Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Blog Tour Review, Alternate POV scene and Giveaway: Lovely by Beth Michele


Synopsis

A moment can change everything…

Ashton Taylor. Six foot one, Dark hair, chiseled jaw, riveting hazel eyes, and a body cut in all the right places. He’s a natural. Things just come easy to him. He’s used to getting everything he wants, excelling at everything he does. The grades, the recognition, the beautiful women.

His path was set. A girl, a full scholarship to UC San Diego, and a bright future. To others, his life seemed perfect. But, things are never what they seem, and life, well, at any moment, something or someone can come along and turn it upside down.

That something…the death of his father.

That someone… Cara Hayward. The girl with the hypnotic eyes, melodic voice, enchanting smile, and lips sent straight from heaven.

The girl who doesn’t want to be seen.

So what happens when a guy who everything comes easy to, meets a girl who doesn’t come easy?

Can he crawl through all the broken glass to find her? Will the girl he discovers deep down be able to see past his perfect exterior?

Together, do they have the power to heal one another? Or, could the very thing that brings them together, be the one thing that tears them apart?


4 star review by Lisa Kane

Ash Taylor attracts girls with little or no effort. He is well aware that his looks and body are the bait and he has no problem reeling in his prey. He loves sex and he loves it often. He may never give his heart but he doesn’t mind sharing his body. He’s even been known to keep one or two girls past a single night. His flavor of the month at the moment is Shelby, she may not be the smartest cookie, but she is certainly one of the most conniving.

He’s the oldest child and the man of the house. His mom is busy working and raising his sister Delilah and his brother Colt. Both his brother and sister go to the same college he does. Ash’s dad died a few years back from a brain tumor and his death devastated Ash. He had won a baseball scholarship, which he gave up to stay and school and go to a local college. He broke up with his girlfriend of two years and made it his ambition to sleep his way through the student body (pun intended). He just stopped feeling altogether.

They can’t read the empty smile that tugs at the corners of my lips. The smile there’s nothing behind…nothing but longing and a burning loneliness crackling so deep that sometimes I forget it’s there. 

Cara works in the college library’s front desk. Head down, oversized glasses on her face helping to hide her eyes, this is her M. O.-try and stay under the radar. When Ash spots her for the first time-he is drawn to the chocolate eyes she does her best to hide.

“Don’t ever look down. Someone so beautiful should always be looking up.”

He tries all his bag of tricks to get her to notice him, but she just won’t perform as expected. That probably added to the attraction. Ash finds himself spending more and more time at the library, trying to break the ice with Cara.

“There’s something about that girl…and those eyes. I can’t get her out of my head.”

When Cara slowly, and I do mean slowly, lets him in she still has her guard up. These two hide their pain like layers of an onion. Cara’s history is heart breaking and she hides her secrets well. Once shared, they can’t be locked away again. Can she trust Ash with the ugly truth of her past? Can he let himself feel again –risking his heart that shattered when he lost his father, the rock in his life?

Once Ash finds himself in love this once self- centered jerk becomes swoon worthy material:

“Do you feel like meeting under our tree today after classes? I was thinking to myself this morning that it’s been a while since my beautiful girl read me poetry.”

See what I mean?

“From the moment my eyes settled on yours that first day, the decision was made for me. Don’t you see, Cara? I choose you.”

Ash’s family has endured so much but it seems it will be tested once more as life throws the ultimate curve ball this time. Ash finds he needs Cara more now than ever. But what happens when Cara’s faith in Ash is shaken to its core? Once trust is gone how can you get it back?

I really enjoyed this book. I love a book told in the guy’s POV. The strong secondary characters; Jason, Ash’s best friend and his sister love interest, his brother Colt and his sister Delilah and even his mom, who sees things that Ash tries to hide. Epilogues are the dessert for my book meals, I love them. This one was particularly bittersweet. I had to read it twice because I felt a little sucker punched and thought I’d read it wrong. Cara and Ash are two halves to their wholes and this is a wonderful read. 


Bonus scene

Ash's POV

I’ve seen Cara bare before, but yet I still have to pinch myself. She is every fantasy I’ve

ever had come true. The sheer thought of her makes my dick spring to life. Hell, she makes me

spring to life. She is fucking beautiful. My eyes slide down her body, a vision of silk and black

lace. My cock hardens, my breaths come heavy and fast, and the only thought that consumes me

is sitting between her luscious thighs…all night long. My whole body prickles with anticipation

as I edge closer to her. I don’t even have to touch her to know how wet she is, the scent of her

sex fills the air around us.

I drag my fingers through her curls, grazing the flesh at the back of her neck, causing her

skin to shimmer with goosebumps and a tiny moan to escape her perfect lips. “Baby, I’ve never

wanted anyone as much as I want you in this moment,” I say hoarsely, my breath hovering just

above her ear, “and you know what else?” I whisper, pressing my lips to her neck.

“What?” She lets out a jagged whimper as my tongue grazes the shell of her ear, her lips

parting, her breath a whisper of desire.

“I love when you make those sexy sounds. It really turns me on.”

She lets her head fall back and I nip down her collarbone. “You know what I like?” she

murmurs, her warm breath skimming my jaw.

“What baby?”

“When you talk dirty to me.”

Her words and her breathy voice cause my cock to strain against my jeans. Slowly,

I reach around and unhook the clasp of her bra, her tight nipples rubbing against my chest,

begging to be set free.

“Like when I tell you how hard my cock is for you right now, and that I want to bury

myself between your thighs all night long.”

“Hmmm….” A low hum leaves her throat as her bra falls to the floor, and I can’t resist

her any longer. My lips land on hers in a crushing kiss, our tongues devouring one another,

spirals of pleasure shooting through my body until I finally back away. Her cheeks are flushed

pink, her nipples are hard, and she’s covered only by her black lace panties. I need to have her

now.

“Slide your panties down, baby,” I say roughly, as I tug my jeans and boxers down as

quickly as I can manage.

‘Your wish is my command,” she purrs, licking her lips, her voice laden with want.

She knows what she’s doing to me and as her gaze drops to my erection, she can see what

she’s doing to me, too.

I stalk towards her, taking her by surprise. “Wrap your legs around me, beauty.”

She doesn’t hesitate and the moment her warmth meets my cock, her wetness soaking

the tip, I’ve lost all sensibility. I back her up against her bedroom door, whispering, “after we

first met, I fantasized about fucking you up against a wall…having your smooth, creamy legs

wrapped around me.”

“Oh God, Ash...,” she pants, grinding against my cock.

I push inside of her slowly and tease her until she’s frantic with desire, moaning louder

and louder, her fingernails digging into the muscles of my chest.

I rest my palm against her cheek, feeling her feathery breath hitting my lips. “But I don’t

want to fuck you anymore. I don’t think about fucking when I think of you, Cara. I think about

loving you…only loving.”

“But I want you to fuck me,” she says with a strained whimper, her breaths coming faster

now.

“Jesus, Cara…are you trying to kill me?” I groan, my voice husky, before entering her

with one, long thrust. Grabbing her ass, I hold her still, my heart racing with pure ecstasy. “I

just want to sit inside of you forever like this, baby. Your love cocoons me, you know that?”

“Ash,” she breathes out, and we start moving together in perfect harmony, because it’s

like music when we’re together. And we’ll play on…

Forever.


About the Author

I am a wife, a mom, an author, and a lover of all things chocolate, well, anything sweet really. While stuffing chocolate in my face, I enjoy reading young adult and new adult novels furiously, and spending time with my husband and two adorable children who keep me on my peppermint pink painted toes. Those same children who inspire me to tell silly stories that cause hysterical giggles to tumble from their bellies.

I love to laugh and love to have a good cry, especially after reading a novel that stretches my soul, one that makes me feel, and lingers in the corner of my heart.

I’m a hopeless romantic and a happily ever after fanatic, and I love to write about LOVE.

I began writing when I was in middle school, penning anything from short stories, to poetry, and then later moved on to write children’s books. I have now endeavored into New Adult and Contemporary

Romance novels and am loving every minute of it. My first novel, Love Love, was released in May, 2013.

Connect with the Author

Facebook | GoodReads | Amazon | Twitter 


Buy Links

Amazon | Barnes and Noble


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