Thundering Luv

Summer Luv #2

by L.M. Preston

Jewel has always been able to get the guy she wanted. The starting jock on the football team, the team captain on the basketball team, and the lead swimmer on the swim team. Problem is, she didn't find them the least bit exciting. Was she cold or a she-wolf for guys? Colin thought so, and he'd do anything to bring her down a peg or two. When these two collide on the sandy beach during their mixed up summer vacation, sparks fly, making this a summer neither will forget.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance

106 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2013

About the author

LM. Preston was born and raised in Washington, DC. An avid reader, she loved to create poetry and short-stories as a young girl. With a thirst for knowledge she attended college at Bowie State University, and worked in the IT field as a Techie and Educator for over sixteen years. She started writing science fiction under the encouragement of her husband who was a Sci-Fi buff and her four kids. Her first published novel, Explorer X - Alpha was the beginning of her obsessive desire to write and create stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds. She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encouraged her writing.

Reviews

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Source: I won a digital copy of this book, and the author requested I review it. Thanks to author L. M. Preston.)
16-year-old Jewel is beautiful and could have any boy that she wants, unfortunately none of her previous boyfriends have made her feel anything other than bored, and she’s made a habit of dumping them in interesting ways, even via tweet.

This summer Jewel meets Colin though, and as they get to know each other something just clicks, and Jewel begins to feel something for the very first time.
Can Jewel and Colin make a go of it? Is Jewel really an ice princess? And what will Jewel think of Colin when he spills the secret he’s been hiding?


This was a sweet, summery romance, and Jewel and Colin made a really great couple.

Jewel was an interesting character, and even though she had all the cutest boys at school after her, she wanted more than eye candy, she wanted someone she really loved which I admired.
Colin was a sweet boy, and it was obvious that he really cared for Jewel, even if he didn’t show it very well at first.

I liked the romance between the pair, and it was sweet and romantic how the tension between them gradually built up. I liked that they allowed their feelings to grow rather than immediately jumping into something together, and I was really hoping that they would get together all the way through.

One thing I was surprised by though is that at the beginning of the book it days that this is book 2 in the ‘Luv’ series, which I hadn’t realised when I picked this one up. This didn’t seem to matter though, so I think this must be a series with different characters in each book.
Overall; a sweet and romantic contemporary YA.
7 out of 10.

[Heather andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jewel and Colin had an interesting first encounter, it reminded me of the Crash series by Nicole Williams and how Lucy and Jude met, "I don't want your help. You ruined my bathing suit," she touched her forehead where a small lump was forming. "Put a knot on my head." Well okay maybe not EXACTLY like Jude and Lucy but still similar case. It takes a lot for our girl Jewel to open up, and when she does it's deep, "Oh stop, Megs. Just because, my ex-boyfriends played sports doesn't make them better than Colin. He's... Colin is so much more than all of them. With him I actually feel a connection." Colin has got great qualities about him, he's hot, sensitive, sweet, but most of all honest, "I wanted to lie to you about it, but I couldn't. I warned you hoping you wouldn't push. But you had a right to know, so I told you... But, Jewel get this," he looped his fingers through hers. "I was wrong. Really wrong. And stupid to let what other people thought about you be what I automatically thought about you." To me the book could have lasted longer, it was just to short.

[Merisha28 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thundering Luv by L.M. Preston
I received this book in exchange for an honest review~~~~~
*This is a short novella

I absolutely adored this book, while on the short side, it was wonderful and amazing. Great romance story. I connected with the characters and their emotion while the story was very fast paced. Very easy and entertaining read. SO WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!! :) I hope this author will write a sequel to this wonderful book. I adored the character interaction and the back and forth banter that they shared. This is a very enthralling read as are all of this author's work. I think this author's writing gets better and better with each book she writes. I can't wait to see what comes out next. Will definitely be picking up her other novels that I haven't read. Did I tell you how much I love love love this novel??? Well I LOVE IT!! This is a quick book have to pick it up if you haven't!!

[Claire Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

L.M. Preston
Thundering Luv

A great romance read, this book will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy afterwards. Jewel & Colin seem like complete opposites, but as the story continues you realise they have much more in common than you would have guessed. Well written and nicely paced, I could read this book time and time again.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not going to say anything and give it away. I just want to say that if you love YA stories then this is the book for you.

I really loved it.

[Heather Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Thundering Luv in a single sitting and although the novella was short (70 pages), the story was so good I probably would have read it in one sitting even if it was 300 pages. Jewel tends to go through guys like she does outfits but only because she has not met a guy who can hold her interest. Jewel has gained a reputation as a result of her serial dating and Colin knows this and is determined to teach her a lesson. The two begin a love hate relationship much like two kindergarten children who cannot seem to get along but cannot seem to stay apart either. The two have a lot more in common than the initially thought and both have troubling home lives. After a summer of romance do the two of them find romance or does Colin succeed in teaching Jewel a lesson? The only way to find out is to read this great book.

[Kelly Stepp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a light, quick read that will leave you with a HEA. It is targeted towards a YA audience, but readers of all ages are sure to enjoy it. It focuses on a developing summer romance between two unlikely people, but it delves much deeper than that. Preston does a great job of making you empathize with the characters and drawing you into their lives. She also reinforces that one must avoid judging a book by its cover and to challenge assumptions with facts. I also loved that Jewel stood up for herself and the active role she took in her relationships with her parents at the end. I did feel like the story's flow was inconsistent and interrupted at times. Overall, this was an enjoyable, short read with some positive messages.

[Lisa Eiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how simple this story was. It goes in depth about how attractive Jewel is to all the boys (and men, as it appears), but distances herself from everyone when they try to move too fast right off the bat. I loved how she and Colin find each other, and are pulled together by fate and kismet. Such a beautiful story, and it's ideal for YA readers. I'd recommend this read for anyone that is searching for a shorter story, and wants to break away from usual genres like mystery, fantasy and paranormal romances...and just discover a clean romance from beginning to end.

[Christina Luberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very short read, but it put a lot into the meaning of what can really go on in a high school students lives. I feel this would be a good read for teenagers and show them that sometimes they feel just like other students can. That being popular does not mean your happy and have a perfect life. There is always something hidden in all that we don't let or what others to see. I received an arc copy for my honest review.

[Sara Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

These characters grow on you. When I first started reading Thundering Luv, I despised Jewel and the way she acts. Then you get to know the reasons and why she acts the way she does. So her character makes sense of why she is so bratty and thinking she is better than everyone. But when she meets Colin, she opens up her cold heart and falls head over heels for him. Until he drops a massive bombshell on her. This is a must read!!!

[of books & portkeys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartfelt and sweet teen romance.

Colin and Jewel make the perfect friends. Both have tortured past, feel alone, and need to connect with someone they can truly be themselves around.

Get ready to watch these two find themselves through each other. Get ready to swoon.

Just enough romance to melt a teen girls heart.

Definitely want to read another book by this author.

[A_MOTUS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but sharp. The story of Jewel and Colin was touching and interesting.
The descriptions, the dialogues and the characters, everything was well written. I had a nice moment reading this book as if I was seating on the beach, watching friends moving around one another.
Because when someone find a fitting other half, it just brighten the mood of all people around them.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

To start off with I liked the banter between Jewel and her friends in the beginning but then the banter disappeared for the rest of the book. The story had Jewel and Colin declaring love to each other with no real relationship building. This is a pet peeve of mine. Story was short and did not contain much plot. I received a free copy for an honest review.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story.. short read and easy read.. it was fast paced and the characters are amazing.. i love the fact that they remind me of elementary school love... i will pick on you because i love you lol.. very interesting story and im glad i got to review it

[Sherri Wyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story of young love. It's a quick read with plenty of attention to detail and a nice little lesson thrown in on not judging people without getting to know them. The characters are well developed and easy to relate to. It's a great YA book and I definitely recommend the read.

[Ema Volf · Rating 5 out of 5]

So it's the time of year when I love to read stories from warmer places. If I can't go on vacation, then I love to read about places I'd LOVE to go on vacation if I could. This book definitely had that. This was a great read. It was also relatively short, so it would be PERFECT for the inevitable wait times that real life loves to bring.

Thundering Luv follows Jewel, for the most part. Jewel has a ton of emotional baggage from a less than ideal family life. She is that girl in high school that all the boys love because she is everything they can't have. In fact, we find that several of the jocks turn her into a bit of a conquest, which inevitably caused more emotional baggage that she's not always sure how to handle.

For the most part, this story takes place during Jewel's beach vacation with her friends. I definitely enjoy the interaction between her and her friends. Her relationships with her friends definitely remind me of my relationships with my friends from high school. It definitely took me back to a simpler time.

Through a bit of an unfortunate attempt at opening a door to flirtation gone wrong, Jewel meets Colin, who is on vacation with his friend, Jake. Colin has a bit of emotional baggage too, so it was interesting to see how they'd react to each other.

Colin walked into the story with a less than ideal opinion of Jewel, because one of her previous relationships had been with his cousin. Throughout the story, Colin has to sort out what she actually is versus what everyone thinks she is.

Although they both tried extremely hard to deny it, they were immediately attracted to each other. One of the things that made me happy was that with all the emotional baggage, the story did progress as it otherwise should. However, it didn't progress too quickly. I liked that there was some restraint. With that much going on emotionally, I wouldn't have believed it without at least a small amount of restraint.

Though this book took place over a vacation, I was surprised to see how much both Jewel and Colin grew emotionally in that short amount of time. I'm a firm believer in the idea that just because a story is short, that doesn't mean that there's no time for character growth. I was extremely happy to see that this author agrees with me.

Another thing I loved about this story was that although this story was short, it certainly wasn't lacking. It didn't cut off too soon, and I was completely satisfied with where it ended. I didn't feel cheated out of a good story. But it was the perfect length for someone like me that doesn't always have infinite amounts of time to read.

[CCAM&GZM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly, each of you had a teacher, who, by his way of being, of speaking and teaching made you love a particular subject. That's how it is with L.M. Preston and his Thundering Luv. Why? Because in an attractive, sweet and ... tender manner, the author teaches us some life lessons. It's about self trust, about not listening "blindly" to your friend’s advice and disclosures (judge the things yourself), about not having prejudices and fighting for what you want. The author makes all of this so delicate that you'll want more.

The main characters, Jewel and Colin are the type of characters to whom everyone can relate or whom everyone dreamed to be. They meet by chance in the summer vacation, a moment that will become unforgettable for both. The question is whether they will succeed or want for all of this not to remain just a summer story, but something more. What might bloom between them will be influenced by family circumstances that will imprint on their behavior, by their own egos (because of age), by their past experiences in relationships, by words and stupidity of other people and by what is considered at their age and in their environment to be "cool". So enough obstacles arise. Here comes the teacher's talent, L.M. Preston, who will provide reference points and support for the two of them and for the young readers. You are not told what to do, it just shows what you should have in mind, what's important. The rest depends on you.

Like any enjoyable and original lesson, Thundering Luv seems too short and you’ll want more. Explores, kisses (actual or desired), confrontations (or clashes) and enough humor will pigment and enliven the story so that the book’s pages will simply fly.

The end could be happy or not, predictable or not, but certainly the trip was nice and you have a lot to gain if you do it as soon as possible.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

So the book starts out with Jewel in the midst of dumping her "Jock" boyfriend while on the beach with her cousin and friend. I loved Jewel, I felt so bad for this young girl whose life has been so messed up. A teenager who is subjected to the neglect of a father and mother. A teenager who every boy seems to be trying to get in her pants. I immediately liked her and thought her method of dumping the boys who tried to get too frisky was just oh so original.

Colin is another character in this book, and he is a doll. So polite and struggling with his own emotional and mental hell. I won't go into to much detail here other than to say that he is such a sweet boy and I hope my daughters find a man like him.

The book is a very quick read at only a little over 100 pages. If you are anything like me and absorb books you will finish it in under an hour. The romance between Jewel and Colin, unlike most YA books is slow in growing and there are a few humorous things along the way that will definitely have you rooting for Colin and Jewel to be together.

I give this book 4 stars for the entertainment value and the cute aspect and humor in the story. I do recommend this to anyone who wants a quick read and anyone who likes summer romances. By the way, this is book #2 in the Luv series, but I did not read book #1 and it didn't seem to matter, so they must be stand alone type series.

Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are in the mood for a nice quick novella , then Thundering Luv is for you. Do not be mistaken by the cover or the title as Thundering Luv is not a supernatural story but a nice, summer romance read. Thundering Luv introduced us to Jewel and her friends, they are away at the beach for the Summer. Jewel, is the type of girl everyone wants to date but for Jewel she has been nicknamed "The Ice Queen" as she dates, then dumps. Everyone thinks that she is plain evil but the fact is Jewel has not felt "the spark" for any of the guys she has dated. That is until Colin - Colin is also at the beach this summer hanging out with his friends when he spots Jewel- she used to date his cousin Tank. There is something about Jewel that draws Colin in and when it gets too close ,will Jewel back off or will Colin be the first to see the "real Jewel". ? Thundering Luv is also a novella that reads the reconnection of family and that no matter what happens in your life, your parents are the ones that will always be there for you and sometimes you just need to give them a reminder that you still exist and need them.
The only downside for me with Thundering Luv is it finished too quickly and I would love to have seen maybe more scenes with Jewel's parents and then the Back to School with Colin.
Other than that Thundering Luv by LM Preston is one of those "summer beach reads" that you can sunbathe and read with on the sand.

[Cheree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thundering Luv is a great story about a Jewel, a girl with family problems, that end up causing her relationship problems because she feels that her father doesn't love her and that she is following in her mothers foot steps of dating any one that wants her. When every guy she dates get forceful and angry because she wont 'give it up' she starts to wonder what is wrong with her.
Your parents play a major roll in your relationships as weird as that may sound. You want to have what they have, or wonder if your love life will be as screwed up as theirs. Well Jewel is no different. Ready to swear of men until she can get her head right, until she meets Colin. Jewel fights with her self to find happiness can she really find it in Colin, a boy that lost both his parents and a family life that isn't peaches and cream either. Or will he be just like the rest and just after her for a 'good time'.
Many people can easily relate to Jewel or Colin in one way or another. With real life situations, real feeling, it keeps you turning the page to read more. It is well written and easy to read. However when I got to the end, I keep trying to 'turn the page' on my kindle and it wouldn't...I was about to cry when I realized it was the end, I wanted more.
Wonderful story LM, I can not wait till the next book in the series. You know how to keep us begging for more.

[Fab Fun & Tantalizing Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thundering luv


Short and sweet. That could sum up this book..
Jewel the "it" girl. The misunderstood girl. She is not what she seems in the inside. She plays the role. The one she thinks she needs to play to make everyone happy, without making her happy. Cheer squad, jock boyfriends. Nobody gives her the flutter inside, nobody makes her think it could be love.
One summer with her friends, sand- beach- friends! Yep that is what she needs! It will allow her time, deal with her life. Maybe make some choices and decide how to handle them.
Colin.. Sweet, sweet kind Colin. One attempt to flirt gone horribly wrong, bruised forehead.. Stars! Literally knocked her out cold!
Colin thinks one thing, though luckily he learns a different version of Jewel. It was nice watching them. Both young, both searching. Finding a path together on territory neither have really ever travelled.
We have a sweet love story, with funny banter, friendships, misunderstanding and finally love.
Take the time.. Sit back and enjoy a summer at the beach. Remember what it felt like for the flutter of that first kiss, you know the one that made your toes curl! This is a good feel read that will warm your heart and maybe take your mind on a journey of "remember when".

[Romina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jewel Dupree has a reputation. Known as a serial heartbreaker and Ice-maiden at her High School.
Colin has been watching and as the cousin of one of Jewel’s exes he has formed a strong opinion of her.
Spending their summer at the beach with their friends they finally meet albeit in the most accidental circumstances.
Is she really just as her reputation describes or is there more to her than meets the eye?
Teen romances are always going to be a big seller when it comes to novels and I have to say I really enjoyed this one.
Although I would describe this as a quick read the story is well thought out and involves you quickly.
The emotions between the two main characters are apparent and you can feel them develop throughout the story.
The interaction between the two is written with genuine feeling almost like the author is writing from a past experience.
I think we can all remember a specific teen romance of our own and this would probably bring up some old memories…….well it did for me.
It is a lovely story with a great opportunity to take their story further. I would love to see how far this could go.

[Carie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d probably rate this one 3.5. It’s a quick, sweet, romantic story and I enjoyed it. It’s a bit more juvenile than other YA contemporary romance books I’ve read lately--seems like it’s geared to a younger crowd, though one twist in the story was a little bit more mature (the bet the guys had about sleeping with Jewel). Other than this, though, the story was fairly clean. A little bit of mild language and not much sexual content beyond kissing. I liked the characters and that they talked and got to know each other. They seemed to have a lot in common--they were really perfect for each other :) I enjoyed reading about their encounters, conversations, and the gradual build of their romance. I did notice a few editing issues in the book, which were kind of distracting. And, the story/characters really could have benefited from a bit more depth--I think the book should have been longer, but I enjoyed it anyway. It’s a quick, fun, romantic fix!

Thanks to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book!! I liked the story a lot and I definitely plan to read more of this author’s writing in the future :)

[Jenny Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review. I am totally blown away at this author's writing style. She has a way to capture her audience and entrance us into the words of the story. I usually, when I think of LM Preston, I think of Sci-Fi, but she has amazed me by writing these amazing stories of romance without the Sci-fi. It is one of the reasons why I am so attracted to her writing style. I feel like while I am reading, I am a part of a movie that is constantly flowing through my mind. I absolutely loved the characters in this story as well. Jewel tries very hard to be a hard core, tenacious and spiteful girl but is actually quite the opposite. Then there is Colin, the boy who thought and was wrong. Both have very tragic lives that upsets their balance and brings them closer to together. It's a wonderfully phenomenal RECOMMENDED READ that will fill your heart and soul to the brim and will also capture your attention and keep you turning one page after the other. Thank you, LM Preston, for another remarkable story of romance. I give this story 10*s.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thundering Luv is a quick easy read that follows a well known teenaged man-eater. Jewel has always had the boys lined up on her waiting to date you list. She is infamous for breaking hearts and egos with her creative break up techniques. Little does Jewel know that there is an ulterior motive behind the long line of choices she has always had to date.

Colin is on summer break with his buddies. He has no plans other than hanging out at the beach and going with the flow for the summer. His plans are destroyed when his friend hits Jewel Dupree in the forehead with a football. Colin knows about her reputation for eating boys alive and spitting them out on an up close and personal level.... His cousin and roommate was one of her victims. He doesn't expect Jewel to be who she is once he gets to know her better and vows to win her over.

I give Thundering Luv 4 stars on the knock my socks off scale. It was a light hearted love story that kept it PG but allowed readers to connect to the characters. This is a great novella and a YA lovers must read!

[Tammy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember that first kiss that made you buckle at the knees, never wanting to say good bye, and wishing your first love would last forever? I do and it was the best feeling in the world the spark of new love! That's what Thundering Luv reminded me of as I read it. I sat reading this story with a huge grin on my face as it had me remembering how all of that felt. Jewel has it all going for her the most popular girl in school boys flock to her like flies to honey but, she doesn't want any of it, all Jewel has ever really wanted is to be in love totally and completely. In stumbles Collin and he is in so deep from the first look that he can think of nothing else. Will Jewel finally find the love she wants or will he turn out to be like all the others? Is Collin willing to give up his heart for Jewel the girl everyone calls the queen of hearts? I am glad I vested the time in reading this book as it made me remember all of those firsts. I hope that L. M. Preston continues this series as I would love to continue my thoughts down memory lane as I read about new and first loves.

[Yvonne (vonnie_reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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I am always a bit two minds when it comes to short stories. Most of the time I feel that the book isn't long enough to deliver any real emotion or leave much of an impact on me. That being said I quite enjoyed this book. The author did a great job of making me care about the characters and I actually found myself getting emotional at some bits. I became invested in the characters and really wanted to see what would happen next with them. I liked how Jewel and Colin interacted with one another. I loved that the book was told in dual POV. Again though, as is the case with most short stories, we have the dreaded insta-love. Even though the book was spaced out over a summer it still felt like insta-love because of how short the book was. It felt a bit rushed, especially the ending. I would have loved if the book was longer and the ending wasn't has rushed. But overall this was a fun and romantic read.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC copy to give an honest review.

Wowzers this was a really good teenage story. The only the thing wrong with it! It was too short lol. But even with this being a short story you got so many details put into place.

The way the teenage characters acted and their reactions to things were spot on.

Jewel is a cheerleader who happens to date guys and they end up wanting on thing only, which makes Jewel break up with them not in person. (I like her way of breaking up with them.)Not only that there is a joke pretty much being played on her and she doesn't know about it, yet!
She ends up going on vacation with her cousin and that is where she meets Colin who they both seem to have that magical connection to one another.
Will she be with Colin at the end? Or will she date and break up with him?

This is a quick YA book, that I am sure everyone will love to read.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure what I was expecting while reading Thundering Luv but OMG it was AH-MAY-ZING!!! Loved it!!! Once I started I couldn't put it down. LM Preston kept me captivated through the whole book, never a dull moment. Each turn of the page brought some new drama that I had to know about. I cant wait to read the rest of her work, I have completely fell in love with this book.

Jewels has gone through one boyfriend after another never finding the one to capture her heart. Some would call her The Queen of Hearts, because she broke so many. That was til she met Colin, however, Colin isn't too sure of Jewels he knows what she is all about or so he thought. A summer of fun turns in to so much more.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting some relief from the paranormal and fantasy scene. It was so refreshing to read something out of the norm of today's generation.

[Two Nerds With Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewer: Bex
Rating 4 out of 5 Fairies

Thundering Luv by L.M. Preston is a short, fun YA read. The characters, Jewel and Colin, have been created with enough depth and backstory to allow the reader to effectively bond with them and cheer for them. The story itself is endearing and complete with drama and teenage angst; this allowed Thundering Luv to be a thoroughly enjoyable read.

I would recommend Thundering Luv for YA and romance fans in need of a quick fix, that only a well-written, good fun story can do.

Disclosure: This ebook was provided in exchange for an HONEST and not necessarily positive review.