Tasty Virtual Book Tour and Review: Crushed by Lauren Layne

Welcome to the Crushed Book Tour!

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Title: Crushed
Author: Lauren Layne
Published: April 14th 2015
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

Lauren Layne’s latest novel about the healing power of redemption tells the story of a crush gone wickedly wrong, proving that what you want isn’t always what you need.

Growing up in New York, Michael St. Claire never expected to spend his twenties wearing cowboy boots. But that was before he learned about his real father, a total stranger with a family in Cedar Grove, Texas. Once in the Lone Star State, Michael meets Kristin Bellamy, who is exquisitely refined and everything Michael always thought he wanted in a woman. The only problem is that Kristin is dating Michael’s new half brother, Devon.

Kristin’s mouthy, curvy sister Chloe has always been in love with Devon Patterson. So when Michael offers to help Chloe break up Devon and Kristin, Chloe agrees to a deal that seems too good to be true. Before long, Chloe finally gets her man, only to make a startling discovery: She no longer wants the guy she had to fight for—she wants the one who stood by her side.

After all he and Chloe have been through, Michael swears he’s damaged goods. Can Chloe convince him that love is worth the risk?

My Thoughts:

I haven't met a single book by Lauren Layne that I haven't liked. In fact, I've enjoyed all of them thoroughly. So when I saw this New Adult novel, I had to get my hands on it as quickly as possible. Once I read it, I realized how rare it is to find a good NA, because this story was exactly what the "genre" is all about.

Chloe is a heroine you can't help but love. She's not the kind of person to stand idly by--she's willing to do whatever she possibly can to make things better. And that's something I applaud her for. With Chloe and Michael, they each have their reasons for helping each other (her wanting Devon and him wanting Kristen), but in the midst of it they somehow become friends. During this whole friendship, they don't realize until later how much more than just friends they are. All it takes is one kiss...

Crushed is a new adult book that everyone should pick up. There was so much love and heart and amusement throughout that you just want to hug the book to your chest. The one thing I found hard to believe was how either of them could want to be with either Devon or Kristen (read the book and you'll completely know what I mean). But I adored Chloe and Michael together. Just... adored. All in all, an amazing read!

My Rating:

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Link to Follow Tour:http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/01/crushed-redemption-2-by-lauren-layne.html 

Author Info 

Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. 

Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent assurances to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren's gone on to publish ten books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with several more on the way in 2015. 

Lauren currently lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When not writing, you'll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.

Excerpt

Most girls I know pull their hair back from their faces while exercising, and that’s girls who don’t have Chloe’s cloud of crazy curls. But Chloe’s hair is bouncing free in all its wild glory. 

I’d started to suggest she might want to do something with it, but I don’t bother because (a) she won’t listen; (b) it’s hair. I don’t give a fuck. 

But by the time Chloe punches the treadmill to a stop at the end of her five minutes, I realize I do care. 

That damn hair is going to be a major hindrance. 

“Water break?” she asks hopefully. 

I gesture at her head. “Ponytail.” 

She tilts her head. “Huh?” 

“Your hair. Put it in a tail.” 

Chloe snorts and gives me an incredulous look. “You know, yesterday I thought you had the whole alpha thing down pat. The glower, the big ol’ biceps, the lack of small-talk skills, but you’d better watch it . . . Throw around the word ponytail in public and these housewives will be moving on to less metro pastures.” 

I grit my teeth. 

She wants alpha? 

No problem. 

Without a word, I turn my back on her, walking past the line of treadmills, elliptical machines, and weights until I reach the front desk. 

Demi, the cute receptionist, jumps in surprise as I move behind her, opening her desk drawer and rummaging through the office supplies until I find what I’m looking for. 

“You’re welcome!” she calls after me. 

I return to the treadmills, fully expecting Chloe to be looking around nervously for me, but, of course, she’s not. This girl is just . . . I don’t even know that I can come up with a word beyond different. 

Chloe Bellamy is different. 

And I mean that in an I could strangle her way, not I’m intrigued. 

Chloe’s found her way over to one of the cable machines and is talking to a blond dude who barely looks old enough to shave, but is definitely old enough to appreciate the compliments of an older girl. 

Even if said older girl is red in the face from her warm-up and all crazy-haired. 

She lets out a long gusty laugh, and I watch as he flexes, likely at her request. By the time I make it over to them, she’s honest to God squeezing the kid’s biceps. 

“What the hell are you doing?” I ask. 

She doesn’t seem the least bit fazed by my growl, and she turns to grin up at me. “This is Caleb. Can you believe he’s only a junior in high school? I mean look at his—” 

Wrapping my fingers firmly around her arm, I tug her away. 

“What’s your deal?” she mutters, turning around to give Caleb a wave and exaggerated wink. 

“What’s my deal? You should be thanking me. That kid is sixteen. I’m saving you from statutory rape charges.” 

“Oh, come on. I was just feeling his muscles.” 

With a grunt, I put my hands on her shoulders and push her into a sitting position on one of the benches. 

“What are you—hey!” she yelps. 

I ignore her as I wrestle with her mane. 

This is a first for me. 

The only other time I’ve even really noticed a girl’s hair was when I was nineteen. There was this hot summer night in a pool house when I finally got into Melissa Gilani’s pants after a fancy party her parents had thrown. Melissa’s hair had been up in this messy bun-type thing, and she had definitely liked it when I slowly pulled the pins out and released her long blond hair, letting it fall around her shoulders. 

Of course, I’d been kissing her neck at the time. That probably helped. 

But I am most definitely not kissing Chloe Bellamy’s neck, and putting her hair up in a ponytail is a hell of a lot harder than taking Melissa’s hair down was that night.

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