Review: Great start to a young adult novella series
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 23, 2013
"Was it just me?""It wasn't just you."This was a great little series-starting novella. Jessa Holbrook did exactly what she should have done with this novella: hooked me. At 48 pages this was a ridiculously quick read. I devoured it. It was well-written with realistic dialogue and great characters that I connected with easily. Funny at times, sweet and sexy at other times, it was a great escape."Though his touch skimmed like a feather, it felt like a kiss. A whispered secret that carried an unexpected shot of heart. Caught short, I held a breath as I burned from the inside out. That urgent, animal reaction held me in place."I really liked Sarah. The story is told from her POV, so readers learn a lot about her through her internal dialogue. She's in a relationship with Dave, her music partner, but she's insecure. Dave goes a little "rock god" and seems to enjoy their fans' (especially pretty female ones) attention a little more than Sarah is comfortable with. She meets Will, the biggest player in their school, one night after a performance. They had a strong, immediate attraction to each other. Will was swoony. Flawed, but swoony. Sarah sees more under his playboy exterior and I can't wait to learn more myself."I didn't care that we were basically strangers. That I'd never been like this with anybody. That this was probably wrong. In fact, that seemed to be a reason to keep going. I'd seen a Will no one else had seen. The secret in his pale eyes, the real him that he shrouded in big smiles and lazy flirtation."I do feel like the blurb is a little misleading, however. Readers should be aware this isn't a full story as the blurb suggests. The majority of the first book centers on Sarah and Will's first meeting and the powerful connection they feel with each other, despite the fact that they are each in a relationship with someone else. It also deals with the guilt Sarah feels for her actions that night and the start of her "affair" with Will. I have very mixed feelings about cheating in books, but it was hard NOT to connect with Sarah and Will and cheer for them, given the obvious chemistry they have. But if you're sensitive about cheating in books, you might want to steer clear of this one."This felt like the beginning of something. A seduction that dared me to imagine what might come next. I felt like I'd be waiting for this. Needing it, without even knowing it."If, however, you believe sometimes people are just meant to be together, despite their current situation, and that nothing can stop destiny, this could be the series for you. (Of course, I say this after reading only the first novella and having no idea where the story ultimately ends up. But I have my hopes.) If you're a fan of the passion and intensity of young love, even when it comes with some angst and turmoil, definitely pick this one up. I have the other five novellas in this series all queued up on my iPad. I can't wait to read more!I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All quotes come from the review copy and may differ from the final version.