Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Book Review: Because of You by Allie Boniface

Because of You by Allie Boniface



Publisher & Release: DFM Publishing, October 15, 2019

Time and setting:  Present Day, New York

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 250 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating:  4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Ten years ago, Piper Townsend fell to her death from the top of a fraternity house, and no one on Drake Isle has ever been the same. Blake Carter's fraternity was scandalized. Misterion College closed down altogether. And Blake's girlfriend, Emerson Doyle, fled the island after her best friend died and never looked behind her.

Now they're back.

Blake's the CEO of a multi-million dollar tech firm looking to relocate to the island. Emerson owns a yoga studio in the building he wants to buy. They haven't spoken in ten years. They're on opposite sides of the bargaining table.

But old flames die hard.

And the more Blake and Emerson fight both the past and each other, the more they realize that coming to terms with tragedy is their only chance of finding love again...

Buy Links:


Add to Goodreads:


Vikki’s Musings

I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, to read and review Because of You, and since the book description appealed to me, I accepted. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

Because of You is an emotionally-charged romance, and it captured my attention right away. The writing flows well, and the dialogue is realistic. The pacing is steady and doesn’t lag in the middle. This is a second chance romance which is one of my most favorite troupes. 

Blake and Emerson were together in college, but the tragic death of her best friend tears them apart. Now, ten years later, Blake returns to Drake island to do his father’s bidding and reopen his old college. He needs the building where Emerson has her yoga studio, which creates immediate conflict. Their reunion sizzles with tension and attraction. 

Emerson is struggling to make her mortgage payments, and the bank is threatening to foreclose. This creates a perfect storm between her and Blake. Can they overcome the obstacles in their path and find their way back to each other?

Emerson Doyle’s character gained my empathy early on. She has recently gone through a nasty break up with her ex-boyfriend, and when she checks her bank balance, she discovers most of her money is gone. Brian had her information, and now his number has been disconnected. I could feel her anger and frustration. She has more in her cup than a one person needs to say the least. 

Blake Carter is an interesting character, but he needs to grow some backbone. He allows his father to manipulate him, and I didn’t care for that. I did like his character though because he’s actually a good guy, just torn by his family loyalties. I could feel his confusion and doubt over what his controlling father wants, and the conflict in him that creates, since he doesn’t want to hurt Emerson.

The chemistry between Emerson and Blake blazes throughout the book. I truly wanted them to find a way to make it work this time. Blake has to earn her trust which is difficult since he is still trying to appease his father while not hurting Emerson. Lots of emotions going on in this romance.

If you enjoy contemporary romance with engaging characters and an intriguing plot that has a splash of mystery, then you will like Because of You. While this is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Bonaface, it will not be the last Happy reading!

Author Bio:


USA Today best-selling author Allie Boniface was born and raised in a tiny community in upstate New York, which probably explains her fascination with the magic of small-town life. She earned her B.A. in English from the University of Rochester in New York and a M.A. in English Literature from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Since 1997, she has enjoyed life in the northern NYC suburbs, where she lives with her husband and teaches English and Education to high school students. In her spare time, she and her husband love to travel. She is also a runner, a musician and an animal-lover.

Allie writes contemporary romance series set in small towns (with lots of secrets and spice!). She reads in all genres and loves chatting with other readers and writers about any topic under the sun. You can find her around the Web, at writers' conferences, giving workshops, swapping stories, and generally chatting about romance writing. 


Social Media:


No comments:

Post a Comment