A sexy New Adult Contemporary Romance novel that will let you see Lauren Blakely’s writing as you have never seen it before.
Lauren Blakely
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Expected: November 21, 2013
A new adult story of Love. Sex. Addiction. Manipulation. Blackmail. And Power...
This is the story of Harley and Trey, who are two lost people trying to move on from their troubled pasts, trying to recover from their addictions, and ended up finding kindred spirits in each other. They came together one night. It was unexpected, but significant. They both have their family dynamics issues and past demons that have shaped their lives and continue to haunt them. They are not proud of their pasts and are finding that recovery can only be taken one day at a time. They have wants and needs that they cannot act on. They are plagued by fears, insecurities, and shame. And no matter how hard they try to put the past behind them, it seems to continue to be part of their present.
It's hard to stay away from the fix. Because the fix feels good. The fix takes away the pain. the fix mends the hole in the heart.
This is love. It's not a game. It's not a razor's edge. It's not a transaction. The poets are right. The dreamers are right. The lovers are right. This isn't nothing. This is everything.
Some say love can be an addiction. Others say it’s the thing that makes life worth living.
Let me tell you everything I know about love…
Love isn’t patient, love isn’t kind. Love is a game, a chase. A thrill. Love is wild and war-like, and every man and woman must fight for themselves.
At least that’s how it was for me.
A high-priced virgin call girl by the time I started college, I was addicted to love and to sex.
Even though I’ve never had either.
I controlled love, played it, and held the world in the palm of my hands.
Then I fell down from those highs, and I’m being blackmailed for all my mistakes, forced to keep secrets from everyone, except the only guy I don’t regret.
Trey.
****
With all the other women, I knew what they were. They were temporary.
They were pills, they were bottles, they took away all the pain, and numbed the awful memories that wore away at my ragged, wasted heart.
Until I met Harley.
She’s the only girl I ever missed when she walked away. But now she’s back in my life, every day, and there are no guarantees for us, especially since I don’t know how to tell her my secrets. What happened to my family. All I know is she’s the closest I’ve ever come to something real, and I want to feel every second of it.
The Thrill of It Pinterest Board
One meaningful night.
Two seemingly opposite people who are more alike than they realized.
This is the story of Harley and Trey, who are two lost people trying to move on from their troubled pasts, trying to recover from their addictions, and ended up finding kindred spirits in each other. They came together one night. It was unexpected, but significant. They both have their family dynamics issues and past demons that have shaped their lives and continue to haunt them. They are not proud of their pasts and are finding that recovery can only be taken one day at a time. They have wants and needs that they cannot act on. They are plagued by fears, insecurities, and shame. And no matter how hard they try to put the past behind them, it seems to continue to be part of their present.
The past can chase you if you let it. You can spend your life trying to outrun it or you can stop running, turn around and look it in the face.
We get both Harley and Trey's points of view. We see into their thought processes, innermost fears and desires. They were both really trying hard to make better choices and be supportive of each other during their transition and recovery. I could feel their pain, longing, connection and need. It was not just physical but also emotional. They had a deep bond that continued to develop and evolve despite the issues bearing down on them. She could open up to Trey and show him the real Harley...the one who she hid from almost everyone else in her life. And he could be honest with her...except for one topic that he struggled so hard with.
Their previous lives and coping strategies gave them a rush, a thrill, and a high. It was hard to live without it. They had to find new ways to engage in life and cope. Their pain, secrets, and circumstances are gradually revealed throughout the book in various ways. And the build up off their secrets and past was in intriguing part of the story, so I will not go into detail on their history and problems.
It's hard to stay away from the fix. Because the fix feels good. The fix takes away the pain. the fix mends the hole in the heart.
Together they are both compatible and complicated. It's push and pull, fight and flight, and disappointment and relief. Their relationship is deep and meaningful, and almost as addictive as the lure of their past. But it was also challenging and riddled with issues. This is a story about two people facing their past, coming to terms with their present, and trying to move on to a brighter future. It shows how significant relationships can both hurt and heal.
"All I hope is that you can someday know that love doesn't have to be a brutal, bitter, power game. Love can be the ugly beautiful."
This was edgier and darker than the typical Lauren Blakely humorous romance read. It was a powerful, emotional, and intriguing story of damaged people trying to change their lives. It was not an easy process and they both walked a fine line between moving on and getting sucked back into old habits. They had trust issues, made mistakes, and had set backs.. They fought themselves, their feelings, and each other at times. But their connection was intense and became so important that they did not want to ruin it. I was frustrated, annoyed, and disappointed at some of their choices. But also proud of them and rooting for them with others. It was a difficult uphill battle for these two as they fought to break free of the chains of their past and avoid the inevitable pitfalls.
Trey and Harley were damaged, multifaceted characters that did not always make good choices, but they were still likable. My heart broke for them at times and I was invested in their recovery. The side characters of Cam, her mother, and her room mate Kristen were well developed with interesting back stories and complicated lives. I also liked his friend Jordan and how he fit in with them. There were a few people who were good antagonists that made me angry. And some that had their bad moments and I wanted to hate them, but at the same time had characteristics that made it difficult to completely dislike them. Cam was a perfect example: I kept thinking he should be the bad guy, but he had good qualities, could be sweet, and had his own set off issues. There were a couple of fun cross overs. We got to spend time with a character related to one of the male leads in another of Lauren's books. I also enjoyed references to other characters from that book, and even a shout out to a band from a Sawyer Bennett's Off Course.
This book was definitely unique and interesting. The issues that these characters had were not typical and have not been overdone in the NA genre. It draws you in and slowly gives you the finer details of their past lives and keeps you completely intrigued and engaged. It had me immersed in their pain, shame, and darkness. It dug deep into the psyche and emotions of these complex, broken characters. It made me hope for their recovery and rejoice in the small steps toward progress. It was truly "ugly beautiful" and inspiring.
Although these two people did grow and change significantly both personally and together, their story is not quite over yet. And I am looking forward to more with this couple and their friends in Every Second With You.
Although these two people did grow and change significantly both personally and together, their story is not quite over yet. And I am looking forward to more with this couple and their friends in Every Second With You.
Thanks to Lauren Blakely for providing me with an arc copy in exchange for an honest review. I was also a beta reader for this book. Quotes are based on arc copy and subject to change in final draft.
Check out our blog tour post tomorrow for Rachel's review!
Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her novels include Caught Up In Us, Pretending He's Mine, Playing With Her Heart, Trophy Husband, and Far Too Tempting. On November 21, she'll release the edgy new adult novel THE THRILL OF IT. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney.
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