Title: Everything I've Never Had
Author: Lynetta Halat
Release Date: 9/2/2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Blog Tour Hosted by: Angie’s Dreamy Reads
Cover Designer: Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations.
Blurb ~ Celeste Hebert has always appeared to have it all, but there are many things she's never had, been forbidden from having.
One night. One song. One kiss. The perfect trifecta to unleash the floodgates of a forbidden attraction between the widow and her husband’s bad boy cousin, Adrian.
Celeste endeavors to rebury the feelings that surface after this one night since her powerful family despises him. Kindred spirits, best of friends they attempt to douse their attraction; however, Adrian always seems to know exactly how to push her buttons and may prove too much to resist.
Having defied his family by making his way on his own terms, Adrian struggles to regain their acceptance. When he meets his cousin’s wife and wants her for his own, he feels he’s finally lived down to the title—black sheep. But, when his cousin dies unexpectedly, Adrian fights his attraction and swears to honor them both by helping her raise her boys.
Finding himself enveloped in a cocoon of love and acceptance, Adrian knows it’s more than just physical attraction. However, unforeseen events threaten to destroy those he now holds dear and his newfound peace.
Will the ties that bind them be their undoing?
Author Info
For as long as she can remember, Lynetta Halat has lived to read and has written countless stories and plays since she was a young girl. A teacher by day and an avid reader and closet writer by night, she has always dreamt of penning books that people could connect with and remember; and her first novel, Every Rose, was the perfect catalyst to launch her into the world of publishing. Her love of the English language prompted her to attain her master's degree in English from Old Dominion University in Virginia. A self-proclaimed "Coast Girl," she lives in Mississippi with her adorable husband, two amazing sons, and two loveable dogs. She is currently at work on her third book.
Author Links
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/
Website: www.lynettahalat.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/
My Review
August 30. 2013 ~ 5 Stars ★★★★★
**ARC provided by Author for Honest Review**
**ARC provided by Author for Honest Review**
Everything I’ve Never Had was a truly remarkable novel and another
hit for author Lynetta Halat. I was engrossed and impressed from page one. I
wasn’t really sure what to expect from this book but I it surpassed even my
wildest imaginings. The blurb warns of twists and turns and boy it doesn’t lie.
There may not be car chases and deranged killers running all over but my heart
was pumping just as hard. Besides I blame Lynetta for any and all heart
complications following my completion of this book. Prepare to follow the
rinse, lather, repeat process as your emotions and the like will be continually
cause you to swoon, faint and pass out eventually leading to the possibility of
a coma. Total emotional catapult that had my heart and brain stuck in an epic
Star Wars Death Star destruction battle.
“Sometimes I think the way I feel about you is crazy, Adrian.” -
Celeste
I don’t know if I’ve highlighted
a book as much as I did this one. Every line, paragraph and page has numerous
notes, highlights and bookmarks. It’s kind of ridiculous now looking back!! But
this book easily earns 5 Stars, even 10 wouldn’t do it justice. The characters
themselves are epic but mixed with such an intriguing and engaging story-line
this book is easily one of my favorites. And though it may be NA (New Adult)
the characters are a bit older than your average college student. In fact
Celeste is now a widow at thirty-seven with three children of her own. Adrian
is only twenty-nine, not that this stops these two and one must give credit to
Celeste for snagging a hot younger man.
“What is the proper etiquette for getting caught in your lustful
musings by the very object of your desires?”-Celeste
Sometimes love knocks you on your
ass. Both Celeste and Adrian are hit dead center on their first meeting.
Problem though: Celeste is married and Adrian is her husband’s cousin. When
Celeste’s husband dies, not only does his ghost stand in the way but Celeste’s
family is a bit overbearing and controlling to say the least. The two survive
on friendship for a long time, but even those don’t always last.
How can two hearts craving one
another be together when everyone and everything tells them to stay apart?
Adrian works his butt of to make sure Celeste and her kids are taken care of.
He loves her kids like his own and does all the manly things around the house
as his way of helping out. (Adrian can come mow my lawn, shirtless, anytime he
likes).
“He’s not even thirty and I’m thirty-seven. Hello? Freakin’ cougar,
anyone?” - Celeste
There is so much standing between
these two that they have to decide if being together is worth the fight. Passion is off the charts hot and mixed with
Adrian’s rock god/alpha-male and soldier who knows more than one creative and
scream-worthy uses for a guitar pick. He is certainly a man’s MAN. Adrian is intriguing and delicious
that you can’t help but imagine him in fatigues, hot, sweaty and ready for
action. Throw in his giving and generous nature, wonderful mind, outgoing personality
and protective instincts and he’s every girls dream. All together Adrian is
almost too good to be true. You may literally die and go to Book Boyfriend Heaven.
I don’t and won’t give any little
details away but the romance between these two is epic. They have many trials
to win and battles to fight before they can even think of being together. Mix
their romantic drama with an Italian family-like drama and three young kids and
you have madness. But what a wonderful madness it is.
You will laugh, you will most certainly
cry and as if I didn’t emphasize the point enough before, your emotions will be
in a tailspin.
“Go put a shirt on for breakfast,
sweetheart. It’s almost ready.”
“I don’t wanna.”
He hesitates and then mutters, “I’m too
sexy for my shirt.”
“Huh?”
He lifts his head and I see mischief
dancing in there.
“I’m too sexy for my shirt,” he starts
singing and moving around the bar, “So sexy it hurts.”
“Oh, yes,” I say with a laugh, “there’s my
Finn. I knew quiet was too good to be true.” – Celeste and Finn
Overall
Aside from Adrian of course, I
think my favorite bits about the story were Celeste’s children. They were such
old souls that seemed so much older than their age. Not only did they look out
for their mother but they did any and everything they could to make her happy.
Their behavior was never one of a normal tantrum0-touting baby or a whining teen
and they have rather impressive talent show skills that had me laughing and
smiling like a proud Mommy. And Lynetta as if you didn’t already know the way
to my heart. Gosh, that epilogue about tore my heart out and sprinkled it
around me like ash. Perfection!! And forgive me for not using more quotes or
examples but this is a book that needs to be experienced. Words alone will do
it no justice so my advice to you would be to read it for yourself and experience
all the awesomeness that it holds. Beware of outside commitments however, because
putting this down will be like sawing off your own leg, and we all know how
that worked in the Saw movies….!!
Excerpt #2—Everything I’ve Never Had by
Lynetta Halat—Sept. 2013
I consider exactly how truthful I should be with him. He was so truthful with me. I owe him that much, don't I? "Adrian, I don't need time apart. You're my friend and you're amazing with the boys. They love you. I would never deny them your presence. I just...I just need us to get back to normal as quickly as possible. I...I am attracted to you. I have been for a while. But that's all it is—a physical attraction."On these words, I see his eyes narrow ever so slightly. I turn my head quickly and vow, "I promise to control myself, though." I allow my eyes to find his again. "I don't want to lose you either." He studies me for a minute. Just as I find myself about to squirm under his intense gaze, he releases me. "OK, Celeste, that settles that. Back to normal. We'll both behave. This physical thing between us will pass. No harm, no foul. Right?" Right," I say on a smile.
Standing up, he turns to go back to his mowing; but then he spins around and comes back to tower over me. My head flies up, my gaze searching. I open my mouth to ask him what's wrong, but he beats me once again. "Celeste, just so you know," he says as he tilts my chin back further and runs his calloused fingertips up my cheek to tuck a strand of errant hair behind my ear. His hand curls itself along my jaw. "That kiss...that kiss was exceptional, and I'll never forget it. As I stand here and as long as I live, it was the best I've ever had, the best I could ever have." Since my heart has lodged itself firmly in my throat, he's gone before I can speak or even form a coherent thought for that matter. Slowly, I shake my head at his retreating back. We'll never get back to normal if he keeps touching me and talking to me like that.
All rights reserved. Copyright Lynetta Halat 2013.
Giveaway Info:
Kindle Paperwhite
$25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
5 Signed Paperbacks of Everything I’ve Never Had
10 ebooks of Everything I’ve Never Had
(There are TWO Rafflecopters for this tour!!! One is open INT.
The paperbacks are on a separate RC and are US ONLY)
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