Damaged Goods

The Damaged #1

by J.C. Hannigan

“I wanted to go with him, wherever he wanted to take me…for however long. It was better than the silence, better than not being with him at all.”

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BLURB:

Everly Daniels can’t seem to fall out of love with Grayson Dixon.

Five years after locking eyes with him, Everly is drawn to him like a moth to a flame. He has a pull on her that she can’t seem to break, even if she wanted to. Grayson may be the love of her life, but he doesn’t make it easy. He has built walls around himself that only Everly can breach. But Grayson knows he is not the good guy. He’s reckless and careless, and even if Everly brings a little color into his life, he worries he will destroy her, and cares too much to let that happen.

She has always been the shy wallflower who is afraid to participate. But senior year, all that is about to change.

This captivating new adult novel will take readers on a riveting journey of emotion and growth.


*Mature Young Adult. Not intended for those under the age of 16; discusses sexuality, mental health and features themes for mature audiences.

Genres: New Adult, Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary Romance

270 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2015

About the author

J.C. Hannigan lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband, their two sons, and their dogs. She writes contemporary romance, through which she brings to light awareness of mental health and social challenges.

Like any good Canadian, she loves hiking and carbs.

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Reviews

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 3 out of 5]

***3,5 "SHATTERED pieces" stars from me***



"LOVE CAN DESTROY EVEN THE STRONGEST"

Damn it!!! What was that ending???
I'm really afraid for what will happen next and damn! I'm pretty sure that i won't like it at all!!!

That book wasn't bad at all, it was a really nice reading, i just think that it was a little bit flat for the most part of the story... But near to the end, it gave it all!!!
From the blurb, i fell in love with the plot and i really wanted to find out what was the deal with Grayson and Everly... But damn!!! I still don't know exactly what happened!!!

No, scratch that! I know what happened, i don't know WHY it happened... And i want to get my answers!!!
Phew!!! That book frustrated me so much... No, no the book!!! Grayson did that to me...

You don't understand anything, right??? Let me start from the beginning!!!

Everly is in love with Grayson from the first moment that she laid her eyes on him. But she never got the nerve to talk to him. She just staring at him from far away.

And Grayson did exactly the same thing with her.
But after a while, Grayson left their school and Everly didn't see him for long time but her infatuation with him was still there...
Then, she met him again and they became a little closer to each other...
But Grayson was always a mystery and when Everly built the courage to show him her feelings, he rejected her...


Now, Everly is about to start her senior year to high school and she is determined to forget about Grayson after 4 years clinged to him and to live her life to the fullest!!!

But Grayson is back and she had to be around him all the time. And he is not helping her to forget him when he is all the time in front of her...
The bad thing is that she just can't wash away her feelings for him, they are growing each passing day more...

But Grayson is very strange and weird person and he is holding himself back. He was warning her all the time to stay away from him, that he is not a boyfriend material, but at the same time he was drown toward Everly. I really understand the poor girl! Even though that she wanted to stay away from him, how could she???


"I wish i could give you what you want... I wish i could be what you want."
"It's you i want. It's always been you..."
"I'll fall short every time," he whispered, pained.
"I'll disappoint you. I'll break you."

Grayson's attitude confused the hell out of me. He was one cold, one hot.. He wanted to be with her... I'm pretty sure that he was having feelings for Everly from the first time he saw her, 4 years ago, but something was holding him back!!!

I really have think everything that could be wrong with him... Everything!!! And i really don't know after all what is the truth...
Why my sweet boy, you are acting like this??? What is holding you back???
As you realized, i didn't take my answers and i'm dying here!!!


"He looked as if he had a thousand things that he wanted to say, a thousand words that wouldn't take shape. I wanted him to speak... I needed him to tell me why he seemed so broken and untouchable... why he held me at a distance when it felt like there was something real and strong between us. Why he always disappeared the moment he let me in a little. I wanted him to trust me, to know that i would have his back against the demons he seemed to constantly battle with."

As for Everly??? I really liked that girl.
Yep, she was shy and quite, but as the pages were passing by, she became more stronger. I liked that she took the opportunity to chase her dreams and i liked that she never gave in the temptation that Kyle was offering her. Because he was tempted her, but her feelings for Grayson were so solid that she couldn't deny them.

But all those changes of his mood made her feel so insecure!!!
The bad thing is that now i'm really afraid that she will give in to Kyle's temptation and that's why Grayson didn't treat her right at the end!!!


"It was as if i was addicted to his presence. I tried to assure myself that wasn't it, but somehow, it made sense. The rush i felt when around him, the high. An euphoria, an airy happiness that made me feel as if i floated weightlessly about. Then when he wasn't around, the crash and burn came.I would feel the tsunami of insecurities that his absence always seemed to leave in its wake.
I had never tried drugs before, and i didn't need to in order to understand that i was definetely addicted to Grayson. I also didn't have the slightest idea over what to i should do about it."

Yep, i liked Grayson even with all those mood shiftings... and I really want to know what he is hiding!!! Sorry but i have a deeply affection for the troubled, mean boys!!!

I want to wrap them under my wings and to comfort them!!! I'm crazy what can i say???
I also want to say that i didn't like Kyle... Yep, he was good etc. but he was so damn insisted that i wanted to kick his ass!!!!

(Make "he" in the gif "She" and you will know what i mean!!! Bahahaha...)

And except for the mystery around Grayson, i'm really curious about Lindsay and Alicia... Together and not together... What the deal with Lindsay??? Sometimes, i'm wondering if she somehow is connecting with Grayson, but maybe not. Something is happening with Kyle??? Or is just Alicia???
Oh, and why i get the feeling that this crazy mean bitch, Katrina is holding up Grayson with something????
Arrrrrrr.... So many damn questions!!!!


Soooo... as you can see this book was very interesting, even though it was frustrated as hell!!!

Oh, God!!! I really need the next book!!!

***ARC kindly provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

FUCKING HELL! I finished the book to be left on a cliffhanger that shredded my heart. The read is an emotional roller coaster from Hell, in the best way possible. Grayson and Everly are very different individuals but they have chemistry and something a bit deeper that pulls them towards one another. Grayson is the "bad boy" and Everly is the "good girl" but once getting beneath the surface you realize they are more than they appear to be.

Everly is shy and quiet but that doesn't stop her from befriending Grayson. It isn't until senior year of high school that her and Grayson move things from friends to a complicated relationship. Everly knows there's more to Grayson than his rebel appearance and standoffish attitude. She sees the good guy trying to climb to the surface.

Grayson has home issues a mile long that have deeply impacted him and not in a positive way. He doesn't believe in love being good seeing as it broke his mother. He knows he should stay away but Everly calls to him like no other and he can't help but want her all to himself. He warns her he isn't good enough for her and will eventually let her down.

The two struggle with their feelings for each other, coming to terms with what they both want, and eventually fracture due to Grayson's unique ability to inflict pain on those he desires most. The story brilliantly shows how Grayson's actions are coming from a place created due to circumstances while highlighting how those actions deeply hurt and impact Everly. The book ends on a cliffhanger that will cause you to scream, you've been warned.

[Vasiliki · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

***ARC kindly provided by Booktrope via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***

This is the story of Everly, a teenage girl with a major crash to Grayson and their story.
Well, the blurb was really promising. In the beginning everything about this book felt intense. The book is written from Everly's POV and I honestly could feel everything she was feeling. The angst, the worry, the doubt, the happiness that a teenage girl goes through. Somewhere after half way, the same feelings were there and I was hoping that something was about to happen, something major but it never came. The plot had no twists in my opinion and no great surprises. It actually felt quite flat.

Everly is a typical teenage girl. I liked her but that was it. Everly had a great personality but she was too proud and correct in everything she was doing to attract my sympathy.

Grayson is a mystery and not a good one. He wants her, he wants her not, he wants her, he wants her not, ... I could honestly see his feelings but I couldn't understand him and sympathise with him. He really confused me.

The rest of the characters were also very confusing for me. Especially Lindsay and Kaylen kept me on edge during the whole book. They gave me the impression that there is something more to their actions and the worse scenario's were going through my head. But everything stopped there. Nothing happened.

The end of the book was really abrupt. Finally was something about to come out and the book ended. I turned the pages to look for an epilogue or a giveaway from the next book, something to hold on, but again nothing. This book had the potential to be a great story but somewhere in the way, it was lost. Such a pity!

I've started the book and I was convinced that it will be a solid 5 star read. Unfortunately by the end of the book, the best I could give was 3 stars.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Damaged Goods. Man. This was a rough one for me. By the way ... this book has been touted as a New Adult novel and it isn't. This is a straight up YA novel. The kids are in high school and they act like they are in middle school. Damaged Goods isn't filled with the maturity expected at a NA level. Aww ... I know that's mean ... especially since maturity is a relative term. There was a fair amount of eye-rolling on my part because it was just too much at times. TOO. MUCH.

This book follows a young lady as she tries to get over a boy that she had met years before. She met him in middle school and he got so far under her skin that she just couldn't let go. This is a common thing to happen, we've all had that one guy/gal that we just thought was the cat's meow and we were borderline obsessed with them. That young love is what initially drew me to this novel. But at the same time, that same young love is what made me realize that maybe I'm just too old to be reading these YA/NA novels now because it also irritated the crap out of me and made me want to put the book down.

Damaged Goods wasn't bad ... I just think it wasn't that good either. My blog is slowly shifting towards romance novels and while I can't get enough of them, I've realized that I have some pretty crazy standards about them these days. One of my biggest issues with this book (and this is a bit of a spoiler, so stop reading if you don't want to know!!) was that for a romance novel, the hero in the whole story is absent for about 75% of the book. The kicker is that you never really know for sure why. You're sitting here wondering what the hell is going on and why Everly would put up with being used and then there is a glimpse of a reason and just as fast, it disappears like a fart in the wind. Weird way of describing it, right? Well, it's not if you take into account the screwed up look that will appear on your face when these glimpses come and go.

The storyline also just dragged on. Mostly to the point of me having to skip paragraphs and eventually pages just so that I could get to the end of the book. Things just took so very long to happen and the in-between time was a gnarly experience. Also, by the time I got to the last page, I felt like I knew the characters but I didn't KNOW the characters. I had read all about their actions and you get plenty of inner thoughts but I didn't feel like I knew what made them tick. That's a little disconcerting if you don't fully understand a character at the end of 248 pages. I should know at least something other than the surface things.

This is also a series and the book ends on a cliff-hanger. But it is one that will forever be in the unknown for me because I know that I won't read another novel by this author. Hannigan is a decent writer but just not one for me. I wish you better luck than I had with Damaged Goods.

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

Check out more of my reviews at Little Miss Bookmark!

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Yosbe Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

✶*¨*✫ GIVEAWAY! ✫*¨*✶



#Booklovers! Want a chance to read #DamagedGoods before anyone else? Enter this #giveaway https://www.facebook.com/jcahannigan/...

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this e-arc from net-galley in exchange for an honest review thank you for allowing me to read this.....

ANGST is one word to describe this book there is lots of it it was one big angst filled rollercoaster.
This book starts off with everly who is your normal teenager who has had a crush on a boy named Grayson since they were little. She has never been able to shake off this crush and now at 17 she has to go to school with Grayson. She tries to sort through her feelings for Grayson as she isn't sure if he wants a relationship with her or not. As you can imagine there relationship or lack off it is on off all through this book and you really do feel like your on an emotional rollercoaster with Everly.
I'm just going to start off by saying this was advertised as new adult but everly comes across a lot younger I thought she was 14 at the beginning as she is so naive. I really do feel like shaking both of them all the way through the book both of them don't know what they want or what they want to do with themseleves. I think most of us can relate to this awkward unsureness at secondary school when it came to relationships. I can remember myself being just as awkward and all over the place I think that's where this book does well. It makes you remember how it was to be an angsty over emotional teenager. It doesn't help that Grayson comes with a lot of baggage and is scared of commitment. This was a slow book to get into but I soon found myself being transported back to secondary school with all the drama it brings. I did also find myself rooting for their relationship to work.
Only problem I had was a lot of grayson's problems were skimmed over I wanted to know more it was very much romanced based. Which is all good except not much happens and the real issues got skimmed over I thought.
I enjoyed this one it's a nice ya/new adult romance read which makes you remember what it was like to be a teenager. I do think this is more YA than new adult yes it does have a few sex scenes but they are pretty tame.
Thank you again for allowing me to read this.

[bookramblings1. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damaged goods book one in the series.
This book is classified as new adult.
Personally I think ya but I suppose that's matter of opinion.

Everly is such a sweet girl. Looking to find her place Among her peers.
She's never been one to stand out.
Always hiding in the shadows of others until grayson.

Grayson was honest from the off battling to keep his "feelings" at bay. He's a complicate guy. So may unanswered questions.
My natural need to know mind is throwing random possibilities at me right now.

Can everly move past the pain she's currently feeling and continue with her passion??
Will Grayson come clean??

I like the concept of this story. But everly rubbed me the wrong way a little. I'm not to sure why. Needy? <--- I dunno I'm hoping I can move past my initial dislike for her in book two because I really have been drawn in. I have So many questions I'm hoping will be answered in book two. And you know what even though everly isn't my face I'm rooting for her.
Bring on reckless abandon #HurryUp2016

[Nikki Costello ***Crazy Cajun Book Addicts Blog*** · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimenty copy of this book through Crazy Cajun Book Addicts for an honest review.
Another great read from JC Hannigan this book has great passion with lots of emotional characters that just pull you in from the start.
Everly Daniels is the quiet girl in school and has been in love with Greyson Dixon forever, one day he disappears only to reappear a few years later but even other the years Everly's feelings for him haven't changed. Greyson does have feelings for her but he feels he can't be what she needs and thinks it will only lead to heartbreak for her so he tries to keep his distance. Greyson has family problems but finds it really difficult to open up to anyone, but could Everly be the one to change this could they really make a go of it and be together?

A fab 5 star read for me I just love JC Hannigan's writing style and I can't wait to read book 2 and find out how Everly and Greyson's story will end.

[Kelsey Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap! I loved this book! This is my first time reading a book of the New Adult genre. I'm super glad I chose this book! J.C Hannigan is an amazing writer! I loved all the characters and their personalities! This story is super intense and had me on the edge every chapter! Then the ending was the ultimate cliff hanger! I NEED the second book NOW!

[Donna Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindly provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.....

This story is full of angst and leaves you dying to know what the deal is with Grayson (our leading guy). This is Grayson and Everly's story.

I would firmly place this read into the YA/NA territory as Everly's character has been perfectly written to describe atypical young, naive 17 year old exploring her first love and the unfortunate associated heartache !!!.

Grayson and Everly meet at school, they go on to form a solid friendship even though they no longer see each other, they remain in contact via the web. Just when you think he will finally profess his feelings......he doesn't !!. I was very proud of Everly and her attitude to "move on".....but those pesky plans ALWAYS get thwarted !. Yup, just like jaws....just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water.....bam !!!.

Same here.....you have hope as a reader and there is quite the bit more going on in the story than our ill fated entanglement. Everly is pursuing her dreams.

It is written solely from Everly's POV and I must admit I REALLY wanted to have Grayson's side of the tale, but even so I enjoyed the flow.

Unfortunately.....or maybe fortunately might be more appropriate as i started to grind my teeth at Grayson towards the end of the book.....he's holding himself back.....why ?.....no clue, hence my 4 stars as it ends on a cliffy (groans to self).

Would I recommend...yes, but as I said this is definitely for 17+ as there is a wonderful innocence about the character of Everly....no graphic steam, tasteful romance !!!

Do I want book 2 ?......Absolutely I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH GRAYSON !!!. It cannot end like that for them two !!!

Well done JC for a surprisingly good read.

Many thanks to Netgalley for this opportunity xx

Later peeps xx

[Karie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so very lucky to have won a copy of this ARC at a giveaway.
Everly is a character that I am sure most high school girls can relate with. She is a wallflower of sorts, and doesn't go out of her way to be noticed. Grayson is the good looking bad boy that every one would warn you away from. Everly has had a crush on him for many many years, and has been too shy to let him know. The chemistry that sparks between them is beyond hot.
Throughout the story, Everly is constantly thinking about Grayson. At some points, I just wanted to slap her up side her head, and say Move on! I know pretty unrealistic when dealing with a teenage girl, but Grayson just would only reveal so much about himself or his situation and then vanish. I would have smacked him as well for his vanishing acts.
Kyle, is also one of the boys who has a thing for Everly. He is the guy most would wish for their girl. However, Everly doesn't have that deep rooted love lust that she does for Grayson. While both vie for her attention, they show their alpha sides. Funny to watch, at times, others wanting to scream at them both to keep it in their pants and let her be.
Not only are her main characters so well developed and mostly likeable, but all of the characters are that way. They are real life teens trying to get through their last high school year. Dealing with the not so easy things in life. I totally lost all track of time while reading this book. I finished and was like NO! I need to know what happens, (yesterday would be nice). Mixed with the fact it was 230 am. Oh my what a fabulous read. Ms. Hannigan definitely writes a believe true to life story. So anxiously awaiting book two in this series. 5/5 Cross posting to My Reading Reality and BAPS Book Blog

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC generously provided by author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Everly Daniels has been in love with Grayson Dixon since she first laid eyes on him.

Grayson has a pull on Everly that she cannot explain but she appears to affect him just as much, but for some reason he keeps putting up walls around himself and telling her he can never be what she wants.

Grayson has seen what love does to people and he knows he never wants to hurt Everly so he refuses to give in, until he just cannot deny what is between them anymore. However Grayson is so used to never letting anyone in, can he really trust to lower his walls with Everly.

I really liked this story but I was not pleased that it ended with a cliff hanger, I mean really! I felt like the whole story could have been finished in this book because there was so much time spent on I love him, he turns me away, boy disappears, boy is back, I love him, he closes off Really after a while I felt really bad for Everly, however even though it was quite a while ago, I still understand. That first love is so strong and you only know what your heart wants and you are willing to go thru almost anything to get it.

Now Everly must decide is Grayson what she really wants and is he worth the risk, and what does she want for her life when opportunity comes knocking.

[Samantha Soccorso · Rating 5 out of 5]

JC Hannigan has done it again with new characters and a new storyline to share. She knows just what her readers want and brings the characters to life. This book can hit close to home with a high school teenager and their first love. It can be heartwarming or heartbreaking at the same time. It all depends on the person reading it.

Everly was a normal teenager looking to expand her boundaries with love and friendships. She was timid and kept her feelings hidden from everyone, but her close net of friends. Everly fell in love in middle school, but never went through with it until her senior year.

Grayson is the calm and stealthy teenager who hung out with the bad crowd. He was a goth or skater who wore the dark clothes and had the earrings in his eyebrow, lip and ears. He smoked in the area marked off at the school and came to school when he wanted too.

In order to find out more you need to read the book and enjoy it as you go. The characters will draw you in and you will be wanting the next book to be coming out sooner then it's release date.

I would also check out JC Hannigan's Collide series as well it is a most read.

[Jo Manton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be sent this book by the author in exchange for a honest review and all I can say is wow.
I was so wrapped up in this book that I lost all track of time and could not even think about putting it down before I knew it it was 4am and I had finished it I was left wanting more and could not sleep as all I was thinking about was what may happen next.
This book was written perfectly and in sooo much detail that I could see everything play out in my imagination like I was watching a film.
So much passion and raw emotion with these characters everly and Grayson (think I may have found myself a new book boyfriend) it was unreal.
A story about a shy girl everly who has been in love with Grayson since they were kids he disappears and returns a few years later and she feels the same...he's a little bit broken and thinks he can't be what she needs and they both go on a roller coaster of emotions.
I won't give any spoilers away as its really a book you need to read for yourself.
J.c.hannigan I applaud you for giving me the best book I have read so far in 2015 and I cannot wait for the next instalment xx

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everly has been crushing on Grayson since the seventh grade. He's the tortured, broody type and she never knows where she stands. They become involved in their senior year of high school and he is elusive, even though he clearly has feelings for her. This story is so full of teen angst and high school drama that it felt more like a Young Adult book than the New Adult book I was expecting. I thought it would skip forward in time, but it didn't. The heroine is a sweet girl but the endless insecurity and pining was tedious. This is the first book in The Damaged Series and the story will be continued in the next book, going into their adult years. It would've been better if all of the drawn out teenage misery had been condensed and their story was wrapped up here.

[Dusty Summerford (Reviews by Reds) · Rating 5 out of 5]

JC Hannigan has done it again!! She has quickly become one of my favorite authors!!
She writes beautiful, emotionally charged stories that are so relatable. Her characters work their way into your heart and you can't stop thinking about them.

Everly has had a crush on Grayson for years but he keeps his distance. He always seems to show back up before she can move on. She finally gets the nerve to tell him how she feels but he says he can't be what she needs. Will she ever win him completely? Or will Kyle sweep her off her feet??

This is an amazing story with great side characters that keeps you craving more!!
Definitely a must read!!

[Paula White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gifted a copy for an honest review.

This book pulled me in from the start. I suppose it is more YA rather than NA as the characters are all in high school.

Everly started off as a shy character but grew to stand up for what she wanted - with both her friends and Grayson - even though she had to walk away in the end and it tore out her heart.
Grayson - what was with him? Sometimes so sweet - definitely possessive but so so so secretive. The reader didn't get to know him in this book - he is a bit of enigma. I hope that changes in the next book which I am off to read straight away as the story can not be left like that!

[Alice Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I love the name, Everly <3 JC has a way of bringing me right back to my youth. I know I'm a wee bit older than her but, it's like we went to high school together with all of her characters. Who at times, I wanna throat punch (Lindsay) & (Grayson) I'm sure she intended for me to feel that way.

Grayson Dixon... You revealed only a little to me about why you are the way you are. This does not excuse your behaviour and I better get answers to that in Book 2!!!

[Stacy Aube · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an arc of this book so I will give my honest review. I was touched by Everly and Grayson's story. The friendship between these to goes on for years and Everly falls in love. Grayson disappoints Everly many times in this book. Grayson has no clue how to act on his feelings for Everly so he keeps distancing himself. Everly goes on an emotional Rollercoaster as she does not know how to act on her feelings. I can't wait to see where their relationship goes from here

[Tatiana Paz · Rating 5 out of 5]

im not going to rehash the story. Read it. What I shall share is how this book made me feel. Hannigan perfectly captured teenage angst. She is also the first author that mixed in that stupid pseudo love triangle that usually makes me want to throw my iPad across the room. I hope that book 2 clarifies why a girl will continually destroy herself emotionally for a boy who's only purpose is to literally sex her up and glare at the world.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

WTH?!?!

This story was AMAZEBALLS! Well written with YA angst, high school drama and controversy.

The drama between Grayson and Everly was INTENSE. He's full of angst, fear, secrets and the need to run when things get tough. Everly, however, has loved Grayson forever and puts up with his shit.

The secondary characters were people you either loved it loved to hate. There was no indifference or in between about them. Brilliantly done.

[Soroya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Damaged Goods!!! Brought me back to my high shook days. This book kept me wanting more with every page I read. I think every teenager goes through these things and it is written beautifully. I can not wait for the next book in this series to come out!!

[Elizabeth Barone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an early copy of Damaged Goods from the author.

One of the best love stories I've ever read.

[❤️Melanie G.&#x1f4d6;&#x1f49b; · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read with lots of high school drama. I really didn't feel the chemistry between Grayson & Everly. This is a book that I expected more from it after reading the blurb.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I rated this book 3 stars because I was a little conflicted on how I felt about this book.

This is more young adult than new adult, so it was a little immature for me. However, I thought it was written very well and there were no annoying grammatical errors that I noticed which are a huge pet peeve of mine.

It centres around high school student Everly who has crushed on her friend Grayson for a very long time now. Grayson is your typical brooding bad boy who holds secrets of his own and distances himself from everyone including Everly.

I would say I found Everly kind of immature and made too many assumptions of the way Grayson felt but she is also in high school so that is expected. I liked Grayson's character and the fact that he didn't open up when it came to personal things right away. This increased the suspense making him more interesting.

I felt like everything happened too quickly and there was not enough time to digest some of the stuff that happened. Also, some parts didn't explain things clearly so I was left putting the story together myself, but this was maybe once or twice that I can think of so it's not too bad.

I don't know how I feel about the ending. It wasn't really a cliffhanger and it didn't really make me want to pick up the next book to know what happens next.

[Christina Salem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good. I am so happy I had the second one so I could keep reading. This author never fails me.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 "Songbird" Stars

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


Wait, WHAT!!! I....ugh.....I am so frustrated with that ending. I mean really, really!

First off, Everly has been in love with Grayson for what seems like her whole life. But being the shy, quiet one, she never had the nerve to speak to him, then he was gone. Fast forward a few years and they run into each other again at the fair, spend the night hanging out, and exchange MSN info. They talk all the time and Everly falls even more in love with him.

As Everly goes into senior year she is determined to be a person without regrets. That means trying thing she was too scared to do before like singing in front of a crowd, and leaving her love of Grayson behind. Especially after their last encounter/ interaction where he told her flat out

"I can't feel that way for you."

But then he is there at school on the first day and he seems to always be around. Basically screwing with her head making it hard to not only forget about him but keep her feeling for him from getting any stronger.



There was a lot of hot and cold coming from Grayson that I wanted to smack him. He kept telling her it was a long story and that he would explain it later, but later never really came.

Only time he ever really opened up was when he was gone for a whole week and Everly confronted him about it. Her friends try and tell her to be careful but when it comes to Grayson things are so intense and so much more that she tends to get lost in him. But when things start to go good he pulls back, disappearing for days on end.




Grayson has had a troubled childhood. Dad leaves mom for another woman and starts another family. Mom takes it really hard and never gets over it. Grayson resents dad and new family for everything that's happened to him. But he cares for Everly that much you can tell. He just has a crappy way of showing it. But what else is going on with him. There has to be so much more than just the parent crap and yes it is some heavy parental crap but still, there has to be more.

Then you throw in Kyle the nice guy who would do anything for Everly, but can never measure up to Grayson in her eyes. He is the better choice, he is there for her, supports her, cares for her, but those emotions are not there. But with them going to be in close quarters for the foreseeable future with their band, maybe things will change between them in the next book. Not that I really want to see them together, it seems that that could be the case.

Then you throw in the whole ordeal with Lindsay and Alicia. I mean what the crap is going on with them. What is Lindsay's deal she is such a jerk most of the time and always seems to be stirring up some crap. And Alicia, I love that at the end she found a backbone and stuck up for herself, but I feel that there is still more going on between the two of them than what has already been revealed.

What's going to happen with the band? What in the heck is going on with that Katrina chick? Does she have something over Grayson, or is she is side girl? And why for the love of God, Why is Grayson always mysteriously disappearing?

Way too many questions here.

In the end I did like the character development. Both Everly and Alicia did some major changing but it didn't make it feel way off base. They grew in who they were and how they felt and their characters development helped the story line to flow. As for Grayson, I feel like he really tried to be better but he can't seem to get over what ever it is that he is dealing with.

I honestly didn't expect a HEA especially with all the emotional whiplash I got from Grayson. But seriously way too many unanswered questions floating around for me to feel closure with this one. I know, I know there is book two Reckless Abandon (The Damaged #2) but still some clarity on some of this stuff would be nice.



This book wasn't bad at all, it was a little slow in some parts and a lot was left up in the air. And I was completely frustrated with Grayson, and that ending, but overall I enjoyed it.

[Carolina Godinho · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a ARC in exchange of a honest review.

Everly Daniels is a too shy girl with a terribly low self esteem. She falls in love with Grayson "Dickson" Dixon and she pines for him for years even when he goes away.
When Dickson, oops. When Dixon is back, Everly feels her pull to him isn't diminished, au contraire, is stronger than never.
This is her last year of high school and she feels like she needs to be out of her shell so she can live a little. So, she starts to pay more attention to make up, hair and clothes, and she finally give in to her wish to sing.
While, she´s doing well with school, friends, new friends, music, her relationship with Grayson makes her feel like she´s in a rollercoaster.
He´s constantly pushing her away, and pulling her back.
I Was really angry with him for play with her feelings like that, and with her for allowed him to treat her that way.
I loved this book, it was beautifully written, I could feel Everly anguish with her, and her pull to Grayson which made feel even more angry with him. And feel sorry for him, he´s a mess, but it wasn't said why he´s a mess. I´ll have to wait for the next book to know.
I loved the way the author approached the lesbian situation with Alicia and Lindsay. I think Lindsay also has feelings for Alicia, but she´s too much afraid to let it show.
I´m anxious to read the next book and see how Everly´s and her band future will developed, I hope they´ll be the next great band and I also hope that when Everly find Grayson again, he had sorted out his problems.
I loved this book so much that I´m not even complainig about the cliffhanger.
If you wanna a giveaway of this book you can click the link:
https://www.facebook.com/jcahannigan/...



Everly Daniels é uma garota muito tímida e com uma baixa auto-estima. Ela se apaixona por Grayson "Babaca" Dixon e anseia por ele durante anos, mesmo quando ele vai embora.
Quando o Babaca. Ooops, Dixon volta, Everly sente que sua atração por ele não diminuiu, pelo contrário, está cada vezx mais forte.
Esse é o último ano dela no colégio e ela sente que precisa sair um pouco de sua concha pra que ela possa viver um pouco. Então ela começa a prestar mais atenção em maquiagem, cabelos e roupas e ela, finalmente, cede a sua vontade de cantar.
Enquanto sua vida na escola, com amigos, novos amigos, música e etc está indo bem, o relacionamento dela com Grayson, faz com que ela se sinta em uma montanha-russa.
Ele fica, constantemente, a distanciando dele e a puxando de volta.
Eu tive muita raiva dele, por ficar brincando assim com seus sentimentos, e dela também, por permitir que ele a tratasse dessa maneira.
Eu amei esse livro, muito bem escrito, eu pude sentir a angústia de Everly por causa de Grayson, e atração dela por ele, o que me fazia sentir ainda mais raiva dele. E sentir pena dele, a cabeça dele é uma bagunça. Mas, não diz completamente pq ele é desse jeito, vou ter que esperar eplo próximo livro pra saber.
Eu amei o modo como a autora abordou o tema do Lesbianismo. Eu acho que Lindsay também ama Alícia mas tem medo de demonstrar.
Estou ansiosa para ler o próximo livro e saber como o futuro de Everly com sua banda vai se desenvolver, eu espero que eles consigam a sorte grande, e eu tb espero que quando o Grayson reencontre a Everly, ele tenha conseguido resolver seus problemas.
Eu gostei tanto desse livro que não estou nem reclamando do cliffhanger.
Se você quiser ganhar uma cópia do livro você pode clicar no link:
https://www.facebook.com/jcahannigan/...

[Books Laid Bare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everly is lovely kid, but she likes to fly under the radar, keeping close counsel with a small group of friends but she doesn’t really have a lot else going on. She lives on the edge of just about everything, keeping her innermost feelings to herself.
Teenage hormones are rife and Everly has her eye on the one boy in school that is everything she should never want… the inimitable bad boy Grayson.
Grayson is all kinds of handsome with his good looks, dark hair and earrings but he also had a reputation that means that he is out of Everly’s reach, no matter how much she wishes it was different. But situations can change…can’t they?
First loves are never easy, too often they are the carriers of such harsh truths that tender hearts never recover. So was this what lay in store for Everly?
At times I found myself frustrated with Everly and her teenage angst. I could have shook her in order to try and get her to see what was clearly happening and what she needed to do about it but then I remembered that this is a teenager we are dealing with, a whole different species almost, their wavelength and mine are miles apart.
And I also had a definite love/hate relationship with Grayson… What the heck was he doing when he just upped and disappeared? Really it was so annoying – he gave so little away about himself that he was almost an enigma. No teenage romance would be complete without the obligatory third protagonist, upsetting the applecart and confusing the whole situation and this is no different.
Now you are going to think I am moaning again because I wasn’t exactly a fan of Kyle either because to be honest he was just too nice, he was the guy that every mother wants their daughter to rock up at home with one day. The perfect future son-in-law material but dang where’s the fun in that?
I did however love the verbal sparring and general peacocking that went down between Grayson and Kyle in a bid to garner Everly’s attention it was funny to read and brought back memories of watching similar things in my youth.
So now I appear to be a whinge I will tell you what I did like- I liked the book!
In general I have to say it was a decent read, it was creative, very well written and for the most part it had me hooked. Because no matter the fact that at times the kids irked me, I wanted to know how the story would pan out.
This was a welcome dip back into what was almost YA territory and I must admit it was a pleasant trip.
I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Lauren Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided an early copy in exchange for an honest review and I will say that I honestly enjoy the author’s writing style. This story begins with Everly. She is a shy and innocent young girl who is oblivious to the population around her because she has found the one who she wants. She wants Grayson, he’s the one with those glacier blue eyes that can unhinge her perfect composure. When she learns of his desperate yearning for her, she doesn’t realize that he can be dangerous. This story unfolds with her desperation to find a relationship that just doesn’t seem to feel right. Everly is sure that he’s the only one that can consume her heart, but something keeps pushing him away.

I found myself constantly being torn between Grayson and Kyle. Grayson was the mysterious one that Everly fell head over heels for, but Kyle was the gentle and patient one who was always there to pick up the pieces. This story grew with each passing chapter and I felt my interest peak when Grayson let Everly in. I also felt sadness when Kyle showed his support for Everly but she strung him along like a dog following a bone, unintentionally. Her confusion really captivated me. In my opinion, the author really caught the feelings and drama that girls face during their high school years in trying to find who they are.

I recommend this book to primarily women because the story is told from Everly’s point of view. I really enjoyed reading about Everly’s progress with the new band and her friends Alicia and Lindsay caught my attention as well. I would personally like to read more into their situation because all forms of love are accepted by me as a person. You love who you love and your heart does not judge gender like the mind does. I felt compassion when the author wrote about Alicia and her struggles throughout this story; however, this story is primarily written to engulf Everly and Grayson’s life together. I felt like the ending was unpredictable…which I always love! Will it be a continuance with Grayson or with Kyle? I rate this story with four stars and I am very excited for Reckless Abandon which will be the next release by the wonderful author, J.C. Hannigan.