Review: I don't read Melody's books. I devour them.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 21, 2014
After reading the prequel novella to this book, Unrequited, I was desperate to read more of Dex and Alicia. I loved their passion and that exciting anticipation both of them had when they were together. The novella ends with Dex making an alluring proposition- one that is sure to rock Alicia's world, should she agree.Pacing: I don't read Melody's books. I devour them. It's easy to lose myself in her words for hours and then realize that the outside world actually still does exist. I am so excited that Melody is starting a new chapter in the Beachwood Bay series with the Callahans. We meet Dex's sister Tegan in this novel and his brothers are briefly referenced. Even though these books can be read as a stand alone, it's always more fun to know the background story of some of the other characters, so I would personally recommend starting from the beginning if you haven't already. (I promise you won't regret it!)Storyline: I really enjoyed Dex and Alicia's storyline. I know there are a lot of people that can relate to Alicia's situation and that makes you feel for her that much more. Being in love with someone who is in love with someone else is never an easy pill to swallow. Alicia has never been the one to put herself out there, so she is left with all these 'what ifs' and it really hinders her from living her life the way she should. Meeting ex-rocker Dex Callahan changes everything for her. All of a sudden, she has this incredibly sexy man offering to make her forget everything except for how he can make her feel. Dex has demons of his own, but he finds Alicia can also make him forget.... even if just for a little while. However, neither Alicia nor Dex can truly forget just by losing themselves in one another. The past is always looming and has to be faced head on in order for them to move forward. Alicia will have to accept once and for all that the man she loves isn't hers and she will never be happy if she doesn't let him go. Dex carries a lot of guilt over an incident that occurred the previous year with one of his bandmates and he will have to make peace with that before he will be able to move on as well.Characters: I really liked both Alicia and Dex. Together the two have some explosive chemistry. I love how Dex challenges Alicia to just let go and not get hung up on how crazy it might be or what others will think.I said in my Unrequited review that Dex may be Melody's baddest boy yet. His dirty talk scandalizes Alicia at first, but she can't deny that it's a total turn-on. Despite having some issues haunting him from the past, I love how passionate Dex is about everything. He doesn't do anything halfway- he's all in and isn't afraid to say what he wants or how he feels. I really liked that about him. When he finally does let Alicia in, it's so cathartic for him, but I hate that he feels she wouldn't want to stay with him and that he just expects her to abandon ship.Alicia isn't one to abandon the people she cares about when the going gets tough. We especially see that with Hunter. She desperately loves him and she knows that her friendship with him is tearing her apart, but she still won't let him go. I am happy with the way Grace resolved this issue and I felt it was very fitting for Alicia's character. I wasn't sure if I would like Alicia after reading Hunter and Brit's book, Unafraid. I'm always very protective of my couples and Alicia felt like the interloper. I am glad we got to read her story and see that she never had any ill-intent towards Brit or felt the need to try and ruin her and Hunter's relationship.My heart ached for Alicia. She is lonely and it hurts seeing the man she loves, love someone that's not her. Ever since she met Hunter in college, Alicia has been holding out hope that one day he would stop and notice her not just as a good friend, but as something more. By doing this, she has seriously hindered herself, not just sexually, but socially as well. I loved seeing her lose herself with Dex and actually open herself up for once- to realize that a relationship with Hunter will never happen and that she is missing out on so much because of her reticence to move on.Even though the book primarily focused on Dex and Alicia, we do get to see some of our old favorites as well. I am really excited about one new character, however. Dex's sister Tegan completely blows in like a hurricane and when I read the first chapter of her book Unstoppable, at the end of this novel, I squealed like a little kid. I can't say much about her love interest, but MAN. I am so freaking pumped! I liked Tegan though. She strikes me as a very no-nonsense kind of girl, who is incredibly loyal to those she cares about. She has been dealt a rather difficult hand in life and I am looking forward to seeing how she handles the painful events from her past and how they will shape her future.Final Thoughts: This is one sexy read and I always love being back in Beachwood Bay. I cannot wait to see where Melody goes next and I know I'm in for quite a ride with Tegan's book.... and I cannot WAIT!