Review: #TeamBurnhamForLife
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 29, 2014
A BEAUTIFUL MESSWOW...is about the only word I can muster after reading "A Beautiful Mess." The title is very fitting because I'm a complete and utter MESS and still reeling from this book hangover!From the beginning, these complex characters completely drew me in. I was on edge, jittery and wanted to bite my fingernails off in complete anticipation of where the story was headed. It definitely kept me on my toes and was not the typical romance novel that I'm used to - the suspense was going to be the death of me. I connected and felt every emotion the characters were feeling - the happiness, anger, hurt and sadness! AND...that's when you know you've picked up a damn good book, when you've completely lost yourself in all the story.I truly appreciated the character build-up and how T.K. allowed Alexander and Olivia to date, experience the butterflies and get to know each other, rather than the typical "insta-love" that we're all used to, where the characters are declaring their love for one another and jumping in the sack immediately after meeting each other. (That totally irritates me and I constantly roll my eyes at that complete B.S. because it's just not realistic). However, when they did decide to finally become intimate, HOLY CRAP it was HOT!! From talking dirty, the dirty texts, when Alexander went to Libby's office and of course their first time having sex after they made up from their major fight!! Uhmm...Mr. Burnham can blindfold me and tie me up any day!I LOVED A Beautiful Mess!! Great plot, character development, edgy, and the suspense is to die for! Great job by T.K. Leigh for extracting and evoking every emotion in me!!! I couldn't wait for A Tragic Wreck!!A TRAGIC WRECKThis book definitely deserves way more than 5 stars!! "A Tragic Wreck" was utterly riveting, mind blowing and beyond remarkable.First and foremost, I would like to forewarn you to have a box of Kleenex handy, as you will definitely need it (maybe another box, depending on your emotional stability...I wasn't stable at all and it seemed like I was ugly crying the entire book! LOL)I loved Alex and Olivia with all my heart and soul, but throughout the book, there were parts where they both made me so angry I wanted to smack the hell out of both of them - oh my goodness, they were so frustrating!! You can't even fathom the amount of drama and suspense that builds up throughout the book, it'll keep your heart racing, so make sure you take blood pressure meds (if needed)."Promise me you'll always remember me, walking out on you, then coming back here and losing you all over again has been painful enough. But as long as it wasn't for nothing, as long as it meant something, then maybe I can move on like you have." - Olivia"I want you every second of every day. I want the good. I want the bad. I want the sweet. I want the ill-tempered. I want the hot. I want the cold. I want the crazy, irrational, exasperating pain-in-the-ass girl that I love with my entire f'n heart."- AlexT.K. introduced Cam in this book and although I'm Team Alex all the way, you can't help but have love for Cam, as he was so sweet, understanding and nurtured crazy ass Olivia and practically saved her life. Kiera and Mo are as supportive to Olivia as ever and they actually have a little romance of their own blossoming. Adele is back and I wanna bitch slap her more than ever, but there are also other characters in the book you will definitely love to hate and will make you wanna "cut a bitch."I hope you're ready for a wild ride because it's going to be a bumpy, emotional roller coaster ride on the Alexander and Olivia express. The emotional intensity of these two characters were so powerful, you can't help but feel their struggle, sadness, disappointment, passion, anger and happiness - it was like a vortex that completely sucked you in, you felt it all! I was so wrapped up in their relationship and I completely immersed myself in it, needless to say, I was emotionally spent after reading the book.GORGEOUS CHAOSIt took me quite some time to finally put my feelings about this book into words, as I just didn’t know how and where to begin and frankly, I didn’t want to acknowledge that this was the end of an outstanding series. To say that T.K. Leigh did a phenomenal job at concluding Alexander and Olivia’s story would be an understatement. Her exquisite writing truly pulls you in; you feel such an emotional connection to the characters and you just can’t fathom the thought of saying good-bye to characters you’ve grown to LOVE.With every book in the series, you grow a stronger connection to both Alexander and Olivia and although these two will frustrate the hell out of you, you begin to understand why they do the crazy sh-tuff that they do, and although you may not agree with some of their actions/decisions, I believe that it was paramount for T.K. to have them take the path they’ve taken, in order to develop and solidify their characters.The Alexander and Olivia saga will definitely make you feel like you’re caught in an inescapable rip-tide that you won’t want to be rescued from. They take you on a powerful, emotional journey filled with heartache, courage, hope and love that will leave your heart pounding and gasping for air.“With everything going on, he was her constant…the one person she could depend on. The one person who had loved her throughout her entire life.”“I can’t survive without you, Olivia. You’re my heart, and I’ll die without you.”“Tears fell from his eyes as he buried his head against Olivi’s still body, not wanting to come to terms with the idea of losing her all over again.” “Please…Don’t leave me…”Gorgeous Chaos is without a doubt, the most intense book in the series. ALL the mysteries and unanswered questions established in “A Beautiful Mess” and “A Tragic Wreck” will definitely be revealed. Have several boxes of Kleenex handy because it’s definitely not going to be a walk in the park. The plot is certainly raw and gritty, and the suspense is incredibly palpable. Let’s just say, Gorgeous Chaos will smack you with the most jaw dropping, shocking revelation that will completely blow your mind!THANK YOU to T.K. Leigh for sharing her wonderful masterpiece and allowing us to fall in-love with Alexander and Olivia. I’m utterly torn and heartbroken that we have to say good-bye, but I’m certainly looking forward to more of T.K.’s work and especially that sexy surfer Cam! Alexander and Olivia will always have a special place in my heart.