Crossing Blog Tour: Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Posted by Nina L. on 12:00 PM in 4-star, blog tour, contemporary, excerpt, Giveaway, NA, review,

Welcome to my stop for Crossing blog tour!

I have a review and excerpt for you! Also there's a giveaway! 

Tour Schedule!

Author: Stacey Wallace Benefiel

Release date: May 8th 2013

Publisher: Write Free

Series: N/A

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary
Tour organized by: Itching For Books

Purchase: Amazon

Add to your library: Goodreads

He stole her lipstick…and her heart.

Twenty-year-old Dani Walker can’t believe her luck when she’s paired up with the gorgeous Liam Garrett as her Acting I scene partner – or when he ends up in her bed. Being a Plain Jane with a mouth on her hasn’t exactly served Dani well in the guy department. In fact, she’s had nothing but one night stands. Still, she lets go of her insecurities and falls for Liam, despite feeling like he’s holding something back.

When Dani finally discovers Liam’s secret, she must learn the true meaning of accepting the ones we love for who they are, or risk losing the best thing that’s ever happened to her. (via Goodreads)

Review

What was written in the blurb was actually literally and figuratively. I'm still processing Liam's secret as I am writing this review. It was surely a deadpan secret. I actually read the revelation part more than twice because I was that shocked! Honestly, I think my unconscious have guessed it already but I'm not just that ready for it until I read the words on my own.

The relationship of Dani and Liam grew in such a realistic way. It wasn't too fast or too slow. It was totally in the right momentum. That's why I felt how genuine it was. They were so dorky together. And I love them so much. Both of them had issues. Dani's issues were more obvious than Liam's. She was chubby! And hey. For the first time in the NA scene, the MC was chubby! All female MCs were all slim! So I guess it's a good kind of change, right? Going back, Dani was obviously not so confident of herself when it comes to guys. But Liam proved her wrong. And oh sheez, Liam was one hell of a book boyfriend!!! I swear. He can make any girl swoon. But yeah, he had a secret and you know what it was? Uh-oh. Better read it so you'll know! Don't want to spoil anything.

When Dani knew Liam's secret, she still proved to him how much she loves him. Boy, she knew the true meaning of love. They worked it out together and they were so happy I can almost see their HEA. But then, there's always something that's gonna ruin their happiness. I hate how some people are such judgmental like that. It just sucks, okay? Why can't just other people leave others alone? But whatever, Dani and Liam were able to get past it.

I can't really talk a lot about this without telling Liam's secret. So yes, better read this! Not your typical secret. I'm pretty sure this is the first book I've read about such. And in a way, it was written in a nice way. At first, I felt awkward but in the long run, I just didn't care anymore. I guess once it's love, it's love?

I just wish I knew what happened to Liam's family afterwards. I would love to know how they were able to come to terms with Liam's secret. Especially her Mother!

Crossing is definitely a unique NA contemporary romance novel. It practically focuses on love that's between two souls. No questions asked. It's unique, swoony, funny and realistic. I believe this book deserves to be read by everyone who is open-minded. Oh yeah, this is inspired by a true story. So don't feel awkward when you feel how realistic it is!

Excerpt

   We run the scene again, this time trying to suss out the intention of the words moreso than the dialogue itself. We both do a little moving across the stage - the blocking is super simple - and then when we hit the middle of the third page we've both made it onto the bench as directed.

   Liam says his last line and the puts his arm around my shoulders while I finish off my mini-monologue. I say it word for word (Quelle surprise! I have my lines memorized) because I'm too nervous to even think about intention.

   I finish talking and then Liam brings his face to min, our lips mere inches apart and says, "And then I plant one on you."

   I open my eyes, embarrassed that I''d closed them and that he'd had his open ans seen me preparing to get kissed and then he didn't fucking kiss me!

   He stands up and stretches his arms above his head. "I don't know, what do you think of the last bit? It all seemed pretty organic until then."    

    I'm quiet for a second, chastising myself for feeling like I'm going to cry because the cute boy won't fake kiss me. It hasn't been that long since his relationship ended! He's nervous. It's fine. He turned down India for crying out loud. It's not about me.

   I always make everything about me.

   "Um," I say, shrugging. "We could try it with you sitting down and me standing behind you during the final monologue. I feel like the should be some sort of physical connection at that point. I can just put my hands on your shoulders or something."

    He comes back over to he bench and sits down. "Let's try that."

    I get up and stand behind him, saying my lines again. While I'm talking, I place my hands on top of his shoulders and he reaches up with his right hand, stroking my right forearm. When it comes time for the They kiss, he lifts my palm up and brings it to his lips, kissing it instead. 

   Somehow, Liam has managed to make our more innocent actions about a hundred time hotter than simply They kiss. I increase my grip on his shoulder with my other hand because I'm not entirely sure that my knees are going to hold me up.

   I blurt out my final line.

  "That blocking works for me," I say,  my voice sounding totally wonky. A shiver runs through my body.

   Liam turns in his chair and smiles up at me. "Yeah, that felt more realistic to me. I mean, Stan and Clara have known each other since they were kids. They have a history. I don't necessarily think he;s suck her face at such an intimate moment."

   I realize I'm still touching his shoulders and actually kind of massaging them. I back up a step.

  "Damn, I was hoping you weren't going to notice you were doing that. It felt good." He scrunches his shoulders up and twists his neck from side to side.

   I go back over to him and resume the massage. "All you need to do was ask, you know. You needn't be a rubdown opportunist."

  Liam leans his head forward and lets out a little moan.

  I press my thighs together in case he decides to make anymore of his pretty, pretty noises and I start to spontaneously orgasm right here and now. 

  About the Author 

Stacey Wallace Benefiel is the author of the Zellie Wells trilogy, FOUND, the Day of Sacrifice series, The Toilet Business - a collection of essays,CROSSING, and multiple short stories.

She sometimes goes by S.W. Benefiel or Reina Stowe, but knows she's not foolin' anybody.

Stacey lives in an orange house in Beaverton, OR with her two young children.

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