Spotlight on Jessica Sorensen's Callie and Kayden: Review, giveaway and interview with Callie and Kayden

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden Synopsis

Callie has grown up keeping her feelings locked away from the outside world, and as her painful past threatens to consume her life, most days it's a struggle just to breathe.

For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence has been the only way to survive, until one night when Callie and Kayden's worlds collide.

After that moment, Kayden can't stop thinking about Callie and when they end up at the same college, he does everything in his power to convince her that it isn't coincidence - it's fate.

5 star review by Jen Skewes
  

Wow!! I am not sure where to begin. I loved The Secret of Ella and Micha and could not wait to read this book. And boy does Jessica Sorensen deliver again in this book. It brought out so many emotions in me. I laughed, I cried, and literally gasped at the end. My heart broke for Callie and Kayden.  The relationship and security that they found in each other was so heart warming.

Callie and Kayden have gone to school together since they were kids and their families were friends. But they never spoke to each other, never hung out in the same crowds and for the most part were strangers. Callie was a normal sweet and innocent child.  But when she was only 12 years old that innocence was taken away from her. Since then she has cut herself off from everyone. She practically tried to make her self invisible to everyone, including Kayden. Until that one night when she saved him. In a way that she never realized. Callie left a few days after that night to go to college, earlier than the school year started. She met Seth who was broken in his own way as well. And he was someone who she could trust and open herself up to. He was the only person who knew her secret and together they helped each other to try to move on from their past. 

Kayden grew up in a home where from the outside everything looked wonderful. But on the inside, things at home were far from perfect. With his two brothers gone he now became his fathers target. But he found his own ways of dealing with it. That one night, where by coincidence Callie happened to be there and helped him in a way she didn't fully understand at the time. He never thanked her in a way where she would understand how she saved him. And he still couldn't understand why she did it. When they meet again 4 months later at college they slowly become friends. But he finds that he cannot stop thinking about her, knowing that he shouldn't. He is broken and has a past and secrets that he doesn't want to involve her in. And while he has a girlfriend, what he feels for Callie and the way she sees him and actually cares about him is far more than he has ever had with his girlfriend.

Callie and Kayden can't help the feelings they have for each other. But it scares them both for different reasons. Callie is too sweet and Kayden doesn't want to drag her into his mess of a life. Callie has her own issues with trust, emotions and just being able to be free. But they can't ignore the connection they have, how safe they feel when they are with each other, the trust that they built. But should they give into their feelings? Can they share their secrets and past with each other and will it still be ok?

Jessica Sorensen does an amazing job with this book and the characters. You have an instant connection and will fall in love with both characters. You feel their emotions and your heart literally breaks for them. I love the addition of their best friends Seth and Luke. It truly is an amazing story, one that you will not be able to, put down. and I cannot wait for the sequel. 



The Redemption of Callie and Kayden 
Synopsis 

The dark secret Kayden has kept hidden for years is out. Worse, he's facing charges for battery. The only way he stands a chance against the charges is if Callie speaks up, something he'll never ask her to do.

Callie knows Kayden is going back to his dark place and desperately wants to save him. But saving him means admitting her secrets aloud. Callie and Kayden are stronger than they think, especially when they're together. Together they move forward, face their demons, and finally start to heal from their traumatic pasts.








 5 star review by Jen Skewes

This was one sequel that I could not wait for. Especially after the cliffhanger in the first book. I needed to know that Kayden and Callie would be ok, that they could survive the worst and move on from the demons that haunt them daily. And Jessica Sorensen certainly did not disappoint.

I loved The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden and fell in love with these two broken characters.  The first book we learn of their pasts and the hurt and pain that it has caused but we also see them find a bit of happiness, especially when with each other.  But as we remember at the end of the first book that little bit of happiness comes crashing down.  We were left wondering how Kayden would be able to survive what happened both physically and emotionally.  The Redemption takes us on another journey with Kayden and Callie and we see how they deal with the aftermath of what happened and how they both learn and try to move on and heal.  

Physically, Kayden will be OK, but it's the emotional healing that he has to deal with.  The book starts off with Kayden having to deal with his mother who basically tries to sweep everything under the rug and forbids him to see the one person he needs, which is Callie.  But Callie doesn't give up.  She needs to know that he is OK, she needs him to know that she is there for him and in her own way she needs him in general.  Callie is faced with her own pain and hurt from what happened to her as a child.  She needs to move on from the past and in order for her to heal and move on she needs to finally tell her family what happened on her 12th birthday.  She needs to do this in order to break free from the hold that her past has had on her for so many years.  


Kayden grew up with an abusive father and a mother who looked the other way.  He used his own coping mechanism to get through the pain that his father caused him. When he met Callie he found something special with her.  She never judged and was there for him in ways no one else was.  She still wants to be by his side through this ordeal and be there to help him but he seems to push her away.  He wants her, needs her but is afraid to get to close.  He doesn't believe that she deserves him and and the baggage that he carries with him.  But as we see throughout their journey in Redemption, Callie does not plan on going any where.  She loves Kayden and will be by his side to support him  And truthfully she needs him just as much as he needs her.  Together they begin their journey to healing and fighting the demons of their past

This was an extremely emotional read for me.  Most of the time I just felt so sad and heart broken for these two characters, especially Kayden.   I always look forward to Jessica Sorensen's books and know that they are never going to be an easy happy read.  And that's what I love about them.  She explores deep issues in her stories and through her amazing writing and her way with words she manages bring out these emotions in the reader.  You feel like you are going through the pain and hurt with her characters.  I felt what Kayden and Callie were going through.  And most of the time I was so sad for them, especially Kayden.  I wanted to slap his mother and tell her to wake up because her actions completely angered me.  This was an emotional and heart warming read.  There were moments that will touch your heart as well.  The bond that these two characters have is so beautiful.  I didn't know going into this book that there was going to be a third book, so when I got to the end there were still some questions that needed to be answered.  And the ending was left a little open but to be honest the ending completely worked for me because it was true to the story.  But now I know that we are getting a third which I am so excited about.  Another fantastic job by Jessica Sorensen

Three Chicks interview Callie and Kayden

Three Chicks:  Kayden, if you could go back to that night with Caleb, would you have done anything differently, knowing now what the consequences would be?

Kayden:  Honestly, the only thing I would have done differently is stop swinging before things got that bad—before the cops showed up.

Three Chicks:  Callie, what was it like not being able to see Kayden when he was in the hospital?

Callie:  It was the worst feeling ever. I swear my heart hurt all the time not knowing what condition he was in or what exactly happened.

Three Chicks:  Callie and Kayden, we know that you have been taking things one day at a time, since you have been through so much. In spite of that, where would you like to see yourselves in 5 years?

Callie: Maybe writing, living with Kayden somewhere where it doesn’t snow all the time, and living a happy life.

Kayden: I’m not sure yet. I’m still figuring things out, like what I want to do, but I do know I’d like to be with Callie and be happy.

Three Chicks:  Kayden do you regret not standing up to your mother, especially when it came to Callie? 

Kayden:  I do regret it. A lot. It’s actually probably one of my biggest regrets—not standing up to her before she took off and I missed my chance.

Three Chicks:  Kayden-If your father got help and came to you for forgiveness do you think you will ever be able to forgive him? And did you ever have any relationship with your mother growing up?

Kayden:  I think I could forgive him, if I knew he actually meant it and was genuinely sorry because I don’t want to hold onto the past anymore. And I never did have a relationship with my mom. She was always in the house, but at the same time it seemed like she was never there, at least when it came to taking care of her kids.

Three Chicks:  Callie, what does your friendship with Seth mean to you?

Callie:  It means everything to me. If it wasn’t for Seth, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Three Chicks:  Kayden, given the way you were raised, we know you have a difficult time accepting love. How does it to have three friends that were there to help you when you needed them most?

Kayden:  It was strange and a little difficult to accept at first, that they wanted to help me and that I was good enough for them to help me, because I wasn’t used to that sort of stuff.

Three Chicks:  Callie, describe the moment and how you felt when Kayden told you he loved you.

Callie:  It was the most unreal, but wonderful moments I’ve ever experienced. Not just because he said he loved me, but because I knew how much it meant coming from him.

Three Chicks:  How did it feel for the both of you when you finally told your secrets to someone?

Kayden: It was both relieving and terrifying.

Callie: I felt free. I really did. Like I could finally breathe after years and years of holding my breath.
Three Chicks:  Kayden, do you wish you could have confronted your father after that night?

Kayden:  Yeah, if I could go back, I wish I could have confronted my father and told him how I felt in a nonviolent way.

Three Chicks:  Callie, have your parents' opinion of Kayden changed since finding out the truth?

Callie:  My mother’s has a lot. She really adores Kayden. I’m not sure my father ever truly thought poorly of Kayden, but I do know that he likes him a lot now.

Three Chicks:  Kayden, how is your relationship with Callie different than any other relationship you have had? And why did you stay with Daisy all those years? Was it almost like an escape for you?

Kayden:  Daisy was a distraction for me, along with the other girls I was with, and none of them meant anything to me. There were no feelings or attachments. Callie is so much more than that. She owned my heart long before I’d even admit it—she means everything to me.

Three Chicks:  Callie do you consider Kayden to be your soul mate?

Callie:  I’m not really sure I believe in soul mates, but I do think that we share a lot in common and because of that we were able to really connect and fall in love.

Three Chicks:  Callie, if you ever saw Daisy or were confronted by her would you have anything to say to her? Do you any feelings towards her one way or the other?

Callie:  I don’t really think that much about Daisy anymore. She’s part of the past that I let go of and if she confronted me, I’d probably just walk away.

Three Chicks:  Callie and Kayden, when you were in college you both seemed to be in a good place, where you had each other and were happy for that short period of time. Do you ever wish you could just escape it all and go back to those months where in school when life seemed to be better?

Callie: I’m not sure. I really do believe that the path that I took helped me to get to the point where I could completely let go of the past.

Kayden: I’m going to agree with Callie. I think I’d still be holding it all in if everything didn’t happen.

Three Chicks:  Kayden, how is therapy going?

Kayden:  It’s going good. Not every day is great, but a lot of good days and that’s what’s important.

Three Chicks:  You have known each other for quite some time but never really talked until that night in the garage. Did either of you ever think that you would be here now with each other and feeling the way you?  

Callie: I secretly hoped we would, but I didn’t want to count on things going the way I wanted.

Kayden: At the time, I couldn’t see the possibility of getting to the place that I am now.

Three Chicks:  Callie, how hard was it for you when Kayden tried pushing you away-especially knowing his reasons?

Callie:  It was really hard, especially because I’ve been in that place where you shut down. It hurt knowing what he was feeling and I couldn’t help him.

Three Chicks:  Kayden, you tried so hard to push Callie away, for your own reasons but she never gave up on you....How does it feel to have someone like Callie on your side fighting with you and for you?

Kayden:  It’s the most amazing feeling and I’m extremely lucky that she didn’t give up on me.

Three Chicks:  Callie, if you could go back in time and do one thing differently, would you?

Callie:  That is a really tough question and I’m not sure I can answer it. Yes, there are a few things in my past that I wish wouldn’t have happened, but at the same time, I’m glad I’m in the place I’m now.

Three Chicks:  How would you describe your life right now?

Callie: Amazing and way lighter. Sure, not everything is perfect, but there’s so many great things and I’m happy.

Kayden: My life is great. There are good days and a few bad one’s but even the bad one’s are okay because I know things could be way worse and I have people in my life who care about me.


Thank you to Callie, Kayden and Jessica for taking the time for this interview.  We cannot wait for your journey to continue.

a Rafflecopter giveaway