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Friday, November 8, 2013

With Every Heartbeat by Melody Grace - Review + Giveaway!

Melody Grace's WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT is being released TODAY and we are so excited to join in the release day launch for it. WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT is an enchanting New Adult Contemporary Romance in Melody's new Cities of Love Series. Check out what we have for you today and then enter to win in the release day launch giveaway! You could win a set of e-copies of Melody Grace's Beachwood Bay Series that are currently available. There's also a fantastic excerpt for you to check out!



EXCERPT:


A new burst of music sounds, pulsating and wild, and suddenly, my thoughts fade clear away, blotted out as completely as the sun during an eclipse.
            I see him.
            Standing, poised, waiting for his intro, his body proud and arched, arms raised. There’s a girl waiting beside him, his partner, but I only have eyes for him.
            God, he’s gorgeous. Dark curly hair, tanned skin, and piercing blue eyes that seem to shimmer against the gold of his skin. He’s dressed in a starched white shirt and tuxedo pants that fit him like a glove. The breath is sucked from my lungs, and I feel a thrill ripple through me, a sensation I’ve never known before: anticipation, as if I know something important is about to happen. Something life-changing.
            And then he starts to dance.
            Dear Lord ...
            I swear, time stops as I watch him move. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen: part Latin ballroom, part street, part modern contemporary. And all of it totally devastating.
            I stare, awestruck, as he plays out a wicked game with his partner: bringing her in, sending her away, lifting her as effortlessly as if she was made of air. His movements are bold, dominating. There’s no cheap grinding, or tacky thrusts, but somehow, every step oozes sensuality, such an intimate connection between the dancers that I feel myself start to blush.
            It’s mesmerizing, out of this world, and I’m completely lost to it, caught up in the story of love and betrayal they’re telling with their bodies until at last, he whirls her out one more time and then pulls her back; dipping her so low her hair grazes the ground.
            They freeze there, holding the pose. There’s silence, so pure you could hear a pin drop, and in that moment, he lifts his head and looks out across the square.
            Our eyes lock.
            It’s only a split second, those piercing blue eyes on mine, but I feel the moment stretch for an eternity. His gaze crashes through me, setting every nerve and sense alight, as if I’m touchpaper and he’s a molten spark, dancing through my bloodstream.
            And then the thunder of applause breaks the spell, and I realize I’m digging my nails into my palms, gasping for breath.
            Who is this man?





"Melody Grace has crafted a sweeping and emotional romance that pulls you in so deep, you won't ever want to surface. It's that good." –Sawyer Bennett

ABOUT WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT (Book 1 in the Cities of Love Series):

Rome. The city of young lovers, old secrets, and intoxicating new desire…

I thought I knew what I wanted in life. I thought my destiny was set. Then I met him, and everything changed.

Raphael is bold, passionate, and seductive. He sees something in me I never dreamed possible, and now he's determined to show me a world beyond rules -- a dance without limits. I want to trust him, but I'm scared. Because I know once I fall, there'll be no going back.

An innocent dancer. A mysterious stranger. As Annalise is drawn deeper into the romantic delights of Rome, she'll question everything she believed about her future. But with opening night looming, can she find the strength to risk it all? And will she be forced to choose between her one true love, ballet, and the new passion in her heart?

Find out in this enchanting new series from Melody Grace.

*Amazon*     *iTunes*  *Barnes and Noble


About Melody Grace:


Melody Grace is the USA Today bestselling author of UNBROKEN and UNTOUCHED. A small-town girl turned SoCal beach-lover, she spent years with her nose in a book before deciding it was time to write them for herself. She loves bad boys, good books, and pistachio-flavored ice-cream.

Check out this awesome book trailer! 






My Review:

Thank you to Melody Grace and InkSlinger PR for allowing me to read and review an ARC for this tour!

This was my first Melody Grace novel, and I was duly impressed!  I will definitely be reading more by her!  Her prose is lyrical and a refreshing change from the more standard New Adult fare.  The setting of Rome seemed to suit this story to a tee, and the characters seemed very real.

The entire story is told from Annalise's point of view, and she is quite a conflicted character.  Having been a competitive gymnast, I know a bit about the drive and dedication it takes to make it to the top of your chosen craft (let's just say I didn't always have these qualities!) and the author lets us know that getting to the top can sometimes mean stepping on others along the way.  The world of ballet seems very political!  It was also evident that Annalise had somehow lost the pure joy of dancing as a result of all the pressure she was under to perform to perfection.  Her mother was very demanding and totally unforgiving.  I can only imagine what it would be like to grow up in that type of environment.

Raphael, on the other hand, epitomizes the joy of dance!  He is so passionate about his dance that he has given up everything in order to be able to train and perform.  Annalise, in contrast, has been so sheltered and encouraged (forced?) to dance that it's become more of a job and less of a passion.  They are completely drawn to each other from first glimpse, but of course there are obstacles to overcome if they truly want to be together.

I understand how it was so difficult for Annalise.  She was so naive in regards to relationships and the opposite sex, it's no wonder she was a bit fearful of Raphael.  She was also afraid of getting caught.  It makes me wonder if she just came out in the open if any of the other dancers or instructors would have cared.  It was odd that although technically an adult, she still acted and was treated like a child.

There were so many times, too, when I just wanted to shake Annalise and yell at her!  Most of the conflict in this novel was due to Annalise misunderstanding the circumstances.  Chalk it up to her being so young, inexperienced, and insecure.

All in all, "With Every Heartbeat" is perfect if you're looking for a sweet romance with not only one, but two great settings - Rome and the world of dance!

My Rating:

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