*Review Tour* The Exception by Adriana Locke

Title: The Exception

Author: Adriana Locke

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Day: September 18^th 2014

They say there is an exception to every rule…

Jada Stanley is starting over, refusing to repeat her past mistakes. Everything is going great until she meets Cane Alexander. He is gorgeous, cocky, and everything she needs to avoid.

Cane lives within a set of carefully constructed guidelines to ensure his life remains uncomplicated. When he sets his eyes on Jada, all of his rules are called into question.

As their worlds become intertwined, they find it impossible to stay away from each other. Will they be able to maintain the rules they’ve created to protect their hearts? Or will they make an exception?

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Reviewed by Shera 5 out of 5 Stars!

Well what can I say? First, the absolutely beautiful cover drew me to this book. Then when I opened the first page and started reading, I was immediately sucked in and didn’t stop until I finished. An amazing start for this debut author earns her 5 Stars with a story of hurt, love, loss. happiness and a little suspense. All good things wrapped into one amazing book! Two words…. Cane Alexander. One hot swoonworthy sexy Alpha Male that I promise you will love.

Jada just got out of a bad relationship and recently moved to Arizona to stay with her friend Kari. Kari has a, well in the beginning who knows what he is, but his name is Max. He’s a country boy with lots of charm, a smart mouth and I absolutely adore him throughout this story. Jada was a little broken, hiding what really went on in her marriage with Decker. She was devastated, embarrassed and would never let anyone know what she really put up with. It left her feeling worthless and broken. She only wanted to feel happy, to feel alive…To finally start living again. She starts working for her father in real estate to get back on her feet.

“I want to feel like the only girl in the world to somebody. I want to be their priority, their everything. I don’t know what that feels like”

Cane Alexander, could he be the one who makes Jada feel? But Cane has rules, he trusts no one, takes responsibility for everything he does in his life and embraces being alone. “The Coach”, with that cocky alpha male attitude the only person you would think Cane Alexander gives a crap about is his damn self, but as we get to know him you will see Cane isn’t just about Cane. He is the type of man that walks into a room and commands attention and he sure as hell had mine through this whole book! He has loved, he has lost and he’s hurt just as much as Jada is. He has no problem with getting women; it’s him finding one to keep him interested long enough for more than one night in bed. Cane works in real estate also, which is lucky for him because he’s about to have an IN with Jada and he is surely going to use it to his advantage.

Jada doesn’t fall for Canes sweet talking cocky self…or does she? She doesn’t want to end up hurt again, and she sees Cane as just the same jerk she’s dealt with most of her life, until he starts to break down…He lets her in, and she sees something no one else sees. There is something about Jada has Cane all knotted up, he wants her, he’s determined to have her and he vows to never let anyone hurt her. This strong, beautiful man is falling. Not everything is rainbows and unicorns though, during the process his past comes back to haunt him and puts Jada right in the middle of the dust storm. He attempts to shelter her as much as he can, but it is an impossible feat. Cane will stop at nothing to make sure Jada is safe. Even if that means tilting her world and making her doubt what they have together.

“Once again, I thought my life was headed in the right direction and I feel…I feel like everything has been thrown into a mixer and shaken beyond recognition”

Oh Jada…… It’s not shaken; it’s just stirred hunny with a delicious Cane stick!

This story just flowed effortlessly for me. The storyline was fantastic and I love how protective both Cane and Max are of Jada. There is a story there with Max and Kari and I hope we get to hear it one day, but for now, rest assured, you will fall in love with all things Cane Alexander. Great job to Adriana Locke in this amazing debut novel. I highly recommend it and even though it certainly does end with closure, I hope that there is more coming Adriana. You’ve got a gift, keep on using it!

“You are my world. My Happiness. My Exception”

Cane shook his head, apparently to rid himself of whatever he was thinking. His eyebrows raised, he turned towards me. “So you will have lunch with him and not me? What am I missing here?”

“It’s business. Pretty simple, I think.” I peered out the door, watching Simon’s black Avalanche pull out of the parking lot.

“I can pretend it’s about business, if that’s what you want.”

“Cane,” I warned, turning my head to look at him.

“Lunch with him will not be about business. When I walked in here, that was not about business.”

“Whether it was or it wasn’t is no business of yours.”

Cane blew out a breath, his forehead marred in frustration. “Do you know Simon Powers? Have you dealt with him before?”

“No, I just met him today. Why?”

He looked relieved. “It doesn’t matter. Look, if he needs to see this property again, I want you to call me first, okay?”

“All right. I won’t bring him here without calling you first.”

“I’m going to give you my phone number. If he wants to see this property or becomes a pain in your ass, I want you to call me. Don’t put up with any shit from him and don’t bring him here unless you actually speak to me. Do you understand?”

“You’re making me nervous. What’s going on?”

“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” he said calmly, trying to dissipate the mood he just created. “I just don’t like that guy. I don’t trust him.”

“Whatever you say.”

“I like it when you just do what I say.” His eyes darkened.

“Noted. I have to go, Cane.”

“What’s your phone number?” He placed his hand on the small of my back. I stilled at his touch. A jolt of energy darted through my body, landing at the apex of my thighs. I closed my eyes and just felt for a minute.

“You can get my number from Max,” I said breathily, throwing his words from the night at the restaurant back at him.

Cane spun me around quickly, my back pressed against the wall. He leaned in, his face almost touching mine. I willed myself not to moan, to not give him any inclination that my willpower was melting away.

“Oh, Jada,” he whispered, the warmth of his breath only adding to the riot inside me. “Why do you fight this so hard?”

“Cane …” I tried to formulate a response but words were not accessible.

He smirked, knowing what he was doing to me. “Yes?”

“I … I need to go.”

“You need to. But do you want to?” He searched my eyes with his own. “I know what you want and what you need, baby. Why won’t you trust me?”

My eyes widened, my pulse pounding. He was so close and I wanted more than anything to reach out and pull him up against me.

But I can’t.

He smiled before leaning in, his lips grazing my ear as he whispered, “Why do you fight this? Just give me one night to get you out of my system.”

I turned my head to respond, to explain that was exactly what he wasn’t getting, and our eyes locked. The air between us, so hot and rife with energy, boiled over.

He captured my lips with his own, tentatively at first. I resisted for a split second before succumbing to his charge. His lips moved over mine, a soft juxtaposition to his hard exterior. The heat of the exchange, of him finally touching me, melted me from the inside out.

I opened my mouth, giving him entry, and he took it without hesitation. He explored my mouth with his own lazily, the softness of his tongue making my knees buckle.

I tried to focus, tried to commit everything to memory, because it would only happen once. That would be the first and last time I allowed my defenses to be obliterated by Cane Alexander.

The sound of blood roaring past my ears and the feel of his body, hot and hard against me, made it impossible to concentrate on anything for long. I hesitantly placed my hands on his back, feeling his muscles ripple beneath them.

The sensations were overwhelming and I was on the cusp of bursting at the seams.

Cane pulled back slowly and kissed me lightly on the lips, before retreating far enough away to look into my eyes. There were a hundred emotions playing across his gorgeous face, his eyes a dozen colors of blue.

I looked away, trying to catch my breath. I wasn’t able to figure out my own emotions—I had no business trying to figure out his.

“One night.” He lifted my chin so that my eyes met his. His tongue flicked across his lips.

He only wants one night …

My wits were scattered across the room and I gathered as many of them as I could before responding, “I need to go.”

A look flashed across his face that I couldn’t read. He raised his eyebrows. “That’s all you’re going to say?”

“I don’t know what else you want me to say.” I sidestepped him and made my way to the door. I looked over my shoulder one last time and he changed before my eyes.

The confused, vulnerable look gave way to an impassive, cool veneer. He sat his hands on top of his head and turned away, heading towards the office.

Seeing everything I needed to see, more than enough to convince myself I was doing the right thing, I pushed through the door and didn’t look back.

Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own. The Exception is Adriana’s debut novel and will be released on September 18th. Adriana lives in the Midwest with her family. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. Her favorite things include sunshine, candy, and random quotes. Please contact Adriana here. She loves to hear from readers.