#REVIEW Avoiding Intimacy by @AuthorKALinde #WickedWinterSaturdays

Baby, it's cold outside! Time to snuggle up with a mug of hot chocolate (or a glass of wine!) and fall into a steamy, sexy book.
Wicked Winter Saturdays is a weekly post to share with you some Hot, steamy books that will make your temps. rise.  

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The Autumn Review 
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Sim-Sational-Books
Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Reviews


**The books featured on Wicked Winter Saturday's  are for adults. If you are under 18 years of age, or do not like smexy books, please stop here. **




Avoiding Intimacy(Avoiding #2.5)
by  K.A. Linde

ebook, 170 pages

Published February 26th 2013 by K.A. Linde

Goodreads
*Personal Purchase Amazon/Kindle

Growing up, Chyna was handed everything on a silver platter. She never wanted for anything, except love—unconditional love from her parents. Love was a foreign emotion, and watching her parents love/hate relationship was never easy.

So when it came to her personal life, she made sure she never had to relive that. With looks that could kill, it was simple for Chyna to be the love 'em and leave 'em kind of girl. And she had always been okay with it. She would rather be single the rest of her life then end up as miserable as her parents. So when a man rescued her after she was drugged in a night club, she never expected to start a relationship with him.

But one chance meeting changes it all. Chyna is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity that could sky rocket her career, and she is forced to make a decision that could ruin everything.

The Series


Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding, #1) 
Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding, #2)   
Avoiding Intimacy (Avoiding, #2.5)   
Untitled (Avoiding, #3)           



   



The first two books in the series are also on sale for .99  HERE



$2.99

 

 

A great addition to the Avoiding series, KA Linde is becoming a new favorite author of mine!

 

Let me just start by telling you, I adore KA Linde and her writing style. Yea, I have issues with her characters, and I don't agree with everything that happens, but KA Linde knows how to write and knows how to suck you into her world. I already read/reviewed the first two book in the series. and I was super excited to learn that KA, decided to write a novella, not about the main characters, but about a supporting character, Chyna.

I freaking LOVE Chyna. She's fierce, has her friends backs, and she just f*ckin rocks! I mean she's the type that walks into the room and everyone will stop and look, and she's a beauty, who just doesn't give a sh*t. She's the kind of bff who you want in your group, especially when you go clubbin' --Flasback to my wild days-- Yep, I was a clubbin' chick.  There was a period in my twenties when all I did was live and breathed the nightlife, so yea, having a chick like Chyna, in your group is a bonus.  But, let's get back to the book.

The last book in the Avoiding series has Chyna  jet setting off to Milan to model, for an elite designer. She doesn't need the money, because she has enough of it, she's doing it more to A. Pacify her parents B. To Hook-up with the hottie designer.  C. and maybe to get away from a break-up with her bf, whom just happens to be someone who Chyna has fallen for, which never really happened before. See Chyna is the female version of a typical male, bed em and throw em out. Now, I wouldn't consider her a slut -nope I could totally accept her and her lifestyle. So, she just had a sudden break-up with her bf, Adam. Adam is sweet, and totally not chyna's usual type. Well, like I said Chyna doesn't do relationships, so this is a first for her. She's not used to being with one guy, and all the stuff that goes along with relationships, but she's trying, and she's willing to let all the other guys go. UNTIL,  a misunderstanding ensues and Chyna is done, and off to Milan, where she becomes the star of the show, for the hot Milan designer, Marco. Not only a star on the runway, but also in his bed. Milan seems to bring the old Chyna back, but she misses NYC, and her BFF, Alexa, and maybe Adam.


Without spoiling the rest, I can tell you I liked this addition to the series. The sex was HOT, but I never really connected w/ Marco and Chyna.
I liked learning about what happened with Chyna during the last book Avoiding Responsibility. I missed her in AR, as she was barely in that book. So, this book talks about what she did in alternating chapters of what happened before/during/after Milan.
Loved the ending!! I also must comment on the cover, because this is how I saw Chyna.

4.5/5 stars

 

.Blog Tour: #Review #Giveaway: Avoiding Responsibility by @AuthorKALinde

Here's my stop for the Avoiding Responsibility Blog Tour! This tour is being hosted by Taryn at My Secret Romance. Check out the excerpt, my review and the awesome giveaway!!!






Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding #2)

by K.A. Linde

Paperback, 350 pages
Published: December 1st 2012
Series: Avoiding #2
*Sent from author

Lexi has finally given up her once destructive relationships and moved onto bigger and better things with a sexy new man in town. Just when she is starting to figure it out with him, her world is tilted once again with a phone call from none other than Ramsey Bridges. A year after his entrance into her life, Ramsey is trying to make amends and does the one thing she never expects—invites her to Jack's wedding.

The wedding she had evaded at all costs. But no matter what she does, Lexi can't seem to escape her past with Jack. But does she really want to?

Despite the explosive chemistry between Lexi and Ramsey, she is skeptical about trusting him after everything that has happened. When things are amiss with him, she starts questioning his motives. Can Ramsey be the one to remove Jack from Lexi's life permanently or should she move on with her blossoming new life

Buy Links

 

K.A. Linde is an independent author and publisher who enjoys writing novels that keep you guessing to the very end. She wrote Avoiding Commitment in 2009. She studied political science and philosophy at the University of Georgia and received her Masters in 2012. She currently resides in North Carolina. She enjoys dancing in her spare time. She has written a sequel to this novel and plans to have it released as an ebook in the near future along with her future endeavors. She is currently working on a fantasy/romance titled The Affiliate and the 3rd book in the Avoiding Series.  You can email K.A. Linde at kalinde45@gmail.com

 “I think talking helps,” she murmured almost instantly regretting that statement. He could ask her a million and a half things that she had no desire to discuss. She knew he was curious about her, but she was hesitant to share too much information about herself. What she could share—what she had shared so far—was barely scratching the surface. 

 He would find out eventually the kind of person she had once been. She knew it was inevitable. If Ramsey had any knowledge of what had occurred between her and Jack in her past, he didn’t act like it. And for now, at least, she wanted to keep it that way. 

 “I think talking can be helpful,” he agreed, “but not right now.” He shot her a quick smirk his green eyes glowing. “For now, I’m on a date with a beautiful woman, and I should be enjoying that.” 

 “Oh, you think we’re on a date, do you?” Lexi asked playfully crossing her arms over her chest and giving him a devilish grin. 

 “Is this not what this is?” he questioned, taking a step towards her. 

 “Well, I don’t know. Are you going to take me out to dinner?” she asked him following his lead and stepping into him. “Sweep me off my feet? Walk me to my doorstep and give me a lingering kiss good night?” She arched one perfectly shaped eyebrow. 

 Ramsey leaned into her, pulling her body close to him. He dipped his head down close enough to huskily whisper into her ear, “Can I give you a lingering kiss on my doorstep and convince you to make it more than linger?”

 

My emotions were taken for a ride in the first book of this series Avoiding Commitment, see my review HERE. This second book of the series was not as emotionally draining but had me cursing, and pissed off, to say the least!

 

 

 

 

 

Where to begin???  If you read the first book of this series, you already know the history of Lexi and the turmoil this girl has gone through, especially with the one constant in her life -->Jack but in this book Jack takes a back seat in Lexi's life as she seems to be slowly letting go of him,  and letting him live with his choices of getting married to the "Witch"--Bekka. But, that doesn't mean she is 100% out of his life, she just seems to be moving on, slowly but surely. Moving on with the person who seems to be everything she needs in life, someone who loves her and treats her way better than Jack ever did.

 

Ramsey, is just that man, alright so he just so happens to be Bekka's brother, strange, I know. But, he is the complete opposite of the "Witch" in every way.  This book sends us off in the direction of these two, and their relationship over the course of the past year. After Lexi left, Atlanta, over a year ago, and basically got b*tch slapped by the "Witch", she all but lost it, but Lexi is stronger than that, I mean she was emotionally spent but she did manage to pick herself up, and start a relationship with the sexy, Ramsey. Long distance at times, their relationship is far from being perfect, but the one thing that seems constant is the love Ramsey has for her.

 

It seems like Lexi wants to make this work with Ramsey, trying her best not to think about Jack and the impending wedding, but she does have setbacks and can't help herself from thinking about him, but this book is not about Lexi and Jack, it's more about Ramsey and Lexi and watching their relationship grow over the past year. The mistakes they make, and the lies that seem to threaten their relationship.

 

 

OK without going into everything that happened let me just express how I felt about this book.

 

Remember in the first book I was HATING Jack, Loving Him etc, "THEN I FREAKIN WANTED TO SMACK HIM. WICKED.HARD"  Well, this is what I wanted to do to Lexi in this book WTF!! She was driving me crazy at times, I was like really, Lexi, How can you of all people, just sit there and put Ramsey on the spot, over, and over again about his past and lies, but you of all people couldn't tell anyone the truth about your past with Jack?? WTF, am I missing something here?

 

I mean I love Lexi and all her faults, she seriously slayed the "Witch" at the end and I hope she can put Jack out of her head from here on out.

 

 

This book was good, and it felt like I was reading a soap opera unfold. With Ramsey's past relationship coming out of the woodwork in this one, we see what he's been keeping from Lexi, but really, with all the build up I felt it would of been far worse. Lexi grows in this book, and is doing a fine job at times, especially since her BFF, Chyna is mia  through out most of tis book--I missed her, but glad she made an appearance here and there, and I'm so glad she was there at the end for Lexi. She needed the support for Jack and the "witch's" wedding. KA, did a great job at holding my attention with this book, I enjoy her writing style and CANNOT wait for Chyna's book Avoiding Intimacy 2.5. I hope KA brings us more from this series...



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4/5

 

 

Quotes 

 

 

Ramsey to Lexi

"Our relationship is real whether you choose to believe it or not," he intoned.

"I did and still do love you as much as when I first told you that night at

the beach. You are the only woman I could think of being with now until eternity.

Please try and believe me when I say it."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

K.A. Linde will be giving away either a nook or kindle copy of Avoiding Responsibility

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The grand prize is a Kindle Paperwhite.

 

 

 

 

 



.#Review:Avoiding Commitment by @AuthorKALinde

 

Avoiding Commitment

by K.A. Linde
ebook, 370 pages

Published July 29th 2012
Series: Avoiding #1
*Personal Purchase*

Goodreads




Jack and Lexi never had a typical relationship. After 2 years without speaking, she receives a phone call that changes everything. He unexpectedly asks her to convince the new girl, Bekah, that he's ready to commit. Jack is calling now after everything they had been through because there is another woman. She can't believe it. Follow Lexi in this heart wrenching drama as she relives her past relationship, or lack thereof, with Jack, and not just in her own mind, but to his fiance-to-be. Throw in Bekah's hot brother who always seems to be in the right place at the right time, a past with more secrets to unravel than you can even imagine, and you get a recipe for disaster. Find out what happens to Lexi as she travels to Atlanta to get the closure she so desperately desires from Jack, and how the bumps of life seem to keep getting in the way
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Amazon only $3.99   

    B&N $3.99

This book had me in turmoil, but I enjoyed every minute of it, and highly recommend it to New Adult fans.

 




I'll be honest this book may not be for everyone. I mean when I first started it I was like meh.. it's alright.. then I was like NO WAY. In my head I was all over the place spitting out ratings of how I would rate this book--It's a 2 star, nah Ok I'll give it 3 Star, Crap it's back down to 2, then it spiraled out of control for me and I was lost, lost in our protags. life and feelings. I mean really, I was that friend SCREAMING in her ear, ARE YOU CRAZY? RUN, RUN away, and never look back. EVER!

I was picking up the pieces for her. I mean really at this point this book was a 4 star and then the ending was a SLAP in the face, yet again WTF just happened! How, why, OMG it's a train wreck  your watching from the sidelines, waiting, for the crash, and there is NOTHING.YOU. CAN. DO, but stand there mouth open and relive every crash that happens over, and over. So yes, I absorbed this book and what started as a 2 star worked it's way to 4.5.




We start with the beautiful Alexa, she's young, smart, and in college. She's also DUMB as rocks when it comes to one person in her life---->JACK! Yes, I said it DUMB! I loved Jack, then I hated him, then I loved him, THEN I FREAKIN WANTED TO SMACK HIM. WICKED.HARD! --->Ode to my New England accent!

 Ok, so what has me in a tizzy about these two lovebirds--0.o is the fact that they have been in each others life for six years, but they never really were together, well they were "together" but not in the bf/gf way. They've been a constant for one another, friends/lovers, but this relationship is volatile. They cheat, hurt friends, and they hurt each other. Now were not talking violence, no, were talking about a relationship that you can't turn away from. A relationship that seems to never go further because they are always seeing someone else. A relationship that no matter how much bullsh*t they go through, they just get each other, and no one seems to understand why.

But, things have changed and even without being in each others lives for over a year one call sends Lexi in a emotional tizzy, as she finds out the man she has been in love with for six years is ready to walk down the aisle, but not with her! After, requesting Lexi to come down to Atlanta to help him out, things seem to go from bad to worse for poor Lexi, but a lot of it was her being blind to Jack. This book is not the typical happily ever after kind of romance, so be warned.


Told in the past/present with alternating chapters we get a great backstory of these two. A great feel for what and why they are at the crossroads of their life in the present. The last half of the book was great and had me tearing through to see what would happen to these two.
 
This book had great secondary characters as well,  Chyna, Lexi's bff was a good friend and always seemed to have Lexi's back. Ramsey, a hot guy who just so happens to be the brother of Jack's fiancée was another great character, which I saw had real potential with Lexi. Bekkah the F'ing BITCH fiancée of Jack's, played her part well, right up to the end, and even though I disliked her, I still enjoyed the role she played. K.A. did a fantastic job portraying friends who seem to be soul mates into an emotional turmoil of heat, passion, and frustration! Loved it!!

 

I will be reviewing the next book in the series
 Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding, #2)      
and will post my review 1/16





4.5/5 Stars

Quotes

“I can't help but look at you.""Yes, you can."
"No, I can't," he said leaning in closer. "You are the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on.”

“You have always been what I want. I just made mistakes along the way. I told you that I would make it up to you, that I would show you what I could be for you, if you would only let me.”  

“Jack: "..You were the on­ly one I saw when I closed my eyes"
Lexi: "Then why wasn't I enough when they were open?”

“I did those things because of my lack of control. When you touch me Jack, I completely succumb to you. I give into your every whim.”  

The last quote is included because of the band t-shirt. If you've read the Thoughtless series by SC Stephens then you may already know the band D-Bags. D-Bags is the band fronted by the amazing Kellan Kyle, lead character in the book. I'm wondering if KA is as much a fan as I am, of the amazing Kellan...

Lexi trekked out of the room in nothing but her red boy short underwear and one of Jack's old D-Bags band t-shirts that was much too big for her. 

 

Book #3 of my challenge!