Review: Not sure how I feel right now.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 15, 2014
This book is definitely different than most of the angsty alpha male books I read.****MILD SPOILERS*****First we have Etta. Sheltered, naive, looking for excitement, Etta. She has Aaron, sweet and pretty straight laced. Then she meets Damien. Dark, challenging, and anything but straight laced. It's a no brainier who a sheltered 18 year old that is getting her first taste of freedom is going to choose. At least at first. It's no surprise that she falls hopelessly in love with him. It's not even a surprise that she isolates herself from everyone just to be with him, even though she knows what's happening. First love for a young girl, even book smart girls, is all encompassing and completely consuming. It ends with a wake up call. And I'm a little saddened by it.Then there's Damien....ah Damien. He is clearly not healthy for her, but I liked him. I don't know why, I understand that he's controlling, secretive and manipulative. But it doesn't come across as malicious intent. He's misguided, his love for Etta is coming out in a controlling and obsessive way. I'm having a hard time defending him because logically I should be saying that Etta should run far and change her name. But his obsession with her comes across as sweet in a sick way that I don't really understand. He's broken, very broken and I want to know about his past. Or if everything he's doing is really because he has an irrational fear about losing her the same way he lost her brother. He's young too, even if he's a bit older than Etta. Being 22 or 23 doesn't really make you mature. Especially when it comes to love. Maybe I shouldn't like him, and I probably shouldn't be rooting for him to win her back, but a big part of me is.Then there's Aaron, the guy I should be rooting for, because he is the healthy choice for her. So why can't i root for him? Maybe because I didn't get to know him well enough in this book. Or, maybe it's because I think Damien can change, that he's broken and full of demons that just maybe Etta can help him expel. Sure, Aaron is sweet, supportive and clearly loves Etta.....but he's missing something. Not sure what. Maybe he's too sweet, too understanding, who knows.The author did an excellent job at creating these characters. The execution of the story was great. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even with all the intensity. However, I'm left feeling a little.....fatigued. Emotionally spent. Not that I cried, but this book just takes you on a journey through that bad parts of unhealthy young love. So I'm not sure how I feel at the moment. It's open ended, not a complete story yet. Nice cliff hanger. Plus the fact that I can't unequivocally hope she picks Aaron, leaves me feeling unsettled. A big part of me hopes she can work things out with Damien.I know I'll be keeping my eyes out for the next installment!! Buy the book, I doubt you'll be sorry!