BLOG TOUR REVIEW AND EXCERPT: Styx and Stones by Carmen Jenner

Cancer sucks … and then you die.

Styx and Stones an all-new emotional, mature young adult romance from USA Today bestselling author Carmen Jenner is available now!

Styx_Stones_Carmen_Jenner_AMAZON

Alaska Stone is a walking wet dream.

My wet dream.

For years, I’ve watched her in the halls, wanted her, but she never knew I existed.

Not until she walked into my chemo session.

For me, it was love at first sight.

For her? It might take a little longer.

But hey, it’s not like we’re on a deadline or anything.

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My Review

I knew headed into Carmen Jenner’s newest release that my emotions were going to be put through the ringer, but what I also knew was that I would be a better person for reading it and that I would meet two dynamic and amazing young adults who would teach me lessons that only people like Styx Hendricks and Alaska Stone could teach and that even though there truly only seemed to be one outcome for these two, their journey of friendship and love is not to be missed, regardless of the many tears that were shed.

Throughout the course of the story, Jenner illustrates cancer in all of its fucked up grandeur, holding nothing back when it comes to this debilitating disease or the struggles that Alaska must endure due to her diagnosis. Like her characters, Carmen Jenner shows so much strength and courage in her story telling. This story is not an easy read; it’s not for every reader due to the subject matter and the fact that we can be assured that at some point either one or both of the main characters will have to face their death and deal with it at a young age, making readers question the sense of it all, but there’s also a lesson in that…one that illustrates the fact that happily ever afters don’t look the same for everyone, especially when there are extenuating circumstances – ones that have more control over them than the characters would like.

I adored Styx gallows humor and his cynical view of most things, but when it came to Alaska, he’s all about doing whatever he can to get her to truly see him and give him a chance to be with her regardless of how short their time together could possibly be. I loved that there’s a bit of a backstory of to their relationship, even if it was a one-sided crush. The idea that Styx went for it and Stones opened herself up to him made for many steamy and swoon worthy moments.

As heavy as the subject matter is in Styx & Stones, Jenner lightens things up in different parts of the story, and she does this so that even though her readers may be overwhelmed with what the two main characters have to go through, there is light moments amidst the dark ones and that’s what you need to hold on to as the heartbreaking and trying moments begin to take over.

Styx and Alaska’s story is most definitely a love story, but it’s so much more than that…it’s about fighting even when you don’t feel like it any longer…it’s about living each moment the way it should be lived, fully and present, making all of them count, not holding anything back because you never one which one may be the last.

I applaud Carmen Jenner for telling Styx and Alaska’s story…for using their voices to show all the highs and lows involved in love and loss…in living and dying, and offering hope in the most hopeless of situations.

4.5 Poison Apples

Excerpt

“Come here,” Styx says, giving my arm a weak tug.

“Where?”

“Come lie with me.”

I laugh and shake my head. “I can’t. I’ll squash your lines.”

“They’re plastic; they’ll bounce back.” His face turns serious, and the desperation in his eyes claws at my resolve. “Get your sweet ass up here, Stones. I wanna hold my girl.”

It takes a little maneuvering with his central line and heart-rate monitor, and my IV, but eventually I settle in against his side and he wraps his good arm around me, holding me as tightly as his weak body will allow.

I wish we had the power to make time wait for us.

I’d make it wait forever, right here. I’d use up all of the seconds it’s stolen from me, from us, and the lifetime it’s going to steal from our future. If I had the ability, I’d hit pause right here, and I’d never let him go.

About Carmen

Carmen Jenner is a USA Today and international bestselling author.

A hardcore red lipstick addict and a romantic at heart, Carmen strives to give her characters the HEA they deserve, but not before ruining their lives completely first … because what’s a happily ever after without a little torture?

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