Book Blitz: THE STILLNESS OF YOU by Julie Bale

Welcome to my stop on the Book Blitz Tour for THE STILLNESS OF YOU by Julie Bale. You know how I love debut novels and my dears, this a debut to outshine debuts. This is, by far, one of the most unique reads to come along in a very, very long time. So hang on to your hats as I introduce you to THE STILLNESS OF YOU by Julie Bale, releasing tomorrow and you're in luck - there's a chance to win a digital copy of this fabulous debut novel at every stop. Click HERE or on the badge on the left side of this blog to see the list of other stops to visit and to enter the giveaway at each one. Hint: If you love books by Juliana Stone, you're going to love this one - it's her alter ego! It rocks!

***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Title:  THE STILLNESS OF  YOU
Series:  Beautifully Damaged, #1
                                                           Author:  Julie Bale
                                                           Format: ebook

                                                           Length: 250 pages

                                                           Publication:  March 13, 2013 by Julie Bale
                                                           ISBN:  13 9780988138544
                                                           Genre:  New Adult - Contains mature situations and sexual content  (17+)

Blurb for THE STILLNESS OF YOU:

"Ben Lancaster had just tattooed himself onto my soul and the thing about tattoos? They’re painful to remove."--Georgia King.
Georgia King is trying to survive after spiraling into a darkness that nearly took her life. In therapy with her college dreams on hold, she's trying to get healthy. Trying to still the craziness inside her. She has no room for someone like Ben Lancaster,and if he was smart he'd stay away. Because everyone knows Georgia is bad news--she ruins people--and if Ben isn't careful, he'll be next in line.

Ben Lancaster is a young, hot shot hockey player on his way to the top. Newly signed to the Philadelphia Flyers, he's living the dream. The girls. The money. The fame. He thought he had everything he wanted until he met Georgia. Suddenly he wants more--he wants her. He'll do whatever it takes to get her and Ben Lancaster always gets what he wants.

But the girl who's different from anyone he's ever known is hiding secrets. And as the dog days of summer pass, only time will tell if Georgia's secrets can be healed. Or if her bruised soul is strong enough to resist Ben Lancaster...

                                                     *                       *                       *                        *                        *

Georgia King is trying to pull herself together. Having already gone crazy, having already tried to kill herself, having already proven to her brother and the rest of the world that she's just as unstable as her mother was, she's determined to grab control. With the help of her therapist and the support, albeit mothering, of her brother Matt, Georgia is trying to keep from spinning out of control, or worse.

Ben Lancaster is the newly acquired soon-to-be star of the Flyers and Matt King is one of his coaches. New to the city, Ben accepts Matt's hospitality but with a warning from Matt - stay away from his sister, she's off limits. There's only one problem with that, Ben is knee deep into attraction heaven with the sexy little green eyed artist/temptress, Georgia King, before he's even unpacked.

Georgia knows better than to get involved with one of Matt's players. It's only gone bad in the past, but Ben isn't like the others who came before. He doesn't know the real Georgia, the crazy, boozing, drug-induced, easy time that she was before she ended up in a mental institution. She doesn't want Ben to know that Georgia but as the attraction between the two of them builds, she fears what will happen when he discovers the truth.

Excerpt from THE STILLNESS OF YOU:

Georgia King was different from any girl I had ever met.  We’d spent most of the day together and I still couldn’t figure out what it was that made her special, and after I while I stopped thinking about it.  What was the point? 

She just was.

She was smart and she made me laugh.  She liked the San Francisco Giants, hated American Idol (though she admitted to a weird crush on Simon and was glad he’d left for X-factor), and was a big fan of Georges St. Pierre the UFC fighter.  Most girls I knew had no idea who that guy was and I was impressed.

And she was gorgeous.  The eyes, the long hair, the petite and graceful body.  Hell, she stood beside me in line waiting for an ice-cream and I felt like a fucking giant.

I kinda liked that.   

                                                *                       *                         *                        *                          *

 

What is unique about this excerpt from THE STILLNESS OF YOU by Julie Bale is what knocked my socks off about this book - this was written from Ben's point of view. That's right, the hero's point of view.  Julie wrote this story in first person but from both the hero and heroine's points of view. We switch back and forth, getting a view of the relationship from both Ben's and Georgia's perspective. We experience their individual thoughts, emotions, torments, and thrills. I loved it. I reveled in it. It's one thing to read a story through the storyteller's thoughts and observations, but to experience it from both sides of the relationship, without third party interference, is unique, exciting, and it works here! I was completely caught up in the relationship, the tension, the apprehensions on both sides, Ben's sense of feeling like he was the only one in the relationship, and Georgia's fear that once Ben knew the truth, he'd run away and run away fast. The emotional angst that develops within this format pulls you, as the reader, into their most intimate moments in a way I've never seen in a romance novel before. The tension that builds as a result of Georgia's insecurities regarding her mental illness is the story's strong point. I would like to have seen a conversation between Georgia and her therapist. I believe it would've enhanced the reader's appreciation of the significance of her inner torments, and the strength of Ben when he's finally confronted with the truth and her need to push him away. 

I highly recommend THE STILLNESS OF YOU by Julie Bale because it is an amazing story written in an amazing style and I expect great things from this author and this series. It's romance taken to a whole new level and one that brings us back to what is most important in a romance - the relationship.

AUTHOR BIO:

Julie Bale fell in love with book boyfriends when she was twelve.  She decided that when she was a grownup she would write her own book boyfriends. So that’s what she does.
When Julie isn’t writing she’s busy looking after a family that includes a couple of kids, her husband and a dog who is prettier than some people she knows, and a cat who thinks he’s human.
She loves The Walking Dead, Pretty Little Liars, The Foo Fighters, Vampire Diaries, The Fray, and The Gilmore Girls. And when she has time, she loves to kick back and read yummy romances with hot guys and girls who are cool enough to hang out with.

If you'd like to learn more about the author and her debut novel as well as keep tabs on what's coming next, please feel free to visit her website, follow her on Facebook, Goodreads, and on Twitter.

GIVEAWAY:

For a chance to win a digital copy of THE STILLNESS OF YOU by Julie Bale simply leave a comment with a valid email address. You may comment on anything you wish - preferably your thoughts on reading this book.

 

GIVEAWAY RULES:

***This Giveaway is OPEN TO EVERYONE, international included. (void where prohibited)***For VALID ENTRY, commenter must leave a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS. Remember the Magic Formula for Entry: 

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR VISITING.

 

***This Giveaway will run until 11:30PM EST, Friday, March 15, 2013 at which time one lucky valid entry will be chosen by randomizer to win a digital copy of THE STILLNESS OF YOU by Julie Bale. The winner will be notified by email, then their name and email address will be sent to the tour organizer to get your book.
Good Luck and Happy Reading Everyone! 

THE STILLNESS OF YOU, book one in the Beautifully Damaged series by Julie Bale, Amazon Digital Services, available March 13, 2013 in ebook formats.