Monday, April 11, 2016

Audiobook Tour for Sincerely, Carter by Whitney G. (Review & GIVEAWAY)


As a fan of friends to lovers romances I love discovering new-to-me authors and their stories that charm me, which is why I'm excited to introduce you to this audiobook today.  In audiobook format readers are pulled even deeper into the relationship between two people who started out as enemies as children before becoming each other's rock and ultimately more.  Keep reading to get a taste of Sincerely, Carter by Whitney G, along with my impressions of it, and then learn even more about it by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this book make sure to fill out the form for the chance to win 2-$25 Amazon GCs as well as an audiobook and print copy of this title too!

Just friends.We’re just friends.
No, really. She’s just my best friend...
Arizona Turner has been my best friend since fourth grade, even when we “hated” each other.
We’ve been there for one another through first kisses, first “times,” and we’ve been each other’s constant when good relationships turned bad.(We even went to colleges that were minutes away from each other…)
Throughout the years, and despite what anyone says, we’ve never crossed the line.
Never thought about it.
Never wanted to.
Until one night changed everything.
At least, it should’ve...
Just friends.
We’re just friends.
I’m only saying this until I figure out if she’s still “just” my best friend…

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  BN  |  KOBO  |  iBOOKS

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS AUDIOBOOK:

As a fan of romances with the theme of friends to lovers and a connection that has had years to cultivate, I found myself drawn to this story and its colorful characters and witty banter.  Add in the voice talents of the duo portraying lifelong friends confused by the sudden change in their feelings for each other and you find yourself even more fully immersed in this story with its laugh out loud moments, charming exchanges, and steamy encounters. Told in alternating POVs you get deep insight into Carter and Arizona and their childhood hatred for each other that begrudgingly morphed into a close-knit friendship.  Through their voices you end up right in the middle of their complex relationship and holding on for dear life on the ride of a lifetime.

Carter's family life was one of feeling left behind and of uncertainty with his parent's divorce.  It left him bitter and outspoken which was a good match with the equally outspoken Arizona.  From their first words of hatred towards each in fourth grade readers know that their feelings for each other would be intense from then on.  They become inseparable, sharing every up and down with one another with humor, snark, and love.  Though no one can understand how he and Arizona can be just friends, to Carter they fit together perfectly.  Deeper feelings for her slowly crept up on him in a sweet and startling way that had him offering her a summer of steamy encounters before the next stage in their lives starts.  What starts out as fun soon takes on new meaning as he realizes he doesn't want to let her go.  Jealousy he never felt before has him flexing his Alpha tendencies, not only in the bedroom but out of it as well, to get her to see the truth that's been staring them in the face for years.  I adored Carter and his unabashed self-assuredness.  He's a bit cocky, and knows it, but he's too charming to hold it against him.  His banter with Arizona over the years was fun and flirty with moments of protectiveness.  He shared every bit of his life with her, made her an integral part of it, which makes his selfless act late in the story especially heartbreaking.  It is the impetus to him realizing the truth though and fighting for Ari wholeheartedly in an ending that kept me on edge ready to cheer at any moment.

Arizona is a carefree soul trying to do the expected but desperately wanting to go after her dream of culinary school.  It's a dream she easily shares with Carter, amongst many other secrets the two of them share, in a long-time friendship that started out as hatred but soon became admiration.  Through the years it's always her and Carter as he's the best girlfriend she's ever had, there for her through every break-up and heartbreak.  Every girl is always praising his looks and sexual prowess but she never saw him that way until the truth shockingly comes over her despite her desperate self-denials.  She's scared of ruining their friendship but his sudden sexual attentions become too hard to ignore in a relationship that smoothly evolves from friends to lovers, with only a bit of angst.  Arizona's bold but utterly delightful in her ongoing verbal foreplay throughout the years with Carter.  While it's clear to readers early on the perfection of their connection, it was an enjoyable yet somewhat frustrating journey to them realizing the truth.  Arizona's antics when taking culinary classes are also humorous and demonstrate her strong-will in going after what she wants, which is why Carter's reaction to her pronouncement is especially heartbreaking.  She's a woman who's been unlucky in love before and it's even worse when she fears she's lost her best friend in a conclusion that's ultimately cheer-inducing after putting readers through the wringer.

This was an enjoyable romance with rapid fire banter that had me chuckling often with its no-holds-barred nature.  Arizona and Carter are both outspoken and larger than life, made even more apparent through this audio narration, with a connection that crackles and interactions that teem with sexual tension.  I enjoyed too the glimpses of their early years together that fully immersed me in their relationship and seeing the subtle moments of their romantic feelings emerge.  The sexual interludes between them retained their friendly humor and sweetness but also brought out their naughty sides in scenes that displayed a bit of dominance.  This story captured me from its opening scene, and kept me fully invested in the entertainingly sweet and sexy relationship between Ari and Carter, to its sentimental conclusion that left me cheering.  Add in narration that's pitch perfect and you have a winning story that I won't soon forget and definitely recommend to others!

My rating for this is an A.

*I got this audiobook from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

A self diagnosed candy addict, travel junkie, and hypochondriac, Whitney Garcia Williams LOVES to write about characters that make you laugh, cry, and want to (in the case of Claire Gracen) reach through your Kindle and slap them.

She is the New York Times, USA Today bestselling author of Reasonable Doubt, the Mid Life Love Series, the Jilted Bride Series, the My Last Resolution Series, Wasted Love, and Captain of My Soul.
When she's not locked inside her room, feverishly typing away on her laptop.


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

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