Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Regret by Christina Lee - Release Blitz with Excerpt and Review


REGRET
CHRISTINA LEE
M/M ROMANCE
RELEASE DATE: 06.26.17




COVER DESIGN: KANAXA

BLURB

When Brian “Brin” Schubert’s condo floods, he takes his co-worker up on the offer to stay on his crappy futon for a while. The last thing he expects is for his friend’s roommate to be the one guy he despises the most. The same guy who stomped on his heart senior year of high school. And by the looks of the girl on his arm, the same man who’s still deep inside the closet.

Nicholas Dell never predicted that eleven years later, one of his greatest regrets would show up on his doorstep down on his luck. Nick has made some terrible mistakes—story of his life—and he’s been paying for them ever since. And if the guilt and shame aren’t enough, his first crush had to turn into one of the sexiest men he’s ever laid eyes on.

Nick and Brin have weeks to steer clear of each other. Weeks to avoid strangling each other. But when stubbornness leads to skyrocketing sexual tension, hate-sex doesn’t seem like such an awful way to work through their frustration. Except hate is a powerful emotion, especially when it’s turned inward. And in Nick’s case he’s been drowning in a sea of self-loathing for so long, he can’t see his way out.

As Brin reconnects with Nick, his perception of what really happened in their past begins to change. He’s finally ready to forgive him and take a second chance on the one guy who stirs him like no other. But Nick’s demons are complicated, heart-wrenching…demanding. So devastating, he might never allow himself true happiness—even with the one man who’s always owned his heart.


Goodreads:  http://bit.ly/2rjELhF




TEASERS




EXCERPT

“Brin, let me introduce you to my roommate,” Elijah said as I followed him through the short hallway to the living room. “This is Nick and his friend, Sarah.”
Sarah’s curly locks were nearly as blond as mine and Nick’s black hair was mostly tucked beneath a worn blue baseball cap. The two of them were cozy on the couch, Sarah sitting with her legs tucked under her and Nick with his ankle crossed over his knee. They were eating Chinese food off paper plates resting in their laps. Sarah simply waved as her mouth was full from a bite of food but Nick responded, “Hey, how you doing?” after swallowing a piece of what looked like an egg roll.
The smell of fried rice hit my nostrils and when my stomach rumbled in response, I realized just how famished I was. I was dying to dive right into the second brown bag resting on the coffee table that more than likely contained my food, but I didn’t want to be rude.
When Nick leaned forward with an outstretched hand, for some reason I zeroed right in on the neatly groomed scruff on his chin. When he tilted his face to look directly into my eyes, I froze, our fingers interlocked. A startled gasp sprang from my lips, and Nick’s eyebrows slammed together in confusion right before they lifted straight to his hairline.
The same cherry-colored lips, with a center dimple drilled into his chin. Those sad, amber-colored eyes that shuttered out the world.
Holy fuck. Elijah’s roommate was Nicholas Dell.
The same Nicholas Dell from Jefferson High who practically ruined me for other guys.
The same Devil’s third baseman that begged his math tutor to suck his cock in the locker room after practice.
And given the female nestled up beside him, it was the same Nicholas Dell who was still deep in the closet.


4.5 out of 5 stars 

Regret is the first book in a new series contemporary M/M romance by author Christina Lee. 

Fair warning readers, this book may make you cry...more than once. But damn is it worth those moments. I sat down to read this Sunday at lunch time and by a little after dinner I was finished with it. I almost wanted to turn back to the start and reread it to make sure I didn't miss anything. Of course I didn't, yet...but it's definitely a book I want to revisit. both for the story and the characters. 

If you haven't figured by this point, I'm a huge character driven story kind of person. Don't get me wrong I love my paranormal, and my action/adventure type romances. What really gets me to devour a book is well crafted characters, ones that have conflict, issues, and also exhibit character growth after conflict or tragedy. Nick and Brin, both, show quite a bit of character growth and maturity as the story progresses. The story as a whole features all of these elements and a few others that makes it a 'can't put this book down' kind of read. 

At the start of this book, Nick and Brin are what I'd call Frenemies. They knew each other in high school, and then Nick freaked out because he couldn't be gay because he couldn't hurt his family again. Due to Nick's attitude, Brin was hurt. While it wasn't a physical hurt, he was tormented by some other students due to his sexuality. Whatever feelings Brin may have had for Nick, were turned into, not really hate, but definitely disdain. Even though Nick tried to talk to Brin after these events happened, Brin didn't want anything to do with him. Eventually they graduated and moved on. Until Brin ends up moving in temporarily with his friend and co-worker, Elijah and runs face to face with Nick after all these years. They both end up learning that feelings sometimes don't go away but Nick fights tooth and nail with himself because he feels that Brin deserves more than who Nick has become. 

There are a lot of elements in this story that I'm leaving out, deliberately. They need to be experienced as you read them versus reading them in a review and not getting that impact made when they happen in the story. While I didn't get snotty crying while reading this story, I definitely needed tissue for parts. It also left me with a tremendous book hangover. 

I'm not sure what's coming next in this series, if it's more from Nick and Brin or if it's another couple that we met in this book. Either way I'd be thrilled with whatever is next in this series. This was a fantastic book and I highly recommend that readers grab this one up and make sure they have plenty of time to devour it in one sitting. You'll definitely fall in love with Brin and Nick.


About the Author 





Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son--her two favorite guys. She's addicted to lip balm, coffee, and kissing. Because everything is better with kissing.

She writes MM Contemporary as well as Adult and New Adult Romance. She believes in happily-ever-afters for all, so reading and writing romance for everybody under the rainbow helps quench her soul.




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