Title:
Lovely
Author:
Beth
Michele
Genre:
New
Adult
Release Date:
September
26, 2013
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Synopsis
A moment can change everything…
Ashton Taylor. Six foot one, Dark hair, chiseled jaw, riveting hazel
eyes, and a body cut in all the right places. He’s a natural. Things just come
easy to him. He’s used to getting everything he wants, excelling at everything
he does. The grades, the recognition, the beautiful women.
His path was set. A girl, a full scholarship to UC San Diego, and a
bright future. To others, his life seemed perfect. But, things are never what
they seem, and life, well, at any moment, something or someone can come along
and turn it upside down.
That something…the death of his father.
That someone… Cara Hayward. The girl with the hypnotic eyes, melodic
voice, enchanting smile, and lips sent straight from heaven.
The girl who doesn’t want to be
seen.
So what happens when a guy who
everything comes easy to, meets a girl who doesn’t come easy?
Can he crawl through all the
broken glass to find her? Will the girl he discovers deep down be able to see
past his perfect exterior?
Together, do they have the
power to heal one another? Or, could the very thing that brings them together,
be the one thing that tears them apart?
Nikki and Sarah's double review!!
Sarah: I really liked Lovely. It was… Lovely. It was a well told story that I would feel comfortable wholeheartedly recommending to anyone looking for a good, emotional read. 4.5 stars from me!
Nikki and Sarah's double review!!
Nikki: Wow! How lovely is ‘Lovely’?!!
I think i’m in love, yes I know i’m in love, with Ashton (and his abs!!). This is such a sweet, heartbreaking story. Full of ‘feels’ and beautiful moments. It touches on all your squishy parts with loveable characters, both primary and secondary. What did you think Sarah? Am I gonna have to share another one of my book boyfriends with you?!
Sarah: Maybe, he was pretty great. I really did think that he was a great guy, although the first couple pages had me thinking otherwise. I was glad that he was able to put that all behind him when something special came along!! I was impressed with everything that he was able to take on at such a young age. How did you feel about him taking on everything he did, without complaining?
Nikki: He did such an amazing job at being the man of the house. It was a lot of weight to carry on young shoulders and he had to think and act like a man while he was still a boy. His love and protection of his family was beautiful but my heart broke a little for the fact that he lost some of his youth. The sleeping around in the beginning was his way of rebelling against the pressure and responsibility of taking care of his family. I usually struggle with a male lead that is a bit of a manwhore! But not this time. I understood his need to let loose and not once was he dishonest with the girls he spent time with, they knew the score and quite honestly they were using him too. I hurt for the way he was so detached about it, like he used up all his love on his family and there was no room for anyone else, until Cara…
I think, having the story from Ash’s POV helped understand the workings of his mind and made him totally loveable to know his reasoning and understanding of everything that goes on. How did the guy POV work out for you?
Sarah: I prefer the male POV usually, and this was no exception. I love getting into the guys mind. It is such a mystery for me! I understand how girls think so if the male POV is available that is what I’ll choose! I think that Ash could have come off as much more cold and unlikeable without his POV in this particular book.
As soon as I met Shelby, I knew she was going to be trouble. The scene with the quarterback really sealed her troublemaker status for me. Even though she had a fairly small part in the book I felt like she was really a driving force. What did you think about her?
Nikki: Slapper! That is the only real word I could come up with for her! She is just trash and trouble through and through. I agree that her presence had a huge part in showing how Ash was feeling and how he is different from the ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude that he portrayed in the beginning. It also highlighted the differences between her and Cara. She is so meek and gentile, but also clever and funny. She showed a sweet side of her when she was drunk and let her guard down. I love how we saw her open up and blossom like a flower waiting for the rain. Ash is her spring rain and she just shone through once they had found trust in each other and made that connection. How did you feel about Cara? was she a likeable leading lady for you?
Sarah: She felt relatable. Even though there were some deeper issues going on with her insecurities, she was real. A lot of the stuff that she was dealing with was stuff that lots of girls/women deal with. Most of the time it seemed like Ash was the truly strong one in the relationship but she really stepped up when he needed her. Even though the book wasn’t from her POV it was told in a way that you knew exactly what was going on with her for the most part, I really liked that.
I felt drawn into Lovely from the moment I opened it. Beth Michele is definitely an accomplished heartstring player. My emotions ran the gamut. Did you have one particular scene that drew out more emotions than the others?
Nikki:There was one scene that nearly broke the Ice queen actually, and it’s not the one you’re thinking of. Ash and his brother stayed up playing computer games and fell asleep on the couch. It was just so touching. Can you give away yours without spoilers?!
Sarah: I loved that one too. I can’t really say anything about what happens in my favorite scene without spoilers so I’m just going to tell you the chapter. Well, I guess it’s not really a chapter, per say, it’s the epilogue, I definitely didn’t see that coming. I was happy and sad and everything in between. I was completely surprised by it! Of course tears were shed throughout the entire novel where I was concerned, as I wear my heart on my sleeve!
The supporting characters in this book were just as amazing as the leads, did you have a favorite? I loved Jason, maybe more than Ashton. He was just so wonderful to Ash, and such a voice of reason throughout the book. He was also there for Ashton and his family when they really needed him. I’m glad that he was included in the book.
Nikki: Oh yes, I loved Jason, in fact i’ve asked for a Jason book! He seems like a cool guy with a story to tell and I think you’re right, he could be almost as lovely as Ashton! . He is an amazing friend, totally loyal and made a great secondary character. Ok, lets talk favorite quotes, you know the rules, 2 only!...Here’s mine-
‘I don’t remember feeling like this about a girl. But then again, she’s not just a girl. She’s simply the most beautiful girl i’ve ever known. She’s not any girl. She’s the girl.’
‘Everyone has something different inside of them to share with the world, you just have to dig deep and find it’
Sarah: Again, I had so many favorites, that it was hard to pick just two!! The first one spoke to me, so much, that I have to include it even though it’s pretty dark.
‘Who knows what’s hidden inside? What’s trapped beneath the surface of a smile. Scratching and clawing to escape I scream but no one hears. There is desperation. Yet there is no escape. There is only suffocation.’
‘He found me. And I couldn’t be happier. Because he changed my life in that moment’
Nikki: Perfect! The whole book was full of beautiful moments and phrases that stay with you long after you have finished reading. Beth Michele has again managed to create loveable characters, a believable story and even added some steam in there too! A definite 5 stars from me!
Sarah: I really liked Lovely. It was… Lovely. It was a well told story that I would feel comfortable wholeheartedly recommending to anyone looking for a good, emotional read. 4.5 stars from me!
About the
Author
I am a wife, a mom, an author, and a lover of all things chocolate,
well, anything sweet really. While stuffing chocolate in my face, I enjoy
reading young adult and new adult novels furiously, and spending time with my
husband and two adorable children who keep me on my peppermint pink painted
toes. Those same children who inspire me to tell silly stories that cause
hysterical giggles to tumble from their bellies.
I love to laugh and love to have a good cry, especially after reading
a novel that stretches my soul, one that makes me feel, and lingers in the
corner of my heart.
I’m a hopeless romantic and a happily ever after fanatic, and I love
to write about LOVE.
I began writing when I was in middle school, penning anything from
short stories, to poetry, and then later moved on to write children’s
books. I have now endeavored into New Adult and Contemporary Romance
novels and am loving every minute of it. My first novel, Love Love, was
released in May, 2013.
Connect with the Author
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