Mine for Now

Wild Love #1

by Erika Kelly

From the award-winning author of the Rock Star Romance books comes a sizzling new series about the O’Donnell siblings. The pull of wild love is irresistible.

She’s had enough drama in her life.

Nicole O’Donnell is more than ready for the fresh start college offers. After a lifetime of trying to help her alcoholic mom and ex-boyfriend get sober, she’s finally learned her lesson: people don’t change. They certainly don’t change for her.

He can never leave his drama behind.

Thanks to his mom’s substance abuse issues, Dylan McCaffrey’s persona non grata in his hometown of Gun Powder, Colorado. So when he scores a free ride to the top university in the country, he’s determined to make something of this fresh start. But his mom has always relied on him, and she’s not handling his absence well at all. If he can just keep up his grades, pay her bills, and come home every break, he might be able to pull off this opportunity.

True love won’t be denied.

No matter how determined they are to steer clear of each other, their combustible connection explodes, especially when Nicole offers Dylan the one thing he can’t bear—hope. Once he has a taste of it—and the irresistible force of her—there’s no going back.

But when he falls too deeply, when he loses sight of his priorities, he might just lose it all.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, College, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

343 pages, ebook

First published October 4, 2016

About the author

Award-winning author Erika Kelly writes sexy, passionate, and emotional contemporary romance. Married to the love of her life and raising four children, she lives in the southwest, drinks a lot of tea, and is always waiting for her cats to get off her keyboard.

GET A FREE SHORT STORY:
https://erikakellybooks.com/pages/new...

SUBSCRIBE:
https://erikakellybooks.com/pages/new...

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/erikakellya...

FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

JOIN MY PRIVATE READER GROUP:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Erika...

FIND ME ON TIKTOK:
https://www.tiktok.com/@erikakellyrom...

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review



Mine For Now by Erika Kelly is an emotional romance that tugs all the heartstrings!!! Kelly beautifully weaves and showcase a love story that ties and unites two individuals as their past and present collides in such a way that loyalty and love will be tested.



Nicole O’Donnell is a freshman in college and is ready to start living her own life. She wants to forget the past and the burdens of her family life. The struggle with her mother dealing with alcoholism is something that she can’t continued to be burdened if the person is not willing to get help. As much as it weighs on Nicole, she knows it’s a tough lesson. Life is about making choices and Nicole’s choice is to finally start living.

Dylan McCaffrey has lived with an alcoholic mother who struggles to stay sober. When Dylan thinks that she is on the road to recovery, she falls off. The endless cycle of up and down was a burden that Dylan lived with since his mother relied upon on Dylan for so much. It was tiresome but Dylan loved his mother and so he thought he could balance college and his mother but soon it takes a toll on him too.

Mine for Now unites two strangers with similar background of alcoholism. This book explores the topic of co-dependency and toxic relationships. Erika Kelly beautifully and sensitively exposes the hurt, heartbreak and pain of the other party. The party that has to deal with the person they love struggling with alcoholism. While Kelly tugs the heartstrings with this sensitive topic, she does provide readers a sense of hope that life is what you make of it. Life is letting go and doing things that are right for you. So if you are looking for a story that is more than just romance but provides readers a sense of hope then Mine For Now might be the book for you.

Erika Kelly

[AC Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Just finished this very emotional love story. Dylan came from a broken family – one with an alcohol addictive selfish mother. In the small town of Gun Powder, it is hard to escape the embarrassment that his mother causes. When Dylan won a full scholarship to a university he thought he could escape and build a new life. However, his mother follows him and causes chaos all around. Dylan is a good son so he continues to take care of his mother and feed her addiction out of guilt and loyalty. He always takes care of his mother and that makes it hard to cut ties. It was sad to see the inexcusable behavior of Dylan’s mother toward Dylan and his friends.

Nicole came from a similar back ground with an alcoholic mother and ex-boyfriend that she is trying to help get sober. Nicole has also been hurt and been made to feel unworthy by the people she loves, but Nicole learns the hard way that people don’t change. Nicole and Dylan were drawn to each other because they understand each others circumstances. Nicole has accepted that she cannot change the past and she has move on to build a better future for herself; meanwhile Dylan still struggles with the guilt of taking care of his mother. In a way he becomes a co-dependent which is frustrating at times.

This book definitely has a bit of a serious tone to it with Dylan and Nicole’s emotionally turbulent relationship. But rest assured there is no shortage of sizzling between the sheets scenes. Dylan is obviously damaged, but he has a loving and caring personality. He displays his sweetness and unconditional love towards Nicole. Nicole is also a strong and sweet person. She loves Dylan and is determined to help him accept his pain, overcome it and and push forward. This book has a little bit of everything – sweet love, humor, passion and heart-warming forgiveness. It’s about loving yourself, friends, and family despite all the struggles two young people went through.

This book is told in a third person POV which is not my personal favorite but it is dual so no problem following the story. I am also very bad at keeping track of all the people introduced in the book – I like story that focus on the hero and heroine with maybe a few secondary characters. But having said that, there are some very interesting secondary characters such that I am very intrigued to see who the author will bring in the next story. First book of Erika Kelly and it was a great read!

[Kristy /Obsessed with Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took took me a good solid year to get Erika to share Dylan and Nicole with me. I adore the way she tells a story and I had already finished all of her published books. So when I found out she had these two finished manuscripts collecting dust, I begged and I pleaded to no avail. Then one day I got a "Well maybe, let me think about it." So I dropped it...NOT. And finally Mine for Now showed up in my inbox.

So on a Sunday night I started reading and I stayed up until 3am. Then after 4 hours of sleep my alarm went off and I thought "one more chapter and I'll get ready for work." Well...one turned into four, turned into blowing off work for an entire day because I couldn't put it down. I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN.

Once again, Erika gave me a story I could fall in love with. She gave me beautiful, damaged, flawed characters who struggle to overcome their past and hope for a better future. She gave me real life conflicts and true, honest situations. She gave me people I could related to feeling emotions every single person can identify with. She made me feel all of the emotions without fake conflict or phony set-ups.

Dylan is magnificent. He is a beautiful boy inside and out and he is a born caregiver when it comes to the important people in his life. When he meets Nicole he quickly realizes she might be at the top of that list. Watching him struggle to keep her clear of his train-wreak of a mother and what he believes is his dead end future is just heart-wrenching. You just can't help but love him and pull for him. Even when he was making me angry, I still felt his anguish. When Dylan loves he loves big and completely... until it hurts.

One thing Erika does better than almost anybody is give you a female character you can love and admire. I adore Nicole. She is sweet and adorable in her slightly nerdy quirkiness. But more than that, she sets a great example. She is strong and determined and when she gets knocked down, she gets up again. Plus she's incredibly caring. But my very favorite thing about her is she doesn't settle. She is unwilling to accept less than she deserves. No matter how much she cares for Dylan, she knows that until he can put himself first, he`ll never be able to give her the love she deserves. It's empowering watching her take care of herself, not enough woman do that these days.

I loved this book. Dylan shot immediately to my BBF top ten and Nicole is easily one of my very favorite female characters. Their story is not only beautifully written and tremendously fulfilling, but it's also lush and completely fleshed out with backstory and a full cast of wonderful supporting characters. I hope someday we get their stories too.

This book had me laughing loudly, it had me crying hard. I swooned big time, I fell in love, I had my heart broken, then I fell in love all over again. I've read this one twice already and honestly, just writing this review makes me want to read it again. Easily in my top 5 reads of 2016.

[Marieke ~ Marieke's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A romance subgenre I don’t read too often is the Young Adult genre. A lot of these books are set in college, and those days are long gone for me as a 38-year-old. But every now and then I like to read about college-life; with all its struggles, drama’s and misunderstandings. Mine For Now by Erika Kelly is your typical college story, and I like it.

“He let out a breath. He had to let all this shit go. For the first time in his life, he was free.”

Nicole childhood hasn’t been a happy one; her divorced, alcoholic mother chooses the bottle over her own daughter. When her father finally finds out the true extent of his ex-wife’s addiction, he intervenes and Nicole moves in with him and her older brothers. During her teenage years Nicole has had a boyfriend, but he too struggles with alcohol. College is her road out of the past, to start over with the support of her family. Dylan is the handsome boy who comes to her rescue, and it doesn’t take long before she feels more for him then just friendship.

“He smelled delicious—like soap and fresh air and that hint of cinnamon. But it was the look in his eyes—the vulnerability—that did her in. She could see the truth in those watchful eyes.”

Like Nicole, Dylan has a sad history with alcohol. His mother has been an addict for years, leaving him to take care of everything. Buying food, remembering his mother to pay the bills, it’s all on him. But where Nicole has a family who pulled her out of the situation, Dylan’s family is done. They have tried to rescue his mother time and time again, and every time she threw it right back in their faces. And despite his childhood, Dylan came out fine. College is his new start to become more than just his mother’s son. Nicole is everything Dylan thinks he doesn’t deserve, but he can’t stay away from her.

“He wanted to be there for every moment of her life—to fight for her and with her. Fuck. He should not be thinking like that. About things he couldn’t have. He’d always accepted his lot in life. But now—for the first time—he wanted something else.”

Although Nicole and Dylan each of their own reasons for not wanting a relationship, they can’t stay away from each other. Living in the same house and working together a lot they form a friendship, but especially Dylan tries to keep it just that. Of course this doesn’t work, and slowly Nicole and Dylan try to make it work. But wrong spoken words, misunderstandings, people from their pasts and hurt feelings get in their way, a lot. Only after coming clean and letting go of the past, Dylan and Nicole have a change at their HEA.

There where so many moments I wanted to step inside my kindle and smack Dylan against the head. I understand he has his reasons, but he handles some situations so incredible naïve, unintentionally hurting Nicole. But hey, wait a minute.. This book tells the story of a couple of 18-year-olds. When I was 18, I didn’t make the smartest decisions, and for that reason only I can overlook Dylan’s ‘wrong doing’. Mine For Now is your typical college romance, with the usual stereotypes; the best friend, the slutty girl, the ‘can’t be trusted’ ex-girlfriend, etc. This is my first book by this author, I really like her writing style, and that her characters act like real kids.

“I love you. I never stopped, and I never will. You make me happy. You make me free.”

I’ve enjoyed reading Mine For Now, I give the story of Dylan and Nicole 4 stars.


www.mariekesbooks.com

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leigh's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

Clearly depicting a world of addiction and the damage it wreaks, not just on the person with the illness but those they love as well, Mine for Now was a story filled with angst and obligation and a deep, abiding love.

When they meet at college, Dylan and Nicole know that they come from worlds that couldn’t be more different. Nicole comes from money and Dylan has to work for every dollar he has. But they soon learn that their upbringings share a sad connection. Each was raised by an alcoholic mother, and the emotional scars that were inflicted run deeper than they appear. And while Nicole has worked hard to overcome her situation, Dylan is still in the midst of struggling with his mother’s addictions and the people that want to drag him back, over and over again, into a world of dependence, denial and heartbreak.

In Nicole, Dylan finds a kindred spirit. In a crazy world full of people that want a piece of him for their own purposes, Nicole just wants his heart. But as they fall deeper in love with one another, Dylan’s secrets and his failure to understand the co-dependent role he is playing in his mother’s addictions threaten to destroy them.

Mine for Now reached and out grabbed me and pulled me in. The characters were tender and sweet, and each was strong in their own right. The attraction that Nicole and Dylan felt was palpable and the love they shared was romantic and full of need. For a new adult book where they were just out of high school, the characters were surprisingly mature. As I found myself frustrated by their actions at times, I had to keep reminding myself that these were essentially kids that had found themselves thrust into the role of being an adult earlier than they needed to be. The responsibilities they shouldered and the life they had experienced up to this point caused them to make decisions that were not always the best, but where what they felt they needed to do. Their motives were always pure and their intentions never cruel or petty. I wanted Dylan to work through his issues with his mother and ex-girlfriend so that he could focus on himself and on Nicole, rather than on people who were pulling him down. And I cheered for Nicole to give Dylan the support he needed to make the right decisions in his own time.

Mine for Now was not a light book. At times I wanted to reach in and smack these characters that frustrated the crap out of me. It was infuriating and full of angst. But it was also a love story full of passion and forgiveness, and a book not to be missed.

Review copy provided for an honest review.

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars


About the book: Release Date October 4, 2016

The pull of wild love is irresistible.

She’s had enough drama in her life.

Nicole O’Donnell is more than ready for the fresh start college offers. After a lifetime of trying to help her alcoholic mom and ex-boyfriend get sober, she’s finally learned her lesson: people don’t change. They certainly don’t change for her.

He can never leave his drama behind.

Thanks to his mom’s substance abuse issues, Dylan McCaffrey’s persona non grata in his hometown of Gun Powder, Colorado. So when he scores a free ride to the top university in the country, he’s determined to make something of this fresh start. But his mom has always relied on him, and she’s not handling his absence well at all. If he can just keep up his grades, pay her bills, and come home every break, he might be able to pull off this opportunity.

True love won’t be denied.

No matter how determined they are to steer clear of each other, their combustible connection explodes, especially when Nicole offers Dylan the one thing he can’t bear—hope. Once he has a taste of it—and the irresistible force of her—there’s no going back.

But when he falls too deeply, when he loses sight of his priorities, he might just lose it all.

•••••••••

REVIEW: MINE FOR NOW is the first installment in Erika Kelly’s contemporary, new adult WILD LOVE erotic, romance series focusing on the O’Donnell siblings. This is eighteen year old college students Nicole O’Donnell, and Dylan McCaffrey’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Nicole and Dylan) MINE FOR NOW follows the building romance between college students Nicole O’Donnell, and Dylan McCaffrey. When her roommate Caroline Thayer goes ballistic, Nicole finds herself sleeping across the hall in Dylan McCaffrey’s room, and along with his roommate James, they discover that the trio has quite a bit in common. But when Dylan’s addicted and alcohol dependent mother shows up at school, Dylan is forced to look for a new place to live, and Nicole and James go along for the ride. As Dylan and Nicole’s relationship begins to grow, Dylan’s co-dependent relationship with his mother begins to affect his life at school and his relationship with Nicole.

MINE FOR NOW is a story about addiction, co-dependency, toxic relationships, betrayal and loss. Dylan and Nicole come from families with a history of addiction, and in this our leading couple are kindred spirits in body and mind. Their earlier years are filled with horrendous neglect and abuse but each has ventured down a different path of acceptance and denial. Dylan is unable to walk away whereas Nicole has pushed her past behind her.

The relationship between Nicole and Dylan is fraught with a lack of communication and mistrust. Dylan keeps secret much of his past including a former girlfriend who is in constant connection with our story line hero. Nicole’s path towards a future includes a professor who inadvertently pushes our heroine a little too far, and she is worried about acceptance into a specialized program.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including many college students but especially James, Caroline and Sydney. We are introduced to Nicole’s supporting and loving family-father Bill, and brothers Brandon and Ryan. Dylan’s Uncle Zach is his rock and support system; while Dylan’s ex girlfriend Kelsi and his addicted mother are destroying Dylan’s life.

MINE FOR NOW is a story about one man’s emotionally destructive relationship with his addicted mother. Dylan is unable to walk away and his need to protect his mother is harmful and enabling, and affecting his relationship with the woman he loves. The premise is heartbreaking and emotional; the characters are broken, charismatic and animated; the romance is a struggle between two people caught in a world of addiction and pain. MINE FOR NOW looks at a classic scenario of co-dependency, enabling and addiction that is destructive for everyone involved.

Copy supplied for review

www.thereadingcafe.com

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dylan is the perfect guy. Handsome, super smart, a natural leader. It's just that he's messed up. Messed up by spending his life as the co-dependent, care-taker child of an addict mother. He never expected to find his perfect match, but he does. Nicole's had a similar early upbringing but is now full of sunshine and light. Trouble is, Dylan's not ready to give up the responsibility and guilt he feels regarding his mother, even though she's ruining his big chance at the life--and the woman--he wants

Erika Kelly is such a fine writer. I immediately connected with Nicole and Dylan. Kelly delved deep into these characters, completely exposing them in the end. Letting the reader see and understand the personal dynamics that shape Dylan and Nicole. It takes a lot of soul searching and work to get to Dylan's happy ending, and when it happens, it's sweet.

Be aware this book is steamy hot with lots of sex. The genre is new adult.

[Paula White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gifted a copy for an honest review.

I couldn't put this down (well, apart from when I was working but I didn't want to!). The h Nicole was feisty and had a great attitude to life and knew what she wanted. There was an instant connection between her and Dylan - and I loved how that played out.
Now Dylan, he was the type of character that you wanted to reach in your Kindle and slap upside the head! He was great to Nicole - supportive, loving and not so great - he ran A LOT. He was stuck in the past and what he considered his responsibilities - people tried to guide him, show him the light - but it took a while for him to wake up and realise what he needed to do for HIM.

I loved the ending but would have loved more between Dylan seeing the light and their graduation.

I would recommend this book.

[Heather Pollock · Rating 4 out of 5]

#review @ErikaKellyBooks







QueenZany 4 Star Review

Mine for Now
Erika Kelly


“Mine for Now” is wonderfully heart stopping train ride!
That Dylan and Nicole lead us on a story of young love. With all the trials of trust, growth and their past demons. Can they be overcome them? Is it truly fate?
You can't help but be swept away by this fascinating, engaging and powerfully magnetic love story. It’s just love!!!


"I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher" is sufficient for your disclaimer.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best romance novels pull readers in, make each turn of the page another moment in their own lives. With this first installment in the Wild Love series I found myself quickly immersed and captivated by the pain of living with an addict and the years of fallout addicts leave in their wake. It's a powerful story full of anger and frustration but it's ultimately an uplifting one full of steamy encounters and supportive friends and family. It's a story that lays the groundwork for even more insightful and gut-wrenching tales that I look forward to experiencing in the future.

Dylan McCaffrey's life growing up in a small town was one of embarrassment, desolation, and hopelessness due to his mother's addictions. He felt like trash, continually struggling yet never getting a good outcome, which drew him to people equally as lost which kept him in a vicious cycle of negativity. His mother's behavior tainted him in many ways both mentally and physically, leaving him torn between wanting to run towards the future yet stuck in the past out of guilt and misguided loyalty. Dylan knows that life in his small town will lead to nothing so he jumps at the chance to go to college with a full ride. It's an opportunity to start anew, to make a future for himself, if only he's strong enough to break from the anchor of his past. Not only does college offer him a chance for a different future it also introduces him to Nicole O'Donnell who will greatly change his life and how he sees himself as their burgeoning relationship takes readers on a heartbreaking journey from the first page to the last. Dylan's a character easy to relate to and I found bits of myself in his personality as I'm the sister of an addict. His feelings of accountability towards his mother are understandable but oh so frustrating. His fears for her weighed on him as he did everything in his power to keep her safe and this was achingly felt by readers as well. He was clearly on edge every moment except when in Nicole's arms. With her he could be free, surrounded by goodness and purity, despite feeling unworthy of it. His conflicted feelings led to a lot of emotional highs and lows and hurt feelings that made me want to slug him as well as hug him for trying to be a good son. The cycle he went through to reach the story's immensely satisfying conclusion was a realistic journey that got ugly at times but ultimately showed the power of love winning out.

Nicole had a traumatic childhood too, living with an alcoholic mother who neglected her in many ways that have all left their mark yet today. Months of going hungry and eating spoiled foods during that time have led to raw food issues that might put her dream of culinary change in jeopardy now. Her mother choosing alcohol over her daughter, along with an ex-boyfriend doing the same, have her feeling unworthy of love and full of self-doubt over the feelings the complex new boy in college engenders in her as well. Her and Dylan are combustible from the moment they meet, the same in many ways because of their painful pasts yet vastly different in their outlook on life. While Dylan's still mired in his past she's moved on out of self-preservation. These differences cause turmoil in their relationship and frustration for the reader as she pushes him to accept the truth about his mother while struggling with her own insecurities. In the bedroom though, they totally click in numerous scorching encounters that show him desperate to forget everything but her and her desperate to give him peace and proof that he's worthy of happiness. Nicole's an admirable heroine who rose above her painful past. She's wise beyond her years but with tender feelings easily hurt when Dylan's manipulative ex interrupts their burgeoning relationship. Her constant mistrust of Dylan, amidst her involvement with her own ex, felt a bit hypocritical too but added a bit of realism to the depiction of the lives of these compelling New Adults.

From start to finish I found myself caught up in the quagmire of Dylan's life and desperate to show him the truth regarding his mother's manipulations as I've been there myself. His actions frustrated me early on but ultimately led him to the truth and a powerful and cheer-inducing conclusion. He was an immensely appealing hero, a bit bruised, but super sexy and sweet in his all-consuming love for Nicole. Nicole was a breath of fresh air with her kind heart and positive outlook, a supportive friend and caring girlfriend who wanted only the best for Dylan. They're a memorable couple, with interactions that were sensual and emotionally intense, carrying the scars of their pasts into a future I look forward to glimpsing as this series continues. Surrounding this compelling couple is an equally entertaining cast of secondary characters that I long to learn more about as they all have hidden pains. From their gay friend James who's had indulgence issues in his own past along with relationship issues of his own, to Nicole's overachieving brothers and friend Gina whose actions are becoming increasingly worrisome, these characters caught my attention and haven't let go yet. From the very first page Ms. Kelly has crafted an unforgettable read that pulls no punches when it comes to dealing with addiction, and those surrounding the addict, and I look forward to more of her insightful storytelling in the future!

[2OCC Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gemma's Review

Mine For Now was a collage romance about two students that are struggling to overcome their past. This is the first book I have read by Erika Kelly and I really enjoyed her writing style. This story took me a while to get into and I was glad that I stuck to it because I loved the ending of the story. Throughout most of the book I was annoyed at the main male character Dylan because he seemed to always go into circle and leading the other main character Nicole on. However, when it got further in the book, we were given more of an insight into Dylan’s life and it gave me more of an understanding of him. But that didn’t mean I still didn’t yell at him for the way he treated Nicole though. I love Nicole and the way that she deals with everything. She is an incredible strong character and she doesn’t give up where times get tough for her. I could not stand Dylan’s ex girlfriend Kelsi and the ways that she tried to sabotage Dylans education and relationship with Nicole.

I did enjoy the relationship between the two characters and felt that they were perfect for each other. I loved the way that Nicole and her family tried to help Dylan with his struggles. I really enjoyed Nicole’s family and can’t wait to read more in the series.



Jessica's Review

This was one of those books that really seemed to hit home. I wasn't really sure what I was getting into, because I pretty much went in blind, but it was a beautiful new adult romance that deals with heavy subjects.

Dylan was the type of young man who needed to learn who he was. It wasn't that he didn't know, it just felt that he didn't love himselfx I totally saw where he was coming from and I was rooting for him through out the whole book. He kept him self secretive and I liked that aspect.

Nicole was strange. She had her own personal deamons but I love that she didn't let her past with her mother define her like Dylan did. Her family was a great addition to the story along with the first she makes at college.

The plot was semi heavy. It deals with addition and I personally, having dealt with addiction in my family, felt that she did an amazing job. Both characters have dealt with it, and the author showed two ways to overcome it. Yes, the characters them selves were the addicts, but they show what can happen to family's, and I loved it. She didn't shy away from the harsh realities of it.

My biggest issue is the end went to fast. Things seemed too unresolved for my taste. I want to say I get why the author did it that way, and maybe in the next book (Nicole's brother) we will get more closure, but I'm not sure.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. The dialogue was spunky, and flowed amazingly, the plot was unique and kept me intrigued, and the characters while at a very young age, they were so much more mature for their 18 years. I do plan on reading the next book to see what the author has in store for some of the other characters. 4 stars #2OCCJD

[Reading In Pajamas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: MINE FOR NOW (Wild Love Book 1) by Erika Kelly http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-6Fc
Publication Date: October 4, 2016
Genre: New Adult Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 4.5 Stars

I just love anything Erika Kelly writes and Mine for Now was no exception. I fell in love with Dylan and Nicole was just so much fun. Mine for Now is the first book in Erika Kelly's new adult romance series, the Wild Love Series. While reading it I laughed, I cried, I shook my Kindle and yelled at the characters like they could hear me, and I loved every minute of it. I was an emotional mess reading this one but when I closed the book I was smiling. Erika Kelly has a writing style that draws the reader into the story and I always feel like I'm friends with the heroines and in love with the heroes by the end of her books. Mine for Now was just a great love story that had smoking hot romance, an emotional storyline and great characters. I'm hooked on her new series now and I can't wait to get my greedy little hands on the next book. I highly recommend this new series and if you haven't read Erika Kelly's Rock Star Romance Series you should pick those up too. They're addicting!

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

~*~*~*~

Kindle | iBooks | Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads
~*~*~*~

Check out Erika Kelly's Rock Star Romance Series! 

✦Rock Star Romance Series by Erika Kelly✦
✦1. You Really Got Me ➢ Review 5 Stars | Kindle
✦2. I Want You To Want Me ➢ Review 5 Stars | Kindle
✦3. Take Me Home Tonight ➢ Review 5 Stars | Kindle

~*~*~*~

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in return for my honest review.

This was a very good book. Erika Kelly has written a emotional and at times raw book that's seamlessly weaves in romance, love, hate, passion, desperation, frustration and above all hope.

The main character Nicole and Dylan have both had shocking childhoods, Nicole manages to move on from hers however Dylan hasn't had it quite so easy.

Determined to care for his drug abusing, manipulating mother, Dylan has too choose between sacrificing his future and Nicole or his Mum.

Nicole and Dylan's were both written very well and I really felt like I was pulled into their world and connected with the characters. I thought that Dylan's mum was written particularly well and didn't shy away from the difficult topics. I really like James as a character and would like to read more about him.

All in all a great book and I will read more from this author.

[rove · Rating 3 out of 5]

The starting was so good and I was expecting more from this novel but got dissappointed. I've noticed in Erika Kelly's novels the male lead is surrounded by girls and the female lead is pining for him. Why dont they get the same attention !!! Well aside from that Nicole is always saying that she wants a complete relationship but doesn't show that in her actions as at 50 percent of this story Dylan always use her and left her stranded on her own. As always the hero made mistakes and realised it late, apologised and the desperate heroine stalls for some time and forgave him. Wow what a new concept!!!! And last but not the least what a family of Nicole and her idiotic brothers, as the basic thing they should've done is take care of their sister but actually they didn't know how to act towards her!!! Lame excuses.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! Everything about this book was incredible. The writing was so real and the topics in this book were relatable to anyone who has lived with someone with a substance abuse issue. I adored Nicole and her attitude, she really just plowed forward no matter what was thrown at her. She had a undeniable strength to her!! I loved Dylan also, even though he was in his head way to much for me. I still think he should of opened his eyes and, was happy when he finally did. I loved the supporting characters also. James & Gina were awesome and, I can't wait to see if Gina & Brandon get a book too. This was my first book by this author, but will not be my last.

I was gifted a copy of this book for a honest review and I truly enjoyed every single page of this book!!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rounded up to be generous. The characters were a bit too much for me. I wanted to shake the hero and tell him your mom is a grown ass woman. If she chosen to drag her down the toilet you can walk away. I know this easier said than done because at the end of day he loves his mom. Felt this guy really needed a therapist not a girlfriend. I just couldn't connect to these characters. It might be a case it's not you it's me. I will be reading more from this series.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole and Dylan's story was a really heavy one, especially for a pair of college freshmen. Dylan put up with absolutely shocking behavior from his addict mom, taking on incredible responsibility and guilt to keep her happy. Addicts disappoint their families over and over again, and the book got somewhat repetitive and ran in circles without much character development for a good while, but many lessons were learned and the two leads acted mature beyond their years as the book drew to an end. For the most part, it held my interest, but is not something I would want to read too often.

[Kenzie Macallan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me by surprise. Erika Kelly is a gifted writer. She makes you live and breathe her characters, Dylan and Nicole. They deal with heavy issues from their childhood that continues into young adulthood. You feel the connection between them and the difficult choices they have to make to survive. I can't wait to read another novel by Erika.

[Julie Morganti · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Had potential but could hook my interest. First 3 chapters were tedious and boring, they just seemed to drag on with large sections being mundane and pointless. Disappointing, Erika Kelly books are some of my favorite, especially her calamity falls series - but this book is much different since it's young adult genre, so maybe that's the issue. Did not finish.

[Lula Pantoofle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was quite angsty. Dylan is a troubled soul, having to look after his alcoholic mum. Nicole also knows what living with an alcoholic parent is like so this draws them together. It's a sweet tale but quite heavy. I didn't get a huge sense of college life but I still enjoyed it.

[H Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story! Loved the characters and the writing was very good! Cannot wait to read more from this author!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really, really good. I will admit that I don't usually read “new adult” books because I often can't identify with the immaturity of the characters, but I am so glad that I read this one.

Although I ended up liking him, because Ms. Kelly wrote such a realistic book with realistic characters, I reallllly struggled with some – okay, a lot – of Dylan's behaviors. BUT, every time that I wanted to smack him, I reminded myself that eighteen year olds who grow up in impossibly toxic situations can't be expected to think logically. He made a lot of bad decisions, but up until that point his life had been one bad decision after another. It takes time to break a vicious cycle like that. Nicole gave him a reason, he just needed to find the courage.

The main characters in this book weren't the usual spoiled, entitled twenty somethings that tend to appear in this 'subgenre'; they were hardworking kids who grew up in awful situations, and wanted to make a better life for themselves. This book also deals with some really important subjects which include addiction, toxic relationships, co-dependency, and child neglect. These are the kinds of topics that are usually a poorly constructed background themes for the sake of drama in 'romance' novels, but they are dealt with so well in this book that I honestly wasn't sure how this book was going to end.

The side characters were also very interesting. Although I didn't like Dylan's family or friends (not at all shocking) or Nicole's 'best friend' Gina (who didn't seem like much of a friend at all), I liked their roommates and I *adored* James. I also liked Nicole's father and brothers, so I was glad to find out that the second book will be about Ryan.

If you like a book that will break your heart repeatedly for the characters, but will make you sigh happily at the end, you should definitely read this book. I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series.

I won a copy of this book in a giveaway and was under absolutely no obligation to write this review. I wrote it because I enjoyed the book.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

FIVE STARS
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Mkne For Now by Erika Kelly was absolutely amazing and grabbed my attention right from the beginning!!

[Marika · Rating 1 out of 5]

⛔️(in notes)

[Mollien Fote Osterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Mine for Now
Series: Wild Love Book 1
Author: Erika Kelly
Publisher: EK Publishing, LLC
Reviewer: Mollien
Release Date: October 4, 2016
Genre(s): College Romance
Pages: 324 pages
Heat Level: # 3 flames out of 5
Story Rating: # 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

From the award-winning author of the Rock Star Romance books comes a sizzling new series about the O’Donnell siblings. The pull of wild love is irresistible.

She’s had enough drama in her life.

Nicole O’Donnell is more than ready for the fresh start college offers. After a lifetime of trying to help her alcoholic mom and ex-boyfriend get sober, she’s finally learned her lesson: people don’t change. They certainly don’t change for her.

He can never leave his drama behind.

Thanks to his mom’s substance abuse issues, Dylan McCaffrey’s persona non grata in his hometown of Gun Powder, Colorado. So when he scores a free ride to the top university in the country, he’s determined to make something of this fresh start. But his mom has always relied on him, and she’s not handling his absence well at all. If he can just keep up his grades, pay her bills, and come home every break, he might be able to pull off this opportunity.

True love won’t be denied.

No matter how determined they are to steer clear of each other, their combustible connection explodes, especially when Nicole offers Dylan the one thing he can’t bear—hope. Once he has a taste of it—and the irresistible force of her—there’s no going back.

But when he falls too deeply, when he loses sight of his priorities, he might just lose it all.

Review:
This is the first book of the Wild Love series. A series about the O’Donnell siblings. This is the story of the youngest of the O’Donnell’s and the only sister. I enjoyed the story, but I felt that it dragged a little in spots and at other times the story was trying to make up for lost time by jumping from one situation to the next without really finishing the first situation. I did like the thought provoking plot. Neither Dylan nor Nicole began college planning to get involved with someone. “No Drama.” “No Ties.” All good intentions until Dylan and Nicole ended up sleeping in the same bed in the Scholars Dorm Building. With Dylan’s need to take care of Nicole and his desire to claim her as his own his resolve to keep to himself slowly gets chipped away until problems from home follow him across the country. Both Dylan and Nicole are children of alcoholic parents. They both have their issues that keep getting in the way. The chemistry between these two is hot, and they can’t seem to keep away from one another. I did not like the pacing of this story. I thought the ending was well worth reading this book to the conclusion. The author does a great job of letting us see all the good and bad parts of these characters. Overall I recommend this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
SCORES on a scale of 1-5 Stars rate each of the Following 5
Categories
PLOT: 5 Stars
CHEMISTRY: 5 Stars
PACING: 3 Stars
ENDING: 5 Stars
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5 Stars




Review Copy of Mine for Now provided by the EK Publishing, LLC for an honest Review. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club

[Michelle Brace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erika Kelly sure knows how to give you a story that will captivate you just by the wording. This is my first book by Erika and all I can think is WOW, AMAZING, and what did I just read. This book had me pulled in multiple different directions. This is a story about love, loyalty, trust, and friendship.

Dylan and Nicole are perfectly imperfect together. Dylan has family issues and tries to escape them by going to college on the opposite end of the country. Nicole has her own issues but when Dylan meets her hes intrigued by not only her beauty but the personality she has. Dylan sees himself as trailer trash because that is what he has always been called. Nicole having had a somewhat similar background to Dylan the only difference is she doesn't let it define her the way he has.

Can Dylan make the right choices, will he do what needs to be done for him and Nicole or will he end up destroying it all like hes always done?

I can for sure see myself reading more of Erika Kelly's books after this one.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of you may be familiar with Erika Kelly because of her Rock Star Romance series. It's how I discovered this author and fell in love with her writing and characters. Mine For Now was a little different from what I've come to expect from Erika. Make no mistake - the heat and the heart are most definitely still there. I was just unprepared for how many times my heart broke for both of the main characters - how many times I was brought to tears because of their situations. Turns out, Erika Kelly is a master at bringing out some serious feels.

Nicole O'Donnell is an absolutely incredible heroine. She is unbelievably strong and determined and loyal. She went through some horrible times when living with her alcoholic mother and dating an alcoholic boyfriend. She's decided she's done with that and is ready to focus on herself and her future. Rock on, Nicole! She didn't want the distraction of a boyfriend, but seriously. How could she resist Dylan McCaffrey, the boy who lives across the hall?

Dylan is also strong, determined and loyal, but unlike Nicole, he's being pulled in so many different directions because he hasn't yet reached the place where he makes himself his number one priority. He's a protector and a caretaker, so he feels the need to put his own desires to the side in order to make sure those he loves are well cared for. It's extra hard when his mother is a raging alcoholic and his ex is a manipulative witch. Nicole is everything he wants for his future, but his past keeps sucking him back, and Dylan has no idea how to break free of the cycle.

Nicole has the gift of experience. She already has broken the cycle, and as she gets to know Dylan she sees what his perceived obligation to his mother is doing to him. She knows what it's doing to her - it's preventing her from being with Dylan wholly and completely. And he is what she wants more than anything. So she tries and tries and tries to help him. But, the overarching theme of Mine For Now is that in order for help to come to you, you have to be ready to receive it freely. Dylan is poised in a place in his life to have everything he's ever wanted. But, he has to take it.

"Every single one of us is in the exact same place - the starting point. And you get to build from here. You get to decide what and who you become. This is the one time in your life when you can finally break free of all the labels. Dylan, you can be whatever you want. Starting now."

Dylan broke my heart over and over again. This poor boy is on the cusp of everything. He's 18, a freshman in college on a full ride scholarship, free from his white trash neighborhood, and has met the girl of his dreams. I waffled back and forth constantly between wanting to shake some sense into him and wanting to tackle hug him. He has all these things going for him, and yet, he constantly allows his past and the toxic people in his life to get in the way. And in doing so, he hurts Nicole. Seriously, this book killed me in all the best ways.

Even though this book is technically new adult, as our main characters are only 18, it is crazy hot. The sexual tension simmers for awhile between Dylan and Nicole, and when it finally explodes, it's so, so satisfying.

Mine For Now was an incredible start to this new series, and I can't wait to read more.

[Krissy's Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mine For Now is a crazy book-ride of emotions and I enjoyed every second of it.

Our BBF, Dylan, is a hot mess with a mother whose an even hotter mess than he is. My heart broke for him and his impossible situation with his family. He's doing everything he can to make a better life for himself but his mother stands in his way at every turn. Now that he's enrolled in a college on the other side of the country, she's desperately trying to get her son to come home and take care of her. (When it should be the other way around.)

Nicole is a super fun character who marches to the beat of her own drum. She has a huge heart and has no problem standing up for what's right. When the story begins, she's having a hilarious disagreement with her awful roommate and Dylan comes to her rescue. She stays the night in Dylan's room (and his bed) but nothing happens.

Dylan's roommate, James, is a handsome music major and super easy going. (A big contrast to the mean girl Nicole has been paired with.) :P

The three of them become fast friends and after an epic scene involving Dylan's mom, they move together into a new house.

Despite warnings to stay away from Dylan, Nicole starts to fall for him and things become a bit complicated within the house. Dylan is having a hard time adjusting to his life away from home and old habits threaten to return. He finds comfort in Nicole but still keeps her at arms length.

Nicole has been through quite a bit herself. Her past is almost as tragic as Dylan's but she's a super strong woman and can see the good in almost everything.

This was a great read. I flew through the chapters and loved the story. The elements of alcoholism, cooking, love, and friendship throughout this book made it a roller coaster of emotions to read but so worth it.

I give Mine For Now 5 out of 5 Krissy's Stars!

I can't wait to read more of this series!

Xo- K

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting away from Gun Powder, CO, and all the drama there is the best thing that Dylan McCaffrey could have done. It's his chance to do things differently, to make something of himself. Meeting Nicole O'Donnell is an unexpected bonus, and the breath of fresh air that Dylan so desperately needs. But there are those back home that aren't as happy for Dylan's success, and that will do anything and everything to draw him back in.

I was excited to read MINE FOR NOW by author Erika Kelly since I'd liked her Rock Star Romance series so much. And, I did like this book, although it was very different from her other books.

While I understood Dylan's dilemma regarding his relationship with his mother, with Kelsi, and with all that his home of Gunpowder, CO, represented, I got impatient with his constant decision to go back, rather than moving forward. But that's the role of the co-dependent, and maybe I'm only now realizing that Erika has done a good job of writing a flawed character that wants to change, that wants a different outcome for his life more than he can say, but just doesn't know how to get it. He doesn't think that he deserves his life in New York, his relationship with Nicole, to make something more of himself than staying in Colorado and caring for his mother will allow. And, until he does, until he admits that he can't control his mother and his decisions, he's not going to change, either. Like many co-dependent people, Dylan is really the one standing in his own way, unable to see that his worth has nothing to do with the choices that his mother makes, that his past does not define him.

"But you're not...You're not poor, you're not working class, you're not middle class, you're not anything. Your parents might be, but you're just a college kid. Just like the rest of us...And you get to build from here. You get to decide what and who you become. This is the one time in your life when you can finally break free of all the labels. Dylan, you can be whatever you want. Starting now."

I sometimes have a hard time connecting to the characters in a New Adult read, but I really do enjoy Erika's writing. In MINE FOR NOW, she's created characters that, though young, and so dealing with all of the angst of those years, are still interesting in that they have been formed by pasts that will either leave them stronger or continue to create a vacuum where they cannot move on. Ultimately, this is a story of strength, of pushing past obstacles that appeared to be immoveable, and coming through, whole and healthy, on the other side. This is a solid 4-star read for me, and I'm looking forward to reading MINE FOR A WEEK, the next book in Erika's new series.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

[Amy Neighbors Senethavilay · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You gonna be my champion?”
“If it means I get to wear a cape, then yeah.”

Mine for Now is a well-crafted and emotional coming of age romance in which Erika Kelly masterfully weaves together two very flawed and damaged characters whose individual pasts play a part in defining the present. As young adults finding their way, both Nicole and Dylan are struggling with a similar situation, but their approaches differ greatly. While one wants to let go and move forward, the other struggles with where loyalties should lie.

Nicole O’Donnell has found a new start as a freshman in college. She is ready to accept the past she was dealt and determined to rise above it; she is ready to grab life by the horns and make something of herself. She knows the demons of the past are lurking, but she wants to move forward and prove she can make her dreams come true. So knowing that she cannot change her mother and her addiction, Nicole has walked away and decided to focus on what she can control—her choices and her education. But when she meets Dylan McCaffrey, a boy with his own demons, Nicole must also decide how hard to hold on to love or whether it is better to hold on to one’s self.

Dylan McCaffrey is a young man who has lived his life caring for his alcoholic mother. Every decision he has made has been about how to care for her. So when he decided to make a decision for himself and go away to college, he struggles with whether he had done the right thing, especially when his mother continues to challenge his own dreams and desires. And now that he has met Nicole, a woman who makes him think and feel more than he ever thought possible, he struggles with how to balance the needs of his mother with the desires of the heart. Besides, how can bringing someone into his crazy life be a loving act?

Mine for Now is a powerful story filled with beautiful, damaged, and strong characters who must navigate the ugly reality of the world to determine their own grit. I was extremely impressed with Nicole, the heroine of the story, and how Erika Kelly crafted a lovable and strong woman who never gave up but, instead, dug deeper to rise above. She understood that she needed to hold to her convictions and not settle for less than what was right—especially when it came to love and life. What an amazing example to all! And Dylan? While he struggled with his heart and head, the transformation of his growth as a man and the caring and compassionate nature he shared was heartwarming and fulfilling. Mine for Now has quickly found its place in one of my top reads for 2016!