Review: Enter the world of Kennedy and Toby...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 29, 2013
I enjoyed the first two books in the Whitman University series. They were pretty light and fluffy. There was good angst and some pretty steamy scenes. I was expecting more of the same when I began reading this novel. I couldn't have been more wrong. Sure, it was an easy read and there were some damn steamy scenes, but there was a lot more to this story. It hits on some tough topics, but does so with charming, likable characters and an engrossing storyline.To the outside world, Kennedy Gilbert is just a party girl. She likes to drink and sleep around. The truth is, she's an incredibly intelligent girl and she's beyond broken. She uses sex and alcohol to deal with the pain she's experiencing. Her parents and her baby brother died in an accident when she was younger. She feels both guilt and responsibility for their deaths. She doesn't want good things for herself because they're no longer here to experience good things of their own. Her destructive behavior is a cry for help. But, she doesn't trust other people and doesn't let anyone in.Toby Wright is a good guy. His dad is a Senator. He tries to steer clear of drama. He likes to have fun and doesn't want to be tied down. He's not looking for a relationship. He never counted on meeting someone like Kennedy either. She begins to open up and let him in. They become friends and he feels a need to protect her, to show her there's more to life than how she's living right now. Kennedy and Toby share a strong chemistry and it's only a mere matter of time before they sleep together. He pushes her to feel things she's not used to feeling with another person, things that have nothing to do with pain.There's a lot of back and forth with Kennedy and Toby. They're both great at resisting the feelings they have for the other. It felt real though. Sometimes things happen too quickly in books and it's unrealistic to me. This was not one of those times. I was completely invested in these characters.This book has its fair share of angst. There were a lot of ups and downs. I adored the characters, broken as they were. I enjoyed that the story kept me guessing. The dialogue was believable and well-written. I liked that it was primarily written from Toby's perspective. I found that refreshing. I liked the way Kennedy's chapters were written, as flashbacks. Her flashbacks complemented Toby's chapters very well and gave more insight into her past and her character, without directly writing chapters in her perspective. Lyla Payne has made a new fan with this novel and I look forward to more from her and this series.**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. **