***Lesley's Review of Tethered by L.D. Davis***

From the New York Times Best Selling Author of the Accidentally On Purpose trilogy…

“You were born to be mine and I was born to be yours.”

Donya Stewart’s chest filled with the soft beating wings of butterflies when she first met Emmet Grayne’s green eyes at the ripe age of five. Unable to identify the tugging pressure within her when in his presence, Donya moved through the first several years of her life addled by her feelings for the boy who was her best friend’s brother, and very much like her own sibling. But one cool autumn night in her mystifying teenage years, Emmet erases any ideas Donya has of him being anything like a sibling.

Donya and Emmet, unable to deny the invisible cord that fetters them together on an incredibly visceral level, begin a long journey on a road abounding with challenges, hurdles, and destructive forces. Their love for one another is absolute, and the emotional link between them is strong, but when they make a series of painful decisions and mistakes that pull them apart, the strength of that tether is challenged.

Donya’s career as a model took her around the world and away from Emmet who was working hard for his law degree. When Donya makes a hard decision for both of them, the tether between them stretches beyond what seems possible.

“The tether contorted and quivered and groaned in protest.”

With age comes maturity and hindsight. Will Emmet and Donya have to live apart and with the consequences of their choices? Happy endings aren’t always a guarantee, even for two people who were born into this world for each other. Will the link between them bring them together or prove to ensnare them in heartache?

If you are in search of an angst-filled romance novel, get tied into Tethered…


Note From Author: Tethered is meant for mature readers over the age of 18. This is a standalone novel - reading my other published novels is welcome, of course, but not necessary.

Lesley's Review

If you like the type of romance books that leave you gushy and warm then this is book is for you but, only if you don’t mind the struggle through the pain to find the peace. This is a book that’s about a love that never seems to come first, but yet, it’s their love for one another that drives this wedge. It’s a love that two people have for each other that never finds the path to come together as one. It’s heartbreakingly beautiful.

“The road to your destination is not always a straight shot. Sometimes the road splits off into different directions and you have to choose”

Donya and Emmett’s story starts in childhood. Donya is the unofficial adopted daughter to Emmett’s parents. She is his sister’s best friend. (You know our heroine Emmy, from “Accidentally on Purpose”.) Donya is considered family. His house is her house. He protects her and watches out for her as an older brother would. Only as they grow the love changes from a familial love to a deep all-consuming love. This is where the troubles begin. The age difference, the strength of the emotions, and the fact that they are to be like brother and sister.  Timing is just as important as the connection.

“I will always love you, but this is not our time. Our time is not now.”

It comes down to making sacrifices that are hard and suck the life right out of you. They truly try make these choices for the best. However, sometimes doing what’s best isn’t what’s right.  Their love shows that soul mates can meet in life and not come together because free will and outside choices can indirectly or directly affect the outcome. And just because that’s your soul mate it doesn’t mean life will go the way of a fairy tale.

BUT in the end these two are tethered together and eventually those paths run together and not in different directions, right?

“I felt like I was going to vomit out my heart, because I sure as hell wasn’t going to need it anymore.”

It always seemed as though life was fighting against fate to keep these two apart. It was painful and tense to watch these two struggle separately and then sometimes together. I really enjoyed the way LD took us through their story. My affection grew as theirs came to life on the pages. At some points in the story I really didn’t know if I was going to end up just as broken hearted as these two. This story was woven to perfection. We go through all the ranges of emotions. I have to say that I never hated the decisions that Donya and Emmett made, I understood them and that made it harder.I saw the stupidity in a couple of them but that’s what makes it real. I saw the complexity and confusion.Their story tortured my heart, crushed it a little, and then made it sing. All I have now are smiles.  Another home run for L.D. Davis. 4.5 stars….

“I am the only one who will ever completely own you and you are the only one that will ever completely own me. Do you understand?”

About the Author

L.D. Davis is a New York Times bestselling author. A 30 something mother, wife, friend, writer, with a half cup of awesome. Just a half cup, though. Her debut novel Accidentally on Purpose was an Amazon best selling novel that landed on the New York Times 3 months after its release.

L.D. Davis is Author of: Accidentally on Purpose, Worthy of Redemption, Worth the Fight, Pieces Of Rhys and Tethered (March 2014).Visit her at www.lddaviswrites.com, Facebook.com/LDDavisWritesand on Twitter @LDDAVIS478.

***Lesley's Review of Worthy of Redemption by L.D. Davis and Giveaway***

Blurb

After his devastating actions in Accidentally On Purpose, Kyle Sterling is trying to move on. He has lost the love of his life and he does not believe he is worthy of ever being loved again.

Lily Whitman has been devastated by the ultimate betrayal and later tragedy hits her heart full force. She doubts she will ever be able to give her heart to anyone again. She hides her own demons behind a wall of colorful hair, piercings, tattoos and a style and attitude that is all her own.

Kyle and Lily find themselves thrown together when Lily takes a position at Sterling Corporation after her place of employment burned to the ground. Lily is the complete opposite of the type of woman that Kyle has ever had any interest in. Lily is rough around the edges and challenges Kyle at every step. Despite his dick-like disposition and violent past, Lily fights to prove to Kyle that he is worthy – of being loved, and worthy of redemption, but Kyle is afraid of repeating history and he can’t let go of his past…And maybe a very important someone from his past isn’t ready to let go yet either….

Lesley's Review

We all remember the douche puddle from Accidentally on Purpose, Kyle Sterling. (If you don’t ….you probably shouldn’t be reading this. Just Saying). Some of us were sad that Kyle and Emmy didn’t end up together, some were happy. My heart was sad because someone got hurt, period. Someone had a not so happy ending. I was extremely happy to hear that Kyle was getting his own book and I had my fingers crossed that he didn’t f*ck everything up in this book.

We pick up right when Kyle gets out of rehab. He is on a mission to find Emmy. He can’t believe the bullsh!t that has happened and he feels like a loser, who’s worthy of nothing. He can’t remember what he did to Emmy. While on his mission to find Emmy he comes across her bar manager, Lily. Lily is a funky, tatted and pierced kind-of chic. She doesn’t take sh!t from anybody. So, when Kyle walks into the bar she braces herself, because around him she’s a blubbering mess. She’s always had a soft spot for her boss’s man. But something is amiss, because Kyle looks like sh!t and Emmy is MIA. Lily steps up to the task of taking care of Mr. Ass. Lily discovers some dark things about Kyle but, what’s scarier than those revelations, is the fact that Lily isn’t fazed by it. She’s just terrified of getting her heart broken. Lily escapes that night with her heart in tacked, only to be thrown right to the shark again. Losing her job a few years later, she turns to a friend for help. She inadvertently ends up as Kyle’s assistant.

“No! Don’t speak. Almost everything that has come out of that stupid mouth of yours has somehow conflicted with the previous stupid thing you’ve said.”

 And so, the battle begins between the feisty woman, and the a$$hole, Kyle. The battle between wanting what you can’t have and letting yourself indulge.  These two both have some horrid pasts to overcome.  While, I loved Emmy in the first book, I loved Lily just as much. She’s snarky, witty, caring and believe it or not she has her head firmly on her shoulders. She’s a strong person but deep down there’s a cest pool of bad demons haunting her, waiting to surface. I believe that adds to her realness, her sense of realism. She doesn’t sugar coat anything. Lily knows that Kyle is a ticking time bomb but she can’t stay away.

“You know, I actually kind of give a damn what happens to you.”

Kyle is so damaged from his past demons and recent walk through hell that he is barely surviving. He’s haunted and tormented by what he did to Emmy. He’s clean from drugs for the moment, but like they say once an addict, always an addict. He fights his demons on a daily basis and his cravings. He does not feel worthy of anyone’s love.  Scum on the bottom of the pond….the douche excrement. He’s the lowest of lows. He broke the one thing he loved most in life, Emmy. Feeling himself falling more and more into Lily, Kyle throws himself into douche mode and pushes her away. He throws himself into finding out what exactly he did to Emmy. This very well could be the blow that knocks him over the edge. Will he be able to leave Emmy in the past?

“Yes, you did awful things, but no one is going to punish you more than yourself, but you can also redeem yourself. If there was no redemption for anyone, then every criminal should just be executed because the time they’ll spend in prison would be pointless. I do believe you can be redeemed, despite your big mouth.”

All the while Lily is there supporting him, loving him unconditionally. She becomes his “little bully”. She helps to keep him in line. But when something bigger comes into the picture, Lily has to stop and think if this life is really for her. Does he love her more than Emmy? In the end risking everything may not be enough.They both have to overcome their pasts. Kyle is always self-sabotaging or believe it or not, self-sacrificing. FEAR of what will happen is enough, to f*ck it all up.

I must say that I fell in love with this story just as I did with the first one. I wasn’t sure if I could feel sorry for Kyle but I do. I grew a soft spot for the man who struggles every day with his addiction and his actions. I am in no way agreeing with what he did. NEVER. But I do believe that people can be redeemed. Nature vs. Nurture. That’s all I am going to say about that one.  He and Lily both had a lot to forgive of themselves. She had to learn to let go and do it knowing the pain may take her down. In the end, I believe this book truly defined the word Redemption. I believe both Lily and Kyle had to fight to redeem their lives and their hearts. Can forgiveness heal? Do you believe in redemption?  I dare you to read it and if you still don’t feel like Kyle deserves a second chance ….then your heart is stone. LOL! This book deals with real life situations and repercussions.  I love Mrs. Davis’s work and will continue to follow her work. Thank you, for another REAL story.  I give 5 Redeeming Stars.

About the Author

 L.D. Davis was born and raised in a small town in South Jersey where she still resides. She is married with five children and comes from a very large family. L.D. has been writing since the second grade and consistently received encouragement from teachers and friends. L.D. frequently daydreamed about getting published, but did not think the daydream could be realized. It wasn't until early in 2011 after reading the works of a new, self-published author did she begin to believe that she could publish her work. Her first book "Accidentally On Purpose" was published in April of 2012, just days after her 34th birthday. L.D. is very excited to continue offering her imagination in printed form to the public.

You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LDDavisWrites

Buy the Book

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/339460

http://amzn.com/B00E3C679Y

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***Accidentally on Purpose by L.D. Davis Blog Tour Stop***

 

Blurb
Emmy thinks her boss Kyle Sterling of Sterling Corporations is a jerk.

So, she sleeps with him.

Emmy tries to put the mistake behind her, but then finds herself snowed in with Kyle. As the snow builds, so does the heat in the house between the two. The problem is that Kyle has a steady girlfriend that he is unwilling to break up with. Emmy cuts Kyle off and starts dating Luke. Even as their relationship takes off, Emmy is finding Kyle hard to shake. He is blatant in his feelings and desires for Emmy, putting her in an awkward situation. She tries hard to resist Kyle, but deep down inside Emmy's motives are shady. When Emmy succumbs to her hidden feelings for Kyle without setting Luke free, devastating consequences ensue.

In addition to her two men, Emmy daydreams about doing violent things to her loud mouthed, opinionated mother.

With some humor and sarcasm, and of course, some tequila, Emmy's world will flip upside down as she deals with the results of "accidentally on purpose" falling for two men at once.

Lesley's Review

This story is about one woman who fell for a man who couldn’t give her what she needed, when she fell in love with another man who could. Can we say love triangle? Yes, yes we can. It’s about struggling to do the right thing, when it’s the hardest hurdle you’ve had to jump. Love hurts and love isn’t always right. Love causes us to rationalize crazy decisions, for love knows no boundaries.

“Anyone who can rationalize love through intellect, has no idea what love is, for it is an emotion, and cannot be rationalized. For love is crazy.”-Christopher Bombardier.

Meet Emmy, hardworking assistant to Kyle Sterling, AKA the handsome Douche Puddle.  She’s slinging back drinks the local bar (that she owns) and in walks her boss.  She’s wasted and hoping that he will walk away and never return. No, of course she’s not that lucky, just what she wanted to escape has now joined her. Lord have mercy, she begins having fun with Kyle. Next thing she knows oops, she’s had a one night stand with the biggest douche of all douches. That one night changes everything for Emmy and Kyle. I think you can pretty much figure out what happens next with these two. However, it’s not a fairy tale relationship when you have to keep it secret. Several snow storms later you feel a connection with these characters. You can’t help who you fall in love with. (Oh my…) And although you know that it’s not okay to put Emmy in the corner, you still tend to feel for the relationship. I found myself wishing that he would stop being a twatwaffle and stand up for himself.

Emmy and Kyle end up on the outs and in walks Luke (sigh) the handsome and persistent lawyer.Sweet, kind and funny.  She decides she’s going to give Luke a chance and move on from Kyle. Developing a normal out in the open, and serious relationship, love starts blossom. Their quirky, witty banter and fun loving personalities make falling in love with their relationship simple. He’s the nice guy that would treat her right, love her until the he couldn’t anymore. He would give her the world.  She knows he’s a good one but she can’t seem to let go of hope for Kyle. Isn’t that how it happens? They say the nice guy finishes first. I don’t know, I tend to think they get the short end of the stick.

“It happened accidentally on purpose-my heart accidentally started loving two men, but I purposely (and stupidly) acted on it instead of walking away from one of them.”

Let’s not forget the Emmy is being slightly selfish and is a confused woman. She can’t decide between the two. She decides to have her cake and eat it too. She fears letting one go and keeping the other. She makes some pretty craptastic decisions. A WHAMMY is discovered and all hell breaks loose.  Emmy is now faced to deal with her decisions and see them for what they were, STUPID.  She comes face to face with the ugly truth. She had what she wanted in her grasp and she single handedly destroyed everything, by hanging on to something that may never have been there. So, she sets out to right her wrongs or at least do the right thing for a very important person in her life.

“Sometimes I think you are not being the best you can be.”

Accidentally on Purpose was a great read. You grow with the character and fall in love with her men, just a she would.  You feel her shame and disgust at what has become her life. You feel her strength when she comes to terms with what needs to be done. I admit yes, I wanted to smack her around. However, I really tried to put myself in her shoes and let the story take hold. Nobody is perfect everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes, we have to learn the hard way. Sometimes, we royally mess things up. BUT once in a while, we find our moment to fix the wrongs. My heart ached for all of them. I sometimes felt sorry for even Kyle. Most of all my though, my heart hurt for Luke.Redemption is a beautiful thing. I enjoyed the journey, it felt real and I connected with the story. I recommend this for those romance readers who love a complicated ride….I give it 5 confused by love stars.

About the Author

L.D. Davis was born and raised in a small town in South Jersey where she still resides. She is married with five children and comes from a very large family. L.D. has been writing since the second grade and consistently received encouragement from teachers and friends. L.D. frequently daydreamed about getting published, but did not think the daydream could be realized. It wasn't until early in 2011 after reading the works of a new, self-published author did she begin to believe that she could publish her work. Her first book "Accidentally On Purpose" was published in April of 2012, just days after her 34th birthday. L.D. is very excited to continue offering her imagination in printed form to the public.

Buy Links

Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Accidentally-on-Purpose-ebook/dp/B007SRWAEW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370577325&sr=8-1&keywords=accidentally+on+purpose

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/accidentally-on-purpose-ld-davis/1112043982?ean=2940014617703