Title: Still Life Author: A.M. Johnson Release Date: April 13, 2015 Release Day Blitz: April 16, 2015 Hosted by: SBB Promotions

Loss… a word Elizabeth Haddington knows only too well. Despite the tragedies she’s endured, she’s been able to rise from the adversity she’s faced and begin her life again. Being a self-assured and strong woman, she knows she doesn’t need anyone to make her whole.

HHate, pain, and twisted memories are all Sawyer Bryant’s ever known. He’d slowly lost who he was and what he should’ve become. His only escape was the military… Eight years later, as an ex-Navy SEAL, he’s forced to confront his father and their disturbed and violent past.

Then one day, his life is turned upside down, when he glimpses a woman singing in her car at a set of traffic lights. Thinking he’d never see her again, amazingly he finds her performing with her band at the local bar. This chance encounter brings these two lost souls together. Once Sawyer gets a taste of her melodic voice, there’s no turning back. For Elizabeth, when she meets Sawyer… she realizes she’s fallen hard. But is this really love she’s feeling or does love build slowly over time? What happens when fate turns things around on you, creates flashes you can’t turn from… moments that will shape your life?

They are faced with the choice of darkness surrounding them or to rid themselves of the guilt and pain and move toward the light. This story is about life’s moments. How they can make you or break you, and one man’s hope that… Love, won’t judge him.

REVIEW:

4 Stars

All Sawyer Bryant wanted to was to escape his father. As soon as possible he escaped to the military. Eight years later he is an ex-Navy SEAL who has lived through even more hell. Back to confront his father and his abusive past Sawyer is working to find his way to live in society. Elizabeth Haddington knows loss and nightmares that no one ever wishes to have. She grew up half her life with her best friend's parent raising he after her father took his own life and Elizabeth watched her mother follow his footsteps. One day sitting at a red light Sawyer looks over and there is a beautiful girl jamming out in her, but when she sees him looking she gets embarrassed. A bit later after his new room mate drags him out to see his band plays who is in the band. None other then the girl from the car. That night changed everything in both their lives. Will two broken soul help each other heal and move forward with their lives or is it just a train wreck waiting to happen.

Sawyer and Elizabeth are both amazing characters whom have their own personal battles to conquer. While both have similarities and Elizabeth has started conquering her Sawyer has much more work to do. These two are so attracted to each other they just click. No matter what others think or say they are going to find a way to help each other and stay together. Their biggest fear...with each other helping heal the past will it force them in opposite directions. Therapy and opening up to each other are very important factors in this book. I have never personally experienced what these two characters have been through, but after reading this book I can imagine it was very spot on. I know PTSD has been brought to the forefront with returning military and how it can effect them and this book made me wish each person coming home had a support system that would be able to help them as Elizabeth helps Sawyer. While PTSD may be a factor in this story I feel that mixed with the bigger issue of the childhood Sawyer grew up in makes for an amazing story of struggles and triumph. Wonderfully written with amazing characters.

Sawyer was the first person to not define me by my parents’ deaths. My past felt so far away when I was with him. I could let it go. Let them go. My parents’ faces haunted me every night since that day twelve years ago. I was ready to set the memory free. I felt loved and I wanted him to feel the same. His childhood was dark and I wanted to shed light onto him, fill his heart with the white light of love, evicting the blackness that I saw flash across his eyes when he thought deeply to himself. I wanted him to get better with me. This was crazy. This man, this idea, this night. I loved him and whatever demons he had, my heart was ready to move on to something better, and that was Sawyer.

His breathing became even and I chanced a look at his face. His dark eyelashes fanned down. He looked like an arc angel. I situated myself on my side so that my body rested against his. I placed my head on his shoulder and kissed his cheek.

“I love you, too,” I whispered touching the skin of his cheek with my lips. “I do.”

His breathing stopped and I recognized when I looked up that he would be awake. I lifted up on my forearm and we watched each other in a deep silence.

Amanda Marie Johnson was born and raised in Valrico, Florida. She’s now surrounded by mountains with her husband and three children in Ogden, Utah. She attended Weber State University and graduated with her A.S.N. She is a full-time registered nurse and works on the mother/newborn unit. Reading and writing have always been something she is passionate about. She loves to write about the human experience, love and happily ever afters. Still Life is her debut novel.