review || SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN { blog tour } by Samatha Harris

Limitless Publishing | November 10, 2015 | Contemporary Romance
★★★★★

SOURCE: HEA BOOK TOURS

Alexandra McCabe is disconnected from the world, grieving the loss of her parents...

Content with studying and keeping to herself, Alex has no interest in the campus playboy, Drew Collins, trying to get close to her. But even dousing him with beer doesn't deter the easy-going charmer, and against her better judgment, the pair fall into a reluctant friendship.

Drew is bored with college life, and Alex's romantic rejection intrigues him...

Their friendship is good for both of them, but Drew is used to getting what he wants, and he's tired of shallow sorority girls. He's much more interested in the feisty redhead, but despite his growing feeling, Alex keeps him firmly in the friend zone.

Old heartaches and new tragedies deepen a complicated relationship...

Whatever life throws their way, Alex and Drew remain best friends with their own traditions. Drew is Alex's family, her rock, and Alex keeps Drew grounded, always challenging him to better himself.

When years of buried feelings rush to the surface, they threaten to change everything...

Drew promised his mother he'd tell Alex how he feels, when the time is right-but how will he know when that is? Alex is terrified to reveal those 'three little words' certain Drew doesn't feel the same, and she'll lose the only family she has.

Should Alex and Drew open their hearts, and risk being crushed? Should they be satisfied with a deep, lifelong friendship? Or does the only chance for happiness lie...

Somewhere In Between?

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{ about samatha harris } .

Samatha “Sam” Harris lives near Baltimore, Maryland with her husband and daughter Ava. Born in Florida, she migrated north which most people agree was a little backwards. She has been an artist all of her life, a Tattoo Artist for more than ten years, and a storyteller since she was a kid.

Sam has a slightly unhealthy love for Frank Sinatra, classic movies, and Jazz and Blues music, but her first love will always be reading. From Romance, to Thrillers, to Historical Fiction and everything in between, she loves to become a part of the story. As a writer she tells the stories that she would want to read.

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{ excerpt } .

When we reached the bar, Drew ordered me a glass of champagne and I turned to scan the crowd. I saw Madeline working her way toward us, her long plum colored gown flaring out behind her. She threw her arms open, a smile spreading wide across her lips. Was she drunk? I smiled back at her as she finally reached me, grasping both my arms tightly before pulling me into an awkward hug. My boss is a very proper and elegant woman. She’s always strictly business, so I was completely floored when she embraced me.

“Alexandra, you look stunning,” she gushed leaning in to kiss my cheeks.

“Uh,” I stammered, completely caught off guard. “As do you, Ms. Grant.”

“Please, we are not in the office. Call me Madeline.” She waved a hand, dismissing the formality. Her eyes widened as Drew stepped beside me and handed me my glass. Madeline glanced between us, pursing her lips and nodding her approval.

“Madeline, this is Andrew Collins,” I said.

“Drew,” he clarified, shaking her extended hand.

“Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Drew,” Madeline said, her eyes roaming over him from top to bottom like he was a life-size chocolate sculpture. Yep she’s drunk. I took a sip of champagne to hide my giggle, eyeing the actual life-size chocolate sculpture that stood across the room. I would have to get a closer look at that later on. Damn, I should have brought a bigger purse.

“Alexandra has told me so much about you.” Madeline placed a hand to her chest, toying with the insane diamond pendant nestled there. I was impressed she wasn’t hunched over from the sheer size of the thing. Madeline was hammered and flirting with Drew. It was quite the show.

Drew retreated closer to my side, placing his hand on the small of my back. “Well, I’m sure only half of it is true.” An awkward smile spread across his face. His eyes shifted to mine, begging me to save him from my inebriated boss. I bit my lip to suppress a giggle.

Madeline giggled “Oh nonsense.” She placed a hand on his arm. Totally sauced.

“Can I get you a drink, Madeline?” Drew offered, clearly looking for an escape.

“Champagne, please,” she said, with a brilliant smile. As he turned back to the bar to get her drink, she leaned in to me. “He is delicious, darling. Well done. Best to hide him from Gwen.” She winked. Drunk Madeline was my new favorite person! I immediately started devising a plan to start slipping Kahlua into her morning coffee.

I heard the telltale stomp before I saw her. The sound stopped just behind me and a chill ran up my spine.

“Alex,” Gwen said. I could hear the irritation in her voice, and I could feel her cold glare on the back of my neck. I took a deep breath, slowly turning to face her. I was met with an eyeful of exposed breast. Holy shit! There was more boob out of her dress than there was in it. I swear it looked like the fabric was doing everything it could not to just rip open. I couldn’t look at her face if I wanted to. My eyes were locked with her boobs. She might as well have come topless.

Gwen shifted, pushing her breast even further up, causing me to take an involuntary step back. For a moment I thought they were going to attack. She must have noticed Drew and aimed her torpedoes in his direction.

Gwen flipped her extensions over her shoulder as Drew approached. With a smile, he handed Madeline her glass and turned to address our new arrival. Poor bastard never had a chance. All he saw were breasts. It was a direct hit, with no chance of survival. I couldn’t blame him. Hell, I couldn’t look her in the face either.

To his credit, he eventually snapped back to himself and looked up at her face. “Hi, I’m Drew,” he stammered, extending his hand to Gwen. She took it and stepped closer, almost pressing herself against him. She practically shoved me out of the way, pretending not to notice that I was standing right fucking there!

Gwen’s eyes ran up and down Drew like a predator inspecting her prey. “A pleasure, I’m sure,” she said, in her best breathy Marilyn Monroe voice. Oh come on, was she for real? Without breaking eye contact or even releasing Drew’s hand, she said, “Nice dress, Alex.”

“You too, Gwen. Too bad there isn’t more of it.”

Drew coughed, almost choking on his drink. Calling that a dress would be a serious exaggeration. It was more like strips of black fabric glued randomly to her body. Gwen glared at me and I met her evil eye head on, neither of us wanting to be the first to flinch.

{ review } .

I don't typically like stories that flip-flop time in the meat of the story -- for me, either do the past at the beginning, or do a few flashbacks here and there. I tend to become annoyed with the back and forth.

But Samantha Harris found a way that worked -- at least, it worked for me.

This story is set up in two point of views -- Drew's and Alex's. Drew's view points of his and Alex's story are told in 'then', six years prior, when they met. Alex's point of view, then, is told in the 'now', now that their friendship is established. And what further makes everything interesting is the linear way in which their view points work.

There are a number of instances that happen in 'then' that happen again, in a different context, in 'now'. Relationships, family matters, La Vie en Rose... At one point 'then', Alex and Drew make a decision to move closer to the city center, him on one side, she on the other, so they could meet in the middle for coffee -- something that they end up doing.

Best-friends to lovers stories can be a dime a dozen (case in point, I've reviewed another for today). I typically enjoy them -- regardless of how quick the story itself goes, the characters have history and a solid foundation; if the relationship works, who cares how long they put a label on it, when in truth, they'd been working on it for years. This is the case for for Drew and Alex. Drew was the typical man-whore, and when best friend and roommate, Sean's girlfriend wants to introduce Drew to her new roommate, he wants to blow it off.

...mainly because he hates Sean's girlfriend, but whatevs (said in Drew's voice, mind you).

Right from the get-go, I loved Alex. Before she and Drew were properly introduced, she shows off what a spitfire she could be. I loved her attitude and spunk; she had Drew's number (MO, call card) before he could even say anything. He offers coffee to makeup for a meeting gone wrong, she wants him out of her hair so she says yes -- and then he actually sits and waits for over an hour for her to show. Right there, ladies and perhaps some gents, was the first sign that Alex would someday be more to Drew than he realized.

Their friendship was unlikely, but it grew quickly. When Drew learns why Alex holds herself back, he wants to do anything for her to make her feel like she belongs. I absolutely loved him for this. By doing it, though, he decides that she needs a friend far more than she needs a relationship, so he works extremely hard at being her friend -- and a true, full, best-friendship blooms between these two.

I wanted more than anything to take away the sadness and the pain I saw reflected in her eyes. I wanted to spend my life making sure she never looked at me that way again. --Drew

These two... Drew may have fallen first, but it was semi-expected with his ways. What wasn't expected was his falling becoming full-fledged love; something that Drew himself doesn't bother denying. It will take years to get them on the same wavelength, but the bottom line is always there -- if something happens with Drew and Alex, everything Drew has given her, friendships, family... it would all be gone for her.

So the decision has to be made: best friends forever, or try for that something more. Try to be the man she deserved, live up to Papa Jack's expectations and his mother, Emma's promise.

This was such a beautiful read; I loved Drew and Alex's friendship and I am pleasantly surprised to say I loved the way the story was set up. I was also surprised to see this as Ms. Harris's first title and can't wait to see what else she brings forth in the future.