For Emery (For You #4) by J. Nathan

* * * 1/2

A STANDALONE New Adult Sports Romance in the For You series. Each book follows a new couple.

Emery
I’ve loved Jordan Grady since I was eight.
Since he became my protector.
Since he became my safe haven each night.
But I was younger.
Off limits...
Until high school when he finally kissed me.
And for a few fleeting moments, everything was right in the world.
Then I was forced to do the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do...
Disappear from his life without a trace.

Grady
I’m Alabama’s star right tackle—and a real prick.
I live my life by a few solid truths.
Life isn’t fair.
Don’t let anyone get too close.
And those who claim to care about you can up and leave.
But you know what they say about things that disappear...
But Emery Pruitt had never been mine.
Even if she had returned after four years.
Older.
Confident.
And more beautiful than the night she vanished.
But it didn’t erase the fact that she’d left me.
So, why find me now? 

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review


Whenever I've read one of J. Nathan's books I've always enjoyed it. I see her as including just enough angst without being too overwhelming which is just the right combination for me.

For Emery is a story about the ultimate kind of friendship that's forged from the earliest and most influential years in a young child's life. Grady first meets Emery when her family moves in next door. Unfortunately, Emery's family life is a mess and she finds solace in hanging out in Grady's bedroom. He makes her feel safe and protected, and maybe it's hero worship that makes her declare that they'll be boyfriend and girlfriend, and even marry one day. Grady doesn't take her too seriously as far as that's concerned since she's a few years younger than him, but it doesn't change how deeply he cares about her and wishes he could fix everything for her. She disappears from his life abruptly and doesn't hear from her again until she shows up at as a freshman at college where he's a star on the football team. Seeing her again is a complete shock and brings up many years worth of pent up bitterness. Still, he's not letting her out of his sight. Now they just have to learn how to become friends all over again.

Be warned that this story involves domestic violence and Grady has some anger issues as well. Grady's behaviour feels a bit off to me only because the Grady in the younger years is extremely kind and protective, whereas the college-age Grady can be a jerk. It is inferred that Emery's disappearance is the cause of the shift in his attitude but I felt still felt as if I was missing something there.

This was an engaging but tough read because of the subject matter, and it's hard not to be overcome by some of the details. They're not terribly graphic, it's more the fear that Emery has lived with for so long and how she must be careful to protect herself. The upside is that two people who thought they'd lost the most meaningful connection to another person they've ever had, find each other again. And it's no an exaggeration to say that their friendship is a lifesaver. J. Nathan tells a good story and I recommend this one if you're up for it.

~ Bel

For Finlay by J. Nathan Blog Tour

Today we have the blog tour for For Finlay by J. Nathan. Check out this fantastic new release and grab your copy today!

Title: For Finlay

Author: J. Nathan

Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance

About For Finlay:

Finlay Thatcher is a lost soul, guilt-ridden after the death of her twin brother. When Alabama's football coach gives her the opportunity to work for him, she knows it's her chance to move on, even if it means living her brother's dream.   Caden Brooks is Alabama's star quarterback. He's got it all. The attention of adoring fans. A girlfriend who'd do anything to hold on to him. And a future in the pros. He's getting along just fine until Finlay steps into his life, despising him at first sight and pushing his buttons like no other.   Unfortunately for Finlay, and her attempt to keep Caden at arm's length, there's nothing Caden loves more than a challenge. The problem with this challenge is she comes with a secret that has the power to destroy everything.

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About J. Nathan:

Nathan is the author of the new adult novels For Finlay, Before Hadley, Until Alex, and Since Drew. When she's not writing, she's a total romance junkie! Add an alpha male who's unlikable in the beginning...even better. Happy endings are a must. Love triangles and negative people are the bane of her existence. Her family, friends, guys in backwards hats, and watermelon margaritas are the light…

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Click here to read Bel's review of For Finlay 

For Finlay by J. Nathan

* * * 1/2

Finlay Thatcher is a lost soul, guilt-ridden after the death of her twin brother. When Alabama's football coach gives her the opportunity to work for him, she knows it's her chance to move on, even if it means living her brother's dream. 

Caden Brooks is Alabama's star quarterback. He's got it all. The attention of adoring fans. A girlfriend who'd do anything to hold on to him. And a future in the pros. He's getting along just fine until Finlay steps into his life, despising him at first sight and pushing his buttons like no other. 

Unfortunately for Finlay, and her attempt to keep Caden at arm's length, there's nothing Caden loves more than a challenge. The problem with this challenge is she comes with a secret that has the power to destroy everything.


*Source: advance e-galled provided in exchange for an honest review


What is it about cocky college jocks that get us so excited? Perhaps we like when they meet their match in fiery, independent women they fall for? I think that's it for me. 

Finlay is a heartbroken freshman who's attending the school that her brother should be at. But he's not there and she is. So she resolves to live out his dream for both of them. Finlay sees it as repentance for the way their relationship went south. Caden, the star quarterback, is the focus of all her ire. He doesn't know why but he likes that she's feisty and doesn't take crap from anyone, including the guys on the football team. If anything, it's refreshing that she speaks her mind and doesn't glom on to everything he says and does the way most people do, especially girls. Especially his girlfriend. The fact that she knows and understands football only adds to her cool factor. Too bad she finds him repulsive. Or so he thinks. Finlay works hard to keep him at a distance but even she can't resist that he's fundamentally a decent guy. But she won't divulge too much about herself because that's personal and the truth is too painful. Developing a friendship with Caden feels like the ultimate betrayal to the memory of her brother. Sheesh, things are complicated.

This is my third J. Nathan novel and I pounced on the opportunity to read it. There's something different about her new adult novels that I like. In this case, I liked how she wrote Caden. Sure, he's a bit cocky and his innuendos are typical of a jock I suppose, but he's a good guy from the get go. Most importantly, is he's not a player. So when he finds himself falling for a particularly smart but stubborn water girl, he makes the necessary changes in his life to accommodate that. Don't get me wrong, he's a knucklehead, too but then so is Finlay, and their stupidity comes into play later. The in between is filled with sexual tension, humour, and bittersweet memories. 

I liked For Finlay; it's a quick, fun read that also has its emotional moments. And I will always say yes to a J. Nathan book.

~ Bel

We're celebrating the release of For Finlay with a giveway. Click here to enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of For Finlay!

Before Hadley by J. Nathan

* * * 

What's worse than a cocky new guy at school? A cocky new guy with a killer body and the attention of every female at school. Hadley can tell the minute she lays eyes on Caynan that he's someone to avoid. He may have looks and charm, but he's also got heartbreak written all over his pretty face.

Unfortunately for Hadley, Caynan has his sights set on her. She's the one girl who doesn't want him. The one girl who's turned off by his charm. The one girl who challenges him like no other. And, though she couldn't possibly know the truth about him, she seems to be the one girl who really sees him.

But with Caynan, things aren't at all what they seem. His secrets have secrets and everything out of his mouth straddles the line between truth and fiction. He knows better than to get involved with anyone, especially with his time limited in the new town, but he just can't seem to get Hadley out of his mind. Too bad for him, secrets never remain secrets for long.

  

Before Hadley is about a high school romance with all the potential to go well but ends up disastrously before it even has a chance to get off the ground.

Hadley and Caynan meet at a party. With his drop-dead good looks and that British accent, it doesn’t take long for all the girls at his new high school to notice him and want to stake their claims on him. Hadley however is unimpressed, pegging him for the über cocky type and he proves her correct. So she can’t fathom why when he could get with any of the other girls at school, and she clearly wants nothing to do with him, he zeroes in on her. They seem to have this flirty-teasing vibe that works for them. He continues to ask her out and she responds with sarcasm; it’s a beautiful thing! When she finally relents she’s surprised to see that she actually has fun with him. The biggest revelation is that he notices and appreciates details about her that none of her other boyfriends have ever noticed. As for Caynon, she makes him want to be a better man yet he’s walking a thin line because for reasons beyond his control, he’s being a deceitful prat. He is not who he claims to be yet when he’s with Hadley he feels most like himself. He works double-time to hide as much about himself as possible while still throwing out nuggets of truth to alleviate his guilt. When his duplicity is finally revealed, it’s game over. Hadley’s heart is broken into a million pieces and Caynan’s life is shattered.

I didn’t expect a time jump with each of them carrying on with their own lives. Hadley has trust issues – understandable, and Caynan wants a redo. He’s managed to turn his life around and is bent on winning back the girl. I was in Hadley’s corner for most of it, especially after Caynan attempts to return into her life. I absolutely understood how Hadley’s trust has been damaged and how she can’t outright forgive him. None of it is easy and Caynan has to work so hard, much like when he chased after her in high school except this time there’s they both carry heavy hearts. 

I requested this title simply because it was by J. Nathan. I liked her previous book, Since Drew that I read last year and I’d forgotten than she can write some heavy stuff but still sprinkle lighter moments in between. Trust is the central issue in this story along with the power of forgiveness, if and when it’s given. I wasn’t sure how she would wrap things up, whether there’d be any reconciliation and I liked that that was up in the air. Those two themes along with the angst and romance make Before Hadley another enjoyable read.

~ Bel

Since Drew by J. Nathan Book Blitz

We are so super excited to be part of the Since Drew Book Blitz. Seriously, look at this cover! How can one not want to join in? Anyway, we have some goodies for you to enjoy -- an excerpt, a teaser plus a giveaway (open internationally)! Thank you to J. Nathan and Xpresso Book Tours for organizing this book blitz. 

Now please, continue to ogle this cover; trust us, we understand and have at it!

~ Bel

All Andi Parker has ever wanted, all she’s ever dreamed of, is a spot on the Olympic track team. But when a near-fatal accident leaves her hospitalized with serious injuries and shattered dreams, she’s not only uncertain what her future holds but also completely alone.

Drew Slater is a wanted man. Professional football teams want him for his arm. Women want him for his good looks and magnetic personality. But the well-crafted disguise he wears, the one that helps him score on and off the field, hides secrets. Conceals lies. Threatens the happiness of everyone around him.

One chance encounter brings Andi and Drew together, changing their worlds in ways they never thought possible. Unfortunately, what they thought they knew about themselves—and each other—might just be the biggest lie of all.

  

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EXCERPT:

He approached the chair beside my bed and dropped down into it, keeping his eyes trained on mine.

“Hi?”

A devious smirk tipped his lips as he placed the bag on the floor and lowered my tray table in the space between us. He reached inside the crinkly bag, letting his hand linger. I’d give him props. He definitely knew how to pique my curiosity. His hand slid out grasping a shot glass. His eyes stayed on mine as he placed it on the empty tray table in front of him. Then he reached back in and pulled out a second glass.

“Thirsty?”

A slow sexy smile skated across his lips as he slid the glass across the table in front of me. But he wasn’t done. He reached back in the bag and pulled out a full bottle of vodka.

“Seriously?” I laughed.

He nodded. “You scared?”    

“Scared I’m gonna drink you under the table.”

He threw back his head and let loose a shoulder shaking laugh. So carefree. So comfortable. So unbelievably breathtaking.

But once it continued much longer than necessary, I crossed my arms over the UNC printed on my powder-blue T-shirt. “Are we playing a game or just trying to get sloppy drunk?”

His laughter subsided as he dug into his pocket and pulled out a quarter, holding it up so the fluorescent lights in my room reflected off it.

“So, we’re wagering?”

He nodded. “And with the pain meds getting the liquor to your head quicker, you being drunk off your ass is just an added bonus.”

I swallowed down. Hard.

“Now if I win…” He twisted his lips like he really needed to consider the stakes. “I get to give you a sponge bath.”

He said it so matter-of-factly, it threw me for a loop. Then again, it seemed like a win-win for me.

“If you win,” he continued. “You give me a sponge bath.”

“Who said I’d want to give you a sponge bath?” I totally did.

“Seriously? Have you seen me?”

I almost choked on the arrogance floating around the room. But in all honesty, I liked it. Too much. A guy who knew who he was and what he wanted turned me on. It’s what I was drawn to. What I normally sought out. I nodded toward the vodka. “Where’d you get it?”

“My buddy Avery smuggled it in.”

“All in an effort to get me drunk?”

His smile spread wide. “All in an effort to get you drunk and give you a sponge bath.”

“Ever think of just asking?”

 AUTHOR BIO:

I'm a total romance junkie! Add an alpha male who's unlikable in the beginning...even better. Happy endings are a must. Don’t leave me with an unexpected cliffhanger or someone dying in the end. I’ll be depressed for days. Love triangles and negative people are the bane of my existence. My family, friends, sangria, and watermelon margaritas are the light…

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