Evan Allen is a handsome, athletic, southern gentleman who now attends Georgia Southern University for no good reason.
After what he expected to be the romantic gesture of the century, Evan is looking at no friends, a year of ineligibility on the football team, and no girl.
He's starting over alone and doesn't know quite how to proceed. Certain members of The Crew refuse to let him face things by himself, taking him under their wing, and it doesn't take the ladies long to notice him, either.
Sometimes life doesn't go as you had planned. Sometimes it goes better.
Embrace it.
Embrace, the second book in the Evolve Series by S.E. Hall, follows the characters from her debut New Adult romance, Emerge
Laney
“Hello?”
“Zach, don’t say my name,” I choke out, storming across the lot as fast as my shaking legs will carry me.
“What’s wrong? Where’d you-“ his voice comes loud and worried through the phone.
“Don’t say that!” I interrupt, God, how embarrassing. “Can you walk away from everyone and talk to me for a minute? Where no one can hear you.” My voice is nasally and obnoxious, getting on my own nerves.
“Yeah Mom, hang on.” Zach- not a great actor. “Okay Laney, I’m by myself now,” he whispers.
“I’m sorry I bailed on practice, and I’m sorry to bug you now, but I need a Zach of infinite wisdom fix real bad right about now.”
“Let’s pretend I don’t already know what’s up your ass and you go ahead. It’ll give you a chance to vent.”
Alright, so that almost makes me grin.
“Basically, he just hung on that bitch in front of me just to piss me off, and it worked! Seriously? I don’t do that shit to him! Nothing I did was to purposely hurt him. How long did I absolutely torture myself NOT to hurt him Zach, huh? A long ass time!” I come up for air, waiting for him to tell me how right I am while I climb in my truck.
“Laney, you know I love you, right?”
This can’t be good.
“Yes…”
“Then you know it’s with love when I say this.” Dramatic pause that makes my skin crawl. “Get over yourself! I don’t care if he fucked her on the field and asked you to film it. You may not have meant to, but you destroyed that kid. He’s here with no friends, no girl and a new team. Sound familiar? He’s just trying to put one foot in front of the other every day, just like you did. You got your happily ever after, so back the fuck off and let him try to find his.”
Well then. Zach-1. Laney-0.
It hurts, not even gonna pretend it doesn’t, but his words are honest…and absolutely dead on. It angers me at myself for being the cause of such sad, but true words, describing the crushing of my Evan. It’s a lot to think on and I have to do that now, before I cruise right out of control.
“You’re right Zach. That’s why I call you. I’ll always get the straight-up what I need to hear. Thanks.”
“I luv ya Laney. Don’t be mad at me, but much like yourself, don’t ask for my advice if you don’t want it.”
I chuckle, “God, if that isn’t the truth. You’re harsh, but right. I’m not mad, I swear. Now go coach! I’ll talk to ya later.”
“Later Laney.”
I hang up and stare out my windshield, pondering. Zach is right, I’m being a selfish bitch.
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S.E. Hall does it again! If you thought the story couldn't get any better hold on to your hats. At the end of Emerge I was left with my heart crushed for Evan, but so happy for Dane and Laney. I wasn't sure what to expect, all I knew was Evan deserved his happy ending. I am not going to tell you if that happens, where would the fun in that be?
Evan has two choices, he can either move on, forget all about Laney and try to be on his own or he can try to rebuild a friendship that was been there his whole life and let Laney back in. At first I really thought he was going to drink his life away, but "the crew" took him in and made sure he was ok. Your heart breaks a little more for him the first few chapters, but when he meets Whitley will everything change? Will he realize what he had with Laney wasn't real reach for the moon love and find someone who can truly be his other half and return the love he has to offer?
"Maybe your true self only thrives in the accompaniment of the one made to bring it out in you" Evan
In Emerge, Whitely was stuck up and had it out for Laney. I couldn't stand her! But, in Embrace we meet the real Whitley. The fun, easy going girl with a big heart who isn't afraid to tell you like it is when you mess with her friends.
"You want me to show you why they call me Slugger now? And I don't play softball...feel me?" Whitley
I'm not gonna lie at first I thought she was up to go good, but I really fell in love with this character. As the story progresses we see Whitley open her shell a little more and she does everything she can to help Evan...even if it means being the rescue on a date when she wants to be the one on the date with him.
Will Evan and Whitley be able to "embrace" their lives and take control without the ones who they thought would always be there? Will they both get their happy ever after?
"You know, when things seem too good to be true, it's usually because they are..." Evan
Laney and Dane are in the book, but not as big of characters. DON'T let this deter you. This is Evan's story after all. When they do appear Laney is still her feisty self and Dane is ever the over protector. I love it! They still have the most loving relationship, but they do have to work through their past and some demons/skeltons.
"Do not say it again; I'm not leaving. I love you, therefore, you bossy, stubborn man, I. Am. With. You" Laney
Sawyer and Zach's characters develop a little more too. They are still the players and chasing girls. And of course, Sawyer still doesn't have a filter, but who cares he is HOT! These boys will do anything to help Laney, they really step up their game and are there for Evan when she can't be. I loved reading the boys bantering.
We are left hanging in the epilogue and if I didn't already LOVE Sawyer I sure do now and my heart goes out to him. I can't wait to read his book. Hurry up S.E. Hall Hopefully we see more of our favorite couples too
Tabby's Review:
Embrace picks up right where Emerge left off. Evan just gave up everything to be with Laney only to have his dreams and heart ripped to shreds. Leaving him stuck at a new school, with no friends, no football and no Laney.
Since she was a little girl, I showed her how a man should treat a woman as special as her. So he's getting a real lady... You're welcome, asshole.- Evan
Fuck this. Disney movies suck anyway- bring on a porno! -Evan
Embrace is about realizing that first loves might not be true love and forever love may be just beyond a broken heart. Evan must learn to put the pieces of his heart back together, good thing that he has someone ready and willing to help him do that...if he would just let her. He starts to think and feel things that he didn't think he could after Laney, and that scared him. So, like any man he starts pushing the person away who is scaring him with these thoughts and feelings.
"I don't want to be an underdog anymore, do you?...That settles it. We are now opposites of underdogs. We are--We're overcats!" -Evan and Whitley
Embrace had other storylines going on in it as well. Of course Laney was struggling just as Evan was. They were thrown back together, and not speaking, when deep down they both wanted the other in their lives. They had to learn how to juggle who they are now, yet try to get back some of what they had in the past. It was a delicate balance, because at times the green-eyed monster reared it's ugly head and they had to fight against it. We also got to learn about Laney's mother and got more information about why she left and how she currently was. Turns out Dane does have skeletons in the closet, and they come to light in Embrace.
"Do not say it again; I'm not leaving. I love you, therefore, you bossy, stubborn man, I. Am. With. You" Laney
The whole crew is back in Embrace! Sawyer, Zack, Bennett and Tate we get more of them all! A shocking surprise addition to that list is Whitley. I admit I hated her in Emerge but I have absolutely no idea why, she really never did anything wrong to be hated. Yes, she was clingy when it came to Dane, but we get some information to why she was that way with him. When Whitley first enters Evan's life I admit I was cussing under my breath thinking she was up to something, but I was so wrong. Whitley is just like any other girl, she gets lonely, she wants to love and be loved and she has problems just like all of us. I soon find myself rooting for Whitley, and wanting her to have all the happiness imaginable. Sawyer where do I start with him. He is back to his usual shenanigans but there is something so much deeper to him, he too has secrets. He lets them in on some of them but I have a feeling in the next installment of the Evolve Series that we get to know a lot more about him.
“Only a crazy woman can love you like crazy. - Whitley
S.E Hall had me drawn in from the very beginning of Embrace. I was hooked instantly. After the months of waiting for Embrace to come out I had a lot of time to sit and think about what might happen in this book, and let me tell you, Oh how I was wrong! She threw some twists in there that I did not even see coming. Yes, I admit I laughed out loud quite a few times while reading this, it is full of catchy one liners and some quick witted remarks. There is sexual chemistry that almost overheated my Kindle, passion that seeps out of every page. Not to mention I am still firmly on Team Dane. Yes, I admit Evan is a pure, true romantic, but he doesn't in my opinion hold a candle to my Dane, maybe I am a bit biased. However, I did say, "I never get flowers!", multiple times while reading this. That Evan sure can melt a heart. I am so impatiently waiting the next book in the series!
Will Evan and Laney rekindle their friendship? Will Laney and Dane survive when his secret comes out? Can enemies in the past be friends? Will Evan get his happily ever after? Those are answers you are going to just have to find out for yourself by reading Embrace.
About S.E Hall:S.E.Hall resides in Arkansas with her husband of 17 years and 3 beautiful daughters. When not in the stands watching her ladies play softball, she enjoys reading YA and NA romance.
Author Contact Links:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/S.E.HallAuthorEmerge
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7087549.S_E_Hall
Twitter: https://twitter.com/emergeauthor
First book in the Evolve Series
Synopsis:
Laney Walker is a quick witted, athletic, southern tomboy who lets few get too close, using her sarcastic zingers to deflect. She also has no idea how others view her, Evan having protected and coveted her since they were children. But college puts a gap between Laney and Evan that neither of them were prepared for- old relationships are tested, new ones are formed and nothing will ever be the same.
Especially when in walks one Dane Kendrick, not at all the familiar, southern charmer of home, but an animal all his own.
A story of growing up, friendship, loyalty, first love, primal love...and life.
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