{"id":45783,"date":"2019-09-03T08:30:31","date_gmt":"2019-09-03T12:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=45783"},"modified":"2019-09-03T10:28:49","modified_gmt":"2019-09-03T14:28:49","slug":"release-arc-review-this-is-love-this-is-3-by-natasha-madison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=45783","title":{"rendered":"Release & ARC Review: This Is Love (This Is, #3) by Natasha Madison"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Amazon US<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon CA<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon UK<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon AU<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Apple Books<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Kobo\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Nook<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

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Blurb<\/strong><\/h4>\n

From the best selling series, Something So comes the spin-off series This is…<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Vivienne<\/b><\/p>\n

Never fall in love.
\nThat was my motto, and I was sticking to it.
\nHaving my heart broken once was enough, and I never wanted to do it again.
\nHe was supposed to be a one-night stand, the only thing I do.
\nOne rule shouldn\u2019t be so hard to follow, but then I went back for seconds, then thirds.<\/p>\n

After that, I lost count of the number of times I lost myself in his arms.
\nWhen I wasn\u2019t paying attention, my guard slipped.<\/p>\n

Mark<\/b><\/p>\n

They call me Private Mark for a reason\u2014my whole life is a secret.
\nFor two years, we danced around each other until I got her right where I wanted her … under me.
\nNow that I had her, I wasn’t letting her go. I thought we were on the same page.
\nI thought we were building something great.<\/p>\n

Boy, was I ever wrong.<\/p>\n

I had no idea that while I was falling in love, she was trying to convince herself we were temporary.
\nShe thought I\u2019d walk away.<\/p>\n

She was wrong.<\/p>\n

Now it’s time to convince her she wants us too and to show her that the crazy, wild thing we have … This Is Love.<\/p>\n

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Add to Goodreads<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Review<\/b><\/h4>\n

5 stars!<\/b><\/p>\n

OMG, YES! What a fantastic read! I wasn\u2019t sure what to expect from this one, and honestly with such a bold and out-there heroine, I was a little bit scared, but it\u2019s so, so good! Funny, sexy and romantic with just the right amount of feels, Vivienne\u2019s long-awaited story is fantastically fun, heartfelt and swoony, with a hero to die for, and I loved it!<\/p>\n

Vivienne has been a fantastically entertaining side character in both the Something So<\/i> and the This Is<\/i> series. She is best friends with Karrie, who married Matthew in Something So Perfect<\/a>, and she has been the rude, crude, and totally unfiltered girlfriend to the girls in the series with her unsolicited advice, oversharing and her loud and proud commitment to singledom and no-strings sex. It\u2019s because of this that I was nervous about this book, that it may be a bit too \u2018much\u2019 being in Vivienne\u2019s head so much (better in small doses perhaps?), but no! This book introduces us to a different Vivienne and we see why she is the way she is, and getting her perspective we see her softer side, and from the first moment I was completely invested in her and her story.<\/p>\n

There was something going on between Vivienne and Mark in the last book of the series, and this book was so cleverly tied in! Enough to have fangirls like myself eagerly watching background events and basking in the cleverness of it all, but all without giving spoilers. So, you can read this one as a standalone, but of course you\u2019ll enjoy it more if you\u2019ve read the previous books and know all of the characters and their dynamics.<\/p>\n

Mark is the goalie for the New York Stingers \u2013 the NHL team that the boys of this series play for. He is nicknamed Private Mark because he keeps to himself, doesn\u2019t talk much and, outside of their games, keeps himself somewhat separate from the rest of the team. I loved getting to know him and learn who he is, and OMG, he is just the perfect hero for Vivienne! He\u2019s sweet and kind, super smart and has himself completely together. He\u2019s a relationship guy, and he knows what he wants, and that\u2019s Vivienne.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s a wild ride for these two, starting off with wild, hot, mind-blowing, life-changing sex. The sexy time is hot and steamy and there\u2019s plenty of it (honestly\u2026 how is her vagina not broken?), and it reflects the mad chemistry between Mark and Vivienne as they completely fall under each other\u2019s spell.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m old-fashioned,\u201d I tell her, and she raises her eyebrows, \u201cbut not that old-fashioned.\u201d
\n\u201cOld-fashioned?\u201d she questions me. \u201cDoes that mean you do all the work?\u201d
\n\u201cWhat fun would that be?\u201d I tell her and lean forward softly. \u201cNothing sexier than watching a woman ride.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s a brand new situation that Vivienne finds herself in, and though she\u2019s completely swept up, she\u2019s a little bit clueless about what is happening between them, and it leads to lots of laughs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe kissed me,\u201d I tell her.
\n\u201cOkay,\u201d she says. \u201cYou\u2019ve kissed other men.\u201d
\n\u201cYes, but this one was different. My stomach did a thing.\u201d I put my hand to my stomach, and just thinking about the kiss makes the same thing happen again. \u201cLittle flutters.\u201d
\n\u201cOh my God,\u201d she says.
\n\u201cI think I caught something from the kids. I\u2019m going to check my temperature right now,\u201d I say as I got into the bathroom and get the thermometer. \u201cMaybe I caught the bug.\u201d
\n\u201cYeah, the love but,\u201d she says, laughing, and I roll my eyes.
\n\u201cCan you be serious for a minute? I might be dying. Maybe I have a tumor.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But despite their attraction and their oh-so-obvious sexual connection, they both want different things. Vivienne has sworn off love, and she\u2019s prepared to walk away, but Mark isn\u2019t about to let her. He is patient and smart, he\u2019s prepared to fight for her and he\u2019s confident enough to do whatever it takes to lead her there, and I loved watching them work through it all!<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you ever just give up?\u201d she asks, and I turn and face the wall again. \u201cAnd say fuck it.\u201d
\n\u201cThe endgame is that much better if you fight for it,\u201d I tell her \u2026 \u201cGetting that prize and claiming it,\u201d I say, leaning in to whisper in her ear. \u201cHolding the prize in your hands, there isn\u2019t another feeling out there.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There was the potential for great angst, and yes, there was a little bit, but it was perfect! Just enough to add a bit of drama and have me madly flipping my pages, buzzing with anticipation of what was to come, and never to the point where I was frustrated with either of the characters and wanted to start hurling my kindle across the room. It\u2019s realistic and heartfelt and it builds the feels, and ultimately had me grinning and swooning madly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you \u2026 Like love, love you. Like my world would shatter without you.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As always, there\u2019s some character crossover \u2013 mostly with Matthew and Karrie \u2013 and much as I love the romance in this book, the relationship between Vivienne and Karrie is also a highlight. These two are so incredibly close, and are completely open and honest with each other, and their back and forth had me laughing out loud so many times!<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is the best I\u2019ve ever had. Hands down the biggest I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d My brain is telling my mouth to stop, but I can\u2019t. \u201cHonestly, I thought my vagina would be bruised.\u201d I start to open my legs to show her, and she yells.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t want to see your bruised vagina, woman!\u201d she yells while she turns her head and puts her hand in front of her face.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve seen four human heads come out of your vagina, and you can\u2019t look at mine?\u201d I stand, putting my hands on my hips.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This was such a fun read! I loved the banter and the out-there, no-nonsense nature of the characters. I loved the dynamics, the passion, the humour, the emotion and the romance, it\u2019s a great finish for the series and I loved it.<\/p>\n

5 stars!<\/p>\n

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.<\/i><\/p>\n

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This Is series<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Spin off from the ‘Something So<\/a>‘ series<\/strong><\/p>\n

Part of the Stone-Grant-Horton hockey dynasty – Find full series info, reading order and family tree here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0\u00a0\"\"\u00a0 \"\" \u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

This Is Crazy (#1) <\/strong>(Evan & Zara)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon \u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0 Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n

This Is Wild (#2)<\/strong> (Viktor & Zoe)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon\u00a0\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0 Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n

This is Love (#3)<\/strong> (Mark & Vivienne)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n

This is Forever (#4)<\/strong> (Justin & Caroline)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Abou<\/strong>t the Author<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"When her nose isn\u2019t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she\u2019s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It\u2019s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn\u2019t listen to her\u2026<\/p>\n

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Follow on Amazon<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Follow on BookBub<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Subscribe to Newsletter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Check out more great reads on our\u00a0Natasha Madison Author Spotlight<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Amazon US\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon CA\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon UK\u00a0 |\u00a0 Amazon AU\u00a0 |\u00a0 Apple Books\u00a0 |\u00a0 Kobo\u00a0 |\u00a0 Nook   Blurb From the best selling series, Something So comes the spin-off series This is… Vivienne […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":44578,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":5,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"Product","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,9,58,29],"tags":[59,581,48,1002],"class_list":["post-45783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lol-funny","category-romance","category-sports-star","category-steamy","tag-arc","tag-natasha-madison","tag-review","tag-this-is"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/This-Is-Love.jpg?fit=200%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-bUr","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45783"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45783\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/44578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}