BLOG TOUR STOP: Used by Lynetta Halat: Review, Teasers, and Excerpt

I am a slut. No worries. I’ve come to terms with it, and you will too. I’m not one of those girls who thinks she’s too plain, too fat, too skinny, too shy … no, I don’t have that kind of luck. I’m the girl who knows she’s just right for everyone. — Denver

A reputation as a manwhore–with–a–heart–of–gold tends to precede me. But, I don’t do girls with issues, that is until this girl. It’s this girl I want to fix. This girl I want to protect. And maybe … more. — Ransom

Being in love with the same girl your entire life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. She uses me in every way imaginable. How does she see me? I am her perpetual one-night stand. No strings, no attachments. Just mind-numbing sex … for her anyway. — Greer

Feeling like the life is being choked out of her in the small town of Anaconda, Montana, Denver Dempsey craves the escape that college offers … even if that means leaving her “best friend with benefits” and looking for a new way to forget. Thinking she’s found the perfect hookup in Ransom, Denver’s outlook on college is bright. That is, until Greer shows up looking for a second chance, and Ransom’s interest turns to hatred.

Love. Hate. Triangle.

Who’s using who?

Love triangles…I have to admit – I’m not much of a fan of them. It’s hard for me to see past all of the betrayal and lies, so going in to Used, I wasn’t sure if this was going to be a book for me. But, in my opinion, this is not your typical love triangle because Denver is not your typical heroine. Denver is 100% a product of her environment. When you grow up with a mother who is considered the town slut, it’s fairly easy to allow the rumors and name-calling to get to you and even change your own perception of yourself. Not only does Denver have to deal with the town’s disdain for her mother and by extension herself, but then when you throw in a revolving door of her mother’s ex-husbands who either make a pass at her or attempt to violate her, the self loathing Denver feels makes sense.

“I’m strong. I’m brave. I’m independent.”

This is Denver’s mantra…her way of attempting to get past a mother who doesn’t love her and a group of peers who shun her. But it’s all an act. The confidence she exudes is her armor…just like calling herself a slut before anyone else can. People are going to think whatever they want to regardless of the truth, so Denver feeds the gossip…she does what she thinks she has to do – she becomes the “user”; she uses her “slut DNA,” but it’s not the way everyone thinks.

The two men in this triangle – Greer and Ransom – couldn’t be more different.

Greer grew up with Denver; he’s the one she’s been “using” for quite some time, but in my opinion, he’s been using her right back. Their relationship is extremely unhealthy, and while I do feel bad for him at times in the story, I just can’t see Denver choosing him. Their relationship is more of a habit than anything. I don’t doubt that Greer loves her, but readers definitely see his true colors three-quarters of the way through the book.

Ransom – boy would I like to spend some time with him;) He doesn’t want to want Denver, but he can’t help it, and while he questions if she’s worth it, the time they spend together in the latter half of the book proves his first thoughts about her were correct. Ransom truly sees Denver – beyond the mask she puts on for everyone else. He’s the man Denver needs to slay her demons and get past her nightmares. He’s the one she doesn’t want to “use.” But Ransom comes with his own baggage and secrets, and it isn’t quite clear how everything is going to pan out at the end of Used.

Overall, I really enjoyed Used. It was a bit difficult at first to get into the story…I didn’t feel like all of the flashbacks were necessary; Denver’s self loathing is pretty clear from the start, and readers can pick up on the push and pull in her relationship with Greer early on. But I also understand that the repetitive nature of the back story illustrates how deeply scarred Denver is and how much Denver and Greer are tied together in a twisted way. Where the book ended also made sense to me…I feel like readers are going to see a different Denver in book two – a healthier one as she deals with the aftermath of what has happened and learns to lean on others more for help. I can’t wait to see what happens.

Complimentary copy of the text was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

4 poison apples!

Shut Up, and Kiss Me

After a few minutes, Greer stretches out beside me and searches for my hand. Only his hand touches mine, but my whole being tingles. He threads his fingers through mine and runs his thumb over my palm. Something in me twists and splinters, shooting chills all through my body. My breath hitches in my throat because I can’t breathe around the knot that has formed there.

“You feel it too,” he says simply.

I close my eyes tighter, suddenly embarrassed by the fact that I’m not slick. “Yes,” I admit in a whisper.

“Look at me, Denver.”

Turning my head to the side, I open my eyes to find his blue-eyed gaze roaming over me. His eyes find mine, and we just take each other in. I want to say something, but I can’t think of one darn thing that sounds intelligent or even … sexy. Do I even want to be sexy for him? Yes. Yes, I do. I see stupid girls flirt with him all the time. I don’t want to be that girl, but I do want him to see me as a girl and not just his friend. Ironic, since I’ve spent my whole life telling him not to treat me like a girl.

“I want to kiss you so bad … but if I kiss you, it will change everything,” he says in that gravelly voice.

“Change is good,” I whisper.

Rolling to his side, his mouth is centimeters from mine. I can’t make myself move although I’m aching with want. But I haven’t been kissed—ever. And I haven’t kissed anyone since that time on the monkey bars in seventh grade when I stuck my tongue in Brian Thomas’s mouth on a bet. I shocked the shit out of him, and he didn’t even kiss me back. When the bell rang, he jerked back and hit his head hard, sending him to the nurse for the rest of the afternoon. Not my finest moment.

“I don’t want to lose my best friend,” he tells me.

I bring up my other hand and run it over his jaw. “You’re not going to lose me. No matter what. We’ll still be friends.”

“Relationships ruin friendships. We’ve seen enough of that.”

I shiver with that truth. “True. But we’re different. We’ve been together since before we were born. I can’t live without you, so I won’t hurt our friendship.”

Bringing our entwined hands up, he kisses my knuckles. “Me either. We’ll take it slow, all right?”

“All right, my golden boy,” I whisper.

The effect of my words is instantaneous; the blue in his eyes intensifies to boiling. He leans in, his lips brushing mine softly. “Denver,” he whispers against me. “I’ve always wanted to make you mine. Ever since I understood what that meant. I’ve never seen anyone but you.” And even though his eyes burn with passion, I hear a little tremor in his voice. Now, him always putting off those girls makes a whole lot more sense.

“I thought we were taking it slow,” I chastise, but I delight in knowing that he feels something more for me.

“I just want you to know that I don’t take this lightly. You’re the most important person in my universe. And I’ll do anything to protect us.”

His declaration unleashes a torrent of need in me, and I no longer want him to kiss me—I need him to kiss me. “Greer, will you shut up and kiss me, please?”

Since the dawn of time, Lynetta Halat has lived to read and has written innumerable stories and plays. A lover of good books, bad boys, and kickass tunes, she’d always dreamt of penning books that people could connect with and remember. She also has a secret penchant for wringing the emotions out of unsuspecting readers, and she collects reader’s tears in much the same way that wine connoisseurs collect their favorite vintage.

Her first novel, Every Rose, was the perfect catalyst to launch her into the world of publishing, effectively burrowing her way into the hearts and minds of readers throughout the world. Everything I’ve Never Had was her follow-up adult romance novel. Now, she has penned Used, a New Adult Romance that she hopes sinks its teeth into you and doesn’t let go.

Her love of the English language prompted her to pursue a Master’s degree in English from Old Dominion University in Virginia, where she also minored in snark and interpretive dance. She lives somewhere along the Mississippi Gulf Coast with her adorable husband, two amazing sons, and two loveable dogs. When she’s not writing riveting stories, she likes to focus on her macramé art and her scouring of eBay, where she buys locks of hair from her favorite rock stars, most especially Bret Michaels and Dave Grohl.