Mini - Review: The Sea Breeze Series by Abbi Glines (Part 2)

Ok, that post was getting  a little too long, so I broke it into two posts. If you haven't read this series yet, I recommend to read all three books back to back (so you could feel the connection with all the characters and their stories better). They are short, quick reads. But as I mentioned in my earlier post, they can be read as standalone's as well.

Also, I have to warn you again that Because of Low and While it Lasts have more mature content. The quotes I saved are quite steamy and explicit. :D

Because of Low (Sea Breeze #2)
by Abbi Glines
Published February 7th 2012
Format: Kindle

Goodreads: 

In my debut novel, Breathe, Sadie may have fallen in love with the teen rock star, Jax Stone, but readers fell head over heels for Marcus Hardy. This is his story…

Marcus Hardy had hoped to enjoy a year away at college while he put the summer he’d rather forget behind him. But instead, he’s jerked right back to the coastal town of Sea Breeze, Alabama due to a family crisis. His dear ol' dad found himself a girlfriend only a few years older than Marcus. So now his sister needs help dealing with their mother who is mentally falling apart. The only bright spot to returning is the fascinating red head who sleeps over several times a week. The problem is she's sleeping in bed with his new roommate, Cage York.

Willow “Low” Foster needs a place to live. Running to Cage’s apartment every time her sister kicks her out isn’t exactly a long term solution. Juggling her courses at the local community college and a part time job doesn’t produce excess income. But Cage has a new roommate and suddenly sleeping over at her best friend’s apartment isn’t such a bad thing. Not when she gets to see those sexy green eyes of Marcus Hardy’s twinkle when he smiles at her like he wants her there.

Even though Cage seems a little territorial where Low is concerned, Marcus finds time to spend with Low without upsetting his roommate. Cage may use his small college baseball star persona to sleep with every hot female in his path but he’s still under the disillusion that when he’s through sowing his wild oats, he’s going to marry Low. Marcus intends to change that assumption for both Cage and Low. Until his carefully laid plans come crashing down with a revelation he never expected. He’ll have to choose between Low or his family. Because once the truth comes out.... there’s no other choice.

My thoughts:

So we met Marcus in the first book. I loved him and I was so excited to read his story next! And I loved this book sooo much! Not only because Marcus was so swoon worthy and Low was a very likeable, relatable character and their story was very beautiful, but also because we got both their POVs. And you know that for me, alternate POV's always = WIN. ;) 

Marcus left Sea Breeze for college. He needed to recover after Sadie broke his heart when she chose Jax over him and he needed a fresh start, to stay away from the spoiled rich boy status everyone thought belonged to him. But then his home problems become too serious and he needs to come back. His family is coming apart and he has to be the rock that holds them together; his mother and sister depend on him. But he's his own person now and earns his own money, so he moves in with Cage. 

Low's life hasn't been easy. Everyone abandoned her and her sister only calls her and lets her stay at her place when she needs her to take care of her little daughter. The only person Low can always count on is Cage.  

“You see, Cage has never left me. My father left me. My mother left me. My sister left me. Cage never left me. When people would leave me, he was always there. He is the one person I’ve always depended on. I’ve always known no matter what he’ll be there.”

So when her mean, self-absorbed sister kicks her out again (I'm not sure if I hate Sadie's mom or Low's sister more; they're both so selfish, bitchty and clueless, ugh) Low has no other choice but to go to Cage's place. But Cage is not there... And that's when she meets Marcus. They're instantly attracted to each other, but none of them is ready to admit it or to make a move on it. They both struggle with their own demons and family problems and they don't need another complication. But they are drawn to each other and sometimes one of them is right there when the other one is down and in need of support. And the more they are alone together, the more tender or intense moments they have together, the more they feel like they shouldn't get too close, no matter how strong is the pull, because there's just no chance their relationship could work. Low thinks he's too smart, rich and perfect for her; she's convinced he's way out of her league ("not even in the same atmosphere").  Marcus thinks she's too hung up on Cage and that she could never give him a chance: 

“Why the hell does she run off to him all the time? I don’t get it!” Trisha sat her drink down and leaned forward staring directly at me. “Because he’s her safe house. As screwed up as it is considering who we’re talking about. Cage cares about one thing in this world and it’s Low. He’s been fighting her battles and fixing her problems since they were kids. We all lived on the same street. I remember watching them. It always fascinated me how bad boy Cage York acted like a love sick puppy when it came to her. She fell down he came running. You want her, then good luck. Because every time you aren’t there to pick her up I can assure you Cage will be. She knows she can call him. She knows no matter what he’ll love her. Unconditional love is hard to compete with.” (this one will give you a little insight for Cage's book)

But they are attracted to each other (there's no denying their sizzling chemistry). They get to care about each other more than any of them thought could be possible. And just when things get a little better and there is hope for a future together... BAM! The bomb explodes and once again, their family problems intervene and threaten to tear them apart, leaving both of them confused, alone and brokenhearted. (yes, there were tears involved when I read this part). But their love is deep and powerful enough to heal them and to keep them together. Even though Low still has trust issues, Marcus support, love and devotion have the power to overcome them - and they do... Eventually. 

Low and Marcus are older that Sadie and Jax were, so in this book, everything reaches a higher level. The love is much more intense, hot, passionate and possessive, the tension is more palpable, their problems are more devastating, the issues harder to overcome. But they are so perfect for each other! And Marcus! Oh, Marcus! *dreamy sigh* Of course, he's drop dead gorgeous, but he's also protective, fierce and has such a big heart. You can't not fall in love with him. 

Memorable quotes: 

He stood up and instead of waiting on me to move out of the way he crowded me back against the washer and sat his basket on the closed washer beside it. I lifted my eyes up to his to say “excuse me,” but the heated look in his green eyes stopped me. A small gasp left my mouth. “I don’t think I’m making myself very clear Low,” he’d lowered his voice and the effect made goose bumps break out over my body. “I was only interested in one person at that bar last night. I only came to see one person,” he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and softly caressed my earlobe before tracing the line of my jaw. “I was there for you.”

“Thanks for breakfast and helping with Larissa,” I said standing up. “I enjoyed every minute of it.” I felt my face flush again and I bit my bottom lip to keep from grinning like an idiot. “Come here Low,” he whispered reaching out and taking my hand and pulling me to him until my body was pressed up against his. He draped my hand over his shoulder before releasing it to grip my waist. Marcus Hardy’s mouth was on mine before I could take in the fact I was touching him."

“I’m not done here. I’m just beginning Low. But I couldn’t walk away again without that kiss.” My knees felt like jello. How sweet was that? Guys didn’t talk to me that way. Marcus Hardy was straight out of those gushy romance novels my mother used to read.

“Listen to me. No one, I mean no one has ever got me so worked up with kisses alone. You’re perfect. Everything about you is perfect.”

His eyes were closed. Long blond eyelashes brushed his cheekbones. I bent over him to put the pillow under his head when two hands grabbed my waist and pulled me down on top of him. “Mmmm, that’s better,” he whispered before claiming my mouth. His mouth was sweet and gentle at first but the more I shifted my body the more aggressive the kiss became. The warmth of his mouth tasted like chocolate chip cookies and I couldn’t get enough of him. I grasped the front of his shirt pulling him closer. His hands moved up my thighs and cupped my bottom squeezing and moaning as I pressed against him...

So. Yeah. *clears throat* I'm running out of iced tea, you go read the book to get more of that!:)) 

*I initially gave this book 4.5 stars, since I gave Breathe 4 stars and the last book was definitely 5 stars worthy, but then I went to choose a few quotes and I ended up reading the whole thing again (and skipping a meal... again), and I think I loved it even more that the first time around, so... 5 stars it is. 

***

While It Lasts (Sea Breeze #3)
by Abbi Glines
Published July 31st 2012
Format: Kindle

Goodreads:

Maybe driving home after a few (or more) shots of tequila had been a bad idea, but hell, he did it all the time. The cops had to have been freaking bored to have pulled him over. He wasn’t even swerving! That’s Cage York’s story and he’s sticking to it.

Unfortunately, his baseball coach isn’t buying it. Cage has a free ride to the local junior college for baseball -- or he did, until he’d gotten a DUI. Now, Cage has to decide: does he drop out and give up his dream of getting noticed by a college in the SEC, and possibly making it into the Major Leagues -- or does he give in to his coach’s demands and spend his summer baling hay?

Eva Brooks planned out her life step by step when she was eight years old. Not once over the years had she lost sight of her goals. Josh Beasley, her next door neighbor, had been the center of those goals. He’d been her first boyfriend at seven, her first kiss at ten, her first date at fifteen, and her first tragedy at eighteen. The moment she’d received the phone call from Josh’s mother saying he’d been killed along with four other soldiers just north of Baghdad, Eva’s carefully planned life imploded in the worst way possible.

Cage isn’t real happy with his closet-sized bedroom in the back of a foul smelling barn, or his daily interactions with cows, but he knows that if he doesn’t make his coach happy then he can kiss his scholarship goodbye. Only a sick and twisted man would decide his punishment was to be working on a farm all summer. No hot babes in bikinis waiting to meet a Southern boy to make her vacation complete. Just him and the damned cows.

Oh -- and an uptight, snarky brunette with the biggest blue eyes he’s every seen. But she doesn’t count, because as hard as he’s tried to charm her out of her panties - he’s pretty sure she’d rather see him hung from the rafters than let him get a taste of her pretty little lips.

My thoughts:
ZOMG this book was HOT! Not to mention an emotional roller coaster that had me laughing and crying and wanting to read more about these characters. It's the kind of book that really gets to you and you just want to read over and over again. There's teasing, there's banter, there's hot romance and all kinds of intense, emotional situations... Love!

It starts with a bang. We have, once again, alternate POVs (YAY!), and the book begins with Eva's story. She's devastated after her fiancé's death, and we get to read about the turmoil and grief she's dealing with from the very first pages. (instant connection with the main character? Check!)

Cage, on the other hand, has other problems. He has to work at the farm all summer to protect his scholarship. Which means...

1.       No girls.
2.       I hated manual labor
3.       No girls.

This can't be good for a bad boy who needs his social life, right? Add to that his mad attraction to his boss's daughter and he's in serious trouble.  

Eva and Cage's relationship has a rocky start - and that's putting it mildly (there may be some insta-hate involved, if you know what I mean :D). Cage doesn't make the best impression:

I hated guys like Cage. Life was a joke to him. There was no doubt in my mind that females of all ages drooled at his feet. He was healthy, alive and throwing it all away like it was a game. [...] "He’s a selfish loser." Who really was too good-looking to be real.

And he's not that happy with her cold, bitchy attitude either, even though she is "insanely gorgeous". 

But their problems run deeper than that. Eva clearly isn't over her fiancé's death and by being attracted to Cage, she feels like she's somehow betraying him, which makes her be all snarky and mean. On the other hand, Cage never believed he could be a "one woman guy"; he can't be so open and vulnerable for someone. Bottom line, they just need to keep their distance from each other. 

The difference with Eva was that the only reason I wasn’t touching her was because her daddy would hang me up by my nuts then fire my ass and I could kiss my scholarship goodbye. Well, that and the girl really didn’t seem to like me much. But, I wanted a taste of her. Bad. Real bad. She had such a hot little temper it would be fun to see what she was like during sex.

But hey, who are they kidding? The sexual tension and chemistry between them is too undeniable, too hot to resist. And the attraction is not just physical. 

Then she turned her eyes my way and it was like a damn kick in the stomach when the light from the fire illuminated her face. I’d been with a lot of gorgeous women but never had I been so affected by their looks before.  There was something in her eyes that drew me in. I wanted to make the sadness she tried to hide go away. Eva Brooks was haunted and my protective tendencies were being tugged on.

Until he’d shown up, I hadn’t realized that everyone looked at me differently. They were careful with me. Cage didn’t look at me like I was breakable. Ten months ago, I hadn’t been ready for someone to look at me differently. I’d wanted them to remember Josh when they saw me. Now I needed someone, anyone, to just see me. Not the tragedy. Just me.

They both have a troubled past, but their growing relationship help them heal and eventually, move on. Of course, the insecurities and bumps in the road don't miss (remember Daddy and Cage's scholarship? Yikes!), but in the end, they prove to be each other's life line. They're exactly what they needed in each other's life to feel happy and complete. 

Cage was so different. He’d shown me how it felt to want, to need, to surrender, to lose myself. He encouraged me to let go of my insecurities and be myself. Cage was free and wild. He was like a beautiful bird you could never own.

Low took a step toward me, “And I know anyone you let get close to you the way you let Eva won’t be able to NOT love you. It would be impossible. You have no idea how special you are. You see the bad. You’ve always just seen the bad. But I see the good. There is so much that is good and wonderful about you. You let Eva see that. You’ve never let anyone else see it before, except me. But you let her. I know, that she can’t help but love what she saw. *tear*

Other memorable quotes: 

Damn if her smile wasn’t fucking gorgeous. Not to mention that laugh made me want to soak it in and keep it for later. Just knowing it was me making her smile made everything else seem less important.

I slipped both of my hands around her waist and settled them on her hips. I wanted to explore her body the way I was getting to explore the silky confines of her mouth but I wasn’t sure she was ready for more. Slowly her hands slid up my chest over the soft cotton of my tee shirt.  She ran the pads of her thumbs over my nipples and I gripped her waist tighter forcing myself to keep my hands in a safe area. Fuck, when had I ever kept my damn hands in a safe area? How the hell did I know what a safe area was?

Closing the door behind him he clicked the lock. Then he spun me around and pressed me up against the door. His mouth covered mine in a hungry growl and I wrapped my legs around his waist and grabbed onto his thick corded arms. His mouth pressed hungrily against mine as he tasted me thoroughly. Once he had me panting for breath he broke the kiss and buried his head in the curve of my neck.
“I fucking love you.”

Ok, that's more then enough quotes. And there's so much more to say about these characters and their story, but I already got a little carried away here. (so much for my mini-reviews). You need to read the whole thing to see how beautiful, powerful, thoughtful and at times heartbreaking this story is.
BTW, Because of Low and While it Lasts are connected through Low and Cage's relationship, and it's nice to see how things evolve for both of them.

***

Abbi Glines is very talented and she's amazing at writing heart-warming stories, describing raw emotions and creating realistic situations and characters. I mentioned before that I'm addicted to her writing style and I can't wait to read the next Sea Breeze book, which I believe is about Preston (who's a player himself, and a tad reckless and carefree if you ask me) and Amanda (Marcus' sister), so that should be interesting. :D

Happy reading!

xoxo