Saturday 2 August 2014

Review ~ Found in Us by Layla Hagen.



Title: Found in Us (Lost #2).
Author: Layla Hagen.
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance.
Publication Date: July 24, 2014.
Source: Review copy.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Purchase: Amazon UK | Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

**This can be read as a STANDALONE. The second book in the Lost series tells Jessica and Parker’s story.**

All Jessica wants -as a college graduate — is to be a good girl. She landed the job of her dreams at a museum and is trying to eliminate temptations. No more short skirts (when she can help it). No wild parties. And no men.

She particularly excels at that last thing. . .

Until her path crosses Parker’s. Again. Jessica remembers the last time their paths crossed very well. She was left with a seriously bruised ego. She knows it would be best to avoid him altogether. But the charming Brit makes it hard for her to elude his electrifying pull. He is as irresistible as he is captivating.

And enigmatic.

Because underneath the sleek Armani suit and the sweet British accent that makes her crave his touch, Parker isn’t the perfect gentleman everyone thinks he is.

He’s exactly what Jessica doesn’t want, but desperately needs.
A bad, bad boy.





My review of Lost (#0.5)
My review of Lost in Us (#1)




I decide to use the dress as an excuse to leave early. To my dismay, Parker is leaning against the wall farther down the corridor, one or two turns away from the entrance to the bar. His eyes rest on the stain on my dress for a few seconds and my cheeks flare up instantly. I'm sure he can see the redness in them even in the dim light.

"I have to go," I say. "My dress is soaked."

"I'll drive you home," he says, walking toward me.

"No, you just got here. I'm sure you and Dani have lots to talk about." I actually take a step back, only to hit the wall behind me.

"I'd just drop you off and return. Are you afraid of being alone with me, Jessica?"

"No . . . it's just not necessary. I can take a cab."

"What are you afraid of?" he insists, stepping right in front of me. "That I'll try to seduce you and take you to bed? Do I really strike you like that kind of guy?"

Every inch of my body commands me to say yes. In my experience, men who don't look even half as godlike as he does are after one thing only. But his humiliating rejection all those months ago proves he isn't one of them. And nothing I've seen or heard about him indicated he’s a womanizer. But being so close to him makes it impossible to think rationally.

I push him away, but with one swing he grabs both my hands and pins them against the wall above me. His lips are inches away from mine, the fingers of his free hand tracing the contour of my lips, leaving a trail of fire behind them. He's so close to me that I can feel every single hot breath against my lips. He locks eyes with me, and it's the sight of his blue eyes boring into mine—more than his proximity and his touch—that sets me on fire, causing an almost unbearable pressure between my thighs.

He trails his fingers from my lips down to my chin and then slowly over my neck. I bite my lip when he presses gently with his thumb on the hollow of my neck, then proceeds with his torture farther down. His fingers peruse the hem of my neckline, at the exact point where the soaked fabric of the dress meets my skin, then slip under the fabric. Just a fraction of an inch.

Not enough to actually touch my breast.

But more than enough to send me over the edge.

"Damn you, Parker, kiss me," I whisper. He doesn't answer, the corner of his lips lifting in a delicious smile as he removes his hand from my neckline, letting it fall by his side. His eyes never leave mine. I wait, sucking in my breath, for him to lean forward and kiss me. After what feels like hours, he finally leans forward and kisses me.

On my goddamn forehead.




When I read the first standalone book in this series, Lost in Us, earlier in the year, I only had one complaint – I wanted more of Jess and Parker. They were the side characters in that book but I was thrilled to see Found in Us was their story.

Fresh from being rejected by Parker, Jess is the bad girl trying to reform herself at college. Although she wants to avoid Parker at all costs, that soon becomes impossible and she finds herself drawn back in to his fascinating, infuriating character. I liked how both Jess and Parker stayed true to form as to when we were introduced to them in Lost in Us. Although they’re both heading down different paths from that book, the traits in their personalities still stand out and are easily recognisable.

Found in Us is a much saucier book than the first in this series and though I’ve no aversion to that kind of writing, and Layla does it well, I did miss a bit of the emotional connection we see from Serena and James in Lost in Us. Parker and Jess’ connection with each other, for a little too long in my opinion, seemed to be purely physical. We go from Jessica, quite early on, being all against him and then all over him in a matter of minutes. They both won me over and I loved seeing their characters grow but it took me a while before I found their approach of each other believable.

What I do really love about Layla’s books are that the side characters are multidimensional and can stand on their own – which leads them nicely into being possible main characters for the next book. There were quite a few strong characters involved in Found in Us but here, it’s all set up for Dani to get the leading role in her own book and her story is one I’m so interested in! There were a few interesting developments in her life which has left me really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Layla’s captivating writing completely drew me in to this rollercoaster of a journey and as I got closer to the end of Found in Us, I loved the twists which kept on coming. I’m not great at continuing with series, whether they can be read as standalones or not, but I’ll definitely be impatiently waiting for Caught in Us. If you like your New Adult reads to be hot and tense, you can’t go far wrong with Found in Us.




Review also posted on Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon




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4 comments:

  1. Another fabulous giveaway and the book sounds great!

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  2. What a great post and this one sounds like a sexy read! Thank you for the awesome giveaway! <3
    Mia

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    Replies
    1. Definitely is a sexy read! Thanks Mia, good luck <3

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  3. A brilliant giveaway once again!

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