{Romance Review} Meant For Her by Raine Thomas

{Romance Review} Meant For Her by Raine Thomas

Photographer Sierra Stratton views the world through a lens all her own. She has an uncanny sense about people, something that often causes her trouble. When she meets the sexy and brooding Evan Dorsey, her intuition tells her he’s suffering, and she wants to be the one to help him.

Evan isn’t open to help from anyone, however. His focus is on his Major League career and making himself as marketable as possible for his upcoming free agency. He plans to ride out the season in Atlanta and then sign with another team, away from the painful memories that haunt him.

Someone’s eager to send him on his way, too. Between anonymous threats and equipment sabotage, it’s clear he’s earned himself an enemy along the way. To him, it’s one more sign that he’s right to move on.

But Sierra threatens his conviction. Her contagious smile proves hard to resist, as does her kiss. She tempts him in ways he never anticipated, making him question his plans for the first time. If he’s not careful, she might just convince him that he’s meant for her. (Blurb via Goodreads)

Purchase: Amazon + BN + The Book Depository

{Details} Kindle Edition, 337 pages. Published October 15th 2013 by Iambe Books, LLC. Source: Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Raine Thomas and {Romance Review} Meant For Her by Raine Thomas

{Rating} 4/5 -- I really liked it

{Review}

"A drunk woman fell into Evan's lap about two hours into the wedding reception." (page 1, line 1)

I adored Raine Thomas's For Everly so I was very excited to read Meant For Her. I thought it was a sweet love story with a bit of intrigue, a charming heroine and a surly hero with an Aussie accent.

Sierra is a great heroine, I'd want to be BFFs with her. She's a smart, accomplished, confident, independent woman. She's kind and generous, selfless. She's a giver. She's a fixer. She meets Evan and knows that he is meant for her. Only he doesn't know it. Yet.

Evan is our wounded hero with the aforementioned Aussie accent. He doesn't put down roots - he doesn't even want to put pictures up on the wall - and he doesn't get attached. And then Sierra infiltrates his life, she's next door, she's with his dogs, making him feel things, face things, want things. It's not easy for Sierra to get through to him, never was there a guy who resisted falling in love as much as Evan.

We get to see familiar characters from For Everly and one of my favorite couples, Cole and Everly. I enjoyed seeing them move forward in their relationship - some big milestones I won't spoil - but we also find out that Sierra had a role in their courtship.

I am eager to read Raine Thomas's next release.

{Release Event + Giveaway} Meant for Her by Raine Thomas

Raine Thomas is celebrating the release of her latest New Adult Contemporary Romance, Meant for Her! We have a guest post and giveaway below to help celebrate!

Release: October 17, 2013

Published by Iambe Books, LLC

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads

Photographer Sierra Stratton views the world through a lens all her own. She has an uncanny sense about people, something that often causes her trouble. When she meets the sexy and brooding Evan Dorsey, her intuition tells her he’s suffering, and she wants to be the one to help him.

Evan isn’t open to help from anyone, however. His focus is on his Major League career and making himself as marketable as possible for his upcoming free agency. He plans to ride out the season in Atlanta and then sign with another team, away from the painful memories that haunt him.

Someone’s eager to send him on his way, too. Between anonymous threats and equipment sabotage, it’s clear he’s earned himself an enemy along the way. To him, it’s one more sign that he’s right to move on.

But Sierra threatens his conviction. Her contagious smile proves hard to resist, as does her kiss. She tempts him in ways he never anticipated, making him question his plans for the first time. If he’s not careful, she might just convince him that he’s meant for her.

{Raine's Favorite Quotes from Meant for Her by Raine Thomas}

Raine: As you can probably imagine, I enjoyed writing the exchanges between Evan and Sierra the most. They had instant chemistry. One of my favorite scenes between them is after they’ve been friends for a few weeks. They’ve just bathed their dogs and engaged in a soap and water fight before returning back to their apartments.

“Just so you know,” he said, “I’m officially offering my services in case you need help getting yourself back to rights.”

“Are you? That’s very neighborly of you.”

“I think I’m starting to get the hang of this neighborly thing.”

“It would seem so. Sadly, since your suggestion would lead to at least one entire day of hot sex and you have company coming, I’ll have to take a rain check.”

“I’ve cancelled on Cole before. I think he’s getting used to it.”

“Alas, I can’t afford the sex-a-thon distraction today with the big shoot to prep for. You’ll have to work on your timing, neighbor.”

“Damn. Well, can’t say I didn’t try.”

Raine: The other key relationships in this book relate to the main characters and their canine friends. Evan owns a couple of Alaskan Klee-Kais named Miller and Beck. Miller loves to hide instead of getting caged. This is one of my favorite scenes, right after Evan searches high and low.

Shaking his head, he walked into the empty guestroom and opened the cabinet door. Sure enough, two blue eyes surrounded by a dark mask of fur stared back at him.

“You’re lucky you resemble Batman in his Batcave,” Evan said, reaching in, pulling him out by his scruff, and holding him at eye level. “It’s saving you from an epic ass-whooping right now.”

Miller licked his cheek.

“I’m serious,” Evan said as he walked to the cage. “You may think I’m soft on you because you’re smart enough to hide under the sink, but—ah, hell. I’m so damn proud right now.”

 

Raine: One of the secondary characters in the story is Evan’s dogsitter, Geoff. He asks Sierra out a number of times, and she has to get creative when it comes to turning him down. I like how this exchange reflects the friendship side of Evan and Sierra’s relationship.

Thirty seconds later, his cell buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw that he had a text from Sierra.

Welcome home, Evan.

Blinking, his gaze moved to the wall separating his kitchen from her bedroom. He looked at the doorway where Geoff had just departed, then back at the wall.

Shaking his head and grinning, he typed, Faked a date, did you?

IDK what you mean. I’m in the dark with a hot guy who’s panting all over me.

Leo doesn’t count.

Then I faked a date.

Bad girl. Come on over if you’re up to it.

Book trailer:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amuvucrY2EY

{Giveaway}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Raine Thomas is the author of bestselling Young Adult and New Adult romantic fiction, including the award-winning Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy and Firstborn Trilogy. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing blogger to The Writer's Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing, or glued to social networking sites, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

Author Social Media Links:

Twitter (http://twitter/Raine_Thomas)
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Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/raine_thomas/)
Linkedin (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/raine-thomas/53/111/bb3)
Website (http://rainethomas.com)
Blog (http://RaineThomas.com/blog/)

Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amuvucrY2EY

Goodreads (Book) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18467599-meant-for-her?from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FXJ87TO
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/meant-for-her-raine-thomas/1117164890
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/meant-for-her-1
iBooks: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781939453075

{NA Review} For Everly by Raine Thomas

{NA Review} For Everly by Raine Thomas

Determined to overcome a dark and tragic past, college student Everly Wallace is only months away from earning her degree in physical therapy. She’s consumed with school, caring for her ailing grandfather, and figuring out how to pay the next bill. The last thing she wants is a relationship, but it just might be the one thing she needs.

Major League pitcher Cole Parker hasn’t fought for anything in his life. He went from a privileged upbringing to a multimillion dollar All-Star career. But when his pitching shoulder starts to give him trouble at only twenty-four years old, he faces the possibility of his injury becoming public knowledge and costing him everything.

In a desperate bid to save his career, Cole decides to hire someone to treat his injury, someone who will keep things off the record and out of the media. He finds the perfect solution in Everly. As mysterious as she is beautiful, she provides an enticing distraction from his pain. Soon, physical therapy is the last thing on his mind.

When an act of betrayal brings the truths they both fear to light, Cole will have to fight for the first time in his life…not just for his career, but for Everly’s love. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} ebook, 304 pages. Published May 27th 2013 by Iambe Books, LLC. Source: Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 4/5 -- I really liked it!

{Review}

Likable characters, great chemistry, and enough drama to keep me flipping the pages

I really liked Everly (and I love her name); the way she responded to adversity in her life, her grace in difficult situations, her bravery. Though she hasn't had an easy life she doesn't feel sorry for herself, she moves forward, making good out of tragedy. She doesn't expect to be rescued, she's accustomed to rescuing herself. She has secrets, has experienced things that color her actions and responses and it's interesting to watch the slow reveal of those secrets and how things play out.

Professional pitcher Cole is afraid of losing his career and is desperate enough to put his future in Everly's hands. He doesn't know how to deal with a girl like Everly, a girl who is smart and independent and becomes a friend. A friend who challenges him mentally and physically. A friend he's attracted to. He's used to keeping women and his life separate, he doesn't let them get too close, to go to his home, to meet his family.

I adored Cole, he's an Avenger lover, has a terrible French accent, is paralyzed by tears, loves his family and he's not afraid to admit when he's wrong and do what it takes to make things right.  I loved Cole's internal dialog, he made me smile. And the photo shoot scene? Get ready to swoon.