A is for Alpha B is for Books : *** Blog Tour, Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway *** Clarity by Gabbie S. Duran

Title: Clarity

Author: Gabbie S. Duran

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: January 11, 2015

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon US / Amazon CA / Amazon UK / B&N / Kobo

Synopsis

Her world was shattered and broken.

Damaged ... is how she viewed herself.

Untrustworthy … is how she viewed men.

Taylor never expected to open her heart to anyone. Nick is a player, in every sense of the word, but finds himself doing anything to earn her trust — including fighting the demons she harbors inside.

Is he the clarity she’s been seeking, or will her past push him away?

My Review

Holy hell!! What a gripping and compelling prologue! I wasn't expecting this book to open in such a crushing way. But it did, and holy moly did it grab my attention and suck me right in.

In Clarity, we first meet Taylor in the worst kind of predicament a young girl can find herself . My heart just broke for her and I was bawling as I read through her ordeal. Duran's writing here is so vivid, I literally felt like I was standing helpless on the sidelines watching, frozen in shock unable to do anything.

Thank goodness the story doesn't stay in the past too long! I'm not sure I could have read all the aftermath.

Fast forward 5 years after graduating college ...

We now catch up with an emotionally challenged Taylor, one who is living a safe, pretty mundane existence.
Taylor is now as a physio therapist living with her friend Katie, who happens to also be her co-worker. Katie and Taylor are complete opposites, but somehow their friendship just works. I really liked the banter, as well as the fiery friendship these two have.

Not one for dating or the typical norms you would expect for a single girl, Taylor is simply content on being alone. Not wanting to put her trust in many. Especially any man.

Having been raised by an unloving, alcoholic mother, not knowing her father and having faced a traumatic event it's no surprise that Taylor is closed off with her guard firmly place.

That is until she meets pro baseballs Nick hunter.

With a an injured ankle and the "no go" to play until he is cleared by a physiotherapist Nick Hunter lands myself in Taylor's office and things are never the same again.

Both less then impressed with their situation, each other as well as their own hurdles, what transpires is truly a wonderful love story.

Nick is the pain in the ass-bad -boy- player who relentlessly works toward breaking through Taylor's massively erected walls. I loved watching these two come together and so thought they were a perfect match.

Nick is amazing, he was sweet, kind, patient all the while being supportive and oh so sexy. Some of the lines that spilled out of his mouth were just too damn sexy mixed with the right about of dirty. Powerful enough to make a girl blush for sure!

Needless to say I was smitten with him and his ability to not give up on Taylor, doing everything in his powers to convince her to take a chance on him.

As for Taylor there were parts that I felt so much empathy for her, then others when I wanted to reach in and give her a head a shake. Despite her past, I felt she needed to take the risk more readily with Nick, especially after he proved himself time and time again.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who loves a sweet read that will leave you smiling. On that note I do need to add that I FLOVED the epilogue big time!

★★☆ 4 Stars ☆★★

Reviewed By Gillian Grybas

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Excerpt

Tears are cascading down my cheeks now. The pain and sorrow of speaking about it has taken over. Admitting I want nothing more than to forget should have me feeling shameful for giving up, but instead the admission has me feeling some sense of relief for standing up for myself. It’s all I ever wanted from the moment I left that small town. To forget and never look back.
“So he just wins?”

“He only wins if I let the action of what he did to me rule my life.”

“It should have never happened,” Nick repeats.

“This is why you need to walk away, Nick.”

We both remain silent after I state the words. A grim atmosphere overtakes the entire room for the next several minutes. My heart has always been broken, but knowing Nick may heed my words and walk away has me dreadfully holding my breath, preparing myself for the heartache to come.

“Is he why you’ve been pushing me away? Because you think that way of yourself?”

“Yes,” I rasp out. “Trust is still the hardest thing for me to do. It’s easier to not trust, than to have it broken,” I announce to him, trying to swallow the lump that is sitting in my throat.

“That’s all you’ve ever expected from me, isn’t it? For me to break your trust?”

Closing my eyes, I laugh humorlessly. “You’ve already done it several times.” He seems puzzled as he takes in my answer. “You don’t take orders very well,” I remind him.

He grins, the simple turn of his lips lightening the despair surrounding us.

“That was before I realized just how important you are.” His confession has the dark walls surrounding my heart slowly shattering. “I’m a determined man, Taylor, and I’m determined to earn your trust,” he declares.

“Why?”

Placing his hand on my cheek, he says, “I can’t explain it, Taylor, but since the day I met you I knew you were different. You were someone I knew I couldn’t let go of.”

My once shattered heart is slowly mending. The sympathy he was giving is replaced with affection, and suddenly I want to fight to hold onto it.

“All I ask is that you give me a chance to earn your trust, Taylor.”

About the Author

Gabbie is a Southern California native, who lives with her wonderful husband, two amazing kids and a senior citizen kitty. When she’s not writing you can find her reading or sneaking off for a run. Some might say it’s a crazy life, but she wouldn’t change anything about it.