Give Me Love (Give Me #1)
Evie Jamieson, a former wild child, is not only a headstrong, smart-mouthed trouble magnet, she is also a lead singer with a plan. That plan involves relocating her band, including her two best friends guitarist Henry and band manager Mac, to Sydney to kick off their dreams of hitting the big time.
Jared Valentine is the older brother of Evie's best friend Mac and also the man determined to make Evie his. They strike up a long distance friendship which suits Evie because she's determined to avoid the distraction of love, not only because it doesn't fit in with her plan but because twice in the past it has left her for dead. Moving to Sydney however, has put her directly in Jared's path and he has decided it's the perfect opportunity to make his play.
Unfortunately Jared, co-owner in a business that 'consults' in dangerous hostage and kidnapping situations, makes an enemy who's determined to enact revenge. When this enemy puts Evie in his sights, Jared not only has a fight on his hands to make her his own, but also to keep her alive.
Is accepting the love he's so desperate to give worth the risk to both her heart...and her life?
Jared Valentine is the older brother of Evie's best friend Mac and also the man determined to make Evie his. They strike up a long distance friendship which suits Evie because she's determined to avoid the distraction of love, not only because it doesn't fit in with her plan but because twice in the past it has left her for dead. Moving to Sydney however, has put her directly in Jared's path and he has decided it's the perfect opportunity to make his play.
Unfortunately Jared, co-owner in a business that 'consults' in dangerous hostage and kidnapping situations, makes an enemy who's determined to enact revenge. When this enemy puts Evie in his sights, Jared not only has a fight on his hands to make her his own, but also to keep her alive.
Is accepting the love he's so desperate to give worth the risk to both her heart...and her life?
Review by Michelle:
There is nothing better than discovering a new author. I love nothing more than finding the debut of a little known author, falling in love, then following that author and loving each new book more than the last. Had I picked up Give Me Love by Kate McCarthy a year ago, this could have been me. Sadly I seemed to have missed the boat with this one. Fortunately when it comes to authors, it is never too late to acquire a new favorite. Give Me Love has it all; action, suspense, comedy, drama, and a sweet and sexy romance.
So there's Evie. She is a female rock star by the way. Oh yeah! I am a total rock star fanatic and I just loved the seldom seen role reversal. She is also sassy and smart and a bit of a badass, especially on stage. Then there is Jared. Definitely the stuff swoons are made of. He is tender and thoughtful, witty and charismatic and of course protective and alpha and he had me from his very first text. Then he started calling her baby well before even the slight notion of the two of them becoming a couple and I had to be scraped up off of the floor because I just melted. The chemistry between these two was supercharged and no matter how hard they fought it or how many obstacles, there was just no keeping them away from each other.
What I really loved was the way Evie and Jared's relationship blossomed. They were definitely draw to one another from the very beginning, but their relationship was not easy or instantaneous. Instead it was built upon an unyielding foundation of friendship, respect, and admiration creating an unbreakable bond as well as a yearning for these characters to just give in and be together already and an intense sexual tension.
There are few books with such a wide and varied cast of characters in which you can become invested in every single one. Kate McCarthy has accomplished exactly that with this wacky close-knit group of friends. Whenever the group or even just a few of the characters get together hilarity is sure to ensue with playful ribbing, verbal sparring and whole lot of craziness. Each character has a distinct and loveable personality that is well developed and just begging to have their own story told.
I have found that most stories' complications are either the result of outside influences such as stalkers, threats, danger, or injuries, or relationship issues such as communication, trust, jealousy, or personal demons. This story actually faced both sets of challenges making for a book that is totally engaging, packed with drama, and full of twists and turns.
To be honest I could have done with one or two fewer encounters with a certain antagonist as I just couldn't understand how he was so elusive for this group of capable, highly respected, hard-core defenders, but these run-ins definitely shake things up and keep you on your toes.
Give Me Love is not your average romance. In addition to a wonderfully beautiful love story there is plenty of excitement, many surprises, and a surrogate family you may well wish you yourself was a part of. I would happily read a book centered on each and every character in this ensemble. In fact I am hoping that I will someday have the chance to do just that. Until then Travis is next up and I am eager to experience all that this Valentine brother has to offer.
Rating: 4 Stars
Give Me Strength (Give Me #2)
Quinn Salisbury doesn’t think she’s cut out for this whole living thing. Even as a young girl she struggled. Just when she thinks she’s found a way to leave her violent past behind her, the only thing that’s kept her going is ripped away, leaving her damaged and heartbroken.
Four years later, she is slowly rebuilding her life and lands a job as an assistant band manager to Jamieson, the hot new Australian act climbing their way to the top of the charts. There she meets Travis Valentine, the charismatic older brother of her boss, Mac.
From his commanding charm to his confidence and passion, Travis is everything Quinn believes is too good for her, and despite her apprehension, she finds their attraction undeniable and intense.
When her past resurfaces, it complicates their relationship. Instead of reaching out for help, Quinn pushes Travis away, until a staggering secret is revealed that leaves her fighting for her very life.
Torn between running and opening her heart to the man determined to have her, can Quinn find the strength within herself to fight for her future?
Review by Michelle:
After the whirlwind that was Give Me Love by Kate McCarthy I wasn't sure what to expect from the second book in the series, Give Me Strength. What I got was a funny, witty, touching, exceedingly gratifying read that was engrossing and that I never wanted to end. Everything about this story was unexpected. I wasn't expecting to love it so much. I wasn't prepared to miss it so badly once I finished it, and I had no idea this book would ensure that there is a spot reserved for Kate McCarthy on my must read list from here on out.
I definitely wasn't expecting Quinn, a girl that can give every single one of my favorite leading ladies up to this point a run for their money. A girl who is cute and real. A girl who is a bit clumsy, especially when outside of her comfort zone, a tad insecure without being annoyingly so, much like the vast majority of us, and is stronger than she knows or gives herself credit for and is willing to fight for what she loves. In fact, I really wasn't expecting Quinn at all, I was thinking more along the lines of Mac having her say in this one, but I couldn't have been happier to have been introduced to Quinn.
I wasn't expecting the transition between stories to be so seamless. The beginning of Give Me Strength was perfectly interwoven with the ending of Give Me Love and the introduction of Quinn was threaded into what we know of Evie's story so flawlessly and so comfortably it was like continuing on to the next chapter of one long story instead of picking up a new book, with a new focus, and new central characters. It gives you a real feeling of coming home. Coming home to good friends with the wonderful cast of quirky, funny, lively, charming characters. Coming home to an intricate and thrilling storyline that surprises and captivates. Coming home to writing that is absorbing and emotive. And coming home to the bountiful band of hotties, the Badass Brigade, who can stir up a fiery inferno at the drop of a hat and can make you swoon with every utterance.
I wasn't expecting to be introduced to someone outside of this tight-knit group of characters that we have all come to know and love and for that person to mesh so well and fit in so nicely that she is almost immediately considered family, loved, and cherished, not just by the characters in the story but by readers as well. Quinn fell right in with the group as if she was always meant to be there. She grabs onto your heart and simply refuses to let go.
I wasn't expecting Give Me Strength to be so humorous. I simply adore a book that can make me laugh. Really laugh, like make a fool out of myself in public by laughing out loud, fully on belly laugh. I haven't had so much fun while reading a book in quite a while. I was constantly snickering, giggling and smiling. Despite some tough issues and a whole lot of drama, every time I picked this book back up (that was after I had been forced to put it down in the first place) it never failed to make me feel good, to put a smile on my face, or to lift my spirits with playful banter, amusing situations, and liberating love.
Ok so I was kind of expecting an amazing epilogue. Give Me Love's epilogue was so perfect that it set the bar pretty high for Give Me Strength. Meeting my high level of expectation for this epilogue turned out, of course, to be no problem for Kate McCarthy to reach, in fact I would say she surpassed it. An incredibly heartwarming, fulfilling, and deeply emotional conclusion, there is just the right length of time that has lapsed between the end of the story and the epilogue. Not too long so that we feel like we have missed too much and just enough time for some monumental events to occur making you feel all warm and content and bringing Quinn and Travis' story to an ideal end.
I expected Give Me Strength to be good, maybe even really good. I even hoped it would be great. In truth it was fantastic. Give Me Strength is both comical and emotional. It is both slow and tender and fast paced and action packed. It is the whole package and then some making me a real fan of Kate McCarthy and of this series and leaving me anxious and elated to read Casey's story, Give Me Grace.
Rating: 5 Stars
I definitely wasn't expecting Quinn, a girl that can give every single one of my favorite leading ladies up to this point a run for their money. A girl who is cute and real. A girl who is a bit clumsy, especially when outside of her comfort zone, a tad insecure without being annoyingly so, much like the vast majority of us, and is stronger than she knows or gives herself credit for and is willing to fight for what she loves. In fact, I really wasn't expecting Quinn at all, I was thinking more along the lines of Mac having her say in this one, but I couldn't have been happier to have been introduced to Quinn.
I wasn't expecting the transition between stories to be so seamless. The beginning of Give Me Strength was perfectly interwoven with the ending of Give Me Love and the introduction of Quinn was threaded into what we know of Evie's story so flawlessly and so comfortably it was like continuing on to the next chapter of one long story instead of picking up a new book, with a new focus, and new central characters. It gives you a real feeling of coming home. Coming home to good friends with the wonderful cast of quirky, funny, lively, charming characters. Coming home to an intricate and thrilling storyline that surprises and captivates. Coming home to writing that is absorbing and emotive. And coming home to the bountiful band of hotties, the Badass Brigade, who can stir up a fiery inferno at the drop of a hat and can make you swoon with every utterance.
I wasn't expecting to be introduced to someone outside of this tight-knit group of characters that we have all come to know and love and for that person to mesh so well and fit in so nicely that she is almost immediately considered family, loved, and cherished, not just by the characters in the story but by readers as well. Quinn fell right in with the group as if she was always meant to be there. She grabs onto your heart and simply refuses to let go.
I wasn't expecting Give Me Strength to be so humorous. I simply adore a book that can make me laugh. Really laugh, like make a fool out of myself in public by laughing out loud, fully on belly laugh. I haven't had so much fun while reading a book in quite a while. I was constantly snickering, giggling and smiling. Despite some tough issues and a whole lot of drama, every time I picked this book back up (that was after I had been forced to put it down in the first place) it never failed to make me feel good, to put a smile on my face, or to lift my spirits with playful banter, amusing situations, and liberating love.
Ok so I was kind of expecting an amazing epilogue. Give Me Love's epilogue was so perfect that it set the bar pretty high for Give Me Strength. Meeting my high level of expectation for this epilogue turned out, of course, to be no problem for Kate McCarthy to reach, in fact I would say she surpassed it. An incredibly heartwarming, fulfilling, and deeply emotional conclusion, there is just the right length of time that has lapsed between the end of the story and the epilogue. Not too long so that we feel like we have missed too much and just enough time for some monumental events to occur making you feel all warm and content and bringing Quinn and Travis' story to an ideal end.
I expected Give Me Strength to be good, maybe even really good. I even hoped it would be great. In truth it was fantastic. Give Me Strength is both comical and emotional. It is both slow and tender and fast paced and action packed. It is the whole package and then some making me a real fan of Kate McCarthy and of this series and leaving me anxious and elated to read Casey's story, Give Me Grace.
Rating: 5 Stars
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About the Author:Kate McCarthy grew up in a small town outside of Port Macquarie, Australia. Raised in a house just a short walk to the beach, Kate enjoyed the peaceful, relaxed atmosphere and friendships that come from being raised in a friendly, small town area.
She now resides in Brisbane, Australia, a city in the state of Queensland where she works as an accountant, along with a sideline wedding cake business and her writing.
She is married with two children, has two dogs and house in the suburbs, and a pile of friends and family dotted all over the country that help keep her sane.
When she’s not busy running after naughty kids, filthy dogs, crunching numbers, piping buttercream and writing books, you can find her curled up in bed in the early hours of the morning reading new books and re-reading old favourites. Her favourite books are the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward in which she longs to eventually join the brotherhood and change her name to Phierce Mutha.
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