{"id":48746,"date":"2020-01-06T08:00:33","date_gmt":"2020-01-06T13:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=48746"},"modified":"2025-08-29T03:36:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T07:36:30","slug":"release-arc-review-release-by-aly-martinez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=48746","title":{"rendered":"Release & ARC Review: Release by Aly Martinez"},"content":{"rendered":"

“I couldn’t put it down! The incredible premise and the tension will keep you turning the pages until dawn<\/em>.” – Sarina Bowen, USA Today bestselling author<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Release, an all-new powerful and emotional standalone romance from USA\u00a0Today bestselling author Aly Martinez, is available now!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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Amazon\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Amazon Worldwide<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\r\n <\/div><\/div><\/h4>\n
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Blurb<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Growing up, Ramsey Stewart branded my soul in ways time could never heal.<\/p>\n

At twelve, he asked me to be his girlfriend.
\nAt thirteen, he gave me my first kiss.<\/p>\n

By sixteen, we\u2019d fallen in love, planned a future together, and had our eyes set on the horizon.<\/p>\n

Love never fails, right?
\nBut for Ramsey, it did.
\nLove failed him.
\nI failed him.
\nThe entire world failed him.<\/p>\n

At seventeen, Ramsey was convicted of killing the boy who assaulted me.
\nMove on, he wrote in his first and only letter from prison.<\/p>\n

Start a new life, he urged.
\nI don\u2019t love you anymore, he lied.<\/p>\n

There was no such thing as giving up on Ramsey. Love may have been our curse, but he was\u00a0mine\u2014then, now, and forever.<\/p>\n

So here I am, twelve long years later, waiting for a man I don\u2019t even know to emerge from\u00a0between the chain link gates.<\/p>\n

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Add to Goodreads<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Review<\/b><\/h4>\n

\u201cSometimes you have to let go of the life you planned in order to live the one you\u2019re given.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

4.5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

From the moment I read the blurb of this book I knew I had to have it. Not only is it Aly Martinez, but a dramatic and emotional second-chance-romance where the hero is sent to prison for defending his love? OMG, yes! I was sucked in from the very beginning and I relished in the rollercoaster ride, and I freaking loved it!<\/p>\n

Thea and Ramsey met as children. On the day when 10-year-old Thea lost her mother, she and Ramsey met and he attached himself to her when she was at her lowest point and wanted nothing to do with him. It didn\u2019t take long for a friendship to form and naturally over the years that friendship turned to more and they fell into first, life-changing, all-consuming love. In lives full of hurt and struggle they were each other\u2019s whole worlds, and they dreamed of the future they would have together.<\/p>\n

\u201cI swear. It\u2019s me and you forever, Ramsey.\u201d
\n\u201cI swear too.\u201d
\nHis voice only became more urgent. \u201cI can\u2019t do this without you.\u201d
\n\u201cDo what?\u201d
\nHe lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. \u201cBreathe.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But then it all went horribly wrong. At 16, Thea was brutally assaulted and 17 Ramsey was convicted of killing the boy who attacked her. She promised to stay true to him, but Ramsey\u2019s first letter from prison was to tell her to move on. She never did. He was her love and her life, and she waited for his release, still planning for the life they would have together. But when his long-awaited freedom comes, their reunion is far from the happy occasion she dreamed of, and Ramsey wants nothing to do with her.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a heartwrenching situation. Ramsey has been through so much and I could completely understand what he was feeling as he continuously pushed Thea away. He has spent almost half of his life in jail, he practically grew up there, so watching him adjust to the real world broke my heart. And then to see all of his turmoil over Thea as well just made me want to hug him so bad.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was never a day when I didn\u2019t want you to be mine, Sparrow. I just loved you enough to hope you wouldn\u2019t have to be.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s dramatic and angsty, and oh it hurts, but I could deal with it not only because I loved Ramsey so much, but because Thea is just so freaking awesome! She’s strong, confident and feisty, she loves her man, she doesn\u2019t hide it and she never gives up on him. In fact she pushes him, fighting hard for him, and I freaking love that!<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re mine, Ramsey. You can try to fight me. You can hate me. You can lie to yourself for the rest of your life \u2026 But wherever you are, however long you are there, you are always <\/i>mine.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We get to see their past play out on the page, so we can see the depth of the connection between them and feel<\/i> their love for each other – the sweet and special moments, as well as the laughter and teasing that are such a pivotal part of their relationship. And it makes their disconnection in the present so much more painful!<\/p>\n

There had never been a point in my life that I hadn\u2019t been in love with Thea Hull. It was exactly why I let her go.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and I couldn\u2019t put the book down as I watched them work through it all.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen to us. It\u2019s been almost thirteen years. You haven\u2019t moved on. I can\u2019t keep my hands off you and my heart is sick and fucking tired of trying. We have a lot of things to talk about, some of which are going to be an absolute dumpster fire. But I don\u2019t know how to stop loving you, Thea. I\u2019ve tried. And tried. But here we are. Fucked up and in love.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yes, it\u2019s dramatic, and there are a few shocks along the way, but there are fun and sweet moments throughout the story as well, which I loved, and which balance everything out really nicely. And of course the romance is just gorgeous as Thea and Ramsey find their way back to each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m yours. I\u2019ve always been yours. Even when you didn\u2019t want me to be.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I loved this story. Beautifully written as always, the characters are fantastic, and I\u2019m hoping we get to see more of them (fingers crossed for a story for Ramsey\u2019s younger sister – and Thea\u2019s best friend – Nora). It\u2019s emotional and dramatic with a gorgeous second-chance-romance, and I couldn\u2019t put it down.<\/p>\n

4.5 stars.<\/p>\n

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.<\/i><\/p>\n

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There is a follow on book for Ramsay’s sister, Nora.\u00a0 Reclaim can standalone<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"Reclaim<\/strong>
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy: \u00a0Amazon<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Amazon Worldwide<\/a><\/p>\n

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About Aly Martinez<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her husband and four young children.<\/p>\n

Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.<\/p>\n

She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.<\/p>\n

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Sign up for Aly\u2019s\u00a0 Newsletter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Website<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Goodreads<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<\/strong>Amazon<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Bookbub<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook Reader Group<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Check out our\u00a0Aly Martinez Author Spotlight<\/a>\u00a0for more amazing reads!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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