Between the Lines: If

Showing posts with label If. Show all posts

April 2, 2015

REVIEW: If By, N.G. Jones

If is a new adult romance, not erotica.

If…
Someone hadn't scarred my face.
I hadn’t followed my dreams to LA.
That tweaker hadn't attacked that homeless guy.
I hadn't invited a stranger over for Thanksgiving.
I hadn’t fallen in love.

If I hadn’t lost him.
------
If…
I hadn’t gone for that drive.
I saw the world like everyone else.
My “genius” wasn’t slowly destroying me.
I had just walked away before I could ever know her.
She hadn’t ignited the spark.

If the spark didn’t ignite the madness.

This is a new adult romance. NOT erotica. Standalone novel.

Amazon

Review

After I looked at the synopsis of this I was immediately intrigued. There was something about the way the blurb was written that was different. It was mysterious and didn’t really give us anything about the characters or the plot. There was just enough of the story in that synopsis to make me unable to think about anything else. I knew I needed to get my hands on this ARC. It definitely stuck with me even though I have never read anything from this author again.

Bird is a talented dancer that is trying to prove to everyone that the scars on her face will not keep her from doing what she loves. She left everything she knows to go and try and get her dreams in LA. Her skill as a dance is undeniable but the scaring hold her back. She is always living with stares, whispers, and definitely pity. All she wants is to dance and all she needs is a chance for someone to look past the scars. Bird has put on a strong front when it comes to her scars. She has found a way to be happy even though she doesn’t have much. Birds finds little joy in dance and her friends. When she meets Ash she finds someone who understands what she is going through. Bird is a caring and strong person, sometimes when she has to be and sometimes when she doesn’t.

Ash is a talented young artist that doesn’t see the world as everyone else does. When tragedy strikes his family he gives everything up. He gives up his gift and his family. Ash leaves everything behind only seeing his older brother every few days for a shower and some laundry. He now spends his time wandering around the streets of LA trying to keep his gifts under wraps. The only things that keeps his gift alive is the girl he sees every once in a while on the street. Ash is a broken man trying to live with a mental illness that lets him taste and feel emotions. He is dealing with guilt and the high and lows of his illness. Now Ash has something else to try for. When Ash meets Bird he tries to stay away but he can’t. Ash is a beautiful man that is trying to live a life the way he needs to, one that keeps him stable and even. He was definitely an interesting character with an interesting way to see the world.

This is a slow paced love story between two very unique characters. These characters were very different from everything else that I have read lately. There are many great things about this book. The writing was beautiful and at times lyrical. It was very detailed and the descriptions are very colorful and artistic like how the two characters see the world. Ash and Bird are very unique characters. There are also some things that I couldn’t get passed. The first half of the book was very slow and sometimes hard to stick with. There was also some things that seemed to be missing from the story. Some things were not explained very well and that made it hard. This was an emotional read that at times had unnecessary moments. This definitely wasn’t the best book I have read this month but it is definitely worth a try.

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March 16, 2015

RELEASE DAY: If By, N.G. Jones

Title: If

Author: N.G. Jones

Genre: New Adult

Release Date: March 16, 2015

If…

Someone hadn't scarred my face.

I hadn’t followed my dreams to LA.

That tweaker hadn't attacked that homeless guy.

I hadn't invited a stranger over for Thanksgiving.

I hadn’t fallen in love.

If I hadn’t lost him.

------

If…

I hadn’t gone for that drive.

I saw the world like everyone else.

My “genius” wasn’t slowly destroying me.

I had just walked away before I could ever know her.

She hadn’t ignited the spark.

If the spark didn’t ignite the madness.

Excerpt

I ran my fingers down the cotton of her tank, over the slope of her backside, and we were intertwined. I felt myself melting into her, our colors swirling in dazzling circles, like paint flowing onto a spinning turntable. I needed to stop this, but the waves of heat that were gentle before overtook me like a raging river, pulling me closer to her. She was so soft, everything about her was velvety and smooth, and it made my kisses harsher. I traveled down the curve of her delicate neck to the space just behind her ear and took in her scent, a hint of soap with a kiss of the flower that only I could smell. I pressed my lips against the secret nook, and she let out a moan, a sound I had never heard from her, and so I saw something new in her voice: a little burst of gold and violet that exploded and disappeared like a firework.

You have to stop, Ash.

God I didn’t want to. I wanted more than anything to take this all the way, to experience every inch of her smooth skin, see all the different shades and shapes of her moans, and taste the rest of her body, but I had rules. I made these rules for myself years ago, and there was a reason for these rules. Memories of death flashed before me, and the heat that was running through me turned so cold, my teeth almost chattered.

The taste of her kisses was overtaken by that of sour milk. Lavender was overtaken by gasoline. I had to make myself remember. I had to find a way to fight this rushing tide.

Fucking stop, Ash!

Finally my rational thoughts screamed loud enough to be listened to, and I pulled away. She looked at me for a few seconds, her stare blank, her lips slightly parted. I understood her confusion. Just seconds ago I could have devoured her, but I couldn’t let the switch flip. Now I was afraid it was too late. I had to leave.

About The Author

Nina G. Jones is the author of the bestselling novel DEBT, the Strapped Series and the erotic romance, Gorgeous Rotten Scoundrel. She wants to say something clever here, but all her good material goes into her characters.

Nina currently resides in Milwaukee, WI with her husband and two crazy Boxers.

Her first new adult romance, If, releases on March 16th, 2015 under the moniker N.G. Jones.

Nina LOVES connecting with readers. You can connect with her via Facebook, Twitter, or email her through her website, NinaGJones.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway

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February 17, 2015

COVER REVEAL: If By, N.G. Jones

Title: If

Author: N.G. Jones

Genre: New Adult

Release Date: March 16, 2015

Synopsis

If…

Someone hadn't scarred my face.

I hadn’t followed my dreams to LA.

That tweaker hadn't attacked that homeless guy.

I hadn't invited a stranger over for Thanksgiving.

I hadn’t fallen in love.

If I hadn’t lost him.

------

If…

I hadn’t gone for that drive.

I saw the world like everyone else.

My “genius” wasn’t slowly destroying me.

I had just walked away before I could ever know her.

She hadn’t ignited the spark.

If the spark didn’t ignite the madness.

Excerpt

“Let’s start with something simple. How about a tree, in the fall, so you can play with color?”

She smiled. “That sounds perfect.”

“Okay, we’re going to use acrylic because if you make a mistake, you can paint over it as soon as it dries.”

“Oh ye of little faith,” she said, coming over to stand in front of me at the easel. She was so close, I could feel her warmth even though we weren’t touching. The pale glow that surrounded her now grazed me.

I squeezed out green and white and showed her how to mix for the right shade.

Then I told her to lay down short, staccato thrusts, but her swipes were, frankly, juvenile and clunky.

“No, see, you are trying to draw the tree. You just need to focus on the leaf, and then pull that back to how the light hits the leaf because a leaf, even a leaf that you just see as green, is many shades of green.”

“And this is why I’m a dancer,” Bird said.

“Here,” I said, grabbing some of the brush handle from behind, “let me guide you.”

It was a mistake. Her lavender scent grew strong, and I could smell her fruity shampoo on top of it, and the curves of her behind pressed against my pelvis. The heat rolled down my neck, and to my fingertips. Even though I was touching wood, I felt the warmth of the coziest blanket rubbing against them.

“Okay,” she said in barely a whisper. Her voice moved in transparent cerulean and seafoam wavelengths in my line of sight.

I slid my hands up the edge of the brush, so my hand was over her delicate hand. And shit, I am only a man and I just wanted her so bad. But, I focused on the empty sheet on the easel.

“So you start soft, tentative, until you find a rhythm.” My words were barely a breeze against her ear. “Just relax.” I gently guided her hand and she let me take over. I used the hand of my muse to fill the canvas with strokes of green. “This will be the foundation, but soon we’ll fill it with browns and oranges, even pinks.”

“We? You’re doing all the work, but I like it that way,” she said, almost woozily, as if she were in the same trance as me. She leaned back, resting her head against the front of my shoulder. My heart thudded so hard, I was afraid she would be able to feel it. I guided her hand to a cup of water and she dropped the brush. But I didn’t let go. I didn’t want to let go, and I don’t think she wanted me to either.

“Let’s come back to this, we can work on it a little each day,” she said, turning her palm up so she could thread her fingers into mine. The heat was everywhere, like a warm rush of water, lulling me to do whatever the hell she wanted.

“Now, I show you how to dance.” She turned, using my hand, and then she was facing me. Her skin radiated through tiny freckles on her cheeks and nose.

The next song on the album played. “I love this song,” Bird said, pulling me to the open floor in front of the record player as “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” began to play.

“There’s only one way to dance to a song like this,” she said, stepping in close, guiding my hands to her waist, as she wrapped hers around my neck.

There was too much. A kaleidoscope of lilting colors, the strong scent of lavender, a sweet taste like nectar, the blooming warmth rushing through my body.

I am only a man.