Just the Way You Are by E E Montgomery

JustTheWayYouAreLGTitle: Just the Way You Are
Series: Just Life, #4
Author: E E Montgomery
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (220 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (17 April 2015)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: After ten years in an abusive relationship and a near-fatal knife wound, Jonathan Watson is finally free. Unused to being able to make even the smallest decision and smothered by family and well-meaning neighbors, he’s floundering in the real world. Jonathan is afraid of falling into another relationship too quickly and realizes he needs time to rediscover who he is before he attaches himself to another man.

He never counted on meeting Ben Urquhart, though. Ben tempts Jonathan to forget everything and take a leap. For Ben, it’s love at first sight, and he doesn’t want to take it slow. He wants to build a life with Jonathan, free from harm and full of laughter. But before they can take the next step, they must protect Jonathan from his possessive, threatening ex. Jonathan must find the courage to confront him and break the chains of his past before he can be truly free to build a future with Ben.

ISBN: 978-1-632116-862-7

Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6275

Reviewer: Prime

Review: This is the fourth installment in E E Montgomery’s series, Just Life. I like the concept and the simplicity of the series, which is there in the name: Just Life. It is simply about a group of lives, colliding together into a cohesive story. There isn’t big mystery or farfetched suspense, there is just life.

This book is about Jonathan and Ben. We met Jonathan right at the end of the previous book, where he gets the knife wound spoken about in the blurb. Jonathan is such a sweetheart and so deserving of love and a second chance. But he has a lot of healing to do, both physically and mentally. More than anything, this story is about Jonathan’s emotional journey. There is also the aspect of Ben’s emotional journey helping someone who is broken become whole again.

I think both characters, Ben and Jonathan, were handled really well and it felt so palpable when Jonathan had to face falling in love so soon after being abused. The storyline of his abuser is also tied up really nicely, which was left hanging in the previous book.

I don’t want to talk more about the characters and story because what you need to know is there in the blurb and we want to be spoiler free!

Complementing these guys are the minor characters – some familiar faces from the previous three books – which really do help to balance out the emotions of the book. Just the Way You Are is certainly my favourite book out of this series.

It is very emotional and poignant.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Just in Time by E E Montgomery

JustinTimeLGTitle: Just In Time
Series: Just Life, #3
Author: EE Montgomery
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novella (108 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (6 Feb 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts

Blurb: Mark Mendelson’s life is close to perfect: he has good friends, a successful business, and a solid reputation in the jewellery industry. He fought hard to get what he has after nearly losing it all fifteen years ago, when his then boyfriend, Cole Porter, stole his designs.

When a handsome man enters Mark’s store to request a commitment ring-a design Mark made specifically for Cole-Mark wants nothing to do with him. All he can think about is his rage at Cole’s betrayal, something he thought he’d dealt with long ago. But Mark’s would-be customer, Dr. Liam Watson, returns to the shop, thinking Mark might provide some answers. For years Liam has tried to convince his cousin Jon to leave Cole, who abuses him.

As the relationship between Jon and Cole disintegrates, a fragile new one forms between Liam and Mark-but Mark can’t move on until he confronts Cole once and for all.

ISBN: 9781623803391

Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3556

Reviewer: Prime

Review: This is the third book of the Just Life series.
As with the previous books it is really good how the series takes the whole “just a life being lived” sentiment to heart. However, this time the tone of the book is very different. It looks a bit more to the darker side of life and delves into the past of some seriously unhealthy relationships.

We get to meet up with Daron and Rebel, along with their respective boyfriends, from the first couple. However, the story here is centred on Mark, a jeweller. He has a lot of history with his friends, particularly Rebel and his boyfriend Jeremy, but he also has a dark past in the form of an abusive and thieving first love. But in all that he wants to find “the one” and live happily ever after.

So this is when we get to Liam, a doctor, and in general quite an interesting sort of character. He’s got a few secrets he’s reluctant to expose. He is a rather sketchy character and even sketchier is the not very romantic relationship going on between the good doctor and Mark.

Seriously, the limit of their sex life is some jerking off and a blow job, which I think is a good practical demonstration of what I’m trying to show is missing. There is certainly an attraction between the two characters but any romance between them is very much underdeveloped.

Which leads me to conclude that the real let down with this book, for me, is that the story between Mark and Liam was so incomplete. I am certain, like with Rebel and Daron’s stories, more will come out in the next book. However, I still feel as though there is a lot missing from their story to properly tie up the loose ends of this book.

Like the second book, I like it well enough but there are a lot of details that are missing. The story is fast pace but it leads me to ask the question, is it too fast?

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Just the Way You Are by E.E. Montgomery Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway!

E.E. Montgomery - Just The Way You Are 600x600Banner

Hi guys, we have E.E. Montgomery stopping by today on her blog tour for her latest release Just the Way You Are, we have a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway, so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~

E.E. Montgomery - Just The Way You Are

Just the Way You Are

(Just Life 04)
by

E.E. Montgomery

After ten years in an abusive relationship and a near-fatal knife wound, Jonathan Watson is finally free. Unused to being able to make even the smallest decision and smothered by family and well-meaning neighbors, he’s floundering in the real world. Jonathan is afraid of falling into another relationship too quickly and realizes he needs time to rediscover who he is before he attaches himself to another man.

He never counted on meeting Ben Urquhart, though. Ben tempts Jonathan to forget everything and take a leap.  For Ben, it’s love at first sight, and he doesn’t want to take it slow. He wants to build a life with Jonathan, free from harm and full of laughter. But before they can take the next step, they must protect Jonathan from his possessive, threatening ex. Jonathan must find the courage to confront him and break the chains of his past before he can be truly free to build a future with Ben.

Continue reading “Just the Way You Are by E.E. Montgomery Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway!”