Blog Tour Stop and Giveaway!- On The Rocks (Last Call #1) by Sawyer Bennett

Title:  On The Rocks (Last Call #1)

Author:  Sawyer Bennett
Publication Date: February 17th 2014 by Big Dog Books, LLC
Goodreads URL: HERE
Plot:   He left to travel the world for fame and glory, but only after spurning Gabby Ward and crushing her young heart. Now Hunter Markham has come back home to the sand and salty breeze of the North Carolina Outer Banks so he can open up Last Call, a beach bar nestled among the dunes of the Atlantic. 

Gabby Ward is not happy that Hunter has returned. Bitter over his rebuff years before, she’s content to stay far away from him and his dangerously charming ways. 

Gabby’s well-schemed plans to ignore Hunter go up in flames when he presents an offer to her that she simply can’t refuse, throwing them together in a common quest to each reach their goals. Working together day in and day out proves to be problematic for Gabby, who soon realizes that the feelings she had for him are still very much alive. Hunter struggles to reach through to Gabby’s cold heart, all while starting a new career away from his life as a top ranked, professional surfer.

What starts out as a mutual business arrangement soon turns into a passion that neither of them can continue to deny. 

Hard choices lay ahead for both of them when Hunter is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to return to the pro surfing tour.

Choices that could destroy what they have built or take them further than they ever had dared to hope.

MY REVIEW:

I'll admit, I initially embarked on this read with a lot of trepidation as I had only read one book from this author, Off Sides, and didn't hit it off well with that.

BUT..Luckily for this book...

On the Rocks, actually WON me over!! I won't go and say that it's the best book I've ever read in my life but it's different and definitely showed a lot of growth from what my last recollection of Ms. Bennett's work!! And PLUS, it had surfing in it!! I LOVE surfing!! I'm from HAWAI'I for crying out loud!! Not to love the beach and ocean is an absolute sin!! lol ;)

The story: Five years ago on her high school grad night, Gabriella "Gabby or Gabs" Ward put her heart on the line to long time crush/best friend's older brother, Hunter Marham, only to be devastatingly rebuffed and rejected.

Now years later, Hunter returns to North Carolina and Gabby has sworn to never let Hunter back into her heart. Only, what's a girl to do when he may be your last chance to keeping a family business afloat? And her entire being simply craves for it?

So now Hunter...

Hunter Markham knows what's it like to have it all: fame, glory, money, and women. After all, he's a hot shot surfer ranked #2 in the world.

But when life calls him back home to deal with some family business, Hunter finds himself admist of re-opening a beach bar and now contracting Gabby's father's business for help on refurnishing the bar's facilities.

Only... Hunter, too, has never forgotten the night that he cold heartedly broken Gabby's heart and agonizingly regrets how he handled it. After all, she was his little sister's best friend and he knew her his entire life. It would be wrong. Right?

Now seeing her again, Hunter begins seeing Gabby in a new light and no longer as a “sister.”

The two squabble with their feelings for it a bit, but later engage in a passionate and tumultuous love affair under the eyes of friends and family members. But what started as a secretive and casual relationship develops into a passionate and earth shattering love affair that might just mean more for the both of them.

Can Gabby let go of old hurts and let Hunter in once again? Moreover, when an old flame of Hunter's shows up, will she tear down the entire foundation that Gabby and Hunter had worked so hard to build?

And what decision will Hunter make when his agent arrives on his doorstep, coercing him to rejoin the world of fame and surf? Will he give up what he has with Gabby and stay? Or will he pass up the opportunity of a lifetime?

Read and you will find out!

SO, my verdict: A DEFINITE re-opening to my eyes to the world of Sawyer Bennett!! I really loved reading this book as it is very easy to read and enjoyed being in the heads of Gabby and Hunter! I'm not saying that once in a while their characters did not frustrate or annoy me at any point since they did in the beginning. But what do you expect when you got your heart trumped on and shattered and the object of your affection (well, affections!) all of a sudden comes back and only now wants to make it a go with you? I, too, would be a bit apprehensive and bitter. After all, she's still in love with the guy!

Anyway, a lovely, lovely read that finally won me over with this author!!

I now CAN'T WAIT for Hunter's twin brother's story, Brody, and one of Gabby's best friend's, Alyssa's story!! Gosh I'm so excited!! Brody, made me curious as to his back story and mysterious personna and Alyssa was just an easy character to like. I can't wait to see their story play out as in On the Rocks their limited interaction is quite shaky.

GAWD, can it be March yet?! I need my Brody fix NOW!!

My Rating:
-Overall : 8.5
-Plot : 8.5
-Writing : 8.5
-Characters : 8.5
-Cover : 8.5

Event Giveaway!: All items are international. 

(1) $50.00 Amazon Gift Card 

(1) Off Series Boxed Set (Off Sides, Off Limits, Off The Record, Off Course, Off Chance)

(3) Signed books by Sawyer Bennett (winner's choice of any book in print)

(1) Epic Love Boxed Set – releasing 3/10/14 with following novels:  

-Off Chance by USA Today Bestselling Author Sawyer Bennett
-Trophy Husband by NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely
-Finding the Right Girl by NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Violet Duke
-Indulgent Pleasures by USA Today Bestselling Author Karen Erickson
-Keeping You by iBooks and International Bestselling Author Jessie Evans
-With Every Heartbeat by USA Today Bestselling Author Melody Grace
-Unravel Me by NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Kendall Ryan
-Text Appeal by NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Lexi Ryan

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