Review: Catching Liam by Sophia Bleu

Catching Liam

Big Girls Don't #1

Author: Sophia Bleu

Publication Date: June 25, 2013

Genre: New Adult

~Synopsis~

Twenty-one year-old Jillian Nichols only has one rule when it comes to boys: catch and release. Boy-catching isn't just a game for Jillian and her friends, it's a lifestyle. After all, boys might be good for a dance or a drink and certainly a little under-cover action of the scandalous variety, but expect much else and you're bound for heart ache.

So when her best friends and fellow boy catchers start dropping like flies junior year, Jillian is determined to keep boys in her bedroom and out of her heart. Until she meets Liam McAvoy, the kind of guy that sticks around to make waffles and who can't—or perhaps won't—take a hint. 

Study abroad student Liam doesn't want to be another notch on Jillian's bedpost. Actually he has much more interesting ideas for Jillian and her bedposts, but his student visa's set expiration date means he can't promise her forever. That doesn't mean he's going to walk away from the challenge of discovering why Jillian is hell-bent at keeping people at a distance. 

Before long, neither is sure who is catching who—or if they're playing for keeps. Jillian knows one thing though: falling in love will not only break the only rule of boy-catching, it could also break her heart.

~Prelude~

When Catching Liam first came out, I participated in the cover reveal and book blitz and I was very  interested in this book so I purchased it. However, with a full plate, I didn’t get to it until my friend, Jessica @ Loving Los Libros, raved about it fanatically on Twitter. I knew I needed to read it soon and I am glad I did.

~Review~

The minute Jillian walked into her kitchen to a gloriously beautiful naked Scottish man making her waffles, I was hooked. I mean, if that was me, I would grab on and never let go. Jillian however, has commitment issues and it’s clear from the beginning that Liam is close to pushing down those walls she built and she fights tooth and nail to keep him at bay.

“This was my fault, I really should know better than to bring a boy home to a full fridge. I made a mental note to make sure it was empty before next time.”

I actually really liked Jillian as an MC and the more I got to know her, the more I understood why she pushed Liam away and tried her hardest not to fall for him. She held a secret tight to her chest and it made it hard for her to get close to anyone, especially a man and especially one she knew could easily break her heart. Jillian really grew as a character as she opened herself for Liam and let him in. This was really hard for her because she never allowed men to get close to her and somehow she was able to allow Liam to break through and help her understand love. She made a lot of mistakes and she struggled a lot but she overcame and she was so much stronger in the end.

“He’s a catch,” she whispered in my ear. That’s exactly what I was afraid of.”

Liam is amazing! I really have no other way to describe him. From the beginning, he is sweet, charming and very interested in something more with Jillian. He is determined and I love the way he pursued her. Jillian did not make it easy but Liam knew what he wanted and he went after it. He also enlightened us all to the reason Scottish men wear kilts and it was very enlightening. He was hurt and angry when Jillian pushed him away and I think he lashed out a bit harshly but I understood that he was broken hearted. In the end, he stayed true to the fantastic guy he was and proved his love and devotion for her.

“Then why are you here?” I asked. “To bring you fucking waffles and tell you that I love you!”

I really liked Jill’s friends, Jessi and Cassie and loved how supportive and helpful they were with Jill. They were there for her but they were also real with her. They didn’t shy away from telling her when she was being foolish and they were always honest about their feelings and opinions. They knew what a catch Liam was and they weren’t afraid to make sure Jill knew it. Jill’s mom on the other hand, was a real piece of work and probably the only character I despised in this book. She was so cold and heartless but then she would suddenly act like she cared. She never did anything but put Jill down and cause her stress and anxiety. She also sent mixed messages to Jill concerning Liam and their relationship. I was glad that Jill finally stood up to her and put her in her place.

“Liam is in love with you, and he is scared. You can’t keep pretending like he doesn’t matter. Look where it’s gotten you.”

Jillian and Liam had this amazing chemistry right from the get go and I loved their interactions, especially when Liam pursues her and she tries her hardest to fight him. It was obvious that Liam was going to be the one to stick and it scared Jillian. She held a huge secret that she was afraid would send him packing and it scared her to get close because she knew he was special from the beginning and she didn’t want a broken heart. Jill and Liam fit together perfectly in every way and they had some serious steam in the bedroom. They had some pretty sexy love scenes and their passion for each other was written all over the pages. I absolutely adored the plot of this story and the writing was fantastic. This was fun and romantic but also had an emotional element that added the perfect amount of depth to the story.

“I didn’t need to be certain of anything more than I was of this. Of him and I. Of us. Love, as it turned out, was liberating. The one thing I ran from turned out to t be what finally set me free.”

~IPOD Picks~

“Drop in the Ocean” by Ron Pope

“Hear You Me” by Jimmy Eat World

“First Time” by The Script

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON