Review: Ethan won me over! I love the long build-up to their relationship and a great story!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 25, 2013
The Temptation of Lila and Ethan is the third book in The Secret series by Jessica Sorensen. We are first introduced to Lila and Ethan in the first two books of the series; they are best friends with Ella & Micha and brought the two together. Now it's their turn at finding happiness.Lila is Ella's best friend and the complete opposite of Ella. She is blonde, rich, beautiful, and sleeps her way through men. She doesn't believe in love and has been told since she was a child to keep quiet, marry a rich man, and to stay beautiful. Ethan is Micha's best friend; he grew up similar to Ella & Micha in their rundown town. His father beats his mother and he witnessed this as a child, he doesn't believe in love and is scared to death of turning into his father. Lila and Ethan are complete opposites in EVERY WAY but they quickly become friends, I would even say best friends. There is flirtation but Ethan will not let it get that far.... But some things can't be stopped.The book begins with a prologue of the past in both Lila & Ethan's perspective. It sets up to why they are the way they are.... They both have major problems but Lila's run deep and Ethan is there for her in every way imaginable.  As the book continues it is in present day with short flash backs of the past for both of them as well as alternating points of view.First... Ethan... wow!! He has won me over in every way possible! At first I was a bit worried, he is known as the partier, the guy who does pot, drinks, and sleeps with anything that moves but he is SO MUCH MORE than that! He is caring, sweet, loving.... His past maybe a horrible one with what he witnessed his father doing but he learned how to take care of a woman the RIGHT way and he is there for Lila as she brings herself down. He is such a sweet guy. I went from thinking he was just okay to LOVING him at the end.Lila, she really is not who we thought she was if you read the first two books. We knew she came from a wealthy family who pressured her but she holds dark secrets that no one knows about. Lila suffers from addiction she can't break. She may have started off with "rich girl problems" but it turned into so much more as she tries to break loose from her family and be independent as well as struggling with addiction. Things for Lila get bad and very dark... Ethan is her light.The first two books in The Secret series but Young Adult to me but The Temptation of Lila & Ethan was more Mature Young Adult or New Adult; a lot of drug abuse (hardcore drugs), sex, and dark topics. I really liked the more adult tone to the book because Lila and Ethan are dealing with hard issues. Sometimes I did get annoyed with Lila just because I felt she wasn't trying. She just wanted to get on her high and hook up with men. She never tried to get a job, never tried to be an adult but that is her personality deep down and she was good at hiding it behind her parent's money until now.Lila and Ethan are friends for most of the book... yes there is A LOT of temptation but Ethan is afraid to take it to that level and lose his friend. Lila tries to "hook up" with him throughout the book and I kept thinking okay... it's their time to kiss. I was cheering when it came because I knew how badly they both wanted each other but they weren't mentally there yet. It had to come at the right time.The Temptation of Lila & Ethan was a great read just like any of Jessica Sorensen's stories about two lost souls who make each other complete. I am usually not a fan of books in series that change lead characters but I liked both Ethan & Lila before and they had a strange relationship in the first two books that I enjoyed reading about and was curious enough to want to read their book.  Ella & Micha are mentioned a few times in throughout this book and the ending seems to set up the next book in the series, The Ever After of Ella & Micha who will return in December 2013. Can't wait to have them back!The Temptation of Lila & Ethan is worth the read. I know Jessica fans will not be disappointed. Fall in love with Ethan and Lila as their complete opposite upbringings bring them together as adults.I give The Temptation of Lila & Ethan (The Secret #3) 4 Stars!Book provided by the author in return for an honest review.