Review: 6 Amazing STARS!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 1, 2014
Books pull MANY, many, emotions from their readers. And many of those emotions, at least for me, are hard to describe. Especially when you're so consumed by the beauty of the writing that you didn't realize what you were feeling until it's over.5+1 emotion-filled STARS!!!This is one of those books - it pulled every emotion and feeling.  It was a short read - but there is SO MUCH packed into this book!  It's one of those book that will stay with you forever!  I like to read and then marinate in the book for a few days.  But this book has book has been on my mind since I put it down!  This was a 'book #1' so I will be one of the many readers stalking author Gia Riley!!  This book has sexy lust, soul-searing love, brutally honest friendship.  And more!"A chance meeting has become one of the most meaningful moments in my life... I'd like to believe that we would have found a way to each other anyway, but I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason."Without giving any spoilers... Here we go!Hallie is sassy, an over-analyzer, she's a perfectionist, and this combination makes her seem... quirky.  She is everything most of our heroines are not - but in a good way.  A refreshing way!  She wants what all women wants and won't settle for anything less. The ultimate "cheesy love quest.""I want to be kissed in the rain, get lost on the subway in a big city, or meet a sexy stranger and make passionate love like we are the last two people on Earth."She's just finished nursing school and as she starts her new job in the emergency room she has no idea that it will change her life - forever.  I loved her over thinking, her easy banter with her bestie Alex!  I loved her.  And let me just say that Alex is hilarious and is one of the best BFF characters I've read!When Ryan and Sean enter the picture I went from liking the book to loving the book.  At first, I thought Sean had some creeper tendencies.  But as I really go to know him - I quickly found him to be a really good guy.  Just laid back and compassionate but not a pushover.  He's a guy that any girl would fall head over heels for.  And Ryan... he's not afraid to go after Hallie.  He calls Hallie out on the way he makes her feel.  He's one of the sweetest characters ever!  He's always doing things for Hallie when she doesn't expect them.  Major brownie points for him!I have to admit that when I read that there were 2 men with affections for Hallie, I couldn't wait for the tug-o-war to begin.  I couldn't wait for the battle I was sure would ensue.  But that didn't happen.  And I wasn't disappointed.  Instead I found myself smiling that 2 people could find each other and love so deeply, so strongly, so fast.  I was amazed by the insta-love that I wasn't upset about.  I've said that many times in my reviews.... 'it was too inst-love'.  But this between Hallie and (no spoilers) guy 1 was so emotional for me.  In their time together in the book, their honest banter, their connection, the sexual tension evoked every emotion I have and some I didn't.  It was sweet and passionate - ALWAYS."You have inched your way into every part of my life, consuming me completely.  My heart is yours, pretty girl.  You just have to take it."When tragedy strikes - and it strikes like lightning, crashing around everyone - I couldn't catch my breath from crying so hard.  Yep that's right.  The ugly cry.  And it wasn't so much what happened, it was, but it was more how the author wrote so poetically to make us feel... everything.  Made me feel every word from Hallie, guy 2, Alex, and the rest of the amazing secondary cast.  I felt her guilt, her every emotion as if it happened to me.  And the way she honors that first relationship - ohmigod!!  So heart-wrenching and brave.  It was nothing short of beautiful."I will forever be locked in my memories, but they won't control me.  They will only bring me joy, because somewhere between the pain, I'm finding happiness again."I'm a huge fan of this author!  I will read anything she writes.  She re-writes the phone book - it's on my TBR pile.  Gia Riley has become one of my favorite authors.  She took amazing characters and let them develop and evolve into some of the best ever!  I cannot wait for book #2 and cannot wait to see what Hallie and guy #2 have in store for us!!