Title: Come To Me Quietly (The Closer to You Series, Book 1)
Author: A.L. Jackson
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Genre: New Adult Romance
Blog Tour hosted by: Shh Moms Reading, Literary Mania Reviews, and Brandee’s Book Endings
Book Description:
From the acclaimed bestselling author of Lost to You and When We Collide comes a new adult novel of one woman’s obsession: a man who’s as passionate as he is elusive—and as tempting as he is trouble…Aleena Moore is haunted by Jared Holt. It’s been six years since she’s seen her brother’s best friend, the self-destructive bad boy she secretly loved in high school. As the years pass, she knows it’s time to move on. Time to decide between a practical nursing degree and her true dream as an artist. Time to get over Jared and give another guy a chance…
Just when she opens her heart to her friend Gabe, Aly returns home to find Jared sleeping on her couch. The teenage boy she loved has grown into a man she can’t resist. Covered in tattoos and lost in rage, he’s begging to be saved from his demons—the memories of the day he destroyed his family. As the two reconnect, their passion is hot enough to torch Aly’s judgment. But can she risk her future for a man who lives on the edge of destruction?
Find it on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/CTMQGoodreads
Our Review
Reviewed by Willow & Donna ~ 4.5 Stars
"Love is the best thing that will ever happen to you Aly"
Willow: I have to admit that this was the first AL Jackson book I have read, and I totally loved it. I'd lost my reading mojo and haven't actually read for months, I'd tried books but just couldn't get in to them so gave up, but this one I just couldn't stop, I was totally drawn in and I love AL's writing. This definitely will not be the last book of hers I'll read.
Donna: I am the opposite, I have read all of her books and I was eagerly awaiting this one! I thoroughly enjoyed it and was hooked from the first page.
Willow: The book is about two old friends who haven't seen each other for years. Aleena, known as Aly, a good kind girl who feels like something is missing in her life and Jared, an extremely tortured soul who after sometime away comes back to his home town. You know something bad has happened which is why he was "sent away" and they lost touch, but you aren't told why straight away. I love these kinds of books where as you read on slowly little bits are dripped out to you for you to piece bits together.
Donna: I had my thoughts throughout as to what I thought had happened and I wasn't that far off. The thing I loved about this book was the friends to lovers aspect. These two were friends for years before they were estranged. I loved hearing of the tales of them growing up and how Jared was so protective of her even as a child.
Willow: Yes the flash backs were a great insight into their relationship when they were younger and you could see they cared about each other then.
I loved that it was dual POV. That you got to see how both sides were feeling about their renewed friendship that was changing into more.
Donna: I thought it was great how their reconnection was almost instantaneous. It was like they had never been apart. They were soul mates that was clear and they just had this pull to each other that was so strong. Aleena was the person that he needed to pull him out of his internal struggles, they were complete when they were together.
"I'm so fucked up Aly and I'm always going to be. I warned you that you can't fix me and you can't. I'm never going to outlive or out run this shit"
Willow: I totally agree, I thought it was sad though that with Jared being a bad boy and Aly's older brothers best friend, Aly and Jared are forced to keep their growing closeness a secret. Though I think because they were sneaking around at night it made their time together more sacred, more intimate. But it wasn't all smiles and roses, Jared believing that he doesn't deserve happiness after what he's done is constantly pushing away and Aly is constantly trying to pull him closer. AL really made me feel the emotion of this and although I did connect with both characters, it was actually Jared that I felt the most connection with. I felt tortured whilst reading his parts.
"It was like Jared and I were in this constant tug-of-war that neither of us knew how to play, pushing and pulling, attracting and repelling"
Donna: I totally agree, I was emotionally spent throughout this book, there we loads of tears! My heart broke for Jared. He did not deserve the guilt he had and the self loathing. I just wanted to smother him in hugs and kisses, a bit like Aly's mum did...man that scene broke me, lots of tears!!
Willow: Oh god, yes that scene was hard, he thought everyone hated him for what he did, or at least that he deserved everyone hating him. I literally held my breath when they saw each other, not knowing how she was going to react.
Although there were other characters in this book, Christopher Aly's brother and Megan her friend, it was all just totally focused on Jared and Aly which I totally loved, sometimes it is nice to have side stories, but this book just didn't need it.
Donna: I know and I totally agree. It made their story that much more meaningful and intense. The chemistry between them was palpable and it radiated off the page. I felt that Christopher must have been blind to not have noticed their connection but I guess he was to busy being a manwhore. AL certainly brings out all your emotions in this book, I found this book extremely heartfelt and I was well and truly sucked in. I really didn't want this book to finish.
Willow: I didn't want it to finish either, but let's talk about the ending - I love that there was a little twist in there that just made their relationship mean so much more than you realise as you're reading. But man, AL can make your heart break!! The sadness I felt was off the scale at one point.
Donna: I felt like she had ripped my heart out many a time in this book. The deserted lot he used to go to have his breakdowns is one prime example. But yes the twists and turns kept you on your toes and Aly really was his guardian angel and soul mate. It was that connection that made their relationship that much more believable and I did feel like a voyeur at times as I was so connected to their story.
Willow: I loved this book and looking forward to the next in the series and I'll definitely be reading AL 's other books.
"I see beauty and pain, joy and sorrow. I see the good and the bad....and I love it all"
"Love is the best thing that will ever happen to you Aly"
Willow: I have to admit that this was the first AL Jackson book I have read, and I totally loved it. I'd lost my reading mojo and haven't actually read for months, I'd tried books but just couldn't get in to them so gave up, but this one I just couldn't stop, I was totally drawn in and I love AL's writing. This definitely will not be the last book of hers I'll read.
Donna: I am the opposite, I have read all of her books and I was eagerly awaiting this one! I thoroughly enjoyed it and was hooked from the first page.
Willow: The book is about two old friends who haven't seen each other for years. Aleena, known as Aly, a good kind girl who feels like something is missing in her life and Jared, an extremely tortured soul who after sometime away comes back to his home town. You know something bad has happened which is why he was "sent away" and they lost touch, but you aren't told why straight away. I love these kinds of books where as you read on slowly little bits are dripped out to you for you to piece bits together.
Donna: I had my thoughts throughout as to what I thought had happened and I wasn't that far off. The thing I loved about this book was the friends to lovers aspect. These two were friends for years before they were estranged. I loved hearing of the tales of them growing up and how Jared was so protective of her even as a child.
Willow: Yes the flash backs were a great insight into their relationship when they were younger and you could see they cared about each other then.
I loved that it was dual POV. That you got to see how both sides were feeling about their renewed friendship that was changing into more.
Donna: I thought it was great how their reconnection was almost instantaneous. It was like they had never been apart. They were soul mates that was clear and they just had this pull to each other that was so strong. Aleena was the person that he needed to pull him out of his internal struggles, they were complete when they were together.
"I'm so fucked up Aly and I'm always going to be. I warned you that you can't fix me and you can't. I'm never going to outlive or out run this shit"
Willow: I totally agree, I thought it was sad though that with Jared being a bad boy and Aly's older brothers best friend, Aly and Jared are forced to keep their growing closeness a secret. Though I think because they were sneaking around at night it made their time together more sacred, more intimate. But it wasn't all smiles and roses, Jared believing that he doesn't deserve happiness after what he's done is constantly pushing away and Aly is constantly trying to pull him closer. AL really made me feel the emotion of this and although I did connect with both characters, it was actually Jared that I felt the most connection with. I felt tortured whilst reading his parts.
"It was like Jared and I were in this constant tug-of-war that neither of us knew how to play, pushing and pulling, attracting and repelling"
Donna: I totally agree, I was emotionally spent throughout this book, there we loads of tears! My heart broke for Jared. He did not deserve the guilt he had and the self loathing. I just wanted to smother him in hugs and kisses, a bit like Aly's mum did...man that scene broke me, lots of tears!!
Willow: Oh god, yes that scene was hard, he thought everyone hated him for what he did, or at least that he deserved everyone hating him. I literally held my breath when they saw each other, not knowing how she was going to react.
Although there were other characters in this book, Christopher Aly's brother and Megan her friend, it was all just totally focused on Jared and Aly which I totally loved, sometimes it is nice to have side stories, but this book just didn't need it.
Donna: I know and I totally agree. It made their story that much more meaningful and intense. The chemistry between them was palpable and it radiated off the page. I felt that Christopher must have been blind to not have noticed their connection but I guess he was to busy being a manwhore. AL certainly brings out all your emotions in this book, I found this book extremely heartfelt and I was well and truly sucked in. I really didn't want this book to finish.
Willow: I didn't want it to finish either, but let's talk about the ending - I love that there was a little twist in there that just made their relationship mean so much more than you realise as you're reading. But man, AL can make your heart break!! The sadness I felt was off the scale at one point.
Donna: I felt like she had ripped my heart out many a time in this book. The deserted lot he used to go to have his breakdowns is one prime example. But yes the twists and turns kept you on your toes and Aly really was his guardian angel and soul mate. It was that connection that made their relationship that much more believable and I did feel like a voyeur at times as I was so connected to their story.
Willow: I loved this book and looking forward to the next in the series and I'll definitely be reading AL 's other books.
"I see beauty and pain, joy and sorrow. I see the good and the bad....and I love it all"
Buy Links:
Amazon.com: http://bit.ly/CTMQAmazon
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/CTMQPre
iTunes: http://bit.ly/CTMQiTunes
Kobo: http://bit.ly/CTMQKobo
Book Trailer:
Character Inspirations:
Jared Holt: Micah Truitt ~ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Micah-Truitt/1376177639282676
Aleena Moore: Phoebe Tonkin ~ https://www.facebook.com/PhoebeTonkinForever
About the Author:
A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Pulled, When We Collide, and If Forever Comes.
She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.
Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children.
Look for Come to Me Softly, book two in the Closer To You Series, coming July 1, 2014
Links:
Tour Giveaway:
Be sure to enter the COME TO ME QUIETLY Blog Tour Giveaway!!
Grand Prize: A.L. Jackson Complete Signed Paperback Collection (all six titles) + Come To Me Quietly Poster and swag
Second Prize: Come To Me Quietly Collection, which includes a signed copy of Come To Me Quietly, a Come To Me Quietly poster, keychain, and custom bookmark
Third Prize: A.L. Jackson Fun Pack stuffed full of A.L. Jackson book swag
Fourth Prize: Audiobook Gift Set from Audible.com of The Regret Series (Lost To You, Take This Regret & If Forever Comes)
And don’t miss the DAILY blog tour
giveaways on A.L. Jackson’s Facebook accounts! All kinds of fun stuff will be
given away ~ ebooks, gift cards, and much more! EVERY DAY from January 7th
– February 7th!!
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