Eversea, a love story, is a Winter Rose Unpublished Contest FINALIST 2013. Emilia Pisani of Simon & Schuster (judge) says "Great Southern Flavor!" and "Jack is an alluring leading man!"
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: June 4th 2013
Author: Natasha Boyd
Pages: 358
Format: Mobi provided by author for review
An orphaned, small-town, southern girl, held hostage by responsibility and self-doubt. A Hollywood A-list mega-star, on the run from his latest scandal and with everything to lose. A chance encounter that leads to an unlikely arrangement and epic love affair that will change them both forever. When his co-star and real-life girlfriend is caught cheating on him with her married and much older director, A-list hottie, Jack Eversea, finds himself in sleepy Butler Cove, South Carolina. Jack hopes the sultry southern heat in this tiny coastal Lowcountry town will hide him not only from the tabloids and his cheating girlfriend, but his increasingly vapid life and the people who run it. He doesn’t count on meeting Keri Ann Butler. Keri Ann has relied on herself so long, dealing with her family’s death and the responsibilities of keeping up her family's historic mansion, that boys and certainly the meager offering of eligible boys in Butler Cove, have never figured into her equation. But fate has other plans. Suddenly face to face with the man who played the movie role of her favorite fictional character, Jack has Keri Ann yearning for everything she has previously avoided ... and Jack must decide whether this funny, sassy girl is worth changing his life for, before his mistakes catch up to him. 
My Take
Let me just start by saying I loved Eversea. There's just something about a sassy southern girl as the leading lady that is just perfect. Maybe because I'm southern and can be way more than sassy. And who doesn't have fantasies about meeting one of the sexiest men alive that happens to be an actor from one of your favorite movies? No one, that's who.
Keri Ann is twenty one and more responsible than any young adult would ever want to be in a life time. After losing her parents in a car accident and later her grandmother passing, she is left to take care of a house that the town considers a historical monument. Her older brother is away at med school. When he finishes school, Keri will take her turn at living. She really wants to get out of her small town. She feels more and more trapped as she works in the little Grill down from her house. Then a rude out-of-towner turns out to be Jack Eversea. In her effort to act like she's not affected by who he is, Keri Ann finds herself telling him just how bad his manners are and how he may be a tad full of himself.
Jack Eversea, one of the sexiest men alive and mega movie star, was more than a little surprised by this girl who didn't just swoon and jump to meet his every need. But considering he was fleeing the scene in Hollywood after finding out his girlfriend was cheating on him, Keri Ann is the perfect girl to help him hide out in Butler Cove. As a trade, Keri Ann will do shopping for Jack and He will help with repairs to the house while he's in town.
Keri Ann hasn't allowed herself time for boys, not to mention she wouldn't want a guy in her small town anyway. She tries to keep from acting like a hormonal groupie but it's hard when Jack pushes her buttons and flirts a little. She reminds herself often that he's just a spoiled celebrity but could he be more than that? She's dying to talk with her best friend Jazz or her brother Joey about him but she promised to keep his whereabouts a secret. It also doesn't help that now she's dreaming about Jack too. As they spend more time together Keri Ann catches glimpse of the vulnerable Jack. He's more broken than just a guy with a cheating girlfriend. Lord knows I fall hard for the broken man. And so does Keri Ann. The sexual tension gets so insane, for me, and them. They share a lot of truths and expectations about their feelings and what Jacks obligations are in Hollywood. Then the heat, oh my heavens, be prepared for moisture control. But just as the temperature rises in walks the cheating bitch with news that could extinguish a volcano.
Joey and Jazz do their best to help Keri Ann with her broken heart. At this point I'm starting to panic a little because the book is near the end. I do not do well with tragic romance. The author gives us just enough with the last two chapters to avert me losing my mind. A happy ending is definitely in the future for Keri Ann and Jack but it looks like we'll have to wait for the next book for the full story. I am anxiously waiting.
EXCERPT:
Jazz grabbed a poker from the fireplace, and we both skidded on sock feet to the front door. I looked out of the peephole, but with no lights on I couldn’t really see a thing.
“I can’t see anything,” I whispered, and then jumped back as another round of banging started.
“Keri Ann?” Jack’s voice shouted over the wind and rain.
“Oh my God.” I mouthed to Jazz.
Her eyes were wide.
“Do you think he got my message?”
“Shit, I don’t know,” she whispered back, her shoulders hunching up.
“Keri Ann? Please ... please open the door. I really need to talk to you.”
What the heck was he doing out there in the rain? Obviously, I was going to have to let him in. I could feel mortification and it’s crimson tide crawling up my chest to my neck.
Jazz shrugged with an apologetic ‘this is your mess, I have no clue how to help you here’ look on her face.
“Thanks!” I hissed at her.
“Keri Ann! Open the Goddamn door ... please?” Jack’s voice broke over the last word and my shoulders slumped.
Jazz rolled her eyes.
I opened the door as a huge gust of wind blew in and wrenched it out of my hands. It swung back hard banging against the wall. And there stood the tall looming shadow of Jack, hands on either side of the doorframe, in jeans and a dark wet t-shirt that clung to his body. Water streamed down his beautiful face.
“For the love of shrimp n’ grits, girl,” I heard Jazz murmur next to me as we both took in the archangel standing on the threshold. “Good luck.”
I shivered.
Author Bio and Links
Natasha Boyd is a writer with a background in marketing and public relations. She lives in the coastal Carolina Lowcountry, complete with Spanish moss, alligators and mosquitoes the size of tiny birds. She has a husband, two sons and a cat named Tuna. Eversea is her first full-length novel.
I have this for review, and can't wait to read it. I did not realize that it's not a stand-alone, and it sounds like the ending is so intense! Great review, Gloria!
ReplyDeleteThis isn't one I had on my radar, but it sounds like something I would like. I'll add it to the TBR.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read it !
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