Blog Tour {Review & Giveaway}—No Reverse by Marion Croslydon

Stopping by The LUV'NV today is the No Reverse blog tour, organized by AToMR Tours.
We got the pleasure to read and review this fabulous New Adult novel, and you can enter one of three swag packs that include a signed copy of No Reverse, a gift card, and swag!

No Reverse

by Marion Croslydon

A Second Chances novel

Publication: August 12th, 2013 by Carlux Publishing
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

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A girl who needs to undo the past.
A boy who wants to forget it.
In love, there’s no way back.

At high school in Steep Hill, Kansas, Cassie O’Malley and Josh MacBride were the poster couple for quarterback/cheerleader romance until they starred in their own tale of teen pregnancy. No need to say: their shotgun wedding was low-key. But when there was no baby anymore, they went their separate ways.

Five years later, Josh has breezed through Georgetown and is about to finish his post-grad degree at Oxford University. He is set to join a lobbying group on Capitol Hill, owned by his new fiancée’s father. For Josh, the sky is now the limit… only he must first take care of a tiny legal matter: technically, he’s still married to the girl who broke his heart.

Meanwhile, Cassie has been waiting tables in Steep Hill to pay for her sick grandmother’s care. On the day of the old lady’s funeral, Cassie is served with two sets of papers. Josh is asking for a divorce. Her heart squeezes, but, well, he moved on a long time ago. But the second envelope shakes Cassie to the core. So, for the first time, she leaves Kansas and heads to good ol’ England.

There, Cassie finds that Josh has not just “moved on,” he’s freakin’ engaged to some blue-blooded heiress. The feelings Cassie had buried deep rush back to her. But no matter if he keeps thrusting the divorce papers under her nose, she needs him to save the only person she loves more than Josh, more than life itself…

I love everything Marion Croslydon writes. She captures her characters' complicated emotions in real relationships and their nitty-gritty lives with well thought-out plots, original twists, and a concise writing style that always pulls me in. No Reverse was no exception.

Cassie O'Malley and Josh MacBride were picture-perfect high school sweethearts. Best friends turned lovers, experiencing all their firsts together, sharing big dreams, and genuine, top-dogs of their school, they had it all, and though married at young age because of teen pregnancy, they believed they would and could get through anything ... but losing their child.

They go their separate ways. Josh to England with his big political dreams. Cassie staying behind in their little town, caring for two other people she loves most. When she loses one and another is in danger, only Josh can help and make things right. Only now, six years later, he's filing for a divorce.

I cannot express how much these two moved me. I wanted to pet my Kindle at every beautiful flashback, every wrong decision made, the things left unsaid, and all the highs and lows these characters were experiencing. There were times I wanted to shake them through my Kindle, too. They are far from perfect, but that's what I loved most and had me connecting with them. They so badly want to make the right choice for everybody. They are so afraid to get hurt or hurt someone in the process. They want to be mature, move on and be honorable, but they can't. Cassie and Josh's connection is so palpable, sizzling and yearning, burning and heartbreaking all at once.

What's more, their other relationships were just as fantastic—for different reasons, yes, but still just as good. I was so torn. I liked everyone even when I tried not to, and when I finally thought I had decided what I wanted, the rug was pulled out from under me. I understood every motivation and decision that I couldn't blame the characters for acting as they did, and I found myself wanting something else entirely than I originally thought.

I'll admit ... I did get tired of Josh's indecisiveness at one point, though. He was jerkin' my chain, in darn circles, and I was helpless to follow; I hated it yet loved it. This story isn't all hearts and flowers; it's more bittersweet—my favorite flavor. With the little, unique details and nuances that made the relationships feel real came realistic actions and mistakes. No Reverse  is about love, different types, that transcend time and distance, maybe even reason, because while I certainly wanted to dislike Josh, Lenore (his fiancee), or even Cassie at one moment or another, I couldn't. There was no turning back after meeting and loving them all.

And Sam! Originally introduced in The Oxford Trilogy, Sam makes an appearance and becomes a part of Cassie's life. I want to hug that man. I really do, and I was so glad to see a different, deeper side of him. It makes me even more excited for the last installment in the author's Paranormal series. I'm hoping No Reverse  becomes a series too—Josh and Cassie's story doesn't have to be over yet!—and that this wasn't the last time we see Sam outside of Oxford.

Sexy, evocative, and well written, No Reverse  isn't to be missed if you enjoy New Adult. Marion Croslydon's niche of writing well-balanced characters and emotional-roller-coaster plots makes for lovely, memorable stories. She's fast becoming one of my top favorite authors in the NA category.

eARC provided by the author via AToMR Tours.
Thank you!

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Visit the No Reverse  Tour Schedule for excerpts and more reviews

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Marion Croslydon

Her Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Marion’s parents are terribly disappointed with her ...

They wanted her to have a serious job, providing financial stability and social standing. For years, she really tried to make them happy; she studied hard, got into top schools, graduated with honors and found a high-achieving job… For everyone around her—friends, family and arch-enemies alike—Marion was the typical Type-A personality.

What they didn’t know was that, deep down, Marion was miserable. She never wanted to be a top executive, brokering deals in New York, London or Tokyo while crossing time zones dressed in designer power suits. Marion wanted to be… a ROMANCE WRITER. She wanted to spend her days in that good ol’ tracksuit of hers, in front of her laptop, popping down Oreos like there was no tomorrow. She wanted to fall in love with a different man each time she wrote the first line of a new book (while being happily married to the most handsome man in Great Britain).

That’s exactly what Marion does these days, and it makes her incredibly happy. She loves to share these happy vibes, talk book crush, fictional boyfriends and sexual chemistry with like-minded people. And because she spends most of her days on her own deep inside her writing cave, you are welcome to come and say “hello” from time to time. Just to make sure she doesn’t sink into insanity.

Her friends, family and arch-enemies (there are quite a few) will be forever grateful for your help.

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Prize Pack #1: Signed copy of No Reverse, £10 Amazon gift card (British Pounds),
1 No Reverse notebook, mug, mouse pad, and pen
Prize Pack # 2: Signed copy of No Reverse, £10 Amazon gift card (British Pounds), 1 No Reverse notebook and mug
Prize Pack # 3: Signed copy of No Reverse, 1 No Reverse notebook and pen
(All international)

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