Title: Be My December
Author: Rachel Brookes
Release Date: August 28th
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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Blurb:
I knew the exact moment I’d become a ‘yes’ girl.
December 16th, a cold winter’s night, four years ago.
The night my innocence was stolen, the night I made the mistake of saying no—a mistake I’d never make again.
The dream of a ‘happily ever after' was now a locked away myth. I promised myself that I’d never return to the place of my worst nightmare, that I’d never let anyone get close, but then again, I never thought I’d meet someone like him.
The intense, confident and beautiful Ky Crawford.
I had no plans to become someone’s Prince Charming.
I couldn’t be. I refused to be. My plan was simple—do whatever it takes to correct my biggest mistake, my one regret that now controlled my life.
I was on track. I had plans, but then everything changed when I saw her—the girl in the red jacket, the girl who I was told couldn’t say no.
The reserved yet stunning Eden Rivers.
A girl who can’t say no.
A guy who craves redemption.
A chance encounter?
It all comes down to this.
One question.
One month.
Be My December?
My Review:
★★★★✩
4.5 KY Stars!
ARC generously provided by the author for an honest review
"You are like my own personal romance movie."
What happens when your choice is taken away from you? When a simple "yes" or "no" can change everything? In the blink of an eye, it did, Eden Rivers became a "yes" girl. Unable to say "no", wouldn't say "no", fearing that nothing good comes out from not agreeing to anything with anyone.
With Be My December, Rachel Brookes shares a different love story than her Breathe series. This one is more captivating, dramatic, and emotional in a way that will have you flipping through the pages and not notice the time. Wanting more. Curious to read the story. It also provoked my ever puzzle-mystery solving self to think and figure out the secret that Ky has been carrying around with him. And I always revel in stories that's not just emotionally moving but also thought provoking.
Eden Rivers is a changed woman from that 20-year old New Yorker who experienced the hard way what happens when you say "no" to someone. It's a painful lesson to learn and what happened to her that night is what made her the 24-year old cynic, who moved to San Francisco, that she is today. A young woman who no matter how much she wants to say no, she couldn't because of that fear of getting hurt again.
What happened to Eden was beyond horrible but the strength she showed is worthy of respect. She may think that she's been broken and damaged but she stood tall, survived, and positively lived her life. When she moved to San Francisco, she became a photographer. She loves it because she's "hidden" behind the lens, she sees the ugly and the beauty and she captures it. I admire how real of a person Eden exhibited. She was brave and happy but also hurting and scared. It shows how vulnerable someone is especially when that person suffered a traumatizing event.
How do you face the past that you've been trying to bury?
That camera that Eden is using to "hide" is what also brings her back to New York City. Right smack to the guy who would change her life. Ky Crawford, the head of the Bangs and Beats marketing team in Anderson Publication, Eden's job for a couple of weeks. Ky used to be a typical college guy; basketball, parties, and girls are what his life was about until it all changed because of one mistake that haunted him since then. He stopped the constant partying and the girls, he studied hard and worked well. Now, 4 years later, he's face-to-face with the beautiful Eden Rivers.
Does he know her? Do they know each other? How?
Ky came up with the idea and offered it to Eden, knowing she wouldn't be able to say no. One month. 4 weeks. Eden will be Ky's "December" and Ky is all determined to help Eden re-discover herself. Help her realize that she can say no and not get hurt. I loved Ky's intentions and I loved how awkward he sometimes get when does things like touch Eden or say things to her but deep down thinking he shouldn't be doing it and chastising himself. Too adorable and an honest feeling that I know I can relate to. Ky is a good guy and so perfect for Eden. I like them individually but I love them together. How they bring out each others' attitudes is a fun thing to read.
"After being stuck in the dark, my light was finally back, and she was shining like a diamond."
I was hooked and kept interested how everything will unravel all the while enjoying the banters between Eden and Ky. Seriously, Ky is bossy and straightforward when he wants to and Eden blushes like a schoolgirl. I got pissed and annoyed with that Jeremy dude, I fell in love with Josh, and I wanted to keep Ashlyn and Tori as my own good friends. My heart broke and together with the characters' journey, it also healed. It's always uplifting reading a story where they experienced tragedy and rising above it -- it's not just about the fact that they end up healing together but the how behind it all. The path that they traveled to get to the point of loving and healing, that's the most inspirational thing about everything.
Their story is like reading 2 sides of a coin, 2 stories that intersect in the middle. This is where and why Rachel Brookes got me. Two attractive and smart characters, funny second characters, intriguing plot and a twist to the story -- one that I started to figure out 6% in and made me enjoy the book further. As much as I loved Tate from the Breathe series, I think Be My December is Rachel's best work to date!
Stars: 4.5 Stars!
Recommended to: Every romantic readers who enjoy a little bit of thrill and intrigue in their stories. Ky will boss you and protect you and love you. And you'll love him back!
POV: First person. Dual POV.
Series: I think so? But standalone.
EXTRA COMMENT: There's one detail that bothered me and I was not really going to let it affect my rating because everything else was perfect but it got to be too much for me to ignore. It's just a minor thing but it's the type where if I point it out, you might look for it and ruin it for you when it shouldn't. It's like that How I Met Your Mother episode when they started pointing out each other's quirks and "shattering" their illusions about one another and that's all they see after. So, I'll let you read it. Who knows, you might not get as affected as I was. It's really no biggie!
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Author Bio:
Rachel Brookes lives on the east coast of Australia where beaches, kangaroos and surfers roam free. Writing angst ridden love stories with a pinch of craziness, a dash of drama, a cup of romance, a spoonful of sexiness and delicious men to season is what she loves to do. Rachel sometimes forgets to eat, sometimes forgets to sleep and sometimes can’t remember the last time she cleaned her apartment but that’s because she is in a long term relationship with her laptop. When she does step away from her laptop, she spends her time with her amazing family or attached to her kindle catching up with all of her favorite book boyfriends. Books currently available include The Breathe Series – Just Breathe, Breathless and Breathe Again. The standalone, Be My December, will be released August 2014.
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Giveaway:
RELEASE PARTY
September 1st
5pm US EST
Don't miss this awesome line up of AUTHORS ready to celebrate BY MY DECEMBER'S release!!
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