February 12, 2013

IF YOU STAY by Courtney Cole {Review & Give@way}




Title: IF YOU STAY

Author: Courtney Cole

Source: ebook from author for review

AMAZON  B&N

goodreads...
24-year old Pax Tate is an asshole.
Seriously.
He’s a tattooed, rock-hard bad-boy with a bad attitude to match.
But he’s got his reasons.
His mother died when Pax was seven, leaving a hole in his heart filled with guilt although he doesn’t understand why. What he does know is that he and his dad are left alone and with more issues than they can count.
As Pax grew up, he tried to be the kid his father always wanted; the perfect golden boy, but it didn’t work. His dad couldn’t overcome his grief long enough to notice and Pax couldn’t keep up the impossible perfect façade.
So he slipped far, far from it.
Now, he uses drugs and women to cope with the ugliness, the black void that he doesn’t want to deal with. If he pretends that the emptiness isn’t there, then it isn’t, right?
Wrong.
And it’s never more apparent than when he meets Mila.
Sweet, beautiful Mila Hill is the fresh air to his hardened frown, the beauty to his ugly heart. He doesn’t know how to not hurt her, but he quickly realizes that he’s got to figure it out because he needs her to breathe.
When memories of his mother’s death resurface from where he’s repressed them for so long, Mila is there to catch him when the guilt starts making sense. Mila is the one…the one who can save him from his broken troubled heart; from his issues, from the emptiness.
But only if he can stop being an asshole long enough to allow it.
He knows that. And he’s working on it.
But is that enough to make her stay?

My take...

Mother of mercy! This is my first book to read by Cole and to say I loved this book would be a total understatement. I knew when I read her fabulous blurb for the story that I would have to read it. And then when I actually started the opening chapter all I could think about was what did I just get myself in to. All through the story I caught myself smiling one minute and frantic the next. Cole really did take her characters on an emotional roller coaster ride and we readers get to be front and center as well. Also keep in mind this is not a YA read. I am not sure if her other books are YA or not...but this one is most surely not.

It is always scary starting a book by an author that you have never read before. They could write books that have a happy ending or they could be like Nicolas Sparks…an author that has no qualms of killing off a beloved character. And with this story that is focused around something so dark, there is no way of knowing if the author wants to give her characters that happily ever after that so many of us relish. Was there a happily ever after? Ha! Like I am going to tell you.

When I started reading the book, the first scene kind of took me by surprise. I don't know what I was expecting but it sure as heck wasn't THAT. It definitely confirmed in my mind that yes...Pax is most definitely an a$$hole. And unfortunately, long ago, I knew a few guys like him: money, looks, and a habit. A habit of taking drugs and a habit of being an a$$hat. But Pax is also a very broken human being. His life so far from normal, he’d have to use google maps to find his way back. Yeah, he is that far gone.

And there is always that one girl that thinks they can change the bad boy from his wicked ways. And more times than not, it is usually not the case. So will Mila be able to be the one to change him...save him from his horrible drug induced life style? Will she even want to be a part of his life once she sees him at his absolute worst? Readers are going to fall in love with Mila the minute she is introduced into the story. How could you not? She is so sweet and so adorable; a girl with a great head on her shoulders. So what the heck is she doing getting involved with Pax? Well for someone that has always gone down the straight and narrow…I think maybe she was in need of a little danger. But when you play with fire you are most likely gonna get burned.

IF YOU STAY is an absolutely brilliant read that immediately had me hooked from the get go. I couldn’t read this book fast enough. This book devoured me and I gladly let it. And once I was done I immediately had to reread the last chapter one more time. I will definitely be stalking er, I mean looking into more of Cole's work. Her writing is just that great. 

Looking for a fast paced read that is full of epic goodness and one hot, schmexy bad boy? Oh boy, then you want this book. Like now.

Fave Lines...

He is gorgeous, and flawed and sexy. And I have no idea what I am getting into.
***
Her eyes widen and she shakes her head. "Pax, no. It's not a good idea. I don't trust myself around you." Her words are completely garbled of course, but I can still make them out.
I startle and stare at her.
"You can't trust yourself around me?"
She shakes her head pathetically, then leans her head on the cool window glass.
"No. I can't let you break my heart. I don't have much left."



Tour Schedule...



February 11th

The Bookish Brunette-Interview
Book Briefs-Interview with Pax’s Dad

February 12th

RELEASE DAY LAUNCH 
February 13th
February 14th
Books Over Boys-Guest Post
Book Whisperer-Guest Post
February 15th
Bound by Books-Interview with Mila
 Insightful Minds-Guest Post
February 16th
February 17th
February 18th
3 Chicks & Their Books-Excerpt
Crazy Book Chicks-Interview with Pax
February 19th
I Read Indie-Top 10 Interview
Hackaroo Reviews-Guest Post
February 20th
February 21st
Reader Girls-Interview
The Autumn Review-Guest Post
February 22nd



5 comments:

  1. I have already read If You Stay and it was a GREAT book! Love Pax❤!

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  2. I want to read If You Stay because I think the cover is hot and the blurb sounds like an interesting and different read.

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  3. Mandy,
    Thank you so much for having me and for your awesome review!!!

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  4. Wonderful review. I loved this book. I have really loved everything she has written. You have got to read Confessions of an Alli Cat. It is absolutely hilarious. I really like her YA novels to.

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  5. I hadn't heard about this book until people started saying how good it was and how excited they were to read it. I checked out what it was all about, and it sounded really interesting!

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