Book Review : Defining Love (Volume 1) by Elizabeth Reyes

Defining Love

Volume 1
by Elizabeth Reyes

Release Date:
May 5th, 2015

Genres:
New Adult
Contemporary Romance

Add to Goodreads

Source:
Author

eARC received in exchange of honest review

Synopsis:

Being friends before becoming lovers makes for stronger relationships. 

Aaron and Henrietta can certainly attest to this. It takes time to develop the kind of deep relationship each is in. Both are committed and fiercely loyal to a lover they each consider their best friend. 

Then one night Aaron and Henri meet. 

After a single conversation, neither can explain the profound connection they’re feeling. Is it intrigue? Lust? How can one chance meeting—one conversation–possibly have them questioning everything they ever believed about love? 

This is a serial romance told in 3 parts. Each volume will be released a week after the previous.

Pre-order At:

Amazon 

Defining Love serial

Lindy's Thoughts:

The first volume of Elizabeth Reyes' Defining Love Serial Series is vastly different from anything else that I've read written by her; but no less enjoyable.  Volume one sets the stage for the rest of this story.  We are introduced to the main characters, Henrietta, "Henri," and Aaron.

Henri has had a very difficult life, and is very mature for a nineteen year old college student.  She has known abandonment and traumatic loss.  Aaron is more than ten years older than Henri.  He has everything in his life going for him.  He is a firefighter, and has just started his own business.

Both Henri and Aaron are in serious relationships with good people.  They have been best friends with their partners for many years, and while content, both relationships are lackluster, and are more like friendships than passionate romances.  Yet, they stay with their partners because they are too scared to lose the one person in their lives that mean the most to them.

One night, Henri is invited to her friend Beatriz' New Years Eve Party.  While there, she has a short, but meaningful conversation with Beatriz' older brother Aaron.  There is an attraction between the two, and Aaron is impressed by Henri's maturity and beauty.  Henri thinks Aaron is gorgeous, sexy, and enjoys talking to him.  After this conversation, neither one of them can stop thinking about the other...

The end of Volume One is climatic, and leaves the reader desperate to jump in to the next volume of the serial.  Both Henri and Aaron were very likable characters.  There was one fairly large plot twist in volume one that I did not see coming!        

My Rating:

I give, Defining Love, Volume One, by Elizabeth Reyes 4 Entertaining, Intriguing, and Surprising Plot-Twist Filled Stars!  Ms. Reyes gives us the foundation of the story, and before you know it, you are hooked, and ready to read more!  The characters are complex, and fully developed.  I am really looking forward to beginning Volume Two, and can tell that this is where more action in the story is going to take place!  

Ro's Take on this Journey:

Defining Love, by Elizabeth Reyes is Dynamic! Volume 1, in the three part series, will light a fire in the pilot light of your soul. I never thought I would say this, but once again, Eli, has outdone herself in this masterfully written novelette. Defining Love is the story of Henrietta, "Henri Magana." Henri is a young girl who is placed in the foster system with her older sister, Celia. The only person she can depend on, until the day comes when she turns 18, and must also leave Henri. The devastation is palpable. My heart was crushed for Henri. Her life is turned upside down, and she must pick up the pieces, put her nose to the grind stone and study as hard as she can. Henri learns to reinvent herself, with the help of her distant Aunt Gemma, she never knew existed, when it is time for her to leave the system. 

Henri meets Erendida, Edi, a friend at school, who becomes her rock. Edi is beautiful, smart, athletic, and the girl everyone wishes she could be. When another devastation happens to Henri, Edi is there to help her pick up the pieces. The two of these girls are inseparable, and are wonderful, loving, caring friends with each other. The reader is drawn into the Henri's world. Unfortunately, she never quite realizes her own beauty or worth. Henri has a lot of dark nightmares, and is haunted by the past she so desperately wants to forget. Elizabeth Reyes has created a world and a setting so believable that the reader is there every moment, wanting to wipe the tears off of Henri's face, and say, "I promise everything is going to be okay." 

The other main character in the book is Aaron. Aaron is the older brother of one of Henri's friends named Beatriz, is a fireman, and has his own business. Beatriz is a bit immature for her 19 years, and is in the middle of Aaron's business with his long time girlfriend since high school named Mia. Although Aaron and Mia are best friends, there is no fire in the relationship, other than the normal growing pains all men go through in their high school years. Their relationship is comfortable, and they both seem to like it that way. They have a good chemistry, can laugh, talk easily, have fun, but something is always missing. Aaron questions himself more than once over the dilemma. 

During a New Years Party at Bea's house, Henri meets the gorgeously put together older brother, Aaron. She is smitten by him, and he with her. The fireworks fly, though neither act on anything, but it leaves the essence from their sizzling connection in the air for what may come in future segments. This segment is earth shattering, sad, loving, sweet, and an amazing page turner. I would be remiss if I didn't say that Ms. Reyes, Queen of Romance, has gone out on a limb with this serial, and she has done a magnificently touching job!!! I am definitely in for the long haul, and can't wait to see what is in store for all of these wonderful 3 dimensional characters. 

My Rating:

I give, Defining Love, by Elizabeth Reyes, 5 Devastatingly Haunting, Wonderfully Colorful Characterization, Palpably Erotic, Scintillating Stars! 

Mikki's Review:

Defining Love, by Elizabeth Reyes, is the first volume in her brand new serial series. I have to admit that I am not a big fan of serials. I usually wait until all the volumes are released to start reading the story. I do make some exceptions and, this is one since Elizabeth Reyes is one of my favorite authors. I have read the author's posts about this serial and the more she was talking about it, the more I got nervous and excited!!! I knew that this was going to be different from what she has published in the past. I could not wait to see what kind of reading escape this serial was going to be.

In this serial we follow Henrietta ''Henri'', and Aaron. Henri has been through many ups and down since she was young. Life has not always been easy for her, but at age nineteen she finds the strength to move on from the events that have happened in her life. Aaron is in his late twenties and his life is going according to plan. He's a firefighter, he just started his new business and he's in a serious relationship with a woman who has been his best friend for years. When Henri is invited to spend New Year's Eve at her friend's house she accepts the invitation because she's going through yet another difficult moment. What she did not expect at this party was to meet mysterious and intriguing Aaron, which is her friend's older brother. They have a conversation that will leave them both thinking about each other days after they have met. 

This first volume is all about getting to know the main characters. They each have a journey of their own until the moment where they meet for the first time. You get to know them pretty well as characters. I am positive that the next volumes in this serial will give us all the feels. Elizabeth Reyes' writing style is pretty amazing and she always delivers a romance that makes you wish you were a part of the story.

I don't really like to give anything away about a story, because I feel like each reader needs to discover the story on their own. What I will tell you is that both Henri and Aaron are in serious relationships and that their unforgettable meeting is making them feel things they never expected to feel. Their chemistry was instant when they met. They felt comfortable around each other. They felt a connection to each other, and they can't explain it. There is a twist in the story that the author included that you won't see coming! This was a great first volume. The ending will leave you wanting more, and I seriously can't wait to see what happens next! 

Rating:

I give Defining Love (Volume 1), by Elizabeth Reyes, 4 enjoyable, unexpected, page-turning stars!

About the Author

Elizabeth Reyes is a USA Today Best Selling Author of The Moreno Brothers, 5th Street, Fate and Desert Heat romance series. 

Join the fun and become a royal member of TeamReyes and enjoy the perks of early announcements,cover reveals teasers, including exclusive teasers shared only the group. Along with exclusive team,giveaways,discussions, trivia, Secret Santa and much much more!

Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Twitter | Website