Warm brown eyes that melted my unsuspecting heart.
A smile that knocked me off my feet.
His touch—raw electricity.
I never saw Harbor Westcott coming.
I was a small-town girl with big city dreams and more ambition than money to my name. He had everything—money, privilege, and the world at his feet.
Opposites in every way, but that didn’t matter. We were lightning in a bottle, and everything felt possible when we were together.
Life was perfect.
Or so I thought . . .
Years later, I’m no more prepared for him than I was the first time. He swears on his life that we are meant to be forever, but I know I can’t survive this man twice.
REVIEW 3.5 STARS
"He's a sinner and a saint battling it out inside an Adonis body."
Tell me that synopsis doesn't make you want to dive in immediately?? I'm a small town girl and totally love the feel of falling in love with your soulmate - been there, done that, so this was an easy yes for me. It was on my TBR for quite some time before I decided to jump in, but since the next book was coming out soon - I knew I needed to get on the ball. It is in KU, so that was a quick game-time decision between books. That cover....super seriously sexy and the embodiment of Harbor as I pictured him based on Scott's description. YUMMY! Such perfection. Oooh, soooo delicious.
Lark was such a straightforward girl...and I loved her spit of personality. Just a great spark and a smile everywhere she went. I really enjoyed her character, and it made it that much better when she put Harbor in his place with her sense of humor. She had me smiling quite a bit. Harbor was head over heels in love with her too, and he fell hard and fast which aided my smile. He was a little "soft" around the edges...quite poetic in terms of how his internal monologue came across, but he was such a gem to get to know. The sweetest (swooniest?) part for me was the fact that Harbor seemed to look past all the stereotypes and the status he could have walked around with, but instead he was such a real man, a true gentleman, and treated her with the utmost respect and love. That made me swoon awful hard over him.
Falling in love through their eyes was one of innocence and giggles. I loved watching them have some initial boundaries - some walls that eventually fell with the passing of the days as they started getting closer. It was seamless and unforgiving because them together, there was no other option. I couldn't help but smile when they explored each other or when Lark was being coy. I never stopped giggling at the sweet little moments between the two that could have gone a different way, but their personalities dictated otherwise. They gave me ALL the hearts when they confessed their love. But... but, I couldn't help but bite my nails while turning the pages to find out what Harbor's thought process was for making that decision... This book surely put me through the stages of emotions, even though they weren't always good ones.
Unfortunately, Harbor's "ultimate decision" angered me more than it endeared me to him...and that was a hard pill to swallow because he was the literal definition of perfection leading up to that point. I fell hard and fast for him and all he did for Lark to keep her happy. Before and after the decision. But that ONE issue that still isn't explained well enough -for me- to accept is what still irks me. Silly, I know. But I was SO into it - literally hanging off every word. It felt as if this strife was only written to cause the separation and was not rooted in the characters' reality as it was originally given to us (previous actions/explanations) and that's what brought it down for me. It worked out and it gave me a new series that I will no doubt follow to the end, but that part really saddened me. The ease in which I read the first half of the book didn't go unnoticed. Very laid back and chill style and it made falling in love with them falling in love give off more of a comfort feeling.
I feel Scott's more of a lighter writer, whereas I usually go for more hard-hitting, heavier reads - and that was showcased in this book from beginning to end. Not bad at all, but it was a good reintroduction to her style that I was going to be working with for this series. I did check myself a few times when some of her "quotes" were placed within the storyline as they definitely didn't feel like they "fit" for the emotion at hand, or just placed to impact - basically, it caused me to stutter-step a few times. But, again - easy to read and definitely easy to enjoy. I truly enjoyed this love story and am looking forward to Loch's story now.
"The way he looked at me, his gaze penetrating me like he saw something more than what's on the inside."
~BEE
*no giveaway for personal reads*
~MEET SL SCOTT~
New York Times and USA Bestselling Author, S. L. Scott, was always interested in the arts. She grew up painting, writing poetry and short stories, and willing her days away lost in a good book and the movies.
With a degree in Journalism, she continued her love of the written word by reading American authors like Salinger and Fitzgerald. She was intrigued by their flawed characters living in picture perfect worlds, but could still debate that the world those characters lived in were actually the flawed ones. This dynamic of leaving the reader invested in the words, inspired Scott to start writing with emotion while interjecting an underlying passion into her own stories.
Living in the capital of Texas with her family, Scott loves traveling and avocados, beaches, and cooking with her kids. She's obsessed with epic romances and loves a good plot twist. She dreams of seeing one of her own books made into a movie one day as well as returning to Europe. Her favorite color is blue, but she likens it more toward the sky than the emotion. Her home is filled with the welcoming symbol of the pineapple and finds surfing a challenge though she likes to think she's a pro.
~CONNECT WITH SUZIE~
ARC REVIEW
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Do you have to read this one before delving into the new book?
ReplyDeleteNOPE!! You can totally read either or at any time. She really did a good job of making them standalones. We DO, however, see Harbor and Lake in the next book...
DeleteGreat review. Thanks for sharing. Moving it up on my tablet.
ReplyDeleteNicky, you will TOTALLY love this one. This is right up your alley.
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