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No Apologies
Never apologize
Hard-edged rocker Graham Allen has it all. He's flush with cash from playing bass in a band by night and restoring classic cars by day. And there are plenty of women willing to share his bed for a night, complication-free. Perfect, because if there's anything he learned from his past, it was to never get attached—to anything. So when bartender Carly Sullivan flashes her innocent smile, Graham isn't prepared for what happens next.
Never fall in love
Two rules, that's all Graham has—never apologize and never fall in love. He knows Carly is everything he should avoid. Cheerful and sweet, she has "relationship" written all over her. But Graham can't stay away from her probing questions and concerned blue eyes.
When Graham discovers Carly is hiding a crushing secret, he's prepared to risk it all. Until in one single moment, everything changes and Graham's past threatens to collide with his future. His life is crumbling down around him, and soon no apology in the world can save him.
He should've known to walk away.
91,000 words
Hard-edged rocker Graham Allen has it all. He's flush with cash from playing bass in a band by night and restoring classic cars by day. And there are plenty of women willing to share his bed for a night, complication-free. Perfect, because if there's anything he learned from his past, it was to never get attached—to anything. So when bartender Carly Sullivan flashes her innocent smile, Graham isn't prepared for what happens next.
Never fall in love
Two rules, that's all Graham has—never apologize and never fall in love. He knows Carly is everything he should avoid. Cheerful and sweet, she has "relationship" written all over her. But Graham can't stay away from her probing questions and concerned blue eyes.
When Graham discovers Carly is hiding a crushing secret, he's prepared to risk it all. Until in one single moment, everything changes and Graham's past threatens to collide with his future. His life is crumbling down around him, and soon no apology in the world can save him.
He should've known to walk away.
91,000 words
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2014
57 people are currently reading
1153 people want to read
About the author
Sybil Bartel
50 books1,235 followersSybil Bartel is a USA Today Bestselling author of unapologetic Alpha heroes. Whether you're reading her dominant Alpha Elite mercenaries, her protective Alpha Bodyguards, or her page-turning romantic suspense, all of her heroes are sexy-as-sin and unwaveringly Alpha!
Sybil lives in South Florida, and she is forever Oliver's mom.
Sybil lives in South Florida, and she is forever Oliver's mom.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 114 reviews
April 5, 2015
“I broke once. Twelve years ago. I almost didn’t come back. I wasn’t going to break again.”
“No Apologies” is Graham’s podium, he’s the one in control but not for long. One look at the blond, blue eyed bartender and poof, it’s gone. The bartender’s name is Carly and the girl has no idea that she has wormed her way into his mind, and possibly heart, with just her innocence and bright smiles.
It’s funny that the things that attract Graham to Carly are the same ones that have him behave on his worst around her. He’s rude on a full-time basis but it’s more profound when he’s around Carly. Basically he’s a prick to keep his emotions in check and he hopes to scare her off this way too.
Graham thinks it will be easy to scare her away, Carly doesn’t know him, what he’s done, what he does in his free time, she probably doesn’t want to know either. But he’s underestimating her, she knows way more than he thinks. And in turn he’s the one running scared.
But like I said, it’s Graham’s podium. He’s one who directs which way the story goes, will he keep running or will he decide to give this thing with Carly a go…..
When I looked at the cover I knew I had to read this one then I read the blurb and it didn’t sound like anything I would normally pick up, as I tend to stay away from books that feature musicians. In this instance my eyes battled against my mind and won, which I’m very grateful for. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on this book, it has this great combination of roughness, sweetness and ugliness that had me hooked.
Well that and Graham. I love him and Carly together, they have this sweet, intense connection. You can really feel their need for each other.
Which says something as Graham is anything but sweet, especially concerning women. His “encounters” with women involve a quick romp in the sack and a swift thank you as goodbye when said women haven’t even pulled up their panties. But with Carly a different side slips out, he’s still rough but he treats, or tries to treat her gently. In fact he tries so hard that in doing so he ends up hurting her time and time again.
Carly is a really happy, bubbly girl. At first glance you won’t be able to tell that beneath that bubbly layer, she’s scared and traumatized. Taking this in consideration you’d think she would give up on him but no, Carly keeps coming back. You can say she’s a glutton for punishment or that she’s a pushover. That’s not how she comes across, though. Yes it was a little annoying but she recognizes his need for space, to come to terms with himself. And she’s gives him that space, no drama involved.
Although the story contains many damaged characters, it’s dealt with the right amount of humor and gentleness that it isn’t too heavy. There’s also no explicit stuff going on but I have to warn you that things do heat up from time to time.
I really liked this book, it has a great set of straightforward characters and a good storyline wrapped in raw honesty. It’s not all about romance either, it’s more about trust and not letting your past get hold of your future. That combined with simple gestures that have the ability to melt your heart, makes this book one that I dare to recommend to you. That is if you like a no excuses, no apologies kind of read….Graham doesn’t play that way.
*ARC provided by InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review*
“No Apologies” is Graham’s podium, he’s the one in control but not for long. One look at the blond, blue eyed bartender and poof, it’s gone. The bartender’s name is Carly and the girl has no idea that she has wormed her way into his mind, and possibly heart, with just her innocence and bright smiles.
It’s funny that the things that attract Graham to Carly are the same ones that have him behave on his worst around her. He’s rude on a full-time basis but it’s more profound when he’s around Carly. Basically he’s a prick to keep his emotions in check and he hopes to scare her off this way too.
Graham thinks it will be easy to scare her away, Carly doesn’t know him, what he’s done, what he does in his free time, she probably doesn’t want to know either. But he’s underestimating her, she knows way more than he thinks. And in turn he’s the one running scared.
But like I said, it’s Graham’s podium. He’s one who directs which way the story goes, will he keep running or will he decide to give this thing with Carly a go…..
When I looked at the cover I knew I had to read this one then I read the blurb and it didn’t sound like anything I would normally pick up, as I tend to stay away from books that feature musicians. In this instance my eyes battled against my mind and won, which I’m very grateful for. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on this book, it has this great combination of roughness, sweetness and ugliness that had me hooked.
Well that and Graham. I love him and Carly together, they have this sweet, intense connection. You can really feel their need for each other.
Which says something as Graham is anything but sweet, especially concerning women. His “encounters” with women involve a quick romp in the sack and a swift thank you as goodbye when said women haven’t even pulled up their panties. But with Carly a different side slips out, he’s still rough but he treats, or tries to treat her gently. In fact he tries so hard that in doing so he ends up hurting her time and time again.
Carly is a really happy, bubbly girl. At first glance you won’t be able to tell that beneath that bubbly layer, she’s scared and traumatized. Taking this in consideration you’d think she would give up on him but no, Carly keeps coming back. You can say she’s a glutton for punishment or that she’s a pushover. That’s not how she comes across, though. Yes it was a little annoying but she recognizes his need for space, to come to terms with himself. And she’s gives him that space, no drama involved.
Although the story contains many damaged characters, it’s dealt with the right amount of humor and gentleness that it isn’t too heavy. There’s also no explicit stuff going on but I have to warn you that things do heat up from time to time.
I really liked this book, it has a great set of straightforward characters and a good storyline wrapped in raw honesty. It’s not all about romance either, it’s more about trust and not letting your past get hold of your future. That combined with simple gestures that have the ability to melt your heart, makes this book one that I dare to recommend to you. That is if you like a no excuses, no apologies kind of read….Graham doesn’t play that way.
*ARC provided by InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review*
November 24, 2025
Harden rocker, biker, classic car renovator and part club owner were all apt descriptions of Graham Allen, he never thought he'd add boyfriend to anyone to that list.
Author/Bartender, Carly Sullivan, is about to rock Graham's world. But under that cheerful demeanor is a secret that might be the most horrifying of all.
No Apologies is a story about a lot of broken people. People who have faced horrible circumstances and who they've become because of what they faced. All victimized in some way or another, our main characters are struggling to find their way, even if they don't know it.
Graham tries really hard to make himself very unlikable...to push people away. Carly is the extreme opposite, always looking for the positive, she pretty much steam rolls Graham with her infectious smile.
No Apologies was a slow buildup but about ½ through, I realized I was hooked. I can't go into what causes this change because it would be a huge spoiler, but let's just say I ended up reading into the wee hours of the morning to finish this story, and it was so worth it.
This debut story by Sybil Bartel is raw and emotionally jarring. We are thrust into a difficult and even a heartbreaking story by Bartel's vivid, in-your-face writing style. The characters popped off the page and screamed realism. I was utterly mesmerized by this story and couldn't put it down. Wonderfully Dark and deeply passionate read!
I received this ARC copy of No Apologies from Carina Press in exchange for an honest review. This book is set for publication on June 23, 2014.
Author/Bartender, Carly Sullivan, is about to rock Graham's world. But under that cheerful demeanor is a secret that might be the most horrifying of all.
No Apologies is a story about a lot of broken people. People who have faced horrible circumstances and who they've become because of what they faced. All victimized in some way or another, our main characters are struggling to find their way, even if they don't know it.
Graham tries really hard to make himself very unlikable...to push people away. Carly is the extreme opposite, always looking for the positive, she pretty much steam rolls Graham with her infectious smile.
No Apologies was a slow buildup but about ½ through, I realized I was hooked. I can't go into what causes this change because it would be a huge spoiler, but let's just say I ended up reading into the wee hours of the morning to finish this story, and it was so worth it.
This debut story by Sybil Bartel is raw and emotionally jarring. We are thrust into a difficult and even a heartbreaking story by Bartel's vivid, in-your-face writing style. The characters popped off the page and screamed realism. I was utterly mesmerized by this story and couldn't put it down. Wonderfully Dark and deeply passionate read!
I received this ARC copy of No Apologies from Carina Press in exchange for an honest review. This book is set for publication on June 23, 2014.
September 3, 2016
“Never apologize and never fall in love.”
No Apologies follows two highly broken and dysfunctional individuals who don’t come from the best of circumstances.
For bad boy rocker Graham Allen, on the outside it seems like he has it all: looks, money, and with an endless supply of women who would kill to be in his bed.
But when old demons of his past threaten to throw him into a tailspin of angst and turmoil, can this thrill seeking, edgy Casanova save himself from himself? Especially after meeting local bartender Carly Sullivan who makes him question his ways and who spurs to want to better himself for his own well being.
And Carly. They say “don’t judge a book by its cover” and “behind every face has their story.” Well, coincidentally, that rings true for her as well. What is she hiding beneath that dazzling smile and cheerful demeanor?
And with both her life and Graham colliding and crumbling at the same time, can their rediscovery of themselves and each other be the paths to their salvation?
A raw, gritty, emotionally riveting, non apologetic, and REAL read about facing adversity and what you make of it. Brace yourself guys! It's going to be a bumpy ride!
--Note: Images not made or put together by me. They were simply used off of the author's website for review use only.--
*I received an ARC via Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!*
No Apologies follows two highly broken and dysfunctional individuals who don’t come from the best of circumstances.
For bad boy rocker Graham Allen, on the outside it seems like he has it all: looks, money, and with an endless supply of women who would kill to be in his bed.
But when old demons of his past threaten to throw him into a tailspin of angst and turmoil, can this thrill seeking, edgy Casanova save himself from himself? Especially after meeting local bartender Carly Sullivan who makes him question his ways and who spurs to want to better himself for his own well being.
And Carly. They say “don’t judge a book by its cover” and “behind every face has their story.” Well, coincidentally, that rings true for her as well. What is she hiding beneath that dazzling smile and cheerful demeanor?
And with both her life and Graham colliding and crumbling at the same time, can their rediscovery of themselves and each other be the paths to their salvation?
A raw, gritty, emotionally riveting, non apologetic, and REAL read about facing adversity and what you make of it. Brace yourself guys! It's going to be a bumpy ride!
--Note: Images not made or put together by me. They were simply used off of the author's website for review use only.--
*I received an ARC via Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!*
August 6, 2014
3.5 Stars
No Apologies is well written and I usually love a story like this. The bad boy meets good girl kind. But I just couldn't connect with Graham. He was a total jerk, to say the least. I've fallen for the bad boy that sleeps around with a haunted past but something about Graham just didn't work for me.
Carly was lovely, I liked her and felt terrible that she fell for Graham, I just thought she could do better! Graham had some redeeming qualities and his moments but I just couldn't connect with him. It's probably just me. But I think one of the contributing factors is how explicit and how much detail there was in the book describing his many conquests. In other books, they don't take you to the scene of the crime, they just tell you that happened and the story focuses on the main characters and the interaction between them. But in No Apologies, I was taken with Graham while he slept with random girls, in detail, how he approached them and dismissed them. That was just too much for me. Maybe one time would have been okay, but it was just too much for me.
The ending was somewhat abrupt, I was left wondering if that was really the end?
Overall, I liked the story and I think if you like the rocker bad boy meets good girl with a troubled secret storyline, you'll like this one.
ARC provided by G The Book Diva Blog
No Apologies is well written and I usually love a story like this. The bad boy meets good girl kind. But I just couldn't connect with Graham. He was a total jerk, to say the least. I've fallen for the bad boy that sleeps around with a haunted past but something about Graham just didn't work for me.
Carly was lovely, I liked her and felt terrible that she fell for Graham, I just thought she could do better! Graham had some redeeming qualities and his moments but I just couldn't connect with him. It's probably just me. But I think one of the contributing factors is how explicit and how much detail there was in the book describing his many conquests. In other books, they don't take you to the scene of the crime, they just tell you that happened and the story focuses on the main characters and the interaction between them. But in No Apologies, I was taken with Graham while he slept with random girls, in detail, how he approached them and dismissed them. That was just too much for me. Maybe one time would have been okay, but it was just too much for me.
The ending was somewhat abrupt, I was left wondering if that was really the end?
Overall, I liked the story and I think if you like the rocker bad boy meets good girl with a troubled secret storyline, you'll like this one.
ARC provided by G The Book Diva Blog
April 8, 2016
Review in Portuguese and English
-------------------------
Realmente não sei o que dizer sobre este livro... o herói teve uma infância muito difícil, a mãe dele era alcoólatra e abusava fisicamente dele, até um dia que ele não aguentou mais e revidou. Isto marcou muito a vida dele e ele se tornou um cínico e mulherengo.
A heroína é marcada por violência do passado dela e tem medo de intimidade.
O que mais me chateou foi que os dois só ficam juntos lá pelos 90% do livro e não vi uma conexão real entre eles.
Mas a escritora é boa.
-----------------------
Really don't know what to say about this book, the hero had a very difficult childhood, his mother was an alcoholic and physically abused him, until one day he couldn't take it anymore and fought back. This marked a lot of his life and he became a cynic and womanizer.
The heroine is marked by violence from her past and afraid of intimacy.
What most upset me was that the two go together there by 90% of the book and I have not seen a real connection between them.
But the writer is good.
-------------------------
Realmente não sei o que dizer sobre este livro... o herói teve uma infância muito difícil, a mãe dele era alcoólatra e abusava fisicamente dele, até um dia que ele não aguentou mais e revidou. Isto marcou muito a vida dele e ele se tornou um cínico e mulherengo.
A heroína é marcada por violência do passado dela e tem medo de intimidade.
O que mais me chateou foi que os dois só ficam juntos lá pelos 90% do livro e não vi uma conexão real entre eles.
Mas a escritora é boa.
-----------------------
Really don't know what to say about this book, the hero had a very difficult childhood, his mother was an alcoholic and physically abused him, until one day he couldn't take it anymore and fought back. This marked a lot of his life and he became a cynic and womanizer.
The heroine is marked by violence from her past and afraid of intimacy.
What most upset me was that the two go together there by 90% of the book and I have not seen a real connection between them.
But the writer is good.
June 23, 2014
Slick‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
5 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
Sometimes a book knocks you on your ass and No Apologies by Sybil Bartel is one of those books. I don’t know how I keep ending up reading the New Adult genre but there is something about this genre that intrigues me so when a synopsis interests me, I jump on it and I’m so glad I jumped on this one. This book wrecked me but it also made me hopeful because it showed that no matter what cards life deals you, even at an early age, you have the strength to let your experiences break you or make you stronger and holy hell did Graham Allen and Carly Sullivan decide to become strong in their own way and for very different reasons. This is such a complicated story and it is mostly not pretty; it deals with some very hard subjects; it has a hero who routinely screws up and self destructs and a heroine that despite everything maintains an optimistic attitude. I loved them both for different reasons and I enjoyed every minute of watching them try to figure a way to be together in any capacity.
Graham Allen might be 24 years old but in life experiences he’s much older. Playing in a band at night, restoring classic cars by day, and part owner of a bar have left him with more money than he knows what to do with. Women are always around, easy and gone, just the way he likes them; he has no intentions of ever getting attached to anyone. And then she smiles at him from behind the bar and his life gets really complicated very fast.
Carly Sullivan has secrets that she never intends to share with anyone but when rocker Graham Allen starts hanging around the bar where she works, he makes her want to forget everything. She knows he’s trouble but there is just something about him that makes her want to know him better and while Graham seems to enjoy being around her he has back off vibes like no one’s business.
I can’t even begin to explain the issues both of these come with, there are too many and so complex. However I was amazed at how easily they seemed to fall into a weird routine that led to an even stranger friendship. I won’t lie Graham was an ass on more than one occasion and Carly took the brunt of his douchebaggery. But through it all she just seems to maintain her uncomplicated outlook on life and she forgives him time and time again even though he never apologizes, something the throws him completely off balance.
I’d be remiss not to mention Graham’s best friend and band mate, Myles, who is there to keep him sane, be a sounding board, and to thump him upside the head now and again. I was intrigued by Carly’s Dad who is a cop and how easily he accepted Graham into his daughter’s life; I really think he saw way more into Graham’s psyche than anyone else did and knew deep down there was a really good person lurking.
These two have a lot of ups and downs and more than one monkey wrench thrown in their path, but somehow they manage to figure it all out in their own way. Again, it wasn’t pretty and at times I wondered if one or the other would completely self destruct but it all came back to the way they were only able to relate to one another. They accepted each other warts and all and no one in their lives had ever understood exactly what they needed sometimes even before they knew it themselves.
A complicated story of two people trying to make it in this world despite each thinking they didn’t deserve the happiness they bring to each other, but both learning sometimes you just have to let go and accept that fate plays dirty and gives you no choice but to go with it. Fresh out of the gate Sybil Bartel has delivered a masterful story that I won’t soon forget and I can’t wait to see what comes next from her.
5 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
Sometimes a book knocks you on your ass and No Apologies by Sybil Bartel is one of those books. I don’t know how I keep ending up reading the New Adult genre but there is something about this genre that intrigues me so when a synopsis interests me, I jump on it and I’m so glad I jumped on this one. This book wrecked me but it also made me hopeful because it showed that no matter what cards life deals you, even at an early age, you have the strength to let your experiences break you or make you stronger and holy hell did Graham Allen and Carly Sullivan decide to become strong in their own way and for very different reasons. This is such a complicated story and it is mostly not pretty; it deals with some very hard subjects; it has a hero who routinely screws up and self destructs and a heroine that despite everything maintains an optimistic attitude. I loved them both for different reasons and I enjoyed every minute of watching them try to figure a way to be together in any capacity.
Graham Allen might be 24 years old but in life experiences he’s much older. Playing in a band at night, restoring classic cars by day, and part owner of a bar have left him with more money than he knows what to do with. Women are always around, easy and gone, just the way he likes them; he has no intentions of ever getting attached to anyone. And then she smiles at him from behind the bar and his life gets really complicated very fast.
Carly Sullivan has secrets that she never intends to share with anyone but when rocker Graham Allen starts hanging around the bar where she works, he makes her want to forget everything. She knows he’s trouble but there is just something about him that makes her want to know him better and while Graham seems to enjoy being around her he has back off vibes like no one’s business.
I can’t even begin to explain the issues both of these come with, there are too many and so complex. However I was amazed at how easily they seemed to fall into a weird routine that led to an even stranger friendship. I won’t lie Graham was an ass on more than one occasion and Carly took the brunt of his douchebaggery. But through it all she just seems to maintain her uncomplicated outlook on life and she forgives him time and time again even though he never apologizes, something the throws him completely off balance.
I’d be remiss not to mention Graham’s best friend and band mate, Myles, who is there to keep him sane, be a sounding board, and to thump him upside the head now and again. I was intrigued by Carly’s Dad who is a cop and how easily he accepted Graham into his daughter’s life; I really think he saw way more into Graham’s psyche than anyone else did and knew deep down there was a really good person lurking.
These two have a lot of ups and downs and more than one monkey wrench thrown in their path, but somehow they manage to figure it all out in their own way. Again, it wasn’t pretty and at times I wondered if one or the other would completely self destruct but it all came back to the way they were only able to relate to one another. They accepted each other warts and all and no one in their lives had ever understood exactly what they needed sometimes even before they knew it themselves.
A complicated story of two people trying to make it in this world despite each thinking they didn’t deserve the happiness they bring to each other, but both learning sometimes you just have to let go and accept that fate plays dirty and gives you no choice but to go with it. Fresh out of the gate Sybil Bartel has delivered a masterful story that I won’t soon forget and I can’t wait to see what comes next from her.
June 27, 2014
GENRE: New Adult
THEME: Contemporary Romance
RECEIVED: Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
2.5-3 stars
REVIEW:
This book carries a lot of emotion; I for one was having quite an argument with it for the first half of the book. My main argument was with the lead Graham, it was hard for me to like him and I always find that I care most about the lead character. But this time around it was the second lead that I was rooting for. Bartel does a wonderful job creating an emotional impact between each very broken character introduced. It sucked me in as the reader and also made me angry at a fictional character… obviously meaning the writing was spot on for this type of story.
No Apologies follows Graham Allen, who doesn’t like to apologies and doesn’t ever love anyone… those are his rules. But this rocker is about to get a wake up call from an innocent bartender, Carly, who seems to be letting her shields down for him. Both of these broken adults have no idea what to do about their connection, will they move forward from their horrible past to find a brighter future together? Or will Graham’s past come barreling in to ruin everything.
Carly is a sweet girl, as well as a writer and someone who has been scarred from her past. But she is also someone who doesn’t want to be broken and she sees that Graham, her crush, is someone who is broken too. I loved her bold and no nonsense attitude, she handles Grahams rude and over the top persona with stride and I applaud her for it. I thought she was a brave woman for giving this guy the benefit of the doubt even at his worst, howver she does put some space between them, but she also knew he was going through some tough times. Carly is definitely a character many people can connect too, her innocents and sad past make her vulnerable but also someone who the readers will root for and hope that she can get past it all.
Graham is a tough one, I had a bit of trouble connecting too him and not wanting to scream at him. He makes a lot of bad choices out of anger and in the heat of the moment. His past is so sad and I really felt for him, but he just kept shoving people away and thought drinking and sleeping with girls was the only way to get through it. It made me feel sorry for him mostly but also made me angry that he treated Carly and his friends like dirt. I give his friends a lot of credit for being able to let his rudeness slide. Carly was the one to finally get through and near the middle of the book I saw a major change in him and saw the potential. His past comes back like a raging bull but it brings along something positive that I just adored.
Overall I had mixed feeling about this story until I got a few chapters past the middle of the book. The writing was wonderfully done and made me feel so much for some of the characters, but I just couldn’t connect or root for Graham as much as I wanted too. I can ramble on for days and argue with myself but I know I might be the only one feeling this way. There are plenty of twist and surprises, which I felt boosted up the storyline and really got me excited to see how everything was going to come together. I look forward to reading more from Bartel and recommend giving this contemporary romance a try, even with my love hate feelings with the lead character.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is an adult novel meant for mature readers over the age of 18, for its sexual content. Fans of Christina Lauren’s Beautiful Bastard series and Love, In English by Karina Halle will want to get their hands of Desired by Stacey Kennedy.
THEME: Contemporary Romance
RECEIVED: Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
2.5-3 stars
REVIEW:
This book carries a lot of emotion; I for one was having quite an argument with it for the first half of the book. My main argument was with the lead Graham, it was hard for me to like him and I always find that I care most about the lead character. But this time around it was the second lead that I was rooting for. Bartel does a wonderful job creating an emotional impact between each very broken character introduced. It sucked me in as the reader and also made me angry at a fictional character… obviously meaning the writing was spot on for this type of story.
No Apologies follows Graham Allen, who doesn’t like to apologies and doesn’t ever love anyone… those are his rules. But this rocker is about to get a wake up call from an innocent bartender, Carly, who seems to be letting her shields down for him. Both of these broken adults have no idea what to do about their connection, will they move forward from their horrible past to find a brighter future together? Or will Graham’s past come barreling in to ruin everything.
Carly is a sweet girl, as well as a writer and someone who has been scarred from her past. But she is also someone who doesn’t want to be broken and she sees that Graham, her crush, is someone who is broken too. I loved her bold and no nonsense attitude, she handles Grahams rude and over the top persona with stride and I applaud her for it. I thought she was a brave woman for giving this guy the benefit of the doubt even at his worst, howver she does put some space between them, but she also knew he was going through some tough times. Carly is definitely a character many people can connect too, her innocents and sad past make her vulnerable but also someone who the readers will root for and hope that she can get past it all.
Graham is a tough one, I had a bit of trouble connecting too him and not wanting to scream at him. He makes a lot of bad choices out of anger and in the heat of the moment. His past is so sad and I really felt for him, but he just kept shoving people away and thought drinking and sleeping with girls was the only way to get through it. It made me feel sorry for him mostly but also made me angry that he treated Carly and his friends like dirt. I give his friends a lot of credit for being able to let his rudeness slide. Carly was the one to finally get through and near the middle of the book I saw a major change in him and saw the potential. His past comes back like a raging bull but it brings along something positive that I just adored.
Overall I had mixed feeling about this story until I got a few chapters past the middle of the book. The writing was wonderfully done and made me feel so much for some of the characters, but I just couldn’t connect or root for Graham as much as I wanted too. I can ramble on for days and argue with myself but I know I might be the only one feeling this way. There are plenty of twist and surprises, which I felt boosted up the storyline and really got me excited to see how everything was going to come together. I look forward to reading more from Bartel and recommend giving this contemporary romance a try, even with my love hate feelings with the lead character.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is an adult novel meant for mature readers over the age of 18, for its sexual content. Fans of Christina Lauren’s Beautiful Bastard series and Love, In English by Karina Halle will want to get their hands of Desired by Stacey Kennedy.
July 14, 2014
Posted on What I'm Reading
First let me say why I wanted to read No Apologies by Sybil Bartel, it was mainly cause of the cover. The cover is amazing and the is yummy. I mean look at those abs. Yes, I wanted to read this for a superficial reason. Now I need to share my thoughts.
Honestly, I struggle with No Apologies. I really didn't have a problem with Graham being a manwhore. I mean it's his prerogative to be one, after all he's a musician and he's living up the benefits. However, I he was moody and an a-hole. I think if he was more charming, I would be more forgiving for his manwhore behavior. He's not, and he's a hard character to love and he has no qualms being an a-hole.
You kind of get to know Carly. Yes, she's a bartender at a bar that Graham frequents, and likes to see her. Graham has these lusty feelings for her, but senses that he should stay away from. I guess that's one of Graham's good quality, but he can't seem to stay way. As you read the story, you learn that Carly is a wounded character, so I can understand her skittish nature.
No Apologies is written from Graham POV. I do like when it's from a male POV. However, the story is not a cheery one, it's pretty dark and gritty. Graham outlook on life is pretty grim. All he focuses on is tapping whatever chick crosses his path and shoving them out the door when he's done. If you don't mind an a-hole guy who's a bit of a manwhore with a chip on his shoulder, this is a book for you. Yes, he does develop some redeeming qualities, but just not enough to balance a-hole persona at the beginning of the book. This is just my thoughts on the story, and it just didn't work for me. I know it has worked for the others and I'm glad they enjoyed it.
Copy provided by author via InkSlinger
First let me say why I wanted to read No Apologies by Sybil Bartel, it was mainly cause of the cover. The cover is amazing and the is yummy. I mean look at those abs. Yes, I wanted to read this for a superficial reason. Now I need to share my thoughts.
Honestly, I struggle with No Apologies. I really didn't have a problem with Graham being a manwhore. I mean it's his prerogative to be one, after all he's a musician and he's living up the benefits. However, I he was moody and an a-hole. I think if he was more charming, I would be more forgiving for his manwhore behavior. He's not, and he's a hard character to love and he has no qualms being an a-hole.
You kind of get to know Carly. Yes, she's a bartender at a bar that Graham frequents, and likes to see her. Graham has these lusty feelings for her, but senses that he should stay away from. I guess that's one of Graham's good quality, but he can't seem to stay way. As you read the story, you learn that Carly is a wounded character, so I can understand her skittish nature.
No Apologies is written from Graham POV. I do like when it's from a male POV. However, the story is not a cheery one, it's pretty dark and gritty. Graham outlook on life is pretty grim. All he focuses on is tapping whatever chick crosses his path and shoving them out the door when he's done. If you don't mind an a-hole guy who's a bit of a manwhore with a chip on his shoulder, this is a book for you. Yes, he does develop some redeeming qualities, but just not enough to balance a-hole persona at the beginning of the book. This is just my thoughts on the story, and it just didn't work for me. I know it has worked for the others and I'm glad they enjoyed it.
Copy provided by author via InkSlinger
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May 31, 2025D.N.F.
I got 47% into this book and finally had to set it down, though I knew from the first few pages this wasn't going to be a book for me.
The story is told from Graham Allen's point of view; a bass player, muscle car restorer and part bar owner with a broken past. Sounds good right? Unfortunately he didn't live up to my expectations. To put it bluntly, I found his character to be nasty and angry. He was continually blowing up on his friends for no reason, drinking, and man-whoring. Graham refers to the girls he is getting dirty with as skank's and slut's, all while seeking out bartender Carly Sullivan as often as he could. That is until she asks him a seemingly innocent question causing him to get angry, yell, ride the edge of violence, run away, drink, and sleep with another random girl. Rinse and repeat. Carly's character was a little better in the emotionally relate-able sense. I felt for her and what she had been through but her character was a contradiction, I never truly felt like I knew the real Carly.
Both Graham and Carly ran hot and hot, I was never able to connect with them and while reading romance I need that connection with the main characters to enjoy a book. By the middle I was more aggravated then anything and not invested enough in the story to care about the ending. I couldn't find any fault in the author's writing though, it was just the characters and story that fell flat for me. If you enjoy new adult romance that have characters with dark, troubled pasts you may want to give this one a try and form your own opinion. However, it just wasn't for me.
I got 47% into this book and finally had to set it down, though I knew from the first few pages this wasn't going to be a book for me.
The story is told from Graham Allen's point of view; a bass player, muscle car restorer and part bar owner with a broken past. Sounds good right? Unfortunately he didn't live up to my expectations. To put it bluntly, I found his character to be nasty and angry. He was continually blowing up on his friends for no reason, drinking, and man-whoring. Graham refers to the girls he is getting dirty with as skank's and slut's, all while seeking out bartender Carly Sullivan as often as he could. That is until she asks him a seemingly innocent question causing him to get angry, yell, ride the edge of violence, run away, drink, and sleep with another random girl. Rinse and repeat. Carly's character was a little better in the emotionally relate-able sense. I felt for her and what she had been through but her character was a contradiction, I never truly felt like I knew the real Carly.
Both Graham and Carly ran hot and hot, I was never able to connect with them and while reading romance I need that connection with the main characters to enjoy a book. By the middle I was more aggravated then anything and not invested enough in the story to care about the ending. I couldn't find any fault in the author's writing though, it was just the characters and story that fell flat for me. If you enjoy new adult romance that have characters with dark, troubled pasts you may want to give this one a try and form your own opinion. However, it just wasn't for me.
August 16, 2014
*I received a free ARC of No Apologies from Xpresso Booktours in exchange of an honest review*
No Apologies is raw, tense, tender and a pretty tough read!
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
No Apologies is raw, tense, tender and a pretty tough read!
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
May 10, 2017
I'll give it 3 stars because the writing is good, but the label of romance is pushing it a bit. This book is for girls that like the hurt, nothing wrong with that if its your thing, just beware if it's not.
January 25, 2015
Graham = complete and total asshole
Carly = complete and total doormat
No thanks.
Carly = complete and total doormat
No thanks.
July 4, 2021
First half was a bit slow, but picked up in the second. All male POV - we're taken on a journey with Graham, our hero. He's young and has a lot of sh*t to overcome. At first he tries his utmost to be the most unlikable protagonist ever, but as the pages go by you realize that that's his way of coping with a traumatic past. He redeems himself beautifully once a special someone comes into his life, and not necessarily who you might be thinking.
I don't understand readers who constantly whine about a male protagonist who sleeps around before he gets together with the heroine. I mean, Graham was NOT with Carly when he was carrying on with all the nonsense. Yes, there was a mutual attraction - and since this is a romance, you know she's the one he'd end with - but for most of the book they were not a couple. Therefore, his interactions with other women can't really be construed as betrayal or cheating.
This book is Graham's journey into manhood, therefore, it takes some time for him to grow up and realize just how much Carly meant to him. That growth in his character was great to watch, and all the ups and downs he went through, including all the women, was a part of that growth. Without it the story wouldn't have been believable.
For readers who want a cookie cutter romance where the guy only sleeps with the heroine (but wouldn't have had a problem if it was the heroine who slept with OM :/) or feminists who get their draws in a twist because the heroine isn't a slut while the hero is, please don't read this book. It is not for you.
It's not that I'm a huge proponent of either protagonist sleeping with other people, but when it's authentic to the story being told I can tolerate it in some cases, esp if it's from the perspective of a young male protagonist who slowly comes to terms with the circumstances of his life.
Graham has a lot of baggage but learns to let go of them as the story progresses. What I liked about this novel is that he stopped being promiscuous & self-destructive not because of his growing feelings for Carly, but because he started to become a man. A real man who wanted to honor and protect the people he loved. He elevated his mindset and began to let go of the angry, abused boy in him that he'd been holding on to for so long. He made that change first and foremost for himself, wanting to be better and do better.
He fell in lust (then love) with Carly, His character growth was beautifully rendered, it felt organic and true to real life. I also loved how patient and understanding he was of sweet, vulnerable Carly.
Having gone through her own horrible trauma, she was running scared from her past, but she was still brave enough to open herself to love, esp with a guy like Graham who, in his insecurity & self-hatred, did everything in his power to push her away. I was really rooting for her to get her happy ending because she deserved it so much. Falling in love with bad boy Graham was no walk in the park, but she stuck it out with him and was a big part of his healing and inspiration to become a better man. A better man for her.
I have to say, this was a really decent debut novel by Sybil Bartel. While NA novels are not my favourite and No Apologies started off a bit slow, I don't regret reading it. Bartel knows how to convincingly write in the male POV, something not all female authors do well. At no point did I feel like this was a male POV in female voice. Nope, Graham's inner monologue was raw, unapologetic and true to the evolution of his character. I loved it. In fact, I think I might be slowly becoming a Sybil Bartel fan. Even if I'm not always a fan of certain repetitive tropes in her plots, I like the type of characters she writes about.
April 9, 2015
**This ARC was given to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review**
This was SUCH a fantastic story! A nice surprise, too, considering that I wasn't expecting too much. I felt so much for these characters.
No Apologies really about forgiveness and acceptance, as you can maybe infer from the title. Our main character, Graham Allen, is a hard-edged rocker, who enjoys living life "complication-free". He says what he means and means what he says. He's not a fan of the intricacies of relationships, so he's a one night stand kind of guy. He's a douchebag a lot of the time, but you immediately see that there's more to him. Especially when he comes across our female protagonist, Carly Sullivan.
Carly is an easy-going bartender with a dark secret. She is a very happy person, joyful and encouraging. But her secret really does overtake her ability to live a full life. When she and Graham meet, it's quite the adventure. For both of them.
Graham is not a fan of getting too attached to people, and Carly slowly shatters that perception throughout the book. That is my favorite part about this book -- how slowly, yet perfectly the character development takes place. There is no rushing Graham and his perception shifts. And Carly is just simply being herself the entire time. Graham really was a nasty guy -- not a bad guy -- just a guy with a chip on his shoulder. And Carly realized that.
The relationship between the two didn't go from strangers to lover. There was a lot of buildup, including friendship. Both parties had a lot of healing to do and Bartel did this book justice by allowing that healing to play out properly.
The world was kept very simple. Nothing too over the top. This was a very character driven story. You find that you really don't care about where the characters are, just that they're together and that there's growth. Between them and within them. I was rooting for Graham and Carly from the very beginning. The supporting characters in this book where very good, too. I felt that all of them were necessary. And used rather well.
All of the scenes between Carley and Graham were so emotional, whether it was good emotion or bad emotion. It was there and it made you feel. I loved every moment of it. Also, Bartel is very good about writing some good feels scenes, especially when it came to the sexy times. So much fun to read about!
Overall, this is probably a favorite book of mine for sure. Graham is a characterr that was so flawed, so scarred. But he slowly turned into someone that wanted to be better for himself. For Carly. And for his friends/family. You don't see a huge change in his personality, which is why I like Bartel's writing. She let him stay true to who he was. But you do see enough change in Graham that you know he's a better person by the end of the book.
Great book. I loved every page.
This was SUCH a fantastic story! A nice surprise, too, considering that I wasn't expecting too much. I felt so much for these characters.
No Apologies really about forgiveness and acceptance, as you can maybe infer from the title. Our main character, Graham Allen, is a hard-edged rocker, who enjoys living life "complication-free". He says what he means and means what he says. He's not a fan of the intricacies of relationships, so he's a one night stand kind of guy. He's a douchebag a lot of the time, but you immediately see that there's more to him. Especially when he comes across our female protagonist, Carly Sullivan.
Carly is an easy-going bartender with a dark secret. She is a very happy person, joyful and encouraging. But her secret really does overtake her ability to live a full life. When she and Graham meet, it's quite the adventure. For both of them.
Graham is not a fan of getting too attached to people, and Carly slowly shatters that perception throughout the book. That is my favorite part about this book -- how slowly, yet perfectly the character development takes place. There is no rushing Graham and his perception shifts. And Carly is just simply being herself the entire time. Graham really was a nasty guy -- not a bad guy -- just a guy with a chip on his shoulder. And Carly realized that.
The relationship between the two didn't go from strangers to lover. There was a lot of buildup, including friendship. Both parties had a lot of healing to do and Bartel did this book justice by allowing that healing to play out properly.
The world was kept very simple. Nothing too over the top. This was a very character driven story. You find that you really don't care about where the characters are, just that they're together and that there's growth. Between them and within them. I was rooting for Graham and Carly from the very beginning. The supporting characters in this book where very good, too. I felt that all of them were necessary. And used rather well.
All of the scenes between Carley and Graham were so emotional, whether it was good emotion or bad emotion. It was there and it made you feel. I loved every moment of it. Also, Bartel is very good about writing some good feels scenes, especially when it came to the sexy times. So much fun to read about!
Overall, this is probably a favorite book of mine for sure. Graham is a characterr that was so flawed, so scarred. But he slowly turned into someone that wanted to be better for himself. For Carly. And for his friends/family. You don't see a huge change in his personality, which is why I like Bartel's writing. She let him stay true to who he was. But you do see enough change in Graham that you know he's a better person by the end of the book.
Great book. I loved every page.
July 31, 2014
I am not going to gush on and on about how much I loved this book or that I was instantly sucked in and had to read it all in one sitting. In fact, it took me two days to finish this book. I had a hard time getting into it in the beginning, but what it did was keep my interest so high that I had to keep reading to find out how it ended. It was nothing like I expected and I am not sure I was ready to take in this book.
You want to talk about a seriously messed up guy who is 100% alpha and in charge… but that was the big intrigue. He was in charge to a point of extreme and when he felt the least bit out of control, all bets were off and that alone had me completely intrigued. I wanted to know what made Graham tick. But it was more than that. I wanted to know what was up with Carly.
These two had enough emotional scars from the past to push anyone over into insanity, but the fact that they found one another in the beginning just sparks something. This was a tough read because of the backgrounds of the two main characters. One who keeps the faith without getting too close and one who may never find the love because he has never had it freely.
I loved watching Graham’s character change throughout the book. It was hard seeing him in the beginning of the book, so hard and jaded. But to see him transform into a different person throughout the book just held my interest. I was quite shocked and quite happy with this character.
Now, I know Carly had a past as well, but this book is really about the growth you see in Graham. I liked her character, but I wanted more of her. I wanted more of her edge. She really made a big change as well throughout the book, but because this book was a singular perspective, it was a lot harder to see what she was going through. But I thought she had a lot more confidence and attitude than she let anyone believe, especially given the circumstances of her past.
But together the two of them were electric. They had that spark. That something special. It just showed how much these two needed each other. This book was hot, it was, just not in the way I expected it. There was plenty of sexual tension but the reason and results were just the tenderest of moments that just spoke to the heart.
This may not have been what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it and it kept my interest even if it was just to see what Graham did next. I can’t ruin the book but there is a point in the book when all of Graham’s defenses just melt away because of another and it just touched me so much in that moment that I knew everything was more than it could have been when I opened the book. I appreciate the difficult natures of this book and the growth of the characters just made it big.
You want to talk about a seriously messed up guy who is 100% alpha and in charge… but that was the big intrigue. He was in charge to a point of extreme and when he felt the least bit out of control, all bets were off and that alone had me completely intrigued. I wanted to know what made Graham tick. But it was more than that. I wanted to know what was up with Carly.
These two had enough emotional scars from the past to push anyone over into insanity, but the fact that they found one another in the beginning just sparks something. This was a tough read because of the backgrounds of the two main characters. One who keeps the faith without getting too close and one who may never find the love because he has never had it freely.
I loved watching Graham’s character change throughout the book. It was hard seeing him in the beginning of the book, so hard and jaded. But to see him transform into a different person throughout the book just held my interest. I was quite shocked and quite happy with this character.
Now, I know Carly had a past as well, but this book is really about the growth you see in Graham. I liked her character, but I wanted more of her. I wanted more of her edge. She really made a big change as well throughout the book, but because this book was a singular perspective, it was a lot harder to see what she was going through. But I thought she had a lot more confidence and attitude than she let anyone believe, especially given the circumstances of her past.
But together the two of them were electric. They had that spark. That something special. It just showed how much these two needed each other. This book was hot, it was, just not in the way I expected it. There was plenty of sexual tension but the reason and results were just the tenderest of moments that just spoke to the heart.
This may not have been what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it and it kept my interest even if it was just to see what Graham did next. I can’t ruin the book but there is a point in the book when all of Graham’s defenses just melt away because of another and it just touched me so much in that moment that I knew everything was more than it could have been when I opened the book. I appreciate the difficult natures of this book and the growth of the characters just made it big.
June 29, 2014
I will admit it. I chose this book based on the cover alone (don’t lie, you judge books by their covers too. :) ). I love rock star books but this book could have had the same guy leaning against a car or riding a motorcycle, and it would have been perfect. Graham isn’t only a rock star, he restores old cars, he is a biker, and as the book goes on he becomes so much more than that.
He also has a chip on his shoulder and a figurative no relationships sign flashing in bright red letters over his head. He does go through women like crazy, but he is always straight up with them about what he wants and doesn’t want, he is rather harsh with them (verbally) when they act like they are ok with a mutual moment together and then want more after the act is up. I get it though. Ladies, if you don’t want the double standard that comes along with acting like some men do (slut vs awesome stellar dude), then act like them afterwards as well. If you agree to what they offer, take it, and get on with your life. No whining, clinging, oh he is going to love me after we have sex. Life typically doesn’t work that way.
Sorry, real life moment there, but it goes hand it hand with Graham and the women who want him.
Carly is a sweetheart. I love her. She is smart, beautiful, knows her cars, can ride a bike, and is just as damaged as Graham is inside for different reasons.
I started this around midnight the night before last, stayed up reading it for a couple of hours, then got up and finished it. It was one of those books that I didn’t want to put down, especially when I got to this moment in the book where everything changes. I did not see that coming at all. I am going to guess that most people won’t see that coming, but it adds so much to who Graham is as a person, it causes him to grow.
The only thing I wish is that the book would have gone into more detail about Carly healing. The book is told from Graham’s POV, but I would have liked to him to see her through more of the healing process, have more time spent on that moment. What she went through in the past was horrible and I just would have liked to see them work her through that more.
Excellent book! I will definitely be looking for more books from Sybil Bartel! Thank you to Netgalley for my copy of No Apologies.
He also has a chip on his shoulder and a figurative no relationships sign flashing in bright red letters over his head. He does go through women like crazy, but he is always straight up with them about what he wants and doesn’t want, he is rather harsh with them (verbally) when they act like they are ok with a mutual moment together and then want more after the act is up. I get it though. Ladies, if you don’t want the double standard that comes along with acting like some men do (slut vs awesome stellar dude), then act like them afterwards as well. If you agree to what they offer, take it, and get on with your life. No whining, clinging, oh he is going to love me after we have sex. Life typically doesn’t work that way.
Sorry, real life moment there, but it goes hand it hand with Graham and the women who want him.
Carly is a sweetheart. I love her. She is smart, beautiful, knows her cars, can ride a bike, and is just as damaged as Graham is inside for different reasons.
I started this around midnight the night before last, stayed up reading it for a couple of hours, then got up and finished it. It was one of those books that I didn’t want to put down, especially when I got to this moment in the book where everything changes. I did not see that coming at all. I am going to guess that most people won’t see that coming, but it adds so much to who Graham is as a person, it causes him to grow.
The only thing I wish is that the book would have gone into more detail about Carly healing. The book is told from Graham’s POV, but I would have liked to him to see her through more of the healing process, have more time spent on that moment. What she went through in the past was horrible and I just would have liked to see them work her through that more.
Excellent book! I will definitely be looking for more books from Sybil Bartel! Thank you to Netgalley for my copy of No Apologies.
June 20, 2014
3.5 Cocktails
This was an interested story with a male character that made it really, really hard to like him.
Graham Allen was somewhat of a loner, who used sex as a way to deal with his anger and other emotional issues. He could be a mean ass SOB when he wanted to be (which was most of the time) but only had a bond with one person, his best friend Myles. Even that relationship was somewhat strained at times because Graham's assholery was an equal opportunity offender. But when Graham meets bartender Carly, we starts to see cracks in his defensive walls. He breaks his somewhat golden rule about women when it comes to Carly, because he doesn't use her for sex. Instead, they form a weird friendship (even though Graham claims they don't have one) where we start to see that beyond the rough exterior and attitude is a boy who wants to believe someone he loves will be loyal to him and protect him when needed. Graham doesn't make it easy on anyone, but when you start to see what's beneath and his struggles, you start to warm up to Graham.
Carly was a special girl. She had her own trauma and was dealing with it the best way she could, but she was the polar opposite of Graham. She embraced people. Made friends. Smiled. She felt broken, but didn't let those feelings drag her down or those that were around her. And even when Graham continued to hurt her, she was always quick to forgive him and give him that smile again. It was remarkable and I felt myself a little bit in awe of her, because there were times when I was ready to kick Graham to the curb, but she kept going back for more. She saw in him what everyone else missed and was determined to help him get passed his fears.
There was a bit of a twist towards the end of the story. One I didn't see coming, but a twist that helped Graham get past everything. It proved just what kind of man Graham was and why Carly fought so hard for him. And really, it's at that point where I was willing to forgive Graham for everything else he'd done, because you saw what he was made of.
This is an angsty story, because neither Graham or Carly's history is pretty. But it's a story of overcoming the horrible and living again. It was well done and had me stuck to my sofa from start to finish.
This was an interested story with a male character that made it really, really hard to like him.
Graham Allen was somewhat of a loner, who used sex as a way to deal with his anger and other emotional issues. He could be a mean ass SOB when he wanted to be (which was most of the time) but only had a bond with one person, his best friend Myles. Even that relationship was somewhat strained at times because Graham's assholery was an equal opportunity offender. But when Graham meets bartender Carly, we starts to see cracks in his defensive walls. He breaks his somewhat golden rule about women when it comes to Carly, because he doesn't use her for sex. Instead, they form a weird friendship (even though Graham claims they don't have one) where we start to see that beyond the rough exterior and attitude is a boy who wants to believe someone he loves will be loyal to him and protect him when needed. Graham doesn't make it easy on anyone, but when you start to see what's beneath and his struggles, you start to warm up to Graham.
Carly was a special girl. She had her own trauma and was dealing with it the best way she could, but she was the polar opposite of Graham. She embraced people. Made friends. Smiled. She felt broken, but didn't let those feelings drag her down or those that were around her. And even when Graham continued to hurt her, she was always quick to forgive him and give him that smile again. It was remarkable and I felt myself a little bit in awe of her, because there were times when I was ready to kick Graham to the curb, but she kept going back for more. She saw in him what everyone else missed and was determined to help him get passed his fears.
There was a bit of a twist towards the end of the story. One I didn't see coming, but a twist that helped Graham get past everything. It proved just what kind of man Graham was and why Carly fought so hard for him. And really, it's at that point where I was willing to forgive Graham for everything else he'd done, because you saw what he was made of.
This is an angsty story, because neither Graham or Carly's history is pretty. But it's a story of overcoming the horrible and living again. It was well done and had me stuck to my sofa from start to finish.
July 4, 2014
Graham is quite a complicated character that I just fell in love with. It was not love at first sight. His arrogance, temper and the walls he had built around his life annoyed me to no end. It was obvious he had been hurt in his life but I couldn’t understand what would cause him to behave the way he did. Yet as this story progresses, I was surprised that Graham was not more psychotic than he was. He had been wounded in a way that no person should ever be hurt. His walls and rules were the only things to hold his sanity together. Yet as he began to live for smiles from Carly and the moments they shared, those looming walls began to crumble. Her sweet temperament and innocence was the thing he needed above all to begin the long road to healing. He would always have scars, but Carly helped him see past those scars and see who he could be. Carly was a woman of passion and stunning innocence, despite her frightful past. Someone who made others around her strive to be a better person. Her character and joyfulness allowed for dark days to be brightened and full of life.
It was interesting to watch Graham’s walls begin to break. They did so without his realization. It was the transformation of hope and freedom in Carly that he desired, her tenderness and love, that brought about his life change. Things he did not know he wanted became a priority. It was heart breaking to watch two broken people fall in love but so beautiful at the same time. Halfway through the story, BAM, Sybil throws us a curve ball. Someone from Graham’s past arrives and a secret is revealed. This secret was a breaking point for Graham but the exact thing he needed to grow into the man he was meant to be. It was amazing to see how the life and love that Carly was helping cultivate in Graham’s life set to a full bloom in light of these events. It was a twist I was not expecting and I loved it! I love being surprised with a story! The ending could not have been better. This story is full of hurt and anger but accented in a beautiful stroke of life, forgiveness, and love. Make sure to grab your copy today and fall in love with the story of Graham and Carly.
It was interesting to watch Graham’s walls begin to break. They did so without his realization. It was the transformation of hope and freedom in Carly that he desired, her tenderness and love, that brought about his life change. Things he did not know he wanted became a priority. It was heart breaking to watch two broken people fall in love but so beautiful at the same time. Halfway through the story, BAM, Sybil throws us a curve ball. Someone from Graham’s past arrives and a secret is revealed. This secret was a breaking point for Graham but the exact thing he needed to grow into the man he was meant to be. It was amazing to see how the life and love that Carly was helping cultivate in Graham’s life set to a full bloom in light of these events. It was a twist I was not expecting and I loved it! I love being surprised with a story! The ending could not have been better. This story is full of hurt and anger but accented in a beautiful stroke of life, forgiveness, and love. Make sure to grab your copy today and fall in love with the story of Graham and Carly.
June 28, 2014
No Apologies is a very risqué debut novel by Sybil Bartel. She was bold to create a hero who is a total douche bag; a hero very easy to hate. In contrast, she had paired him off with a heroine who is the hero’s polar opposite. She is very sweet, trusting and definitely optimistic; sometimes maybe even too forgiving. With very different personalities and very dark pasts, these two are definitely an unlikely pair but Ms. Bartel makes it work. It was believable, annoying at times, but she really did make it work.
I hated everything about Graham Allen. He was nothing but an ass to Carly and the things he did to her were all unforgivable. However, he is THE bad boy that everyone cannot stay away from with a dark past to answer for is short comings. I could not stop reading about him. I was intrigued by him. He certainly is hot in his motorcycle, his guitar and the way he is described….sexy! Carly, on the other hand, well, she annoyed be to the fullest. It is obvious that this girl deserves so much more and with her past, Graham is certainly the wrong person for her. But it is what it is, Carly and Graham ends up together. When shit wasn’t hitting the fan, they were cute, sweet and even romantic. I guess I can admit that in the end, they fit.
Ms. Sybil’s debut novel pushes her readers to the edge with this easy to hate hero but also very easy to fall for in the end. For the most part, these types of books are not my typical reads. There is a lot of angst and sometimes, both hero and heroine will get on your nerves and question decisions in life. However, Ms. Sybil’s storyline and characters kept me wanting to read page after page. Her execution and timing of the conflicts were well done. No Apologies is the book I hate and love.
*ARC provided by publisher
December 27, 2014
CARMIE'S REVIEW - 4.5 Stars
No Apologies, no excuses, no love - those are the words that Graham Allen lives by. Bad boy rocker, Graham knows that he is broken and every girl dreams of fixing him. If Graham's mother beat him every day of his twelve years until he could hit her back, how does he expect someone else to love him when his mother couldn't. Only his dad and one of his close friends know the truth about what his mother did.
Graham meets Carly at the bar she tends. He is immediately drawn to her wholesome goodness and air of innocence. He tries to stay away but keeps returning like a moth to a flame. He only hopes that he doesn't engulf both their lives in fire.
Carly is drawn to Graham - he's so good looking she'd have to be blind not to appreciate his form. Carly looks at Graham like she sees the broken pieces inside him. When Graham keeps coming around the bar, she starts getting to know him and they become friends of a sort. Graham knows he isn't good enough for Carly and tries to keep things on an even keel.
Carly is crazy about bikes and cars which make her even more appealing to Graham. They also have writing in common; Graham writes songs and Carly writes books. Carly gave Graham a book to read and when he reads it he realizes Carly wrote the book about a traumatic experience in her life. Inside Carly is just as broken as he is - that's why see really gets Graham.
Carly is brave enough to be open and honest with Graham about what she wants but can Graham do the same? Can Graham show Carly he is willing to give her more than words?
Carly and Graham make a cute couple and as you read the book - them being together really makes sense. You can't but help and root for them to pull through to forever. Sybil, the author, did a great job with these two characters - they are larger than life. Kudos on the great read!
No Apologies, no excuses, no love - those are the words that Graham Allen lives by. Bad boy rocker, Graham knows that he is broken and every girl dreams of fixing him. If Graham's mother beat him every day of his twelve years until he could hit her back, how does he expect someone else to love him when his mother couldn't. Only his dad and one of his close friends know the truth about what his mother did.
Graham meets Carly at the bar she tends. He is immediately drawn to her wholesome goodness and air of innocence. He tries to stay away but keeps returning like a moth to a flame. He only hopes that he doesn't engulf both their lives in fire.
Carly is drawn to Graham - he's so good looking she'd have to be blind not to appreciate his form. Carly looks at Graham like she sees the broken pieces inside him. When Graham keeps coming around the bar, she starts getting to know him and they become friends of a sort. Graham knows he isn't good enough for Carly and tries to keep things on an even keel.
Carly is crazy about bikes and cars which make her even more appealing to Graham. They also have writing in common; Graham writes songs and Carly writes books. Carly gave Graham a book to read and when he reads it he realizes Carly wrote the book about a traumatic experience in her life. Inside Carly is just as broken as he is - that's why see really gets Graham.
Carly is brave enough to be open and honest with Graham about what she wants but can Graham do the same? Can Graham show Carly he is willing to give her more than words?
Carly and Graham make a cute couple and as you read the book - them being together really makes sense. You can't but help and root for them to pull through to forever. Sybil, the author, did a great job with these two characters - they are larger than life. Kudos on the great read!
December 17, 2015
This was overwhelming and all consuming story of two young people who are dealing with their own self discovery while running from their own misfortunate and abusive pasts through out mutual interaction of slow growing trust, forgivness, patience, trials, mistakes and finally love.
"...Her hair fell across her naked shoulders and breasts as she dropped her head but I quickly caught her face in my hands.
“Look at me, Hummingbird.”
Frightened eyes met mine.
“Don’t fly away,” I whispered.
“You have my heart, please don’t hurt me.”
I would rather die than hurt her. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
I needed her to understand. She needed to know what she meant to me. For the first time in my life, I spoke the words that had never crossed my lips. “I love you.”..."
My heart was beating fast at times out of pure infatuation and cause of the notion of that crucial moment when they realized the emotion, recognized it and finally acted upon it.
The characters are incredibly well described and gradualy, pacingly sculpted from the empty, damaged and selfdeprived shells to the healed, selfappreciated human beings worthy of that ultimate feeling of completion - LOVE
"...When she opened her eyes, I put my hand over her heart.
“I want this.”
I brought our clasped hands to my chest. “You, Carly Sullivan, have my heart.” ..."
I just love when I stumble across something like this that makes me a little bit more appreciative...
"...Her hair fell across her naked shoulders and breasts as she dropped her head but I quickly caught her face in my hands.
“Look at me, Hummingbird.”
Frightened eyes met mine.
“Don’t fly away,” I whispered.
“You have my heart, please don’t hurt me.”
I would rather die than hurt her. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
I needed her to understand. She needed to know what she meant to me. For the first time in my life, I spoke the words that had never crossed my lips. “I love you.”..."
My heart was beating fast at times out of pure infatuation and cause of the notion of that crucial moment when they realized the emotion, recognized it and finally acted upon it.
The characters are incredibly well described and gradualy, pacingly sculpted from the empty, damaged and selfdeprived shells to the healed, selfappreciated human beings worthy of that ultimate feeling of completion - LOVE
"...When she opened her eyes, I put my hand over her heart.
“I want this.”
I brought our clasped hands to my chest. “You, Carly Sullivan, have my heart.” ..."
I just love when I stumble across something like this that makes me a little bit more appreciative...
July 10, 2014
~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads Review Team~
Two rules were all Graham had. #1 never apologize #2 never fall in love. Simple right? Not so much. Graham had a crappy childhood but now he has a good job, is in a bad and can have any chic he wants. However, Carly isn’t something he can have; she is pure and innocent and has a past that she can’t let go of. This was an amazing book, the buildup of the characters and their relationship together was great. It wasn’t instant love at first site and then bam they were in bed together. They went slow, sometimes too slow but it worked. I wish there would have been more to the Epilogue or maybe a few more chapters at the end but it was a good book with a good story. I really would have liked to learn more about Gunner and how he was adjusting, possible for another book????
Characters: The characters were well written, believable and likable.
Sex: yes
Religious: no
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: no
Genre: Romance
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
Two rules were all Graham had. #1 never apologize #2 never fall in love. Simple right? Not so much. Graham had a crappy childhood but now he has a good job, is in a bad and can have any chic he wants. However, Carly isn’t something he can have; she is pure and innocent and has a past that she can’t let go of. This was an amazing book, the buildup of the characters and their relationship together was great. It wasn’t instant love at first site and then bam they were in bed together. They went slow, sometimes too slow but it worked. I wish there would have been more to the Epilogue or maybe a few more chapters at the end but it was a good book with a good story. I really would have liked to learn more about Gunner and how he was adjusting, possible for another book????
Characters: The characters were well written, believable and likable.
Sex: yes
Religious: no
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: no
Genre: Romance
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
July 14, 2014
Graham Allen is a man with everything, a successful career restoring classic cars and playing bass in an up and coming band, plus he has his pick of whatever woman he wants, he has a traumatic past but he is living it up now and puts his past where it belongs - in the past.
Carly Sullivan is an angelic innocent, she works as a bartender with a sideline in writing, she sees beyond Graham's hard man exterior and starts to get under his skin as she does not want to just jump in the sack with him, she knows he is hiding something but little does he know she is also hiding a horror from her past.
Graham is a love and leave 'em type of guy but he finds himself drawn to Carly and her kind disposition but he doesn't want to get involved, he does not do relationships but yet he still can't help himself constantly thinking of her however it doesn't stop him sleeping around.
They stay friends with some near misses but as they start to get closer Graham's past comes back to haunt him in the form of his absent mother and things start to wrong for him, will he give up his wild womanising ways and face what is about to hit him or will he go off the rails and back to his hard living exploits?
No Apologies is a great read, if you like your rock star books, then you should enjoy this, perhaps Graham Allen will be your next book boyfriend?
No Apologies is awarded 4 out of 5
Carly Sullivan is an angelic innocent, she works as a bartender with a sideline in writing, she sees beyond Graham's hard man exterior and starts to get under his skin as she does not want to just jump in the sack with him, she knows he is hiding something but little does he know she is also hiding a horror from her past.
Graham is a love and leave 'em type of guy but he finds himself drawn to Carly and her kind disposition but he doesn't want to get involved, he does not do relationships but yet he still can't help himself constantly thinking of her however it doesn't stop him sleeping around.
They stay friends with some near misses but as they start to get closer Graham's past comes back to haunt him in the form of his absent mother and things start to wrong for him, will he give up his wild womanising ways and face what is about to hit him or will he go off the rails and back to his hard living exploits?
No Apologies is a great read, if you like your rock star books, then you should enjoy this, perhaps Graham Allen will be your next book boyfriend?
No Apologies is awarded 4 out of 5
May 25, 2016
This book really touched my heart, lets not lie, it touched my soul, both mentally, and physically, it got weird..... The main character got flushed with a ton of cash and the decisions he made were not great. Finnick Odair once said, "It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart." I believe this quote goes hand and hand with this book. After Graham Allen, the main character, fell in love with the bartender chick Carly;) he completely fell apart.
It took him a while to recoup but he eventually got back to what Graham does, if you know what I mean.
Two rules, that's all Graham has—never apologize and never fall in love. He knows Carly is everything he should avoid. Cheerful and sweet, she has "relationship" written all over her. But Graham can't stay away from her probing questions and concerned blue eyes.
When Graham discovers Carly is hiding a crushing secret, he's prepared to risk it all. Until in one single moment, everything changes and Graham's past threatens to collide with his future. His life is crumbling down around him, and soon no apology in the world can save him.
He should've known to walk away.
It took him a while to recoup but he eventually got back to what Graham does, if you know what I mean.
Two rules, that's all Graham has—never apologize and never fall in love. He knows Carly is everything he should avoid. Cheerful and sweet, she has "relationship" written all over her. But Graham can't stay away from her probing questions and concerned blue eyes.
When Graham discovers Carly is hiding a crushing secret, he's prepared to risk it all. Until in one single moment, everything changes and Graham's past threatens to collide with his future. His life is crumbling down around him, and soon no apology in the world can save him.
He should've known to walk away.
June 26, 2014
** I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. **
I love a good rocker, bad boy book and No Apologies didn't disappoint. Graham Allen is your typical bad boy bass player. The woman flock to him, he sleeps around. He sets his sights on Carly Sullivan, all he wants is one night or so he keeps telling himself.
I am usually pretty good at figuring out where a book is going early in, I never saw this plot twist coming! I couldn't put this one down. I was very vested in the characters. Very well written. Would definitely read another one from Sybil Bartel.
I love a good rocker, bad boy book and No Apologies didn't disappoint. Graham Allen is your typical bad boy bass player. The woman flock to him, he sleeps around. He sets his sights on Carly Sullivan, all he wants is one night or so he keeps telling himself.
I am usually pretty good at figuring out where a book is going early in, I never saw this plot twist coming! I couldn't put this one down. I was very vested in the characters. Very well written. Would definitely read another one from Sybil Bartel.
July 10, 2014
"I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads."
What an inspirational book wrapped around a romance and two pretty damaged individuals. Somehow it managed to be gritty, and yet soft and sweet. The lead characters were beautifully brought to life, ugly backgrounds and all. If you enjoy books with tortured wannabe rock stars, sweet but sassy female leads and a whole raft of events designed to throw them off track - then this is the perfect book for you.
What an inspirational book wrapped around a romance and two pretty damaged individuals. Somehow it managed to be gritty, and yet soft and sweet. The lead characters were beautifully brought to life, ugly backgrounds and all. If you enjoy books with tortured wannabe rock stars, sweet but sassy female leads and a whole raft of events designed to throw them off track - then this is the perfect book for you.
September 15, 2014
Loved loved loved this book.
Graham doesn't do apologies & he doesn't fall in love. What happens when someone enters your life and turns your world upside down? That's what happens when Graham sees Carly. This is a fantastic story about two broken souls. I was literally gripped. The author put a brilliant twist in it that had my jaw dropping.
This is a really fantastic read. Great standalone that I'll be recommending to friends.
Graham doesn't do apologies & he doesn't fall in love. What happens when someone enters your life and turns your world upside down? That's what happens when Graham sees Carly. This is a fantastic story about two broken souls. I was literally gripped. The author put a brilliant twist in it that had my jaw dropping.
This is a really fantastic read. Great standalone that I'll be recommending to friends.
May 3, 2015
Due to Miss Sybil's extraordinary writing skills, she transformed an angry, arrogant, and broken character into a sympathetic one. It broke my heart over what Graham suffered as an abused child under his vicious, psychopathic mother and his cowardly father. As a result, he pushed away Carly, the one woman who truly loved him in spite of his flaws. Is a happy ending even possible for these two?
December 22, 2014
*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*
4 “Hummingbird” “count to ten” “You and me” Kisses
Oh-my-wow. I didn’t know what to really expect when I opened up No Appologies…I knew he was a rock star…and I do love my rock stars…but I was ready for a fun ride. The angst-filled amazingness that just shook me to my core was a whole lotta awesome that I didn’t know to prepare myself for! Damn…Mr. Allen just kicked my butt and I liked it. Get ready for a babble-filled review, cause I’ve got lots to say!
Graham Allen…is it possible to really love someone and then equally want to smack them upside the head? Not bruise him or anything…just knock some sense into his thick skull…if that’s what I could do to Graham, I would totally do it. Graham is one of those hate-turns-to-love book boyfriends…he’s a hot mess…but he does have some redeeming qualities. He's hot in a bad ass kinda way…shaved head, 6’2” (yum!), tatt’s and muscles, so alpha it made me weak in the knees, permanent scowl on his face…he’s rugged and just has a don’t-fuck-with-me attitude. And it’s hot! He’s also incredibly successful, despite his appearance and the attitude he pulls off…he’s got a successful mechanic shop, he’s part owner in a club and he’s part of a pretty well-known band. The dude isn’t hurting for money and it’s not like he works or tries very hard…he’s just lucky enough to have found things he’s good at...but at least he finally has something good going on in his life, after the shit beginning he had. Graham is a sad, tragic soul. Honestly…his past broke my heart…no child should have to go through what he did or suffer for as long as he did and every second that we are shown more about his past, the more I wanted him to break through and get to a healing point in his life, cause he deserved for once to be happy. And you could clearly see that his Hummingbird gave him that.
Carly Sullivan…if there was anyone carved out of the universe that is perfect for Graham Allen…it’s Carly. His Hummingbird…I can’t even tell you the things that happened to my heart when he calls her that…just a whole other level of amazing. Carly is bright…pure…innocent…sweet…kind…caring…loving…sounds like the polar opposite to Graham, right? And yet at the same time, she is just like him…in her own way she is just as fucked up as Graham is…she has her own scars…and they run deep. My heart broke for her as much as it did for Graham because even despite her past, you could see her desire to get past it…she didn’t want to be held back…she truly wanted to love and care for Graham. Even though she knew he was not good for her, I felt with every fiber of my being her longing to overcome both of their pasts and be together. I loved Carly’s spirit...she’s a fabulous combination of fun and playful with a little bit of sass and spunk thrown in. She doesn’t let Graham get away with shit and I loved her to pieces for it. She saw through his bravado and truly understood who he was and it was absolutely beautiful.
Oh my inner angst whore could not get enough of this book…like absolutely fabulous constant angst through the entire book and I ate up every second of it. It takes a minute to get used to who Graham is…I loved that this book is told completely from his POV cause he truly is a fascinating character, but adapting to Graham’s personality takes…patience. Once you have the whole picture…it clicks, it’s logical and I can’t say I blame him…but it hurt my heart. For him. The only glimmers of hope through this entire book are when he and Carly are together. The change in Graham is not overnight…and trust me, he fights it with every ounce of strength in him…but not even he can deny the way Carly makes him feel. He tries to do what is best for her…which was actually pretty admirable, considering we’re dealing with a grade A ass hole who could normally give two shits about most of the women he surrounds himself with…so every time you saw the ‘Nice Graham’ come out…it was like Christmas morning. I loved that they developed a friendship first…they had to…you’re dealing with two people who have never been in relationship before – it’s a shock and neither one knows what to do with the fact that they want to be with someone else. It’s a learning experience…but their honesty and openness with each other completely melted my heart. I adored what they did for each other and how they were together…separately they were just suffering and together, they healed each other.
In the very beginning, the first chapter starts out in Spring…it’s not a super long chapter but I was trying to figure everyone out…then chapter two bounces to Winter…I was honestly a little shocked! I couldn’t understand why we would skip months of time to build the story – it just seemed like a lot to miss out on…then I figured out why – Graham. Graham takes…time, in most of the things that he does. He needs to do things at his own pace…and it’s not like he’s just meeting Carly, so I got it in the end, but that was just my first ‘Wait a minute!’ moment. Not that I had a lot of those…I mean, I struggled with the first part of the book…clearly I got over that 10 fold, but getting into the flow was a little rough…and that’s mainly because of one man. Graham is a tough character to be in his POV…he’s really fucked up and broken…and being in his head, dealing with his self-destructive moments and his really broken views of himself and life was…hard. But that’s one of the many reasons why I loved him so much with Carly…he was an entirely different person around her, a better person – like there was the possibility for a better Graham when he was around her. It gave me hope.
Okay…so there was a point – 87% exactly where I had a very violent reaction to what happened. It was the ‘turning point’ if you will…I was over the moon in love with what Graham was doing, I was holding my breath, I was praying to every book god in the universe that this wasn’t going to be another soul crushing experience…and then something happened. It was like the rug was pulled out from under me and I thought FUCK!!! It’s not going to happen. But…I may have overacted…a little bit. Jumped to conclusions if you will – but in my defense…I was dying for them to be together, my heart was so in it, it was almost ridiculous. I promise you, for all the frustrating and anger-inducing emotions that are in the first third of the book, the last two thirds are packed with every emotion that I kill for. So much angst and tension…it was glorious. And the good parts…the blissful moments when Carly and Graham are actually happy…you have no idea.
This is an amazing standalone…I will always want more from Carly and Graham, but their story is complete…perfect…I couldn’t have asked for a better ending. No Apologies is an angst lovers dream filled with a sexy alpha man whore and a heroine that’s impossible not to love – I completely enjoyed the journey with Graham and Carly.
4 “Hummingbird” “count to ten” “You and me” Kisses
Oh-my-wow. I didn’t know what to really expect when I opened up No Appologies…I knew he was a rock star…and I do love my rock stars…but I was ready for a fun ride. The angst-filled amazingness that just shook me to my core was a whole lotta awesome that I didn’t know to prepare myself for! Damn…Mr. Allen just kicked my butt and I liked it. Get ready for a babble-filled review, cause I’ve got lots to say!
Graham Allen…is it possible to really love someone and then equally want to smack them upside the head? Not bruise him or anything…just knock some sense into his thick skull…if that’s what I could do to Graham, I would totally do it. Graham is one of those hate-turns-to-love book boyfriends…he’s a hot mess…but he does have some redeeming qualities. He's hot in a bad ass kinda way…shaved head, 6’2” (yum!), tatt’s and muscles, so alpha it made me weak in the knees, permanent scowl on his face…he’s rugged and just has a don’t-fuck-with-me attitude. And it’s hot! He’s also incredibly successful, despite his appearance and the attitude he pulls off…he’s got a successful mechanic shop, he’s part owner in a club and he’s part of a pretty well-known band. The dude isn’t hurting for money and it’s not like he works or tries very hard…he’s just lucky enough to have found things he’s good at...but at least he finally has something good going on in his life, after the shit beginning he had. Graham is a sad, tragic soul. Honestly…his past broke my heart…no child should have to go through what he did or suffer for as long as he did and every second that we are shown more about his past, the more I wanted him to break through and get to a healing point in his life, cause he deserved for once to be happy. And you could clearly see that his Hummingbird gave him that.
“Well, besides the hot bass player, bad boy, I’m-in-a-band charm, I think you’re moody and distant on purpose. You push people away so you can’t get disappointed or hurt. If you have no attachments, there’s nothing to risk. Am I right?” Even though she asked, the way she smiled told me she thought she was.
I ignored her bull’s-eye. “I’m hot?”
Carly Sullivan…if there was anyone carved out of the universe that is perfect for Graham Allen…it’s Carly. His Hummingbird…I can’t even tell you the things that happened to my heart when he calls her that…just a whole other level of amazing. Carly is bright…pure…innocent…sweet…kind…caring…loving…sounds like the polar opposite to Graham, right? And yet at the same time, she is just like him…in her own way she is just as fucked up as Graham is…she has her own scars…and they run deep. My heart broke for her as much as it did for Graham because even despite her past, you could see her desire to get past it…she didn’t want to be held back…she truly wanted to love and care for Graham. Even though she knew he was not good for her, I felt with every fiber of my being her longing to overcome both of their pasts and be together. I loved Carly’s spirit...she’s a fabulous combination of fun and playful with a little bit of sass and spunk thrown in. She doesn’t let Graham get away with shit and I loved her to pieces for it. She saw through his bravado and truly understood who he was and it was absolutely beautiful.
‘I wanted Carly. I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted a woman.
Once, just once, I wanted to be good enough to have that kind of innocence under me, wanting me, consuming me.’
Oh my inner angst whore could not get enough of this book…like absolutely fabulous constant angst through the entire book and I ate up every second of it. It takes a minute to get used to who Graham is…I loved that this book is told completely from his POV cause he truly is a fascinating character, but adapting to Graham’s personality takes…patience. Once you have the whole picture…it clicks, it’s logical and I can’t say I blame him…but it hurt my heart. For him. The only glimmers of hope through this entire book are when he and Carly are together. The change in Graham is not overnight…and trust me, he fights it with every ounce of strength in him…but not even he can deny the way Carly makes him feel. He tries to do what is best for her…which was actually pretty admirable, considering we’re dealing with a grade A ass hole who could normally give two shits about most of the women he surrounds himself with…so every time you saw the ‘Nice Graham’ come out…it was like Christmas morning. I loved that they developed a friendship first…they had to…you’re dealing with two people who have never been in relationship before – it’s a shock and neither one knows what to do with the fact that they want to be with someone else. It’s a learning experience…but their honesty and openness with each other completely melted my heart. I adored what they did for each other and how they were together…separately they were just suffering and together, they healed each other.
‘Her expression grew serious and her smile faded. “I can’t...I mean, I don’t.” Her hand gestured between us. She inhaled sharply, then spoke in a rush. “This won’t ever go further.”
My heart shattered. Not because she was telling me she was off-limits but because she had to, for her, for her self preservation. I got it. I didn’t want to, but Jesus, I got it. This girl deserved happiness. I was never gonna be that for her. I ran the back of my fingers across her cheek, wishing I could pull her into my arms. “I know.”
“But I like you, Graham Allen,” she whispered.
I didn’t see that coming. I pushed aside what I wanted to say and said what I should. “I’m not good enough for you, Carly Sullivan.” And that was the sad fucking truth.’
In the very beginning, the first chapter starts out in Spring…it’s not a super long chapter but I was trying to figure everyone out…then chapter two bounces to Winter…I was honestly a little shocked! I couldn’t understand why we would skip months of time to build the story – it just seemed like a lot to miss out on…then I figured out why – Graham. Graham takes…time, in most of the things that he does. He needs to do things at his own pace…and it’s not like he’s just meeting Carly, so I got it in the end, but that was just my first ‘Wait a minute!’ moment. Not that I had a lot of those…I mean, I struggled with the first part of the book…clearly I got over that 10 fold, but getting into the flow was a little rough…and that’s mainly because of one man. Graham is a tough character to be in his POV…he’s really fucked up and broken…and being in his head, dealing with his self-destructive moments and his really broken views of himself and life was…hard. But that’s one of the many reasons why I loved him so much with Carly…he was an entirely different person around her, a better person – like there was the possibility for a better Graham when he was around her. It gave me hope.
‘“Why do you put yourself down?”
“Don’t,” I warned. She wasn’t going to turn this around. I wouldn’t let her.
“Don’t what? Care about you? Want you to think you’re capable of more than just sharing small pieces of yourself?”
Anger began to seep in. “You don’t know me,” I said low and threateningly.
“I want to know you. I’ve wanted to know you since the first time I saw you play. I look at you and I see...” She stopped and stared at me like she needed permission.
Fists clenched, heart pounding, I wanted to know what she saw. God, I wanted to know. And I didn’t. Air trapped in my lungs, I hated that she had the upper hand right now. Damn it. Only one way out, I inclined my head.
Looking away, she inhaled and held it. Then in a rush, she brought her eyes back to mine, exhaled and spoke. “I see something like me.”
Fuck.’
Okay…so there was a point – 87% exactly where I had a very violent reaction to what happened. It was the ‘turning point’ if you will…I was over the moon in love with what Graham was doing, I was holding my breath, I was praying to every book god in the universe that this wasn’t going to be another soul crushing experience…and then something happened. It was like the rug was pulled out from under me and I thought FUCK!!! It’s not going to happen. But…I may have overacted…a little bit. Jumped to conclusions if you will – but in my defense…I was dying for them to be together, my heart was so in it, it was almost ridiculous. I promise you, for all the frustrating and anger-inducing emotions that are in the first third of the book, the last two thirds are packed with every emotion that I kill for. So much angst and tension…it was glorious. And the good parts…the blissful moments when Carly and Graham are actually happy…you have no idea.
‘Everything disappeared except her. The feel of her breath on my skin, her lips, her mouth, her tongue, I was desperate for her. She crawled up my body with uncontained need. Her scent all around, I wanted her. This was what I’d always wanted. Her, two steps past sanity, the line between desire and obsession gone, crazy, break-a-person frantic. For me.’
This is an amazing standalone…I will always want more from Carly and Graham, but their story is complete…perfect…I couldn’t have asked for a better ending. No Apologies is an angst lovers dream filled with a sexy alpha man whore and a heroine that’s impossible not to love – I completely enjoyed the journey with Graham and Carly.
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