Blog Tour and Giveaway: On the Rocks: Sawyer Bennett
On the Rocks
The Last Call Series, #1
Sawyer Bennett
He left to travel the world for fame and glory, but only after spurning Gabby Ward and crushing her young heart. Now Hunter Markham has come back home to the sand and salty breeze of the North Carolina Outer Banks so he can open up Last Call, a beach bar nestled among the dunes of the Atlantic.
Gabby Ward is not happy that Hunter has returned. Bitter over his rebuff years before, she’s content to stay far away from him and his dangerously charming ways.
Gabby’s well-schemed plans to ignore Hunter go up in flames when he presents an offer to her that she simply can’t refuse, throwing them together in a common quest to each reach their goals. Working together day in and day out proves to be problematic for Gabby, who soon realizes that the feelings she had for him are still very much alive. Hunter struggles to reach through to Gabby’s cold heart, all while starting a new career away from his life as a top ranked, professional surfer.
What starts out as a mutual business arrangement soon turns into a passion that neither of them can continue to deny.
Hard choices lay ahead for both of them when Hunter is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to return to the pro surfing tour.
Choices that could destroy what they have built or take them further than they ever had dared to hope.
This is an all new series by Sawyer Bennett and it totally sucked me in!
Gabby and her friend Casey grew up together in a small community in North Carolina. Gabby had a crush on Casey's older brother Hunter for years. When she was eighteen, they shared a kiss. She did not get quite the reaction she hoped for and turned her feelings of love to hate for the next five years.
I realize in one startling moment of clarity that I am the world's biggest idiot, and Hunter Markam is the world's biggest asshole.
He went on to become a pro surfer. She went to college but ended up back home running her Dad's construction business. And then they find themselves back living in their community when he also returns home. She really needs him for a job opportunity so has no choice but to be in his presence again .
Their interactions are snarky, heated, and full of sexual tension. They had me laughing one minute and fanning myself the next. Gabby has put up huge walls and tries everything to keep Hunter out. She has no interest in getting hurt again. But Hunter is finally ready to admit that he made mistakes. And he is not backing down.
Hunter is an amazing book boyfriend and totally swoon worthy. He is a sexy, charming, delicious pro surfer who has come home and has opened up a bar. He is a bit cocky and bossy, but also funny, sarcastic and irresistible. He is trying to build his business, readjust to life at home, and help his brother Brody. He was not expecting a distraction like Gabby.
He is dangerous, and I am like an adrenaline junkie.
Gabby is a hard worker and is doing her best to make her way in a man's world. She is sassy, smart, and still a bit insecure. She could be prickly and confrontational but it was a defense mechanism. She has been broken by Hunter in the past and is terrified of getting hurt again. She has a back bone and is not afraid to stand up for herself. And despite her tough veneer, she is a caring and devoted person.
"You two remind me of two kids who like each other but don't understand it. So rather than confronting it, you pick at each other, letting your confused emotions come out as anger and stupid words...You're running around with your tongue hanging out, panting after her, and she's got her heart tied up. It's the classic difference between men and women."
Their chemistry is too combustible to deny and Hunter is not going to stop pushing Gabby for more. It is a swirling mix of anger, lust, confusion. and unresolved feelings. They go back and forth. They are pulled together then push away. But Hunter is pretty demanding when he puts him mind to something. And he is going to just keep knocking her resistance down. There are complications, fears, insecurities and uncertainty of the future. It is difficult trying to figure out what they are, what they want to be, and what each of their future holds. They share a set of friends and family that could all be affected by their choices. I really loved this couple together and was rooting for them the whole time. I am a sucker for a couple with a basis in friendship who gets a second chance at something more.
"I figured out that you and I...that we're going to happen no matter what."
This is told in both Gabby and Hunter's points of views giving us insight into their wants, needs, and utter confusion. Sometimes their communication was a bit off and there were times of self denial. It was funny, sweet, romantic, steamy, and moving. Sawyer Bennett's writing style is so engaging. Her characters are realistic, have flaws, and make mistakes. Her plot lines have interesting back stories. She builds these communities and families with strong connections and support. Each character comes alive and adds to the depth of the story. There is enough drama to make it interesting, but not enough that it frustrated me completely. The characters make mistakes and definitely have issues, but they are also mature and aware of how their actions affect others and many times have the other's best interest at heart. Even though it was not an intense, dark, emotionally powerful read, it was just so fun, sexy, romantic, and addicting that I think it deserves 5 stars. I was totally invested in these characters and the outcome, and loved every page of it.
There is a whole new cast of unique and interesting characters including his twin brother, Brody who has an intriguing story and seems to have some serious underlying issues. My heart just broke for him. Hunter also has a police man friend Wyatt and surfing mentor John. And for the girls there is Gabby's best friend and the twins' little sister Casey, their friend Alyssa, and Gabby's room mate Savannah. I am already looking forward to future installments in this series. I cannot wait for Brody's story Make It A Double. We got a little taste of their confrontational interactions in this one and it is going to be very interesting!
Thanks to Sawyer Bennett for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Hunter has spent the last 10 years on the professional surfing circuit, but left surfing to come home to support his brother’s return home. Buying and fixing up a bar seemed like a good way to help his brother and keep busy. Knowing he is facing a meeting with Gabby, he starts to wonder why they continue to bicker and fight 5 years after he messed up by shooting Gabby down.
Even when Gabby and Hunter were at odds with one another, the attraction between them is obvious. Even Brody, who wasn’t around for much of that time, can see that they are masking their feelings with harsh words. Once they both start to let go of the anger, look out. And when an opportunity comes up that would put distance between the two of them, each thinks of only the other in their decision making process. Of course, that brings it’s own set of problems.
On the Rocks kept me so involved in the story, from start to finish, that I didn’t even stop to mark favorite passages or jot down any kind of notes. I was completely engrossed. Sawyer Bennett has once again created a cast of characters that draw you into their lives. I loved watching Gabby and Hunter sort through their relationship issues, and I love the feeling I have at the end of this book. And I can’t wait to read the next one too.
Thanks to Sawyer Bennett for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.
All items are international.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
(1) $50.00 Amazon Gift Card
(1) Off Series Boxed Set (Off Sides, Off Limits, Off The Record,
Off Course, Off Chance)
(3) Signed books by Sawyer Bennett (winner's choice of any
book in print)
(1) Epic Love Boxed Set – releasing 3/10/14 with
following novels:
-Off Chance by USA Today Bestselling
Author Sawyer Bennett
-Trophy Husband by NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely
-Trophy Husband by NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely
-Finding the Right
Girl by NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Violet Duke
-Indulgent Pleasures by USA Today Bestselling Author Karen Erickson
-Keeping You by iBooks and International Bestselling Author Jessie Evans
-With Every Heartbeat by USA Today Bestselling Author Melody Grace
-Unravel Me by NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Kendall Ryan
-Text Appeal by NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Lexi Ryan
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