Review: Gret story, I loved it.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 14, 2013
If I had been in a book slump, this would have been the story to pull me out of it. This story made me laugh and smile and feel good about it from start to finish. I was happy there were rarely any bad words and no sex. I think sex would have ruined this story. This was a NA book yet it felt MA -YA at times due to how clean it was. But that's in no way a knock on the book. I think that's a good thing. It's nice to read a pretty clean book. In fact, it was what I was looking for and I very much appreciate how the book was done. I also loved how original the main storyline was as well. It wasn't an idea I had previously read in another book.What I loved about this book and why it's a 5 Star read:1. Lack of curse words2. No sex3. Hot kissing scenes- a good make out scene4. Fin Hunter5. Ellie's brothers. They were hilarious!6. Original story line7. No "P" word used to describe ones self, lack of sense or weakness or any one else.8. Good humor9. Britte- awesome BFF10. Put a smile on my face most of the book.11. No one got in the way of the main couple except maybe Ellie at times for her own reasons.12. Fin and Ellie built a friendship before a relationship.13. How the story all comes together and the ending.14. The last sentence of the book.15. Story ends with a possibility of maybe adding to it down the road? If not, I'm happy with the ending.16. Beckett and Britte ???? Possible story for them down the road?17. Post it notes & fridge scene18. Ty- good advice19. Fin never gave up20. NO cheating21. No real angst or drama22. Fast paced and easy read.23. This couple didn't need alcohol to have a good time.24. Fin's friend: Jameson.25. Ellie and Fin are good for each other. He helps her see her family in a different light and she helps him to settle down and change his ways.Okay with all that being said here's the meat of the story:Ellie Harris is in her sophomore year of college. She's living on Ramen Noodles and scraping change for gas. She works at a restaurant, barely getting by. She has three older brothers who I like to call her "Mafia bodyguards". Lol. These guys are fiercely protective of her. They can be over bearing and protective and they only want the best for Ellie. ( It doesn't hurt that they also provide good comic relief too. ;) ) She feels smothered by her family. She wants to be independent and run her own life. Unfortunately for Ellie, she made a bad roommate choice that cost her some household possessions and a lot of money.At this point enters: Finley Hunter. Fin is a track star, man- whore, runs an illegal gambling business and is in his senior year of college. He's convinced Ellie owes him money and he's intent on her paying the debt. She has six weeks to do so. Fin also has a secret reason why he needs this money by that deadline. So he makes a deal with her on how to work off what she owes him.In this time frame, of her working for him, Fin and Ellie develop a relationship that's hard to put a label on. To me, I felt like Fin had claimed her and was in a relationship with her but she was clueless and didn't realize it. It then becomes a challenge for Fin to make her see the light and to see him in a different light as well. Now it's up to Ellie to get out of her head and for Fin to not give up.I enjoyed the cast of secondary characters. Ellie's family wanted to help and love her if she would stop pushing them a way. Her brothers were funny and protective. Fin's friend, Jameson, was a good guy and helpful to Ellie. Maybe he even secretly crushed on her? Or he was secretly shy? I wasn't sure which way to go with his responses to her at times. Britte was a great best friend to Ellie and could be funny herself. Ty, Ellie's boss and Fin's friend, was a good guy and had sound advice for her. Fin's family were good and cute.I really hope that some of these secondary characters get their own stories told. I Facebook the author and asked but have yet to hear back.My only problems with this book would have been:1. Editing - some spelling errors and missing words to connect a sentence together fully.2. Ellie lives in her head a bit too long.3. Ellie's "joke" on Fin with Facebook and girls.