BLOG TOUR: Because of You by T.E. Sivec

(Playing with Fire series, book 2)

Brady Marshall has made a career of playing it safe. When he decides to do something rash and becomes a Navy SEAL, he thinks he's finally escaped the rigid structure of the high society life his parents forced down his throat. All he does is trade in one set of rules for another. He follows military protocol to a T, but it still results in the death of an entire team of Navy SEALS and puts his best friends directly in harm's way. He’s struggled to stay afloat and not drown in grief, guilt, and booze, but he's losing that battle quickly. When his baby sister flees her abusive husband and shows up on his doorstep with his young niece in tow, he has no choice but to clean up his act. He will stop at nothing to protect them and never let them down again, even if it means taking a job that goes against everything he believes in. If protecting a pop star princess who thinks she's better than everyone means he can keep a roof over their head, what other choice does he have? 

Layla Carlysle has lived a life of luxury. She's been a star since the young age of fifteen, and every record she releases shoots straight to the top of the charts. She has people surrounding her every single day telling her how amazing she is, how beautiful she is, and how lucky she is, but she’s never felt more alone in her entire life. She wants nothing more than to break free and do what she really wants to do: write her own music, sing her own songs, and find a way to finally be happy with her life. The only thing standing in her way is her mother, Eve Carlysle. Eve has controlled every single aspect of her daughter’s life and will stop at nothing to achieve fame and fortune, even if that means using her daughter to get there. When an overly-amorous fan’s letters become increasingly more sinister, Brady will have to suck up his opinion of how the other half lives to take the job seriously. The pair will need to learn to trust each other and put aside their differences before the letters become a reality and someone’s life is in jeopardy. 

Brady has been to hell and back, and he refuses to let anyone else get close to him again. Layla has never lived her life for herself, and the emptiness is threatening to break her for good. 

Sometimes our lives are already planned for us, but because of you, all of that could change in an instant.

"Because of you, I am stronger than I've ever been. Because of you, I can finally live my own life and make my own choices. You sent me that note and you gave my father back to me. You gave my life back to me. Because of you being here right now, coming here tonight, even though it took you long enough...I know that I never want to be without you again." - Layla 

I can sum up this novel in three, little words: HOT. AS. FUUUUUUUUCK.

We all have that one author that holds a super special place in our heart – you know, the one that you took a chance on when they released their debut novel and you had absolutely no idea what kind of writer they were. You just bought their book and prayed that it was worth your time. And then when you were balls deep into the story, anxiously flipping page after page, something happened – you fell in love with someone you didn’t even know. Then before you know it, you’re creeping on them on their website, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace (God I hope no one still has a MySpace) and you’re looking for any news on when they are releasing their next book and it’s never soon enough…well, at least not for me because I never could grasp that virtue. By now you’re probably wondering where this is going and since I refuse to be patient, I won’t ask you to be either…….

Tara Sivec is that author that holds a super special place in my heart.

I have read every book she has published, and after I finished Because of You, I literally sat here thinking “How the fuck does she do it?” She has yet to disappoint with her work, and Because of You juuuust might top my love for A Beautiful Lie. The story of Brady and Layla evokes an array of emotions and has a depth that a lot of romance novels lack; this isn’t just about the two main characters and their feelings for each other. It’s about Brady’s commitment to his sister and niece, his willingness to do whatever it takes to provide for them, and his attempt to conquer his demons. It’s about Layla’s heartbreaking childhood, her terrifying run-ins with a desperate man who has made it his mission to have her for his own, and her attempt to please her mother…even if it means forfeiting her real dreams. It’s just so much more than your regular run-of-the-mill romance/suspense novel. It will make you grin, make your heart race, make you cry, and oh yes…it will make you so hot you will feel your heartbeat in your vagina. I’m not kidding. I felt my heartbeat in my vagina during a couple scenes. Or maybe my vagina was just fist pumping out of excitement. Either way, you get my point – it’s hot. And I refuse to give away any spoilers, but I just need to say one thing right now. THE ENDING IS JUST…IT’S JUST…JESUS TITS, I can’t even say anything without giving something away!!!! Just know this – your heart might stop for several minutes. I know mine did.

Tara’s writing is near flawless, and is the kind that will make you stay up until 4 AM even though you have to work at 8 AM because it’s absolutely impossible to find a good stopping point. I don’t know how she does it, but I pray she never stops because I am so in love with her writing…and clearly my vagina is a pretty big fan, too. Because of You is just another 5 star piece of perfection that reiterates why Tara is that author for me. Now if you’ll excuse me…I guess I’ll try to go learn that little virtue called patience while I wait for the third book in this series.

Oh, one last thing –here are my Brady and Layla ;) 

Purchase on Amazon Kindle

Purchase from Barnes and Noble

Click HERE to enter the giveaway for a signed paperback copy of Because of You and a bunch of other goodies!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Author

T.E. Sivec is the pen name for Tara Sivec. Under T.E. Sivec, she delves into a more serious genre that is her absolute favorite to read -- romantic suspense. She loves reading a book and feeling her heart speed up with anticipation and wanted to be able to give that feeling to her fans. T.E. lives in Ohio with her husband and two children, living the dream of being a full-time writer. 

T.E. Sivec I Facebook I Goodreads