Blog Tour- Simplicity Re-Release (Excerpt & Review)
This tour is being hosted and put together by the amazing Valia Lind author of Simplicity!
A bit about Valia Lind-
Author. Photographer. Artist. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia Valia always had a love for the written word. She wrote her first full book on the bathroom floor of her dormitory, while procrastinating to study for her college classes. Upon graduation, she has moved her writing to more respectable places, and have found her voice in YA fiction. Her first adult book Simplicity is being republished, while her YA science fiction is on submission to find a home.
Here is a description of the book-
Driven, beautiful Alexis Sinclair lives her life to the fullest, following her dreams of running a big company. But when her world is torn apart by a storm, everything she has ever known disappears. Now, marooned on an island with a group of men, Alexis must learn to live in a world made up of simple things. Letting go of every known convenience, she realizes how insignificant her life has become. Filled with unrequited love for her rescuer she must battle the demons buried deep inside and she must look within herself and to her faith to find the strength needed to survive.
Strong and influential, Jacob Peterson, has done all he can to survive. When the fate turned its tables on him, he learned to cope with the inevitable. Plagued by his past and secrets buried there, Jacob exerts a rigid control, refusing to succumb to the joys, and torturous pain, of strong emotions. Without considering love a gift he may never receive, he believes--he chooses to live by strict set of rules. But when a strange beautiful woman washes up on his beach, the walls that he has put up long ago begin to crumble. Is she a punishment sent from God to torment his weary soul? Or is she a gift, sent from above, there to teach him how to trust? Who is this woman? And how will he stop himself from losing his heart?
Will he learn to forgive the past in order to save the woman he loves?
Here is an Excerpt from the novel-
“Excuse me, am I interrupting
something?” Jake asked running up to us with the ball, “Shouldn’t you be
cheering?” He kept the ball away from others with skill while he stood in front
of us. I’d rather be playing. I didn’t realize I said those words out loud
until Jake called, “Time out!”
“Really?”
he asked looking carefully at me.
“Really
what?” I asked not understanding.
“You
said you’d rather be playing.”
“No,
I didn’t!”
“I’m
sure you did. You heard it too, right John?” I was hoping John didn’t hear me
say that, but of course being the traitor that he is he took Jake’s side.
“Yes,
I heard her say that.” I shook my head at him and smiled.
“Fine,
I said it. So what?”
“So
let’s play!” I caught the ball in my hands as Jake tossed it to me. So this was
the way it was going to be. I could handle this. Smiling, I stood up.
“Yes,
let’s play!”
As
luck would have it, I ended up on Gabe’s team, which put me in competition with
Jake. Actually, I didn’t think luck had anything to do with it. Unless luck went
by the name John. We took our positions and the game began. These guys were in
for a treat, because I was a very decent soccer player. It came from my
childhood. I used to spend summers with my friends playing every sport we could
get our hands on.
Gabe
took the ball in and passed it to one of the men. It was intercepted by Jake
not even two seconds later. We all took of running down the court. Jake weaved
and twisted the ball through the opposing team. I tried not to stare, because
Jake was just that good! However, I didn’t think that was much of a secret to
anyone here.
He
was close to scoring and I wasn’t about to let him do that! So far the score
was tied and I knew we’d be leaving as soon as someone scored. I took off after
him with new determination. He was focused on the goal and he was going for it.
The goalie was good but with Jake’s skill and determination I wasn’t so sure he
would be able to stop him. Scanning the teams I saw an opening and took it!
Coming
up on Jake’s left side, while he was going right, I stole the ball right from
under him. Running up the court, while keeping the ball was a bit of challenge.
I was rusty and these men were good! I was trying to pass the ball but no one
was open. I could hear John and Brandon cheering from the sidelines for me. I
heard someone coming up behind me and taking a chance I took a hard right doing
a 360. Jake, who was right behind me, went past me in a blur. Realizing I was
no longer in front of him, he turned back but I was already passing him on his
left. I was now directly in front of the goal. John and Brandon were screaming
on top of their lungs for me to kick. However, instead of scoring I took a
chance and took the ball to the right. The goalie followed me and then, once he
was almost directly in front of me, I took my shot.
As
soon as the ball left the ground so did I. My feet were knocked out from under
me and I landed hard on my back with a person on top of me. Looking up I
realized it was Jake who tackled me! The team was cheering, because my goal
attempt was successful. We won the game! I was supposed to be celebrating, but
all I could do was lay there staring up at Jake as he stared down at me.
Snapping out of it by the noise around us, or some inner alarm, he pulled me to
my feet. I proceeded to dust myself off without looking at him. Those moments
when we were on the ground I could read the emotion in his eyes. I could almost
see what he felt for me. I could tell I wasn’t just some girl he knew. I was
important to him even if he wouldn’t admit it out loud.
“I
can’t believe you tackled me!” I exclaimed trying to lighten the mood. Jake was
already pulling himself in and I didn’t want anything to spoil this moment.
“I
was going for the ball!” He replied bringing his eyes up to meet mine.
“A
likely story! You just thought it would be fun to tackle me!”
“I
didn’t tackle you!”
“No,
I just ended up on my back in the middle of the field because I like to take
random naps in the middle of all the action.” I lifted my eyebrows at him and waited
for a reply. I could see he was having a hard time coming up with anything.
“Fine,
I tackled you.” He finally said bending back over again to finish fixing his
clothes.
“What,
I don’t even get an ‘I’m sorry?’” I asked crossing my arms in front of me.
“I’m
sorry,” he said not looking at me. What a creep! First, he tackles me, and then
he doesn’t even apologize. And when he does apologize all I get is an obligated
“I’m sorry!”
“Excuse
me!” I reached over and smacked him smartly on the shoulder. The movement
brought him upright and I saw that he was laughing. He was laughing at me!
“How
dare you?” I exclaimed getting ready to smack him again. As my hand reached
over it was caught in his.
“Stop
hitting me!”
“Stop
laughing at me!”
My Thought and Opinions On This Novel-
Now this book is not within my typical genres of scifi /fantasy but I have been trying to read more contemporary fiction and this book was definitely able to hold my attention. I loved the concept of a plane crashing and Alexis waking up washed ashore on an island that had 15 other people living on it whose plane crashed 5 years ago so basically no hope for going home.
I just have to say how much I love Jake. A brooding lost soul who is conflicted by both his past and present, he has such a hard time expressing himself to Lexi. He reminded me a lot of Stefan from The Vampire Diaries in love with a girl but his past keeps catching up with him and makes him regret his choices. But Jake happens to not be a vampire a girl could only dream. LOL. Valia is such a great writer that she was able to make us simply despise Gabe he was just so annoying but I felt kind of bad for him after awhile.
I personally enjoyed the growth of the romantic relationship and friendship between Alexis and Jake. I loved and hated his overprotective nature and that he found a way to blame himself for every little occurrence. Especially since Alexis was always so clumsy. Definitely a hazard to herself. In many ways I liked that Alexis was the only female on the island she became a great mother figure to the men and most importantly Brandon. I thought he was just plain ole adorable.
I thought it was great that Jake was the person that saved Alexis it added just a bit more to their reasons to be together for me. I have to say that I would always laugh through out the book when Alexis would think things out loud and wouldn't realize it.
The story really begins to pick up pace during the large storm that passes over the island. This part held most of my favorite scenes. It forced Jake and Lexi to work together and I almost cried when Lexi got hurt from going to save and find Brandon.
I felt that the ending was great especially that the end wasn't when they left the island. I thought the idea of the reunion was great. Lexi and Brandon bonding was great. But I was so just err I wanted to just I don't even know hurt Jake he can be so clueless. I was so upset by his reveal of his past. So they got married and it was just wonderful. Plus she is now Brandon's step mom.
So overall I really enjoyed this book. I finished it several days ago and I just can't stop thinking about it which is making it hard for me to read other books, seriously now! Loved it so much!
So Now You must be wondering where you can buy this book-
Links to buy Simplicity:
Other Links to Check Out-
Links for Valia Lind-
Add it to your TBR list:
Goodreads.com
Giveaway Fill Out The RaffleCopter-
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Daniel Armand lives in Toronto, Ontario. His inspiration behind Adam Orser: Chronicles of Evolution originated during the summer of 1983, after a near death encounter offered an incredible insight into the obscured aspects of life, love, and the progression of the human spirit.
Daniel Armand lives in Toronto, Ontario. His inspiration behind Adam Orser: Chronicles of Evolution originated during the summer of 1983, after a near death encounter offered an incredible insight into the obscured aspects of life, love, and the progression of the human spirit.
Seraphina looks like a great book I can't wait to read it!
I found this book through Fiction Freaks post and thought it looked good!
I love Suzanne's blog so I can't wait to read her book!
