Meant for Me (Take Me Now #2)

by Faith Sullivan

Release Date: December 10, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult

Summary from Goodreads:

Eric thought he had forever...before.

Divided between reliving the past and embracing his new life with Ivy, Eric fears that love will once again be ripped from his grasp. Having faith in the future is hard. So many things can go wrong.

Ivy is convinced that what they have is meant to be...but no one can escape the wheel of fate.

Her love for Eric and the life they're creating make every sacrifice seem worthwhile. Until she's forced to reveal the truth surrounding her delicate condition. Even if it shatters his hope.

Can they hold onto their newfound happiness or are events already in motion to keep them apart?

Books in this trilogy:

(linked to Goodreads)

Books in this trilogy:

(linked to Goodreads)

  

About the Author:

Faith Sullivan is an author of New Adult contemporary romances including the HEARTBEAT trilogy, the TAKE ME NOW series and the 9/11 novel, UNEXPECTED.

Where to find Faith Sullivan:

 

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Come What May (Heartbeat #2)
   by: Faith Sullivan

Publication Date: May 29, 2013
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group: New Adult
Source: received from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 162 pages
Order Links: Amazon
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Adam is through with love.

He unravels blaming himself for what happened with Katie.

His final moments with her echo through his nightmares.

She owns him body and soul.

To dull the pain, Adam invites a string of women into his bed. Fueled by alcohol and desperation, his meaningless hook-ups provide little comfort. When he closes his eyes, it's Katie he sees.

The only one who helps to ease his guilt somewhat is Jada. But as his new ambulance partner, Adam considers her off limits. He doesn't want to get seriously involved with anyone, much less her. Yet he can't stop fantasizing about the feel of her caramel skin against his.

Despite his intentions, Adam's bond with Jada deepens as they respond to a series of emotional calls. Their mutual attraction becomes undeniable. But how can he give his heart to Jada when it still belongs to Katie?

 

 

Whew! After the craziness that was the ending to the first book, Heartbeat, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Faith had created a sequel! I'm going to try and keep this review as spoiler free as I possibly can.

 

Adam is a mess over the shocking final events in Heartbeat. He is a very different person than the one we originally met. No longer is he the sweet, innocent guy he once was, but he has turned to losing himself in alcohol and sex to numb the pain of what happened. He is tormented and haunted by nightmares and even his good friends can't seem to pull him out of his despair. He gets a new ambulance partner, Jada, who is not going to put up with Adam's hangups. She is there to do her job and she wants to succeed and do it well. She is not going to let this guy (no matter how attractive she finds him) ruin her opportunity at finally being able to actively take part in the job.

 

I have to admit, I didn't want to like Jada. I was rather attached to Katie, but Jada is such a great character. She is tough and I liked that. She may have anxiety issues, but she is able to remain calm and collected even in rough situations. She has also known loss, so she proves to be a good listener and friend to Adam- even when he didn't deserve it.

 

Jada and Adam have a complicated relationship. Jada finds herself falling for Adam, yet Adam knows there will never be anyone who makes him feel like Katie did. Which is crazy for him to think based on how well he really knew Katie. Adam is definitely attracted to Jada and has to convince himself that getting involved with her is not a good idea because for one- they work together, and two- he knows he can't be that guy for her, due to his lingering feelings for Katie. Their relationship together makes sense though- they have spent time getting to know one another and forming a friendship. Jada has seen the worst parts of Adam and yet still wants to be there for him and take care of him.

 

Once again, Faith doesn't hold back with the plot twists. We get a pretty big one towards the end and another HUGE one for the ending. I am quite nervous about the final book in the series because I know what I want to happen and I honestly don't know how Faith will finish out Adam's story. Personally, I am hoping Adam follows his heart because that boy could use a bit of happiness after all that he's lost.

Take Me Now (Take Me Now #1) 
    by: Faith Sullivan

Publication Date: July 16, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 158 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3/5 stars

How do you survive the internship from hell?

Don't fall in love.

Ivy thought being a reporter-in-training at the Independent Gazette would be her dream summer job. Little did she know, interviewing Eric, a landscaper with a heart of gold, would derail her plans. It turns out Ivy's boss, Lauren, has been eying his chiseled physique for quite some time.

But at twenty-four, Eric already has a tragic past, one that he is still reeling from. Even though his ordeal turned him into some sort of local celebrity, it's been a while since he's shared his bed with anyone. When he comes to Ivy's rescue out of the blue, it's not long before the two of them start seeing each other behind Lauren's back. When they get caught, Ivy's journey toward a college degree is jeopardized and her relationship with Eric is severely put to the test.

Career versus love? In the end, a shocking turn of events provides Ivy with a revelation she never saw coming.

 

I helped Faith reveal this cover about a month or so ago and once I read the blurb I knew I wanted to read it. I liked the idea of the forbidden office romance and I definitely wanted to see how it would play out!

I enjoyed the storyline in this book and I think it has real potential as a series. However, I felt it was lacking a bit in the development area: both plot and character-wise. As for plot development, I felt certain key situations were rushed when it would have been more beneficial to see them drawn out. As for character development, I didn't feel like I got a good enough grasp on Ivy and Eric. Eric, especially is such a complex character, and I felt like I needed a little bit more depth in order to understand him.

Ivy has just started her new internship at the Gazette, and is now working under her childhood best friend Ryan's evil stepsister, Lauren. Lauren is your rich, stuck up, manipulating diva who will stoop to any lengths necessary to get what she wants. And Lauren wants Eric Young- a good-looking landscaper who was pushed into the spotlight a couple of years ago due to the loss of someone close to him. Lauren is seriously an awful character. As I said, she is manipulative and she is absolutely horrible to Ivy. She is used to getting what she wants and when she notices Eric and Ivy together, she will do whatever it takes to drive a wedge between them. I have to say that I felt Lauren's character was the most consistent in the book. While the other characters seemed to go back and forth in their personalities, Lauren was Lauren. She was evil and didn't try to be anything else.

Let's talk about Ryan for a minute. He has been best friend's with Ivy since they were kids. I could tell right away that Ryan's feelings for her weren't platonic. However, when he finally admits to it, I was confused. Did he like her for real or did he like her because he noticed how hot she was after accidentally seeing her naked one afternoon? To make matters worse, Ryan's character does a complete 180 and does something insanely unforgiveable. And I was so mad at Ivy for acting so blasé about it! I was really hoping Ryan would be this good, sweet character who Ivy could lean on in times of trouble.

I did feel Ivy and Eric's relationship was too rushed. Again, I think this is where we really needed more development because we go from Ivy being in love with someone else one minute to all of a sudden she is having feelings for Eric. Eric is still grieving over someone he lost in the past and keeps saying it's too soon to get involved with someone, but then in a matter of no time he is envisioning spending his life with Ivy. We readers didn't see Ivy and Eric form that attachment to one another- to watch them interact and get to know one another.

Again, Lauren wants nothing more than to sink her claws into Eric and will try to lead Ivy to believe they have more going on between them then they really do. This becomes a big source of Ivy and Eric's problems in the beginning. Ivy thinks Eric has something going on with Lauren and Eric thinks Ivy has something going on with Will. Due to the misconceptions they both have, the pair really does struggle to confront the other and talk about it. There is one scene in particular where Ivy believes Eric to be with Lauren and she makes a big deal of letting him go because she won't be the woman that takes another's man. I felt it was a bit overdramatic, considering they really hadn't even been together in a romantic way yet. However, making this decision absolutely crushes Ivy. Again, I think the Eric-Lauren-Ivy triangle could have used a bit more depth to make that seem more realistic. I also think had that scene occurred later on in the story it would have worked a bit better than where it was actually placed.

Ivy has been in love with Will since childhood. After being sent to run an errand by Lauren, she crosses paths with him again. I didn't like Will at all. He is super wishy-washy. One minute he's fixated upon Ivy and the next he didn't even give her another thought. Ivy likes the way he makes her feel when he is paying attention to her, but she downplays the times he's treated her like crap. Unfortunately, I know several girls like that- it's so easy to forget the negative, when the positive is so worthwhile. But, after she meets Eric, she rather quickly decides her feelings for Will weren't anything like she feels with Eric. It just felt like one minute she was obsessing over wanting Will and the next she wants to be with Eric.

Eric's character is a bit more complex. As I said, he lost someone very important to him and he is not ready for a relationship at the beginning of the novel. But after meeting Ivy, he is attracted to her and all of a sudden wants to be with her. But Eric has some deeply rooted issues concerning his loss that he hasn't worked out and it really comes to bite his and Ivy's relationship in the bum. After seeing Ivy wearing some clothes she shouldn't be, he overreacts and kicks her out of his house. No warning- no explanation- nothing. He doesn't even attempt to call Ivy afterwards to even talk to her about what happened. This goes to show that Eric really isn't in a place to move forward with his life. He is still hurting from the past and you can't just slap a Band-Aid on it and continue on.

One line in particular he said really aggravated me:

"Yet she couldn't give me the space to deal with issues I haven't resolved."

He hasn't made any effort to open up to her about his past or really talk about how affected by it he still is. So for him to say this and put the blame on her is really unfair. Ivy doesn't give him the space he needs and ends up making a phone call to him that immediately ruins any chance of them sitting down and discussing their issues.

The ending is a bit of a whopper. Ivy dumps a pretty big bomb on Eric and again- all of a sudden he's apologizing and he's sorry for acting the way he did and he thought by ignoring her, he was doing her a favor. But now, he's ready to start this new journey with her.... I feel that Eric still has a long ways to go before he can truly settle down and become happy with Ivy. He needs to deal with overcoming the grief of his past and learning how to move forward and it's not something that can occur overnight.

Again, I really liked the storyline, I just wish we would have seen some more development with Ivy and Eric's relationship and Eric and Ivy dealing with his past. Oh, and I really hope Lauren, Ryan, and even Will get theirs! For the things they did, I want some retribution! I do plan on continuing the series as I am really looking forward to seeing how Ivy and Eric will tackle this new challenge that has been thrown their way.

Heartbeat (Heartbeat #1)
   by: Faith Sullivan

Publication Date: Feb. 5, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 175 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3/5 stars

Katie and Adam are afraid of love.

She carries the scars of a first kiss gone terribly wrong.

He uproots his life to flee the stinging betrayal of an ex.

When trust is no longer an option, all romance is suspect.

As a young paramedic, Adam rescues people for a living but cannot save himself. Katie, just out of high school, struggles with a tortured home life she cannot escape.

Everything changes when Katie hops into the front seat of Adam's ambulance. Overwhelmed by what they are feeling, neither possess the confidence to make the first move. They walk away from each other, full of regret.

To find her, Adam risks his future. To be with him, Katie sacrifices her security.

Little do they know, what little time they do have, is being measured by a heartbeat that is slowly dying out.

 

First of all, I am so happy Faith offered me the chance to read this! I love visiting her blog and reading her swoons for Swoon Thursday and she always teases us with steamy swoons from her books! Ever since I couldn't wait to get my hands on them!

 

I really liked both Katie and Adam's characters in the story. I think Faith did a great job of presenting them and really making them both likeable characters. Katie is 18 years old, living with her father and her grandmother. Her father is overbearing and really expects to be taken care of- meals cooked, laundry done, etc. When he first sees Adam hugging Katie, he makes it very clear that she is to have nothing to do with him despite the fact he hasn't even spoken to the guy. Katie is not only young, but she is inexperienced and a bit naive. The only sexual experience she has had was with a guy she knew from high school and after saying she wasn't ready to go all the way, he dropped her off at her destination and didn't look back.

 

Adam is good-looking, hardworking and an all-around nice guy. He has been hurt in the past and has moved away from California in order to move on with his life. He drives an ambulance, so he works long shifts and hours and tends to go home and crash. He isn't a social butterfly, hitting up bars, grabbing drinks all the time after work.

 

Adam and Katie first meet after Katie and her grandmother are involved in a car accident. Her grandmother, complaining of neck pain, is picked up and brought to the ER just for precautions. Adam, of course is the ambulance driver and the two connect instantaneously. I personally felt like I could have used a bit more development with Katie and Adam's relationship. Both were clearly attracted to one another but never got the courage to make their move and kept letting the other slip through their fingers. I feel like Katie fell way too fast for Adam without really getting to know him. It almost seemed that she fell in love with the idea of him in the beginning. I really felt the same about Adam. He sees that sadness in Katie's eyes and there's something about her that makes him want to take care of her and protect her. As dedicated as he is to his work, he would make sacrifices for Katie, for the chance to truly be with her.

 

That was my only major issue with the novel. I felt like their relationship was just a bit hard to believe in because I really wanted to see them connecting a bit more before their relationship evolved as it did.

 

But, let me forewarn you. Faith doesn't not hold back on her ending. I won't say what she does, because after being really angry, I stopped and reflected. And then I thought, well played Faith Sullivan, well played. And so now I'm curious if maybe my earlier thoughts were really justified about their relationship. Maybe it was supposed to feel that way and my mind is being messed with. I don't know, regardless, the ending. Whew.

 

Overall, despite a few issues I thought this was a cute read and I really did enjoy the characters which is a huge thing for me. If my characters are unlikeable, I really can't get into a book. This is the first book in the Heartbeat series.

Title: Take Me Now (Take Me Now, #1)
Author: Faith Sullivan
Expected release date: July 16, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Ebook available at: Kindle | Nook ($2.99) 





Book Description:

How do you survive the internship from hell?

Don't fall in love.

Ivy thought being a reporter-in-training at the Independent Gazette would be her dream summer job. Little did she know, interviewing Eric, a landscaper with a heart of gold, would derail her plans. It turns out Ivy's boss, Lauren, has been eying his chiseled physique for quite some time.

But at twenty-four, Eric already has a tragic past, one that he is still reeling from. Even though his ordeal turned him into some sort of local celebrity, it's been a while since he's shared his bed with anyone. When he comes to Ivy's rescue out of the blue, it's not long before the two of them start seeing each other behind Lauren's back. When they get caught, Ivy's journey toward a college degree is jeopardized and her relationship with Eric is severely put to the test.

Career versus love? In the end, a shocking turn of events provides Ivy with a revelation she never saw coming.

Excerpt:

If only I were open to the possibility of romance, but I’m not. There’s no way I can be. There are circumstances that can’t be wished away or ignored. My heart’s not ready—not yet. And while this absolutely gorgeous girl has wandered into my life, I’m not going to act on it. It’s too soon.

I stride into my shop, gently placing her on the counter. Her feet are bleeding and she looks like she could use a drink of water. She’s covered in dust from the road but she looks adorable sitting there. I don’t know what it’s like to be in a scenario like this with a girl. I’m used to things being straightforward and laid out before me. This looks like something I could get easily lost in if I’m not careful.

We still haven’t said a word to each other, and I hate to break the silence but it can’t be avoided. “Rest here a minute. I’ll be right back.”

Her hand lingers on my upper arm, her thumb massaging by bicep. I exhale heavily, trying desperately to clear my head. Her touch is stirring things inside me I haven’t experienced in quite some time. Emotions I never thought I’d feel again. “Thank you,” she whispers, her eyes never leaving mine.

“No problem,” I try to say as casually as possible. She’s looking at me like I’m her knight in shining armor and I don’t want her to get the wrong idea. I can’t go down that road again. I just can’t. My soul still isn’t fully healed from the last time. I can’t trust myself in these kinds of situations. I need to back away as gracefully as I can.

Other New Adult contemporary romances by Faith Sullivan! 

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Author Links: Blog | Amazon | Twitter | Goodreads


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Take Me Now (Take Me Now #1)

by Faith Sullivan

Release Date: 07/16/2013

Summary from Goodreads:

How do you survive the internship from hell?

Don't fall in love.

Ivy thought being a reporter-in-training at the Independent Gazette would be her dream summer job. Little did she know, interviewing Eric, a landscaper with a heart of gold, would derail her plans. It turns out Ivy's boss, Lauren, has been eying his chiseled physique for quite some time.

But at twenty-four, Eric already has a tragic past, one that he is still reeling from. Even though his ordeal turned him into some sort of local celebrity, it's been a while since he's shared his bed with anyone. When he comes to Ivy's rescue out of the blue, it's not long before the two of them start seeing each other behind Lauren's back. When they get caught, Ivy's journey toward a college degree is jeopardized and her relationship with Eric is severely put to the test.

Career versus love? In the end, a shocking turn of events provides Ivy with a revelation she never saw coming.

Get to know Erik and Ivy!

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