Lovin' los libros

Today is my stop on the Every Second With You blog tour hosted by InkSlingerPR!

Today I am excited to share my review as well as a giveaway with you all!

 

 

 

 

"Because it was mad love, crazy love, insane love. Because it was hard love, good love, true love. Because it was the real thing, and a love like that can't be stopped. A love like that is inevitable."

 

There's a reason Lauren Blakely is one of my favorite authors. She not only creates fabulous stories, but her writing is beautiful. The above quote literally took my breath away as it was so all-encompassing of Harley and Trey's journey of love together. I love that Lauren took this series in a new, darker direction creating two beautifully broken characters and putting them back together again by helping them embrace the 'ugly beautiful' of life.

 

Harley has grown so much as a character from when we first met her. After years of living her life as a call girl, she now has found a man who loves and cherishes her and would walk to the ends of the earth for her. Harley has never known true love before Trey, never believing herself capable of giving and receiving it. I am so proud of Harley for the woman she's becoming and how she is working hard to break the chains of her past. She still has moments of insecurity and struggles with whether or not she can truly break free of the addict life she once lived, but with Trey has her balance- the two can work through those insecurities.

 

At the end of The Thrill of It, Harley discovers something life-altering that could shatter everything she has worked so hard to build with Trey. This event plays a huge role in this book and while Trey does not handle it perfectly, I am glad he doesn't slip back into old comforts and temptations to deal. There was a moment where I was literally shaking my head, as if he had traveled down that road, I wouldn't have been able to forgive him. Enough about the what-ifs. Let's talk about fact: Trey is absolutely an amazing man for Harley. There is no better person to complement her and I love how protective and in love with her he is. He, like her, is also a recovering addict. He too harbors his own fears about his and Harley's future, but he doesn't let them control him. He did have another moment with Harley that made me want to hit him myself, because it was such a side to Trey we have never seen. It was definitely an uglier one but I was so glad Harley stood up and told him like it was. You go girl! The beautiful moments with Trey far outweigh the less than shiny ones though.

 

Harley's mom is back in this novel as well, and while she claims she wants to make amends with her daughter, Harley cannot find it in herself to forgive the woman who would hide things from her and be held part responsible for Harley's call girl days. Harley's mother has also kept something very important from Harley and when Harley discovers what it is, she is even more angry and hurt with her mother.

 

One of the things I love about reading a Lauren Blakely book is that you KNOW there will be sexy times. And in abundance! Trey and Harley have so much passion and love for one another and reading their sexy scenes was heart-stopping. Lauren knows how to bring the steam without making it seem too excessive or thrown in needlessly. Every time Harley and Trey came together was because of their absolute need to solidify and show their love for one another.

 

I absolutely adored the conclusion to Trey and Harley's story. I felt it was so fitting for them as a couple and we really get to see the full circle these two have come. I love that they are making decisions that are best for them and I feel they did exactly as they should have in the end. There are so many scenes that will bring a smile to your face in this book and your heart will be satisfied and full at the end. I can't wait for what Lauren does next!