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Monday, November 14, 2011

Review and Giveaway: The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines


The Vincent Boys
by Abbi Glines
Reviewed by: Baby Sister Brittany
The Sisters say: Seductive and Sweet with a Southern Kick!

Being the good girl isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Ashton Gray has grown weary of playing the part to please her parents, and to be worthy of the town’s prince charming, Sawyer Vincent. Maybe That’s why she’s found herself spending time with Sawyer’s cousin, Beau, while he’s away for the summer camping with his family. Beau is nothing like her perfect boyfriend. He’s the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, dangerous in ways she’s only day dreamed about, and the one guy she should stay away from. 
Beau never envied Sawyer his loving parents, his big nice home, or his position as quarterback. He loves him like a brother. Which is why he's tried everything in his power to keep his distance from Sawyer’s girlfriend. Even if he has loved her since the age of five, Ashton is Sawyer’s girl, so therefore she’s off limits. But when Sawyer leaves for the summer, Ashton, the one girl Beau would move Heaven and Earth for, decides she wants to get into trouble. Stabbing the one person who’s always accepted him and stood by him in the back, is the cost of finally holding Ashton Gray in his arms. Is she worth losing his cousin over?.... Hell Yeah.


Before I start this review, can I make a request for a Vincent Boy of my own? Abbi, you hearing this? Santa—you too. Heck,  I’ll talk to the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, I Dream of Jeanie—whichever of you can snag me a boy like Beau, I’ll be forever indebted. Seriously, y’all.

Alright, now that that embarrassing display of obsession is over. Let’s talk about how amazing this book was!

Having been born and raised in the south, I saw my life in Ashton. Isn’t that the goal of any story—to mimic life in art? I can say without a doubt that Glines perfectly captured the passions and pressures of growing up in the South. There is so much pressure to do things right and do them well (all that business about there being no right or wrong way to live your life—you never quite get that message growing up in the south). Ashton reminded me of myself as a teenager, but with a great deal more courage and confidence than I ever allowed myself to have.

Ashton wants Beau, even though she shouldn’t. He’s a bad boy. She’s the preacher’s daughter. He’s her boyfriend’s cousin, and her boyfriend is pretty much the most perfect boy any girl could ask for. Beau’s a dead end—no future.

This isn’t necessarily a new story line, but the way Abbi Glines weaves the story—it feels like you’re actually there with Ashton, choking on the stifling southern air and culture. I was swimming in desire and guilt right along with our protagonist. My heart and my head did battle over which boy I should root for, as Ashton faced the same struggles. I couldn’t put this book down, and when Ashton’s life took a dive in a downward spiral, I fell with her.

You’ll love the boys, the settings, and the steamy romance of this book! It’s a fast, addicting read, and you’ll be aching for more when it’s over.

I only have one qualm about this book, and I wouldn’t even necessarily call it a negative. It was more just something to think about. I questioned what was so special about Ashton that both boys would go through so much for her. This is a common problem in YA in general that’s been bothering me for a while—the oh, so normal heroine who catches the attention of the gorgeous, anything-but-normal guy.

Maybe it’s because I saw myself (and many other girls I’ve known) in Ashton. I wouldn’t say she’s a commodity down here in the south. Every small town has got one (or two).  All that being said, the more I sat down and thought about it, the more I realized that while I’ve known girls like Ashton, I’ve also known boys like Beau and Sawyer. I’ve stood back and watched boys fall all over themselves for a girl who doesn’t appear to be anything special. So while I still have an issue with ordinary heroines attracting extraordinary love interests, I think it works in this setting. In the south, being the seemingly perfect, untouchable, preacher’s daughter who turns out to be not so untouchable is akin to being a marble-skinned, sparkly vampire in rural Washington. It’s the Holy Grail for a southern bad boy (and even for southern good boys).

You should definitely give Vincent Boys a chance, and I’d say keep an eye on Abbi Glines in general. I loved her first book, Breathe, but Vincent Boys blew that one out of the water. I can only assume that her next book, Existence will be just as good, probably better!

And you guys are in luck! As part of the Vincent Boys Blog Tour, we are able to give away one KINDLE copy of the book! Just enter below! Also, please go check out the other stops on the tour!

Giveaway is now closed.