Promo Tour: REVIEWS, TEASERS, AND GIVEAWAY: The Living Again Series by LL Collins

The traumatic and heartbreaking situations that L.L. Collins is known for creating continue in the third installment of her Living Again series, Guarding Hearts. This time, readers are introduced to Ellis Warner, a 29 year old SWAT Team member and friend of Devin. Ellis’ backstory is not an easy one to read; it’s filled with an immense amount of pain and suffering, and while the heroine, Samantha Kerrigan, is now living her dream as a country singer, her past is also one of sadness and tough choices.They’ve never met each other, but when Ellis and Sam see one another’s pictures, feelings that haven’t been felt by either in quite some time begin to spark. Sam is on tour in Florida and needs extra security due to a stalker who has been harassing her. Ellis needs the extra money, so he decides to take the job as Sam’s bodyguard for the week that she’s there. Neither would have thought being around someone for only a week could completely alter their lives, but that’s all it takes for them to be forever changed and also give into their desires. Ellis and Sam share an intense connection, but Ellis doesn’t believes he’s good enough for Sammi; he doesn’t feel he’s good enough for anyone, and she has no idea how to get him to understand that he’s worth it. Further complications arise when Sam’s stalker gets even more daring, and Sam’s safety becomes a serious issue. But how does the man who’s suppose to protect her from any harm, do his job when he feels he’s the one who could hurt her the most?L.L. Collins definitely knows how to create fully developed, realistic characters. Readers are able to understand all aspects of the hero and heroine’s lives because they are vividly presented. Every emotion…every fear…every regret is meticulously described so that we aren’t left with any questions as to why the characters make the decisions they do. Ellis’ childhood has done major damage to his psyche; so much so that even when he cleans up his act and makes something of himself, he still doesn’t feel like he deserves happiness. He’s been closed off for so long, so when he immediately starts to feel something for Sam, it scares the hell out of him, and he wants to run, which all makes sense because of how L.L. expertly writes his point of view. Sam is not L.L.’s typical heroine, but Ellis needs someone different…someone who can give him his light back, and she’s just the woman to do it. She’s immensely strong and carries herself with such grace for only being 23 years old, and Ellis needs someone who will fight for him, and she never stops fighting even when he all but gives up.Guarding Hearts is a fantastic addition to the Living Again series. It has the perfect mix of suspense, drama, and steam. Some scenes are extremely intense while others are sweet and quirky, which is exactly what I’m looking for as a reader. I want to be able to laugh, cry, yell, and swoon as I read, and L.L. Collins’ stories allow all of those emotions to be felt. I can’t wait to see where she’ll take her readers next.

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

4.5 poison apples

L.L. Collins is my go to author for emotional reads. Her stories are filled with dynamic characters who endure a multitude of situations that bring them to their knees, and as the narrator describes the main characters’ thoughts and feelings, readers can’t help but be put through the ringer right along with them. Collins’ writing allows us to experience everything that the hero and heroine do, as if we are a part of their inner circle, and because we get to know the characters so well, we can’t help but laugh, cry, and scream with them as they maneuver through all of the highs and lows life throws at them.Finding Forever is Lacey and Brant’s story. Readers of the Living Again series met Lacey in Sam and Ellis’ story; Lacey’s Sam’s best friend, and she’s the one Sam confided in when everything played out in Guarding Hearts. Lacey had to grow up quickly due to the loss of her mother and her father’s inability to cope with losing the love of his life. At 12 years old, Lacey was not only responsible for herself but also her younger sister. But it’s not the added responsibility that shaped her; it’s the emotional trauma she experienced due to her father’s isolation. Early on, she learned that love hurts more than it helps. As she witnessed her father shut down and, in a way, wash his hands of his kids, she became frightened of the idea of love and that fear followed her into her adult life.Now, Lacey lives a rather lonely life. She has a job she loves as well as loving family and friends, but she keeps men at arm’s length, refusing to allow any of them to capture her heart because losing them or them losing her is not something she is willing to risk. But when Brantley Tucker enters her life, no matter how hard she tries to keep him at bay, he crashes into her life and her heart. But when life gets overwhelming for both of them and Lacey does everything in her power to shut him out, does Brant have what it takes to hold on to the woman he’s crazy about or will the fears and pressures he faces be too much for him to take?After reading the emotional journeys that the first three couples went through in the Living Again series, I thought I was prepared for book four. I didn’t think L.L. could get me anymore invested in Lacey and Brant’s story than I had been in the previous three, but I was wrong. It may be because of the subject matter and the difficulties that Lacey faces in the story, or it may be due to how realistically L.L. portrays Lacey and Brant’s journey, but this story impacted me on such a deep level. I was a blubbering mess throughout much of the book, and they were tears of both joy and sadness.

Brant is an amazing hero. He definitely is not the stereotypical male model. He steps up for Lacey in so many ways that readers can’t help but root for him and hope that Lacey can get past her insecurities and see the man in front of her desperate to be loved by her. Even though he has his own set of personal issues to deal with, nothing comes before Lacey and what he is willing to do for her. She becomes his priority right from the start; he is her rock when she needs him to be, and he never once lets her down, even when she tries like hell to send him away.

Lacey may frustrate readers, but L.L. characterizes her and sheds light on her circumstances in such a way that it’s hard to not understand why she is the way that she is. Anyone who has had to endure what she has…the amount of loss and emotional trauma…would definitely be apprehensive, which is clearly demonstrated in Lacey’s struggle to allow herself to feel more for Brant.

Finding Forever as well as the entire Living Again series are absolute must reads. They aren’t just books to be read; they’re stories to be experienced and affected by. This is one series that will stay with me because of the dynamic characters and multifaceted storylines as well as the realistic portrayal of life’s dilemmas. I can’t wait to see where L.L. Collins takes her readers next!

A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

5 poison apples