Release Week Blitz & Review: The Moment of Letting Go by J.A. Redmerski

The Moment of Letting Go
by J.A. Redmerski

Release Date:
August 11th, 2015

Publisher:
Forever

Source:
Publisher via NetGalley

eARC received in exchange of honest review

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Synopsis:

You can follow the rules or you can follow your heart... 

Sienna Murphy never does anything without a plan. And so far her plans have been working. Right after college, she got a prestigious job and gained the stability she'd always craved-until work takes her to the sun-drenched shores of Oahu and places her in the path of sexy surfer Luke Everett. For the first time, she lets her heart take control. Drawn to his carefree charm, she makes a spontaneous and very un-Sienna-like decision to drop everything and stay in Hawaii for two more weeks. 

Luke lives fast and wild. When he meets Sienna, he's convinced that some no-strings-attached fun is just what she needs. As their nights quickly turn from playful to passionate, Luke can't deny the deep connection he feels. But there's a reason Luke doesn't do long-term. He can't promise Sienna forever, when the enormity of his past has shown him just how fragile the future can be . . .

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Excerpt:

“Damn, my back is killing me,” I say, grimacing and reaching behind me for my muscles again. “Sleeping on this sofa is brutal.” Sienna’s face falls under a little veil of guilt and pity. 

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she says. “Is it bad?” 

No. 

“Yeah, it’s pretty bad.” I groan deeply for added affect. “I should’ve crashed in Seth’s room—would have if I’d known he wasn’t coming home last night.” Truthfully, I’m not sure of that; Seth might be in his room and I just slept so well through the night that I didn’t hear him when he came in, like I usually do. 

“Now I feel bad,” she says and stands up from the coffee table, her long, lightly tanned legs stretching for miles underneath the thin fabric of her cotton shorts— damn, she is sexy; the things I want to do to her right now. “I’m not really hungry anyway, so don’t worry about breakfast. I was just messing with you.” 

“Nah, don’t feel bad.” I wave it away like it’s nothing, while at the same time still kneading my back with the other hand. “I’m going to make you something . . . but you could help me out by walking on my back.” 

“Huh?” Her face scrunches into a cute, confused expression. “You want me to walk on your back?” 

“Well, yeah,” I say with a nod, suddenly realizing myself how just the thought of her touching me—with her feet, her hands, her lips; I don’t even care which—makes my heart ache and my palms sweaty. “It’ll work out the kinks.” 

She smiles ridiculously and shakes her head—I fight the urge to reach out and pull her down on my lap; the image of her bare thighs around my waist, my hands hugging the curvature of her ass…breathe Luke…just breathe. 

“I’m not walking on your back,” she sort of laughs the words out. 

“Why not?” I tilt my head to one side. 

“Well I think I’m a little too heavy to be walking on your back,” she says as if I should already know this. “And because it’s weird?” It was more a statement than a question, but something else she thinks I should already know, apparently. 

God, she’s so fucking cute. 

I roll my eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those girls who wears a size zero and thinks she’s fat.” 

“No! I’m not one of those,” she defends. “I just don’t want to hurt you!” 

I laugh without restraint. 

“OK, well you’re not going to hurt me, I can promise you that.” I get up from the couch—with pretend difficulty—and step around Sienna and the coffee table and then lay on my bare chest on the floor. “Come on. It’ll really help me out a lot.” One side of my face is pressed against the rug as I look up at her at an angle. She stands over me with her flimsy arms crossed—I grow even harder beneath my shorts. 

“No, Luke,” she laughs, “I’m not going to do it.” 

“Yeah you are,” I say casually and wave my hand at her as if there’s nothing to it. “The only way you can hurt me is if you jump up and down really, really hard. Now get on.” 

“No.” 

“Please?” 

She shakes her head repeatedly, her smile growing. 

I break out the big guns. 

“It’s the least you can do for me letting you stay here for free and have my bed.” I grin subtly, which I imagine looks strange with my cheek smashed against the floor. 

“No!” She laughs out loud. “I’ll sleep on the couch from now on if that’s the case.” With me? I want to say—and almost do—but restrain myself. 

“No you won’t,” I tell her sharply. “What kind of guy would I be if I made you sleep on the couch while I was all sprawled out on the comfy bed? Now step on and start walkin’.” 

“You’re crazy.” Absolutely, one hundred percent, no-going-back crazy for you—I admit it.

My Thoughts:

I knew I was in for a treat when I picked up The Moment of Letting Go.  I have read a few books by J.A. Redmerski, and I really enjoy her writing style.  This story is a deeper read that will make you connect with the characters and feel a whole lot of emotion.  What I loved about it the most were the fact that Ms. Redmerski really took the time to develop a beautiful rock solid foundation between the characters before they became intimate.  The story stayed focused on the development of these characters, and I felt like I really got to know everything about them, without getting caught up in the sexual aspect.  We learn Sienna and Luke's greatest fears, hopes, passions, as well as about their friendships, familial bonds, and emotional scars.

Sienna Murphy grew up with two parents that worked excessively in order to make ends meet.  She promised herself that she would be financially secure and never have to worry about money.  Sienna has worked her way up the ladder in the wedding coordinating business.  She has a passion for photography that she doesn't have time for because she is always working.  When her job sends her to Oahu, Hawaii, she meets the sweet, attractive, and caring Luke Everett.  

Luke is in a very dark place in his life.  He has experienced a devastating loss that haunts him.  He carries the burden of guilt on his shoulders, even though this loss was not his fault. Then he meets the beautiful, Sienna.  They spend one day together, and he convinces her to stay in Hawaii longer.  Sienna is able to use her two weeks of vacation, and ends up staying with Luke, and his best friend, Seth in their home.

During these two weeks, Sienna and Luke experience a deep connection with one another, that they have never known.  Luke promises to teach Sienna how to "Let Go."  She has a debilitating fear of heights, that he wants to help her with.  Luke also wants her to look at life differently, by teaching her how money shouldn't be the most important thing in her life.  Instead, he wants her to explore her passion for photography and teach her how to enjoy her life.  Luke has a passion for extreme sports, and Sienna can't stomach the thought of him base jumping and risking his life.  What happens when two people fall madly in love, but live two very different lifestyles? 

The Moment of Letting Go packed quite an emotional punch. I was rooting for Sienna and Luke to find a way to be together, because it was obvious that they made each other very happy, and were they key ingredient in each others lives for positive change and healing.  As they were falling in love, and experiencing passion, happiness, excitement, and fear, all of their emotions were palpable.  The setting of Hawaii was very beautiful, and I easily pictured to sand, sun, and ocean, as Luke taught Sienna how to surf, as she took her photographs, and as they flew in a helicopter from Oahu to Kaui, which makes the story the perfect summer/beach/vacation read!  I also enjoyed getting to know Luke's close-knit group of friends and experiencing them interacting with one another. 

My Rating:

I give, The Moment of Letting Go, by J.A. Redmerski, 4 Falling In Love, Enjoying Life, Healing, and Pursuing Your Passion Filled Stars!

Giveaway:

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About the Author:

J. A. Redmerski, New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children, two cats and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries.

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