FMR Book Grind: Love Surfaced by Michelle Lynn ~ BLOG TOUR & REVIEW

The equations are simple.

Piper Ashby + Brad Ashby = Twin Siblings

Brad Ashby + Tanner McCain = Best Friends

Piper Ashby + Tanner McCain = Off limits

Tanner and I abided by the rules. We stayed on our designated sides of the relationship circle.

Ignoring swarming butterflies.

Brushing off skipped heartbeats.

Settling on lingering stares.

Here’s the secret … a hand extended over that invisible line once, exponentially changing the equation. I was convinced we could make our relationship work until Tanner broke the trust he embedded in me from the age of seven.

One deceit of mega proportions and the relationship we built for that short month vanished. I swore never to speak to him again and it’s worked. Until now—two years later, when my brother’s wedding places me face-to-face with the best man—Tanner McCain.

Leaving one equation to be solved. Can love surface twice?

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24809322-love-surfaced?from_search=true

Amazon

Review by: Tatia

I completely fell in love with all that is Love Surfaced. I fell in love with the hero/heroine and their relationship. This story is one that has it all: a little bit of angst, lots of laughs, a strong heroine, a sexy hero, and the inexplicable love that exists between them.
Piper, her twin brother Brad, and His best friend Tanner have been inseparable since they were young. Tanner, having lived next door, was always over at they're house. They were all swimmers. Being in college now, they all have dreams of the Olympics. One wrong move could ruin it all. Balancing a secret relationship along with all of the stress of practice doing anything to ensure they're chosen, relationships are pushed to the limit and beyond. Sometimes running seems like the only choice.
Michelle Lynn did a wonderful job of keeping me intrigued, of making me guess at what really happened. I was wrong, but I'm glad for it. I was completely obsessed with finding out what happened next. This is a story that you won't be able to put down. You'll fall in love with everything about it.

5 Stars

Review by: Cristina

We have twin siblings, Brad and Piper Ashby. We have best friends Brad and Tanner McCain. The connection between Tanner and Piper is that they are close friends but cannot be nothing more. This is the dynamics for this group of friends since they were kids.

Brad, Tanner, and Piper are all swimmers working their way to be in the Olympics. One would do what it takes to get w

ere they need to be, one is afraid that they do what they can do to be more than enough, and one tends to work harder to prove their worth in reaching their goal. But regardless of their personalities they all care deeply for each other and will protect one another at all costs.

"Why now?" I ask, my hand rises to my mouth, and I start biting my nails, hoping that I'm not blowing my chance by questioning his intentions. "I honestly can't stay away anymore." He doesn't falter on his response.

Over time the flirty banter and the random touches between two long times friends grow into wanting more but feelings are held back because of being something other than friendship would change everything. But what if you no longer can hide what you want? This is the case for Piper and Tanner. Two people finally giving in but only in secret until one day Tanner finally convinces Piper to let their relationship out in the open; however, that day ended up not happening due to a shocking turn of events that screws it all up.

“It’s taken me two years to get here.” He pins me with his eyes. “I’m done playing games now and I want you back.”

Trust and lies can definitely make or break a relationship regardless if it is a family member and/or someone you are involve with. This is the choice that Piper is face between her twin brother and the one that she is in love with, Tanner, her brother’s best friend. The 4 stars read had a little bit of everything that would keep you curious for more. How is that when something is going well something comes along and takes it away? This is the first book I have read by this author and it was one I enjoyed. A unique love story in falling for someone you need to stay away from.

4 Stars

“Piper.” He hesitates before joining me on the cement stoop.

I question why he even searched me out even though it’s been his MO lately, popping up wherever I am.

He places his arm across my shoulders and pulls me into him, which only brings a ripple of warmth to the pit of my stomach. “Come here.”

My head burrows into his strong chest, and his hand soothingly roams up and down my back. I sink into him. With the comfort of his arm, the tension in my shoulders from placing fifth in my swim meet slowly releases.

Refusing to let him make my mind race with his confusing affection, I sit up. Swiping the tears from my eyes, I honestly confess, “Tanner, it was my last shot.”

He begins to shake his head, but I stop him, “No, I have to realize it. My dream of swimming in the Olympics is over.” I rise to my feet, and the heaviness in my chest sinks back into place now that I’m out of his embrace.

He follows me over to the oak tree. Coming up behind me, his hot breath tickles my neck. My pulse races into overdrive, reminding me of how badly I want him.

Why does he keep leading me on?

He continues to toe the line between friendship and more, but he never actually steps over it. Each time his hand brushes mine or his eyes search me out, my heart stops beating for a moment as I hope this is it—until he crushes the fluttering butterflies and steps away.

I close my eyes from the view of Michigan University’s football stadium because I need to calm my insides. “Why are you here?”

He should be with my twin brother, preparing for their own meet.

“You should be in warm-ups.”

His hands land on my shoulders, and he leans down. At our connection, a tingle spreads through my body.

“I saw you leaving the pool house.” His voice cracks.

I hear his deep intake of breath.

“That’s not what I’m asking, Tanner.”

When I turn around, I almost collapse when I come face-to-face with this gorgeous guy. He’s absolutely one hundred percent the perfect male.

My perfect male.

His brown hair is tucked away in his MU hat that’s flipped backward. His lips and cheeks are rosy from the early spring chill in the air. With only a sweatshirt and track pants on, he’s the epitome of a college student. His good looks remind me of the unbearable yearning that pulls me toward him.

His eyes are so transparent that I can see the torment of his inner turmoil from our situation, meaning nothing has changed for him. He’s as conflicted as ever because I’m his best friend’s sister.

“I don’t know.” His voice is soft, caressed with the sweetness he’s shown me the last few months.

My stomach drops at his words. I want to grab his face with my hands and beg him to admit that the small seed of attraction has grown over the years and we can no longer dodge around it.

Instead, I stand there, with my hands at my sides, silently pining for the day he acknowledges our desire for one another.

“Then, that’s a problem.” My heart thumps as I sidestep him and weave through the sporadic clumps of snow that have yet to melt from the harsh winter.

Michelle moved around the Midwest most of her life, transferring from school to school before settling down in the outskirts of Chicago ten years ago, where she now resides with her husband and two kids. She developed a love of reading at a young age, which helped lay the foundation for her passion to write. With the encouragement of her family, she finally sat down and wrote one of the many stories that have been floating around in her head. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can be found playing with her kids, talking to her mom on the phone, or hanging out with her family and friends. But after chasing around twin preschoolers all day, she always cherishes her relaxation time after putting the kids to bed.