Title: Always the One
Author: C.C Monroe
Release Date: August 25
TBR: Goodreads
Follow CC on her Author Page: CC Monroe
Synopsis
Friendships are defined as a bond between two people, a building of a strong connection and like for one another. Usually excluding romantic or sexual feelings. Now what occurs when the typical doesn't happen and friendship turns to love?
Trey Adams spends his days working with music and pining over his longtime best friend, Shayla Donovan. The only thing holding him back is his past, a past where love only hurts and leaves you. To love Shayla the way he desires may be a long, arduous road.
Shayla Donovan has lived thirteen years of her life with a secret she is ready to confess. Pushing her fear aside may be the only way she can move forward in helping Trey learn the meaning of true love.
On their journey to finding love, these two souls will fight battles bigger than they could ever imagine.
*This novel contains mature subject matter, such as explicit sexual situations and coarse language, please refrain from reading if these things offend you. This story is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18. Hot, sensitive, alpha male, with an HEA.
Excerpt
Tonight proved our love is stronger than anything—the feelings and emotions all real.
The only light in the room is the burning fireplace, crackling across the way from the bed. I watch the orange and yellow flames mesh, regaining my bearings. Shay’s warmth on top of my chest is welcoming, helping me relax. I notice she’s been silent for a few minutes, and when I look down I'm met by her sleeping form.
Everything that has happened in the past twenty-four hours wore my girl out. But I'm more than happy just sitting here listening to her light breathing as she sleeps. She looks beautiful, like nothing in this world could disturb her. I want this moment to last forever. I want my time with her to last far past the time we are given here on earth. I don't know if I believe in eternity, but she sure makes me hopeful that there will be one. She makes me feel like the day I was born only half of me entered the world while the other half of me waited with her and the day we met was the day I became complete again.
Lightly, I move the backside of my fingers down her cheek, and when my thumb makes it to her lips I graze the round edges. Remembering the way she kissed me back when I took away her virginity. Looking at her now, I feel a sense of completion. I’m not only falling, but in essence, also surrendering my heart, soul, and body for the chance to love someone.
This is the moment that changes a boy into a man. The moment one falls in love. Not only am I responsible for loving this woman, but I'm also now in charge of protecting her heart and honoring any promise I give her from here on out.
For women, virginity is the one thing that they give to someone that they’ve fallen in love with. Well, most women. The one thing they give away as a symbol of their love and commitment to their partner. But what virginity is to women, is what a heart is to a man. We save that shit with us until the right woman comes along to claim it. That's when we then give it away, without a second thought or regret. Shayla took my heart, and I will never be able to get it back.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Her voice is soft and laced in a sleepy rasp.
“You look beautiful when you sleep.”
She searches my eyes, seeing if I’m lying or hiding anything from her. Letting her gaze falter for a second she moves on, accepting my answer. She stretches before placing her head back on her spot above my heart.
Teasers
Review
Always the One is CC Monroe's debut novel. It's well written and kept me engaged until the very last paragraph. The characters are realistic and lovable, I could easily connect with them.
I love a new author that completely blows me away with their writing, and that is what happened here.
Trey & Shay's story begins in childhood, he's her brothers friend but soon becomes her best friend and often savior. If something goes wrong in her life, if someone upsets her, Trey is there.
As Shay and her best female friend graduate, they along with Trey and her brother are moving to Seattle to start their lives and hopefully get their careers off the ground.
Trey is thrilled to have his best friend along side him at this crucial time in his life, the thing is he wants more than to be her friend. Trey has been in love with Shayla for years, not that he realized it considering he has serious commitment issues and isn't quite sure he knows how to love a woman with his whole heart.
Shayla has loved Trey for just as long, both afraid to admit it. So she's focused on school and the career she wants instead of dating. Meanwhile Trey has a constant string of one night stands but no relationships.
Until friends become lovers.
Trey knows he'll have to be the man Shay needs, he'll have to be able to love her with everything he is and trust her. He has major issues with trust and women going back to childhood, but Shayla means the world to him and he's determined to get it right.
He messes up along the way but Shayla sees him, the real him. She sees his faults and still loves him unconditionally, even when he's driving her insane and making her question whether or not she can handle the Alpha in him.
Shay is strong, which I adore, whiny heroines drive me nuts! She knows what she wants and is willing to fight for it. Whether it be business or personal, she's willing to put in the work.
And Trey is work. The man is broken in some ways, he has issues that she's not sure he can overcome but time and again she's willing to help him, to give him the benefit of the doubt and love him through it.
When tragedy strikes both are shaken to the core, the end of this book left me yelling at the author. It does end on a cliffhanger so be prepared!
The secondary characters in this story are great. Their story is almost as engaging as Trey & Shala's, they are fighting their own battle and dragging their friends into it quite often!
I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series.
4.5 stars
About the Author
Hello Readers,
Ever since I was a young girl, I have loved the idea of love. Now that I'm older and have love in my life, I still love the concept of LOVE. More so, I believe in the power of love on paper. Writing the stories of the characters in my head.
RELEASE DAY TAKEOVER
Author CC Monroe is excited to share her debut novel, Always the One with the indie world on Thursday August 25th, from 12:30 AM - 10:30 PM in MDT
We will be having many giveaways and author takeovers from some amazing authors!
Invite readers, bloggers, and authors!
Giveaway
(2) Signed Paperback & $25 Giftcard
No comments:
Post a Comment