Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia has been a bestselling hit since 2011. A homeless guy counting the smiles of a kind train commuter,
spiraled into a novel that was nominated by the Rockstars of Romance as one of
the most romantic stories ever and won 2nd place! It was
a story that deserved getting a jumbo-sized enhancement. Extra scenes and getting to spend some of
those previously undiscovered first moments with Blake and Livia, including the moment
he proposed, was worth exploring and sharing with readers. In Debra’s wildest dreams, she never imagined
Poughkeepsie with its own soundtrack, anchored by her favorite musicians. When
blockbuster talent Ron Pope signed on with fourteen songs and then Rustic
Overtones agreed as well, she knew things were going to get crazy cool.
After almost two full years of development, the Enhanced
Poughkeepsie is ready. This app became the most
exceptional reading experience Debra could devise for her readers.
Check out what’s in store for you:
Immerse yourself in the world of Debra
Anastasia’s Poughkeepsie.
Experience this bestselling novel for the first time…again as you break all the
rules about books with Omnific Publishing and Debra Anastasia. In this enhanced
version of the novel, you’ll enjoy insights from the author, music by Ron Pope
and other artists to set the mood, and images and video that bring the scenes
to life as you read. You’ll delve deeper into the world of Poughkeepsie through
nearly 50,000 words of added scenes (more love, more drama, more romance!) and
informative insights into how this marvelous story and its characters came to
be.
Self-contained in this app (no wifi needed after downloading):
•complete novel Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia
•author/director’s pop-up commentary
•music by Ron Pope, Rustic Overtones, Monoxide G, Violet Winter, Bo Heart, and
Jeff Epstein and the City Line Singers
•more than 100 images to enhance the story
•videos of your favorite characters in action
•special animation
•sound effects
•interviews with the characters, author, and more
•interactive games
•trailers for the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood series
•how-to knitting instructions
•how-to instructions for making a paper rose
•recipe for the dinner Livia makes for Blake
Enhanced Poughkeepsie for iPad
Website
for Droid, iPhones, and Computers is coming soon!
Book Synopsis:
He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others . . . he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day.
Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.
When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she's surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.
Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. Love never fails, right?
In an interwoven tale of unlikely loves and relationships forged by fire, Debra Anastasia takes readers into the darkest corners of human existence, only to show them the radiant power of pure adoration and true sacrifice. Complicated families and confused souls find their way to light in this novel, which manages to be racy, profane, funny, and reverent all at once.
My Review:
How many times can one book make you smile, make you laugh, rip your still beating heart from your chest? I am so awestruck by this book and the story Debra tells with such heart-rendering beauty, pain and humor. Definitely among one of my favorite books! I am honored to give this review in exchange for the Enhanced Collectors Edition ARC I received.
Poughkeepsie weaves the tale of one homeless soul and one lonely train passenger who find love in the most unexpected place. Ever since Blake saw Livia, he waits every day for her to get on and off the train for her daily college commute. Her first smile at him brought life back into him and he counted every smile of hers from that day forward. She gave him purpose. She saw him when nobody else did. He was the invisible homeless man that people simply ignored, sneered at or tormented.
“Livia.” He seemed thrilled to let the word roll off his tongue. “Do you know that I’m invisible?”
“No one has really seen me in years.” Blake looked at the sky. “Sometimes I wonder how they know I don’t have a home. I try to dress decently.” He waved a hand at his jeans and army jacket. “I think it just seeps out of me. I’m not the same as everyone else.” He shook his head, his eyes reflecting a weary despair. As he looked at Livia again, the despair was chased away with a grin. “But when you saw me for the first time, you actually saw me. You saw me, and then you smiled like I was just the same as everyone else on that platform.”
A friendship began to blossom as they continued their daily meetings and talks, even if they were for a short time. Livia became more entranced with Blake and knew her personal life was on the wrong path with her empty relationship with Chris. The more they opened up to each other, the more she knew they were destined to meet.
My heart cracked for the first time when he confessed his 'allergy', knowing this wasn't going to be a tidy little HEA.
'He thinks I believe him.' Livia didn’t realize she had tears on her cheeks until the train hit the Marble Hill stop. 'I’m an idiot—of course he’s broken. He must be so very broken.
He's more complicated than Livia could have ever dreamed, coming from a troubled childhood with only his foster brothers to watch over him in adulthood. Beckett was the big brother who provided protection, doing the dirty work when needed to keep them safe. Cole was the God-fearing, sound of reason whose mission was to save all their souls. Beckett's witty sense of humor won me over. He hid his pain and worry behind his sarcasm but you felt the love for his family shine through.
So many people had tried for Blake, but so many had failed. All it takes is one to be the glue. It’s going to be me. Livia moved quietly to straddle him. She put her hands on his scruffy cheeks. “I know all that you are. You almost don’t belong here, your soul’s so pure.” Livia put a hand on his chest. “You’re perfect to me. You’re chivalrous to me. I adore your manners. You can’t disappoint me. It’s not possible.” Livia leaned in and kissed him sweetly. See? See how much I can fix?
Blake became absorbed by her hair, grabbing handfuls of it. He pulled her to his chest, combing it out with his fingers as he hummed a soothing song in her ear. The liquid velvet of his voice lifted her into dreams.
Mouse...what do I say about Mouse....I loved that big, hunk of bodyguard. He was big, fierce and soft all at once. He'll always own a little piece of my heart.
Hearing his squeaky voice in her house was bizarre. Livia ran her hands through her hair and studied Mouse for a moment. He was working on a different piece of knitting than last night.
“What do you have there?”
Mouse perked up at her interest. “I’m making ski masks to have on hand for bank robberies. Last night I finished the fingerless mermaid gloves for Eve. She likes her fingers free for gunplay.”
Mouse’s needles clicked together in a peaceful rhythm.
“That’s, uh, nice. I loved the colors on the gloves.” Livia wasn’t sure how to complement Mouse’s craft.
There are so many poignant moments in this book, I can't even begin to touch on them. The pure love and adoration Blake holds for Livia is truly moving. He's kind and gentle but holds a strong passion in him that she wasn't expecting, hell I wasn't expecting it. They all have a lot of healing and obstacles they must overcome in this story, some that will make you cry in utter sorrow and some that will make you cry tears of happiness. If there is one book that I could see on screen, this would be it!
He moved to stand behind her. “How many times did I watch you? So many. Wondering what you smelled like, right here.” He lifted her hair and grazed his nose along the nape of her neck. “Exactly like fresh snow.” Blake grabbed two fistfuls of her hair, letting his lips brush her ear.
“And how often did I wonder what you tasted like?” He used her hair to turn her head. He leaned down to sample her lips. “Vanilla and lust.” He leaned down and ran his hands up her calves. “When you wore heels to the station? I couldn’t think for hours about anything other than this curve, right here behind your knee.”
5+++ STARS
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