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Give Me Hope/Give Me Reason Book Review

Hope everyone is having a great day today!
If you know me, then you are well aware that one of my all time favorite things to do is read, read, and read some more. I have read more books that you could possibly imagine and I love to read practically every single day.
My latest review is on a set of books known as The Reason Series that I was allowed to read for free. The titles are Give Me Hope and Give Me Reason and they are both by a very talented writer named Zoey Derrick.
Title: GIVE ME REASON (Book 1)
Author: ZOEY DERRICK
Series: THE REASON SERIES
Genre: PARANORMAL/ PARANORMAL ROMANCE / FANTASY
Publisher: ZOEY DERRICK
Release Date: SEPT 24TH, 2013

Blurb/Synopsis:
Vivienne Callahan has known only hardship. As if growing up with
an alcoholic, drug addicted mother wasn’t traumatic enough, she’s
escaped from her physically and verbally abusive boyfriend only to
struggle every day to make ends meet as a waitress in a Minneapolis diner.
Along comes Mikah Blake, a handsome stranger who quickly takes
an unexpected and persistent interest in her. On the surface, “Mr.
Suit” seems to be Vivienne’s opposite: rich, well-fed, successful. As Vivienne will learn, Mikah is more than he seems, and for reasons unknown, he’s determined to be her knight in shining armor. But after having finally found her own two feet after years of abuse, it’s difficult for her to accept Mikah’s help.
Will her body’s unexpected response to Mikah’s touch be reason
enough to overcome her pride and traumatic past and learn to love
and trust? Or will her past, refusing to be left behind, come back to
claim her?
 

My Thoughts on Give Me Reason:

(I will try to tell you all about what I thought about the book without spoiling any of it for you- I hate when people do that!)

I read this first book rather quickly because it is a rather short book. It is written mainly from the perspective of Vivienne, minus the prologue. I do like the fact that it is written this way because it makes me feel more like I'm the main character, experiencing the events unfolding throughout the story. 

Up ahead, the word diner is shadowed backwards across the sidewalk...Normally he wouldn't have even noticed the rundown restaurant, but the hum in his back has turned into pulsing again, as if in excitement or anticipation...He can see her through the window. She's heading toward a door in back, bright blue and white light engulfing her form. It's beautiful. And so is she.-- taken from the prologue
The prologue was definitely interesting-it pulled me in and made me really want to read the rest of the book. Many times I'll pick up a book and the prologue will bore me and drive me away from completing it. Not the issue here! 

After the prologue, we learn more about Vivienne and her hardships that she must face and has already in her life. I feel for her character. I guess it's because I too have been a victim of domestic abuse in my past, many years ago. I can definitely understand what she is going through throughout the book, especially after she meets an amazing man who wants to sweep her off her feet and show her a better life. I was that girl too! I can understand her having reservations when it came to letting someone new come into her life and help her. It's not an easy thing to let go when you're so used to being hurt and abused. It's not easy to forget about all the pain. It can also be very scary to trust someone new because you never know what to really expect. 

Mikah, the amazing man who walks into the diner one night when she's at her lowest point, is literally a Godsend. He can't help but be drawn to this frail waitress at the diner. He sees past the bruises and only notices the beauty in Vivienne. He wants nothing more but to help her even when she refuses to accept it. He doesn't really understand what it is about her at first but doesn't want to stay away. He then makes it his duty to watch over her and feels the strongest desire to protect her even though he really knows nothing about her. 

"Since you haven't eaten since last night, I'm going to take you to lunch." I feel my face flush bright red, both in anger and complete irritation. "That is not why I'm here. I've survived my entire life fending for myself, I don't need some rich, hot-shot businessman buying me food."--Vivienne to Mikah
I love the dynamics and drama between the two characters. I love Vivienne's stubborn attitude and Mikah's continued persistence. I love the entire story line. Everything is well written and kept me interested from beginning to end. It was so good that I just had to read the second book.


 

Title: GIVE ME HOPE
Author: ZOEY DERRICK
Series: THE REASON SERIES BOOK 2
Genre: PARANORMAL/ PARANORMAL ROMANCE / FANTASY /
ANGELS / DEVILS & DEMONS / SHIFTERS
Publisher: ZOEY DERRICK PUBLISHING
Release Date: NOV. 19TH, 2013
GIVE ME HOPE will be available on 11/19/2013 on Kindle and
Barnes & Noble. With iTunes to follow
 
Blurb/Synopsis:
 An Angel is he...
 
From the first moment he saw her, MIKAH BLAKE
was seized by an inexplicable need to protect Vivienne
Callahan, a fragile but fiery young woman who’s
awakened a slumbering power within him. With his
encouragement, Vivienne has begun to turn her life
around, and things seem to be heading in the direction
of a slow but certain happily-ever-after. But that happy
ending is side tracked by a rising evil that is determined
to destroy her.
 
When her dark past comes back to claim her, Mikah is
caught in a whirlwind of events that lead him down a
path he was born into but never understood. Until now.
 
Can Mikah save Vivienne? Will his love be enough? Will
he be able to control his angelic powers and use them to
protect his newfound love?
 
 
My Thoughts on Give Me Hope:
This book is written from Mikah's perspective. We get to see what's going on in his head, which is a nice change. We get to learn more about what is driving him to help a girl who at one point was just a stranger who worked at a diner. We learn a lot more about Mikah's past and the truth about who he really is- I love everything about what we learn. It is all such a creative twist!

 What am I bringing her into? What if what I'm facing is too dangerous for her? What if I'm leading her down a path that she isn't meant to go? I can't stay away from her- that much is obvious- and more than that, I've been charged with protecting her. How on earth am I supposed to do that?--Mikah


Mikah's desire to be near Vivienne only gets stronger and he keeps dreaming about her, about them, and about what could be. She is in an extremely fragile state and can't bring herself to fight him off anymore. She gets put in the hospital and he remains by her side. She eventually starts to really feel the connection between them and can't bring herself to push him anymore. 







Do I recommend this book?
Yes, I do! For those of you who are into Paranormal/ Romance books like myself, then yes, this is  a must read! Are you wondering if it is like Fifty Shades? I bring this up because everyone I know seems to be raving about that series. Let me be honest with you- I liked Fifty Shades, okay, don't get me wrong, but the writing in The Reason Series is better. It all makes more sense to me. Zoey Derrick has a wonderful imagination and I love where she went with the story line. It was very imaginatively unique. And yes, there is some eroticism in the book- but a lot lighter than the E.L. James books. I love that! The romance and passion between the two was great. 
The characters, in my opinion, are a lot more realistic too. Yes, Mikah is wealthy but not so much that he can afford just about anything in the entire world, like Mr. Grey. Also, Vivienne's character is something that many women who have been in domestically abusive relationships can relate to (like myself), unlike Anastasia, who is unlike any female I have ever met.
Expect to be shocked at some points- there are a lot of emotional events throughout the book and surprises too.
I was intrigued by the book from beginning to end. I did not want to stop reading. I wish the books were slightly a little longer, but I really enjoyed reading them and since the end of this book had a pretty good cliffhanger, I can't wait till the next book comes out. I'm so excited! I really want to know what happens next...



More about Zoey Derrick

Amazon Best Selling Angels, Demons & Devils and Paranormal Author of Give Me Reason-The Reason Series Book One comes from Glendale, Arizona. Zoey, was a mortgage underwriter by day and is now a paranormal, romance and erotica novelist full-time. She writes stories as hot as the desert sun itself. It is this passion that drips off of her work, bringing excitement to anyone who enjoys a good and sensual love story.
Not only does she aim to take her readers on an erotic dance that lasts the night, it allows her to empty her mind of stories we all wish were true. Her stories are hopeful yet true to life, skillfully avoiding melodrama and the unrealistic, bringing her gripping Erotica only closer to the heart of those that dare dipping into it.
The intimacy of her fantasies that she shares with her readers is thrilling and encouraging, climactic yet full of suspense. She is a loving mistress, up for anything, of which any reader is doomed to return to again and again.


Links to Find Zoey:


There is also an awesome giveaway that she is hosting from 11/18/2013-12/16/2013
You can win a Kindle DX or $199 Amazon Gift Card, plus books!


**Disclaimer: I received a Free copy of Give Me Reason and Give Me Hope in exchange for my honest review. All opinions about the books expressed are solely my own.**

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