{Review + Excerpt + GIVEAWAY} Keep Me Still by Caisey Quinn

Title: Keep Me Still (incl. Let You Leave prequel novella & Hold Us Close sequel novella)

Author: Caisey Quinn

Published: August 1st 2013

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: eARC provided by author for honest review

Rating: 5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

Layla Flaherty had the perfect life, or close to it. Until a stranger gunned her parents down right in front of her, leaving her with seizure inducing PTSD. After years of trying to pass as normal and failing miserably, she resigns herself to being invisible. But new to town Landen O’Brien sees her, and he likes what he sees. Much to Layla’s surprise, he doesn’t freak out when she has a seizure in front of him. He does the exact opposite, calming her until the tremors subside. But Landen has secrets of his own. Secrets that will either bind them together or tear them apart.

Scarred by loss, Layla leaves her hometown of Hope Springs, Georgia, hoping to put her painful past behind her and start over in college in California. When she runs into Landen at freshmen orientation, she has a choice to make. Reinforce those steel walls she's built up around herself or give the only boy who can keep her still a second chance.

Landen’s more than ready to tear down those walls, but this time when they come crashing down, they might bury her

EXCERPT:

I move the pillow and look at him, overheating instantly at the sight of his mouth and the memory of what he just did with it. I can’t help but wonder how people do these intimate things to each other and then go on with life business as usual. Pass the salt and all that.

“You are the most dangerous kind of beautiful,” he says, brushing my messy hair away from my face.

I can only imagine what a wreck I look like after that, but with the way he smiles at me, he must actually think I am beautiful right now. I lean in and kiss his mouth. I can taste myself on his lips. It’s kind of strange and kind of a turn on. I pull at his lower lip with my teeth and he groans.

His voice is raspy against my mouth. “You even taste like peaches, sweet like I knew you would be.”

“What do you taste like, Landen?” I ask, as my sex voice woman comes back to me. “And more importantly, what’s with all the clothes?”

REVIEW:

This was seriously one of the best books I have read this year!! And OMG I will seriously NEVER EVER think of cherries or milkshakes the same way again….EVER!!!!

The story:

The novella Let You Leave, is kind of like an extra long prologue, and it sets the story up beautifully, with Landen and Layla meeting in their last year of high school. Layla is the social pariah of the school, something that new student Landen can't understand. He befriends her and so begins their epic relationship.

The main story Keep Me Still picks up their story when they go off to college, where their relationship teeters between friendship and romance. Layla struggles to keep her 'secret' from her new friends, afraid she will once again become an outcast, just as she's starting to find her feet. Meanwhile, Landen is also hiding something, the question is what is his big secret and what will happen when Layla finds out?

And then there is the follow up novella "Hold Us Close", now I won't say too much to avoid giving away spoilers. Basically it continues Layla & Landen's story, where most other books would end. We get to see what how their lives continue, and the serious problems they face in their relationship. This part of the story had some very powerful and heartbreaking scenes, but by the end, everything was worth the pain and struggles the go through.

The characters:

After a traumatic childhood experience & and awkward high school social life, Layla really starts to come out of her shell in college. She's a sweet and innocent character, who's been hiding from life…until now. She embraces her new found freedom and starts to discover who she is. I loved watching her grow into the person she wanted to be, rather than what other thought she should be.

Landen…sexy, sweet caring Landen, he is the ultimate book boyfriend and I love him! He's a very realistic character and does make mistakes and bad decision like all of us, and that just made him all the more likeable (and swoon worthy). The whole way through the book, you can see and feel how much he cares for Layla, not just with what he says but with his actions too. I don't think I could ever get enough Landen.

The romance:

I personally think Layla & Landen are one of my All-Time-Favourite-Couples, along with "Ross & Rachel", and of course "Cinderella & Prince Charming"! I get that tingly feeling just thinking about them! Landen is Layla's first kiss, first love, first everything and it is so beautiful. Landen would do anything for Layla and proves this many times through the novel. And the love scenes…OH-MY-GOD they are epic and made of pure hotness. What I will refer to as 'The Cherry Scene' is hands down one of the most smokin hot scenes I have read! All I can say is you need to read this book if only for that scene alone…yes it was that good!

The Writing:

Well it's no secret that I'm a bit of a fangirl of Caisey's, her books are romantic with swoon worthy heroes, and plenty of angst to keep you reading into the early hours of the morning. I think the strongest part of this book is the emotions that you feel - I was torn apart with sadness and put back together with all the romance! She writes genuine characters with realistic flaws. They make mistakes, but that's part of life!

FINAL WORD:

This book made me feel every emotion possible, it had me laughing, crying and swooning!! Amazing characters, heartfelt story and a seductive romance, what more could you ask for! It is most definitely one of the must read books of the year! I am eagerly waiting to see if Corrine & Skyler get their own book now!!

CONTENT:

Sexuality: strong / descriptive sex scenes

Violence: medium / domestic violence & anger issues

Language: medium / several f words

Drugs & alcohol: mild