Wednesday 17 September 2014

Blog Tour ~ Review, Teaser & Giveaway ~ Pulled Within (Bar Harbor 2) by Marni Mann


Title: Pulled Within (Bar Harbor Series #2)
Author: Marni Mann
Genre: New Adult
Publisher: Booktrope (http://booktrope.com/)
Release Date: September 12, 2014

Book Description:

Storms can't last forever…can they?

For five long years, Rae Ryan has lived in a storm over which she has no control. Little by little, everything has been taken away from her—her job, her relationship, her best friend and her home. Plagued by nightmares and a terrible family secret, she carries her scars as much on the inside as she does on the outside.

Hart Booker, another disappointment from her past, returns to Bar Harbor and shelters her from the rain. He reminds Rae that forgiveness is possible, happiness can be found on the other side of darkness, and beauty rests beneath her scars. But a sinister figure lingering in the background seems determined to pull Rae back into a past she’s been trying to outrun. Can she survive the storm and become part of the light she so desperately desires? Or is she destined to remain
Pulled Within?

Recommended for mature audiences due to explicit language, sexual abuse, disturbing situations, and drug use.
 
 
Teaser:
 
 
Our Review:
 
**ARC Received for honest review**
 
Reviewed by Donna ~ 5 Stars

“Everyone has a chance to heal. Some people choose to stay in the past and let their scars define them. Others choose to let it be nothing more than a mark on their body. That’s what I’ve done. It doesn’t define me. It sure as f**k doesn’t determine where I’m going.”


It seems years ago when I stumbled across my first Marni Mann book. I read it, devoured it and have been a huge fan ever since. Marni is one of these authors that are still little known, yet her books and writing deserve so much more attention, these are books that deserve to be read. After reading Pulled Within I have to say this is Marni Mann’s best book yet. The development in her writing is exponential, this story is raw and gritty, it is emotional and beautiful, you live and breathe the story, you feel the pain, the angst, the romance, you cannot help but be blanketed in this story, and it takes you over, from your head to your toes and everything in between including your heart.

“Back and forth.”

This is the second book in the Bar Harbor series and this time it is the story of Rae and Hart. You may remember Rae from Pulled Beneath, she was the girl that worked for Saint, she was scarred and he eventually sacked her for causing trouble, so not the most lovable of characters. However, I was always intrigued, what was her history, why was she the way she was, just what happened to her to shape her into the person she was today. You knew that it wasn’t going to be pretty but it would sure be interesting and that is definitely what Marni Mann delivered.

“Back and forth.”

Rae’s life has gone to hell, she has been fired from her job, her best friend has gone AWOL and hasn’t been in touch for months, she is struggling to keep a roof over her head and her ex-boyfriend is flaunting the love of his life all over town, which Rae feels just drives the pain and hurt even deeper. She has come to a pivotal moment in her life, she needs work and she needs it quick to save herself from eviction, as it is her best friend’s apartment she feels that she has to do all she can to keep it so that when he does finally return he will still have his home. Rae is struggling and she finds herself having to travel and work a job that she is not entirely comfortable with, but needs must and times are desperate.

“Back and forth.”
It is while working that Rae meets Hart Booker, she is initially taken aback, her past is staring her right in the face. Hart and Rae have history, he was her high school boyfriend, she thought what they had was special and real, but one night Hart just disappeared, leaving her heart broken and devastated. This was not a part of her past that she particularly wanted to re-visit. Hart however had other ideas, his leaving was not his choice and now that he had reconnected with Rae there was no way he was going to let her slip through his grasp again. For him, just seeing her had reignited past feelings and emotions, ones that he thought he would never feel again. This was just the beginning, this was their second chance and he was taking it with both hands. Now he just needed to get Rae onside.

“We were the calm after a beautiful storm that I never wanted to end.”

This is definitely a book about not letting your scars define you, you may hide behind them, but the real you is always there just waiting to come out to the forefront. You just need that faith and belief in yourself to live, to love and be loved. Rae has a lot of baggage with regards to her family life, how her scar came to be and her current set of circumstances. Hart is settled, he is doing well for himself, and they could not be any more polar opposite. They say that opposites attract and that is certainly the case with these two, it is obvious that they were destined to be together, but can Rae move on from her past and look to the future, or will her scars and inner demons drag her down and out?

“I was raining and he was catching me in his hands. Hands I loved, to replace the memory of the ones I didn’t.”

This is one emotional, lyrical piece of writing; you will be “Pulled Within” this story. Like an emotional vortex you will be sucked in and only spat out right at the end. You will bear emotional scars, you will feel like you have been put through the wringer but you will admire the quality and intricacies of the story. Being drip fed pertinent points leaves you trying to figure out everything yet accomplishing nothing until Marni wraps it up nice and pretty for you.

“Back and forth.”

This can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend that if you haven’t read Pulled Beneath that you pick it up and give it a read, it truly is a brilliant story. Pulled Within does surpass it though, with every book Marni Mann writes she just gets better and better, her confidence shines through and you cannot help but be entranced with her unique story telling ability. It is like a drug, so engaging, so addictive that she has become a 1click author for me. She has me hooked, line and sinker.

“Scars and rain. We were more similar than I’d thought.”
 
 
About the Author:

A New Englander at heart, Marni Mann, now a Floridian is inspired by the sandy beaches and hot pink sunsets of Sarasota. She taps a mainstream appeal and shakes worldwide taboos, taking her readers on a dark and breathtaking journey. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, she’s scouring for chocolate, traveling, reading, or walking her four-legged children.

Connect with Marni Mann:
Website: http://marnismann.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5400988.Marni_Mann
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarniMannAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/marnimann

Giveaway:
 
Grand Prize – Signed Pulled Beneath and Pulled Within paperbacks, and $40 Amazon e-giftcard

1st Runner Up:  Signed Pulled Within paperback, and $20 Amazon e-giftcard

2nd Runner Up:  Signed Pulled Within paperback

3rd Runner Up: Pulled Within e-book

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