Nova and Quinton: No Regrets (Nova #3) by Jessica Sorensen

Today is the first day of Quinton Carter's new life. The toxic guilt of his past left him in pieces-but one girl unexpectedly put him back together. Thanks to Nova Reed, Quinton can finally see the world with clear eyes. She's the reason his heart is still kicking behind the jagged scar on his chest. And he would love to have her in his arms every minute of the day . . . but he's not ready yet.

Playing drums in a band and living with her best friends are just some of the highlights of Nova's life. But the best new development? Talking to Quinton on the phone each night. She wishes she could touch him, kiss him, though she knows he needs time to heal. Yet shocking news is on the way-a reminder of life's dark side-and Nova will need Quinton like he once needed her. Is he strong enough to take the final leap out of his broken past . . . and into Nova's heart?

Overall Rating:  4 Rockin’ ★★★★

Nova~
"Forgiveness.  If only more people could do it.  Then maybe there'd be less pain in the world."

"I grasp the blanket, trying to hold onto something as I get lost in a place I didn't think existed.  A place where nothing exists, except the two of us.  It's the most amazing feeling, one I haven't felt in a very long time.  All the stress and worry diminish.  All the bad is temporarily gone.  As I cry out, something bursting deep inside me, I want nothing more than to hold to this feeling forever."

"But it's moments like these, the ones when you have to feel the loss of life, that make it so hard to keep breathing."

Quinton~
"You give me hope, Nova Reed.  Hope that even though life is really, really hard-even if it fucking sucks sometimes-that its worth living."

"I need something to live for, but at the moment I'm not sure what the hell that is or if it even exists."

"I am lucky.  Lucky to be standing here healthy and sober after everything I've done.  Lucky to be alive with all the death in the world, when so many people aren't.  Lucky that I got to spend the time that I did with someone as amazing as Nova.  And I make a silent vow right now to my second chance and do something good with it.  To change my life.  Start doing things that matter.  Stop being afraid and tell Nova I love her.  Stop holding on to the past.  It's time to start moving forward."

"For everyone who suffered loss and learned how to live again.  Know that you're not alone."

This story is about love, loss, and finding a way back to the living again.  I was emotionally taken on a roller coaster ride throughout this book.  I was captivated by sheer force of will that the characters portrayed.  From the moment Quinton is introduced, I immediately felt a sense of deep loss and anguish.  He is just mentally aching from the inside and out.  For Nova, there is loss, but in a different way, more of bad things happen, but you just learn to deal with it, kind of way.

Quinton Carter is working his way back from being an addict.  For years he has blamed himself for the death of his high school sweet heart.  So much so that he was on a path of self-destruction through drugs.  Because he was the one driving the car that killed her and his cousin as well.  After coming out of rehab, he is to beginning a new journey in his life, a journey to heal, a path to self love and embracing a love that he is so scared to have and feels he doesn't deserve.  

Nova, like the car, Reed, has seen and experienced so much death, loss and pain in her short life of twenty years.  She has conquered her drug addiction and lives everyday with the knowledge that her life could be lost in the blink of an eye.  But she lives everyday to the fullest and tries to help all those who think they are alone in the world.  She is full of hope and promise for all those who she comes in contact with.  For some this is just too much, for others it's a lifeline.  Although she seems put together on the outside, Nova still aches for all the loss she has endured.  But the one person she wants to help save the most is holding himself at arms length.

I really wasn't sure about this book as I began to read it.  It made me so sad that I had to put it down a few times and come back to it, because it was affecting my mood.  I think a book that can bring out emotions so strong that it affects the reader, is an extraordinary story.  By the end of the book, I was wanting more.  Job well done, Jessica.  You filled my emotional bucket up...Grēta

Hero - Quinton Carter 4.0 stars
Heroine -  Nova Reed 4.5 stars
Steam Level: 3.5 stars 
Plot: 4.5 stars 
Cliffhanger: No

Would I recommend this book: Yes!

Would I read other books by this author: Yes!

***Received an ARC of this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review***