“I know I’m no good for you, that I should push you away, that I have no right to ask for a damn thing from you.” He pauses, the silence humming with unspoken words. “But I can’t help myself from wanting you anyway.”
SQUEEEE!!!!
I absolutely LOVED this book!!! I was hooked from the first page and didn’t want to put it down until the end. It was the perfect mix of everything I could want in an awesome romance!!! It was SEXY, SWOONY, SASSY, and SWEET, but also suspenseful, hilarious, emotional, and fast-paced. The feisty heroine had me laughing out loud over and over again, and the mysterious brooding Alpha hero stole my heart!!!
“Because the only time the ghosts disappear from his eyes is when he’s looking at you.”
It’s either a forbidden or unrequited love story (depending on whether you look at it from his or her perspective) and it’s loaded to the brim with rapid-fire epic banter, a witty and sarcastic inner monologue from the heroine, and a whole lot of heart-melting romance!!
“Maybe he’s just… emotionally damaged and in need of a good woman to straighten him out.”
“Now who’s the dim-witted one. Are you really falling for the damaged bad-boy trope?”
“You know I have a weakness for pretty boys with secret pain.”
The set-up of the story is that Phoebe has been in love with with Nate/Knox (same dude) since they were kids, but due to the unlucky fact that she happened to also be his best friend’s little sister, that put her firmly off-limits to him according to their bro code… Even though he’d always been drawn to her and despite always being there for her when she needed something, he never looked at her the way she wanted him to. To her, it seemed like he was never interested in her, especially since as soon as he was old enough, he left home to go be a professional badass with the Special Forces. She tried her best to move on over the years, but her heart just wouldn’t let go of its intense attachment to the one man she couldn’t have. But in the present day, when her life is put in danger, he suddenly steps back into her life to protect her…
His eyes narrow. “I told you not to go out with O’Pry. You didn’t listen. You never listen.” His voice gets low, lethal. “This time, you’re going to listen, even if I have to handcuff you to my fucking bed.”
“Hot,” Lila whispers under her breath.
“Seriously,” Gemma agrees.
I ignore them.
And, for the first time ever, their feelings for each other come out into the open 😀
“Are you going to kiss me?” I ask quietly.
He pauses. “Thinking about it.”
I gulp and hope it’s not too obvious…
“Are you weighing the pros and cons?” I ask, leaning into his touch.
“Only cons here.” He shakes his head. “You and me… we’re a story that won’t have a happy ending. A tragedy. Nothing good comes from a tragedy.”
“Well, maybe… Maybe I’d rather live in the wreckage with you for a while than fake a fairy tale with someone else forever.”
The whole story is told from Phoebe’s POV, and it’s all in a present day timeline with no flashbacks (except one little scene when they first met as kids). And let me tell you, this girl is SO MUCH FUN!!! Omg. I totally want to be her BFF. Each chapter starts with this hilarious little pearl of wisdom from her that had me chuckling every time. Here are a few examples:
I’VE HAD HUNDREDS OF BOYFRIENDS.
SO WHAT IF THEY’RE FICTIONAL?
DON’T YOU DARE JUDGE OUR LOVE.
Phoebe West, on the many merits of book boyfriends.DID THE FIRST CATERPILLAR TO EVER CHANGE INTO
A BUTTERFLY JUST TOTALLY FREAK THE HELL OUT?
Phoebe West, pondering evolution.SOME PEOPLE BRAG ABOUT ONE NIGHT STANDS.
WHATEVER. I’VE GOT TWO NIGHT STANDS.
EITHER SIDE OF MY BED.
Phoebe West, upon hearing her best friend lost her v-card after prom.
You can absolutely, 100% read this as a complete standalone. That’s what I did. It is interconnected with the other standalone (below) but reading the other one is optional. You can either read them together or separately. I chose to read this alone and was fully satisfied and never confused and…. I LOVED IT!!!!
“Because love, real love, the kind that lasts forever… it’s not patient or kind. Not pretty or perfect. It’s rough and hard as all hell. it’s ugly.” He steps closer, eyes never shifting from mine. “Love is holding someone’s filthy, tarnished heart in your hands and claiming it as yours anyway.”
I highly recommend this if you’re looking for an AWESOME light-hearted romance that’ll have you swooning, laughing, and falling in love, mixed in with a dash of suspense!! It’s a TOP FAVORITE!
Rating: 4.5 stars! Standalone romance.
_________________________________
*** FULL SERIES ***
Both standalones about different couples
(do not need to be read together)
NOT YOU IT’S ME
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback
CROSS THE LINE
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback
Valerie says
I’m reading this right now actually and I’m also loving it!
Aestas says
I’m so glad to hear that 😀
Steph says
Loving this too now — its hilarious!
Aestas says
YAY!! It really is 😀
Merry Taina says
Just got my copy–I cannot wait!!!! thank you!!1
Aestas says
You’re very welcome!! Happy reading 😀
LeAnn says
It sounds great! I had to one click, thanks!
Aestas says
You’re so welcome!! 😀
Amy says
I read this in one day, I couldn’t put it down! My favorite you have recommended by far and there have been many that I have loved! Keep them coming ?
andrea anna says
I just read this and loved it. My favorite part that hit my funny bone was right out of the prologue. it’s where Knox(nate) says the eulogy for the turtle dove. The next day, I couldn’t get the damn song out of my head. love all the recommendations.
Primrose says
I got hooked so bad that I have dreams of Nate now ahah . I related so much with Pheebs the whole damn time!