Book Review: The Do Over (The Do Over #1) by A.L. Zaun

Book Review: The Do Over (The Do Over #1) by A.L. Zaun

Add book

The Do Over #1

By: A.L. Zaun

Published: May 20th. 2013

Published by: A. L. Zaun Publications

Source: Author

Goodreads Summary:

Life doesn’t look like it’s supposed to for Dani Ruiz, a hopeless romantic. After a painful and sudden break-up with Rick Marin, Dani hides away from reality, retreating to a world of fiction where she prefers book boyfriends over the hassles of a relationship.

Almost two years later, Dani’s friends are tired of watching her in a holding pattern, so they stage an intervention, forcing her back into the real world of dating.

Unexpectedly, Dani meets Liam Lucas, a down-to-earth firefighter. He might be the person to show her she’s still worth something. Dani’s hesitant to trust her heart with another man, but their instant and electric chemistry is something she can’t deny.

As Dani starts to believe that she’s found her real-life book boyfriend, Rick decides that he’ll go to any lengths to get her back. Seeing Rick as a changed man makes Dani question everything. 

Can Dani trust her patched-up heart with Liam? 

Or has Rick transformed into the man she’s always wanted?

Written from various points of views, The Do Over is a story of second chances and new beginnings.

My review:

Meet Daniela Ruiz, Nurse/Kindleaholic. After being in a relationship with Rick Marin for about a year, he suddenly calls it quits. Daniela is left heartbroken, vulnerable and humiliated.

In the two years that follow the break-up, Daniela has closed her heart for fear of getting hurt again. She does not want any relationship drama back in her life. Books became her distraction from life. She dreams of that one of a kind love, that only a book boyfriend can give her. The kind of boyfriend who will sweep her off her feet, and make her feel loved again.

Because she is a nurse, she is sent to attend a CRP certification. In that class, she meets Liam Lucas. Their chemistry is instant. They exchange some words, but she is left disappointed when he does not ask for her number.

After the class she can't stop thinking about him. On a night out with her Besties, Candance and Macy, she is surprised to find him at the same club. They leave the club together that night, and exchange numbers. What follows is everything Daniela has dreamed of. In a few short months, Liam steals her heart. He teaches her how to feel, laugh and live again.

Unexpectedly, Rick Marin, shows up back in her life after two years. At the beginning, she just wants to be left alone, but as their meetings multiply, she realizes that he's changed. He's become the man she's always wanted him to be. She is left torn between, a man who is everything she wanted and a man who made all the changes possible in his life to have her back. The road ahead of her will leave her heartbroken once more and searching for her HEA.

Meet Rick Marin, Regional Director in Sales/Supreme A**hole of the World. Rick does not do relationships. Once he started getting the vibe that Dani wanted more, he just was not ready to go down that road.

Two years later, on a night out, he sees her again. From that moment, he vows to get her back and become the man she always wanted him to be. With the help of an unexpected accomplice, he transforms himself into Dani's ideal man. He ends up meeting Dani on different occasions, and he makes her feel bold emotions that were buried a long time ago.

In his journey to become a better man, he realizes that he has to seize the moment and fight for what he really wants.

Meet Liam Lucas, Lieutenant in the Miami-Dade Fire Department/Book boyfriend in the flesh. Liam has had a difficult life, he knows about loss and pain first hand. When he meets Daniela in a CPR class, he's instantly drawn to her.

He wants to get to know her, hear about her book obsession. Duty gets in the way and Daniela leaves the class before he can ask her for her number. They meet again at Club Breathe and from the moment he dances with her he won't let her go.

As the days go by, he falls head over heels in love with her. He wants to give Daniela her HEA and keep her heart safe. What he does not expect is somebody from her past to come and shatter his entire world.

The Do Over is A.L. Zaun's debut novel. Well, let me tell you that I absolutely loved this story. From the first page I was hooked! I'm not a big fan of love triangles, but this story was different. How you may ask?  Well for one, you have Liam, which is every girls fantasy come true. I lost count on how many times he made me swoon! His love for Daniela, is beautiful and heart-stirring. He will do everything in his power to make her happy.

On the other side you have Rick, A**hole with a capital A. What he did to Daniela is just horrible. How can he play with her emotions like that? I was feeling mixed emotions while I  was reading this story. At one point, I was screaming at Rick, and in the next I was swooning over Liam. I loved how the author made me feel what the characters were going through.

In this love triangle, Daniela must examine her feelings for both these man. This story is told in various point of views, which is a bonus for any reader in my opinion. I love that we get to peak inside all their heads.

While reading this book, I fell for Liam. The way he cares for Daniela, from the moment he whispered in her hear, I was reduced to complete mush! I would feel butterflies when he would speak, my heart filled with joy, when he felt that she was the reason his heart started beating again. I am completely in love with him!!

Something happened to me while I was reading, I think my ereader knocked me out for a while because the next thing I knew, I had fallen for Rick too! Yes, you heard me. That first class douche bag kept me wanting more of him. With him it was a love/hate relationship, I hated him in the beginning, but I was rooting for him by the end of the book.

The Do Over is all about second chances. Hearts are broken, tears are shed, emotions run high, but in the end, everybody walks away with a new beginning.

Quotes that I loved

Daniela

''He still hadn't shaved. It was a contrasting look-GQ mixed with I don't give a shit-and it was blazing hot.'' (Kindle, loc.739)


''His eyes were the windows to his soul. They first got my attention and touched my heart. They were trusting and safe.'' (Kindle, loc.1671)

Rick

''She'd always been so damn good to me. No one had ever, past or present, taken such good care of me, and I'd been a selfish asshole and thrown it all away.'' (Kindle, loc.688)

''I had fucked up with her. She'd been right about so many things. I ran my hands through my hair. I regretted the way I'd treated her. I missed our life. Why did I let her get away? I would do whatever it took to get her back. I love her. Maybe I always did.'' (Kindle, loc.962)

Liam

''Make sure it's deep, hard, and steady. Yeah, that's right. You're doing it perfectly.'' (Kindle, loc.453)


''This right here,'' I said, pressing my hand gently against her chest, ''this is mine. Your heart's safe with me. You can trust me. I'll never let anyone, including me, break this again.'' (Kindle, loc.4304)

My Rating

I give The Do Over FIVE intense and emotional stars!

Book Trailer & Play List:

Click Here

About the Author:

A.L. Zaun graduated from Florida International University with a degree in English Literature a long time ago. A degree she didn’t use at all in her professional endeavors. She loves to read, write and take pictures. She walks around with her camera, and most importantly she has her e-reader available at all times. Healthcare Management by day, Mommy in the evening and most nights, you can find her sitting in front of her laptop with a bottle of Diet Pepsi, bringing the voices in her head to life on the pages of her debut novel, The Do Over.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Purchase at:

Amazon | B & N | Kobo | The Book Depository