Book Blitz, Review & Giveaways ~ Lost In Us by Layla Hagen.

Title: Lost in Us.
Author: Layla Hagen.
Genre: Contemporary New Adult Romance.
Publication Date: February 17, 2014.

Purchase: Amazon

Serena has learned to live with her past, locking her secrets and nightmares deep inside her. But when her boyfriend of six years abruptly leaves her, she’s catapulted back into pain, nursing a broken heart. When indulging in mountains of chocolate doesn’t work, Serena decides the best way to deal with her shattered heart is to indulge in something else. A rebound . . .

The night she swaps her usual Sprite for tequila, she meets James. The encounter is breathtaking.
Electrifying.
And best not repeated.

James is a successful entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. A man who has amassed a fortune by taking risks. A man who has shunned commitment completely, and still does. He’s the exact opposite of Serena. But sometimes opposites attract. Sometimes they give in to burning passion. Sometimes opposites are perfect for each other.

James is everything her damaged soul could want. His kisses are intoxicating, his touch out of this world. He makes her forget. He grants her peace from her pain. But as they grow closer, Serena discovers she isn’t the only one with a past. James carries the scars of a past much darker than hers. One that has left him damaged, hurt, and wary of love. A past that gives him the power to shatter her.

Now James and Serena must find a way to mend one another. Or risk losing each other forever.

Excerpt:

"Is your office far from here?"

"You can see it over there actually," he says, pointing to a spot over the trees.

I frown. "I don't see anything." I sway a little as I get up from my chair, and James hurries to steady me.

"Who gets wasted from two glasses of wine?" he says, amused.

"I am not wasted," I say. "I just have balance problems."

"Okay," he says, grabbing me by the waist with one arm, and taking my right hand with the other, pointing up. "There."

And now I do see it. The skyscraper. The top of it, at least.

"Which floor is your office?"

Instead of an answer I get a kiss on my neck. And then another one. I dig my fingers in his hair and turn my head, desperately searching his lips. I find them at the same time his hands slide under my top. I don't know if it's the wine or the chocolate, or my desperate need for him finally overpowering me, but I don't make any move to stop him as his hands go higher and higher, touching my breasts, my nipples. I don't want him to stop. I want him to touch me. All of me. Right here. Right now. He bites my lip and I moan deeply in his mouth.

It's only when one of his hands slides down and unzips my jeans that I come to my senses.

"Not here," I whisper, and for a frozen second, neither of us moves.

Then he grabs my hand. "Fuck, Serena. Let's go."

Review:

I was so looking forward to reading Lost In Us, ever since I signed up for the cover reveal for it. The book definitely did not disappoint.

The synopsis did leave the book open to being predictable and overdone, but I was so impressed that never happened. In fact, at times it was infuriatingly realistic because I just wanted a straight-forward happy-ever-after for Serena and James! I loved how it worked though – both characters won me over almost instantly and I was engaged throughout the whole book.

Layla Hagen paced Lost in Us to perfection. It did not feel like a debut novel at all – more like the author had been bringing high quality books out for years on end. The characters were strong, even the less involved ones like Jess and Parker. My only slight wish would have been to see a bit more of Jess and Parker, but in a way that was only because the author did so well in making me care for them too.

Lost In Us was a great debut, and already I’m anxiously awaiting more from Layla. All aspects of the book worked well together, and it stepped away from a lot of the predictability seen in romance books. I think the author is on to great things.

Rating:

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


Review also posted on Goodreads ; Amazon UK ; Amazon


About the Author:

My name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author.

I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.

I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.

And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough.

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Random facts about me and Lost in Us:

• James was initially called Liam. . .because I had a crush on Liam Hemsworth. I got over it in the meantime (am now crushing on his brother Chris) :-D

• I love chocolate as much as Serena does. Unfortunately I can’t get away with eating as much of it as she does.

• I wrote a *certain* steamy scene on a piece of paper—on the back of which I then printed an official letter. Which I sent. Oh, the joy of being a writer :)

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Connect with Layla: Website ; Goodreads ; Facebook ; Twitter

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