Review: Oh Berkeley, be still my beating heart!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 11, 2014
One of my favourite reads so far this year! This book has everything I love in a great story, amazing characters, laugh out loud moments, plenty of romance and even some tear inducing moments. Did I mention I have severe Cover Love? GORGEOUS!Olivia Bloom has made the BIG MOVE out to L.A in pursuit of her dreams of being a costume designer. She settles into her new life, finds a great job and some fabulous friends then her whole world gets turned upside down. Enters Berkeley Dalton, the utterly gorgeous  lead singer of Berkeley and the Brightside which happens to be Olivia's favourite band. Beyond Olivia's comprehension, Berkeley pursues her and they embark on a passionate and loving 'adventure' together. Unfortunately, dating the worlds biggest rock star has its disadvantages which leads Olivia to question if she's really cut out for that lifestyle."It must be hard for you to know if someone likes you for just you - to find Team Adventure""Team Adventure? What's that?" he asks after a curious pause. He sounds amused."It's my dream," I answer, beginning to get drowsy. It's getting late, and after all the wine at dinner my guard is weakening. "I just want to find that person I can't stand to be without. Where I don't want to be independent anymore, and regardless of where Im going or what I'm doing, I know it will be more fun if they're there with me, and vice versa," I mumble, my eyes getting heavy. "I want to be part of a team that no matter what... we're in it together... its our adventure... and we wouldn't have it any other way."I loved how this story came about. Initially a blog, Katie started writing the story as a way to drive people to the Jonquil lingerie website. She began the story as a engaged woman (as the lingerie line was focused on Bridal) and started telling the back story. Two chapters were released every week and the readers were given opportunities to contribute by voting on outfits Olivia would wear (the winning outfit would appear in the story and the winner would win some lingerie). Each character has their own twitter account and would interact throughout the whole journey (some of their tweets actually end up in the book as chapter headings) Then Katie decided it was time to self-publish, but somehow ended up with a 3 book deal with Entangled Embrace.So the story? Well... its awesome! It flows so beautifully, and the inclusion of the tweets really brings the characters to real life. Olivia is fun, loveable and easily relatable. On the shy side, she is easily tongue tied and seems to be a magnet for mishaps. I really did cringe and feel sorry for her quite a few times. Olivia and Berkeley's romance really is something dreams are made of. The famous Rock Star falling in love with your everyday girl, chasing and romancing her, its perfection."I hate that people are judging me without giving me a chance to make an impression, but would I trade anonymity for Berkeley? What if I never met him? An image of bleak, lacklustre days stretching before me with no promise of how alive I feel right now presents itself and I have my answer."Speaking of perfection, there's Berkeley.  Underneath his public persona, there's a man with a lot of love to give, looking for the perfect someone to share it with. After his first meeting with Olivia, he realises there is something special about her but he's torn. He doesn't want to let her go without giving them a proper chance however he doesn't want her to have to deal with the craziness his life ensures. He's sweet, caring and charming (all my favourite qualities in a book boyfriend) and that makes him irresistible. I found myself quickly falling in love with him, and he cements that love throughout the book (I should add it also helped that I pictured Devin Paisley as Berkeley) ."He looks at me and softens. "I'm not captivating - far from it, actually. I'm just honest. And to be honest, I've never met anyone I liked more than you. And, for once in my life, I don't care who knows it."The secondary characters also added the extra spark to this book. Parker and Blair seem like my kind of friends, you just know that when they're together its going to be a fun time. They push Liv outside her comfort zone, yet they're always there to pick her up if she falls. they're hilariously funny and sometimes crude, but that's what makes them even more loveable.  I'd love to have a cocktail in the courtyard with them ANY DAY. Then there's Psychic Mom. She's a quirky one, but I enjoyed the energy she provided.There's a HEA, albeit a little rushed I think. I was hoping for more, and the epilogue didn't really satisfy that need (I'm just greedy like that) Part of me hopes that the next book is about Liv and Berkeley, just as long as there isn't any unnecessary drama (I'd hate for these two to be put through the ringer again) Either way I absolutely loved this book and I'm looking forward to reading more from Katie.