Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: This Time Around – Ellie Grace

Nora Montgomery left home and heartbreak behind in South Carolina when she moved to New York City after her high school graduation. Now, four years later, she returns home and is forced to confront the past she left behind and the reckless boy who broke her heart.  It’s not long before the pieces of her past begin to blur with the present and she realizes that the feelings she had for her first love never really went away. As old dreams resurface and new truths come to light, she begins to question the future she’s always planned on.

Jake Harris has spent four years regretting the night he let her get away. When she finally reappears in his life, he is determined to win her back and prove how much he’s changed. She might never forgive him for that night, but if he tells her the truth about what really happened it will shatter the world she thought she knew.  If he doesn’t, he might not get a second chance. He’s already lost her once and he won’t lose her again.

They come from two different worlds that are threatening to tear them apart…can they make it this time around?

Title: This Time Around
Author: Ellie Grace
Release date: July 15, 2013
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary romance
Tour organized by: AToMR Tours
Reviewer:  Shannon
Rating:

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Reviewer’s Thoughts

Nora Montgomery left her family and her friends behind for college in New York City.  But she was also running from the heartbreak of her high school sweetheart, Jake Harris,  leaving her high and dry without any explanation.  The heartbreak was so bad that she hasn’t set foot in her hometown once since she’s been gone.  But that’s all about to change as the comes home for the summer and her best friend’s wedding.  She may think  she’s over Jake, but Jake has something to prove to her.  This time around he’s not going to let town rumors and prejudices keep him from the only girl he’s ever loved.

I’ve been vacillating on what I felt about this book.  There are times I really liked the second chance at love storyline and was happy Nora and Jake could make a go of it the second time.  But then at other times I was really bugged at the fact Nora pretty much just picked up where things left off years before.  Forget the heartbreak, heartache and the fact that she had avoided her hometown, family and friends because of what happened with Jake.  Practically the minute she sees Jake she lets the past go and picks up where they left off.  That bugged me.  Nora gave into Jake too easily.  When she discovered what her parents did, she was quick to be angry, leave and eventually have it out with her father, but it never felt like she ever really stood up for herself and Jake.  In the end, she did, but in my opinion, it should have been something she did right away, rather than run away to Jake’s apartment to hide out.  Stand up for your man!

I really liked Jake. He got the raw end of the deal when it came to his relationship with Nora.  Labeled a kid from the wrong end of town he could do no right in the eyes of a lot of people in town, including Nora’s parents.  He always felt Nora would be better with someone else, but he loved her.  When he was confronted by Nora’s father on the night he was supposed to meet her, he did something he knew would not only devastate Nora, but also himself, all in the hopes that Nora would get what she wanted out of life.  Sure, he should have talked to Nora rather than believe her father, but at eighteen when an elder tells you letting the girl you love pursue her dreams without you is for the best, you tend to believe them (even if you don’t really believe them yourself).  Jake stayed local, earned a degree and was a very productive member of town, but he still had that troublemaker label by some…which really bothered me.  But Jake persevered.  He knew what he wanted and he was going to work for it and make sure everyone knew he was worth the woman he loved and she was worthy of him.

Despite my feelings about Nora, this was a solid read with a great second chance romance.  Jake is a little swoon worthy and makes up for what I didn’t like in Nora.

The author is giving away the following as part of this tour:

(1) Circle Charm Bracelets – US

(3) eBook copies of This Time Around – Gifted by the author from Amazon  – Open to countries that can accept gifted eBooks from these stores.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No purchase necessary. Must be 13 years of age and older to enter unless stated 18 + years of age. Must reside in countries able to receive eBooks via email. The retail value of the items is $1.99 USD/ebook. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners will be selected after July 31, 2013   randomly by Rafflecopter. Entries will be reviewed for accuracy. Participating blogs and AToMR Tours are not liable for purchasing, shipping or emailing the items, winner not receiving the items, or lost items shipped/emailed. This sweepstakes is sponsored by the author and items will be provided via email or shipped by the author. If the items are not claimed via email within 24 hours of receiving notification the item will be forfeited with no winner or an alternate winner may be selected at AToMR Tours discretion with email verification by July 31, 2013. Any taxes associated will be paid by the author unless otherwise stated. AToMR Tours has the right to obtain and publicize the winners name and likeness. Void where prohibited by law.

Tour schedule link: http://wp.me/p20ttU-1J0

To see other stops on the tour for reviews, guest posts, and excerpt click here

Ellie Grace is an avid reader, chocolate lover and caffeine addict. When a story popped into her head that she couldn’t seem to shake, she decided to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a writer. When she’s not writing, she’s usually curled up with a book by one of her many, many favorite authors.

Author Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elliegracebooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliegracebooks
Blog/Website: http://elliegracebooks.blogspot.com