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Have you ever gone just a little too far?

Lexie Banks has.

Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother. In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for the better part of the last few years … and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.

But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt … and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional and right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy-on-the-eyes deacon … only eight months away from becoming a priest. Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.

Series: A Little Too Far (Book 1)

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Review Preface: This is one of those new adult romances I hope does really really well. Yes, because I loved it soooo much and because I’d love to see more like them out there. So yes, purely selfish reasons.  Well-written, great characters and storyline, emotional and HOT!! So I’m going to do my part in trying to get the word out of how great a book this is. And if I’ve still not been able to move you to pick up a new adult novel *cough – EASY by Tammara Webber * I hope I can induce you to give this one a try. 😉

REVIEW

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways”

That is what popped immediately into my head when I sat down to write the review for A LITTLE TOO FAR by Lisa Desrochers, an—until recently—unknown author to me. What’s really funny about this one, is I participated in the first cover reveal and I wasn’t blown over by it. In fact, I’d seen the old cover on several other books. The second cover—this one—not so much either. If I’m going to be honest neither cover does this book justice. The book is simply that good.

When I initially read the blurb, I thought, oh dear, sounds like a love triangle, which I’m not particularly fond of. And an almost priest? I’m Catholic so that’s bordering on sacrilegious, n’est ce pas?  Anyway, I relegated this book to one I doubted I’d be picking up to read, despite the fact that I was hunting for another new adult romance to read. Okay, truth is I’m always on the hunt.

Then Avon put the first couple chapters up as a sneak peek. I was curious and since I’d promoted it on the blog, decided to check it out.  I read everything posted and wanted more—hell, I wanted the rest. Lucky for me the egalley came up and I snatched it up. I read it in one day. One day. The only thing I did get done that day was my word count and I managed to get my son off to school, back home, fed but barely got him into bed that night.

I’m going to assume you read the blurb so I won’t rehash the plot, I’ll just get right down to why I loved this book so much without giving away any major spoilers.

Lexie is a fantastic and completely believable heroine. She acts and reacts in ways I thought were typical and consistent with her circumstances and character. After she has sex with Trent—her stepbrother—she is racked with guilt, shame while at the same time wanting him like she’s never wanted anyone before. Even her cheating ex-boyfriend, Rick, who she dated for three years.

Trent isn’t only just her stepbrother, but her best friend and confidante. She loves him and she loves him.  I have to say, I was a bit torn up that she was going to leave him for nine months to go to Italy because Trent isbeyond wonderful. He’s sexy, he’s hot. But he’s also torn about what happened between them but you can just tell how much she means to him. He’s an up-and-up good guy and the love scenes between them are scorching hot. Wow!

So here’s where I thought the author would lose me, the almost-priest Alessandro. I was prepared to resent his presence in Lexie’s life. I didn’t. And you know why? Because he’s frickin’ wonderful and it’s easy to see why Lexie is attracted to him and what draws her to him. An aside: Now here’s a guy with some serious baggage. But much like the whole thing with Trent, Lexie finds herself mired in another relationship where the guy is or should be off limits to her. I wonder if she sees this pattern?

And to further complicate things, Sam, her best friend from home starts dating Trent while Lexie is in Rome. Poor Lexie has to listen to her plot on how she’s going to get him and how hot he is. It drives her nut. Worse still is when she goes home for Christmas and sees the two together.

If you’re like me, you decide—after meeting both Trent and Alessandro—who you want her to end up with. Well I got my wish and the ending was the cincher for me. Talk about turn-me-to-mush and make-me-swoon romantic. The hero pulls out all the stops and left me blubbering. And that love scene? Another swoon. Absolutely hot and fantastic.

So as you can imagine, I absolutely canNOT wait to read the next book (it’s about another couple so don’t worry, we get an HEA) A LITTLE TOO MUCH, which is coming out in November. Lucky us. 🙂

Reviewed by Beverley

Rating: 5 Stars – Chart Topper
Heat Level: Hot/Scorching

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