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Without a Doubt

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Emerson Montgomery loves his high school sweetheart, Kelly Price. He'd do anything for her, including agreeing to a break where they'll see other people as he heads off to college. Struggling with the break and guilt over dating other people, Emerson meets Eva, a beautiful, funny, easygoing, and nosey junior.


Eva Harvey chose this particular college with the hopes of fulfilling her own fairytale and falling in love at the same college where her parents met. She does her best to go with the flow and simply see what happens, but Emerson simultaneously causes her to fall in love while making her second guess everything along the way.


There's some things you know without a doubt. However, Eva causes Emerson to doubt everything he believes about his future while he causes her to doubt what's right in front of her. Can they find a way to erase all doubts or will it tear them apart in the process?

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First published December 18, 2015

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About the author

Lindsay Paige

65 books598 followers
Lindsay Paige is the author of multiple Young Adult, New Adult, and Sports romances. She also enjoys writing books with characters who deal with anxiety and depression, issues which are close to her heart. Lindsay is a North Carolinian who loves watching hockey, sharing puns, having conversations with her two dogs, rewatching episodes of M*A*S*H, and living her dream of writing books for a living.

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 21, 2016
3.5 ★'s

I'm not even sure how I became aware of this book. I've never read the author and none of my friends have read this book. It's a mystery...much as the reason why Emerson's high school girl friend broke up with him before he went to college and made him promise they would stay apart for two years.

It's now the second year and Emerson is doing better...he even started dating last semester but nothing prepared him for the whirlwind that is Eva. They met when she rear ends his truck in the college parking lot because a wasp was stinging her! She makes Emerson laugh and so it begins...

The problem is that Eva knows about Emerson's "situation". Her cousin, Glen, is Emerson's best friend and he confided in Eva to ask some questions. This puts them both in a precarious situation but they decide to not mention it until Emerson does.

Things are great between Emerson and Eva. We get to hear about them dating, getting to know each other families and s-l-o-w-l-y getting to know each other. It's ironic how I'm always wanting more of the happy times but I just felt this dragged out a bit too much...especially when you know something's going to happen!

description

And it does. Emerson's old girlfriend, Kelly, starts calling...in. the. middle. of. the. night. and many times when Eva is in bed with Emerson. Eva knows it's her but she pretends to be asleep because she's still waiting for Emerson. Finally, he tells her. Eva tries to be patient but the late night phone calls are a bit much...especially when Emerson is a torn even though he doesn't want to be. It just takes him some time to come to terms with his feelings.

Once he does, he lets Kelly know and that's that...or so we think. Then, the unmentionable happens and we find out the reason. I hate to say that I had an awful feeling it could be that and I really, really wished I was wrong. ~Sigh~

I wish I could say that's the only drama but there's a couple of other humdingers...one fairly obvious and the other right out of left field.

I like Emerson and Eva...they are really sweet together. I felt like Emerson had some maturing to do and Eva needed some patience but I liked how they were both there for each other.

I really enjoyed a few of the secondary characters. Eva's roommate, Catherine, was interesting but I really liked her cousin, Glen. I'd love to read his story.

Things do end well and I got a laugh about "Sexy Pablo". Overall, this is a good NA romance.

description

Favorite quote:

♥ "I love you without a doubt. I want you without a doubt. Now, tomorrow, and every day after that."
Profile Image for rj.
741 reviews344 followers
December 21, 2015
Every once in a while I feel like a masochist and go and read I book I know I probably wouldn't like. I blame my curiosity. This book reminded me so much of Maybe Someday and I don't think I have ever hated a book more than I hated that one so that probably tells you already how I feel about this book.

So Emerson's girlfriend Kelly is asking to take a 2 year break while they both go off to college so they can see other people because "reasons," and he obviously doesn't want to because he is crazy in love with her and doesn't want to date any other girls but he agrees because that's what she wants. Fast forward a year and Kelly hasn't answered his phone calls since they took their break and Emerson has dated here and there but nothing very serious.

One day Eva rear-ends his parked truck and he ends up asking her out to eat. And that's pretty much how they start dating. The rest of the book is filled with Emerson feeling crazy guilty (like Ridge) and feels like he is in between two women because Kelly never gave him a clean break. Before Eva he was always going to go back to her and was just biding his time. This situation frustrated me to no end and I kept reading till the middle because I just wanted to see how it would be resolved. And I was not happy at all. I'll just bullet point everything wrong for me:

- The h, Eva actually knows from the get-go about the deal with Kelly because Emerson's old roommate is her cousin and he told her all about it. She liked him and wanted to see where things would go. Why girl, why?

- Kelly was not only his high school sweetheart, but also his best friend since kindergarten. How was the h supposed to compete with a bond like that?

- He still has pics of himself and Kelly in his old childhood room, which the h sees when she visits.

- Of course, Kelly starts calling him when he's dating Eva. And she always has to call in the middle of the night. And Emerson takes her calls, leaving Eva in bed to go talk to his ex. This situation is so fucked up I can't even. Eva is beyond insecure and keeps feeling hurt about this but doesn't say anything because she wants him to get his fucking closure. He actually feels "happiness" when Kelly calls and then feels guilty and isn't sure why he's feeling that way. Ugh.

description

-HUGE SPOILER ahead so avoid if you don't like spoilers. In the end

Some quotes that made my blood boil:







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Profile Image for Rejane.
1,366 reviews62 followers
no-way-jose
December 26, 2015
Not a review. Thankful for spoiler. Besides being done before a thousand times, it's a plot I hate. Going out of my wish list
Profile Image for Carey.
640 reviews78 followers
December 25, 2015
I have to admit that when I first heard about this book I was concerned about the two love interests and that it would turn into a love triangle. I usually greatly dislike love triangles because I often find that I can't decide between the guys/girls. However, this is not a love triangle and I was happy with how the storyline was handled with the two girls. Hopefully, that's not a spoiler for you all.

I can't go into details without spoiling the plot line. But there are things happening here that you're not aware of. At one point in the book, I did veer in the direction the book went. But my version was a little different.

I saw another review label Emerson as swoon-worthy. Oh, how accurate this title is! He has a southern boy charm to him. He walks Eva to her dorm room and doesn't just drop her at the curb.

I think I will try listing some things I like about the characters and the book in general.



I could go on and on. I just love this couple! This is the type of relationship every woman (if you're anything like me) dreams to be a part of. This is the type of couple that you long to catchup with to find out what is new in their lives. They feel like your friends.

This book is a must read for any die-hard romance fan!
Profile Image for Cristina (My Tiny Obsessions).
473 reviews103 followers
January 29, 2016
Read full review HERE

description

I want to start by saying that I was kind of expecting a bit more of this book, still, it wasn’t a bad read, just a kind of boring one unfortunately.

Lindsay Paige writing is easy to follow and quite simple. The dialogs are good and often enough to make the story interesting, and the internal struggles within each of the characters are well exposed.

I did like both main characters. Emerson was sweet and honest, while Eva was hilarious and said the weirdest things. As a couple, they work. This is one thing I did like in this book: the representation of domesticity. When Emerson and Eva are alone at home, they do normal stuff, they cook, they clean, they watch Netflix, they sleep and then, sometimes, they have sex – although, let me tell you something: this is the least explicit New Adult book I’ve ever read… NOTHING! My only problem with them is, as much as they work as a couple, and they do, I didn’t feel any chemistry there.

The plot, or most lack thereof, is where I have a few problems. This book is slow… oh so slow. It centers on Emerson and Eva’s relationship as it develops, and how Kelly (Emerson’s ex – maybe future – maybe uncertain) influences the behaviour of both of them, and how they deal with it. I didn’t like this plot, and even though I understand why it came to be, I didn’t exactly like it’s resolution. Moreover, nothing actually happens!

What I did like was Emerson’s honesty towards Eva, telling her exactly what’s going on with the Kelly situation, and how he feels about it. He never once lies to her, and that’s a big bonus in this story. But I cringed a bit over the fact that despite knowing all along Emerson’s story, Eva never actually lets him know just how informed she really is.

All in all, it was an undeniably sweet story, but just not my cup of tea. I did shed a tear though, I admit that.
Profile Image for Angela C.
206 reviews16 followers
June 8, 2017
(Actual rating: 2.5 stars)

I received a free copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

In many ways, Without A Doubt was a pleasant surprise. So far, my experience with New Adult fiction hasn’t been quite as positive as I would like, so I went into the story cautiously optimistic yet bracing myself for the usual pitfalls I run into with the genre. Happily, Without A Doubt ended up side-stepping those pitfalls and standing out as an example of New Adult done well.

Emerson and Eva make an adorable couple. Emerson’s not your cocky, swaggering, impossibly chiseled love interest – he’s just a regular guy, cute and sweet and chill. Eva, too, is likable and pleasant. They’re both good people, practical, hard-working, and down to earth. They do normal things together like baking brownies, hanging out with mutual friends, and watching movies. In short, they’re refreshingly authentic.

There’s no pointless drama in their relationship, which is a pleasant change. They have their disagreements, but they’re mature enough and respect each other enough to open a dialogue and air any potential issues before they burgeon into real problems. As compelling as I find dysfunctional relationships in fiction, it is occasionally nice to see a happy, healthy romance represented. Emerson and Eva are playful and cute and fit together so well. When Emerson says something sweet, it doesn’t seem like a line – it just seems like Emerson:
“Emerson wraps around me and I cuddle closer. ‘How was your day?’
‘Similar to yours.’ His blinks are coming in longer intervals and I know he’s getting closer to falling asleep.
‘How come you never have bad days?’ I ask [...].
‘I do,’ he reassures me, never opening his eyes. ‘But then I see you and it all goes away.’”

Another huge win for this book is its approach to sex. Eva and Emerson treat sex as important and meaningful, something to be valued but not rushed into. When they do get physical, the scenes are tasteful and avoid graphic play-by-plays. The sex doesn’t overshadow characterization or plot, and it’s not a constant in the book. Emerson and Eva are flirtatious and sensual, but their relationship isn’t all sex, all the time. There are moments when Eva and Emerson pass up an opportunity to be intimate because they have stuff to do, or are sad, or have somewhere to be. Hooray for realism in books!

Something else that impressed me about Without A Doubt is that school is actually a significant part of the characters’ lives. Several of the New Adult books I’ve read have been set at universities, but you’d never know the characters are students other than a passing reference to a homework assignment or the occasional use of the words “after class.” In Without A Doubt, though, Emerson and Eva are students first and foremost. They spend lots of their time working on assignments, writing papers, and studying for tests, and the events of their personal lives have to be scheduled around their school obligations.

With all these positives I’ve listed, you’re probably wondering why I only gave Without A Doubt 2.5 stars. The problem was that it was just missing that “wow” factor for me. It was a cute, light read…and that’s about it. There’s a fine line between excluding unnecessary drama and still having some level of conflict and tension to keep things interesting. The plot and writing style are very simplistic, and Emerson and Eva’s relationship is just too...easy, I guess? Most of their arguments are over little things that are quickly resolved. The few major conflicts seem kind of far-fetched and are over almost as soon as they’ve begun. The main challenge the couple faces – Emerson’s lingering ties with his ex-girlfriend – doesn’t cause nearly as much trouble as I expected, resulting in a very laid-back, chill kind of book. While that may work for many readers, it wasn’t enough to really draw me in and keep me engaged.

That being said, I'm still very pleased by how authentic and fresh Without A Doubt felt and am hopeful that it signifies a positive direction for a genre I haven’t been too crazy about up to this point. Between Without A Doubt and my recent success with Informant by Ava Archer Payne, I’m starting to think there may be a future for New Adult fiction and me after all!

This review can also be found on my blog, Angela's Library.
771 reviews5 followers
August 14, 2016
This book had some good things and some bad things. First, I didn't really like the way Emerson and Eva started their relationship. There was no mystery or intrigue or really any work involved. He asks her out, she says yes, they have a great time and continue from there. The whole first part of the book is written like that though. It's very even tempered and bland. There aren't many layers or much depth. Especially since it's written in dual point of view. Emerson is perfect, Eva's perfect. They both like everything about each other. They don't really have character flaws. It's just so picture perfect and that's what makes it boring. That being said, I do like both characters enough to keep reading. Even though they were a bit bland, they weren't robotic. There's a difference. And the emotion and passion gets better as the book goes on. I'm definitely glad I kept reading because I almost called it quits since I was bored. But I decided to skim a bit instead to get to see if it got better. And it did. Also, I thought Eva was a patient Saint when putting up with Emerson. He was dealing with an ex that he wanted to get back together with when he meets Eva and every time that the ex would call Emerson and he would be happy about it, Eva would question him asking if he was sure he even wanted to be with her when he still wasn't over his ex and he'd give her kinda a wishy washy answer. He'd tell her yes but if I was Eva I'd think, yeah you want to be with me only because your ex isn't in the picture at this time. I'd never be able to deal with that. I'd be telling Emerson that we can either date very casually while also seeing other people or not even be with him at all until he was completely done with his ex. Eva was kind of settling for second place even though he'd tell her she wasn't. He finally does get a backbone though when it comes to his ex and I wanted to yell at him 'it's about freaking time!!' Anyways emersons and Eva's relationship does build nicely and naturally even though I didn't like how they first got together. I feel like it would have been better if they had been in a study group together or were partners in a class or something where it's no secret he's pining over his ex and Eva is turned off by it so she doesn't think about him romantically and he doesn't necessarily want her because he only thinks of his ex. But then as they start to spend more time together they start to really like seeing eachother and then they start needing each other which leads to a romance neither saw coming. It would have made the whole story more intriguing and complex because you see that neither of them could help falling in love. It's unexpected so that makes it more real and a relationship that happens because they couldn't help it is much more romantic to me than one where they just start pursuing each other immediately. Also, I'm annoyed by the whole conflict itself. The conflict being that Kelly (the ex) breaks up with Emerson to give them a break while going to college. If my boyfriend wanted a "break", I'd be so done with the relationship. Even if I'd known him my whole life. So I don't like Kelly at all. Then as the book progresses it's easy to guess at the reason she broke up with him. And when the reason comes to light, I can tell the author wanted it to be emotional, but it just so wasn't because like I said, I'm annoyed by Kelly and how she handled everything. And I'm annoyed by Emerson and all of his reactions to everything Kelly throws at him. I'd be annoyed and done with him if I was Eva. And yes Emerson does usually come around and wins me over every time I feel like he chooses Kelly over Eva but I get annoyed that Eva doesn't get more annoyed than she does and makes him grovel more. But the one thing I really loved that the author did, or rather didn't do, was have Emerson always comparing Eva and his ex. He never compared them. NOT ONCE. And it's awesome. It helps me to feel like he really does treat Eva like she is a totally new and different person in his life without him even telling us. There aren't even hints about Eva being different in certain ways than Kelly, good or bad. I know an author would be tempted to show us that Eva is better for Emerson in certain ways that Kelly wasn't in order to help us root for Eva but the author refrained! And that restraint gave the book more credibility in my mind because I can make up my own mind about the two and about emersons new relationship with Eva. It's not forced into me to think one way or the other by the author. So that was way good. overall it was a little boring at first but it got better further into the book. The characters personalities were enough to keep me going and I did enjoy certain parts of the book a lot.
Profile Image for Cyndi Becker.
1,385 reviews11 followers
March 1, 2016
Coming off a few heavy subject books and In the mood for an angsty YA story, Without A Doubt was exactly what I needed. The story set up includes a bit of a mystery that produces just enough anxiety in and between the main characters, Emerson and Eva, to peak interest and dread what the possible outcomes could be.

Emerson and Eva meet literally by accident and are immediately drawn to each other. I could feel myself grinning as these two flirt and get to know each other. Eva immediately won my allegiance and Emerson is certainly #BBF qualified. There’s a great cast of secondary characters that help show us the kind of people Emerson and Eva are.

Paige uses one of my favorite ways to deliver the story; a back and forth from each of the characters point of view so that we have a rounded look at things as they progress. The “inside information” shows the conflict that they each are experiencing. In this story there really aren’t any rights or wrongs to it, but there's plenty of drama as their relationship develops. There’s also a few surprises in store for them. I could see a twist to the story coming, but they gotchas were not at all what I anticipated.

Paige touches on a few themes about life and relationships and how we get to where we are going, who comes in and out of our lives and why. Including this little gem as it strikes a chord for me and it’s share worthy.

“...doesn't it sound better to say fate brought people together than pure coincidence? It has a better ring to it. Not to mention that all our choices lead us closer to the next choice, so fate makes more sense. If we had done something differently, made a different choice, then other aspects of our lives would change, too.”


4 stars and recommendation in the YA genre.

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Ibukun .
88 reviews12 followers
January 13, 2016
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Before I started reading this book, I expected an average book that would be filled with clichés and angst. Happily, I didn’t get much of that. 
Emerson and Kelly have something profound going on between them; so when Kelly makes Emerson promise to put their relationship on a two year break and date other girls during that period, Emerson is very heartbroken. A year into the break, Emerson meets Eva, and he has to choose between his first love and his new love.
In my opinion, Without a Doubt is one of those books that you read not because you want to know who ends up with whom, but because you want to know how they’ll end up together (and what demons they have to fight to get there).
One thing I really like about this book is the sweetness of the characters and the romance. There is no overflowing of angst, and most of the interactions between the characters are quite believable. The beginning of the story and how Emerson met Eva did leave me wanting, but not so much that I couldn’t take it. I did get a bit frustrated with not knowing why Kelly insisted on the two-year break, so I skipped to the last few pages, where I was able to better understand the situation (before going back to continue from where I had stopped).
I like the fact that there are no star quarterbacks, insanely beautiful people who don’t know how beautiful they are, or snobby campus royalty; just normal college students living their normal, average lives. There is a rather annoyingly large use of the title phrase in the story, but again, it’s nothing I can’t take.
I can’t say much else without spoiling the whole story for you, so I’ll just end here. 
Overall, I don’t have much to say apart from the fact that Without a Doubt is a pretty tame read, with sweet characters and an even sweeter romance.
341 reviews19 followers
February 18, 2016
I absolutely loved Without a Doubt as soon as I turned the first page. A highly addicting and entertaining novel, I could not put it down. This was the first book that I had read by Lindsay Paige, and it definitely will not be the last. Her ability to write a story that captures her readers attention, fill it with love, laughter and tears, is an art form.

As a reader, you cannot help but love Emerson, as he is struggling to cope with a heartbreaking breakup, something that most of us can relate to. However, once he meets Eva, all bets are off the tour. In such a comical manner, Paige is able to throw a bit of humour into her storyline and put a smile on her readers face, while keeping the storyline line moving in a beautiful flow.

Both Eva and Emerson have a great connection that was not rushed at all. Some storylines will see the author trying to force the connection or rush to get to the plot, however, Paige has done a fantastic job in pacing the storyline. There are a few twists and turns around every corner, which keeps the reader fully captivated and wanting more. I even found myself getting teary eyed at the end with the shocking ending.

Lindsay Paige has done a fantastic job in creating a love story for anyone who believes in romance, friendship and a bit of humour. Without a Doubt should definitely be added to your To-Be-Read-Shelf especially for anyone who needs a bit of romance and a smile.
Profile Image for Julie.
1,009 reviews6 followers
December 31, 2015
I don't even know where to begin with my review. I really liked this book, but boy did I need tissues. So sweet and heartbreaking.

Poor Emerson was broken hearted after his long-time girlfriend Kelly wanted a break from their relationship. I don't think I have read a book in a while where the male character was so in love at a young age, but it was so touching! I felt bad because he was torn on what to do. Did he try to get back with Kelly or move on?

When Eva entered his life and he started opening up to her, you could feel how he was slowly letting go of Kelly. As the story progressed and Kelly tried getting in touch with him, I was like what in the world is this girl thinking? Love him or leave him alone. As we get into the story and find out the reasons Kelly did what she did, it brought the story to an amazing and quite shocking conclusion.
Profile Image for The Book Lover.
2,070 reviews32 followers
December 20, 2015
Amazing book about finding love when you think you can't move on from the past... Eva and Emerson really rocked my world!! I'm not going to lie I was a little scared about their story because it can be a difficult subject, but in the end it was an amazing and deep story that will definitely rock your world!! I cried, laughed, got mad and yelled at the author a few times, but it was definitely worth it!!
Profile Image for Esther Haddie's Haven.
904 reviews58 followers
March 27, 2016
I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever had doubts in a relationship? Then this is definitely a book for you to read! This book will have you on your toes, especially if you have just read a book with a massive cliffhanger. Because that is exactly how I entered this book. . . .

Read my full review on my blog: http://haddieshaven.blogspot.com/2016...
158 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2016
Good story

I loved the writing and from the very start loved Eva. She is a sweet real girl with quirks and strengths. Emerson took a bit to warm up to. Not sure I ever did, felt like Eva deserved to be first no matter what his strange ex girlfriend arrangement was. Lindsay paige is one of my absolute favorite authors, she gets five stars. This story just couldn't quite get the five.
Profile Image for GTR33GURL.
850 reviews1 follower
January 4, 2016
What a sweet love story I was expecting way more drama but nope it was pretty much smooth sailing there are fade to black scenes so it felt very YA to me but I still enjoyed it Emerson was a sweetheart and Eva was lovely too the ex Kelly was a bit of a mystery was good to find out the background to the whole break up and the why she did it kinda predictable ending but still sweet HEA
Profile Image for Leighanne Cooper nottingham.
828 reviews
August 29, 2016
5+ stars

I loved this book so much.... ive not read anything by Lindsay Paige before, but I will in the future... I loved Emerson and Eve so much... the whole story with his ex was emotional and life altering for his and Eve's life... READ THIS BOOK!!!
Profile Image for Stephanie Colyer.
460 reviews
August 15, 2016
Absolutely wonderful!!

I absolutely LOVE this book! I started and finished all in the same day. I don't leave long detailed reviews so short and simple.....go get this and read it!!! Emerson and Eva...love it!!!!
1,432 reviews4 followers
August 21, 2016
I liked Emerson and Eva's relationship- not anything about 6 pack abs- all the sex is off screen so to speak - just nice love story - he says you are"humanly beautiful"- meaning Eva real person - not perfect.
1,136 reviews
August 17, 2016
Loved it. R. A

It's a must read. It's really sad about how the story goes it catches you by surprise . I am glad he found someone .
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