ReeseI made a mistake that might have ruined someone’s life. I’ve moved to Sydney to avoid the glares and the questions from the people back home, but there’s one thing I can’t run from—the guilt and pain that follows me relentlessly. All I can do is dull it with alcohol and casual sex. But then my new boss, Mr Dark and Delicious, deserted me, mid kiss, with my skirt hiked up and my shirt … with my skirt hiked up and my shirt discarded on the alley floor. I should hate him―him and the secrets he’s keeping. But I can’t stay away. Because the pain and guilt he’s hiding mirror my own.
Low
All she wanted was one night. That, I could do. I’m the king of casual. Love them and leave them, before they leave me. With chemistry off the scale, we couldn’t even make it home, both of us too impatient, ripping each other’s clothes off in the alleyway outside the bar. Then my phone buzzed, and one text message stopped everything. I couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe. All I could do was run. I’m toxic, but I can’t tell her why. I can’t bear the look of horror I know would cross her face. But I also don’t know how to keep something so life altering from the woman I’m falling for. Not when I need her just to survive it.
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Reese is running away from her life after a tragedy she takes full blame for, Low is the bar manager at her latest job and from the get go there is lust and attraction to each other. They both aren’t interested in anything more than a hook up but after a text Low gets it all changes. I really liked how we got to see Reese and Low get to know each other as well as get to know them so when the book starts to get into the real emotions you really feel them too, it is a bit of a slow burn but once it gets into things it has a great pace. These are to very strong yet pig headed people who are going through gut wrenching things in their lives that will either break them or make them or realise its ok to have someone to share the burden and they aren’t alone. You definitely want to get comfy before you start this book as you wont be moving until the end!
A story like no other…one that gripped me, pulled me into this story and took me on an emotional ride. This was nothing like I expected, one that I couldn’t predict and one that I couldn’t have been prepared for. Reese and Low drew me into their story and made me feel every emotion that they did. Their story starts out as lust at first, but turns into so much more. I loved, loved, loved this book and highly recommend it.
Happy Reading Everyone!!!
I’ve got lots of hearts for this story. The writing is beautiful and the characters are wonderful and layered and the author makes you care about them and their stories. I don’t think I’ve read a book with a backdrop of a horse racing track bar but it’s terrific and unusual. I can see lots of interesting stories from this group of fellow workers and friends. Newcomer Reese enters the Lavender Bar with tons of baggage that’s slowly revealed. Past tragic events have lead her to bury her pain in sex and alcohol. Such a realistic twenty-something thing to do. And her new boss, Low is a hot devil designed for sex and swings both ways. Their chemistry is steamy right from the beginning and it’s a given that they’ll get it on. But as things heat up Low runs the other way. This is were the sorta twist and major emotional drama comes in. It’s fairly evident what’s happening with Low and it’s a subject not address in romances very often but the author does a good job with the sensitive subject matter in this story. How could Low let this happen? It’s that twenty-year old invincible attitude that gets him. This is an emotional, slow-build romance with a serious subject and fantastic characters that may bring on a few tears. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
Only the Positive captivated me with it’s character development, original storylines, likeable secondary characters and a refreshing viewpoint on relationships and conquering life changing complications. I think Elle Thorpe has got off to a good start here for her debut novel and I hope she gains a following with this story, bringing something a little different to the table. I look forward to the next story in the series as the sneak peak certainly has me wanting more.
This seems to be the week for debut authors for me and what a debut Elle Thorpe has made. Only The Positive is the first in her ‘Only You’ series. It doesn’t feel like a newbie’s book. The writing is powerful, skilled and at times heart-wrenching in it’s poignancy.
Reese has moved away from home, running from a mistake she made and the devastation left in its wake. She’s drawn to the job as a bartender at Lavender Fields racecourse and it’s here she mets Low. Their attraction is instantaneous, and they have some sparky banter during her first day, but Low likes to play the field and someone else captures his eyes before they can take their interest in each other any further.
At least until the next night.
Things are going great until Low gets a phone call, and everything changes.
And these changes aren’t as simple as a crazy ex or not wanting a relationship. They are deep, and life-changing. I was pretty stunned when the author went with this topic, but she made a fantastic job of making it real. There were tears, and painful decisions for both of them while they worked through their growing desire to be together. The story was fairly slow burning as far as the sexual aspect went, but it worked for this particular topic. It allowed their love and true affection to shine through and take the reader with them.They had a small collection of friends that helped see them through the hard times and now one of those friends is about to get their own story.
And after this phenomenal start, I can’t wait to read it.
Wow. This book was great. I was drawn into both Low and Reese’s story. The author deals with some tough subjects that aren’t really written into romance novels much but I felt that she did it justice. She had my eyes wide open, reading as fast as I could to figure out what’s going on. Hoping that all the things get these characters to a HEA and I was happy with the ending. I love that Reese was so understanding. Low was a hard man to catch but she kept her self open. Yes it was hard for both of them to get to a good place but it’s the journey that makes a person who they are.
I don’t want to go into details because I didn’t read reviews and know what was going to happen and I was glad for that. It had those moments making my heart beat faster and sometimes tears. The banter between the characters was fun and helped the flow of the story and the description the author used painted a vivid picture in my mind. I look forward to the next book. 4 stars #2OCCJD
ONLY THE POSITIVE is not your usual love story. It starts off with Reese at a very sad and lonely place in her life, looking forward to starting a new job. It was as a bartender at Lavender Fields Racecourse. She always loved being around horses and Lavender Fields reminded her of home. A flicker of excitement lit within her for the first time in so long, when she met Low the bar manager and her new boss. This is what she needed. A new job. A new beginning. A new guy to lose herself in for a while. The past year had been one mess after another. She had barely kept her head above water. It was time for a new turning point.
It was one of the longest bars that Reese had ever seen. She worked the section right next to her delicious and sexy-looking boss. She had trouble paying attention to her job, and needed to stop staring at him. He was flirty and his section was the most popular with both the woman and the men. His tip jar was over-flowing, but Reese learned from the other female employee, that they shared tips at the end of the day. By the end of her first day, she was hoping that Low would want to go home with her. They had been flirting with each other all day. But he left with someone else, and he would eventually wish he would have done differently if he only could go back.
Low had always been a love them and leave them, before they leave you, kind of guy. Maybe because Low had messed up his chance with Reese, and now that he felt he couldn’t have her, that he wanted her, and not just as a friend. Maybe it was because he couldn’t have her now, or maybe it was just her. They both had issues, both seemed to need each other, and had learned to open-up to each other. She needed his sunshine to keep away her storms. She wanted her light to brighten his dark. But just one text message had changed his life, and he would never be the same. Low was not perfect, but she knew she was far from perfect, too! Maybe after climbing all the mountains they could be perfect for each other. Just maybe? Definitely a different kind of love story, but I couldn’t but it down till “The End!”
4.5 Stars
Only the Positive has such a unique storyline! Elle Thorpe is doing her debut with an amazing book that you’ll love! This is a story about forgiving yourself and realizing that you’ re not responsible for things that are out of your control. The story is realistic and believable and sucked me in from the start!
Our male lead, Low, comes out as the typical cocky man slut but he becomes the opposite when his life changes. Reese is tormented by her past, she’s running away from her guilt and numbs her feelings with meaningless one-night stands and alcohol. Low manages to stop all her physical advances and they actually start to know each other and become friends.
Their connection is real and passionate. I could actually feel their chemistry through the book! It’s a story about two people who first became best friends, then they helped each other move on from their pasts, let go of their guilt and become each other’s futures!
Reese has run away from everything she has ever known and has no one. She starts a new job at the horse track just so she can be near the horses.
Low is the boss at the bar inside the track. He has a reputation of one night stands, but that does not deter the customers from trying to be the next notch on his bedpost.
Reese and Low have this amazing chemistry from the start. They know they both want to use each other, but Low keeps pushing her away.
Reese knew exactly what she wanted with Low, and I loved how she was such an amazing support system for him throughout the book. She was such an open and honest character.
This is the first book that I have read that touches on HIV. I thought that Elle did an outstanding job of writing about this disease and creating a couple who could overcome any obstacles.
The secondary characters were so interesting. There was so much mystery surrounding their stories, and I cannot wait for them to get their own books.
-An ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.-
WOW! The author has written a wonderful romance that has a backstory that affects so many people and their loved ones in real life. I simply Loved the authors touching and heartfelt storyline that pulled at my emotions and left me rocked to the core at times.
Reese is a broken woman. She blames herself for a horrific act that has left her estranged from her family. She tries to cope with the inner pain with alcohol and men; anything to let her dull the pain for a few brief hours. That and post it notes. She keeps them all around her with positive expressions written on them to encourage herself to move forward every day. Reese has taken a new job as a bartender at a local racetrack, which is where she meets Low. Low is sexy, flirty and everyone wants a night with him. Which is good with him since he doesn’t do repeats. But when he meets Reese he senses she special and he really wants to get to know her. But when life throws Low a major blow, he’s lost, with no clue what to do or how to cope. Like Reese he start to push everyone away and starts a downward spiral. Can these two possibly help one another and find ways to cope with life’s traumatic events?
I can’t begin to say how moving this book was for me. It’s so much more than just a wonderful romance. Kudos to the author for a phenomenal job. I highly recommend grabbing it up ASAP. You won’t regret it. 2 Huge Thumbs Up and 5 Amazing Stars from this reader.
Elle Thorpe’s debut novel, Only the Positive (Only You #1), is a new adult, contemporary, slow burn romance told in dual POV. Beautifully written, with likeable characters and steady pacing, I find it hard to believe this is her first book.
Running from past mistakes, Reese moves to Sydney and gets a job bartending at a racetrack. She uses sex and alcohol to cope with overwhelming feelings of guilt. When Reese meets her boss and coworker, Low, they both feel an immediate and intense sexual attraction.
Neither are looking for more than a one night stand and make plans to hook up after work. As things begin to get heated between them, Low receives a shocking text message that shatters his world. Without any explanation, he takes off running, leaving Reese alone and half-naked in the back alley.
Humiliated and confused, Reese is still inexplicably drawn to Low who seems to be set on keeping his distance. They form a friendship that continues to approach and even cross the lines into something more until Low pulls away again and again.
I really enjoyed the tension and chemistry between Reese and Low. Both characters deal with some serious issues that the author handles with sensitivity and respect. This is a fantastic debut! I’m looking forward to reading the next installment in the series.
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. *