Mommy's Late Night Book-up: ✯Blog Tour Review✯ Guarding Hearts (Living Again #3) by L.L. Collins

Monday, June 9, 2014

✯Blog Tour Review✯ Guarding Hearts (Living Again #3) by L.L. Collins

Guarding Hearts

Author LL Collins

Released May 23, 2014

Ellis Warner is a police officer, everyone’s friend and every girl’s fantasy- funny, dedicated, and too good looking for his own good. Thanks to a childhood he would rather forget and a young adulthood riddled with mistakes, he knows that no one can ever find out who he really is. He lives his life pretending to be the guy everyone sees on the outside. The one thing he knows for sure is that he can’t be serious with anyone. When he takes a second job as security for a new country star coming into town, he has no idea how that one decision will change his entire life and expose everything he has worked so hard to bury.

Samantha Kerrigan won a nationwide contest that immediately forces her into the spotlight. Her dreams of being a successful country singer have come true, but dreams always come with a price. While going out on her first tour, a stalker’s advances threaten her safety, forcing her team to hire more protection.

The second she meets Ellis, she knows there’s something about him and immediately makes him her private bodyguard. But he’s determined just to do his job, and she’s determined to make him open up. When her life is threatened and his secrets are exposed, will Ellis be able to guard Sam from danger, and his heart from her?

✯✯5 Heart Warming Stars!✯✯

"Sammi, you unravel me. I can't say I've ever waited outside a room for someone because I just couldn't take it anymore."

Wow!!! Author L.L. Collins has literally done it again. First was Living Again then Reaching Rachel. She literally keeps out doing herself with every story she gives me. One minute I am laughing to literally sitting there in shock gasping. Then, I'm crying and at times it's that ugly cry. Whenever I am reading a book by L.L. Collins I never know what to expect. But, when I'm finished I'm blown away EVERY single time!!

We meet Ellis Warner in Reaching Rachel and I liked him instantly. So, when I found out we were getting his story I was stoked. What I didn't expect was how damaged Ellis was. On the outside he's a fun-loving guy who loves to have a good time. He's good at his job & everyone who knows him loves him. But, in reality it's just one big front. Ellis didn't have a good childhood. His mom was a junkie. Never knew his dad. Everything he ever loved was taken away from him. If it wasn't for a correction officer who took a liking to him who knows where he'd end up. Now, he works & refuses to get serious with women.

“Ellis, if you’re watching this, I’m sorry. You saved my life, and I ruined yours. I hope someday you can forgive me…”

Samantha is finally living her dream. She's on top in the country singing world. On her 1st national tour. It's bad enough her parent's rule her life. She has no say on anything in her life. Her parents love her with all their heart. But, ever since her sister died they've devoted their lives to her. They have made decisions for her that have effected her on so many levels. Now, just when she thinks she's lost all control of her life. She is now being stalked. This stalker is somehow getting past her security and leaving stuff in her dressing rooms, hotel rooms. Now, that she;s heading to Florida her parents are hiring extra security.

"I want you to know that. I don't throw myself at people, especially my team. But, I just can't stop myself, Ellis. I feel this connection with you I can't explain. Tell me that what I feel sin't the same thing you feel, and we stop this right now."

Ellis & Samantha are attracted to each other instantly!! They both know this situation is temporary. It's funny because when I'm reading most books it's the guy who doesn't take no for an answer. They keep going until she finally says yes. Yet, in Guarding Hearts it's the opposite!! Samantha wants to see what this "thing" between her & Ellis is. She knows its real. Ellis on the other hand knows Sam is special. But, he knows nothing good will ever be his. He vows to keep her safe and that's all he can promise at that time!

I love how all the couples from Living Again & Reaching Rachel are still around!!! Devin makes a point to let Sam know not to give up on Ellis. They all can see it in his face that she's it for him. Even if he can't or won't see it. Devin and the rest of the gang urge him to just go for it.

"I felt drawn to you, like our souls were two parts that had been looking for each other our whole lives. "

Needless to say she wears him down. Just when you think everything has settled down. The stalker strikes again!! We get 3 POV in this story. We have Ellis, Sam and The Stalker's. Lets just say he really is a sick, sick person. I cringe every time we got to his mind!!

Now, that Ellis & Sam are trying things out. It can never be that easy. He doesn't want the media to know. Ellis doesn't want them digging into his shady past. He's afraid he's not worthy of her. Sam on the other hand is going to do her best to prove to Ellis that they belong together. No matter what happens.

“I have no idea when the next time is that I’ll see you. Look at me and tell me you won’t miss me, that you don’t want to know what this connection is between us.”

Now, this is considered a standalone. But, I'd honestly recommend you read them in order. Just because all the characters are in each book. And, trust me you don't want to miss what happened & how they all got to where they are now!

"Sammi, this is a dream alright, but it's one we aren't going to wake up from. "

Nothing comes easy for Samantha & Ellis. It's far from easy. They both have had a hard time to getting to where they are now. At times I'm shocked they didn't just throw the towel in & say that's it I'm done! Granted I'm glad the author didn't allow them to give up. L.L. Collins made sure you felt everything they were feeling. Even the stalker you felt!! I was rooting for Ellis from page 1. There was a bunch of twists & turns in this story. At one point I thought the stalker had won! But, that Samantha does not give up without a fight. Not just for her. But, for Ellis.

I am totally looking forward to what Author L.L. Collins is working on now. She is definitely a force to be wrecking with. She knocked my socks off!! I will totally read anything she writes.

"I love you so completely, so desperately, I'm not sure how to do anything without you anymore. I've lived my life so alone inside, and when I'm with you,I just feel different. I feel like I'm worthy of being loved."

Young attractive woman chilling at the tourist resort

(Buy Links to come)

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LL Collins is a teacher who loves spending her days in the Florida sun with her husband and boys, reading, and writing. Her love of writing has found a home in the self-publishing world. Living Again and Reaching Rachel are available on Amazon Barnes & Noble, Kobo and iBooks, in both eBook and paperback. LL has been writing since she was old enough to write. Always a story in her head, she finally decided to let the characters out and start writing and try to make her lifelong dreams of becoming an author come true. She has been a teacher for over ten years, a wife for 14, and a mom to two boys, 12 and 10.