GRAYSON by LISA EUGENE

 “I need my books, Angie.”

Jenny:  That simple quote above tore at my heart and when you meet Grayson you’ll understand why.  Whilst reading Grayson’s story it was apparent this author had experience with the subject matter in some capacity because she never sought to over sensationalise Grayson’s mental illness. Instead, she told Grayson’s story with sensitivity, honesty, love and kindness and it shone through on every page.

Grayson was passionate, brilliant, loving; beautiful inside and out who happened to be schizophrenic. His daily existence was a struggle and I felt every moment of confusion Grayson experienced and it hit me hard. There were times Grayson had me giggling with his dry sense of humour and then his vulnerability would break me, leaving me sobbing and clutching my heart.  On a side note G, I have to say we had quite the introduction to Grayson, didn’t we? Talk about a lasting first impression! Wow!

This book was pretty steamy as Angie and Grayson’s passion could be felt through the pages, however, the heat factor took a backseat to the emotional side of the story. In Angie, Grayson found a woman who would fight beside him and for him, and love him with abandon and I adored her. She had me in awe of her tenacity and no-nonsense approach.

“Angie. My heart. My salvation. My love.”

In Grayson, Angie found a brilliant, beautiful and soulful man fighting battles in and outside of his mind. Arrgghhh I hated Charles with a passion, what a despicable man. I’m so relieved Grayson had Angie in his corner with here  and only a heroine with her fierce determination would do because that man was horrid!

“It’s me, Grayson. It’s Angie. I’m on your side.”

Despite being told through Angie’s pov, my emotions were in no way lessened as I completely experienced the internal battles Grayson faced as the author did a splendid job of relaying the hopelessness, fear and torment Grayson felt through Angie’s voice. These were two inspirational characters I believed in and who completely stole my heart.

“What’s it like for you, Grayson?”
“It’s a struggle to achieve balance. It can be a futile search for the absolute truth or an endless certainty of lies.
I’m constantly sifting through my thoughts, analysing them, looking for the truth. It never stops.”

A truly beautiful story of a love that knows no bounds. Just beautiful. I loved Grayson the man and Grayson the story. A definite recommend from me. How did you feel G?

Gitte: I wholeheartedly agree; this is an honest and true love story that begs to be read. The characters are extremely well written but it’s the story itself on a whole that stands out for me. The weight is not heavily laid at the reader’s feet to feel sorry, to pity or to see an illness before the person. Nor is anything dramatized emotionally or overcooked for effect. This story simply is. And that…that is what I loved above anything else.

“Was there something you needed me to put together?”
“Yes…My heart. It’s broken.”

I have to wholeheartedly applaud Lisa Eugene for writing a story that screams research, compassion, love and know-how. She wrote a brilliant man who shone for his personality, his presence, his awe-inspiring demand of attention and his compelling allure. Grayson is an amazing hero and his story made me feel so much; it made me cry tears out of frustration and love for the man himself and the consequential treatment of him through no plausible reason other than greed and lack of understanding.

“You’re mine! My heart! My peace! My everything! All mine!”

And yes, Jenny nothing much beats that introduction. A raw voyeuristic moment of animalistic passion and who can blame Angie for falling for this brilliant minded sexy man?

‘My Grayson was funny and brilliant. My Grayson was tender and passionate. My Grayson could melt my heart with the tiniest smile. But this man, too, was my Grayson, a man who was sometimes out of touch with reality, who lived in the distorted world concocted by his brain. It was a world of doubt, fear, and distrust.’

Angie is without question one of my favourite heroines of late. She displayed strength and compassion. She fell in lust and interest; then love with a man and never once questioned nor rationalised this all-embracing love. Her POV was so incredibly strong that in no way did I miss not hearing Grayson’s voice; the emotionally laden writing and Angie herself made sure I felt and understood exactly what this man and their story was all about and I felt him; I felt the story. I definitely agree; this is a strong recommend from me too.