New Release Review: Living Out Loud by Staci Hart

Living Out Loud by Staci Hart releases today and is a standalone romance based on Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. I thank the author for the early review copy. This in no way influenced my review and thoughts below.

Living Out Loud (Austen #3) by Staci Hart

Category: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publication: February 1st, 2018
Purchase: Amazon

Bestselling author Staci Hart brings you another installment of the Austen Series, inspired by the works of Jane Austen, with a heartfelt contemporary retelling of Sense and Sensibility.

When Annie Daschle arrives in New York City, the only thing she can control is her list.

Not her father’s death or the loss of her home. Not the hole in her heart or the defective valve that’s dictated so much of her life. But she can put pen to paper to make a list of all the ways she can live out loud, just like her dad would have wanted.

See the city from the top of the Empire State Building: Check.
Eat hot dogs on the steps of The Met: Check.
Get a job at Wasted Words: Check.

What wasn’t on her list: Greg Brandon. And just when she thinks she’s figured out where to put him, everything changes. In the span of a few staggering heartbeats, she finds herself her caught in the middle of something she can’t find her way out of, with no clear answers and no rules.

List or no list, she realizes she can’t control anything at all, not even her heart.

Not the decisions it makes, and not the moment it stops.

 

Review:

[book rating=4/5]

I am one of the few people in the literary world who doesn’t gush over Jane Austen. Don’t judge, don’t hit! Her work has just never been anything I’ve found to be profound.

But the way Staci Hart has retold these tales makes me want to read them again. See them the way she does. Love them the way she does.

After the young and innocent Annie relocates to New York with her family, she finds herself being “courted” by two men. Will and Greg both have positive characteristics, but I think it’s safe to say the majority of readers will lean toward one more than the other. Because THAT guy is selfless—wanting Annie’s happiness and standing by her side no matter what.

Annie decides to “live her life out loud” as well as she can. Nothing insane, just HER. Simple. And Greg stands by her to do just that, even during the roughest times. Their friendship is not always easy, but the best ones never are.

There’s angst and frustration abound in this story. Seriously, at times you’ll be annoyed by decisions and with one character in particular. Things are thankfully resolved in the, ah, correct way…but I would have liked to see a bit more justice (if that’s the proper word here).

Staci Hart has delivered yet another adorable contemporary romance. And with cameos from the past books, her readers will definitely enjoy her latest offering. I’m looking forward to what she does with Elle!

 

Author Bio: Staci Hart

Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life — a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can’t forget that. She’s also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She’s been a wife, though she’s certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She’s also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she’s been drinking whiskey. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

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