Where to buy:
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tragically-flawed-am-hargrove/1116960935?ean=2940148718383
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/359517
SYNOPSIS
Riviera Benson has a talent...one she discovered by accident. She is a painter, but canvas isn't her medium. She creates her lovely masterpieces on the walls and ceilings of million dollar homes as murals and faux finishes. Her art is in high demand now, but life wasn't always that way. Riviera has secrets from her past that she intends to keep tightly locked away...terrifying secrets that keep her awake at night...that keep her from getting close to anyone...anyone that is, until she meets Shan.
Benjamin Shandon, owner of Shandon homes, works like a thousand demons are chasing him...because perhaps they are. His business has boomed ever since the fire swept through the canyon and destroyed hundreds of million dollar homes. He demands excellence in everything...from his employees to his women. He slows down for nothing, keeping a schedule that no sane person would want. But Riviera interrupts everything, twisting his guts inside out, and wedging her way in to his heart, destroying a promise he made to himself.
Will they let their pasts control their future, or will they decide to let go and allow their hearts to discover each other's?
*THIS BOOK CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR YOUNGER READERS, AND MAY HAVE TRIGGERS FOR OTHER READERS*
MY REVIEW
The first few chapters of this book were some of the hardest for me to get through ever, and I seriously considered stopping as it was so hard, but I am very glad that I didn't. The situation is difficult to read about, however, these are things that unfortunately happen everyday to people all over the world. Riviera may be a fictional character, but her situation is real, and it is ugly and brutal, and it does not always turn out the way it did for Riviera, she is one of the lucky ones who got out.
The characters in this book are some of the most believable I have ever read, from the ugly disturbed ones, to the ones that are there to help and have no other intentions than to just be there for Riviera and help her through. I think my favourite character was Amie, she turned out to be one of the most stabilizing influences for Riviera, and she is one of those friends that we all need, she is there when you need to talk, gives you shit when you need it, and is there for a hug when it is really needed.
The other part of this book that I loved (besides Shan of course!) was Riviera's paintings, I could picture them vividly in my head, the author was able to write about them and how they are created so brilliantly, and one day I hope to own a home and have a mural on my wall as well.
The relationship that builds between Riviera and Shan was done very well as she did not fall for him instantly, and if she had I don't think I could have gone on with the book, because of her past she needed time to warm up to someone, especially of the male gender. Shan knows that something is wrong the first time they meet, however, he has no idea to what extent that really goes. He stands for all the good men/women out there that are not going to give up on someone because of their past, but are going to stick around and help them through it, and I loved that!
Overall I give this book a 4/5, the pacing was very well done, loved most of the characters, and it is a very heavy subject, but the author did not try to sugar coat anything or make anything seem not as bad as it was, and I liked that. Again, this is not an easy subject to read or write about I am sure, but I think it needs to be done as it gives the rest of us who are fortunate enough not to be in that situation ourselves things to look for in our family/friends that may help us to understand that something is happening that that person needs help with.
AUTHOR BIO
One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A.M. Hargrove realized that her life was on a fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So, she rolled down the window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedistrian in the line of fire was a dodge ball pro and uber quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A.M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what laptop out the window. She breathed a sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone, called her boss and quit her job. Grinning, she made a call to her hubs and told him of her new adventure (after making sure his heart was beating properly again).
So began A.M Hargrove's career as a YA/NA and Adult Romance writer. Her books include the following: Edge of Disaster, Shattered Edge and Kissing Fire (The Edge Series), The Guardians of Vesturon series (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant, reEmergent and Beginnings), Dark Waltz and Tragically Flawed.
Other than being in love with writing about being in love, she loves chocolate, ice cream and coffee and is positive they should be added as part of the USDA food groups.
Where to find her:
Blog: http://amhargrove.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Amhargrove1
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5338829.A_M_Hargrove
Pintrest: http://www.pinterest.com/amhargrove1/
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
EEEEEP! First off, THANK YOU Soooo much for your kind words about the book. I'm so thrilled you enjoyed it. As you said, it's a difficult topic, but one that doesn't need to be avoided either. And 2nd, THANK YOU for being a part of the the release day party! It means sooo much to have your support! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by Anne, it is really sweet! And thank you for writing about a subject that needs to be spoken about more!
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