Author(s): A.L. Jackson, Molly McAdams, Tiffany King & Christina Lee
Publisher: NAL Trade
Expected Publication: November 4th 2014
Format: eARC | Pages: 397
Genre: NA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: InkSlinger PR
★★★★✩ (4.5/5) Stars!
Today’s premiere New Adult authors combine their talents to tell four original stories from inside one house.
When four girls decide to live off campus together as juniors at a college in Michigan, they expect it to be their best year yet. Little do they know, it’s a year that will change the rest of their lives.
BEHIND HER EYES by A.L. Jackson
Unable to live down her ex-boyfriend’s deception, Misha is determined to avoid betrayal. When, the new guy next door, Darryn starts to get under her skin, her defenses start to crumble. But trusting Darryn seems impossible, especially if he’s not sure he can trust himself.
SAVING ME by Molly McAdams
On the outside, Indy is always ready for a party—but inside she’s breaking. Kier makes a weekly routine of saving the girl next door from herself on Saturday nights… but when will she be ready to remember him on Sunday morning?
FOULING OUT by Tiffany King
Working at a sports bar, Courtney has become a pro at sidestepping propositions from arrogant jocks—which makes her a more elusive catch for campus basketball star Dalton than he expected. But when he falls for the saucy waitress, Dalton will have to rethink his game plan to prove he’s not the jerk Courtney expects.
BENEATH YOUR LAYERS by Christina Lee
In order to ace her fashion internship, Chloe must team up with local college dropout and set builder, Blake—much to her chagrin. But after some "hands-on" experience, Chloe will have to ask herself if Blake factors into her carefully laid plans…
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I received a copy of this book from InkSlinger PR, for a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review. In no way did this sway either my review or my rating!
Since this is an anthology from four separate authors I'll be posting a mini review for each story along with the individual rating I would have given it if it were it's own book. Above will be the average rating of the four added together. On with the reviews!
Behind
Her Eyes by A.L. Jackson ★★★
I was really back and forth over this first story. I never quite liked Misha's character. She came across very immature and too much high drama. She was the type of person that I normally try to avoid having around me or in my life. I understand that what she went through with her ex was awful, it really truly was. But every scene from Misha's POV mentioned Hunter, the ex, at least once or twice. It got old, her highly dramatic internal ramblings got old. So it was difficult to feel a connection to her except for maybe a slight twinge of something towards the end.
As for Darryn he started out awesome. He was confident and sort of intense but there didn't seem to be any inner jerk underneath. Then he went, in his own thoughts when it was in his POV even, kind of stalkerish. Dude, there is no "kind of" about it when you're trying to discretely follow the girl down the street and ducking into the shadows so you don't get caught when she looks behind her. Hate to break it to you...but that's stalking! So I started to lose that loving feeling.
Really the storyline was pretty good and sure there was that awkward stalker like thing going on for a bit of the middle of it there with Darryn, but underneath that brief moment of weirdness he really was a great guy and made up for the fact that I wasn't too fond of the woman he chose to love and protect, Misha.
About the author:
A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Come to Me Quietly, Come to Me Softly, Pulled, When We Collide, and If Forever Comes.
She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.
Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves.
To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe!
She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.
Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves.
To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe!
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Saving Me by Molly McAdams ★★★★★
It's funny because this story is the one I was least looking forward to. The last book by Molly McAdams I read, the only one so far actually, really screwed with my head. Understandably, I was nervous. Though surprisingly Saving Me is probably going to turn out to be the one I like the best. I wasn't so sure at first because Indy was just...well really there's no other way to put it but kind of a drunken slut? *Wince* Then along comes Kier and I absolutely freaking melted. As it says in the blurb every Saturday when she goes next door to their house parties, I can't give all the details about how freaking awesome he is, but he ends up taking care of her each night and yet the next day she doesn't have a clue everything he's done for her, that they've even talked, let alone the fact that she never even remembers his name.
They're both so messed up. Both with really sad pasts that's made them both react to life in different ways. Indy with self-destructive behavior; drinking to forget, sleeping around, basically going wild and others that soon get revealed. Yet it was Kier's past that really hit home. Didn't even see it coming. But for him it turned him into a quiet, fades into the background introvert. Very powerful story that was worth reading the entire book for. Sigh. I wish it wasn't such a short story I want more Kier so bad! Kier and his safe door.
Keep going to read an excerpt from this story!!
Keep going to read an excerpt from this story!!
About the author:
Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry four-legged daughters. When she's not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies and fried pickles, and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm ... or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren't really happening.
Come be my friend!
Come be my friend!
Fouling Out by Tiffany King ★★★★★
I freaking love Tiffany King's humor. I made a huge mistake reading her story at one in the morning because I ended up falling into multiple fits of laughter that would just burst out before I could remind myself of the time. Like at one point when Dalton was talking about the dog he had growing up versus the one he currently had saying that Riley, the current dog, was special and Courtney busts out with "Like runs-into-the-walls-and-tries-to-eat-his-own-tail special?" There were quite a few humorous moments like that.
I was worried though at the beginning because initially Dalton came off as a very conceited guy and it never felt cute in any way. It just made me want to smack him upside the head. I got over it quickly though because he just doesn't let you have it any other way. You can't help but love these characters. Something Tiffany King does extremely well, character creation. This was such a quick, sweet and fun story. Once again, one I wish were longer! I'd love more of these two.
About the author:
USA Today Bestselling author Tiffany King is a lifelong reading fanatic who is now living her dream as a writer, weaving Young Adult and New Adult romance tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iPhone and iPad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, zombies and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.
For information on any of Author Tiffany's titles, visit her blog at www.authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com
For information on any of Author Tiffany's titles, visit her blog at www.authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com
Email: authortiffany@yahoo.com
Beneath Your Layers by Christina Lee ★★★★
Didn't really get to see much of Chloe in the first three stories so she was still quite a mystery to me before I started this one. I really enjoyed Chole and Blake's story. It was a perfect mix of fun and lots of sexual tension. These two do not get along at the start of the book, all mostly from judgmental first impressions. Him seeing her as just this fashionista, stuck up princess and her seeing him as a dropout with zero ambition. When they're forced to work together on her final project for one of her classes Blake starts a game of truth or dare that becomes a running theme throughout the book. The sexual tension became so thick at times when they'd start playing and Blake would ask Chloe truth or dare inside I was screaming "Say dare! Dare! Dare! DARE!!"
The storyline was great, the characters were extremely likable, I would have loved to have an entire book of Chloe and Blake they were so sweet. Really enjoyed my first book by Christina Lee, even if it was only a short story. I'm looking forward to trying out something else from her in the future!
So we were given a file that had an excerpt to pick from, one from each one of the stories, and while I loved each and every one...Saving Me completely stole my heart.
About the author:
Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son--her two favorite guys.
She's addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. She believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.
Author of the Between Breaths series from Penguin. ALL OF YOU, BEFORE YOU BREAK and WHISPER TO ME available now, PROMISE ME THIS on October 7th, 2014.
Also Adult contemporary romance TWO OF HEARTS coming from Peguin/NAL on May 5th 2015.
She's addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. She believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.
Author of the Between Breaths series from Penguin. ALL OF YOU, BEFORE YOU BREAK and WHISPER TO ME available now, PROMISE ME THIS on October 7th, 2014.
Also Adult contemporary romance TWO OF HEARTS coming from Peguin/NAL on May 5th 2015.
So we were given a file that had an excerpt to pick from, one from each one of the stories, and while I loved each and every one...Saving Me completely stole my heart.
Excerpt:
Saving Me
by Molly McAdams
“I’m about to embarrass the hell out of myself, but I don’t care anymore. I feel like when I’m near you, I’m safe, and it makes no sense to me. It is the weirdest feeling to have with someone I only know three things about.”
My eyebrows rose at that and I turned to fully face her. “Three?”
“Yes. Three things. Your name is Kier, you’re extremely quiet, and you are the biggest puzzle I’ve ever tried to figure out.”
“I’m the puzzle?”
“Yes!” she said in exasperation.
That had to have been the most backward statement I’d ever heard. “And why am I a puzzle?”
“Because of what I just told you. I don’t know you, you don’t even talk to anyone, and I feel safe when you’re near me! Why is that? I feel like I’m going crazy because all I’ve been able to think about for these past two weeks is you, and how every time you open your mouth it’s like déjà vu, and I just—I don’t know what’s happening.” Her green eyes were massive and she looked like she was on the edge of losing her shit.
I took a few steps toward her and lowered my voice. “Calm down, Indy. You’re fine.”
“I just don’t understand,” she said loudly, the pitch of her voice rising. “Do you believe in past lives?” she asked suddenly.
I paused, a laugh slipping past my lips. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Past lives? Like that whole stupid YOLO saying is really just bullshit, because we’re about to get another shot down the road?”
I tried to contain my smile, but she was really fucking adorable when she was like this. “What does that have to do with what you’re freaking out over?”
“In stories with soul mates they find each other no matter what in every life. And it’s like they have a weird connection they can’t explain.”
I closed the distance between us and dropped my head so I was looking directly into her eyes. “Are you saying we’re soul mates?”
“No!” she said, horror lacing her voice, her cheeks filling with heat.
“I think you were,” I teased.
“I wasn’t, I was just saying that in stories . . . I don’t know what I’m saying, okay? But I don’t get what’s going on with us!”
“So now there’s an us?”
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “I need to stop talking.”
I laughed and took a step back. “I’m teasing you, Indy. And no, I don’t believe in past lives. I think we have this one, and that’s it.”
She sighed, and her body visibly relaxed. When she spoke again, she sounded exhausted—and in a way, defeated. “I don’t, either, but I can’t figure out how to explain this feeling like I know you.”
I ground my jaw for a few seconds as her green eyes held mine. “Because maybe you do know me. You’re just not ready to remember why.”
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