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Beautiful Chances
After losing her parents and sister in a tragic car accident, Lily distances herself from those still around her. As she solely focuses on her work, she refuses to form any emotional attachments in fear of struggling through another unbearable loss.
…until Kyle enters her life with his possessive and overbearing personality. Instead of running, Lily finds herself drawn to him. Helping her on a path to healing, Kyle stands by her side and lends her his strength.
A bond is formed, but it is tested when the unthinkable happens.
Can taking a chance on love conquer all?
Book contains mature content. Full length novel of approximately 97k words.
…until Kyle enters her life with his possessive and overbearing personality. Instead of running, Lily finds herself drawn to him. Helping her on a path to healing, Kyle stands by her side and lends her his strength.
A bond is formed, but it is tested when the unthinkable happens.
Can taking a chance on love conquer all?
Book contains mature content. Full length novel of approximately 97k words.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2013
111 people are currently reading
2391 people want to read
About the author
Alicia Rae
21 books607 followersAlicia Rae is a Contemporary Romance Author who lives in Dekalb, Illinois, with her husband and three beautiful boys. Alicia has a passion for reading all types of romance, writing to bring a story to life, and photography.
Thank you to my loving husband, for not throwing away my Nook, and planting the seed of writing into my mind. I am forever grateful. Xo
Readers, words cannot thank you enough for supporting me along this incredible journey. I hope you enjoy my novels as much as I do writing them. I thank each and every one of you.
Believe in yourself and follow your dreams...
Thank you to my loving husband, for not throwing away my Nook, and planting the seed of writing into my mind. I am forever grateful. Xo
Readers, words cannot thank you enough for supporting me along this incredible journey. I hope you enjoy my novels as much as I do writing them. I thank each and every one of you.
Believe in yourself and follow your dreams...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
September 19, 2013
This is my first official blog tour and I'm so excited to be participating!
Beautiful Chances is a story about Lily. Lily has lost her family and run to Florida in order to sort out her life and to maybe to run from her grief and guilt. But we all know you can't run from either of those things. So she struggles with nightmares and relationships. Kyle just sort of shows up and takes over everything. One day he wasn't there, the next day he was and he wormed his way into every nook and cranny of Lily's life. She of course allowed it and off we went on their journey.
For me I found Kyle more on the creepy side and less on the sexy alpha male side. He was saying things like "you're mine" after the first date. You never really get a good idea of how old he is either and I just assumed he was much much older than Lily. The day he meets her she falls asleep on the beach only to wake up in his arms as he carries her off. Instead of being freaked the hell out, she's calm. She enjoys the way he smells. She enjoys his arms around her.
WTH
A STRANGER picks you up while you're sleeping and is carrying you off and you're okay with that? I'm not buying it.
Lily is a 24 yr old virgin. Oh and she's never had an orgasm either. Kyle immediately acts like they've been dating forever. There's no learning curve no sexual tension no mystery. He comes on way too strong and innocent, naive Lily is fine with it. And then she happily gives up said virginity after just 5 days. I didn't get it. I didn't feel the connection.
I was very very frustrated. This entire book felt extremely rushed. I never felt like I got a chance to really know any of the characters. They were just sort of there on the pages. They would say their lines and move on to the next. If there was a scene with some angst, I found myself getting excited. Only to be let down because Lily would just decide that it wasn't worth getting upset about and boom next thing you know she and Kyle would be smiling and carrying on as if nothing happened.
I think my favorite character in the book is Luke. He at least showed some real emotion. It was obvious he had feelings for Lily. Although his immediate declarations in the face of Kyle were a little strange to me. But I could look past that. He struggled wanting more then just a friendship. They at least had years of history together.
The sex scenes although explicit were not exciting. They too felt rushed and lacked passion. It almost too clinical. A few pumps both have an oragsm next thing you know he's tucking her to his side an off to sleep they go.
I get that in real life LMAO.
I want a little more juicy detail in my books.
I don't have too many pet peeves when it comes to reading but I do have a few. No matter how hard I try to ignore them they stick out like a sore thumb. Please refrain from ever using the following words
WHEN SPOKEN BY THE MAN
BEGUILE
RAVISH
I'm sorry men don't say those words.
EVER
EVER EVER
If I ask my husband to repeat them for me he just looks at me like I have two heads.
The synopsis says...
Yea I have no idea what that is. I re-read the ending just to make sure I wasn't missing something. I mean there's some angst but that's about it. I was expecting some big cliffhanger. There is a bit of a cliffhanger but not really. It just sort of ends. There's obviously more story to tell though.
Beautiful Chances is a story about Lily. Lily has lost her family and run to Florida in order to sort out her life and to maybe to run from her grief and guilt. But we all know you can't run from either of those things. So she struggles with nightmares and relationships. Kyle just sort of shows up and takes over everything. One day he wasn't there, the next day he was and he wormed his way into every nook and cranny of Lily's life. She of course allowed it and off we went on their journey.
For me I found Kyle more on the creepy side and less on the sexy alpha male side. He was saying things like "you're mine" after the first date. You never really get a good idea of how old he is either and I just assumed he was much much older than Lily. The day he meets her she falls asleep on the beach only to wake up in his arms as he carries her off. Instead of being freaked the hell out, she's calm. She enjoys the way he smells. She enjoys his arms around her.
WTH
A STRANGER picks you up while you're sleeping and is carrying you off and you're okay with that? I'm not buying it.
Lily is a 24 yr old virgin. Oh and she's never had an orgasm either. Kyle immediately acts like they've been dating forever. There's no learning curve no sexual tension no mystery. He comes on way too strong and innocent, naive Lily is fine with it. And then she happily gives up said virginity after just 5 days. I didn't get it. I didn't feel the connection.
I was very very frustrated. This entire book felt extremely rushed. I never felt like I got a chance to really know any of the characters. They were just sort of there on the pages. They would say their lines and move on to the next. If there was a scene with some angst, I found myself getting excited. Only to be let down because Lily would just decide that it wasn't worth getting upset about and boom next thing you know she and Kyle would be smiling and carrying on as if nothing happened.
I think my favorite character in the book is Luke. He at least showed some real emotion. It was obvious he had feelings for Lily. Although his immediate declarations in the face of Kyle were a little strange to me. But I could look past that. He struggled wanting more then just a friendship. They at least had years of history together.
The sex scenes although explicit were not exciting. They too felt rushed and lacked passion. It almost too clinical. A few pumps both have an oragsm next thing you know he's tucking her to his side an off to sleep they go.
I get that in real life LMAO.
I want a little more juicy detail in my books.
I don't have too many pet peeves when it comes to reading but I do have a few. No matter how hard I try to ignore them they stick out like a sore thumb. Please refrain from ever using the following words
WHEN SPOKEN BY THE MAN
BEGUILE
RAVISH
I'm sorry men don't say those words.
EVER
EVER EVER
If I ask my husband to repeat them for me he just looks at me like I have two heads.
The synopsis says...
A bond is formed, but it is tested when the unthinkable happens.
Yea I have no idea what that is. I re-read the ending just to make sure I wasn't missing something. I mean there's some angst but that's about it. I was expecting some big cliffhanger. There is a bit of a cliffhanger but not really. It just sort of ends. There's obviously more story to tell though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2016
2.5 stars for effort.
The thought was good, but execution and development clearly lacked. Some things like characters' actions and sequence of events just weren't cohesive enough to be a "good" story.
The thought was good, but execution and development clearly lacked. Some things like characters' actions and sequence of events just weren't cohesive enough to be a "good" story.
Want to read
March 26, 2014FREE today on Amazon US (3/25/2014).
http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Chanc...
http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Chanc...
September 10, 2013
Wow... This book had me hooked from the beginning, anxiously turning the pages at the intensity of Kyle and Lily's story. I was immediately drawn to Kyle. Highly recommended! I cannot wait for more of their story!!!
September 15, 2013
** An ARC was kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review **
4 Stars
Let me start by saying that this book was quite the enjoyable read. I found myself smiling and giggling through most of the book. I liked how the author showed the true side of grief. She didn't sugar coat it and/or make it go away quickly. We follow the journey of Lily trying to get her life back after the tragic loss of her whole family. Now I know you are probably thinking...depressing right?!?! But let me say this book wasn't depressing at all. Yes the parts where Lily relives the accident are sad, but they aren't lingered on so it doesn't bring the whole mood of the book down. I think Kyle was also a great addition to Lily's life. He was her ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. It was great to see how Lily grew throughout the course of the book. This book definitely kept me entertained. I was hooked from the very first page all the way to the very last. The author even added a bit of mystery and suspense into to the story (she only touches and hints that there is something coming. I think I have it figured out, but I guess I have to wait until book 2 to know if I am right. That part of the story is not finished in book 1.) I felt she gave us just enough mystery to keep you wanting to turn the page. It worked, bc I couldn't seem to turn them fast enough. I kept having this feeling that something bad was going to happen. Of course I'm not going to tell you if something happened, you'll need to read the book to find out. I will say that I really enjoyed that this book wasn't chocked full of unneeded drama. To me that is refreshing!!!
As for the main couple of the story...Lily and Kyle. What fantastic characters the author created. One thing I did have to keep reminding myself about was their ages...they are both early-mid 20's but at times their conversations and behavior was that of someone in their 30's. They were both very mature for their ages. Lily was a broken shell of a person. After her family is tragically taken from her she carried a lot of guilt and decided to run away to Florida, to try to heal. What I think Lily learned through this story is that you can't runaway and hope that your problems won't follow you, because they always do. She stumbled upon Kyle just by happenstance. Kyle was great….he was actually almost to good to be true. In the beginning I kept thinking that he was hiding something and that his motives weren't true, but that was not the case. He was such a strong support for Lily throughout the book. What I loved the most about this couple was that they were a functional couple…they stayed together and worked through their issues. We don't see that very often in books these days. Now don't get me wrong they had their fair share of issues come up, but they dealt with them together. I loved watching their relationship grow….i felt the speed that they went on was very believable. I am excited to see where book 2 takes their Journey.
I will give you a heads up this book does end on a small cliffhanger. It isn't that bad of one that you will lose sleep but it was enough to keep you wanting more. I am curious to see what Lily will do and what her answer will be. Want to know what I am talking about…then you will need to read this book. Thankfully Book 2 is coming out October 29th. :)
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a love story that also deals with grief and getting over your fears, but also likes a little suspense to keep you on your toes. This book also had just the right amount of steam. I loved Kyle's Alpha/Sexy side….he sure knows how to talk dirty…. LOL ;)
Reviewed for www.bookbitchesblog.com
4 Stars
Let me start by saying that this book was quite the enjoyable read. I found myself smiling and giggling through most of the book. I liked how the author showed the true side of grief. She didn't sugar coat it and/or make it go away quickly. We follow the journey of Lily trying to get her life back after the tragic loss of her whole family. Now I know you are probably thinking...depressing right?!?! But let me say this book wasn't depressing at all. Yes the parts where Lily relives the accident are sad, but they aren't lingered on so it doesn't bring the whole mood of the book down. I think Kyle was also a great addition to Lily's life. He was her ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. It was great to see how Lily grew throughout the course of the book. This book definitely kept me entertained. I was hooked from the very first page all the way to the very last. The author even added a bit of mystery and suspense into to the story (she only touches and hints that there is something coming. I think I have it figured out, but I guess I have to wait until book 2 to know if I am right. That part of the story is not finished in book 1.) I felt she gave us just enough mystery to keep you wanting to turn the page. It worked, bc I couldn't seem to turn them fast enough. I kept having this feeling that something bad was going to happen. Of course I'm not going to tell you if something happened, you'll need to read the book to find out. I will say that I really enjoyed that this book wasn't chocked full of unneeded drama. To me that is refreshing!!!
As for the main couple of the story...Lily and Kyle. What fantastic characters the author created. One thing I did have to keep reminding myself about was their ages...they are both early-mid 20's but at times their conversations and behavior was that of someone in their 30's. They were both very mature for their ages. Lily was a broken shell of a person. After her family is tragically taken from her she carried a lot of guilt and decided to run away to Florida, to try to heal. What I think Lily learned through this story is that you can't runaway and hope that your problems won't follow you, because they always do. She stumbled upon Kyle just by happenstance. Kyle was great….he was actually almost to good to be true. In the beginning I kept thinking that he was hiding something and that his motives weren't true, but that was not the case. He was such a strong support for Lily throughout the book. What I loved the most about this couple was that they were a functional couple…they stayed together and worked through their issues. We don't see that very often in books these days. Now don't get me wrong they had their fair share of issues come up, but they dealt with them together. I loved watching their relationship grow….i felt the speed that they went on was very believable. I am excited to see where book 2 takes their Journey.
I will give you a heads up this book does end on a small cliffhanger. It isn't that bad of one that you will lose sleep but it was enough to keep you wanting more. I am curious to see what Lily will do and what her answer will be. Want to know what I am talking about…then you will need to read this book. Thankfully Book 2 is coming out October 29th. :)
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a love story that also deals with grief and getting over your fears, but also likes a little suspense to keep you on your toes. This book also had just the right amount of steam. I loved Kyle's Alpha/Sexy side….he sure knows how to talk dirty…. LOL ;)
Reviewed for www.bookbitchesblog.com
September 16, 2013
After the tragic accident, in which her sister and parents died (she was driving), she´s trying to move on with her life. She blames herself for their deaths. But she still hasn´t move on. She still has the big baggage on her back. The grief. The pain. The sadness. She can´t leave the past behind.
She met Kyle at the beach while she was writing. They instantly connected. The attraction between then is powerful.
Lily is a writer and a photographer. She is broken, vulnerable, sad. She can´t forgive herself. She needs to do it in order to move on.
She needs to accept that it wasn´t her fault. That accidents happens and there isn´t anything we can do about it.
Kyle´s hot, sexy, tattooed, businessman, possessive, caring, sweet, forthcoming, knows what he wants
Their love is powerful, intense.
Beautiful. Emotional. A story that will touch you in so many ways. A story about loss, pain, sadness, grief, love.
Lily´s and Kyle´s story got me enraptured more and more from page to page.
Can´t wait for the second book and the rest of their story.
≧◔◡◔≦ 5 ✰ read ≧◉◡◉≦
>>>ARC received in exchange for an honest review<<<
She met Kyle at the beach while she was writing. They instantly connected. The attraction between then is powerful.
Lily is a writer and a photographer. She is broken, vulnerable, sad. She can´t forgive herself. She needs to do it in order to move on.
She needs to accept that it wasn´t her fault. That accidents happens and there isn´t anything we can do about it.
Kyle´s hot, sexy, tattooed, businessman, possessive, caring, sweet, forthcoming, knows what he wants
Their love is powerful, intense.
Beautiful. Emotional. A story that will touch you in so many ways. A story about loss, pain, sadness, grief, love.
Lily´s and Kyle´s story got me enraptured more and more from page to page.
Can´t wait for the second book and the rest of their story.
≧◔◡◔≦ 5 ✰ read ≧◉◡◉≦
>>>ARC received in exchange for an honest review<<<
January 23, 2015
3.75 stars
September 11, 2013
I absolutely fell in love with this book. Lily and Kyle are incredible. The physical and emotional attraction between them is so undeniable that you can almost feel the tension coming off the pages. Yes, it is a hot book but it is also an emotional one. We see the pain Lily goes through after her loss and the heartache Kyle experiences not knowing how to help her. You will laugh, get angry, and cry throughout this book. Loved it...
September 20, 2013
*ARC received from Author for Honest Review*
I loved this book. It was a great story about overcoming grief and finding love when you least expect it. Both Lily and Kyle are struck with the love bug as soon as their eyes meet. The two continue to challenge and embrace one-another making Beautiful Chances an enjoyable read.
“I loved my family dearly only for them to be taken from me. I was terrified at the thought that I could open my heart again, and just as easily, lose someone dear.”- Lily
After a car accident takes her family, Lily hides away. She runs from her cousins, her aunt, life and the world in general. She moves away to Florida where the surf and sun are her constant companions. She works as a writer and often spends countless hours writing on the beach. One day Lily happens to look up and notices someone looking back. Kyle literally crashes into her life and the two quickly form a closeness that Lily does not know if she is ready for.
“I want you, Lily. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anyone so much, and I barely just met you.” - Kyle
Kyle immerses himself in Lily’s life from the start. The bond between them may be forming fast but there is no denying the chemistry and sparks that fly. Since hiding away from life on the island, Lily only has one friend. A male friend Luke, who may or may not want more from Lily than she wants to give. It didn’t add a whole love-triangle aspect to the story but it definitely gave Kyle a reason to hone his protective and dominating instincts and boy was it HOTT!!
“It’s you I’m worried about. I see your sadness every day, and I wish I could take it away. No one should have to experience that.” - Kyle
Three years have passed since Lily has been on Sanibel Island. Her aunt continues to ask her to return home and though she promises she will ‘soon’, everyone knows she doesn’t mean it. Kyle helps Lily not only deal but come to terms with some heavy grief she suffers from the accident. She holds herself responsible and can’t understand why she is and has to be alone. But with Kyle, she’s alone no longer.
Since the accident happened and Lily began hiding, she never had normal college experiences. Things like first kisses, dates and losing her virginity are all things she writes about but can’t fully understand without experience. One of the great things about Kyle was how he pushed Lily. She was too stuck in la-la land she kept putting off life. Kyle barging in screwed up her plans and made her live in the now.
“This is where I want to be, Lily. I couldn’t leave after I laid eyes on you, and I certainly can’t leave now. I know you feel it, too.” - Kyle
Kyle is currently on the island for a business trip. He buys buildings to sell but his real passion is building and construction. When he brings Lily home to California for a mini vacation, she is blown away by the passion and dedication that radiates from his home. The two are equally accepting of each other. Kyle genuinely cares for Lily and there were quite a few ‘Aww’ moments. Plus throw in his Army experience and I was Alpha-happy.
Why I love Kyle
Kyle was a very heartfelt and genuine male character. From the first moment he lays eyes on Lily he’s stuck and he does any and everything he can to prove himself to her. He makes her problems his problems and has definitely marked himself a top book boyfriend.
“There is no way in hell I’m wearing a pink shirt. Pink shirts are for pussies.” – Kyle
For the most part this was a very light read. What I could have done without were the creepy notes and her friend Luke’s crush. Both were just too predictable and not only that, they seemed to try and add more drama to the story than was needed. Luke added a jealous tinge that was annoying and sad as he was her only friend. The ‘stalker’ was a bit corny but it did make me wish Kyle was grabbing, guarding my body. It made you curious and stuck in the back of your mind since it was obvious something suspicious was happening but it never amounted to anything at least in this book. I was and am upset that the story is not over for these two, in fact I pouted like a fifth grader when it ended. However, there was no cliff-hanger so that kept me happy. I would recommend the book for that alone!!!
I loved this book. It was a great story about overcoming grief and finding love when you least expect it. Both Lily and Kyle are struck with the love bug as soon as their eyes meet. The two continue to challenge and embrace one-another making Beautiful Chances an enjoyable read.
“I loved my family dearly only for them to be taken from me. I was terrified at the thought that I could open my heart again, and just as easily, lose someone dear.”- Lily
After a car accident takes her family, Lily hides away. She runs from her cousins, her aunt, life and the world in general. She moves away to Florida where the surf and sun are her constant companions. She works as a writer and often spends countless hours writing on the beach. One day Lily happens to look up and notices someone looking back. Kyle literally crashes into her life and the two quickly form a closeness that Lily does not know if she is ready for.
“I want you, Lily. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anyone so much, and I barely just met you.” - Kyle
Kyle immerses himself in Lily’s life from the start. The bond between them may be forming fast but there is no denying the chemistry and sparks that fly. Since hiding away from life on the island, Lily only has one friend. A male friend Luke, who may or may not want more from Lily than she wants to give. It didn’t add a whole love-triangle aspect to the story but it definitely gave Kyle a reason to hone his protective and dominating instincts and boy was it HOTT!!
“It’s you I’m worried about. I see your sadness every day, and I wish I could take it away. No one should have to experience that.” - Kyle
Three years have passed since Lily has been on Sanibel Island. Her aunt continues to ask her to return home and though she promises she will ‘soon’, everyone knows she doesn’t mean it. Kyle helps Lily not only deal but come to terms with some heavy grief she suffers from the accident. She holds herself responsible and can’t understand why she is and has to be alone. But with Kyle, she’s alone no longer.
Since the accident happened and Lily began hiding, she never had normal college experiences. Things like first kisses, dates and losing her virginity are all things she writes about but can’t fully understand without experience. One of the great things about Kyle was how he pushed Lily. She was too stuck in la-la land she kept putting off life. Kyle barging in screwed up her plans and made her live in the now.
“This is where I want to be, Lily. I couldn’t leave after I laid eyes on you, and I certainly can’t leave now. I know you feel it, too.” - Kyle
Kyle is currently on the island for a business trip. He buys buildings to sell but his real passion is building and construction. When he brings Lily home to California for a mini vacation, she is blown away by the passion and dedication that radiates from his home. The two are equally accepting of each other. Kyle genuinely cares for Lily and there were quite a few ‘Aww’ moments. Plus throw in his Army experience and I was Alpha-happy.
Why I love Kyle
Kyle was a very heartfelt and genuine male character. From the first moment he lays eyes on Lily he’s stuck and he does any and everything he can to prove himself to her. He makes her problems his problems and has definitely marked himself a top book boyfriend.
“There is no way in hell I’m wearing a pink shirt. Pink shirts are for pussies.” – Kyle
For the most part this was a very light read. What I could have done without were the creepy notes and her friend Luke’s crush. Both were just too predictable and not only that, they seemed to try and add more drama to the story than was needed. Luke added a jealous tinge that was annoying and sad as he was her only friend. The ‘stalker’ was a bit corny but it did make me wish Kyle was grabbing, guarding my body. It made you curious and stuck in the back of your mind since it was obvious something suspicious was happening but it never amounted to anything at least in this book. I was and am upset that the story is not over for these two, in fact I pouted like a fifth grader when it ended. However, there was no cliff-hanger so that kept me happy. I would recommend the book for that alone!!!
September 30, 2013
***I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ***
Three years ago 24-year-old writer Lily Tidsdale suffered a terrible loss her parents and sister died in a terrible car accident, one that she blames herself for. Not being able to cope with the guilt she leaves Colorado the place that holds too many memories and is now living a very quiet life in Florida. Concentrating on her work Lily has very few friends, never had a relationship as she chosen to stay away from making any forms of emotional attachment, because of the fear that she wouldn’t be able to cope if she suffered from another loss.
“I loved my family dearly only for them to be taken from me. I was terrified at the thought that I could open my heart again, and just as easily, lose someone dear.”- Lily
However, this starts to change when Lily meets Kyle Madison a real estate developer, he introduces himself to her saying he wants to get to know her, she tries to keep her distance, but something about him is different, she is drawn to him, and maybe Kyle is one person who could help her cope with her loss and pain, but also help her overcome her grief.
“Kyle was intense and overwhelming, and I was in way over my head. But the thought of walking away seemed impossible. I was drawn to him, and I did not understand why”~ Lily
I really liked the main characters in this one Lily was sweet, caring, but also and broken and vulnerable, my heart went out to her as she was still grieving and couldn’t forgive herself for the loss of her parents and sister. Most of the time I want to gave her a hug and say everything will be okay.
Kyle (swoon) was sweet, kind, romantic, protective, and very supportive of Lily. He was a man who likes to take charge and would do anything for Lily. He could see the pain the Lily is going through, and he wants to her help, help her with her healing. I liked how he didn’t hold back he lets Lily understand his feeling from the start.
"I want you, Lily. I want you to be mine. I've wanted you since the first second I laid eyes on you at the beach." ~ Kyle
"My sexy alpha with his badass, overbearing, hot side also had a way of showing me a sweet romantic side. He was surely never dull.”~ Lily
I loved watching their relationship grow it was powerful and intense. I loved the ways in which Kyle gets Lily to open up and how she slowly begins to let her shell crumble around her let him get close. I like them together a cute and sexy couple the dates that Kyle arranges for Lily were really thoughtful and sweet.
“Lily…what you do to me…. I can’t control it…or explain it. But you are in my mind, my thoughts, even my dreams. You beguile me.” ~ Kyle
“The man was always intoxicating, slowly working into my system and slowly taking over all my senses.” ~ Lily
I enjoyed the storyline, it was heartbreaking, but also heartwarming as you are watching Lily’s journey as she tries to lay her demons to rest, and with the help of Kyle to move forward with her life, and many times I could feel her pain. It had steamy sexy scenes; lots of passion, and plenty of cute romantic moment, it made laugh, smile and get angry. It had angst, drama and even a touch of suspense and mystery, which that kept me wanting to read more.
Towards the end of the book, I did start to get a little anxious I was satisfied with the way things were going for Lily and Kyle, and as I knew that there was no epilogue so I was expecting a big cliffhanger!!. I can tell you that there is a sort of cliffhanger, not a big one as it really didn’t leave me upset or in a bad mood, and so in the end I didn’t mind. It did leave me with a few unanswered questions, and looking forward to reading ‘My Beautiful’ the next book in the series, which is due next month as I know that Lily’s journey is not over yet.
Overall I enjoyed reading, and would recommend Beautiful Chances the debut novel from Alicia Rae a sweet and engaging story, with characters that you can’t but help warm to.
Beautiful Chances get 4 stars from me
Three years ago 24-year-old writer Lily Tidsdale suffered a terrible loss her parents and sister died in a terrible car accident, one that she blames herself for. Not being able to cope with the guilt she leaves Colorado the place that holds too many memories and is now living a very quiet life in Florida. Concentrating on her work Lily has very few friends, never had a relationship as she chosen to stay away from making any forms of emotional attachment, because of the fear that she wouldn’t be able to cope if she suffered from another loss.
“I loved my family dearly only for them to be taken from me. I was terrified at the thought that I could open my heart again, and just as easily, lose someone dear.”- Lily
However, this starts to change when Lily meets Kyle Madison a real estate developer, he introduces himself to her saying he wants to get to know her, she tries to keep her distance, but something about him is different, she is drawn to him, and maybe Kyle is one person who could help her cope with her loss and pain, but also help her overcome her grief.
“Kyle was intense and overwhelming, and I was in way over my head. But the thought of walking away seemed impossible. I was drawn to him, and I did not understand why”~ Lily
I really liked the main characters in this one Lily was sweet, caring, but also and broken and vulnerable, my heart went out to her as she was still grieving and couldn’t forgive herself for the loss of her parents and sister. Most of the time I want to gave her a hug and say everything will be okay.
Kyle (swoon) was sweet, kind, romantic, protective, and very supportive of Lily. He was a man who likes to take charge and would do anything for Lily. He could see the pain the Lily is going through, and he wants to her help, help her with her healing. I liked how he didn’t hold back he lets Lily understand his feeling from the start.
"I want you, Lily. I want you to be mine. I've wanted you since the first second I laid eyes on you at the beach." ~ Kyle
"My sexy alpha with his badass, overbearing, hot side also had a way of showing me a sweet romantic side. He was surely never dull.”~ Lily
I loved watching their relationship grow it was powerful and intense. I loved the ways in which Kyle gets Lily to open up and how she slowly begins to let her shell crumble around her let him get close. I like them together a cute and sexy couple the dates that Kyle arranges for Lily were really thoughtful and sweet.
“Lily…what you do to me…. I can’t control it…or explain it. But you are in my mind, my thoughts, even my dreams. You beguile me.” ~ Kyle
“The man was always intoxicating, slowly working into my system and slowly taking over all my senses.” ~ Lily
I enjoyed the storyline, it was heartbreaking, but also heartwarming as you are watching Lily’s journey as she tries to lay her demons to rest, and with the help of Kyle to move forward with her life, and many times I could feel her pain. It had steamy sexy scenes; lots of passion, and plenty of cute romantic moment, it made laugh, smile and get angry. It had angst, drama and even a touch of suspense and mystery, which that kept me wanting to read more.
Towards the end of the book, I did start to get a little anxious I was satisfied with the way things were going for Lily and Kyle, and as I knew that there was no epilogue so I was expecting a big cliffhanger!!. I can tell you that there is a sort of cliffhanger, not a big one as it really didn’t leave me upset or in a bad mood, and so in the end I didn’t mind. It did leave me with a few unanswered questions, and looking forward to reading ‘My Beautiful’ the next book in the series, which is due next month as I know that Lily’s journey is not over yet.
Overall I enjoyed reading, and would recommend Beautiful Chances the debut novel from Alicia Rae a sweet and engaging story, with characters that you can’t but help warm to.
Beautiful Chances get 4 stars from me
September 16, 2013
**ARC provided by the author and Literati Author Services in exchange for an honest review.**
I fell in love with this book from the second I started reading it. I have been fangirling about it for weeks and now I finally get to post my review! :)
Lily can’t find it in herself to leave Florida and go home to Colorado after her parents and sister died in a car accident three years ago. She has a traumatising past that she has been neglecting since the accident. While working at the beach, she meets Kyle- super hot! He later returns and carries her home after she falls asleep while working on the sand. He is my definition of ‘Prince Charming’.
Kyle is attracted to Lily and promises to protect her cause he can see the hurt in her eyes. They continually meet on the beach until Kyle tells her what plans he has for her on their first date. At 24 years old, Lily’s date with Kyle is her very first. Kyle just wants to get to know her; when he asks her about her parents, he realises that it is a touchy subject. Lily knows that she has not been able to deal with the accident and the death of her family. She doesn’t want to drag Kyle into her dark past but he refuses to let her walk away – SWOON!!!
Kyle slowly starts to break down the walls around her heart and she starts to finally deal with the death of her parents and sister. But when a someone starts to send her cryptic letters; is it a fan of her books or someone seeking vengeance?
Kyle’s protectiveness of her is absolutely adorable. Between his romantic gestures and his admittance of his feelings at every chance he gets; he is the perfect book boyfriend for any female reader. If only he was real!
This book ends in a somewhat happy manner but there are so many unanswered questions.
I NEED ‘MY BEAUTIFUL’ NOW!!!
I fell in love with this book from the second I started reading it. I have been fangirling about it for weeks and now I finally get to post my review! :)
Lily can’t find it in herself to leave Florida and go home to Colorado after her parents and sister died in a car accident three years ago. She has a traumatising past that she has been neglecting since the accident. While working at the beach, she meets Kyle- super hot! He later returns and carries her home after she falls asleep while working on the sand. He is my definition of ‘Prince Charming’.
Kyle is attracted to Lily and promises to protect her cause he can see the hurt in her eyes. They continually meet on the beach until Kyle tells her what plans he has for her on their first date. At 24 years old, Lily’s date with Kyle is her very first. Kyle just wants to get to know her; when he asks her about her parents, he realises that it is a touchy subject. Lily knows that she has not been able to deal with the accident and the death of her family. She doesn’t want to drag Kyle into her dark past but he refuses to let her walk away – SWOON!!!
Kyle slowly starts to break down the walls around her heart and she starts to finally deal with the death of her parents and sister. But when a someone starts to send her cryptic letters; is it a fan of her books or someone seeking vengeance?
Kyle’s protectiveness of her is absolutely adorable. Between his romantic gestures and his admittance of his feelings at every chance he gets; he is the perfect book boyfriend for any female reader. If only he was real!
This book ends in a somewhat happy manner but there are so many unanswered questions.
I NEED ‘MY BEAUTIFUL’ NOW!!!
September 20, 2013
So, I went into Beautiful Chances with only one knowledge of this book.. It has a GORGEOUS cover. I didn't even read the synopsis. I kind of like to do that every now and then just so I have no preconceived feelings about a book.
We start out learning about the heroin Lily, who has suffered a tragic horrible loss in her life and led her to the sandy beaches of Florida to start anew. Lily is very closed off and refuses to let anyone in too close in fear of losing anyone else. Lily is a romance novel writer and also enjoys photography as a hobby.. She pretty much keeps to herself other than a couple of friends she has made in her time in Florida.
One day while out on the beach shooting photos and enjoy herself she meets him.. The guy who will change her life and make her live again.. His name is Kyle... He is sexy, wealthy, and has his sights set on her immediately..
We follow their budding relationship and watch as Lily opens up and lets Kyle in in a way she has never let anyone in before. Unfortunately, in doing so she hurts her best friend.. I felt for Lily so much throughout this book. She has literally survived the un-imaginable. My heart broke over and over but thankfully, Kyle made up for it.. Kyle and ALL HIS HOTNESS.
Lawd-have-mercy. That man makes me swoon.. I can olnly relate him somewhat to a "Christian Grey" alpha but I could not get enough of him and neither could Lily:)
I rate Beautiful Chances a 4.5.. It flowed well, had a great story line, and I totally connected with Lily.
I will warn to anyone who reads- it is a cliffhanger.. There will be another book. BUT I AM EXCITED FOR THAT.
MORE KYLE. MORE HOT. MORE SEXYTIME.
If you are looking for a hot read- this one is perfect for just that.
Now, I am off to take another cold shower;)
We start out learning about the heroin Lily, who has suffered a tragic horrible loss in her life and led her to the sandy beaches of Florida to start anew. Lily is very closed off and refuses to let anyone in too close in fear of losing anyone else. Lily is a romance novel writer and also enjoys photography as a hobby.. She pretty much keeps to herself other than a couple of friends she has made in her time in Florida.
One day while out on the beach shooting photos and enjoy herself she meets him.. The guy who will change her life and make her live again.. His name is Kyle... He is sexy, wealthy, and has his sights set on her immediately..
We follow their budding relationship and watch as Lily opens up and lets Kyle in in a way she has never let anyone in before. Unfortunately, in doing so she hurts her best friend.. I felt for Lily so much throughout this book. She has literally survived the un-imaginable. My heart broke over and over but thankfully, Kyle made up for it.. Kyle and ALL HIS HOTNESS.
Lawd-have-mercy. That man makes me swoon.. I can olnly relate him somewhat to a "Christian Grey" alpha but I could not get enough of him and neither could Lily:)
I rate Beautiful Chances a 4.5.. It flowed well, had a great story line, and I totally connected with Lily.
I will warn to anyone who reads- it is a cliffhanger.. There will be another book. BUT I AM EXCITED FOR THAT.
MORE KYLE. MORE HOT. MORE SEXYTIME.
If you are looking for a hot read- this one is perfect for just that.
Now, I am off to take another cold shower;)
September 20, 2013
To start I will say I liked the Kyle character a lot! He was easy and took control over Lily and her fears. After they met it moved pretty fast in more ways than one. It was pretty steamy right away. The other aspect was the mystery sort of thrilling aspect of a stalker. Lily is not even a full person and has suffered a loss. It is an imaginable loss and she doesn't seek therapy and for that the book missed the mark. There is no way the psychological mark should have been glossed over. The fact that her Aunt, who is very forgiving and sees that it was an accident, doesn't do more for Lily and her mental health was upsetting. Under no circumstances should someone be left to heal from this type of tragedy alone, with no medication, and no therapy. I think if there was a mention that her Aunt or her beloved cousins were seeking counseling to learn how to help her I would have felt better. I dont think there is ever a way to heal from something like this alone. What the author did was show how nightmares and thoughts can haunt you.
The love story was great and didnt leave you wanting for anything. I also really enjoyed the suspense aspect of the novel. At one point when Lily is questioned about writing her book without experience I was like "YES" you said it. How can you write romance and be 24 and never experience it? I was thinking that and was doing the happy dance over Kyle and his sister when she admitted she read the book. She also told Lily that everything is on the internet. You may write a pen name, but I found out who you were...dum de dum dum dum Kyle didnt do romance but he sure did learn fast. SWOON
The love story was great and didnt leave you wanting for anything. I also really enjoyed the suspense aspect of the novel. At one point when Lily is questioned about writing her book without experience I was like "YES" you said it. How can you write romance and be 24 and never experience it? I was thinking that and was doing the happy dance over Kyle and his sister when she admitted she read the book. She also told Lily that everything is on the internet. You may write a pen name, but I found out who you were...dum de dum dum dum Kyle didnt do romance but he sure did learn fast. SWOON
November 15, 2013
(*Swoon*) ... Oh Beautiful Kyle... (*Sigh*)
What an amazing story. I purchased this right when it came but didn't start it until yesterday. I have no freaking idea why on earth I waited so long to read it. It is absolutely beautiful. I fell hard for Kyle...could he be any more perfect. He is strong, supportive, possessive, dominating, sweet, sensual, and 1000% swoonwrothy!
My heart broke for Lily and what she has gone thru. She may seem weak to some for running and pushing people away but I think she is strong. It would have been so easy for her to stay where she was and play victim or sob to any and everyone who would listen...and she did not do any of that. She worked hard and supported herself. She didn't like to burden other people with her problems even though she definitely should have had someone to confide in to help her thru it. That is why Kyle was so amazing. He could see thru to what she really needed and was always there for her. He never forced her to do anything she didn't want to do but he guided her and was always supportive.
I absolutely cannot wait to start the 2nd book...which I will be doing as soon as I'm done with this review. Im almost nervous to start it. I have a feeling there is going to be a big bomb dropped and I have a feeling I know what that bomb is. I am rooting for a Huge HEA for Lily and Kyle.
On a side note: I think this cover is beautiful.
What an amazing story. I purchased this right when it came but didn't start it until yesterday. I have no freaking idea why on earth I waited so long to read it. It is absolutely beautiful. I fell hard for Kyle...could he be any more perfect. He is strong, supportive, possessive, dominating, sweet, sensual, and 1000% swoonwrothy!
My heart broke for Lily and what she has gone thru. She may seem weak to some for running and pushing people away but I think she is strong. It would have been so easy for her to stay where she was and play victim or sob to any and everyone who would listen...and she did not do any of that. She worked hard and supported herself. She didn't like to burden other people with her problems even though she definitely should have had someone to confide in to help her thru it. That is why Kyle was so amazing. He could see thru to what she really needed and was always there for her. He never forced her to do anything she didn't want to do but he guided her and was always supportive.
I absolutely cannot wait to start the 2nd book...which I will be doing as soon as I'm done with this review. Im almost nervous to start it. I have a feeling there is going to be a big bomb dropped and I have a feeling I know what that bomb is. I am rooting for a Huge HEA for Lily and Kyle.
On a side note: I think this cover is beautiful.
January 31, 2014
Beautiful Chances is one of those stories that will stay with you long after you have read it. I have never read something so powerful and full of raw emotions like this story has.
Can you imagine you have the perfect life, the perfect parents, and a loving sister. You do things together and you home life is happy and then in the blink of an eye everything is taken from you and you are left alone with no parents and no sister. Well that happened to Lily and now she is numb to everything and everyone around her.She lives day to day until she meets Kyle.
Lord Kyle is definitely all alpha male who comes into Lily's life like a wrecking ball who is determined to knock down her walls. Even though Lily has decided she will close her heart off she can't close it off from Kyle because there is something there that is drawing him to her and she lets him in. When she does it is like a breath of fresh air for her because Kyle helps her heal from the pain she has endured.
But all good things come to an end right?????????? Well Lily is waiting for that to happen to her and Kyle but will it? Can Kyle heal her? Or will dark pasts and secrets come around to come between these two?
Can you imagine you have the perfect life, the perfect parents, and a loving sister. You do things together and you home life is happy and then in the blink of an eye everything is taken from you and you are left alone with no parents and no sister. Well that happened to Lily and now she is numb to everything and everyone around her.She lives day to day until she meets Kyle.
Lord Kyle is definitely all alpha male who comes into Lily's life like a wrecking ball who is determined to knock down her walls. Even though Lily has decided she will close her heart off she can't close it off from Kyle because there is something there that is drawing him to her and she lets him in. When she does it is like a breath of fresh air for her because Kyle helps her heal from the pain she has endured.
But all good things come to an end right?????????? Well Lily is waiting for that to happen to her and Kyle but will it? Can Kyle heal her? Or will dark pasts and secrets come around to come between these two?
September 15, 2013
This story is such a cute story about a boy that meets a girl. But that boy doesn't know that the girl has issues that she isn't quite sure she wants to work through and the boy wants to be a part of her life whether she has issues or not. I could not put this book down, I loved it.
Lily is a girl that has lived through something heartbreaking and she just wants to run away from everything. She has found herself a peaceful place in Florida. She met a guy Luke who is like a best friend and a guy Kyle who just kind of appeared. Kyle is basically just struck by Lily's beauty both inside and out. He wants to help her with her problems and come to grips with her past life before she moved to Florida. Lily just wants to hide from it and be happy with what she has made for herself, even if that means she doesn't talk with her aunt, uncle, and cousins anymore.
This book was so sweet, and loving. I laughed, teared up, and just couldn't stop reading. Alicia Rae did an excellent job with this story. I was just sad that it ended with a cliff hanger. I just can't wait until the next book comes out. :) 5 STARS!!!
~Teresa
www.sinfulreview.wordpress.com
Lily is a girl that has lived through something heartbreaking and she just wants to run away from everything. She has found herself a peaceful place in Florida. She met a guy Luke who is like a best friend and a guy Kyle who just kind of appeared. Kyle is basically just struck by Lily's beauty both inside and out. He wants to help her with her problems and come to grips with her past life before she moved to Florida. Lily just wants to hide from it and be happy with what she has made for herself, even if that means she doesn't talk with her aunt, uncle, and cousins anymore.
This book was so sweet, and loving. I laughed, teared up, and just couldn't stop reading. Alicia Rae did an excellent job with this story. I was just sad that it ended with a cliff hanger. I just can't wait until the next book comes out. :) 5 STARS!!!
~Teresa
www.sinfulreview.wordpress.com
December 20, 2013
3.5 hearts!
Debut novel find! "Beautiful Chances," the debut novel from Alicia Rae is a sweet and entertaining story that keeps you engaged in each page while delivering a story of grief and growth, loss and love, hope and pain. Each emotion is felt deeply throughout the pages and your heart both aches and smiles for our beautifully written female lead, Lily.
I will warn you, there is a cliffhanger but it didn't ruin the book for me. It actually is a perfect lead in to the next book in the series due out November 5th (per Goodreads). There is some suspense in "Beautiful Chances" that to me was a really nice addition and added a layer to a great read!
To read the rest of my review, please visit the blog at A Love Affair With Books.
Debut novel find! "Beautiful Chances," the debut novel from Alicia Rae is a sweet and entertaining story that keeps you engaged in each page while delivering a story of grief and growth, loss and love, hope and pain. Each emotion is felt deeply throughout the pages and your heart both aches and smiles for our beautifully written female lead, Lily.
I will warn you, there is a cliffhanger but it didn't ruin the book for me. It actually is a perfect lead in to the next book in the series due out November 5th (per Goodreads). There is some suspense in "Beautiful Chances" that to me was a really nice addition and added a layer to a great read!
To read the rest of my review, please visit the blog at A Love Affair With Books.
September 13, 2013
Why is it I always choose books with cliffhangers? Is it like a cliffhanger curse or something? Anywho, Kyle that boy is sex on two legs I'm telling you his a cocky thing, "someone who doesn't plan to be a stranger for long," he answered confidently." He's very forthcoming with his intentions, doesn't beat around the bush, "I want you, Lily. I want you to be mine. I've wanted you since the first second I laid eyes on you at the beach." I mean I'm not prude but Lily sure knows how to put me to shame, "my eyes lowered to see that Kyle's erection was pressed firmly against his stomach." The boy is well endowed ladies. He's possessive but in a caring manner, "you are so sweet and soft. You are mine, Lily. No one else's...only mine." Of course I need the second book in the series like ASAP.
September 22, 2013
Totally fangirling over here!! This is a MUST read!! Lily has secluded herself from the world as she is refusing to grieve unimaginable loss of her family and she feels responsible. Kyle walks into her life wanting to life those burdens and bring light back into her eyes. Yes, the romance is almost instant - but isn't it that way with all of us when we fall in love? Sometimes we have no control over the way our heart feels. There passion was real and flowing off the pages. I loved every minute of it. I can't help but feel Luke will have a story of his own in the future. I'm anxiously awaiting book two. Hurry up October!
September 22, 2013
Intense - Beautiful - Inspiring... I absolutely loved Alicia Rae's writing style and the emotional depth she added to this story. She showed true heartache and a man's strength to take it away. I simply could not turn the pages fast enough. Kyle and Lily's instant connection is something all of us women dream of. Not sure what other's mean of the synopsis confusion. It was clearly intended towards Annie's unborn child as she felt she had taken another life. I can't wait to watch her continue to grow in the next book. And Kyle?? Swoon ;) MUST read!!
September 28, 2013
Amazing book! It broke my heart yet healed it by Kyle! Damn that man is hot! I did at times want to beat Lily...but Kyle took care of that in a heartfelt way.
Poor Luke I hope he finds his someone who knows maybe Abbey???
I did want to throw my kindle and want to stomp my foot when it ended in a cliffhanger!! Lol now I have to wait a whole month for book 2 BUT a month is better than a year like some series! :) This is a must read!
Poor Luke I hope he finds his someone who knows maybe Abbey???
I did want to throw my kindle and want to stomp my foot when it ended in a cliffhanger!! Lol now I have to wait a whole month for book 2 BUT a month is better than a year like some series! :) This is a must read!
November 5, 2014
This book touched my soul in so many ways. It was just a nice read. I love the way that Kyle has different sides to him. There is the ALPHA that we all just love but there is the softer side of him as well that is so in sync with what Lily need.
I totally love the way he love her. All consuming reach for the star crazy kind of love... I just LOVED This book.
I totally love the way he love her. All consuming reach for the star crazy kind of love... I just LOVED This book.
September 10, 2013
Oh my goodness. This booked hooked me from the very beginning. I could feel the love that Kyle had for Lily. He was sweet, loving and understanding. Every girl needs a Kyle in her life. I can't wait to read more about this loving couple.
September 15, 2013
Such a good book...I can't wait for the next one. Great writing and a great storyline. I think I figured out why she has a stalker and what is up with Luke? Oh and I want to find me a Kyle...think my husband will mind??? Lol
September 18, 2013
So, despite having quite a few loose ends...and me liking the emotion of Lily's loss over the love story between her & Kyle, it was a good book. Full review to come on 9/20 with my tour stop.
October 3, 2013
Love it! Can't wait for Vol 2......come on Oct 29!!
Read
January 2, 2014DNF 50%
Way to cheesy for me, I just can't.
Way to cheesy for me, I just can't.
April 14, 2016
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
Beautiful Chances is the debut novel of Alicia Rae, and is also the first book in her Beautiful series. With this being her first book, I had no idea what to expect with this story. I am so glad that I took a chance based on the blurb and beautiful cover though. I really enjoyed this story and thought that it was a wonderful start to this series. I really liked the characters and the author's writing style flowed well and was easy to get into. I found myself becoming invested in these characters rather quickly and didn't want to put this one down until I was completely finished.
Lily lost her entire family in a horrible accident in which she was driving. She felt like she needed to leave town and be away from her aunt, uncle, and cousins in order to heal and move forward. So she got in her car and left Colorado without stopping until she settled in Florida. Three years later, she is a writer working on her second novel and enjoys photography as a hobby. She has made a few friends in her editor Brooke and a guy named Luke who is also dealing with some family issues. One day while writing on the beach, she meets a hot guy who she instantly feels a connection to. Lily finds Kyle to be hard to stay away from even though she knows that she isn't in the best place to be thinking about a relationship. Kyle is determined to get to know Lily better and refuses to let her push him away. Soon, Lily and Kyle are exploring their connection and Kyle is taking Lily on a series of dates that leaves them wanting more. Lily knows that she should get to know Kyle better and that things are moving quickly, but she finds herself beginning to move forward with Kyle's help. Kyle and Lily have developed a strong bond, but there are still the obstacles of their pasts to move past as well as a stalker that is determined to get to Lily. Can the possibly move forward together and take a chance on love, or will there be too much standing in their way?
I really liked Kyle. He was sexy and sweet, charming and funny. I loved what a great guy he was, always encouraging and supporting Lily. He really seemed to be patient with her and understood that she had to deal with things in her own time. I also thought that it was great how upfront and honest he was. It was so refreshing to read about a guy that was exactly who he said he was. There was no angst and drama when it came to these two being together, and I really enjoyed reading about a couple who dealt with things together. I also really liked the fact that Kyle was protective of Lily and would at times be alpha with her, but yet he was also so sweet and gentle with her. Lily was vulnerable and a bit broken, but she was honest and open to possibilities. Even though she would think that things were moving too fast and that she shouldn't be feeling as much for Kyle as she did, she was also willing to see where things took her. I loved that she didn't try to run from him or push him too far away. She would have moments where she needed to deal with things, but she didn't react as most heroines would by turning it into a push and pull situation. I liked that she was passionate about writing and photography, and I thought that it was great the way that the author showed exactly how much each meant to her by explaining her process and thoughts along the way. Kyle and Lily were such a great couple right from the start, and I thought they were exactly what the other needed. Kyle really brought Lily out of her misery and seemed to be so genuine in helping her heal. These two not only had a strong emotional bond and undeniable connection, but they had a ton of chemistry. Their steamy scenes were extremely hot and very well written.
Overall, I really liked this book and can't wait to get more Kyle and Lily. I can't wait to see what happens from here and how they continue to move forward. I am also really looking forward to not only getting more of Lily's growth, but also Kyle's. There is so much more beneath the surface of his character and I can't wait to see what else makes him who he is. I also really loved the introduction of Lily's cousins and I found them all really interesting. I love the connection that she has with them, and I can tell that they are going to be fun to get to know better also. The few things that I had criticism for was Luke's character for one. Besides being her friend and offering a bit of drama, he really seemed to not have much impact on this story at all. In fact, there are only a few times that he is really around and as soon as he is gone, his character is easily forgotten. I thought he acted way to ridiculously when it came to Kyle and Lily's relationship considering that he had only ever been Lily's friend and had never even told her he had feelings for her. My other criticism was that even though the sex scenes were extremely hot and well written, there were quite a few of them. At times it just seemed as though that was the majority of the story with little else going on. Because of the length of time that they had been seeing each other was so short, it just seemed to be kind of rushed and a bit much. This story is one that will stick with me though, and I thought that it was a great start to this series. This story is about love and finding your way, but also about dealing with grief and pain and moving on after tragedy. I look forward to reading more about Lily and Kyle and seeing where Alicia Rae takes them in the future.
**Review copy provided by Literati Author Services**
Beautiful Chances is the debut novel of Alicia Rae, and is also the first book in her Beautiful series. With this being her first book, I had no idea what to expect with this story. I am so glad that I took a chance based on the blurb and beautiful cover though. I really enjoyed this story and thought that it was a wonderful start to this series. I really liked the characters and the author's writing style flowed well and was easy to get into. I found myself becoming invested in these characters rather quickly and didn't want to put this one down until I was completely finished.
Lily lost her entire family in a horrible accident in which she was driving. She felt like she needed to leave town and be away from her aunt, uncle, and cousins in order to heal and move forward. So she got in her car and left Colorado without stopping until she settled in Florida. Three years later, she is a writer working on her second novel and enjoys photography as a hobby. She has made a few friends in her editor Brooke and a guy named Luke who is also dealing with some family issues. One day while writing on the beach, she meets a hot guy who she instantly feels a connection to. Lily finds Kyle to be hard to stay away from even though she knows that she isn't in the best place to be thinking about a relationship. Kyle is determined to get to know Lily better and refuses to let her push him away. Soon, Lily and Kyle are exploring their connection and Kyle is taking Lily on a series of dates that leaves them wanting more. Lily knows that she should get to know Kyle better and that things are moving quickly, but she finds herself beginning to move forward with Kyle's help. Kyle and Lily have developed a strong bond, but there are still the obstacles of their pasts to move past as well as a stalker that is determined to get to Lily. Can the possibly move forward together and take a chance on love, or will there be too much standing in their way?
I really liked Kyle. He was sexy and sweet, charming and funny. I loved what a great guy he was, always encouraging and supporting Lily. He really seemed to be patient with her and understood that she had to deal with things in her own time. I also thought that it was great how upfront and honest he was. It was so refreshing to read about a guy that was exactly who he said he was. There was no angst and drama when it came to these two being together, and I really enjoyed reading about a couple who dealt with things together. I also really liked the fact that Kyle was protective of Lily and would at times be alpha with her, but yet he was also so sweet and gentle with her. Lily was vulnerable and a bit broken, but she was honest and open to possibilities. Even though she would think that things were moving too fast and that she shouldn't be feeling as much for Kyle as she did, she was also willing to see where things took her. I loved that she didn't try to run from him or push him too far away. She would have moments where she needed to deal with things, but she didn't react as most heroines would by turning it into a push and pull situation. I liked that she was passionate about writing and photography, and I thought that it was great the way that the author showed exactly how much each meant to her by explaining her process and thoughts along the way. Kyle and Lily were such a great couple right from the start, and I thought they were exactly what the other needed. Kyle really brought Lily out of her misery and seemed to be so genuine in helping her heal. These two not only had a strong emotional bond and undeniable connection, but they had a ton of chemistry. Their steamy scenes were extremely hot and very well written.
Overall, I really liked this book and can't wait to get more Kyle and Lily. I can't wait to see what happens from here and how they continue to move forward. I am also really looking forward to not only getting more of Lily's growth, but also Kyle's. There is so much more beneath the surface of his character and I can't wait to see what else makes him who he is. I also really loved the introduction of Lily's cousins and I found them all really interesting. I love the connection that she has with them, and I can tell that they are going to be fun to get to know better also. The few things that I had criticism for was Luke's character for one. Besides being her friend and offering a bit of drama, he really seemed to not have much impact on this story at all. In fact, there are only a few times that he is really around and as soon as he is gone, his character is easily forgotten. I thought he acted way to ridiculously when it came to Kyle and Lily's relationship considering that he had only ever been Lily's friend and had never even told her he had feelings for her. My other criticism was that even though the sex scenes were extremely hot and well written, there were quite a few of them. At times it just seemed as though that was the majority of the story with little else going on. Because of the length of time that they had been seeing each other was so short, it just seemed to be kind of rushed and a bit much. This story is one that will stick with me though, and I thought that it was a great start to this series. This story is about love and finding your way, but also about dealing with grief and pain and moving on after tragedy. I look forward to reading more about Lily and Kyle and seeing where Alicia Rae takes them in the future.
**Review copy provided by Literati Author Services**
April 26, 2014
Beautiful Chances was a strange read for me. I kept waiting for Kyle to turn into an abusive jerk. He was way too overbearing and possessive and I did not like him at all. But I guess Lily likes that. She likes her "sexy alpha with his badass, overbearing hot side." Yes, because overbearing is always high on my list of attributes I look for in a partner. Lily refers to Kyle as overbearing in a positive way multiple times. It was just...I don't get that.
Lily has been hiding out on the beach in Florida for three years. Three years ago her family was killed in a car accident and Lily blames herself for their deaths. She ran away from her aunt and uncle before the funeral and hasn't been back for a visit since. She has shut herself off from almost everyone. She has two friends, her agent and the guy who works at the snack shack where she gets food. That is until she meets Kyle and his sexy overbearing, possessive self. Right from the beginning I didn't like him. Lily is still fragile and hasn't worked on moving on from the accident at all. Kyle right from the start is just like you are mine! Mine and no one else's! I guess it was supposed to be hot that he was so possessive, but the way it was written was just like he was going to turn on her and it was not going to be good.
The first time they get intimate Lily tells Kyle that she is a virgin and his first reaction? Get angry. Are you kidding me??? Angry until he sees that Lily is hurt that he is upset by that and then he calms down. Who gets angry that you are a virgin? I can see like not wanting to go farther or trying to make super sure she wants to do this now, but angry? That is your go to? Things like this is why I thought he would turn abusive. It makes no sense to me.
So they work things out, and they are instantly inseparable, which causes issues with Luke her friend. He has been in love with her forever and is upset that she is ready to move on and not with him. He also gets really creepy then. He runs into her and is just kind of crazy. Like he is going to force her to kiss him and stuff. It was odd and well...I wouldn't be friends with someone if they were so creepy like that to me. Yet she still wants to be bff. It was just odd.
The one thing I did like about the story? Kyle didn't magically cure Lily's nightmares. He wasn't the magical person that could make everything better always. I liked that she still had them and that she still needed help to deal with her issues. At the very end with the surprise she did kind of flip out too much. She really does need help as she is a mess. She has been hiding that mess for three years. At least now she is trying therapy. There is also a stalker or something and when you find out the surprise at the end I was guessing who it would be. You don't find out and it really is not really part of the story. It is mentioned a few times when something happens and that is it. I don't even know why the stalker was added in there as it didn't really do anything for the story. I kept expecting more to happen and it was just not important which I found odd. Why add that element if you are going to do nothing with is? I guess you will find out who it is in the next book, unless it is forgotten again.
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
Lily has been hiding out on the beach in Florida for three years. Three years ago her family was killed in a car accident and Lily blames herself for their deaths. She ran away from her aunt and uncle before the funeral and hasn't been back for a visit since. She has shut herself off from almost everyone. She has two friends, her agent and the guy who works at the snack shack where she gets food. That is until she meets Kyle and his sexy overbearing, possessive self. Right from the beginning I didn't like him. Lily is still fragile and hasn't worked on moving on from the accident at all. Kyle right from the start is just like you are mine! Mine and no one else's! I guess it was supposed to be hot that he was so possessive, but the way it was written was just like he was going to turn on her and it was not going to be good.
The first time they get intimate Lily tells Kyle that she is a virgin and his first reaction? Get angry. Are you kidding me??? Angry until he sees that Lily is hurt that he is upset by that and then he calms down. Who gets angry that you are a virgin? I can see like not wanting to go farther or trying to make super sure she wants to do this now, but angry? That is your go to? Things like this is why I thought he would turn abusive. It makes no sense to me.
So they work things out, and they are instantly inseparable, which causes issues with Luke her friend. He has been in love with her forever and is upset that she is ready to move on and not with him. He also gets really creepy then. He runs into her and is just kind of crazy. Like he is going to force her to kiss him and stuff. It was odd and well...I wouldn't be friends with someone if they were so creepy like that to me. Yet she still wants to be bff. It was just odd.
The one thing I did like about the story? Kyle didn't magically cure Lily's nightmares. He wasn't the magical person that could make everything better always. I liked that she still had them and that she still needed help to deal with her issues. At the very end with the surprise she did kind of flip out too much. She really does need help as she is a mess. She has been hiding that mess for three years. At least now she is trying therapy. There is also a stalker or something and when you find out the surprise at the end I was guessing who it would be. You don't find out and it really is not really part of the story. It is mentioned a few times when something happens and that is it. I don't even know why the stalker was added in there as it didn't really do anything for the story. I kept expecting more to happen and it was just not important which I found odd. Why add that element if you are going to do nothing with is? I guess you will find out who it is in the next book, unless it is forgotten again.
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
September 21, 2013
Beautiful Chances joins the growing list of books in the New Adult genre and shows a lot of promise for a young author. Feelings of grief, survivor's guilt, and loneliness are what fuels the beginning of this story as Lily is the sole survivor of a tragic car accident. Not wanting to feel such painful emotions ever again has her closing herself off and trying to leave her past behind by heading to Florida. These early scenes reveal the pain she's going through vividly and brought a tear to my eye. These flashbacks are nicely woven into the narrative to perfectly convey what Lily's going through and make her flight understandable. She just wants to be alone where there's no pesky feelings weighing on her anymore. Unfortunately you can't run from the past and only by addressing it can you deal with it, which is what the rest of the story is about.....acceptance and being able to move on.
By closing herself off she appears standoffish when arriving in Florida but outsiders slowly work their way into her life as she started to awaken from her self-imposed hermitage. The first person to have an effect on her is her friend Luke, who's a friend but wants to be more and ultimately gets hurt because of his feelings. The most important person in her new life though is Kyle who I found immensely appealing but who seemed too good to be true at times. He's an old-fashioned kind of hero who wants nothing more than for Lily to be happy. He wants to claim her the moment he sees her and quickly works his way into her life completely. There's surprisingly little angst in their romance as Kyle devotes himself to her happiness and she doesn't want to deal with negativity which leads to a relationship that felt a bit bland to me. They acted almost too mature for their ages by never letting issues get between them. Their sexual relationship started quickly too and was definitely steamy but it seemed uneven in its give and take, likely due to her naïveté in this area. The speed by which their relationship commenced might have contributed to my overall feelings as things seemed to go from 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye.
On a whole though I enjoyed this story and its characters. It's ultimately sweet, sexy, and shows the ability to overcome the past after feelings of grief and sadness early on. There was a sense of foreboding throughout Lily's time in Florida that was lightly touched on that I wish had been expanded upon however. Lily went through a lot but was able to recover which made her an admirable heroine, though I never warmed to her completely. And even though I found Kyle's commanding nature to be too much at times I still found him immensely appealing and myself dreaming of him long after the final page was turned. He's a well-crafted hero! Readers who don't like cliffhangers will be a bit frustrated by the ending of this book but I for one am looking forward to the next book in this series and seeing Ms. Rae's talent grow.
By closing herself off she appears standoffish when arriving in Florida but outsiders slowly work their way into her life as she started to awaken from her self-imposed hermitage. The first person to have an effect on her is her friend Luke, who's a friend but wants to be more and ultimately gets hurt because of his feelings. The most important person in her new life though is Kyle who I found immensely appealing but who seemed too good to be true at times. He's an old-fashioned kind of hero who wants nothing more than for Lily to be happy. He wants to claim her the moment he sees her and quickly works his way into her life completely. There's surprisingly little angst in their romance as Kyle devotes himself to her happiness and she doesn't want to deal with negativity which leads to a relationship that felt a bit bland to me. They acted almost too mature for their ages by never letting issues get between them. Their sexual relationship started quickly too and was definitely steamy but it seemed uneven in its give and take, likely due to her naïveté in this area. The speed by which their relationship commenced might have contributed to my overall feelings as things seemed to go from 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye.
On a whole though I enjoyed this story and its characters. It's ultimately sweet, sexy, and shows the ability to overcome the past after feelings of grief and sadness early on. There was a sense of foreboding throughout Lily's time in Florida that was lightly touched on that I wish had been expanded upon however. Lily went through a lot but was able to recover which made her an admirable heroine, though I never warmed to her completely. And even though I found Kyle's commanding nature to be too much at times I still found him immensely appealing and myself dreaming of him long after the final page was turned. He's a well-crafted hero! Readers who don't like cliffhangers will be a bit frustrated by the ending of this book but I for one am looking forward to the next book in this series and seeing Ms. Rae's talent grow.
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