.
Maybe there’s only one direction to go when two people fall
in love at rock bottom—up.
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I wanted to jump.
He made me fall.
As a celebrity, I lived in the public eye, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost myself in the spotlight.
Until he found me.
Sam Rivers was a gorgeous, tattooed stranger who saved my life with nothing more than a simple conversation.
But we were both standing on that bridge for a reason the night we met. The secrets of our pasts brought us together—and then tore us apart.
Could we find a reason to hold on as life constantly pulled us down?
Or maybe there’s only one direction to go when two people fall in love at rock bottom—up.
Excerpt
“Thank f*ck!” Sam said, swinging the door open before Devon even had the car in park.“Oh, this isn’t my place. We’re just dropping Devon off. I’m about twenty minutes across town?” I tossed him a sugary smile then boldly shifted my hand into his lap, purposely brushing the bulge under his denim.
Grabbing my wrist, he narrowed his eyes and called out, “Devon, I’m gonna need to borrow a bedroom.”
I burst out laughing as Devon cursed loudly.
“Fine. This is my place. No smoking inside though,” I snipped as I climbed from the SUV.
“You better have some seriously exciting extracurricular activities to keep me distracted, then.”
“I have Ping-Pong!”
“Not exactly what I was thinking.” He mischievously cocked his head. “But I guess paddles and balls are as good a start as any.” Dipping down, he hoisted me over his shoulder. “Point me to the Ping-Pong table, my lady.”
I didn’t. I laughed hysterically as he carried me inside. Then I directed him to my bedroom instead.
I heard Devon locking up the house as Sam deposited me on the bed.
“Jesus. This view.” He pushed the curtains back. “Why the hell would you ever go up to the bridge when you have this here?”
“I don’t know,” I answered, pulling my earrings off and placing them on my nightstand.
Oh, but I knew. It might not have been what had originally sent me up that bridge, but it was why my feet carried me back every night. And that very reason was currently standing in front of me with entirely too much clothing on.
“You want a beer?” I asked, sliding my shoes off.
“Nah, I’m good.” He faced me, and I could tell something was off with his demeanor. He didn’t inch any closer. Instead, his lips were tight and his eyes uncomfortably flashed around the room.
It suddenly didn’t feel like Sam standing in front of me at all.
He felt like a stranger who had just come face-to-face with Levee Williams.
Damn it.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Are you about to freak out?” I whispered, nervously moistening my lips.
He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m not really sure yet. But I’m gonna need you to stop licking your lips long enough for me to figure it out.” His mouth cracked into a wide grin, and my shoulders relaxed.
Now that was a flash of my Sam.
“Want to tell me what’s going on?” I asked.
“It’s just… I think this is the first time I’ve realized that you’re some big-time celebrity. I might be in over my head here, Designer Shoes.”
“I just make music, Sam.” I returned his smile and very slowly prowled in his direction. “Imagine how I feel though. You’re Samuel Nathan Rivers. A tough, tattooed furniture designer who makes six figures a year but is too afraid to tell his mommy he votes democratic.” I giggled as he frowned humorously. Stopping in front of him, I dragged a fingernail down his chest then teased the waistband of his jeans. “Have you considered that maybe I’m the one who’s in over her head here?” I leaned forward to nip at his lips, but he spun us around.
“Excellent point. I’m going to need you to try really hard to keep it together, Levee. You haven’t even seen my six-pack and huge c*ck, yet.” He smirked and attempted to return my nip, but I stepped out of his reach.
“You brought beer and chicken?” I feigned excitement.
That one corny joke was all it took to bring my Sam back completely.
With a sexy smile and a coy shrug, he seductively backed me toward the bed. “What can I say? I like to be prepared.”
“Clearly,” I breathed.
He moved in close so his lips were only a centimeter away, but for as much as I wanted him, it was agonizing. “Clearly,” he repeated, his smoky yet sweet breath breezing across my mouth.
His strong arm looped around my waist, tugging me against his chest, while I stared into his hooded eyes, eagerly waiting for him to make a move.
Any move.
Every move.
Review
RATING:
Sam and Levee met under unusual circumstance, a situation where I don’t think any of us wants to find ourselves in, ever, but hey, it happened for Sam and Levee. From that unusual first meeting, a connection was born.
Levee is a pop princess who, on appearance, has it going for her. She’s famous with an extremely busy lifestyle but goes out of her way for a special group of people, at her own expense no less. She has her demons to slay, which is what led her to that place where she met Sam. Sam has a past that he’s trying to deal with as well. One big diff, he has a good support system, unlike Levee. Levee has her friend Henry, but that’s about it. Another big diff, is their attitude and approach. Sam… gawd, honestly, I cannot cannot be any more in love with this dude! You want sweet, he got sweet! You want caring, he got caring! You want taking charge, he got taking charge! You want funny, he got funny! You want smokin’ body, he got smokin’ body! You want tats, he got tats! You want a lover who’s also a friend, he got a lover who’s also a friend! I can keep going and going and going and going… and I’m pretty sure he got it. Sigh… I loved loved loved all his thoughts and actions, and every word that came out from his pretty mouth. Gah!!!
I will admit this was not a perfect book for me. I had some concerns, especially in the beginning. Levee, for all her pain, was losing me as an empathetic reader as I didn’t understand where half her angst were coming from, even though I could tell that it was a huge deal for her. And in me feeling that way, I started wondering how Sam was feeling all that attraction. But the more I read, the more I fell in love with Sam that it reached a point where the other things didn’t really matter anymore. And eventually, things started turning around and I started rooting for Levee just as much. There is such ease to their interaction, so much levity, so much candour, and so much emotions. Then add the side characters who are just as memorable, that in the end, I was gobbling up the pages like crazy yet trying to slow down as well to savour the words.
In the end, putting my feelings for Sam aside, what I got was a touching story that tackled a very important issue that could lead to grave ramifications if not acknowledged or dealt with, plain and simple. The reality is our society is still not equipped well to deal with issues of the mind nor are we educated enough to recognize that illness goes beyond physical. How Sam and Levee dealt with it, the resources that they have, not everyone is fortunate that way. Being the fiction that this is, I think it was handled well and sensitively. So yes, we’re really not just talking about the love story that was of Sam and Levee’s. But if we only should focus on that, all I’ve left to say is that kudos to Sam and Levee. And kudos to Aly for having written a layered story.
About the Author:
Aly Martinez
Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.
After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. Five books later, she shows no signs of slowing. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.
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~Leftie
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