Blog Stop ~ ‘Just You’ by Jane Lark.

Just You by Jane Lark
(Starting Out #2)
Published by: Harper Impulse
Publication date: May 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

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SYNOPSIS

The morning after the New Year’s Eve before…

Waking up to a new year with a killer hangover and hazy memories of a seriously hot hook-up the night before leaves Portia in an awkward situation… Did I, or didn’t I? The only way she’s going to find out is by standing up to the guy in question.

With no regrets, Justin is willing to play the gentleman and save Portia her embarrassment. Only then he gets a text saying, come over… and he’s not gonna lie – this is friends with a lot of benefits!

But no matter how good the sex is, there’s one thing Justin’s not down with: being this shallow rich girl’s dirty little secret…

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Book Review ~ ‘Just You’ by Jane Lark ~ 5 Stars!

I know I’m always in for a treat when I start a book by Jane Lark. I never have to worry that the writing will fall flat, or the characters will develop unrealistically, and in ‘Just You’ I was yet again swept into Portia and Justin’s story by Jane Lark’s beautifully poetic writing style and characters that I can not only relate to, but actually feel an affinity with.

‘Just You’ was the second stunning addition to the ‘Starting Out’ series. I didn’t think it was possible but Justin and Portia may have just beaten Rachel and Jason in terms of how amazing a couple they are, which is a high feat indeed considering how Rachel and Jason are pretty damn amazing too! Jane Lark again has created such wonderful three dimensional characters that I just connect to so deeply. Portia in particular was a character that I was so sure I would hate at the beginning of the story, but ended up being one of the most kind-hearted, well-meaning characters that I have met in a long time.

‘Just You’ brings in so many dimensions that make it such a realistic and heart-warming story. There was only a strong focus on the development of Justin and Portia’s relationship, which became stronger as Portia began to see the world with a different light, and which made her develop so much as a person, mostly thanks to Justin. There is the wonderful message throughout this story that everyone can change if there is someone who loves and cares enough about you to help you through it, and this was particularly beautiful to see Justin’s influence in helping Portia realise that she wanted to be somebody different to the person she was pretending to be her whole life.

There is also some beautiful scenes which show the importance of family, and the unconditional love that a parent and siblings can have for each other something that is a priority in a life of poverty and struggle, as well as some heartbreaking scenes where we see that money cannot buy parental affection or love. There was also the barrier of race that was brilliantly dealt with, and was shown two-sided, which is often ignored. We see Justin’s family shock that Justin is dating a white girl, and Portia’s family’s disappointment in Portia dating a black boy. This was written very truthfully and also showed how far Portia had come in becoming a better person that she refused to listen to her parents and society on a matter of love.

This was a beautifully written story which has stayed with me long after finishing it. Justin and Portia’s story is one that I know will be re-read many times in the future, as its message that love can overcome financial status, race and prejudice is a heart-warming one that rekindled my hope in humanity again.

5 Stars!

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Giveaway: Open internationally

*$50 or £40 Amazon voucher*
*I Found You Backpack*
*A signed copy of I Found You*
*and some fun stationary*

~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

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Jane Lark

Jane is a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional Historical and New Adult romance and author of a No.1 bestselling Historical Novel,’The Illicit Love of a Courtesan, as well as a Kindle overall Top 25, bestselling author.

She began her first historical novel at sixteen, but a life full of adversity derailed her as she lives with the restrictions of Ankylosing Spondylitis.

When she finally completed a novel it was because she was determined not to reach forty still saying, I want to write.

Now Jane is writing a Regency series as well as contemporary, new adult, stories and she is thrilled to be giving her characters life in others’ imaginations at last.

You might think that Jane was inspired to write by Jane Austen, especially as she lives near Bath in the United Kingdom, but you would be wrong. Jane’s favourite author is Anya Seton, and the book which drew her into the bliss of falling into historical imagination was ‘Katherine’ a story crafted from reality.

Jane has drawn on this inspiration to discover other real-life love stories, reading memoirs and letters to capture elements of the past, and she uses these to create more realistic plots.

‘Basically I love history and I am sucker for a love story. I love the feeling of falling in love; it’s wonderful being able to do it time and time again in fiction.’

Jane is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development in the United Kingdom, and uses this specialist understanding of people to bring her characters to life.

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Blog Tour organised by Xpresso Book Tours.

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