*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Opposites do more than just attract in Toni Aleo’s latest Nashville Assassins novel about a very bad boy and the good girl he can’t resist.
The instant Piper Allen sees Erik Titov, she wants him—wants his rock-hard body, sure, but the strength and mystery that lies behind that superstar hockey jock demeanor, too. So when he sidles up to her at a bar and slinks his arm around her waist, she’s lost. What follows is the wildest night of her life . . . followed by inevitable heartbreak the next morning. And then, a few weeks later, a very big surprise: two blue lines on a pregnancy test.
Only a check to the head could make Erik fall for a nice girl like Piper. But since their crazy-sexy night together, he’s been trying to forget about her alluring body by falling into bed with every woman in Nashville, and it’s not working. So when Piper shows up at his house with a baby-bomb to drop, it doesn’t take much for Erik to suggest the nuclear option: marriage. While it’s supposed to be all for show, the second they say “I do,” the ice between them starts to melt into sizzling steam.
You know how much I'v been looking forward to the release of Blue Lines and finally it is here!!! We are celebrating with a release party, which means we've got reviews, teasers and prizes!
First of all Erik is a giant, selfish, man whoring asshole and even though the sleeping around might have stopped, there is some major making up to do. It feels good to get that of my chest. Really, Toni Aleo will test your patience with that man.
Ever since that special night Piper has been left heartbroken and pregnant while Erik has been having fun with the many puck bunnies. I find it very strange when men try to forget a woman by sleeping with lots of other women. It only proves how different that special woman is. Then again I'm no bloke, so if they want to behave stupid and regret it later that is their prerogative.
When Piper finally tells Erik that she is pregnant, things do not go well at all, proving how selfish he actually is. He really is only thinking of himself when he hears the news, what a major asshole. Questioning her, accusing her, the poor girl. Yeah Piper should have told him sooner, I almost thought we had a Fallon situation going on, but I can imagine her being scared and whenever she called him some random girl answered and family dinners isn't really the right time to tell I think.
So while he is accusing her of ruining his life by being pregnant (it takes two to make a baby, you know!), claiming he never wanted kids and now he is forced in this situation thanks to her, he's just tearing down Piper. With every word he says she realises he doesn't want her, nor the baby, which is even worse.
Believing she is now raising this child alone, she tells her family but omitting the identity of the dad. Until Erik gets the idea that marrying Piper might do his career some good, stop his family from killing him. Since apparently she owes him, Piper will have to say yes. Can I say once more what an inconsiderate, selfish dimwit he is!
This will not end well at all. He is going to marry her, make everyone believe he is doing the right thing and hurt Piper on purpose so she would want a divorce. I don't know who's crazier, him for proposing the idea or her for accepting it.
So the "blissful" marriage begins. Seriously Piper has the biggest heart. That girl just gives and gives, without expecting much in return. The patience she has for putting up with Erik is admirable. I know I've been raining down on him, but he does have some very good qualities and whenever he decides to show that side of him, you get why Piper sticks by him.
The whole "I never want kids or a wife"-thing stems from some mommy and daddy issues. It takes three quarters into story before you realise how bad those issues really are. These insights do make you understand Erik more and might eventually forgive him, but I wouldn't mind seeing some grovelling be done.
Now Piper has always been a bit fickle, going from one career to the next or even from one wrong boy to the other. With a baby on the way she no longer has that luxury, a baby is not something you can run away from and she has to create some stability. Let's say her family has often been disappointed in her, so that doesn't really help in this situation. Still this time she has made her decision about the baby and Erik and she is sticking with it!
This is in line with the issues that Erik has and that is if he really gives this a shot, he's afraid she might change her mind about him. So loads and loads of drama, I love it! I really felt the tension between Piper and Erik, not just sexual, but also in the way the story builds up. They really do fit together, still like in real life it's not all rainbow and sunshine. It takes real work to get there. That is what I love so much about Toni Aleo's books, the characters are real and flawed. Even after the happy endings, it is just the beginning!
I'm giving Blue Lines four and a half stars instead of five. This has to do with Erik. At the end of the story I still feel he has so much more growing to do (even though the Epilogue is so adorable). Also mostly the things he kept saying and doing to Piper, she accepted it a bit too much and was sometimes a bit too forgiving. It might have had something to do with the hormones in her body though. If Piper had acted the way she did in the scene with the hockey stick and the TV (you can imagine) from in the beginning, they might have had their HEA earlier.
About Toni Aleo:(and I’m a total dork!)
I am a wife, mother of two and a bulldog, and also a hopeless romantic.
I have been told I have anger issues, but I think it’s cause of my intense love for hockey!
I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!
When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughter’s dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, scrapbooking, and reading the latest romance novel.
I have a slight Disney and Harry Potter obsession, I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, I might have been a Disney Princess in a past life…probably Belle, and did I mention I love hockey?
I hope to hear from you on here, my Facebook, or my twitter! Thank you so much!
**GIVEAWAY**
This one is free :)
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