Ace's Redemption (Devil's Despair #1) by A.C. Bextor
Cherry
Memories alone can ruin you. Fear has a paralyzing effect, and love isn’t always enough to keep you safe.
Ace was the gateway to a freedom I hadn’t known since I was fifteen. He offered his protection from the demons that haunted me; both living and dead.
Although I knew I wasn’t enough to keep him, this didn’t deter my hope that one day he’d love me for who I was, not the broken girl he tried so desperately to save.
In the end, the ghosts of my past found me. Their malevolence knew no bounds, and I was forced to succumb to their will of darkness. Each threat named against those I loved made any escape impossible; choosing my life for theirs became my desolate absolution.
Inevitably, it was my own weakness and self-doubt that became my undoing.
Ace
Emotional ties are sometimes severed. Friendships don’t always endure their hardships, and love offered isn’t always returned.
I was in love once. For me, leaving her back in Ohio was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. For her, moving on with her life that included her son and the man she loved was no less than she deserved -- unconditional happiness.
My reasons to bring Cherry home to California were obvious. I needed help with my family, and she needed help staying clean and convincing her parents she was ready to give her son the life he deserved.
It was a perfect plan. However, the best laid plans often get lost amidst their best intentions.
Cherry fell in love with me, and in return my love for her acted as the catalyst to her destruction.
Authors Note: This novel contains material that is not suitable for individuals under the age of 18. Content includes: drug use, explicit language, violence, rape, and other scenarios with content that readers may find offensive. Please use caution when deciding on this book, as every reader has the right to understand the product before purchase.
Ace’s Redemption is the first standalone novel in the Devil’s Despair series. Although the main character of Ace was introduced during the Lights of Peril trilogy, you do not need to read that series in order to follow this one
Manda's 4 Star Review
Cherry needed to escape her past, needed a new start and she found her chance when convinced Ace to take her with him. The plan was for her to come home with Ace and help him take care of his family and to stay clean. Cherry knows Ace will never feel about her the same way she feels about him, but she keeps hoping that the more time they spend together he will start to see her in a new light.
Ace took a chance on love and came away burned. Forced to leave the only girl he has ever loved back in Ohio with the man and the life she chose over him, has taken its toll. Ace wants nothing more than to take care of his family and move on. He brings Cherry with him to help him and hopefully help her start over. The more time they spend together the deeper their friendship grows but the past comes back to haunt them both and threatens to tear apart all the progress they have made.
This is the first book I have read by this author and after finishing it I wanted to go back and read her other series. I could not put this book down. It pulled me in and I knew it was going to be one I had to finish in one go. The characters are complex and at times their story can be difficult to read. Both Cherry and Ace are dealing with ghosts from their pasts and must find away to put those ghosts to rest in order to move on. This was an excellent start to this series and I cannot wait to read the next book. Definitely a must read.