Defining Destiny by Deanna Chase

When destiny fails...

Singer-songwriter Lucy Moore thought her life was perfect. At just twenty-one, she's already met her soul mate and together they've landed a recording contract. But when her father dies and the love of her life betrays her in more ways than one, she returns home to pick up the pieces. On the shores of Mendocino, California, Lucy has some decisions to make. Should she start a solo career? Or should she leave it all behind for some semblance of normalcy in the quiet town she grew up in? And what about Seth, the tortured artist who always seems to be there when she needs him?

Seth Keenan has demons of his own. Eighteen months ago, he was involved in a horrific accident that he never talks about. His career as an accomplished oil-paint artist has been abandoned, replaced by the buzz of his tattoo gun. And women--well, he never sticks around for longer than a few hours of pleasure... until he meets Lucy. After one evening of listening to her seductive voice, he's pulled under. But what about the vow he made to never get close to anyone again?

In a world where everyone has one true soul mate, can these two find love in the arms of each other?

Soul Mates. We are destined for one soul mate, that one person who loves us and knows us better than anyone else. The one person that is meant for us and us for them and there will never be another …. AND WTH!!! That was pretty much my reaction as the characters talked about soul mates. Do not mistake me. I definitely believe in soul mates, I met mine 12 years ago and spent 9 wonderful years with him until he succumbed to cancer. However, I do NOT believe that I am never meant to find another soul on this earth who touches me as deeply. Despite my issue with this point of view, I thoroughly enjoyed Defining Destiny.

Lucy is a singer and song writer who has the misfortune of being in a band with her soul mate. Why the misfortune? Because we find out rather quickly that Cadan is a self-centered, egotistical, arrogant, manipulative ass and he proves this assessment correct all throughout the book. I can honestly say that just when I thought he could get no lower, he did. The only plus Cadan has is that he wasn’t physically abusive – and I say physically because his manipulation definitely led to emotional abuse. Thankfully, Lucy extricates herself from the situation rather decisively. While Lucy is forced to consider whether or not she will return to Cadan and the band, the author avoided falling into the wishy-washy heroine trap that the situation practically begged for and I am grateful for that.

Seth’s is a tragic story. He too met his soul mate early in his life, but he was fortunate to be able to produce beautiful works of art with her. So when his soul mate was killed in a car accident, he of course blamed himself, stopped painting, and embarked upon a string of alcohol-filled one-night-stands.

It is through a mutual friend’s birthday party that Seth and Lucy meet and begin their relationship – which they both have difficulty defining throughout the book. And it’s an eventful journey, made more difficult by the people in their lives: Cadan who keeps trying to convince Lucy to return to the band; Lucy’s mom (all I can say about her is “what a piece of work”); and even Jax, their mutual friend. Deanna Chase manages to take this relatable cast of characters and the obstacles thrown in their way while avoiding obvious writing traps and combine them into a well written and truly enjoyable read. I am looking forward to the sequel.