Reading Writing and Book Reviews

Clutch

by Tess Oliver

Contemporary Romance/New Age Genre

Published November 5, 2013

Book 2 

 Custom Culture Series

Synopsis

When Taylor Flinn’s parents shipped her off to an aunt for her last year of high school, James “Clutch” Mason had convinced himself it was for the best. Taylor, the wild, impulsive and far-too-appealing seventeen-year-old had been driving him nuts. Her school girl crush on him had been the last thing he needed. Now he had time to concentrate on his booming classic car part business, his new found love– drag racing, and keeping his twenty-year-old brother Barrett out of trouble.

But when Taylor returns from her aunt’s more grown up, utterly seductive, and attached to another guy, Clutch realizes that the only thing he ever needed or wanted was Taylor Flinn.

Clutch on Tour

Excerpt

She came around the corner, unexpectedly and like a hurricane of stars. My mind went completely blank. I hung up and stuck the phone in my pocket.

Taylor’s long lashes curtained her smooth cheeks as she dropped her gaze.

 The adrenaline rush left behind from getting my hands on a sixty-five Shelby morphed into an explosion of every emotion I’d ever felt. I lunged forward and grabbed her hand. She gasped as I dragged her around the back of the building.

I pressed her up against the bricks and stared down at her.

Blogger Review

Hello Readers, I am currently reading this book. I am about half way through so far. So more details will come later. But, for now let me tell you that Tess Oliver is a new author (at least to me). Clutch is the first book by this author that I have read. So far I generally like the book.  I am glad to know that this is a series. Series are my preference when reading. I enjoy connecting with the same characters. Seeing familiar names, backgrounds and new adventures arise with said characters. To me a series brings a reader closer to the characters in the novel. The novel seems more real. Like you might actually know the hero and heroine, and their friends in REAL life. It leads to new developments in a novel that you really hated to see end. Know it continues with new plots and twists.

Clutch is actually Book 2 in Tess Oliver’s Custom Culture Series. However, Clutch can be read as a Stand-Alone novel.  During the read, the reader comes to learn a little about the tight group of friends that help in developing the story, as well as leading to side stories that (at least I hope) will develop into future books in this series.

Chapter 1 start out with the main character (hero) Jimmy aka Clutch in an auto race. It isn’t until later in the chapter that the reader hears this characters name mentioned. While at the track readers are introduced to some of the other characters in the novel. There is Dray, who through his description must be a fighter of some sort.  His girlfriend is Cassie, who has taken up photography and works in FreeFall, Nix’s Tattoo shop. Nix is a good friend and school mate of Jimmy’s (Clutch). Nix is who the first book is about and where the reader first meets this group of characters. Scotlyn is Nix’s girlfriend. In Clutch , the reader gathers that she has had a very hard and difficult life, and that she does not talk very much. Also that Nix loves her very, very much!

The night starts out pretty exciting for Jimmy (Clutch), that is until he comes home. You will have to read the book yourself to find out what happens at this point. As another character is introduced into the novel at this point.

Readers will pick up that Jimmy (or rather James, aka Clutch) is all about classic cars. He and his other good friend, Jason own a classic car repair shop. Now this part is interesting to me, because my brother does the exact same thing. So when the book mentions car shows, and how excited characters get over a certain car, I can actually imagine what that would be like.

Off and on in the beginning of the book the name, Taylor is brought up. What readers can gather  at this point is that she is an older high school student that has a huge crush to the very tall and well built Clutch. Apparently she likes to make herself a nuisance, and is always getting into trouble showing just how big a crush she  has on Clutch. This ultimately gets her sent to Florida to live with a dull aunt for a while during her senior year of high school, (which takes place all in FreeFall, Book 1).

In Clutch, Book 2 of the Custom Culture Series, Taylor has returned home for her eighteenth birthday. Readers now find that she has made a deal with her parents, that she will basically straighten up and fly right (as my own parents still tell me to do at over 40).  So she shuts down her spunky outgoing spirit and dates Adam who is the hottest guy in the senior class. But is Taylor really happy? Her brother sees her as a troublesome nuisance, her mother sees her as hyper and messy (compared to her own quiet temperament, love of all things spit-spot clean and tidy, and dull interests). Her dad…? Well so far the reader will only know how much he likes to yell.

Taylor’s family is constantly watching her, questioning her, and under the spell that Taylor has changed her life. Ah… but has she really?

Taylor has had serious feeling for Clutch since she was sixteen. Clutch has also had a secret crush on her, though he has never shown it. After all she is just a ‘kid’ compared to him, and his best friends sister.

In Clutch, readers  will discover two people that care about each other, but due to this, that, and the other, their feelings get miss understood and hurt feelings come into play. Thus creating the plot for this novel. Will they ever ‘make up’ and become a real couple? Well readers I have not read that far yet. And even if  I had I would not ‘spoil’ the novel for you.

Rating as of 11-30-2013

As of right now my ranking of, Clutch is a 3.5

Earlier I mentioned that I am new to the author, so I am not sure about her style of writing yet. The more I read, the more I will understand in this regard. So far the book has been an easy read. Wording is simple, the chapters are not overly long. Both Clutch and Taylor take turns, giving the reader a POV perspective of said characters. It takes several chapters before Clutch and Taylor actually meet. When they do, sparks fly…but I am not telling you just HOW they spark!

Currently I am on chapter 13, so not quite halfway done with the novel yet. In all there are 29 chapters in this particular novel.

The dialogue has mostly been among the guys in the novel. Cassie, Scotlyn, and Taylor have had minor roles this far in.

The only romance so far has been one HOT kiss between two characters and some sweet kisses between others.

I plan to finish the book, I want to see how it ends. Then depending on my reading schedule, I already have Book 1, FreeFall  in my TBR (To Be Read) collection. Remember I said I liked reading books are a series. Even though Clutch can be read as a stand-alone, I am curious to read the first book and see how the series starts from the very beginning. Thus, probably filling in holes from Clutch, since I am new to all of these characters.

Readers, if you like big hunky guys with long blonde hair, classic cars, tattoos, and a little romance and mystery thrown in, then this book is for you.

Book Links

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Book 1

FreeFall

Custom Culture Series

Published August 8, 2013

Synopsis

After leaving high school, with a hard won diploma and the title of most likely
to break hearts, Alexander “Nix” Pierce has left his wild, out of control years
mostly behind him. A small inheritance from his grandfather has given him the
funds to open up his tattoo shop, Freefall, and he has started to pull his life
together. Aside from trying to keep his best friend, Dray, from killing himself
in the fight ring, and his slight obsession with a pin-up model he’s never met,
Nix’s life is going smoothly . . . until Scotlyn James, the object of his
obsession, walks into his shop.

Ever since a tragic accident
killed her family and left her alone in the world, Scotlyn James hasn’t spoken
one word. Up until now she didn’t care that she had no way of talking to people.
Her awful aunt would never have listened, and Lincoln Hammond the arrogant,
selfish man who pulled her from the streets of Los Angeles wouldn’t hear her
words if she could speak. But when Lincoln insists she get a tattoo to
cover up a scar on her side, Scotlyn meets the artist, Nix Pierce. And now she
longs for her voice. Now she has found someone who will hear
her. 

Caution: This title contains strong language, alcohol
use, violence, and sexual situations.

Book Links

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On SALE for .99 Each

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November 29-30, 2013

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Author Information

Tess Oliver is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of Freefall (Custom Culture, #1). She is also a full time teacher and lives in California with her husband, two kids, and a pack of pampered pets. She loves horses, chocolate, and Jane Austen books. She has a BS in Nutrition Science and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction.

 She is also an author published by Barron’s Educational Publisher.

She loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at toliverbooks@gmail.com

Or visit http://www.tessoliver.com http://tessoliverauthor.blogspot.com/

Author Links

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