Review: Can't Go Without
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 4, 2014
Can't Go Without is book two in the Oasis Waterfall series by Angelisa Stone. In the first novel we are introduced to Tristan O'Donnell and I must say I was not his biggest fan. I worried going into this novel because I did not have the fondest feelings for the main male lead. I was afraid it would cause me to not love the second book in the series as much as the first. I have never been more wrong in my life!!!Yes Tristan is a cocky guy who uses woman like they are napkins that can be discarded after he no longer needs them."Just once, just frigging once, I want someone, anyone, to play hard to get-even if she's just playing. Hell, part of the game is the chase, the competition. But I wouldn't know. It's never hard. It's never a chase. Chicks are just waiting, begging to be preyed upon. Is it my fault that women make it so easy?  You can't blame me for never going thirsty if the cows are drowning me in their free-flowing milk."  ~ Tristan O'DonnellSee what I mean? Yes he can be a jerk and there are times I wanted to do nothing but shake him! Then something amazing happens. Angelisa builds her characters and adds so many emotional layers to their personalities that you begin to feel the hurt and joy they are going through. You find yourself loving as fierce as they love and hurting with every fiber of your being just as they do. You are pulled through this astonishing story of secrets, lies, betrayal, passion, and romance.  As much as I hated, and yes I mean hated Tristan in Can't Go Home I absolutely LOVE him in Can't Go Without. Angelisa did this, she showed me all the hidden parts that make Tristan who he is and I found myself loving all of them. There is something so wonderful about an author that can make you do a complete one eighty and go from loathing a character to having him be one of your all time favorite book boyfriends.Not to be outdone by the men in this series the female leads in Mrs. Stone's novels are seriously some of my favorite characters to read. I have always love books that are not all about the damsel in distress that needs to be saved by a man, but a strong, independent woman that can take care of herself if need be. A woman who learns that she does not have to settle for less than she deserves even if she does not feel she is worthy of the things that come her way. Leah Franchetti the main female lead is feisty, and has a dream, a dream that she will accomplish, even if that means having her own secrets that she may want to stay in the past, but they slowly creep back into her future like those pesky things always seem to do."That's the thing about the past; it keeps coming back to haunt you. You can never shed the lies and hurt you've caused people. You just mask them for a bit, but nobody can wear a disguise forever."~ Leah FanchettiThis novel shows that the world is not always rainbows and sunshine, things get messy, people make mistakes and hearts get broken when people fight for what they want, or try like hell to convince themselves that not having what they want is the best way to go."Hurting people is never over. It never just vanishes. Rainbows and unicorns don't miraculously come out, letting you know everything is a wonderland of bliss and happiness. You just go on, ignoring the gnawing ache in your heart and soul, the ache you know your words and actions caused."~ Leah FranchettiI must say this second installment in The Oasis waterfall series ranked right up there with the first for me. It is a must read that will have you pulled in from the start and hanging on to long after you finish. It shows that sometimes if you allow yourself to accept that nobody is perfect and everyone has their own demons you might just find what you were looking for all along, that forgiveness can lead to things in life you never thought you needed until you have a small taste of what could be if you only open up and realize that happiness is something you Can't Go Without.