We are so excited to be participating in this tour. I've become such a fan of Sawyer. As an author and as a person. I'm thrilled to be able to help spread the word about this fantastic book! So run out and pick this one up and find out why I fell head over heels for Nix!
★★★★★
Title: OFF LIMITS
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Release Date: April 16, 2013
Publisher: Big Dog Books, LLC
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tour Organized by: AToMR Tours
Synopsis:
“There is a vulnerability there, hovering just below the surface. And I want to pick at it until I expose it. Then I want to kiss it."
Two years ago, Emily Burnham, had an epiphany about the shallowness of her life. And she made it her mission to become a different person…a better woman. Out from under the controlling thumb of her mother, Emily is tasting the real world for the first time. And she likes it.
Nixon Caldwell has served his time in the Marine Corps, surviving two brutal tours in Afghanistan. He is back home, surrounded by what he likes best…isolation. It's certainly the best way to avoid confrontation of the consuming guilt that is weighing him down.
When an accident brings Emily and Nix together, he soon learns he is not the master of his own fate. Struggling with his own pain, Nix tries to guard himself against Emily’s charms. He wants her in his bed, but he doesn’t want her in his heart.
Having grabbed life by the horns, Emily wants it all. But is she willing to accept just the small part of himself that Nix is offering? Can she reach the part of his soul that he has deemed to be Off Limits?
Two years ago, Emily Burnham, had an epiphany about the shallowness of her life. And she made it her mission to become a different person…a better woman. Out from under the controlling thumb of her mother, Emily is tasting the real world for the first time. And she likes it.
Nixon Caldwell has served his time in the Marine Corps, surviving two brutal tours in Afghanistan. He is back home, surrounded by what he likes best…isolation. It's certainly the best way to avoid confrontation of the consuming guilt that is weighing him down.
When an accident brings Emily and Nix together, he soon learns he is not the master of his own fate. Struggling with his own pain, Nix tries to guard himself against Emily’s charms. He wants her in his bed, but he doesn’t want her in his heart.
Having grabbed life by the horns, Emily wants it all. But is she willing to accept just the small part of himself that Nix is offering? Can she reach the part of his soul that he has deemed to be Off Limits?
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Review:
First, I would like to thank the author for providing me with an ARC of OFF LIMITS to review.
Off Limits is a companion novel to OFF SIDES, a novella that I loved and gave 5 stars (you can find my review HERE), and focuses on Ryan’s younger sister, Emily. Now, if you’ve read Off Sides, you can understand some of the issues that Emily is faced with in this book. One being a controlling mother who wants to dictate every aspect of her life (how to speak, how to dress, who to date, and even what major to declare in college). And another being her own desire to better herself as a person. Emily wasn’t very likable in Off Sides. But, by the time we see her again two years later in Off Limits, she has made a conscious decision to change her judgmental ways, starting when she meets her roommate and best friend, Fil.
“Sorry if I came off strong,” she said. “It’s a bad habit of mine. I’d tell you I’m working to overcome it, but I’m not.”
I don’t know what possessed me to respond with brutal honesty but I said, “Well I actually am a snotty, rich brat, but I am seriously working hard to overcome that.”
When I first heard that Emily was going to get her own story, I was really excited to read it. I had a pretty good feeling that Emily was going to make for an interesting character. And she did. She turned over a new leaf completely and was nothing but kind and gracious to everyone she met (some of whom would have definitely brought out the old Emily’s big ol’ stink eye). She is finally living for herself, making her own decisions no matter what anyone else thinks, and making every effort to become the person she wants to be.
Then we have our super sexy, slightly alpha hero, Nix (short for Nixon, brother to Lincoln- presidential fetish, anyone?). Nix is a former marine (I know, *drool*) who is struggling with life outside of the corps. He was injured in his last tour, suffering a brain injury, and is dealing with the effects of that, as well as his guilt over a friend who was injured alongside him. Pair that with him overcoming his post traumatic stress disorder and you have one very grumpy, introverted ex-soldier. Nix keeps everyone outside of his family at a safe distance emotionally and has made a conscious decision to not let anyone in. Can’t have them peeling away at the onion that is Nix. But that’s exactly what Emily does, whether he likes it or not. Whether he allows it or not.
For all of Nix’s tough act, there is a vulnerability there, hovering just below the surface. And I want to pick at it until I expose it. Then I want to kiss it.
A run in between the two main characters (literally), has Emily working at Nix's shop to pay off a debt. They both start to develop feelings pretty quickly. Nix tries to deny his, of course, but Emily eventually embraces her attraction. Eventually they come to an agreement. They’ll have sex. No strings attached sex. Because that always works out, right? Well this time is no different. Slowly, but surely, Emily gets under Nix’s skin and he starts to feel emotions that he has long since convinced himself that he was unable to feel.
“I’m not relationship material, Emily. I just don’t have it in me to care about someone like that. You cannot expect anything like that from me.”
I knew this. I knew this going in and it still hurts just a little. But I’d already made my choice and I wasn’t going to change. I want Nix too much.
As a couple, intentionally or otherwise, I love these two. Emily’s new softer side mixed with Nix’s rough edges make for an enjoyable balance. Emily applies just the right amount of pressure to Nix to get him to open up more to her than he has to anyone else, without pushing too far. For someone who grew up being self –absorbed, she is surprisingly sensitive to others’ feelings and needs. And for all Nix’s talk, he’s just a guy who needs some loving and wants to be free of his guilt and be happy. They find just want they need in each other. Of course there are bumps along the way, but we'll see if Emily is finally able to get through to Nix, and if he is able to finally find peace.
I loved OFF LIMITS just as much, if not more than Off Sides. And I definitely think I fell for Nix more than Ryan—which was a lot. Sometimes a sexy, broken man is just what you need in a book and we got it in spades here! And some of those sex scenes... Whew. There was a lot of depth to these characters, which made for a very interesting, enjoyable story. And the supporting characters brought their own set of wonderful to the story as well. I also very much enjoyed the update(s) we got on Ryan and Danny. I will always love those two and I enjoyed their cameos! And a little birdie told me that we just might be seeing some more of Linc in the very near future. Can’t wait for that! Word on the street is that he’s even hotter than Nix. Impossible, I say. But we’ll see! Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. Multi-dimensional and relatable characters dealing with real issues and just the right amount of steam made for an extremely enjoyable novel that you will definitely have a hard time putting down! 5 Stars!
“Now… take off your clothes for me, Em. And do it slowly.”
Reviewed by Brittany xo
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About the Author:
She also, unfortunately, has horrible taste in football teams.
GO RAVENS! ;-) *runs & hides*
Connect with Sawyer:
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**GIVEAWAY TIME!**
FOR MORE REVIEWS, EXCERPTS, GUEST POSTS AND INTERVIEWS, FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE OFF LIMITS TOUR!
Thank you for the giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, good luck!! :)
DeleteGO STEELERS!!!! I still love you Brittany, mostly because that was an awesome review. You make me want to go read my own book again, and I've read it like a dozen times already!!! <3
ReplyDeleteAs I said, horrible taste in teams. Steelers... Gag. But I still love you. I have two more books to read and then I am ALL OVER LINC! ;) Can't wait!
DeleteI loved this book. I smiled the entire time while I was reading it and writing the review. That's when I knew it was super special.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree :) I'm loving this series!
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