Cassia Leo's Relentless Blog Tour

 

 

I would like to thank Karen at Book Crush for inviting me to participate in the Relentless Blog Tour! Ladies this is another book that literally brought me to my knees and I FREAKING LOVE! You so have to read this one ASAP! I promise you won't be disappointed. Haven't heard of Relentless well here's a little synopsis and book cover.................................................................

 

 

 

Claire Nixon is a twenty-year-old college dropout with a secret.

To Claire, Adam Parker is just another flirty customer at the café, until a chance encounter and seemingly innocent comment spurs a bet between them. The bet is simple: If Adam can get Claire to reveal the secret that made her drop out of college, she has to re-enroll. If he doesn’t succeed, she gets to keep her secret and he has to stop stalking her at the café.

Claire thinks she has this one in the bag. She’s perfected the art of forgetting her past. But she isn’t prepared for Adam’s relentless pursuit or for him to share his own secrets. And she’s definitely not prepared for her rock star ex, and her secret, to come banging down her door one year later.

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I don't think I'd be prepared either for my ROCK STAR EX to return but here's my review of Relentless so you see exactly what I was thinking......................................................................

 



 

This was one of those books that once I started I couldn't PUT IT DOWN!!! It was THAT AWESOME...Ladies, I started and I got....... When the book opens Claire is at working at the coffee shop and there's a little incident with a "roided" out dude in a Tap Out shirt. Yes, this was quite humorous but what wasn't funny was the "flashback" that poor Claire had that gives us a small glimpse at what had happened when Claire was 7 years old. This will make you....... Anyway, she's saved by her own personal "Jack Dawson" seems our girl really likes Titanic. When Claire returns home to the apartment she lives in with her BFF Senia we learn a little more about Claire's quirks such as her obsession with "water" yes drinking water. Personally, I think that's quite healthy and her fondness for meditating when things get "rough." Well I saw no problem with that either but well you will find out all the but's when you read this one. Senia drags Claire to a local party, which she doesn't, want to be at. Claire had dropped out of UNC 10 months prior and has no desire to return and her reasoning for dropping out is a "secret" heck I started right then and there to try and figure it out :) Well, only three people know this secret.. Claire, Senia, and Joanie Tipton who both girls can not stand! How does a person they can't stand know the secret will that is also in the book :) Joanie shows up to the party and Claire is out of there! She insists Senia stay and she will walk home since it isn't that far away. Well as she's walking home she crosses into the street and all she notices are the on-coming headlights of a truck...I was.................................. but then I slapped my forehead going come on it can't end here that would be the shortest non-book in all history. Well, of course the truck comes to a stop and out hops OMG!!! Jack Dawson ~ well his name is Adam and oh boy ladies Adam will have you ........... oh he is a hottie with a body! Turns out Adam is also Claire's new neighbor having rented the apartment above hers' & Senia's. Oh, he's dead set on going on a "date" with our girl and she is dead set on pushing him out the door. Well he makes a bet one that she thinks she will for sure if he guesses the reason why she left college she has to return. I sat there going................................. Well time passes and these two get to know one another and you can see the bond forming. Adam has a past that he is slowly revealing and Claire well she's not revealing a damn thing. She continues to have flashbacks of her horrendous childhood and also her first love that she broke up with. Chris Knight she pushed him away so he would pursue his dreams and he has become a famous Rock Star.... WAIT ROCK STAR?? DID I JUST READ THAT? Oh put the Kindle down and let me............ Well folks does the past stay in the past? Haven't we learned that in other books that secrets can rip us apart not only internally but those secrets we hold from others can also rip them away from us? Well, I have to tell you this book was so damn emotional and I didn't want it to end. Let's take a little journey into Kim's world so I can show you what went through my little mind. Ladies this did happen... but not as fast as you might think but at the time it was supposed to happen which made it all the more real. Oh yes I did this at parts.. Claire & Adam's relationship was pretty awesome and they really injected humor. Now when Claire turned 21 years of age and something happens I was doing this........................................ then to add insult to injury later on her birthday night when well let's just say I was.............................................. then when THIS Happened I was totally ............................. and immediately jumped into wanting to do this..................... back to this when the secret was "out"............................ and then whole heck of a lot happens with a whole little of the book left leaving me going I so know there is going to be another book but right before the very end of this one I was sitting................. then I got out of my reading chair, really need to take a pic for you gals, and started doing this........................................ O.M.G. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK LIKE NOW!!!!!!!!!!! In all seriousness, Relentless is an emotional story about secrets, endearing love and forgiveness and moving on but does this all happen? Well, maybe not as much as I wanted but it sure is leading to a heck of a follow-up book. How does one decision affect the lives of so many others? Was this decision the best for all involved? What happens when this secret is out? and what are the ultimate ramifications? Well read this one! Cassia has written in my opinion a 5+++++++ read that had me laughing, crying, gasping, shaking my hips and smiling and then it all started right back again! I recommend you get out there and buy this one NOW! It's worth every cent and the follow-up will be released in May 2013!!
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Sigh I love CHRIS I'm so Team Chris but ladies I'll let you decide who you LIKE :)  Here's a little of Relentless from Chris's POV:

I toss the empty Capri-Sun pouch into the waste bin under the kitchen sink then gaze at Claire across the kitchen island. She’s sitting cross-legged on the barstool. Claire is the only person I’ve ever known who has to sit cross-legged at all times. It’s one of the quirks I love the most about her.

“What are you grinning at?” she says as she looks up from the magazine she’s reading.

“Why do you read that shit? None of those girls are as beautiful as you.”

“I read it for the articles.”

I round the island and stand behind her as I wrap my arms around her waist. “I know a few articles I’d like to do away with today,” I say as I bury my face in her neck and taste her skin. “Happy birthday, baby.”

“Stop. What if your mom walks in?” she says as she pries my arms off her and pushes me back.

“They just left. They won’t be back for at least three hours. Come upstairs with me.” I spin the barstool around so she’s facing me. “Please.”

She narrows her eyes at me as a smile curls her lips. She grabs the front of my shirt and pulls me toward her.

Her lips hover over mine as she whispers, “Okay, but only if you promise not to sing the birthday song.”

I laugh before I plant a quick kiss on her lips. “Asking me not to sing to you on your birthday is like asking me not to breathe. Not gonna happen.” I grab her hand and pull her off the stool. “Come on, babe.”

I grab her hand and she follows me upstairs to her bedroom. My mom doesn’t know shit about us, but I’m going to tell her as soon as Claire gives me the all-clear. I can’t stand keeping this kind of secret. I want to everyone to know how much I love Claire.

We get to her room and she starts straightening up, putting away clothes and straightening the pictures of us she has tucked in the frame of her mirror. I come up behind her and press my body against her as I reach for a picture of us. I slip the picture out of the mirror frame and hold in front of her face. It’s a picture of us in front of the movie theater the day we went to see Iron Man 2. She was wearing a T-shirt I bought her and I remember how hard it was to not touch her as Jake took the picture. Of course, inside the theater the “no touching” rule didn’t apply.

I hold the picture up in front of her face as I kiss the back of her neck. “This was one of my favorite days. This is the day you told me you loved me.”

She spins around and looks me in the eye. “Yeah, but I loved you for a long time before that.”

I toss the picture onto the floor and grab the back of her neck as I mash my lips against hers. Her tongue slides over mine and I instantly get hard.

“Fuck,” I whisper as I pull her toward the bed and lay her down.

She wraps her arms around my neck as I put one of my legs between hers and lie on top of her. I slip my hand under her shirt and her skin prickles with goose bumps. She’s so fucking soft. I slide my hand farther up and her body goes rigid.

“I love you,” I whisper against her lips and she immediately pushes me off.

I sigh as I lie back next to her.

“I’m sorry,” she says as she stares at the ceiling. “I’m just scared that it’s going to hurt and then I’ll feel different about you. I don’t want to feel like you’ve hurt me.”

I flip onto my side and kiss her cheekbone as I slip my hand under her shirt again, eager to feel her skin again. I try not to be possessive with Claire. That’s not what she needs. And I’m pretty good at knowing what Claire needs. I trace my finger around her bellybutton and she smiles.

“I could never hurt you. You’re my Claire-bear,” I say. “But I can’t fucking lie. I want to be inside you so bad.” I continue tracing a light circle, imagine my fingers between her legs and this hard-on is getting unbearable. “I want to make you feel as good as you make me feel.” I lift her shirt and lay a soft kiss on her belly. Her skin is warm against my lips. I want her so bad. “But I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

She brushes my hair out of my face as my lips hover over her belly. “I love you,” she whispers and I scoot up to plant a quick kiss on her temple before I spring off the bed.

“I’ll be right back, babe,” I say as I leave to get my guitar.

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Now I guess to be FAIR I should also post a part of Relentless from Adam's POV so here you ladies go:

 

Claire watches me watching her as she undresses next to the creek. She has the kind of body that begs to be taken. Most of the girls I dated in high school were surfers who ran in our circle. They had strong bodies. Claire is tiny compared to those girls, almost fragile. But nothing about her personality is fragile, which is why I’ve fallen so fucking hard for her.

“You look like you’re ready to devour me,” she says once she’s removed everything but her yellow bikini.

“Devouring you is the least I’m going to do to you,” I say as I grab her hand and lead her into the creek.

The bank of the creek is muddy and we both slip as we reach the water’s edge. She screams as she flails and throws her arms around my waist. I laugh as we both fall sideways into the water.

She screams again and kicks away from me. “Oh, my God! Something just brushed up against me!”

Julia and Locke burst into gut-busting laughter as they watch her freaking out. I lock my arms around her waist before she can climb out of the creek. Her skin is slippery and we both fall back into the water again.

“You asshole!” she shouts as she attempts to push me away, but even as my arms weaken with laughter she can’t fight me off.

“It’s just a fish. It’s not going to kill you.”

I pull her further into the water and she stops fighting when the water reaches the top of our chests. The water is nice and warm, having been warmed by the summer sun all day long, but it has a stagnant briny smell that’s not as refreshing as the smell of the ocean. Claire grabs my hands and I loosen my grip as she turns around in my arms. Julia swims past us and I splash her. Locke climbs out on a tree limb until he’s dangling over the creek.

“Get a life!” Julia squeals as she splashes me back.

Claire’s brow furrows, but she doesn’t even bother to block it as some of Julia’s splash attack hits her in face. She’s mad. If she could only see the mucky weed tangled in the back of her hair she’d be even more pissed.

I brush a bit of mud from her cheek and she turns her face like a stubborn child. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to freak you out with our hillbilly creek,” I say as I try to keep myself from slipping my hand inside her bikini. “I promise if you feel something nibbling your foot you can leave.”

“You’re so funny.” She swipes her thumb across my bottom lip to wipe away what looks like a soggy piece of a leaf. “This creek is disgusting.”

“It’s the lack of sunlight that makes it look gross. It’s really not that dirty.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Okay, how about a joke to calm your nerves?” She rolls her eyes and I turn toward Julia. “Hey, what’s the joke about the melons?”

Julia swims back toward us. “What does it mean if life gives you melons?”

I turn to Claire and she cringes as if she’s anticipating another bad joke. “It means you’re dyslexic.”

After an hour or so of mucking about in the dark and trying to convince Claire not to leave, she’s had enough.

 “Come on, Claire, the critters are half the fun!” Locke hoots as he dangles from the same tree branch. “They’re harmless so long as they don’t slither into your swimsuit.”

I grab Claire’s foot before she can swim away and yank her backward. “You can’t leave yet,” I say as I wrap my arms around her waist and press my chest against her back. “We haven’t even played Marco Polo yet.”

I slide my hand over her stomach and down toward her bikini bottoms. She spins around to face me and I expect her to slap me. Instead, she throws her arms around my neck and wraps her legs around my waist. I smile with surprise as she squeezes her legs tightly, crushing herself against my growing hard-on.

She leans in and whispers in my ear. “If you take me inside, I’ll play Marco Polo with you upstairs.”

I slide my hands inside her bikini bottoms and take both her sweet ass cheeks in my hands. I let out a groan of frustration as I kiss her neck, tasting the muddy water on her neck. If it were just the two of us out here I’d be deep inside her right now.

I tear my lips away from her neck and pull my head back to look her in the eye. “Not here. I want our first time to be perfect and this is not the right place or the right time. Not that I don’t want to take you upstairs and destroy you. Just not tonight.”

“I can see your boner from here!” Julia shouts at me from as she attempts to pull Locke off the tree branch.

I shake my head and set Claire down on the creek bed. She doesn’t look disappointed with my reaction to her offer, but it only takes a second for her to squeal at something in the water.

“Ouch!” she screams as she reaches down to grab her foot.

“What happened?”

“I kicked a rock. Fuck!”

She swims for the edge of the creek and this time I don’t yank her back. My heart pounds as I follow her out of the water and onto the muddy bank. I race toward her as she plops down and tries to get a look at her foot. It’s covered in mud and it’s too damn dark out here to see anything.

As soon as I reach her, I scoop her up in my arms. “Let’s go clean it up.”

“Put me down. I can walk.”

“Fine,” I say as I set her down on the grass.

Her face screws up in pain as soon as her feet hit the ground, but she holds back her screams and curses this time. She’s too fucking stubborn. I reach for her again and again she pushes me away.

“You’re not carrying me. The house is like a quarter mile away. It’s too far. I can walk.”

I turn my back to her and look over my shoulder. “Hop on my back. I’ll be your horsey.”

She shakes her head as she climbs onto my back. “In case you couldn’t tell, I’m trying not to make several comments about riding you.”

I smile as I hook my arms under her knees and trudge forward. “In case you couldn’t tell, I’m trying really hard not to ride you."

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Here's the CAST LINE up through Cassia's EYES:

 

 

OR

 

 



Of course it's up to you to read Relentless and decide! Okay ladies let's get to know the lovely Cassia Leo:

 

Cassia Leo grew up in Florida and moved to California after graduating with a degree in journalism. She worked at two small newspapers before discovering her passion for writing romance. Her favorite color is lavender and her dream is to one day score a record deal based on her awesome shower singing skills.

Here's the links to touch bases with Cassia:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6521131.Cassia_Leo

http://cassialeo.com

https://twitter.com/authorcassialeo

http://www.facebook.com/authorcassialeo?fref=ts 

 

I LOVED the fun facts that Cassia provided as a way to get to know her better: 

  1. Favorite movies: The Jerk and Waking the Dead.
2. I'm four degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon.
3. Favorite books: The Book Thief, Nineteen Eighty-Four, and Perks of Being a Wallflower.
4. I'm tri-lingual and I've lived in three different countries; most recently, I spent six months in Portugal last year.
5. Favorite movie quotes: From The Jerk, “My mother gave up everything to put me through cosmetology school,” and, “What’s happening to my special purpose?!” If you’ve read Relentless you won’t be surprised to know that I wrote a techno remix consisting of my favorite lines from Titanic. The first line of the song is, “I see the iceberg and I see it in your eyes.” Maybe someday I’ll record it and post it on SoundCloud. ;-)
6. My favorite word is wanderlust.
7. Favorite music artists: Adele, Florence + the Machine, Agnes Obel, The Beatles, Rage Against the Machine.
8. I can do a one-handed cartwheel.
9. Favorite TV shows: Sex and the City, Homeland, Revenge, So You Think You Can Dance.
10. I drink my coffee black and with a pinch of salt. *******************************************************************************************************

There are TWO GIVEAWAYS on this BLOG TOUR. The first GIVEAWAY is a SIGNED PAPERBACK COPY of Relentless by Cassia Leo to enter to win this you must comment on this blog post and let me know who are you pulling for Team Chris or Team Adam. Please leave an e-mail address if you don't you will be disqualified. Winner will be announced March 11, 2013!!!!


GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY:

Grand Prize - One iPad Mini and $25 iTunes or Amazon gift card; 5 autographed paperbacks

See Rafflecopter below to enter the GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY: 
 

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