Review: RISE by Piper Lawson || Where the rising feelings of a second-chance romance didn’t disappoint

Title: RISE
Author: Piper Lawson
Can be read as a Standalone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, [Adult]
Heat Rating: Warm
Format: Ebook
Expected Publication: 10th April, 2018
Source: I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Falling is easy. Getting up is a b*tch.

When we met, we were lost.
Most seventeen-year-olds are.
We lifted each other up off the ground each time we fell. Until the day I let her down.
Now I have everything. A Bentley, a profile in GQ, a movie option and the company my best friend and I co-founded after school.
Until our paths cross ten years later at a gallery. The backdrop might be the same but we’ve both changed. I know it the second I see Sam standing in front of the canvas my best friend bought.
She’s more than the girl who used to draw comic book characters on my arm after class. The one I had inside jokes with. The one who taught me to be a rock when someone you love is being thrown around by the waves.
She’s beautiful. Confident. Edgy.
Sam should’ve been my first everything. God knows we both wanted it.
Now I have a second chance.
This time I won’t let her down.
This time, we’ll rise together.

Riley and Samantha’s story is a sexy second-chances romance that will give you all the feels. It’s an interconnected standalone with secondary characters from PLAY and NSFW.

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This was a beautiful story of second chance romance. We finally got to see Riley’s story.

Riley and Samantha a.k.a Sam were pretty close during their high school. They both had feelings for one another yet they never got to confess. They fell in love with the right person but at the wrong time. Now after years later, they come face to face again and both of them realise they still have feelings for each other though Sam is reluctant at first. But Riley had already lost Sam once and he is not ready to lose her again.

Layered characters!

First of all, Riley was a very refreshing character. For once a male protagonist didn’t go sleeping around the entire city, he was a serious-relationship type of guy which I absolutely loved. I really want to see more protagonists like this! Riley and Sam’s friendship had clicked the moment Sam joined the same school as him but it was pretty obvious they had mutual feelings for each other but Riley had to take a step back due to Sam’s circumstances. They completely lost contact after that. When Riley goes to run an errand in place for Max, his best friend and co-owner of their gaming company, he is both bewildered and overjoyed to see Sam again.

This book is essentially character-centric and the author does a fantastic job of developing an angst-filled romance with a layer of humour, and that’s why there’s never a dull moment in this book. Sam is a pretty talented artist and Riley is an absolute charmer and he pursues Sam to work with him in his upcoming game to movie adaptation. Though I have to say I loved Riley more than I loved Sam. I understood her initial reluctance but I felt that was a bit too much.

A heart-racing Romance!

Nonetheless, the chemistry between both the characters were pretty palpable and I loved how it slowly developed into something strong. Though the pace in some portions felt a bit off but the characters were enough to move the story forward. I also loved that the characters of the previous books in this series made an appearance and there was also a pleasant surprise!

Overall, RISE was a fantastic read. The plot flowed smoothly and it was executed neatly. The characters managed to make me in love with them and their story and I sooo can’t wait to read more by this author!

Recommend it?

Yes!

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Sooo guys are you excited to read this book? Have you read any previous books by this author?

• 4 stars
• 4 stars out of 5
• A
• Adult
• April release
• can be read as a standalone
• contemporary
• eARC
• Piper Lawson
• review copy
• review copy from author
• RISE
• romance