Review: Full Tilt by Emma Scott

fulltilt Full Tilt
(Full Tilt #1)
By: Emma Scott
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: June 28, 2016
Genre: New Adult
Rating:

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“I would love you forever, if I only had the chance…”

Kacey Dawson has always lived life on the edge–impulsively, sometimes recklessly. And now, as lead guitarist for a hot up-and-coming band, she is poised at the brink of fame and fortune. But she is torn between wanting to be a serious musician, and the demons that lure her down the glittering, but alcohol-soaked path of rock stardom. A wrecked concert in Las Vegas threatens to ruin her career entirely. She wakes up with the hangover from hell and no memory of the night before, or how she ended up on her limo driver’s couch…

Jonah Fletcher is running out of time. He knows his situation is hopeless, and he’s vowed to make the most of the handful of months he has left to him. His plans include seeing the opening of his glass installation at a prestigious art gallery…they do not include falling in love with a wild, tempestuous rock musician who wound up passed out on his couch.

Jonah sees that Kacey is on a path to self-destruction. He lets her crash with him for a few days to dry out and get her head on straight. But neither of them expected the deep connection they felt, or how that connection could grow so fast from friendship into something more. Something deep and pure and life-changing…something as fragile as glass, that they both know will shatter in the end no matter how hard they try to hold on to it.

Full Tilt is a story about what it means to love with your whole heart, to sacrifice, to experience terrible grief and soaring joy. To live life with all its beauty, and all its pain, and in the end to be able to smile through tears and know you wouldn’t have changed a thing.

 

 

My thoughts…

Jonah is on borrowed time. His body is slowing fighting a heart transplant he recently underwent. He knows how much time he has left on this earth and in order to squeeze out as much time as possible, he has set himself on a very strict schedule of diet, work, and family time. However, when his night job put him in the path of Kacey, the drummer from an upcoming rock band, his carefully laid out plans change. He no longer lives by his strict schedule, and instead he starts living his life to the fullest.

Given the synopsis, I knew I would be sad but I hoped with knowing what I was getting into that I would be able to handle it. It’s so hard to not fall in love with Jonah and Kacey. They both kind of save each other and show the other how to live. Due to Jonah’s strict regimen, Kacey starts to adapt to it and starts to become healthier herself. Due to Kacey’s wild nature and need to be close to those around her, Jonah finds himself opening up to her and starting to see his remaining days in a new light. Seeing these two blossom together was a very heartwarming ride.

I thought this would be a romance between a normal guy and a rock star. However, Kacey’s band is just starting out. To top it off, she quits the band relatively early in the book in order to stay back and live in Las Vegas and be near Jonah. So, the story doesn’t really revolve around a rock goddess and her man. Instead, it really sort of revolves around Jonah and the clock that’s always ticking away in the background. We watch as they become friends, hang out and watch TV, go on camping trips, and then we get to watch as they fall in love. I’m kind of glad it wasn’t a romance where Kacey was always gone. That would have been way too depressing.

The funny thing about me reading and enjoying Full Tilt is that I hate sad books. I like to read to escape reality and in all honesty, there’s enough sad things going on in the real-world. However, I’m glad I read this story. I knew what I was getting into when I started reading and just like Kacey, when the time came to say goodbye, no matter how prepared you thought you were, it still gutted you. I have mixed feelings about the second book where we catch up with Kacey and watch her heal from the loss. I feel like this book was emotional enough but  at the same time it was bitter-sweet. These two characters saved each other from wasting their lives away. I don’t know if the second half of the story can live up to the first and I’m honestly not sure I plan to read it. I thought the story, while extremely sad, was perfect the way it was.

 

Favorite quote…

“We might not have months or years, but we have moments. Thousands upon thousands of them. Let’s take each moment, seize it and wring it dry.”

 

 

5 Thoughts on “Review: Full Tilt by Emma Scott

  1. This sounds so very sad, but I think maybe I should still give it a try! Thanks for the review.

  2. Darn, I was hoping it would be reverse role than usual and she stays in the band!! That would have been awesome. I’m glad the book was still good, but ahhh I’d probably cry like crazy at the sad bits.

  3. Okay, this sounds like a total must-read. I’ve never never anything by Emma Scott before but this just may be my first. I know angsty, I love having my heart crushed. I’m off to one-click this one. Great review, Kristin! Can’t wait to see if you end up continuing with the story.

  4. Oh interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever read a character with a heart transplant.

  5. I’m like you, but sad books can be such a guilty pleasure sometimes. I like that how it makes me feel sometimes. Reminds me I’m not a cold hearted bitch after all ahhahaha!

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