Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Book Tour for What I Love About You by Rachel Gibson (Review & GIVEAWAY)


I've been a fan of Ms. Gibson's for many years and can count on her for a fun and flirty read with entertaining dialogue.  Her latest release, What I Love About You, the third installment in her Truly, Idaho series continues to satisfy.  Keep reading to get my impressions of this book, and learn even more about it by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour.  Make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a print copy of this book too!

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Gibson returns to Truly, Idaho, and to the fate of sexy SEAL Blake Junger
GIMMEE A B-R-E-A-K!
Ex-high school cheerleader Natalie Cooper could once shake her pom-poms with the best of them. But she's paid for all that popularity—her husband's run off with what's left of their money and a twenty-year-old bimbo named Tiffany. Leaving Natalie to manage a photo store and having to see some pictures she, well, really shouldn't.
GIMMEE A S-H-O-T!
Then she comes toe-to-manly chest with Blake Junger. Exiled to a remote cabin in Truly, Idaho, Blake wants nothing to do with anyone. Instead, he's determined to struggle with his demons and win—all on his own. But the last thing he needs is Natalie distracting him with her luscious curves and breaking down the barriers of his heart.


FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  BN  |  KOBO  |  iTUNES

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

When I think of lighthearted reads with witty dialogue and likable characters I automatically think of Rachel Gibson.  With her latest release she accomplishes all that as well as digging deep into one man's demons and showing us the results of being a dutiful soldier who's good at his job.  There's also laughter, tears, and heartwarming moments courtesy of a sweet child who charms her way into a gruff man's heart and a HEA for a woman willing to stand by the man whose actions often speak louder than words.

Blake Junger is at a crossroads trying to stay sober and cope with his PTSD.  With his twin brother recently finding love he feels adrift and just wants to be left alone to figure out what he wants to do with his life.  The day a little girl named Charlotte shows up in his yard is the day his life changes dramatically and once he meets her strong-willed mother he's no longer able to run from his demons.  Blake starts off very gruff, a man of few words who likes to be alone.  He resents the intrusion but slowly warms up to the little girl as he finds himself attracted to Natalie and thus begins a subtle battle of wills full of sexual tension and laugh out loud interactions.  Blake is charming, sexy, and the kind of man you know will keep you safe.  His interactions with Charlotte are sweet and endearing, especially when he refers to her as his best friend.  Blake's addiction and emotional turmoil is vividly depicted and show a strong man truly struggling and I found myself sympathetic towards him and rooting for him to overcome his pain and lonely existance.  He's drawn to Natalie but doesn't think himself capable of love which leads to a rocky road to HEA as he has to undergo some serious soul searching and admitting that he can't handle everything before becoming the man Natalie deserves.

Natalie is a strong-willed woman uninterested in love as her ex-husband humiliated her and left her in a whirlwind of deceit and media intrusion through his embezzling.  She's devoted to her daughter and her photo shop and doesn't think she needs anything else until she meets her infuriatingly gruff yet super sexy neighbor.  She's not the kind of woman into one-night stands and fights her attraction as Blake has heartbreaker written all over him.  Though their relationship starts off with playful verbal battles, spending time with him shows a caring man in need of love.  Giving into their attraction results in lots of steamy interludes seamlessly incorporated into the story and let Natalie have moments of fun she desperately deserved.  Natalie is a stand by your man kind of woman who gave Blake the time he needed to heal and I admired her for it.  Her interactions with her ex were realistic as feelings of distrust still burned bright and her letting him be a part of Charlotte's life again showed a woman of great strength and a big heart.

I normally don't care for children in my romance books but I found Charlotte delightful.  She's sweet yet knows how to subtly manipulate to get what she wants which brings her and Blake closer as she aids him in getting closer to Natalie.  Her language and emotions are realistic and her presence loomed large in the story as she was a ball of energy with a kind heart.  Natalie's friend Lilah was also a nice addition pushing her friend into living once again.  She was outspoken, told it like it was, and had the ability to make even Blake blush and I'd love to see more of her.  Seeing brother Beau was another wonderful part of the story, making for an awkward yet hilarious first meeting between him and Natalie.  He and Stella prove that happiness can befall the Junger boys despite their troubling childhood.  From start to finish this story captured my heart, especially the interactions between Blake and Charlotte.  There was a perfect blending of steaminess, sentimentality, and witty banter that Ms. Gibson is known for and that keeps me coming back and I highly recommend it.

My rating for this is an A-

*I got this book from Edelweiss for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Rachel Gibson lives in Idaho with her husband, three kids, two cats and a dog of mysterious origin. She began her fiction career at age 16, when she ran her car into the side of a hill, retrieved the bumper, and drove to a parking lot, where she strategically scattered the car’s broken glass all about. She told her parents she’d been the victim of a hit and run and they believed her. She’s been making up stories ever since, although she gets paid better for them nowadays.

**********GIVEAWAY**********

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