Review: A love for all time
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 31, 2013
First of all I just have to say, that if you don't read this book, I believe you're going to be doing yourself a great disservice. This is a great love story, and it was nothing I could have ever imagined! Andrea Michelle write a painfully beautiful story about two teens coming of age and falling in love in the chaos of high school; and she does it without making it new adult porn. The way this book reads sent me back to a time when I was in high school and I was experiencing first love. Riley, Josh, Emily, Dean, and Preslee are really great characters and make the book even more enjoyable.Riley is a complex yet simple character, trust me. She is a high school student that fell in love with her best friend Josh (friends since he was 5 and she was 4), and also her next door neighbor. Riley's dad dies and does a fairly good job of mucking things up for his family and for Josh's family. Then in walks Dean who is the new king of Douchebagistan, but he is also another story. Riley loves Josh but can't seem to tell him how she feels. Her dad had an affair once, and now she just thinks that all loving relationships turn into nothing but lies. Dean and Preslee do a real good job of throwing fuel on their fire. When Riley isn't dealing with the woes of teenagedom she is writing some dark poetry (which is original poetry by the author), writing lyrics for her friend Rebel's garage band, and just having fun with Emily (that's where the simple comes into play).Josh has loved Riley since the day they sat on his front lawn eating pudding cups together while her parents moved her in next door. He has always loved his Tink. Unfortunately, for Josh his road to admitting love wasn't easy either. Josh wants to be with Riley, but it seems as though nothing has gone right for him on his quest to proclaim his love especially with friends like Dean and Preslee along for the ride.With mischief and demand in her eyes, she grabs his face and shoves her tongue in his mouth. He stiffened but slowly relaxed into their kiss. Kissing her back. I died a thousand times in that moment. - Riley on seeing Josh and Preslee kiss.As I said Josh knows he loves Riley, but Dean got to her first. Dean gets his claws in first bound and determined to ruin Riley for anyone and everyone that is interested in her. Dean we learn in the special bonus chapter (to be released the first part of January 2014) has some issues (I don't want to ruin it for you)! Preslee you learn more about in Dean's bonus chapter as well.I adore these Riley, Josh, and even Dean and Preslee I think readers of all ages can relate to some part of these beautifully written characters. I wish I had more of these characters available to me right now, but unfortunately, this book has left me with a book hangover. Its going to be a LONG time before I forget the beautiful but emotional tortured Riley Shaw or the handsome and stoic Joshua Parker. I couldn't forget these two if I wanted to.Escape the Doubt will have you reading well into the night, and have you begging for more. I will be compiling my best books of 2013, and this will definitely be making the list! I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a phenomenal coming of age story! You need to read this book!***I was gifted a copy for review on Inside the Pages of a Book Blog ***