Review: I loved this story!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 28, 2014
I reviewed this at MustReadBooksOrDie with my friend Shelley!Shel: Y'all. I don't even...Shel: I lost myself in this book and didn't ever want to come out of it. I'm still trying to figure out why it was so appealing to me...why did I have such a hard time putting it down? First let me admit that I first started reading it through the daily newsletter mailing ..and promptly felt like an idiot when I realized we'd been fortunate enough to have the entire novel in ARC form and it was just waiting for me to click on the full length novel (doh!). Maybe reading it in serial form was what hooked me? Having to wait for my daily fix...was frustratingly awesome; it allowed my imagination to dream up all sorts of things about these characters. Anyway. I loved it. I can't wait to read the next book in the series..but I WILL wait if it means that the next book is as fun as the first one.Court: I love the way that Jen releases installments of stories via her newsletters (first with The Charlotte Chronicles and now with this) because it's really a different and fun platform to find her writing! I hope that you all have been following along with it!Shel: I hesitate to say too much because I want everyone to have the novel unfurl for them as it did for me. So maybe I'll just ramble a little instead about what I enjoyed ...Shel: I loved Tiny and her goodness. She loved her mom so much she'd do anything to help her, take care of her, and ease her discomfort.Shel: I loved Tiny's sense of humor. Her mouth. Her honesty. Her ability to call things as she sees them. Her snark is a beautiful thing. Her sense of time and place and when to speak up or shut up...love!Shel: I love her toughness. And her vulnerability.Court: I fell in love with Tiny's character as well, because she does what she has to do with no apologies. She realizes that parts of her life suck, and while she would like to do different things...she accepts her lot in life, and just tries to make things as great as they possibly can be for her and her mom. Their relationship is the game changer in setting this story apart from others with a similar trope...and that honestly surprised me...though, why I am surprised at Jen's ability to take a story idea and turn it on it's head and be original at this point is moot. She rocks. End of story!Shel: And Ian. Gah. He's a beautiful mix of beauty and strength and bossiness and sexiness. The mouth on this man. His generosity. His protective nature. His absolute certainty when it comes to Tiny. His ability to know when to give, when to take, when to boss, when to be bossed.Shel: I love that he respects her. He challenges her. He admires her. He cares for her.Court: Ian is so mysterious and hot...I too was a big fan right away. I had to tell Jen via Twitter how much I think she should hold a seminar in the proper technique to write sexy and steamy scenes. WOWZA! This book is ridiculously hot. So, so, so freaking hot! Ian, though, has the rich guy factor sure...but he also makes Batman jokes, and really, genuinely seems to care about this girl and wanting to help her every step of the way. Too good to be true? Absolutely! Probably! We don't know! But...it just seems like the next book is going to explode with angst and drama and I am really excited for it!Shel: Look..normally I'm not an insta-lust, insta-love kind of girl; I roll my eyes at it and just shrug my shoulders..these two, though, there's something there and it's hot. And curious. And interesting. They have amazing chemistry and banter...and..just GAH. Court: I think Shel hit the nail on the head. The chemistry. The banter. And all of their interactions make their feelings believable despite the time that they know each other.Shel: Honestly, even by the end of this book there are more questions than answers. Who, exactly is Ian Kerr? There HAS to be more to his story. And Tiny...what the heck is she going to do? And Malcolm? And Rich? And Steve (haha. his impassivity cracks me up). I have so many questions because I know that there is so much story left here...so many more things to explore..more plot to be had...and I honestly cannot wait to see what she does with it all.Court: I am very excited to see what happens next! The entire story is mysterious, and there is a lot going on externally and especially internally, because Ian seems to be fighting some battle that has been years in the making. He has a plan...and I have got to know what it is!!!Shelley 5 starsCourtney: 5 Stars