Review & Giveaway ~~ STOP! by Alison G. Bailey
Synopsis
Every life has a different path full of sharp turns, smooth curves, and steep drop offs.
Hollis Murphy has a plan—college, career, boyfriend, love, marriage, family. A predictable, normal life. She’s on track until an outside force causes her to crash and burn. They call it an accident, because that’s the only word they know to explain what happens to her. It helps everyone move on with their lives, except for Hollis. She holds on to the belief that she’s been targeted for a reason.
Risher Stevenson is intelligent, caring, sweet, and the hottest boy Hollis has ever laid eyes on. He fits perfectly into her original plan for a normal life. Everyone loves him.
Benton Daniels is intelligent, caring, sweet, and the bravest boy Hollis has ever met. He doesn’t fit into her life but gives it purpose and makes it extraordinary. Everyone hates him.
One is bullied. One is tormented. All are judged. How will it STOP?
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24847312-stop?from_search=true&search_version=service_impr
Kristine’s 5 Star Review – review added on 7/14/15
I first fell in love with Alison G Bailey with Present Perfect. Noah and Tweet meant so much to me and for the first time I sobbed like a baby and couldnt stop. I knew then that Alison is one author i would always run too. When I read about Stop even before it went live I knew I had to have it! Reading the first page was like being home from the longest trip. I fell right in with comfront and love, this is what reading was all about the rest was history…
Usually in my reviews I have two main characters that I introduce. With this story even though we are looking through the eyes of one character Hollis Murphy..there are other characters which I feel have a major part in this story too. I felt such an emotinal attachment to these characters. Hollis, Risher, Maggie, Abigial, Benton and Chuck. The things these characters had to face and try to conquer are things so many people are affected by everyday. Its unlike any feeling the way Alison brings it out letting us see how it is like.
I loved, loved this story so much! I fell in love again with Hollis and Risher as I did with Noah and Tweet. I got giddy and hysterical with their banter along with swooning festing over Risher i got many looks by people around me. I love that booty boy!
This heartwarming and inspirational story is by far a must read. Every reader must experience this. I have so many things I want to say but can not find the right words. When I love a story as much as I did this its a hard review to write. You could say im stumped to explain this story. With also not giving away what it is about. My gift would to be recommending this with not a single clue on this journey your about to read. The message speaks loud in clear in my head and my heart screams for you to read this. So Stop! And ONE CliCk! I feel its so important for everyone to read this no matter who you are. You will forever remember Hollis’s story! Thank you again Alison for bringing tears and smiles to my face! You have no idea how your words effect the emotions and hearts of us readers.
“The true character of someone is not visible with a brief glance from the naked eye.” ~ Hollis
Nicole’s 4 Star Review
How do you explain a book that is so much more than just words? How do you explain the depths of emotion that have you from start to finish? I’m not really sure, but this is my attempt to explain why I loved Stop! by Alison G. Bailey.
Stop! takes place during that pivotal freshman year of college where re-inventing yourself or finding yourself are finally within reach. Independence is at your fingertips. For Hollis, Risher and Benton, the opportunity to explore themselves and the world around them is critical to their success. Each of them has a physical challenge that they must endure and similar reactions from society that they must rise above. It isn’t easy. All three have insecurities, doubts and fears that are never far from the surface. They come together through a series of events that are tough to imagine and difficult to read.
I realize that I’m being a little too vague here, but I can’t seem to say more without risking spoilers. Just know that the challenges and emotions are real, and that just being witness to them is tough. My emotions ran the gamut from giggles to anger, then disgust and pain. Thank goodness, I read this in a day as taking another day to ride the emotional roller coaster that Alison Bailey created would’ve been too much! Though Stop! is a work of fiction, what happens in it REALLY happens. I think that that is why I loved this book. The story is just a story, but the themes that provide the story’s foundation are so very real. It’s that authenticity that grabs you and makes you stop!!
Buy Links
Amazon US http://amzn.to/1IiAb5D
Amazon UK http://tinyurl.com/om8ebzt
Amazon Canada http://tinyurl.com/qdwedfd
B&N http://tinyurl.com/oqsfada
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/stop!/id1012109152?mt=11
Excerpt
“Name?” she said, impatiently.
I was so flustered that for a second I’d forgotten who I was. “Hollis Murphy.”
She scribbled something on a spreadsheet and handed me a packet with my name and the number two hundred ten typed out on the front sticker, which I assumed was my room number.
In a flat bored voice, she said, “Everything you need to know is in the packet. Should you have any additional questions or needs after reading the information, please ask your RA. Have a productive semester. Next!”
Clutching the envelope to my chest, my gaze shifted back down, and I walked quickly out of the office.
As I turned the corner, a loud deep woot! jerked my attention down the hall. I took one step before crashing full force into something solid and warm. Stumbling back, I dropped the envelope. Once my balance returned, my eyes focused on a gray T-shirt with cut off sleeves, stretched across broad shoulders. When I glanced down in search of my envelope, I couldn’t help but spot the narrow hips and round ass covered in black basketball shorts. As I squatted to pick up the envelope, a tanned forearm came into view. My gaze roamed up to find the arm was covered in bulging muscles.
“Oh god, I’m so . . . sor…ry,” I stammered, my cheeks heating with embarrassment.
“Here ya go,” a deep voice said.
Reaching for the envelope, my gaze inadvertently shot up to the warmest green eyes ever created. His dark brown hair was cut short on the sides, longer on top, and tousled. The perfect amount of scuff peppered his strong jawline, with deep dimples framing a sexy lopsided smile. The air was immediately sucked from my lungs. He wasn’t just hot, he was boy band hot.
A deep chuckle drifted down before I realized he had stood up and was extending his hand to me.
Oh boy! I get to touch him.
I slipped my hand into his and felt an immediate jolt of electricity. The muscles in his arm twitched. He felt it too.
“Thank you,” I said, as he helped me up.
“I’m Risher Stevenson.”
He was actually introducing himself to me.
It had become a habit not to look directly at anyone, especially a stranger. I automatically angled my head down and to the left, to hide the messed-up side of my face. But those green eyes locked me in place.
“Hollis Murphy.”
“Nice to meet you Hollis Murphy.”
“Sorry again about running into you. I need to do a better job at watching where I’m going.”
The tip of his tongue slipped between his lips before they formed into a slight smirk. Just as he was about to speak, his name came barreling down the hallway.
“Rish! Get your ass down here. We’ve got a ton of boxes to haul in.” A blond-haired guy was standing at the end of the hall.
“I gotta go finish helping my friends move in.”
I nodded.
Risher took three steps before turning back toward me. “Don’t do too good of a job.”
My eyebrows squished together in confusion.
“At watching where you’re going. I hate to think I won’t get rump bumped again.”
He winked before jogging away.
I Sasquatched those shoulders, those hips, and that ass all the way down the hall.
Playlist
http://open.spotify.com/user/1244737523/playlist/00lodAPM0R4drzlF2bDJQB
Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card
