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.
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:
