Contagious Reads: Review: Dragonfly

Dragonfly (Dragonfly #1)
by Leigh T. Moore
Expected publication: June 6th 2013 by Leigh Talbert Moore

“Gossip Girl meets VC Andrews in this contemporary family saga. Love, lies, and betrayal become the new normal when Anna enters the world of Jack and Lucy Kyser.” –Magan Vernon, international bestselling author of The Only Exception

Anna Sanders expected an anonymous (and uneventful) senior year until she crossed paths with rich-and-sexy Jack Kyser and his twin sister Lucy.

Pulling Anna into their extravagant lifestyle on the Gulf Coast, Lucy pushed her outside her comfort zone and Jack showed her feelings she's never experienced... Until he mysteriously withdrew.

Anna turned to her internship at the city paper and to her old attraction for Julian, a handsome local artist and rising star, for distraction. But both led to her discovery of a decades-old secret closely guarded by the twins' distant, single father.

It's a secret that could cost her the boy she loves and permanently change all their lives.

Be watching UNDERTOW, Book #2 in the Dragonfly series, coming in July!

Synopsis from Goodreads

I'm a fairly new fan of Moore's, having just discovered her book Rouge. It was intriguing enough for me to snatch this book up when I saw it on Netgalley. I wanted to see if Moore was a one-hit wonder, or if she could repeat the heat. And she definitely delivered! Although it doesn't quite live up to Rouge, it definitely has its own appeal, and had my heart going pitter pitter pat.

The book is defined as being Contemporary Romance (AND New Adult), and the first half is what you would expect; heat, tension, passion, swoon-worthy guys. And our MC, Anna. She's smart, funny and modest about it all. She knows what she wants, has her whole life planned, but runs into a snag when she meets Jack. The new boy at school is smart and quiet. He lives in a world apart from hers, but she can feel his mystery drawing her in. Only, her friend Julian doesn't want to see her go.

Before I discuss the romance, I just wanted to establish that I am 100% on Team Julian. Sexy, romantic, and does his own tattoos. He is my kind of man! I just wish Anna could see how amazing he is! Instead, she keeps throwing herself at the selfish, manipulative Jack. I found myself losing respect for Anna because of her blindness. There was heat, certainly, but I firmly believe that women deserve more than that. I have a sneaking suspicion, though, that his motives may not be ALL bad. I guess the sequel will reveal that? And you can be sure that I will be reading it! I need to see if Anna really gives Julian a chance! (Or I'll take him off her hands. Seriously.)

The second half of this book is more unexpected. It takes a break from the romance and turns into a mystery. Picking up the pieces, Anna begins to put two and two together to show a bigger picture. If I needed another reason to pick up the sequel, this would be it. I ended up with more questions than answers. The book didn't end of a cliffhanger, so much as a held breath, mid-thought. I thought for sure there would be another chapter. Some closure would be nice! O_O

Overall, I was instantly pulled down into the story. The writing is well done, the editing impeccable, and the characters are alive enough that I CARE about what choices they make.... even if it's the wrong one. *coughpickJulian*

A copy of this book was provided by Netgalley.