Wednesday, January 22, 2014

BLOG TOUR - The Do Over by A.L. Zaun (Review & Giveaway)




SYNOPSIS:


“If I let go, will you catch me?”

He had wanted her to help him win his ex-girlfriend back. She had wanted to teach him a few lessons on how to treat a woman. Neither one had planned for the unexpected.

I couldn't stand by and watch. It hit too close to home. I had to run fast and far to get away and forget him. He weaseled his way into my life, making me question rules I lived by and turned my orderly life upside down. I'm falling apart and coming undone. I don't do that. I'm Madison Stuart. I live life by my rules. I won't be derailed by a man. I won't...I can't.

She's gone. I'm desperate and going insane. I'll do whatever it takes to find her. I don't know when it happened, but I won't let her go, not like this. What has she done to me? I'm Rick Marin for crying out loud. I don't chase women, but she's not just a woman. She's Maddy--my Maddy--and I need her.

Follow Rick and Madison’s story, The Do Over’s most notorious couple, as they learn that It’s Not Over.





REVIEW:

What do you do when the one person you want, is chasing after his ex-girlfriend? Madison Stuart (Maddy) was trying to help Rick Marin win over his ex-girlfriend, Daniela. What started off as a mission to get Daniela back, quickly turned into something more for Maddy. Maddy had fallen for Rick.  Maddy never imagined that while Rick was a student in the Madison Stuart School of Castrating Rick that she would develop feelings for him.  Yes, Rick is an asshole, but Madison accepted him for who he was. 

Maddy has built a wall around her.  She doesn't let anyone in, so when Rick Marin somehow knocked that wall down, Maddy doesn't know what to do.  Maddy feels as though her life is spiraling out of control and she needs some time to clear her head.  Maddy needs to get away from Rick because she is tired of hearing about Rick pining over Daniela.  The only thing is, Maddy is not aware of the events that happened the day prior and Rick did not want Daniela, Rick finally realized he wants Maddy.  Rick tries to get a hold of Maddy and when he is unsuccessful, he panics. Rick realized that he really didn't want Daniela back, that the woman he was in love with has been in front of his face the entire time.  Rick is in love with Maddy and needs to tell how he feels before it is too late.  

Rick is trying to tell Maddy how he feels, but she tells him that she needs to take care of something first, before she could hear him out.  When Rick tries to show Maddy how he feels, Maddy isn't sure she can trust Rick, or if he is just playing games.  Maddy never allowed herself to have feelings for anymore.  So when Rick tells her how he feels, Maddy doesn't know what to do.  Rick has always been honest with Maddy.  Maddy knows all about Rick's past, but Maddy has not told Rick about hers.  Will Maddy trust Rick with hers?  Will Rick still love Maddy if he knows her past?  Would Maddy's past effect the way Rick looks at Maddy?  Can Maddy trust Rick?  Can Maddy give her heart to Rick?

Rick loves Maddy unconditionally.  He never imagined that he could love someone the way he loves Maddy.  Can Maddy admit her feelings for Rick? Maddy doesn't believe in the idea of "love".  She was hurt once before, so she is closed off to the idea of it.  But when Rick makes her feel things that she hasn't felt in a long time, Maddy doesn't know what to do. Will Maddy allow herself to love Rick?  Will Maddy think if she loves Rick, she is therefore vulnerable?

Rick wants the best for Maddy.  He vows to protect her, honor her and support her.  Rick wants Maddy to let him take care of her.  But Maddy is head strong and has never had to answer to anyone.  So when push comes to shove, will Maddy listen to Rick?  Will Maddy value Rick's opinion.  Relationships are about compromise, but will Maddy compromise with Rick?

"You drive me fucking insane."

"But I'll take a day of crazy with you over a lifetime of sanity without you." ~ Rick Marin

I love the bantering between Rick and Maddy.  Neither one of them are afraid to speak their minds.  It appears that they either have a love/hate relationship.  Nothing in between. 

"Thirty seconds ago, your body was screaming 'fuck me, Rick', with your category-five hurricane eyes.  You had enough heat coming off you to melt the polar ice caps.  Now, you're in the get-the-fuck-away-from-me deep freeze from the Ice Age.  You redefine mood swings." ~ Rick Marin

I despised Rick Marin in The Do Over (Book #1) in this series.  But I have to be honest and say that I am Team Rick now.  Rick has won me over.  He got a do over.  I didn't agree with the things that Rick did to Daniela in The Do Over, but he did redeem himself in It's Not Over.  After going through The Madison Stuart School of Castrating Rick, he truly changes. He changed for the better.  He realized that he was a dick and that the world didn't revolve around Rick Marin.  He never suspected that he would fall for the one that was helping him try to get his ex-girlfriend back.   When Rick realized that he was in love with Maddy, he had to have her.  He knew there was chemistry between the two of them.  It was undeniable.  You could feel the sexual tension between them.  It just took Maddy a little longer to admit her feelings for Mr. Asshole Extraordinaire.  Yes, Rick was an asshole, but he was Maddy's asshole.  Maddy knew the real Rick and she accepted him for who he was.  She was only concerned, if Rick would accept the real Maddy.  Not the Maddy that she let everyone else see.  Maddy always put up a front.  She never allowed anyone in, so when Rick managed to infiltrate her armor, she didn't know what to do.  

I am excited for the 3rd book in this series.  I am excited to see what the future holds for Rick and Maddy.  Hopefully, we will even get a little bit more of Daniela and Liam in this book.   










The Do Over (Book #1)
Synopsis:

Life doesn’t look like it’s supposed to for Dani Ruiz, a hopeless romantic. After a painful and sudden break-up with Rick Marin, Dani hides away from reality, retreating to a world of fiction where she prefers book boyfriends over the hassles of a relationship.

Almost two years later, Dani’s friends are tired of watching her in a holding pattern, so they stage an intervention, forcing her back into the real world of dating.

Unexpectedly, Dani meets Liam Lucas, a down-to-earth firefighter. He might be the person to show her she’s still worth something. Dani’s hesitant to trust her heart with another man, but their instant and electric chemistry is something she can’t deny.

As Dani starts to believe that she’s found her real-life book boyfriend, Rick decides that he’ll go to any lengths to get her back. Seeing Rick as a changed man makes Dani question everything. 

Can Dani trust her patched-up heart with Liam? 
Or has Rick transformed into the man she’s always wanted? 

Written from various points of views, The Do Over is a story of second chances and new beginnings.





About the Author:

A.L. Zaun graduated from Florida International University with a degree in English Literature when the dinosaurs roamed the earth and cellphones were the size of a brick. Her impressive degree did absolutely nothing for her professional endeavors in health care management but did stir her imagination and opened up the world of books in a new way. 

Armed with a large bottle of Diet Pepsi and a multi-pack of Extra Sugar-Free gum, A.L. Zaun spends her evenings bringing to life the characters that dominate her thoughts and interrupt her sleep. 



Links:





Email:  ALZaun@gmail.com




a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 comment: