Rating: 90%
Series: Chasing the Dream #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Fiction,
Publisher: Elizabeth Briggs
Publication Date: February 23, 2014
Page Count: 163
Format: eBook
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads Synopsis: They're friends online - but can they be more in real life?
Writer Tara McFadden has been friends with artist and drummer Hector Fernandez for years, long before his band became famous on reality TV – yet they’ve never met in person. They finally have a chance to connect offline when they’re both sent to Comic-Con to promote the graphic novel they collaborated on.
Hector's secretly been in love with Tara for as long as he can remember, and once they meet, she sees him in a new light. All the years of longing lead to an incredible night of passion after one of his concerts, but neither is sure if their online relationship can translate into a real life romance – or if this will ruin their friendship forever.
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| I loved More Than Music and am dying to hear what you think of it, especially because you can get it for less than a dollar now. |
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Excerpt
“I’ve heard so much about your sisters. I’d love to meet them sometime.”
Hector’s shoulders relaxed and he returned the squeeze. “They wanted to come to Comic-Con so bad. Especially Yasmine. She’s obsessed with that Arrow show and told me to get the guy’s autograph.”
“That guy is pretty hot. He’s always running around half-naked on the show, like they have some shirtless quota to fill every episode. Not that I’m complaining. I mean, those abs, my god.”
“You trying to make me jealous? Maybe I should take my shirt off so you won’t think about that other guy.”
I laughed, relieved he was joking around again. “I wouldn’t complain if you did. You have incredible abs, too.”
“Oh yeah?” He quickly tugged his black shirt over his head. “Done.”
He shouldn't be allowed to remove his shirt like that without some kind of warning first. I shoved him lightly in the side, mainly so I could touch him. “Show off.”
He grinned and flexed his arms in an exaggerated way, and it was hard not to stare at his rippling muscles. “Sorry, should I put my shirt back on?”
“No, definitely not. In fact, you should never wear a shirt again. You’d be doing the world a favor.”
He let out a deep, hearty laugh that rumbled down my spine, and it made my day knowing I’d caused it. I made a resolution to try to make him laugh more often.
Ahead of us, a girl yelled, “Oh my god!” She dragged her friend down the sidewalk, and they were both dressed in identical Slave Leia costumes from Return Of The Jedi. “You’re Hector, from Villain Complex!”
Hector didn’t move to put his shirt back on, but he shifted on his feet, like he wanted to bolt. “Hey...”
“Your band is so freaking hot,” Slave Leia No. 2 said, leaning forward and drawing attention to her barely there gold top and impressive cleavage. “I watched every episode of The Sound.”
“Me, too,” the first one said. She played with her long braid, her eyes glued to Hector’s naked chest.
“I love you guys.”
“I love you guys.”
“Um, thanks,” he said.
“Aren’t you two cold in those costumes?” I asked, eyeing their exposed legs. I wasn’t wearing much more than them, but I wanted to make it clear that I was with Hector.
They cast me a confused glance, like they wondered what I was doing there. The first Slave Leia took a step closer to Hector, invading his personal space. “Hey, you want to come party with us?”
The second girl moved in too, licking her lips. “It’ll be fun, we promise.”
I didn’t have a violent bone in my body, yet I had the sudden, primal urge to growl and shove them back, to make sure they knew he was mine. My god, what had gotten into me?
“Sorry, I’m busy tonight.” Hector placed a hand on the small of my back, an intimate gesture not lost on them...or on me.
“She can come along, if you want,” Slave Leia No. 2 said, with another brief glance my way.
I laughed. “Yeah, that’s going to happen, oh...how about never.”
Hector tried to suppress a grin. “Thanks for the offer, but we’re good.”
We walked away, his hand a steady, almost possessive presence on my lower back. I leaned against his side and the heat rising off his skin enveloped me.
Sorry ladies, Hector was all mine. At least for the next few days.
I nudged him with my hip. “You better put your shirt back on. I don’t want any other girls getting ideas.”
“That was unusual. They always go for Jared, or sometimes Kyle. Never me.” He removed his Villain Complex hat and shoved it into his jeans, shaking his hair out. “Not sure I like the attention.”
“No? I thought every guy dreamed of scantily clad women inviting him for a threesome.” He pinned me with his smoldering dark eyes. “Not this guy.”
The intensity of his gaze took my breath away. The chemistry between us was thick, the desire so strong I could practically smell it in the air. He was still shirtless, a large, handsome, solid mountain of a man.
A mountain I wanted to climb and conquer.
About the Author: Website | Facebook | Newsletter | Twitter
Elizabeth Briggs is a full-time geek who writes books for teens and adults. She plays the guitar, mentors at-risk teens, and volunteers with a dog rescue group. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and a pack of small, fluffy dogs.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Who Would I Recommend This Book To?
The entire Chasing the Dream series should be best-selling in the New Adult genre. I would recommend it to fans of J. Lynn, Cora Carmack, Colleen Hoover, and Taryn Fisher because More Than Comics is on par with any of them.
Background & Backstory?
I read, reviewed, and loved More Than Music last summer and then More Than Exes last November. I'm on Elizabeth Brigg's mailing list for any promotional events, so I jumped on the chance to read/review More Than Comics because I am all for supporting Indie Authors I love.
Can we just talk about how cool it is that this book is set during Comic Con? I haven't personally been, but it sounds like a helluva a lot of fun and a nerd's paradise. I thought it was undeniably unique and awesome that Hector and Tara were a writer/illustrator duo that actually had a panel and singing at Comic Con. Especially because every "nerd" out there considers or has considered themselves an outcast or pariah because of their interests. Comic Con and other conventions/events like it are so great for all of us introverts who finally come to a place where they feel like they belong.
The backbone of New Adult romance are relationship dynamics and Elizabeth Briggs is most definitely a master at that. She manages to weave together brilliant threads between the main and even side characters who are just as lovable.
There is a new... problem, shall we say that comes with relationships that wasn't present until the 21st century, and that is the incorporation of the Internet into daily life. The internet adds an extra layer of complexity to people's relationships which helps and harms couples in modern relationships. Tara and Hector's is a tough one that wouldn't have been possible even 10 years ago because they met on the internet. They have been corresponding for the past THREE years over social media, graphic novel/comic forums, texting, and Skype. The couple form such an intense bond and connection despite never actually getting each other in person. This raises some alarms with the older generation of parents and teenagers too. The characters themselves wondered if their wonderful connection would be the same in person, but it makes you think as a reader, if you are in a loving relationship as well that may be long-distance or one where you have never actually met the person.
I also appreciated the fact that Briggs introduced people of color to the series and made it a prominent part of the story. Hector is a hispanic person and his family as well as his heritage plays an important part in the story. There is some relationship anxiety between Tara and Hector because of their different races which was extremely interesting to see, especially in a New Adult novel, which isn't commonly presented in this type of novel. Tara and Hector also bring this need for diversity into their graphic novel, Misfit Squad where their characters are of all different races, genders, sexual orientations, body types because this is so important to be represented in pop culture.
This is a quick rambling from myself as a reader, but I love Elizabeth Brigg's writing despite the cliche phrases and I connect with the characters so well. Briggs is a master of writing New Adult angst that my hungry eyes love gobbling up. The characters were so relatable with their situations and their romantic conflicts were perfectly realistic as well. Plus, Hector is so swoon-worthy to read about and Elizabeth is quite good at writing some sexy times.
How Likely Is It That I Will Read Another Book By This Author?
90%
I love a good New Adult I can just fly through to take my mind off of things and that is exactly what Elizabeth Briggs delivers with everything I read of hers. Behind the Seams, book three in the Chasing the Dream series comes out sometime in the May area of 2015 and I will most definitely be begging Elizabeth for an eARC as soon as their available.
I love a good New Adult I can just fly through to take my mind off of things and that is exactly what Elizabeth Briggs delivers with everything I read of hers. Behind the Seams, book three in the Chasing the Dream series comes out sometime in the May area of 2015 and I will most definitely be begging Elizabeth for an eARC as soon as their available.
Conclusion: If you're in the mood for some well-written New Adult angst, definitely check out the Chasing the Dream series for realistic, relatable, and diverse characters.
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