Review: Great story with real and flawed characters!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 21, 2014
Although this is #2 in The Do-Over Series, I think you can read it as a standalone novel. However, I would not advice it as I believe you miss out on the real Rick Experience if you do not read book one first.This review will focus mainly on Rick and Madison instead of the actual storyline as there is so much going on in the book that I fear I will reveal too much once I get started. But first a bit of a warming, though: this books ends in a major cliffhanger...Yes, you read it right. And I know I have said it before: I do not mind cliffhangers at all, but THIS one? Well, this one makes me a bit annoyed because it is huge and I do not know when the next installment in the series comes out.I confess that I did not much like either Rick or Madison much after having read the first book, "The Do Over". But you know me by now: I like to keep an open mind about the books I read, and I really think that this second book in the series is better than the first.Rick really is a strange man: in some ways, he is a complete player and one should not believe a word that comes out of his mouth. But on the other hand, you cannot help feeling sympathy towards him as he struggles to get Madison to understand the depth of his feelings. I really enjoyed getting to know him better and to see the real man underneath the salesman mask he usually wears. Of course, he is still a bit of a douche - he would not be Rick otherwise - but he is most definitely a likeable one."I can't live with her, and I can't live without her. I'm officially straight jacket material." (Rick)And even though, in theory, Rich should be all kinds of wrong for Madison, he is actually perfect for her: strong-willed, alpha, yet sweet when he has to be. He sees behind Madison's mask - much to her dismay - and he keeps hanging on, even when he finds it extremely difficult to do so. And is that not what we all want in life? Having a partner that does not let go no matter what life throws at you?As for Madison...Honestly, in the beginning of the story, she almost gave me whiplash with her mood swings and I cannot blame Rick for being worried about his hair falling out whenever he runs his hands through it *wink*. But once I got to see beneath the tough businesswoman exterior she wears all the time, I had absolutely no problems connecting with her. I even found myself tearing up when I learned about her past, and I felt really sorry for her. I loved her feisty, strong, sassy personality and how she does not let Rick get away with anything. True, she does frustrate me at times with her stubbornness, but she is a woman who, despite everything, really is ruled by her past. She cannot just let go of her past grievances, and I really think that Miss Zaun excels at showing us Madison's inner turmoil."Enough is enough. I didn't know what tomorrow would hold or what yesterday had meant. I was in the moment, and right then and there, I wanted him, maybe even needed him. "Kiss me like you mean it." (Madison)In some ways, Rick and Madison's relationship should be classified as a bit dysfunctional: they fight all the time, they always think they are right when they are not, and both are really bad at compromising...Having said that, it works for them, and as their story progresses, they learn to trust each other. They are still very stubborn people, of course, and neither one of them change that much throughout the book, but that is what makes their love story believable to me: if Rick had, all of a sudden, stopped being manipulative, and Madison had just let him take over completely, I would not find it real. In my opinion, real people do not change that much and I find it refreshing that this book couple learn that their strengths and weaknesses are part of why they are perfect for each other.I really cannot write this review without mentioning how the banter between this couple made me laugh so hard many times. Oh, and let us not forget the sex scenes...Phew! They are, indeed, very hot and steamy.All in all, I really enjoyed this book: the characters are flawed, but real; the storyline had my adrenaline pumping at high speed on more than one occasion, and the sweet moments made my romantic heart sigh happily. The writing is really well and had me riveted to the pages from page one, and I honestly cannot wait to read the conclusion to Rick and Madison's story, which, I hope, we will not have to wait too long for.