USA TODAY Bestselling Novel
“I have always belonged to you. I will always belong to you. Regardless of what you’ve done, what you do, or what you will do, I will forever be yours. And that’s my choice to make, whether you choose me or not.”
By the age of thirteen, Dalton Greer had already experienced abuse unfathomable to most. So by the time he was finally rescued from the latest of his long … finally rescued from the latest of his long string of foster homes, he was already traveling down a very dangerous path. Indebted to a known drug lord as a means of protection, he chose the life of the streets thinking that’s all his life had to offer…until he met her.
Five years later, she’s the only bright spot in his very bleak existence. There isn’t anything he won’t do to shield her from the evil he’s experienced and he wants nothing more than to protect her from the life he’s chosen, as well as from himself.
The day Spencer Locke found Dalton sitting on her porch, she felt his pain and understood his rage. They were bonded by both, though he would never know understand why. He had been lost while she was found, and in that moment, she vowed to help him find his way too.
As the years pass by, that initial bond forms into something deeper. Spencer loves Dalton regardless of his past, in spite of his choices. And when all secrets are unleashed between the two, that love becomes binding.
One night is all they have before fate makes its own decision. Dalton is forced to choose the path he will travel, and Spencer is left unknowing as to why.
A journey about the discovery of true friendship as it blossoms into first love, the experience of crucial sacrifice and ultimate betrayal, and endurance of agonizing heartbreak on the way to finding lasting redemption, two lost souls find solace…
Under the Influence of love.
****NA Contemporary Romance that can be read as a STANDALONE***
**Due to themes of child abuse, domestic violence, sexual situations and explicit language, recommended for readers 17+**
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———-Could contain SPOILERS———-
LOVE the cover of this book!! This was another emotional rollercoaster for me. I cried but not as much as with The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller. I just loved the friendship between Dalton and Spencer, Dalton was a great protective guy who was mixed up in some bad stuff. Both of them have been attracted to each other, but Dalton treated her like a younger sister because he didn’t want to drag her into his darkness.
What I really liked is that LB didn’t drag the whole “I just want to be friends” attitude. After an incident Dalton said some really harsh things to Spencer, I really loved how Spencer defended herself and told Dalton about things that happened to her in the past. From this point on they passed the friendship phase and became a couple. Dalton promised Spencer that he would be the right guy for her, that he needed to handle some things but would be there for her. Of course not everything goes exactly as planned and Dalton disappears…. You will have to read whatever happens after that. This is a beautiful second chance romance, which I really enjoyed. I can’t wait to read Out of Focus, which will focus on Cassie (Spencer’s best friend). Cassie goes through some rough things in this book, so can’t wait to read how she handles it in the next book!
Beautifully emotional. That’s the best way I can think of to describe Spencer and Dalton’s story. They both have pasts that are heartbreaking and that they are trying to overcome. It wasn’t just the story and characters that I was drawn to but the writing. LB Simmons weaves words together in such a beautiful and delicate way that gives the story itself an even stronger impact. It’s an amazing tale of overcoming the darkness and pain in life and letting yourself love and be happy. Under the Influence tore me apart in all the best ways and I loved every moment of it.
Under the Influence is definitely a star crossed lovers tale. Young love in its most intense form. The best friend. The One who got away. THE ONE.
It’s a sad and tragic story of two lost souls who find their other half too soon. Life isn’t fair and it’s made obvious by the suffering in these pages. Be prepared for heartbreak but always be open to hope.
You guys – I just lost about 24 hours of my life. Like, the world just passed me by and there I was, my nose permanently stuck in this book because I couldn’t put it down. I was sucked in immediately and spent the entire day compulsively flipping pages while my need to know what happened next just kept growing until finally I could breathe easily again as I turned the last page.
I don’t know what I expected from this book. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’d heard wonderful things, but that doesn’t always mean I’ll connect. But hoo boy, did I ever connect. I wasn’t expecting to be so on the edge of my seat. I wasn’t expecting to spend so much time holding my breath while waiting for the other shoe to drop. I figured out some things pretty early on, but that doesn’t mean the emotional punches were any less potent. And there are plenty of emotional punches here – and my God you guys – they hurt so good.
I adored Spencer and Dalton. I was addicted to their desperate love for each other. I was fascinated by their back-stories and their real-time stories, and honestly just about everything about them. I almost felt like this could have been two books. I never really felt like anything moved too slowly for me, but things definitely felt rushed a little in the end and I wanted more time with these two amazing characters (and gah! The amazing secondary characters). But even despite that niggling complaint – I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Every bump. Every bruise. Every schmoopy smile. Every flutter in my belly. It was all there and it all added up to a pretty amazing reading experience.
I’m so thrilled that I finally had the opportunity to check this new-to-me author out, and I’ll definitely be back for more. I’m hooked. Addicted to the fantastic storytelling and the wonderful writing. Definitely recommend this one!