Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Falling Behind by Dee Avila ~ Blog Tour and Review by Sarah



SYNOPSIS

Going into the her second year of high school in the rural town of Laton, Reese was ready to come out of her shell, experience life with her best friends and find a way to tell Titus she wanted to be more than friends. When Josh, the new student, shows up on the first day and a whirlwind relationship starts between him and Reese, she was in her own world and barely noticed her friend spiraling downhill. The night Josh pushed her to far her best friend died, causing her own world to spiral. 
Trying to move on from losing her best friend and ignore what Josh did to her, Reese pulls away from everyone. She had to overcome her fears and face her demons to be able to move forward.

Title: Falling Behind
Author: Dee Avila
Genre: Mature Young Adult
Release Date: June 2013
SARAH'S 3.5 STAR REVIEW

Reese wanted to start her sophomore year by telling her best guy friend, Titus (Ty), that she wants to be more than just best friends.  Until Josh shows up on the first day and sweeps her off of her feet.  When he start changing and becoming more moody, controlling, and demanding she isn't sure how not to be with him.  When he starts taking little pieces of her she knows she can't just walk away.

Titus knows that he wants to be more that just best friends with Reese.  There are only two problems; he told their other best friend, Candice, that he wouldn't ask Reese out, and she has a super possessive boyfriend.  Which would probably be okay but he is sure that both girls are in unhealthy relationships.  He just doesn't know how to protect them without seeming like he is being too intrusive.

Together Reese and Ty begin to notice that their friend is in serious trouble.  When they alert the adults in their life all she does is pull away farther.  One fateful night changes everything for all three of them.  There is no way that they will make it out the same, or that they will all make it out at all.

I have mixed feelings as I write this review.  I really loved the story.  And it was well told.  The ending though... 

Titus was really quite fabulous, maybe even too good to be true.  I knew from the very beginning of the book that he was deeply in love with Reese.  He wasn't perfect, he was a high school boy, with teenage boy faults.  But he was one of those truly selfless characters who would have done anything for those who he loved.  He was quite adorable.  Maybe a little young for me, being that he was half my age! ;)

Reese was pretty broken from the second that I met her.  Not as broken as she would come to be, but enough that she was not operating well.  The farther into the story we got the more she fell apart.  When the worst of the worst happens, there is a good chance that she'll never recover.

The plot of this book was pretty great.  It deals with a lot of the dirty underbelly that we generally associate only with adults, but is definitely happening within the confines of high school as well.  I think that it was pretty tastefully addressed, at that.  This could have very easily went into the land of taboo and dirty but it didn't.

There were a few things that I would clean up a little bit, but all in all I was pretty happy with the story telling in Falling Behind.  I hated how it ended, there it is.  I hated it!  It was a huge cliffhanger and I really felt like it stopped, not just before the story was over, but before the scene was over.  ARGH!!  I must know what happens!!

I would recommend this book to most of my friends, unless they were sensitive to the issues contained within.  If I had daughters I would make them read this so that they would know that bad things can happen to anyone.  As it is, I hope that, when my sons are older (my oldest is 8), I remember this book and have them read it so that they will know what to look for, in order keep their friends safe from this type of treatment.


PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00E1WCHOU
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/falling-behind-dee-avila/1116795252
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/342071

EXCERPT

When Reese came back out of her room, she looked relaxed. I also caught something close to mischief gleaming in her denim-blue eyes. I took in the rest of her when she turned her back toward me to and headed into the kitchen. Her normally tight fitting dance shorts hung on her loosely. Don’t get me wrong, they still looked amazing on her. Just big. The tight black tank with the hot pink sports bra underneath was also a little loose. The girl still looked gorgeous. She had gone completely comfortable and even pulled her hair up into a messy bun on top of her head.

I had to start thinking about baseball again, to distract when she opened the freezer and reached up to the top shelf for the ice cream. The tank lifted, showing two dimples low on her back—just peeking out from the black dance shorts, she’d folded over to make shorter. The curve of skin at the top of her thigh was showing and I knew I’d better think of something else before I went and forced my lips on her.

A’s, Dodgers, Giants…

I closed my eyes and willed myself to relax.

“Are you sleeping?” Reese whispered.

I cocked an eyebrow and peeked out of one eye. “Uh, no.”

GIVEAWAY

(1) Signed Paperback set of Falling Behind and Candice's Story by Dee Avila (US Only)
(2) $25 Gift Cards to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (Winners Choice - 1 Winner Each)
(1) $10 Amazon Gift Card
(2) eBook copies of Without Boundaries by CJ Azevedo
(1) eBook copy of Crash and Burn by Chelsea Camaron
(2) eBook copies of Beautiful Chances by Alicia Rae
(1) Signed Paperback of Thursday Nights by Lisa N. Paul
(1) eBook copy of Derek by Dawn Martens
(1) eBook copy of Whiskey Lullaby by Dawn Martens and Emily Minton
a Rafflecopter giveaway


AUTHOR BIO

I'm a wife and mother of four. I have been writing for as long as I can remember. I use to write fairy tales when I was in grade school, but now I love writing about those tough high school years and how one decision can change the course of your life. Friendships, first loves and over coming the odds all interest me.

Three years ago, I decided life was too short to waste my stories by letting them collect dust on my shelves. I researched querying, took a few writing workshops and wrote the whole time. I first ventured away from what I normally wrote and tried a Paranormal Romance. That novel is tucked safely away. A year ago I chose to go back to my roots and write what I love - friendships, love and choices - how speaking out can save a life, maybe yours or a friends.

I talked to other authors and made wonderful friends. That's when I learned about self-publishing. I'm glad I followed through. I was so nervous to hit publish, but now I am grateful for the encouragement. It was the best decision I've ever made.

I'm usually in front of my laptop. When I'm not writing I am either trying to catch up on a weeks worth of laundry or on Facebook. I am a huge procrastinator. Usually close to a deadline, you can find me actually cleaning house just so I don't have to hit send. I think sending my books out to betas and my editor is the second scariest thing in the world. I love Rockstars and PB&J sandwiches. (Not the healthiest I know but it’s the fastest and it tastes good.)

STALKER LINKS

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1 comment:

  1. Dee Avila Books10/16/2013 9:33 pm

    Thank you for your review! I honestly tried numerous times to change the ending and nothing felt right. I am working quickly to get Falling #2 out.
    Thank you again!!

    ReplyDelete

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