Paperback Release Blitz & Giveaway for Jessica Sorensen's "The Temptation of Lila and Ethan."
Synopsis:
On the surface, Lila Summers is flawless: good looks, expensive clothes, and a big, beautiful smile. But a dark past and even darker secrets are threatening to bubble over her perfect façade. She'll do anything to keep the emptiness inside hidden-which leads her into situations that always end badly. Whenever she hits bottom, there's only one person who's there to pull her out: Ethan Gregory.
Ethan set the rules a long time ago: he and Lila are just friends. He doesn't do relationships. Although his tattooed, bad boy exterior is a far cry from Lila's pretty princess image, Ethan can't deny they have a deeper connection than he's used to. If he's not careful, he could be in serious danger of becoming attached-and he's learned the hard way that attachment only leads to heartbreak.
When Lila falls farther than she ever has before, can Ethan continue to help as a friend? Or is he also getting close to falling . . . for her?
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1dEnrbg
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1dEnrbg
Review: Surj Harvey
This was such an poignant, angst filled read that completely tore at my heart strings, The first half was read with such a heavy heart and it wasn't until I hit the half way point, that I started to see a glimmer of hope for both the main characters.
The prologue for "The Temptation of Lila and Ethan" definitely got my attention. It set the scene for the rest of the book in terms of giving us an insight into both characters tragic pasts but going some way into explaining why the characters were as fucked up as they were (and trust me, these two were well and truly fucked up). It took a horrific incident to make Ethan wake up and smell the coffee but with Lila, well her road was already a long and painful one and she hadn't even begun to acknowledge her problems... her coping methods further sending her on a downward spiral. Reading those pages completely crushed me because all I could see was a young girl desperate for attention, affection and love.. something she had never been shown. Instead she'd been made to feel worthless, useless and very much the failure of the family.
This was such an poignant, angst filled read that completely tore at my heart strings, The first half was read with such a heavy heart and it wasn't until I hit the half way point, that I started to see a glimmer of hope for both the main characters.
The prologue for "The Temptation of Lila and Ethan" definitely got my attention. It set the scene for the rest of the book in terms of giving us an insight into both characters tragic pasts but going some way into explaining why the characters were as fucked up as they were (and trust me, these two were well and truly fucked up). It took a horrific incident to make Ethan wake up and smell the coffee but with Lila, well her road was already a long and painful one and she hadn't even begun to acknowledge her problems... her coping methods further sending her on a downward spiral. Reading those pages completely crushed me because all I could see was a young girl desperate for attention, affection and love.. something she had never been shown. Instead she'd been made to feel worthless, useless and very much the failure of the family.
Lila. you'll never make it. Lila, you're worthless. Lila, you're messing up this family.
No one will ever love you if you don't change into something they can love.
Be perfect. Be beautiful. Because no one will want you if you're not.
I couldn't even begin to imagine what that would feel like... to have those that are supposed love and support you unconditionally constantly belittle and berate you. But Lila hid it all well behind a facade. Her behavior didn't shock me. It was just so sad and at times made for a torturous, soul destroying read.
But I can smile on the outside, show the world how happy I am,
since that's what important, even if I'm dying on the outside.
Unfortunately things would get worse... in fact Lila would need to hit rock bottom before I saw a change. Even then, it wasn't voluntary. It took a wake up call from Ethan before I saw her turn that ever so important corner.
Ethan was such a beautiful character. Despite fighting his own demons, he was definitely a more grounded person. He was aware of what he needed to do to move forward with is life but fear prevented him from taking those steps. Being as selfless as he was, he always put Lila first. Whenever she was in trouble, whenever she called, he was there.
She lets everyone touch her, but not because she's a slut. I don't believe for one second that she
is. There's something hidden inside her that she's trying to cover up with sex. I can see it in
her eyes sometimes, when she gets really quiet. Sadness. Self doubt. Self torture, even.
And in her darkest hours, he would make the ultimate sacrifices and break every rule he'd made. I secretly did a happy dance because I knew that ultimately, these two would save each other.
Lila and Ethan's journey definitely wasn't an easy one, both as individuals and as a couple. In fact, despite the temptation being there, they both fought the attraction... Ethan more so than Lila.
“I’m not looking for a relationship. They’re ugly, raw, brutal, painful, life destroying.
They exist only in the hearts of the needy and I don’t need anything from anyone.
I’m perfectly content being alone, hiding in the desolate place inside myself.”
His little slip ups had me rooting for them and his sudden realisations of what he was doing left me feeling like someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over me. The chemistry was there but to be honest, "The Temptation of Lila and Ethan" wasn't just a love story. In fact for me it was secondary to everything else the couple were going through. It was about how past events had deeply affected and even defined each character and how they had to come to terms with their demons in order to move forward. Don't get me wrong, when the relationship shifted from friendship to more, it definitely sent my heart into overdrive and sent my mind all giddy. Those uplifting moments were definitely welcomed because on the whole, this book was heavy going.
"The Temptation of Lila and Ethan" was a gripping, fast paced read which I devoured as quickly as I could. The writing was flawless and even with flashbacks thrown in, it flowed perfectly. I absolutely love Jessica's writing style. She puts so much emotion into every page that you can't help but get sucked into the story line throwing your heart and soul into every line you read. And the characters always get you... their brokenness, their tragic pasts leave you rooting for a HEA for them. This book was no exception. If you're looking for a story that is beautiful, yet tragic, that will leave your heart feeling that it's been ripped into a million pieces and then taped back together, then definitely pick "The Temptation of Lila And Ethan" up. It can be read as a standalone and it does have a HEA. The epilogue does set us up nicely for the final installment of Ella and Micha's relationship in "The Ever After of Ella and Micha."
“The way he watches me every time I gasp in pleasure makes me
feel beautiful, not filthy, wanted, not used.”
I rated this book 4.5 Hearts.
Excerpt:
Excerpt:
“Why do you think it’s so hard to be alone?” Lila asks, struggling to keep her eyes open as she gazes out at the night sky through the cab window. I’m turned sideways in the seat, with my knee up, so I’m facing her, even though she won’t look at me. I lost count of how many shots we had hours ago and I can barely comprehend how we got to a cab—stumbling, laughing, as she rubbed her hand up the front of my jeans. No, that can’t be right, can it?
“I think being alone is fan-fucking-tastic. . . well, maybe . . .sometimes . . .” I mumble, draping my arm on the back of the seat. I stare at her for a moment, taking in her bare skin in the moonlight. I want to touch it. Lick it. Even bite it.
I’m bursting with sexual energy and I channel it to my foot on the floor, bouncing my knee. There’s something different about tonight, something out of the ordinary, this strange need to keep getting closer to Lila. It could be the alcohol. Or it could be something else, but there’s no way my tequila-soaked mind is going to reach any sort of answer. Lila turns her head toward me, her pupils wide and shiny. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
I keep tapping my foot on the floor, trying to think of a better answer than the first one that pops into my head, but I can’t find one. “Because I’m thinking about you.”
She glances at the cab driver, a thirtyish guy wearing a baseball cap, and then her gaze lands back on me. She sucks her lip into her teeth and I have to bounce my knee faster or I swear I’m going to fucking lose it. “Thinking what about me?” she asks, looking wary, interested, and exhausted.
Don’t say it . . . “I was thinking about what it would be like to lick you . . . or bite you . . . either one really.” It seems like I should regret it as soon as I say it, but regret is nowhere in my reach at the moment. Her breathing quickens and her voice comes out shockingly unsteady for someone who has sex so much. “Then do it.”
I blink, wondering if I heard her right through the massive amount of alcohol consuming my thoughts. “What?”
She holds my gaze steadily, even though she seems really nervous, her voice trembling. “Then bite me. Or lick me…whatever you want.”
Author Bio:
Author Bio:
Jessica Sorensen is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives with her husband and three kids in Idaho. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
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Giveaway: 10 copies of The Temptation of Lila and Ethan with Book Plates
I haven't read any of them yet, however I do have a couple of books on my kindle, just waiting on the extra time to catch up on my TBR!
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