Review: Finding Laila by T.K. Rapp

REVIEW:

Wow.  Not sure where to begin with review.  I LOVED this story!  I can relate to Laila in the fact that I got along with the boys better than the girls and at times still do.  Girls can be so catty and Laila figures out quick to leave them alone but to also if they're gonna talk, play along, it's more fun.

These four boys have become her barmy, brother army.  They have been together since they were five and have helped each other through so much.  Even as they began to change and may have seen each other differently, they didn't let it effect them and stayed close.

It is now senior year and things are about to really change for this little group. As much as it sucks, change is just a way of life.  Friendships change.  Sometimes we become closer, sometimes we become more distant.  Laila, like most girls, isn't ready for this change.  It's scary.  She's always had her barmy.  Not only are they going separate ways and getting close to goodbyes, secrets are being revealed that some of the group never see coming.  However, through it all, they are there for each other.

This group has such a true friendship. No matter what happens, they are there for each other.  This is a story about how letting go is hard.  It is about a strong bond between these 5 amazing people.  It is about a journey for Laila finding herself.

The only bad thing about this book....the epilogue.  NEVER saw it coming!  T.K. Rapp came out of nowhere and hit me upside the head.  Get your tissues ready, this is an amazing read and one that will stick me.

~Jade
5 Stars

Release Day: Finding Laila by T.K. Rapp

Title: Finding Laila
Author: T.K. Rapp
Release Date: Jan 13, 2015
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Joey, Cole, Haden and Braxton have been a constant in my life since I was five, and I have loved being one of the guys.
I’ve been cheerleader.
I’ve been study partner.
I’ve been listener.
When we’re young, we don’t realize the profound impact certain people will have on our lives. I had no idea twelve years ago I’d meet four boys who would turn out to be my best friends, my soul mates - my barmy.
Now school is almost done, our last summer together is drawing closer, and I’m trying to hold on to what we have while I still can. After this we’ll have to say goodbye to each other, as our choices will take our lives in different directions. But I don't know if our friendship can survive once secrets and surprises begin revealing themselves to us at every turn.
When it’s all said and done, will our friendships remain unbreakable? Or will our once strong bond prove to be weaker than we anticipated?
Letting go is harder than I thought, but some changes are necessary.
And finding Laila…finding myself…may be the greatest journey of all.

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“I guess we know the flavor of the week,” a female voice says from behind me, causing several others with her to laugh.
I know they’re talking about me. They’re always talking about me. It’s been this way since I was in seventh grade, but I’ve made it my mission to ignore it.
“She certainly gets around,” another voice chimes in.
Cole is sitting to my left, Haden to my right and both guys are staring at the field, but neither is paying attention to the game. I watch out of my peripheral as Haden’s forearm muscles tense and relax while Cole bites his lip. They are intently focused on the words being thrown at me, but keep quiet for the time being.
“She must be good because they all stick around,” a guy’s voice states in salacious tone that makes me nauseous.
I don’t wait for another barb to be hurled my way, even though I know it’s coming. I throw my arm around Haden and whisper something in his ear before kissing his cheek then turning to do the same to Cole. I lean forward to see Joey, who is next to Cole and give him a wink, “I’ll get you later, Baby.”
He shakes his head and laughs, “Why must you stir the pot?”
Haden smiles - proud of my display - and it pushes me on.
I turn to look at the three classmates who have stopped chattering long enough to watch my little show, jaws hanging open. I shrug my shoulders, and answer Joey, “I’m just giving them what they want.”
One of the girls, Kasey, looks at me and raises a brow, “And what about Braxton?”
I glance over to Cole who’s listening to everything, but is still watching the game. He smirks, as if he knows what’s coming and a smile of my own begins to break.
They are gawking at me when I turn and wet my lips before winking at the girls.
“If he wins, we all win,” I say huskily.
“Touchdown!” The announcer yells and the crowd jumps to their feet to celebrate. All but the three jerks behind me.

T.K. Rapp is a Texas girl born and raised. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from Texas A&M and it was there that she met the love of her life. He had a contract with the U.S. Navy that would take them across both coasts, and ultimately land them back home in Texas.
Upon finally settling in Texas, T.K. worked as a graphic designer and photographer for the family business that her mom started years earlier. She was able to infuse her creativity and passion, into something she enjoyed, but something was still missing. There was a voice in the back of her head that told her to write, so write, she did. And, somewhere on an external hard drive, are several stories she started and never finished.
Now at home, raising her two daughters, T.K. has more time to do the things she loves, which includes photography and writing. When she’s not doing one of those, she can be found with her family, which keeps her busy. She enjoys watching her kids in their various sporting activities (i.e. doing the soccer mom thing), having Sunday breakfast at her parent’s house, singing out loud and out of key or dancing like a fool. She loves raunchy humor, gossip blogs and a good book.

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Blog Tour and Review: Mine to Steal by T.K. Rapp

Title: Mine to Steal
Series: Mine to Love #2
Author: T.K. Rapp
Release Date: June 12, 2014
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In life and business, Trey Miller has always been the good guy. Nothing wrong with that, since it’s gotten him everywhere he has needed to be. His startup company is a success and growing so much that he is gaining the attention of larger corporations.

By all accounts, Trey has it all, but the one place he fails is love.

He thought he might have had something with Emogen Kane, but she was taken before he even had a chance. Now, he hides behind work, unwilling to take any risks in the love department.

When Trey finds himself vying for a huge account against Faith Young, he knows he’s going to have to play it tough to win. Faith is smart, attractive and rumor has it, she lands every account she goes after.

When Faith is thrown into his path at every turn, Trey starts to feel that it is more than a coincidence. Knowing that Faith has a boyfriend douses the flame that he was starting to feel, until he realizes that the guy might not at all be what he seems.

Trey let go once, but he’s determined to win it all this time. Does he have it in him to roll up his sleeves and get dirty? And if he does, will he finally end up with the girl?

REVIEW:  Trey is always the good guy.  Instead of fighting for the girl he likes, he let's her go, into the arms of the man who loves her more.  When his boss' won't listen to him about how and why things were going wrong, Trey doesn't fight it.  He begins his own company instead.  Even though he's the good guy, he never finishes last like you would think.  It seems like being the good guy gets him exactly where he needs to be.  There is only one thing missing, a special someone. 

Trey thought he had fallen for Emogen.  He finally realizes that she was never really his and throws himself into work.  Trey's brother comes to town to help, which by Trey's description, you would think it's going to be a big disaster.  Turns out to be a good thing.  He teaches Trey to loosen up and in turn, Trey meets a girl.  

Unfortunately, Trey is off to catch a new client but things become complicated.  Trey has to spend time with his competition during this weekend sales pitch.  However, this competition turns out to be someone he knows.  Faith is the competition and works for the company that Trey left.  It becomes a fight to the finish.  Finally, Trey learns that there are some things that are worth fighting for.


~Jade
4.5 Stars

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We make visual contact with each other and neither of us says a word.
I’ve never played paintball before, but these few short minutes are the most fun I’ve had in a while. I watch Faith as she, with pinpoint precision, peeks from behind the tree and hits a target that is running past. Poor bastard never saw her. I give her a thumbs up and peek out from behind my spot and shoot two rounds, hitting a guy who was about to shoot one of my teammates.
I nod to Faith and mouth, “How many?”
She shrugs and lifts her head up, I assume she’s doing a mental tally and when she shows me a count of eight, I smile. Sixteen of us came in, and we’ve shot two of our opponents. She starts laughing and points, waving me over. I peek around the wall and when I see the coast is clear, I sling my gun over my shoulder and make run for it. She shoots three times, and I hear another guy groan somewhere behind me, but I don’t bother to check where the noise came from.
I dive at the last moment and trip over a branch that sticks out of the ground and tumble toward Faith. Before I land, possibly hurting her, I try to push away throwing myself onto my back to avoid a collision. Somehow she ends up on top of me and covers my mouth with her hand. She raises a finger up to silence me and points somewhere past me.
I’m not sure what her plan is, but I’ll let her stay where she is for as long as she wants. Faith turns to check both sides and whispers, “Make that five more left.”
“What now?” I ask before she drops her face to my neck.
She muffles a whisper, “Someone’s behind us. Be. Still.”

She takes a sip of her drink and smiles. “Does she love you or hate you?”

“I think it probably depends on the day.”
_____________________

“The idea of you always made me excited, but the reality of you in my life and in my heart is better than anything I could imagine.”
_____________________

“I see a future, and I want it with her.”
_____________________

"You deserve more than an open relationship, Faith. You deserve someone who's going to treat you like a queen. Someone who wants to spend as much time with you as possible and has no desire to be with anyone else, no matter how far apart you are."
_____________________

"Faith Young, you drive me insane. You push every button, pick fights, make me laugh, and impress me with your talent. Somewhere along the way, I fell for you."
_____________________

“Women have to be the most confusing beings on the planet.”
_____________________

“Hell no, I saw it in her eyes. She wants a ride on the Jett.”

Mine to Lose (Mine to Love #1) – Released Jan 2014

What happens when the fairy tale ends before it even begins?

Three years, two graduations, an engagement and a move to another, Emogen and Ryan are more in love than ever. He’s the one man she never expected to have and the only man she’s determined to keep. He’s her forever, and there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for him.

Almost, that is
.
Ryan announces that he’s accepted a job offer that requires yet another move. Angry he didn’t discuss his decision with her first, Emogen refuses to pack up and follow. She has a career, too, and she’s not ready to give it up.

Although determined to make the long distance thing work, their lives and careers begin to take a toll on the relationship, leaving them to wonder if they’re doing the right thing.

Sometimes love isn’t enough.

When you lose the one thing you are certain of, will you fight to get it back? Or will you let it go?

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Being There – Released July 2013

When Cass Howard was young, she never dreamed she would have the perfect job, living in New York, with an amazing man by her side.

That’s a good thing…because none of that ever happened.
Drew Alexander was the one person who knew Cass better than almost anyone, and the friendship that developed in high school carried them to college. Despite the distance, their bond grew stronger, revealing to each of them what they meant to each other. A series of fleeting moments and a string of failed relationships helped them realize that what they really wanted, what they needed, was each other.

But that was five years ago, and sometimes things just don’t work out.

Now twenty-five, Cass finds herself living in Houston, working at a small publishing house as an editor. By most accounts, she appears happy, however she has managed to avoid a true relationship, opting to channel all of her energy on work, despite protests from her best friend.
The only thing that can drag her away is the annual girls’ weekend, which comes at the best possible time, because Cass has just learned life-altering news. With the most recent blow to her life looming overhead, will the getaway with her closest friends change her outlook on life? Or will her inability to put the past behind her stifle any chance she has of moving on? Will she ever be able to open up and let those who love her be there for her?

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What inspired you to begin writing? Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I was a reader as a kid, but by the time I got to high school, I hated it - because I had to do it all the time. I started reading again a few years ago and fell in love with Slammed by Colleen Hoover. Something about that story just got me. So that's what got me inspired.

I was always journaling and my mind was always working. Funny you ask this, because I was just telling my mom that I remember daydreaming fantastical romances, how they played out, the makeup and breakup of it all. I never wrote them down. It wasn't until about 9 years ago, I started writing short stories and poems, but nothing came of them. In fact, I still have the file, but since it was password protected, I can't access them. LOL! I guess that's a sign they were no good. :-p
_______

Who is your favorite character you’ve ever written, and why?

OH DAMN!! Okay, let me think!

The obvious answer for me is Cass, because she is my first. So much of her personality and inner struggles with who she is, I've been there.

Then there's Jett - okay, clearly I'm not a dude, but I can be obnoxious and annoying like that. When I was growing up, I loved to make others uncomfortable by talking about sex and saying inappropriate things. I LOVE writing Jett, because he's fun! People want Jett's story, and I want to write it. I KNOW it. But I'm so worried about not doing him justice.
_______

If you HAD to choose between your male characters, which would you choose?

I love all of them! (Except Brad!) But if I HAD to pick, I'm going to say Drew. He's strong, says what he wants and wears his heart on his sleeve. There was something about him that was imperfectly perfect. He just makes me smile.
_______

What’s on the horizon for T.K. Rapp?

LOTS!! LoL! I have 4 other stories in my head, but I can't walk and chew gum at the same time. So for now, I'm working on an untitled YA story inspired by my girls. They want so badly to read my books, so this one is for the older - high school - versions of them. I'm really excited about this one! I also have 3 signings coming up this year, so maybe I'll get to meet some people!
_______

Rapid questions –
Favorite musician? The Avett Brothers or Mumford & Sons.
Favorite movie? SHIT! Um! Off the top of my head "Dazed & Confused."
Favorite book? Toss up! "Slammed" or "In the Band"
Favorite quote? "Laugh at what you did today, it's all been done before." Tripping Daisy! (I love them!!)
Favorite color? Teal

T.K. Rapp is a Texas girl born and raised. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from Texas A&M and it was there that she met the love of her life. He had a contract with the U.S. Navy that would take them across both coasts, and ultimately land them back home in Texas.
Upon finally settling in Texas, T.K. worked as a graphic designer and photographer for the family business that her mom started years earlier. She was able to infuse her creativity and passion, into something she enjoyed, but something was still missing. There was a voice in the back of her head that told her to write, so write, she did. And, somewhere on an external hard drive, are several stories she started and never finished.
Now at home, raising her two daughters, T.K. has more time to do the things she loves, which includes photography and writing. When she’s not doing one of those, she can be found with her family, which keeps her busy. She enjoys watching her kids in their various sporting activities (i.e. doing the soccer mom thing), having Sunday breakfast at her parent’s house, singing out loud and out of key or dancing like a fool. She loves raunchy humor, gossip blogs and a good book.

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