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Review

The ULTIMATE angsty, love triangle book.

I have just finished my 3rd/4th (?) reread of this book, and I love it more every time.

The story begins with Keira Allen and her boyfriend Denny moving to Seattle from Ohio. He has just graduated College and scored a great job, and she, being the supportive and loving girlfriend that she is, happily transfers Colleges and moves across the country so that she can be with him… especially as they get to live together for the very first time. They have a room lined up in the house of Denny’s childhood friend, Kellan, the singer in a local rock band, and who is sexy, drop dead gorgeous and quite possibly the biggest man-whore in town. The three of them get along brilliantly, Denny starts his dream job, and Keira finds work waitressing at Pete’s, the bar where Kellan and his band, the D-bags, regularly play and hang out.

And then it all starts to change. Drawn to Kellan from the very beginning, Keira stars to have feelings for her boyfriend’s best friend. It starts small, but lots of little moments together (“Mornin’”… SWOOOOOOON) lead to something a lot more meaningful, and when Denny has to leave town for a bit, the flirting ramps up, the playful touching is suddenly not so playful, and the UST builds and builds until it all explodes.

Hot damn! The chemistry between Kellan and Keira is freakishly INTENSE, and they can’t seem to stay away from each other. There is a very powerful attraction and deep feelings on both sides, but Keira is still very much in love with and devoted to Denny.

The rest of the book is absolute rollercoaster as Keira is torn between two amazing guys, both of whom love her deeply. While Denny is very much a part of the story, the focus is very definitely on Keira and Kellan as they tease, play, love, hate and fight, trying to deal with the fiery passion between them.

His eyes were smoldering in a way that made me weak. “You wreck me,” he growled, crashing his lips back down to mine.

And that passion is simmering constantly, and not just the sexy stuff (although that is definitely there too!). Honestly, I think this book has some of the most EPIC fight/make-up scenes I’ve ever read. The emotion is just poured into the pages, and you can feel it like you’re experiencing it yourself. And it’s literally gut wrenching.

“This was supposed to be innocent, Kellan!” I spat at him.
“We were never innocent, Keira. How naïve are you?” he said in the same tone, moving against me again.
“God, I hate you…” I whispered, tears of rage stinging my eyes.
Equally enraged, he stared right back at me. “No, you don’t…”
He did it again, not quite as slow this time, biting his lip and making a noise that sent electricity through me. I could barely catch my breath…
“Yes I do…I hate you…” I whispered again between pants.
He pushed against me again and groaned, cringing at the intensity of it. Fire burned in his eyes. “No…you want me…”
…
“I hate what you do to me.” …
“You love what I do to you.” He ran his tongue up my throat, licking the rain from my still-damp skin. I shivered. “You ache for it,” he whispered.

And later…

“What does it matter anyway…she wanted me, you didn’t. What do you care if I—”
“Because, you’re mine!” I yelled back at him, quite unintentionally …
The immediate silence after that was deafening. Kellan’s face paled and then slowly, got very, very angry. “No, no I’m not! THAT’S THE WHOLE FUCKING POINT!”

OMG!!! THE EMOTION!!!!

My heart broke for each of these characters and all that they go through, and even though I wanted to smack Keira so many times for her indecisiveness, I can see how she was torn between these two fantastic guys. I just wanted her to MAKE A FREAKING DECISION, WOMAN!!!

Keira’s friend and workmate Jenny and her sister, Anna, are great characters, giving excellent advice – “It’s okay… it will be okay. You’re just young. You’re young and inexperienced, and Kellan is hotter than all fuck.” And of course there are the rest of the D-bags – Griffin is slutty but hilarious, while Matt and Evan are both quieter, but very caring guys. And although we don’t spend a heap of time with them all together, we do see enough to know that they are a very tight-knit group who are very much supportive and there for each other, despite their constant ribbing and teasing. Love them!

And Kellan Kyle. OMG. Is there are more perfectly tortured, bad boy rock star in contemporary romantic literature? I think not. The man is sex on legs, and totally drool-worthy! And when he shows his vulnerable side, I swoon like an idiot! One of my favourite book boyfriends EVER, he is absolutely amazing, and bone-meltingly romantic…

“I want you and only you and I can’t bear the thought of sharing you. I’m sorry.” He looked down sadly. “I want to be with you in the right way – in the open. I want to walk into Pete’s with you on my arm. I want to kiss you every time I see you, no matter who’s looking. I want to make love to you without fear of someone finding out. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms every night. I don’t want to feel guilty about something that makes me feel so…whole. I’m sorry, Keira, but I’m asking you to choose.”

…

“What if I don’t choose you, Kellan? What will you do?”
He looked away, a tear rolling down his cheek. “I’ll leave, Keira. I’ll leave, and you and Denny can have your happily ever after.” …
I fought back a sob. “And you? What happens to you in that scenario?”
“I…get by. And I miss you, every day,” he whispered.

*sniff*

An absolutely heart-wrenching read that is totally realistic, and takes you from epically swoony romance, to heart pounding hotness, to absolute devastation and back again… and again. I sobbed so many times while reading this, both happy tears and sad, and I absolutely loved it!

“I want to be someone’s everything. I want fire and passion, and love that’s returned, equally. I want to be someone’s heart … Even if it means breaking my own.”

5 sensationally emotional stars.