Book Review: More Than This (More Than #1) by Jay McLean

More Than This

More Than #1

By: Jay McLean

Published: January 15, 2015

Publisher:
Amazon

Source: eARC from the publisher for a honest review

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GR's Summary:

When Mikayla imagined her prom night, she envisioned a fairy-tale evening full of romance. So when betrayal and tragedy come in quick succession, Mikayla is completely destroyed. Suddenly, everything she loved and everyone she relied on are tragically, irrevocably gone. 

Jake, a handsome boy she just met, happens to witness her loss. With no one to turn to, Mikayla is forced to depend on this near stranger and his family, and he in turn is determined to take care of her. But Mikayla—thrust into adulthood with no one to guide her—is desperate to contain her grief and hide what she considers to be her weakness. Mikayla and Jake both want more, but despite their growing closeness and intense chemistry, she tries to keep her distance and protect her heart. As he does everything in his power to win her trust, Mikayla must choose between remaining alone and safe or letting love in.

More Than Series:

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My Thoughts:

Jay McClean has swept me off of my feet with, More Than This; a book that packed a powerful emotional punch right to my gut!  When I saw this book and it's synopsis, I was intrigued.  I am a reader that likes to feel many deep emotions  and this book delivered.  I felt pain, devastation, heartbreak, hope, and love, as I lived each and every feeling that the main character, Mikayla felt.

More Than This is a story that is told in dual perspectives, but more than anything, it is Mikayla's story.  On the night of her senior prom, not only does she discover that her boyfriend of four years and best friend have been having sex for the last two years behind her back, but she learns just how cruel life can be when it takes everything from her in one full swoop.  Even though Mikayla and Jake have met for the very first time that night, they both forge a beautiful and unbreakable bond.  Jake becomes her support system, rock, and the person she needs to help her get through this excruciating time in her life.  He introduces her to his good friends, Logan, Cam, Dylan, Lucy, and Heidi, and they become her friends too.

Mikayla has trouble naming the feelings and commitment that she feels towards Jake, but it's obvious by her actions, that she loves him.  She wants to feel whole and not completely broken when she give's herself to him, and this becomes a point of conflict between the two of them.  I could completely understand how she felt.  I understood Jake's frustration, but at the same time, I think it was a miracle that Mikayla was even finding a way to continue living her life after all that she had been through.  Both Mikayla and Jake were extremely likable characters.  They both showed their vulnerability, loyalty, passion and love towards one another.  Oh, and I have to mention that Jake was really sexy!  First off he had an Australian accent, and I love men with accents, but to top it off, he was a talented baseball pitcher too. He had everything a girl could want in her dream man!!!

The secondary cast of characters were awesome!  Logan was the funny and easy going best friend, who was lonely and wanted a partner to love like the rest of his friends had.  His book, More Than Her, is next in the series!!!  Lucy was my favorite secondary character!  She was a bookworm who always had her head stuck in her kindle, and her current reading obsession was, The Sea of Tranquility, by Katja Millay, which is one of my all-time favorite books!  She was really quiet most of the time, but when she got drunk, her feistiness would come out, and she caused me to laugh a lot!  Her boyfriend Cam was so sweet and all about her.  I'm looking forward to reading their story as well!  Dylan and Heidi were really likable as well, but I didn't learn as much about them in this segment, as the other characters.  

My Rating:

I give, More Than This, by Jay McLean, 4 "I More Than thought this book was amazing" Filled Stars!  Are you looking for a tear jerker, with a great cast of characters, and a dynamic story?  If so, this one is sure to be a winner!!!

My Favorite Quote:

"The Love that's so instant and intense and easy, it feel's like all the world's forces collided and fate gave you a push, and you're there, in front of the person who's now a part of you.  The world spins and your heart explodes, and you want nothing else at all in the entire universe as long as you can be with that one person all the time.  When you're not, you think about him until your mind is consumed, and it's almost like you're suffocating and drowning...But in a good way, because your love is all around you."  (eARC, Loc. 3009)

~Mikayla

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About Jay McLean:

Jay McLean is the author of the More Series, including More Than This, More Than Her, More Than Him and More Than Forever. She also has two standalones coming soon titled Where The Road Takes Me, and Combative. 

Jay is an avid reader, writer, and most of all, procrastinator. When she's not doing any of those things, she can be found running after her two little boys, or devouring some tacky reality TV show. She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make her smile, make her hurt, and make her feel.

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