Book Review: I See You by Molly McAdams

I See You

By:
Molly McAdams

Release Date:
Nov. 1, 2016

Publisher:
William Morrow Paperbacks

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Source:
eARC from the publisher inn exchange for a honest review

GR's Summary:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Molly McAdams’ powerful new novel offers one of the most memorable love triangles in fiction since Twilight—perfect for fans of New Adult fiction like Jamie McGuire, Abbi Glines, and Tamarra Webber. 

Futures are uncertain, unpredictable—like ink spilled across the purest surface. Nearly imperceptible ripples move and flow until a unique stain is formed. The ink is permanently imbedded in the surface… 

During one wild night in college, Jentry Michaels is a tidal wave of ink that brands Aurora Wilde’s soul. An unparalleled stain she can’t forget despite the many months that have passed—and despite the distraction she’d hoped she would find in her new relationship with Declan, the charmer who captured her heart soon after. Jentry has irrevocably touched her soul, and he is intertwined in her present and future in ways she never fathomed. Now Aurora is faced with keeping that night hidden though it feels as if the ink has indelibly etched their story across her skin. 

When Declan is confronted with his own personal demons, Aurora must decide if she will continue to hold tight to their relationship and a safe, reliable future with him, or if she will turn to Jentry—the guy she can’t forget no matter how hard she tries.…

My Thoughts:

I See You is a new adult romance all about tough decisions, bad timing, animal attraction, and overcoming tough odds.  It is a story written in typical Molly McAdams fashion with a lot of emotion, angst, and a whopping love triangle that will tear at your heart.

Aurora "Rorie" Taylor has always been a "good" girl, who is responsible and dedicated to her studies to become an elementary school teacher.  Her senior year of college, she decides to go to a party to be someone else for the night.  She ends up meeting "Jay," at the party.  He is gorgeous, intense, and has an appeal that Rorie has never experienced before.  They spend one unbelievable, life-changing night together.  Rorie can't get him out of her mind.  However, when she goes to a college party the following weekend looking for "Jay," she doesn't find him.  

Instead she meets, Declan "Dec" Veil.  Dec is sweet, charming, fun, and attentive.  Their relationship develops pretty quickly, and soon they are moving in together.  However, Rorie can never forget Jay, and oftentimes finds herself fantasying about him.  She feels guilty, and is determined to make things work with Dec, but can't help the way she cannot get her one night stand out of her mind.

Dec's adopted brother and best friend, Jentry Michaels, is finally getting out of the Marines, and Dec can't wait for his girl to meet him.  Rorie is excited as well because she's heard all about Jentry.  She is curious what he looks like, because she hasn't even seen so much as a picture of him.  Dec's mother, who is the monster-in-law from hell, refuses to show Rorie any pictures, so you can imagine her shock when she see's Jentry for the first time, and realizes that he is her "Jay."

Jentry never got Aurora out of his mind.  The night they shared together was life-changing, and he hasn't touched a woman since.  As Dec constantly talked about the love of his life, "Rorie," Jentry never made the connection that Rorie was "Aurora," the name she introduced herself to him as.  Now to complicate matters, Jentry, is staying in the guest bedroom of Dec and Rorie's apartment, until he can find a place of his own.  Jentry vows to stay far away from Rorie, because he could never betray or hurt his brother and best friend.  How will Rorie and Jentry resist the magnetic pull towards one another?  Who will Rorie end up with, and will the three of them be able to survive the fallout of secrets revealed and irresistible temptations?

I See You was a good read.  I always enjoy Molly McAdams stories, and this one was no different.  It was a page-turner, that had me interested to see how everything would turn out.  Dec and Jentry's mother was the very definition of monster-in-law, and drove me crazy!  She said horrible things to Rorie and the things she did had me seeing red, but she kept the story that much more interesting.  I wanted Rorie to stand up to her, which she did not do, and that irked me to the core!  Dec didn't do a very good job of putting his mother in her place either, which annoyed me.  

As far as side plots go, we also get to know Jentry's troubled biological sister, Jessica, and the dysfunctional and abusive family unit they came from.  This contributed to Jentry fearing that he would turn in to his father, which as a reader I had no fear of happening, but understood why this haunted him.

My Rating:

I give, I See You, by Molly McAdams, 4 Magnetic Attraction, Unforgettable Night, Tough Decisions, Angst & Heartbreak filled Stars!

Book Teasers:

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound | BAM

About Molly McAdams:

Molly McAdams grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband, daughter, and fur babies. Her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes.

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Cover Reveal : I See You by Molly McAdams

I See You

by Molly McAdams

Release Date:
November 1st, 2016

Genres:
New Adult
Contemporary 
Romance

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Synopsis:

Futures are uncertain, unpredictable-like ink spilled across the purest surface. Nearly imperceptible ripples move and flow until a unique stain is formed. The ink is permanently embedded in the surface… 

During one wild night in college, Jentry Michaels is a tidal wave of ink that brands Aurora Wilde's soul. An unparalleled stain she can't forget despite the many months that have passed-and despite the distraction she'd hoped she would find in her new relationship with Declan, the charmer who captured her heart soon after. Jentry has irrevocably touched her soul, and he is intertwined in her present and future in ways she never fathomed. Now Aurora is faced with keeping that night hidden though it feels as if the ink has indelibly etched their story across her skin. 

When Declan is confronted with his own personal demons, Aurora must decide if she will continue to hold tight to their relationship and a safe, reliable future with him, or if she will turn to Jentry-the guy she can't forget no matter how hard she tries…

About the Author:

Molly McAdams grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband, daughter, and fur babies. Her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes.

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Blog Tour: To the Stars (Thatch #2) by Molly McAdams

To the Stars
Thatch #2

By:
Molly McAdams

Published:
Feb. 9, 2016

Publisher:
William Morrow PB

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Goodreads

Source:
eARC from publisher in exchange for a honest review

GR's Summary:

In the second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Molly McAdams’ Thatch series, Knox Alexander must convince his long-time love Harlow Evans that they’re meant to be together. 

He promised to wait for her. She told him he was wasting his time. Not waiting for him ended up being the biggest mistake of her life. 

When they were younger, Knox Alexander swore to Harlow Evans that he would wait for her to turn eighteen so they could be together. But that was three and a half years away, and Harlow couldn’t ask him to give up all the fun and thrills of going away to college for her. As the years passed, Knox remained a constant in her life—whether she liked it or not—but when her eighteenth birthday came around, Harlow’s heart belonged to someone else. 

Every day for the last four years, Harlow has been haunted by that fateful choice. And though he may appear unaffected by what happened in their past, Knox has always tried to fill the void Harlow left. But when he comes stumbling back into her life and refuses to leave, will Harlow finally let him into her heart…?

 

Thatch Series:
My Review of Letting Go Here

 

*Add this Series to Goodreads Here

My Thoughts:

A valuable lesson that I have learned from reading Molly McAdams is that I need to emotionally prepare myself, before diving into one of her books.  I also need to load up on tissue for tears, take a few breaks to regroup, and follow it up with a light fluffy read.  No matter the emotional turmoil, angst, and tears, her books are ones that I truly treasure.  Ms. McAdams has such a way of writing, that I "feel" everything that her characters go through.  I sympathize with them, anguish with them, and hope that they will get eventually get the peace and happiness that they deserve.

In To the Stars, we get Harlow "Low" Evans and Knox Alexander's story.  These two met when Low was just fifteen years old and Knox was seventeen going on eighteen.  They couldn't be together, due to their age gap.  However, they talked on the phone constantly, and saw each other frequently.  Knox wanted to do the honorable thing, and so, he promised Low that he would wait for the day that she would turn eighteen, and they could be together.  Circumstances changed, and Low ended up married to another man, but they both never stopped loving one another.

Fast forward four years later and Low is married to an abusive, sadistic, wealthy, and powerful man.  She cannot escape her fate, due to the fact that he threatens to harm her family, and has proven that he has just the means to do it.  Knox is a firefighter, who works hard, lives with his two best friends Graham and Deacon, and plays the field.  There isn't a woman who can measure up to Low.  When fate brings these two back together, the stakes are higher than ever.  Knox cannot risk losing the only woman he's ever loved.  Yet, his biggest concern is for her safety.  Can her rescue Low, and live the happily ever after that he's always dreamed of?

To the Stars was raw, traumatic, disturbing, and realistic in the portrayal of abuse.  I felt every slap, hair-pull, bruise, and choke-hold that Low endured at the hands of her crazy husband.  He was controlling, possessive, jealous, and paranoid.  Ms. McAdams captured the fear, desperation, guilt, and helplessness that victims endure at the hands of their victimizers.  Low's abuser, Collin, made my skin crawl, and I hated him with a vengeance.  If you've ever wondered why a woman would stay in an abusive relationship, read this book.  It isn't as easy to get away as you would think.  

Secondary characters from the first book in the series, Letting Go, made a reappearance.  I enjoyed reconnecting with Grey, Jagger, Graham, and Deacon.  Although, Graham and Deacon irritated me at times in the story with the way they treated Low, I know that they were just being overprotective of Knox.  You'll be happy to know that they redeem themselves in the story as they take on the 'Mother Hen' role with Low.

Low and Knox were meant to be.  They both made mistakes along the way, but that's why this story was so realistic.  I think their youth, as well as outside influences were what worked against them at the beginning.  Low lost her glow, and was scarred from the abuse that she endured.  Yet, Knox could still see through to the girl that he had fallen in love with.  Their love was eternal, and I wanted them to find their way back to each other.      

My Rating:

I give, To the Stars, by Molly McAdams, 4 Young Love, Battling The Monster, Courage, Passion, Healing, and Hope Filled Stars!  I'm looking forward to continuing the Thatch Series, and am hoping that Graham and Deacon will each eventually get their own book.

Book Teasers:

Book Excerpt:

     Just as she was leaning in for another kiss, she jolted and her eyes widened. 
     “What’s wrong?” I asked when she didn’t say anything or move. 
     “I think…” 
     “What?” 
     “Did a bird just poop on my head?” she asked in a horrified voice. 
     I laughed loudly, and looked at her like she’d lost it. “In the middle of the night? I doubt it.” Still laughing, I rolled us over and pressed my body closer to hers. As I brought my mouth back down to hers, I felt the rain start falling against the back of my neck. I let out a sigh against her lips, and said, “And that would be your bird.”  
     “No, no!” Harlow scrambled out from under me and off the blanket, and tried to take off in the direction of my truck, but I was up and after her within seconds. 
     I hooked an arm around her waist before she could get far, and swung her body back against mine. 
     “Knox!” she screamed through her laughs as she tried to get away from me. “We need to get back to the truck!” 
     “What’s a little rain when you’re from Seattle?”
     “Because I always look awful when I see you, and I actually tried to look nice this time!” She giggled and tried to pull away again, but stopped when I pressed her back to my chest. 
     “You wanted romantic,” I whispered into her ear, and wrapped an arm around her waist. I played with the sliver of skin exposed on her stomach, and smiled when she shivered against me. Taking the loose collar of her shirt in my other hand, I pulled until it fell down her arm, and moved my mouth in a line across her shoulder. “Dance with me.” 
     Harlow turned her head slowly toward mine, and our eyes locked for heated seconds as I swayed us back and forth. An audible exhale blew past her lips when I traced the bridge of my nose along her jaw and trailed the tips of my fingers up her stomach, across her chest, and down her arms. Grabbing her hands in mine, I turned her around so we were facing each other, and pulled her close again as I resumed the slow dance. 
     I’d played this out differently in my head when I’d stopped her from running back to my truck. I’d thought of having fun with the dance and making her laugh in that way that always got to me. But this … with our slow movements in the pouring rain with the girl I’d waited years for … I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Purchase At:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

About Molly McAdams:

Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry four-legged daughters. When she's not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies and fried pickles, and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm ... or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren't really happening.

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Blog Tour: Trusting Liam (Taking Chances #2) by Molly McAdams

Trusting Liam

Taking Chances, #2

By:
Molly McAdams

Release Date:
June 9th, 2015

Publisher:
William Morrow


Synopsis:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Taking Chances, From Ashes, and Stealing Harper, comes the new unforgettable adult romance Molly McAdams’ fans have been waiting for—the sizzling story of a young woman who must place her trust in the one man who can break through her defenses. 

A night they will always remember…a connection neither can deny…a secret that could destroy it all… 

When Kennedy Ryan moves to California, she never expects to come face-to-face with Liam Taylor—the intriguing man who has haunted her thoughts for a year. A man who led her to breaking every one of her rules for a single night of passion that ended up meaning more than it was ever supposed to. Accustomed to disastrous experiences with men, Kennedy shields herself before he can break down more of the carefully built control she’s clung to for the last four years. But every time she sees Liam, she feels her resolve weakening. 

Liam Taylor has been asked to help socialize his boss’s nieces. But what he thinks sounds more like a babysitting job ends up leading him to the only girl who ever slipped away before morning—a girl he thought he’d never find again. And now that she’s within reach, Liam’s determined to never let her go. 

But when a secret from her past tests their relationship, will they be able to cling to the trust Liam has worked so hard to build?

Taking Chances Series on Goodreads

Lindy's Thoughts:

Trusting Liam was a fun read, because I got to meet Kash and Rachel's identical twin daughters all grown up.  I really enjoyed the Forgiving Lies Series, so it was exciting and heartwarming to get guest appearances from Kash, Rachel, Mason, and Eli, as well as references to their life events.  

I never read Taking Chances, but as I read this story, I learned that Liam's parents were Harper and Chase from the first story in the series, and got to meet many of the other characters from that story as well.  After reading Trusting Liam, I really want to go back and read Taking Chances.  Even though Trusting Liam has many crossover characters, it can still be read as a standalone.  However, if you haven't read the Forgiving Lies Series, and Taking Chances, be warned that Trusting Liam contains spoilers for those other books.

In Trusting Liam, we get Kennedy and Liam's dual perspectives.  These two had one very hot one night stand in Las Vegas a year ago, and haven't seen each other since Kennedy snuck out the morning after.  Even after such a long time apart, Kennedy and Liam never stopped thinking of each other.  Kennedy and her identical twin sister Kira, are forced to move from Florida to California, when their lives are being threatened by powerful just released gang members that their father put in prison. 

The twins Uncle Eli, enlists the help of Liam, to make the girls feel welcome in their new surroundings.  When Liam learns that Kennedy is the woman from his Las Vegas one night stand, he is shocked.  Kennedy doesn't do relationships or trust men with her heart after having it broken once before.  Liam is determined to win Kennedy over, and make her take a chance on him.  She may be stubborn, but he's not willing to take "no" for an answer.

Trusting Liam had a steady pace to it.  I didn't care for Kira, who came off as whinny and immature, but I did like Kennedy, who was mature and independent.  Kennedy wasn't very trusting, and made it very difficult for Liam to pursue her, but as someone who has experienced heart break before, I could understand her reservations.  I loved Liam's perseverance, and how he put everything he had in to winning Kennedy over.  He was sweet, romantic, and very attentive.  

The plot of the story was great!  My favorite aspects were  being reunited with characters from the Forgiving Lies Series, and meeting characters from the Taking Chances Series; especially Liam's step-father Brandon, Uncle Konrad, and most of all family friend Brian.  I also loved the major plot twist in the story that I didn't see coming.  It made for a very interesting dynamic between all of the characters, and had far-reaching consequences in the story.   

         

My Rating:

I give, Trusting Liam, by Molly McAdams, 4 Beloved Character Reunion, Romantic, Second Chance at Love Filled Stars.  Fans of Ms. McAdams Forgiving Lies Series, and Taking Chances, will be ecstatic to be reunited with characters from these other titles, as well as get to meet their children now that they are all grown up!

Book Teaser:

Book Excerpt:

Trying not to wake him, I slowly slid out from under his arm and off the bed to search for my clothes. Once I was dressed, I told myself to just leave, but I couldn’t help it—I turned to look at him in the light. I needed to be sure I hadn’t made him up. 

The images from last night tore through my mind again when I saw the large, tattooed arm resting where my body had just been. The muscles were well defined even relaxed, and the face had a boyish charm now that he was asleep. Such a difference from the predatory stare and knowing smirk I kept seeing in my mind. Before I could stop myself, I gently ran my fingers through his dirty-blond hair that, now in the sunlight, I could see had a red tint to it. And I knew if he opened them, those arctic blue eyes would once again captivate me. 

But I couldn’t risk that. 

I’d already stayed too long; I’d already made a mistake with him. Drunken one-night stands weren’t my thing. Drunken one-night stands with strangers in Vegas were even worse. 

Straightening, I turned and walked quietly from the room.

Purchase At:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

About Molly McAdams:

Molly McAdams grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry four-legged daughters. Her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling and long walks on the beach, which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. When she's not at work, she can be found hiding out in her bedroom surrounded by her laptop, cell, Kindle and fighting over the TV remote. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies, fried pickles and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm...or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren't really happening. 

Website  | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway:

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Blog Tour Organized By:

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