Book Review: Focus on Me (In Focus #2) by Megan Erickson

Focus on Me
In Focus #2

By:
Megan Erickson

Release Date:
July 21, 2015

Publisher:
InterMix

Source:
eARC from publisher in exchange for a honest review

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GR's Summary:

Colin Hartman can now add college to his list of failures. On the coast-to-coast trek home from California, Colin stops at a gas station in the Nevada desert, and can’t help noticing the guy in tight jeans looking like he just stepped off a catwalk. When he realizes Catwalk is stranded, Colin offers a ride. 

Riley only intended to take a short ride in Colin’s Jeep to the Grand Canyon. But one detour leads to another until they finally find themselves tumbling into bed together. However there are shadows in Riley’s eyes that hide a troubled past. And when those shadows threaten to bury the man whom Colin has fallen in love with, he vows to get Riley the help he needs. For once in his life, quitting isn’t an option…

In Focus Series:
My Review of Trust the Focus Here

*Add this Series to Goodreads Here

My Thoughts:

Megan Erickson quickly captured me as one of her fangirls, from the moment I read her debut, Make It Count.  Since then, it seems like every book she has written has blown me away!  Her style of writing has gotten more polished, and her storytelling reels me in every single time.

Focus on Me is the sequel in the In Focus Series, and is the story of Colin and Riley.  It is told through Colin's point of view.  However, we get glimpses into what is happening through Riley's eyes as he writes back and forth with Landry from book one in the series.  Riley is a sexy underwear model, and the man that Justin was jealous of, because Landry showed him a picture and lied saying that Riley was his boyfriend, in the first book.

In Focus on Me, Colin has failed out of college, so he is making the road trip to return home to North Carolina and work for his family's barbecue diner.  Along the way, he picks up Riley outside of Las Vegas.  Riley tells him he needs a ride, and Colin offers to drop him off wherever he needs to go.  Riley has a list of sites he wants to see, with the last stop being the Atlantic Ocean.  Therefore, the guys agree to travel, see the sights together, and then part ways when they get to North Carolina.  

As Colin and Riley are on their road trip, they share a sizzling attraction and start to develop feelings for one another.  Yet, it is obvious that something is very wrong with Riley.  He gets in very depressing moods, barely eats, is secretive, and constantly pushes Colin away.  Will Colin figure out what is wrong with Riley and be able to help him?  Or, will he lose the only man he's every really cared about?

Focus on me was an emotional read.  Riley had a lot of angst, and I kept trying to figure out why he was so secretive and closed off from Colin.  He would draw Colin in, and then push him away, time and time again.  It was obvious that Riley was a good man with a large heart, but he was suffering, and in a very dark place.  Colin was very caring and compassionate.  He naturally gravitated toward helping others, and he wanted to do everything in his power to make Riley feel better.  These two shared such an intense connection and passionate feelings for one another!  I was rooting for them to find their way from the very start, and get a HEA.

I was really happy that we got a couple of cameos in this story that included Landry and Justin.  Those two are such a fun couple, who still love to bicker.  Also, there was a powerful message in this story having to do with loving yourself, and seeing your worth.  I think this is a message that all readers will be able to relate to.  We all struggle with self-acceptance, and not feeling worthy of love at times. 

My Rating:

I give, Focus on Me, by Megan Erickson, 4.5 Instant Chemistry, Passionate, Falling in Love, Healing Transformation Filled Stars!  This story was extremely fast-paced and another great addition to the In Focus Series!  I hope we get another story in this series, and can see Quinn, (Colin's sister, Jessica's, best friend) getting a story!  Please Ms. Erickson!!!

Book Teasers:

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About Megan Erickson:

Megan Erickson grew up in a family that averages 5’5” on a good day and started writing to create characters who could reach the top kitchen shelf. 

She’s got a couple of tattoos, has a thing for gladiators and has been called a crazy cat lady. After working as a journalist for years, she decided she liked creating her own endings better and switched back to fiction. 

She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids and two cats. And no, she still can’t reach the stupid top shelf.

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