Review: Another wonderful 4.5 star read from the talented Allyson Lindt.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 19, 2013
I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.Another wonderful 4.5 star read from the talented Allyson Lindt. I am really enjoying this series - she is one of the authors slowly turning me into a CR fan.When I first met Riley in "Conflict of Interest" (Bits & Bytes #1), which was Kenzie and Scott's book, I really didn't like her that much. I found her to be flighty and somewhat insincere. By the end of the book I started to like her and I realized, when I was thinking about why my feelings for her had changed, that what we saw of Riley we saw through Kenzie's eyes. As the relationship between the sisters began to change to one of tolerance and support instead of being adversarial and/or disapproving, Kenzie's view of Riley changed. To me, this is the mark of good authors - you are so connected to and invested in their characters that when their opinion of someone changes yours does as well.Toeing the Line is book #2 (but the actual third book) in the Bits & Bytes series. This book follows Riley, Kenzie's twin, and her BFF Zane who has just returned home from a stint in the Army. These two have been best friends since high school and have always been there for each other to pick up the pieces when one romance or another, for either of them, does not work out.Their reunion is a little awkward at first. The tone of their relationship had changed while he was overseas and they were communicating online. As well, they had not had much contact with each other in the last two years due to his posting/assignment. Now that Zane is home long-term, he and Riley try and pick up where they left off. Zane wants to step in and protect Riley from herself and the world in general and Riley misses the other comforts of being in a relationship with a man so they decide to become "friends with benefits" or as the blurb puts it, they are engaging in "some sport sex with a hint of kink."Of course this isn't going to stop either of them from continuing to search for their "Prince/Princess Charming" - that one perfect person that makes them feel whatever it is you are supposed to feel when you are in love with someone.  But what happens when two best friends become even more to each other? Can they possibly already be what they have been searching for? How do you know when love is LOVE? What happens to friendship when friends become lovers?In this book Allyson tackles the difficult concept of transitioning friends to lovers to a hopefully successful, actual couple. She manages to sidestep all the cliché misunderstandings and silly moments where you just want to headslap the characters by staying true to them and their friendship with each other. Yes, there are moments when one does something incredibly stupid and hurts the other but it is an honest stupid mistake - something one thought the other would like or want - and not a contrived misunderstanding that causes the issue. And when others lie to them to try and separate them - well read the book to see just how funny and insane and unique and inspired these two really are.I can't wait to see who is next....  *hehe I actually know but I'm not telling!*