Blog Tour: Harder by Robin York

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In Robin York’s provocative new novel, two young ex-lovers find themselves together again in the shadow of tragedy—and an intense, undeniable attraction. 

Caroline still dreams about West. His warm skin, his taut muscles, his hand sliding down her stomach. Then she wakes up and she’s back to reality: West is gone. And before he left, he broke her heart.

Then, out of the blue, West calls in crisis. A tragedy has hit his family—a family that’s already a fractured mess. Caroline knows what she has to do. Without discussion, without stopping to think, she’s on a plane, flying to his side to support him in any way he needs.

They’re together again, but things are totally different. West looks edgy, angry at the world. Caroline doesn’t fit in. She should be back in Iowa, finalizing her civil suit against the ex-boyfriend who posted their explicit pictures on a revenge porn website. But here she is. Deeply into West, wrapped up in him, in love with him. Still. 

They fought the odds once. Losing each other was hard. But finding their way back to each other couldn’t be harder.

Advance praise for HARDER:

“Bursting with chemistry, emotion, and heart, Caroline and West’s story will take your breath away!”—Katy Evans, New York Times bestselling author of the REAL series

“Robin York writes exceptionally real characters in achingly real situations. Harder had a hold on my heart and didn’t let go until the very end.”—New York Times bestselling author Cora Carmack

And don’t miss the first book in the Caroline & West Series….DEEPER!

Advance praise for DEEPER:

“The perfect new adult story . . . West will make you swoon!”—New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy

“Beautifully written and full of swoony tender moments, toe-curling chemistry, and delicious, twisty angst . . . Stop whatever you’re doing and read this book.”—Christina Lauren, author of the Beautiful Bastard series

... you have to get really comfortable with the notion that the only person who's allowed to define how you feel about anything is you.

Harder is the second book in the West & Caroline series by the talented Robin York. Like book one, Hardercenters around Caroline and West and is told by both POVs. If you haven't read Deeper, please stop reading this review because it contains spoilers of that book. In Deeper, Caroline was broken, scared, tortured, and lost when her ex boyfriend posted sexually explicit pictures of her after she broke up with him. Basically, Caroline was a victim of revenge porn. Through West's friendship, she slowly begins to heal. West heals her damaged soul and self worth. The ending of Deeper about ripped my heart out when West left!

In Harder, it is Caroline's turn to save West when he gets sucked back into a life that he tried so hard to leave behind. But he couldn't leave Frankie to fend for herself. When Caroline shows up in the one place he never wanted her to see, he does everything that he can to push her away.

"West, they're never going to stop taking things from you. Not ever. There's never going to be a day when you look around at your mom and sister and your grandma and say, Okay, they're fine. I can go live my life the way I want now. It's not going to happen, anymore than I'm ever going to get my sex pictures off the internet. You can't wait for it to happen. What you have to do is find a way to get out from under it, knowing it's never going away. You have to make your own life, because if you don't, you just won't get to have one at all, and that's the worst fucking thing I can imagine."

I was worried about how this book would play out because I loved book one so much and I was worried that it wouldn't be as good. But, it turns out that it was just as good, if not better than the first because Caroline has grown into this strong kick ass women! She is no longer the Caroline from book one as she overcomes every obstacle in front of her.

I couldn't stand that she saw right through what I did to her - the shame I felt when she didn't cry or shout and I figured out I'd been trying to trick her into changing her mind about me because I couldn't just tell her the truth. I loved her. Every day, every hour, every single fucking awful minute, I loved her. And loving her, I hurt her, because I thought I had to. What else would have made her leave?

All I can say at this point is I. Want. More! I love Robin's writing style and the way the story unfolds and the emotion that she is able to implant into her words. My heart broke for both of them as they went through their struggles. And it was absolutely wonderful to watch Caroline become the force that she becomes. Never giving up, making a difference in people's lives and making a place for herself in the world. At this point she can do anything she wants. There are no limits for her and I hope that all of her dreams come true. 5 huge gleaming stars!

"I think there are some thing that are so hard, you shouldn't have to do them, only no one can take them from you"

Robin York left the reader with a tearful goodbye at the airport between Caroline and West, a goodbye that I can't imagine one reader anticipated happen, nor wanted to happen.  Not after all that it took for Caroline and West to finally be together, as a couple who loved each other.  There were tears in my eyes as I read the ending and I waited patiently for the sequel to be released because I was curious to see what life would throw their way in Harder.  Robin York did not disappoint in this 5 star read!

 I loved how in Deeper,  the reader was introduced to West, but the story was mostly based around Caroline and what she had gone through at the hands of Nate.  Harder  focuses more on West and his background, which gives a fantastic insight and understand as to why he reacts the way that he does in certain situations, but also shows you why he is so closed off to the world around him, why it was so difficult for him to let Caroline into his life and eventually his heart.

 The reader has empathy for West in a way that I havent felt for another character, how he steps up to take responsibility for things that a college-age man should never have to.  Worrying about the upbringing of his 10-year old sister, helping to support his mother and keeping up with the coursework to become a doctor (before he returned to Silt that is)

"I dont know how to be a father to a kid who's safe.  I don't know how to be a student just to be a student-how to explore, how to waste paper, how to play.  I dont know how to tell Caroline I'm sorry and make her hear how much I mean it, and I don't know how to put what I did behind me and look foward to the future"

West takes on the problems of the world for his family, never really thinking about himself or what he needs or wants.  He often ignores things that he doesn't want to deal with, because he is afraid to talk and express how he really feels.  He is afraid to really lean on someone when he needs help and it is through Caroline and her never ending love that he is finally able to overcome all of the battles he wages within himself and become the man that he was meant to be, that he wanted to be, the reason that he went to Putnam in the first place, a better life.

Robin York grew up at a college, went to college, signed on for some more college, and then married a university professor. She still isn’t sure why it didn’t occur to her to write New Adult sooner. Writing as Ruthie Knox, she is a USA TODAY bestselling author of contemporary romance, including RITA-finalists About Last Night and Room at the Inn. She moonlights as a mother, makes killer salted caramels, and sorts out thorny plot problems while running, hiking, or riding her bike.

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Goodreads ** HARDER Goodreads ** Author Amazon Page

Review Only: Calling California by J.P. Grider

Cali Parker is poor. She has a lot on her plate - her father is dying, she's working to help pay the rent, and she's two-years behind in college.

Griffin Brooks is rich. He has not a care in the world - he's acing his engineering courses, his hobby is restoring his fifty-thousand dollar classic car, and he has a different girl on his arm every week.

When Cali sees Griffin on her first day of class, she's immediately smitten and thinks she's found the perfect guy. When Griffin sees Cali at the bank, he immediately forgets the blonde he was with that morning. Then they meet, and their worlds collide.

Cali doesn't belong in Griffin’s world, and he doesn't understand hers. But just when Griffin convinces Cali that their two different worlds can blend, a secret is revealed that tears them apart.

Is their love strong enough to bring them back together, or will their worlds drift further apart?

Great book. Great premise. Great ending. As I was nearing the end and a resolution didn't seem to be coming, I thought that Calling California was going to end as a dreaded cliffhanger, but luckily it was not! The story is told from the points of view of the two main characters, Calista (Cali) and Griffin.

Cali is poor. Always has been. Some Christmases she didn't even get a present from Santa. Her parents worked hard to keep a roof over her head and they were too proud to ever take a handout from anyone. They would rather work 80 hours a week than ask or take any help from someone. She lives in a world where all of her clothes and many of her possessions come from a second hand store and buying a perfume  or lotion is frivolous.

Griffin is a rich boy. He never wanted for anything and if he did, he would get it just by asking his parents. But he is humble about the money. He doesn't rub it into anyone's face or brag about it. He doesn't act or dress like a guy with money. He is just Griffin.

After two hours pass by, I realize how pathetic I am waiting on a girl I just met. Never in my whole twenty-one years have I ever done this. But I can't help it. There's just something about her. I could easily say it's her beautiful dark gray eyes, or thick, curly, nearly black hair. It could be easy to say it's her ample breasts or long-as-hell sexy legs. Or that beautiful, sensual, genuine smile of hers. But it's more than that. Something from deep inside her is calling out to me. It's almost as if I can hear her soul. And it's telling me she's perfect for me. - Griffin

Cali's dad is dying and life just genuinely sucks for her. She doesn't know a life without struggle. For the last two years, she has been working full time at a bank to save up enough to start going to college. Her mom works two jobs just to attempt to  keep food on the table because Cali's father is too sick to work. Her entire life is a mess and she is having a hard time dealing with it all.

I'm sorry, Daddy, that you're sick. I'm sorry, Daddy, that I avoid you. I'm sorry, Daddy, that I don't know how to talk to you anymore. Or how to accept this. Or even how to deal with it. I'm so sorry, Daddy, that I can't stop you from dying. - Cali

Cali has trust issues and is not sure if she should let Griffin in. She feels inferior because of his wealth and doesn't want to own anyone anything. She doesn't understand his world and doesn't think that she is good enough for him.

"You have all this...this pride and determination and...and self-respect. That comes from a lifetime of learning to survive and learning that though life isn't fair, it's worth living. You're beautiful, Calista. Your soul...there's beauty in your soul, and it shines in your eyes. In everything you touch. And...and... And Calista...I want to be more like you. More beautiful..." - Griffin

This book takes a turn that I didn't see coming. I had a holy shit moment when the ball dropped! Cali and Griffin grew up so much, and they learned so much about themselves and the world  around them. They are both so selfless and giving. There love is a beautiful love. A forever love.

I'm not sure where his heartbeat starts and where mine ends. But it doesn't matter. Because within moments, they are beating together. Rhythmically. In sync. Harmonizing while our tongues envelop each other's. And though this is just a kiss, it's not only a kiss. It's a declaration. Our declaration. Announcing the love that we so deeply feel for one another.  - Cali

5 stars

But this.

This is different.

Griffin's kiss makes me feel....

unbroken.

Alive.

And finally floating above water.

Instead of drowning in it.

Calling California was a great read.  I would give it a solid 4 stars!  I love a college romance stories and this one definitely fit that bill.  It is told in dual POV's of Griffin and Cali.  It does have an HEA -- No cliffy! Woohoo!  This is the first book I have read from this author and I have to say I will be keeping my eye out for more of her work.  I have to say it really did touch my heart in places and make me have an Oh Shit moment too!

Cali is a girl who doesn't come from money, she doesn't ask for much and she certainly doesn't take handouts.  Her parents worked hard all their lives to support her and make sure she had the necessities.  There were even times when she didn't receive Christmas presents because it wasn't a necessity.  She is determined to get through college but unfortunately has to work full time to help take care of the household because her father is terminally ill and can't help anymore.  When she meets Griffin her whole world turns upside down.  She doesn't know how to take him at first, and she doesn't realize that she has met him before but only when he was a little boy.  Griffin is the opposite of Cali in every way, he comes from the rich side of life and even though he doesn't flaunt it he still gets everything he wants, that includes Cali.  He realizes that he knows her from when they were children but he doesn't want to reveal this to Cali because if she knows he is rich then she will want nothing to do with him.  But will this be the only secret between them?  Or is there more that neither one of them know and it will blow up in their faces?  Can Cali realize that even though Griffin has money doesn't mean she can't be with him?  Or is the Oh Shit moment way to much for her or Griffin to handle?

Pick up this book I promise you won't be disappointed!  I certainly hope we get more from this author there were plenty of side characters that I would love to see how there lives play out.  Thanks again for a great story and for the delicious Griffin who doesn't need another book boyfriend to drool and swoon over!

Here are some of my favorite lines from the book:

Griffin:

After two hours pass by I realize I am waiting on a girl I just met.  Never in my whole twenty-one years have I ever done this.  But I can't help it.  There's just something about her.  I could easily say it's her beautiful dark grey eyes, or thick, curly, nearly black hair.  It could be easy to say it's her ample breast or long-as-hell sexy legs.  Or that beautiful, sensual, genuine smile or hers.  But it's more than that.  Something from deep inside her is calling out to me.  It's almost as if I can hear her soul.  And it's telling me she's perfect for me.

I lie.  I really would rather it be she and I, but seeing her expression, I don't want her to think I want to rush into anything.  Though with Cali, I don't think I'd mind rushing into a full blown relationship with her.  Being with Cali is like nothing I'd experienced before.  She's timid and scare, but behind the little girl who'd been knocked down one too many times, there is a fighter.  I'll just have to prove to here that I'm worth the fight.  Because it's going to take a lot more than her prejudice against the wealthy to keep me away.

Cali:

My own eyes close, but not before reveling in the fact that I just made love for the first time.  A virgin I was not, but my sexual experience before Griffin was emotionally indifferent- no passion, no desire, not even real physical fondness for each other.  But with Griffin... my entire world has changed.  I found a place where I belong.  My father's illness aside, I am now happy and content.  Griffin is the piece of me that was missing all these years.  And though it has only been a mere week since I have known him, I feel myself falling deeply in love with him.  

J.P. Grider is a Young Adult and New Adult author. She is the author of six novels. Her young adult series The Honor Trilogy consists of A Touch of Honor, A Man of Honor, and A Heart of Honor, while her first two novels - Unplugged (A Portrait of a Rock Star) and Maybe This Life - are standalone adult contemporary novels. Her most recent release is the new adult romance Calling California, which is the first in her Hunter Hill University series. The next book in the series – Mending Mick – will be released in October, 2014. All the books in the Hunter Hill University series will be standalone books and can be read in any order.

  

Review Tour: What If by Bayli Lane

For some people falling in love was a happy, glowing experience. For Briar Kelly and Arrow Donovan it was more like getting hit by a freight train.

Caring for one another was never an easy feat. They constantly fought to hold their feelings inside, not wanting to jeopardize their friendship. Then, Arrow left for the Marines, and everything changed. Briar was shattered. Arrow was hurt.

While Briar told herself she’d never let another man affect her in such a way, Arrow still remained in the forefront of her mind. For Arrow, his memories of Briar kept him alive in both of his near death experiences. When Arrow’s demons threatened to drag him under, Briar was there, pulling him from the darkness.

"What ifs" keep piling up while resentment and redemption battles continue; will Briar and Arrow be able to find their happily ever after, or will this be one war that Arrow can't win?

There are no what if’s for me… Huge 5 star read for me!

I was so giddy to read another novel by Bayli Lane!   Her debut novel Becoming More knocked the socks off of me so when I saw What If in the works, I was salivating until the day I was able to read it!  Just that title alone I was like… awh man…. This one is going to be a doozy!  Just those two little words “What If” bring so much uncertainty to my mind.  Everybody has what if’s in their lives that make you think, what if this would have happened, or what if I did this instead.  But when it comes to Arrow and Briar, it seems like their entire life was one what if after another!!!!!!!  I never rooted so much for a couple to make things right and it just seemed like at every turn, fate had other things in store from them.  It’s a heartbreaking love story that will pull at your emotions and probably have you yelling a few times at your ereader!  Ms. Lane has a way of just immersing you into the story making you feel like you are part of these characters lives.   It’s frustrating, it’s heartbreaking, there lots of angst but I loved every second of it!  This is a complete story told in both main characters POV.

What If is the story of Arrow and Briar and how many what if’s they have over a span of decades!  Yes decades!  In high school, Briar was content in being the best friend to Arrow as it was better than not having him in her life at all.  Even though it may have been painful to see him with her best friend Darcy.  As young adults, misunderstandings or maybe fate step in.  Arrow joins the military and rekindles a relationship with the girl he lost his virginity to.    Briar realizes that looks happy and doesn’t want to interfere with his relationship with Lacey.  She knows their past history together and makes a decision to let Arrow go and move on.  Gawh…. So heartbreaking!!!!!!!! 

“I would never let another person have a kind of hold on me that Arrow did.  I would never allow another human being to embed themselves into my soul because healing a broken heart was hard enough… healing the soul was impossible.  How can you heal something that no longer belongs to you?” –Briar

“I’d try like hell to never let anyone know how ruined I felt knowing Briar would no longer be a part of my life.  But the scars she left inside of me would forever exist, not for anyone else to see, but for me to feel.” –Arrow

Both of them move on, both of them marry other people and go through the motions of life apart.  But when Arrow does a tour of Afghanistan and is terribly injured things go from bad to worse.  For years, Briar has been able to block out thoughts of Arrow but finding out his was injured brings those old wounds in her heart to the surface.  For Arrow, he finds solace in drugs and alcohol.  Spiraling out of control, he realizes the thing he must do to go home. 

What happens when he comes face to face with Briar again?  Is it too late for them to find a chance at love?  Has too much time passed?  Can those old feelings stay down and buried or will they erupt?  Arrow and Briar’s story is not an easy road, so many obstacles are in their way can they make it through stronger or will it be just too much?  All will be answered when you check out What If… 

“The cuts in my heart felt deeper than ever before, raw.  That’s what happens when you finally give yourself to someone fully, finally thinking that your lives were going to tangle into one.”- Briar

Sometimes the massive earthquake of your past was so harmful that you could still feel the aftershocks years later.  

Arrow was my earthquake, my natural disaster.

What If was a good romance story that will deal you a stack of what if moments.  I have to say there may have been to many for my taste but in all this was a well written story and no cliff hanger!  I would give this story a 4 star.  It is told in dual POV's of Briar and Arrow.  I have to say I did really enjoy these characters because it wasn't just about them being together it had much more depth than that.  It definitely was not a quick romance, it progressed over time, even though like I said above maybe too many moments where I was like really not again, almost like dammit they missed another chance can't they open there eyes and see what they are missing.  But I have to thank the author for giving it more than a quickie I love you romance.  I am a fan so I will follow Bayli Lane and hope she brings more stories for us.. and soon!

Briar and Arrow met as teenagers and right away became best friends.  They always had a pull towards each other but they didn't want to loose what they had with there friendship.  As time passes on they form relationships with others but in the back of both of there minds they know they have feelings for each other but neither act upon it or tell each other about it.  So the What If's start and the obstacles they both create in there lives just keeps pulling them farther apart.  Your question through out the book is gonna be will these 2 ever get together?  What finally will be the straw that broke the camels back?  Or have they both found love in others and it is just too late for them and they will always just think 

What If?

This book will twist your brain and make you think of why oh why?

But I like a book with a little challenge..thanks Bayli Lane for a great story!

Here are some of my favorite lines/quotes from the book

Briar

  The biggest difference I noticed in our relationship though; I loved him more now that I did in the past.  It's like after I woke up from our car ride and looked at Arrow... I don't know... I was looking at the person who was supposed to be there every time I woke up and every time I went to sleep.  I didn't even bother shoving those feelings away because I didn't have anywhere to push them.  My entire body was already full with love and regret.

Most of the time I tried to pretend he didn't exist unless Darcy came to me with more information.  However, hearing this news only brought those feelings I had tried to bury deep down back to the surface.  I didn't want to love Arrow because loving Arrow and losing him in this way would break me.

Arrow

There are multiple ways someone can break you.  If you felt attraction or love for the particular person, there were even more ways for them to have that control.  You were inadvertently giving that someone the knife and widening your arms, gesturing to your heart, and saying, "It's yours. Do with it what you want:  break it, shatter it, hold it, caress it, handle it with tenderness, but please, please love it."

I stood like a peeping Tom, except I wasn't trying to catch a glimpse of a naked woman in her privacy.  I was trying to decide whether or not I was looking at the same girl I fell in love with all those years ago.

 

There are multiple ways someone can break you. If you felt affection or love for that particular person, there were even more ways for them to have that control. You were inadvertently giving that someone the knife and widening your arms, gesturing to your heart, and saying, “It’s yours. Do with it what you want: break it, shatter it, hold it, caress it, handle it with tenderness, but please, please love it.”

This book is amazing. A-MAZ-ING. It made me feel. It made my chest hurt. It made me cry and it made me weep from all of the pain. In your adult life, there will be a time when you look back into your younger life, at something that happened to you or an opportunity missed or a decision that you made or was made for you, and think, "That was it. That was the moment that the course of my life changed. That was my fork in the road of my life that took me in a different direction.... I wonder how different my life could be, if only I had done this one little thing differently." I know mine, and it still breaks my heart. I would do anything to have that time back to change the outcome because it's impact changed who I was supposed to be. 

The characters Briar and Arrow are not perfect. They both made mistakes. There were words not spoken, feelings not shared or acted upon, fears not revealed. 

I wanted to kiss her, to taste the ruby of her lips, to know that she felt the same way for me as I had for her since day one. But that wasn’t an option. She didn’t love me in that way.

Briar and Arrow meet at a party when they are 14 years old and become very fast friends. Arrow knew that there was something special about Briar and felt that if he acted on his feelings, her would just end up ruining it so he makes the decision to just be her friend because he would rather have her as a friend than not have her at all, but that ends up being the biggest mistake of his life. 

Darcy and I started dating that night. It shoved me deeper into Briar’s life. We were forced into seeing each other nearly every day since she was Darcy’s best friend. Normally, I wouldn’t complain about spending time with Briar because I wanted to be with Briar as much as possible. But being around Briar when I was supposed to only be thinking about Darcy in the ways I was thinking of Briar was really damn hard.

Looking back later, I’d realize the mistake wasn’t acting on my feelings for Briar; it was not acting on them.

They were in love with each other and both continued to refuse to act on their feelings. After Arrow leaves for the military there is a series of miscommunications and misunderstandings that damages their friendship, their hearts and their lives that results in unhappiness for both of them. 

I wiped my face and made a silent promise to stop living in the past and to start living in the present. I would never let another person have the kind of hold on me that Arrow did. I would never allow another human being to embed themselves into my soul because healing a broken heart was hard enough… healing the soul was impossible. How can you heal something that no longer belongs to you?

This book is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It was heartbreaking and beautiful. I loved the way it was written in both Briar and Arrow's POVs. It starts out when they are young teenagers and ends when they are adults. It was a beautiful ending and I know that this story will stay with me for a while.

I am rating it with 5 seriously huge stars and it has been added to my favorites list and my top 14 of 2014 list!

Bayli Lane didn’t realize how much she loved creating a world from nothing until college. She went to Marian University where she majored in Communications but in her spare time wrote and read. Her love for reading is what really brought out her desire to create her own novel. After starting loads of stories and not finishing them, she finally decided it was time to put her passion to work. Bayli lives with her husband, Tim, in Indiana where she is probably sitting with a large cup of coffee and her computer working on her next book.

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