November 5, 2013

RELEASE DAY REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: The Edge of Always (The Edge of Never #2)


Happy book birthday to J.A. Redmerski! As soon as I learned that there was going to be a sequel to The Edge of Never - and HELLO ANDREW on the cover - I added it to my TBR and anxiously started counting down the days. And, now the day is here! Read on for an excerpt, my review and a giveaway. This event has been organized by AToMR.

The Edge of Always (The Edge of Never #2), by J.A. Redmerski
Published November 5, 2013
Publisher: Grand Central/Forever Romance
Format: e-galley, from NetGalley
Genre:  new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Camryn Bennett has never been happier. Five months after meeting on a Greyhound bus, she and her soul mate Andrew Parrish are engaged—and a wedding isn’t the only special event in their future. Nervous but excited, Camryn can’t wait to begin the rest of her life with Andrew – a man she knows in her heart will love her always. They have so much to look forward to—until tragedy blindsides them.

Andrew doesn’t understand how this could happen to them. He’s trying to move on, and thought Camryn was doing the same. But when Andrew discovers Camryn is secretly harboring a mountain of pain and attempting to numb it in damaging ways, there is nothing he won’t do to bring her back to life. Determined to prove that their love can survive anything, Andrew decides to take Camryn on a new journey filled with hope and passion. If only he can convince her to come along for the ride…


I haven't cried like that over a book in awhile. Thank goodness I have an office with a door. Otherwise, that would've been pret-ty embarrassing.

Andrew and Cam are getting ready to start their lives together, and yet they're struggling with the realization that they have to staunch their desire to travel and see the world. But when a tragedy rocks them to the core, it seems that a road trip is exactly what they both need to clear their heads and reconnect with each other.

Lots of new adult books are emotional on some level. Seems to come with the territory, er.. genre. But, The Edge of Always seemed to take the feels to a different level. The feels were up and down and all over the place. There were points when I laughed out loud (like when Andrew stepped in a nice, fresh cow pie, and his retort was, "Ahhh, SHIT!" - *giggle*). There were times when I had to step away from the book because I couldn't read through my tears. If you're looking for a book that elicits some serious emotion, look no further. Particularly if you're a mother. Trust me on this one.

I liked Camryn a lot more in The Edge of Always than I did in The Edge of Never. She seemed stronger. More sure of herself. More sure of Andrew and their love for each other. I much prefer my female characters with confidence and solidarity rather than being wishy washy and weak. Cam stepped up when it really counted, and in the face of everything that was going on, I think she rocks.

Andrew - hmmm.... where to start with this guy. He loves Camryn unconditionally and completely. He does anything and everything for her, especially if he thinks it will make her happy or raise her spirits. He takes care of her and protects her. Sounds amazing, right? He totally is. The thing is, he's a little TOO amazing. No guy is that perfect. No couple never fights or argues. It's just not realistic.

Like last time, the road trip aspect was the most fun part of The Edge of Always. It was cool to see where Cam and Andrew drove and what they experienced. Again, there were times when I had a hard time believing that anyone could or would actually do what Cam and Andrew did. How many people do that?

The Edge of Always is told in dual POV, from both Andrew's and Cam's. I loved Andrew's POV the most - there's so much emotion in that man's voice. The sexy moments are there, but most are fade to black. I could've used more in that regard.

The Edge of Always was an emotionally-charged romantic read that will make you laugh and cry and swoon. Read it - for reals.

Excerpt
I hear the water from the shower shut off, and seconds later a loud bang vibrates through the wall. I jump up from the chair, letting the remote control hit the floor as I rush toward the bathroom. The edge of the coffee table clips the shit outta my shin as I pass.

I swing open the bathroom door. “What happened?”

Camryn shakes her head at me and smiles as she leans over to pick the hair dryer up from the floor beside the toilet.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

“You’re more paranoid than I am,” she laughs.

She glances down at my leg as I rub it with my fingertips. She sets the hair dryer back on the counter, comes up to me, and kisses the side of my mouth. “Looks like I’m not the one of us who needs to worry about being accident-prone.” She smiles.

My hands cup her shoulders and I pull her closer, letting one hand fall down to touch her little rounded belly. I can barely tell she’s pregnant. At four months I thought she’d at least be emulating a baby hippo, but what do I know about this stuff?

“Maybe so,” I say, trying to hide the red in my face. “You probably did that on purpose just to see how fast I could get in here.”

She kisses the other side of my mouth and then goes in for the kill, kissing me fully and deeply while pressing her wet, naked body against mine. I moan against her mouth, wrapping my arms around her.

But then I pull away before I fall into her devious trap. “Dammit, woman, you’ve gotta stop that.”

She grins back at me. “You really want me to stop?” she asks with that up-to-no-good smile of hers.

It scares the shit out of me when she does that. Once after a conversation laced with that smile, she stopped having sex with me for three whole days. Worst three days of my life.
About the Author

J.A. Redmerski, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children, two cats and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC's The Walking Dead.

Learn more about J.A. Redmerski --> Website / Facebook / Twitter

Giveaway

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