Blog Tour: Something Real by Lexi Ryan

Reckless & Real #2

Adult Contemporary
Release: March 3, 2015

After everything blew up on Christmas, Liz walked away from me, and I let her. She said she needed space and a chance to pursue her dreams. But we both knew she was running from the mess she made. Now the political campaign she used as an excuse to leave is bringing us back together and I’m proving to her what she really needs—not just the hot nights, greedy hands, and undeniable physical chemistry. What she really needs is something real. What she really needs…is me.

4 Star Review by Jen Skewes

Something Real is the conclusion to Sam and Liz’s story. And after the cliffhanger we were let with in Something Reckless I was very curious as to what would happen next.   Could Sam and Liz move past it all and find happiness?  I could not wait to see how this story played out.

Sam and Liz have known each other since they were kids.  Liz being best friends with Sam’s sister.  She always had a crush on Sam and as she got older Sam started noticing her as well.  But it wasn’t until they were all grown up and at their best friends' wedding that they decided to actually take their friendship one step further.  They spent one night of "sex only" together and agreed that’s all it was.  But as the years went on they faced some struggles but eventually found their way back to each other.  Until it all came crashing down again and leaving us with the mother of all cliffhangers and wondering what happens next?

It’s been 5 months since the bomb was dropped at Christmas dinner.  Sam loves Liz and wants to be with her but he can’t move on from what happened. He doesn’t know how.  He knows she is not all to blame for what happened but he needs to get past it.  His life without her has been filled with work, sleep, alcohol and misery.  And just when things seemed like they couldn’t get any worse his past comes back to bite him in the ass, big time.  His past can ruin the people around him and he makes a deal hoping that it will all work out.  But making this deal could cost him the only woman that he has ever loved.  It can hurt Liz more than she is already hurting.  But Sam needs to decide what to do next and how to make this all work?  The question is will Sam and Liz be able to make it through all of the obstacles that they face, the lies, the secrets and the betrayals?  You will just have to read to find out.

When I read Something Real I honestly did not connect with Sam and Liz and felt their relationship was more of a sexual nature than one filled with emotion.  I wasn’t sure how I felt about either one of them.  But in this installment Liz grew on me and to be honest I felt so bad for her.  I don’t think she deserved the treatment that she received and I think she deserved so much more.  In the end I really liked Liz and felt for her.  I felt her pain and her hurt and wanted so much more for her. 

Sam on the other hand I was not a big fan of.  Maybe it is because I had expected or hoped that the storyline took a different direction than it did, which I will not get into due to spoilers.  But for me personally I didn’t find any redeeming qualities in Sam.  I wanted so bad for him to get a backbone and fight.  But I felt the reasons for his decisions were for everyone other than the one person who they should have been for and I just didn't agree with them.    And I want to be honest in saying I just didn’t care for him at all.  Which also saddens me.  I am a huge Lexi Ryan fan and have read and loved every one of her books.  I have fallen in love with every swoon worthy hero that she has created. And I know I am completely in the minority here when I say this but Sam just didn’t do it for me. 

Aside from that I really enjoyed this book.  As always Ms. Ryan’s writing is fantastic and she manages to keep you glued to your e-reader, trying to  read as fast as you can to see what happens next.  There were moments when I did get those knots in my stomach.  I wasn’t sure who I could trust and who was being real.   There were twists and turns in the end that I wasn’t expecting.  And in the end I actually had some respect for Sam’s dad.  Hard to believe I know but he was really the only one who made any sense.  I was still left with some questions that I felt I still needed answers to and the ending felt a little rushed,  but overall I really enjoyed this series.  I will read anything that Lexi Ryan writes.  I am really looking forward to Nix and Max’s story.  And I want to know if there is any single girl left in New Hope for George.  Because I really liked him and the role that he played in this book.  Cannot wait for more!!

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Lexi Ryan’s novels have been described as intense, emotional, and wickedly sexy. A former college professor, she now writes full-time from her home in Indiana, where she lives with her husband, two children, and a neurotic dog. Find her on Facebook or Twitter to chat about books, TV, and her children’s latest antics.

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