The story of Kate, Kyle and Reed continues in this second novel of The Perfect Series.
BLURB
Kate (Katherine) Monroe is finally coming to heads with the decisions she’s made in the past to keep herself distracted at any cost. Learning to move on and forward with the conflicts in her life is harder than she expects though. With Kyle continuing to attempt reconciliation and Kate’s mom back at home, avoiding and running are no longer an option.
All along Kate’s mind and heart are consumed with Reed, but she fights to push her feelings and desires to the side. Despite the obvious pull and connection she has with Reed she finds it difficult to let him in… and trust in herself. However, Reed’s perseverance and patience never wavers and eventually he uses the one thing that had always brought them together… tennis.
As Reed and Kate begin to embark on a new relationship they face the past and the present head on. Along the way, new challenges and emotions arise testing the direction of their future together.
Can Kate forgive herself and trust Reed in order to latch onto the one emotion she needs most… love?
EXCERPT
“Jesus, Katherine,” he mumbles as I kiss my way across his jaw and over to his ear. “What are you doing to me?”
“Kissing you,” I whisper in his ear and brush my lips against his ear lobe.
“Mmmmm hmmmm.” His hands move to my waist and guide me onto him. I’m straddling his lap and his fingers dig into my hips. I rush my hands into his hair and his head presses all the way against the couch, the leather giving in to my demands. Our tongues clash against each other exploring as if it’s our first kiss, yet knowingly anticipating our next ridge or groove. My heart races in ways I never knew possible. My hands run down to the hem of his button down shirt and to the top of his pants. I start to pull at his shirt to un-tuck it, but his hands come around and lock around my wrists restraining me from pulling anymore. I whine into his mouth.
“Why?” I mumble against the softness of his lips and smile.
“This is the first time I’m in your house and I just met your parents… maybe the second time,” he jokes and then nibbles on my bottom lip.
“Grrrrr,” I grumble in his mouth. “You are always being too good.” His eyes narrow at me and he let’s out a rough chuckle.
“Katherine, I think you know that’s not true and I’ll show you just how bad I am when we are back up at school.” His hands snake up to my shoulders wrapping around the back of my neck. Pulling me towards him and his lips find mine again. Softly he kisses me across my jaw to my ear. “Patience,” he whispers.
“I don’t want to be patient,” I pout as I push my body into him. He laughs into me and un-straddles me from his lap. We face each other and I smile shyly at him feeling a little funny by my boldness.
“Stop,” he says, and his hand latches onto my pinky finger gently rubbing it. “Don’t be embarrassed. I don’t like you having to be patient either,” he says, just before he plants a firm kiss to my forehead. I lean myself against him and rest my head on his chest. His arms wrap around me tightly making my insecurities fade. As I take in his familiar pine and masculine scent he shifts us back against the arm of the couch allowing me to snuggle myself even closer.
The Perfect Distraction (book 1) REVIEW
This is a nice debut novel with a lot going on. Focused on Kate, a college freshmen, and filled with plenty of secondary characters, this book has a love triangle of sorts. Developing slowly, Kate comes to have this friendly flirtation with Reed, an upperclassman who is known for his womanizing ways. She sees him as the perfect distraction from Kyle, the boy from high school who broke her heart. Just as Kate is ready to explore her feelings with Reed though, in pops Kyle who now wants her back. And he never goes away, becoming more demanding and carrying around an aura of danger. While I hated Kyle, I adored Reed.
Following typical young adult behavior, Kate goes back and forth with her feelings. There's angst and conflict galore. The story is solid but the writing had a bit more telling than showing, and there were some obvious odd descriptors that could've easily been eliminated. Still, I liked this book and was anxious to read book two. At the end, I was left hanging in a cliffhanger but, worse, the story didn't move along to a place where I felt much hope. I needed to know what was to come.
RATING
3 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
This book was given to us by the author. Many thanks.
The Perfect Emotion (book 2) REVIEW
This book tops the first. The author's writing style has blossomed and the overall story telling technique is better. The story stays focused on Kate who is now healing, coming to terms with all the hurts she tried to tuck away. Kyle still looms in the background but Reed slowly pulls Kate back to him. He's a wonderful hero, absolutely swoon-worthy. There's still a swirl of mystery around Reed but he feels perfect for Kate who we've watched mature through the two books. There's another book coming so still no fantastically beautiful HEA but I felt hopeful at the end of this one. And now I'm impatiently waiting for the next book.
RATING
4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
This book was given to us by the author. Many thanks.
PLAYLIST
Closer To You – The Wallflowers
Come On Get Higher – Sugarland
You Look Good In My Shirt – Keith Urban
Leaving Me Later – JT Hodges
I Would Be Sad – The Avett Brothers
You Are More – Tenth Avenue North
Poison & Wine – The Civil Wars
Nothing – The Script
Boyfriend – RaeLynn
Collide – Howie Day
Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Giveaway
ABOUT The AUTHOR
Melissa Rolka grew up in the Chicagoland area all of her childhood and has always had a love of writing. She started by keeping a journal at a young age and then in high school she started writing poetry. A couple poems were published anonymously. Then in college she majored in Philosophy, which required lots and lots of writing. After graduating from Marquette University she traveled west to Los Angeles. There she worked for the Writers Guild of America and found herself submerged in the writers world. She worked on small writings, but never pursued them. On the side she became involved with a small theater group. Eventually she made her way back to the Midwest, where her heart belongs, and worked in business for several years. She found love, got married and has two beautiful children. Being at home has allowed her to keep following her love of reading and writing.
The Perfect Distraction is her first full length novel. A second continuation of this story is in the works with hopes for a third. When Melissa is not writing she is caring for, playing with and loving her two kids. In between taking care of her family and writing she almost always has her nose buried in her Kindle.
SOOOO Melissa has a really cool idea!! Wanna know what it is??? Well she is going to let you vote on who gets the novella in the series!! YUP!! The fans will pick which side character she will write about!! All you gotta do is go click on the link below to participate!!
Zane, a fierce vampire warrior, has been enslaved by the Amazons. Nola, a lovely Amazon soldier, has been cursed with invisibility. Now, these two stubborn enemies must overcome the pasts that haunt them and embrace a love that can set them free...
.jpg)
