Wednesday, July 10, 2013

REVIEW: THIS TIME AROUND by ELLIE GRACE

This Time AroundCategory/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 7/15/13
Format: eARC
Source: Received from author for review

Nora Montgomery left home and heartbreak behind in South Carolina when she moved to New York City after her high school graduation. Now, four years later, she returns home and is forced to confront the past she left behind and the reckless boy who broke her heart. It’s not long before the pieces of her past begin to blur with the present and she realizes that the feelings she had for her first love never really went away. As old dreams resurface and new truths come to light, she begins to question the future she's always planned on.

Jake Harris has spent four years regretting the night he let her get away. When she finally reappears in his life, he is determined to win her back and prove how much he’s changed. She might never forgive him for that night, but if he tells her the truth about what really happened it will shatter the world she thought she knew. If he doesn’t, he might not get a second chance. He’s already lost her once and he won’t lose her again.

They come from two different worlds that are threatening to tear them apart…can they make it this time around?
 



This Time Around is a really sweet and thoughtful story about a second chance at love. Stories with this trope happen to be a favorite of mine, so when I got the chance to read an advance copy, I happily took it. I was not disappointed at all with the story, and am very impressed at debut author Ellie Grace.

This Time Around begins when Nora Montgomery returns home to South Carolina to help prepare for her best friend's wedding. Nora left home at eighteen to attend university in NYC, and this is her first time home in four years. The reason she never visited? On the day she and her longtime boyfriend Jake Harris were set to take the next step in their relationship, he vanished. Assuming that Jake decided to ditch her to go back to his old ways, Nora leaves with a broken heart. It is quickly apparent that she has never gotten over Jake, or the way he left her, and the question is, what will happen when the two finally see one another again?

I really appreciated that the author pushed Nora and Jake together immediately. There was no dancing or building angst around the impending meet up, we get to it fairly straight away. But not only that, but these two do not deny what they still feel for each other, and the questions surrounding their breakup are soon answered. A dual point-of-view that kept me "in the know" to both Jake and Nora's thoughts and motivations got me quickly on board with this love reconnection. Now, this does take away from a lot of the potential drama for the story, but that actually worked out great for me. I was in a mood for low angst and low drama and This Time Around was just that.

The hook of the book, other than just having the reconnection of Nora and Jake, was what happens now?

Jake has worked really hard over the past four years to make himself into a man worthy of Nora, and he has a great life in South Carolina. He was such a great guy and I love how he wants Nora's happiness more than his own. Jake was almost too self-sacrificing, and I just couldn't help but adore him for being so loving and thoughtful. I loved that he pulled no punches, is not angry, and was not afraid to be completely honest with Nora about how much he still cares for her.

I was a little worried that Nora would be a bit harsh and cruel with Jake's feelings, and would spend most of the story punishing him for what went wrong. Happily she was willing to listen, understand, and forgive. Nora has spent the past four years earning a bachelor's degree, and is set to start law school in NYC. Plus, there's Nora's parents, who want to see their only daughter with a man they deem worthy of her. And that's not Jake Harris. Essentially, even though this is the story of a second chance relationship, This Time Around is also Nora's story. Her battle to finally make her parents see how they've hurt her and Jake, and that Nora's life is hers to live. Ellie Grace did a such a nice job of making Nora into a strong woman who takes control of her life, and brave enough to make the choices that will make her --and Jake-- happy.

This Time Around was a very enjoyable read. I found it to be very well-written and with such a smooth flow that I flew right through it. The story had enough conflict to keep me interested throughout, but never veered into melodramatic or just simply trying too hard. Nora and Jake's story wraps up very, very nicely (YAY, no cliffhanger or continuation!), and made me a very happy reader. And, there's another story coming, Break Away, that centers around Nora's friend, and a former Marine. It goes without saying that this book is already on my to-read list.



Favorite Quotes:

  In that moment I could feel all the walls that I'd built up around me over the last four years begin to crack and crumble. Everything about it just felt...right. For the first time since I left Beaufort I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.  ~eARC, 19%


  "When there are no feelings involved it's simple, but when you really care about someone, like I do for you, it's a total game changer. It means everything. That's uncharted territory for me and to be honest, it scares the shit out of me. I've never had to worry about what happens afterwards, but with you it's completely different. If you do what you've always done, then you'll get what you've always got...and I don't want just a one-time thing with you. I don't want to ever let you go."  ~eARC, 40%



About the author:
I'm an avid reader and overall book lover. I love to write, and when a story popped into my head that I couldn't seem to ignore, I decided to take a shot at self-publishing with my first book, “This Time Around.” Now, much of my time is spent dreaming up new characters and planning for the next books that I hope to write. When I’m not writing, I’m usually curled up with my Kindle, reading book-after book-after book from all of my favorite authors (which is a very long list!)

Connect with Ellie:
Website  |  Twitter GoodReads





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22 comments:

  1. Great review but this one didn't do much for my frothy libido or my bookish hysterics 0_0

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  2. Awesome Review! I love the whole second chance at love theme! I really want to know why Jake left her that first time! I can see how hard it would be for Nora to take a chance that he doesn't leave her again. This story sounds really interesting, and I think I would love it too! Thanks for sharing,

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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  3. Awesome review. I've been keeping an eye on this one. It sounds really interesting.

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    1. lets try again...

      Oh I love stories that are low on angst and drama. Sometimes it is just nice. Great review. This sounds like a good one.

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  5. GIIIIIRRRLLLLL!!! You have over 3k followers. Congrats hon! You're totally worth it :-) *hugs*

    It's always tough when family doesn't approve one's love interest. I believe you when you say that Jake was a sweetheart though--I can't wait to meet him. I love this kind of reconnection stories and I'm so so so glad you enjoyed this. I'm sure I'll love, too. Lovely review, sweetie!

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  6. Yaya for a low-drama read! I'm glad to hear that Nora isn't too harsh to Jake. Reading the summary, I was starting to think she would be unwilling to listen and it's nice to hear she's not that type of character.

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  7. It's nice to have a low-drama read. I don't mind drama and angst, but sometimes I like to just read a book that doesn't have too much of it. The characters sound great too. I love stories like this. Fab review babe!

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  8. I get tired of all the angst and back and forth so I'm happy to hear this is drama free! I really want to pick this up because I adore second chance romances as well, Andrea! Lovely review, you have me convinced! :)

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  9. I'm so glad you reviewed This Time Around, Andrea! It's a book I wanted to read when I first saw the cover and read the blurb (here?!?). AND I'm so happy you liked it! ;) I love the second chance at love trope too and from your review, it sounds like this one is well done!

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  10. Love the storyline of a second chance at love, and it sounds like the author pulled it off well.

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  11. This sounds like a really nice read. Nice to see a book that doesn't beat around the bush and gets straight to the point :) Great review!

    Janina @ Synchronized Reading

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  12. You did enjoy it more than me. I love the second chance aspect the most. Great review.

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  13. NA where the characters didn't try too hard?! I LIKE! LOL

    I am not the biggest NA reader not because I don't like it but because of how heavy the stories sometimes are. I don't want to be crying or feeling heartbroken over books so I steer clear of NA LOL. This one however I like the sound of.

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  14. I admit I got on the tour mainly because of the cover. Yup, I’m that kind of person. I think it looks really cute too though. Looking forward to it!

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  15. I think I might really like this one! It sounds like it's a bit light on the drama and gets to the point rather than playing around. Plus, that's a cover I actually like (I'm not a fan of most NA romance covers). It sounds great!

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  16. I really liked this one.. It didn't blow me away, but I think it made for a great summer read.

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  17. I really wanted to read this, but I just couldn't work it in. It sounds good. I love that there is no cliff hanger and that it is not overly melodramatic. Great review.

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  18. Great review Andrea! I saw this tour come up and I think I was out of town and didn't have my calendar with me so I didn't end up signing up. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I will definitely be picking this one up now!

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  19. I remember seeing this cover and really loving it so I'm glad the story was great too! Definitely adding this to my tbr, glad you enjoyed it!

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  20. I was already on board to putting this on my tbr list, I had a little reservation. Some second-chance loves don't always do it for me, but that last quote has me sold. I'm a sucker for pretty words. I'm glad you enjoyed it Andrea :)

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  21. I'm glad you liked it. I loved Jake. I'm looking forward to the next book too!

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