Release Blitz #review: Crushed by Andrea Smith

Synopsis

In 1993, in the pristine coastal community of Malibu, CA., fourteen year-old Neely Evans, was coming of age, like it or not. A Tennessee transplant, she ended up in California when her father took a job at a top law firm.What a culture shock it had been for the southern teen, but as an only child, she had always made her own entertainment. She filled her time painting seascapes, still life art, and combing the beach for her next perfect picture. And then one day, the boy down the beach entered her life, and she would never be the same.Seth Drake, a year older than Neely took her under his wing. They hung out and it wasn't long before they became inseparable. As they grew closer, their friendship gave way to something more. But before the teens could fully revel in their budding romance, Neely's life was ripped apart. Her father's infidelity was made public, and her mother was determined to seek vengeance by using Neely as her weapon. She uprooted Neely and moved back to Tennessee. Seven months later, Neely returned to Malibu for a summer visit with her father. Seth had matured in ways she'd never imagined. Neely found herself at odds with her emotions and better judgment when Seth made it clear he was ready to take their relationship to the next level. In the end, Neely made a decision she may live to regret.

This first installment in the Evermore Series is bittersweet; complete with first love, first heartbreak, a family forever fractured by infidelity, and a teenager that becomes the primary caregiver for her mentally unstable mother. But Neely has strength that sometimes surprises even her. She learns how to cope - any way she can.

Book 1 - Crushed: Released 7-21-16

   

Book 2 - Claimed: Releases 9-30-16

   

Book 3 - Paparazzi: Releases 10-30-16

   

Book 4 - Star F*cking: Releases 11-30-16

   

Buy Links

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/29hBa7y

NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crushed-andrea-smith/1124014230

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1132364587

Add it to your Goodreads shelf here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30644578-crushed

 

Excerpt from "Crushed"

The sun was starting to lower on the horizon. I raised my sunglasses up to look to my side. Seth was stretched out on his stomach, his head resting on his muscular arms, eyes closed. He was totally sleeping, which gave me ample opportunity to check him out without him knowing it.

I rolled to my side, propping my head on my hand so that I could assess my boyfriend thoroughly. I released a soft sigh.

Seven months had served him well, there was no doubt about that. He was several inches taller, and from what he said, he wasn't done yet. His arms and shoulders had somehow developed definition and muscles. In his phone calls to me, he'd said he had joined a gym to start working out.

His dark brown hair had lost that boyish, wispy look. It seemed thicker and coarser, and I could tell he'd started shaving, too. His sideburns were neatly trimmed short, and his eyebrows were a bit bushier than I'd recalled.

But the first thing I'd noticed when he'd scooped me up was his Adam's apple. Apparently it had made its appearance after he turned sixteen. And I'd missed it all I reflected sadly.

My eyes perused his tanned arms and flickered to where his left hand was exposed. He was wearing his class ring. He was going into his junior year of high school, but he wouldn't be returning to Malibu High this fall.

He'd written to me a few weeks back, letting me know that his mother had pulled some strings and he'd been accepted at The Southern California High School of the Performing Arts for his junior and senior years of high school. He was super excited about it, and as much as I wanted to share the excitement for him, I just couldn't. I wasn't sure why.

Studying him now while he slept he looked so darn perfect to me. He'd grown into this boy/man creature who was beautiful and talented, and I realized that just might be the reason I wasn't jumping for joy about his going on to pursue his dream of becoming an actor.

He was perfectly suited for it, there was no doubt about that, but he was still so young in my opinion. How was he so sure that getting his foot into that door of television or movies was what he wanted for the rest of his life?

And how could I possibly fit into that life. I knew the answer to that. I couldn't.


Review
The teenage years are already hard for a young person, the changes they go through, physically and mentally, the trying to find their place in the world, the peer pressure that young people are exposed to. Add to all that dealing with difficult family situations, and moving from the environment you've lived in all your life, and it could make or break a teenager.
Neely Evans just moved to California from Tennessee with her parents and doesn't really have too many friends, that is until the boy next door befriends her. Their innocent relationship slowly progresses as the hormones start taking over and soon Neely and Seth are doing a little bit more that swimming in the ocean.
But while her relationship with Seth is blooming, her family life is crumbling down.
Soon Neely has to pick sides and choose between her mother or her father.
She assumes the role of adult at a too young age and start caring for her mother who's drinking is out of control. Leaving behind not only her father but the boy she fell in love with.
The writing of this novella flowed beautifully, the author engages the reader from the very beginning with a compelling storyline and characters that you can relate to. I can honestly say that Neely's family situation broke my heart, I felt for her. No child should have to choose between her mother or father at any point in their lives. But through it all Neely shows great maturity and strength, something else I loved about her.
This is only the first installment of this series and I'm looking forward to see what's in Neely's future in book 2.

About the Author

 

Andrea Smith is a USA Today and Amazon Best-Selling Author of the G-Man Series! She has a wicked sense of humor. No matter the genre, she is able to infuse laughter throughout.

She self-publishes Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Sensual Romance with a paranormal twist. She also writes New Adult Romance, and has recently collaborated with Author Eva LeNoir on two M/M Romances, with the third in process!

Social Media Links

To sign up for her monthly newsletter, visit her website: http://www.andreasmithauthor.com/

Follow her on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Andrea-Smith/e/B00A1MLQGY/

Stalk her on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/AndreaSmithAuthor/

Follow her on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/GManAuthor

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6869343.Andrea_Smith

Here is a listing of her published fiction to date:

Baby Series

(Contemporary Romance/Suspense w/erotic tone)

These Books should be read in order:

Maybe Baby (Book 1)

Baby Love (Book 2)

Be My Baby (Book 3)

Baby Come Back (Novella) (Book 3.5)

G-Man Series

(Contemporary Romance/Suspense w/erotic tone)

These Books do not have to be read in order, but they are most enjoyable if done so.

Diamond Girl (Book 1)

Love Plus One (Book 2)

Night Moves (Book 3)

G-Men Holiday Wrap (Novella) (Book 3.5)

These Men (Spin-off) Part of the BEND anthology. (M/F/M)

My Men (Sequel to "These Men") (M/F/M)

Taz (G-Man Book 4)

G-Man: Next Generation

New Adult Romance)

Walk of Shame (Book 1)

WTF? Series

Jaded

Limbo Series

(Contemporary Steamy Romance w/paranormal edge)

Silent Whisper

Clouds in my Coffee

September Series

(New Adult- Taboo)

Need to be read in order.

Until September (Book 1)

When September Ends (Book 2)

M/M Romance

Black Balled (Co-Authored with Eva LeNoir)

Guns Blazing (Spin-Off from Black Balled)

Hard Edit (Co-Authored with Eva LeNoir)