Review: Love, Love, LOVED this book! Beware the Tate Connors Effect!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 7, 2013
When I first saw Rachel post the link on Twitter to go sign up to be a part of the blog tour for her debut novel, I knew I had to sign up. And can I just say how incredibly glad I am that I did?!!? I really liked this book. We have a great cast of characters, a well developed plot, and good pacing. Rachel had a good blend of humor, angst, and definitely some elements of surprise.I knew I would love Savannah (Sav) right from the start. She's sassy, feisty, and confident. However, she has also built steel-enforced walls around her heart after losing her parents at a young age and also after being blamed for the suicide of her first love (who happened to break her heart). She has found a way to escape the pain by losing herself in men and indulging in drinking and partying. Her dad's best friend and surrogate father, Mr. Davenport, has offered her a job in L.A. hoping she will change her wild ways and get a fresh beginning. Sav meets Tate Connors almost immediately upon arrival to her new apartment complex. She is instantly attracted to this man who just oozes sex appeal and plans on making him her next conquest. If only a casual hook up could be that easy. Sav discovers that Tate is actually her new co-worker and friend Tanzi's twin brother. Despite the flirting the two of them do on their first official encounter, Sav quickly realizes that Tate is an arrogant jerk and refuses to let him use her. Tate definitely runs hot and cold to start. One minute he's flirtatious and protective of Savannah and the next he acts flippant and is back to his womanizing ways. However, the more time the two spend together, the more they both see the brokenness in the other and want to comfort one another. As much as Sav knows she shouldn't go there, who can resist the Tate Connors Effect?! These two definitely have some serious chemistry going on and the sexual tension is suffocating!Sav's character really does break my heart. Underneath the sassy exterior lies a very vulnerable woman who longs to feel comforted and taken care of. She uses one night stands as an escape, giving her a few hours of feeling needed, of being someone's world. Sav doesn't do relationships and as she starts getting deeper in with Tate, she feels her walls begin to crumble. However, both have been burned in the past and starting over is new and fragile. The slightest misconceptions and miscommunications cause jealousy and distrust to flair up and we see two people who slam their shields up instead of talking things out. Lasting relationships can't be built without trust and their relationship is certainly put to the test on several occasions.Sav is incredibly lucky to have found so many friends after just moving countries. She has a pretty great support system and they definitely add so much more to the story! I love Tanzi. She's fun, outgoing, and she also doesn't take crap from anyone. Being twins, her and Tate have a close relationship- but she definitely calls him out on his crap, which was always fun to watch. She is an awesome friend to Sav and is someone she can rely on and trust. Jack, Tanzi's boyfriend and Tate's best friend, is another great character. He treats Sav like a little sister and tends to serve as a mediator when things with Tate and Tanzi heat up. He is also pretty good at talking Tate down and helping him see sense. Lucas, who is a friend of Jack's,ends up becoming a good friend to Sav and sticks by her, even after incurring Hurricane Tate's wrath and jealousy. Lucas however is interested in Ali, Tate and Tanzi's cousin, which would lead you to believe Tate would let up on the guy a bit. Not so much. Tate has a possessive streak- he knows how Sav plays guys and once he realizes the depth of his feelings for her, he is determined to make her his and won't give up until he does.I love how the prologue of the book and the last chapter really come full circle and tie in together. I won't even lie- reading those last few chapters I felt this knot begin to form in my stomach and I don't think it will be going away until I get my hands on the next book. Thankfully, Rachel does not end on a cliffhanger but it really does get your mind churning as to what is going to happen next. Tate and Sav have some big decisions awaiting them. Will their pasts control their futures? Or will they be able to overcome it and move forward? So much weighs on an already fragile foundation. I only hope that Tate and Sav can come out stronger and little by little continue to strengthen that foundation.This is definitely a must-read. I loved this book, loved the characters, and I cannot wait to see where Rachel takes the series next!