T. Torrest never fails to deliver! I've never been to the Jersey Shore, but I really want to go after reading this book! I can't wait to go back for more!
T. Torrest
Down the Shore
4/21/2015
Blurb:
Livia Chadwick is a photographer by day and a self-proclaimed rock slut by night.Her dating life is a lackluster parade of evasive jerks and her boss is an unrelenting nightmare of a human being. What else can a girl do but rent a beach house with her girlfriends and blow off a little steam every weekend? But hey, she’s from Jersey. Barhopping down the shore all season is sort of mandatory. All is going according to plan… until she meets Jack.
Jack Tanner is a contractor-turned-musician in a small-town cover band suddenly thrust into the limelight. He’s already had enough of the rock-and-roll lifestyle, and groupies have never been his thing. Then again… there’s a gorgeous brunette in the audience tonight, checking him out with the most incredible green eyes he’s ever seen.
She's looking for a fling.
He's looking for forever.
It’s gonna be one helluva summer.
Set in the summer of 1995, Down the Shore takes the reader on a tour through some of the Jersey shore’s hottest hot spots over one, sleepless, flannel-clad summer. It’s a look back to a time when the music was groundbreaking, the rock clubs were king, and bar bands ruled the world. Read when you're in the mood for: something light, funny, romantic, beachy, and nostalgic. For ages 18+.
***Not recommended for anyone under the age of 18, and/or any readers who are slut-shamers, guido sympathizers, beach haters or anti-music. Other people who should walk away from this book immediately: Readers who have sticks up their butts regarding offensive language, those who don't like detailed sex in their stories, idiots who think "Jersey Shore" has anything to do with actual New Jerseyans, and anyone who can't appreciate pop-culture from the mother-effing nineties.***
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Excerpt:
Jack's lips purse together, as if he's literally trying to bite his tongue. Instead, his eyelids lower to half-mast as he says, “You’re not so tough, you know. You try to put up this big front, but your act is pretty transparent.”
I put a hand to my hip. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? I’m not putting on an act.”
“Sure you are. This whole groupie thing you’ve got going on. I’m not buying it.”
“I wasn’t trying to sell it.”
At that, he cracks a small smile, and it makes me feel more vulnerable than had I been standing there completely naked. You know, kind of like how he almost is.
The thing is, I almost don’t mind being called out by him, since most guys don’t bother to scratch beyond the surface. It’s flattering to think that Jack is intrigued enough to try. Because honestly? I was full of it when I said I wasn’t acting. I’m sort of impressed that he was able to figure me out so soon. Hell. I haven’t even figured me out yet.
Twenty-something is hard. Trying to discover who you are and who you’re going to be. Some people figure it out early, have it all together. And some people go a little off the deep end and wind up with multiple sex partners, trying to shut out the crushing trauma of trying to find their place in the world.
That’s why his assessment isn’t necessarily a relief. No one likes having their walls torn down, having their shitty reality thrown in their face. I’m sure the unease is playing out on my face as I bite my lip during our awkward silence.
Right now, all I want is to make my escape. “I should bring these down to Monty. He’s going to wonder what’s taking me so long.”
He gives me a long, hard look at that, his lip curling into a dangerous smirk.
“He can wait. I can’t.”
Before I know it, I’m dropping the pans to the floor as he backs me against the wall, his lips crashing down on mine. I want to shove him away, but hot damn. He’s fucking way too good at making me fall to pieces. I kiss him back, because really, what the hell else can I be expected to do?
I smooth my hands up his torso, feeling the muscles of his chest jumping under my palms. I slip my fingers into his hair and part my lips against his, sweeping my tongue inside, his cool, minty taste invading my senses. His insistent lips slant across my own as his hands pull me closer against his length. Despite my wishes to the contrary, my heart starts beating out of my goddamned chest. It triples in pace when I realize Jack’s is racing, too.
He pulls back to take a much needed breath, shooting those mysterious gray eyes into mine. He runs a finger across my bottom lip, lightly brushing it back and forth. “Your mouth,” his aching voice scratches out. “I could lose myself against these lips.”
My brain tumbles over itself as he comes back in for another kiss, wondering if this means he’s changed his mind about letting me do all sorts of crazy stuff to his peen.
Because I totally will.
Just as soon as he lets me.
Review
★★★★★ stars
This book has been a long time in the making. I feel like I've been waiting to read this book forever. I read my first book by T. Torrest a little over a year ago. Since then, I've been following *ahem stalking* her on social media to find out when this book would be available. In the mean time I devoured the four books she'd published and as any good fan will tell you, it's the wait that kills you as publication day draws near.
Down the Shore was worth the long wait and everything I was hoping it to be. I loved meeting Livia and Jack and everyone else who made up their crew. Both Livia and Jack had strong personalities and were used to getting their way. It made for a very interesting courtship seeing them battle down their first instincts to jump into bed and instead get to know one another first. I, like Livia, hoped Jack would cave at the first temptation, but instead came to respect him as more than the talented, hot, gorgeous, rock star he was. Jack was a good man too.
This story is told from Livia's point of view and I absolutely loved being in her head. Livia is honest, sincere, and funny. She goes for what she wants and makes no excuses about it. However, she's also an amazing friend and someone who has principles to make sure her having fun doesn't hurt anyone else. I loved that about her. I completely understood her reticence at being in any relationship, especially one with a musician. She was just protecting herself from past lessons. I wish I could've gotten into Jack's head a little more, although I think that would've only made him more delicious some how. I was really impressed with him for the most part. He did do some boneheaded things, but then again, what guy doesn't? He was upfront for the most part about what he wanted from Livia and I really appreciated that.
Like all T. Torrest novels, this one was a page turner. I was hooked from the very first page. I loved how the book was set up. Each chapter had the location, time, and year on it. It was very easy to keep track of what was going on and while there wasn't a lot of jumping around, it really helped me create a mental image in my head about what was going on. Of course this book wasn't just about Livia and Jack. I loved their motley crew and being able to spend time with them. They were hilarious and yet supportive as well. I can't wait to read Shana's story and I sincerely hope to read more about Vix, Tess and Ronnie. Oh and I would absolutely love to read about Jack's brothers. Those hot Tanner boys! One of my favorite scenes in this book was a little cameo from Layla. Anyone whose read a book by T. Torrest will recognize who I'm talking about. I loved the way music was incorporated into the story. It was wonderful to relive a slice of my childhood and remember all the good times associated with those songs.
If I had to summarize this book in a couple of words I'd use nostalgic, hilarious, hot, funny, sexy, and sweet. I loved visiting the Jersey Shore in the 90s without ever leaving my home. I do wish I'd gotten to experience a single summer on the Shore growing up because it sounds like it was a blast. T. Torrest really delivered on the teasers on the promise she gave readers with the teasers she shared leading up to the release of this book. I can't wait to see how she out does herself next.
*Thank you to the publicist for providing a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for them in any manner.*
About T. Torrest:
T. Torrest is a New Adult fiction writer from the U.S. She has written many books, but prays that only a handful of them will ever see the light of day. Her stories are geared toward readers of any age that know how to enjoy a good laugh and a dreamy romance.
Ms. Torrest was a child of the eighties, but has since traded in her Rubik's cube for a laptop and her Catholic school uniform for a comfy pair of yoga pants. She likes pina coladas and getting caught in the rain. She's not much into health food, but she does enjoy talking about herself in the third person.
A lifelong Jersey girl, she currently resides there with her husband and two sons.
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