Steamy book momma: Finding Me, Finding You +Giveaway +Review

Parker wasn’t always a bad boy. It wasn’t until his life seemed to lose meaning that things started spiraling out of control. Nothing mattered though, not without her around. That was until he met Maggie, the introverted beauty that had taken one too many verbal beatings. Maggie wasn’t exactly shy, but she definitely wasn’t confident either. Until now she had been happy existing in her small world, but she was ready for a change. She vowed to make friends in college. Simple, right? Not quite. Maggie discovers she was in store for more than just friendship. Instead she finds a painful crush on an emotionally unavailable guy. As Maggie and Parker each head down the path of self-discovery, they learn it isn’t always easy to keep the ones you love when you are becoming the person you want to be.

Excerpt:

“What’s your problem? This is what I was talking about. One minute everything is fine and the next You’re snapping for no apparent reason. I don’t get it Parker. I really don’t, so I need you to explain it to me.”

“My problem? Maggie that guy is all over you, and he is leaving next week. You should be asking what his problem is.”

“First of all, he wasn’t all over me. Second, so what? I know he’s leaving. He isn’t leading me on. If something did happen, it would be fine because I’m fully aware that he’s leaving. Why does it matter to you anyway? I’m not your problem, and You’re not mine like you so kindly pointed out the other day!”

“You’re my problem, Maggie!”

“No, I’m not!”

He stepped closer. A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. “Yes, You’re!” He grabbed my face and slammed his lips down on mine. His soft lips opened, and his tongue slipped into my mouth coaxing mine to do the same. I kissed him back and his hands moved to my back to pull me closer to him. It was like we were letting out all the pent up frustration that we had felt for the last three years just when thundered rumbled loudly around us.

Finally, I broke the kiss and put my hands on his firm chest to push him away. “I can’t do this Parker.”

Teaser:

It was silent for a moment before I let out the giggle I had been holding in. Parker looked at me confused. “What’s so funny?”

I turned a little red, and he waited for me to answer him. Finally I said, “You said I was beautiful.”

He sat up and looked down at me. “You’re beautiful, Maggie. Anyone who looks at you sees that. I just happen to know that your beauty isn’t just on the outside.”

Guns N Roses “Don’t Cry”

George Michael “Freedom”
Def Leppard “Pour Some Sugar on Me”
Bon Jovi “You Give Love a Bad Name”
Pat Benatar “Heartbreaker”
Van Halen “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”
Guns N Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’”
Heart “Alone”
John Mayer “Daughters”
Taylor Swift “Love Story”
Bon Jovi “It’s My Life”
Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer”
Heart “What About Love”
Journey “Any Way You Want It”

I really enjoyed this book. Maggie grew up very protected by her Daddy and her best friend Max. She never really had a boyfriend or went on dates. Hell everyone was so afraid of her Dad that no one even asked her out. Her Mother constantly picks at her about everything. She has almost no confidence at the beginning at the book. Parker has his own issues. He doesn't date. He sleeps with girls and lets them know up front that nothing more is going to happen. He doesn't necessarily sleep with lots of girl, he just doesn't date them either. His Mother died when he was a teenager and it scarred him. He doesn't ever want to feel for someone again for fear or getting hurt again. When the book starts Maggie and Max are starting their first year of college. They have known each other their whole life and lived next to each other the whole time. They do everything together. So going to college together was a no brainer for them. Maggie's parents followed them to school to help them unload and get settled in. That is how they meet Parker. He is Max's room mate. Maggie thinks he looks like a god. Parker is attracted to her too. But, her Dad immediately lets her know that she is off limits and that he will chop his balls if he touches her. Parker tells himself that no girl is worth that much trouble even if she looks like Maggie does. Maggie's room mate is Sarah and the four of them begin to hang out. Maggie and Parker both play soccer. They also have the same major. They found out the Maggie, Max, and Parker have some of the same classes. This lets them hang out and study together often. The book takes place over all four years of high school. It was great reading how the four of them grew and learned about them selves. Parker and Maggie did that the most. They meet others over the years and added to group. Junior year Maggie's Dad bought her and Max a house to live in near the campus. Which Sarah and Parker also moved into. Through out the 4 year Maggie did a lot of two steps forward, three steps back. Parker mainly did the pushing away not Maggie. He would start to let her in and then get freaked out and would push her away somehow. I loved reading about Maggie and Parker's story.

This book was great. It drew me in and I couldn't put it down. The group of friends was funny. The had a great friendship and were there for each through everything. They always had someone to help them with something bad happened. Maggie was there for Parker and his family when he tore his ACL and then when Maggie's dad was there. They all drove three hours to be there for her and help through everything. It was really great watching them grow and change through out the book. The things they learned about themselves and how the changed from the thing they learned was great to read. The characters were wonderfully written and engaging. I would love to read more books about these characters. I will be looking for other books by this author in the future.

Shealy James is Georgia native who teaches middle school math during the day and disappears into fiction at night. She is an avid reader and a writer who laughs in the face of middle school angst and welcomes humor, drama, and the all-important happy ending. Shealy is the author of Finding Me, Finding You (Finding Series Book 1), Finding Us (Finding Series Book 2) and Whole Life Re-Do (Whole Life Series Book 1).