Release Blitz ~ Mess Me Up (Bear Bottom MC #1) by Lani Lynn Vale (Review + Excerpt)
When Rome Pierce moved to Bear Bottom, Texas, it was his intention to lay low. To not be seen. To find a way to heal his body and soul—as well as his son’s.
Nobody would know by looking at him that he used to play professional football. Not with the Bare Bottom MC cut covering his back, and definitely not with his friendly smile completely obliterated.
No longer is there charm in each smooth word that comes out of his mouth. What’s left is an angry, bitter, scared man that’s terrified one day he’s going to wake up and his entire world is going to be gone.
Nobody knows what drove him to leave the game he loved—nobody but her.
She’s the one person that has helped him make it through the dark days and even darker nights. She’s the bright and shining star in his pitch-black sky.
And he doesn’t even know her name.
He should be afraid that she knows things that not anyone—not even his best friend—knows.
Yet, with each encounter, he gives what little bit of his soul remains, and before he knows it only two people on this earth—one dying, and one too afraid to live—make his life worth living.
Until one day he has to choose—the love of his life, or the life he brought into this world.
Two impossible situations. One decision that would change him forever.
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EXCERPT
Rome
RP’s Biggest Fan,
I’m not sure how you became my therapist, or how we even got to the point of being pen pals, but I’ll take what I can get.
I could use a friend.
So, you want to hear about my life? How it’s nowhere near as glamorous as everyone makes it out to be?
Where should I start?
How about the paparazzi. They’re awful. They follow me home. They follow me to work. They follow me to my son’s appointments—though technically, they don’t know he’s my son. Luckily. That was one thing I did manage to do right—keeping him out of the limelight.
Lucky for me, too. Or, at least for him.
And if the paparazzi wasn’t bad enough, my ex was only with me for my money—because she knew that I had it.
If there was one thing I could erase from my life, it would be her.
But, if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have my son…and at this point, he’s the single bright light in the sea of darkness that is my life.
Last week she threatened to sue me because I broke the custody agreement we have for our son. Do you want to know what I did? Nothing. Not one damn thing. I stayed at her house while she went away for the day, and I put a drink on her coffee table.
Let me repeat that…I put a drink on her coffee table.
Ok, so it was a Coke can, and I didn’t use a coaster… but I’d finished the damn thing. It was completely empty, it wasn’t sweating, and it didn’t leave any sort of mark.
But, with the way she reacted, you would’ve thought that I’d carved my initials in the table using a screwdriver or something.
Oh, and let’s not forget what my team manager wants me to do.
He wants me to pose naked except for a strategically positioned football for Sports Illustrated. When did Sports Illustrated stop focusing on sports in favor of selling what’s sexy?
You told me last week that you weren’t sure that you were going to write anymore. I realize that this back and forth we have going on isn’t normal, but if it doesn’t bother you, it doesn’t bother me.
I hope you write to me soon, RP’s Biggest Fan.
Rome.
5+ Stars!
Mess Me Up, how apropos. That’s what this story did to me. By 23%, I was sobbing and my heart was breaking and I had to take a moment to just breathe. If you are an emotional person (reader) like me then I just have to warn you, get those tissues ready because you are going to need them. Part One of this story is extremely hard to read without tears. Part Two, on the other hand, is a bit of a rollercoaster. We get laughs and romance, angst and drama and the best part, we get sweetness.
I loved both Rome and Izzy. Rome was just a good man, he had moments where I thought I might end up mad at him but, in the end, I understood why he behaved the way he did. What he had to go through was every parent's nightmare and he deserved to get some happiness in his life. He was strong yet so vulnerable and I loved him for it. He wasn’t Mr. Badass (like we always read about and I imagine aren’t completely realistic) but he was definitely a man anyone would be happy to have at their back.
Izzy was tough and sassy yet soft and sweet. She was the kind of heroine I love to read about. I never found myself annoyed with her (something that usually happens, unfortunately) or thought she should be different. She was great and the way she was with Rome worked so well for his character and the story.
Their connection and their chemistry were excellent and it just felt natural. The progression of their relationship was great. It was realistic and paced well. There wasn’t any unnecessary drama thrown in just to give it to us. I can definitely see them as being a staple in this particular series because of their connection to all the side characters.
I also have to say, I was so excited to have a new series by Lani Lynn Vale. However, what I was most impressed by was the fact that these characters seemed so different (in a good way) from her others. The side characters all have stories I am anxious to read (Slate, I need your book like ASAP) and I love that it felt less formulaic than the past MC series she’s done. It’s great!!
Overall, I highly recommend this one. If you're already a fan of hers, then I’m sure you’ll love it. If not, then you just might end up one when you’re done with Mess Me Up. This is definitely a great setup for a new series and I can’t wait for more.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***
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