Review: Kylie Ryans may be living her dream, but as we can see from the beginning- she isn't really living at all...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 6, 2014
Kylie Ryans may be living her dream, but as we can see from the very first pages- she isn't really living at all....The highly anticipated conclusion to the Kylie Ryans series is finally here! And let me say- it did NOT disappoint. After the heartbreaking ending to Girl on Tour, I was more than ready to find out what would happen next for Kylie and Trace. Their journey together has been a rollercoaster ride- filled with ups and downs, twists and turns. While it may have caused my emotions to go into overload, it was worth every moment and every heartbreak. One of the greatest things about this series is Quinn's character development. I started out the series enjoying Kylie's spunky, feisty, heart-on-her-sleeve attitude and I couldn't stand Trace's arrogance and how he could jerk her back and forth. However, as the story progressed, I found myself falling for Trace (just a bit later than everyone else!). He is definitely a complex character. You really have to peel through his layers to discover the man he really is, but once you do- oh it's worth it!In Girl in Love, my heart ached for both Kylie and Trace as both are have been hurt by the other and have to decide how to forge ahead when their paths eventually cross. Kylie is a shell of the girl we met in Girl With Guitar. No longer bright eyed and bushy-tailed- Kylie has known true heartbreak and sorrow and has given everything her heart could possible give. She is completely numb to the world and throws herself into her music. Her friends are concerned for her and see right past her 'everything is fine' faade. It was very hard to see Kylie this way!Trace had to make a big decision concerning his well being, and while he may have handled it poorly concerning Kylie, he thought he was doing what was best for all involved. Now, after seeking the help he needs to battle his addiction, he is ready to continue his music. As fate throws him and Kylie back together, the big question remains: can the two find their way back to each other and finally have their happily ever after or is there too much pain and betrayal to overcome?After months of separation, Kylie finds she is still not unaffected by Trace Corbin. Seeing him hurts and knowing that he may be with someone else absolutely shatters her. As much as she tries to move forward, he is always at the forefront of her mind, drawing her back in. Kylie is one stubborn girl in this book and I found myself really frustrated with her. However, Trace frustrated me just as equally! He knows what needs to be said if he ever has a shot at getting his girl back and yet he ends up protecting his own heart by making jokes and teasing her when that's the last thing she needs to hear. But, Trace really speaks through his actions and we see how much he loves Kylie on so many occasions because of what he does and how he is there for her.Since Kylie and Trace's road has been so wrought with its ups and downs, I believe the two have gained a deeper appreciation of love and how it should never be taken for granted. There are some people you can live without, but there are some people you don't WANT to live without. Kylie and Trace have not been truly happy in more than a year and when they both remember back to when they were happiest- it was with one another. Sometimes the best kind of love is the one you have to fight to hell and back for and that is what Trace and Kylie did.Girl in Love wouldn't be complete without discussing the role of its side characters. Steven, Mia, Lulu, Hannah, Mike, and Gretchen all play such pivotal roles in the lives of our two main characters. I confess, I had a hard time liking Steven because I knew he was no replacement for Trace. I am glad Quinn took that storyline in the direction she did, because Kylie and Steven were better suited as just friends. Lulu and Mike (a member of Trace's band) had some great quality time with Kylie and I really liked watching them together. Kylie needs her friends to keep her grounded and I loved how they weren't afraid to give it to her straight no matter what. Mia also falls in this category. I was prepared to hate Mia from the last book, but she ended up being a much better friend to Kylie than I ever would have thought. Gretchen is back also, but in what capacity, well you'll have to read to find out!Kylie and Trace have some pretty heavy decisions to make in this book and not just for their own relationship. Careers are at risk and Kylie and Trace both will have to choose the direction they want their lives to take- and if music will remain at the center of it all....