Book Review: Like A Memory by Abbi Glines

Like A Memory

By:
Abbi Glines 

Published:
Feb. 14, 2017

Source:
Purchased via Amazon Kindle

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GR's Summary:
One memory. One special summer. 
The one thing Bliss had lost herself in when the fear and sickness were too much, moments never to be damaged by the harsh reality that followed… until now. 

Bliss York didn’t live a normal teenage life. She didn’t go to Friday night football games, walk the halls with her friends every day, go to her prom or even walk to receive her diploma. It had all been taken from her the fall that she was fifteen years old and she was given the diagnosis no one ever wants to hear. 

She had leukemia. 

Seven years after spending a summer with a girl who he knew would always be his first love and the one who got away, Nate Finlay returns to Sea Breeze to help his fiancé open her new boutique clothing store. When the new employee walks in Nate is taken back seven years to the girl he thought he’d love forever. The one who never answered his calls or returned his text. The one who shut him out completely with not even a goodbye and broke his heart. 

They’ve each become someone different. No longer the young teens with stars in their eyes. But does that matter when your heart still says that’s the one. 

Book Teasers:

My Thoughts:

I have loved Abbi Glines' Sea Breeze and Rosemary Beach books!  These are two of my favorite new adult series.  Therefore, I was ecstatic when I heard that Ms. Glines wrote a book where Sea Breeze characters and Rosemary Beach characters would come together.  

Like A Memory is about Bliss York (Cage and Eva's daughter from the Sea Breeze series,) and Nate Finlay (Blaire and Rush's son from the Rosemary Beach series.)  They meet one summer when Bliss is fifteen.   They fell in love, and no other person has ever been able to measure up in either of their lives since. 

Nate tried to keep in touch with Bliss, after he returned home to Rosemary Beach, but all of his phone calls and text messages went unanswered.  The reason for this was because shortly after Nate left, Bliss found out that she had Leukemia.  She was in for the battle of her life, and wanted to preserve the beautiful memories that she had made with Nate over the summer.

Seven years later Bliss and Nate's paths cross.  However, Nate is now engaged to none other that Bliss' new boss.  They both still harbor feelings for the one that got away.  However, now that Nate is taken, Bliss would never act on her feelings; and Nate still harbors hurt feelings and resentment since Bliss never responded to his communication attempts.  Besides, Nate wants "simple," or does he?

Like a Memory did not live up to my high expectations.  It was not of the same caliber of story telling as Ms. Glines other stories.  It was very rushed, felt thrown together, and needed to be edited.  The story dragged, and the first half was dull.  The reason for this was, I didn't "feel" the connection between Bliss and Nate.  There were only a few short flashbacks from the summer that they had spent together.   I think that if there had been more of a foundation, the rest of the story would have flowed better. 

The good news is that the second half of the story picked up!  The romance heated up, and I got to see some of my favorite characters from The Sea Breeze and Rosemary Beach Series.  There are many more potential story lines, as I got introduced to the grown up children from many of my favorite characters.  I have hope that future stories will be just as amazing as Ms. Glines previous books!     

My Rating:

I give, Like A Memory, by Abbi Glines 2.5 First Love, The One That Got Away, New Beginning Filled Stars!

Purchase At:


Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

About Abbi Glines:

Abbi Glines is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Field Party, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, and Existence series. A devoted book lover, Abbi lives with her family in Alabama. She maintains a Twitter addiction at @AbbiGlines and can also be found at Facebook.com/AbbiGlinesAuthor and AbbiGlines.com.

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Book Review: Up in Flames (Rosemary Beach #13) by Abbi Glines

Up in Flames
Rosemary Beach #13

By:
Abbi Glines

Release Date: June 28, 2016

Publisher:
Atria Books

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Source:
eARC from publisher in exchange for a honest review

GR's Summary:

The villain of Rosemary Beach finally gets her own happy ending in the long-awaited final novel of the #1 New York Times bestselling new adult romance series by Abbi Glines. 

The blockbuster #1 New York Times bestselling Rosemary Beach series ends with a bang when the troubled character readers love to hate gets her very own happily ever after in this eagerly anticipated and overwhelmingly requested story. Known for causing problems for everyone in Rosemary Beach, Nan has been growing up lately, and she’s finally taking center stage—and finding love with the man she least expected.

My Thoughts:

I can't believe we finally got Nan's book!  I have been following the Rosemary Beach Series from the very beginning, and could not stand the nasty, bitter, and manipulative Nan from the start!  However, she has been such a significant character in this series all along, and I've wanted to get inside of her head.  Let's just say her book was a page turner, and anything but vanilla, which is nothing less than I'd expect from a story about Nan.

In, Up in Flames, Nan is in over her head, but she doesn't know it!  She got involved with a dangerous and powerful criminal, and now there are people that want information out of her, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of her connection to that criminal.  

Enter Major, (Mase's Cousin.)  He has been tasked with getting close to Nan, and collecting intel.  His boss' right hand man, his co-conspirator, and the mastermind behind the tracking and surveillance is Cope Roth.  Major is sleeping with Nan, and she is taken with his charm.  However, she doesn't like the fact that he sleeps around, and doesn't make her his number one priority.  

Consequently, Nan decides to leave Rosemary Beach and go to Las Vegas on a mini vacation, where she meets the sexy, masculine, dangerous, and very serious, Gannon.  Nan shares an unbelievable connection with him, and likes his take charge, alpha male demeanor. Now, Major is pulling out all of the stops and trying to win Nan back.  He realizes that he cares for her, and she was much more than an assignment to him.  Who will Nan end up with?

Up in Flames was filled with lies, manipulation, conspiracy, danger, suspense, and seduction.  We get another page turner from Ms. Glines, and fans of the Rosemary Beach Series will be very pleased!  I enjoyed getting in to Nan's head.  As I read her story, I started to like her.  She was a very lonely, and heart-broken person, who had known nothing but rejection since she was a young girl.  Rush, her brother, was her hero, and the only person that had ever showed her love and acceptance.  

Nan grew on me, the further I got in to her story.  She realized that she was not easy to like or even love, and was working on becoming a better person.  We got to see sweet glances of Nan and her softer side, whenever she spent time with the nephew that she loved with all of her heart, Nate.  I enjoyed the sensual and erotic relationship between Nan and Gannon.  However, it was a bit dark and twisted, which gave me mixed feelings.  It worked for Nan, so that's all that really matters.

It was great being reunited with a few characters of the Rosemary Beach Series.  I especially enjoyed getting more Rush, Blaire, and little Nate.  I saw how forgiving  Blaire was to Nan, despite everything that she had done to her, and it made me love Blaire even more!  She tried to make Nan feel welcomed, and like a part of the family.  I have so much respect for Blaire's sweet and loving character.  I cannot believe this is the final book in the Rosemary Beach Series!  I am going to miss all of the characters so much, but am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Ms. Glines writing.

My Rating:

I give, Up in Flames, by Abbi Glines, 4.5 Secrets, Lies, and Manipulations, Dark Eroticism, Redemption & Healing, Falling In Love Filled Stars!!!

Preorder At:

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About Abbi Glines:

Abbi Glines is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Field Party, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, and Existence series. A devoted book lover, Abbi lives with her family in Alabama. She maintains a Twitter addiction at @AbbiGlines and can also be found at Facebook.com/AbbiGlinesAuthor and AbbiGlines.com.

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Blog Tour: The Best Goodbye by Abbi Glines

The Best Goodbye

By:
Abbi Glines

Published:
Dec. 1, 2015

Publisher:
Atria Books

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Source:
eARC from publisher in exchange for a honest review

Book Summary:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines comes the next sizzling novel in the Rosemary Beach series, featuring well-known playboy and Blaire’s half brother, Captain. 

“The look on Rose’s face had screamed that she was hiding something. Hell, she’d practically run away from me. There was something to that. I knew there was . . . “ 

After ten years in the employ of a mysterious crime boss, River “Captain” Kipling is ready to leave his sordid past—and his cover occupation as an upscale restaurateur—behind him. The only thing standing in the way of his “retirement” is his commitment to launch a new restaurant in the resort town of Rosemary Beach. With his sister, Blaire, nearby, Captain can delay his dream of running a humble bar on the waterfront, but the unwanted attentions of his head server, Elle, have him itching to get out. 

Until he notices Rose Henderson, the new server at the restaurant. All he knows about the pretty redhead with the cute glasses is that she’s a hardworking single mom from Oklahoma. But there’s something overly familiar about her laugh…something strange about the way she looks at Captain…

My Thoughts:

Wow!  The Best Goodbye is a story that blew me away.  I started reading it really late in the night, and couldn't believe how much I was immersed in the story.  When I looked down at me Kindle for the first time, I saw that I was at the fifty percent mark!  This story was such an addictive read!  I loved every moment of it, and my anticipation and excitement for these characters and their journey never wavered.

River "Captain" Kipling is temporarily in Rosemary Beach setting up for the opening of an upscale and classy restaurant.  He's lead a very dangerous life, and is ready to move on from his life in crime.  Captain is Rose Henderson's first and only love.  She has been looking for him the past ten years, and has finally found him after her long search.  Rose decides to disguise her appearance by dying her hair, and wearing glasses.  She has changed a lot in the past ten years, and has decided to work as a server at Captain's restaurant to quietly observe him, and see if he is still the same man she fell in love with.

Unfortunately, Captain has changed into a darker and harsher version of his previous self.  Just as Rose is deciding to leave Rosemary Beach, Captain discovers who she is.  Slowly, Captain begins to reveal himself to Rose, and show her the man she fell in love with.  However, Captain thinks that Rose is too good for him, and if she knew about his past, she would be long gone.... 

The Best Goodbye was the best kind of page turner!  It left me with a huge book hangover, and is the kind of book that could have been one thousand pages, and I still wouldn't have been ready to let these characters go.  I loved Rose.  She was strong and very resilient, but still had a vulnerability to her.  She was sweet, compassionate, nurturing, and protective of those she loved.  She was also very unassuming, and the type of person I could see being friends with.  

Captain had a tough outer shell.  He had known such deep emotional pain and tragedy.  His only bright light came from Rose, and when she was gone, he lost everything.  It was sad reading about the state of his emotions and how much he had changed since he was a teenager.  

Ms. Glines alternated between Captain and Rose's past and present.  This gave me great insight into who these characters were, all they had been through, and how they had changed from their experiences.  When they were together, the depth of their emotions and love for one another was palpable.  If you're a romantic like me, you will be captivated by their story.  It truly was breathtaking.   

My Rating:

I give, The Best Goodbye, by Abbi Glines, 5 First Love, Emotional, Passionate, One and Only Forever Filled Stars!

Purchase At:

Amazon | B&N | Blio | BAM
Google Play | IndieBound | iBooks | Kobo

About Abbi Glines:

Abbi Glines is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Field Party, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, and Existence series. A devoted book lover, Abbi lives with her family in Alabama. She maintains a Twitter addiction at @AbbiGlines and can also be found at Facebook.com/AbbiGlinesAuthor and AbbiGlines.com.

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Book Review: Until Friday Night (The Field Party #1) by Abbi Glines

Until Friday Night
The Field Party, #1
by Abbi Glines

Release Date:
August 25th, 2015

Publisher:
Simon Pulse

Source:
Publisher via Edelweiss

eARC received in exchange of honest review

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Synopsis:

To everyone who knows him, West Ashby has always been that guy: the cocky, popular, way-too-handsome-for-his-own-good football god who led Lawton High to the state championships. But while West may be Big Man on Campus on the outside, on the inside he’s battling the grief that comes with watching his father slowly die of cancer. 

Two years ago, Maggie Carleton’s life fell apart when her father murdered her mother. And after she told the police what happened, she stopped speaking and hasn’t spoken since. Even the move to Lawton, Alabama, couldn’t draw Maggie back out. So she stayed quiet, keeping her sorrow and her fractured heart hidden away. 

As West’s pain becomes too much to handle, he knows he needs to talk to someone about his father—so in the dark shadows of a post-game party, he opens up to the one girl who he knows won’t tell anyone else. 

West expected that talking about his dad would bring some relief, or at least a flood of emotions he couldn’t control. But he never expected the quiet new girl to reply, to reveal a pain even deeper than his own—or for them to form a connection so strong that he couldn’t ever let her go…

Purchase Links:

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My Thoughts:

I always enjoy reading books by author Abbi Glines.  I have read everything that she's ever written, and was really excited to learn that she was coming out with a new series, The Field Party.  Most of her books are in the New Adult Genre, but Until Friday Night was on the border between Young Adult and New Adult.

Maggie witnessed the murder of her mother at the hands of her father when she was fifteen years old.  Since that day, she had been nonverbal as a way to protect herself from the outside world.  She has stayed with her godmother for two years, and felt like an unwanted burden.  Now, she is being shipped off too Lawton Alabama at the age of seventeen to live with her mother's brother, Boone, his wife Coralee, and her cousin Brady. 

The family is very warm and open, with the exception of Brady who has mixed feelings.  He feels like she is intruding on his life, because Coralee gives Maggie his bedroom, and expects him to introduce her to all of his friends, take her out with him, and make her a part of his crowd at school.  Brady thinks Maggie is odd, and not all there based on the fact that she doesn't talk.  She communicates by writing messages in a notebook, or text messaging, and reassures Brady that he doesn't need to include her in his life.  She doesn't want to burden him.

Brady is the star quarterback of his high school football team, and all of his buddies take notice of how beautiful Maggie is.  He warns them that she is off limits, and has a lot of issues.  However, that doesn't keep them from wanting to get to know her.  Brady's best friend West, is in emotional turmoil.  His father is dying of Colon Cancer and withering away right before his eyes.  His mother is in grieving, and he has no one that he feels like he can talk to.  

Maggie recognizes the pain she see's in his eyes, and wonders why his friends fro not notice what is right in front of them.  since Maggie doesn't talk, West feels comfortable sharing what he's going through knowing that she won't repeat it.  Eventually, Maggie and West develop a very special friendship, where they share their pain, memories, and thoughts with one another.  Deep feelings for one another and attraction blossom in to love.  However, Maggie doesn't just want to be West's crutch.  She wants to mean more to him, and how will Brady react to his best friend wanting to be with his cousin?

Until Friday Night surprised me.  Most of Abbi Glines' books have a light-hearted feel to them.  This story dealt with grief, emotional turmoil, and learning how to live again.  It was a story that tugged on my heart strings.  I felt so much pain for what both Maggie and West had to endure, and my heart broke for them.  Their life experiences transformed them.  Maggie had a maturity and wisdom to her that most people her age don't have.  West had a lot of anger inside of him and he really lashed out.  I loved watching the way that Maggie guided and nurtured him with her quiet strength.  She impacted the person that he was dramatically.

I really enjoyed getting to know the rest of the football team.  My favorite's were Brady, Maggie's cousin, and Nash.  I hope we get their stories soon.  We get a glimpse of a girl from Gunner's past having returned, and all of the guys on the team being very negative about it.  I believe Gunner, and her story are next.  I'm looking forward to continuing this story and learning more about the guys on the Lawton High Football Team, and getting their stories.  

My Rating:

I give, Until Friday Night, by Abbi Glines, 4 Tragic Life Events, Grief-Stricken, Beautiful Friendship Filled Stars.  This is a story that will pull on your heart strings, and make you root for Maggie and West's healing and happiness!

Picture Teasers:

About the Author:

Abbi Glines is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, and Existence series. She has a new YA series coming out in the fall of 2015 titled The Field Party Series . She never cooks unless baking during the Christmas holiday counts. She believes in ghosts and has a habit of asking people if their house is haunted before she goes in it. She drinks afternoon tea because she wants to be British but alas she was born in Alabama. When asked how many books she has written she has to stop and count on her fingers. When she’s not locked away writing, she is reading, shopping (major shoe and purse addiction), sneaking off to the movies alone, and listening to the drama in her teenagers lives while making mental notes on the good stuff to use later. Don’t judge. 

You can connect with Abbi online in several different ways. She uses social media to procrastinate.

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Blog Tour: When You're Back (Rosemary Beach #12) by Abbi Glines

When You're Back
Rosemary Beach #12

By:
Abbi Glines

Published:
June 30, 2015

Publisher:
Atria Books

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Source:
eARC from publisher for a honest review

Summary: 

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines comes the next new adult novel in her beloved Rosemary Beach series, which continues the story of Mase and Reese from When I’m Gone. 

“She was where my home would always be. It was time I took the next step and proved to her I was all in. Forever.” 

A chance meeting in Rosemary Beach has turned into a fairy-tale romance as Reese prepares to move in with Mase on his family ranch in Texas. With the loving support of the Colts, and her recent discovery that she has family of her own, Reese can finally move on from the dark horrors of her past and into a bright future. 

But Aida isn’t going to let that happen. The beautiful blonde has been raised to think of Mase as her cousin, but it’s clear to Reese that Aida doesn’t love Mase like a cousin should. 

And then there’s Captain, the inescapable stranger who has connections in Dallas and Rosemary Beach—and who conveniently shows up wherever Reese happens to be. Hot, mysterious, and plain-speaking, Captain isn’t afraid to tell Reese what he thinks about Mase—and how he feels about her. 

As the competition for Mase and Reese’s hearts heats up, Reese’s past begins to unravel, illuminating shocking truths that will forever change the lives of the happy couple—and set the final stories of Rosemary Beach in motion.

Mase & Reese's Story:

My Review of When I'm Gone Here

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My Thoughts:

Abbi Glines continues to deliver!  As one of my auto-buy authors, I have never been disappointed in one of her stories.  I know I'm in for a sizzling, sexy, hot page turner, when I pick up a book by this author.  In, When You're back, the love story of Mase Colt Manning and Reese Ellis continues.

Reese has been separated from Mase for almost month while she has been visiting her newly discovered biological father's side of the family.  She decides she can't be separated from the man she loves any longer, and surprises Mase when she shows up in Dallas.  However, Reese is the one with the surprise when she discovers, Aida, Mase's clingy "cousin" who acts like she wants Mase all to herself.  

Simultaneously, Blaire's brother "Captain" like's what he see's when he looks at Reese, and thinks that Mase doesn't deserve her.  He is determined to win Reese over, and has no problem flirting, or speaking his mind about what he perceives to be Mase's shortcomings. 

When You're Back, reminded me of why I fell in love with Mase to begin with!  He is one of the sweetest, sexiest, and most adoring cowboy's that I have had the pleasure of meeting.  It might have taken him longer than I wanted for him to realize that Aida was up to no good, but that's because there isn't a mean, or manipulative bone in his body!  Reese is a strong, and mature woman.  I would have pulled Aida's hair out or wiped her conniving grin off of her face eventually, but Reese had faith in her man!

Mase and Reese are absolutely adorable as a couple.  They love and respect one another, and treasure what they have together.  These two are soul mates, and not only do they have a deep emotional connection, but a downright erotic spark in the bedroom!

This story had a few plot twists; one of which was huge, and I never saw coming!  I hope Captain gets his own story.  I found him to be an interesting character, and still have some questions that pertain to him.  I thought the ending of the story was really sweet and romantic.  Even though it wrapped up Colt and Reese's story, I look forward to hopefully getting more of them as secondary characters.       

My Rating:

Fans of the Rosemary Beach Series will be excited to know that we get many of our beloved characters in this story!  It was especially wonderful catching up with Grant and Harlow, and my heart continued to break for Mase's biological father Kiro's situation with Emily.  I give, When You're Back, by Abbi Glines, 4.5 Romantic Cowboy, Beautiful Love Story, Fairytale Ending Filled Stars!  

Book Teasers:

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About Abbi Glines:

Abbi Glines is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, and Existence series. A devoted book lover, Abbi lives with her family in Alabama. She maintains a Twitter addiction at @AbbiGlines and can also be found at Facebook.com/AbbiGlinesAuthor and AbbiGlines.com.

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