Blog Tour: Without You (Stripped #1.5) by Brooklyn Skye

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Without You
Stripped Series
By:  Brooklyn Skye
Published:  Oct. 22, 2013
Source:  Author
Mature Content:  18 & Up

GR's Summary:

Dear reader, the sexual content in this novella is more explicit than STRIPPED and is recommended for 17+.

She was broken when I met her, shattered from the death of her sister and running from love. Not to sound like an egotistical douche or anything, but I fixed her. Put her back together, filled in the cracks, and made her whole. A true fairytale in her eyes.

But now real life is getting in the way: school, jobs, and the unexpected opportunity to travel the world under a legendary photographer. This internship will open doors not even my father’s influence could. It’s something I’ve been waiting all my life for. But so is Quinn, and accepting this internship will mean leaving her. 

And breaking her all over again.

Welcome to our stop on the Without You blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours.  Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

Stripped Series:

Stripped Review Here

My Thoughts:

Without You, by Brooklyn Skye, is a novella, that continues where the first book in the series, Stripped, left off.  The story is told from Torrin's point of view.  Torrin and Quinn are in a serious, steady relationship.  Torrin is a talented oarsman and photographer.  His passion is photography.  He has been offered the opportunity to travel to South America for five months and learn from Joel Harrington, a talented and world renowned wildlife photographer.  He is undecided as to whether he should take the internship, because even though it's an amazing opportunity, he doesn't want to leave Quinn for 5 months.  He doesn't know how she will react if he takes the internship.  So begins Torrin's difficult decision on whether to take the internship or not, how to tell Quinn about it, and what the aftermath of his decision might be.

I enjoyed this quick little read.  It was interesting reading from Torrin's perspective, and seeing how much he loved Quinn and didn't want to leave her.  Quinn has grown stronger, but is still harboring a lot of pain over her sister's death.  Torrin is completely caught up in his own dilemma, that he doesn't even realize what she's dealing with.  There were some miscommunications, hurt feelings, and turmoil in Torrin and Quinn's relationship in Without You.  I had faith that they would figure it out, and pulled for them to find a way to make their relationship work.  There was one event that occurs in the story, and I felt like Quinn's reaction to that event was a bit unrealistic.  Also, the ending felt a bit rushed, and incomplete to me.

Overall, I enjoyed Without You!  There were a lot of passionate love scenes between Torrin and Quinn that I really enjoyed reading.  I think this book reflected the New Adult genre perfectly, and how it's about the transition in life from being a young adult to an adult.  A time where we have to find our own path, learn what we want our life to be, and make mistakes along the way.  Without You encompassed that personal journey as both Torrin and Quinn had to go on their own personal journey's, and decide if that included each other.

My Rating:

I give Without You by Brooklyn Skye 3.5 Sweet, tumultuous, Personal Journey Filled Stars!  This novella was a really fast paced, short little read.  I recommend Without You for fans of Stripped.  You will enjoy reading from Torrin's perspective, and continuing his and Quinn's story.

My Favorite Quote:

"There's this place in me where your fingertips still rest, your kisses still linger, and your whispers softly echo.  It's the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me." (eARC, Loc. 1190)

Purchase At:

 Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

Special Announcement: 

A Limited Edition of WITHOUT YOU will be available for release week only (use attached cover pic) which includes a bonus interview between Torrin and the author!

Special Deal: Both STRIPPED and WITHOUT YOU will be on sale for $0.99. If you purchase both and forward the receipt to the author at brooklynskye1@gmail.com, she will send you a handwritten letter! 

About the Author:

Brooklyn Skye grew up in a small town where she quickly realized writing was an escape from small town life. Really, she’s just your average awkward girl who’s obsessed with words. You can follow her on Twitter as @brooklyn__skye or visit her web site for updates, teasers, giveaways, and more. www.brooklyn-skye.com

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

Giveaway:

Signed picture of cover, signed paperback copy of STRIPPED, and a $50 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner's choice) (US only)

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Cover Reveal: Without You by Brooklyn Skye

WITHOUT YOU

by Brooklyn Skye

Release Date: 10/22/13

Summary from Goodreads:

*A novella to the best-selling New Adult novel STRIPPED*

I’m the knight on the white horse in her eyes, the one who broke down her defenses after her sister’s death until she realized she was capable of love. To her—aside from my name, Torrin Kingsley—I’m perfect.

But there’s a sliver of my past I’ve never shared with her. One that is now haunting me with every breath I take. One she is starting to raise her brow to.

I’m not certain how much longer I can keep it from her. To be honest, I don’t know that it would make a difference anyway, because it seems no matter which path I choose, they all lead to the same end point. A place without Quinn.

My demons run bone deep. I guess burying them forever wasn’t possible.

Book One:

Stripped (book one) is $.99 this week.


Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

About the Author

Brooklyn Skye grew up in a small town where she quickly realized writing was an escape from small town life. Really, she’s just your average awkward girl who’s obsessed with words. Her Best-Selling New Adult debut, STRIPPED, is out NOW! Represented by Bree Ogden of D4EO Literary Agency.

***Author Links***

  

Blog Tour: Stripped by Brooklyn Skye

To Add Stripped to Goodreads Click HERE

Stripped
By:  Brooklyn Skye
Published:  May 14, 2013
Source:  YA Bound (Author)


GR's Summary:

“I like you.” His voice is low and soft, which I don’t deserve. I look away, down the rutted parking lot.

“Don’t... waste those words on me.”
He touches my cheek. “You just need someone to show you.”
“No.” I ease back again. “I don’t. So please, Torrin, stop trying to swoop in and save me. I don’t need saving.”

College freshman Quinn Montgomery will do anything to avoid the mistake her sister made—killing herself over a boy. But when she is forced into nude modeling at a local college to support her family after a bankruptcy, she begins to crack, just enough to let Torrin, the university’s top varsity oarsman, see that the real Quinn is not as feisty and unapproachable as she wants everyone to think. But letting someone in comes at a steep cost and, it turns out, Torrin is connected to Quinn’s family in more ways than she could ever imagine.

Welcome to my stop on the Stripped blog tour hosted by YA Bound.  Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

When I first had the opportunity to see Stripped on goodreads, I was intrigued by the synopsis, and book cover.  Words and phrases that stuck out to me were in regards to Quinn making the same mistake her sister made-killing herself over a boy, being "forced into nude modeling," and about Torrin (the love interest) being connected to Quinn's family "in more ways than she could ever imagine."  Right away I was interested, and already trying to figure out what the story was about, before I even opened the first page!  I just knew right away that this book would be good!  The question, I asked myself was "Would Stripped be able to hold my attention for the duration of the whole story?"  The answer is "yes!"  Stripped held my attention, and the more I read of the story, the more that I wanted to know!  This story was fast-paced, full of suspense, mystery behind Quinn's sister's suicide, and some family secrets!  I enjoyed Stripped.  In no way was it a light read.  However, it was a great read, full of the harsh realities of life, having the strength and courage to live fully, and to admit when your wrong, and learn from past mistakes.

Stripped is the story of Quinn.  She recently lost her sister, to suicide over a break-up, and Quinn vows to never fall in love, or let a guy have the same kind of hold over her.  She decides to live a life that her sister would be proud of.  She attends college, because college was important to her sister, and is a business major because that's what her sister's major was.  Quinn was two years younger than her older sister, and looked up to her, all of her life.  Throughout the story, Quinn reflects on memories of her sister, and we are able to see how close the two girls were, and how much Quinn has been affected by her sister's death.  On top of all of this, her dad recently had to leave his job as the dean of a college when he was involved in a huge well-known, and publicized scandal.  The ripple effect of losing his job has been great financial troubles for the family, which has lead to Quinn's parents not being able to afford the full tuition for her education at Loyola.  Consequently, Quinn is under a lot of pressure to earn a lot of money in a short amount of time, or be forced to go back and live with her parents, and attend the community college that has a memorial of her sister, and is the last place that she wants to be.  Quinn ends up modeling nude, at the very same college that her father use to work for, in still-life art courses.  It's the only job that will pay her enough to be able to stay at her school.  No one recognizes Quinn there, and she goes out of her way to keep it that way.  Even though she has a boyfriend named Derek, who she uses to remind her not to fall in love (because he is a dirtbag,) she still ends up meeting Torrin, a great guy that she can't help but fall for.  However, Quinn and Torrin are both withholding information from one another, and as Quinn's walls begin to crumble, the question becomes, "Will she let someone in enough to love her, and will she be able to love him in return?"

I really connected with this story!  It was difficult for me to read about Quinn losing her sister.  I related to the close-knit, and special bond that Quinn shared with her sister, and my heart just broke for her.  I couldn't picture life without my sister, and I could understand Quinn's mixed emotions of confusion as to why her sister committed suicide, sadness, anger, and guilt, wondering if she could have done anything differently to prevent her sister from taking her life.  I also felt bad for the parents losing there daughter, and I could clearly see, and feel the negative affects that Quinn's sister's suicide had on the family dynamic.  I also felt bad for Quinn's situation, due to her father losing his job.  This poor girl had so many obstacles in her path, and considering all of the burdens she carried, it's no wonder she was struggling in her day to day life.  Torrin, really did help Quinn to heal.  He was such an amazing guy.  He was a good listener, and found ways to get Quinn to talk, and open-up to him.  I loved the fact that no matter how many times Quinn pushed Torrin away, he was always there for her.  These two characters not only had a lot of physical chemistry, but they also connected on a deep emotional level.

Stripped was a great debut novel, that I highly recommend!  It is one of those books that will tug at your emotions, make you sympathize or empathize with the main character, and you will connect or relate to the story in one way or another.  Stripped is a story that stood out to me, and I know I will remember it a year from now!  Whenever a story affects me emotionally, I know that it is a good story!  Stripped is a story that made me feel, and moved me deeply.  I believe it will move other readers as well.

I give Stripped, by Brooklyn Skye, 4 Secret, Mysterious, Scandalous, Fast-Paced, Tension-Filled, Stars!  I recommend this book to readers that enjoy New Adult Contemporary Romances that are realistic, about real life issues, that include overcoming tragedy, meaningful messages, and the importance of learning from one's mistakes, and how to rebuild one's life after tragedy strikes.  I really connected to this story, and was mesmerized the whole time that I read it!  This was an excellent debut, and I hope to see more from Ms. Skye in the future!

"I'm not sure if trust is a psychological thing or an instinctive thing or where exactly it comes from, but I've learned over the year to recognize those little signals my body exudes."  (EARC, 48)

"A fatso?  Very blatantly, he looks me up and down then pushes his shoulders back.  I think you mean gain some muscle.  And yes, you caught me...  He leans in and whispers, I was dying to touch your carotid artery."  (EARC, 59)

"It's not like those in his room, the urgency and insistence and firmness.  Or even sweet like the first.  This kiss is everything I don't have a word for.  In a way it feels protective.  A boy claiming a girl.  And it's tender and confusing and beautiful and for the first time in my life I think:  So this is why Zoe went off the deep end."  (EARC, 124)

"I'm not okay with what your sister did.  But sometimes God creates mountains in life.  Trials.  She lays her hand on her chest, taps one finger twice.  And you have to find the strength within to climb them."  (EARC, 165)

Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Brooklyn Skye is just your average awkward girl who's obsessed with words. She grew up in a small California town where she quickly realized writing was an easy escape from small town life.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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This Tour Was Hosted By:

Swoon Thursday (18)

        Hosted By YA Bound

The Rules of Swoon Thursday:

"From the book you are currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON.  What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.  Try to make the Swoon 140 characters so you can tweet it.  Add the #YABOUND hashtag when you tweet."

To Add Stripped to Goodreads Click HERE

Goodreads Summary:

“I like you.” His voice is low and soft, which I don’t deserve. I look away, down the rutted parking lot.

“Don’t... waste those words on me.”
He touches my cheek. “You just need someone to show you.”
“No.” I ease back again. “I don’t. So please, Torrin, stop trying to swoop in and save me. I don’t need saving.”

College freshman Quinn Montgomery will do anything to avoid the mistake her sister made—killing herself over a boy. But when she is forced into nude modeling at a local college to support her family after a bankruptcy, she begins to crack, just enough to let Torrin, the university’s top varsity oarsman, see that the real Quinn is not as feisty and unapproachable as she wants everyone to think. But letting someone in comes at a steep cost and, it turns out, Torrin is connected to Quinn’s family in more ways than she could ever imagine.

What Made Me Swoon:

"He kisses me again.  And this time I do feel his lips.  How warm they are.  How they suspend for the tiniest moment over the corner of my mouth before centering again.  How that tiny moment reminds me of all the other tiny moments we've shared and that makes this kiss enormously different than the first one, like all those tiny moments added up together mean something.  His fingers draw down my sides and he starts to guide me backwards.  My legs bump the edge of his mattress and I sit down.  He knells in front of me.  "Torrin."  "Quinn," his low voice says.  My stomach's a little spongy-like mom's disgusting tofu.  I take a breath and let it out.  Here goes nothing.  "Don't say I didn't warn you."  He smirks.  "Consider me warned."  My fingers dance across his cheek and I pull his face close."  (EARC, 116)  

What Are You Swooning Over?

Cover Reveal: Stripped by Brooklyn Skye

Stripped

by Brooklyn Skye 

Release Date: 05/14/13

Cover designed by: Lisa Poff Photography

Cover reveal organized by: YA Bound

Summary from Goodreads:

“I like you.” His voice is low and soft, which I don’t deserve. I look away, down the rutted parking lot.

“Don’t…waste those words on me.”

He touches my cheek. “You just need someone to show you.”

“No.” I ease back again. “I don’t. So please, Torrin, stop trying to swoop in and save me. I don’t need saving.”

College freshman Quinn Montgomery will do anything to avoid the mistake her sister made—killing herself over a boy. But when she is forced into nude modeling at a local college to support her family after a bankruptcy, she begins to crack, just enough to let Torrin, the university’s top varsity oarsman, see that the real Quinn is not as feisty and unapproachable as she wants everyone to think. But letting someone in comes at a steep cost and, it turns out, Torrin is connected to Quinn’s family in more ways than she could ever imagine.

About the Author

Brooklyn Skye is an author, editorial intern, and just your average awkward girl (especially on the phone!).   Her new adult debut, STRIPPED, releases May 2013!

Follow Brooklyn at:

Website * Twitter * Goodreads

Click HERE to sign up to participate in the blog tour for Stripped.

***GIVEAWAY***

Enter below to win a signed hardcopy of STRIPPED (if U.S. winner) or an e-copy with Authorgraph (if international winner)

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