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Sunday, September 15, 2013

REVIEW: KEEPING HER (LOSING IT #1.5) by CORA CARMACK

Keeping Her (Losing It, #1.5)Series: Losing It #1.5
Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Publication Date: 8/13/13

Format: eARC
Pages: 100
Source: Received from publisher for review

Rating:  4 stars

Garrick Taylor and Bliss Edwards managed to find their happily-ever-after despite a rather . . . ahem . . . complicated start. By comparison, meeting the parents should be an absolute breeze, right?

But from the moment the pair lands in London, new snags just keep cropping up: a disapproving mother-in-law-to-be, more than one (mostly) minor mishap, and the realization that perhaps they aren't quite as ready for their future as they thought.

As it turns out, the only thing harder than finding love is keeping it.



I adored Bliss and Garrick in Losing It. Her sweetness and awkwardness was endearing. His kindness and charm was sexy. They got their Happy Ending, but it's almost always nice to see how beloved couples are doing a little farther down the road.

Keeping Her was very sweet and very, very amusing. Of course Bliss brings the awkward; as a fellow awkward girl, this made me happy. Another thing that made me happy--well, not happy so much happy as "I feel your pain, girl." --was the terror of meeting the parents. I could completely relate with Bliss, so much so that when she met Garrick's mom, I almost broke out in a cold sweat and suffered flashbacks.

I also enjoyed Garrick's point-of-view, seeing how much he loves Bliss, his doubts about being good enough for her, and the overwhelming pressure of visiting his parents. Again, that's something I can relate too a little too well through my husband. Carmack did such a nice job of expressing the fears and doubts Garrick and Bliss both face.

Keeping Her was very funny. I had forgotten how much I laughed while reading Losing It until I read this. The story was amusing without being too much, and I just genuinely enjoyed it.

Many readers do not enjoy novellas. Some don't like the shorter length or faster pace. Keeping Her managed to cover a meaningful space of time in Garrick and Bliss's life, and did it without forcing the pace or putting "too much" into it. It is a good addition to the series and to Carmack's works.


Favorite Quote:

  I'd always thought love was this complicated, messy, frankly ugly thing. Possibly because, growing up, I'd not had much of an example for what a relationship should be. I didn't know it could be any other way. But Bliss chased away the gray and made everything seem black and white. No matter the question, she was the answer.   ~eARC, 7%





 The Losing It Series
Losing It (Losing It, #1)Keeping Her (Losing It, #1.5)Faking It (Losing It, #2)Finding It (Losing It, #3)
(click on cover for GoodReads page)




Purchase Keeping Her:
(I receive no compensation for purchases.)
Amazon  |   Barnes & Noble    




About the author:
Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Connect with Cora:
Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook







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19 comments:

  1. I need to read these. I got faking it at book bash and just bought losing it. I skimmed, don't dog me PLEASE!

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  2. Great review. I liked getting Garrick's POV too. And seeing what his family is like. It was great to see them in a different setting, with new complications. I think this was a good addition too.

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  3. I'm not a huge novella fan myself, but I really loved this one. I wasn't ready to let go of Garrick and Bliss just yet! So this was perfect! And I love her awkwardness! It's adorable!

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  4. I think the novella length worked for this book. It was just enough to add to their story without adding too much new angst since they sort of already got their HEA in Losing It.

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  5. I'm so glad to hear this is a good addition to Bliss and Garrick's story, Andrea. I loved Losing It but haven't gotten around to reading Keeping Her. I, too, adored Bliss and Garrick. *sigh* I think this is a novella I'll really enjoy!

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  6. Oh that's great that this was one that actually had enough story, but not too much. I haven't read the series yet, but it's important to me to have some funny in my books, so that's a definite plus in my books!

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  7. Yes! I loved Garrick's POV. This was such a cute and fun little read. I love Cora and her writing! Great review!

    Vi
    AKA Vi3tBabe
    Deity Island

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  8. OMG! It's really ME!

    When Debbie got into NA she started reading these heavy, beautiful, wrenching stories which scared the hell outta me. She suggested I start with this series because it's funny. I think it's me because I feel like I'm the only one who didn't enjoy Losing It. I don't know if it's my mood at that time or if I was in my monthly bitchy phase. Whatever.

    Now I feel I'm missing out and I'll just let it go. Pah!

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  9. I love a good novella that's part of a series and this one was an awesome part of this series. I so agree with you. GARRICK'S POV!!!!

    Great review.

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  10. Great to hear it is a good length and the right amount of stuff in it

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  11. I ADORED Faking It Finding It, but just really did not care for Losing It, so I didn't like this novella, either--but I think for anyone who loved Bliss and Garrick, this must be SO MUCH FUN to read.

    Great review!

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  12. Oh I really love that quote! I really need to rad Losing It. I don't know why it has taken me so long. Great review.

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  13. This one was fun! Can't wait to read Finding It!

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  14. Oh, I haven't read this yet! I really liked the first two books so I definitely have to get a copy of this soon. :)

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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  15. Great Review! I suffered flashbacks of meeting my in-laws too! LOL Beautiful quote :)

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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  16. I've never read a Cora Cormack book! I hear such great things all the time! I think I'll pick one up while I'm on vacation! I actually love novellas but I think I'm in the minority on that.

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  17. I liked this one, too. And I could totally relate, though I didn't have to travel to another country to meet the future in-laws. :) I can't wait to read Finding It!

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  18. I love Cora's books. I have this and Finding It and plan to read the soon. I loved Bliss and Garrick to.

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