VIVIAN'S LIST, Book One of a Two Part New Adult Series by Haleigh Lovell ~ review & giveaway

Blurb

Vivian Sorenson is in a verbally abusive relationship, and all the abuse has left her feeling lost and disoriented. When her boyfriend, Brody, calls her "frigid" and "boring ol' vanilla," Vivian ends the toxic relationship and embarks on a journey of sexual self-discovery. Hence, the sexual bucket list or as she calls it: Vivian's List.

Liam Sykes has known Vivian all his life. He's always been overly protective of her and perhaps half in love with her, too. When he happens upon Vivian's sexual bucket list, he agrees to be her sexual partner. Soon it becomes more than just sex as Liam picks up every jagged little shard of Vivian's shattered heart and pieces it back together, replacing it with a piece of his own.

** New Adult Erotic Romance intended for readers 18+ due to language and sexual content

 

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Excerpt:

Unable to meet his gaze, I picked up my fork and pushed the food around the plate in a circle. “He accused me of sleeping with you.” I inhaled sharply. “And he called me frigid again.” I paused and took a swig of wine to cover my distress. “Sometimes I can’t help but wonder … if I wasn’t so frigid in bed, he wouldn’t have needed to find it elsewhere.”

I heard Liam exhale. “Don’t do that, Viv.”

As I fiddled with the stem of the wineglass, I forced myself to meet his gaze. “Do what?”

“Doubt yourself. Blame yourself. Don’t do that.” His voice was nothing but kind. There was no hint of condescension in it.

I tried to speak, failed, so I drank some more wine.

“Listen.” Liam set his fork on the table. “If a girl is frigid, it is usually because the way she is treated outside of bed has left her frigid.”

“But there has to be something wrong with me. I mean, what twenty-two-year-old has never experienced the Big O? You know, I can be a little uptight, even high-strung at times. So really, it could just be me.”

“It’s not you,” Liam said firmly. “Don’t let Brody mess with your head. Do you know that about ten percent of women have never experienced an orgasm? And most women aren’t able to climax with intercourse alone. They need other sorts of …” He paused, seemingly to search for the word. “Stimulation.”

The word made a blush rise on my neck and throat.

Liam leaned back in his chair and regarded me steadily. “And from what it sounds like, Brody is a fucking moron. No guy should ever expect you to function with the predictability of a machine. And if he does, then he should just have sex with his car.”

I smothered a giggle. “So I take it you’ve had plenty of experience helping girls reach the pinnacle of sexual passion.”

His lips turned upward in a semi-grin. “Not really.”

“C’mon,” I teased, swirling the wine in my glass. “What about all those Jessicas you dated? Jessica Neal, Jessica Cena, Jessica Long, Jessica Alba?”

He let out a dismissive laugh. “I never dated Jessica Alba.”

As I forked a mouthful of ravioli, I pointed out, “You had the biggest crush on her, though.”

He didn’t deny it. “Me and every other guy I knew.”

I arched an eyebrow. “So did you love all the other Jessicas?”

He shrugged. “Truthfully, I don’t think I even knew what love was back then.”

I eyed him curiously. “Do you know now?”

He shoveled in a bite, chewed then swallowed. “I think I may have some idea.”

I leaned back in my chair and ran a fingertip around the rim of my wineglass. “What do you think love should feel like? Fireworks? Crazy intense, mad passion?”

The look he gave me was long and considering. He lifted his glass and took a swig before answering. “I think a slow burning candle produces more warmth and light than a brief explosion.”

We stared at each other as his words hung in the air between us. “With Brody …” I spoke into the silence. “It was crazy intense. I met him in college my freshman year. And right from the start, we had instant fireworks … the brief explosions you were just talking about. He pretty much swept me off my feet, and I kind of jumped off the diving board into the deep end.”

Liam had a deep and intent expression on his face as he listened to me.

His eyes were open and accepting. Nonjudgmental.

When I finished, he grew quiet for a moment. Then he said, “I think the idea that love must be crazy intense all the time is what keeps people from being satisfied with the normal, boring day-to-day love. The sort of quiet love that is tucked away in the corner instead of shouted from the rooftops. That kind of simple day-to-day love … that quiet love, it might seem dull to others. But for me—” He gave a short shrug— “that’s love.”

Author Info

Haleigh Lovell lives in the west coast with her husband and three rescue dogs. Haleigh received a B.A. in Journalism and a B.A in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin--Madison. Despite training as a journalist and a sociologist, Haleigh soon found she preferred making up her own stories--stories with heat and heart.

An expert at the art of procrastination, Haleigh is easily distracted by food and can often be found snacking on Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Pringles, Kit Kat bars, Toblerones and sushi.

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My Thoughts:

Vivian's List was a hot tale about woman who has lost herself due to her emotionally abusive boyfriend. She didn't even realize what was happening until her friend Liam pointed it out.

Liam is also her brother's best friend and in the service. (Man in a uniform ladies!) He is only home for a little while before returning for another tour over seas. His mother had been abused in the same way for years and he watched her slowly turn into a zombie. He couldn't stand for Viv to end up that way.

Viv can't seem to get one particular word out of her head. She keeps hearing the word frigid as spoken to her from her boyfriend when he said he cheated on her because she was frigid. 

She decides to find out if he was right. She makes a sexual bucket list.

Liam is shocked, startled and aroused when he finds her list. He refuses to let her do these things and tries to explain that it is not safe for her to try these things with random men. She decides that he should do them with her instead. ;-)

Both of these characters have been dancing around their mutual attraction. Now that they are acting on it, will things between them ever be the same? 

There are a lot of erotic scenes, some mean and nasty ranting by an obnoxious a**, romance, and a terrifically sweet hero in this book.

I recommend this book if you like lots of spice and a sweet and loving hero. ;D I do!

I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I thought it was hot, sweet, and satisfying while leaving me wanting more at the same time. I can't wait to read part two, Liam's List.

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