Learning to Forgive by R.D. Cole

This isn't your Typical Everyday fairytale.
This story isn't sweet or sugary.
Instead...
It's Raw and Dark
It's Rough and Dangerous
And It's Definitely not for kids under 17 years of age.

So turn back now if you're not ready for Lyric and Blaire's story. Because shit just got Real.


“I’ve learned a lot this past year, but there are two things I’ll never forget: one, People aren’t what they seem, and two, I fucking hate liars.” –Blaire

Blaire Morgan was a quiet, grief stricken girl when she left Mobile, Alabama, a year ago after her brother’s unexpected death. She returns a year later with fresh wounds from another betrayal, and she’s not the same person. A woman letting her tortured past rule her life, her “take no shit” attitude is catching the attention of everyone that crosses her path, including the bad boy front man of Lyrical Obsessions—the new band that plays at Jay Jay’s. When she learns he has something she wants, she plans on doing whatever it takes to get it.

What is a demon? An evil spirit possessing a person, acting as a tormentor in Hell?

Lyric “The Demon” Devereux is that tormentor and Hell is any place he sees fit, either in the fighting ring or on the streets. He killed his first person at seventeen years old, and that list has grown over the years—as well as his list of enemies—but his biggest enemy is himself and he doesn’t know how to win that battle.
When Blaire comes into town like wildfire and turns heads, Lyric’s temper emerges—uninvited and unexpected. His plan to stay at a distance for her safety, and his sanity, changes when she continuously shows up with her defiance and seductive pull. He now has no choice but to face his past that could possibly destroy the both of them.

Tempers will detonate. Lust will consume. Truth will destroy. But will love forgive?

I have been one of the lucky ones to watch as this author has progressed not only in this series but also in her courage and writing style.  Learning to Live was a great book, but you could tell she was testing the waters with these characters.  Learning to Heal took the story up a bit with intensity and angst, but Learning to Forgive was by far the best one in this series so far.  She gave us suspense, angst, emotional turmoil and a story plot that grabbed me from page one and never let go.  I even took my kindle with me to the pool and other family outings just so I could find out what happens with Red and Lyric. 

We met Blaire in the prior books but now with her flaming red hair she is nicknamed Red.  Her story and character has changed now due to losing everyone in her life and being in a situation for the first time that causes her to learn to fight for her own survival.  The pain she carries created a wall around her heart that she refuses to let anyone past now. The music that use to soothe her soul now breaks her heart so she really has no outlet for her pain other than to lash out at others every chance she gets.  Her number one target is Trudy who we met in the first book.  We will eventually find out what she holds against Trudy but until them, it is an internal war for her and a constant reminder of revenge. 

We meet Lyric in this book and he is so hot and alpha that I have begged for a Lyric of my own.  He hasn’t had it easy in life either and ended up in jail.  He learns that freedom doesn’t come free when he is released only to be placed in a role of doing the dirty work for others.  He is haunted just as Red is with nightmares from the past but he does his best to keep looking forward and protecting those too weak to defend themselves, while committing crimes that will come back and destroy Red. 

Red and Lyric are perfect for each other, they both can take the sarcastic responses from each other and Lyric knows when she needs to be pushed and when he needs to step back and let her fight her own battles.  He gives her the confidence to see what she can handle, knowing he will be the first one there to pick up the pieces when she fails.  He also cared enough to find out what she was hiding in her past that made her the woman she is today.  His biggest issues is his life style that he gained for his freedom isn’t one that he wants Red involved in but there is no way to get out till the job is done.  Red is going to have to face the truth on many issues.  Those memories she holds so dearly not all realistic and that is going to crush her again to see the real people she loved and admired. 

I loved how the author took us on their journey and kept it raw and realistic.  It was so different from her first two books and at times I worried she would be able to pull it off but she did with a perfect flair.  She upped not only the development of each character she allowed the former characters to change along with the story.  To be able to balance all of them in their growing process was remarkable. The number one thing I hate in a series is when the old characters from prior books are forgotten about.  I love seeing them return and be a part of each story, but I can’t remember a time when I saw such growth from the former characters over each book in a series.  I fell in love with each of them all over again.

Now I wait for the next book after the ending of this one was so abrupt.  I would not call it a cliff hanger as much as I would that dreaded phone call from a long distance friend with news that leaves you by the phone waiting for an update.  This series isn’t written in cliff hanger form from book to book, it is more realistic in life, we never know what tomorrow is going to hold but I sure want to be there to find out.