my life when I was on the same journey of self-discovery. It is often a journey that is difficult and can be treacherous. However, we all should be so lucky to embark on such a voyage so that we can be set free.


ASIA

It was hard to believe that I was worthy of love when every time it was within my grasp, it was brutally ripped away.





Just be free, Asia. Be free.





Asia Fuller lost her mother at a young age. Growing up with just her father and her two older brothers, Asia fell into being just one of the guys. In other words, she was the cute tomboy that had a lot of male friends and was untouchable. Now, at the age of twenty-three, Asia is working a job that pays the bills but is none too exciting and she is struggling with deciphering who she truly is. How can a young woman who has been surrounded by the male species for most of her life even come to terms with her individuality as a female? Asia has dreams, dreams that she keeps to herself fearing that she would be making herself too vulnerable if someone should know about them. She simply lives her life in this safe cocoon never really taking a chance on herself or her dreams of being an artist.


Everything changes when two men enter Asia’s life. One man is someone she has never met before and the other is a ghost from the past.


JAY



Jay (Jason) Clarke is the polar opposite of Asia. He is wealthy and is making the move to be the next CEO of his father’s company. He comes from a world of private clubs, expensive cars, exclusive chefs and standing neck to neck with society’s rich and famous. When Jay meets Asia, he is immediately taken with her. He sees a beautiful and exotic woman who calls to the man he is trying to suppress and move away from. Despite this, Jay pursues Asia with a steely determination. Jay can give Asia a life that she is not accustomed to. The question becomes whether or not Asia can fit into the mold he requires.


MARCUS





Marcus Avery. Pro-skater. Hot, sexy and tattooed. Enough said. Marcus has been in Asia’s life for quite some time. He is her brother's best friend and has been adopted into her family by her two brothers and her father. After high school Marcus moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams and Asia has not seen him for seven years. Asia and Marcus share a history, one that she has been unable to shake even after all these years. Their history is deeply cemented into her heart and having him back in her life has her undeniably affected. The past is suddenly staring her in the face. Can Asia deal with everything resurfacing? Does she even want to go there once again?


One man can give Asia a life that is all about power, exclusivity and being one of the elite while the other can give her what she needs. Can Asia even make the decision when she is still trying to find herself? Can she change who she is deep inside? Does she want to? Along the way mistakes will be made and hearts will be broken. After all, life is all about learning from the pain. Is it not?


Freeing Asia is an incredible debut novel by Ms. Abel. It is a refreshing tale that had me feeling profoundly connected to each of the characters. While there is certainly a beautiful love story that comes into play, what makes this book stand out for me is Asia’s journey of self-discovery. She pushed through. She conquered. And, she was ultimately set free. Furthermore, this author gives us some incredibly swoony moments, some deliciously hot interludes, a memorable cast of secondary characters, awesome dialogue and many humorous moments that had me laughing out loud. I was mesmerized, enthralled, my heart melted (so did my panties) and, in the end, I was enchanted.


So, this is how it feels to fly.





I finally set my heart free, and now, it was soaring.



*An advanced reading copy of Freeing Asia was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.