Title: Embrace
Author: S.E. Hall
Hosted by: Just Booked
Synopsis
Evan Allen is a handsome, athletic, southern gentleman who now attends Georgia Southern University for no good reason.
After what he expected to be the romantic gesture of the century, Evan is looking at no friends, a year of ineligibility on the football team, and no girl.
He's starting over alone and doesn't know quite how to proceed. Certain members of The Crew refuse to let him face things by himself, taking him under their wing, and it doesn't take the ladies long to notice him, either.
Sometimes life doesn't go as you had planned. Sometimes it goes better.
Embrace it.
Embrace, the second book in the Evolve Series by S.E. Hall, follows the characters from her debut New Adult romance, Emerge.
After what he expected to be the romantic gesture of the century, Evan is looking at no friends, a year of ineligibility on the football team, and no girl.
He's starting over alone and doesn't know quite how to proceed. Certain members of The Crew refuse to let him face things by himself, taking him under their wing, and it doesn't take the ladies long to notice him, either.
Sometimes life doesn't go as you had planned. Sometimes it goes better.
Embrace it.
Embrace, the second book in the Evolve Series by S.E. Hall, follows the characters from her debut New Adult romance, Emerge.
Excerpt
Laney
“Hello?”
“Zach, don’t say my name,” I choke out, storming across the lot as fast as my shaking legs will carry me.
“What’s wrong? Where’d you-“ his voice comes loud and worried through the phone.
“Don’t say that!” I interrupt, God, how embarrassing. “Can you walk away from everyone and talk to me for a minute? Where no one can hear you.” My voice is nasally and obnoxious, getting on my own nerves.
“Yeah Mom, hang on.” Zach- not a great actor. “Okay Laney, I’m by myself now,” he whispers.
“I’m sorry I bailed on practice, and I’m sorry to bug you now, but I need a Zach of infinite wisdom fix real bad right about now.”
“Let’s pretend I don’t already know what’s up your ass and you go ahead. It’ll give you a chance to vent.”
Alright, so that almost makes me grin.
“Basically, he just hung on that bitch in front of me just to piss me off, and it worked! Seriously? I don’t do that shit to him! Nothing I did was to purposely hurt him. How long did I absolutely torture myself NOT to hurt him Zach, huh? A long ass time!” I come up for air, waiting for him to tell me how right I am while I climb in my truck.
“Laney, you know I love you, right?”
This can’t be good.
“Yes…”
“Then you know it’s with love when I say this.” Dramatic pause that makes my skin crawl. “Get over yourself! I don’t care if he fucked her on the field and asked you to film it. You may not have meant to, but you destroyed that kid. He’s here with no friends, no girl and a new team. Sound familiar? He’s just trying to put one foot in front of the other every day, just like you did. You got your happily ever after, so back the fuck off and let him try to find his.”
Well then. Zach-1. Laney-0.
It hurts, not even gonna pretend it doesn’t, but his words are honest…and absolutely dead on. It angers me at myself for being the cause of such sad, but true words, describing the crushing of my Evan. It’s a lot to think on and I have to do that now, before I cruise right out of control.
“You’re right Zach. That’s why I call you. I’ll always get the straight-up what I need to hear. Thanks.”
“I luv ya Laney. Don’t be mad at me, but much like yourself, don’t ask for my advice if you don’t want it.”
I chuckle, “God, if that isn’t the truth. You’re harsh, but right. I’m not mad, I swear. Now go coach! I’ll talk to ya later.”
“Later Laney.”
I hang up and stare out my windshield, pondering. Zach is right, I’m being a selfish bitch.
Review
S.E Hall has done it again. The Evolve series has got me seriously hooked and begging for more. I was so absolutely blown away with the first book in the series, Emerge. I was anxious, excited, and let's be honest, a tad skeptical for Embrace. Don't get me wrong, the skepticism was only because when you are so impressed by a book, usually the second book can be a little bit of let down. S.E Hall, however, is no one-hit wonder. Embrace was an amazing addition to the series as well as amazing in itself.
The story is centered around Evan Allen, a country boy with a very sweet hopeless romantic side, who has just given up a full scholarship to be closer to his now ex-girlfriend who is in love with someone else. I feel so bad for this character, he has really had his heart broken and has almost given up all hoped ever feeling loved and happy. Luckily for him, he has a great support system of friends who are the kind of people that everyone wishes they had in their corner. Evan meets Whitley Thompson, who I had a sour taste in my mouth about from the first book, but the author had a way of making me fall in love with. Evan tries to fight the obvious connection that he and Whitley have. He really is a southern gentleman and doesn't want to lead her on if it is just his rebound instincts making him feel so strongly towards her. Evan- "I lay awake for a while, thinking things over and making a few decisions. Whitley is a beautiful girl, a wonderful friend, talented and giving, and she deserves a guy who's sure he wants her for her, no inklings of doubt that it may be circumstantial. Sawyer is a lot of fun, and his mojo seems to work for him, but it's a little too much for me. So, it's time. Time for Evan to get back to being Evan. Not Laney's Evan, not miserable Evan, not wild and crazy Evan....just Evan. I've got some soul searching to do, all by myself." Evan finally figures out what his true feelings are, all of the "Crew" are together, and you see how true friendship outlasts all things.
The story takes a bit of an unexpected turn at the end and I can't wait to see what S.E. Hall has in store for the next book in the Evolve series. I have never felt so connected to every character in a story, and I love that this author not only talks about the main characters point of view, but the view of all of the characters and their trials and tribulations. I would give Embrace 5 amazing stars!!!!
~Kelly
About the author...
S.E.Hall resides in Arkansas with her husband of 17 years and 3 beautiful daughters. When not in the stands watching her ladies play softball, she enjoys reading YA and NA romance.
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