Blog Tour: A Brand New Ending by S.A. Rolls

A Brand New Ending    
    

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By:  S.A. Rolls
April 9, 2013
EARC, 335 Pages
Mature Content: 17+
Mayhem Cover Creations

Synopsis:

"Phoenix Harper never imagined her life would come to this: A life not worth living anymore.

After a failed suicide attempt, Phoenix is sent to be observed at a local psychiatric hospital. There she meets Braeden Harris, a hospital aide with his own haunting past.

Not long after their first encounter, they feel an unexplainable pull towards one another. Will fate bring them together, or will outside forces tear them apart?"

My Take on this Journey:

A Brand New Ending, was a masterpiece in the making.  S.A. Rolls has spun an incredible novel filled with suspense, intrigue, ambiguity, and so much more.  This novel is about Phoenix Harper, and Braeden Harris.  Phoenix's father died when she was young, and she is sent to live with her mother and step-father.  Her mother gave her up many years before.  From the time she is living with her mother, Elaina, and her step-father, Carl, she is beaten, and abused, and her mother turns a blind eye.  The book opens with the hopelessness of Phoenix, as she stands on the Golden Gate Bridge, ready to jump to her death.  All she can think about is all the cars passing, and no one caring to stop or help her.  Life goes on.  She wakes up to realize, that she is unfortunately still alive, and in horrible pain, not only the pain from her fall, but also the excruciating pain and blinding fear she lives with everyday of  her life.   Phoenix is a tortured soul, and her body looks like a war zone from all of the beatings she has absorbed over the years.  She is moved to a Psych. Hospital, and there her parents come to see her.  On first glance Dr. Harris, and his son, Braeden, (he's a hospital aide) notice the rigid stance that Phoenix takes, and the frozen fear in her eyes.  They tell Carl he will not be allowed to see her, and he goes into a completely blind rage.  Carl gives Phoenix a look that holds a warning, if she opens her mouth.  


Braeden has carried the weight of the world on his shoulders since he was a young child, when he walked into the shed, and found  his beloved mother hanging from the ceiling.  She committed suicide, and when he meets Phoenix, he feels an immediate connection with her.  The two of them start getting closer as time goes on, but Braeden is very careful and slow with his attempts to bring her out of herself.  Eventually, they begin a romance that comes with a lot of ups and downs, twists and turns, and sadness beyond comprehension.  There are many coincidences in this story, that I found intriguing.  Everything that happens, has a purpose.


This book has so many life lessons, and so many scary themes; child abuse, victimization, battery, alcoholism, compassion, love, loyalty, and friendship.  The secondary characters in this book were great.  Phoenix has a roommate, named Rain, who is a lost soul just like herself.  Rain comes to her rescue several times in this book.  Donovan, the roommate of Braeden, who also works as an aide at the psych hospital, befriends Phoenix.  Then, there's Chelsea, the nurse, who is very smitten with Dr. Harris, and helps Phoenix when she needs it most, and Bret, another hospital aide, and roommate of Braeden, who is known as the "Devil," on the ward.


This novel was done in dual narration.  The characters were well rounded, and hauntingly real.  As the novel develops, so do the characters, and the occurrences that help each scene relate to the next one.  This book took my breath away.  The sadness, and emptiness that can envelope a human being to the point of wanting to end their life, and throw it all away is so devastating.  Especially, for the family members and friends left behind.  This novel was relatable on so many levels that it broke my heart.  Phoenix becomes a full character, from the broken human being she once was, and relates herself to a character in a book, Scarlet, from Gone with the Wind.


Throughout this novel, Braeden tries to make Phoenix realize that she deserves to live, and that she deserves to have happiness.  Every time something goes wrong, Phoenix tries to hurt herself, because the pain makes her feel good.  Until she realizes that she loves Braeden, then she desperately fights to live, after making a terrible decision.  Phoenix says, "I feel free for the first time in so long.  I feel like no one can touch me here." (Pg.40)  Her friend Rain tries to shed some light on all the pain that Phoenix has incurred, and tries to make her see what life is all about.  Rain tells her, "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass Phoenix...it's about learning to dance in the rain."  I thought Rain's words were so poetic, and at the same time, Rain is lost in her own world of pain, and loneliness.  Rain and Phoenix become each others family, because neither have had one for a very long time.  What people need to remember is that once they make the decision to take their own life, there may be no turning back.  It may be final.  "I start to cry furiously, begging God for one more second chance.  The darkness and silence I longed for just moments ago is far from what I desire now.  I want to travel the world; I want to feel the sun beat on my face as I lay in the grass on a warm summer day.  I want to feel someone's love.  I want to love someone." (Pg.315)



A Brand New Ending is a book of substance.  The life lessons of compassion, forgiveness, being able to walk away and begin anew, learning to love again, and learning to trust again, are all lessons the world can learn from.  This book gets 5 dynamically fascinating, full circle, tough life lessons, with love filled stars!  Please read this book, that is so full of surprises, and has something in it for everyone to learn from.  I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books by this talented author, S.A. Rolls.

Come Along For the Ride...

Purchase At:

Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Smashwords

Guest Post:

"A Brand New Ending" Playlist

As many authors and readers know, music is a large part of the writing process. Songs bring up emotions and were very much behind the inspiration in almost every scene in ABNE.


Here is a list of the ones I mostly had on repeat throughout the whole adventure. Some of these songs had direct influence on what happened in a scene while some other created happy, sadness, etc. inside me.


1. "Golden Gate Jumpers" by Cold War Kids
2. "What Lies Beneath" by Breaking Benjamin
3. "Little Lion Man" by Mumford and Sons
4. "Fix Me" by 10 Years
5. "Dear Agony" by Breaking Benjamin
6. "Running" by Rebelution
7. "Save Me" by Shinedown
8. "Reap" by the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
9. "C'est La Vie" by Protest The Hero
10. "Never Too Late" by Three Days Grace
11. "For You" by Staind
12. "Last To Know" by Three Days Grace
13. "Savior" by Breaking Benjamin
14. "No One's Gonna Love You" by Band of Horses
15. "Right Here Waiting" by Staind
16. "Your Guardian Angel" by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

About the Author:  S.A. Rolls

"S.A Rolls is a native of the Bay Area, where she attended culinary school and obtained a degree in baking and pastry. When she is not baking, she spends her time reading and writing. She reads anything - from biographies of her favorite president to the most popular YA series. Inspired by her surroundings, she has written her first novel, based in San Francisco, her favorite city. She currently lives with her boyfriend and their five-year-old pug." 

S.A. Rolls:

Website/Twitter/Goodreads/Facebook/Email

Giveaway:

1 Signed Paperback (US ONLY)

A Brand New Ending Giveaway

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