Sunday, July 27, 2014

Review ~ Without Hesitation (Without #3) by C.J. Azevedo


Without Hesitation (Without #3) by CJ Azevedo

At eleven years old, Macie James was certain she saw her prince standing in her kitchen with his rosy cheeks and cute smile. She was going to marry that boy, she had no doubt about it. As she became a teenager, it was that boy who taught her how to become a confident and sure woman. As the years went by and they grew up, he taught her how to love and to be loved.

Greyden Michaels was surprised when he fell for his best friend’s little sister. He wasn’t opposed to it and, even more surprising, neither was his best friend. When he was in college and her just in high school, he realized they were too young to be committed, he opted for friendship with her and together they decided their love was for the future.

When you hesitate, life happens. When life happens, your plans change. Macie wanted her fairy tale and Greyden was prepared to give it to her when unfortunate events changed his whole life, including his future with the UFC and, most devastatingly, with her. Macie made the decision to live her life, to move on without Greyden, especially once she met the man who wanted to marry her and give her the life he couldn’t.

The problem with that was that Greyden had always seen her as his. Could he give her up completely for her supposed happiness or could he somehow manage to get his life in order to try and win her back, heart and soul?
 
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 Excerpt: 

“I can’t make you mine right now, Macie.” He sounded dejected.

“I know,” she whispered across his lips, this time pressing her mouth against his.
 “I don’t trust anybody else with you,” he said as she deepened the kiss a little more, but he wasn’t letting her fully in.

She licked his top lip and a small groan came out against his wishes. “I know, Sugar Plum.” She kissed just his bottom lip; being the only participant in the kiss was becoming challenging.

Greyden laughed. “Noooo.” He gripped her face, stopping her ministrations. She scrunched up her nose at him. “Macie, remember our plans?”

She nodded. How could she forget? They had a future together, just not a present.

He tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. “I promise to keep my mouth shut if you want to date, if you promise to date guys your own age and to be smart.”

Macie’s shoulders sagged in disappointment. That’s not where she was hoping he was going to go with that. “Grey, I don’t—”

“Butterfly,” he slides a finger to her lips effectively shushing her, “I wish I could be that guy for you right now, but I can’t. I know that others can’t either, but apparently you’re going to have to figure that one out on your own. That’s why I ask that you wait ‘til you’re eighteen for the major stuff. Because, Butterfly…God. Macie James, you’re not the girl guys screw around with. You’re the girl guys marry. You’re the girl I’m going to marry.”

Macie gasped in complete shock at his words. Stunned speechless. What does one say to that anyway?

Thankfully, she didn’t have to think too long. Greyden slid off the truck, coming in close contact along her body, not letting her back up. He leaned down, his lips hovering over hers momentarily, just barely brushing them before pressing the sweetest kiss to her hyper aware lips. His lips were soft and warm and Macie wanted to pull him even closer than he already was and open up to him, but that’s not the kind of kiss he was giving her. No, he was giving her a kiss of a promise, a promise of a future, of a friendship and of a love that will only bloom with time, that’s what this kiss was. It was kind of heartbreaking on her end. It may be what he wanted and needed right now, but he just told her he was going to marry her, yet she couldn’t really kiss him, or have him.
 
 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22570767-without-hesitation


Without Doubt (Book 2)

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Smashwords






 Ava Sterling is tough and the most straight laced girl you will ever meet. Her family and her past have managed to alter her future permanently and she has no desire to allow anyone else into her life or her heart for fear of rejection or further altering. 

Ava is alone in the world with the exception of the grandest responsibility she did not create on her own but on her own she will carry for the rest of her life.

Declan James is a MMA fighter, party all night kind of guy. Responsibility is nowhere to be found in his life or so he allows everyone around him to believe. Coming from wealth and a carefree lifestyle, Declan gets what he wants, always. And what he wants is Ava. 

In his pursuit of getting what he wants, Ava in his bed, his plan changes quickly without his consent. Against his plans of being the next hot bachelor to cross the tabloids as he makes his way to being the Ultimate Light Heavyweight Champion, Declan falls in love. He falls in love without hesitation and without doubt.

Neither Declan nor Ava are aware that fate has inconveniently intertwined their lives forever. Will they be able to survive the aftermath of the truth?


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Bailey Hayes has a past that is currently affecting her present. Ten years ago she made a decision that suited her at the time. Now because of that decision she finds herself extremely successful in her chosen career but extremely unhappy in a relationship she thought was her forever.

Bailey met, fell in love with and moved in with Hollister Harrison six short months after meeting him. Hollister's true colors shine through epically when he no longer has his personal space to contain them.

Talon McAllister loves his family, his family's marketing firm that he runs along side his sister and the game of hockey. He plays hard and works even harder but leaves no room for any one woman exclusively. That is until he meets the lovely and ultimately sexy Bailey.
Can Talon convince Bailey that her twisted sense of loyalty and commitment to her boyfriend is absolutely unnecessary and dangerous?

Will Bailey miss out on the greatest love she will ever know due to fear of repeating her past of quick decision making?

Or will Talon show Bailey that she can live and love without boundaries?



About this Author:

Being a dreamer her whole life, CJ had big plans as a child to move to New York and live the city life. She wanted to escape the small country town she grew up in and be an independent woman. The dreaming never stopped, changed a little but never stopped. Instead she married a boy from that small country town and decided to somewhat travel together. One day, living in Northern California they decided to pack up and move to Texas, just because. That’s where she resides today doing what she loves the most… mothering her children, loving her Husband and living vicariously through all of the stories she gets to create and write up daily.

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My Thoughts:

I can happily say that I get to share all three books with you! Each book could be read out of order without problem but I think you'd benefit from reading them in order.

Book one was Without Boundaries. In it we meet Bailey who is in a bad relationship but can't seem to see it or escape from it. She meets Talon and the two are inexplicably drawn together.

There is anything but smooth sailing for their relationship because she is loyal to a fault and can't quite commit to leaving Hollister, even though a huge part of her wants too. I loved Talon. He was awesome. ;-)

There was plenty of angst, drama, romance, and some steamy action too. 

The characters were great. They had great chemistry. Even the secondary characters were will grow on you. I want each of them to get the HEA that they deserve.

The ending was so very sweet that you will be swooning for sure!

Without Doubt was the second book. It starred Declan, Talon's cousin, who was introduced to us in the first book. We see more of Bailey and Talon as well. :-)

Declan is an MMA fighter and a player.who has taken an instant obsession with a barmaid named Ava.

She has been crushing on him since the first time she seen him but refuses to ever act on because of his reputation. She has responsibilities that overshadow every choice that she makes and leaves no time for dating.

Declan decides that he will befriend her first. He always gets what he wants and what he wants is Ava in his life and bed with no distance between them.

I LOVE AVA she is an awesome heroine! She is selfless and amazing. Declan is a good hero too. And the two of them together is combustible.

There is a blight on there relationship further in the book that causes so much angst. I was so sad and mad. I have to say though that I did see it coming. I was angry at Declan for the way he handled it at first too.

Eventually they both get their acts together and achieve the HEA that they deserve. 

This book had the same qualities that made me love the first book, drama, angst, romance, steamy sexiness, and there was also a few twists.

This latest book was Without Hesitation. This book focuses on Maci, Declan's sister and his best friend Greyden. I love the way all of the characters are connected and we see them again in each book. :-) What can I say? I am a sucker for great characters and when they have such a great connection to each other, how could I resist? Impossible!

He calls her Butterfly for a really sweet reason. :-) I had to laugh at all of the obnoxious nicknames that she tried out for him. These were some of the highlights of the book.

This book contains drama, angst, romance, and steam. This one had me very frustrated though. :-(

First of all I need to tell you that it goes back and forth from past to present pretty frequently. I didn't have an issue with that but I know it bothers some people so I wanted to give you a heads up.

I liked the main characters but they were stupid. They fall in love early but know they are too young. This is fine with me but they get together when she is eighteen and I thought awesome! It doesn't last though. This was also fine.

What ticked me off was Greyden's behavior for most of their relationship and Maci's acceptance of it. Then she finally calls it quits but never gives up on him completely. This relationship spans over many years and I call bullshit. If someone hurt you very badly and left you down over and over would you still act like they hung the moon and stars?

He was even worse, he behaves abhorably and it is his fault they are not together but he constantly wants her. Even as he's dating other girls. WTF? Sorry I don't usually swear but, seriously?

Eventually he fills that he is ready for a relationship and they do get their own HEA but in my mind, it was long overdue.

I know it sounds like I didn't like this book but that isn't the case. Granted it is my least favorite book of this series so far but I did like it. I just felt like their words and actions were contradictory. It didn't make sense to me and had me really worked up.

All three books had my emotions flowing. I cried, laughed, was frustrated, and angry. 

I recommend reading all three books in order if you like romance that has some depth and isn't all flowers and rainbows, or if you crave great characters.

I received ecopies of all three books in exchange for my honest opinion. I thought the first two books were fantastic and the third was good. I can't wait to read about all of the others especially Tucker and Blaine.



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5 comments:

  1. Greyden sounds a little like a spoiled brat that can't make his mind because he wants everything without accepting that to gain some you have to loose/ part with some...

    The series seems really interesting as i love to see past characters making apparitions now i do think vbook 3 wouldn't be my favourite either but who knows

    thank you for sharing all 3 books with us!

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  2. Yes you are effected like I am so I agree that it would not be your favorite. There are some really sweet parts to it though.

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    1. at the same time it's great when not all books from a series are favourite since it make us cherish those even more

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    2. You are so right! It would be kind of boring if every book was perfect.

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  3. Ok you sold me on the series. :) I hate people like that who justify others actions. If he keeps screwing up then why make excuses for him? Anyways I'll definitely read them. Thanks hun!

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