Keeping Her

Losing It #1.5

by Cora Carmack

Garrick Taylor and Bliss Edwards managed to find their happily-ever-after despite a rather . . . ahem . . . complicated start. By comparison, meeting the parents should be an absolute breeze, right?

But from the moment the pair lands in London, new snags just keep cropping up: a disapproving mother-in-law-to-be, more than one (mostly) minor mishap, and the realization that perhaps they aren't quite as ready for their future as they thought.

As it turns out, the only thing harder than finding love is keeping it.

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Short Stories, Ebooks

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 13, 2013

About the author

Cora Carmack is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult Romance and YA fantasy. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages around the world. Cora lives in Austin, TX, and on any given day you might find her typing away at her computer, flying to various cities around the world, or just watching Netflix with her kitty Katniss and her dog Sherlock. But she can always be found on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and her website www.coracarmack.com.

***Please note: I am rarely on goodreads, so if you're trying to get a hold of me, the best places to find me are Twitter, Facebook, my blog, Instagram, and via email (coracarmack(at)gmail(dot)com).

Reviews

[Cora Carmack]

Keeping Her is a sequel novella to LOSING IT. It is written from both Garrick and Bliss's POV, and takes place AFTER the events of LOSING IT. Please note though: it is NOT a full-length novel. I never intended to write a full sequel to Bliss's story, but I thought it might be fun to give you a little glimpse into what happens after their happily ever after.

I hope you all enjoy!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edit June:
OH MY GOD, CORA! OH MY GOD!
GARRICK, GARRICK, GARRICK!



OH LORD! MORE OF GARRICK AND BLISS!
GARRICK'S POV! DAMN IT! HOLY SHIT! I CAN'T BREAAAATH!

[Kassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute continuation of Garrick and Bliss :)

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

And just when I thought I couldn't love Garrick even more...

Blurb: Garrick Taylor and Bliss Edwards managed to find their happily-ever-after despite a rather . . . ahem . . . complicated start. By comparison, meeting the parents should be an absolute breeze, right?
But from the moment the pair lands in London, new snags just keep cropping up: a disapproving mother-in-law-to-be, more than one (mostly) minor mishap, and the realization that perhaps they aren't quite as ready for their future as they thought.
As it turns out, the only thing harder than finding love is keeping it.



This novella takes after the events of Losing It and it shows us how Garrick and Bliss' relationship is growing. They're the cutest couple ever. They're so sweet and right to each other. It's so natural for them to be together it's such a beautiful thing to read.

And now the prospect of meeting Garrick's family it's a tangible threat.
We could feel see how his childhood and teen years in London made him miserable. Spoiled by money and all what comes with it and reading how Bliss makes him want to be a better man for her it's so adorable.

Garrick Taylor, you're the most adorable guy I've read this month.


Bliss was overreacting a bit for me, I'm not going to lie. I liked her and I still do but man, she really needed to put on her big girl panties and start getting shit done. I know, I know she got issues but the man is crazy in love with her and he wants her forever and he wants nothing to do with his family so least she can do is suck it up because it's just a weekend and that's it.

I still like you, Bliss, just don't get all dumb again.


Overall it was a satisfying companion to Losing It and I am really happy I read it and Bliss and Garrick are so cute and sexy I'm going to cry.

[Carmen de la Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esta breve historia fue muy dulce. ¡Me encantó esta dulce historia.!

Me encantó ver a Bliss y Garrick en un nuevo entorno y ver cómo actúan. Conocer a la familia de Garrick definitivamente fue un punto importante para mí, y aunque no me gusta particularmente su papá, me gusta la actitud de su madre. Fue genial ver más de ellos y, al igual que el primer libro, ¡esto fue gracioso!

Una cosa que realmente no me gustó fue que terminó demasiado pronto para mí, quería más Bliss y Garrick en Londres.

Los amaba desde que Losing It y no podía perder la oportunidad de volver a verlos. Ambos, Garrick y Bliss, ahora son más maduros, felices y enamorados. Saben lo que quieren y cómo obtenerlo.

Mi parte favorita fue al final cuando Bliss demostró lo bien que conocía a Garrick y que lo único que le importaba era él. Ella evitó que cometiera un horrible error.

Si eres un fan de la serie, ¡realmente no puedes perderte esto!

[Miriam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can I just ask the author community something? Why in the world would you want to have an insecure heroine as a protagonist??

It's becoming an annoying trend. I would understand it if it was because of the character's growth. I love seeing a character evolve from an insecure heroine to being proud of who she has become and kicking ass.

But Bliss?!?!?



You have an amazing guy who literally worships you and you spend the time worrying about how you're not perfect for him?!?!?!

Girl, please. You take insecurity to a new level. You would make a feminist cry like a new-born baby.

What if she took one look at me and confirmed what I already knew to be true? Garrick was too good for me.

But that didn’t mean I was too stupid to know that he could have someone prettier or taller or with less frizzy hair. But he was with me. As long as I didn’t screw it up, of course. And God knows I was good at screwing things up.

And it continues.

I’d fixed my hair, retouched my makeup, donned my best outfit, thrown on my best jewelry, and I was fairly certain that their toilet bowl scrubber still cost more than my entire outfit.

No . . . me being a disaster of awkward proportions was the least surprising thing ever. I’d made a smash all right. Like I was the Hulk’s cousin.

There are so many times when you can listen to an adult talk bad about herself, even when there aren't any reasons to. Bliss was just...wooden. That's the only word I can describe her as. I also hate how she purposely tries NOT to be herself.

I needed to turn off Bliss and become someone else, someone who fit in this place and knew what to say and what not to say.

I mean, I get it, she's as insecure as they come and I probably wouldn't like her character in real life. But seriously? Really? Even Garrick felt the danger bells ringing and he's wrapped around her finger. He wouldn't notice anything about the woman he loved because he's like that.

Bliss smiled, but it was one of those watery, wavering kinds of smiles that made every man want to run for the hills. I’d become well accustomed to Bliss’s panic freak-­outs.

Although I suppose this read wasn't all negative. The one star is for Garrick.

Garrick the British Sweetheart. <3

He was just so sensitive about the way he handled things. I wanted to pull him out of the pages and kiss him right there for being such a darling! I wanted to pull him into my arms and just stroke his face. I wanted to exhibit such creep-like behaviour to him. About halfway through the story,I almost felt that if Garrick wanted to place a restraining order on me for being such a stalker, I'd nod and think that I probably deserved it.

I can't help it though.When a guy says things like these-

She was the ultimate game changer. I hadn't known what it was like to meet a person so full of joy that just by being near her, I was elevated to a happier place. I’d never been with someone who was able to captivate every part of me—­mind, body, and soul.

Again and again, Bliss seemed to be my new beginning, the thing to help me let go of the past and move forward.

-and this

She was my everything—­the lungs that allowed me to breathe, the heart that had to beat, the eyes that let me see. She’d become a part of me, and all that was left was a piece of paper to tell the world we were as inseparable as I already felt we were.

-I can't help but melt into a pool of want. Yes, it's sickeningly cheesy but *shrugs* I just love it when a guy does that. I mean, you won't ever see a guy do that in real life.

Well, if your life isn't a soap opera.

So overall, the short story? It's not even worth the read in my opinion. Run for the hills if you're looking to avoid bad, bad heroines who have the unfortunate ability of pissing a person off.

My Garrick and Bliss

[Jennifer Tariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

my face when i found this.

[Aamina · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!
this book is gonna be from Garrick's POV
happens after the Epilogue
i cannot believe this
I. CANNOT. WAIT.

[Catarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Clumsy Stars!



This short story was real sweet.
It happens after Garrick and Bliss got engaged and they are going to London to meet Garrick’s father. And when they get there Bliss completely understands why he doesn't like to talk about his family.
And with the nerves getting the better of Bliss and increasing her clumsiness, she only wants to be accepted by his family.

I loved this sweet story. It was great to see more of them and just as the book, this was hilarious!!
If you are a fan of the series, you really can’t miss this! ;)

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've waited all day to read this. I loved getting to see Bliss and Garrick in a new environment and seeing how they act. Meeting his family was definitely a high point for me, and while I don't particularly like his Dad, I like the attitude of his Mum.
One thing that I really didn't like was it ended far too soon for me, I wanted more Bliss and Garrick in London.

[Sofia Lazaridou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is a preview for Keeping her!
http://sofia-loves-books.blogspot.gr/...

This is the only book in the series that cannot be read as stand alone. The story takes place some time after Faking it. Bliss and Garrick are engaged now and it's meet the parents time!

Garrick comes from a family with money and his parents have the bad behaviour rich people have. When Bliss met them I didn't like them because they seemed so cold and like they didn't thought her good enough for their son. But in the end I liked his mother a little.

I was really happy when I found out that a novella with Garrick and Bliss would be released. I was fangirling. I loved them from Losing it and I couldn't miss a chance to see them again. Both, Garrick and Bliss, are more mature now, happy and in love. They know what they want and how to get it.

My favorite part was in the end when Bliss proved how well she knew Garrick and how the only thing she cared about was him. She prevented him from making a horrible mistake.

Nothing earth shattering happens but if you have read and liked Losing it you wouldn't want to miss this. For me keeping her was a nice change because for once the couple was already in love and happy. This isn't something that happens really often to me.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leider viel zu kurz!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a cute and lovely story. It continues Bliss and Garrick's love story in London where Bliss finally meets Garrick's parents and introduces her as his fiance. This novella is told from both Garrick and Bliss' point of views. Readers get to witness how strong their relationship is.They both clearly demonstrated that communication, trust, and love was all that they need and that they could handle any obstacles that stood in their way. Plenty of sweet moments between Garrick and Bliss. The ending leaves the readers with a happily ever after and that Garrick and Bliss were clearly made for each other.

[Jessica Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't read this series in a long time. Realized I missed this one it's so good to be reunited to this couple again. A cute romantic comedy with steamy parts loving it. I love Garrick always asking "Marry Me " so sweet.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Losing It, the beginning of Garrick & Bliss’ story. So I was pretty excited when I found out that Cora Carmack was giving us another installment in their journey together and in London no less!!

This book is told from Dual POV, which I found really worked for the issues that were being dealt with. I love Garrick so being able to read what is going through his mind enhanced the story 100% for me. Cora has released a few Garrick POV’s over the last few months, and I must admit that I love his dry British sense of humor and use of Britishisms!

For a short novel, quite a lot happens, but it doesn’t feel too rushed and the story flowed really well. I love that Bliss finally found her confidence to stand up for herself and express her opinions. It also gives us a good look at Garrick’s life prior to moving to the US, in the form of his family and friends. This for me was the main plus point of the book as you don’t get a huge back-story for him in Losing It, mainly because the book is told from Bliss’ POV, but also as he was pretty much on his own in the US.

I only post spoiler free reviews, so as such I can’t really say a lot about the book in itself, as a lot happens in a short amount of time, but I know that anyone who loved Losing it will enjoy this extension (albeit a pretty short one) to Garrick and Bliss’ story.

Finding It - (book 3 in the series) is due for release mid-October, and I hope that as well as giving us Kelsey’s story, we also get further updates on Bliss, Garrick & Cade.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for the above honest review.

[Holly Noelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

ARC supplied by Edelweiss.

Beware of spoilers

0000000

I didn't like the first book in this series so I didn't exactly go into this novella with high hopes. It was not as bad as I thought it would be, but it certainly didn't impress me either. I had issues with this throughout the entire thing and it had only a couple redeeming qualities.

1. Bliss.

Girl, you might very well be one of the most obnoxious chicks I've ever read. I thought Bella Swan was insecure, but you, lady, take the cake. She is engaged to a man, one that hasn't done anything to warrant her doubtful attitude, yet she thinks something as small as sneezing will make him suddenly not want her. Every Bliss chapter meant her rambling on and on about how she worries he'll find someone better. I kind of wanted him, too.

Not to mention she's a straight up child. I understand that opposites attract, but how the hell did she land him again?

2. The pregnancy scare.

Really? This again? This trend of pregnancy freak outs in new adult books is so effing annoying. Other than sexual assault, it seems to be the thing authors go to when the couple is finally happy. I see it a lot in the sequels. No other plot to talk about so let's focus on a pregnancy scare. I actually thought the trip to London would be fun - getting to see a side of Garrick we didn't see in the first book. However, that was dashed early on and the focus became on the nonexistent child.

3. The final argument.

Preach. Preach. Preach.

Preach some more.

I actually thought Garrick was being smart. He was trying to provide for his family - maybe not in the best way - but doing so nonetheless. He was being a dope, but ultimately he had good intentions. Bliss shot him down so fast his head is still spinning. She didn't even give him the opportunity to tell her anything about it before she blew up in his face. While I agreed with some of what she said, her preaching made me want to punch her in the face. He was trying to make good choices for them and she kept going blah blah blah, blah blah blah blah me me me.

Not to mention the whole - I'll leave you before you can do that to yourself - line. I hate empty threats. I rolled my eyes and was glad when it was finally over.

Despite all of that, there were redeeming things about it.

1. His friends.

I thought the interactions with his British friends were actually pretty hilarious. At that point, I texted a friend saying how much I was enjoying this book more than the first. The British slang made it ridiculous, precisely what I thought their trip home would be like. Fun antics while trying to balance his harsh family; but that was all for naught. This scene was the last part I enjoyed of this.

2. The writing.

Carmack is a decent writer with potential. She doesn't write desirable characters or strong plots, but she's capable of fairly good fiction writing. It's by no means Shakespeare, but it's better written than other authors in the new adult genre. I feel like she actually cares what people think when it comes to her writing and for that I applaud her.

Not a great novella, but it had its moments.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t explain how nervous I was when I picked up Losing It. Still a novice when it came to New Adult, my introduction to the category hadn’t always been…successful. I was wary of certain themes particularly virginity and the idea that it was something wrong to possess after a certain age and it’s apparent need to be dispensed with as quickly as possible in order to be considered “normal”. So when I picked up LOSING IT, a book based around the topic I was certain this was a car crash waiting to happen. Happily Cora Carmack’s sensitive, warm and evocative writing quickly dispelled my fears and I fell in love with her realistic,charming and all-round loveable characters. Following Bliss and Garrick’s path towards true love was captivating and the sneak peak we got into their lives in the equally amazing FAKING IT wasn’t enough. Thankfully Cora Carmack is all sorts of awesome and gives us KEEPING HER – an update on how Bliss and Garrick are getting on.

Set approximately a year after LOSING IT, Bliss and Garrick are firmly ensconced in domestic bliss, living in Philly, super busy and successful in their respective careers in the theatre. An upcoming trip to London to finally meet with Garrick’s parents and friends weighs heavily on the couple’s minds. Bliss is terrified that she’ll make a bad impression and probably set her hair on fire and Garrick is nervous about facing his past and the collision of the man he used to be with the man he is now.

Despite the (TOO) short length of this novella, Carmack really packs it in. We get a clear picture into how Bliss and Garrick have grown and connected as a couple, becoming a solid team, totally in love but still susceptible to both their own insecurities and outside pressures. I loved reading how they sorted through their issues and came out stronger in the end. There’s a major plot-line which causes all the chaos which I CANNOT spoil because it was so exciting and had me on tenterhooks and clicking desperately page after page to find out how it would all end up and I can only say when you come to the end you’ll probably scream NOOOOOOO that CC would leave you there…right there! Seriously can’t we have like a monthly newsletter or something? This cannot be the end!

Packed full of awesome pop culture references (If you don’t know who Alex Mack is you need to plan a DVD marathon like yesterday!) and fab new characters including the irrepressible Rowland and mischievous Graham and let’s not forget the chilly (I called her a cold fish) Mrs. Taylor! Eek! KEEPING HER is the perfect companion to Carmack’s amazing LOSING IT series. With FINDING IT’s release day around the corner it was just enough to keep us Bliss and Garrick fans both satisfied and asking (begging) for just.a.little.bit.more…please?

READ THIS SERIES NOW!

[Carien · Rating 3 out of 5]

When looking for the next book in this series I noticed this novella. It was less than 4 Euro so I bought it together with the second book in the series.

And this is a nice read.

It's a novella so not a lot is happening, but it is a nice little extra to Bliss' story. There's lots of British ale, meddling family, miscommunication, and a happy end.

All in all a short and fun read for those who want a little bit more Bliss and Garrick after having read Losing It.

[Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten)]

*want* *want* *want* *want* *want* *want* *want* *want* *want* *want* *want* *want* *want* *want*

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore Gerrick & Bliss, so why just 3 stars? I am not sure what I was expecting, but this felt way less than 100 pages. It was simply just one scene - a good scene, but still just a scene.

[Jana Aston · Rating 4 out of 5]

...... that was really short. Ends at 71% the rest is a teaser for her next book. Heh. It was good enough. I don't know why it was necessary to the story.

[Charlotte · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wat een slap verhaal.

[Verónica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Que bonito volver a vivir una divertida historia junto a Garrick y Bliss. Si te gustó su primera parte, no puedes perderte esta historia corta.
Como siempre, se me queda demasiado corta. ¿Por qué no una segunda parte con el futuro prometedor de estos dos o con su boda?

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

As soon as I heard Cora was writing a novella about Garrick and Bliss I was all kinds of excited. And then when I heard it was dual POV, I was even MORE excited! Don't get me wrong- I loved and adored Cade's story, but I did find myself missing Garrick and Bliss, wondering what they were up to. Losing It was such a cute, fun read and one of my favorite things about Bliss was her awkwardness and clumsiness. It makes her very endearing to me. So happy to report that Bliss is still the same cute, awkward character in this novella. Garrick is as swoon-worthy as ever, but maybe even more so now that we can hear his thoughts and really see just how much Bliss truly means to him.

The novella begins with Garrick and Bliss preparing to travel to London to meet his parents. Bliss is beyond nervous. And with good reason! Meeting the boy's parents is always nerve-wracking. However, Bliss isn't the only nervous one. Garrick is quite nervous himself, as he knows how his parents (his mother in particular) are. He loves Bliss for who she is and the last thing he wants is to see his parents tear down and rip apart the one girl he wants to spend forever with.

I really felt for Bliss because in this novel we really see all her insecurities come to light. Not only is she afraid that his mother won't like her, but she is intimidated by the fact that he comes from money. She is afraid she won't fit in, that she won't be considered good enough for him. There were times where Bliss's inner monologue did get a little irritating because we can all see how much Garrick loves and adores her, but to be completely honest? I would probably feel the same way. It's so easy to look at all the surface things and ask yourself, 'What does this guy see in me when he could have so much more?'

I adored Garrick. He was always there to bring Bliss back down and was patient with her, always reassuring her that things would be ok. He knows meeting his parents is intimidating, but he is determined to make things go as smoothly as possible for her. His mom is really a piece of work though. I can't stand women who put on this fake, cheery demeanor and then spit poison at you all with a smile on their face.

"She's very sweet, Garrick. Is it just the clumsiness she's overcompensating for? Or something worse?" (e-ARC 39)

Ouch. Not only does Garrick have his mother to worry about, but he has some history with his father also. His father is one of those business success types who is only concerned with appearance. Garrick even goes so far to say that his father threw him and Bliss a surprise engagement party with the intent of impressing others, not for his son's sake. His father also doesn't hesitate in reintroducing him to a business associate who Garrick interned for when he was younger. He hopes to direct his son towards a more prosperous job opportunity. Garrick loves performing and doing theater and the last thing he wants is his father shoving a job offer down his throat. After spending just a few minutes with his parents we can definitely see why Garrick left when he was younger.

Seeing as this is a novella, there really isn't a whole lot of time to develop conflict and then resolve it. However, Carmack does a good job of throwing in a curveball for Bliss that has the potential to change everything. Instead of sitting down right away and talking to Garrick, she ends up trying to push him away and leaves him feeling very unsettled at not knowing what is wrong. Again, I felt for her. She is dealing with the stress of meeting his parents for the first time, knowing they are not overly welcoming and now has another issue to tackle. I think she handles it just fine and I was glad when she caved and told Garrick. They are a team and whatever problems they have, they should be facing them together.

Overall, this is a really cute novella and I'm so glad that we got to see Garrick and Bliss again. Garrick's friends Rowland and Graham were a hoot to read about and maybe Garrick's mom isn't as bad as we originally thought... I'm so ready to read Kelsey's book next!

*Received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*

[Camila (previously the opinionated Catruler) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5*

After reading and loving Finding It, I couldn't help but get my hands on this novella, especially since I had already bought it. Here we re-encounter the first couple in the Losing It series, but this time we get the opportunity to explore both Bliss' and Garrick's POVs. To be honest, it was fantastically done.

The thing I love about Cora Carmack is that all her characters are different and unique, even if some are hard to love at first. Bliss, Garrick, Cade, Max, Kelsey, Jackson... it wasn't love at first sight. Even though Garrick is the most lovable and maybe cliched character, he's still true to himself and has flaws. Bliss might be annoying to some, but I can absolutely relate to her. I think Cormack deals with her insecure personality very realistically. I honestly can understand every single one of her panic attacks and hesitant moves. That's my two years ago self, sometimes even the actual me. And, besides, as a fictional character she can be quite adorable. The Harry Potter scene was so cute, I can totally see why Garrick fell in love with her.

A thing I can understand might be an issue for some is the British slang. I've read reviews that criticize that, even though seeing Garrick in the American environment was fairly well-done, the London reunion with actual British people made it evident the books were written by an American. Honestly, I'm not familiarized enough with the differences since English isn't even my first language. It didn't affect the story for me at all. I actually LOVED Garrick's "love". If I hadn't been sitting I might have fallen. Accents just fucking do it for me. Even the ones I hear in my head. Especially those.

Overall, Keeping Her is a great addition for the series that all Bliss and Garrick lovers will probably enjoy. And, for the record, I'd say yes to Garrick every single time.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novella was pointless. I don't even think I'm going to write a full review. It was more of Bliss whining about how she's not good enough and how klutzy she is and how she doesn't deserve Garrick. Blah. The only good thing about this was it took place in London. And since only one page was devoted to all of the site seeing that they did, that couldn't even save it. Also, someone please explain to me why almost all new adult books need to have a pregnancy - either real or a scare. It's almost like authors just don't know what to do with their characters so they just add a baby. Ugh. Where is Cade's book? #TeamCade

[Nay Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty great novella to Losing It. I love Garrick and Bliss. They overcame their shortcomings in this. I loved that they went to London and encountered his family and friends. Bliss definitely went in head first, but she came out on top with their love still intact. Perfect.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update 19.8.13

Finished the book.... review to come.




OH.MY.GOD!! GARRICK'S POV!!! Can't wait!!

[qnlps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooooh from the BRIT's point of view ;)

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Short. Bridging. Honestly, I was just happy to see that half of it was in Garrick's point of view x) <3