LoveLines

The Wilmington Saga #1

by S. Walden

Librarian's Note: This is an alternate cover for ASIN B00J7ZCN8G


"That's how I constantly felt, that I lacked the abilities others had to function normally."

Thirty-one-year-old proofreader Bailey Mitchell is a slave to her tics. She inherited Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder from her father, and it's done nothing but inhibit her love life. She's run the gamut of boyfriends--none of them willing or able to cope with her condition.

When she meets 32-year-old Reece Powell, her new coworker at Beach Elite Marketing Firm, everything changes. He falls in love with Bailey just as she is--quirks and all--and she, in turn, opens her life to him. His love seems to change her--to help her better manage her OCD. But when tragedy strikes, she is consumed by the destructive nature of her condition. Reece sees the ugly side, and he's left with a choice: stay or run.

(Standalone. Adult content.)

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Adult, Humor, Mental Illness

397 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

S. Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. She is the USA Today bestselling author of Going Under. When she's not writing, she's thinking about it.

She loves her fans and loves to hear from them. Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com and follow her twitter feed at @swaldenauthor.

Summer Walden

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 counting and bouncing stars!!!



When I first started this book, I thought ‘Oh goodie, a funny and light read! Yay!’ It was very funny, and it had it’s light moments, but don’t let the cover fool you. It was so much more than just a funny read. I was surprised with how much emotion it evoked from me. Heart warming and heart breaking. My favorite combination!

Our fantabulous heroine, Bailey Mitchell, struggles with OCD. Not the ‘Nothing can be out of place, I’m soooo OCD’ type. The real thing. With the tics and all consuming need to control her thoughts and surroundings. She inherited it from her father. She’s thirty one years old and is still trying to get control of it.

Yes, these are the thoughts that occupy my brain on a daily basis: How many steps to take. How many hairbrush strokes. Making sure I line up my proofreading pens just so. Making sure my make-up is just so. Sitting in my fucking desk chair just so.

Reece Powell is the new marketing guy at work, and from the first moment he lays eyes on Bailey, he is completely taken. Even though it’s against work policy to date co- workers, he has to know her. The more he knows about her, the more he likes. OCD and all.



Reece and Bailey may be the most funny and adorable book couple ever. Their banter and friends to lovers tale was hilarious. I loved how Reece accepted Bailey for who she was. He wanted to help her, not change her. He found her quirkiness endearing. They had me cracking up, out loud laughing so many times!


“You’re not supposed to take my pens!” I shouted. He came at me, slamming me up against the door, and kissing me hard. “God, you’re so fucking hot,” he said into my mouth. Well, this was confusing. “You and your fucking pens and the tapping and... oh my God...”

The humor was such a large part of the story, but there was so so much more! Reece and Bailey both had some issues. Bailey with the OCD. No relationship she had ever had was successful. No one could handle it for the long term. She’s used to being cast aside, discarded when things get rough. Thats why she is the way she is.

I like to discover those discarded treasures, adopt them, bring them home, and clean them up. I think I relate to them in a way. No one wants me, so I understand how they feel. I mean, just because we’re quirky doesn’t mean we lack value.

Reece grew up a completely different way than Bailey. As a foster kid, all he ever wanted was to find a place where he fit in. A place where he belongs.

“I never had a permanent home. I was moved around a lot as a kid, and I learned quickly not to get attached to things because they were often taken away.”

Reece has found that place in Bailey. He wants to belong with her. OMG I cannot explain how much I loved Reece. He was the most refreshingly awesome book boy I’ve read in the longest! He was PERFECT.



Reece was really too adorable for words. I just wanted to love him and hug him.

“Beboppin’ Bailey. Better Than All the Rest Bailey. Best Decision I Ever Made Bailey. Bet on That Girl Bailey. Beat the Odds Bailey... Bait Me with a Kiss Bailey... Because I Love Her Bailey.”

There were so many sweet and touching moments. When I read this line- I cried like a baby.

“I’m adopting you.”

Bailey and Reece’s relationship was great. They got each other. Being with someone who will stand by her is a new thing for Bailey. She’s not used to it. When something awful happens to Bailey, she goes to her normal. Finding solace in her tics and rituals instead of leaning on those closest to her. Reece tries to break that cycle. Will he get Bailey to lean on him? Or will she be claimed by this disorder that consumes her?


This book was fantastic. It read almost like your favorite romantic comedy would. With a little heartbreak, a little drama, and a lot of humor and love. So different from the other book I have read by this author, but just as well written. Bailey and Reece had this amazing connection and chemistry. They were both extremely lovable and wonderful main characters. I loved the secondary characters as well.

This story is a shining example of finding true love regardless of your faults and imperfections. And the tag line is perfection. Her OCD makes his heart ‘tic’. Love it! I fell in love with this story and the characters. A wonderful read by a very talented author. This is for sure going on my favorites list. Highly recommended!

“I knew life moments happened that way. They made no sense, and I didn’t think we were supposed to make them. I think we were just supposed to experience them, grow from them, and hopefully come out the other side as better people. Life is nothing but juxtaposing the good with the bad. We have to learn how to handle both—how to cope with the frightening events and embrace the joyous ones.”

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Phablous Stars

S. Walden seriously out did herself with this story, I thought it was absolutely wonderful!

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First and foremost there is a great cast of characters. The humor in the story is not the over the top type but still downright hilarious. Oh the heartbreak... both sad and happy tears were shed amongst these pages. Top all of the above off with some seriously smoking hot sex scenes and this story became an instant favorite of mine!

Bailey lives with OCD, a mental disorder that at times runs her life and sadly has ruined all of her relationships to date. She has the greatest best friend, Erica as well as a wonderful father and a mother and sister who at times just don’t get it.

”I was my father’s child, and my inheritance would prove to be the greatest obstacle to meaningful romance.”

Reece Powell is completely taken with Beboppin' Bailey even though it’s against company policy. He is determined to get to know her. Bailey is upfront about her disorder and Reece is truthful about his past. I found them to be a terrific book couple, from their antique shopping down to their smoldering sex scenes and everything in between.

Bailey’s best friend Erica is super supportive, as well as a laugh a minute…

”Judgment? When have I ever judged you? I fed my kids fish sticks four times this week, okay? No judgement.”

The more time Bailey spends with Reece the less control her tics have over her. Reece is supportive from the get go...

”Will you fold pants, too?” he asked. “I may. Would that be weird?” she replied. He shook his head. “I’ll fold your pants. I’ll fold your pants and eat you out at the same time.”

For Reece, Bailey is the family he never had…

I just wanna belong, Bailey, “ he said softly. “I wanna belong in your world with your friends and your hobbies and your gardens. That’s all.”

Bailey’s sister’s wedding comes into play, along with a tragic event and sadly Bailey losses control of her life. Poor Reece…

”But we’re a team,” he whispered.”

By the time a reader reaches the end of this story, I guarantee you’ll be head over heels in love with this first book in the Wilmington Saga!

"Go on Puddin' Pop," I heard him whisper in my ear. "Go on and be happy."



PS. This is not a cliffhanger ending but a complete novel.

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5--Beboppin--Stars!



This book had me cracking up....the whole time. I loved it. It was fun, it was funny, it was sexy, it was different. It was



Baily has OCD. It's controlled her life, affected her relationships and been a pain in her ass.



She's determined that 31 is her un-lucky number. Her mom discovered her OCD when she was organizing 31 rocks, she's had 31 boyfriends and she's now 31 and single and thinks she's a lost cause.



Then Bailey meets Reece. Reece's Pieces Reece...



Reece was prefection. He loved every single one of Bailey's quirks and tics and compulsions. He loved her because of them, not in spite of them. Reece was the sweetest thing ever. And bedroom Reece..



SO. FREAKING. HOT.

But Bailey is constantly at war with her OCD. With Reece, Bailey is able to manage it. There are times she forgets to count, and check, and tic. But in the back of her mind, she still hears the voice.



The one that tells her she's not good enough, she's too much work, too much trouble...that she'll never find love.

When tragedy strikes and Bailey's world is torn apart she spirals out of control.



Will Bailey fall back to her old ways and start counting and ticking and obsessing? Or will she let the best thing that ever happened to her pull her out of the hole?

I really can't recommend this book enough. I laughed, I cried, I swooned and I fell in love with Bailey, Reece and the gang.

And speaking of the gang....Matt and Taylor...She married her sister's fiance???

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Thirty-one rocks. Thirty-one disastrous relationships. Thirty-one years lonely.
Yeah. Thirty-one was shaping up to be my least favourite number.”



This was an adult contemporary romance, about a girl with OCD, and the boy who fell in love with her.

“Bailey, get real. You aren’t opening that door until 7:58 am sharp. You know it. I know it. The door knows it.
Shut up, I thought angrily.”



I liked Bailey in this story, and I felt quite sorry for her. Her mother and sister weren’t very nice to her, and at times she was really ruled by her OCD. Not being able to do certain things because of her OCD must have been really hard for her, and having her fiancée walk out on her because of it was even worse.

“Look it, the voice continued. You open that door early, and we all know what’ll happen. Your entire day will be ruined.”



The storyline in this was quite slow, and was focused mainly on the romance. Reece and Bailey were quite cute together, but I did have some issues with the storyline. I found it quite odd that this book went from talking about Bailey’s OCD, to her and Reece having kinky tie-me-up sex, and even Reece pushing for anal sex! It seemed to come out of nowhere, and I didn’t particularly enjoy it. It just wasn’t quite right, and didn’t really fit in well with the rest of the story.

“I’m gonna make your ass red,” he replied.
“REECE!”
“Okay fine. I won’t spank it. I’ll just fuck it.”
I had no words. My body tensed as I felt his hands go to my cheeks, spreading them apart.
“NO!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.


The ending to this was a ‘happily ever after’, although the epilogue left me thinking that the next book in the series might be about Taylor.
6.25 out of 10

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

** ARC provided by author in exchange for honest review**

*** 6 OCD Beboppin' Bailey "Fablous" Stars***
(FYI: yes..I know Fablous.. is misspelled..you just need to read LoveLines to find out why)



LoveLines by Summer Walden is absolutely “beboppin’ fabulous.” I have always been a fan of Ms. Walden and when she decided to branch out in a new direction of contemporary romance, I couldn’t wait. LoveLines was just perfect in my opinion. It was beautifully well written and it had everything I loved in a good book from wit, humor, banter, love, friendship, family, and of course, romance. And to top it off, all the characters were amazing and you couldn’t help but love each and everyone of them.



Tic.Tic..Tic...Tic….Each of us has our own daily routines, quirks, and tics. Some like to eat only the Red M&Ms, some like to use a certain brand only, some are super organized and etc. Our little tics and quirks makes us who we are. It gives us comfort and security that things are done a certain way. I, for one, like things to be done in a certain way. I have always been the one who likes organization and perfection. If things aren’t done a certain way to my liking, it irks and bothers me but I don’t let it control life. But what if you can’t help it? What if our obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD, begins to go out of hand and keep us prisoners?

Bailey Mitchell is 31 years old, single, and a proofreader. Oh yeah..she also has OCD!! She arrives at work at 7:58 A.M. sharp, counts the steps to her cubicle, eats lunch at promptly at 12, arranges her pens in their red-blue-black-green- purple order of importance, applies hand sanitizers, and leaves work exactly at 6pm. As you can tell, she has an extreme case of OCD. She knows that she needs to stop counting, arranging but the idea of not tic-ing gives her anxiety. Her condition has prevented her from finding the one who accepts her and her OCD. Well that all changed when she meets Reece Powell.



Reece Powell is 32 years old and Bailey’s new co-worker. When Reece spots Bailey for the first time, he is in awe of her and couldn’t help himself when he gave her the nickname “Beboppin’ Bailey.” He notices that she eats lunch at the same time, arrives and leaves work at the same time, and has her pens arranged in a certain order. Reece knows Bailey has OCD and he thinks its cute. Whenever he’s around her, she makes him happy and puts a smile on his face. As he gets to know her, he loves her quirks.

Bailey and Reece are one those couples that screams PERFECT!! Seriously, these two are freaking adorable and too cute for words. I love that Bailey finally found the one who completes her. He makes her happy and he is the only one who knows how to deal with her quirks. As the two spends more time together, little by little, Bailey finds herself not tic-ing. She doesn’t have to be at work at exactly at 7:58 A.M. and line up her pens. Through time, her OCD tendencies are not ruling her life ever since Reece enters her life. But what happens when a tragic events pops their happy bubble? Will Reece’s love be enough for Bailey to come out of the darkness? Or will Bailey’s tic be too much for Reece to handle?



Bailey Mitchell was a fresh breath of air. She is unlike any heroine that I met. She is sassy, funny, lovable, smart, and in my opinion an awesome BFF!! Yes, Bailey has OCD but that doesn’t define her. You can’t help but fall in love with Bailey and her tics. I just love her free spirit and that she speaks her mind freely. Bailey Mitchell aka Beboppin Bailey is just awesome and adorable. As for Reece Powell, sigh I LOVE him!! He is charming, sexy, cute, funny, sweet, understanding, tough and domineering. Well the only time, he is domineering and controlling is when it comes to Bailey and usually that occurs whenever they have sex. He tries control and manage when he feels Bailey’s urge to tic. And Bailey knows that this is what she needs from Reece. What truly amazes me is that he doesn’t want to change Bailey, but wants to help her manage it. He embraces all her flaws and insecurities. In my personal opinion, Reece Powell is PERFECTION. How can you not love a man who LOVES wholeheartedly.



As I stated earlier, I LOVE every single character in this book. The secondary characters provided great depth to the story-line. Erica, Noah, Christopher, Camden, Nicki, and Bailey’s parents were an integral part of the storyline but they didn’t overshadow Bailey and Reece. Each of the secondary characters were unique in their own way and added a dynamic layer to this story. The dialogues and interactions between each of the characters were genuine, funny, and honest. I especially loved Erica, Bailey’s best friend. She reminded me a few of my girlfriends who are married and have kids. I just love how brutally honest and raw Erica was. Being 30 years old myself, I can’t help but relate to Erica and Bailey. Their friendship was genuine and you can’t help but feel the love that they have for each other. LoveLines was just one of those books that I absolutely LOVED all the characters and I must applaud Ms. Walden. She was able to create and develop characters that we can’t help but love every single one of them. She was able to create fictional characters that felt REAL.



You know you read an awesome book when you can happily say that you wouldn’t change anything about the book and wish the author didn’t have to end their story. Well, LoveLines was one of those books for me. When I say everything, I absolutely mean everything. Bailey and Reece were the perfect pair. They were each other’s missing piece and completed each other. Bailey’s OCD made Reece’s heart tic. <3 I absolutely loved every conversation and interaction that they had. Most importantly I fell in love with every thought, action, and love they evoked. Summer Walden did an amazing job in developing Bailey and Reece’s relationship. It was sweet, fun, honest, and had everything that would make any reader sigh and swoon how amazing Reece was. Ms. Walden will amaze you with LoveLines. She showcases that whatever genre direction she decides to write, her writing speaks for itself. What I truly love about Summer is that she writes beautiful, captivating, heartbreaking, and touching stories that grips you, touches you and stays with you. And LoveLines was a perfect example of this. The storyline is original, the characters were genuine and honest and the emotions were raw.



LoveLines was just fantabulous!! What I truly love about LoveLines is that it reminds us all that" true love does not come by finding the perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." The best thing in life is finding someone who knows all your flaws, mistakes, and weakness and still thinks you’re amazing. For Bailey Mitchell, she found that person in Reece Powell. He accepted all her quirks, tics, and OCD. He was never ashamed of her but loved everything about her. LoveLines was a perfect reminder that perhaps its our imperfections that makes two different individuals like Bailey and Reece so perfect for one another. All I can say is that Ms. Walden made my heart tic tic for Reece Powell and I would happily adopt him as well. I look forward to reading future works from Ms. Walden and can’t wait to read the second installment of the Wilmington Saga.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤4.5 Puddin' Pop Stars❤



LoveLines is a refreshing contemporary romance. It has everything - humor, banter, friendship, family and romance. The characters are fantastic, each one unique and lovable. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. This story has it all - it's 'Beboppin Fablous'!

Bailey Mitchells is a single, 31 year old proofreader. Oh, and she's OCD. Her disorder has made her life complicated, especially when it comes to relationships. Is it possible for her to find someone who can love and accept her, regardless of her condition?

Yes, these are the thoughts that occupy my brain on a daily basis: How many steps to take. How many hairbrush strokes. Making sure I line up my proofreading pens just so. Making sure my make-up is just so. Sitting in my fucking desk chair just so. It’s exhausting living a “just so” life. And I don’t want to do it, but the idea of not counting, not arranging, not tic-ing sends my heart reeling with anxiety.

When Bailey comes beboppin into her new co-workers life, Reece Powell notices her immediately. He finds her tics, cute. They begin to spend time together and their feelings for each other quickly grow.

"I fell in love with you because of you. I like your quirky ways. You how many times I got myself off thinking about your ‘just so’ ponytail? You how fucking weird that is?”

Bailey and Reece are simply adorable. I connected with them from the start. They were sweet, and had amazing chemistry. But then life happens, and Bailey struggles to deal. Can Reece help her or will she push him away and find comfort in her rituals instead?

What was this man doing to me? He made forget that I was tic-bound, schedule-bound, urge-bound. He made me feel like I was breaking free, even as my hands were securely fastened to the headboard.

This is a really great read. And it takes place in Wilmington, which is a bonus for me. So if your looking for a cute, sexy, fun read with an orginial storyline and genuine characters - give it a shot :D

[Catarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 Beboppin’ Stars.

Bailey has OCD and that complicates her life a lot. Her habits, routines her quirks that come from that disorder, make harder for her to have a successful personal life. Eventually, every one gives up on dealing with her. It’s just too much work.
Until the day, Reece, her new co-worker, appears and find her ways funny. And not only that, but finds himself falling for Bailey, even knowing that her OCD isn’t something easy to live with. But he’s not like the others, he’s decided to try.
But then something tragic happens, that only worsens Bailey’s situation. And when Reece’s see how difficult can be living with someone with OCD, could he still be willing to try?



I’m one of those people who have a lot of habits and routines that hate to break and used to say as a joke “I’m a little OCD”. Well, I never realized how offensive that actually could be for people who really have it and have to deal with it. I swear I will never intentionally do it again. Scouts honor. (I’ve never been a Scout, but it’s the intention that counts!)



Rating: 4,5 Stars.
Storyline: I loved how this wasn’t a traditional romance, and still, or in spite of it, was great. The author was able to grab a sensible subject and turn it into a beautiful story. It was slightly predictable, but with some twists that made me hooked until the last page. Definitely, a great love story. And the epilogue?? I so want the next book!
Writing Style: Very emotional an extremely well written. There was moments where I cried like a little baby and others that made me grin like a lunatic. A book that will make you feel, and those are great.
Character Development: Bailey was a very likable heroine and Reece was pretty great. He had a heart of gold. Erica and Chris were great best-friends and I just hated Bailey’s sister. She was kind of a bitch.
Steam: Hot. But the kinky sex seemed a little out of character for Reece.
HEA: Yes.

[Jess-i-ca · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Overcoming Stars!

Let’s first do our rundown of characters. We have:
Bailey


Reece


Erica


Noah


Christopher


And Camden (IDK if Camden was black but it works)


Bailey is 31, not dating and scared her OCD will run off every guy possible. She currently works as a proofreader. Her ex-fiancé, Brian, couldn't handle her OCD tics and ran for the hills screaming like a little bitch. That leads Bailey to thinking



Her best friend Erica tells her to keep trying that she knows the right guy is out there somewhere.



Reece is the new guy in marketing at Bailey’s work. She thinks



They start a quirky friendship that quickly moves into relationship territory.



Instead of Reece hating her OCD, it turns him on.



”Are you hearing what I'm saying to you? I got turned on thinking about you counting out loud.”



Reece grew up a foster kid and has always just wanted to belong and have a family.

"I just wanna belong, Bailey. I wanna belong in your world with your friends and your hobbies and your gardens. That’s all.”



Bailey started doing better at managing her OCD with Reece's help. But then when tragedy strikes she regresses into her old ways.



She thinks that she isn't good enough for Reece and its better for them to be apart.



Can Reece get Beboppin Bailey back to the girl he fell in love with?



Honestly I didn't love Ms. Walden's last book but I excited to try and read another of her works. I'm so glad I didn't hesitate to read this one. I laughed, I cried, my heart broke and was put back together. I highly recommend this one.

[[~Ami~]♥Sexy Dexy♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars




This wasnt just a romance between Bailey and Reece and her OCD. The book touches on Baileys relationships with others close to her; her sister, her mum and dad, and her best friend.

I felt Bailey and Reece complimented each other perfectly. I grew to love them together as a couple and how can anyone not love Reece by the end!!! ♥

The story for me was a bit on the long side but funnily enough I didnt feel the urge to skim. My only critique is the switching povs was confusing at first. The book was a 4 star but the last 30% really bumped the rating up for me.

If you are looking for something a bit funny, a bit sexy, a bit emotional, basically a bit of everything, with fun characters, I would recommend this.

[Didi · Rating 2 out of 5]

HMMM...

So, this is a crowd favorite. Tons of 4 and 5 star reviews. But it just didn't do it for me. The story started out good enough, sweet and quirky, but somewhere along the line it became something more confusing and drawn out. I guess my problem lies with a few things:

1) The BDSM thing with Reece was just weird and out of place. It didn't suit him at all. It sure helped Bailey with her control issues and such, so it made sense in that aspect, but didn't correlate with Reece or the book.

2) The switch from first person pov to third person was unnecessary. I think keeping everything in first person would have made the book flow better. I'm still confused as to the purpose of changing pov's but there it is.

3) Some plot threads were left open, for me anyway. Like what happened with Erica's daughter-- even if she was fine some explanation would have been great. Bailey's relationship with her family over the 6 months post the big plot twist: there was no mention of her mother or sister or how they reacted to her status with Reece.

The OCD thing was different and tackled well, Reece was in general a great guy, really sweet, patient, understanding and just all around exceptional. His dirty talk was sexy and I loved his openness. But sometimes he was TOO open, too vocal in front of others.
So this was a cute and different book, and although I didn't connect with the characters I can respect why it received all the great ratings. For me this was okay, with some sweetness.

[Viri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cuando leí esta sinopsis pensé que este libro sería de esos que me gusta leer. Esos emotivos y que hablan de enfermedades y cosas que no podemos controlar. De un amor que puede con todo.

Pero este libro fue demasiado irreal. La protagonista fue diagnosticada con TOC a los 6 años. Tiene toda su vida viviendo y lidiando con su condición mental. Y de buenas a primeras conoce a un chico con poderes mágicos o algo.

Porque literal es conocerlo y que se le olvide que hacía cosas como contar pasos, llegar todos los días a la misma hora, llevar un control. Ordenar las cosas siempre igual y muchos etcéteras intermedios.

La narración fue confusa. Me costó mucho adaptarme. Por momentos la protagonista era la narradora en primera persona pero las partes y pensamientos del prota se mezclaban con los de Bailey en una narración omnipresente que me ponía de los nervios.



Y luego, el factor "S"... intolerable. Así fue este libro en cuanto el SEXO estuvo incluido. Porque a ver, el chico era el hombre perfecto que no hacía nada en La Oficina, listo, inteligente y divertido, incluso un poco TÍMIDO. Tanto que hasta se pone nervioso por hablarle!!!!
Ah, Pero en la cama era un Dios. Era el PeUTeO AMO. Y ella su esclava y sumisa?



I mean... WHAT??????
Es que era como bipolar, o dos personas distintas en una. Este tipo tenía trastorno de personalidad y estaba incluso más enfermo que Bailey.

En serio, no les pongo sus frases matonas porque me dan ganas de vomitar.



A mí no me gustó, me salte muchas cosas y sin embargo siento que no me perdí de nada. Así que bueno, está no es la historia de superación romántica que esperaba. Es incoherente, incomprensible, insulsa y con personajes un poco insoportables.

Porque bueno, a Bailey su enfermedad le desaparece porque le cede el CONTROL TOTAL al chico. Sip, súper normal la cosa.

[MELISSA *Mel Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 I Wanted You Always Stars!
(BR with Patty & Denisse)





Bailey Mitchell aka Puddin' Pop/"Beboppin' Bailey" is a 31 yr. old single woman who grew up in Wilmington, NC. She inherited OCD from her father, and her condition basically rules her life. Her disorder makes her believe her routines are essential to her existence. The thought of not counting, arranging, and ticing gives her extreme anxiety. She likes security, order, and precision.



Bailey works as a proofreader for Beach Elite Marketing Firm. This job is perfect for someone who likes to be in control, and is a perfectionist. When not working she enjoys gardening, antiquing, surfing, and spending time with her best friend Erica, and her family.



Bailey hasn't dated much since her last failed relationship. She is often lonely since most relationships she's in eventually end due to her mental disorder. She really wants a lasting relationship, but is afraid of being rejected again, and begins to wonder if she even deserves love.



A new employee starts working on campaigns at her work. His name is Reece Powell. Reece just moved to town to be closer to his best friend Camden. He right away notices Bailey, and thinks she's beautiful, and finds her quirkiness cute. They start to have lunch together, and become friends. Eventually they begin to date.



Reece had a bad childhood,and has his own insecurities. He worries he'll never find that special someone, and have a family of his own. He has a habit of picking the wrong girls. He really falls hard for Bailey, and is wonderful for her. He is patient and selfless with her, and loves and accepts her just the way she is. Reece helps Bailey to give up some control and let go. With Reece around her OCD becomes more manageable.



Even though Bailey is beginning to have more power over her urges, she is still scared she is bad for Reece, and worries he will leave her eventually. She fears her weird, and quirky ways will one day become too much for him to handle. Reece makes her believe she might have a promising future with him, that doesn't include her OCD controlling her life. As time passes circumstances end up making Bailey feel defeated , and have her going back to her negative habits. We get some drama, and Bailey annoys me at times, but overall I really enjoyed the book. :D

-Think about Reece's pieces."
-I'm not really a candy girl, but he made me want to finish the entire bag.


-"I just wanna keep kissing you," she confessed. Her honesty reached down deep, grabbed hold of something within his heart that had never been touched by another woman.

-This thing between us was real. And it was getting better and better all the time.

-"You're too easy to love. That's your real problem. You know how I know that? Because I can't stay away from you. I just wanna be with you all the time. You're my favorite person, Bailey.

-I just wanna belong, Bailey," he said softly. "I wanna belong in your world with your friends and your hobbies and your gardens. That's all. I wanna know everything about you, even if I have to bully it out of you. Put you on the spot. Make you uncomfortable. 'Cause I can't get enough of you."



-I choose to be with you."

-"I want to touch you all the time," I said. "You've made me develop a new urge."

-"I've never belonged to anyone," he said.

-"No one's ever belonged to me."



-"You've made me so happy, Bailey. Happier than any man deserves."

-I'm not a crazy sex freak in general. I'm just a crazy sex freak with you."

-I watched him gaze at me-that tender look men very rarely get, but dear God, when they get it...well, it makes you feel like you're the most important person on the planet.

[❃**✿【Yasmine】✿**❃ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though a loveable storyline and characters, I had some hang-ups with this book that caused me to not enjoy it so much.

What I didn't like:

Love was declared by Reece very early on and for the majority of the book I never really saw any romance, only friendship and sex.

There was too much pointless dialogue. It left me bored and disinterested.

I felt the BDSM/Dom-sub element was VERY out of place with Reece's character and the book, which is a chick-lit fluff romance.
To expand a bit more: Reece came across as sweet guy, he blushed, he was nervous, he was a beta hero. Then he became somewhat controlling, 'to help with her OCD'. These sex scenes bothered me quite a bit because a lot of it felt like coerced consent, Bailey never seemed to fully 'gave herself over' to be controlled, but then she seemed to go along with it, even though she felt vulnerable and humiliated at times.

The whole scene with her swallowing grossed me out: having a mouthful of semen for that amount of time... I just kept on thinking 'for fucks sake swallow it!'

I didn't understand why the heroine's POV was written in the 1st person, yet the hero's POV was written in the 3rd person.


What I did like:

I thought the characterization of Bailey and her OCD was well written.

I enjoyed the side characters, especially the lead characters best friends. They were fun.

Reece (when out of the bedroom) was a great guy and very realistic.

There was some funny banter and scenes that made me chuckle.

I liked how Bailey grew as a woman with OCD.

[Penny Well Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating 2.5 stars

I liked it, but I took away half a star because the content is too old fashion.
I feel that a big dose of feminism is needed here. This book was published in 2014 and it does not look like it, the mentality seems from many years ago. It is too conservative for my taste regarding women an men's relationships and behaviors, and there where some comments that really bothered me.

Other than that, it is a nice story and a nice romance.
I enjoyed Bailey's interactions with her Spanish speaker neighbored Soledad, they made me laugh and they were a great touch.
Reece is a nice guy, although, personally I didn't found him attractive. But hey, there are as many different tastes as colors, so to each its own.

[Farah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 beebopping stars!!

I thought that this was such a sweet and funny book!

Baily has OCD but not extreme OCD.



Life consists of counting steps, walking into work at the same time everyday- not a minute earlier or later...

Bailey is 31.. A dreadful year for her. 31 failed relationships because no one can deal with her ways.



Then she meets Reece- his handsome and funny and a big advertising guy.

Reece isn't perfect but his perfect for Bailey. He accepts her OCD and tries to help her with her urges and tics.





He also has doubts on himself from his childhood



Tic tic tic....



Things can't be good forever because when Bailey suffers a loss she goes back to her old ways and shuts Reece out.

Everything in between and at the end is so sweet and all about control...



Beebopping Book this is!

[Raj · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Phablous Stars

Review to come!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Thirty-one rocks. Thirty-one disastrous relationships. Thirty-one years lonely.”

Bailey Mitchel, at 31, lives alone, works as a proofreader, and has been consumed by her OCD for most of her life. This isn’t just your average ‘I must eat my french fries before my burger’ OCD. Her OCD is real. It’s the kind that debilitates her – controls her. She counts her steps, counts her brush strokes, overly organized, and schedule-bound. She’s exhausted by these tics and these examples are just the tip of the ice burg. If Bailey gets too anxious, her tics come out full force. She has worked hard to keep her tics under control for years, but she still has a long ways to go. The worst part is how often she’s had her heart broken when her OCD becomes too much for the men she’s dated. So she has settled with being alone, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have hope to find that special someone who can love and accept her for all of her quirks and tics.

Reece Powell just started his new advertising job when Bailey bops into his life with her cigarette pants and ‘just so’ ponytail. The moment he sees her he’s instantly smitten and sparks fly between them. Bailey finds Reece’s charm and rugged good looks irresistible but, at the same time, is hesitant to get involved with him, fearing he would not be able to handle her OCD. However, Reece isn’t like the other men Bailey has dated in the past. Reece actually finds Bailey’s tics to be sexy.

As they start spending time with each other, the more Bailey realizes she can’t resist Reece anymore and they start dating. Together they form a beautiful, sweet, and steamy relationship that builds beautifully as the story continues.

I loved Reece as our hero. He never tried to fix Bailey’s tics. He just wanted to love her. He has his own issues and insecurities because he grew up in foster homes. He wants someone who he can finally call ‘home.’ He sees ‘home’ in Bailey. Reece is such a GREAT guy. I mean, seriously, the man is nearly perfect. To say I was completely swooning over Reece is an understatement. I wanted to climb the man like a tree and kiss him for all of his patience and understanding and love for Bailey. *happy sigh*

"I fell in love with you because of you. I like your quirky ways. You how many times I got myself off thinking about your ‘just so’ ponytail? You how fucking weird that is?”– Reece

Bailey is such a loveable and fun heroine. Her OCD sets her apart from other heroines, which makes her such a captivating character. I couldn’t help but love all of her tics and flaws. She’s so interesting and genuine and spunky. It totally understood why Reece fell head over heels in love with her. She’s a breath of fresh air. She does have her own insecurities. She doesn’t feel normal and fears Reece could leave her once he sees all the ugly that comes with OCD. But Reece shows Bailey exactly how much he loves her – tics and all. He makes her feel free and forget all about her OCD. Have I mentioned how much I love Reece!? *melts*

“What was this man doing to me? He made forget that I was tic-bound, schedule-bound, urge-bound. He made me feel like I was breaking free, even as my hands were securely fastened to the headboard.”

Bailey and Reece are freaking adorable together! They mesh well in such a way that they complement and complete each other perfectly. It was easy to connect with this relationship right from the start. Not to mention they have incredibly hot chemistry together. The first kiss between them made my insides all tingly and warm, but when Reece’s controlling and domineering naughty side comes out during the sexy times… holy smoldering hotness, I melted!

Of course, this relationship was not perfect. Things become complicated between them when Bailey’s life suddenly changes and she starts to crumble. Which means Bailey and Reece’s relationship is put through the emotional wringer as their journey takes a turn they didn’t expect. But they do get their happy ending – a very happy ending that made me my heart smile.

But aside from Bailey and Reece, I loved all of the secondary characters in this story. All of them are well-developed and brought more depth to the story. Bailey’s dad has a special place in my heart.

Lovelines is a smart, fun, sexy romantic comedy. This book made me laugh and smile so much I’m pretty sure I had a perma-grin for most of the story. Ah, and the romantic moments turned my insides to mush, especially with a swoon-worthy hero like Reece. There is some angst, some sadness, but mostly, this book made me feel good. Summer Walden has an incredible writing skill that is so different from the many books being released today. I love how she can go from writing a dark story about a teenage girl on a path of vengeance in Going Under, to writing about a forbidden student-teacher romance in Good, and then take us on a funny and romantic journey about a woman with OCD and a man who loves her no matter how flawed she may be in Lovelines. I truly had a good time reading this book from the first to the very last page.

Rating: B+
Heat: Hot

-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review


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[Talia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had heard of OCD, talked and joked about it. Then I read this book and it gave me a better understanding of what it really means. Because "Lovelines" is definitely more than a romance. It's Bailey's tug-o-war with OCD.

The romance, however, was really nice. It was fast and uncomplicated. Loved the "hurricane scene". Reese and Bailey are a couple worth reading. Cute and quirky. Also, Bailey's character was a mix of opposites and controveries, her disorder being a big part of it, but not all. And even if I couldn't relate to her, it felt good to fill her Bebopping shoes.

The story progressed smoothly until almost the ending, when a tragic happenance makes everything harder. I won't spoiler it to you, but the last part of this book had me really depressed. That being said, the way everything turned out left me happy and satisfied.

One last thing, a little flaw. The, wink wink, physical part. It didn't fit the book, nor the characters. I expect something like that from other types of narration and genres. Here, it felt out of place and had me scrunching up my nose. But this is just my opinion, maybe other people thought it was perfect for the MCs. Who knows?

Anyway, Walden had crafted a great romance and painted a pathological situation with both humanity and precision. Not many authors would have managed such a feat.

[Jln]

dnf 50%



I don't know about this one. Is it possible that I'm the ONLY one who doesn't love this?

The switching from 1st to 3rd person is annoying and it throws me off. Also, this weird sex does not fit Reece's character at all. She lost me at the part where he forced her to swallow. That whole scene disturbed me. Nothing about that was hot imo, and I don't like the force. Eew. If I'm skimming sex scenes, things are bad!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.
I have had this buried on my kindle for over 4 years. So glad I finally pulled it out.

Hoping to review later today.....but if not....things to know about this book....it's a quirky...angsty ( especially later on in this read) story of a young woman Bailey (she is 31 and is currently having a difficult year) with OCD and not in any cute and endearing way she has a severe form that cripples her life and her personal relationships....she has a wonderful married friend Erica and a strained relationship wth her sister Nicki (witchy and bitchy) and also her mom.....Bailey's dad who shares her affliction is her sole source of strength and comfort in this dysfunctional family.... they have a close and tight bond.

When Reese enters the picture...he is not alarmed by any of Bailey's tics and is very much charmed by her...and he is also really good for her but all is not happiness and joy here as life and the reality of Bailey's illness intervenes at times....challenging the permanence and strength of their relationship .

I found this to be a really interesting read and combined with the authors unique writing style and a story that had plenty of depth, wonderful characters and some quirks.....it was in fact a memorable read that I would highly recommend on so many levels .

[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

5++++++++++++++++ BEBOPPIN' BAILEY STARS!!!!!!!
(BR with Denisse and Melissa)

"LoveLines" has to be HANDS DOWN, the BEST of 2014!!
OMG, how I LOVED this book HARD!!!
There aren't enough Stars in the universe to rate this book.
I fell in love with both Bailey and Reece.
They are one of the most PERFECT book couples I've encountered.




Bailey Mitchell is a proof reader at an advertising agency.
She walks in the office exactly at 7:58am and leaves at 6:00pm every Monday through Friday.
She has exactly 47 steps from the front entrance to her cubicle.
And she likes her colored pens neatly placed in a row...red, blue, black, green, purple, just in that order.
Yes...Bailey has OCD.

Reece Powell, is the new guy at work.
He instantly is attracted to the cute girl who dresses like she came out of the 1950s.
He deduces early on that she suffers from OCD.





Her OCD has caused the demise of all of her relationships with men.
She's yet to meet a man who can handle her disorder.
Then along comes Reece, who actually finds her tics cute and endearing.
And Reece is incredibly hot and charming, which of course is why Bailey is also finding herself very much drawn to him as well.



That's the great thing about hope--no matter your past, no matter your mistakes, hope is the constant force in your heart driving you forward. - Bailey



There is so much that was just so right about this book.
I lost count over how many times I busted out laughing so hard that my stomach hurt!!
And so I was expecting there to be some sexy scenes, but what blew me away, SERIOUSLY BLEW ME AWAY, was that the SEX WAS SCORCHING HOT!!!
Our Reece is a bit of a DOMINANT and UBER kinky in the sex department, and I for one, WAS NOT complaining!!


"And then you say things like 'floosy' and 'goody-goody', and I just wanna tie you to the bed and violate you in all kinds of inappropriate ways."





It was like these two were put on this earth for each other.
They were perfect together.
I loved how Reece was always there to lift Bailey up, when she was so quick to put herself down.


"You're too easy to love. That's your real problem. You know how I know that? Because I can't stay away from you. I just wanna be with you all the time. You're my favorite person, Bailey. That's not hard. That's a cakewalk."


There were some pretty amazing secondary characters like Erica and her husband Noah, who were Bailey's BFFs.
They adored Bailey and always had her back.
Reece's BFF, Camden, was pretty freaking hilarious.
And I just loved the relationship that Bailey had with her next door neighbor, Soledad!
Loved how they would carry on full conversations in English and Spanish, and never knew what each other were saying, but still managed to have the best talks!! LOL


This is a book that is not to be MISSED!!
It has it all!! SERIOUSLY FREAKING PERFECT!!!!
It will leave you feeling amazingly Giddy & Happy!
Kind of like the last dance scene in the movie "Dirty Dancing"!
I swear every time I watch that movie, I crank up the volume and I just have a huge smile on my face.
That's how this book has me feeling right now, and I'm glad I got to buddy read it with Melissa & Denisse!!

[Miss · Rating 1 out of 5]

Apparently this heroine not only suffers with OCD but she has multiple personality disorder as well. This heroine has 3 voices in her head for some reason. We've got her OCD voice, her reasonable voice, and her voice which acts as a moderator between the others when they argue. Yes, that's right they argue amongst themselves while it's determined if the heroine should follow through with one of her compulsions or not. The author uses the term "tic" or "tic-ing" to describe the heroines compulsions and rituals, which doesn't make any sense in this context.

"Could you imagine? I’d be tic-ing all over town."

I don't know what that means. The word "tic" is most often used to describe involuntary muscle spasms. Can also be used to describe recurrent behavioral traits, but this is the first time I've seen it used in this context.

Oh, before I forget I must mention that certain aspects of BDSM play are helpful for those who have OCD! What? Next time I go "tic-ing" all over my house I'll have my H tie me up and give me a spanking. Who knew?

[Dee Montoya · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****6+++ Beboppin' Stars*****
(BR with Patty and Melissa)

Bailey Mitchell suffers from severe OCD, is an everyday battle for her to fight against the urge to perform her rituals and tics. She works as a proofreader in a marketing firm where she uses her illness to her advantage for her organization skills and extreme efficiency. Reece Powell is new in town and on his first day working at Beach Elite marketing he catches a Bepoppin' Beauty and is immediately smitten with Bailey, she's sweet and corky and he simply can't stay away. After a few weeks of watching her and spending time with Bailey he notices her illness and instead of turning him off it just makes him fall for her faster.

Even though is against work policy to date a co-worker, these two fall in love fast and hard. They both know they have flaws but love and accept each other no matter what. They have amazing sexual chemistry and their banters are so much fun, but nothing is ever that perfect and so, when things get hard will their love prove to be real and survive the dark moments life throws at them?



I fell in love with this book immediately , I can't tell you there was one thing i didn't like about it, the story felt very real and completely relatable and I've never even met anybody that suffers from OCD, but more than Bailey's illness it was her spirit and sweet disposition that really left me feeling inspired. I can't end this review without talking about Reece, he is The Man, such a wonderful character; smart, sweet and so devoted to the one he loves. My heart broke for him more than once while reading LoveLines, because he was able to find beauty in Bailey's struggles and create a unique world that was odd and wonderful but it was only theirs, and I just loved him for that.

This was one interesting book that everybody should read, we can all swoon, cry and be inspired by this unique story that takes you to a place where love can cure everything if you are just willing to let go...

My LoveLinesPlaylist:
*Everything In Its Right Place by Radiohead
*This Years Love by David Gray
*A Long December by Counting Crows
*Human by Christina Perri

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Let me just start off by saying that the cover to this book does NOTHING for me.



I actually dismissed it the first time I saw it, because it just didn't look very professional. But when I went back to it and saw that S. Walden was the author, I knew I had to read it.

Bailey may be one of my favorite heroines ever.


She was so quirky and sweet, and funny as hell. And as someone who suffers from the crazy that is OCD, I thought she was so well written. I could relate to her... the everyday rituals, the counting, the need to have everything in its right place. The tics can just get overwhelming, that you don't think you much less anyone else wants to deal with it. But it doesn't have to be something that takes away from you as a person, and for that I applaud S. Walden for writing a character with OCD and doing it right.

As for Reece. Where do I begin?


He was utterly adorable in his pursuit of Bailey. He was such a great guy, and was surprisingly hot when he was in private. His wit and charm really won me over. And his ability to deal with Bailey's extreme OCD and actually want to help her manage it won me over.

Also, Bailey's best friend Nicki was a great character. She was funny and sweet, and always there for her friend. Its not often that I fall for the side characters, but she was hard to resist.

I've read some real duds lately, and LoveLines totally took me out of my slump. There's so much I could say about this book, but I wouldn't really know where to begin. The angst in this book isn't high. And what angst is there stems from Bailey's OCD and her inability at times to overcome it. There are no ridiculous misunderstandings or plotlines thrown in to keep you reading. It's simply a journey of a man and a woman toward love.

For me, this book was perfection.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

[image error]

I needed clearly defined lines.
I wasn’t the type of girl who could
operate without them. ….

The most important?
I’m OCD.

The second more important?
I’m thirty-one.

Kara's notes:
Breakfast table... FUCKING HOT.
Conversations with her Hispanic neighbor - crazy funny!
Loved Reece. A shit ton.
Bailey and her OCD - fantastically written!
It was such an ESR (Easy, Sexy, Romantic)
UNTIL I STARTED BAWLING!

This is what I sent to her when I finished the book:
8 texts. That's the amount I sent while you were in dream land. I bawled. Alone. Thank you very much.
I love you. I hate you. I love you.
I love you a fuckuvalot.
Thanks for the recommendation!

I really loved this book a heckuvalot!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew life moments happened that way. They made no sense, and I didn’t think we were supposed to make them. I think we were just supposed to experience them, grow from them, and hopefully come out the other side as better people.

Life is nothing but juxtaposing the good with the bad. We have to learn how to handle both— how to cope with the frightening events and embrace the joyous ones.

I’m so glad I took a chance and read something on the spur of the moment that wasn't on my radar at all. I L.O.V.E.D this book!

I thought the characters and the story were delightful, charming, sometimes crazy... I loved Bailey's internal monologues and appreciated getting a glimpse into her struggle with herself and her OCD.

Okay, Bailey. You can do this. Just remember Dr. Gordon’s words: “You are in control.”

I reached for the door handle— the tips of my fingers mere millimeters from the shiny metal— then froze at the sound of the other voice . Not the encouraging one. Nope . It was the trying-to -destroy-my-life one.

Bailey, get real. You aren’t opening that door until 7: 58 A.M. sharp. You know it. I know it. The door knows it.

Shut up, I thought angrily.

Look it, the voice continued. You open that door early, and we all know what’ll happen. Your entire day will be ruined.

It won’t, I argued.

It will, the voice insisted. Ignore 7:58 A.M. and what’s next? Forgetting to count your steps to your cubicle? Not using your hand sanitizer at noon and 3:00 P.M.? Why don’t you just screw up your entire existence while you’re at it, huh? I mean, why do you do these things, Bailey?

The writing was very good. I loved the dual points of view. I did think there were some problems with transitions from scene to scene but otherwise the pacing was very well done. I absolutely loved the chemistry between the two characters. At about half way through I realized that chemistry is just another word for magic...

I blushed and averted my eyes. I wasn’t exactly prepared for this. I realized my bra and panties didn’t match. My sheets hadn’t been washed in five days. I was rocking major garlic breath.

“I ate the garlic bread, too, you know ,” Reece said.

I looked at him , shocked. “How did you know I was thinking that?!”

“Had a hunch,” he replied.

“You’re amazing,” I breathed. “

So are you.” He paused. “So what do you think?”

I nodded consent, and he flashed a brilliant smile.

“My panties don’t match,” I blurted. “

I love that. It’s so . . . out of control.”

“My sheets are dirty.”

“I wanna smell ‘em.”

I buried my face in my hands and cracked up. And then I spread my fingers, peeking through the cracks.

“Shy?” he asked.

I nodded, still covering my face.

“I’m glad. I want you to be shy.”

I loved that Reece made everything okay, that he accepted without judgement. At times, I thought he may have been too perfect, but I honestly loved his character and he definitely qualifies for awesome book boyfriend material!

The steam level was surprisingly hot. I thought this was going to be a cute little romance with some mild heat. Umm...no. This wasn't erotica but some of the sex was pretty damn erotic. There was definitely a nice level of steam with a healthy dose of heat thrown in and a sprinkle of kink too.

“I know what you were thinking the whole time,” he said, moving directly behind me again. “You were thinking how much you wanted me to get you off like this. But you’d never say it. You’d never say it because you’re not that kind of girl, are you? But you’re thinking it. You’re thinking how much you want it to hurt when you come. Well, guess what?”

“Untie me!” I demanded.

“I’m gonna give you exactly what you want. And I’m gonna make it hurt far worse than your pretty little head could ever imagine.”

It wasn't all cute and quirky. There was also a thread of heartbreak woven through the story. Bailey's OCD, her relationship with her family, and her struggles, specifically in the second half the book, brought a sense of realism to what could have been a just a really cute chick-lit book. Reece's history and his vulnerabilty pulled at my heartstrings and just made me love his character more.

“I just wanna belong , Bailey,” he said softly. “I wanna belong in your world with your friends and your hobbies and your gardens. That’s all. I wanna know everything about you, even if I have to bully it out of you. Put you on the spot. Make you uncomfortable. ‘Cause I can’t get enough of you.”

Overall, I don't think this book was perfect and it may not be a five star read for everyone but it was pretty close for me. It grabbed me from the beginning and held me the whole way through. I was rooting for both of the characters the entire time. It was laugh out loud funny and sexy and sad and I recommend to anyone who is looking for a lighter read with a great story, characters that are zany and fun with big hearts, and a nice dose of heat.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Deliciously “Phablous” stars

OMG, I have so much love for this book!

It’s a fantastically sharp, fun and hilarious romance with lots of heart and heaps of banter and sizzling chemistry between two beautifully flawed but incredible characters that I LOVE! And all of that love translates into a whole lot of quote whoriness, so consider yourself warned.

Bailey is 31 years old. Single, but desperately wanting to find somebody and get married, her love life has been a bit of a disaster up until this point because the men in her life struggle to deal with her OCD. Not the ‘my bookshelves are all lined up in order because I’m sooooo OCD’, but the actual disorder. Bailey has little tics and routines that get her through her day, but she’s not delicate, disabled or fragile. She’s an ordinary girl – a hilariously sarcastic, instantly likeable, quirky girl who just happens to have an issue that she is managing to the best of her ability.

When the new guy at work, Reece, catches his first glimpse of Bailey, he is instantly smitten. Sexy, cocky, and also hilariously sarcastic, Reece is all kinds of awesome. Of course Bailey has noticed him too, and a brief but unintentionally comical attempt at flirting on Reece’s part sparks a strong attraction. As they develop a sort-of friendship, Reece watches Bailey and starts to put the pieces together, but it doesn’t put him off, it only drives him on.

“I’m in love with a coworker,” Reece confessed…
“Not wise,” Camden replied, and chugged his beer.
“And I’m pretty sure she’s OCD,” Reece went on.
Camden stared at his friend. “Dude. No.”
“I find it uncomfortably sexy,” Reece admitted.
“That you like a coworker or that she’s OCD?”
“The second one. There’s something strangely erotic about it. What the hell is wrong with me?”

God, I love Reece! His candid manner and his unquestioning acceptance of Bailey just the way she is is absolutely beautiful. He doesn’t want her to change, but instead works hard to earn her trust, and his pursuit of her is gorgeous.

“You’ll run away,” I said softly.
“I’m a man. I don’t run,” Reece replied.
I smiled. “It’s made all the others run away.”
“Because they weren’t men.”

*dreamy sigh*

The two of them fall into a very natural relationship, and together, they are absolutely sensational! They tease and banter, they have fun, and they had me laughing out loud at their antics.

“Bailey . . .” he said. Like I’m some fucking kid. Like, “Bailey, I’m warning you.”
I fucking tapped that fucking pen all over my fucking desk.
He snatched it.
“What the fuck!” I yelled.
And then he scooped up all my pens and walked off.
“Motherfucker,” I spat, and went after him.
He glanced behind his shoulder and saw me coming. He quickened his pace. I marched right along, ready to catch up to him and give him an earful about the proper way to cope with my urges. He rounded the corner and disappeared into the copy room. I burst in and let fly.
“You’re not supposed to take my pens!” I shouted.
He came at me, slamming me up against the door, and kissing me hard.
“God, you’re so fucking hot,” he said into my mouth.
Well, this was confusing.
“You and your fucking pens and the tapping and . . . oh my God . . .”

They are so open and honest with each other– not only about her illness – but about how they are feeling, and the things they want from each other, and Reece makes it clear to her that he doesn’t love in her spite of her illness, he loves her because of it.

“I know I’m not the easiest person to love . . .”
“Are you kidding me ?” Reece hopped up from the desk and took hold of Bailey’s shoulders. “You’re too easy to love. That’s your real problem. You know how I know that? Because I can’t stay away from you. I just wanna be with you all the time. You’re my favorite person, Bailey. That’s not hard. That’s a cakewalk.”

And it’s not all one sided. Reece hasn’t had the easiest life, and Bailey gives to him just as much as he gives to her, and the love story is absolutely beautiful.

“I want to love you for the rest of my life. Will you let me?”

And, of course, there’s the sexy time. Holy hell, I wasn’t expecting this book to be as hot as it was, but Goddamn!!! Bailey and Reece’s sexy time is scorching hot and explicit! I was surprised at the level of kink and Reece’s domination in the bedroom, but it’s a great reflection of where they are at and what they are feeling and once again, something they are completely honest with each other about.

All that time I thought I was the one on display — open and vulnerable to my boyfriend. In reality, he was baring himself just as honestly to me, hoping I would accept the love he was so desperate to give.
And I did.

While Reece’s OCD is definitely a big part of the book, it’s handled really well, and it’s not depressing or overly deep. We certainly see the way it affects the characters, and the impact it has on Bailey’s life, but it doesn’t have the ‘woe is me’ feel to it that you might expect. In fact it’s quite the opposite, as Reece’s love for Bailey and his presence in her life makes a huge impact on her. Reece pushes her, but he also respects her. It’s a delicate mix which he manages really well.

But just when things seem to be going smoothly, Bailey’s life is thrown into turmoil and it puts the two of them, and what they have found together, to the test. And OMG – the feeeeeels!!!!! *sniff*

S. Walden has done an amazing job with these characters. They are so real, and their interactions are real – even the stupid little moments that may not have a lot of impact on the story, but just make up their everyday lives The ‘swallow’ scene had me in stitches, even though it was kinda gross!. I highlighted entire pages of dialogue!

“Bailey. I’m gonna make you live a little.”
“Hey! Now wait just a minute, buster! I do live. I recall being the surfer in this relationship. Not you.”
“Oh my God ,” Reece replied, his face lighting up. “That’s perfect! Let’s fuck on your surfboard!”
I stared at him.
“Seriously. Let’s just—” He thrust his hips forward a few times. “— just fucking go at it on your surfboard.”
“Oh my God,” I mumbled.
“What? It’s totally hot.”

And a huge shout out to the side characters! Bailey’s BFF, Erica is an absolute riot! Sarcastic, crude and with pretty much no filter, she had me constantly laughing. Reece’s friends Camden and Christopher were also great. Bailey’s Dad is beautiful, and even the rest of her family – although they needed to be smacked HARD - still brought a lot to the story.

I loved Bailey’s journey. Watching her open up to Reece and respond to him was gorgeous, and even though my heart broke seeing her hit bottom, and the impact that it had on both of them. Watching her climb her way back up to reclaim her life was fantastic!

The book was really well written but I found aspects of the writing to be a little strange at times, with the tense switching between first and third, and the POV frequently shifting. The timeline also skips a little bit, but I didn’t mind it, because we get the complete picture, and we don’t just get this couple falling in love and then leave them to their HEA – they fall in love, and the story continues for some time after that point so we get to see each little progression for them, and I loved every minute of it!

This is an absolutely delightful read! I laughed, I cried, I squeed and I swooned. It looks like it’s the first of a series, and I can't wait to get my hands on more from this fantastic bunch of characters.

I loved it – 4.5 stars.

[Jessica Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so honored to be offered an ARC from this author, an author who became a personal favorite of mine with her earlier books. She warned me this book was much different than those other books, and I agree. This book is so very different from the other stories I've read from this author. Not as dark, not as gritty, but no less compelling and raw. Just different. In only good ways!

LoveLines reads like an epic romantic comedy for much of it. I could actually see this movie on screen as I was reading. The characters, their quirks and witty banter, all unfolds like an incredibly clever romcom. So many times I found myself laughing uncontrollably. And swooning over the sweetness of it all. But it's so much more than that. This story takes you inside of an often overlooked and misunderstood mental condition, OCD, and beautifully illustrates not only how an individual battles their compulsions on a daily basis, but also how it can effect everyone around them.

The character development in this story is the best I've seen. Bailey and Reece are so different, such refreshing personalities... everything about them departs from the norm of what you've come to know in romances of late. You've never met characters like these before. They're sweet and funny, but so unpredictable. Bailey is obviously quite different from other book heroines, as her OCD sets her apart, but it's not just her condition that makes her so unique... It's everything. I couldn't help but connect with her immediately. And Reece is like no other male counterpart I've read, EVER. He is charming and sweet and sexy, of course. He's controlling and domineering in such an unobvious way. But he's vulnerable, unafraid to be what most fictional men rarely are. He's perfection, in my opinion... saying and doing what no one expects. Together, Bailey and Reece mesh into such an interesting dynamic, both complimenting each other and bouncing off each other in such a way that it adds both beautiful and painful complexity to this story.

But aside from Bailey and Reece, every single character provides for such absolute depth in this story. Christopher, Camden, Erica, Noah, Bailey's parents and her sister... every character has such a unique, multifaceted personality and adds layer upon layer to this story. The dynamic and dialogue between all of these characters is so realistic, so raw, sometimes funny, sometimes so brutal...always always perfection. I was so incredibly impressed with the variation of these characters. Their words, their style, their behavior... S Walden created this world, these people that I feel like I know so well, yet they are so individual. Every single word out of their mouths, ever minor action draws us closer into seeing and knowing exactly who they are. Every single character is so well crafted, so beautifully depicted. I can't think of another story in recent memory that illustrates a picture so vividly as the one this author has created in this book.

This book had me feeling such frustration at times, I could empathize fully with Bailey's internal struggle, as well as the frustration of everyone who knows her.... The frustration of dealing with her compulsions, and conversely dealing with a person who doesn't believe she deserves to be loved despite them. It's a story filled with such an array of emotion provoking pages. I wanted to laugh, I wanted to cry. And I did both. I felt such utter disdain for a character that I later came to understand completely. I felt anxiety and frustration and admiration on multiple occasions toward multiple characters.

It's no secret I live for an angst-ridden, roller coaster of a story. And while I was loving every page of this story, I came to assume that the only angst in this book was Bailey's struggle with her mental condition.... a different type of "angst" but angst nonetheless. I was ok with that, I knew this book would be much different than the author's other stories going into it and so I had no expectations as to what that meant. But then it happened. The rug was pulled out from under me, more than once to be honest, and it was painful. This book gave me everything I love to find in a story, wrapped in an entirely different package than I could have ever imagined.

Summer Walden made a fan out of me with Going Under. I knew the second I read that book that I would read every word she ever published, she's just that gifted. My adoration of her work was further cemented with Good and then again with Better, a series that I could not have possibly loved any more. With LoveLines, comes my certainty that this author can and should write ANYTHING. She's diverse, and so talented and her writing is superb. In a book world filled with so many subpar writers, churning out a conveyor belt of unoriginal repetitive and redundant stories, Summer Walden stands apart in a league all her own. If there's one thing you should expect from this author, it's that her writing will pull you in and immerse you in a story that you never want to end. Apart from that, you shouldn't expect anything, because she'll surprise you every time. Just when you think you know her tricks, she pulls out one you've never even considered possible.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Lovelines is one of those contemporary romance out there that can still give us a refreshing and original storyline with a hero and heroine that truly make you feel as if you are encountering them for the first time. I assure you I'm not just saying this because the heroine had OCD. Despite the cover that reminds me so much of Kristan Higgins book, this one is definitely not a clean romance. The sex was even borderline kinky, which caught me entirely by surprise.

Bailey, 31, had a serious case of OCD. She had 31 failed relationships all due to the fact that her boyfriends can't stand her tics. She count her steps, arrange her pens, walk into office at 7.58am and a perfectionist in everything she do. Those are just some of the examples, she still have a truckload of other tics kept hidden awaiting to emerge.

She inherited the OCD from her dad, the person she love most. Her mum can't stand her, her sister can be a total bitch. I love her bff, Erica though. She was married with two kids and the family was a riot.

"I want Little Noah looking like a beat-up mess by the time he's eighteen. Cause no woman wants a delicate man. He needs to be sporting at least five scars."

Truer words have never been spoken, Erica!

Reece Powell is a new marketing executive in the firm where Bailey works as a proofreader. She caught his interest when she was bouncing by the hallway in her red cigarette pants. Even after discovering that she had OCD, Reece find it interesting rather than repulsive.

"I'm pretty sure she's OCD. I find it uncomfortably sexy. There's something strangely erotic about it. What the hell is wrong with me?"

Reece is almost perfect with his easy going demeanor, charming, flirty and the most important of all, he loves Bailey for being who she is. He never demand her to change, although Bailey was constantly trying to overcome her unreasonable urges all the time. Yes, he is only almost perfect because I love the fact that the man do had a little flaw in him.

He made me forget that I was tic-bound, schedule-bound, urge-bound. He made me feel like I was breaking free.

I love their casual relationship that blossom from light and fluffy to something more later on. There is just something so genuine about their interaction. Nothing over the top or cliche at all. Reece also had his own story to tell and together with Bailey, they both were searching for the acceptance they never get.

So I was surprised by the borderline kinky sex scene. I had no idea that sweet and charming Reese had a little fetish. Don't worry, is mild though. But I did felt uncomfortable at some scene wondering why did he came off as demanding. He was exerting total control in the bedroom. But after he talked it out with Bailey, I came to an understanding and it makes me feel everything was perfect. Just plainly love the guy.

Everything was picture perfect until something happen to shake things up. Will Bailey able to cope with the aftermath? And will Reese able to help her overcome it?

"Everyone's pain is different. I don't like when people marginalize their feelings because they think they're not allowed to have them. Someone will always have a tougher go than you. Does that mean you're not allowed to feel hurt? To be sad?"

The supporting characters in this book were very well fleshed out. I love every single one of them. Erica, Noah, the two kids, Christopher and Camden, the father, the mum, the sister and even her neighbor, who I had totally no idea what she was saying all the time.

Actually there isn't any big drama in this book, but the underlying theme was about dealing with acceptance and loss. The flow of the story was really engaging and I like following through how Bailey and Reese relationship kept moving forward towards their HEA, despite some hiccups on the way. This is a very well written standalone with refreshing storyline, well fleshed out characters and non of those overuse cheesy line or OTT drama.

[Jana Aston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new kinda book by Summer Walden.

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No, not that kinda book. Though yowza, Summer can write some sexy times. If you’ve read Summer before you’re used to teenagers. No teenagers here, hooray! Lovelines isn’t my normal kind of read, which is to say, Bailey & Reece are normal people. I have a fetish for alpha billionaires, not normal guys that work in marketing. But I have a thing for Summer’s writing, cause her men, swoon. So Reece who works in marketing it is.

Bailey suffers from OCD. Real, debilitating OCD, not the fun, “OMG, I, like, have to eat all the yellow M&M’s first out of the bag. I’m so OCD.” The first couple of chapters are painful to read, because Bailey’s struggle is so vivid.

Then she meets Reece. Reece who loves her, not in spite of her OCD, but including her OCD. Reece is… delightful.

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Of course, it’s not all sunshine & roses. They struggle. Although, I think their struggles were more about Bailey’s maturity than her OCD. Reece’s love helps Bailey deal with her OCD issues, until something happens to send her into a tailspin. She reacts by reverting to the worst of her OCD tics, but worse, she pushes Reece away. Perfect dreamy Reece, who didn’t deserve to be pushed. But hey, we gotta have angst, right? Bailey’s mom & sister, I detested. Their portion of the story was wrapped up a little too neatly for my liking.

But Reece… when you’re done reading send him back to me.