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Take Me Now #1
Take Me Now
How do you survive the internship from hell?
Don't fall in love.
Ivy thought being a reporter-in-training at the Independent Gazette would be her dream summer job. Little did she know, interviewing Eric, a landscaper with a heart of gold, would derail her plans. It turns out Ivy's boss, Lauren, has been eying his chiseled physique for quite some time.
But at twenty-four, Eric already has a tragic past, one that he is still reeling from. Even though his ordeal turned him into some sort of local celebrity, it's been a while since he's shared his bed with anyone. When he comes to Ivy's rescue out of the blue, it's not long before the two of them start seeing each other behind Lauren's back. When they get caught, Ivy's journey toward a college degree is jeopardized and her relationship with Eric is severely put to the test.
Career versus love? In the end, a shocking turn of events provides Ivy with a revelation she never saw coming.
Don't fall in love.
Ivy thought being a reporter-in-training at the Independent Gazette would be her dream summer job. Little did she know, interviewing Eric, a landscaper with a heart of gold, would derail her plans. It turns out Ivy's boss, Lauren, has been eying his chiseled physique for quite some time.
But at twenty-four, Eric already has a tragic past, one that he is still reeling from. Even though his ordeal turned him into some sort of local celebrity, it's been a while since he's shared his bed with anyone. When he comes to Ivy's rescue out of the blue, it's not long before the two of them start seeing each other behind Lauren's back. When they get caught, Ivy's journey toward a college degree is jeopardized and her relationship with Eric is severely put to the test.
Career versus love? In the end, a shocking turn of events provides Ivy with a revelation she never saw coming.
158 pages, ebook
First published July 10, 2013
16 people are currently reading
1537 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
July 26, 2013
2 stars - Wanted to like it
Have you ever been jet skiing in choppy water? You skim the tops of waves without getting too deep. Sometime your ski comes completely out of the water and your hear the engine whine. It's very different than snorkeling where you hang out under the water a lot. This book is like jet skiing in choppy water, well it was for me anyway. Here's why.
At 160 pages, this book is pretty short but it deals with a lot of super emotional things. I really would have liked to see it about 100 pages longer just so I didn't miss some of the conversations. For example, when Eric meets Ivy, he helps her get gas for her car and drives her back to it. They talked during that drive but we don't get to see it. I would have loved to have been in his truck with them. It felt like this is where their relationship developed. I hope it was because I'm not sure where else it did. I loved that Eric was drawn to Ivy after the tragedies in his life but I wondered about how fast that relationship went from nice to meet you to really want to kiss you especially with his past. There are lots of other examples of where I would have loved to see more and it wasn't there. As a result, I didn't connect with these characters. I liked them. I was curious about them but I didn't quite get them.
That leads me to the something that made me very uncomfortable as a reader. More than once, I reacted to something a character did with "What? That's not right". I kept thinking that that character was acting outside of themselves. I've heard authors say that they weren't able to get a character to do something they wanted them to do. That's how I felt. These characters were doing things that didn't fit them. I can only conclude one of two things. Either I didn't know these characters well enough to judge what they would do, or they were being forced to do things out of their character. No matter which it was, it made me very uncomfortable as a reader.
Another thing that had me confused was that some things happened without the reader knowing. What I mean is that there was no hints or thoughts about something that was just brought up randomly as it was needed. It's hard to give an example of this without spoiling but I'll try. One character has struggled with something for years and apparently recently cleaned out an entire part of their life. The reader finds out well after the fact and it just made me feel like I wasn't even part of this characters life during a critical part of the story. The huge problem I had with this was when this character flies off the handle because of it. So unexpected that it was jarring. Afterwards, the character summarizes the "clean out" and then I can see why they reacted the way they did but the discomfort for me was still there.
I think a good beta reader could have helped with another issue I had. I don't know if this book went through beta reading or not but the panties got missed. I would have definitely tagged if I was beta reading this one. This pair of panties disappeared from one character in one scene only to be back on her a couple of hours later yet they were still in the pocket of a different guy at the same time. That's a beta reading correction that needed to made and it bugged me. (Since I gave my review to the author, this issue has been fixed).
I really did love the premise of this one. It's the reason I wanted to read/review it. I wanted to love it but I just couldn't connect with the characters enough and the plot was too jarring - jet ski in choppy water. It's too bad.
Not everyone feels this way. There are several 5 star reviews here on goodreads.
Have you ever been jet skiing in choppy water? You skim the tops of waves without getting too deep. Sometime your ski comes completely out of the water and your hear the engine whine. It's very different than snorkeling where you hang out under the water a lot. This book is like jet skiing in choppy water, well it was for me anyway. Here's why.
At 160 pages, this book is pretty short but it deals with a lot of super emotional things. I really would have liked to see it about 100 pages longer just so I didn't miss some of the conversations. For example, when Eric meets Ivy, he helps her get gas for her car and drives her back to it. They talked during that drive but we don't get to see it. I would have loved to have been in his truck with them. It felt like this is where their relationship developed. I hope it was because I'm not sure where else it did. I loved that Eric was drawn to Ivy after the tragedies in his life but I wondered about how fast that relationship went from nice to meet you to really want to kiss you especially with his past. There are lots of other examples of where I would have loved to see more and it wasn't there. As a result, I didn't connect with these characters. I liked them. I was curious about them but I didn't quite get them.
That leads me to the something that made me very uncomfortable as a reader. More than once, I reacted to something a character did with "What? That's not right". I kept thinking that that character was acting outside of themselves. I've heard authors say that they weren't able to get a character to do something they wanted them to do. That's how I felt. These characters were doing things that didn't fit them. I can only conclude one of two things. Either I didn't know these characters well enough to judge what they would do, or they were being forced to do things out of their character. No matter which it was, it made me very uncomfortable as a reader.
Another thing that had me confused was that some things happened without the reader knowing. What I mean is that there was no hints or thoughts about something that was just brought up randomly as it was needed. It's hard to give an example of this without spoiling but I'll try. One character has struggled with something for years and apparently recently cleaned out an entire part of their life. The reader finds out well after the fact and it just made me feel like I wasn't even part of this characters life during a critical part of the story. The huge problem I had with this was when this character flies off the handle because of it. So unexpected that it was jarring. Afterwards, the character summarizes the "clean out" and then I can see why they reacted the way they did but the discomfort for me was still there.
I think a good beta reader could have helped with another issue I had. I don't know if this book went through beta reading or not but the panties got missed. I would have definitely tagged if I was beta reading this one. This pair of panties disappeared from one character in one scene only to be back on her a couple of hours later yet they were still in the pocket of a different guy at the same time. That's a beta reading correction that needed to made and it bugged me. (Since I gave my review to the author, this issue has been fixed).
I really did love the premise of this one. It's the reason I wanted to read/review it. I wanted to love it but I just couldn't connect with the characters enough and the plot was too jarring - jet ski in choppy water. It's too bad.
Not everyone feels this way. There are several 5 star reviews here on goodreads.
August 4, 2013
Take Me Now is sweet and extremely easy, short read that every fan of summer reads will approve. It’s a quick love story between two different souls that wait for new chances, which makes Take Me Now nice breather from drama packed dark reads as well as welcoming thing to on Sunday. But still it is not something extremely satisfying for a romance eater like me. I guess a book which takes me only 3 hours to read is a little bit too short for me and it lacks in certain departments. But for a reader who’s looking for something nice and sweet Take Me Now is great choice.
This story follows Ivy, 21 year old girl who started her intership in Gazette and has to put up with bitchy boss. Lauren aka Boss from Hell wants to destroy Ivy. She makes her do the worst things and the fact that Ivy is interested in someone Lauren is lusting for only makes her hate more.
Eric is only 24 but already had his heart broken. Now, despite the fact two years has passed his still hurting. But meeting quirky and passionate Ivy makes his heart beat faster for the first time in ages.
I don’t want to spoil you story so I won’t tell you more, besides the fact this book is sweet and really nice.
I’m going to give it only 3 stars because it’s to short and I wished I could get a little bit more, I wanted to escape within the pages, but I didn’t get that chance. It would be fantastic to see more in Eric and Ivy’s relationship, and I had a feeling it developed to soon. It also would amazing to meet more characters, which are not creepy or hateful. If this issues would be taken care of this book could sweep me off my feet.
Incredibly sweet, Take Me Now will give you tingles and warm, fuzzy feelings all over your body. Story of extraoridinary relationship and getting second chances will leave you happy with big grin on your face long after you finish.
copy provided by an author in exchange for honest review
December 20, 2015
Items ticked off: 15
Quick review
How do you review a book when you feel like you missed half of the story?
That's what I'm wondering right now, because it's exactly how I feel. Take Me Now had a solid premise, an intriguing prologue, and nice writing. But when I was finished, I felt bereft. There are many things happening between the chapters, emotions are left out, backgrounds of the main characters insufficient. Basically, it wasn't fleshed out enough. Not the story, the characters, the writing. Instead of showing the growing attraction and interest between the main characters, the story relies on instalove of epic proportions. For that reason it is difficult to review this book. The only thing that I can think about saying is that the story wasn't executed like it deserved.
Want to read
July 9, 2013
August 19, 2013
There were a lot of things that didn't make sense to me about Take Me Now. Ivy is interning at a newspaper, and for some reason, her boss despises her. We don't know why, though. A lot more backstory here would've been helpful, because that kind of hatred has to come from somewhere.
Ivy is infatuated with Will, but, again, I really don't know why. We know they shared a kiss at age 13 and since then he's treated her like crap. Ivy seems like she should be a strong, independent woman, yet, she literally turns into a puddle of ooze around him. That doesn't make any sense to me, and it doesn't match what we know about Ivy.
Eric is a local celebrity because his fiance died of cancer. Granted there's a little more to it than that that I don't want to divulge, but even still, as tragic and heartbreaking as that is, it shouldn't have turned Eric into the hometown hero. Awful things like that happen every day, and if something like that happened here in my small town, it wouldn't make him famous.
I found the character development to be weak thoughout. I never developed any sort of connection with any of them. Most of the feelings I had toward characters trended toward extreme annoyance and frustration. Lauren was a stone cold bitch, Will was a tool, Eric was wishy-washy, and Ivy was just all over the place. But, I never really cared enough about any of them to want them to have a happily-ever-after.
Honestly, my biggest problem with Take Me Now came toward the end of the book. Ivy is in a car with someone she had considered a very close friend. And then he very nearly rapes her. It is only after Ivy resorts to physical violence that she gets away from him. In the next paragraph, however, she gets back in the car with him since she doesn't have another ride. And, later, it's treated as if it was no big deal or perhaps a misunderstanding.
Rape and almost-rape is a VERY big deal. Even though the actual act didn't happen, this particular situation would've seriously messed up and traumatized any girl. Throw in the fact that the act was committed by someone she had previously liked and trusted, and she should've been a total head case. Yet, Ivy was more concerned with getting a ride to a party. The fact that this was swept under the rug and barely mentioned later is disturbing and disheartening.
I think that with a lot more story development, Take Me Now could be on its way to something good. As it is, it's very disjointed and confusing and lacks the emotional attachment necessary to really get into the story. It's unfortunate, because based on the description, the story had a ton of potential. Perhaps the second in this trilogy - Meant For Me - will fill in a lot of the holes we were left with at the end of book 1.
Ivy is infatuated with Will, but, again, I really don't know why. We know they shared a kiss at age 13 and since then he's treated her like crap. Ivy seems like she should be a strong, independent woman, yet, she literally turns into a puddle of ooze around him. That doesn't make any sense to me, and it doesn't match what we know about Ivy.
Eric is a local celebrity because his fiance died of cancer. Granted there's a little more to it than that that I don't want to divulge, but even still, as tragic and heartbreaking as that is, it shouldn't have turned Eric into the hometown hero. Awful things like that happen every day, and if something like that happened here in my small town, it wouldn't make him famous.
I found the character development to be weak thoughout. I never developed any sort of connection with any of them. Most of the feelings I had toward characters trended toward extreme annoyance and frustration. Lauren was a stone cold bitch, Will was a tool, Eric was wishy-washy, and Ivy was just all over the place. But, I never really cared enough about any of them to want them to have a happily-ever-after.
Honestly, my biggest problem with Take Me Now came toward the end of the book. Ivy is in a car with someone she had considered a very close friend. And then he very nearly rapes her. It is only after Ivy resorts to physical violence that she gets away from him. In the next paragraph, however, she gets back in the car with him since she doesn't have another ride. And, later, it's treated as if it was no big deal or perhaps a misunderstanding.
Rape and almost-rape is a VERY big deal. Even though the actual act didn't happen, this particular situation would've seriously messed up and traumatized any girl. Throw in the fact that the act was committed by someone she had previously liked and trusted, and she should've been a total head case. Yet, Ivy was more concerned with getting a ride to a party. The fact that this was swept under the rug and barely mentioned later is disturbing and disheartening.
I think that with a lot more story development, Take Me Now could be on its way to something good. As it is, it's very disjointed and confusing and lacks the emotional attachment necessary to really get into the story. It's unfortunate, because based on the description, the story had a ton of potential. Perhaps the second in this trilogy - Meant For Me - will fill in a lot of the holes we were left with at the end of book 1.
July 25, 2013
Take Me Now..... where to begin my review...... lord knows I have been through this before with Faith's books. I love how she can pull you in and then rip your heart right out. The push and pull of the characters always has me screaming or crying or just plain out shocked by their behavior and Take Me Now is no exception! I mean it took me a few days to read it because I have been having more migraines so my reading has slowed down but Boy oh Boy did I cry and then I laughed and then I screamed to only get to the ending and say what in the hell!!!!!!!!!
Ivy is finishing up her semester before summer break. She needs to do her internship and she has no idea where she is going to do her internship until her best Ryan tells her she can intern for his step sisters newspaper. Ivy is so excited she could not be more happy because Ryan has come through for her and she is determined to make him proud. But when she reaches her new job she is greeted by a boss from hell. Ryan forgot to tell Ivy that his stepsister Lauren was a real live bitch.
Ivy's first assignment is to get the low down on a recluse business owner for Lauren. Lauren wants to know everything about him because she wants this man and she will stop at nothing to get him. As soon as Ivy starts out on her errands for Lauren she finds herself staring right into the eyes of her crush Will. She has to work with Will and she is not so sure she can do it because Will has been her crush her whole entire life and she has never dated anyone because she has waited for Will to notice her. But once again Will does what he does best and that is flat out ignores her and uses her when it is needed.
Ivy has finally seen the light and has decided that she is better off without Will in her life. So next stop Mr. Recluse and when her car breaks down and she walks the back roads for a few miles and stumbles upon Mr. Recluse she can see why Lauren wants him for herself. As Ivy and Mr. Recluse whose name is Eric get closer things start to go from bad to worse for Ivy and Eric. Lauren is determined to have him and Ryan is determined to have Ivy at any cost. What happens in this story is nothing short of amazing! I loved all the characters even the bad ones. So I am dying to see what happens in book two. Faith I need it like I need air to breathe!!!!!!!!!!
Ivy is finishing up her semester before summer break. She needs to do her internship and she has no idea where she is going to do her internship until her best Ryan tells her she can intern for his step sisters newspaper. Ivy is so excited she could not be more happy because Ryan has come through for her and she is determined to make him proud. But when she reaches her new job she is greeted by a boss from hell. Ryan forgot to tell Ivy that his stepsister Lauren was a real live bitch.
Ivy's first assignment is to get the low down on a recluse business owner for Lauren. Lauren wants to know everything about him because she wants this man and she will stop at nothing to get him. As soon as Ivy starts out on her errands for Lauren she finds herself staring right into the eyes of her crush Will. She has to work with Will and she is not so sure she can do it because Will has been her crush her whole entire life and she has never dated anyone because she has waited for Will to notice her. But once again Will does what he does best and that is flat out ignores her and uses her when it is needed.
Ivy has finally seen the light and has decided that she is better off without Will in her life. So next stop Mr. Recluse and when her car breaks down and she walks the back roads for a few miles and stumbles upon Mr. Recluse she can see why Lauren wants him for herself. As Ivy and Mr. Recluse whose name is Eric get closer things start to go from bad to worse for Ivy and Eric. Lauren is determined to have him and Ryan is determined to have Ivy at any cost. What happens in this story is nothing short of amazing! I loved all the characters even the bad ones. So I am dying to see what happens in book two. Faith I need it like I need air to breathe!!!!!!!!!!
August 2, 2013
I helped Faith reveal this cover about a month or so ago and once I read the blurb I knew I wanted to read it. I liked the idea of the forbidden office romance and I definitely wanted to see how it would play out!
I enjoyed the storyline in this book and I think it has real potential as a series. However, I felt it was lacking a bit in the development area: both plot and character-wise. As for plot development, I felt certain key situations were rushed when it would have been more beneficial to see them drawn out. As for character development, I didn't feel like I got a good enough grasp on Ivy and Eric. Eric, especially is such a complex character, and I felt like I needed a little bit more depth in order to understand him.
Ivy has just started her new internship at the Gazette, and is now working under her childhood best friend Ryan's evil stepsister, Lauren. Lauren is your rich, stuck up, manipulating diva who will stoop to any lengths necessary to get what she wants. And Lauren wants Eric Young- a good-looking landscaper who was pushed into the spotlight a couple of years ago due to the loss of someone close to him. Lauren is seriously an awful character. As I said, she is manipulative and she is absolutely horrible to Ivy. She is used to getting what she wants and when she notices Eric and Ivy together, she will do whatever it takes to drive a wedge between them. I have to say that I felt Lauren's character was the most consistent in the book. While the other characters seemed to go back and forth in their personalities, Lauren was Lauren. She was evil and didn't try to be anything else.
Let's talk about Ryan for a minute. He has been best friend's with Ivy since they were kids. I could tell right away that Ryan's feelings for her weren't platonic. However, when he finally admits to it, I was confused. Did he like her for real or did he like her because he noticed how hot she was after accidentally seeing her naked one afternoon? To make matters worse, Ryan's character does a complete 180 and does something insanely unforgiveable. And I was so mad at Ivy for acting so blasé about it! I was really hoping Ryan would be this good, sweet character who Ivy could lean on in times of trouble.
I did feel Ivy and Eric's relationship was too rushed. Again, I think this is where we really needed more development because we go from Ivy being in love with someone else one minute to all of a sudden she is having feelings for Eric. Eric is still grieving over someone he lost in the past and keeps saying it's too soon to get involved with someone, but then in a matter of no time he is envisioning spending his life with Ivy. We readers didn't see Ivy and Eric form that attachment to one another- to watch them interact and get to know one another.
Again, Lauren wants nothing more than to sink her claws into Eric and will try to lead Ivy to believe they have more going on between them then they really do. This becomes a big source of Ivy and Eric's problems in the beginning. Ivy thinks Eric has something going on with Lauren and Eric thinks Ivy has something going on with Will. Due to the misconceptions they both have, the pair really does struggle to confront the other and talk about it. There is one scene in particular where Ivy believes Eric to be with Lauren and she makes a big deal of letting him go because she won't be the woman that takes another's man. I felt it was a bit overdramatic, considering they really hadn't even been together in a romantic way yet. However, making this decision absolutely crushes Ivy. Again, I think the Eric-Lauren-Ivy triangle could have used a bit more depth to make that seem more realistic. I also think had that scene occurred later on in the story it would have worked a bit better than where it was actually placed.
Ivy has been in love with Will since childhood. After being sent to run an errand by Lauren, she crosses paths with him again. I didn't like Will at all. He is super wishy-washy. One minute he's fixated upon Ivy and the next he didn't even give her another thought. Ivy likes the way he makes her feel when he is paying attention to her, but she downplays the times he's treated her like crap. Unfortunately, I know several girls like that- it's so easy to forget the negative, when the positive is so worthwhile. But, after she meets Eric, she rather quickly decides her feelings for Will weren't anything like she feels with Eric. It just felt like one minute she was obsessing over wanting Will and the next she wants to be with Eric.
Eric's character is a bit more complex. As I said, he lost someone very important to him and he is not ready for a relationship at the beginning of the novel. But after meeting Ivy, he is attracted to her and all of a sudden wants to be with her. But Eric has some deeply rooted issues concerning his loss that he hasn't worked out and it really comes to bite his and Ivy's relationship in the bum. After seeing Ivy wearing some clothes she shouldn't be, he overreacts and kicks her out of his house. No warning- no explanation- nothing. He doesn't even attempt to call Ivy afterwards to even talk to her about what happened. This goes to show that Eric really isn't in a place to move forward with his life. He is still hurting from the past and you can't just slap a Band-Aid on it and continue on.
One line in particular he said really aggravated me:
"Yet she couldn't give me the space to deal with issues I haven't resolved."
He hasn't made any effort to open up to her about his past or really talk about how affected by it he still is. So for him to say this and put the blame on her is really unfair. Ivy doesn't give him the space he needs and ends up making a phone call to him that immediately ruins any chance of them sitting down and discussing their issues.
The ending is a bit of a whopper. Ivy dumps a pretty big bomb on Eric and again- all of a sudden he's apologizing and he's sorry for acting the way he did and he thought by ignoring her, he was doing her a favor. But now, he's ready to start this new journey with her.... I feel that Eric still has a long ways to go before he can truly settle down and become happy with Ivy. He needs to deal with overcoming the grief of his past and learning how to move forward and it's not something that can occur overnight.
Again, I really liked the storyline, I just wish we would have seen some more development with Ivy and Eric's relationship and Eric and Ivy dealing with his past. Oh, and I really hope Lauren, Ryan, and even Will get theirs! For the things they did, I want some retribution! I do plan on continuing the series as I am really looking forward to seeing how Ivy and Eric will tackle this new challenge that has been thrown their way.
*Received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review*
I enjoyed the storyline in this book and I think it has real potential as a series. However, I felt it was lacking a bit in the development area: both plot and character-wise. As for plot development, I felt certain key situations were rushed when it would have been more beneficial to see them drawn out. As for character development, I didn't feel like I got a good enough grasp on Ivy and Eric. Eric, especially is such a complex character, and I felt like I needed a little bit more depth in order to understand him.
Ivy has just started her new internship at the Gazette, and is now working under her childhood best friend Ryan's evil stepsister, Lauren. Lauren is your rich, stuck up, manipulating diva who will stoop to any lengths necessary to get what she wants. And Lauren wants Eric Young- a good-looking landscaper who was pushed into the spotlight a couple of years ago due to the loss of someone close to him. Lauren is seriously an awful character. As I said, she is manipulative and she is absolutely horrible to Ivy. She is used to getting what she wants and when she notices Eric and Ivy together, she will do whatever it takes to drive a wedge between them. I have to say that I felt Lauren's character was the most consistent in the book. While the other characters seemed to go back and forth in their personalities, Lauren was Lauren. She was evil and didn't try to be anything else.
Let's talk about Ryan for a minute. He has been best friend's with Ivy since they were kids. I could tell right away that Ryan's feelings for her weren't platonic. However, when he finally admits to it, I was confused. Did he like her for real or did he like her because he noticed how hot she was after accidentally seeing her naked one afternoon? To make matters worse, Ryan's character does a complete 180 and does something insanely unforgiveable. And I was so mad at Ivy for acting so blasé about it! I was really hoping Ryan would be this good, sweet character who Ivy could lean on in times of trouble.
I did feel Ivy and Eric's relationship was too rushed. Again, I think this is where we really needed more development because we go from Ivy being in love with someone else one minute to all of a sudden she is having feelings for Eric. Eric is still grieving over someone he lost in the past and keeps saying it's too soon to get involved with someone, but then in a matter of no time he is envisioning spending his life with Ivy. We readers didn't see Ivy and Eric form that attachment to one another- to watch them interact and get to know one another.
Again, Lauren wants nothing more than to sink her claws into Eric and will try to lead Ivy to believe they have more going on between them then they really do. This becomes a big source of Ivy and Eric's problems in the beginning. Ivy thinks Eric has something going on with Lauren and Eric thinks Ivy has something going on with Will. Due to the misconceptions they both have, the pair really does struggle to confront the other and talk about it. There is one scene in particular where Ivy believes Eric to be with Lauren and she makes a big deal of letting him go because she won't be the woman that takes another's man. I felt it was a bit overdramatic, considering they really hadn't even been together in a romantic way yet. However, making this decision absolutely crushes Ivy. Again, I think the Eric-Lauren-Ivy triangle could have used a bit more depth to make that seem more realistic. I also think had that scene occurred later on in the story it would have worked a bit better than where it was actually placed.
Ivy has been in love with Will since childhood. After being sent to run an errand by Lauren, she crosses paths with him again. I didn't like Will at all. He is super wishy-washy. One minute he's fixated upon Ivy and the next he didn't even give her another thought. Ivy likes the way he makes her feel when he is paying attention to her, but she downplays the times he's treated her like crap. Unfortunately, I know several girls like that- it's so easy to forget the negative, when the positive is so worthwhile. But, after she meets Eric, she rather quickly decides her feelings for Will weren't anything like she feels with Eric. It just felt like one minute she was obsessing over wanting Will and the next she wants to be with Eric.
Eric's character is a bit more complex. As I said, he lost someone very important to him and he is not ready for a relationship at the beginning of the novel. But after meeting Ivy, he is attracted to her and all of a sudden wants to be with her. But Eric has some deeply rooted issues concerning his loss that he hasn't worked out and it really comes to bite his and Ivy's relationship in the bum. After seeing Ivy wearing some clothes she shouldn't be, he overreacts and kicks her out of his house. No warning- no explanation- nothing. He doesn't even attempt to call Ivy afterwards to even talk to her about what happened. This goes to show that Eric really isn't in a place to move forward with his life. He is still hurting from the past and you can't just slap a Band-Aid on it and continue on.
One line in particular he said really aggravated me:
"Yet she couldn't give me the space to deal with issues I haven't resolved."
He hasn't made any effort to open up to her about his past or really talk about how affected by it he still is. So for him to say this and put the blame on her is really unfair. Ivy doesn't give him the space he needs and ends up making a phone call to him that immediately ruins any chance of them sitting down and discussing their issues.
The ending is a bit of a whopper. Ivy dumps a pretty big bomb on Eric and again- all of a sudden he's apologizing and he's sorry for acting the way he did and he thought by ignoring her, he was doing her a favor. But now, he's ready to start this new journey with her.... I feel that Eric still has a long ways to go before he can truly settle down and become happy with Ivy. He needs to deal with overcoming the grief of his past and learning how to move forward and it's not something that can occur overnight.
Again, I really liked the storyline, I just wish we would have seen some more development with Ivy and Eric's relationship and Eric and Ivy dealing with his past. Oh, and I really hope Lauren, Ryan, and even Will get theirs! For the things they did, I want some retribution! I do plan on continuing the series as I am really looking forward to seeing how Ivy and Eric will tackle this new challenge that has been thrown their way.
*Received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review*
November 6, 2013
When I was a college student leading guided tours around campus for the admissions office, I'd tell "prospies" (i.e. prospective students) that 50% of the learning they'd do would not be in the classroom...a figure I stand by to this day. Yet what if in trying to meet classroom and graduation requirements, love comes out of nowhere and clobbers you?
LONG STORY SHORT
"I'm only gonna read one more chapter....oh, who am I kidding..." This was my constant thought as I diligently read this marvelous little book. It's fairly short, easy to comprehend and read, has characters to which very nearly everyone alive can relate (who hasn't had a nightmarish boss, someone to love, and someone to...um...not love so much in their lives?). Sullivan puts readers through an emotional roller coaster here, as the characters are so relateable, and so very danged real, that I wanted to crawl through the pages and do some choice smacking at some points and hugging elsewhere. Readers' hearts break, soar in elation, want to vomit in disgust, and want to wrap everyone up in a massive hug...all in one short book.
Overall, I rate this book a 4 out of 5.
LONG STORY
The Good
Picture yourself as a young college student who thinks she knows the major characters in her life fairly well. Imagine that you are participating in an internship, when the boss of that internship decides to make your life an absolute living hell simply because the guy upon whom her sights are set seems to be looking your direction. Now toss in a dramatic movie night, unrequited feelings flying around, requited feelings being realized, anger, love, jealously, hate, emotional baggage, misunderstandings, blatant manipulation, and one heck of a cute dog, and you have Take Me Now.
In this book we find Ivy, a young college student who is simply trying to fulfill some graduation requirements by completing an internship on her way to become a journalist. Eric is a young man who owns his own business and has a rather painful past (no spoilers here...sorry!). When Ivy literally unexpectedly falls in his arms, will Eric learn to love this beautiful stranger? Will Ivy be able to recognize a good thing when she sees it?
I can't ask too many more teaser questions without giving away massive parts of the plot. If you are looking for a sweet and cute little read that will keep you intrigued while tugging away at every heartstring within your chest, then you need to read this book.
Set in modern times in a town somewhere in the U.S., this book has a small town, country feel. Many of the settings utilized here are drawn in comparison to places that readers will likely already be familiar (McDonalds, for example). Others are portrayed in enough detail to get an idea of what is going on and what things look like, why some things make sense, etc. They leave readers with some imagination work to do in order to fill in the gaps, but do a good job at creating the scene.
Sullivan has worked a plot that moves quickly and efficiently, with enough emotional import that one simply does not walk away from this book's pages without thinking about what is going on. Heck, I finished reading the book a couple of days ago and am still thinking about what might happen in the second book of the trilogy... Anyhow, the plot and flow of this book work together very well. It is easy to read and absolutely hooking. Love it!
I absolutely fell in love with the story between Eric and Ivy. They are real, approachable people whom I might run into when going to the grocery store. Their voices are unique when talking with one another and others. As for others within the story, there are people who act like complete jack*****, total tools, and the rare few who actually are out for the good of everyone. Ivy is a super strong female figure, though she has let men push around a bit. In the end, though, she asserts herself and that's awesome. Eric is the man that every woman wants to date: considerate, thoughtful, hot, sentimental, etc. Yet he does have a tragic past. But will that past prevent him from a future with Ivy...
Sullivan uses a writing style that allows Eric and Ivy to take turns narrating the action. This may seem a smidge confusing, but it actually works very well. I actually really enjoyed it because it meant that I got to delve deep into both Eric and Ivy's heads.
The Bugly
There are, however, a couple of areas in which this work needs some work:
--Though the Eric/Ivy-taking-turns-narrating writing style works, they sound a bit too much like each other when they are narrating. Eric's narration voice sounds very much like Ivy's narration voice, etc.
--While they are clearly different while they are actually speaking, they are not distinct enough when they are narrating.
Several of the characters left me wondering about their motives. Why does Ivy's Hollywood friend behave the way that he behaves? We don't get enough background regarding several characters who make life difficult (Ivy's boss, best friend since who-knows-when, Hollywood friend, etc).
Overall, this is a wonderful little book that will satisfy your romantic comedy-of-errors hunger. I fully intend to read the next book when it comes out.
LONG STORY SHORT
"I'm only gonna read one more chapter....oh, who am I kidding..." This was my constant thought as I diligently read this marvelous little book. It's fairly short, easy to comprehend and read, has characters to which very nearly everyone alive can relate (who hasn't had a nightmarish boss, someone to love, and someone to...um...not love so much in their lives?). Sullivan puts readers through an emotional roller coaster here, as the characters are so relateable, and so very danged real, that I wanted to crawl through the pages and do some choice smacking at some points and hugging elsewhere. Readers' hearts break, soar in elation, want to vomit in disgust, and want to wrap everyone up in a massive hug...all in one short book.
Overall, I rate this book a 4 out of 5.
LONG STORY
The Good
Picture yourself as a young college student who thinks she knows the major characters in her life fairly well. Imagine that you are participating in an internship, when the boss of that internship decides to make your life an absolute living hell simply because the guy upon whom her sights are set seems to be looking your direction. Now toss in a dramatic movie night, unrequited feelings flying around, requited feelings being realized, anger, love, jealously, hate, emotional baggage, misunderstandings, blatant manipulation, and one heck of a cute dog, and you have Take Me Now.
In this book we find Ivy, a young college student who is simply trying to fulfill some graduation requirements by completing an internship on her way to become a journalist. Eric is a young man who owns his own business and has a rather painful past (no spoilers here...sorry!). When Ivy literally unexpectedly falls in his arms, will Eric learn to love this beautiful stranger? Will Ivy be able to recognize a good thing when she sees it?
I can't ask too many more teaser questions without giving away massive parts of the plot. If you are looking for a sweet and cute little read that will keep you intrigued while tugging away at every heartstring within your chest, then you need to read this book.
Set in modern times in a town somewhere in the U.S., this book has a small town, country feel. Many of the settings utilized here are drawn in comparison to places that readers will likely already be familiar (McDonalds, for example). Others are portrayed in enough detail to get an idea of what is going on and what things look like, why some things make sense, etc. They leave readers with some imagination work to do in order to fill in the gaps, but do a good job at creating the scene.
Sullivan has worked a plot that moves quickly and efficiently, with enough emotional import that one simply does not walk away from this book's pages without thinking about what is going on. Heck, I finished reading the book a couple of days ago and am still thinking about what might happen in the second book of the trilogy... Anyhow, the plot and flow of this book work together very well. It is easy to read and absolutely hooking. Love it!
I absolutely fell in love with the story between Eric and Ivy. They are real, approachable people whom I might run into when going to the grocery store. Their voices are unique when talking with one another and others. As for others within the story, there are people who act like complete jack*****, total tools, and the rare few who actually are out for the good of everyone. Ivy is a super strong female figure, though she has let men push around a bit. In the end, though, she asserts herself and that's awesome. Eric is the man that every woman wants to date: considerate, thoughtful, hot, sentimental, etc. Yet he does have a tragic past. But will that past prevent him from a future with Ivy...
Sullivan uses a writing style that allows Eric and Ivy to take turns narrating the action. This may seem a smidge confusing, but it actually works very well. I actually really enjoyed it because it meant that I got to delve deep into both Eric and Ivy's heads.
The Bugly
There are, however, a couple of areas in which this work needs some work:
--Though the Eric/Ivy-taking-turns-narrating writing style works, they sound a bit too much like each other when they are narrating. Eric's narration voice sounds very much like Ivy's narration voice, etc.
--While they are clearly different while they are actually speaking, they are not distinct enough when they are narrating.
Several of the characters left me wondering about their motives. Why does Ivy's Hollywood friend behave the way that he behaves? We don't get enough background regarding several characters who make life difficult (Ivy's boss, best friend since who-knows-when, Hollywood friend, etc).
Overall, this is a wonderful little book that will satisfy your romantic comedy-of-errors hunger. I fully intend to read the next book when it comes out.
August 9, 2013
In the past year, Faith has released four books, and her newest release Take Me Now has supported a thought I've had: with each book, her writing and storytelling becomes even better. Sexy and compelling, Take Me Now proved to be a great lazy day read, and more importantly, an excellent start to a new trilogy.
Take Me Now begins the story of Ivy and Eric, two young twenty-somethings in very different stages of life. Ivy, the younger of the two, is eager to start her internship at the Independent Gazette. It's the start to bigger and better things in her life such as moving to her college's main campus in the fall. However, with the introduction of the evil and manipulating Lauren, Ivy's boss, Ivy realizes that it's going to be one long summer. Eric, on the other hand, is still putting back the pieces after a tragic death rocked his world, but with his garden center business back in full string, he seems to be finally moving on. Everything changes for both of them, though, when Ivy's latest assignment throws them together....
One of the aspects I enjoyed the most about this book was the small town setting. Faith always seems to include one in every one of her books in some shape or form, and that was just the case with this one. The town Eric and Ivy lived in was quaint and tiny, perfect for drama and lies to develop in a heartbeat, which made the tension and twists in this book even better. However, what I loved most about the small town setting, though, was reading Faith's different descriptions of the town, especially Eric's business and house. It added a cute vibe to the story, one that I feel the story wouldn't be the same without.
Moving on, I also liked the characters in this one quite a bit as well. Ivy was a little naive at times, but she had a pretty pure heart. I loved seeing how far she'd go to help Eric as well as seeing how dedicated she was to her job at the same time. It caused some inner conflict at times when she seemed to have to pick between the two, but it made her character and situation all the more relatable, in my opinion. Eric was sweet and swoon worthy, and I enjoyed getting to know more about him through his POVs. My favorite trait of his was that he was an honest, trustworthy guy. He got himself in some bad situations at times, but he always did his best to fix everything. Lauren, the evil "queen" so to say, in this was a blast! I couldn't believe half the stuff she did throughout the novel....she always seemed to have a new trick up her sleeve, ready to deploy, and while I hated her for all the horrible stuff she threw Eric and Ivy's ways, I also loved seeing where she'd take everything next. It allowed for some pretty great twists and turns.
The plot in this was the standard "will they or won't they?" but as with Faith's books, I was never really sure if the characters were going to achieve their happy ending, especially with the addition of such a manipulating antagonist like Lauren. However, this all allowed for me to be hooked to the story, as I waited to see how everything would unfold.
Lastly, I enjoyed Faith's writing in this. I thought she did an excellent job of switching between Ivy and Eric's viewpoints as well as making sure they sounded different and realistic. Plus, I enjoyed the little surprise she threw in at the ending. It's made me even more excited to see what will happen next!
Enthralling and suspenseful, Take Me Now is yet another great book by Faith Sullivan, one that's perfect for fans of Jessica Sorensen and Abbi Glines.
Grade: B+
Take Me Now begins the story of Ivy and Eric, two young twenty-somethings in very different stages of life. Ivy, the younger of the two, is eager to start her internship at the Independent Gazette. It's the start to bigger and better things in her life such as moving to her college's main campus in the fall. However, with the introduction of the evil and manipulating Lauren, Ivy's boss, Ivy realizes that it's going to be one long summer. Eric, on the other hand, is still putting back the pieces after a tragic death rocked his world, but with his garden center business back in full string, he seems to be finally moving on. Everything changes for both of them, though, when Ivy's latest assignment throws them together....
One of the aspects I enjoyed the most about this book was the small town setting. Faith always seems to include one in every one of her books in some shape or form, and that was just the case with this one. The town Eric and Ivy lived in was quaint and tiny, perfect for drama and lies to develop in a heartbeat, which made the tension and twists in this book even better. However, what I loved most about the small town setting, though, was reading Faith's different descriptions of the town, especially Eric's business and house. It added a cute vibe to the story, one that I feel the story wouldn't be the same without.
Moving on, I also liked the characters in this one quite a bit as well. Ivy was a little naive at times, but she had a pretty pure heart. I loved seeing how far she'd go to help Eric as well as seeing how dedicated she was to her job at the same time. It caused some inner conflict at times when she seemed to have to pick between the two, but it made her character and situation all the more relatable, in my opinion. Eric was sweet and swoon worthy, and I enjoyed getting to know more about him through his POVs. My favorite trait of his was that he was an honest, trustworthy guy. He got himself in some bad situations at times, but he always did his best to fix everything. Lauren, the evil "queen" so to say, in this was a blast! I couldn't believe half the stuff she did throughout the novel....she always seemed to have a new trick up her sleeve, ready to deploy, and while I hated her for all the horrible stuff she threw Eric and Ivy's ways, I also loved seeing where she'd take everything next. It allowed for some pretty great twists and turns.
The plot in this was the standard "will they or won't they?" but as with Faith's books, I was never really sure if the characters were going to achieve their happy ending, especially with the addition of such a manipulating antagonist like Lauren. However, this all allowed for me to be hooked to the story, as I waited to see how everything would unfold.
Lastly, I enjoyed Faith's writing in this. I thought she did an excellent job of switching between Ivy and Eric's viewpoints as well as making sure they sounded different and realistic. Plus, I enjoyed the little surprise she threw in at the ending. It's made me even more excited to see what will happen next!
Enthralling and suspenseful, Take Me Now is yet another great book by Faith Sullivan, one that's perfect for fans of Jessica Sorensen and Abbi Glines.
Grade: B+
August 1, 2013
First of all, SEQUEL. I'm going to keep chanting SEQUEL until I get my hands on one because this book left me with a, "WHAT?!". Cliff hanger endings can be so hit or miss and I feel like if you're going to do one, leave it so the reader isn't sitting there fuming angry. I was not fuming angry, more like giddy excited for people who aren't even real. Because that's how I get. I get emotionally invested and boom- it's like these are friends.
Anyways.
I think it's evident that I loved this book. Ivy is your classic college student who just wants to get her life right and make the right choices and she's willing to sit through what is literally the internship from hell. She's a little unsure of herself in the guy department and rightfully so because the guy she's be infatuated with for years, Will, is kind of a huge douchebag. He's that guy that you know is terrible for your friend but she keeps going back for the abuse and there's no reason why. So she has Will to contend with since he's shown up in town. She also has her best friend for years, Ryan, who likes her but she doesn't see it because hello, he's best friend Ryan who is basically like her brother minus the fact he is 3 years younger than her. Then she has dreamboat Eric with a really crappy past with the death of his fiance/love of his life.
Ivy is stuck navigating through all three guys and their actual intentions, all the while dealing with Ryan's sister who is her internship supervisor, and who clearly hates her. Mostly because as it turns out, she really wants in Eric's pants for all of the wrong reasons. This book flip flops points of view and it's down well so you aren't like, "Wait, who is this now? Dammit, now I have to look back.", it's really well done. And the ending? Just when you think things are settling down and all is well, something happens with an article of clothing and it all goes to shit. Only to come back for a cliff hanger ending.
I finished this book in one afternoon because it was that good and I couldn't stop reading. I cannot wait for the sequel. SEQUEL. So excited for the sequel.
Faith has a great blog with all of her other books on there and she gives you some great additional background information about the books, characters, etc. Please check that out. Also, this book is available on Amazon for REALLY inexpensive, so if you are looking for a quick read, this is a good one without breaking the bank.
http://strandupdate.blogspot.com
Anyways.
I think it's evident that I loved this book. Ivy is your classic college student who just wants to get her life right and make the right choices and she's willing to sit through what is literally the internship from hell. She's a little unsure of herself in the guy department and rightfully so because the guy she's be infatuated with for years, Will, is kind of a huge douchebag. He's that guy that you know is terrible for your friend but she keeps going back for the abuse and there's no reason why. So she has Will to contend with since he's shown up in town. She also has her best friend for years, Ryan, who likes her but she doesn't see it because hello, he's best friend Ryan who is basically like her brother minus the fact he is 3 years younger than her. Then she has dreamboat Eric with a really crappy past with the death of his fiance/love of his life.
Ivy is stuck navigating through all three guys and their actual intentions, all the while dealing with Ryan's sister who is her internship supervisor, and who clearly hates her. Mostly because as it turns out, she really wants in Eric's pants for all of the wrong reasons. This book flip flops points of view and it's down well so you aren't like, "Wait, who is this now? Dammit, now I have to look back.", it's really well done. And the ending? Just when you think things are settling down and all is well, something happens with an article of clothing and it all goes to shit. Only to come back for a cliff hanger ending.
I finished this book in one afternoon because it was that good and I couldn't stop reading. I cannot wait for the sequel. SEQUEL. So excited for the sequel.
Faith has a great blog with all of her other books on there and she gives you some great additional background information about the books, characters, etc. Please check that out. Also, this book is available on Amazon for REALLY inexpensive, so if you are looking for a quick read, this is a good one without breaking the bank.
http://strandupdate.blogspot.com
August 29, 2013
This review was originally posted on my blog, Ramblings of a Daydreamer. You can find it, and many more reviews at the blog.
2.5 stars
I wanted to like this book. I really did. So many people have been turning their noses up at New Adult, but I’ve been a big (and vocal) supporter of it. Unfortunately, Take Me Now was not a favourite.
Because I hate writing negative reviews (but as both a book blogger and an author myself, I believe in being completely honest even when the truth is hard), I want to start with what I did like about Take Me Now. The writing itself was good. The concept behind the story was good. It had a really strong opening that drew me in and made me curious. The book evoked emotion in me - rage at the characters who deserved it (and sometimes those who didn’t, just because of their actions), sympathy (for Eric especially), and I thought the characters' emotions - love, anger, confusion, jealousy, etc - really came across well.
What I didn’t like: the characters were way too dramatic. They overreacted to everything and created a ton of drama, but there were few actual consequences to their actions. I didn’t feel the romance; it was what I would consider instalove - Ivy and Eric became so obsessed with each other but they didn’t actually know anything about each other or spend that much time together. I despised Lauren, Will, and Ryan, and wished more than once that Ivy would grow a backbone and tell them all to go fly a kite in the middle of traffic during a lightning storm. I kept hoping I’d connect to Ivy and Eric, but I never did. Their behaviour and actions and poor decision-making skills often prevented me from even liking either of them, so it made it hard to connect with them.
Even though I didn’t enjoy Take Me Now, I always encourage people to try books for themselves. Just because it’s not a new favourite of mine doesn’t mean it won’t be a new favourite of yours. If you enjoy contemporary new adult with a lot of angst and drama (hey, it’s some people’s cup of tea!), I say give this one a shot. I enjoyed Sullivan’s writing enough that I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another of her books in the future and hope for better results.
2.5 stars
I wanted to like this book. I really did. So many people have been turning their noses up at New Adult, but I’ve been a big (and vocal) supporter of it. Unfortunately, Take Me Now was not a favourite.
Because I hate writing negative reviews (but as both a book blogger and an author myself, I believe in being completely honest even when the truth is hard), I want to start with what I did like about Take Me Now. The writing itself was good. The concept behind the story was good. It had a really strong opening that drew me in and made me curious. The book evoked emotion in me - rage at the characters who deserved it (and sometimes those who didn’t, just because of their actions), sympathy (for Eric especially), and I thought the characters' emotions - love, anger, confusion, jealousy, etc - really came across well.
What I didn’t like: the characters were way too dramatic. They overreacted to everything and created a ton of drama, but there were few actual consequences to their actions. I didn’t feel the romance; it was what I would consider instalove - Ivy and Eric became so obsessed with each other but they didn’t actually know anything about each other or spend that much time together. I despised Lauren, Will, and Ryan, and wished more than once that Ivy would grow a backbone and tell them all to go fly a kite in the middle of traffic during a lightning storm. I kept hoping I’d connect to Ivy and Eric, but I never did. Their behaviour and actions and poor decision-making skills often prevented me from even liking either of them, so it made it hard to connect with them.
Even though I didn’t enjoy Take Me Now, I always encourage people to try books for themselves. Just because it’s not a new favourite of mine doesn’t mean it won’t be a new favourite of yours. If you enjoy contemporary new adult with a lot of angst and drama (hey, it’s some people’s cup of tea!), I say give this one a shot. I enjoyed Sullivan’s writing enough that I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another of her books in the future and hope for better results.
July 27, 2013
Received an ARC from the Author for an honest review
4.0 stars
This book grabbed my attention at the prologue. I wanted to know who this man was that was stirring such a reaction that his leaving reduced a woman to a pile of tears.
Ivy Thompson is a girl in her early 20's trying to complete an internship at a small town paper over the summer. She will be working with her childhood friend Ryan and for his stepsister, Lauren Price.
Eric Young is 24 yr old man that has suffered more than his share of loss. Closed off for almost 2 yrs from all emotional attachments while he tries to put his life back together. Having your tragedy make national news will do that.
First order of business for Ivy is to secure a check from the local theater and speak with Eric Young, the owner of the Garden Center, the object of Lauren Price's desire. While at the theater Ivy runs into Will Carter, her first kiss and longtime school crush, who never gave her the time of day. Old feelings of inadequacy surface and she leaves there with her world spinning. By the time she meets up with Eric at the Garden Center she's a mess having walked over a mile after her car runs out of gas. But her appearance sparks something within Eric and he makes her head spin even more.
I did not like Lauren from the start. A spoiled,little rich girl always used to getting her way regardless of the wreckage she leaves in her wake. Her step-brother Ryan, was no different. Staking a claim to his childhood friend and trying to take what he thought he should have. And, Will, The Hollywood wanna be that would use any situation or person to suit his needs for advancement and recognition, he actually surprised me.
The story had some good twists and turns that kept me involved. I mean who doesn't love a little deception, blackmail and an emotional ride. The author showed a realistic tug of war of emotions between the characters and within the characters. I was pulling for Ivy and Eric to find some sense of peace and maybe even a Happy Ever After. The end of the story took me by surprise so I am looking forward to where Ivy and Eric's story will go in Meant For Me coming December 2013.
4.0 stars
This book grabbed my attention at the prologue. I wanted to know who this man was that was stirring such a reaction that his leaving reduced a woman to a pile of tears.
Ivy Thompson is a girl in her early 20's trying to complete an internship at a small town paper over the summer. She will be working with her childhood friend Ryan and for his stepsister, Lauren Price.
Eric Young is 24 yr old man that has suffered more than his share of loss. Closed off for almost 2 yrs from all emotional attachments while he tries to put his life back together. Having your tragedy make national news will do that.
First order of business for Ivy is to secure a check from the local theater and speak with Eric Young, the owner of the Garden Center, the object of Lauren Price's desire. While at the theater Ivy runs into Will Carter, her first kiss and longtime school crush, who never gave her the time of day. Old feelings of inadequacy surface and she leaves there with her world spinning. By the time she meets up with Eric at the Garden Center she's a mess having walked over a mile after her car runs out of gas. But her appearance sparks something within Eric and he makes her head spin even more.
I did not like Lauren from the start. A spoiled,little rich girl always used to getting her way regardless of the wreckage she leaves in her wake. Her step-brother Ryan, was no different. Staking a claim to his childhood friend and trying to take what he thought he should have. And, Will, The Hollywood wanna be that would use any situation or person to suit his needs for advancement and recognition, he actually surprised me.
The story had some good twists and turns that kept me involved. I mean who doesn't love a little deception, blackmail and an emotional ride. The author showed a realistic tug of war of emotions between the characters and within the characters. I was pulling for Ivy and Eric to find some sense of peace and maybe even a Happy Ever After. The end of the story took me by surprise so I am looking forward to where Ivy and Eric's story will go in Meant For Me coming December 2013.
August 1, 2013
Looking forward to her coming internship, Ivy does her best to comply with the prerequisites of her current course before the summer break rolls in. She's been given a new assignment, and as an up-and-coming reporter, she'll do everything possible to get the job done. She needs her boss's recommendation if she's to transfer to her college's main campus in the fall. Unfortunately, Lauren isn't that forthcoming as a person. Never-the-less, she's going to do her best to make sure she gets to where she wants to be.
Diving into her assignment, Ivy soon meets the enigmatic Eric. He's beautiful and reserved, and piques her interest in more ways than one. Though, she won't admit it. Her heart clamors for another, and she refuses to let go of what Will means to her. Determined to keep things professional, she gives things her all despite the fact that her heart keeps tugging in the wrong direction. The more time she spends with Eric, the more she finds herself drawn to him.
Ivy's life is thrown into limbo when Lauren catches wind of the fact that she's spending more time with Eric than she should. It's not her fault that Eric is easy to get along with. He's a good man, and it shows, even if he has a couple secrets he guards closely. She understands his pain, though. She's been through enough scrapes to truly know where he's coming from. If they're to succeed in making something of what's growing between them, Ivy knows he'll need to let go of the past. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done.
Drawing the reader's interest from the get-go, Take Me Now is definitely a story that will take you for an unexpected ride. It opens with a thought-provoking prologue that leaves you wondering where the story will go next. Granted, as the story progresses, it doesn't quite explain what happens at the beginning of the book. But that's what a series is for, right? I'm willing to bet that book two will get to the heart of the matter, and we'll get to learn what the prologue is all about. I honestly can't wait to see what comes next for Ivy, Eric, and Will.
Diving into her assignment, Ivy soon meets the enigmatic Eric. He's beautiful and reserved, and piques her interest in more ways than one. Though, she won't admit it. Her heart clamors for another, and she refuses to let go of what Will means to her. Determined to keep things professional, she gives things her all despite the fact that her heart keeps tugging in the wrong direction. The more time she spends with Eric, the more she finds herself drawn to him.
Ivy's life is thrown into limbo when Lauren catches wind of the fact that she's spending more time with Eric than she should. It's not her fault that Eric is easy to get along with. He's a good man, and it shows, even if he has a couple secrets he guards closely. She understands his pain, though. She's been through enough scrapes to truly know where he's coming from. If they're to succeed in making something of what's growing between them, Ivy knows he'll need to let go of the past. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done.
Drawing the reader's interest from the get-go, Take Me Now is definitely a story that will take you for an unexpected ride. It opens with a thought-provoking prologue that leaves you wondering where the story will go next. Granted, as the story progresses, it doesn't quite explain what happens at the beginning of the book. But that's what a series is for, right? I'm willing to bet that book two will get to the heart of the matter, and we'll get to learn what the prologue is all about. I honestly can't wait to see what comes next for Ivy, Eric, and Will.
August 25, 2013
I received an ARC of Take Me Now from Faith Sullivan in exchange for a honest review, and I have to say, I was pretty excited. New Adult and Romance equals two boxes ticked in my book, so I couldn’t wait to get my teeth stuck in to it.
Our main character, Ivy, was very likeable, and when she gets a role as an intern at the Independent Gazette and her boss is arch enemy Lauren. I did feel sorry for her.
Ivy meets Eric and forms a pretty much insta-attraction to this sexy young landscaper, much to Lauren’s chagrin. And, while Eric does have certain feelings for Ivy (he’s determined to make her his!) a tragic event in his past prevents him from moving forward, resulting in a lot of emotional turmoil and drama.
I felt the plot of this book had a lot of strong elements. There was action, drama, love and some intense physical moments that definitely pulled me in as a reader. I really loved the character of Lauren, too. I thought, for a bad chick, she was pretty believable and very strong-willed.
I did have one tiny qualm with the story, and it’s the issue of how quickly Ivy and Eric fell in love. This is a personal thing for me, it drives me crazy when two characters meet up a couple of times and then — BAM! — it’s on like, erm, married Donkey Kong.
HAVING SAID THAT lots of people LOVE that kind of thing, and it certainly didn’t ruin the book for me.
Full review on blog. http://aussieownedandread.com/2013/08...
Our main character, Ivy, was very likeable, and when she gets a role as an intern at the Independent Gazette and her boss is arch enemy Lauren. I did feel sorry for her.
Ivy meets Eric and forms a pretty much insta-attraction to this sexy young landscaper, much to Lauren’s chagrin. And, while Eric does have certain feelings for Ivy (he’s determined to make her his!) a tragic event in his past prevents him from moving forward, resulting in a lot of emotional turmoil and drama.
I felt the plot of this book had a lot of strong elements. There was action, drama, love and some intense physical moments that definitely pulled me in as a reader. I really loved the character of Lauren, too. I thought, for a bad chick, she was pretty believable and very strong-willed.
I did have one tiny qualm with the story, and it’s the issue of how quickly Ivy and Eric fell in love. This is a personal thing for me, it drives me crazy when two characters meet up a couple of times and then — BAM! — it’s on like, erm, married Donkey Kong.
HAVING SAID THAT lots of people LOVE that kind of thing, and it certainly didn’t ruin the book for me.
Full review on blog. http://aussieownedandread.com/2013/08...
August 25, 2013
So, in case you haven't noticed, I'm kind of in love with Faith's books. I <3 them! And TMN was no exception. It completely made me think of a mix of The Devil Wears Prada (with the crazy witch of a boss) and The Notebook (with the amazing guy who has this awesome house built/fixed up for the woman he loves). And wow, Eric, gah, what a heart-rending story! Definitely loved him and all that he was willing to do for Ivy. The other thing that I love about Faith's work is that the characters are so real, so flawed, and so lovable. She has the perfect knack for creating someone with words who just begs to be adored, despite all of the things that happened to them. Honestly, I could totally see Ivy walking into any of my classes, and wouldn't have been surprised to have Eric help me out buying plants at the local nursery. Love that! Overall, a fun and sweet read, and I can't wait for the next book!
December 11, 2013
Oh my god!!! I love this book soooooo much. I love all the characters. I would say Ivy is my favorite. I felt so sorry for her it seems Ike she really has bad taste in men. I thought Eric was alright, I felt sorry for him and the loss he had with both his fiancé and unborn child dying. But when he lashed out at Ivy at the end it killed me. I know he had a reason for it with Ivy wearing the clothes of his dead fiancé but to lash out at her that bad is uncalled for, she didn't know whose shirt it was. I loved the book so much the ending was shocking, I can't wait for book two!!!
December 2, 2013
4.5 stars wow a big thank you to the author Faith Sullivan for my arc copy of take me now.This book started off a little slow but I carried on then pow out of no where I was hooked.Ivy has started an internship but the woman who she's working for is not very nice but Ivy knows keep her head down work hard and she will be ok right ????? Now anyone who has read my reviews knows I love books where I don't know and can't work out what's going to happen next well this is one of them books.I definitely recommend this book as I have really enjoyed it.
September 4, 2013
I've got warm and fuzzys all over. I loved this soooooo much! Faith Sullivan you're pretty damn awesome. Finally a guy I can call home and talk to mom about! xoxo!
Oh Adam.....*sigh*...it's not you it's me. Oh my goodness that sounds like a break up speech! Retract, RETRACT.
*ERASE & start again* Adam you're cool, but Eric's cooler. I don't want no guy guy, I just want a shy guy.
Oh Adam.....*sigh*...it's not you it's me. Oh my goodness that sounds like a break up speech! Retract, RETRACT.
*ERASE & start again* Adam you're cool, but Eric's cooler. I don't want no guy guy, I just want a shy guy.
June 6, 2014
I tried really hard to read this book properly until the end but I just couldn't, I had to skim through the pages in the end. The story was so unrealistic and weak and I just couldn't engage with the characters at all. I felt at times the characters were doing and saying things that were totally out of their character. Bizarre storyline and even stranger characters.
Want to read
February 19, 2014Amazon Freebie 2/19/14
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DVS8ZT6/r...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DVS8ZT6/r...
September 6, 2014
This was just ridiculous. The characters and their relationships had absolutely no development and that just made their obnoxious behavior even more unbelievable.
July 2, 2020
DNF. I tried to read this. I failed.
November 22, 2014
Good after the first chapters
Hard to follow who is who and how they are tied at first. Everything falls into place for a great story.
Hard to follow who is who and how they are tied at first. Everything falls into place for a great story.
February 23, 2015
It made me so glad to know that I won't have to go through my twenties again.
September 3, 2013
Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2013/08/book-review-take-me-now-take-me-now-1.html
Take Me Now is a New Adult Romance that follows a young woman named Ivy. Ivy wants to become a journalist and has landed a summer job at a local newspaper. Ivy is very excited until she meets her boss Lauren, who may be the devil. Lauren sends Ivy on her first job and meets a guy named Eric she can't quite get out of her head. This one meeting is about to change her life completely. There are things at play that her and Eric can't see and may destroy them.
I knew I was going to be in for a treat when I started this, but I wish someone warned me of the roller coaster ride this book was going to send me on. Ivy was an intriguing female lead. She is a college student who wants to have a career as a journalist. She will do whatever her boss, Lauren, tells her to so she can move to the main campus. After her run in with a man named Eric, she knows she wants to see more of him. Problem is, her boss Lauren also has the hots for him. Eric can't stand Lauren because he knows she is a parasite. He has lost his wife and unborn child due to cancer. He has become a bit of a hermit after their deaths and can't even see himself with another woman. Lauren wants a story on Eric that he doesn't want to give, but Ivy will do her best to stick to his wishes. Lauren, of course, takes advantage of this.
I loved Eric. I immediately fell for him and I know a lot of others will as well. His story was very sad. Out of all the characters, he was the only one that had a real backstory. I wish there was more for the other characters, specifically Ivy. I did love them, but I just wanted to know more about them. Lauren was insane. I have seen many horror movies, I love them. But nothing has scared me quite as much as Lauren. She is manipulative and maniacal. Then there is the man Will. Will is someone Ivy has been crazy about since she was elementary school. But it seems like he is always using her, but she knows it. I was a little upset with Ivy with her reaction to Will. I know we girls can lose our minds over a guy, but Will will make you lose your dignity. I wanted to reach in and smack some sense into her. She is a smart and independent woman. But the way Will treats her makes her feel worthless. it was scary to see.
I loved all that Sullivan put into this short read. In 180 pages, she gave us lies, deceit, drama and much more. I won't spoil this for you, but just know that Lauren is not your average boss. She has her agenda and so does Will. It was very interesting seeing how this played out. I knew something was brewing, but I had no idea. I loved the instant connection between Eric and Ivy. I know some people may not be fans, but I really wanted to see Eric happy after all that has happened to him. I really felt sorry for him. He doesn't feel like he can trust anything after the love of his life has died. There are many moments when he and Ivy get so stubborn about something they saw, they never stop to think if there is more to it. This is especially during a scene between Lauren and Eric. The way Ivy acted drove me nuts. Her and Eric knew Lauren had something up her sleeve, she should have known there was more to it. But then again, given how the other characters in the book treated her, maybe she was justified.
As much as I liked this, I do have a couple of gripes. As already mentioned, more backstory would be nice. I am head over heels for these characters, but I would just like to know more. There were times when we got information that was a bit of news to me that I wish I knew earlier. For instance, the character of Ryan, Lauren's stepbrother. Now segueing into my next issue, Ryan. There is a scene in this book that I couldn't believe. I never would have thought it would happen. But what happened afterward had me even more confused. What Ivy does after the incident made no sense to me. Where is the outrage? Where is the fight? I mean, do something. I mean, I understand about his age, but that doesn't mean he should get off. He does get his just desserts from Eric (sort of), but he doesn't know the full extent of everything yet though.
I really enjoyed this book. It had me reeling and screaming at it one moment and smiling in the next. Eric was fantastic. I loved his passion and sensitivity. This does raise one big problem near the end of the book (man that was an intense scene), but I loved him. I am dying for more of this world Sullivan has given us. I just know there is more. This book is just to get your feet wet, so you won't get absolutely everything. If you want a quick read with one hell of a story, this is the perfect choice.
Take Me Now is a New Adult Romance that follows a young woman named Ivy. Ivy wants to become a journalist and has landed a summer job at a local newspaper. Ivy is very excited until she meets her boss Lauren, who may be the devil. Lauren sends Ivy on her first job and meets a guy named Eric she can't quite get out of her head. This one meeting is about to change her life completely. There are things at play that her and Eric can't see and may destroy them.
I knew I was going to be in for a treat when I started this, but I wish someone warned me of the roller coaster ride this book was going to send me on. Ivy was an intriguing female lead. She is a college student who wants to have a career as a journalist. She will do whatever her boss, Lauren, tells her to so she can move to the main campus. After her run in with a man named Eric, she knows she wants to see more of him. Problem is, her boss Lauren also has the hots for him. Eric can't stand Lauren because he knows she is a parasite. He has lost his wife and unborn child due to cancer. He has become a bit of a hermit after their deaths and can't even see himself with another woman. Lauren wants a story on Eric that he doesn't want to give, but Ivy will do her best to stick to his wishes. Lauren, of course, takes advantage of this.
I loved Eric. I immediately fell for him and I know a lot of others will as well. His story was very sad. Out of all the characters, he was the only one that had a real backstory. I wish there was more for the other characters, specifically Ivy. I did love them, but I just wanted to know more about them. Lauren was insane. I have seen many horror movies, I love them. But nothing has scared me quite as much as Lauren. She is manipulative and maniacal. Then there is the man Will. Will is someone Ivy has been crazy about since she was elementary school. But it seems like he is always using her, but she knows it. I was a little upset with Ivy with her reaction to Will. I know we girls can lose our minds over a guy, but Will will make you lose your dignity. I wanted to reach in and smack some sense into her. She is a smart and independent woman. But the way Will treats her makes her feel worthless. it was scary to see.
I loved all that Sullivan put into this short read. In 180 pages, she gave us lies, deceit, drama and much more. I won't spoil this for you, but just know that Lauren is not your average boss. She has her agenda and so does Will. It was very interesting seeing how this played out. I knew something was brewing, but I had no idea. I loved the instant connection between Eric and Ivy. I know some people may not be fans, but I really wanted to see Eric happy after all that has happened to him. I really felt sorry for him. He doesn't feel like he can trust anything after the love of his life has died. There are many moments when he and Ivy get so stubborn about something they saw, they never stop to think if there is more to it. This is especially during a scene between Lauren and Eric. The way Ivy acted drove me nuts. Her and Eric knew Lauren had something up her sleeve, she should have known there was more to it. But then again, given how the other characters in the book treated her, maybe she was justified.
As much as I liked this, I do have a couple of gripes. As already mentioned, more backstory would be nice. I am head over heels for these characters, but I would just like to know more. There were times when we got information that was a bit of news to me that I wish I knew earlier. For instance, the character of Ryan, Lauren's stepbrother. Now segueing into my next issue, Ryan. There is a scene in this book that I couldn't believe. I never would have thought it would happen. But what happened afterward had me even more confused. What Ivy does after the incident made no sense to me. Where is the outrage? Where is the fight? I mean, do something. I mean, I understand about his age, but that doesn't mean he should get off. He does get his just desserts from Eric (sort of), but he doesn't know the full extent of everything yet though.
I really enjoyed this book. It had me reeling and screaming at it one moment and smiling in the next. Eric was fantastic. I loved his passion and sensitivity. This does raise one big problem near the end of the book (man that was an intense scene), but I loved him. I am dying for more of this world Sullivan has given us. I just know there is more. This book is just to get your feet wet, so you won't get absolutely everything. If you want a quick read with one hell of a story, this is the perfect choice.
November 21, 2013
The intro to this book definitely grabbed me...the prologue was one where I was foaming at the mouth to find out who the heck the other woman was that had Ivy balling her eyes out, but then we get to the actual scene in the book and I nearly missed it...why? Because the prologue had me thinking the other woman was pregnant with his child and he was doing the "honorable" thing, but no, that wasn't it. It was actually just another misunderstanding...the kind that happened a lot in this book. The weird part is that I did like this book. However, there are some buts in here...
Ivy is a college student who takes an internship with her best friend Ryan's step-sister, Lauren. It isn't clearly defined as to why Lauren treats her horribly, but rather implied. Lauren is a self-involved, manipulative witch. That alone means she is probably horrible to all women just on principle. Throw in a younger brother that she may be potentially protective of, and yes, you could possibly see her being mean to the woman that is allegedly leading him on. If you believe that Ryan has given her that impression. And well, based on his behavior later, it is definitely plausible that he did. Ivy puts up with Lauren because she needs the credits for school and there isn't anything else available. For the most part, I liked Ivy...but there were moments when I had a "huh?" moment. For example, she claims to have loved Will since their first kiss as pre-teens...but then goes on to tell you of their history and my only thought was "what history?" That is not love...that is a crush...blind, clueless, and naive. Although she knows he treated her like crap, and she knows he is probably not into her now either, she's ready to faint at his feet and give him whatever he wants. Then there is Ryan...Ryan is her best friend who happens to be 5 years younger. You don't actually learn that until much later nor the fact that he wants more from Ivy, and she had absolutely no idea. Throw in potential rape and the brushing it off later as "I handled it" and I have to wonder where her head is. And well, I also struggled with seeing Ryan do something like that. Nowhere in the book did it hint that it could go that way. She knew him for years, and never suspected he had that in him? And then her blowing it off like it was no big deal...I actually liked Eric more for his wait and watch, to teach Ryan a lesson at some point in the future. And that brings me finally to Eric...I mentioned earlier how the prologue was a pretty great intro, and honestly, something I expected of 2 people madly, unexpectedly in love at just the wrong dang time...and yes, you kind of get that knowing Eric's history...but that isn't what that scene is about...it is Lauren that drove that scene and she just didn't have the hold on him to support it. And to be honest, that was a very emotional scene for 2 people I didn't feel where at that level just yet. Maybe because it was instant attraction / connection, but no build up. They meet, he likes, they part for a week...how and when did they get to cement that connection? Then there is him in general...he is definitely wishy-washy...first, he likes her, but it is too soon...then it is he wants her and nothing will stand in his way...then he treats her like crap over something that should have been explained, then he thinks she isn't deserving of him, then he thinks he isn't deserving of her. Eric was just all over the place, and yet I liked him when he was that strong, sweet, honest guy.
Someone else noted that this needed a bit more fleshing out...and I definitely agree. There is great potential for this story, but there were gaps that did not properly explain some things. And the end didn't quite resolve anything either, but knowing it is a trilogy, I can understand why.
Ivy is a college student who takes an internship with her best friend Ryan's step-sister, Lauren. It isn't clearly defined as to why Lauren treats her horribly, but rather implied. Lauren is a self-involved, manipulative witch. That alone means she is probably horrible to all women just on principle. Throw in a younger brother that she may be potentially protective of, and yes, you could possibly see her being mean to the woman that is allegedly leading him on. If you believe that Ryan has given her that impression. And well, based on his behavior later, it is definitely plausible that he did. Ivy puts up with Lauren because she needs the credits for school and there isn't anything else available. For the most part, I liked Ivy...but there were moments when I had a "huh?" moment. For example, she claims to have loved Will since their first kiss as pre-teens...but then goes on to tell you of their history and my only thought was "what history?" That is not love...that is a crush...blind, clueless, and naive. Although she knows he treated her like crap, and she knows he is probably not into her now either, she's ready to faint at his feet and give him whatever he wants. Then there is Ryan...Ryan is her best friend who happens to be 5 years younger. You don't actually learn that until much later nor the fact that he wants more from Ivy, and she had absolutely no idea. Throw in potential rape and the brushing it off later as "I handled it" and I have to wonder where her head is. And well, I also struggled with seeing Ryan do something like that. Nowhere in the book did it hint that it could go that way. She knew him for years, and never suspected he had that in him? And then her blowing it off like it was no big deal...I actually liked Eric more for his wait and watch, to teach Ryan a lesson at some point in the future. And that brings me finally to Eric...I mentioned earlier how the prologue was a pretty great intro, and honestly, something I expected of 2 people madly, unexpectedly in love at just the wrong dang time...and yes, you kind of get that knowing Eric's history...but that isn't what that scene is about...it is Lauren that drove that scene and she just didn't have the hold on him to support it. And to be honest, that was a very emotional scene for 2 people I didn't feel where at that level just yet. Maybe because it was instant attraction / connection, but no build up. They meet, he likes, they part for a week...how and when did they get to cement that connection? Then there is him in general...he is definitely wishy-washy...first, he likes her, but it is too soon...then it is he wants her and nothing will stand in his way...then he treats her like crap over something that should have been explained, then he thinks she isn't deserving of him, then he thinks he isn't deserving of her. Eric was just all over the place, and yet I liked him when he was that strong, sweet, honest guy.
Someone else noted that this needed a bit more fleshing out...and I definitely agree. There is great potential for this story, but there were gaps that did not properly explain some things. And the end didn't quite resolve anything either, but knowing it is a trilogy, I can understand why.
September 29, 2014
My Review:
Like faith's other works this story pulls you in and doesn't let go. She has a way with writing that you expect the unexpected, but are still surprised with the story and how much you fall into it. Its wonderful. I read this start to finish and loved every page of it. I read a ton of fantastic book, but when you ask me to recommend one, Faith's Take Me Now is one the pops to the front for her genre. It's a real page turner.
Eric and Ivy. I loved them both as characters and people and found them to be very relatable and real. I find this is always a treat with Faith's writing as well. Its Real. Full on could be real life feeling characters. If you have read her others works you know what I mean and if you haven't please go do so.
Eric. I loved him front the start. He may have a lot going on in his life, and a lot to work on, but he was a strong character. As his story unfolds you just fall for him more and more. With such loss in his past and present he has much to look forward to in the future. I hope at least :)
Ivy. I liked her as a character as well. She wasn't a favorite, but She was well-developed and I really enjoyed her. She as well as some stuff to get together in her life, but as with Eric I think she is going to get there :)
The story was a great read. It is only the first in the series so obviously we still have some to learn, but I really enjoyed the first book. Its worth the time to grab it and curl up on a rainy day. Or a not so rainy one, any day really is a good one for this book.
Synopsis:
How do you survive the internship from hell?
Don't fall in love.
Ivy thought being a reporter-in-training at the Independent Gazettewould be her dream summer job. Little did she know, interviewing Eric, a landscaper with a heart of gold, would derail her plans. It turns out Ivy's boss, Lauren, has been eying his chiseled physique for quite some time.
But at twenty-four, Eric already has a tragic past, one that he is still reeling from. Even though his ordeal turned him into some sort of local celebrity, it's been a while since he's shared his bed with anyone. When he comes to Ivy's rescue out of the blue, it's not long before the two of them start seeing each other behind Lauren's back. When they get caught, Ivy's journey toward a college degree is jeopardized and her relationship with Eric is severely put to the test.
Career versus love? In the end, a shocking turn of events provides Ivy with a revelation she never saw coming.
August 17, 2013
When I read the synopsis for Take Me Now I was super excited to get the chance to read it. I was even more excited that it was only 160 pages because my to-read pile is absolutely ridiculous! But I think this is what hurt the story. I feel like the characters weren't developed enough, and I wish they were. I have never done this before, but I think it would be easier to write this review as a list format.
What worked for me:
The story: I was really invested in the story. I HAD to know how everything was going to turn out.
Lauren Price: Lauren is Ivy's boss at the Independent Gazette. Lauren is the ultimate psycho boss from hell and she was my favorite! She was so well written and devilishly creepy! I couldn't believe some of the things she did. I like to see the good in everyone, even in book characters, but I can't find any redeeming qualities in Lauren. I would love a book focused on her that shows why she turned out the way she did. Lauren as a teenager must be terrifying!
Eric and Ivy (separately): I loved these two as separate characters. Eric was so complex and while he is so young, he has been through so much which definitely aged him. Ivy is a few years younger and is trying to make her mark in the world. She's naive and definitely a little stupid (I mean really Ivy, who did you think the shirt belonged to?), but she is also extremely relatable.
What didn't work for me:
Eric and Ivy (together): I so wanted to love these two together, but it just didn't work for me. It didn't seem realistic at all. I also didn't like that about an hour after they met, Ivy is acting like she knows everything about Eric and how he is feeling and Eric is thinking about how amazing and special Ivy is. It just seemed very forced to me.
The synopsis makes it seems that Eric is this wonderful and sweet guy with a heart of gold, but he actually gave Ivy an ultimatum! He wanted her to choose between her career or be with him. No respectable man should ever make a women choose, and that was very hard for me to get over.
The writing: It didn't flow nice for me. There were too many times where I was confused with what was going on in the story. For example, at one point in the beginning, Ivy is meeting her boss for the first time (in flip-flops no less. Really Ivy?), and in the next sentence she is in her heels running errands for the women.
I might not have been the biggest fan of Take Me Now but I have heard wonderful things about Faith Sullivan. I am excited to read some of her other works.
What worked for me:
The story: I was really invested in the story. I HAD to know how everything was going to turn out.
Lauren Price: Lauren is Ivy's boss at the Independent Gazette. Lauren is the ultimate psycho boss from hell and she was my favorite! She was so well written and devilishly creepy! I couldn't believe some of the things she did. I like to see the good in everyone, even in book characters, but I can't find any redeeming qualities in Lauren. I would love a book focused on her that shows why she turned out the way she did. Lauren as a teenager must be terrifying!
Eric and Ivy (separately): I loved these two as separate characters. Eric was so complex and while he is so young, he has been through so much which definitely aged him. Ivy is a few years younger and is trying to make her mark in the world. She's naive and definitely a little stupid (I mean really Ivy, who did you think the shirt belonged to?), but she is also extremely relatable.
What didn't work for me:
Eric and Ivy (together): I so wanted to love these two together, but it just didn't work for me. It didn't seem realistic at all. I also didn't like that about an hour after they met, Ivy is acting like she knows everything about Eric and how he is feeling and Eric is thinking about how amazing and special Ivy is. It just seemed very forced to me.
The synopsis makes it seems that Eric is this wonderful and sweet guy with a heart of gold, but he actually gave Ivy an ultimatum! He wanted her to choose between her career or be with him. No respectable man should ever make a women choose, and that was very hard for me to get over.
The writing: It didn't flow nice for me. There were too many times where I was confused with what was going on in the story. For example, at one point in the beginning, Ivy is meeting her boss for the first time (in flip-flops no less. Really Ivy?), and in the next sentence she is in her heels running errands for the women.
I might not have been the biggest fan of Take Me Now but I have heard wonderful things about Faith Sullivan. I am excited to read some of her other works.
August 12, 2016
Are you ready to board a rollercoaster? Because Take Me Now by Faith Sullivan is one surprising ride!
In Take Me Now, we follow Ivy who has been offered an internship at the Independent Gazette. For Ivy it's a dream coming true, until she meets her boss. Lauren is simply despicable. She is selfish and it's her way or the highway! So, when Ivy meets sexy Eric and they start getting closer, Lauren will play all her dirty cards to make sure Eric stays away from Ivy. After living in a state of numbness for two years, Eric starts to live again. Ivy is healing his heart and soul. With her by his side, life is less lonely and more complete. The closer they get together the more people try to drive them apart.
Eeeep! What a story! I have to be honest ... the beginning of the book was a bit slow paced for me, but at around 50% I was turning those pages so fast I was getting dizzy!! I wanted to know so bad what was going to happen next! I had a hard time controlling my emotions while reading this book. At one point or another Ivy, Eric, Lauren, Will and Ryan all deserved a virtual slap. Arrrrrg!!! You got to love it when a book makes you feel all these different emotions. That's what getting pulled in a story is all about. Faith Sullivan delivers!
I have neverrrrr met a trio that infuriated me like Lauren, Will and Ryan did. My kindle may have suffered a bit while reading this book :/ Ivy and Eric are suffering at the hands of these mean people. Lauren is such a *Beep!* If she would be my boss I would add salt in her coffee instead of sugar! Ha! Take that! :P This is one character that I loved to hate. She knows how to play dirty. Same goes for Will and Ryan. All these characters were very well developed which made it easier to connect with them.
I did find that Ivy and Eric's relationship was too rushed. I love when the relationship slowly builds up. Don't get me wrong ... I loved their chemistry, but I wanted them to get to know each other more and build up that sexual tension. Ivy has always been in love with Will, so when she suddenly falls for Eric in a heartbeat it left me a bit confused. Ivy and Eric had many obstacles to face to find their HEA. This book did end in a good way, but left me wanting more! Thank God that the second book is coming soon :) I can't wait to find out what all these characters are up to.
I give Take Me Now by Faith Sullivan 4 turbulent, exciting, enjoyable stars! I am positive that the next two books, which complete the trilogy, will be awesome.
In Take Me Now, we follow Ivy who has been offered an internship at the Independent Gazette. For Ivy it's a dream coming true, until she meets her boss. Lauren is simply despicable. She is selfish and it's her way or the highway! So, when Ivy meets sexy Eric and they start getting closer, Lauren will play all her dirty cards to make sure Eric stays away from Ivy. After living in a state of numbness for two years, Eric starts to live again. Ivy is healing his heart and soul. With her by his side, life is less lonely and more complete. The closer they get together the more people try to drive them apart.
Eeeep! What a story! I have to be honest ... the beginning of the book was a bit slow paced for me, but at around 50% I was turning those pages so fast I was getting dizzy!! I wanted to know so bad what was going to happen next! I had a hard time controlling my emotions while reading this book. At one point or another Ivy, Eric, Lauren, Will and Ryan all deserved a virtual slap. Arrrrrg!!! You got to love it when a book makes you feel all these different emotions. That's what getting pulled in a story is all about. Faith Sullivan delivers!
I have neverrrrr met a trio that infuriated me like Lauren, Will and Ryan did. My kindle may have suffered a bit while reading this book :/ Ivy and Eric are suffering at the hands of these mean people. Lauren is such a *Beep!* If she would be my boss I would add salt in her coffee instead of sugar! Ha! Take that! :P This is one character that I loved to hate. She knows how to play dirty. Same goes for Will and Ryan. All these characters were very well developed which made it easier to connect with them.
I did find that Ivy and Eric's relationship was too rushed. I love when the relationship slowly builds up. Don't get me wrong ... I loved their chemistry, but I wanted them to get to know each other more and build up that sexual tension. Ivy has always been in love with Will, so when she suddenly falls for Eric in a heartbeat it left me a bit confused. Ivy and Eric had many obstacles to face to find their HEA. This book did end in a good way, but left me wanting more! Thank God that the second book is coming soon :) I can't wait to find out what all these characters are up to.
I give Take Me Now by Faith Sullivan 4 turbulent, exciting, enjoyable stars! I am positive that the next two books, which complete the trilogy, will be awesome.
September 3, 2013
This book was not at all what I expected. I went into it thinking it would be a cutesy romance, but it's actually darker than that. The story is of a girl named Ivy who was given an opportunity at a newspaper for an internship. She got this job through her childhood friend, Ryan. His stepsister runs/owns the paper and turns out to be a malicious -----.
Her first assignments lead her to two different men, one of which was her crush since she was in grade school. Will, the former crush, is a complete tool. He's arrogant and essentially has used Ivy their entire lives for his enjoyment, maybe? He led her on and she pined for him. She believes this is her chance to finally have him. After leaving Will, she meets another man, Eric. He is the exact opposite of Will, but unfortunately has a tragic past that he has yet to recover from. Ivy and Eric have an instant spark of attraction, however, she's still a bit caught up on the childhood dream of dating her crush. A few things happen and she realizes that her feelings for Eric are much stronger and real than they ever were for Will. But there's a problem. Lauren, her boss has been trying to claim Eric for her own and will stop at nothing to get in her way.
This book is pretty short so there's not a lot of time for the romance to get set up. You just have to feel their instant connection and believe in it. I felt the characters were mostly well-developed, but I was confused initially about a few things (Ryan's age was a big one). Ryan, Lauren, and Will are downright scandalous and self-serving. The word despicable doesn't even begin to cover their height of their plotting. And to be honest, Ryan comes off as the worst of the lot. I loved Eric. The man dealt with (and still is) a lot but is still living his life the best he can. Ivy walks into his life and turns his world upside down. I thought their relationship was cute, even though it was filled with turmoil in the beginning. I wasn't shocked by the development at the end of the book, but I will say it made me happy and gave me hope. One thing I still haven't figured out is where the prologue fits into the story. I'm not sure if it's a scene that's still to come, or if was a part near the middle of this book.
Take Me Now is an easy read, but also a bit darker than the typical contemporary romance. Since it's the first of a series, things aren't all resolved, so beware before you decide to read.
Her first assignments lead her to two different men, one of which was her crush since she was in grade school. Will, the former crush, is a complete tool. He's arrogant and essentially has used Ivy their entire lives for his enjoyment, maybe? He led her on and she pined for him. She believes this is her chance to finally have him. After leaving Will, she meets another man, Eric. He is the exact opposite of Will, but unfortunately has a tragic past that he has yet to recover from. Ivy and Eric have an instant spark of attraction, however, she's still a bit caught up on the childhood dream of dating her crush. A few things happen and she realizes that her feelings for Eric are much stronger and real than they ever were for Will. But there's a problem. Lauren, her boss has been trying to claim Eric for her own and will stop at nothing to get in her way.
This book is pretty short so there's not a lot of time for the romance to get set up. You just have to feel their instant connection and believe in it. I felt the characters were mostly well-developed, but I was confused initially about a few things (Ryan's age was a big one). Ryan, Lauren, and Will are downright scandalous and self-serving. The word despicable doesn't even begin to cover their height of their plotting. And to be honest, Ryan comes off as the worst of the lot. I loved Eric. The man dealt with (and still is) a lot but is still living his life the best he can. Ivy walks into his life and turns his world upside down. I thought their relationship was cute, even though it was filled with turmoil in the beginning. I wasn't shocked by the development at the end of the book, but I will say it made me happy and gave me hope. One thing I still haven't figured out is where the prologue fits into the story. I'm not sure if it's a scene that's still to come, or if was a part near the middle of this book.
Take Me Now is an easy read, but also a bit darker than the typical contemporary romance. Since it's the first of a series, things aren't all resolved, so beware before you decide to read.
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