Blog Tour and Giveaway: Everything I've Never Had: Lynetta Halat

by Reviews by Tammy and Kim - Thursday, September 12, 2013

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Celeste Hebert appears to have it all, but there are many things she's never had, been forbidden from having.
One night. One song. One kiss. The perfect trifecta to unleash the floodgates of a forbidden attraction between the widow and her husband’s bad boy cousin, Adrian.

Celeste endeavors to rebury the feelings that surface after this one night since her powerful family despises him. Kindred spirits, best of friends they attempt to douse their attraction; however, Adrian always seems to know exactly how to push her buttons and may prove too much to resist.

Having defied his family by making his way on his own terms, Adrian struggles to regain their acceptance. When he meets his cousin’s wife and wants her for his own, he feels he’s finally lived down to the title—black sheep. But, when his cousin dies unexpectedly, Adrian fights his attraction and swears to honor them both by helping her raise her boys.

Finding himself enveloped in a cocoon of love and acceptance, Adrian knows it’s more than just physical attraction. However, unforeseen events threaten to destroy those he now holds dear and his newfound peace.

Will the ties that bind them be their undoing?

Excerpt #2

I consider exactly how truthful I should be with him. He was so truthful with me. I owe him that much, don't I? "Adrian, I don't need time apart. You're my friend and you're amazing with the boys. They love you. I would never deny them your presence. I just...I just need us to get back to normal as quickly as possible. I...I am attracted to you. I have been for a while. But that's all it is—a physical attraction." On these words, I see his eyes narrow ever so slightly. I turn my head quickly and vow, "I promise to control myself, though." I allow my eyes to find his again. "I don't want to lose you either."

He studies me for a minute. Just as I find myself about to squirm under his intense gaze, he releases me. "OK, Celeste, that settles that. Back to normal. We'll both behave. This physical thing between us will pass. No harm, no foul. Right?"

"Right," I say on a smile.

Standing up, he turns to go back to his mowing; but then he spins around and comes back to tower over me. My head flies up, my gaze searching. I open my mouth to ask him what's wrong, but he beats me once again.

"Celeste, just so you know," he says as he tilts my chin back further and runs his calloused fingertips up my cheek to tuck a strand of errant hair behind my ear. His hand curls itself along my jaw. "That kiss...that kiss was exceptional, and I'll never forget it. As I stand here and as long as I live, it was the best I've ever had, the best I could ever have."

Since my heart has lodged itself firmly in my throat, he's gone before I can speak or even form a coherent thought for that matter. Slowly, I shake my head at his retreating back. We'll never get back to normal if he keeps touching me and talking to me like that.

"That kiss...that kiss was exceptional, and I'll never forget it. As I stand her and as long as I live, it was the best I've ever had, the best I could ever have."

"Oh my...this is...everything. Everything I've never felt everything I've never tasted, everything I've never had."
One amazing kiss sets off a reaction that changes their lives. Celeste and Adrian have a simmering attraction between. But there are a few problems: he is much younger, her deceased husband's cousin, and the black sheep of their powerful family. This is not just typical family dynamics either. This family is serious business and very controlling.

There are multiple men circling around this widow: Adrian, her best friend and supporter the last few years since her husband's death. Her husband's, brother William who has a shared past with Celeste. And Bradford, a friend of Celeste's brother. Now I was Team Adrian. But Bradford, was quite swoony, romantic, and charismatic in his own right, and there were times he really swayed me.

The story line of this book was unique and different with the underlying "family" issues. The road to happiness for Celeste was not an easy one. There were many obstacles, challenges, heartbreaks, betrayals, secrets, and denial of feelings. And every time they seemed to find a little pocket of happiness, it seemed that something happened to change it all again. It was a roller coaster of emotional turmoil, drama, and pain. But in between there were times of true love, connection, sweetness, and passion. They were both conflicted during much of the story due to the issues that they had against them. And these problems were more deep seated than a typical romance story.

Adrian was sweet, supportive, protective, and a hot musician and Marine. I adored him. Even when he denied his feelings or pushed her away, you could tell he did not really want to and his feelings were there. And even when he made me mad, I knew he was just trying to do what he thought was best. And he was swoony and sexy and their chemistry was hot! I loved how he treated her boys. His acceptance and love for them touched my heart. And you could see how deeply he loved Celeste and wanted her to be happy.

"All I want to do is hold you and protect you and love you. Will you let me do that, not matter the consequences?"

Celeste was strong, caring, a good mom and she really deserved happiness. But life kept getting in the way. She had so many people telling her what to do and she was confused about how to make everything work out with so many factors against them. She endured a lot in her life and it seemed that complications just kept occurring to keep her off balance.

Together they had chemistry, rapport, and a deep connection. They struggled, they denied, they had issues, but it was obvious that they were meant to be together. When things were good between them, the were so loving, passionate, and supportive. And when it came down to the really tough times, you really see how tied together they were. There were secrets woven into the story that affected their whole relationship. And they have many things to overcome. And each time happiness was within their reach, an other obstacle would present itself.

"Being with you, Adrian. It's everything I've ever needed....I feel like you love me for me. Not for what I have to offer you or what you can acquire or who you can make happy by being with me. And the things you make me feel--I thought I'd never be free to feel, so I don't regret us. I'll never be sorry for loving you."

"I was never anyone else's to have. You own me, Celeste. Always have, always will."

This book was a full, rich story with many issues, twists, and emotions. The characters were likable(at least the ones you are supposed to like) but definitely had flaws and layers. I loved their friends Bonnie and Garner and their crazy pairing. I also liked her brother Louis. They provided extra support and humor. This story made me anxious, frustrated, sad, happy, swoony, and angry all at various times. It had romance, passion, humor, emotion, underlying mystery, and intrigue. It was well written and flowed smoothly. At times, I felt like it was moving a little slow or maybe I was just hoping to get past so many road blocks faster to more swoony parts. Some of the family ties were a bit confusing to me and I had to think a little hard about them to put them all together. The story was complicated, mysterious, sweet, and heart felt. I really liked Adrian and Celeste and her three precocious boys. And I was so glad to have an epilogue!

Thanks to Lynetta Halat for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lynetta Halat Facebook/Twitter/Goodreads
For as long as she can remember, Lynetta Halat has lived to read and has written countless stories and plays since she was a young girl. A teacher by day and an avid reader and closet writer by night, she has always dreamt of penning books that people could connect with and remember; and her first novel, Every Rose, was the perfect catalyst to launch her into the world of publishing. Her love of the English language prompted her to attain her master's degree in English from Old Dominion University in Virginia. A self-proclaimed "Coast Girl," she lives in Mississippi with her adorable husband, two amazing sons, and two loveable dogs. She is currently at work on her third book.