Dearest Clementine

Dearest #1

by Lex Martin

alternate cover edition of ASIN B00JRQ08HI

Twenty-year-old Clementine Avery doesn't mind being called bitchy and closed off. It's safe, and after being burned by her high school sweetheart and stalked by a professor her freshman year of college, safe sounds pretty damn good.

Her number one rule for survival? No dating. That is until she accidentally signs up for a romance writing class and needs material for her latest assignment. Sexy RA Gavin Murphy is more than happy to play the part of book boyfriend to help Clem find some inspiration, even if that means making out … in the name of research, of course.

As Gavin and Clem grow closer, they get entangled in the mystery surrounding a missing Boston University student, and Clem unwittingly becomes a possible target. Gavin tries to show Clem she can handle falling in love again, but she knows she has to be careful because her heart’s at stake … and maybe even her life.

DEAREST CLEMENTINE is a stand-alone novel with two companion novels. This New Adult romance is recommended for readers 18+ due to mature content.

Genres: New Adult, Romance, College, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Abuse, Fiction

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 18, 2014

About the author

Lex Martin is the USA Today bestselling author of Varsity Dads, Texas Nights, and the Dearest series. She writes contemporary romance novels, the steamy kind she hopes her readers love but her parents avoid. A former high school English teacher and freelance journalist, she resides in Texas with her husband and twin daughters. Drop her a line. She loves hearing from readers.

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Reviews

[Katerina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books you read.Some books you enjoy.But some books just swallow you up,heart and soul.Dearest Clementine is one of those books.

“They slipped briskly into an intimacy from which they never recovered.”

Meet Clementine.Everyone thinks of her as a bossy bitch,a girl with a cold heart and snarky remarks who hates men and doesn't date.What they don't know is how hard she tries to hide her fear,her heartbreak and her trust issues.Her first love cheated on her with her best friend,her family ignores her and her professor harassed her and shattered those tiny bits of faith in mankind she had left.Just take one step,survive another day,that's all that life is about and it's quiet and peaceful.Until she meets Gavin,a reporter/guitarist,who makes her realize that she is tired of being lonely,tired of pushing everyone away to avoid a second heartbreak worse than her first.Gavin seems to penetrate all the walls she has built,but when he starts keeping secrets her insecurities take their toll and she must decide if staying hidden in her bubble made of glass is better than trusting someone with the potential to hurt her.

“You were the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. You have always mesmerized me.”

I loved Lex Martin.She is a phenomenal writer.Dearest Clementine felt like I was reading a poem,like I left my body and any material attachments behind me and instead I was flying to uncharted lands,I was pure spirit,breathing words that fed me and made me complete.

“I think I've been waiting for the big gesture, the one where the guy stands in the rain and declares his love or makes some scene at a football game that ends with the crowd doing the slow clap. It's official. Romantic comedies have ruined me.”

Well Clementine isn't the only one ruined by them,but I don't think it has to be a bad thing.I mean yes,movies and romantic books set the standards high,but why should she (or anyone in this matter) compromise with anything less?She deserved her happy ending,she deserved someone who treated her like the most precious thing in the world,who understood how broken she was and wanted to be the one to mend her.She could be very insecure and even paranoid,but can you blame her?She dealt with things the way she thought it was better.At least for a while.

“I'm tired of being so closed off. It hasn't made me any stronger or braver. It hasn't imparted any wisdom or comfort. It has just made me lonely. ”

Yet it took strength to admit it and even more strength to take that leap of faith and change things.And in this effort,she had with her the most amazing friends!Jenna and Harper were really great,and so was Dani,Ryan and Jax,even Daren in the end!But there is one man that has my heart.
GAVIN

“Where can I find myself one of those?Does he have a brother?”

Darlin' you are so perfect that I can't stop panting every time you flash one of your smug grins and every time you sing,even when you just enter the effing room!He had me from the first chapter because well,he is described as Henry Cavill's doppelgänger.

But besides his good looks (and what a sexy beast he is!),he has also a soft and sweet side that guides him to do whatever it takes to make Clementine smile and feel safe.Steam,cuteness,heartbreak,their story is a blend of overpowering emotions and it is safe to say that this book is one of my all-time favorite contemporary romances!

"Well if it means anything,I think you could pull both off."
"Pull what off?"
"Hot sex and the happily ever after",he says with a wink.

[Patrycja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Dearest Clementine
Series: Dearest #1
Author: Lex Martin
Release Date: April, 2014
Rating: 5 stars
Cliffhanger:. No
HEA: yes




I didn’t know exactly what to expect when I reached for Lex Martin’s novel. I guess, I felt extremely adventurous and decided to give Dearest Clementine a chance. I’m a fan of a little fluffy, yet sexy New Adult reads, so I thought it would be right up my alley. And it was! From the start to the end I grinned like a Cheshire Cat and had incredibly good time! I found this novel sweet, entertaining, enthralling and definitely something worth giving five star rating.



Dearest Clementine is a story about a girl who not only was brokenhearted once, but also stalked by her professor. Her live definitely is not very easy. Now, she’s bitchy, bitter and keeps people away. She doesn’t date, at all. And even though she looks like a model, and boys are drawn to her, constantly asking her out, she always says no. She does it in incredibly bitchy fashion. Sarcasm is her favorite weapon. Having only few close friends is enough for her, though.



Clementine is also a young and talented writer. After her first YA book became a bestseller, Clementine tries to write a second novel that will help her pay the bills. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have an idea for the plot. When she accidentally signed up for Romance writing class in her senior year, shit just hit the fun. How she, romance hater can write a sexy story about love?

Meet Gavin, sexy RA. He’s the guy that will help Clementine write her romance novel. He will be her inspiration…

What can happen when one very bitter and lonely girl meets sexy, funny and nice guy like Gavin?



LOVED this book! I adored the plot, that I found extremely exciting and heart racing. The characters were pretty awesome too. It’s great new adult novel! The story have strong, thick sexual tension, great make out sessions and boy worth swooning over. I was in book haven.

Some may say, that Dearest Clementine is a little predictable, and yeah, some things were easy to figure out, but I was too bewitched by slowly building romance to mind it. So if you just like me, love to read everything new adult, absolutely check it out. It’s a must read!



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[Inna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zero stars if i could. This book went from good to WHAT THE HOLY DUMPSTER FIRE within just a few scenes.

I am extremely pissed that the heroine’s ex boyfriend (who in HS cheated on her with her best friend) was turned into some kind of victim by the author. I literally want to get stabby after reading the scene were he “apologizes” to her. 🔪🔪🔪🔪

The cheating ex basically makes the heroine into the bad guy. She didn’t show him enough love/affection. She was waiting to have sex, so he decided that she didn’t love him and fucked her best friend instead. WHAT THE FUCK?!??!!?! THE HEROINE ENDS UP APOLOGIZING TO THE JERK FOR HIM CHEATING ON HER!!!! 🤬

Did I mention that this idiot continued to date his affair partner and even gets engaged to her!!?! He is still with this b**ch when he approaches the heroine the first time in this book, and acts all friendly with the h as if nothing ever happened between them.

THIS FUCKER IS ALSO THE HERO OF BOOK 3 WHERE HE IS PAIRED WITH A GIRL WHO WAS CHEATED ON! 🤡🤡🤡

ALSO, let me not forget the great advice that Clementine’s friends give her to help her keep her new man (the H plays in a band)… they advise that she needs to show him lots of affection, dress sexy to keep his interest, and always be present at his shows… or he might choose to go home with one of his groupies instead. WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT IS THIS AUTHOR PEDDLING? If it’s that easy for the guy to cheat, then HE’S NOT THE ONE!

If even one girl reads this book and decides that she needs to put out faster than she’s comfortable with, or that she needs to always monitor her boyfriend’s activities lest he cheat… idk. That’s just gross. I just can’t support the message that this book sends about relationships.

The rest of the story was actually pretty decent. There was a little more OW drama than I prefer. The author is talented… but I just can’t go on with this series (manwhore H for book 2 and cheater for book 3) and can’t recommend this book.

Also, there’s a distinct plot hole in the reason for the hero pulling away from the heroine. He literally COULD HAVE TOLD HER that he needed to stay away for a while. Instead, he lies and makes her think he’s cheating on her. She flips out FOR VERY GOOD REASON, and still ends up apologizing for not believing him at the end. 🥴


Safety was fine; heroine not a virgin but she may as well have been one, she had one ONS after being cheated on in HS and it wasn’t a good experience. H not a manwhore but was experienced (he said he had 7-8 partners). H’s ex g/f causes A LOT of OW drama. Basically, she’s the stereotypical evil OW. Theres OM drama too, but not much. No cheating, no scenes with om/ow.

TW: stalking, threats of violence, kidnapping, parental neglect, mentions of past cheating, rape and attempted rape mentioned/alluded to, but not on page.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided to me by author Lex Martin in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super sweet, cute, summer/spring time read, with a mystery sub-plot that, even though it was pretty obvious, really pulls you into the story and makes it hard to put this book down.

Clementine is attending Boston University, where she is pursuing a degree in writing/english, even though she has already published a bestselling novel her freshman year, under a pen name. The story she had published is an account of real events that happened to her during her senior year of high school, but has changed all the names and tweaked the information. Yet, it would be absolutely devastating if people found out that she really wrote the book, because her and her family has been in the public eye for a long time.

Because of her apprehensiveness about being in the spotlight with the press, she is very averse to meeting new people. Also, because of the bad break up that she wrote about in high school, she is also very averse to dating anyone. That is, until she meets Gavin, a RA and journalist that is also the newest member of her friend's band.

Clementine, being apprehensive about relationships, doesn't want to give Gavin the time of day, but she is struggling with writers block and an assignment in her new romance class and he is the only thing that helps give her inspiration.

There is also a missing girl from Clementine's university and Gavin is writing piece after piece trying to help bring her home. Clementine is also feeling very unsafe on campus, because she was sexually assaulted by a college professor her freshman year. Even though she had gotten a restraining order, he is back and is making it very apparent that he isn't willing to stop pursuing Clementine.

We also are introduced to some amazing side characters that get their own spinoffs in this series, too! Jax, Clementine's twin brother and soccer star, gets to be the male lead in Finding Dandelion! And Darren, who is Clementine's ex, star quarterback of the rivaling university's football team, gets to be the male lead in Kissing Madeline! I loved Darren. Don't get me wrong, Gavin was pretty dreamy and Darren did mess up pretty inexcusably in high school, but I was low-key in love with Darren once he actually came into Clementine's story personally.

I really enjoyed it, and it's honestly such a good romantic contemporary that is perfect for this time of year. I only really have two negative things to say about this book:

The first being that, again, the abduction mystery, paired with the stalking professor, made for a really unexpected and enjoyable read, but it was also painfully obvious what was going on and how the situation was going to unfold.

The second thing is that there was a lot of "joking around" slut shaming in this book. I completely understand that I used to be very guilty of this, too, and this book was published in 2014, so I'm willing to give it some slack, but it still made for a jarring and unpleasant read when the girls/friends were talking to one another.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and I am so thankful that I was able to get a copy of this for free. I also fully plan to read both Finding Dandelion and Kissing Madeline, because all of these characters were so cute and so enjoyable to read about. Lex Martin did a wonderful job writing this story, and I have nothing but high hopes for her future.

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[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Dearest Clementine
Series: Dearest, #1
Author: Lex Martin
Release Date: 25th May, 2014
Rating: 4 "Golden" Stars
Cliffhanger: No
HEA: Yes





I wanted to start my reading year with a sweet, surefire winning read and I definitely found that with ‘Dearest Clementine’.

Our girl Clem had more issues than Glamour but far from being a whiny weak heroine, her sarkiness; although a shield was entertaining. And Gavin? That boy can call me Darlin' anyday!



I have serious grabby hands cramp for Daren and Madeline's book.

I’m so glad to hear Daren doesn't end up with that skank, Veronica.


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[Lex Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab The Dearest Series Boxed Set, which is FREE on Amazon KU for a limited time. It includes Dearest Clementine, Finding Dandelion and Kissing Madeline, as well as BONUS scenes (yes, more Gavin Murphy!) and the first chapter of Shameless. 


Universal Amazon link: myBook.to/DearestSeries

To receive an email when I release SHAMELESS on April 26 and get sneak peaks, sign up for my newsletter here: http://tiny.cc/zhizjx

I'll be giving away SIGNED copies of Dearest Series books and ARCs of SHAMELESS in my Facebook group. Here's the link if you want to check it out: http://on.fb.me/1oJN3mZ

Thank you for posting reviews! I really appreciate it! Here's an excerpt for anyone who hasn't read DEAREST CLEMENTINE yet:

The laundry room is dark when we walk in, so he flips on the lights. A row of washers and dryers line both sides of the small room. He opens up a washer and dumps in his basket of clothes.

“Gavin, why are you washing clean laundry?” I can’t help the laugh that escapes.

He drops in a few quarters and starts the machine before he turns to me, grinning.

“I’m helping you get in the zone. Come here.” He wraps his hands around my waist, and I let out a surprised squeak when he lifts me up onto a washer. I can’t believe he just picked me up. Okay, that’s a stupid thought. He did carry me home two weeks ago.

His grip is firm on either side of me as he ducks down to look into my eyes. Even though I lean back, I can feel his minty breath on my face.

“Clementine, I want to warn you.” His voice is husky and deep. “I’m going to kiss you, and you’re going to like it. A lot. But I want to be clear that I’m not going to sleep with you, because I want you to respect me in the morning.” His mouth lifts up in a wry smile. “This is simply one friend helping out another. Okay?”

Wait. Is he serious?

He must sense my apprehension because he rubs his thumb softly across my cheek. “It’s just an exercise, to get you into your story. I promise.”

I laugh, embarrassed, intrigued, and a whole lot turned on by the idea. He smiles again, but this time it’s different. His eyes darken as his hands glide over my hips. My breath catches in my chest.

“Gavin, I don’t think—”

He rests a finger over my lips.

“I’m doing this in the name of academics. You need inspiration? You’re looking at it. Now shut up and let me kiss you.”

Holy. Shit.

Pressing his hand on the small of my back, he pulls me to the edge of the washer and stands between my legs, my thighs now on either side of his hips. He runs his other hand behind the nape of my neck, and I think I’m having an out-of-body experience as his touch leaves a trail of flames in its wake. My mouth is dry, and all I hear is the sound of my heart hammering in my chest. But before I can overanalyze it, he’s so close I can barely breathe.

“By the way,” he whispers when we’re nose to nose, “you should remember that I’m already dating someone, so don’t get too attached.”

And with the reminder that he has a fake girlfriend, he puts his lips on mine before I can tell him he’s insane.

Gavin’s lips are soft, but firm, and my body reacts, my arms lifting automatically to wrap around his neck. My hands are instantly in his hair, and my mouth opens, gasping from having him up close and oh so personal. He uses the brief opening to swipe my lips softly with his tongue. As he presses in closer, I tighten my thighs on his hips.

Gripping my hair with his hand, he tugs my head back and delves deeper, stroking my tongue with his. And dear sweet Jesus, Gavin can kiss. I’m all kinds of turned on, my body a pulse, a beacon of exploding light. We make out a few minutes, kissing, alternating between these sweet, heartbreakingly slow kisses and hard ones that make me feel like I can’t get close enough to him.

I use this opportunity to run my hand along his chest, descending down his hard pecs and ridged abdomen. I knew he was built—I mean, I’ve seen plenty of his defined body when we work out—but touching him like this has me lightheaded.

And this is not me, losing myself in the moment, but I can’t seem to stop myself. Hell, I don’t want to stop myself.

The wash cycle stops, the machine stilling beneath me, and he pulls away, leaving me out of breath.
Gavin looks into my eyes, and I try not to shy away, but when he kisses my forehead gently, I melt all over again.

He clears his throat.

“So now, because RAs don’t like to get caught making out with girls on their floor, I’m going back up to my room. You should come up when the laundry is done so it doesn’t look suspicious, and let’s see if you can’t get a little more done on your assignment.”

With that, he steps back, and I’m under his microscope, his eyes passing over me again. He chuckles and leans into me and whispers, “By the way, you’re one hell of a kisser, Clementine.” Then he winks and walks out.

Oh. My. God.

You can read additional excerpts on my blog at www.lexmartinwrites.com/my-books/

Dearest Clementine Lex Martin

[Ramona Popescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book from Lex Martin and after finishing it, I was a dying fan. We all know Romance is not for everyone. First, I believe you have to be genuine in order for all the readers to believe your story. That connection is very important, and not only for this genre, but for all the existing books. No connection leads to no admiration towards the book and its character. Believe me, this was not the case for Lex's story.

I won't spoil much from the plot, only that our heroine Clementine is a very guarded and introvert girl, with a very heavy background that lead her to this status. She was betrayed by her boyfriend, ignored by her parents and harassed by a former teacher. All of this add up to her now personality, making her seem cold and distant to everything around her. As you might predict, her walls will crumble, because of a gorgeous guy, who will show her what it means to let go and love without any fears.

Enough with the plot, because I want to focus on the characters. Clem for me was a very strong heroine, hard on the outside, but sweet and vulnerable on the inside. After all that happened to her, she doesn't date, doesn't go out much, her only love and dedication is for writing. She is a writer, a very talented one but apparently, even good writers may have blocking periods in which nothing comes out right. Because of this, she is very frustrated and feels like her best asset its been taken away from her. Until Gavin, our hero and a very talented journalist, wants to help her, of course in the name of art, to get rid of this block. Gavin is very different from Clem. He is straight forward, addictive and speaks his mind no matter the situation. He realises something is not Ok with her, because being as beautiful as she is, she would have to be surrounded by friends and have an active social life. But you can't really blame Clem for being this way. I felt sorry for the things that marked her years ago, but I was so Team Gavin because I knew he will be able to crack that rough exterior and bring out the Clem she once was. Even thought sometimes Clem was very icy, I bet Gavin knew from the moment he saw her that it was all a façade.

Most of the book I've been like this:



The connection between our heroes was very intense, and they were in a constant state of push and pull and fire and ice. Clem was the one with her guard up, but Gavin was there to show her how beautiful life could be when you actually live it. I wanted so bad for her to start living and just give in her feelings, because they were not wrong in choosing Gavin. I kind of consider this book a second chance one, because Clem was a new person after falling for Gavin and accepting him. And boy, he was persistent, and of course extremely hot while chasing her.

The book had also a very intriguing element, revolving around Clem's harassing teacher, but I will let you discover that by yourself. It added a bit of suspense to the story and I glad our heroine got the closure she needed. Also I enjoyed so much Clem's friends and I am very excited to read their stories as well.

In conclusion, a very deep book, with a lot of focus on personalities and second chances. I really recommend it to anyone who doesn't believe that love can't change anything:)

4 stars!



For more reviews please check https://readwithloveblog.wordpress.com

[Aestas Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

**** FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED ****

Dearest Clementine was a sweet college romance mixed in with some mystery about a girl whose trust in friends, family, and men had been broken and the sweet, loving guy who helped her rebuild it. I really enjoyed it and swooned hard over Gavin Murphy!

So, the whole story was told to us by Clementine who had sworn off dating after her high school boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend and then her college writing professor crossed waayyyyyy over the professional line and finally resorted to violence and stalking. Let’s just say that this girl had not been lucky in love. In her own words, “It’s not like I’ve never dated. I merely gave up trying to find someone who wasn’t a shithead. Or a cheater. Or a stalker. Yeah, guys suck.”

What she did love to do though was write. “On a good day, if the stars align and the fates agree, I can write my ass off.” But she wrote fiction so when she accidentally signed up for a romance writing class in her senior year, she felt lost. With no personal experiences to draw on and no real desire to ever have anything romantic to do with guys again, she had no idea what to write about.

This was where Gavin Murphy came in. He was a sexy RA and guitarist in a band and he had his sights set on her. This guy was pure swoon and sweetness. He totally understood that she wasn’t looking to date and wasn’t ready for any sort of relationship but he definitely wanted to get to know her more so he made a proposal…. he’d help her get “inspiration” for her writing by acting as a real life book boyfriend. Just friends, right? ;) And without even knowing it, she found herself falling for him.

“I want to warn you.” His voice is husky and deep. “I’m going to kiss you and you’re going to like it. A lot.” …

“Gavin, I don’t think — “

He rests a finger over my lips.

“I’m doing this in the name of academics. You need inspiration? You’re looking at it. Now shut up and let me kiss you.”

Teehee!!

Meanwhile, there was a case of a missing student on campus that Gavin was investigating for the newspaper and everything began to get a little scary when Clementine became the next possible target!

I totally loved Gavin! This guy was fun, flirty, and oh-so-sweet. He was all about the endearments, flowers, little affectionate gestures, and all the little things that make us all swoon like crazy.

“I’ve never been into musicians. Never saw the appeal. I always thought they were too mercurial. Too undependable. Too capricious. But Gavin isn’t any of those things. He’s a steady, even force who’s loyal and good and, dear fucking God, hot.”

He gave her love, safety, and support — three things no one else had ever given her. Clementine had several totally understandable insecurities and I loved the way Gavin was constantly reassuring. Not to mention, he could be scary protective of his girl when needed too.

“Don’t apologize,” he says, pausing to look at me in the eye. “You don’t have to explain yourself. I choose you. I want you.”

I absolutely loved all the parts of the book that were focused on their relationship — Gavin made my heart flutter and the way he was so careful with her and patient and protective was all kinds of gorgeous. Not to mention that all of his “help” with giving her inspiration for her writing was HOT!! But I especially loved the way he seemed to totally “get” her. He understood what she was scared of, respected her need to take things slow, and really was able to help rebuild her trust and heal her heart. You could tell from the start that he was ready to give them a long-term shot. It was incredibly endearing!

I will just mention that while there were a lot of hot kisses in this book and Gavin and Clem had a really great dynamic, there was not a lot of actual steam in this book. Personally that isn’t something that bothers me but I do like to know what to expect in advance so I’m just mentioning it here.

Overall, this was a really sweet read with a little bit of humor, fun, drama, and mystery. I’ll admit that I did wish there was a little bit more of a focus on the main relationship though. There was a lot going on in the plot and I sometimes felt like that overshadowed the romance. There was also a turn of events part way through the book which kept them apart from each other for longer than I would have liked but I’ll just reassure you now that there is no cheating between the main couple. And finally, I did want a little more out of the ending somehow… but, I do promise that there is a fully resolved ending with an epilogue.

Rating: 4 — 4.5 stars. Standalone.

****************************

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[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title:Dearest Clementine
Series:Dearest #1
Author:Lex Martin
Release Date: April 18, 2014
Rating:4 stars
Cliffhanger:No
HEA: Yes





Dearest Clementine was a great example of New Adult done right. Let’s move down the list:

No annoying friends-Check.

No unneeded drama-Check

No overdone angst-Check

No heroine that you want to kill-Check

No stupid decision making-Check.

That spells success.

New Adult is easy to screw up but Lex Martin has done something noteworthy. She’s made a heroine with a difficult past who’s a loner and doesn’t like to date or meet people. BUT- as standoff-ish as she is, I still LIKED her. Somehow, I enjoyed her character despite that cold wall she put up to keep people out. She didn’t seem bitchy or mean. She was just protecting herself against more betrayal. She gets her distant attitude from her family, her ex-boyfriend, and a horrible experience she had as a freshman in college. There’s only so much a girl can take before she starts to shut down.

They taught me how to shut out people. How to be cold. Shut off. Distant. Apparently, being a bitch is my only inheritance.

Clementine has a small group of friends that she sticks with that are always trying to bring her out of her shell. She doesn’t date. Ever. She doesn’t party or go out much-or at all. What she does do, is write. I loved that she was a published best-selling author who took care of her bills and tuition on her own when her rich family wouldn’t support her. She’s very independent and likes to take care of herself. Only now, she’s got a bit of a problem. Her writing has come to a standstill and she’s going to need to find some inspiration to move things along if she wants to continue to pay the bills. All she needs is the perfect inspiration-and his name is Gavin. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Gavin’s had a thing for her since they had a class together three years ago. He never got the chance to ask her out because she suddenly took a leave of absence from school when her life was out of control. She’s pretty shocked that he not only knows her, but he seems to like her despite her back off vibes she throws off.

”That was a long time ago and that class was huge. How do you remember me?”
He laughs, and his body moves against me. “You probably don’t realize this, but you’re hard to forget.”

He knows her reputation for not dating so he proposes that they become friends and sets out to change her mind on that little detail. When she pushes, he pulls. When she distances, he meets her in the middle. Slowly he starts breaking her down, all in the name of her story inspiration...right? She can't resist this sweet, hot, guitar playing, smart and sensitive guy. He's not like the others. He makes her feel safe and protected and she's never had that before.



I wanted that for her and so enjoyed their "inspiration kisses", their very believable relationship growth, and the sexual tension through all the uncertain feelings and emotions was just as great as the actual passion once he finally broke her down and got her to admit how she feels.

"You know you make me crazy, right?" he whispers as he kisses my neck. His words make my heart thunder in my chest, and I'm aching, everywhere. I've never felt like this before. Needy. Euphoric. Wanting him under my skin.

There was a large part of the book devoted to her stalker/attacker who was a former professor and there was a missing girl mystery. The professor kept popping up and foreshadowed something menacing, which turned out to be kind of anticlimactic. There was a lot of build up which I though would involve Clementine more but that didn't happen. I did predict what was going on as well so there wasn't a big surprise but it did add something extra to the story. This is not a fluffy New Adult about silly teens. It had some serious issues but at the same time, it wasn't overly dramatic. It had a nice balance to it.

Summing it up: Great story, great couple. They were two opposite personalities that worked together and fit. Lex Martin has a success here and I will definitely be reading the next book about Clem's brother.



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[Becca Ritchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been searching for a “chance-meeting” romance that literally sucks me in—to the point where I start unexplainably fawning and stroking my tablet screen. Dearest Clementine induced the “Kindle stroking” that sounds really dirty, but man, I’ve been waiting for it.

This romance is so natural that I’d shelve it under “soul-mate love” or “you know you wanna get it on”. First you have Clementine. Oh, Clementine. With her head-strong attitude, her love-scorned ways (she was previously cheated on and hasn’t dated anyone since), and her harrowing past (not too issue-driven, just enough to flesh out a beautiful character)—she’s in need for some male loving, or at least a person to show her that it’s okay to date again.

Bring in Gavin Murphy. And he’s so effing cool that both his last name and his first name sound equally hot said alone. Gavin. Murphy. *faints*

*revives* Where was I? Oh yes, Murphy. Gavin. Whatevs *playing it cool* He’s a journalism / English major and an RA, but with a common interest in English, Clem and Gavin connect on a genuine level. It felt real and brought me back to my own college journalism / English major days, which are not so far off. I am not in the market for spoilers, BUT I will mention how their romance is so organic that they’re really, really together before Clem even realizes it. Not physically. The chemistry between them drives their romance forward like a speeding train.

Beyond the romance, there’s a kidnapping mystery, a kooky Romance Writing professor, a super creepy professor, best friends you’ll want to have (seriously, Jenna, you can be my bestie), and an ex-boyfriend who also happens to be Clem’s twin brother’s bff—which is just as intriguing as it sounds. From start to finish, I saw Clem’s growth through every relationship she had with every person. I could have hugged her tight and said, “I love you.” But alas, my hands couldn’t reach through my tablet screen.

In short, Dearest Clementine will grip you in a matter of seconds, taking you on a seamless romantic journey, filled with laughs, steamy moments, and hypnotic writing. You’ll want a Gavin Murphy of your own, someone who understands your jokes and can give you the perfect kind of love. Clementine, hold tight, he’s not one you want to lose so easily. And if you let go, I may try to steal him from you. Better me than his angry red-headed girlfriend right? Right?

Dearest Clementine is a beautiful and engaging contribution to the New Adult world, and if you’re a fan of the genre, I wholeheartedly suggest opening this book. Fawn away!

** I was provided with an ARC by the author as a gift **

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75

“I'm tired of being so closed off. It hasn't made me any stronger or braver. It hasn't imparted any wisdom or comfort. It has just made me lonely.”

This book was great! I started it earlier today and, though I only meant to read a few chapters before finishing my OTHER read [Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas] I found that I just could NOT put this book down.

This is the debut book by this author, and I am impressed to say the least. This was a great story, filled with great characters. I loved the main character....Clementine....she was self conscious....but....getting to know her, you could tell that she was a really brave girl. GAVIN, omg, I absolutely loved him!!!! He was just such a sweetheart. I definitely loved their friends....I love when the main character has close knit girl friends, sometimes the girls in books can just be so catty. Not here, these were true friends - through and through!

This book had it all...sadness, love, great friendships, a little bit of a mystery, humor....I really, really enjoyed this one!! Its another one that looked good, I got it free through kindle some time ago and its just been sitting there....I wish I'd read it sooner, because its books like this that get me through book slumps!

I took off points in my rating because I thought the author could have gone a little bit more in depth on some of the stuff that went down, but it wasn't a big deal, you still get the gist of most everything, and it wasn't really important to the plot. Also....the ending was good! but it definitely left me wanting....IDK, maybe it carries into Clementine's brothers story...which is next :) Looking forward to it.

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[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much more than I thought it would be! I could not put it down, loved it so much!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I read Shameless by Lex Martin, I have wanted to gobble up every book she's written. I have only heard good things about Dearest Clementine, so I made sure to get to it as soon as I could!

Clementine Avery has gone through a lot throughout her time in college. She's published a best-selling novel under a pseudonym and she's gone through avoiding a professor who stalked her freshmen year. Now that senior year is here, Clementine has been struggling to write another novel. When she accidentally signs up for a romance writing class, Clementine has no idea how she can write romance when her own romances have crashed and burned. When she meets Gavin, an RA she bumps into while trying to find writing inspiration, Gavin is more than happy to play the part of a book boyfriend if it'll help Clementine write. Clementine tries to push Gavin away, but the closer they grow, the harder it is to ignore how perfect they really are for one another.

Ummmm why did no one warn me how ADORABLE Gavin is? Seriously, he became one of my new favorite book boyfriends. Clementine had her heartbroken in high school and had a scary relationship with an obsessive professor, so she was so wary when it came to guys. Gavin was so sweet and caring and took things slow when it came to a relationship with Clementine. Their time together was flirty and comfortable and my favorite parts were when Gavin would help give Clementine "inspiration" for her novel. The romance in this was just SO CUTE and I could not stop swooning the entire time.

While I loved the romance, I also loved all of Clementine's friends and her relationship with her brother. Her friends were so fun and it was cute how much they cared for Clementine. I did think the whole mystery that really grew at the end took away from the romance that I was obsessed with, but it added some suspense that I didn't expect.

If you can't tell, this is definitely a new favorite of mine from Lex Martin. I love novels about writers and it was fun watching Clementine's journey of writing a novel that was way out of her comfort zone. If you haven't read anything by Lex Martin, you need to get on it and pick this one up ASAP!

[Maida · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm going to have to give this novel more thought before settling on a rating. I was able to piece together a considerable chunk of the mystery beforehand; however, it did NOT diminish my reading experience. I think that the main reason why I'm vacillating in terms of my rating is the inexplicability of Clementine's family dynamics. I needed more background information or something to help me connect the dots. Clementine's mother cut her off financially. But why? Are the readers really supposed to believe that her mother cut her off b/c she refused to model her mother's clothing line? There has to be MORE to this story. And does it seriously take her financial mogul father over 2 years to figure out that his heiress daughter has been struggling for money & is barely able to pay her college tuition? Why is Jax so out-of-the-loop when it comes to his twin sister? Jax referred to Clementine as the life of the party in high school, "the coolest girl" he knew. She was voted Homecoming Queen & Prom Queen, so she was obviously very well-liked. So WHY did her ex-boyfriend— Daren— (who was her lifelong friend & Jax's BEST FRIEND) cheat on her for supposedly being an "ice princess?" There were TOO MANY inconsistencies in this novel. Granted, the novel DID keep me entertained & engaged. Sadly, however, it failed to tie up several loose ends, & there were glaring gaps in the storyline.

I do have to give the author credit for creating a believable romance between Clementine & Gavin. Gavin was a wonderful hero & my favorite character in the entire novel. It's refreshing to read about a New Adult hero who is a far departure from the prototypical brooding alpha male.

*2.5/5 stars*

[Maayan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say, this book really surprised me! I didn't know what to except when I started reading it and I'm very pleased to say that I enjoy it very much! It was light, sweet, funny and cute :) I loved the supporting characters! all added color and life to the story. Clementine & Gavin were such a lovely couple! I loved how their relationship grew and how well the fit together ! I love how he pull her out of her shell and show her that good man DOES exist in this world. Gavin is definitely a book boyfriend material :D

“ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review”

[Polly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very rarely take chances on new authors. Especially ones that none of my friends have read. With that being said I'm glad I took a chance on this one!!

I really loved it. I needed a light, funny, sweet, and with a dash of hot read today. This book delivered on all of those things.

Great debut for a promising author!

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to the book boyfriend list, Gavin Murphy.


This book really surprised me. 1st read with this author and truly enjoyed this to bits. We have Clementine, who is basically a big ole bitch, but for good reason. Caught her boyfriend boning her BFF, her parents suck, her brother sucks, oh and she had a psycho professor stalk her too. Not alot of reason to trust anyone. Until Gavin Murphy...sigh. What a gem. I absolutely adored him. He is an RA at the dorm on campus and also a guitar player in the band that her roomie's boyfriend is in. There was def insta-lust going on but its a slow build.

Clem is actually a writer, and she is struggling with writing her next book and her writing class in school. Gavin was definitely her rock throughout the story. He was patient and loving with her. And she was able to slowly let him into her crazy life. I also enjoyed the side story here that has some mystery to it. I don't want to spoil anything but I felt it really added to the story rather than distract.

I really loved the side characters in this as well, which rocks because the other books center on them :) Adored her roomies. Jenna was awesome and dirty and her little creation of Outskank was genius.

You see, Clem needed some help in writing about sex (since she ain't getting any), so we got this fun little game to see which of her friends can outskank the other.
Went a little something like...
Clem: Dripping wet makes for easy access.
Jenna: Want to slip and slide?
Clem: Let me sink my meat into your bun hard and fast.

I did have to dock down the rating, because of the lack of loving.

Rounding out 3rd at 50% and we don't get to home base until the end, this book would have been perfecto had they knocked da boots earlier and more frequently :)

Soooo 4.5 stars, I think this was the perfect mix of sassy heroine, insanely hot and awesome hero, great supporting cast, just enough angst to keep ya happy, and drama/mystery too. I am already moving on to book #2!!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook Review

Solid book. Enjoyable characters. Interesting plot line. The pacing was a bit off for me. Parts dragged and other parts were great. Overall, I enjoyed. I did rally like the narrators.

Onto book 2.

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 +++++ Happy Smiles Stars

Reading Dearest Clementine not only put a smile on my face, but made my insides warm and fuzzy. I simply loved this book

Clementine is your typical college gal. Sort of. She was recently stalked by her old professor and now she is trying to move forward and work on her second novel.

Gavin, an RA, is helping Clementine with her novel.

Clementine

I liked Clementine. She’s an adorable Heroine with adorable friends. Clementine doesn’t want to go out and she doesn’t date, but her girlfriends pressure her to live life. Even though Clementine went through a tough situation, with her professor stalking her, she isn’t this “damsel”, she has a goal and that’s to write another book to make money and pay off her tuition. I love that.

Gavin

Oh Gavin, he’s totally hot and all around loveable. He’s a writer to and *GASP** he’s also in a band. I now I could have done away with the band thing, but it’s cute. I totally get Gavin, he’s the guy next door and your best friend all rolled into one. He’s no push over either. He’s 100% cute and knows what he wants and he wants Clementine.

Overall

What I loved so much about this book was chemistry between Clem and Gavin. Lex Martin really took her time in building up the relationship and characters. It was a slow and steady spark that I couldn’t stop reading!

Clem and Gavin forge a friendship based on the fact they both have a passion of writing. Gavin gives Clem inspiration for her novel and thus they continue to work together. However, Clem is closed off and pushes Gavin away.

I love reading about Gavin pursuing Clem, it’s just so funny and cute! You will laugh out loud many moments and get sucked into their relationship. There is a bit where Gavin and Clem were annoying, but it added some heated tension.

Dearest Clementine was a book I didn’t think anything of, but once I read the first chapter, I was instantly drawn. It’s a must read!

[Syndi · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.
Can not click with everything. Characters are super confusing. The story build up can not support the characters development.

[A_Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 TOTALLY AWESOME - LOVED IT - STARS!!!

What's it about? Wow! A totally awesome, exhilerating, sweet and funny romance about...romance! This book just sort of came out of no where and completely blew me away!

After her first love cheats on her, her twin-brother betrays her, her father abandons her for a business deal overseas and after her mentor/professor begins to go crazy and stalk her, Clementine begins to believe that all men suck. Her survival instincts switch on to overdrive and Clementine becomes the bitchy ice queen that everyone wants to date...but they're all too scared to ask!

All she needs to do is keep her head down and try to find inspiration to write a romance novel for her creative writing class. Which she doesn't want to do, but is kind of stuck there for the semester. With her experience (or lack thereof) she has no idea how to write about a relationship blossoming, or worse... the sex scenes needed to reflect the passion. She can't even come up with another word for penis! (other than "the ween").

One day, when she's busy people-watching, desperate for inspiration, she meets Gavin, the sexy RA who just wants to see if he can get her to tell him her name. After a few hilarious encounters, the two become "just friends" spending time studying in each other's rooms, sharing pizza and some serious chemistry develops. Gavin decides that he could help Clementine find some real "inspiration" for her book, for example with a kissing scene ...you know purely to help her with her writing...

"He snickers. “You should go before you ravish me because then I’ll feel cheap.”
God, he’s such a flirt. Laughing, I punch him playfully. “You’re incredible.”
“I know, but the next time you say that, you should add my name, like, ‘Gavin, you’re incredible,’and maybe throw in a few moans. That would be hot.”
“Who are you?”

The Best Bits: Lex Martin's writing just glides across the page allowing the reader to get totally lost in a world where all her characters are so real. It was such a breath of fresh air to read a NA book with no spelling/grammatical errors that grate on you (my pet peeve), and where the narrative takes you on a journey through a romance novel about... writing romance novels!

Gavin was just adorable...everything about him screamed how much he liked Clementine. There were some very funny and some very poignant moments as he tried to be patient and earn her trust. His cheeky innuendos were perfectly spaced throughout the book and showed off Lex Martin's great comedic timing.
The supporting characters were BRILLIANT and I can't wait to read Jax's story... I am so hooked already!! And I think Darren's story comes out this month too!!! (my family can eat take away that day...I'll be too busy falling in love again!)

The Worst bits: There were some references about Jenna keeping Ray interested which the feminist part of me wasn't too comfortable with.

Funniest bit: Clementine learning how to send sext messages was very funny.

Most complex obstacle: Trust was the common thread that bound all the major and secondary characters together in this book and Martin does a great job of getting a message across without lecturing the reader through character dialogue.

Recommendation: Awesome. Romantic. Funny. Sweet. Sexy. Thrilling. GO AND READ THIS BOOK NOW!

5 Awesome- "loved it!" - stars!!!

[Anne OK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t you just love when a book kidnaps you? Well, I do! And I thoroughly enjoyed every moment spent as a hostage of Clementine and Gavin’s story. I am surprised there aren’t more reviews posted on Goodreads. It’s an absolute must-read in my opinion – whether you’re a fan of New Adult books or not.

Romantic suspense is my first choice in choosing a book every single time. Here, we get a nice blend of well-balanced romance heated with sexual tension that sparks an undying flame, along with a “come into my evil web said the gross spider to the little fly” kidnapping-type of suspense. Readers will probably have no problem putting the clues together and solving the crime – but I assure you it doesn’t detract from the well-written plot.

Clementine (not many female characters with that name but I love it!) attends Boston University and is one smart and strong individual who loves books and writing. Being a trust fund baby has no meaning to her -- and the relationship with her rich parents is strained and close to zero. She's holding more than one secret close to her vest and fears the truth ever surfacing. She also has a twin brother named Jax, who’s a soccer star down the road at Boston College and playboy extraordinaire that will certainly make you beg for more, too.

Gavin Murphy (and that’s a great name, too) walked on to the page and I swooned. Every girl’s college experience should include a sexy Residential Assistant like him. He’s a journalism major already working both at the campus newspaper and as an intern for the Boston Globe and plays in a popular band. Adorable from head to toe, inside and out. A barrel of sweet inspiration for our Darlin’ Clementine in more ways than one - Gavin Murphy was just perfect for her.

A great cast of supporting characters generates angst and suspense, along with humor and friendship in spades. Some you’ll absolutely be mesmerized by and others who will turn your stomach.

This is the first story in what the author describes as a three-book trilogy with each book standing on its own. Lex Martin has written a fabulous debut novel that gave me goosebumps and left me smiling and satisfied beyond anything I imagined.

From the pretty cover to the very last page, this is one of my favorite reads this year – across all genres. It’s a pleasure to highly recommend Lex Martin’s remarkable debut novel to one and all.

[Cami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I am REALLY late to the party when it comes to this book…..it was published in May of 2014 but I’m glad, even though I’m late, that I read this book!!!

This book was so interesting.. it has so many components to the story, that I was completely engrossed the entire time.

Clementine Avery is a senior in college but has already written a best seller YA book. She has started several other book ideas but can’t seem to get going on any of them. She has a reputation around campus of being a cold bitch towards the opposite sex. After a bad ending to a first love in high school and then a terrible experience her freshman year of college she does not date at all!!!

Gavin Murphy is a RA at Warren House and is also in the same band as one of Clementine’s roommate’s boyfriend. Gavin is gorgeous and really sweet but Clementine is adamant that they remain only friends.

Both of these characters are really great even though they seem to be polar opposites. Gavin is one of my most favorite hero’s in a long time. He’s so patient, thoughtful and nice. I loved how he handled Clementine’s moods and fears. I always say I am not much for a slow burn but this one I really liked since you got a great feel for the development of their relationship. It wasn’t just her relationship with Gavin that you got to experience it was the relationship with her brother that needed work and another band member that she always had bad interactions with named Kade.

Really a great book!!!

[Fanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Descubri este libro hace muy poco tiempo, al principio empece a leerlo pensando que seria la tipica historia de amor en la universidad, pero no, es muchisimo mas, una historia maravillosa que enamora desde el primer parrafo que lees.

Gavin es un protagonista tan dulce, tierno y perfecto que te hace preguntar si existira alguien asi en la vida real, me encanto su caracter divertido y que fuera tan bromista, me rei muchisimo con su ocurrencias.

Clementine fue una protagonista maravillosa, me encanto que a diferencia de otras protagonistas de otros libros, ella no necesita a nadie, es autosuficiente y muy fuerte, en ningun momento me molesto nada de ella, al contrario en muchas ocasiones la comprendi y comparti sus puntos de vista, creo que ha sido una de las protagonistas que mas me ha gustado de todas las que he leido.

Hacia bastante tiempo que no lei un libro y no le encontraba ninguna pega, pero a esta historia no pude encontrarle ni el mas minimo detalle que no me gustara.

Leer este libro fue una de las mejores decisiones que he tomado respecto a lecturas ultimamente, por supuesto seguire leyendo esta increible saga y cualquier libro que escriba esta nueva y maravillosa autora.

Recomendado al 100%!

5 Estrellas!!! pero si pudiera le daria mas.

[Brina · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 amazing Stars

I love Dearest Clementine so much, that I read it a total of four times already. It’s just one of those books that make me absolutely happy. Dearest Clementine has everything I love in a novel and so much more. It definitely classifies as New Adult since the characters are in their early twenties and attend University. I won't judge you for thinking that this is "just another college-new-adult novel" because this was my first impression too after reading the blurb. But believe me when I say that this novel is way more than that. The storyline has real depths and the characters are very well thought through. The story is funny, romantic, serious and also a little angsty.

I really enjoyed the storyline of this novel, or should I rather say storylines? Dearest Clementine focuses on more than one and they are all linked together somehow within the novel. But don't let that put you off. Lex Martin has managed to find the perfect balance between all of the storylines. It doesn't feel overloaded or overwhelming at all.
The dynamic between the secondary and the main characters were great as well.
I usually don't comment on book covers but how can I not say anyhing about this one? It is utterly beautiful! The colors, the font, the picture... I absolutely love it. ♥

The only thing I don’t approve of are Clem and her friends calling each other whore or slut. That’s not something you should say, even it’s meant as a joke or to be funny. There is nothing funny about it.

**********

Review to come!

[a · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!!



I can't believe I waited so long to read this! I've had this book sitting on my kindle for over a year but once I started reading I couldn't stop. Gavin is as perfect as all the reviews say he is and I actually really love the heroine as well and feel like I can relate to her so much. Her roommates are awesome and I can only hope they all get books as well.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was the miscommunication and the unnecessary drama that happened about halfway through the book. I would've liked to see them together for much longer instead of taking a break. Also the whole stalker/mystery side plot was kind of out there and I don't know if it was needed in the book but it was interesting nonetheless.

I want to read the other books in the series but at the same time I really dislike man-whore heroes so I think it might take me some time to get in the mood for Jax and Daren’s story. Especially Daren. I don't know how the characters are just forgiving and forgetting what he did, like, what the hell?! He cheated on her and everyone's just acting so blasé about it because he apologized and felt "bad" for it?! It's going to take A LOT more for me to ever like him, I don't care how long they've been friends. I mean for goodness sakes, he's engaged to her best friend (whom he cheated with!) Like....what?!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tropes: 17

“God, you make me hot when you talk grammar.”

I wish I could partially blame myself for going into this book with hopes too high; I'd heard great things about Dearest Clementine. 'Not like other new adult.' 'Independent heroine.' 'No asshole hero.'

But no, Dearest Clementine is just like all the rest.

Clementine, or Clem, has hardened her heart. After asshole boyfriends in the past, a family that barely acknowledges her these days, she's not keen to trust anyone. Her best friends (and her roommates), Jenna and Harper have helped her out of the worst anxiety and depression.

I don’t know what they saw in me, but their friendship helped pull me out of the darkness to the point that I don’t need to take anxiety meds anymore.

Still, Clem won't trust people, and she most certainly does not need a boyfriend. When she meets Gavin, he's the new member of her roommate's boyfriend's band. And, like Clem, he's a writer. Well, a journalist student whereas Clem, under a penname, is a bestselling YA author (a fact very few of her friends know of). Gavin is interested in Clem from the start, and he tries to get under her skin, and slowly, he does.

For the past three years, I’ve ignored every guy who flirted with me. Every single one. But Gavin is different somehow. Sexy but sensitive. Strong but gentle. Easygoing but somehow intense. He can turn me inside out with one look, one touch, one kiss.

One of the biggest issues this book has is that it doesn't present any realistic development, neither for the characters or the plot. This quote above is the entire reason for why Clem is able to let Gavin in, and it's unrealistic in itself. Gavin is literally perfect (in Clem's eyes, and he's supposed to be to the reader as well, but I'll get to that soon). But back to the character development. Clem's development relies solely on Gavin, and his ability to be "perfect". It's thanks to him she's able to trust again, it's thanks to him she steps out of her bubble, it's thanks to his presence she's able to confront her own brother. It's unrealistic that she goes from not trusting anyone to letting Gavin in without any trouble at all, to opening up to the world. If her friends had played a bigger role, it could've been realistic, but since Clem's friends (only) purpose is to make her engage in sexual activities, or flirting, or trying to attract men, it's just a sad representation of female friendship.

When I say there's no realistic character development, what I'm really saying is that Clem's character isn't offered any realistic development. Gavin, the love interest, doesn't get any at all. He's perfect from the go, and, like other NA heroes, has about as much personality as a shoe box. He's sexy, every girl wants him (and every girl who does is somehow shamed for it even the heroine wants the same thing (eventually)), he's smart, kind, strong, manly, possessive and jealous, good at sex, etc.. (He's also prone to drop casual sexism from time to time.) Sounds familiar? It's because he is. He is all this from the start, and he's the same at the end.

When it comes to secondary characters, Jenna and Harper, Ryan (Jenna's boyfriend), Jax (Clem's brother), and a few others, they have no personality either. Jax especially should've been more fleshed out as it could've helped make Clem's progress more realistic (and the support coming from somewhere besides Gavin). He gets his own book (second in the series) so maybe that's why he didn't get as much time or development, but that was a big mistake. Jenna, Clem's best friend, is a joke. She's the stereotypical sex-obsessed friend whose purpose is to push the heroine toward hot sex (and hot men), and not much else. As said, a poor representation of female friendship.

Moving on to the plot. The overall plot is Clem learning to trust Gavin. Which is the problem, because the story is focused on making Clem trust a guy and not people in general. It's also focused on that Gavin himself makes her trust him, even when she's said she doesn't want him (but of course, in his mind, she wants him since all women wants it even when they say no, right?). You'd think that the friends that helped Clem to the extent of her not needing her anxiety medicine would play a part in helping her trust people, but no. It's all about Gavin's perfect persona that makes Clem trust people. A very troubling message: a woman can (with the help of her friends) get only so far in her progress, but in the end it's a man's assurance that will complete her progress.

The secondary plot is about a missing girl. Gavin is covering this for the school's newspaper, but after several months the police is out of leads. The mystery is put into the plot around 25-30%, and it's quite obvious who's behind it, since there is literally only one character that could possibly be the offender/kidnapper. I will discuss it more, but it's inside the spoiler: You see, Clem, during her first year at uni is stalked, and then harassed and assaulted, by one of her professors. He took her under his wing and helped her write her first book. As time went, he began coming on to her, and when she said no, his obsession began. It ended with him moving away, and she got a restraining order on the professor. Now the professor is back and teaching at the uni again (which, is unrealistic as well, an quite offensive toward the university as the author uses a real one for the setting). He's also taking a new student (it appears) under his wing. Clem realizes this, and is worried, kinda, about the student. Yet, she doesn't say anything to her, because there is no good timing. Yup, Clem doesn't tell another (female) student that the professor stalker, assaulted, and tried to rape her, because Clem can't find the right time to tell her. Clem quickly found a way for the reader to lose all respect for her. Given all this, it's obvious who the offender/kidnapper, is. It's a poorly written mystery as more or less anyone will realize who's behind it from the go. Basically, it's a poor attempt to bring some life into the story, and it adds nothing to the overall arc. It should've been left out of the story.

Dearest Clementine never had the chance to be something unique, or new, in the NA genre. It's full of sexism, misogyny, poor plot, no character development, and the usual carbon-cut characters. The writing overall is decent, nothing spectacular, but definitely readable. Unfortunately the book (and story) focused on all the wrong things, ending up in a mess.

[✿kawehi.reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!!

Meet Clementine Avery:

✓Twin sister to Jax and daughter of estranged high society parents.
✓An accomplished YA author who writes under a pen name to maintain her anonymity to the public.
✓ Has been burned in the field of love
✓ And oh, a hot as sin RA who she wouldn't mind using (and he as well) in the name of research.

But with a student loan and tuition to pay off as well as love and danger lurking in the air, how will everything turn out? Moreover, what will Clementine do when her next writing assignment requires her to step out of the box and test her limits?

Read and you will find out!!

My thoughts:

I’m always glad to be proven wrong and Dearest Clementine was prime proof of that. While I did add this book to my TBR shelf on goodreads, I had been totally skeptical about it because it had derived from a fairly new and upcoming author.

I’m happy to say that I not only enjoyed it immensely, but that I’m also highly looking forward to the following books which follow Jax and Dani, Clementine’s twin brother and one of her best friends; as well as Daren, Clementine’s ex.

Lex Martin does an astounded job of painting a vividly original and captivating about a girl who may have had a few bad stops in her life but is working to claim her own independence and place in this world.

The only downfall to this book and reason for the -.5 from the star rating was because I felt the involvement with the professor was a bit over the top really. But that's just me.

A lovely, lovely read Lex!!

*I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book via author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you!! Review to be posted on my blog as soon as I can find an opening! Promise!*

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my Darling, Oh my Darling,
Oh my Darling Clementine.
You [were] lost and gone forever,
[Oh my Darling], Clementine.

I can't count the number of times that song went through my head as I read.

I serious loved this book. If I had to classify this, I'd call it a New Adult Romantic Suspense. And since I love New Adult, and I love Romantic Suspense, this was right up my alley!

I really liked Clem. She was smart (except for math), snarky with a dark sense of humor, and into book, GR and writing. (I must admit, while I know GR isn't' for everyone, I love it and loved the shout out. ;) ). I also loved Clem's friends....Jenna, Harper, and Dani. And I can't forget Ryan, Kade, Gavin, Jax (♥) and Daren.

She had such a great group of friends that I hated for the book to end because I wanted to see what happened next.

Jax...I totally loved him. I think he deserves a book. I want to see his story and see him get a HEA.

Daren...when he first came around I groaned because I was fine with him just being someone from the past that you never saw. but the author did a good job of not making me totally hate him. I'm not sure I'd want a book for him though...just because I hold grudges.

Gavin. Dear lord Gavin. I want a book boyfriend like him. I honestly don't have the words to describe how much I loved him.

The romantic suspense was very well written. I did figure it out and was happy I got it right. I was also happy to see that there was a good outcome.

This is definitely a book I would recommend.