Private Message by Danielle Torella ~ Blog Tour and Giveaway

Synopsis:

Tess has never had sex. Believe it or not, she’s never had a decent kiss.

The aspiring Seattle painter and photographer is still recovering from the trauma of being beaten and nearly raped at a rock show nearly three years before. So she keeps life simple: she goes to school, goes to work in a coffee shop, goes home, goes on living.

But then Ben’s naked body crashes—almost literally—through Tess’s wall against the world.

Ben is doing his dad’s art-teacher girlfriend a favor when he agrees to pose nude for her drawing class. But what he draws is the interest of the irresistible punk-looking girl—and it’s interest he reciprocates, with interest.

Their sexual chemistry is too much to resist. But it’s when they have their clothes on that their heat quickly slips on ice. Ben’s womanizing history is one thing, but it’s history of another kind—related to that fateful night at the rock show—that threatens to tear the young lovers apart forever.



Additional POV: Ben

I am about to hop on my bike to go drown my sorrows for snapping at her in the classroom when I spot that redhead that was at Chatz that first night with her. I have to make things right. I pull out my cell and text her:

Big_Ben: I am once again sorry for the way I acted; I hope you can forgive me.

As I am hitting the send button, I approach Red. “Hey, I’m Ben.”

She eyes me suspiciously. “Yeah, I know who you are. What can I do for you?” Usually when a woman asks me that she is coming onto me, but she instead is skeptical. She starts to get in her expensive car so I have to just get to the point, before I lose my chance.

“Look, I was just in the art class with your friend Tess. I need to talk to her, or more like apologize, but a private message in a chatroom hardly comes off as sincere.” Just as I finish that part of my plea, I get a message back:

Punky_Painter: You don’t have to apologize. It seems irrelevant, considering we won’t have to see each other again.

Red is staring at me with a raised eyebrow as I read the text and I have a feeling she isn’t going to put up much of a fight. “So, I was wondering if you could tell me where she lives, so I can apologize in person.”

She is slowly nodding, but also thinking…shit. “Sure, I can tell you where she lives, but I don’t trust you enough to just tell you. So, I am going to take you there and go up with you.”

I huff, but you know what? I will take what I can get. “Thank you.”

I reply to her text:

Big_Ben: Don’t be so sure of that.


Review

Loved the concept behind this book....the whole "private message" story-line was a unique idea and something I hadn't read yet. I have to be honest, I expected a little more from this book,  there was so much potential here and with just a little more story-line development and character development to help the book flow better this could have been a 5 star read. Everything just felt so rushed and I didn't really have a chance to connect to any of the characters or even remember their descriptions. But all in all, this is still a great story and a good debut novel for Danielle and her writing will evolve over time because she obviously has some great ideas in that head of hers. 3 stars.

Tess is a virgin who meets Ben at a bar called Chatz. Tess is damaged from something that happened to her 3 years ago and is not very trusting of people and does not typically let people in. Ben is your typical manwhore who also doesn't do relationships. When Tess meets Ben there is an instant connection and attraction between the two that they can't deny.  That connection ends up bigger than the two could ever imagine as the story progresses and secrets are revealed.....some of which you see coming and the major plot twist which you don't. As for the epilogue and the ending...just a little abrupt....I'm thinking a possible sequel?

Congrats on your release Danielle! Even with the things I mentioned above this is still an enjoyable read.  Be sure to grab your copy, you may love it! Happy Reading!

*Review by Brandi


Buy Private Message on Amazon

Goodreads   http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17835790-private-message

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Danielle-Torella/396408743800429?fref=ts

Blog  http://authordanielletorella.blogspot.com

Private Message book trailer: http://authordanielletorella.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-trailer-for-private-message.html

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