REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: MISUNDERSTANDINGS by TIFFANY KING

 

Welcome to my stop on the Misunderstandings Blog Tour! I have a review and giveaway to share with you. Thanks for stopping by.

 

Series: Woodsfalls Girls #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Publication Date: 5/6/14
Format: ARC
Pages: 304
Source: Author
Rating:  4 stars

GoodReads  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Apple  Books-A-Million | Target
 

Just when she thought things were going up…

Two years after a devastating breakup, Brittni Mitchell has moved on from Justin Avery—or so she tells herself. But when she returns to Seattle for her best friend’s engagement party, Brittni finds herself the victim of a disastrously timed elevator breakdown. She’s trapped with the last person she wants to face, and forced to recount the past she desperately wants to forget.

She’s going to have to look back…

When Brittni left her podunk hometown for a big city college experience at the University of Washington, hooking up with a guy like Justin Avery was not part of her plan. Between Justin’s attention-grabbing tattoos, cigarette smoking, and bad boy attitude Brittni quickly chalked him up as "Mr. Wrong.” But his charm was unrelenting, and Brittni’s decision to give Justin a chance quickly turned into the worst choice she ever made.

So that she might be able to move forward.

Now she’s stuck with Justin—literally—and the complicated web of misunderstandings that tied up the truth for two years is about to unravel.

Love in an elevator. It's a great song, and an even greater catalyst for a love story. But what about when the person you're stuck with is the man who destroyed your world and broke your heart? Not so much fun. This is what brings Brittni and Justin together two years after a very painful break-up. Close proximity and lasting feelings combine to create an intensity that forces out painful secrets. Will Brittni finally give Justin the truth? Will that bring them back together?

 

I really liked Misunderstandings's two lead characters. Brittni is snarky and witty and I found being in her head to be a lot of fun. She's a bit skittish with relationships, and until Justin, had always been relationship averse, with those before and after him only lasting a couple weeks. I could definitely relate to that. Brittni is a challenge, and one that Justin was only too happy to take on. I like that he was the pursuer, but with only good intentions. It wasn't that Justin just had to have her body, or wanted the only woman on campus who didn't want him. He simply wanted Brittni. On the surface, Justin seems like the typical bad boy: piercing, tattoos, a full of swagger. But, this is a guy who is respectful and attentive and that boy is all about Brittni. I love that. And it certainly doesn't hurt that Justin was also devoted to helping his mom and siblings. These two were good together. They had a fun banter and an easy way about them that just fit.

Misunderstandings has a dual timeline, shifting between the past and present. In the past, we witness Brittni and Justin meeting and falling in love. In the present, the two hate each other. Which obviously leads me to wondering how they got from there to here.

Their past relationship was really sweet. I got a kick out of Justin having to convince Brittni to give him a chance. He was the one who wanted to move fast, and worked to overcome her reluctance. So what went wrong? That definitely goes into extreme spoiler territory. I will say that the way Justin treated Brittni was pretty infuriating, and I was so disappointed in him. I felt so much sympathy for Brittni, knowing that she didn't want to lose Justin, but feeling no control for the situation. It was a huge, aggravating mess. But when you stop to think about how quickly things can get out of control, especially at their age, it's understandable. Angry words fly fast and rash judgments can have a lasting effect. Life at that age is about messing up, learning. Brittni and Justin both mess up, they're both human.

Justin and Brittni in the present was both sad and mysterious. I just couldn't figure out where all the animosity had come from. What had Brittni done to make Justin so angry? And why was she still so hurt two years later. With them trapped in an elevator, it's clear the pressure between them was going build until it blew them wide open. The tone between Justin and Brittni slowly moved from hostile to yearning. The atmosphere was intense, with a rawness that really grabbed me. I felt Brittni's reluctance to open up, the pain they both feel, and the love that still remains. I believed in this couple at the beginning. I was frustrated, yet felt the break-up was completely believable. I believed in the happy ever after.

I happen to love stories with true, painful experiences that work to make the characters stronger, smarter. Even better when you get a love story with characters and a relationship you can believe in. That, for me, is what reading is all about.

 

Favorite Quote

 

  That grin. It had always been my downfall. If I pinpointed all my favorite memories that involved him, that grin could be found in each and every one. It held the power to melt my insides, make my pulse quicken, and make certain other areas ache with need. I loved that grin until I hated that grin.

 

 

      Woodsfalls Girls Series

   

(covers lead to GoodReads page)

All About Justin

 

So it's no lie that Justin made me a bit crazy in Misunderstandings. But at heart, he is a really great guy who loves Brittni like crazy. Here are a few reasons I adored Justin Avery.
 

J- -oyful is how Justin makes those around him feel. His fun attitude is infectious, and he's always the life of the party.

U- nabashed in his feelings for Brittni, Justin has only too happy to let her know how much her cared.

S-elfless is a good way to describe Justin, who moved back home to help his mom care for his siblings after his dad left.

T- oying with Brittni’s heart, Justin is not. He’s in it all the way.

I- nsecurity plagues Justin. He thinks Brittni is too good for him and will eventually leave. Silly boy.

N- ever will you doubt that Justin and Brittni were meant to be, once you read their story.

 

 

Giveaway

I have a copy of Misunderstandings to give away, courtesy of the publisher.
Must be 18+ years of age; open to US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Tiffany King is a lifelong reading fanatic who is now living her dream as a writer, weaving Young Adult and New Adult romance tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, zombies and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  GoodReads