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| Original Cover |
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| My own copy |
The blurb:
Recent
college graduate Avery Andrews is ready to begin a new life in the big city.
She’s landed an apartment in Chicago’s famed Lincoln Park neighborhood–and has
her eye on the cute commodities trader just a floor above.
If Premier
Airlines knew about her fear of flying, they never would have hired her to be
their marketing assistant—but it’s not like Avery wants a lifelong career.
Right now she simply wants a job to pay her bills…and fund a few little
shopping excursions, too.
Her new
lifestyle comes with a price tag, as Avery is not only faced with paying a
ridiculous rent but finds she’s perceived as one of the vacant, husband-hunting
fashionistas who live in the area. Avery resents this stereotype—so she doesn’t
want a lifelong career, and she loves fashions she can’t afford, but that
doesn’t mean she is empty-headed and spoiled, does it?
When an
opportunity to participate in a documentary at work arises, Avery finds a
two-fold solution to her problems. She’ll earn extra money for it, and the
documentary will show her as a serious career woman, enabling her to shed that
husband-hunting fashionista label for good.
When the
camera is on, Avery attempts to be a motivated professional woman. But when she
is challenged by Deacon Ryan, the videographer assigned to cover her story,
Avery finds herself wanting things she was never supposed to want—like a
lasting career—and Deacon. And Avery might just gain more from the experience
than a perfect career image and extra cash to put in her Tory Burch wallet…
My Opinion:
*Book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
As most of you
already know: I am a HUGE Aven Ellis fan. Her first two novels are one of the
best books I’ve ever read, so you can all imagine how excited I was for this
book. I was on the way home from a day trip when I received Aven’s email with
the mobi file and I was dancing and singing around when walking home and of
course I downloaded it immediately.
Let me say a
few words about the gorgeous cover: It’s just real perfection in my eyes. The
colours, the couple and the Chicago skyline create a wonderful atmosphere.
Avery Andrews
lives in a beautiful area and has found a great job. And then there is also her
sexy neighbour Sullivan. She loves fashion and shopping. Well, he roommate
Sasha is a bit shallow, but other than that…
She works for
Premier Airline, which seems a bit weird because of her fear of flying, but
they were hiring, so she took the chance.
One morning she
goes to work and is asked into the boss’s office. Thinking she’s done something
wrong, she is surprised when when a travel TV team wants her to be part of
their documentary. That’s where Avery meets Deke Ryan, the videographer, who
will follow her around at work and also at home. Well, all she sees are his old
vintage T-Shirts, but he seems to be cute.
It was very
funny reading about Avery’s experiences when filming, the way she behaved and
tried to show that she is a real businesswoman. However, somehow she only let
herself go and showed her real self, when the camera was off and that’s also
when she got to know Deke better.
He challenges
her with his question, which was great and very interesting. I think he made
her see the world with different eyes and he made her realise what is important
in life and what she really wants.
She felt
wonderful in his presence. I guess she didn’t want to admit it at first, but it
came through more and more and as a reader I loved following her feelings and
they were developing so vividly in front of me, it felt like watching a movie
or dreaming. The way Aven includes a character’s emotions is unique. It makes
you feel closer to them and you just want to be there for the character and
help somehow.
Deke was a very
special character to me, I like the way he was always teasing Avery and he was
always so sweet. Yeah, he might have had some prejudices at first, but after
getting to know Avery and seeing her in a different light that changed. He is a
bit shy, doesn’t like to be in the focus, but he has an enormous heart, is
caring, gorgeous and also sensitive. I fell for him myself and I just enjoyed
his personality. BOOK BOYFRIEND ALARM!!!
Well, there is
still Sullivan and somehow Deke knows about him and there is also Isabel. So
whenever Deke and Avery were together, enjoying, talking or doing other things,
the shadows of the other two was always behind them. Well, Avery soon realised
what she was really feeling, but was scared to do anything because of Isabel.
And Deke, oh well, sometimes I didn’t really understand his actions, but they
brought the drama into the story for sure.
They had a lot
of compliments for each other along the way and I always wanted them to just be
honest, but oh well… Deke found a way though to encourage Avery and make her go
for that project at work. It also brought the two of them closer together. And
let me just say this: She went for it and suddenly had to fly out to San
Francisco to present that project. Being terrified of flying made this whole
situation not as exciting, but Deke was there and what he did to take her mind
of this!!!! OH MY… did you think, I’d tell you now?! Of course not, buy this
fabulous book and read for yourselves.
The scenes in
San Francisco were great, epically when both of them finally admitted their
feelings. It took them a long time, it was a emotional journey full of drama,
laughter and so much more. And this story wouldn’t be great without some
dramatic scenes in the end right?! Well, let me just tell you that I loved the
ending.
Now, I quickly
want to talk about Bree, Avery’s best friend. Avery really couldn’t have wished
for a better friend and Bree was going through some rough times during this
book. The two friends sticking together and being there for each other was what
made this book even more special. And we will be able to read about Bree soon.
So, I couldn’t
put this book down!!! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
It’s written in an exceptional brilliant and emotional way, letting the reader
being part of the story like a character. There is a lot of heart in this book
with some gripping and absorbing scenes. And I mean Chicago just sounds like an
awesome city, I definitely want to visit it now, especially Lincoln park of
course. I loved that there were some fashion mentions in the book as well, it
gave the story another additional sparkly touch.
An authentic storyline with so much
rhythm and flow.
Aven Ellis you’re a GENIUS!!! You’ve
creaded a marvelous story with emotions, drama, spark and some real life
inspiration!!!! A MUST READ!!! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Rating:
My possible cast:
Avery Andrews: Bar Rafaeli
Deke Ryan: Jensen Ackles
~ PURCHASE ~
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Ac7v6n
EXCERPT #1
“We were
supposed to be together forever,” Bree says, breaking through my angry
thoughts. “I mean, he had been acting distant and irritated lately, but I
thought that was the stress from graduation and getting ready to move. I had no
idea he was thinking of this. None. Alex was supposed to marry me. How do I
deal with this, Avery? How?”
I hug
her. I have to answer this carefully. I can’t say Alex is a bastard. Because if
they did work it out—which I’m not in favor of because this is a huge red flag
if this is how he deals with things—but if they did, Bree would know my true
feelings forever. I have to say something thoughtful. Something soothing and
wise. My eyes land on the stack of magazines on the coffee table. Last
month’s FLIRTY! is on top, and I see this headline: “Don’t Let
His Emotional Immaturity Ruin Your Life.”
Bingo.
“Bree,
don’t let Alex’s emotional immaturity ruin your life,” I say gently. “This has
nothing to do with you and everything to do with his own maturity issues.”
Bree
moves back from me, amazement etched on her tear-stained face. “How do you
always know what to say?”
“Because
you’re my best friend. Now go on back to my bedroom, first door on the left.
You can wash your face in my bathroom. Then curl up in my bed, and I’ll bring
you something stronger than wine.”
“I’m so
glad I’m here. I love you, Avery,” Bree says, sniffling.
“I love
you, too,” I say to the friend who is like my sister. “Now go on,” I add,
standing up and pulling her up off the couch. “I’ll be right there.”
***
“Let’s do
a one-on-one interview,” Deke says.
“Sure,” I
say, taking another sip of wine.
He
quickly sets up a backdrop and puts his camera on a tripod. I sit down on a
barstool in front of the black screen, and Deke asks me to talk about my
friendship with Bree. I give a brief history, explaining how close we are and
how we’ve gone through the ups and downs of life together and always will.
Deke then
shuts off the camera.
“That’s
interesting advice that you gave to Bree tonight,” he says slowly, his eyes
piercing through me.
And damn
it, despite the fact that I don’t like him, a tingle shoots down my spine.
“Well,
it’s easy to give advice to Bree. We’re more like sisters than friends. And
because we know each other so well, I know what to say to her in a time of
crisis.”
“I see,” Deke
says slowly. “So are you going to advise her on the hot colors for pedicures
this season, too?”
Suddenly
I can see the FLIRTY! cover on the coffee table in my head. I
quickly glance over at it and see the pedicure headline, right underneath the
“Don’t Let His Emotional Immaturity Ruin Your Life” one.
Oh shit.
Sullivan reaches for my
hair again. I jerk my head to the side, moving it out of Sullivan’s reach,
because I think I might scream if he touches my hair one more time.
Okay. Now Deke will come
over here with Zach. I’ll greet him, introduce him to my friends, and then Bree
and I can go sit with them at another table.
Wait a second. Deke and
Zach are walking over to the dartboard. I quickly realize Deke has no intention
of coming over here.
He turns around and
looks at me, his eyes burning into mine for a second. Deke takes a sip of his
beer, puts it back on the table, and picks up some darts. He immediately turns
his attention to the dartboard, as if I’m not even here.
Oooh! That’s it. I’ve
had it.
“Excuse me,” I say,
nudging Sullivan. “I need to get out, please.”
“But I just got here,”
Sullivan snaps, sounding annoyed. “I haven’t even had a drink yet.”
I don’t say another
word. I let my eyes tell Sullivan I intend to get out of this booth, even if it
means climbing over him or crawling underneath the table.
Sullivan sighs heavily
and slides out. I turn to Bree briefly before leaving.
“I see someone I need to
talk to,” I say simply. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
I slide out of the booth
and make my way across the bar. I go up to Deke, who is propped against the
edge of a barstool. His strong arms are folded across his chest, a bottle of
beer in one hand as he watches Zach throw darts.
I stop dead in my tracks
as I approach him. I take in what he’s wearing—a beautiful azure T-shirt that
shows off his athletic upper body and jeans. His hair is perfectly tousled, his
face lightly shaded with blondish-brown stubble. And he’s so damn hot and
mysterious that I’m suddenly unable to breathe.
Deke turns and I find
myself mad all over again, because now he’s the one playing a game.
I march up to him and
before I can stop myself, I blurt out what is going through my head.
“Why didn’t you come
rescue me?” I yell at him, exasperated.
Deke studies me for a
moment. He takes a swig of his beer, casually puts the bottle on the table next
to him, and leans toward me, lowering his head so it’s next to my ear.
“I wasn’t aware that you
needed to be rescued from the man of your dreams, Fashionista,” he murmurs over
the music.
Every inch of me comes
alive as his words vibrate against my ear. I get goose bumps. My skin in
tingling in this delicious way I’ve never experienced before.
He stands back up and
studies me. I’m about to respond when he gently puts his thumb on my cheek,
wiping away a streak of lip-gloss that Sullivan has left behind.
Oh.My.God. I feel a
million sparks the second Deke touches me. I shiver and suck in a breath of
air, unnerved by the experience of his skin against mine.
“So do you need to be
rescued?” he asks.
Author Biography:
Aven Ellis has
been writing fiction since she was sixteen. She studied communications at a
large Midwestern university, and after graduation, Aven worked as a reporter
for a community newspaper, followed by a stint at a public relations agency.
But writing about city council meetings and restaurant franchises was not as much fun as writing for young women trying to figure out their careers and potential boyfriends. So Aven got herself a job in television that allowed her to write at night. Connectivity is Aven’s debut novel; Waiting For Prince Harry and Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista (New Adult romantic comedy) will be published next year.
Aven lives in Dallas with her family. When she is not writing, Aven enjoys shopping, cooking, connecting with friends on social media, and watching any show that features Gordon Ramsay.
But writing about city council meetings and restaurant franchises was not as much fun as writing for young women trying to figure out their careers and potential boyfriends. So Aven got herself a job in television that allowed her to write at night. Connectivity is Aven’s debut novel; Waiting For Prince Harry and Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista (New Adult romantic comedy) will be published next year.
Aven lives in Dallas with her family. When she is not writing, Aven enjoys shopping, cooking, connecting with friends on social media, and watching any show that features Gordon Ramsay.
Social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AvenEllis1
Website: http://www.avenellis.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AvenEllis
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