Title: Wherever You Will Go
Author: Stephanie Smith
Genre: Contemporary Romance
~ SYNOPSIS ~
Brooke Willis had everything she ever wanted: a happy marriage, volunteer placement at the art gallery, and the promise of starting a family with the man of her dreams.
Saxon Reed had everything he ever thought he needed: a successful career, nice cars, expensive apartment, and more money than he knew what to do with.
After losing her husband Brooke insists on taking over his company to keep his dreams alive. Struggling in an industry she knows nothing about, Brooke turns to Saxon, her husband’s best friend and business partner, for guidance and support. Their mutual grief, and Saxon’s need to look after his best friend’s wife, creates a connection beyond just business.
Can Brooke take over the company and find a new life without saying goodbye to the past? Can Saxon protect and care for Brooke without scaring her away.
What happens when your heart doesn't listen to your head? When lines are crossed and boundaries are pushed?
“Life goes on, whether you choose to move forward and take a chance in the unknown or stay behind, locked in the past, thinking of what could've been. I don’t want to live in the past anymore. I’m so lonely; there’s nothing for me here.”
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Gripping her hips so tightly she can no longer shake and shimmy them, I try to gain some kind of control over my anger. What the fuck is she doing?
As I step up behind her and hold her tight against me, the douche touching her releases his hands and steps back. Good idea, buddy. Brooke hasn't turned to look at who it is, but I know from the way her body relaxed into mine that she knows it’s me.
“What are you doing, Brooke?” I say into her ear, trying to keep all traces of anger out of my voice. If she was mine, if I wasn't so scared of pushing her away, I would have picked her up and thrown her over my shoulder and carried her the fuck out of here.
She turns her head slightly towards me. “I told you it was girls’ night tonight,” she says defensively.
“You know what I mean.” I grip her hips harder and pull her against me tighter as my control begins to snap.
She turns around in my arms and steps out of my embrace. “Saxon …” She’s frustrated and becoming flustered as she tries to find her words.
I don’t think about it as I grab her hand and begin to pull her off the dance floor. I don’t miss the curious looks from the two blondes, the confusion on Rachel’s face, or the smirk on Harper’s.
I couldn't care what any of them think or if any of them find out. I actually wish they would. I want everyone to know Brooke is mine.
I don’t care how she feels about what we are doing, what she thinks it is—she is mine. I wanted to stake my claim on that dance floor. Tell that douche he better not put his hands on what’s mine and then take Brooke into my arms and show everyone exactly who she belongs to.
Of course I couldn't do anything because I live in a constant state of panic, watching everything I say and do, living in the fear of scaring her off.
The synopsis
pulled me in from the get go….I was really excited to read this ‘forbidden’
love story. Hello? Best friend and widow falling in love? I wanted that angst.
I wanted that heartache. I wanted to feel this draw and pull and magnetism
towards each other.
With the
beginning centered on Nate and Brooke, we got to learn about the deep love they
had for each other.
“The look of awe on his face melts me. In his eyes, I feel perfect. He
looks at me like he is the lucky one, like the depth of love he feels for me is
unfathomable.” ~Brooke
When this
life of love was cut short by an untimely accident that stopped Brooke from
living, her life crumbles before her. From a life of pure bliss, to one where
she can’t breathe and is swallowed up in depression….the ONE person that is
able to pull her out and make her “live” again is Saxon, her husband’s best
friend.
Saxon is the
untouchable man-whore who loves his ladies and will never settle down…at least
that’s what he’s always said. He is just the good friend, her confidant, but
eventually, the one that finds out what true love is actually supposed to be
like. Something he never thought he would feel…..but it just so happens to be
with his best friend’s girl.
“How
could something which felt so fucking right be so wrong?”~Saxon
This story
tells how Brooke sinks into depression, has Saxon to pull her out and then she
inevitably pushes him away. We jump months during this story; 3 months later, 6
months later, 2 months later, etc. Their
relationship grows from a shoulder to cry on to him being her rock. Their love
grows and the intensity between them is palpable. They eventually get to the
point that they can’t keep their hands off each other and they need to either
take that next step, or pull apart completely. One wants more than the other,
one isn’t too sure how to handle the feelings and one is trying to find the
difference between loyalty and love.
“Sex
with Saxon is intoxicating. Whether it’s animalistic and raw or gentle and
loving, on the desk, on the couch, in a bed, or in the back of a car, it’s
always all-consuming.” ~Brooke
The
storyline itself was a really good
story. The problem I had was it felt like half the time I was reading a diary,
the other was a self-help book. I didn’t connect with the characters at all and
really had a hard time with that. I also had a hard time with some of the drama
that was in the story…it felt like it was ONLY
there for dramatic effect. It wasn’t realistic to me and it only made me angry
at the story….which isn’t any fun. I wanted angst, and there wasn’t any.
The ending
of the story was a great HEA and I did end up smiling through most of it. I rate
this book 3-3.5 stars for the
sexiness and sensuality of the story, but with the lack of connection, it made
it very hard for me. I really wanted to love this book because the premise of
the book was SO good, but
overall it was a miss for me. I just didn’t connect with the characters and the
execution of the story made it that much harder to fall in love with it. I
could feel where the author was trying to take the story and was
truly hoping we could get there, but it just had a hard time getting there.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
~Play List~
Wherever You Will Go – The Calling
Wherever You Will Go – Charlene Soraia
These Days – Powderfinger
(Baby I’ve Got You) On My Mind - Powderfinger
Thinking of You – Katy Perry
One – U2
Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
Swing – Joel Fletcher Remix
Fix You - Coldplay
The Last Time – Taylor Swift, Gary Lightbody
There You’ll Be – Faith Hill
I Will Remember You – Sarah McLachlan
I Never Told You – Colbie Caillat
Still Into You – Hannah Trigwell
Angel – Sarah McLachlan
Apolgize – Timbaland, One Republic
I'm first & foremost a reader & fangirl, I will always be first & foremost a reader & fangirl. I am on street teams, I pimp and I brag. I LOVE my Authors!! I have recently started writing as a way to relax and spend some time for me. My first novel Wherever You Will Go is due to release later this year. I'm having so much fun writing my first story and I'm looking forward to the journey it is taking me on.
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~ GIVEAWAY ~
Thank you so much for your review and post!! xo
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