Review: Poughkeepsie By Debra Anastasia

He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others . . . he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day.

Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.

When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she's surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.
My Review:

This was an amazing story.  Livia was good girl with a big heart.  Quite unlike her wild younger sister.  She was in school, finishing up her degree and dating her high school sweetheart.  But something was missing in her life, even though she rarely stopped to question it.  It was best to just beat down the emotions and concentrate on finishing school.  Who knew that something as simple as a smile could change someone's life?

Blake waits for her everyday and night. He lives just to see her smile.  It literally lights up his whole world.  He has everyone memorized, but nothing can compare to the first one.  The first day he noticed she was actually smiling at him, seeing him, and not looking through or around him as most people did.  Let's face it, he was homeless.  What could a homeless man every really offer a special girl like Livia.

Men that live on the street separate themselves from society for a reason.  Livia is warned over and over not to get too close because he wasn't quite normal, but it was already too late for her.  She was drawn to him like a moth to a flame.  He made her feel things that she had never expected to feel and believe in things she hadn't thought possible.  But could they work through his problems, her x-boyfriend and father, his current situation, and come out on top together?

There are several stories going on through this book that are all tied together. My two absolute favorite characters in the book were Mouse and Beckett, but most especially Beckett.  Beckett was an all out horrible guy for all the right reasons.  He literally stole my heart even though all the Poughkeepsie boys took turns tugging at it.  They are so many emotions that run through this book and I found myself teary eyed more than once.  Mouse's character was just so unique it was hard not to like him.  I have to ask Debra if she will write a book on Beckett or is he left to be an enigma?  I just think he was to fabulous a character to leave him open and alone.  Although he did get the hero's ending of riding off into the sunset alone.  Fabulous read!!  I highly recommend it!!!