It wasn't bad, but I really didn't like neither the hero, nor the heroine of this story. Two and a half stars. ( )

This book was trash, but very entertaining trash.

Did it have a sorta actually really now that I think about it problematic relationship? Yep. Do I understand that this relationship is really not great? Yep. Did I still like it? Uh... Is this where I'm supposed to say yep again?

No, actually, the answer is not really.

This book was good in that I found myself getting sucked into it and not putting it down for an hour or two, but other than that and the fact that it had some pretty decent steam, I mostly had issues with this book.

My main problem comes from “Mister Romance”aka a guy whose name I’ve always forgotten, (I swear why do I always forget the love interest’s name in these type of books!) but for the sake of spoilers and keeping my reviews free of them, I won’t go into too great a detail of them. Obviously with his profession his character comes with some flaws, but he always felt just sort of fake. Even when it was the “real” him, I found it hard to believe him or root for him.

Second problem? The fun side characters just disappeared after the first half of the book. Like honestly, for once in a decent book can our main character actually act like they're friends with they're friends? Is that too much to ask because girl, honestly you can bet I'd be telling my pals about these crazy things that are happening and asking for their thoughts or maybe at least talking to them. Ouch please it hurts.

Compared to Leisa Rayven's other book that I've read, Bad Romeo, the writing seemed to have taken just a step down and read more like a cheap, trashy NA novel than a decent book. (Actually that description fits it pretty well). I even feel like this was published after BR so shouldn't it be better? I'm not even going to dig up some quotes as evidence since I'm that lazy, but I literally skipped the last couple steamy scenes because I was cringing too hard

But what was I to expect? New Adult isn’t supposed to be some literary masterpiece. I didn’t go into this book expecting it to be so, but I mean... things could have been better. Much better. And I still enjoyed it? Sure I did, actually quite a bit, but it just wasn't a good book.
( )

Its easier to make excuses and build emotional walls around one's heart than to face the reality of rejection or truly seeing their own worth as valuable. Priceless even.

The author writes well-rounded, dimensional characters with their own prohibitive pasts and baggage. I can relate to the reality of things we tell ourselves to keep from opening an old scar or avoid pain.

Swoony, intelligent, and TallDarkAndHandsome making up for his past and a fiercely independent, yet strong, likeable woman avoiding her future by regaling herself to accepting less. Leisa keeps the reader guessing in what could have been a predictably average love story. But it wasnt. She definitely hit this out of the park. Did I mention swoony?

Good read and intentional or not, a fine message indeed. Go READ!

ps. Ive been reading this author for years ::insert the I Knew Her Whens here:: Im certain youll be seeing a lot more of her books in the future. ( )