Book Review! Down N Derby by Lila Felix (plus $50 Amazon and series ebook giveaway)

Disclosure:  I received the book mentioned for the purpose of review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  I am not responsible for the giveaway or distribution of prizes.

Synopsis

Maddox is running.

By accident, he discovered long ago that he was adopted as a baby and his need to find his biological father has consumed him ever since. Now, on a road trip, determined to find his father and his sanity, and armed with locations and his cousin, Nixon, to help him, maybe he can find the answers he’s been searching for. With nothing but a suitcase and a wad of cash to get him there, lead after lead takes him further from home.

But he’ll find much more than he intended.

He finds Storey, a pint sized pin-up model who has learned painful lessons about guys. Her wounds run deep, but so do his. She knows what she wants, but will she recognize it when it’s right in front of her?

Maddox can’t touch anyone without feeling like his skin is crawling, but just maybe his instinct to protect this amazing girl will supersede his own hang-ups.

If he can brush her skin and start to feel alive inside…everything will change.

Buy Down N Derby

My Thoughts

I have mentioned a few times (or a lot, whatever) that I really love the writing of Lila Felix.  Not only that, but I think she is a really cool chick too and is awesome to talk to.  Regardless what I think of her though, her writing speaks for itself.  Down N Derby is the third book in the Love and Skate series.  I wrote a review of the second book, How It Rolls, and mentioned how much I enjoy the series.  I really do.

With each book, I grew to love the characters more and more.  What Lila does is bring each character back with each new book.  The Black family is all represented in the books and it makes you fall for them more and more.  Falcon, the main lead from How It Rolls, is my favorite book boyfriend EVER.  After reading Down N Derby though, Maddox is a very close second.  I remember telling Lila how much I loved Maddox at the end of book 2.  I was right on my feelings for him but I had no idea how broken poor Maddox was and how much I would sympathize with him as time went on.  I had no idea what Maddox would go through in his own book.

Maddox is a super sweet guy who just can’t let go of his past… a past he knows only a small amount about.  He runs.  I think he runs for a reason that only he understands because, from what we know about the Black family, they would probably help him with anything he wanted.  Regardless, he runs and he takes his cousin, Nixon, with him.  The road trip is both funny and sad at the same time.  Going through the emotions with Maddox was heartbreaking.  Lila writes so beautifully that you really can feel what he feels as he leaves his family home, as he finds a dead end with his dad, and as he meets Storey.

Storey is such a fun girl.  I loved her from the moment she came into play in this book.  She is a strong girl (Lila has a thing for writing about strong-willed women) and she is fun to boot.  Her personality is one that I just adored.  As a pinup model, I loved that her figure was portrayed as curvy and not the typical “skinny” so many characters are nowadays.  These books are perfect for a young adult and having this portrayal is one that I just love for the youth of today that are so hung up on being thin. Storey has a history all her own but she really does seem to embrace her relationship with Maddox and it gave me such hope for them.

There wasn’t a ton of angst in this book and it was so refreshing to read a book that I didn’t feel like I was going to puke through.  (Don’t judge… I get really caught up in my books.)  I’m not saying it was without turmoil but it wasn’t a hold-your-breath-and-cross-your-fingers kind of thing.  It was more a feeling that you know they will come back together because, well, they are made for each other.  You just know they will find their way.  They have to.  When Maddox’s issue with feelings of skin crawling are brought up, you have to worry that he will ever be able to be with someone.  Storey helps him through his issues on both a physical and emotional level.  Like I said, they are made for each other and just needed some time to figure it all out.

Nixon was awesome in this book.  His humor and wittiness was a welcome distraction from what Maddox was going through, for the reader and for Maddox.  Nixon leaves us in this book and it left me wanting more from him.  I know we will see him again.  Why?  Because he is awesome and Lila would not leave him off in no-bookland.  We will see Nixon again I am sure of it.  (Okay, I am hoping but what do I know?!)

Basically what I am saying is that this book is great.  I want you all to read it.  In fact, I want you all to read all of the books in the Love and Skate series.  They are such great books and are fun, clean reads.  If you are anything like me, after reading any book from Lila Felix, you will have to read more.  Lila is the ONE author that I fangirl over.  Seriously.  She is a true literary genius in my opinion.  She proves that to me at the end of Down N Derby.  Where I held my emotions in check throughout the entire book, Lila got me at the end where she sits down to dinner with her characters.  Oh dear me…. tears were a flowin’ over here.

I, if you haven’t guessed, gave this book a strong 5 stars.  Lila has yet to disappoint me and I highly doubt she ever will.  Be sure to check out this book or any in the series.  I am sure you will not be disappointed.

About Lila Felix

Lila Felix lives in the swamps of Louisiana with her husband and three boisterous children. She loves coffee, anything cinnamon and loves to cook. She is a big roller derby fan. When she’s not writing, she’s watching 80’s movies, reading, and collecting duct tape.

Connect with Lila Felix

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More from the Love and Skate Series

Love and Skate

How It Rolls

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