Fast by Ryan Ringbloom - Book Tour, Book Review, Giveaway

Senior year in high school goes by fast. Young hearts fall in love and mistakes are made…by everyone.

Robin Barnes plays the violin. She's quiet, shy and has a huge crush on the boy next door. She’s the good one. She may get the guy, but soon discovers the difficulties in moving too fast.

Ashley Simons loves strawberry gum. She's rich, popular and puts out so guys will like her. She’s the bad one. She only knows fast and is knocked off her feet when someone offers her the chance to go slow.

What happens after the big kiss? After “I love you” has been said? After the happy ending? Does it always stay happy?

Warning: Mature Content

Purchase Links 

Amazon  |  B&N

MY REVIEW -

The Girls: 

The Good 

Robin Barnes is a good girl. She plays the violin; she’s shy, rarely speaks out and has a huge crush on her best friend, the boy next door, Kent. I wanted to knock some senses into this girl on the first part of the novel – I wanted her to speak her mind, be true to her feelings and get her emotions out in the open rather than keeping it to herself. She wanted Kent? She’d have to say it to him – especially when he’s spending more and more time with Ashley and less time with her. When she finally got the boy of her dreams, she plunges in, and found herself drowning in the fast whirl of young romance.
  

The Bad 

Ashley Simons – I don’t know if I would love or pity this girl! She loves strawberry gum, she’s rich, popular, beautiful, and guys go after her. She only knows fast – she sleeps around, hoping that the next guy would sweep her off her feet. She always ends up alone, with her fake friends. Until Kent offered to be her friend, asked him to his house and well, leave her alone with his younger brother Patrick. He doesn’t kiss her, doesn’t make any moves on her- which makes Ashley confused. But it was Patrick who got into her senses – the boy who spends so much time with his younger brother and who is impatient to teach her to play video games is suddenly invading her thoughts. He’s too good for her though. 

  

The Boys Next Door: 

Kent wanted his best friend for a long time, but if she won’t fight for him, or what she felt, then it would be useless. He tried a different tactic, befriending Ashley, asking her to join it at home and wanting to see Robin’s reaction to it may be a little mercenary, but the end would justify the means, won’t it? But when finally he had her, Robin changed. She now knew what she wanted and she was not the timid girl he once knew, she speaks her mind. He wanted that change – but it’s the changes that are driving them apart. He felt he’s not just about to lose his girlfriend but his best friend as well. 

  

Patrick had his eyes set for only one person. He fell in love when he was ten years old, but the girl never shared the same sentiment and seemed to forget about his existence. While Kent is busy with his love life and a lot of sports, Patrick stays at home and volunteers to watch on his baby brother Matthew and the girl his brother always invites home, Ashley. He wanted to prove to Ashley that she was worth it, he wanted to move slow – and he was going to teach this fast girl just how nice SLOW can be. 

  

There’s nothing more refreshing and more exciting than young love! FAST tells the story of four young teens – Robin, Ashley, Patrick and Kent. Fast is all about love, family and friendship. Going fast is great because it gets your adrenaline pumping, but once the adrenaline diminishes, you will feel tired, worn out, bored. Going slow may have you tapping your feet at times, but it builds anticipation, excitement. Some things are really worth the wait! 

 

Interesting characters, storyline and ending I have never expected made me finished this novel in one sitting. I enjoyed reading it and it made me feel like in high school again.

 RATING:

*ARC Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.

EXCERPT -

Ashley

I need a new boyfriend. 

Desperately. 

My last boyfriend broke up with me over a week ago. Well, not so much broke up. He just never bothered picking me up for our date. 

No call, no text, no nothing. 

I didn’t even like the guy which means I’m not hurt or anything, just embarrassed. Getting over it quick and moving on. That’s what I’m doing. It’s what I always do. 

I’d like to believe the obnoxious honking in my driveway is not Josh’s way of letting me know he’s here for our date. But I know better. Okay, so I find nothing appealing about Josh, my potential new boyfriend, but I’m sure if I look hard enough I’ll eventually find something. 

 “Hey.” I slide carefully into the front seat, tugging down on the short skirt as best I can before pulling the seatbelt over my lap. “What movie are we going to see?” 

One of Josh’s hands leaves the steering wheel inching the skirt I just fixed back up. Five seconds into our first date and he already feels comfortable enough to reach over and massage my upper thigh. My fault.  I chose to wear a skirt this short. 

“I don’t know,” he says. “They all looked lame. You wanna do something else instead? Maybe get coffee or something?” Hand still on my thigh he reverses out of the driveway. 

The familiar pangs start in the pit of my stomach as we fly down the street. Here we go again, a frown on my face and a pit in my gut. This is how most of my dates start off.  I know there’s a ton of good movies out right now, but I guess we can do whatever he wants. I never feel I have much of a choice in these things anyway. 

“I’m fine with anything.” 

Josh swerves, losing focus on the road. The way he’s eyeing me up and down is unnerving. “I hoped you would say that.” 

I gulp down the feeling of dread as he presses his foot down on the gas and speeds off to a destination it’s obvious he already has in mind.  

Parking his new black Mustang behind an old empty building, the lights go off as he cuts the engine. It is pitch black. I wave my hand in front of my face and I can’t even see it. Wow, I don’t even get the coffee he offered. Why does he think he can just take me to a dark parking lot for a date? A better question is why am I letting him? 

Oh, that’s right, I’m easy. 

AUTHOR BIO -

Ryan Ringbloom lives for anything Romance.  The passion, love, angst, awkwardness… she loves all of it.  When Ryan needs a break from reality she sneaks off to read a romantic story or write one of her own.   Drinking coffee, reading Tweets and hugs from her five year old are the best part of her day.

You can follow her on Twitter: @RyanRingbloom or visit her website at RyanRingbloom.com . Feel free to contact her, she would love it!

GIVEAWAY -

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