Monday, May 5, 2014

A Beautiful Distraction Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

A BEAUTIFUL DISTRACTION
Hard Feelings #3
Kelsie Leverich
Contemporary Romance
272 pages
NAL
Available May 6th
Source: Finished copy from publisher for review

THE STORY
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. But he fell for the wrong woman and it nearly destroyed him.

Back home from a deployment, with no mission to consume him, Murano’s ravaged by memories of his past. 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.

Fallon Kelly learned the hard way not to take risks with her heart, But she sees something irresistible in the tatted-up bad boy one more punch away from a ride in the back of a squad car. She offers a distraction. And he quickly becomes an addiction. Little does she know, this bad boy could love so hard it could break her…

MY THOUGHTS
A Beautiful Distraction is a fairly straightforward contemporary romance where a pair of individuals with dark pasts and an impressive amount of emotional baggage are forced to sort through their various hang-ups to determine whether possibility of love is worth the possibility of heartbreak. Though the story itself is nothing new, Ms. Leverich writes characters who communicate well and spare us a lot of the drama and angst that often results when two people forget how to use their words. Both Rafe and Fallon are honest with one another about their pasts as well as their expectations for the future, and while that’s not to say they don’t argue or occasionally let their insecurities get the better of them, they impress throughout with the way they talk things through.

Fallon in particular is a highlight, coming from a world of wealth and privilege only to have that world ripped away from her and a new, darker reality take its place. Though the circumstances of her past have convinced her to keep people at arm’s length, she thankfully doesn’t spend the entire book fighting to keep her walls up. She’s fully aware her defenses begin to crumble the minute she meets Rafe, but instead of pulling him close one minute only to push him away the next when she remembers she’s supposed to keep her distance, she simply accepts that he’s something different and decides to see where the ride will take her.

While Fallon is a strong heroine and the chemistry between her and Rafe is beyond sizzling, the relationship itself is not without a few small issues. Those readers who don’t necessarily like too much detail when it comes to intimate moments should know this story sits slightly more on the erotic side of the romance line, the sex between Fallon and Rafe frequent and explicit. While certainly not a problem for everyone (as it wasn’t for me), it does lead into the main flaw that kept this book from a higher rating. Rafe communicates almost solely through sex, using it to convince Fallon her doubts have no place in their relationship, to apologize for any wrongdoing, and in the end, to express his love for her. Though sex is obviously a form of communication, the way Rafe consistently defaults to it in times of tension between them makes it a touch harder to believe his feelings extend beyond the physical.

Overall, A Beautiful Distraction is a quick and very hot read, and though Rafe isn’t entirely convincing in his profession of love at the end, his and Fallon’s journey is still an enjoyable one.

Rating: 3.5/5

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This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review
I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

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GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the fantastic team at Penguin, I have a copy of A Beautiful Distraction to give away on the blog today! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

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28 comments:

  1. It sounds like a nice book. I don't read a lot of contempory romances but I loke one for time to time and I confess I didn't know this one at all. Thanks for the review!

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  2. I love to meet someone like Rafe Murano. He sounds like a keeper.

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  3. Fantastic review, Jenny! Even if this is not something I'd usually read and even less with my emotional state as of late, I'm glad it was enjoyable enough!

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  4. I'm glad this novel is devoid of the usual drama, though it's a bit disappointing that Rafe's attraction comes across as more physical than emotional. Still, I think I'll be adding this to that list of books I always fall back on when I need a light, quick read. Wonderful review, Jenny!

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  5. I love that they communicate!! I can't tell you how much this bothers me in the world of NA. So glad to see this one is relatively angst free.

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  6. I've been meaning to get into this series because Nereyda @ Mostly YA Obsessed loves the author's works. I like the couple communicates in this book and that there isn't much angst and misunderstanding. And the sexy times sound like they are well written. I'm going to have to try this one soon, Jenny. Lovely review!

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  7. I've never heard of this book before...that tends to be a theme with you these days, lady! But hell...some more erotic love than what I'm used to in my novels? Sign me up for that, alone! Plus, it sounds like these characters actually are grounded in communication and partnership. THAT'S something to get invested in! Great review, Jenny :)

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  8. Hmm, this series is new to me, but I love that the characters are well done and communicate! It drives me crazy when they don't. Great review Jenny!

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  9. Yeah, I'm definitely and actions over words kind of person . . . wait . . . that doesn't work here! How is that possible, LOL? Oh well, you know what I mean--I'm not sure I'd find Rafe's professions of love convincing either. And how funny that book title is Beautiful DISTRACTION. B/c any time a guy tried to pull that crap with me, that's exactly what it felt like. Great review, Jenny!

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  10. I don't mind the steam too much, Jenny, but I'm not convinced enough by Rafe's feelings. The relationship does seem imbalanced. Despite its flaws, I'm glad you enjoyed it overall.

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  11. I'm so excited for this one, Jenny! I loved the previous story. I'm picking it up very soon. It sounds like in spite of Rafe's issues and usng sex as a default way to communicate (hello very male, male, lol!) you enjoyed this. Wonderful review!

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  12. Hey, you know. You may as well get it when and where you can. That passion burns bright and hot... *fans self* Really, it all depends on the book and the characters. I've found myself skimming over those scenes when there are too many.

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  13. My man-candy has to have more going for him than just being wicked in the sack. The steam elements sound like they were top notch, but Rafe would probably bug me like he did you. Thanks for the review!

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  14. Never heard of this...will have to definitely check it out.

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  15. You know this isn't the read for me as I don't like my sex scenes overly explicit and I am not a fan of using sex as a form of communication. Thanks for the honest review.

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  16. Hm... the lack of Rafe's communicative skills would bother me. I would see him deflecting emotions rather than confronting them. I don't think this one is for me, but I may have to library book it one of these days... especially since it got a 3 1/2 from you.

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  17. I'm not a fan of the more explicit sex, but it's not enough to keep me away cause I can skim those bits just fine. I know you and I are similar when it comes to romance in books, not liking too much angst and whatnot. I'm on the fence about whether this would work for me but since it's not on my TBR already I guess I don't have to make a decision about reading this one anyway.

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  18. A guy who can only communicate through sex? Doesn't exactly sound like my kind of MC!

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  19. this looks and sounds fantastic! thanks for sharing :)

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  20. I can't wait to read this! Sounds like a good book!

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  21. This isn't my genre, but I do like how your phrased it that Rafe seemed to use sex to speak for him. That's a great what to characterize his actions. Nice Review!

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  22. Nice review; never read this series

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  23. Sounds like it might be hard to get to know Rafe if he only talks through sex, and I'm not a big fan of erotica. Still, I love contemporary romance and men in uniform!

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  24. I love talking through sex... ahem ... I mean, this sounds really good. I'm planning on reading this series, so I'm glad you liked this installment.

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  25. This does sound like a hot read, but I think I'd be looking for slightly more emotional connection between Rafe and Fallon. This might be a good fit for my guilty pleasure shelf. Lovely review! :-)

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  26. LOL, sounds like a typical romance with alpha heroes. :)

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  27. I usually need a little more emotional connection. Although this guy and book sound HOT, I might feel as you do about the romance being a little too much all about sex. But this series sounds fun.

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