Review: Scarlett & Stephan: Continued
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 09 6, 2013
**Warning: turn back if you have not yet read the first book in the series, Jaded. There will be some spoilers for that book in this review.**"I push people that I love away. Not because I'm selfish, but because I don't know how to depend on others. I'm used to being alone. And in this moment, I hate my mom and dad even more because I know they made me like this. I'm so used to being on my own, that I don't know how to act when somebody cares for me."I am very, very relieved to be able to say that I liked Scarlett much more in this book. I didn't find her to be nearly as conceited or immature in this book. No, running away from the problems she feels she caused with her family and friends in Jaded wasn't exactly mature, but at least she was able to admit that she was wrong and work to rectify it. She's still a huge drama queen, but I can't really blame her for that."Besides, can I really love?What is love?IS this love? Maybe I'm just so pathetic that I'm trying to feel something that isn't there."As she returns to Hope to right the wrongs, I wanted her to succeed. I wanted her and Stephan to work things out. They've reached a stalemate. They want each other, but neither is ready to reveal their true, full feelings for the other. Scarlett loves him and wants him. She wants to move things forward physically, but she refuses to give in until he says he loves her. Stephan obviously cares deeply for Scarlett, but doesn't want to tell a woman he loves her until he's sure she's THE ONE. That she'll be his wife. Their insecure back-and-forth dialogue on this topic was about to kill me. I just wanted to yell at them to communicate! Someone take a chance here!I thought the filming of the "documentary" was a nice addition. It amped up the drama and kickstarted Scarlett's career again. It was nice to see her take a stand for herself. I don't know that I believe book one Scarlett would have. I think she would have been content to sit back and let everyone else run her life while she was out having fun. I was very pleased with the way she matured.While I was sad that there wasn't as much Ethan in this book, I was thrilled beyond belief with the additional time given to Bridgett and Alec. While their course is totally predictable, I enjoyed reading it. I liked seeing Alec as vulnerable. It was a huge change from the character that was originally introduced, IMHO.The family drama and secrets continue to surface during this book, with both Scarlett and Stephan's families. It was interesting to see how everything was interconnected. Some of it took me by surprise. Everything in this book happened at warp speed. It's easy to assume it took longer for the drama to unfold, but it was really just a matter of months. That was the only part I had a hard time buying into. The book finished with a bang and I was relieved to be able to dive right into the third and final book at its conclusion.Because I don't give half stars, I went back and forth on whether or not to give this book 3 or 4 stars. It was a better book than the first in the series, but when I began comparing it to other books I've rated at 4 stars as of late, it was clearly closer to a 3 star read than a 4 star read for me.I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.