Summer Rush Review & Blog Tour

Summer Rush by Ashley Wilcox

Book description…

Hope Taylor is a smart Southern girl with a good head on her shoulders and a positive outlook on life. Even though things are simple and predictable, Hope is happy and content.
Her boyfriend is tall, handsome and hardworking. Trent is everything a girl could want in a man and life is going according to plan, until she meets Joey Puccino.
Although Joey is arrogant and gets under her skin, Hope is still drawn to him and her body craves him like a bad drug. Even though she knows it is wrong, the attraction Hope feels is undeniable.
Will Hope choose her simple, yet comfortable life with Trent? Or will she give in to the desire and pull she feels for Joey?

I don’t know about you but a good sweet story is exactly what I need from time to time, and that is exactly what I got with Summer Rush.  The characters are extremely well built and loveable.  The chemistry between the hero and heroine is believable and more than kept me on my toes.  And the storyline has that flow that kept my attention and left me wanting more.

Hope is a sweet girl with a huge heart.  She’s got her perfect boyfriend, Trent, amazing parents, and supportive friends.  Her life is busy and she’s anxious to make her hopes and dreams come true all while making sure her responsibilities are met.  I loved her but at the same time wanted her to be able to just be her age, even if it were for only a night.  So when she meets a customer, who makes her blood heat up, I thought… here we go this girl is going to do something for herself… only she doesn’t.  Well at least not at first.  At first she can’t stand him because he is everything she thinks she dislikes.  And she feels guilty for even thinking about him because of Trent.

Joey is my kind of hero… he was upfront and flirtatious.  He knew he saw something special in Hope and when something goes terribly wrong in his life he decides to make some life altering changes… changes that will better his life and guarantee that Hope will see him as a good man. 

Their relationship is slow to start but when it does it’s kind of adorable because Joey takes things so slow for fear of ruining what he knows is a good thing.  He knows that he wants Hope in his life and is more than willing to do whatever it takes to keep her there… even if it means not telling her his secret. 

I really enjoyed this book.  The interaction between Hope and Joey was fun, sweet, and even a little heartbreaking but it was more than obvious that these two were made for each other.  BUT, I have to admit the story was a little on the predicable side and that’s okay because we all need books like this one to either cheer us up from an emotional read or just an easy read that will keep a smile on your face.  I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of Ashley Wilcox’s work!

Happy Reading!

About the Author

Some may consider me a jack of all trades, but I consider myself well rounded.

I’ve waitressed, styled hair, answered phones and, most recently, worked full time as mom to my two beautiful little boys.

Then there was this book…

Everyone and their brother started talking about this book series titled Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James.  I didn’t really pay attention to the craze at first, since I wasn’t a big reader- okay, I didn’t read at all.  But curiosity got the best of me, so I downloaded it to my kindle.

 I was immediately hooked. I read the whole series in three days.  Yes, three books in three days.

 I kept finding all these great books that I HAD to read (just ask my credit card!).

  Then I started hearing voices. Voices that turned into stories; stories that were begging to get out of my head. 

I started writing them down on scraps of paper. Then I transferred them to my computer. Before I knew it, PLANNING ON FOREVER was born.

The voices in my head are still talking, so I’m still writing.

For more information about me, and what I’m working on please follow me on:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Ashley-Wilcox-Author/534100859949004

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6564533.Ashley_Wilcox

https://twitter.com/ashleywilcox55

http://www.ashleywilcoxauthor.com/

ashleywilcoxauthor@hotmail.com

After high school I decided to give college a whirl, but found myself living back home after my first year.  I waitressed for a while then decided I wanted to try my hand at hairdressing. After graduating from cosmetology school, I worked in a salon for a couple of years.

I found myself hating the crazy salon hours so I quit hairdressing and started working in the medical field, answering phones.  Although working the nine to five thing gave me more of a social life, sitting at a desk answering phones was not my cup of tea.

Then came my husband, and the idea of going back to school.  That didn’t last long because I didn’t even finish a full semester.  Luckily, my husband works for a great company that I was able to get a job at, answering phones again. Not my career of choice, but it was a fun working environment.

This time instead of being bored with my career, I got pregnant, and leaving my precious bundle of joy home while I went to work was not going to happen, which leads me to today where I am a stay at home mom with two beautiful little boys.

Excerpt

Joey and I take turns catching waves, taking time in between them to talk and goof around.  My stomach actually hurts from laughing so much. 

          “Your turn,” I smile, nodding in the direction of the next wave growing in front of us.

          “Ride it with me,” he says with a grin.

          “What?”  I ask, being caught off guard.

          “Let your board float in and ride mine with me,” he repeats with a soft grin.

          Giving him a skeptical look he continues, “Trust me- it’ll be fun.” He reaches for my hand.

          Noticing the wave getting close, I realize I need to make a quick decision.  Stepping out of my box of predictability, I undo the strap around my ankle and let my board free.

          “Sit on the front. I’ll paddle, then jump up when I do,” he explains as I climb up on his board.

          My stomach is in knots and my heart rate is through the roof, feeling his face so close to my back as he lies on the board behind me, paddling away from the wave. 

Why did I agree to this?

 My inhibitions are nowhere to be found when I’m around him.  He brings out a side of me that I didn’t even know existed…careless and free.

          Feeling the wave start to push up on the back of the board, I know it’s time.  Glancing over my shoulder, I find him smiling at me.

          “Ready?” Joey asks.  Nodding my head yes, he continues, “Up on three…one…two…”

          On three we both jump up, planting our feet on the board with my back against his chest.  We both run our right hand along the inside of the wave for what feels like forever.  It’s like everything has gone into slow motion, and we are in this exhilarating bubble together.   

Giveaway

Leave a comment and tell me your favorite “go-to” read below for a chance to win a copy of Summer Rush by Ashley Wilcox. (please leave your email and preference of Kindle or Nook as well)  I will pick a random winner through random.org on Feb 12.  Make sure you enter the grand prize giveaway as well!!!

Grand prize giveaway

Ashley is giving away two signed paperbacks of Summer Rush away. Please use the script in your post.