Book Review — KISS THE SKY (The Addicted Series) by Krista & Becca Ritchie

“You’re not a pit stop. You’re my finish line. There’s no one after you… I want you for eternity, not for a brief moment in time.”

• Buy KISS THE SKY (Kindle) 
  
• Buy ADDICTED TO YOU (Kindle) – first book in the series

 

WOW. WOW. W-O-W.

This is one of the most addictive series I have EVER read!! And it just keeps on getting better and better. Krista & Becca Ritchie have outdone themselves. Every single word was brilliant. The Addicted series is without a doubt one of THE best New Adult romance series out there. It has everything in spades — fantastic writing, an original plot line, and characters you can’t help but fall in love with.

READ THESE BOOKS, GUYS!!!!!!

 

I’ll be honest. It took me a long time to be able to process my thoughts on this book into actual words. For the first several hours after reading, the only thing running through my mind was along the lines of…

ZOMGTHESEBOOKSAREFUCKINGAMAZING
YOUALLHAVETOREADTHEMNOWWWWWW!!!

… but clearly, I needed to come up with something better than that so here goes:

 

Virgin. Sex addict. Daredevil. Alcoholic. Smartass. Jackass. 

In the first three books of this series, we were introduced to Lily & Lo as the main couple, but also got to know Ryke & Daisy, and Connor & Rose as side characters, and in Kiss The Sky, the spotlight was turned onto Connor and Rose. I’d been looking forward to their story ever since I first met them. Kiss The Sky was easily one of my most highly anticipated book releases and it blew me away!!! 

In the aftermath of the scandal that went public at the end of last book, Rose needed to find a way to paint her family in a better light or risk losing her business, Calloway Couture, and everything that she’d worked for. So she decided to sign her and her five friends up to star in a reality TV show. This meant that Lily, Lo, Daisy, Ryke, and her and Connor would be living together and filmed for 6 months by three cameramen who followed them around day and night.

“6 people + 6 months + 3 cameramen + 1 reality show = infinite drama. I’ve done the math.”

While all six friends featured heavily in this story, the main focus of this book was on Rose and Connor. We saw everything through their eyes. We saw what happened in their past that shaped them into the people they were now, we saw what drove them, and what scared them, and what they wanted most.

Honestly, it was absolutely fascinating to see the world through their perspective, especially the way they saw each other. Connor understood Rose in a way that no one else did. He saw through her walls and right into her heart.

“Rose Calloway was different. She was fashionable. But not a sorority girl. She was a genius on paper. But not a team player. She was quick to loathe others. But not against loving them. She was a complicated equation that didn’t need to be solved.”

Rose saw the real him too but…could only see as much of him as he chose to show to the world. Despite caring deeply for her, he found it hard to express his true feelings in so many words. But he and Rose somehow just worked perfectly together. It was so fun to see them verbally spar back and forth. They were competitive, but in the best way.

“He wears confidence like his most expensive suit, with style and dignity and so much charm. I immediately want to combat him, to match him smile for smile, grin for grin, word for word.”

They were such a unique pair. Connor was the only guy who’d ever been able to truly handle Rose without either getting overruled or turned away. He was neither stronger nor weaker than her. He was her perfect match.

“I’m not the hero.
I’m the king to Rose’s queen.”

But here was the twist to their relationship — they were equals on every level, except sex. Rose was a genius, a strong, confident woman in charge of her world, but she was also a virgin in completely over her head because in this one respect, Connor had a definite upper hand. Luckily though, being the amazing person that he was, he never once pushed her beyond her comfort zone.  I loved the way he waited for her and was endlessly patient. It made me melt. He knew all along what she wanted but was willing to wait for her to realize it herself.

“You’re safe with me, you know that, Rose?… I won’t ever hurt you.”

And ho-ly HOTNESS, guys!! I have to say that while I didn’t see it coming in the previous books, there was a kinky twist to Connor that just fit his personality so perfectly and had me fanning myself for pages on end.

“I think we both know there’s only one dominant here.”

Oh yeahhh!!! 😀

But if anything can best describe Connor, I think it’s this one quote:

“My power is in my confidence.
It’s that simple.
Their belief that it’s something more – that it’s something greater – is what makes the effect so strong. They need me to be their sturdy unbending fortress.
So I am here.”

In this book, they had so much to deal with — their relationship, Lily & Lo’s relationship (and the aftermath of the events of the first books), how her business was doing, etc — all of this on it’s own would have been a lot of it’s own but add in a reality show to the mix — where every single moment of their lives was caught on film and broadcasted to the world by a producer whose apparent life’s mission was just to fuck with them — and you have a situation brimming with tension, angst and heightened emotion.

Overall, this series truly has one of THE best ensemble casts I’ve ever read. The character dymanics are just GOLD and the dialogue is fantastic. Every little interaction between the cast just shone.

The WRITING was fantastic. I adore these authors’ style. It’s smart, snappy and just draws you IN. There is not a single wasted word and I absolutely loved it. I swear, half my book is highlighted.

“As she rests on my lap, something strong grips my heart. I’ve never been so possessed by another person before. She consumes my body and mind in ways that I can’t articulate.”

The whole story was built on this complex network of all the entwined relationships — some were new, some were built over years, some were bonded by blood, and others were bonded by love. Everything was so multi-layered, and there were so many stories happening at once that were all connected, all linked. It was fascinating. Exciting. Addicting. Compelling. It was romantic. Steamy. Emotional. Beautiful.

But, just as with the first books in the series, I have to applaud the authors because never once did I feel like anything went overboard. Every single event, every piece of drama made perfect sense for the story. It fit. No eye-rolling or Kindle-throwing. The entire story was well paced and meticulously planned out.

I love getting lost in these characters’ world and I absolutely love each one of these main characters. I love their insecurities, flaws, and strengths. I love how despite having their misunderstanding and disagreements within each other, they are always united against an outside threat. They support each other, have each others’ back. They protect each other.

“These five people mean more to me than words can express. I’ve never once felt like I had a real family.
But with them – I know I do.”

Some lines were so hit me so strongly that out of nowhere, I’d just find tears running down my face…

“We’d be the walls that shield these terrible events from them. We can endure the pain for however long they need to heal.”

Without a doubt, this is one of the most addictive series I have ever read. I loved every single word and read this book as slowly as I could trying to make the story last as long as possible. I didn’t want it to end. Some books are worth losing sleep over. This is one of those.

The Addicted series truly stands out in the New Adult romance world. Krista and Becca Ritchie keep raising the bar. This is one of those series that started out strong, and just keeps getting stronger. It’s truly one-of a kind. There is nothing else even remotely close to this out out there. THIS is a series to watch for.

Rating: 5 stars!!!

• Buy KISS THE SKY (Kindle)
• Buy ADDICTED TO YOU (Kindle) – first book in the series

 

 

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*** TIMELINE EXPLANATION & READING ORDER ***

The Addicted series has a core ensemble cast of 3 main couples: Lily & Lo, Rose & Connor, and Ryke & Daisy. They are all present in each of the books and their stories are all closely connected.

The books this series should be read in order and tell one continuous story. A huge part of why I am so in love with and so addicted to this series is because I know these characters. I’ve been through their ups and downs, I’ve seen their struggles and triumphs, and so each new development in their story has a lot of meaning to me. Everything carries more weight because I know what these guys have been through to get where they are. In my opinion, these characters deserve to have their story appreciated to the max, and that will come with reading the books in order.

If it helps to know…

• The first three books (Addicted To You, Ricochet, Addicted For Now) are focused on Lily & Lo and told from their POV with a resolved ending at the end of Addicted For Now.

• Then Kiss The Sky continues the same storyline but from a different perspective (Rose & Connors) and while it focuses on their story, it also continues the journey of all the main characters that we’ve been introduced to. It has it’s own HEA.

• The next book (Hothouse Flower) is the same deal but focuses on a different couple (Daisy & Ryke) while continuing the stories of all 3 couples as well. It also has it’s own HEA.

• After that, Thrive & Addicted After All go back to focusing on Lily & Lo. Thrive contains their POV during the previous 2 books. Addicted After All will move forward in time in their POV while continuing the story of all 3 couples.

• Finally, Fuel The Fire (Rose & Connor) and Long Way Down (Daisy & Ryke) will conclude the series.

It is perfectly safe to jump in and start reading this series now. You will not be left hanging! I promise. Cross my heart. No cliffhangers where the story is at now! And – please please please start reading these books, guys. They are just wonderful!!! 😀