We are excited to celebrate the release of LENNON REBORN, the final instalment in Scarlett Cole’s Preload series!

Join us for reviews and excerpts plus enter to win a complete series set of signed paperbacks!

 

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Synopsis

Lennon McCartney is not a broken man. Because being broken implies being whole once. When a horrific accident deprives him of the one thing he loves—his talent as a fierce and explosive drummer—Lennon is left with a life chained by an abusive mother, by crushing guilt over a tragic past. A life he doesn’t want.

Dr. Georgia Starr is a legend. She’s one of the most successful neurosurgeons in the world, coming from a long-line of respected New York doctors. Her life is built around solving complex medical cases in order to bring relief and hope to sick children. But the one problem she can’t solve is how to live her life. How to shake loose the burden of being her elitist, arrogant father’s daughter. How to be free.

Can a man who despises his life and a woman who desperately needs to live find the answers, and love, with each other?

 

 

 

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Review

Beautiful! Love all the feels. Lennon owns my heart!

4.5 stars

The final book in the Preload series, and Scarlett Cole has given us another heartwrenchingly emotional story, this time featuring Preload drummer, Lennon. We were given a glimpse of his story in the last book of the series, and I have been desperate to get my hands on this book, and it didn’t disappoint. Tragically heartbreaking, wonderfully uplifting and beautifully romantic, this book was everything I was hoping it would be, and I loved it!

Lennon considers himself the outsider to the Preload boys. He grew up in the same group home with them, he has ridden the wave of success with them, and been with them through the ups and downs of them each finding love, family and happiness. But that only makes him feel more alone. And knowing that his place within the group came at a great price, he lives with guilt and the fear of rejection hanging over him.

Dr Georgia Starr is a gifted Neurosurgeon. From a family of Neurosurgeons, she has worked hard to get where she is, but it never seems to be enough for her demanding father. She has spent years searching for his approval and love, but hasn’t received either, and her life is her work, with little time for anything else.

It is a tragic circumstance that brings Lennon and Georgia together, but the intensity of their meeting changes both of them in ways neither of them saw coming.

Holy damn, I knew this book was going to be intense, but wow! Cole took this story in a direction I didn’t see coming, and Lennon’s life is changed forever, leaving him broken and completely lost. Desperate to help the man that she is so undeniably attracted to, Georgia pushes her way into his life, being his support and his shoulder to lean on. And though Lennon is dealing with new challenges and feelings he has never experienced before, the struggles that he has been dealing with his whole life are still very much a part of him, creating a clusterfuck of emotion that he has no idea how to deal with.

Come back.
Don’t go.
I get that I’m a fuck-up.
You should leave.
Go.
Before I bring you down with me.
I promise I’ll take care of you like you take care of me.
Just be here with me.
Let me be enough.
For fucking once, let me be enough.

Oh, how my heart ached for this poor, lost man. All of the Preload boys have had a hellish upbringing, but as the full extent of what Lennon has been through is revealed, I raged at the unfairness of it all, of the horror that he has been living with, and I wanted to hug him so bad! But Georgia is there by his side, not willing to let him go, and from tragedy and heartaching despair, something beautiful begins to grow.

“Take care of me,” he whispered against her neck. “I’m lost, Gia.”

This is such a beautiful romance. I could feel the attraction between them, and their feelings develop beautifully and realistically. But the thing that stood out for me about these two was their honesty. They hold nothing back from each other. They talk about what they are feeling, about the difficulties they are facing, and about what it is they want from each other, and I freaking loved it! Lennon has issues connecting with people, and Georgia hasn’t experienced love before, so watching them be so open with each other as they find their way forward was something so, so special, and I loved watching it all unfold for them.

“You aren’t making my life harder. I’m a fucking mess. I’ve always been. But this…you and me,” he said, gesturing between the two of them. He shook his head. “Honestly, you’re a fucking rainbow in my gray sky. You’re the only bit of color I have. And I don’t know what to do about that.”

Lennon’s journey through this book is so well written. With all that he has been through, and continues to deal with, I could completely understand him hitting rock bottom. Him opening up to Georgia takes such amazing strength, and the way he was able to admit his vulnerabilities and open up his heart was amazing and beautiful to see. And Georgia freaking rocked my world. She is such a strong heroine, and I love how she had Lennon’s back. She was there for him through every moment, even when he tried to push her away, and her strength and openness with him was just fantastic.

“I have no idea how things are going to turn out. But I’m here for you, and I’ll pick you up a thousand times over if that’s what is required to get you through this.

And just as gorgeous was Lennon’s relationship with the Preload boys. These guys are closer than brothers. They have each other’s backs unquestionably, and as much as I love their camaraderie and joking around, when they get serious with each other, it’s heart-clenchingly beautiful.

“I know what it feels like to feel like there’s no way out. However dark and small that fucking tunnel feels like right now, I promise you that the light at the end of it is going to blind the fucking shit out of you. Let it, brother, because when it does, it’s a thing of beauty.”

But even with all of the drama and emotion, there are still moments of lightness. Lennon and Georgia laugh and tease, there are lots of sweet times, and of course the sexy time is hot and steamy with a healthy dose of dirty talk. The Preload family also bring some laughs with their antics, and it all works together to provide a wonderful balance with the intensity of the rest of the story.

“I don’t know that I can deal with sincere Lennon,” Nik said. “It’s fucking weird.”

I loved this book. It’s not an easy journey for Lennon and Georgia, but I loved watching them both take on all of those challenges and find their way forward together

“I’m begging you to keep hold of me. To not let me go. I’m not that man anymore, I promise, but I’m not who I’m meant to be yet either. I want to go on that journey of discovering who I am with you.” Lennon pressed his lips to hers. “I’m a better man with you than I ever was before. Let me prove to you that all this will be worth it.”

Swoooooooooooooon!!!

This was a wonderful end to the series, with an epilogue that gives us a little glimpse into the future and finishes everything off beautifully. Having said that, though, I would love any opportunity to read about these boys again!

Loved it. 4.5 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

The Preload series

 

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Excerpt

LENNON REBORN Excerpt
Copyright © 2018 Scarlett Cole

Georgia ripped off her coat and tucked it around the man of the floor. The air was sharp against her skin. Without
thinking, she used her hand to move the stray hairs from across his face, and the man gasped. She checked his pulse
and could tell the blood loss was getting dangerous.
“What’s your name?” she asked as she shone her light in his eyes. The tightness in her gut relaxed a little when they
responded as they should.
The man hissed in a breath. “Lennon.”
“Do you know what day it is?” she asked.
“April . . . fucking . . . Fool’s . . . day.”
“Well, Lennon,” she said calmly, “the paramedics are almost here, and we’ll get you out of here soon.” She reached
for his uninjured hand and squeezed it between hers. There was a spark of static between them, white and powerful.
His life force. The thought was overwhelming.
“Let me go . . .”
She released his clammy hand immediately. “I’m sorry, I was just trying to give you some comfort. I—”
He reached for her hand, gasping. His fingers were large against hers. “No . . . you should . . . let . . . me . . . go.”
His eyes rolled closed.
No! She wouldn’t let him die. She tapped the side of his face until his eyes opened. “Wake up. I am not letting you
go anywhere,” she said, knowing that any semblance of the professionalism to which she usually clung was slipping
away. She believed patients’ stories about tunnels of white light, and seeing loved ones, and auras dimming. And she
knew everyone needed to be allowed to leave if they really felt it was their time. But there was something so
different about Lennon. She could feel his life force vibrate from his hand into hers, as if she taken hold of an
electric fence. The energy was slipping away from him, and she would do anything to put it back in him.
He tugged her down toward him, so his lips could brush against her ear. “I’m . . . tired . . . of my life. Just . . . let me .
. . go.”
His eyes closed, again.
She rested her forehead on his. “Your work here on Earth isn’t done, Lennon,” she said, tears burning her eyes. “And
I am not going to let you go.”

 

 

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Giveaway

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About Scarlett Cole

The tattoo across my right hip says it all really. A Life Less Ordinary. Inked by the amazingly talented Luke Wessman at the Wooster Street Social Club (a.k.a. New York Ink). Why is it important? Well, it sums up my view on life. That we should all aspire to live a life that is less boring, less predictable. Be bold, and do something amazing. I’ve made some crazy choices. I’ve been a car maker, a consultant, and even a senior executive at a large retailer running strategy. Born in England, spent time in the U.S. and Japan, before ending up in Canada were I met my own, personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. Both of us are scorpios! Yeah, I know! Should have checked the astrological signs earlier, but somehow it works for us. We have two amazing kids, who I either could never part with or could easily be convinced to sell on e-bay.

I’ve wanted to be a writer for a really long time. Check through my office cupboards or my computer and you’ll find half written stories and character descriptions everywhere. Now I’m getting the chance to follow that dream.

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