Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway for Next To You by Claudia Y. Burgoa

This is the second book in the Life series by Claudia Y. Burgoa.  It wraps us Dan and Becca's story.  Boy have these guys had it rough!  Read on to find out more and don't forget to enter the giveaway! :)

Next To You by Claudia Y. Burgoa 

(Life #2) 

Publication date: June 2014

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis:

Him

…I need time. Time to heal those wings and learn to use them…

Was part of the letter Rebecca Trent, Daniel Brightmore’s fiancée and best friend left when she ran away. The person he trusted the most for the past decade disappeared without giving him a second glance. She taught him how to love, believe in family and that everyone deserves a happily ever after. Now he’s struggling between wiping any traces of her from his life and drowning his sorrows away with the help of his new best friends—Don Julio and Jack Daniels.

Her

Rebecca’s past suffocated her to the point of not wanting to continue, her lifeline and the only reason to live began to withdraw from her. She wished it had been her imagination, but heard it loud and clear: “If not, there’s always a divorce, nothing is forever.” This time it became a leave or die situation. Something has got to change—she had to change. Packing light and leaving a letter behind, she takes a journey that can help her find herself through the shards of her painful childhood.

As letters, memories and stories are exchanged, two once inseparable people reconcile what’s left of their relationship. Beyond the confines of everything they built together, they’re left with two lonely people searching for what it means to be whole. Will they find meaning under their bruised psyches or will their pasts get the better of them?

Add to Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20505059-next-to-you?ac=1

Purchase Links:

Amazon US Amazon UK B&N iBooks Kobo

Review:

★★★1/2 stars

This book started off great for me, picking up right at the end of book 1.  The next thing I knew there were so many different revelations I wasn't sure I was reading the same story I had in Where Life Takes You. It seems there was a conversation that happened between Dan and Tyler that set Becca off, that I missed.  That set up the second book and while I enjoyed it, I did have some, "What the...?" moments.

Once it became clear Becca was working through her issues and Dan had some he hadn't dealt with, the biggest mystery was trying to figure out their relationship status.  Were they friends, together, or nothing?  I felt like it dragged on too long and I skimmed that part a little.  It felt like their personalities were completely changed from the first book and since I read them back to back, I was really taken aback by it. 

The story picked up a little in the middle and then again towards the end.  I was thinking the book was going to end on another cliffhanger, but luckily it didn't.  Claudia Y. Burgoa was able to slip another doozy of a surprise in there though.  I didn't see that coming, but I probably should have. 

The book has some slow moments but also has lots of dramatic moments that will keep you turning pages.  I was really rooting for Dan and Becca and though I think the ending was a little rushed, I got what I wanted in the end.  I'm looking forward to seeing what Claudia Y. Burgoa will write next.  If this series is this dramatic, angsty, and interesting, I imagine her next work will be too!

* A copy was provided by the author in exchange for a honest review.  All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for them in any manner.*

Don't forget to check out the first book in this series: Where Life Takes You.  You can read my review  about it here.

Where Life Takes You by Claudia Y. Burgoa 

Publication date: July 31st 2013

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis:

Becca Trent lived her childhood next to a cruel woman—her mom—who lived to torment and neglect her. During her high school years, her mother married; bringing home not only a new husband, but a step sister her same age. The latter took over her Mom’s role—making Becca’s life miserable. Including stealing Ian—Becca’s best friend and boyfriend—Lisa treated her worse than her mother had for the previous fifteen years. A couple of years later, things ended up in tragedy.

Becca buried that part of her life in the deep corners of her psyche, but that only work during the days when the nightmares didn’t come back to haunt her. Her best friend, Dan gives her that family love she always lacked. Everything was close to perfect, until everything and everyone from her past came back. Now, she’s trying to figure out how to survive and keep that bond which seems now to be held together by a thread.

Note: This is the first part of a two book novel.

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18443722-where-life-takes-you

Purchase Links:

Amazon US Amazon UK Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo

About the Author 

Claudia lives in Colorado with her family and three dogs. Two beagles who believe they are human, and a bichon who thinks she’s a beagle. While managing life, she works as a CFO at a small IT Company. She’s a dreamer who enjoys music, laughter and a good story.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.claudiayburgoa.com/

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7202946.Claudia_Y_Burgoa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaYBurgoa

Twitter: https://twitter.com/yuribeans

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