[Blog Tour] Getting By (A Knight's Tale I) by Claudia Y. Burgoa: Review & Giveaway

Author: Cladia Y. Burgoa

Release date: February 18th 2014

Publisher: Literally Alpaca Illustrations, LLC

Series: A Knight's Tale I

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tour organized by: Xpresso Book Tours

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Add to your library: Goodreads

When Emma Anderson arrived at San Francisco International Airport, she regretted accepting the distinction of being the maid of honor to Gaby’s—her childhood friend—wedding. It had been years since the last time she set foot in Menlo Park, where her parents had been killed. The rug where she had been shoving her feelings since that day looked bumpier than a camel’s hump. Who could blame her; if she hadn’t been selfish they’d still be around. Ever since that fateful day, Emma has been perfecting the knack of Getting By.

Cade’s wedding in Menlo Park—a city close to San Francisco—might be the perfect place for Jake Knight to shake the memories of his ex, Emma Anderson for good. Single, available women galore for an entire week was the perfect medication, one he intended to take three times a day for an entire week to return to his player days. It was a plan the former spy thought flawless until he came face to face with the maid of honor. Jake’s perfect retreat turns into a flight, fight or hide week of celebrations. (via Goodreads)

I've been reading a lot of NA novels lately and I'm pretty sure there's this standard formula already. Broken Girl + Perfect Boy = Messed Up Life Together (Or so they believe so one will stay away from the other) or vice versa. Or to the extreme that they are both broken. It's been getting a little too cliche-y already but I kept on reading NA novels anyway. Why? I'm particularly interested at how the characters will cope with their believed brokenness.

Getting By had that standard formula. Emma believed she was too broken to have a relationship because of her past. It bothered her a lot and I was too. What she experienced was traumatic but then I didn't feel how traumatic it was. It was all words for me and not emotions. She kept on blaming herself for what happened when she should have been looking at the greater picture. I know she was definitely in denial since she was being too workaholic. Work was her outlet. She kept herself busy so she won't think about anything else. Until Jake came. Emma's wit totally caught him. Me too actually. Her wit kept me laughing a lot of times. She may have a hard life especially at socializing with strangers and even estranged friends but she definitely has a great personality she saves only to those who deserves it. For the most part, I felt that she was just this vulnerable woman who can't seem to give herself away to someone especially not after what happened to her family. But then things change and so do people.

Jake too was broken. I can definitely say that Jake is one of those Godly bachelors. He's too young to have achieved all of those things. But then that's his character in the novel. I really don't mind anyway. He was protective when it comes to his loved ones and that says a lot. His attraction to Emma was undeniable. As much as I wanted to feel their connection, I didn't. Yet it was fine for me because I just know they belong together. Does that even make sense? Jake can't also take the risk. It was too much for him to handle. Between Emma and Jake, I felt that Jake carries a lot more burden because he was definitely in charge about the matter in his troubled past yet it didn't mean that what happened was his fault. Bad things happen especially at his line of work. Still he can't seem to let it go because it was that bad.

Jake and Emma's romance took on a toll but I know they'll end up together. I just know they belong with each other. They did stay away from each other but fate surely has another plan for them. I just didn't understand something at the last part. Jake was the one who doesn't want something and yet in the end, he told Emma that he'll wait until she's ready for it. It's a little confusing for me since I know Emma was definitely the one who wanted that something. ANYWAY. I might spill something up so I have to stop now.

What I loved the most about this novel is Mitch, Jake's twin brother. I can't seriously wait to read his story in the second book of the series. He's just so charming. End of discussion.

I cannot finish this review without saying that Claudia's writing is one of most flawless I've ever encountered. Is that even the right way to put it? It's just that her writing is so smooth and easy like the words came from her effortlessly without trying so hard. I'd be surely looking out for her other novels in the future.

You'll laugh a lot because of Emma's wit. You'll swoon a lot because of Jake's sweetness. You'll smile a lot because of Mitch's charm. You'll definitely feel safe because of Jake's family. You'll find peace and hope because of the love brought together by two people who have been lost.

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.