Before Now

Sometimes Never #2

by Cheryl McIntyre

Park Reed is a bastard in every sense of the word. He hasn't always been this way. But after his heart was broken by the only girl he ever loved, being heartless gets him through the day and allows him to fill his nights with the nameless girls he has no intentions of seeing again. He now lives his life following his ever-growing list of “life lessons.”

Lucy Braden is everything Park is not. She’s sweet, caring, and an all-around nice person. She tries to follow Lucy's Rules to Live By everyday.

When Park moves in with Jessie, which happens to be the floor below Lucy, Jessie's one stipulation: Lucy is off limits to Park. The problem with that is Lucy is determined to be a good friend to Park and see past the drinking and random girls to find the man beneath it all. The other problem: Park follows his own rules.

*This is a New Adult novel. Recommended for 17+ due to sexual situations, harsh language, and drug and alcohol use.

Genres: New Adult, Romance, College, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, College Romance

244 pages, Paperback

First published June 2, 2013

About the author

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Cheryl McIntyre is the author of the bestselling Sometimes Never series, as well as the Dirty series, Infinitely, Dark Calling, Villain, and HARD. She resides in Ohio with her high school sweetheart, their two sons, one daughter, one fur son, and a hamster.
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Reviews

[kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hello, and welcome to another instalment of ‘Is My Alpha Male a Psychopath!!?!?’. Today from Before Now, we’ll be examining the character ‘Park’ (Yes ladies and gentlemen, he is named after a recreational area. Swoon!).




For the first segment of the show, we’ll match Park and events from the book to this really professional and legit list that I stole from the Internet!!!!!11!1!!!

Characteristics of a Psychopath
(As stated by Yahoo Answers!!!!)


1. Psychopaths are very charming
Park’s ‘charming’? Right? Well everybloodyone in the book seems to think so. You know, men want to be him, women want to be with him… He certainly winks a lot. Maybe he was just having a series of fits? Things to ponder.


2. Psychopaths can be extremely manipulative and will try to con you whenever possible.
Park and Lucy’s relationship, for the first 60% of the book:
‘I know you’re my neighbour and my “friend” and my friends’ friend and, like, I know one night stands go completely against your whole ‘moral code’ and whatever but I’m horny so let’s get it on. But, like, only if you truly want to. But if you don’t, someone else totes will…’
(*THIS IS HIGHLY PARAPHRASED*)


3. Psychopaths feel that they are entitled to everything.
Does ‘You’re mine. Mine! MINE I TELL YOU! MUAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA’ ring any bells for anyone? No? Okay, I’ll put the direct quote.
“This is mine.” Next he skims his lips over my mouth. “Mine.” A kiss to my forehead. “Mine.” … All of you. Mine.”
(Basically the same thing. And really? He uses the word ‘mine’ like some sort of seagull.
Variety/ an extensive vocabulary is the spice of life Parky boy!)


4. Psychopaths will lie continuously to get what they want. They can even sometimes manipulate a lie detector.
Park: ‘I only messed around with her! I swear!’
... SHE LICKED YOUR ICY POLE YOU MANIPULATIVE FUCKER! TELL THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH GODDAMNIT!
(*Yeah. Again. Not a direct quote. I couldn’t be bothered going back through the damn book*)





5. Psychopaths have no remorse, shame or guilt.
‘You know, Bree, I think you’re the only girl in this room who hasn’t seen my dick.’
LOLOL, GOOD ONE PARK! I mean, I totally get it. What else would you say when you’re in a room with the girl who loves you, the girl you just cheated on her with and your old ex? Srsly. Well played. You go girlfriend!


6. Psychopaths will show love and happiness only when it serves their purpose. None of the feelings are genuine. ‘I’ve got you! I’VE GOT YOU!!!… oh wait my bad’


(I’m having bloody titanic flashbacks. THERE WAS TOTALLY ROOM ON THE DOOR, ROSE!)



7. Psychopaths have no room for love in their life.
‘So we won’t be friends.”
‘Then what will we be?’
He nibbles on his lip as he regards me.
‘You still opposed to one night stands?’



8. Psychopaths need to have excitement in their lives or live on the edge.
Drink driving? Check. Nearly killing a friend because of drink driving? Check. Unnecessarily violent in countless situations? Checkity fucking check! Revealing painful secret of ex girlfriend to her new boyfriend and brother in order to humiliate? Check. Purposely creating dramaaaa within new relationship by cheating and then rubbing the girls face in it? Check. Random hookups, sex without protection, drugs, more fucking drama, some water fights? Check.


Can we pause the list for a minute to just talk about that? The cheating? Honestly. You know what I’m sick of? Cheating.




That, and ALL THE BLOODY FORGIVENESS. This is the fourth book in a row I’ve read where either the main or sub plot featured someone cheating on someone else. AND THEY ALL FORFAVE ONE ANOTHER! IMHO If someone cheats on you, they obviously don’t think much of your ‘relationship’. Fuck them. (Not physically though. Woah there cowboy, just metaphorically! Metaphorically fuck them. Or set their possessions on fire.)

Cheating is deliberate. People who say they had ‘no control’ over it are lying. As soon as this Park Prick did that to Lucy, she should have womaned up and cut him from her life. Up to that point, and even for a bit after it, he continually treated her like shit. Where were the commonalities between the two? Oh wait, they didn’t exist. She had nothing to lose and everything to gain from ditching that broad.



Anyway. I digress. ON WITH THE LIST!


9. Psychopaths have lack of empathy when their victims suffer pain that they have caused.

HAH, yup. He blabs Hope’s secret, doesn’t think she has anything to forgive him for
“I want you to know that I forgive
you,” she starts, and I laugh. Loudly. “Oh, that’s fucking awesome. No, really, that is priceless…You forgive me?”
She gives me a sad smile. “Yes. I thought you should know.”
My amusement fades. “What the fuck do you forgive me for?”
“For telling Mason and Guy that I cut myself.”

10. Psychopaths believe that they are all mightier than thou, there is no concern on how their behavior impacts others.
Do I have to do anything else other than point out that he’s the lead singer in a band and is described as basically getting any woman he wants?


Yes. All women want you Park. All o' dem. Even the grannies.

He even purposely sleeps with a girl because thinks she’s better than him. Yeahhh.
Case in point Park, case in point.

11. Psychopaths usually have a long history of juvenile delinquency as well as behavior problems. 

See above: drink driving, nearly killing bestie, unable to hold onto friends, likes to hurt people ETC ETC

12. Psychopaths will never take blame for anything they have done to anyone no matter if it is family or friend.
Again, see the part about Hope. TOTES NOT HIS FAULT. TOTES.

13. Psychopaths have many sexual partners and tend to act out many sexual acts.
…lol.
(Not that I’m surprised, since it would have been a catastrophe for this review if it didn't, but this all fits the list so well!)

14. Psychopaths rarely stay in one place for a long time (home/work). 

Having to move out of previous home is the reason he meets Lucy! This is definitely the most romantic psychopath tendancy so far.
(As a side note: What did I tell you? Huh!? THE LIST DOESN’T LIE PEOPLE)


15. Psychopaths will change themselves if they know it will keep them from being found out.
Park: I want a relationship
Lucy: Wait, what? Huh? But, I thought you only did one night stands? No definitions? I thought we were not friends, not enemies, but ‘something else? I could go on.’
Park: Huh? What? LOOK OVER THERE! WHAT’S THAT?! WHAT IS IT LUCY? I HAVE DEFINITELY NEVER SEEN A THING SUCH AS THAT BEFORE!
Lucy: -_- so you’re telling me you’ve changed. But why?! What could possibly alter your personality so drastically? COULD IT BE LOVE? TRUE, UNTOUCHED LOVE?
Park: Nooooooooooooo idea. Let’s bang.

(*Yup. You guessed it. HIGHLY PARAPHRASED*)


Honestly, Park sums it all up best himself… ‘Yes I still drink. Because that’s the kind of person I am. I’m a careless, selfish bastard and I will always put my needs before anybody else’s.’


HA HA HA, YO LUCY!? RUN BITCH RUN!



And what’s the cause of all this weirdness? Well, it’s his parents. And one girl. Sigh. Firstly, I really believe there comes a point in everyone’s life where you have to stop blaming your parents for all of your ‘behavioural problems’. What, did the Doctor forget to cut the fucking cord? Take some responsibility. Put your inconsequential, crappy personal problems into perspective and get on getting on FOR GOD’S SAKE!

It was well written. Definitely. The characters were just dumb, that’s all. Lucy was as dull as… I can’t think of a comparison worthy of her. She was fucking dull. Let’s leave it at that. The brightest part of the whole book was that fucker with the neon hair.


Oh and this. This was a thing.





So all in all, not my cup o’ tea. To say the least. And to end (and because my cold medicine has made me slightly delusional) HERE’S A SNIPPET I SEMI-RE-WROTE TO MY SATASFACTION!


(Taken from when Lucy’s finding Park’s boxes)
… Looking down at the books in my hand, the silk butterfly resting on top, I touch the squirt gun in my pocket and make a choice.
I step inside his room.
I’m alone, but there’s a box on his bed. I set everything down and slowly raise the lid. And then I smile. A single jelly donut.

I move it to the side and read the words beneath: Turn Around. I read it once more before spinning on my heel. Park’s in the doorway, eating an ice cream cone. A vanilla ice cream cone with hot fudge dripping onto his fingers. He licks it away slowly and I swallow with difficulty.

‘Hey’ he says softly to me. ‘I just wanted to…’

‘BRB’ I yell, cutting him off and running quickly through to the kitchen, where I grab a box of matches and my trusty ol’ bottle of kerosene.

On my way back, I pass by the bathroom and another brilliant idea strikes me.

With my shirt ripped, my pants off, and crazy, tribal lipstick markings all over my face and upper body, I run back into the room screaming like a terrorist version of Xena. I aim a flying ninja kick at Park, getting him right in the balls, and proceed to set the bed, and all those stupid fucking boxes on fire. As Park screams and drops his ice-cream (That’ll stain the carpet!) flinching back from the roaring flames, all whilst holding his meat and potatoes, I dance around the burning bed chanting ‘I’M THE FIRESTARTER, TWISTED FIRE STARTER!’





Et fin.



(Alright. Even for me that was a tad extreme. I admit it okay?



I wouldn’t have burnt the bloody donut.
I would have eaten it AND THEN set everything on fire. We cool now?)

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever looked back and tried to figure out where your life took a wrong turn? The exact moment- the precise action- that turned your whole life to shit?

Life lessons to live by..


1. You can never fucking go back. What's done is done. Whatever damage you've caused is permanent. Life doesn't have an undo button - no matter how much you wish it did.

2. Don't waste your time wishing. It doesn't work an you just wind up looking like a fucking loser. Don't believe me? Let''s try a little experiment. With in one hand and shit in the other. now tell me which hand filled up faster.

3. Life is shitty. Fucking deal with it. You want something? Take it. Take it and fuck everything and everybody else.

4. Do not - under and circumstances fall in love.

5. Don't mess with your friends family. especially the crazy ones.

6. You don't always get what you want. In fact, it's pretty fucking rare.

Real life people-- it isn't pretty. That's life lesson…? Fuck, I can't remember. Just add it to the list.

8. Fuck. and Fuck a lot. Don't make love. Don't even have sex. No feelings. Just feed you basic animalistic needs. Never the same girl twice-- unless it falls within the same night or following morning-- and never get attached. Dont take
their number. Why? Because after you fuck them--- Forget about them.

9. Always bag it. seriously, Always. And if the girls shady-- double bag it.

10. Do not have children. They're short, evil demons with homicidal tendencies.

11. Don't talk shit to group of guys when you're by yourself. Especially if you got a blow job from one of their girlfriends.

12. As your life changes, change your rules accordingly. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to living.

13. Focus on what is-- not what could have been.

Park lives his life following his ever-growing list of “life lessons.”
His heart was broken by the only girl he ever loved, Hope.
He has no intention of ever allowing that to happen again.







I love Park.
My Broken, Self-destructive, Man Whore, Bad boy.
Absoloutely love him.


~I don't know what it is about him that draws me in. He's an ass. He's arrogant. He's a slut. He's also breathtakingly gorgeous and the way he looks at me makes my body react without permission or apology. ~

Amen Sister.


Park is hurting, going through the motions of life, numbing his pain with booze and women.
Moving into his new place, he meets his new neighbour Lucy.
Park is instantly attracted.

~Her beauty hit me like a punch in the face and pulls me inside. ~


Lucy is everything Park is not.
Caring, kind, sees the best in people. She is also off limits.


~You're all puppy paws and kitten whiskers. ~


However Lucy and Park can't seem to stay away from each other. They both know their attraction can only lead to pain but the pull is stronger then them.


The definition of lust is: an intense sexual desire or illicit appetite. I know. I looked it up.





It's a slow build with so much sexual tension. She pushes he pulls away, She pulls away, he pushes.


~"It's like we take a step forward and then you shove me five steps back. Why do you do that? Why do you push me away?"~


Park lives by his Life lessons, and Lucy has her Rules to live by everyday.
But no one can deny the intense hold they have over each other.
Rules become broken and lesson's re-learnt.

When they allow their chemistry to take over, things become very heated.

~"Oh, you're vanilla, Lucy. Trust me. But that just makes me want to drizzle hot fudge all over your body, and take my damn good time licking it off." ~

But of course Park fucks it up.
Boy does he screw the pooch on this one.
When his screw up makes him realise that pushing Lucy away was a mistake, he will do anything he can do fix it.
But Lucy struggles with letting go. Can she trust him with her heart again and give him to the power to break her.


~I can't give up on you. I don't know how and that gives you all the power over me. The power to hurt me again and again. ~


Regret; A sense of loss or disappointment: a feeling of sorrow or remorse over an act or decision. ~




He constantly hurts her and pushes her but she can't walk away from him, "The heart wants what the heart wants"
He would act like a douche then show the moments of kindness and sweetness and I would just swoon all over the shop.

~He places one last kiss there and sits back. "This is mine." His eyes meet mine to verify I understand before his teeth nip at my breast. "This is mine." He moves to other breast and flicks his tongue over the nipple, "This is mine." Next he skims his lips over my mouth. "Mine." A kiss to my forehead."Mine." ~

You feel for him and then wanna slap him. When he royally stuffs up, I was shocked. I wasn't really expecting that to happen. I was screaming at Park, DON'T YOU DARE BOY DON'T YOU FREAKIN DARE.
But do you think he listened to me? hahahaa NO

If you follow my reviews, you will know, I Do NOT like mean jerks.
Hate them. But will love them if they redeem themselves.
You can be a jerk as long as you own that shit. And Park really did. I would hate him one chapter then love him all over again in the next.
And when Park owned it, he really did own it.
And then all I felt was love. Love for him, love for them.


Love: a feeling a deep affection, or romantic attachment.




~I go still as I gaze down at her. Something's just ripped open inside of me with those words. Or maybe it's been mended. I honestly don't know what the hell just happened, but Jesus, I want to feel this every second for the rest of my life. ~



I loved Jesse, Bree and Chase.
I loved Guy.
Hahaha funniest line ever!

~"Don't fuck up this time." I raise a skeptical brow. "Not sure I know how to do that."
"Just…. don't trip, fall, and land dick first in to some random girl on the way over there."~


There are few twist's and turns that I didn't even see coming.

I wasn't sure what to expect with Before Now.
Sometimes Never was one of my favourites last year. I freaking love Cheryl McIntyre's writing.
She brought her characters to life on such a raw level, You feel them, you experience their pain right along with them!

Before now didn't have that deep heartbreaking story that I got with Hope and Mason, but still hit the spot for me.
She really does have a way with words, and capturing the emotion of the scene.


~"You and me, Lucy, we're like a fire: Hot and unpredictable, scary and mesmerising all at once. We started with a spark and before I knew it, I was consumed. I love the way you burn me up from the inside out."

We merge like two flames, fast and out of control. Because sometime that's just how love works. we may smoulder, we may blaze, we may rage without reason. But it's always beautiful. ~



★ 4.5 Stars ★


But it.
Read it.
Love it.



Follow my reviews @ Fab, Fun & Tantalizing Reads

[Holly Reads Xx · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 big shiny stars!!

********ARC received in exchange for an honest review********

It takes something special to make you fall in love with a character you previously dis-liked, and Cheryl McIntyre and Before Now are proof of that. When I read Sometimes Never I was Team Mason from beginning to end and I thought Park was an ass!! But after just a few pages of Before Now I was thinking "Mason who?"

It's one of those moments I have often. I know I should pause. I should stop, take a breath, walk away. But I can't. All these emotions attack me at once, overwhelming any good sense I may have had. When I get like this - I can't fucking take it.

Park Reed is gorgeous. Tall, with dark messy hair, and warm brown eyes framed by long, dark lashes. He's also incredibly smart and talented. But he's broken. Tortured by his past he uses Alcohol and sex to forget his demons. As the lead singer of his band he has women falling at his feet, which works perfectly for Park because when it comes to the opposite sex, his rule is "hit it and quit it". He lives by a set of 'Life Lessons' which made my heart hurt for him because he thinks he needs them to keep himself from getting hurt again when in reality he's keeping himself from getting to experience what it's like to be truly happy and feel loved.

Life Lesson 3: Life is shitty. Fucking deal with it. You want something? Take it. Take it and fuck everything and everyone else.

Life Lesson 4: Do not - under any circumstances - fall in love.

Lucy Braden is beautiful. Heart shaped face, big gray eyes and golden hair that falls to her waste. She's had her fair share of pain in her past but she refuses to let it define her. She's strong, care free, giving and loving and it shows in her list of 'Lucy's Rules To Live By'. She believes in making people feel special, and makes it her goal to make someone smile every day. She is an old soul with a beautiful heart.

Lucy's Rule - 4: Love whole-heartedly.

Lucy's Rule - 7: No matter how many times you're let down, continue believing in the goodness of others.

When Park moves in with his friend Jessie and comes face to face (or should I say water-gun to face) with Lucy who lives in the apartment above, the attraction is instant. After trying and failing to fight the chemistry, things get steamy! But Park goes in to self-destruct mode and does something which leaves them both hurting and Lucy questioning and rewriting her 'Rules'.

Lucy's Rule 4: Love whole-heartedly. (Unless in the presence of Park Reed - in which case, guard your heart at all costs.)

Lucy's Rule 7: No matter how many times you're let down, continue believing in the goodness of others. (?)

My heart really did break for Park with everything he was trying to deal with on his own. Yeah he hurt Lucy bad but he was suffering right along with her. He made some stupid choices but he paid for every one of them and was still paying for some long after they happened. But thankfully he figured some things out. He learned forgiveness of both himself, and of others who caused him pain in his past and was able to see things clearly.

Life Lesson 13: Focus on what is - not what could have been.

"I thought I was in love with Hope. All those years I really thought she was who I wanted. But that was...Hope just wasn't The One. Lucy is - everything. She's everything I want and everything I need. I didn't think I'd ever find this."

Although 'Lucy's Rules' and 'Park's Life Lessons' weren't mentioned a huge amount in the book, I think they played a pretty big part and I loved the focus on them. If there was a message in this story I think it would be summed up perfectly by Park's 'Life Lesson 12'...

Life Lesson 12: As your life changes, change your rules accordingly. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to living.

I seriously went through the motions with this book. I was frustrated when things were keeping Lucy and Park apart, I was happy when things started looking up for them, pissed off when Park screwed up, happy again (and pretty damn hot ;) ), scared, relieved, and then the perfect ending just made my heart swell, and in the words of Lucy, it was blissful. If you loved Sometimes Never and Blackbird you will love Before Now even more!

We merge like two flames, fast and out of control. Because sometimes that's just how love works. We may smolder, we may blaze, we may rage without reason. But it's always beautiful. - Lucy.

[Beth Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. I probably need to start out by saying that I knew I'd love it. I love the way Cheryl writes, and Sometimes Never and Blackbird are two of my favorites.

So this is Park's story. In Sometimes Never, we get a small glimpse of Park but I had no idea the extent of his hurt or his damage.

Park is angry, for a variety of reasons that you'll find out once you read this novel. HOWEVER, Park is totally hot, and sexy, and under all the anger and pain lies a sweet guy. It's just going to take someone to dig through all the wreckage to find that in him.

Park is determined to be self-destructive at all costs. The women, the booze, and anything else he can do to numb himself. But the problem is...does he really want to numb himself, or is he searching...

Enter Lucy. Strong. Smart. Beautiful. Caring. She "straight up calls him on his shit"...and that little fact Park finds "sexy as hell." Exactly what Park needs even though he won't admit it. Park and Lucy both have rules...albeit polar opposite ones. But, in the end, what lies beneath is what will bind them together.

I loved watching the interaction between Park and Lucy. It was fabulous. The slow build, the anticipation, the angst...all at its finest.

I also loved Bree...Lucy's best friend. The kind of friend you want, the kind of friend you need. The one who tells it like it is, and the one who looks out for you, stands up for you. The one who you know will be left standing when everyone else has walked out the door.

The supporting characters all had their own quirks and were all endearing in their own way. Jessie, Chase, Guy (my favorite), and even an appearance by the darling Hope and Mason.

As usual, Cheryl's ability to pull you into a story and fall in love with each and every character never ceases to amaze me. She has this unique way of making you feel like you're a part of a family...Like these are the people you want to know, hang out with, live next door to, play water war with (you'll have to read the story)...These are real, flawed people. And, let's face it, we all have flaws.

One of the things I got from this story is that regardless of our pasts, regardless of our damage, the heart wants what the heart wants, and this story is a perfect example of that. How sometimes when you reflect on something in your mind, it always seems greater than it actually was, until something comes into your life that punches you in the stomach and says..NO WAIT, HERE I AM! THIS is what you've been waiting for...You just need to open your eyes and heart wide enough to see it.

I literally let out a huge HAPPY SIGH when I was finished, and didn't want it to end.

I LOVED this book, couldn't put it down, and can't wait for whatever Cheryl has in store for us next!

[Tessa Teevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to preface this review by saying that I have not read Sometimes Never, therefore I was meeting Park & the gang with completely fresh eyes. I also apologize in advance for this review. It's going to be all over the place because I am having a hard time putting into words how much I love this book.

Before Now is the story of Park & Lucy, and is told in dual POV (if you know me, you know I LOVE dual POV).



Park Reed is the ultimate, sexy, bad boy rocker. He's tall, dark, and devastatingly hot with tattoos. He's also broken, on a self-destructive path as he tries to escape his path, using booze and one night stands to forget the pain. He sets up "Life Lessons" which he intends to use to keep from ever having his heart broken, and from ever allowing anyone to get close.

Life Lesson #4: Do not-under any circumstances-fall in love.

Lucy Braden is the blonde girl next door optimist who grew up in foster care and was eventually adopted by a great family. Although she's also had her share of pain in the past, she overcomes it and has a positive, beautiful outlook on life. Lucy has her own set of rules, very different than Park's.

Life Lesson #4: Love whole-heartedly

When Park moves into an apartment with his friend Jessie, he's greeted by a playful Lucy accidentally shooting him in the face with a water gun, intended for Jessie. Their attraction is instant, as is Jessie's warning for Park to stay away from her.

Lucy immediately sees that Park needs a friend, someone to be there, but he's extremely resistant to her advances. Unfortunately for Park, Lucy's pretty damn persistent. He tries and tries to fight their undeniable chemistry and attraction, but it's not long before he can give in.



Park's past then shows up, causing him to go back to his self-destructing ways, hurting Lucy and himself in the process.
*****
I'm going to try to hold back from breaking into the ultimate gushfest, but I have to tell you--I 100% abso-freaking-lutely loved this book! Park and Lucy are one of my new favorite couples. When I finished the last page, I had a huge, goofy grin on my face and I could not stop smiling. Seriously, in love with this book.



Park... you just couldn't help but love Park. He's damaged, sexy, and a bad boy who's hiding a kind heart. He's ranking very, very high on my book boyfriend list.

Lucy was exactly what Park needed, and vice versa. She does not change Park, she has no intention to. She simply helps draw out his amazing qualities while helping heal the damage that his past created. Their relationship had me laughing, crying, and wanting to throw my Kindle.

Okay, I'm going to stop gushing now. Go read this book and love it! Ms. McIntyre, you have a new fangirl for life. I hope it doesn't freak out out when I say



Favorite Quotes

You're all puppy paws and kitten whiskers. You're too damn good and I don't know what to do with that.

I don't know what it is about him that draws me in. He's an ass. He's arrogant. He's a slut. He's also breathtakingly gorgeous and the way he looks at me makes my body react without permission or apology.

I can't give up on you. I don't know how and that gives you all the power over me. The power to hurt me again and again.

You and me, Lucy, we're like a fire: Hot and unpredictable, scary and mesmerizing all at once. We started with a spark and before I knew it, I was consumed. I love the way you burn me up from the inside out.

We merge like two flames, fast and out of control. Because sometime that's just how love works. we may smoulder, we may blaze, we may rage without reason. But it's always beautiful.

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5stars. Really liked this. Loved how Park worked through his issues and loved that Lucy let him without being a sappy heroine! And that cover.......crikey!! How gorg is he?! X

[CT · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Very rarely do I read about a heroine with no issues whatsoever. I think thats why I really liked Lucy's character, she went for what she wanted. The general storyline is about Park getting over Hope and falling in love again. I shouldn't love Park after what he put Lucy through but I do. And man I could stare at that cover all day.

[[~Ami~]♥Sexy Dexy♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope broke Park's heart in the first book...

Now it's his book...

He meets Lucy, who is also his neighbour...

She wants to be friends with him...

But she also wants to find the guy beneath the manwhore...

My thoughts

I love reading about strong heroines. Lucy knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to go for it.

“Everyone should have someone that cares.Someone that doesn't give up on them.Someone to always care what they're doing.Right at this moment,I make it my goal to be that someone for Park.”

Loved that Park didn't change his manwhore ways as soon as he met Lucy. And there was times when I wanted to shake Park for what he's doing to Lucy. I can't help but love Park though.

He deserves another picture...




Glad we still see the old characters pop up. Every time skittles are mentioned makes me want to re-read the first book all over again. A great follow on. Loving this series x

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Blissful Stars

I loved Park's story. It was the perfect book for what I was looking for in the way of a "bad boy".

What I LOVED about this book:
1. The ending
2. I couldn't put this down
3. Dual POV's
4. Made me happy most of the book
5. Park was just the right amount of bad and sweet for me when this book was all said and done.
6. Chase- that guy made me laugh and had good advice.
7. Water Wars
8. White Boxes
9. Learning to work the game controller
10. LUCY! She was the perfect girl for Park, and the best heroine I've read in a long time. She had a great balance of ones self and she had such a good strong back bone. Among other good attributes.
11. Perfectly fast paced and I loved that!
12. The Cover. I really love the model on the front.
13. Jessie- I thought he was a good friend.
14. I enjoyed seeing the old gang back together.

Park is learning to have a life after Hope and Lucy is the perfect girl to help him over this hurdle. She will be there for him no matter what or what he does. Park doesn't think he deserves anything good in his life so he doesn't live it in the best way. Lucy sees the good in him and works to break down his defenses. She's always honest with him and very compassionate, even when she doesn't always want to be. Now it's up to Park to let go of past secrets and hurts, and prove he can be that good guy Lucy deserves.

I hope the next couple to get a book are Chase and Annie.

Content: language, drinking and sexual situations.

[Cozen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I find myself always asking myself, "Why do people like these types of stories?" That usually leads me to what type of teenage life the writer must have had. I can't think of why anyone would put themselves through all this fake, forced, drama. Is this story is not any different from other story being released?

1.) Add one jilted, guy who sleeps around with anyone. Can't get over his past girlfriend's transgressions. Don't want this creepy feeling he's got some kind of disease, but that's the way I feel every time I have to read about his exploits.
2.) Add girl without a sense of self respect and believes that the world revolves around her. So what if the guy doesn't show up for your stupid diner. You're not that important, get over it.
3.) Add some stupid stuff, ex girlfriend and ect.
4.) Add some sarcastic come back lines that are dull and makes you want to pray to the porcelain god you'll grow a brain about books recommended by self published authors who cannot write a decent second book.
5.) Add some lame reason for the female to forgive the guy... Its love ya know.

Blah...

I don't know if this book had any good points. It was obvious written to yak your chain with the over packed stupid drama issues.

Personally, I hate crying, tragedies. I void them at all cost. More than that, I try to avoid stories like this that are written purposely to invoke emotions like jealousy, anger, and misplaced angst.

I like stories with a strong female leads with self respect, whose contents are written eloquently well. A real story that is plausible regardless if its' sci-fi or not. It's believable. Exciting. Imaginative. Thought provoking. Engaging.

Dreamspell
Suddenly Royal
Highlander Most Wanted
Improper Relations
The Wallbanger

These stories had those qualities. Compared to stories like these, they are on a whole other level of superiority.

I really can't understand the high marks for stories like these.

[lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

UGHHHHHHHHHHH I didn't expect to love this book as much as I do. I mean, I don't even like Park that much in Sometimes Never, but OH MY GOD PARK REED LET ME LOVE YOU--

Sure, he's an ass most of the time but dude is just protecting himself. I love how he and Lucy fell in together, and the journey isn't sunshine and rainbows, and we get to see Park slowly beginning to trust and love again.

This book is swoonworthy, hilarious, heartbreaking, angsty; all roll in one. Fantastic read.


Ps. I know the third book is going to be about Kellin and Misty (grownup Kellin? HELL YEAH) but please, pretty please, Ms McIntyre, can we have a book on Chase x Annie? Pretty please with cherries sprinkles?

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!!!! I'm such a sucker for sweet asshole-bad boys falling in love with super sweet caring good girls. I know i know opposites attract and this is such a cliche, but come ON! It's so freakin' adorable!!!!

Just look at that right there!

This reminds me of Park and Lucy plus this song kept on playing in my head while reading:

"You're such a hard act for me to follow
Love me today don't leave me tomorrow, yeah
But if I fall for you, I'll never recover
If I fall for you, I'll never be the same

I really wanna love somebody
I really wanna dance the night away
I know we're only half way there
But you take me all the way, you take me all the way
I really wanna touch somebody
I think about you every single day
I know we're only half way there
But you take me all the way, you take me all the way"
Love Somebody by Maroon 5

For me, this is how Lucy feels because she can't stop what she's feeling and her heart and body is demanding for Park. Yes she's scared because she doesn't have that assurance that this boy will not break her; but she can't help it if her heart is screaming for someone so difficult.

For Park, this song fits him as well because just like Lucy he's also scared. Scared that if he gave it all he'll come breaking down again if all hell breaks lose. He knows he wants Lucy so bad but he doesn't think he can manage to live if he lose her too.

Thoughts:
1. I think about you every single day.
- reading this line from both of their POVs was just so heart melting. If you can't stop thinking about each other, maybe you should be together already! I mean come on! Yes, you have your issues but what can you do if that person is the one that makes you really happy and makes you feel like you can breathe easily? Go for it!

2. Wake up already!
- stop pushing that person away!!!! You will only keep on hurting yourself. Didn't you realize that if you feel hurt because of your actions that you are actually hurting that other person as well? Stop and think for a second, ok!?!

3. Stop messing around! All the waiting!
- just for the love of ---- stop it! It's really good that you have that capability to wait every singe time! But i really love it that you gave voice to it. You shouldn't wait like that if you always end up being the loser or the one who gets nothing out of it. I've heard of unconditional love but sometimes it looks like your suffering because of having those feelings.

4. Of you sweet boy.
- i can't even--- i just don't... I can't help but smile! That ending!!!! :D

5. You of all people should know that you guys are PERFECT for each other!
- just perfect.

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/4.5 Stars!

I really loved this one! I thought it was even better than Sometimes Never. I didn't think I would like Park as much as I did....maybe just the way everything went down in Sometimes Never. But I also really really liked Lucy!

There were a few things that I could have done without....the grey eyes and the fact that Lucy was a runner. But overall, I thought it was great.

Before Now starts with Park moving in with his friend Jesse. Lucy and Jesse are having a water war and Park finds himself in the middle of the war. Park meet Lucy. Lucy meet Park. Both Lucy and Park have a set of "life rules" that they try to live by. Lucy's go a little something like this...."No matter how many times you are let down, continue believing in the goodness of others". Park's go a little something like this..."Always bag it. Seriously. Always. And if the girl's shady--double bag it."

So you can see where Park and Lucy might not be a match made in heaven. Jesse knows Lucy is a "good" girl. He forbids Park from "hooking up" with her--because that's what Park does. Park is still a bit broken and damaged from the way things went down with Hope in Sometimes Never. He doesn't think he deserves love or that anyone could see him as being worthy of love.

~I can't give up on you. I don't know how and that gives you all the power over me. The power to hurt me again and again.~ Lucy

But sweet, sweet Lucy always sees the good in people...and she sees it in Park. I really did love Park...once he admitted his feelings for Lucy and quit f*cking up he was really quite sweet. And let me tell you, he reall f*cks it up! I was SHOCKED when he did that!!! But Lucy was really a great heroine. She doesn't give up on Park. Lucy and Park are hit with some news pretty early on in their relationship but are able to work through everything together. I loved the ending and the epilogue. I just loved Lucy and Park! *sigh*

~You and me, Lucy, we're like a fire: Hot and unpredictable, scary and mesmerising all at once. We started with a spark and before I knew it, I was consumed. I love the way you burn me up from the inside out.~ Park

I thought this book had a little bit of everything. It was a quick, entertaining read. It was a standalone with a HEA. I do recommend reading Sometimes Never first so that you are more familiar with the previous relationship between Park and Hope.

Looking forward to book 3 in the series.

[Kelli C · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I loved everything about this. I enjoyed Hope and Mason's story but I have always been pulled more towards Park Reed. maybe its the bad boy image he puts off or just how heartbroken he was at the conclusion of Sometimes Never. this book picks up with Park trying to move on by moving in with his friend Jessie whose girlfriend Bree and roomie Lucy are fixtures around the apt. Knowing Park is a true bad boy, Jessie warns him off the sweet and single Lucy. well..."you want something? take it and f*** everybody and everything else!" Yes Park Reed you are damaged yet perfect!

That being said, I have to admit I liked Lucy equally as well. I'm usually irritated by the "good girl" everyone likes, but honestly, she was cool and just what Park needed. I loved the friend dynamics throughout with each character. I'm feeling like Chase needs his own story ;) overall, great story that Cheryl McIntyre has written so well. I like her style, I like her stories and Iike all of her characters to date!

[Marie]

Park's story!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before Now is a companion novel to Sometimes Never and is Park's story. However, Before Now can be read as a stand-alone book.

Book Description:

Park Reed is a bastard in every sense of the word. He hasn't always been this way. But after his heart was broken by the only girl he ever loved, being heartless gets him through the day and allows him to fill his nights with the nameless girls he has no intentions of seeing again. He now lives his life following the ever-growing list of “life lessons.”

Lucy Braden is everything Park is not. She’s sweet, caring, and an all-around nice person. She tries to follow Lucy's Rules to Live By every day.

When Park moves in with Jessie, which happens to be the floor below Lucy, Jessie's one stipulation: Lucy is off limits to Park. The problem with that is Lucy is determined to be a good friend to Park and see past the drinking and random girls to find the man beneath it all. The other problem: Park follows his own rules.


I LOVED Before Now! I love how Cheryl writes her characters. Each has an important part to play in the main characters' story. You find yourself loving all the characters: Guy, Chase, Jessie, Bree. The same was true in Sometimes Never. (BTW...a lot of these characters are in both Sometimes Never, Blackbird and Before Now--so you truly feel like you know each of them and that you are part of their circle!) While I hated Park for blurting out Hope's secret--and I couldn't understand why he didn't try to help her--I felt bad for him. I wanted Hope with Mason, but even Mason felt bad for Park.

The beginning of Before Now was genious!...Park's POV of the scene from Sometimes Never where Hope "breaks up" with Park. Loved it!

Park is your typical tattoo'd bad boy. He drinks a lot, only does one-night stands, he's selfish and if you don't agree with him--"F-you"! Lucy is the hippie chick that always sees the best in people--including Park. Park has an ever growing set of "life lessons"! It definitely showed how losing Hope hurt him. Lucy had her own "rules" in which she tries to live her life by. Needless-to-say, Park and Lucy's thoughts were pretty much opposites! But your know what they say about opposites attracting and these two definitely were in-lust with each other. This is not really the problem tho. The problem is Park's roommate, Jessie, has made Lucy off-limits or Park cannot stay with him. Park doesn't really have a lot of options and doesn't want to end up homeless, so as much as he hates it, he follows this rule. Of course Lucy doesn't do one-night stands, so as much as she hates it, she makes Park off-limits to herself. Talk about sexual tension!

Obviously, this is a love story and Park and Lucy cannot stay away from each other:

"It's like we take a step forward and then you shove me five steps back. Why do you do that? Why do you push me away?"--Lucy to Park

"You're all puppy paws and kitten whiskers."
"Oh, you're vanilla, Lucy. Trust me. But that just makes me want to drizzle hot fudge all over your body, and take my damn good time licking it off." ~--Park to Lucy

“Lucy,” he nearly chokes my name. “Please get out of my bed before I do something very f*cking stupid.”
My breathing is erratic. My heart hammering in my chest. “How stupid?” I say thickly.
Park moans and closes his eyes. “I don’t know,” he says softly. I can feel the desire in his stare when he finally looks at me. It’s pure hunger. “It’s starting to feel like the smartest move I could ever make.”--Park to Lucy

"I can't give up on you. I don't know how and that gives you all the power over me. The power to hurt me again and again."--Lucy to Park

"You and me, Lucy, we're like a fire: Hot and unpredictable, scary and mesmerising all at once. We started with a spark and before I knew it, I was consumed. I love the way you burn me up from the inside out."--Park to Lucy

Park, of course, screws up! He hits rock-bottom--again. We learn he's been there before (with Guy, in events that happened but were not written, in Sometimes Never). But he starts learning and changing. He owns up to what he does. And this eventually makes him worthy of Lucy's love. But she is not going to be "that girl"--the one who lets a guy walk all over her. She knows she's a pushover. She owns it too. And she lets Park have it.

But even when you think it's the end and they have their HEA, there are a couple more twists!

I mentioned earlier that I loved all the characters in Before Now. I think every girl needs a best friend like Bree! I so respected her honesty and bluntness! She always had Lucy's best interest at heart! I loved Guy in Sometimes Never and again in Before Now. He was both Hope's and Park's best friend and Park had a lot to make up for where Guy is concerned, but Guy is still an awesome friend! But I have to say, Chase was my favorite in Before Now! One of my favorite lines came from Chase who just loved to dispense advice:

"Don't fuck up this time." I raise a skeptical brow. "Not sure I know how to do that."
"Just…. don't trip, fall, and land dick first in to some random girl on the way over there."--Chase to Park

I know Cheryl plans to write Kellen's (Mason's brother) story next in this series, but I hope to get more of Chase (and possibly Annie?)!!!

[Tray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Before Now (Sometimes Never), the second book in the series by Cheryl McIntyre, and wow...just wow. This is Park's story. If you haven't read Sometimes Never, I suggest reading it first. This book could be read as a stand alone, but you might not fully understand why Park is the way he is.

Park Reed has changed alot in a year. The latest change is his residence. His friend Jessie is letting him move in with him. The other changes are things that made me like him less than I did in the first book. He drinks more, sleeps with a different girl every night, and is pretty much a total douche. He even has rules he now lives by...

"Life lesson number three: Life is shitty. Fucking deal with it. You want something? Take it. Take it and fuck everything and everybody else."

The day Park moves in, he meets Lucy. Lucy and her best friend, Bree, live downstairs and are good friends of Jessie's. Lucy is sweet and hot....and off limits. Jessie lets Park know that if he tries anything with Lucy, he's gone. With nowhere else to go, Park has to leave Lucy alone or be homeless.

Of course, we want what we can't have, and this is an understatement with Park and Lucy. The more they are around each other, the more the sexual tension grows. The dialogue and inner thoughts of Lucy and Park is flirty, sexy, and made my girly parts squirm. The way Cheryl wrote Park's character was perfect. He is the quintessential bad boy...arrogant and hot with the sexiest, dirty talk to complete the panty melting package.

There is a reason Jessie puts Lu (her nickname) off limits. He knows Park, and he knows Park will hurt her. When Park's first love broke his heart, it changed him. The word relationship makes him physically ill. He cares about no one but himself, and makes no apologies for this.

Lucy has other ideas. She can't get her sexy neighbor's face and voice out of her head. She wants him, but she knows his reputation. He's a one night guy, and she isn't a one night girl. She knows it, but it doesn't change what her body feels when she's near him. When she decides to take matters into her own hands, I thought my body might catch fire. That's how hot the scene was. Here's a taste..

"I can't. I promised Jessie I wouldn't touch you."

"Then don't touch me," she breathes. Her lips press into the hot flesh of my neck and I shudder. She skims her tongue up to my ear. "But I never promised I wouldn't touch you." ....Lucy slides her leg over my thighs until she's straddling my lap.

"Tell me you're mine," I demand. "Tell me you belong to only me."

And it only gets better from there. What happens next you can probably guess. Fear and insecurity makes Park do something dumb. The consequences of that act is what you don't see coming. I freaked out in one part...I'm not gonna lie. What happens after the night they finally get together made me literally yell at my kindle. It was something so out of the realm of what I thought would happen, that it totally threw me for a minute.

That's pretty much how I felt the rest of the book. Not pissed, just thrown. Nothing happened like I thought it would. Something to remember: if you think you know how a character is going to react, Cheryl is going to prove you wrong. Every event from half way through caught me off guard and most of them made my heart race...in both good and bad ways.

Lucy and Park are perfect. Lucy is sweet, but not naive. She sees the good in people, but isn't blind to the bad. She's feisty, she's funny and she doesn't compromise on her principles. Park is tortured and broken, but he's not unlovable. His character is written in such a way that you love him, you just don't like his actions. He wants so badly to be whole and to be loved, that it will break your heart.

The characters I loved from Sometimes Never are back in this one. Guy, Chase, Hope, Mason and Annie are all part of the story. Cheryl could not have done a better job of weaving the first book into the second. Guess what? No cliffhanger, girls! The only thing you will hate about the ending is that it is the end. But getting to the end was the best part. Before Now made my heart race, break, and, at one point, completely stop. Oh, and remember I said I didn't like Park at the beginning. I didn't like him at the end either. I LOVED HIM!

[Ailene♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was well written. It was the first book that I've finished from this author. I did read a few chapters from the first book in the series. But there's something about the heroine that ticked me off. She's just not likable, I guess. So, I stopped reading it though I know I should continue so it's only then that I could give my fair judgment. Maybe, I'll try next time.

Anyway, when I've read the plot of “Before Now”, I kind of liked it. And since it's a stand alone, I just went for it. The heroine on this book was definitely likeable. She's not whiny. She's not bitter about her life even though she's adopted. She's actually one of the very few heroines that I really loved. She's witty and full of humor. And most importantly, she knew how to put up with someone like Park. I gave her a lot of credit for that.

Well, speaking of Park. . . He could actually be a nice guy if he wanted to. But yeah, he's more of an asshole and he's honest about it. He'd been telling Lucy to stay away from him because he just couldn't deny his attraction towards her and Lucy's just not that kind of girl he could easily hooked up with and leave. He had avoided her many times before he gave in. But even though he's upfront, it still didn't excuse him for that one f*cked up thing he had done. But it's good to see his POV in order to somehow understand him.

When I kind of knew how his character was like in the beginning, I really did prepare my heart for a possible heartache. I let my guard up so high maybe that's why I didn't fully connect with him even though he's hot and all that. And yeah, I'm glad I prepared myself because I just hated what he'd done. I'm finding myself hard to forgive him. I tried to really understand why he did that especially after what he said to Lucy. I know he'd been hurt before. But doing that was pointless and he’s such a manwhore!!!

When Park asked for forgiveness, that's when I felt he’d somehow redeemed himself. He promised to get himself together and started getting serious with their relationship.

I also liked that the story was fast paced so it's not boring. And the major conflict came early. They immediately fixed it up and they'd just been working out with their relationship from then on. It wasn't rushed so I enjoyed a lot of their moments. The epilogue was also nice.

But I hate cheaters so I wasn't all that giddy about this one. To be fair, they're not yet official when he did that. But it pissed me off because it’s the same day something happened between them. And he already told her she was his. So, there's still betrayal. I also noticed that there's a bit of "Beautiful Disaster" undertone with the whole story. But of course, there could only be one Travis Maddox for me. And Park was more of a manwhore than him...

I gave 3-stars and I think you should still give this one a try.

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Nothing of worth is simple.”


I am going to say first that I have never liked NA books that much. I have always been more keen to YA, especially YA fantasy, but this book is one that I surprisingly very much liked. I have read NA books before and a small amount of them are my favorites, including this one now. So if you guys have any good NA books, any you think are worth the try, comment them down below. So without further interruption, let's get this review started.




I think you are already familiar with the plot of the story if you have read the first book of the "Sometimes Never" series, but if you have not, I will tell you in short sentences what the book is about.
Park is not over from the heartbreak that Hope, his former girlfriend inflicted upon him, so to get away for awhile, he finds an apartment (actually his best friend's apartment) and moves there with Jesse . Little did he know that the apartment above them lives Lucy, a hippie girl with her own kind of rules and Bree, Jesse's current girlfriend and Lucy's roommate.
A water war starts everything and including clashing both Lucy's and Park's worlds. A good girl and a bad boy, but definitely not your typical cliche story.


“You can love someone, hell, you can love a lot of someones, but when you find the right person—the one that you’re meant to be with—it’s like…” “You can breathe for the first time,” she finishes for me.”


LUCY

It is a rarity for me to love NA heroines, but Lulu is someone you can easily connect with and understand. With her loose braid and smiley face, this girl is someone you could instantly form a friendship with. Which I am really, really glad, because I honestly can't understand most of the NA heroines, is it just me who struggles with this problem? No? Okay then.





What I loved about her is that she was very real. She was not your stereotypical good girl or hippie, she follows her own set of rules and she just carries on. She doesn't liked to be underestimated, she was that type of a girl that could handle any situation with complete calmness on her face, which I really loved because there are some girls who would honestly just blow out in those situations she was in. So I have big respect for this girl and her calmness , her unselfishness....
Ughh Park Reed, can I steal your girlfriend?
(BTW, I imagined Barbara Palvin as Lulu and come on guys, she IS gorgeous, who wouldn't want to steal her)

“Lucy’s Rules to Live By:
1. Make the conscious decision to look at others with an open mind and an open heart.
2. Everybody needs someone in their life they can rely on. Try to be that person.
3. Take a chance.
4. Love whole-heartedly.
5. Make it your goal to make someone smile daily.
6. Always expect more of yourself today than you did yesterday.
7. No matter how many times you’re let down, continue believing in the goodness of others.”










PARK

Park also lives by his own set of rules. And one of those rules is not to love again. After breaking up with Hope, Park completely changed. Smoking, hooking up with girls, drinking became his lifestyle. And when Jesse tells him that Lucy is off limits, he becomes even more intrigued by his hippie of a neighbor who lives in apartment 3B.





Park was your typical bad boy. Hot, smoked, drank until he could no longer get up and had an amazing voice which could put anyone to shame.
I loved that this book was told in both POV's, it helped a lot to understand both of them. Especially Park because even if he was your typical bad boy, he had his own demons which made his character seem even more real to me. For example his trust issues, they were written in the most real way, and you could actually see the real struggle of the character there.

“I don't want to hurt you, Lucy, but I will”









PARK AND LUCY

Thank god that this relationship wasn't based off out of hate. Because 90% of the bad boy- good girl stories are about how the girl hates the guy first or how the guy hates the girl first. Which is completely unrealistic, because they can totally be friends first then lovers, but again everyone loves the enemy-lovers trope, so can't blame them.
But like I said, this relationship started off on a pretty good basis I must say. And I love how real it was. Park from the start warned her about him, but they still became somewhat of a friends which I liked.
This relationship was far from perfect. Park did screw a lot and pushed her a lot, but again that doesn't make their relationship toxic or fake, it seems even more real.


“You and me, Lucy, we're like a fire: Hot and unpredictable, scary and mesmerizing all at once.We started with a spark and before i knew it,I was consumed.I love the way you burn me up from the inside out.”





Their chemistry was off the charts. It was hot and intense and so forbidden, that it made things even more angsty. I liked how Park slowly changed for her, I liked that it wasn't so insta. He pushed his bad habits out of him, no matter how much his old ways wanted to go back, and I very much respected that. I liked that he pulled himself together and stopped questioning his feelings or again pushed her away.
This book is light, but again filled with love, sorrows and heartbreaks. But trust me when I say that you won't regret picking it up.


“Everyone should have someone that cares.Someone that doesn't give up on them.Someone to always care what they're doing.Right at this moment,I make it my goal to be that someone for Park.”

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't write reviews but since i finished Before Now i just can't stop thinking about it. Cheryl McIntyre has a wonderful way of writing.
Park’s story pulled me in from the prologue and I could hardly put this book down.
Did i loved the first book? Yes, i did!
Is it possible to love this one even more? Yes, absolutely!!!
Park is a broken soul. He lives his life by his own set of rules and doesn’t care for much of anything.
Lucy is the opposite of Park. She is a caring, wonderful, kind girl, always seeing the best in people. She’s always there for Park, never giving up on him, even when he’s being a jerk. I just loved how they fell together. All in all this was a wonderful read!
I do hope that Chase will get his own book, as I absolutely adored him in this one.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 strong stars! So Cheryl McIntyre you have made me put you in my favorite author ranks of Abbi Glines, Jennifer Armentrout, Elizabeth Reyes, and Toni Aleo. Your character's rock my world and thank you for making me smile and be all girly ;-)

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Tammy Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED Before Now! This is a MUST READ! FIVE bright, sparkling stars!!!

Where to begin? I liked Park in Sometimes Never, but he had to go. He just wasn’t right for Hope. I have never loved a character so much that I wanted to see gone from the picture! But my heart broke for him when I began reading Before Now. Before Now begins with Park’s point of view from the break up scene in Sometimes Never. This was so brilliantly written. I could feel Park’s heart being shattered and wanted nothing more than to see Park’s happy ending. From the first paragraph, I was instantly sucked in.

Hope left a gaping wound in Park’s heart that just can’t seem to heal. Refusing to allow himself to ever suffer that way again, Park lives by a set of life lessons:

1. Life doesn’t have an undo button – the damage you cause is permanent.
2. Don’t waste your time wishing – it doesn’t work.
3. Life is shitty – deal with it. You want something? Take it. Take it and fuck everything and everybody else.
4. Do not – under any circumstances – fall in love

Park lives by these life lessons completely. Drinking and sleeping with random girls night after night, he goes through the motions of life without ever allowing himself to get close to anyone or to truly enjoy life. That is, until he meets Lucy.

Lucy is everything that Park is not. She is good and wholesome – and an optimist. She lives her life by Lucy’s rules to live by:

1. Make the conscious decision to look at others with an open mind and open heart.
2. Everybody needs someone in their life they can rely on. Try to be that person.
3. Take a chance.
4. Love whole-heartedly.
5. Make it your goal to make someone smile daily.
6. Always expect more of yourself today than you did yesterday.
7. No matter how many times you’re let down, continue believing in the goodness of others.

Lucy sees Park’s dark ways, but she is determined to see the good in him and be the friend he needs in his life. The first problem with that? Park doesn’t do “friendship” with females. The second problem? Lucy is undeniably attracted to Park – but refuses to be just another notch on his belt. And the physical attraction? It is definitely mutual on Park’s side. Park tries to fight this attraction, but sometimes you just can’t fight chemistry and Park eventually caves. But with wounds still bleeding and the ever present fear of having his heart tore out again, it is not long before Park’s demons surface and threaten to destroy him and Lucy both.

Before Now is a story of learning to let go of your past demons, to find hope, to forgive, and above all, to heal. If there is one thing to take away from this book, it is this: Park’s life lesson #12 – “As your life changes, change your rules accordingly. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to living.”

Cheryl writes this story in such a way that you cannot help but experience everything right along with the characters. My heart hurt with them. I was angry with them. I was sad and scared… happy and laughing… and loving with them. This is one of the best books I have read in a very long, long time.

Now, for some of my favorite quotes – WARNING! SPOILER ALERT! Do NOT read if you do not want hints as to where the story will go!:

Chase’s advice to Park: "Don't fuck up this time."
Park: I raise a skeptical brow. "Not sure I know how to do that."
Chase: "Just…. don't trip, fall, and land dick first into some random girl on the way over there."
LOL!!!!

Lucy to Park: “I’m yours,” she utters. She places her hands on each side of my face, drawing my head up. Our eyes meet and she brushes her thumb across my cheek. “And you’re mine.”
Park: I go still as I gaze down at her. Something’s just ripped open inside of me with those words. Or maybe it’s been mended. I honestly don’t know what the hell just happened, but Jesus, I want to feel this every second for the rest of my life. I press my forehead to hers and just breathe.

Park to Lucy: "You and me, Lucy, we're like a fire: Hot and unpredictable, scary and mesmerizing all at once. We started with a spark and before I knew it, I was consumed. I love the way you burn me up from the inside out."

Park to Lucy: “Lucy,” I rasp. “I haven’t’ lost anything. Hell, I don’t even remember anything before you. You’ve erased it all. All that shit from before, none if it matters. None of it means anything now. I tried to avoid this. Us. I tried to ignore the way I felt about you. But it just wouldn’t go away. Before now I just didn’t care. Before now I was just surviving. But now – now I have you and I know… I know I’ve gained everything. Because I want more than right now. I want the rest of my life with you.”

This book is also VERY steamy!!! I mean, sizzling, fan yourself HOT! So be warned that this is not recommended for those under age 17.

[KB Wayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was surprised and disappointed, really. I read "Sometimes Never" with a truly open mind and was delighted and touched. I love seeing important (in that case, mental health, gay teens, blended families, depressed parent) issues used in fiction.

So then I read "Blackbird," and that was a brief bit of fun to follow "Sometimes Never"'s characters and see how they're doing continuing to deal with their previous (and some new) big and heavy issues.

But then I read "Before Now" and I'm confused as to what the author is doing. There was nowhere near the character development in this as there was in "Sometimes Never" -- they were just sort of "what you see is what you get." I mean yeah, we did learn a little about Park's and Lucy's families, but not nearly enough to explain who they are and why they are. They're college kids living in the same apartment building and they are strongly attracted to each other. They never seem to go to classes and they never study. Park doesn't work, other than his occasional gigs with his band. They're both underage but drink and drink heavily, with no mention of their clearly fake IDs. Park also smokes (cigarettes), which is an expensive habit. From where does the money come? Their respective roommates are in the same predicament -- evidently college students who don't attend classes, don't work but somehow have an income.

Park was just a huge mystery to me. He was a mystery in "Sometimes Never" and he is even more of one after having read "Before Now." I wouldn't mind a mystery if he were redeeming, but the Park I read about didn't seem to have enough there. I understand Lucy is a save-the-world kind of girl and good for her. She felt that Park needed her to save him, so she kept plugging along, taking whatever Park doled her way. That is not at all the message I want broadcast to young people, esp girls! If you like a boy and he treats you like garbage keep coming back for more. Uh, no. Does Lucy have a low self-esteem, is that why she continues to subject herself to Park's unacceptable behavior?



**SPOILER**
Of course it'd been telegraphed that Lucy would fall pregnant. Truthfully, I have absolutely no idea how many college girls accidentally fall pregnant each year. I also have no idea how many said girls have boyfriends who are "man-whores" who do a total 180 and devote themselves to the now-pregnant girlfriend, begging her to marry them.
****

I get a kick out of well-written sex scenes and I understand the increase of graphically depicted sex is a new trend in fiction. I don't have a problem with that, but in "Sometimes Never" there weren't graphic depictions of Hope and Mason's sexual encounters -- that changed in "Blackbird," and now in "Before Now" the sex is quite graphically depicted. So again, while I often enjoy reading it, it feels to me as if the author is reaching and not being true to herself, that she is trying to live up to external expectations rather than her comfort level as an author. I'm not wording this well, but if you read "Flat-Out Love" with no depiction of sex and then "Flat-Out Matt" with its graphic depiction due, as the author forthrightly states, to the audience's explicit desire for it, then perhaps you'll understand what I mean. Maybe it was more appropriate in this book because Park is a "man-whore," but that begs another nit for me: this was a boy who until this past year was a virgin. ??? And now he is wanted by all women and supposedly really good in bed? Huh? That struck me as preposterous, that he would've made such a 180 and somehow become so skilled in such a short period of time.

I also had a problem with the LOADS of misspellings and grammatical errors. Cheryl McIntyre is a good writer (even if I disagree with the story, she is a gifted writer) so these errors really detract (and distract).

[Derna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Before Now is Park Reed story whom I had just (due to some small OCD traits that I have ☺) read about in Sometime Never. If you read my review on, Sometime Never you will understand this statement

I wasn’t much a fan of Park Reed after reading Sometime Never, yes yes he may have been hot and sexy, and I did feel sorry for him but he had basically been a shit who had annoyed me by the end of the story. So I really wasn’t expecting my feeling to change but after reading this one they did.

Park in destructive mode the heartbreak of a previous relationship has left him with a few issues and demons. He lives by his set of ‘life lesson’ he drinks all the time. He sleeps with anything that moves, he just doesn't honestly care and the only thing he knows is that he is never going to let anyone get that close to him again,

Here’s life lesson number 4: Do not – under any circumstances – fall in love. ~ Park

When he moves in with his mate Jessie, he meets Lucy Braden their upstairs neighbor and knowing Park as he does Jessie has told him to stay away from her, as she is too good for him. Lucy I love her character, she is not only beautiful but also sweet, caring, strong and just nice the opposite of Park, she has her own rules, which are extremely different to Parks.

Rule number 4: Love whole- heartedly ~ Lucy

The attraction between Park and Lucy is instant, but with very different Rules to Live By and Life Lessons it can only mean one thing that the course of true love was never going to run smoothly for these too.

I really liked this book, I loved that it was told from both Park and Lucy’s POV. Which is a favorite of mine when it comes to a book. I like to know what the main characters are thinking. I really liked Park’s POV as while reading Sometime Never I didn’t truly know how hurt he actually was after things ended with Hope, and how damaged it had left him.

I really started to warm to Park once he started to show, that he was not all bad, he did have sweet and romantic side, however a few times I want to slap him around the back of his head for some of the stupid things that he did. I loved Park and Lucy’s relationship, they made me laugh, they made me cry; they made me shout at my Ipad. I love how Lucy never really gave up on Park even thought she had every right to, and I loved watching Park change from an ass to someone special.

Before Now I just didn’t care. Before now I was just surviving. But now- now I have you and I know…. I know I’ve gained everything. Because I want more right now. I want the rest of my life with you. ~ Park

We merge like two flames, fast and out of control. Because sometimes that's just how love works. We may smolder, we may blaze, we may rage without reason. But it's always beautiful. ~ Lucy.

It had some great secondary characters, I liked Jessie he was protected over Lucy maybe a little too much at times, but he was sweet and his heart was in the right place. Lucy’s roommate Bree was one of those BBF that every girl needs. I loved that some of the characters from Sometime Never in this one also. (High five to my small OCD traits) I especially love the ending (1) because it left me with a big grin on my face and (2) was not a cliffhanger, and I have had a lot of those lately.

So in less than 36 hours I have read two books by Cheryl McIntyre I have loved them both, and I have to say so worth the lack of sleep. I’m so looking forward to reading her next book, and in the mean time I’m off to read Blackbird.

Before Now gets 4.5 starts from me.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Whatcha Gonna Do Next? Stars



Don't you hate it when someone is just waiting for you to screw up? Watching. Waiting. Hoping you will bite it. Or worse...when you are waiting for that other shoe to drop. When you know...just know that someone is going to screw you over. Its just a matter of time. Yep. This is that story.

We first met Park in Sometimes Never. He was the jilted boyfriend that had to move over to make way so the HEA could happen. Now its his turn. But he is so tarnished. So jaded that he doesn't think he can get or deserves an HEA. And he does everything in his power to make sure that doesn't happen. Ever heard of shooting yourself in the foot. That is Park. To a T.

Lucy is sweet girl who is trying her best to get by. She is nice. Just plain nice. She is going to school. Has a job and supportive if not slightly wacky family. She is not looking for trouble. She is not looking for Park. But she finds him. In the apartment downstairs from hers. She quickly learns that Park is...well...Park.

I realize somewhere in the back of my mind---this is Park. A chaotic contradiction.

Park wants to do right by her. Most of the time. He is scared to hurt Lucy. But even more scared to be hurt. But he does have his moments of brilliance.

When the hell did you get so fucking wise?
It's a new occurrence. All those Disney movies finally paid off.

Can they...will they take a chance on each other or they run away. Again. And Again. They try numerous times to screw up. Numerous times. There are walk outs. Hook ups. Hospital visits. Water gun fights. Donuts. Robberies. And some really good lines.

But I love him. I hate that I love him. I hate that I can't stop thinking about him. And I wonder if he's thinking about me. I want him to think of me. I want him to be sorry. I want him to love me back. I'm a mess. A complete, hot mess.

This is a fun read. Not as much angst as the first book but more steam. I am anxiously awaiting the next book. Please be Chase and Annie. Please. Please. I'll be watching and waiting. Don't screw this up.

[Casey Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok this review is way WAY over do... in fact, I got yelled at by a good friend because I've been slacking on writing it.

Anyway, when I got my copy of the book I was all

After I finished the book I was all


Cheryl writes in a way that really draws you into the story. Very few writers can really claim that ability.

Before Now is a great book about a character I seriously disliked in Sometimes Never:
Park

and the absolute refreshing character of Lucy


I really really disliked Park in SN, but only mildly disliked him in this book... Maybe because he reminds me of me. He seriously has this self-destruction streak that could rival my own. I wanted to

to Park throughout most of the middle of the book, but he redeemed himself mostly at the end. It's sad and hard to read, but ultimately makes the pay off all the sweeter.

I also liked that the story wasn't full of a whole lot of "manufactured" drama. The drama was part of the story and not added for drama's sake [though there was this one scene at the end, but nothing that ruined the story]. I mean it was a little frustrating that they seemed to go in circles

but at least she didn't give you a cake then take it away over and over and over and over and over

and over and over again.

I really hate those books. I've read my fair share or watched enough anime and manga to have my fill of it. So BN is definitely a good change from that.

I always review and rate the books I read by how much they kept me entertained... In this case, Cheryl got another 5 from me.

Hope it's the same for you... bye bye for now

[romance enthusiast · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 BEAUTIFUL STARS!
I loved it! I loved it! I loved it! This book was just what I really needed right now.

“You can love someone, hell, you can love a lot of someones, but when you find the right person--the one that you're meant to be with--it's like..." "You can breathe for the first time,"

Im completely surprised, because I didn’t expect to like it so much, considering it was Park Reed’s story, but then just reading the prologue, ugh, my mind totally changed! I’m totally in love with this book!

I don’t have any bad things to say to Lucy, she was the perfect heroine. It was a nice change to say that the heroine was not the one who causes problems in this book. I really really like her character, she’s outspoken, she’s sweet, caring, understanding and she’s just everything a guy would want.

About Park, we know him in Sometimes Never, we saw how he was, but we didn’t get to fully understand it then, but now we do. I really like him when he’s being a good guy. He’s so caring and sweet, but then when that switch was flipped, God, I hate it. I hate everything that he did when he just doesn’t care. I understand that he just want to not feel, but it hurts me, it hurts me for Lucy’s feelings.

This book touched my heart. I totally didn’t expect to cry but I did. I just lost it. I felt the hurt, especially Lucy’s. It broke my heart because she’s hurting and she didn’t deserve it.

I’m glad that this story still includes Hope and Mason. Although I must admit, I forget how their story ended but I’m happy to read about them again. Hope had kind of a big part in this story. She was the reason of the big problem obviously. But then her being in the story I think also helped in the relationship of Lucy and Park.

I loved this story. Totally worth the read.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH WOW... I didn't think I would have loved this book as much as "Sometimes Never" but damn was I WRONG!

Cheryl McIntyre is officially one of my top favorite author's now. I love how raw her characters are. So real. She writes beautiful REALISTIC romance. You'll feel for ALL the characters and be with them the whole way through PROMISE.

Park has issues.. of course but it's not all self pity or tortured soul. He's a guy with issues (come on, who doesn't?) and tends to fuck shit up when it gets good. Royally, too! He even knows he does it and doesn't apologize for it, at least not right away. He's stubborn and I totally get the whole "I'm gonna push the hardest to see who stays in the end" BS. He also doesn't make a 180 during the story like most asshole/jerks/man-whore/commitment-phobe go. He finds Lucy, the girl who doesn't expect him to change who he is but just wants him for him and all of him.

Now, Lucy is sweet. Beautiful soul that one and I LOVED her as much as I loved HOPE. Sweet, caring, forgiving but NOT NAIVE! Finally a good girl who doesn't annoy the life outta me. She knew from the beginning what kinda guy he was like but she still let her heart out in open for him (more than once!). She made the first moves even AFTER he royally screwed up bc she cared and that's just who she was not bc she was a dumb, hopelessly in love/ glutton for punishment kinda chick either. She makes no excuse for her easy forgiving ways and she sticks up for herself when she needs to most.

Epilogue was so sweet. They're perfect for each other!

Loved seeing the whole GANG together and laughed at their unique banter.. wish I had friends like these!