Review: "Down the Shore" by T. Torrest

Note: This ARC was provided by RockStar Lit PR in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a little on edge at the moment and I make myself shake it off in order to enjoy what I hope will be a very romantic and special evening.

Because I know I'm going to sleep with Jack tonight. I knew it was a foregone conclusion from our very first kiss, only I guess I never considered that it would take this long.

There's something pretty special about the fact that we've waited, though.

I can't believe I'm about to admit this, but I'm actually happy we did.

Livia Chadwick is twenty-three years old and enjoys her job as a photographer, though her boss is a pain to work with, and she's got a group of friends, that includes her twin sister Vix, who are fun-loving and loyal. She's a music lover who goes to concerts to rock out and if she just happens to catch the attention of whoever's on stage, then she has no qualms hooking up with them. She's different from the desperate groupies who latch on to a musician hoping to be the one girl they'll finally settle down with. She may be a self-confessed rock slut but she's realistic and is merely in it for the pleasure she gives and receives.

Jack Tanner is a twenty-eight-year-old musician who's leading a life others could only wish for. He comes from a well-to-do and supportive family plus he's got a hit song under his belt and is part of Thunderjug, a band making a name for itself in the rock scene. His dream is to have his own construction company one day but he loves making and playing music. The groupies, though, is something he prefers to do without. He's done with having meaningless sex with women he won't remember the day after. He's looking for something with a bit more permanence and he's sure he's not going to get it with his ex-girlfriend.

When Livia and Jack meet, the attraction is undeniable, but they see things happening between them different: she's prepared for one night while he wants to date. They settle on a bet, erm, arrangement of ten dates before actually sleeping together, with Jack hoping that he can show Livia that it will all be worth the wait and that they can do the relationship thing. Feelings develop and what was once thought as improbable soon becomes a wonderful possibility. It's looking like a summer worth remembering until their pasts bring forth doubts that may end up with the summer of '95 one they'd much rather forget. 

Down the Shore is a spin-off of author T. Torrest's much loved Remember When trilogy, though I'm not a hundred percent sure if this is meant to be a standalone or the beginning of a series, especially since there are a few memorable supporting characters whose stories I wouldn't mind reading. This is the first T. Torrest book I've had the pleasure of reading and what a pleasure it was indeedy! Set in the mid-1990s, this is a book that any romance fan may appreciate, but if you happen to be a lover of '90s music or were about the same age as the characters, just like me, then this will be a difficult book for you to pass up.

Livia and Jack were a joy to get to know, as were their motley crew of misfits plus their respective families. There were moments that I found myself laughing at the antics these guys would find themselves in. Then there were times that I would get all nostalgic, remembering what it was like to be in twenty-one (Yes, I know. I just revealed my age. I'm pretty sure you guys don't really care.) in 1995 and how I was more like Jack, ready to find my happily-ever-after but told by friends to simply enjoy being young and free (like Livia).  Change can come at any age and in Livia's case, she just needed the right incentive (i.e. Jack).

If you're looking for a wonderfully written and witty novel about taking chances and falling in love, I highly recommend this novel by T. Torrest. I have already added her other books to my to-be-read list, but while there's a loose connection to the author's previous work, this can be totally be read on its own, which I did in one sitting. This book's tagline states: "It's gonna be one helluva summer." Suffice it to say, Down the Shore is one helluva book and one you should read while listening to the songs mentioned in the story. Without a doubt, this is now on my list of favorites for 2015. Can you say "five-plus-star rating"? ^.^

Release Date: 21 April 2015

Date Read: 18 April 2015

Learn more about T. Torrest here.

Purchase Down the Shore on Amazon.