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Complicated and messy but with an overwhelming sense of joy, rightness, and love, Elliott Redeemed is a not to be missed romance and one of my favorites of the year. ~ Slick, Guilty Pleasures
Synopsis:
A single mom and tortured musician find common ground in Scarlett Cole’s Elliott Redeemed, the second standalone romance about the band Preload.
Elliott “Pyro” Dawson burns up the lead guitar like a legend. But the nickname Pyro isn’t just a clever play on words. It’s much darker. A past he’s fought like hell to overcome.
Grocery store cashier Kendalee Walker is at her wits end and homeless. She’s watched her fourteen-year-old son, Daniel, go so far off the rails, he can no longer see the tracks.
When the two are brought together, attraction flares, but can Elliott find the family he never had with the sexy woman and her son, or will he fall back on dangerous habits?
Holy wow, author Scarlet Cole has really impressed me with her Preload series. I had a myriad of emotions while reading Elliott Redeemed and I’ll 
admit I was a bit of an emotional wreck during parts of this story, but I have to give Ms. Cole credit for the way she handled the difficult parts of this book, that she didn’t gloss over the issues contained within its pages, she showed there was no magic fix, and I appreciate that the characters were put through the paces and made to work to get better and find the happiness they deserve. Often in books I find there is a rush to finish and everything is tied up way too easily, and I applaud this author for not taking the easy way out.
The last thing Elliott Dawson wants to do after a long tour is visit a children’s hospital, yet he can’t say no and with good reason and when he stumbles upon a 14 year old boy who is a huge fan and a burn victim, he knows immediately he is in over his head and that no good can come from of it give his own issues with fire but the minute the boy’s mother walks into the room Elliott knows he can’t and won’t turn his back on them no matter the damage it might do to his own mental well being.
Kendalee Walker’s entire life was turned upside down and sideways after her son sets fire to their home and burns it to the ground. With him in the hospital and devastating burns on a large part of his body, Kendalee has no home, very few belongings, and an agitated husband who walked out on them months ago to be with his much younger assistant. Given that her son refuses to see his father adds to her stress along with her son’s worsening depression. When she walks in his room she is blinded by the man sitting next to her son, but she can’t help but notice a remarkable difference in her son or the attraction she is feeling for someone so not her type and at least 10 years her junior.
This was not an easy story, this couple has many obstacles to overcome and in addition they both were striving to put Daniel’s needs first. With an a$$hole of a soon to be ex-husband, Elliott’s own issues with fire and abuse, Daniel dealing with way more than any 14 year old should every have to deal with, and Kendalee barely hanging on by a thread there were a lot of heavy moments in this book, but they were tempered with sexy banter, the joy of a new relationship, and the hope of healing for all of them. I loved the way Elliott was determined to make things easier for Kendalee and Daniel even though his interactions with them set off his own triggers, he wanted to be strong for them. Watching Kendalee come to life with Elliott and begin to understand everything that she’d been missing in her marriage. Elliott feeling calm around Kendalee something he’d never really felt with a woman before. And watching Daniel open up to Elliott when he struggled to do so with anyone else including his therapists and watching them bond over music and so much more was a thing of beauty.
Reading as many romances as I do in a year’s time, I often see themes repeat and that’s okay, but the two books I’ve read by author Scarlet Cole have gone above and beyond in the very best of ways. Complicated and messy but with an overwhelming sense of joy, rightness, and love, Elliott Redeemed is a not to be missed romance and one of my favorites of the year.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Buy Now: Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | iBooks | Chapters Indigo
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Q & A with Scarlett
Question: Have you always wanted to be a writer? If not, when did this become something you were compelled to do?
That’s a great question and the answer is a little bit yes and a little bit no. I studied engineering in college and joined Toyota in their car manufacturing plant in the UK after graduation. Writing was not high up there on my list of life priorities. But I have always read a huge volume of books every year. About fifteen years ago I started to think about writing. I’d come up with plot ideas and write them down. I’d print out character sheets and fill them in. But I didn’t really start writing in earnest until early 2014, and the book became my RITA nominated THE STRONGEST STEEL.
Question: What’s the inspiration for your characters? Do you see a picture and feel -there’s a story?
I get my inspiration for characters in all kinds of places. For example, I saw Konrad Kania play in this 100 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time video and I immediately knew that Elliott was going to do something similar in ELLIOTT REDEEMED. And as I imagined when and where that was going to happen, Elliott became more alive in my mind. Sometimes it comes from things I overhear in conversation or read in the news. The characters in the SECOND CIRCLE TATTOOS series came about when I read an article about a tattoo artist who was tattooing over scars while I was on vacation in Miami. I like to use Pinterest to build inspiration boards. You can check them out here: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/itsscarlettcole/
This is the link if you want to see Konrad Kania play! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOcABtJTpho)
Question: Some authors have mentioned, the “hear voices” and they feel the need to get their story out there. Is this the same for you?
At first, I’ll be honest, I thought that was hoccum. But the more I write, the more I open myself up to the characters and who they are, the more vocal they become. I would say they guide my writing. I find myself dreaming about them. All kinds of stuff that never makes it into stories but shapes who they are. And at that point I need to write it down because it’s all in my head.
Question: Is there a genre that you would or wouldn’t write ?
I have a little black book of ideas that includes everything from paranormal and historical romance to women’s fiction. I currently have three new series ideas I am fleshing out to decide what to write next. I’m just about to write the final book in my current 7-book deal with St. Martin’s Press, so it’s a complete blank page. I can’t see myself writing sweet romance or inspirational. They just aren’t my thing, but that’s because I love things sexy and steamy.
Question: What’s the first reaction when people find out that you’re a romance author?
It depends if they knew me in my previous life. People who knew me when I was Senior Vice President of a $40 billion company are shocked. I’ve always believed in kicking down glass ceilings while wearing a fantastic pair of Jimmy Choo shoes. Some people were shocked that I walked away from that. But I knew deep down that this was what I wanted to do. Now when I meet new people, they find it really interesting. They often have a lot of questions about the stories I write and the publishing process.
Question: What is a typical day like in your world?
I work out before the kids get out of bed and am always at my desk by 9:15am. I have a daily plan that goes out at least six months that tells me what I need to do that day. I might be plotting, or editing, or I could be writing. When I am in writing mode, I try to write 2,000 words before lunch, and 2,000 words before I collect the kids from school. Before dinner, I have what I call ‘business hour’ where I take care of social media, administration, and other business related things.
Question: What are you working on now?
I have two things on the go right now. I am editing LENNON REBORN which is the last book in the Preload rock star romance series. This one has ALL the feels. I’ve cried so many times writing it! And I am plotting and beginning to write DEEP COVER which is the third book in my Love Over Duty series featuring former Navy SEALs.
Question: Do you have a guilty pleasure? If so, what is it?
Oh, I have so many!! Let me see… SOUR CANDY! I eat so much that I can lose tastebuds off the side of my tongue. I like to think I am a connoisseur. My favorite are an English sweet – sour vampire fangs! You can get them at my local candy shop that sells them in their pick and mix case. And SHOES! I love fabulous shoes.
Thanks so much for letting me swing by.
About Scarlett Cole
The tattoo across my right hip says it all really. A Life Less Ordinary. Inked by the amazingly talented Luke Wessman at the Wooster Street Social Club (a.k.a. New York Ink). Why is it important? Well, it sums up my view on life. That we should all aspire to live a life that is less boring, less predictable. Be bold, and do something amazing. I’ve made some crazy choices. I’ve been a car maker, a consultant, and even a senior executive at a large retailer running strategy. Born in England, spent time in the U.S. and Japan, before ending up in Canada were I met my own, personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. Both of us are scorpios! Yeah, I know! Should have checked the astrological signs earlier, but somehow it works for us. We have two amazing kids, who I either could never part with or could easily be convinced to sell on e-bay.
I’ve wanted to be a writer for a really long time. Check through my office cupboards or my computer and you’ll find half written stories and character descriptions everywhere. Now I’m getting the chance to follow that dream.
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