The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen 
The Redemption of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen 
Genre: New Adult (For Mature readers)
Check out this quick interview I had with Jessica—> Author interview
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Goodreads Blurb
The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden
.There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.
Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.
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For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.
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Now he can’t stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. The more he tries to be part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved.
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The Redemption of Callie and Kayden
The dark secret Kayden has kept hidden for years is out. Worse yet, 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.
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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.
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Book Review
I read the first book, “The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden,” when it was released in December of 2012 and it left me wanting more. Callie spent most of her teenage years trying to go unnoticed – unnoticed by friends and unnoticed by family. While reading the first book you become more and more vested into Callie and Kayden. They are both broken and in need of unconditional love and attention. Although Callie’s major challenge and issue play out in the book somewhat predictably, I still felt invested into her character. I think Callie’s isolation during her time in college was a bit extreme. I know that the horrific situation that happened to her made her that way, but her personality was dull, which made attracting friends difficult. I could see that she would be a loner, which made the book focus on the two main characters, the sidekick friends of Callie and Kayden.
In the first book Kayden seems to be the strong one. He feels a connection to Callie that he can’t deny and wants to protect her even though no one had done that for him in his life. Kayden’s reacts to Callie’s behavior as if it is a challenge, while falling for her at the same time. They both feel their connection but both feel they don’t deserve any good things in their life, which was somewhat depressing.
The author, Jessica Sorensen, ends the first book on a cliff hanger, which leaves me to really wanting to know the end of this story. Although at times the first book was predictable, the story in itself was still a solid read and I would recommend this book to New Adult fans.
The second book, “The Redemption of Callie & Kayden,” starts off where it ended in the previous book and provides the conclusion to the cliff hanger. This time, I feel the book shifts and focuses on Kayden’s family trauma and you get to see him work painfully through his own issues.
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“I get what you’re saying,” she says. “But I don’t agree with it. You’re the only person…” Her bottom lip shakes as she takes a deep breath. “You’re the only person who I can ever feel whole with.” -Callie
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“You don’t know that. I keep trying to push her away. There could easily be other people out there.” -Kayden
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You also get to learn more about their sidekick friends Seth and Luke. Seth works on embracing his love for himself and others and working through his past history of bad experiences while being openly gay. Luke on the other hand, his demons were not fully disclosed and resolved, which looks to be addressed in the third book that should come out in January 2014 – “The Destiny of Violet and Luke”, which I am very much looking forward to. Luke was a playboy and was in forever need of distortions about what you don’t know.
Issues addresses: rape, self-mutilation (cutting), child abuse – verbal and physical, death and suicide. On the flip side it the book also addresses, deep love for yourself (others), breaking a chain of abuse, and moving healthy steps forward in life.
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“Callie and Kayden’s story is a intense story about facing your past demons and learning that you deserve a great future. This book will have you emotionally connected with there ups and downs and routing for them in the end”. Andrea’s book blog
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