The Book Beehive: Book Review and Giveaway for Just Love by Prescott Lane

JUST LOVE
by PRESCOTT LANE

There’s two sides to every love story. The how you fell in love, and the how you fell apart.

This is ours.

The cardinal rule of friendship is you don’t mess with your friend’s sister.
That goes double when she’s his little sister.

It was just supposed to be fun.

She wasn’t supposed to end up being the love of my life.
And I definitely wasn’t supposed to break her heart.

Ainsley is a wedding dress designer. That should’ve been a warning that she’s a hopeless romantic. That should’ve clued me in that she believes love conquers all.

But there are some things that love can’t fix. I’m one of them.

She thinks love is the answer.

But love is the reason I let her go.

ADD TO GOODREADS

REVIEW: 4 STARS
"Everything I want, I crave, begins and ends with her."

FIRST AND FOREMOST: I don't feel like I can start this review without first mentioning this absolutely exquisite cover. This cover immediately caught my eye the very first time I saw it and it's what drew me to actually wanting to see what the book was about. So this time....I did judge a book by it's cover. And thank gosh I did. I definitely love this cover and enjoyed the book. And oh so fitting and original. Bravo, Miss Lane. Bravo.

This was my first book by Prescott Lane and I can easily add her to my rotating list of authors I'd love to read again. With the story being an emotionally heavy journey, the flow of her words carried me through - but the compassion held my hand as I waded through all the drama as it unfolded. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking intertwined with detail. Definitely not all flowers and roses, that's for sure. Her 'voice' was a much calmer voice than I anticipated and I appreciated that - very smooth and easy to read. There were some anecdotes, as well as some entertaining side thoughts, that may have added conversation points but not necessarily intrinsic to the overall story but it didn't feel noisy or too wordy. Very easy to read and I definitely look forward to more. This was a great introduction to her work and it's one that I can stand behind and readily recommend.

While this one was told in a back/forth time style - not my favorite, I honestly don't feel like it detracted from the storyline at all. In all actuality, I enjoyed this aspect of it quite a bit since I got to fall in love and learn, all in the span of a few hours while reading. While I know a few of my friends and a few other readers shy away from this style, I will say that it played a very important "discovery" role and was very necessary and quite ideal to the layout.

"But the best lies I tell - those I reserve for myself."

Rhett was the kind of man we have all run into in this book world. There wasn't anything different about him until we got deep down into his heart. He was all heart. All lovable and sigh-worthy, he definitely gave me a case of the 'heart eyes' a few times. I loved him so much. Ainsley was such a strong young lady that had a terrible hand dealt her, but a life full of love certainly followed. But not without its due drama. I will tell you, this journey was a rough one and it had my full attention from the first page until the last page. So many twists and turns that made my heart sink and soar within a matter of pages - but I was equally rewarded. I really, really enjoyed this one.

I felt a very wide range of emotions, mixed in between the actual story and the characters' actions, and as frustrating as some parts were - there was always a deeper meaning that I could look to and better understand. It was, quite frankly, eye opening and beautiful. I felt like this one was a good mix of heartbreaking yet heart....opening? It’s truly a look at what can break up a perfect relationship, but it also made me think more about the “what if” scenario. What would I do? How would I deal with his “actions”? One would think love was stronger than anything, but there’s always that scary off scenario. I think this was beautifully written. Giving a voice to the struggle and emotions that poured off the pages and into my heart, this twisted me up a few times. Prescott lane put me in “their” shoes. In their hurt. In their world of pain....and I'm thankful for that.

I like to find authors that can write a book that moves me. I like reading ones that tug at my heart. I love ones that are gritty and angsty and have me clawing at my stomach because I can't take the angst anymore. This one had 2 out of 3. While it wasn't angsty, it moved me and I honestly felt the pain and the agony these characters went through. I equally love that the agony was shared by FOUR characters (mainly) and the love story wasn't lost in it all.

You can argue selfishness or selflessness with this story, and neither side will be correct. The way things played out was nothing short of aggravatingly emotional and I really enjoyed it.

"Love is immeasurable. But when it's the right fit, you just know."
~BEE

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Excerpt

I knew the kind of guy Rhett was. I knew serious wasn’t his thing. I knew using the word love usually sent him running for the hills. I knew it, and I did it anyway.

But he wasn’t that guy with me. He and I were different. I know he loved me.

I’ve loved that man since I was fifteen years old. How could I not? Forget the abs, the tan skin, those pale, sexy blue eyes. Forget the fact that his voice sends shivers down my spine.

The first time we kissed, I felt my whole world shatter and fall into place at the same time.

I tried to pretend to be “that” girl. The kind that can kiss a guy just for fun, screw a man and not imagine a life with him. I tried. I failed. The hopeless romantic in me wasn’t having it.

My heart should’ve known better — but my heart was no match for Rhett Bennett.

When Rhett and I fell apart, I broke up with social media. I have to say, that breakup was a lot easier. No hashtags, no emojis, no memes to post. Some people use social media as their therapist. I’ve seen people post play-by-plays of their divorce, or explain every detail of their latest illness or drama. I probably could’ve attracted a lot more followers if I chronicled the demise of our relationship. It’s the stuff of soap operas.

But instead, I broke it off with Facebook, banned Instagram, and boycotted Twitter.

Today, Facebook and I are having one last romp. Relationship status update: Single.

That’s it. That one little change. I have to start somewhere. Skye’s right about that.

The one part of being single I have embraced is the diet. The single woman diet consists of basically any breakfast food for dinner, coffee, and alcohol. I’ve gotten so good at it, I no longer need a grocery cart when I shop. Quick tip, don’t get a cart at the grocery store, only buy what you can hold. It’s good for the budget and the waistline. Unfortunately, that rule doesn’t work so well at clothing stores.

~MEET PRESCOTT LANE~

Prescott Lane is the Amazon best-selling author of Stripped Raw. She's got seven other books under her belt including: First Position, Perfectly Broken, Quiet Angel, Wrapped in Lace, Layers of Her, The Reason for Me, and The Sex Bucket List. She is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and holds a degree in sociology and a MSW from Tulane University. She married her college sweetheart, and they currently live in New Orleans with their two children and two crazy dogs. Prescott started writing at the age of five, and sold her first story about a talking turtle to her father for a quarter. She later turned to writing romance novels because there aren't enough happily ever afters in real life.

~CONNECT WITH PRESCOTT~

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