Because of Lila

Simple, sweet story. Chemistry can't be denied and the heart and cannot be changed. It know what it wants. I really enjoyed Cruz and Lila's story. Can't wait to hear about who finally steals Eli's heart.

I remember falling in love with Abbi's books years ago when I got my first iPad. I thought iBooks were the greatest thing ever invented, until I stumbled across Breathe and bought my first iBook! Then the Sea Breeze & Rosemary Beach series consumed me and I fell completely in love with Abbi's books and those books were the best thing ever!! When those series came to an end I wanted more and thank you Abbi for giving us more of the characters that we love, through their kids!; I absolutely love these books and seeing how their lives have turned out!!!
Cruz was so much like his daddy and I laughed at how Woods seemed to forget that he had been just as bad as his son. I loved how Cruz tried so hard to keep Lila at arms length but he could never really stay away. Once he let himself fall we see he was still a cocky, self assured guy who had always loved sweet innocent Lila Kate.
Lila wanted a chance to experience life, an adventure where she could be someone new, in a place no one knew her. I loved how Cruz followed her and took her on that wild ride and allowed her to let go and find herself. Seeing them together just felt right and they fit so perfectly together. Lila was the light to his dark and it worked !
I loved seeing how Cruz and Lila changed through the course of this book and how great they were for each other!! Thank you so much Abbi for all of your amazing, brilliant and wonderful books!!

I have never written a review before, but this book was a bit disappointing. I normally like Abbi Glines books, but I didn't find
Any redeeming qualities about Cruz, and have a hard time reconciling with the end of the book.

I just love that two amazing series keep coming together for a second generation amaze-fest!!! I was a little confused on who I wanted Lila to wind up with. Honestly, when stories go back & forth like that & make me question my own feelings- it's a really good thing & a worthy read.
I absolutely cannot wait for the rest of this series to continue!

Heartbreaking and uplifting. I loved how the author incorporated the name of the previous books in this book. I loved Lila Kate she reminded me so much of her mother. Cruz poor thing but bad decisions can haunt you.

I love Lila Kate because even though everyone thinks she is weak, she isn't. She has a golden heart and is stronger than everyone thinks, even herself.
About Cruz, we all make mistakes the important thing is to recognize them and learn about them.

Pd. I'm giving 4 starts because ELI DESERVES BETTER.

Spoiler ahead

The synopsis of the story was misleading like it was in NAN'S story.After reading it We all thought it was Lila and Eli but Noooooo......
It was Lila and Cruz Kerrington ( Woods and Della's son).
Lila has loved Cruz her whole life so has Cruz. But he has always stayed away from Lila because he thought he couldn't love anyone and then comes the Christian Grey and Mrs. Robinson angle( u know being seduced by an older woman) so he thinks he doesn't deserve someone like Lila. But when he sees her with Eli he couldn't stay away anymore. Lila tries to have a fresh start with Eli but her heart is still stuck on Cruz.
And u know what happens next.

I think next in series should be Eli's story. I really am feeling sad for him. His heart broke twice in such a short time.

Spoilers

I was so excited to read this book because Lila's parents are my favorite couple in the Rosemary Beach series but unfortunately it ended up kind of being a disappointment despite the fact that I ended up loving Lila. There is basically a bait and switch when it comes to who the hero of the book is...because of the book's summery I was expecting this book to be about Eli and Lila and the first nine chapters, it appeared that it was but it turned out that the book is about Cruz and Lila. I probably wouldn't have minded if Cruz had been written differently but unfortunately I hated him. I didn't find his love for her believable especially since he had no intention of being in a relationship with her until it looked like she was moving on with Eli. If not for Eli, he no doubt would have continued to sleep around and break her heart.

Another problem I had with the book was the Kelsey plot line. I wish that had been more in depth, most of the drama happened off book. I was so confused because it's never explained how Cruz found out that Kelsey showed Lila a sex tape of them/his parents finding out about all the sex tapes of Cruz and Kelsey. I also wish that Lila had asked him if Kelsey was telling the truth that he would let her hide and watch him with other girls (it was weird that Lila didn't confront him about that since it is a huge violation of those girls privacy) because if that happened, he is a repulsive pig.

Book two in the Rosemary Beach meets Seabreeze series, Because of Lila was long. The book felt dragged out and underwhelming. Lila as a character is predictable and boring. Her attempts at finding herself and being wild just had me rolling my eyes and I'm the type of person who loves me a super cheeseball romance so that's saying a lot. The plot was typical and the characters predictable and the overall book suffered for it. The only saving grace in this book was that we get to see characters we love from the past. Sadly even they were new, mangled versions of the characters we once loved. This book made me want to just go back and read a Rosemary Beach or Seabreeze novel instead.

Okay, so I'm never one to completely dislike a book or say there was nothing good about it, but this book was difficult to find a silver lining. *cries all the tears* I suppose the light at the end of the tunnel was the narrators. Narration was great! Each narrator did such a good job giving life to their respective character. I have to say that narration for Eli's character was my personal favorite. It came off as effortless and real. Definitely two thumbs up for these voice actors. 3 sad stars.

**reviewed from audiobook*

Because of Lila, I loved this book, the feels and the chemistry, swoon and jump-your bones hot moments. I loved seeing some of my favorite Rosemary Beach and Sea Breeze characters and just anticipating the next book like crazy.
Lila Kate Carter is shy, nice, polite and.....icy? Lila knows she's more than the "polite and perfect" girl so she sets out on her adventure. Being someone new, something more than just the shy girl and her parents support her need to escape. I loved seeing Grant and Harlow be the type of parents you can go to for your problems and the mom who is your best friend. Grant being the cool and overprotective dad who is still a smooth talker, a handsome dad award and still seriously in love with Harlow.
Lila is going on a road trip to see everything and anything.
Her first stop is Sea Breeze, unexpected and completely bold Lila and Eli hit it off. He's sworn off women and is can't remember feeling more buzzed. So when he wakes up the next morning with her smell on his skin, he can't remember why.
But it's too late when he realizes he might have had something more with Lila because Cruz Kerrington takes Lila on the back of his motorcycle and they drive out into the night.
Cruz doesn't know what to make of this new Lila Kate, the sweet girl he's always known, the one he didn't feel he could ever be with because she was always the girl who deserves more, the special girl and the one who makes him want to be better. But he's got secrets, dirty secrets that should never touch someone like Lila.
I liked how Lila wanted to change herself, it wasn't just that Cruz called her icy and untouchable, it's that a part of her was tired of being in her shell, this is all she knows and she's gonna try to change that. It made me like her so much more because it was her choice and she wanted to take a ride on the wildside. Dancing on tables, wearing badass heels and feeling comfortable in her own skin. What she doesn't expect is Cruz trying to tame her wild oats while being in a douche bag in the process. He can take shots from a pair of boobs but she can't dance with strangers.
The chemistry between them Lila knew who she was, there was no doubt she had her parents to back her up, what she wants in life maybe where what her heart wants makes her a little uncomfortable. Unlike Cruz who's grown tired of being groomed to run his father's country club, being a screw up and sleeping with females a mile long. He knew he loved her since the first kiss he gave her but he pushed her away, knowing once he gets too close she will ruin him for other women. The fear that she was too good for him and she'd realize it was a constant fear of his.
The ending, it just gives you feels*feels* I am going to read it again, right now!
So who's book is next? Guesses? Eli? Saffron Corbin? Larissa and Micah? Ophelia?

As much as I enjoyed the original Rosemary beach series, these books about the children have been so disappointing. I did not care for Lila at all. She was so confusing. She says she never lets men close and everything points to being a virgin, then she says her night on the beach was the sexual experience of her life. She really came off as whiny poor little rich girl. I’ve decided to wait a year or two for these books to show up for .99. This series just isn’t worth paying more than that for.

I love the Sea Breeeze and Rosemary Beach stories and how now we are getting a story on their kids who are now adults that are falling in love. Reading this story I just couldn't put it down. Lila's story was a page turner that I felt so captivated in her story life. I so wanted it to be Eli as I was screaming no through the entire times she was with Cruz. I am hoping Eli gets his true love soon as this makes 2 heart breaks for him. I can't wait for the rest of the crew to have their stories.

Okay normally I am Abbi Glines' biggest fan, I have read and loved just about all of her books but I was so disappointed with this one, I went into this thinking it was going to be Eli and Lila Kate's story but it turned out to be the the complete opposite.

In the beginning it set the the stage for the two and made it very clear (or so it seemed) that Lila was moving on from Cruz and his awful ways, only to rush back into his arms as soon as she sees him again.

Throughout the novel, not once it seems does Cruz do anything to truly redeem himself and what's worse is Lila doesn't care, she still wants him anyway.

The only worthwhile character in the book is Eli who not only is a friend when she needs but tells her that he is willing to wait for her as long as she needs, meanwhile everyone around the main characters can see (and they point out) that they are a bad for each other and are not designed to last.

To conclude, the ending felt extremely rushed and there was no closure, apologies for the rant but if you're a true fan and you've read all the books, I wouldn't bother.