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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: A BEAUTIFUL DISTRACTION by KELSIE LEVERICH

Coming 5/1


Welcome to the blog tour for A Beautiful Distraction! I have a review and giveaway to share with you; thanks for stopping by! 


A Beautiful Distraction (Hard Feelings, #3)Series: Hard Feelings #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: NAL Trade
Publication Date: 5/6/14
Format: Paperback
Pages: 360
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 stars
A brand new novel in the New York Times bestselling Hard Feelings series—where nothing’s more dangerous than a bad boy with a broken heart…

First Sergeant Rafe Murano did everything to the extreme. He trained harder, he fought harder, and, unfortunately, he loved harder. And falling for the wrong woman nearly destroyed him.

Home from a deployment, and without his missions to consume him, Murano is ravaged by memories of his heartbreak. So he drinks until he’s numb and drowns himself in meaningless one-night stands. But they only take the edge off…

Until he meets Fallon.

Haunted by her past, Fallon Kelly knows all too well about the desperate desire for an escape. So when she sees the tatted-up bad boy who’s one punch away from a ride in the back of a squad car, she offers a distraction—one that quickly becomes an addiction.

Little does she know, this bad boy can love so hard, it can break her…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18159529-a-beautiful-distraction?from_search=true



"I know you, babe. I've memorized you. And if you'd let me, I'd memorize your heart. I know how to make it beat a little faster. Just tell me how to make it mine."

I've been so anxious to read A Beautiful Distraction since the moment Rafe Murano came on the page, in Feel the Rush, as one of Reed's fellow soldiers. Rafe was an intense guy, and it was clear that something heavy was eating away at him. When I found out what that was, I was initially put off. But gosh, when you see how torn up he is by the situation, it was quickly easy easy to cut the guy some slack. In A Beautiful Distraction, we've moved forward a few years with Rafe stationed in Colorado, home from his fourth deployment. Now that he no longer has the distractions that come with being 
deployed, Rafe is still trying to move on from the woman who destroyed his heart, and in the way of many dumb guys, he does this by booze and women. It's a solid plan that never fails, right? No. But don't worry, Rafe Murano's world is completely flipped when he lays eyes on Fallon Kelly.

Fallon is a real departure from the other women in the series. And you know, I appreciate that each of Leverich's leading ladies are dynamic and engaging. She's not an open, friendly person like Megan (Feel the Rush) or covered in hard edges like Roni (The Valentine's Arrangement), but she does have her own heavy issues. Fallon is a closed book, for sure, and it's not exactly clear what's put here there, besides the fact her parents were image-obsessed jerks who threw her out when she was seventeen. It is implied, though, that something much heavier weighs on Fallon, and helped contribute to the controlled woman she's become. The past has left Fallon with no desire to become close to anyone, but Rafe is not just anyone. He's the man who crumbles her walls with dark eyes and a crooked smile.

A Beautiful Distraction. The title of this book is absolutely perfect. Rafe and Fallon tentatively become involved because they are desperately attracted to each other, but also because they are each desperate for a distraction. From the past, the emptiness of the present. Rafe and Fallon simply fit, and I love how they acknowledge that, and don't fight the attraction, even if they fear the future. I love the honesty between them, the acceptance, and the strength. Especially when old, awful faces show back up. It was dramatic and draining and it was awesome. I loved every moment of this story, the ways in which Rafe and Fallon changed one another for the better, by simply loving each other. The story left me smiling, wiping away tears, and completely fulfilled.

And can I just say, the Murano family is just begging for a spin-off!

I have to say, Kelsie Leverich is such a talented writer. I enjoyed The Valentine's Arrangement very much, Feel the Rush even more, and in this book, her talent is stronger than ever. The prose is very well-written, focused, but also has a beauty that caused me to sometimes pause, then re-read a paragraph multiple times because it's just that good. Leverich has a secured me as a devoted reader.

The Hard Feelings series is one of intense, fast-moving relationships. Relationships between characters who aren't necessarily searching for more, or who may be searching for an ideal that they just haven't found yet. The relationships don't start our destined for forever, simply right now, but it's
inevitable. Leverich also gives respect and tribute to those in the Armed Services, and their family. I've really come to love this series. It's passionate, sexy, heartfelt, and delicious. I highly recommend
it.

 
Favorite Quotes
  He moaned into her mouth again, and the sound vibrated against her lips, numbing them and warming them at the same time. "I needed to taste you," he whispered, his lips still lingering over hers. "Had I known you would taste so good, I would have kissed you the moment you were in my reach." Then he kissed her again.


  Brushing his thumb over her bottom lip, he smiled. That one dexterous touch melted her. Her body warmed from the inside out. 
  "I want you," he whispered, his voice dripping with a desirous hunger as his lips tenderly swept over her jaw. When he raised his head back to look at her, his velvet eyes swam with a heady list that forced every nerve, every sense to sharpen and bind to him.




The Hard Feelings Series
The Valentine's Arrangement (Hard Feelings, #1)  Feel the Rush (Hard Feelings, #2)  Pretending She's His (Hard Feelings, #2.5)  A Beautiful Distraction (Hard Feelings, #3)

(covers lead to GoodReads pages)
Purchase Links

GIVEAWAY
I have one copy of A Beautiful Distraction up for grabs, courtesy of the publisher.
Must be 18+ years of age; open to US only.

About the author

Kelsie Leverich
Kelsie Leverich grew up in the small town of St. Joseph Illinois before getting married and following her husband from one Army post to another. After eight years, they finally settled down in Avon, Indiana with two adorable knuckleheads that are better known as her kids. Kelsie's life revolves around her family (to include two dogs and a cat) and most of the time, actually all of the time, it’s a crazy mess—but that’s the way she loves it! When Kelsie’s not writing, you can usually find her snuggling on the couch with her kids and a good book or out on the lake with family and friends. Kelsie is not a morning person, has a soft spot for animals, loves musicals, hates seafood, and thinks laundry is the source of all evil.


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31 comments:

  1. Oh now that guy Rafe sounds like someone I need to meet. I have seen this series around and it sounds really good. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Great review, Andrea :)

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  2. I really want to read this series! I've had Feel the Rush on my TBR list for awhile. Great review!

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  3. This is yet another series I have been meaning to get started on... Rafe sounds great and I love the sound of Fallon too. Great review Andrea!

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  4. I'm reading both Feel the Rush and A Beautiful Distraction right now. I'm loving both. I will say that Fallon is a hard one to love. Maybe when I get the whole story with her, I'll get her better.

    I agree that the books have gotten better each time. I do love the strong and unique characters this author brings. Great review, pal.

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  5. That first quote, OMG, MY heart beat a little faster, it's yours!!

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  6. I haven't read it yet, it's on my TBR!

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  7. I haven't read any of the series yet, but I have them on my to-read list on GR - they all look great!

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  8. I haven't read this series yet, Andrea, but I own The Valentine's Arrangement and believe me when I say, I'm gonna fit it in my schedule soon! If only to get to meet Rafe sooner. :) Beautiful Dsitraction sounds beautiful and I like your comment about how Rafe and Fallon just 'fit'. Lovely review, hon! I can't wait to start this series! :)

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  9. I haven't read the series yet! But by that sounds of the reviews I'm will get them asap!

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  10. You know I love this series and this author. They just keep getting better and better! Yes, I want a spinoff of Rafe's brothers. That ending was so sad but in a good way...
    I hope we don't have to wait too long for her next book.

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  11. I have not read the series. But this book sounds really good. Thanks for having the giveaway.

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  12. That's great you loved this one so much. sounds like the author writes some wonderful stories!!

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  13. Haven't read any of these but would like to - they look cute

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  14. these look sound awesome!!! thanks for sharing!

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  15. I haven't had a chance to read the series but they are on my TBR list.

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  16. I just finished this one, and loved it as well! Each book in this series gets better and better. I loved Rafe, and Fallon together. I agree, we need a Murano family spin-off! Excellent Review Andrea! Your review is spot on and I agree with everything you said. I found myself rereading passages too!!!

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  17. I haven't read this series yet, but I'm always on the look out for a good series to read. Looks like this is going to be a series I can't live without. Adding them to my must read list!

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  18. I loved Feel the Rush so I can't wait to dive into this story. I was real pleased with Rafe and his "situation" either, so I happy to hear it worked out so well and you really enjoyed this one. Wonderful review! :)

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  19. I really enjoyed The Valentine's Arrangement and I have downloaded the other 2 but I haven't read them yet. Can't wait for A Beautiful Distraction to come out :)

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  20. I need more reading hours in the day to get to all these amazing series! this sounds fabulous so I'm definitely going to have to check these books out.

    Thanks for sharing Andrea.

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  21. I haven't read the series but I have added it to my to-be-read pile - I definitely need more reading time - LOL I am working on that these days :) LOL

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  22. Have not read them yet but they are on my TBR list.

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  23. I have only read the first book, but I loved it all the same.....can't wait to read more from this series!!

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  24. Ok, I seriously need to add this to the list. And I love the covers!

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  25. I have not read this yet, nut its on my TBR.

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  26. I have not yet read this series, thought I do believe I have the first book in it. I love how different all her characters are from book to book. Keeps it exciting!

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  27. I, sadly, have not read the Hard Feelings series, BUT I want to!!!

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  28. Can't wait to get started on this series.

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  29. I haven't read any books in the series, but I would love to!

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  30. I haven't read them yet, but have purchased them. I soooo want to just jump into Rafe's story, but if he enters in an earlier book (as you say) I'll have to start at the beginning. Congrats on the release and thanks for the giveaway!

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  31. Great review Andrea. I really enjoyed this. I like the diversity in her female leads also. I totally agree that the Murano family needs a spinoff :)

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