Review, excerpt and giveaways - Shayla's Story by Beverly Preston -

Whoo hoo! It's finally here - Shayla's Story. I can definitely say it was well worth the wait. 

Synopsis:

People come into your life for a Reason, A Season or a Lifetime ~

A Reason...

Questioning her relationship with a man who worships politics more than her, Shayla Clemmins escapes reality for the Seductive sunsets of Greece. There she finds exactly what she didn't know was missing from her life, but fears she'll lose him to her past.

A Season....

John Matthews works hard and plays even harder, when he finds a new passion in the sensual warmth of Greece, he discovers that one lust-filled weekend of romance is just not enough.

A Lifetime...

With Shayla's past catching up to her and an anonymous threat to her future, can she and John make a lifetime together?

My review

Rating = 5 stars

This is the second book in the Matthews/Clemins family series although it can be read as a standalone, however I would suggest you read No More Wasted Time first as this will enhance the full glorious, blissful and heart wrenching experience of a read into a world where love and life are never taken for granted.

We were first introduced to Shayla in the first book – No More Wasted Time (Tess and Tommy’s story). Shayla has been working for her famous movie star uncle (Tommy) as his PA for the last ten years, ever since he took her under his wing after she escaped from her life of drink related violence at the hands of her father and the indifference of her mother. She is in a safe, if staid relationship with Mat, who is in the throes of the politics trail under the domineering steer of his mother. On paper Mat is everything that Shayla should need but his blasé behaviour towards her is secretly telling her something is missing. After a disastrous Thanksgiving with Mat and his family, she gladly welcomes an escape to her uncle’s surprising invitation to his wedding to Tess in Greece.

It is here on the private plane taking them to Greece that she meets Tess’ son John for the first time. The beautiful, protective John who she hates after he took his fists to her uncle when believing a gutter press article that Tommy was cheating on Tess. All had now been cleared up but Shayla still cannot get over the brute tactics she felt John undertook. However, after a frosty start, she gets to see first-hand how gentle and protective John is and she starts to see John as the person he really is.

Things start to hot up in Greece when the relationship starts to develop and Shayla is thrown into the passionate world that John creates for them. It is then she needs to decide – does she play it safe and go back to Mat or does she jump freely with her arms open wide into the unknown but tempting life that she knows John can offer?

Oh I absolutely loved this book! I first fell for John in the first book, loving the way he took over protecting his Mom, Tess and his sisters, JC and Tracey after their father died. To now see him in this book with Shayla, a very sexy and desirable man in his own right was breathtaking  I loved the part where they both found out about their ages. I won't spoil it by revealing but it took the book up another notch for me. I was thinking “You go for it Shayla, just do it!”  Fabulous!

The locations were another winner in this book. I could really feel I was back in Greece with the little white houses and the sea breezes wafting in the evening. But then we were transported to Christmas in Colorado and the snow. The book took you on a journey with a total spectrum of locations and atmosphere. 

When reading the first book I remember wanting a little more angst and Beverly Preston did not disappoint in this book. A huge curveball was thrown right in just when you thought we were on our way to HEA land. Oh. Em. Gee. It was a ‘heart in the mouth’ moment thinking that something totally different to what I was expecting to happen. 

I absolutely loved this book and was sad when it ended. A truly beautiful and amazing read. 

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Excerpt

A fever of hot molten lava raced across her skin, instantly turning her hands damp. Shayla nervously waved her wet hands in the air, watching the shadow pace outside her door in the lit hallway. Flutters danced through her tummy. She tiptoed to the door and silently rested her hand on the handle.

The pacing came to a halt.

A smile curled on the corner of her mouth. John could see her shadow beneath to door as well. With only a solid piece of wood between them, her composure fractured, sending tingling sensations to the tender area between her thighs.

Her heartbeat drummed so erratically in her ears she could barely hear the soft tapping on the door. Shayla eased the door open a few inches, trying to conceal her smile. "Hey," she said softly. "What’s up?"

John lifted a brow, amused by the double meaning of her words. His arm flexed a little, pushing the door open a bit further, stretching the thin t-shirt snug over the hard lines of his torso. His gaze wandered keenly from her toes to her face with utter slowness, settling on her eyes. He squinted ambiguously. "I want to ask you something."

Engrossed in the fresh scent of his skin and damp hair at his nape, she gripped the handle for support. "Okay," she panted breathlessly.

John stepped across the threshold, clasping her hands in his. "Stay with me?"

Her thoughts scattered and she dropped her gaze to the floor.

He waited until Shayla could bring herself to look at him. "Don’t act like you don’t feel the connection between us."

"I do, but—"

"Come with me." John took a step back, gently tugging on her hands, beckoning her toward the hallway.

In a daze, she took a quick scan of her cami and panties barely covering her backside. Shayla reached for a white silk cover-up hanging on the back of the door.

John snatched the robe from her hands and tossed it onto her bed, shaking his head. "Please don’t put that on. You look absolutely breathtaking."

His compliment made her heart swoon. She poked her head into the hall. "But—"

He pulled her into his arms and Shayla squealed in surprise at his powerful embrace. The rough texture of one of his palms traveling down the small of her back and cupping her exposed cheek made her gasp. His smile widened into a slow burn of desire, igniting a fire in her belly. Every fine hair on her body stood at attention.

She swallowed hard. "I can’t make any promises."

Taking her hand, John led her down the hall to his room.

Standing at his door, John caressed her arms, pausing before turning the handle. "I understand your situation, Shay, but if I don’t ask, I will never forgive myself."

"Ask?" The word caught on her dry lips.

With a wave of his arm, he invited her into his dimly lit room. The lights were dim and a candle flickered in the darkness next to a bottle of wine and two glasses. He shut the door behind them.

"I’m not asking for promises." John spoke against her scalp, his solid chest pressed against her shoulder. As he brushed the hair from her shoulder, his hot breath tickled her ear. "I’m asking for a weekend."

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Author Bio

#1 Bestselling Author, Beverly Preston has been a stay at home mom for 21 years, although she prefers the title Domestic Engineer. Along the way, Beverly worked side by side with her husband Don, the love of her life, designing, building and selling custom homes. As her children begin to venture out on their own, she’s left to shed a tear—for a minute—wonder what’s next in life, and embrace the feeling of empowerment that surely must've been wrapped in a present she received on her fortieth birthday.

If Beverly isn't at home riding her spin bike, you'll find her spinning richly emotional and sinfully sexy romance stories

 

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Prizes and Giveaways

A Foxy giveaway:-

Open to all entrants

Foxylutely Book Reviews is giving away an ebook copy of Shayla's Story. For your chance to win all you have to do is  to leave a comment below. Please remember to leave your contact info as well as book format you would require. That's it - how easy is that? The winner will be picked at random by Random.org

Blog Tour Grand Prize:-

Open to US Residents only

This will run throughout the blog tour and up for grabs are:-

Signed paperback copy of Shayla's Story

T-shirt

$20 Amazon gift card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

   

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