Reaction Blog Tour: review & giveaway
Welcome to our tour stop on the Reaction Blog Tour. We participated in a tour for the first book in this series, Reflection, (our review) and knew we had to be a part of a tour for this book as well. To see the rest of the blog stops on this tour, see the page on YA Bound.
Reaction: Reflection #2 by Jessica Roberts
New Adult contemporary romance*Release Date: November 6, 2012
(Spoilers if you haven't read Reflection!)
Harmony…
I’ve previously had that in my life, but only once, briefly, a while ago. It was during the time I’d started my first year of college. My own apartment, a new old car, and a life free of deadbeat stepfathers, all of which was fulfilling enough. But if it wasn’t, I also had a best friend, soul mate, and boyfriend all in one. Yes, life was near perfect.
But one stormy night can change everything…
For many months I rested in a prolonged sleep, fighting for my life. Well, more than fighting for it, also dreaming of it. Dreaming of him. Thank goodness, the dream is over and I’m back in the real world now. And all I want is for everything to return to the way it was. But nothing’s the same; most of all, us.
Once again, I find myself at the crossroads of a ruthless battle, this time not for life, but love. Do I fight for the guy I twice fell for, or do I let her take him away?
Reflection by Jessica Roberts
New Adult contemporary romance*e-book, 289 pages*Release Date: February 17, 2012
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Bright, spunky Heather Robbins has escaped her small hometown and is anxiously beginning her freshman year of college. Rising above her rocky childhood, she’s found a place where good things are finally starting to happen: her own private apartment, refreshing college classes, and an intense attachment to a mysterious and rugged classmate, Nick Richards.
But when her dreamy college life turns out to be nothing more than a wonderful dream while resting in a coma, questions threaten.
Now, Heather must press forward to unlock the real past, and find the answers buried deep in her mind. What she unlocks instead is a roller coaster ride through flashbacks, embellished memories, and a whirlwind romance.
And when it’s all over and she comes face to face with the truth, will she lose everything she’s fallen in love with?
About this author:
JESSICA ROBERTS grew up in the San Francisco, California Bay Area where she spent most of her time playing sports alongside her six siblings. She was crowned Miss Teen California her senior year of high school, and went on to Brigham Young University where she graduated in Human Development. Her love of family, church, writing, athletics, and singing and dancing keeps her life busy and fulfilled. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and three children.
"But what stuck out most in my mind were the little things that made me fall for Nick."
Reaction continues where Reflection ended off, with Heather trying to collect the missing pieces of her memory and stitch together some semblance of a life. Whether this 'new' life will include Nick and a HEA, is the journey this young woman must take to figure things out.
"And the memories of him were surfacing so swiftly."
Reaction is aptly titled. Not only does it refer to part of the medical recovery her brain is undergoing (experiencing 'reaction-dreams'), the word reaction symbolizes what Heather, and to certain extents Nick, Liz and Creed, has to endure as she heals. Heather has grown, matured, and is certainly stronger with the see-saw effect of her on again, off again relationship with Nick. Since her absence, he has lived with what he viewed was betrayal of the woman he had let inside his heart. Betrayal plays a large role here, it is practically a character, and it affects this couple greatly. But Nick has also moved on. Or at least, has tried to. Jessica Roberts convincingly portrays a young man running a huge array of emotions as he sees Heather coming back to the land of the living. But his feelings are not always expressed in his dialogue and that is what makes Nick so appealing. His facial gestures, his tone of voice, the flicker of a hand movement, these things tease us while showing us his turmoil.
"He was telling me to be strong, to let go, let him go, and to move on with my life without me."
Through every scene Heather and Nick have, her quirky character shines through. She is intensely likable and determined to get back the guy she loves. When doubt clouds her judgment, she always has a strong ally in Liz, the close friend she reconnects with. Having a friend like Liz is invaluable, as is her strong friendship with Creed (read the cemetery scene and see just how fantastic this guy is). I was glad the author showed Creed and Heather's attempt at something more than friendship. Many questions I had were answered throughout the book and the concept of her type of coma (though fictional) gave this story a unique spin. Reaction takes the reader on a monster truck ride covering the hills, valleys and dips of a healing coma patient's grim determination to pick up the pieces of a life put on hold for three years while she slept and the winding roads she has to travel to reunite with her true soulmate.
"For starters, you're a distraction."
I composed my review differently to showcase what I loved about both books--the dialogue and the little romantic things like a hat or chimney (read the book). So many lines hit home, made Heather and Nick real to me. There were just a few times Heather or Nick's emotional outbursts became a bit much, but overall the majority of their scenes were gripping.
"Do you realize how attractive your innocence is to me?" he said."
Reaction is a deeply moving, touching end to an intense and romantic New Adult contemporary series. Romance fans will enjoy Heather and Nick. The pacing kept me reading and I completed this book in one sitting. And I am so grateful there was an epilogue so readers could have their satisfying ending. I have become a fan of Jessica Roberts and look forward to her next book.
Rating: 4 Really liked it.
Cover comment: Now this is how I pictured Heather (and she's a brunette).
Book source: I received a promotional e-ARC in exchange for my honest review during a book tour.
Giveaway:
Grand Prize is for a $25 Gift Card to Amazon, a replica of the necklace worn in the Reaction cover and an e-book of Reflection. (Open Internationally) There will also be 4 additional e-book copies of Reflection up for giveaway. (Open Internationally)
The necklace looks sooooo pretty and I'm a sucker for the cover!
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