Review: A good start to the series.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 11 22, 2013
3.25 starsThis is one of those stories that grabs you from the start and doesn't let go until the very end. But it's also one of those stories where you just want to smack some sense into the heroine but not in the 'would-you-please-open-your-eyes' sort of way, but more in the 'Girl, you-have-gotten-on-my-last-damn-nerve!' kinda way.From the start, I had a feeling that Callie was not going to be my favorite character. Don't get me wrong, she wasn't awful in any way but she did get on my nerves more than the average heroine. Although she had a lot of positive traits, her indecisiveness and whiplash-inducing thoughts stood among the rest, which didn't help her case in winning me over. That having been said, I did enjoy the way she interacted with the other characters. She was fun, caring and outgoing and the easy camaraderie she had with those friends was what ultimately kept me interested in the story. Making this an enjoyable read in that respect.Joe, on the other hand, was so utterly perfect that I couldn't get enough of him. He was sweet and caring and adorably torn about his feelings for Callie. I enjoyed his loyalty and sense of honor. He had a great relationship with his friends which showcased his caring side and loving personality. I loved him!Louise J did a wonderful job in bringing to the page the sense of family that these group of friends had. I enjoyed what each and every one of them added to the story and what each of their interactions revealed about the main characters.My greatest complaint has to be that the story covered over 10 years in total. It made it difficult for me to believe that two people would hold out that long without letting their feelings known. And then to have Callie make that stupid decision? Hell, I was about to stop reading - I was that unhappy. But by that point I was invested in the outcome of the story, so I continued on. Yes, I was hooked!I wouldn't say that this was one of my favorite reads, but only because Callie didn't live up to my expectations and hers and Joe's journey to be together expanded across too many years. However, the characters were interesting, the sex superb and the emotions abundant. A good start to the series.All in all, a story about friendship, loyalty and never letting go.