Launch Day Blitz & Review: Saving Quinton (Nova #2) by Jessica Sorensen

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Saving Quinton
Nova #2
By:  Jessica Sorensen
Release Date: Feb 4, 2014
By: Forever Romance
Mature Content:  18 & Up

GR's Summary:

Nova Reed can't forget him-Quinton Carter, the boy with the honey-brown eyes who made her realize she deserved more than an empty life. His pain was so similar to her own. But Nova has been coming to terms with her past and healing, while Quinton is out there somewhere, sinking deeper. She's determined to find him and help him . . . before it's too late.

Nova has haunted his dreams for nearly a year-but Quinton never thought a sweet, kind person like her would care enough about a person like him. To Quinton, a dark, dangerous life is exactly what he deserves. And Nova has no place in it. But Nova has followed him to Las Vegas, and now he must do whatever it takes to keep her away, to maintain his self-imposed punishment for the unforgivable things he's done. But there's one flaw in his plan: Nova isn't going anywhere . . .

 Nova Series:

*Read My Review on Breaking Nova HERE

My Thoughts:

I have read many Stories by Jessica Sorensen.  I have learned that her prose flow beautifully, her characters are complex and multilayered, and the plots in her stories often deal with dark, realistic, and heartbreaking topics.  Her stories always take me to a dark place.  They have a way of pulling me in and completely hooking me.  The Nova Series, is by far the darkest of all of her stories.  It deals with the harsh realities, ugliness, and consequences of drug addiction.

In Saving Quinton, we get both Nova and Quinton's dual perspectives.  Nova has  been working on her recovery, and is in a place where she knows that she wants to heal, and live a happy life.  She no longer drinks or does drugs, and she has finally dealt with her deceased boyfriend, Landon's, suicide.  Nova is doing well in college, and works for a suicide hotline.  She has gotten even closer to her mother, and has befriended, Lea, a young woman who she met at support group for people who have lost loved one's to suicide.  Lea is a great friend and room mate.  Nova can't stop thinking and worrying about Quinton.  He changed her life last summer, and they had a strong connection with one another.  Nova, with the help of Lea searches for Quinton.  She is determined to find him and save him from his drug addiction.  She feels like she failed Landon and is determined that this time she is determined to succeed in saving Quinton.  However, when she finds Quinton, she realizes that saving him is going to be the challenge of a lifetime.

Quinton is in a very dark place in his life.  He is a drug addict living with other hardcore addicts, and dealing drugs, so he can get the money for his much needed fix.  Quinton wants to die.  The guilt of his deceased girlfriend, Lexi, and cousin, Ryder, consumes him.  He loathes himself, and often wishes that death would just take him.  It doesn't help that he lives with his cousin Tristan, a drug supplier, Dylan, and Dylan's addict girlfriend, Delilah, who are all addicted to Heroin.  Quinton's drug of choice is crystal meth.  He refuses to use Heroin, because he's not a fan of needles.  Quinton's days blend one in to another, he's never hungry, sleeps with countless women, and only cares about where his next fix is coming from.  When he is coherent (for very short intervals,) all he thinks about is how he's responsible for Lexi and Ryder's deaths, and Nova, the girl he connected with last summer.  He still has strong feelings for her, but knows that she is too good for him, and deserves better than him.

When Nova ends up tracking Quinton down, she is shocked to see the filthy, drug infested apartment that he lives in, as well as what a horrible state he is in.  Quinton is shocked to see her.  He is happy to see her, but at the same time, knows that he must push her away, because he doesn't want her getting involved in his situation.  He wants her to be safe and happy, and has no inclination to get clean.  However, Nova is determined, and she does not plan on leaving Las Vegas or giving up on Quinton until she helps him.  Along the way, there will be heartbreak, danger, breakdowns, and Nova fears that the emotional tole in saving Quinton, might end up breaking her.

Saving Quinton was an excellent sequel in the Nova series.  It was dark, gritty, intense, and full of suspense, and plot twists.  This story was very fast paced.  It was difficult to read at times, because it was heavy on my heart.  Ms. Sorensen did an excellent job of depicting the harsh realities, dangers, and ugliness that exists in the life of a drug addict.  I could visualize everything, and could feel the inner pain, guilt, and struggle of Quinton.  I could also feel the determination, love, loyalty, and perseverance emanating from Nova.  The ending was a to be continued, but it left me with a lot of hope.  Things haven't been resolved yet, but at least I see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.  Ms. Sorensen did an excellent job in developing the main characters; Quinton, and Nova, and making me care about them.  The plot completely hooked me from the very beginning, to the very end, ands I am so excited and hopeful for the last installment, Nova and Quinton: No Regrets, which comes out April 15, 2014! 

My Rating:

I give Saving Quinton, by Jessica Sorenson, 4 Dark, Devastating, Gritty, and Addictive Stars!  Be prepared for a very heavy and emotional sequel when you pick this story up.  It is a real eye opener, and for someone that is ignorant when it comes to drugs, I feel a lot more educated and well informed.  For a realistic story about drug addiction, hope, and the healing power of love, read the Nova Series!  You will never forget it!

My Favorite Quote:

"Addiction is the fu**ing devil--I swear to God it is.  Whether it's drugs or obsessive counting, something I still suffer from occasionally.  It can be something so comforting, peaceful, serene.  It can make you feel so in control, but it's just a mask, plain and simple, and what's behind the mask--what we're trying to hide--is still growing, feeding off the addiction--"  (eARC, Loc. 154)

~Nova

Excerpt:

I suddenly realize that I’m in my room. Awake. And Nova’s here. With me. My thoughts start racing as I try to recollect what happened. I was planning on those guys beating me to death. Why didn’t that happen? Because it was too easy? Do I deserve not to be let off so easy—do I deserve worse than death? But if that’s true then why’s Nova here?

“What are you doing here?” It’s painful to talk, but I force the words to leave my mouth. “Or am I dreaming?”

She repositions her hand on my cheek, but doesn’t pull away, the startled look in her eyes diminishing. “You’re not dreaming…you were unconscious but…are you okay?” She seems nervous and it reminds me of how innocent and good she is, and how she shouldn’t be here in the crack house that I call home.

“Why are you here?” I ask, my voice feeble as I try to sit up, but my arms aren’t working and I fall right back down on the mattress.

“I came here to see you,” she replies, absent-mindedly touching her lips, and I wonder if I really kissed her or if I was imagining it.

She stares at me with her fingers on her lips and it’s uncomfortable because she’s really looking at me. I’ve been so used to people looking through me, as if I were a ghost, seeing the drugs, the person that I am now, the worthlessness all over me, instead of who I used to be. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be really looked at and for a split second I enjoy it. Then she looks away and I feel like I’m dying, my brain registering the pain in my legs, arms, chest—everywhere. And I’m crashing. Badly. My hands start to shake, my heart rate picking up as soon as I realize this.

“Go put some ice in a plastic bag,” she says, snapping her fingers at someone.

I hear a mutter and then Tristan steps into my view. He glances down at me and the haziness in his eyes lets me know he’s high on something, but I’m glad he’s at least here and it doesn’t look like he’s been beaten up. “Dude, you look like shit,” he tells me with a dopey-ass grin.

“I feel like shit,” I mutter, managing to get my hand up to my face to rub my eyes. “You look like you got away.”

“I did, and you should have run with me, you dumbass…I thought you were for a while until I realized I was alone.” Tristan chuckles under his breath. “Wait until you see yourself in a mirror.”

His amusement seems to piss Nova off and she gets to her feet, tugging the bottoms of her shorts down, fury burning in her eyes. “Go get a fucking bag to put the ice in,” she says, not yelling, but her tone is cold, abrupt, harsh, and she sort of shoves him. This isn’t the Nova I remember at all and she kind of scares me.

She seems to scare Tristan, too, who surrenders with his hands in front of him and backs toward the doorway. “Fine. Jesus, Nova. You don’t have to get crazy about it.”

“You haven’t even begun to see me get crazy,” she snaps, pointing at the door. “Now go get a damn bag.”

After Tristan leaves, she turns to the doorway and says, “What am I going to do?”

I can’t see who she’s talking to and it makes me wonder who the hell is in here. Delilah? I doubt it, since I don’t think she’d be asking Delilah that question.

“I don’t know,” someone replies. I still can’t see who it is, but I can tell the voice belongs to a female and I hate how excited I get over the fact that Nova’s not here with a guy. 

Suddenly a girl with black hair and big blue eyes steps in. “He looks…” She assesses me, then looks at Nova. “He looks like he needs to go to a hospital.”

“No hospitals,” I croak. “I don’t have the cash to pay for that.” And I don’t deserve to heal so easily. I should suffer for getting up and running away from my death.

Nova stares down at me with reluctance. “Quinton, I really think you need to go to a hospital.” She kneels back down on the mattress, sweeping her long brown hair to the side as she leans over me. Her fingers gently enfold my wrist and, moving slowly, she bends my arm so I can get a good view of my hand. It’s twice the size it normally is and my skin is purple and blue. Even where her fingers are, the skin is swollen and raw, and it seems like her touch should hurt, but all I can feel is heat—her heat. God, I’ve missed her heat. I’ve spent the last year wrapped up in coldness, feeling the numbness of drugs and sex with random women and now she’s here and I feel like I’m burning up.

“It’s just a bruise,” I say, not looking at my hand, but at her. I want to hold her, hug her, kiss her, touch her, but I also want her to go away. Stay. Leave. Right. Wrong. Lexi. Nova. Guilt.

Guilt.

Guilt.

Guilt.

It was all your fault.

Book Teasers:

Courtesy of Ms. Sorensen's Facebook Page

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About Jessica Sorenson:

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen, lives with her husband and three kids. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.

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