Review: 4.5 stars.  It's a stunner
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 5, 2014
We briefly meet Leah and Tristan at the end of the first Oasis Waterfall book, Can't Go Home, however you don't necessarily need to read it to enjoy this second book.Leah Franchetti has had some tough times in life.  Not knowing how to deal with her mother at a young age, she ventured down a self-destructive path giving up art in lieu of drugs and alcohol.  After finding her way back, she put herself through college and graduate school.  Even though she cleaned up her act, she was weak and hurt after spending a night with Tristan O'Donnell only to discover she was just like all of his other one night stands.  To get back at him she claimed rape and assault and was paid off by his father, enough to start her own art gallery.Tristan is the quintessential rich playboy.  He has more money than he knows to do with, treats women like objects, and acts above everyone else.  He's actually quite a despicable guy.  He seems to enjoy bedding women who are taken just to prove he can and that all women will cheat.  He knows that no one will defy him just because of his name and his money.The first few chapters I kept thinking "why am I reading this?"  Tristan is just a disgusting excuse for a man.  He likes only his pleasure and no one else's.  He's probably one of the most narcissistic characters I read.  He's not even really an alpha male, just seemingly possesses no ability to care for anyone but himself.  It's okay though just keep reading, the journey is so worth the ending.This book is truly set up like a journey.  It's composed of three parts: Ghosts of Scandals past, present, and future.  I really enjoyed this because you get to see where Leah and Tristan are three years after the incident, the night of the incident, and where they end up.Throughout Leah has always maintained a generally good heart, even with the few loathsome acts.  She knows what she did was wrong and continues to apologize and try to find a way of redemption.  Her transformation is more an internal change of how she can start to live and put the past behind her.  On the other hand, Tristan's revolution is more extraordinary.  He has to come to grips with his past and family and learn to outwardly expose the better man than few have been allowed to see.Before reading, I always try to get an idea from beta readers of their impressions to see if I'll enjoy the book.  I kept seeing how most thought the first in the series was great and the second blew them away.  I just couldn't understand it especially after getting a few chapters in.  They were right!  This is a fantastic story.  It's filled with all the elements we love; a feisty damsel in distress, a villain who turns out to be a hero.  It's truly an amazing love story.Rating:  4.5 StarsFor more reviews like this one, go to [...]Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review