relationship – Z. Elizabeth

Falling Into Us (#2) – Jasinda Wilder

Posted on August 31, 2013August 30, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

THE STORY YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW…

When Kyle Calloway died, he took a part of Nell with him. She wasn’t the only one left to pick up the pieces, however; Kyle’s death left a gaping hole in the hearts and lives of his parents and his older brother Colton, and ultimately broke the will of the girl he loved.

THE STORY YOU NEVER IMAGINED…

Becca de Rosa is Nell’s best friend. When Kyle died, Nell was so devastated that no one could reach her, not even her best friend Becca. As she tries to help Nell through her grief, Becca’s own life is thrust into turmoil, and everything she knows is changed.

Jason Dorsey asked Nell out the week after her sixteenth birthday, but that date never happened. Instead, he ended up going out with Nell’s best friend, Becca. He had no way of knowing, then, how that one date would send him on a life-long journey with Becca. He had no way of knowing the tragedies and triumphs he would experience, or that in Becca, he might find the love of a lifetime.

THE HEARTACHE YOU’LL NEVER FORGET…

5 / 5 stars

My review of Falling into You is HERE

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My Review

By now you should know my favourites. The ones that completely stole my heart, ripped it out, made me a sobbing mess, had me falling in love with their story, having my heart pieced back together and left an outstanding impression to me. That was what Falling into You did to me. It showed raw pain, dealing or more like trying to deal with grief and falling in love. To say it’s a great book would be an understatement….

BUT then came along Falling Into Us and I can’t tell you how much this book stole another piece of my heart. I sat wondering why it had taken so long to finally get round to reading this book and I actually couldn’t think of any. But it’s okay because I did get around to it and I did completely, head over heels demolish every single page and every single line that was in the book.

I read it on the way to work, back home from work and then into the evening. It PAINED me to put it down during work and even when I jumped into the shower, Jason and Becca were constantly on my mind. I needed to know more about them, finish up their story, and see how their lives pan out. I really cannot tell you how much this book just made me forget the outside world.

There will always be one book you will read and you are like “why hasn’t this been in my life sooner?” And I’ve got to say, this is the book. I may, just a tiny bit love this book more than Falling Into You, but only a little bit because I adore Colt and Nell’s story. To say both couple lead different lives, it’s hard to really compare the stories because they all go through heart break and pain but Jason and Becca’s just stole my heart a bit more.

Becca is an amazing character. She is smart, like super smart, she is Nell’s best friend, she’s overcoming a stutter which still appears when she is nervous or excited and she is gorgeous, but that is overshadowed because of Nell. Her parents are strict on her, especially her father, she’s in all these classes, constantly doing homework and hardly ever has any freedom. Her freedom is poetry which she keeps locked away from anyone.

She’s always had a crush on Jason from afar but hes always liked Nell. But when Nell stands him up and she tells him to call Becca, well then we get to know what they did on their ‘date’ as we know they went out in Falling Into You.

I did adore Becca. You could feel her frustration at her parents – she just wanted freedom. Not to be shackled. She also fees frustrated and angry at being second best to Nell when Jason asks her out but you can pretty much see from the get-go that these two have so much more than he and Nell would ever have. And that is where the story begins. Throughout the years, you see her progress from a shy and soft spoken girl into a confident and outspoken women. Being with Jason truly helped her throughout the many trials and heartbreak she faced over the years, the love she had for him, the way she knew he was the one for her. She helped him as much as he helped her and I loved watching her progression throughout the book and the years. She was so comfortable in her own skin and around Jason. That is exactly how it should be.

I loved Jason. He’s not the person he showed other people. He didn’t have the greatest home life, but he was strong, and the way he handled his childhood shaped him into the person he grew up to be and the person we all fall in love with. He’s special and I think that’s why Becca has a soft spot for him, despite the fact he was gorgeous too. He chose the path in life to not be his father and I applaud him for that. Along with the help and love of Becca, he could do anything he put his mind to. She was there with him through everything, much the same as he was with her. They both go through horrible things but they bring each other back to life, because of the strength of their love.

Jason is such a sweetheart when Becca goes through the most painful thing to happen in her life. He’s patient, he never leaves her and he breaks through to her, gets her to speak to him. He holds her, loves her and lets her know he’s not going anywhere. He truly is a special guy and you can utterly see why they were the ones for one another. They just balanced each other out, they loved each other so much and although their journeys weren’t easy, they had each other to power through and be right by each other’s sides.

You watch they grow from insecure teenagers to confident adults, who know exactly what to do, what to say, how to love and how to help each other. You watch them talk things through, complement one another and talk about their future, always including the other. Their relationship and their bond is so strong, nothing can part them.

If you are looking for some Nell and Colton, then they do appear in this book. You get to see more of their relationship, their cuteness and see their relationship develop even more. They are still so awesome together. You do relieve the moment Kyle dies, and the tears did appear again. Even though you know it’s going to happen, it’s still as painful as when you read it the first time.

Falling into Us will tear you apart. It will make you cry, make you smile, throw your kindle away because you don’t want to relive that moment, make you giggle and smile and sigh at the cutest of Jason and Becca. I wasn’t worried at all when Jasinda said she was writing a second book that included these two, because I knew it was be great. And it bloody well was.

I would recommend reading Falling into You first, then Falling into Us. Read about Nell and Colton, then Jason and Becca and come back and tell me all your FEELS. Because you will FEEL a hell of a bloody lot!!

New Adult

More (#2)- Clare James

Posted on August 25, 2013August 22, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

One summer.
One chance to forget the past.
One opportunity to make things right.

There’s no denying the heat between Jules Taylor and Foster Sutton. They are two wild souls with a fire burning inside. Together, they create a hot and dangerous mix of emotion and lust.

But after a terrible accident leaves one friend dead, Foster is bound by a secret that keeps him from getting closer to Jules. And he’s left with only one thing to offer her – friendship.

For Jules, her relationship with Foster is getting old. He falls down and she picks him up, but they never move forward. Their occasional hook-ups are no longer enough, and Jules vows that this is her summer to forget Foster and find love. If it were only that easy.

It seems fate is pushing Jules and Foster together at every turn. And it’s only a matter of time before they give up and give in.

MORE is the highly anticipated companion story to BEFORE YOU GO. It can also be read as a stand-alone book

4 / 5 stars

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My Review

*I’d like to thank Clare James for a copy of More in exchange for an honest review*

A few months ago, a lovely lady called Clare James emailed me and asked if I would like to review a copy of Before You Go, her debut novel. Yes, I would love to, was my reply and I loved the book. You can see my review HERE and that Noah was my Mancandy Monday a few weeks ago HERE.

A few weeks back she emailed me again asking if I would love to review More, the story of Jules and Foster. Well yesss, of course I would. I really liked them both in Before You Go and I knew that there story would captivate me just like Noah and Tabby’s did. About three weeks ago (yes a late review) was not a good week for me. I was in a funk; a downer mood and I didn’t know how to get out of it. I decided to pick up More and just pour myself into reading this book, hoping to god that Jules and Foster would help me through it.

Can I just say that they had a helping hand in my downer mood disappearing? And of course I have let Clare know this too. I didn’t want to put the book down. I was reading it wherever I could because Jules and Foster are awesome together. I couldn’t stop reading, More was slowly lifting my mood up and I have to say it included everything. You had sexy times, I cried, I swooned, I loved the strength of Jules, the vulnerability of Foster but I loved that despite everything in their pasts, they were still ‘friends’ even if they ‘couldn’t’ be together, they still loved one another and were still there for each other.

Clare James makes you care for both Foster and Jules, and you still love Tabby and Noah in the mean while too.

We meet Jules and Foster in Before You Go and I am so glad they got their own story because there is so much to them. They met in high school, becoming fast friends and they have been with each other since. Jules has loved Foster since high school and the older they got, her feelings intensified and her and Foster began a relationship. But one night changed everything and her and Foster broke up.

Foster began to drown himself in alcohol, but what happened wasn’t the one reason why he was drinking, he did something bad, so bad that he cannot tell Jules because it would break their friendship up. Just like it did with Noah and him. He doesn’t feel worthy of Jules but one summer changes everything between them.

It’s a summer of love, forgiveness but also heartbreak and pain. Will Jules and Foster get a happily ever after?

Jules is strong character. You could definitely see it in Before You Go and you can see it in More. She does have a vulnerability to her, but that is where Tabby helped her out, made her go to this unconventional group meeting every week and it helps Jules overcome what happened in her past. Helps her to meet people who have been through loss and self-harming and abuse. For everything Jules had been through, shes a tough cookie, getting through to the other side with her friends there to support her.

Enter Foster. He and Jules have been friends for many years. They were and to some extent inseparable. Jules has loved him for a long time and although they tried the whole relationship thing, it ended because of Foster and his secret – which Jules has never found out. Jules is always there for Foster, through his boozing and the pain he harbours, trying to make him see that the accident wasn’t his fault, but that’s not why he drinks and he can’t tell her. He uses alcohol as an escape – as escape that he cant ever have Jules the way he wants her. You can see just how much Jules loves Foster, how much she wants him as her own, wants to help him out but it comes to a point where she realizes this will never happen. That she won’t have Foster again and so this summer is all about finding someone new. If only to have what Tabby and Noah have – that true, glorious love. But what about Foster? What does he feel about this?

Oh Foster. He really is a book boyfriend in my eyes. Sexy as hell but a wounded soul. Overcome with the memories of the past and alcohol seems to take that away, if only for a little while. He uses girls to take the pain away too and that is what stings Jules a little bit. Foster loves Jules, he would do anything for her, but in order for his secret to be kept, Noah told Foster to stay away, but he can’t. He needs to be with Jules – and friendship is all that he can offer her despite the fact he would like more. You see him battle with himself over Jules. He wants her but he cant. She wants him but she thinks he doesn’t want her. These two really give you the run around and you can’t help but want them to just be together.

When Jules injures herself, this is when the two of them spend all this time together. You see Foster caring for Jules, you see his jealousy over the guy she works with but you see him making something of himself. Interning in a restaurant and actually doing something he loves. The two of them have 14 nights together, just to be themselves and do whatever they want with each other, before Noah and Tabby come back from their vacation, but what will happen in those 14 nights? And what will happen when the secret comes out? Will it destroy their relationship?

Before i began More, Clare James mentioned a bath scene…can i just say…UH YES FRICKING PLEASE. Hottest scene i have read in a lonnnng while. Dear god, i need me a Foster!!

Anyway, If you have yet to read Before You Go – please do! Read Tabby and Noah’s story, then come back and read More – read about Foster and Jules, because you will love them and want to know more about them when you read Before You Go.

BOOK TOUR: Just Human – Kerry Heavens

Posted on July 26, 2013July 26, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

It’s The Book Lovers stop on the Just Human tour today, and I will be posting my review!

To follow the tour, just click on the banner.

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Synopsis

Meet Liv and Danny…

Liv loves Danny. She knows she loves him more than he loves her, so she lets him go without a fight when his parents make him move back to America. She knows she will never love anyone like she loved him, but she has to move on.

Danny loves Liv. He knows he loves her more than she loves him, because she does nothing to get him to stay, so he goes quietly when his parents leave the UK. He knows he will never love anyone like he loved her, but he has to move on.

Twelve years on, they have made a good job of pretending, they may have almost forgotten. But when they get in touch via Facebook, it seems that it is all still there.

They quickly find that they are intensely compatible in ways they hadn’t even begun to explore before they were forced apart.

Can they put aside their fears and give it a go? Or will deep rooted doubts and insecurities tear them apart?

5 /5 stars

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My Review

Email me and tell me your book has some sort of social media involved and I will snatch that book right up. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m a millennial. I’ve grown up with the internet and phones and I don’t know a world without them. I think that’s the reason why I love books that have texting and facebook/twitter in them.

When Kerry emailed me a few months ago with Just Human, it included a love story, past best friends turned lovers whom reconnect over FaceyB. Was I going to email her back and accept? Oh hell yes I was.

When I finally got my grabby little hands on Just Human, I was so freaking happy. Kerry grabs your attention from the first page and she has characters in which you care about and want to be best buds with (and of course Danny, where you actually want to be with him.) Kerry will make you laugh, smile, giggle, swoon and also cry – both happy and sad tears (THAT ENDING KERRY!!!) but you will follow both Danny and Liv’s story – in alternative POVS – to find out that despite the years apart, love holds no time and they both loved each other so much they didn’t say anything when Danny left. But thank god for technology hey!

From the synopsis, you can see that Danny and Liv both loved each other when they were younger, going from best friends to lovers. When Danny’s parents move back to the USA and Danny goes with them, he knows he loves Liv more than she loves him because she did nothing to stop him. He has to move on even though no one will ever hold a match to Liv.

Liv loves Danny but when he says nothing about staying, Liv knows she loves him more and so she lets him go to the USA. She has to move on even though no one will ever hold a match to Danny.

Twelve years have passed and Danny is prompted to facebook Liv. All old feelings come back and he and Liv begin to converse, falling back into old habits and talking like they haven’t spent the past twelve years apart, in silence. Their connection is back.

Can they both put aside their fears of losing each other again and give their relationship another go? Or will they be torn apart once again?

I really really liked Liv. She’s a girl after my own heart. She owns a bar, she’s proud of how far she has come, in her life and the bar, and she has tattoos. Lots of tattoos. UHHHH YES. One failed relationship after another, it seems that she should just stop and be by herself for a while. But when a facebook message comes through, and when she sees its from Danny, all these old emotions and feelings come flooding back and she can’t push them away, no matter how hard she tries.

Danny was her first for everything and now he’s got back in touch, they come flooding back. Despite being a strong character, Liv is insecure. She’s afraid of letting all these old feelings come back only to have her heart broken once again by Danny. But can she give Danny another chance?

Despite her strong exterior, shes still fragile and although she can most definitely hold her own, I loved that she pushed through her fears when she was with Danny, because he was there. He wanted her just as badly as she wanted him and to be honest, she always loved him, whether she wanted to acknowledge that fact or not. She was so happy when she was with Danny. It was like they were never apart and they just left off from where they finished twelve years ago. There was so much love for each other it was bursting.

Danny. Oh Danny. You big beauty you. Leaving Liv pained him all those years ago but he had to keep his chin up and get on with it. He loved her more than she loved him and moving killed him.

After a brief encounter with a blast from the past, he messages Liv in the hopes of her messaging back. Since this box has been reopened, he can’t stop thinking about her, about the past and hes scared she won’t reply. Bingo, she does and now they are talking like they have never been apart, like they used to, just older.

Danny is brilliant. He’s never really let himself love anyone the way he loved Liv. She has been in the back of his mind for years, unconsciously of course but now shes first and foremost in his mind. He wants to know her again, wants to see her again and most definitely wants to be with her again, which is what makes him so special in what he does.

Yes, he also has fears and insecurities but he knows for certain that Liv is the one. She always has been for him and now its just getting her to see that they are the end game.

He would do anything for Liv and the two of them together just makes your heart sing. Kerry captured their emotions and feelings down to a T. She captured their fears, their flaws, the chemistry they both still had and you just root for them as a couple. Root that they are the end game as they very well should be. They bring out the best in each other and you can see the love they have for one another, even if they are scared something will happened to break it. But you will fall in love with Danny and Liv, I can guarantee you that much.

You all know how much I love alternative povs and Kerry did a great job in writing these. She distinguished the characters amazingly, gave them their own voice and you really got to see their reunion from each other’s eyes. Their feelings and emotions and the apprehension but that is what makes this book so much more real. It isn’t all glitter and butterflies at times, its real life and real feelings and its finding that balance together and overcoming the fears together and pushing past them.

Nowwww the sex scenes. Do you really think I’d forgot about these? Do you now know me at all anymore? HAHA. YES Kerry does know exactly how to write some serious sexy scenes. Doesn’t help that I was on public transport (when am I not?) when these scenes appeared. They only intensified the chemistry and love Danny and Liv have for one another. Some hawwwwt stuff is going on.

I cannot tell you how much I LOVE Just Human. Once started, it was hard to put down and it really is a book that everyone should grab right now. Danny and Liv really did need the time apart to grow up and do their own thing and flourish before finally reconnecting. They are both at a point in their life where they are happy, and now they have each other again, that happiness has doubled.

You really need to learn all about their story. Just shout at Kerry for the ending. I did. I REALLY NEED book two now. Need to know whats going to happen because my heart can’t take it anymore. Danny and Liv have become a favourite couple of mine and they need to be yours too.

Links

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Just-Human-ebook/dp/B00E251RHY/

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Human-ebook/dp/B00E251RHY/

Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/Just-Human-ebook/dp/B00E251RHY/

Book Tours

BOOK TOUR: Indelible – Bethany Lopez

Posted on July 18, 2013July 14, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Today is the tour stop on The Book Lovers for Indelible – Bethany Lopez. I will be giving you my review of the book.

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Synopsis

After a year of partying, Sam decides to buckle down and focus on college. Things are going great until a one-night stand leaves her pregnant and alone. Raising a child while going to school isn’t easy, but Sam is determined to be strong for her daughter. She doesn’t have time for guys or relationships, and takes great care to protect her child and her heart.

Judd doesn’t fit the mold of a college ballplayer. His long hair and tattoos may fit the life he’s created for himself, but baseball is the one thing he takes seriously. When he meets Sam, he’s immediately drawn to her curves and refusal to put up with his crap. When Judd learns the truth, can he handle the responsibility that comes with loving a single mother?

Sam yearns for the fire that Judd fuels in her, but her child’s needs have to come first. Can two people at different stages in their life find a way to make a life together?

3 / 5 stars

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My Review

Indelible is the first book I have read by Bethany Lopez. I do have the Friends and Lovers trilogy on my Kindle but I have yet to get to it. When I had see this book on GR and read the synopsis, I just had to add it to my TBR list and when I saw there was a tour for it, I really wanted to be a part of it.

I actually read the book in a day. It was an easy read, I pretty much flew through the pages. Bethany writes with an ease, a way in which you don’t stop reading and suddenly you are right at the end, wondering where the time has gone because it only felt like a few minutes since you started the book.

The reason for my three stars is due to my confusion. It probably is crystal clear to other people but my confusion is over the timeline of the story. When everything happened. Was it over a few weeks? Especially when Judd was meeting Sam’s daughter, Karrie for the first time. After everything Sam said about not introducing anyone to Karrie or letting them know about her because she didn’t want guys coming in and out of her life, she certainly introduced Judd to her so soon. Or was it so soon? To me it was, but perhaps to you, it was weeks later. See, I couldn’t get my head around the timeline.

The other fact was the insta-love. One minute Sam doesn’t want anything to do with Judd then the next it’s all rainbow and glitter. But I dont read a lot of books about insta-love so is that what is it?

But despite all my confusion, I did enjoy the book. I liked the strength of Sam – the young mother. The single young mother, whom not only has to care for her two year old daughter, Karrie but she takes classes and is determined to become an art teacher. I was in awe of her, at juggling her daughter and school but she did a great job in doing so. Add in trying to have a relationship too, and you just felt so proud of her for everything she has accomplished in her life. It must be so hard to be a single mother, but she was brilliant. She had help off her parents and her friends so it wasn’t like she was alone in raising Karrie.

Bethany really showed us (Who have no children) just how it is like to deal with a two year old. The tantrums, the tiredness, the not knowing what is wrong with your child. It really puts into perspective just how hard it is for single mothers/fathers bringing up their child(ren) alone. I applaud every single parent out there.

There is a point near the end where i was so proud of Sam. For doing what she thought was right for her and Karrie and for Judd too. She was so courageous in what she did despite the hurt it caused her but what she did was the right thing to do no matter what either of them wanted to do.

Judd was pretty much amazing too. Not your typical baseball player, he has long hair, tattoos and a motorbike yet baseball is something that he cherishes and its important to him. You see him go from a bit of a player to falling in love and being responsible. One night he spots Sam in the local bar with him friend James (a girl) and he knows there is something about her. But she rejects him. The second time is much more nicer and that’s when he wants something more with her. Something that isn’t just a onetime thing. Despite not wanting a relationship – the same as Sam, they pretty much fall into one. As someone who doesn’t read a lot of insta-love stories, I just couldn’t really get my head around the fact that neither of them wanted a relationship yet it ended that way pretty damn fast, but who am I to say what is right or wrong?

He is a sweetheart when introduced to Karrie and you can instantly see how much she will and is becoming a big thing in his life. He treats her with respect and plays with her and you just fall in love with him that little bit more over the fact that although its not his kid, he treats her like his.

Although I didn’t understand why he went from not wanting a relationship to wanting one, I could see him transform throughout the book, as I’ve already mentioned. He turns into someone who is extraordinary. Who is always there for Sam and Karrie and always will be. It was actually really nice to see.

There is a twist in the book that I actually didn’t even guess and I suppose you might not either. But I was so proud of the way Sam and Judd handled it. Albeit they were both angry, they spoke about it, and dismissed this person right away for the way they acted. It was very brave of Judd to do that.

Molly and James – both Sam’s friends were such great characters. They were funny, gave great advice to Sam and Judd (James did) and were there for the two of them, especially little Karrie who was a doll. It’s great when you have friends who will support you and be there for you when things get tough, especially when you have a kid to look after too.

Although I did give this book 3 stars, it is a cute love story. A love story about finding someone who won’t disregard you because you have a kid, who will change because they have found that one they want to spend their life with and the one who will treat someone else’s kid as their own.

Judd and Sam and Karrie are such a cute family that it’s hard to not love the three of them.

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Follow the tour here
http://wp.me/p20ttU-1Na

Family, Music, Terri Anne Browning

The Rocker That Needs Me (#3) – Terri-Anne Browning

Posted on July 14, 2013July 13, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

The Demon…

I’ve been fighting my own demons for most of my life. The alcohol seems to numb the pain, but it never makes the nightmares go away. All I want in life is a little peace. When I met my angel it felt like I found it, but there is so much standing between us. Why does she have to be so young…?

The Demon’s Angel…

Meeting Drake was the best thing to ever happen to me. I found my friend, my soul mate. But he lets my age stand between us. There is something that haunts him, and I selfishly want to be the one that helps him conquer his ghosts. If he would just let me in, let me closer, I think I could help him…

4.5 / 5 stars

My review of The Rocker That Holds Me HERE
My review of The Rocker That Savors Me HERE

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My Review

Since I had found the first book in The Rocker series by Terri Anne Browning, you could say I have fallen in love. In love with her and with the band. Since The Rocker That Holds Me, I have become obsessed with the stories. Of wanting to know the past of each character, to wanting ALL the books out now so I can gobble up each of the guys and the girls and watch their happy endings after all the shit they have been through.

If you have read my review of book two – The Rocker That Savors Me, you will see that I have such a massive soft spot for Drake. Okay, not a soft spot, I am basically in love with this guy. There is just something about him that drew me in. His dark past, his vulnerability, and the fact I want to mollycoddle him and be the one to help him through his past, through his drinking and just be the one for him. I know, I know, hes fictional, but I don’t care. In my head, he can be as real as I want him to be! Hahah.

You could say that my excitement for this book is an understatement. I was PISSING myself over getting my hands on this book so when Terri-Anne emailed me about an ARC, well who the hell was I to pass up reading The Rocker That Needs Me and my book boyfriend? OF COURSE I wanted an arc. I needed to learn all about Drake and his past and his relationship with Lana.

Myself and Holly (@Hollyshotreads) are completely besotted by this series and by Drake that we waited until each other had finished our respected books and read it together. We have been sooo anxious for the past few weeks and were completely excited to finally read Drake’s story. The texts she was sending me were making me chuckle!!

My darling Drake. My darling, darling drake. His prologue killed me. It killed me. And I cried. Yes, I cried at the start of this book. I knew it was going to be a bumpy and emotional ride, I knew it would be a hard and long journey and I knew we would find out about his awful past and the reason why he drink excessively until he blacks out. I was hoping that this wasn’t going to be his past, but I just cried so much when it turned out just what his past was.

It was heartbreaking and it really made you understand part of the reason he drank. I completely understood though, it just broke my heart that he needed the alcohol to numb him, to make the pain and the past go away. To stop him feeling guilty too.

But then he spots his angel when moving Layla and her sisters back to their guest house. But his angel is 17 years old and hes 31. He feels like hes found his soul mate but shes too young. He wants to stay away but he can’t. It’s like he needs Lana to breathe. To fill his life with some kind of hope, hope that he can get over his demons in time and hope that he can turn his life around and stop the drinking once and for all.

You really do see Drake change over the course of the book. Because of the dual POV, we got inside Drake’s head, which I absolutely loved. You got to see his fears, his insecurities, how he thought of himself and his band brothers and Emmie, and especially how he thought of Lana – his angel.

Of course there are parts where you just want to smack Drake but I loved how he needed and wanted to get help. Help for his drinking and for his past, no matter how hard it was for him to dredge it all back up. I felt like a proud momma for Drake sorting his shit out. He did it for Lana, for Shane, for himself.

Drake really does come a long way. He is a strong character, despite the addiction to alcohol. He is vulnerable too and completely besotted with Lana, which I found so heart clenchingly adorable. You could really see the fear of losing her when something big happens, and that is what kicks him ass into gear to try and win her back, to be a better man for her. He never wants to be without her, ever.

Angel, or Lana, as her real name goes is so mature and grown up for her 17 years. So doesn’t get involved in petty situations in school, she works hard, and focuses on her future and getting through school. She and Drake instantly click. Despite the age gap, there is something there between them that although they try to ignore, it’s blatantly there. They spend all their time together and it’s obvious that feelings are changing between them both for each other even though they are petrified and would rather hide them.

I loved the fear Drake had in losing her (which you will read in The Rocker That Savors Me). It was pure and you see just how much he and Lana balance each other out. But when one situation changes everything, Lana needs to do what is best for her. She is such a strong, caring girl and you really do feel for her. She loves Drake so much, but this something, she just needs to get away. To try and forget what happened. To focus on herself now even though she cares so much for Drake, it’s down to him to make the change.

Being miles away from Drake, I think it made Lana grow up and grow into herself. She just needed that time away to be herself – to focus on school but also focus on what she wants. I was so proud of her for standing up for herself, for not taking crap off Emmie, whom, despite my love for her, seemed to have some sort of vendetta against her. (I’m hoping this works itself out) but as I’ve said, Lana is amazing, shes brilliant and she didn’t deserve the hate towards her because it wasn’t her fault at all. (You’ll see what I mean). But I am glad she got her happy ending and both her and Drake, well I love them together and I’m glad they got over the issues standing in the way.

Drake does get his happily ever after. My heart was clenching in sweetness and an overpowering feeling to cwtched the shit out of him and Lana. My darling Drake finally got there in the end. Got to a point in his life where he was completely and utterly happy, in love so deeply with the one girl who stole his heart from the first sight. His journey wasn’t an easy one in any means. Lots of hurdles and bumps along the way, but they made him stronger. He broke his own barrier down, he stopped drinking, he put his guilt behind him, knowing and learning it wasn’t his fault and he got the girl who he knew he wanted to change for and be a better man for. You really cannot get any better than Drake. No way.

If you have yet to read about my book boyfriends in The Rocker series by the fabulous Terri Anne, then you are completely missing out. Seriously, you are because from the first book I knew this would become a favourite series of mine and it has. You have a band of ‘brothers’ all who have different secrets from their childhood and have grown up together and they have Emmie, the glue to their family. The girl who they all protected when they were younger and still are in a way. You watch the separate band members find their own way in life now; finding the one girl they want to spend their life with, and watching them grow.

The Rocker series isn’t one I’ve read before. The Rocker aren’t party animals, they aren’t the drink and drugs types. They are tame and it’s now time for them all to find the love of their life.

So join me in loving this series so hard and find new book boyfriends in each one of them.

Author Interviews, L.M Augustine, Promotional Events, YA

AUTHOR INTERVIEW with L.M Augustine (+GIVEAWAY)

Posted on July 9, 2013July 9, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

So L.M Augustine week kicks off with an interview from the awesome guy himself!

Kicking off the week, we’ll get to know L.M and Click To Subscribe before we do anything else hey 😉

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Synopsis

1,135,789. That’s how many subscribers sixteen-year-old West Ryder has on his web vlog series. But he only has eyes for one of them.

As one of the internet’s most prestigious video bloggers, West talks about high school relationships under the name “Sam Green.” As far as he knows, no one from school, not even his best friend, Cat, has seen his videos. But the highlight of the whole thing is Harper Knight, who comments every day at exactly 2:02 in the afternoon. He doesn’t know anything about her aside from the occasional deep philosophical messaging on why pizza tastes so delicious, but as stupid as it sounds, he might be falling for her. So when they finally agree to meet in real life, West’s hope for romance seems more and more in reach. But that all changes as soon as he arrives at their meeting spot and sees Cat walking toward him, wearing the same “I ❤ Sam Green” T-shirt Harper promised she’d have on.

To his alarm, West realizes he is falling in love with the best friend who has always been a sister to him

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L.M’s interview

1. What was the first book you can remember reading?

This definitely isn’t the first book I ever read, but I remember reading Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke pretty young when it first came out.

2. How did you come up with the idea of Click to Subscribe?

Click was inspired after I watched one of John Green’s vlogs where he mentioned that two of his fans met online and hit it off so much that they were organizing a real life meetup. At the time, I thought that was so interesting. I mean, falling in love through social media? I didn’t even realize that happened.

Over time, the idea started to develop, and I kept thinking how plausible that could be. I wondered what those two people would have to be like to fall in love over the internet, wondered what happened to them and how all of it came to be. I’m not sure how the rest came about, but the next thing I knew it was midnight and I was scribbling away the first chapter of what would eventually become Click To Subscribe.

3. How long did it take you to write the book?

Only a month, actually. The book really flowed out of me.

4. The banter between Cat and West is amazing. How did you come up with it?

I really have no idea. Cat and West took over my brain from the start. It was more like they were actually speaking, rather than me “coming up with dialogue,” as weird as it sounds. Their characters just meshed so well that they did the rest of the work! I only sat back and watched. 🙂

5. Cat and West loveeee ice cream. Did you have a massive tub next to you when you were writing?

I didn’t! But that would’ve been a brilliant idea… because it’s for, um, research. Yeah. Research. (How did I not think of it at the time?!)

6. And what is your favourite flavour?

Black raspberry chip. I know, I know, I’m weird.

7. West used his videoing as a way to keep his mother in his life, as she was the only one who knew about it. Why did he not want to tell Cat about it? Was it just because it wanted it to be his and his mother’s thing?

I think for West, he just wanted his own thing. I mean, he has always has Cat and he has always loved her in a friend kind of way, but with his mom, he needed something that was just for the two of them–and that was vlogging. He liked having this own part of his life that he could escape to whenever he wanted, because real life kind of sucks sometimes. I don’t think he shared because he liked having his own thing with his mom, and he didn’t want anyone, best friend or not, intruding on that space.

8. Cat was an amazing character, never giving up on her feelings for West and trying to make him see what was in front of him. What made you write Cat this way? Most YA girls aren’t so strong and confident as she was with her feelings and telling West.

Honestly, I wrote her strong because I was tired of the weak YA heroine trope. Anyone who reads the book can see that Cat is the stronger character–she knows what she wants while West is so conflicted–and I think that’s more realistic. Females are just as often strong characters in real life as males, and plus, it only felt right for Cat and West’s relationship that Cat is the strong one. West is dealing with his mom’s death and she is his support system through and through.

9. Your next book is called Two Roads and is N.A. How big a jump was it from YA to NA, if there was any jump?

For me, the issue wasn’t so much a jump between genres as it is a jump between characters. NA and YA are much different and I definitely had to change some of my storytelling and book themes for NA, but that part wasn’t very difficult for me. The part that gave me trouble is distinguishing Logan and Cali from Cat and West. They’re very different couples with very different problems, and I sometimes found myself turning Logan and Cali’s banter into something Cat and West would say, which I couldn’t have. Separating them on a relationship level was the definite challenge.

10. Have you thought about who would play Cat and West if it was made into a movie?

I have, actually! I picture West as a young Austin Butler and Cat as Ariana Grande. Ariana’s red hair is EXACTLY like Cat’s, with the red velvet color and all.

This is how L.M sees West: (Austin Butler)

And this is how he sees Cat: (Ariana Grande)

11. And lastly, is there a deep dark secret you would like to tell me? 😉

*leans in* *whispers* My deep dark secret, the fate of the world as we know it, is actually– *connection gets cut and secret forever lost*

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About L.M Augustine

L.M. Augustine is a YA romance author who is obsessed with writing about dorky teenagers, love, and happy endings. He currently lives in New England, where he spends far too much time reading books and screaming at his computer, and he believes that the solution to the world’s problems can be found in chocolate cake. Click To Subscribe is his first novel, but it won’t be his last.

Find L.M. on:

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Email: authoraugustine@gmail.com

Links to buy Click To Subscribe (Which ya’ll should!)

Amazon

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

(And all other Amazon stores)

B&N

Kobo

iBooks
Smashwords

GIVEAWAAAAAAAAAAAY

And now for your chance to win TWO Ecopies of Click To Subscribe. It’s open internationally, so good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday: Just Human – Kerry Heavens

Posted on July 3, 2013July 2, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. It’s a weekly event that allows all us book bloggers and lovers to talk about what upcoming book we’re most looking forward to reading.

Sooooo, I’m not really waiting on Just Human…well I am because I will buy it, but I have already read it 😀
I wanted to feature Kerry, as I have featured all my other close author friends and now her cover has been revealed, its timeeeee to add Kerry to my WOW 🙂

Synopsis

Meet Liv and Danny…

Twelve years on, they have made a good job of pretending, they may have almost forgotten. But when they get in touch via Facebook, it seems that it is all still there. They quickly find that they are intensely compatible in ways they hadn’t even begun to explore before they were forced apart.

Can they put aside their fears and give it a go? Or will deep rooted doubts and insecurities tear them apart?

Release Date : July 22nd 2013

Erotica, Tessa Bailey

Officer Off Limits – Tessa Bailey

Posted on June 23, 2013June 22, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

His need to possess her is non-negotiable.

Story Brooks’ fiancé just called off their wedding two weeks before the happy day. As if that isn’t bad enough, her semi-estranged father, an infamous NYPD hostage negotiator, has suffered a heart attack. Not wanting to examine her lack of emotion over the broken engagement, she hops on a plane to reconnect with her father before it’s too late.

Playboy hostage negotiator Daniel Chase has never, not once, been refused by a woman, so when a debate over hospital snack foods with a delectable kindergarten teacher ends in flat-out rejection, he makes it his mission to seduce her. His only obstacle? She’s the daughter of his mentor who implicitly forbade Daniel from pursuing her.

Despite her father’s warnings and Daniel’s troubled past, Daniel and Story can’t resist their intense attraction to one another. But when the reason for her fiancé’s abrupt wedding cancellation comes to light, can Story and Daniel’s already forbidden relationship survive?

5 / 5 stars

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My Review

Since reading Protecting What’s His, I have been grabbing my sides (and clenching my legs ;)) to read the next two books from Tessa Bailey. I couldn’t resist anymore and I couldn’t stop thinking about them so Officer Off Limits was the next book I literally devoured.

As I mentioned in my review for Protecting what’s His, I couldn’t put it down. Ms. Bailey engrosses you within the story, rooting for both hero and heroine, making you fall in love with them and mentally telling them what to do, as well as picturing yourself having sex with the hero….yes, we all do it, don’t be shy now.

I read the majority of books on the bus and trains to and from work, so I have so many different facial expresses but when sex scenes appear, they get me highly strung…seriously people, don’t read sexy books in public places, you will want to jump the next boy/girl who sits beside you. Don’t worry that didn’t happen but the book will be on your mind all day until you can get your hands back on your kindle to finish it. THAT is the type of book I love, the one where the story plays all day in your mind and you just need to know the ending. It surely didn’t take me long to read 😉

After her fiancé called off their wedding just weeks before the big day and her dad, whom she hasn’t seen in years decidedly has a heart-attack, Story Brooks decides to visit her dad in New York while examining why she isn’t broken up about her engagement.

While she’s there, she meets her father’s partner, Daniel Chase. Playboy Daniel was recruited by Story’s dad when he was younger and her dad has been his mentor throughout the years. Never thinking himself good enough for love, he jumps from bed to bed never staying long enough for anything serious, until he spots Story. Her blasé attitude only makes him want her even more but when he finds out she’s his mentors daughter, he’s forbidden from pursuing her.

But the chemistry between Daniel and Story is just too strong and despite the warning, they cant stay away from each other. Story learns about Daniels troubled past and helps him learn to love, whereas Story wants a rebound yet does she really? When everyone finds out the real reason for the cancellation of the wedding, can Story and Daniel’s relationship survive?

I’m going to start with Daniel. HAHA but of course, who wouldn’t. You all know me by now, such a book boyfriend whore so I HAVE to start with the guys first 😉 But yes, DANIEL CHASE! I pretty much love him (as I do with other BBF I’ve written about). He is primal and possessive and raw but he doesn’t think highly of himself. He doesn’t think hes worthy of love because of his past and being thrown around the system and that one event that changed him and shaped him into what is now his career. Because of this self-doubt, he whores himself around because he thinks hes not worthy of being loved, or even loving. Oh baby, you are sorely mistaken about that.

He is great at his job, been with plenty of women so he pretty much knows the way around a woman’s body but when he spots Story, hes taken aback. She is something different altogether and it’s a damn shame she is off limits, but does that stop him? Fuck no. He wants her, want to get to know her and he knows there is something between them, something more than a quick fuck. He’s hooked from the get go and now it’s time to prove that this is more than a rebound, that it’s something real.

I loved Story. She is a kindergarten teacher and when her fiancé breaks off their engagement she just has this blasé attitude towards it. Like she didn’t give a shit that they were no more, she just ordered cake and champagne to go. THAT made me laugh so much. She’s strong willed and feisty and spunky and she can give amazing banter back but shes caring and sweet and wants to see the best in people. I suppose that is from being a teacher. You can see that she does take after her dad though; you will see why when you read it.

Tessa surely makes her heroines strong and feisty and I love her for it! Her characters aren’t pathetic, they have pasts but they power through them, coming out in love and happy in the end. They can give as good as the hero’s can and can make their own decisions upon what he right and wrong. You watch Story and Daniel fall in love over the few weeks they spend together, and you can see that they really do deserve one another. This was no rebound, this was their forever.

I’ve mentioned this in Protecting What’s His review but TESSA, where the hell do you have the ideas for these sex scenes? Jesus woman, you are killing me every single time. I need a Daniel to recreate them. Tessa has me squirming and I need to jump someone. The sex is just raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw and throw me against a wall and take me sex and the things that man can do in 60 seconds? WAAAH I want. The sexual chemistry and all the sex really intensified their connection and brought out another side to Story, which I loved as it brought her sexy shell out.

You totally wouldn’t mind Daniel in your bed; seriously, you will be fanning yourself and this one scene? Oh Oh Ohhhhhhhhh yes please. 😉

Tessa Bailey has really done it again. She brings feisty, caring heroines, possessive and dirty mouthed alpha males, humour, sarcasm, hot sex scenes and a great plot within this book which I can tell you is hard to not read once you’ve read one book by her.

If this review doesn’t get your butt over to Amazon and pressing the 1-click button, I’ll leave you with these two quotes…..

“Do you feel that gorgeous? I keep my cock hot and hard for you. Only you. Any time you want it, you just crawl right onto my lap and take what you need.”

And

“Fuck yeah. Bite me gorgeous. Mark up my whole body. I want everyone to know who I belong to. Who I get hard for. Just you, Story. Just you.”

*dies*

Book Tours

BOOK TOUR: Rock With Me (#4) – Kristen Proby

Posted on May 9, 2013May 8, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

So its The Book Lovers stop on the Rock With Me book tour and I will be giving you all a review and an author interview.

Holy hell, you need to download the book now. It’s smoking hot and I hope my review will persuade you to give Rock With Me a go. You’ll want to be licking Leo’s stars 😉

Synopsis

Front Man Leo Nash from the world-famous rock band, Nash, is the last person on earth Samantha Williams would trust. She’s already learned about loving a celebrity the hard way and isn’t signing up for another lesson.

Every time Sam gives Leo attitude, he wants to knock that chip off her fragile little shoulder. What the hell did he ever do to her, anyway? He’s not used to women treating him like he’s poisonous, and he isn’t about to let her run away every time he gets close. He’s had enough of people running away to last him a lifetime…when this one runs, he gives chase. But, catching Sam isn’t as hard as he thought.

The sexual attraction between them is so thick, Sam can practically hold it in her hand. There’s no way she can deny herself the promise of pleasure being with Leo would provide.

But, pleasure always comes with pain and when secrets are revealed and trust is challenged, who will run and who will chase?

4 / 5 Stars

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My review

“I’m going to make love you you until you’re shaking and don’t remember who you are.”

Okay, so I have to be honest here, Rock With Me is the first book I’ve ever read of Kristen Proby. I didn’t actually know it was part of a series when I signed up even though I have the first three books on my kindle; I just haven’t gotten around to reading them yet.

In my opinion, you don’t particularly need to read the first three, but it could help you when the couples are showcased in the book. It took me a while to kind of know who they were and who they were related to, but after that, there are bits of their past conjured in so you know a feel about each person mentioned. I will go back and read the first three books though, just so I properly know the back stories of each character.

Other than that, when I worked out who was who, I was less confused and more focused on Leo Nahs (Meg’s brother) and Samantha Williams’ (Luke’s sister) relationship as it is their book!

For a first reading of Kristen Proby, I was hooked. Flicking through page by page, engrossed with the story of Sam and Leo, of following their story, their journey, knowing about them and their life. Everything about them both was awesome and uh, I just want to lick Leo’s stars please!! It was sexy, it was filled with laughter and tears, it was family and friend orientated but most of all, it showed us that when you find that love, there is nothing that will break it. I adored Rock With Me! And Leo…oh can I have him please? *sigh*

Leo and Sam don’t get off to the best of starts. Sam is attracted to Leo but she acts like a bitch to him because he’s her best friend’s brother and she doesn’t date famous people. It didn’t end well the last time she did, so she stays away from him. But consequences force them together such as family events and a flat tire and from then they become friends, going running every morning then breakfast.

Leo is on a break from touring and Sam has lost her job so to keep her mind off searching for a job, running is their thing for a while at least. They get to know one another more and the attraction between them is sizzling. Sam wants Leo to kiss her again, Leo wants to but he doesn’t know how to do relationships but he sees something in Sam that is different from any other girl. But then you have Sam who doesn’t do relationships either, just fuck buddies. Leo wants in and wants her but it scares Sam half to death. Will she let him?

Of course she does but Sam and Leo are both stubborn asses and it takes a while to let one another in but when they do, they start falling hard for one another. Sam is an independent woman. She doesn’t like people helping her out, preferring to do it herself but Leo wants to help her. He wants to protect her and love her, and he tries to do that without scaring her off. He tries to break in slowly, letting her know he is not going anywhere.

When Sam’s secret comes out, she gets completely pissed at Leo and as a result they both end up saying hurtful things to one another. But Leo isn’t finished with Sam, he’s not letting her go and proves to her just how much she means to him.

Okay, so because I hadn’t met Sam before this book (I’ve read some reviews and she was a bitch in one of the books?) I can’t comment on that and of course, this review is about Sam and Leo now, so it will be about how I met them in THIS book, as it should be.

Sam is a feisty one. She has trust issue due to a past relationship and because of people using her to get to her brother – whom is famous. Because of this, she doesn’t have many friends and prefers to have a fuck buddy than be in a relationship. She’s lonely, she’s stubborn but she is loyal and protective towards to her family, which in turn lost her her job. She hasn’t told them yet though, wanting to keep it a secret and job hunt by herself.

She doesn’t want their charity and doesn’t like relying on them. She feels inadequate to her family as they are all famous and she feels she hasn’t done anything special in her life. But they don’t see her like that at all. She doesn’t see how much she is loved by them all and how much she means to them.

She truly is a kind and good person. She just has insecurities which make her sarcastic and bitchy at times but other than that, Sam is a great character to read and you really do watch her barriers fall down and watch her fall in love. Being in love is an awesome look on her.

Growing up in foster care, it was a tough time for Leo. It’s also made him have turst issues due to the things that happened in his childhood. And this is where he found Meg and protected her with his life. Besides Meg and his band, he has no other family. Leo has made a name for himself as a famous rockstar for the band Nash and has come a long way since his childhood. He has tattoos, piercings and seems like he has a tough exterior but deep down it’s all a front, especially where Sam is concerned.

Leo has never been in a relationship. He used to fuck groupies, but never kiss them or give oral sex. He felt that was too personal, but with Sam he does just this. He truly adores Sam, there is something different about her and Leo likes it. He likes this feeling he gets when he is with Sam. He likes having someone to call his and they have so much fun together, ripping into one another, teasing one another. It was great to see them both let someone in and learn to trust again.

He is just as stubborn as Sam but he knows and tries to break down this barrier and get to her open up to him. He’s falling in love with her and wants to know every single thing about her. He’s never done this relationship thing before but he sure as hell wants it if it means he gets Sam.

Can I have Leo please? Please?

So uhm, I need to mention ALL the sex scenes. Fuck me sideways. Kristen Proby sure knows how to write some freaking steamy stuff. I was fanning myself every time Sam and Leo had sex. Jesus Christ seriously. Leo sure knows the way around a woman’s body and Sam is working it for us girls! Lick those stars girl!! I know all of us envy you and want to be you. Finger licking good. And it’s not just the sexual chemistry, that made them so great together. Their swooning romance and heart-felt moments between the two that grows with both of them. It grows into love, an overpowering love that neither of them thought possible, but together, it is perfect for them.

I loved reading Sam and Leo’s story. Watching their journey together and alone. Rock With Me really is a book you all should get your hands on (And you should buy the other three in the series too). I am going to read the first three books then come back to Rock With Me. I should be more than acknowledged with everyone then, instead of meeting them for the first time in Rock With Me. But never mind, you get over the confusion and just focus on Sam and Leo 😉

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AUTHOR QUESTIONS

1. I know you probably get asked this question a lot, but what made you start writing? Did you always want to be a writer?
I’ve written since I was a little girl. One of my earliest memories is making my mom sit at the table with me with a pen and paper, asking her how to spell the words so I could write my story down.

2. How did you come up with the ‘With Me in Seattle’ books?
Wow, this is a popular question during this tour. LOL It all started with CAWM. I hadn’t planned on writing a series at all, but then I met the Montgomery family, and it was a no-brainer that all the siblings needed their own books.

3. How do you come with the plot of your books? Do the storylines just come to you?
I spend quite a bit of time brainstorming with a critique partner. Most of my best ideas come to me in the shower, of all places. I need to keep a notebook in there. LOL

4. How do you pick the names of your characters? And do you spend time thinking of the ‘right’ names for your characters?
They just come to me as I’m writing. There isn’t a magical formula or any real research that goes into them.

5. Out of all the characters, if you could pick one guy and girl, who are your favourites? Or instead, which couple did you enjoy writing the most so far?
My favourite couple is always the one I’m currently working on because I’m right in the middle of their love story.

6. You still have 3 more books left to write, out of these three, which one are you most excited for us fans to read?
Honestly, I’m excited about all of them for very different reasons. There are some surprises coming up that will throw everyone off.

7. For people who have yet to read the series, would you recommend them to begin with book 1, Come Away with Me, or can your books be read as a standalone, despite the returning characters involved in each book?
I do recommend starting at the beginning so you can follow the characters through out the series.

8. Your books involve some pretty hot sex scenes, do you get hot under the collar when you write them?
LOL Sometimes, sure. My characters are passionate, and their love scenes reflect that. Plus, the guys say such amazing things during sex! Swoon!

9. Do you have any more projects in the work after you have finished this series?
I have another project that I’m just now starting. I can’t really say too much about it yet.

10. Have you thought about who you would like to play each character if your books were made into movies?
That’s such a wild fantasy, and there are so many characters. I do have favourites.

11. And lastly, is there a deep, dark secret that you would like to share with the rest of us 😉
If I shared them, they wouldn’t be secrets, now would they? 😉

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If you want to follow the tour, here are a list of the blogs participating:-

May 1^st

Natasha is a Book Junkie
Once Upon A Twilight

May 2^nd

RELEASE DAY LAUNCH
I Read Indie
Read This Hear That

May 3^rd

Lori’s Book Blog
Tyhada Reads

May 4^th

Sinfully Sexy Books
I Love Lady Porn

May 5^th

Mostly YA Book Obsessed
#BookNerd

May 6^th

Whirlwind Books
The Soul Sisters

May 7^th

My Secret Romance
Loverly’s Book Blog

May 8^th

Romantic Book Affairs
The Readiacs

May 9^th

SM&I Book Club
The Book Lovers

May 10^th

Hesperia Loves Books
Dear, Restless Reader

May 11^th

Shh Mom’s Reading
Romance Addict

May 12^th

The Book Avenue
The Autumn Review

May 13^th

I Love Indie Books
Vilma’s Book Blog

May 14^th

Book Bitches Blog
The Bookish Babe

Family, New Adult, Romance, Samantha Young

ARC: Down London Road (#2) – Samantha Young

Posted on May 5, 2013May 5, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Johanna Walker is used to taking charge. But she’s about to meet someone who will make her lose control….

It has always been up to Johanna to care for her family, particularly her younger brother, Cole. With an absent father and a useless mother, she’s been making decisions based on what’s best for Cole for as long as she can remember. She even determines what men to date by how much they can provide for her brother and her, not on whatever sparks may—or may not—fly.

But with Cameron MacCabe, the attraction is undeniable. The sexy new bartender at work gives her butterflies every time she looks at him. And for once, Jo is tempted to put her needs first. Cam is just as obsessed with getting to know Jo, but her walls are too solid to let him get close enough to even try.

Then Cam moves into the flat below Jo’s, and their blistering connection becomes impossible to ignore. Especially since Cam is determined to uncover all of Jo’s secrets even if it means taking apart her defenses piece by piece.

My review of On Dublin Street can be found HERE

My review of Until Fountain Bridge can be found HERE

5 / 5 Stars

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My Review

I was so privileged to have receive a copy of Down London Road and I literally cannot wait for all of you to get your hands on this when it is out… I NEED someone to talk to about it and no one can yet 😦 BOO! I guess I’ll just have to wait for you all to read it and fall in love with Cam and rekindle your love for Braden…because you sure as hell will, for both of these!

We all fell in love with Samantha Young during On Dublin Street and now you will fall even more in love with her. Down London Road had me hooked. I took the book everywhere with me and read it when I could. I even did the whole clichéd ‘sit in starbucks with a hot chocolate reading a book whilst it rained outside’. My first proper cliché! Samantha definitely knows how to keep you captivated, if it’s not with the sexual chemistry, it’s the dialogue to the journey each character takes to the drama in the book. You can mark my words at times I had to walk away from the book to take a breather as I couldn’t handle the things that were happening.

So when Down London Road comes out, can someone read it ASAP so we can talk about it please? It’s already killing me to keep everything locked up inside when I just want to scream that I loved this book so much.

Anyway enough of my fangirling for Samantha Young and Down London Road, here’s what you are waiting for…the review!

Johanna Walker has always been there for her family, or more importantly, her little brother Cole. Her father is absent and her mother is literally useless, so it’s up to Johanna to provide for Cole and make decisions on what is best for both of them. Dating men who have money and being the ‘best’ girlfriend is what is important. Knowing that they can provide for both her and Cole, regardless of if there are any sparks.

But enter Cameron MacCabe. The attraction between them is sizzling, but they get off to a rocky start. Although they don’t see eye to eye, Jo can’t help but eye him up every opportunity at work and for once, she is tempted to put her needs first. But can she give in?

When he moves into the flat below, it’s then that he learns about Jo’s home life and there that they become friends who have this amazing connection that Jo tries to ignore. Cam is obsessed with wanting to know her and be with her but he knows she had her walls built too damn high. Yet Cam is determined to break down and smash every brick to make her see that letting someone in and being loved isn’t the end of the world.

Before reading Down London Road, I had this preconception of Johanna, from On Dublin Street where all she did was use guys for their money. Ohh how wrong was I? Okay, so she picks guys who have money, but each to their own, shes doing it so she and her brother have a future, so they can be cared and provided for. Everything she does, she does it with the mindset of making sure her brother has everything she never when she was younger.

That is how she is with Malcolm now. She cares for him, he has money but she’s not in love with him. One night at an Art Gallery showing for Malcolm’s ex-girlfriend is where she links eyes (and souls) with a gorgeous, tattooed guy across the room. The attraction is immediate but before long, she finds out he is going out with Malcolm’s ex.

From the get-go, Cam is horrible to Jo, judging her before he knows her. Jo is used to this and so she doesn’t bother correcting him, letting him think what he wants. If he wants to think shes this false bimbo gold digger, shell let him, because there’s no way she is telling him about her mother and Cole. She knows the truth and that’s that. Although Cam was a little bastard, she still helps him out with getting a job at Club 39.

But Johanna is conflicted. She has this instant attraction to Cam the first time she meets him, but he’s judged her already, making her out to be something shes not, but then even through the attraction she thinks he’s an absolute dickhead the way he talks to her.

Jo had been told all her life she will never amount to anything. She’s a high school dropout who had worked hard to keep her family afloat and housed with food on the table. No thanks to her mother. She will do whatever it takes to make sure her brother Cole is safe and secure, that he never goes without. She is one protective sister and will beat anyone who hurts him. Despite not thinking she is good enough, being told that enough times in her life, which is one reason she goes for men who are wealthy, so she and Cole will be cared for.

She tore at my heart at her low opinion of herself, because truly, everything she was doing was all for Cole and his future and making sure he was happy, even with the situation of their mother. She doesn’t want anyone to know about her home life, embarrassed over what is really going on under the roof of London Road. No boyfriends have ever been inside, let alone met Cole or her mother and she prefers it that way.

As much as I felt so sorry for Jo, she was a strong character, standing up for herself, protecting her and Cole and working hard to provide. But she had a vulnerable side, she didn’t like opening herself up to other people, she didn’t accept their help and she was a stubborn soul. But despite all of this, she really goes on a journey, into accepting herself and letting her walls slowly crumble around her, for the better good of herself. It was a long journey, but no less important as it grafted her into the person we fall in love with along the way to the very end.

Although Cam starts out as an asshole to Jo, he does redeem himself and truth be told, I forgave him for the way he acted as he does tell Jo why. He’s not Jo’s usual type but their attraction to one another is on another scale. Although he was a douchebag, the more he finds out about Jo and the more he understands her and learns about her family situation, the more he admires her strength for what she is doing and falls in love with her.

He is the sweetest, kindest guy and completely embraces Jo and her brother Cole into his life, hell he’s more than happy to. He knows how stubborn Jo is, so peeling away her insecurities and wall piece by piece, it was so nice to see Cam wanting to help Jo out, loving her and protecting her. Have I mentioned how much I love him and how much reading about him and Jo and of course, his relationship with her brother Cole…uh it literally melted my heart.

It was plain and simple to see how much these two were attracted to one another and it was lovely to see them fall in love along the way. The sex, well, it was steaming and there was one sex scene where I wanted to be Jo so badly!! I’m going to put this on my list for when I get a boyfriend so we can go and do it haha. I’m not going to say what or where it was, but it definitely was fun and sexy to read about!

There was a point in the book where my heart couldn’t handle it…I had to put the book down and walk away. Okay two points. One was a soppy part, which I loved and another, I just couldn’t take it because I had a feeling something was going to happen and I really didn’t want it to.

The epilogue, oh god, it had me crying and squealing like the emotional wreck I am when I read books that really capture me. I wrote on Twitter when reading Down London Road that I get emotionally involved when reading books, and that is exactly what I was when I was reading this. So much so, I was feeling every emotion Jo was, from her insecurities to her love for her friends and family to her questioning over a certain thing that happens – I literally was feeling her emotions and feeling panicky over the next few pages – even when I hadn’t even come to them yet because I was this wreck. Books that evoke that reaction, to me, are the greatest kind around. But got to be said, you will cry your eyes out whilst giggling when you read the end, because it is THE best way to end the book and the best way to end the story of Cam and Jo.

Joss and Braden are still the people and couple we all adore! They are waaay more cuter in Down London Road. The things Joss came out with had me in stitches, the way she handles Braden, the both of them together and the way they are fiercely protective are what made me love them even more. They were always there for Jo and Cole. Although they aren’t in it a lot, it was great to see them involved in the important parts that occur.

You really do see all the characters come together for one another and they are really are a family. They help one another out, they bicker, they throw comments to each other but they really do protect and love one another to pieces, as you will see when things happen throughout the book. Everyone is fiercely protective and it made my heart clench at them all. After everything that Jo has had to go through on her own, to know she had so many people to fall back on when things get tough, it really did bring a tear to my eye and a smile to my face.

I know this review is realllllly long and trust me, there is a whole lot more I could write about and gush about Cam and Braden but I have forced myself to stop otherwise I would be writing an essay and you really don’t want that. I will leave you on the fact I totally absorbed this book. It made me happy, giddy, frustrated, cry but most of all, end on such a high. So when it’s out, can someone PLEASE read it asap so I can talk about it with you! I will repay you in pictures of hot, semi-naked males in return!

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