Monday, March 31, 2014

REVIEW: All of You (Between Breaths #1) – Christina Lee

Released: September 17th, 2013

Avery has just met her hot upstairs neighbor. He's irresistible. Tattooed. And a virgin.

Nursing student Avery Michaels wants nothing to do with dating—she's perfectly happy single. Privy to too many of her mother's bad decisions and even worse taste in boyfriends, all Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes.

When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him—for just one night. But he won't accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. He lives by a straight-laced code of values based on his own troubled upbringing.

Bennett sees something special in Avery and he wants more from her. Way more. As Avery wrestles with her emotions for Bennett, danger and tragedy force them to open up to each other. And Avery must face the terrifying realization that she wants more from him, too.

So she needs to make a choice—let Bennett go or finally let him in.
"But underneath the surface of my raw emotions were the underpinnings of truth. Of love. Of friendship. Of hope."
All of You was such an emotionally captivating novel with equally as captivating characters. This is a novel charged with sexual tension but also the kind of chemistry that makes your heart stop. A story about two lovers trying to overcome their demons of their pasts and presents while fighting their overpowering attraction towards each other. Christina Lee has wowed me with this book.

I was beyond thrilled when I read this book. I mean, I've honestly never read anything by Christina Lee so I'm definitely pleased. An author's first impression counts to me.

The characters, both I loved so dearly. They weren't hate-able characters who were selfish and arrogant. They were so good-natured and humble and hard-working. They've gone through so much with problems with their family and then also their problems with each other.

I love how independent and strong Avery's character was. I've always been a big fan of heroines who are able to handle themselves. Feminism all the way, woo-hoo! But, of course, I always want them to have some sort of vulnerability or flaw and Avery's was with relationships. She reminds me a lot of Emerson from Beautiful Broken Rules (which I LOVE LOVE LOVE). And I even like Avery more. I'm crazy obsessed with characters who are not overly-dependent and can be sweet and needy at times. Girls are complex characters and I think Avery is a representation of us, females.


Avery is one of those no-strings-attached, love-em-leave-em kind of girl. But when Bennett moves into the flat four floors above her. You have to use a butcher's knife or an axe to cut through the sexual tension. It's so high and blatantly obvious to everyone around them. 

It's different with him because he's not on her list of hookups. She feels instead of being numb like how she is around other guys.
"He made me feel things. Incredible things. And now I know what I want—what I need—and no matter what happens, I'll always have him to thank for that."
And when she fucked up? She actually got off her ass and apologized to him, offering him help. Now, that's a real woman.

And then there's Bennett [DEEP DEEP SIGHHH] because holy fucking shit, this man is da-bomb. Hands down. This is the first time I've seen a hero who's a virgin and the way he acted around Avery was the cutest. I love how he got worried about her. I love how he desperately wants to please her but remain true to himself. I love how he stands strong with his values. I love how he can also be independent but also protective of Avery. God, I love this man.

So when they're together, their chemistry is explosive and so damn romantic it fucking hurts.

“I want to be real. For this to be real. For both of us.”
“It’s more real than anything’s been in my whole life.”
I think I cried in this part because it was so emotionally intense. I cried several times during this book. God, it was so damn good.

MY RATING:
5 APPLES!!!!!

✭ BOOK LINKS ✭
  
(Click book cover for Goodreads link)

♕ All of You (Between Breaths #1) ♕
Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo

♕ Before You Break (Between Breaths #2) ♕
Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo

♕ Whisper to Me (Between Breaths #3) // pre-order [May 20th, 2014] ♕

Christina Lee lives outside of Cleveland with her husband and son—her two favorite guys. She's addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. Reading has always been her favorite pastime, so creating imaginary worlds has become a dream job. She also owns her own jewelry business, where she hand-stamps meaningful words or letters onto silver for her customers. She loves to hear from her readers, so please visit her at www.christinalee.net

Check her out in these sites:

✻ ✻ ✻


No comments:

Post a Comment