Lovin' los libros

A book blog dedicated to young adult and new adult novels

Blog Tour: Catching Liam by Sophia Bleu {Review+Giveaway}

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Welcome to my stop on the Catching Liam tour hosted by Xpresso Tours!
You can find the full tour schedule here.

Catching Liam (Good Girls Don't #1)
   by: Sophia Bleu

Publication Date: July 8, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by Xpresso Tours and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 196 pages
Order Links: Amazon
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Twenty-one year-old Jillian Nichols only has one rule when it comes to boys: catch and release. Boy-catching isn't just a game for Jillian and her friends, it's a lifestyle. After all, boys might be good for a dance or a drink and certainly a little under-cover action of the scandalous variety, but expect much else and you're bound for heart ache.

So when her best friends and fellow boy catchers start dropping like flies junior year, Jillian is determined to keep boys in her bedroom and out of her heart. Until she meets Liam McAvoy, the kind of guy that sticks around to make waffles and who can't—or perhaps won't—take a hint.

Study abroad student Liam doesn't want to be another notch on Jillian's bedpost. Actually he has much more interesting ideas for Jillian and her bedposts, but his student visa's set expiration date means he can't promise her forever. That doesn't mean he's going to walk away from the challenge of discovering why Jillian is hell-bent at keeping people at a distance.

Before long, neither is sure who is catching who—or if they're playing for keeps. Jillian knows one thing though: falling in love will not only break the only rule of boy-catching, it could also break her heart.
 

My Review:

When I first read the synopsis to this book I thought I was in for a fun, light-hearted read. Not the case. Was it still fun? Absolutely. Was it light-hearted? At times. This book held so much more depth than I had ever anticipated. It takes quite a bit to make me tear up over a book. This book? Yeah, it put me through the emotional ringer quite a few times. I loved both Jillian and Liam's characters, as well as the side characters (Jess, Professor Markson), and I felt overall the book flowed really well. I was engaged from the start and pulled in by Jillian's spunk and Liam's humor and sexy Scottish accent and his waffles....

The book starts with Jillian waking up to realize the guy she had slept with is still hanging around. And to make matters worse? He's making breakfast. And he's sexier than she remembered. And for the love of all that's holy.... he's freaking Scottish. Excuse me while I fall to the floor and FAINT. However, Jillian doesn't do relationships. And she doesn't do seconds.  We find out pretty quickly that this is for a specific reason. We don't find out until much later what that reason is, but we can clearly see that there is *something* that makes her this way. And oh Lord. Finding out what the reason is broke. my. heart. For someone so young to be dealing with what she is--- I can understand her need to push people away and why she wouldn't want to get involved in a relationship. I hate that she feels like that, especially after Liam endlessly proves his willingness to fight for a chance to be with her. Jillian has a lot on her plate: she is dealing with a secret, trying to get good grades to stay in school, and deal with an overprotective mother. After that night with Liam, she never expected to see him again- until she does: in her communications class. She is partnered with him and now really can't escape him. Their midterm assignment requires them to work together outside of class and soon Jillian realizes she's tired of fighting against her feelings. She wants to be caught by Liam. Slowly, she starts to open her heart to him and as terrified as she is, she wants to try to live in the now with him and not focus on what the future holds.

Liam. Holy hell, I don't even know where to start. Number one: If I were to wake up from a one night stand to a sexy Scotsman making me waffles, I would be a goner. I absolutely love Liam's sense of humor. He is funny, but he is also incredibly patient with Jillian. Not only does the man make a mean waffle, but he KNOWS how to have an after-date ice cream party. I have to say, I admire Liam so much because he makes Jillian feel beautiful and wanted and slowly starts to give her hope for the future. He isn't afraid to defend her against drunken idiots and certainly isn't afraid to stand up for her against her mother. He falls in love with her and even after discovering her secret and after being continuously pushed away, he stands firm in his decision to be with her.

I love that Jillian has a great support system: most notably in her best friend and roommate Jess. Jess knows about Jillian and although she is involved in a relationship of her own, she does not neglect her best friend like I felt Cassie did. Cassie, another of Jillian's friends, we didn't see as much of as we did Jess. It's not that Cassie was a bad friend, but there were a few times where she seemed a bit more concerned with her boyfriend than spending time with her friend. Jess is a good friend to Jillian and isn't afraid to do what's right, even knowing it would make her friend angry.

I personally really enjoyed this story. Watching Jillian find strength and acceptance of herself and what she's going through and watching her learn to let someone in is what really did it for me. She is strong-willed, but yet has a vulnerability that really makes your heart ache. Liam is the perfect guy for her because he's not afraid to hang on and he won't give her up so easily. The chemistry between these two is incredible. And Sophia KNOWS how to write steamy love scenes. Whew!

About the Author:

Sophia Bleu is a secret identity where I can write about fantasies and falling in love and all the smexiness in between.  In real life, I'm likely catching a plane, chasing kids, or making out with the love of my life—all 6 ft 3 inches of hotness that he is.  Life is pretty good.
 
 
 
 
 
Giveaway:
 
 
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14 comments

  1. Oh I am so glad you reviewed this! I was curious about this one but from the synopsis I just wasnt sure ya know... now it is on the TBR. I think you had me at Scottish and waffles lol. Great review!

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    1. OMG. I loved this. Love, love, LOVE! SO excited to have gotten to read it! Yeah, Scottish and waffles. You won't look at ice cream the same either.

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  2. Great review! I am glad I picked this one up last week. I will have to read it soon. I love when a book surprises you in a good way.

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    1. :D Oh, it was such a good surprise! I thought it would be all light and fluffy and then my heart is ACHING.

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  3. I'm still debating on whether or not to read this! Great review hon!

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    1. Thanks Tonya! I really ended up enjoying it. I thought it would go a lot different than it did, and I'm so glad!

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  4. Love the review Jess, this one is on my must-buy-and-read-soon pile! Sounds great especially the depth, the cover made me think it was much lighter than you described.

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    1. Thanks Trish! Yeah, I did NOT expect it too deal on the heavier side and as I'm practically crying I was like, what the heck! LOL. In a good way of course.

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  5. Glad the book wasn't what you were expecting :) I love when a book does that! Now, I was very curious about this one, and since you really enjoyed it, I must check it out! The characters sound good, and so does the story! I'm sold!! :)

    Amazing review!!!!

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    1. Yay! Thanks Magen! I think you'll really enjoy it!

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  6. So glad I picked this up last week, it sounds amazing! hot scottish man making me waffles? Yes please! =) I'm a sucker for Scottish men. Since Outlander I think. haha. I'm excited to read this one! Even if I am scared by Sheri's tweets.

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    1. YAY! And just wait. Ice cream? Will take on a whole different meaning for you. I can't wait for you to read it!

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  7. Awesome review, I'm so looking forward to reading this now!

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