RELEASE DAY LAUNCH!! This Love (University of Branton #1) by Nazarea Andrews

This Love (University of Branton #1)

 by Nazarea Andrews

Published: June 25th 2013

by A&A Literary

Genre: NA, Contemporary, Romance

Summary:

She wants a summer job and a ride to a wedding.

He wants an assistant and a distraction from the mess his life had become.

They didn’t know they needed each other.

Avery Emili needs two grand. Two grand and a plane ticket–her sister is counting on her to get to Jamaica for her wedding. But the semester is over, and tutoring college freshman and high school students has dried up until the fall.

Atticus Grimes needs help–the messy split with his wife left the twenty-eight year old professor scrambling to keep things together as the semester winds down. Now he’s got a research grant he has to actually do research for and all he wants to do is drown himself in a tall bottle of bourbon.

When Avery sees his ad for an assistant, all she’s thinking is a summer job. But as they spend time together, in the office and out, both of them begin to realize something is there. Something that can’t happen–he’s a professor and she’s a student. And both of them have histories, pasts that won’t let go. Can two broken people pulled apart by expectations find a way to be whole?

Excerpt:

No one calls me. Nik used to, but her calls ended months ago. My sister emails me; the only time my phone rings is when Dane is checking on me. But he's here, so what the hell? 

My phone rings again, a different number.

I answer it. "Who is this?"

"I'm calling about the job you listed on Craigslist."

The girl's voice is like warm scotch, sliding around me with just the hint of a bite, and even in the midst of my hangover, I can't help the surge of interest. Then her words make it through the Jaeger induced fog and I groan.

"I'm going to kill Dane." I mutter.

"Excuse me?" She sounds startled and a little amused, and I flush.

"Look, sweetheart, my roommate is being a dick. I'm sorry."

"You don't need a research assistant? Because I'm actually really good at this and I have better qualifications than most people."

Her voice. God, it's too early—that has to be part of the reason I'm getting aroused just listening to her talk. "What kind of qualifications?"

"I'm a double major—history, with a specialty in ancient civilizations, and secondary education. I planned on spending the summer researching graduate schools."

"You should stick with that," I advise.

"Can't. And I don't really want to spend the summer waiting tables—although I will."

There's something about her voice that makes me think she's telling the truth. And it tells me something about her: she's serious. There's a work ethic I don't often see in undergraduates, and it makes me pause.

"I'm sorry," she says, sounding frazzled—I can hear a male voice in the background—and music and laughter. "You said it's not really a position. I'll let you go. Get back to your morning."

"Wait," I say, startling both of us into silence. What the hell am I doing? "How about you meet me, and we'll talk. It can't hurt, right?"

She hesitates, and then, "Look, I'm not trying to do a job that doesn't exist. I appreciate it, though."

"Coffee. Please. Just to talk about it."

"Ok," she says, reluctance clear in her tone. "Hill of Beans at five?"

I nod. "I'll see you then."

We hang up, and I stare at my phone. What the hell am I doing?

My Review: 

Title/Series: This Love | University of Branton #1
Author: Nazarea Andrews
Publisher: A&A Literary
Published: June 25th 2013
Format: eBook | Pages: 344
Genre: NA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Blog tour in exchange for an honest review
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!!!

I received a copy of this book from Kelly over at InkSlingerPR in exchange for an honest review for a this release day book launch event. I am very excited to take part because I fell in love with this book and it's characters and I'm happy to be able to help share this book with you all! After reading the blurb, This Love sort of called out to me and begged me to read it. I am both extremely happy I did and a bit bummed. I'm Happy because this book just completely rocked me. From the first chapter right up to the very last it did me in. So why am I bummed? It's simple, I am so not ready to move on. I just want to keep it all with me let it float around and stay absorbed in it. Sigh. I want more!

There's nothing I love more than an amazing story of forbidden love. The whole teacher student relationship being very taboo and a bit thrilling. In this case we have a young, fresh out of grad school college professor and a college senior. Atticus is quite noticeably a mess when we first meet him. His life has literally fallen apart and he's not quite ready to pick up the pieces and would rather drink himself numb than proactively get his crap together. Avery on the other hand, though things are messed up in her life too it's not quite as fresh, yet she still has trust issues and can't seem to let it go to the point that it affects her emotionally.

These two are so freaking adorable in the beginning, after he's hired her (which was a pretty funny event in itself). There's definitely an instant attraction though because they can't do anything about it due to his job and her position both as a student and his employee instead they try to fight it. The subtle and not so subtle flirtations that happen are so fun to read especially when she's helping him find an apartment. Holy crap. I could read that scene again, and again, and again... Atticus is very... alpha and sexual and sensual. Any time things heat up between these two it's just so emotionally raw and intense. The steaminess level is through the roof and it doesn't disappoint, it just keeps getting better and better. Though the whole book did that not just the naughty parts. ;)

He doesn't so much kiss me as consume me, like I'm essential to his survival.

There was only one tiny thing that annoyed me, but lets face it, you can find these in pretty much every really good NA out there. I hate to put it this way because it makes me feel sort of "mean girl" but, that sort of slutty best friend. You know, the ones who think the answer to anything is to find a hot guy and jump into bed with him and get over it? I hate to use the word slutty, but Avery had one and she was the type who would attempt to push the idea on Avery and I wanted to choke her!

"I can't," I say. "I love you, Avery."

She inhales sharply, a little noise that carries a world of hurt. "Love wasn't part of the deal, Atticus."

It was a pretty emotional road to love with these two. At times I wondered if Avery would ever come around. I was completely wrapped up in this book, 100% emotionally invested. I devoured it in less than a day. It was my first book by Nazarea Andrews and it definitely won't be the last. It's a quick and delicious read and I can't recommend it enough! Thank you so much Kelly for letting me be part of this tour!

Author Bio:

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.

 

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