Review: Steamy book about friends turned into lovers.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 20, 2014
I wanted to read this one because I have enjoyed the characters and romance in the other companion novels, and I liked the sound of this and figured why not.I like the characters of Kai and Rachel. I find out a lot more about Rachel and discover (not surprisingly) that she has gone through a lot more than I would ever have imagined, and is put in a weird situation coming back home. She feels like the other people from her high school just view her as "that" kid, the one who was in the wreck and in the hospital. Weak, sick, not around a lot. But Rachel has grown up a lot and she is stronger than they'd ever imagine. Kai and Rachel were childhood friends because Rachel's best friend Dakota is Kai's sister. They have that history together, getting in trouble, him by her side through physical therapy and recovery, knowing her broken heart when Miles, the kid who was her boyfriend and in the wreck with her, broke up with her while she was recovering. So, he knows her inside and out, and we find out, he's been attracted to her for some time.So when Rachel is home helping her mom for the summer, and crashes at Dakota's, guess who else is back from abroad (we find out he's been in some trouble, hello bad boy with the soft spot, I love you), and staying in the same apartment. Yep, Kai. I loved getting his perspective and see how he is trying to get his life together, and figure out how he can do what he loves, music, and still make a living instead of getting in trouble and puttering around like he has for a while. He knows that a lot is at stake and all eyes are on him and watching and he fears hoping that he'll fail and fall again.I loved their chemistry. Kai knows how Rachel has dealt with stress--random hook ups, but he can't stand to see that. So, after coming home with her after a confrontation with Miles, they end up getting a little physical and he makes the offer to help her out instead of her finding random guys. Wow, turn up the heat and watch me swoon.But, I love that the issue is brought up that they don't want to ruin the years invested in their strong friendship and bond, but both were too eager, not thinking enough and so attracted to each other, that they just acted and saw how everything would settle. The friends to lovers is something that I love to read about and I think that she did it well here.There was so much tension, and really so much at stake, or so they thought when their feelings were deeper than what they thought the others' was. But it all came together beautifully, even if they had some hard things to face before it got there for them. They had some roadblocks and personal issues to deal with on both sides before they could really give things a shot.I did like the aspect of friendship in these books outside of the smoking romance. How Avery, and Rachel are with one another, and Rachel and Dakota's friendship has been there forever. I like that they aren't perfect, and that although the lies caught up with her, that she was finally open with her two sets of friends from two different parts of herself. The forgiveness and acceptance was wonderful there, and the secondary characters, previously or maybe one day main characters that keep these stories going and you know there is more going on adds a whole other layer to the plot.The family relationships in this one are great to read about as well. Rachel is home to help her mom with her business and we get a glimpse of how supportive, loving and concerned her mom is for her and how Rachel loves her back and respects her. As far as Kai, we get the whole big brother protector even though he's messed up, and the shaky dynamics between him and his father. I know that Kai didn't want to be a disappointment, and as a parent I know that had to be hard to watch your kid make bad decisions and life choices that you wouldn't have made for them. But I do like how they are there for him at the end of the day and help him the best they can.The ending is amazing, and I love how everything falls into place. The culmination of their hot make out sessions leading to more, the tension, and the love that built for years between them all managed to work itself out and give them a HEA as well as hints at what their bright futures will look like together.Bottom Line: Steamy book about friends turned into lovers.