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Wednesday, August 5, 2015

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: For the Love of Ash (For the Love #1) by Taylor Lavati



Maggie Larken is a reformed party girl. After her parent’s death, she’s left to raise Asher, her nine-year-old brother.

Luke Wilson has done everything his parents have ever asked of him. A new teacher, Luke constantly questions where his life is headed.

When Luke and Maggie meet, neither is in the market for a relationship. But sometimes life has other plans. Both navigate new waters as they try to decide where their priorities should lie, while also seizing what they want.

In this heartbreakingly real tale of love, Maggie and Luke discover what being a family truly means.

**This book is a standalone and NOT part of a series. This book contains mature content.**








My Review

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Once I picked it up, I had a hard time putting it down. The author has written a wonderful story about two people who discover that they just don't want each other, but they NEED each other.

Maggie has a lot on her plate. Ash is an awesome kid, but she is acting as both a mother and father to him while going to school and working. She is doing everything she can to give Ash the best upbringing that she can, even if that means making some personal sacrifices.

Luke is Ash's phys ed teacher and goes to school with Maggie. He grew up in a house that had him taking the brunt of his father's anger. He now feels like he needs to protect his younger brother and sisters, while trying to figure out what he really wants in life.

On paper, a relationship between these two seems like a really bad idea. Once Maggie and Luke spend some time together and get to know each other, they just can't stay away. They complement each other and are actually a perfect fit. Even Luke's siblings welcome Maggie and Ash with open arms.

I freaking loved Luke...he was exactly what Maggie needed. He helped open her eyes to not only the idea that she should accept help when people offer, but also that falling in love doesn't mean that she has to neglect Ash. Luke's relationship with Ash was adorable and made me swoon all over the place. Unfortunately not everything is sunshine and roses and when things go to crap and Maggie keeps her distance from Luke, he gives her the space she needs. It's really hard for him to stay away, but he knows that the separation needs to happen if he wants to build a life with Maggie and Ash. It was hard for him to understand, but once he does, he knows what he has to do.

The excerpt below is probably my favorite moment in the book. Not because of what they are saying, but because of the way it comes about. It comes after a very stressful event and they way Luke responds made me like him even more. 

"I love you."
"What?" he asked back. My eyes sprang open. Had I said that out loud? Shit.
"Goodnight."
"Oh, no!" He sat up and reached over Asher towards me. "Don't backtrack now, girl. What did you just say?" he asked again.
"I love you," I whispered because I didn't know what his reaction would be. I had never told a man that. In fact, the only person said 'I love you' to was Asher.
"Jesus, this is crazy. I don't do love. I can't. Don't you see my life—" My face instantly fell, and rejection settled in my bones. I wanted to burst into tears and flee. "But I fucking love you," he finally said.
"You do?"
"I fell in love with you when I saw your passion for this boy," he said as he rested his hand on Asher's shoulder.
"I think I've always known that you were something more."
"I love you," he said.
"I love you, too."
"Now go to bed. Tomorrow we have a busy day."
"Doing what?"
"Declaring our love." My insides clenched, and I was so full of nerves and excited energy, it took me a while to fall.
I don't know if the author is planning on turning this into a series, but I would to love to read more about Luke's siblings. So if you are reading this, Taylor Lavati, more books about the Wilson siblings! Please!



Taylor Lavati is a twenty-something year old author residing in Connecticut with her husband and dog. She writes both Young Adult and New Adult with ranging genres from fantasy to dark romance and all the niches in between. If she's not behind a computer screen or scribbling in her notebook, she's playing video games, going on hikes, or spending time with her family.





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1 comment:

  1. Looks like a good read. I love romance books and am new to this author.

    ReplyDelete