Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 23, 2013
Olivia James knows she needs to get back in the dating game but, her ex did a number on her. It was so bad she almost bled to death on her bed. It’s been three years and she’s still struggling to get past it. There is nothing in her wanting to trust a man again. But she has needs, like most of us and can only think of one man that can help with that. Her friend Noah. He agrees and they make a date. Sadly he cancels on her saying he’s stuck at work. What’s even worse…she sees him at his house…with another woman. Well, there goes that idea. Definitely not the man for her.Ethan O’Connell wants Olivia in a bad bad way. Having the pleasure of running into her on a few occasions isn’t helping to get her out of his head. He knows she is something special. His mind is made up and he is determined to pursue her until she gives in. Becoming friends first she decides that he is the perfect person to be able to take care of her needs. Strictly friends with benefits. He agrees but is still determined that he can change her mind. He wants more than this no-strings garbage.Ethan has the patience of a saint, in my opinion. Olivia is scared to death of losing herself in another man. One minute she’s feeling comfortable, then the next minute she puts her walls back up and pushes him away. I can completely understand her reluctance. She’s also learned that Ethan has quite a temper. The only thing that can calm him down is Olivia. But he doesn’t make the effort until he learns about what happened to Olivia. He will do anything for her and I believe he has proven that several times. But they aren’t really communicating, not how they should and about how they each really feel.Ethan does everything he can think of to gain her trust. But what can you expect when you still keep things from each other. You can’t love someone when you are still holding on to things from the past. Olivia is so unsure of herself that she will believe words from a jealous co-worker of Ethan’s. But again she keeps it to herself and replaces the walls that he started to break down.Then this “brilliant” plan was concocted that would get Olivia to admit her feelings for Ethan. My stomach was in huge knots throughout this part. I really wanted to back hand them both at this point! Their story does not end here. And after I picked my jaw up off the floor, I decided I needed the next book ASAP. They are soul mates; they just need to figure it out themselves…