Book Review: Amour Amour - Krista and Becca Ritchie

From Goodreads

"Every day,” he says lowly, “I hold a person’s life in my hands. The circus is based one-hundred percent off trust. I give it all to someone, and they give it all to me.”

The best aerial technique won’t land 21-year-old Thora James her dream role in Amour—a sexy new acrobatic show on the Vegas strip. Thora knows she’s out of her element the second she meets Amour’s leading performer. Confident, charming and devilishly captivating, 26-year-old Nikolai Kotova lives up to his nickname as the “God of Russia.”

When Thora unknowingly walks into the crosshairs of Nikolai’s after-show, her audition process begins way too soon. Unprofessional. That’s what Nik calls their “non-existent” relationship. It’s not like Thora can avoid him. For one, they may be partners in the future--acrobatic partners, that is. But getting closer to Nik means diving deeper into sin city and into his dizzying world. 

Thora wants to perform with him, but when someone like Nikolai attracts the spotlight wherever he goes—Thora fears that she’s destined to be just background to his spellbinding show.

This sexy and exhilarating New Adult Romance can best be described as Cirque du Soleil meets the steamy, athletic romance of Center Stage.

*standalone & no love triangles—recommended for readers 18+ for mature content*

My Review

Thora is a small town girl with a big dreams. She's a gymnast, and aspires to join the circus (no, not the clowns and elephants kind. Think Cirque du Soleil!). 

With only a year left in college, and a scholarship hanging in the balance, Thora takes an enormous risk and leaves her hometown in Ohio to audition for a role in Amour, a sexy acrobatic show on the Vegas strip. Despite having no formal training and a near non-exsistant support system, she dives in head first. 

On her very first night in Vegas she meets Nikolai Kotava, the intense, sexy, and gorgeously strong Russian. Sparks fly, but they part ways after an absurdly sexy scene that shouldn't have been as hot as it was. 

(Seriously, I didn't think I could get turned on reading about nipple piercing. 

That got your attention, didn't it?)

The next day is the audition, and Thora is shocked to see Nikolai as Amour's leading man. Unfortunately, Thora fails the role. She is understandably crushed, but instead of running back home with her tail between her legs, Thora accepts Nikolai's offer to train her until the show puts out its next audition early in the new year. I can't say much more without spoiling it, so you'll just have to see for yourself what happens next!

"Thora James: A series of fails, but she'll stand up again."

I'm a huge fan of the Ritchie twins' writing, and Amour Amour did not disappoint! This book was inspiring, passionate, uplifting and intensely arousing. To me, there is nothing more attractive than passion for what you do. The characters' intensity for their dreams exploded off the pages, and the book was all the more sexy because of it.

I blew through this in less than a day. It was incredibly engaging, and it's written in an almost simplistic way that drives each and every emotion home with precision. It was beautiful, and has more than earned its spot on my favorites shelf.

"Why help me?"

"I admire your courage. I know what you've given up to be here. I know the kind of artist it takes to land a role. I know that you won't receive one on your own. And I imagine you, myshka, two years from now, working at Phantom with the same aspirations, the same dreams, the same place where you are now. It's wasted courage. And wasted love. You shouldn't have to waste those things."

I found Amour Amour to be so unique and refreshing. The message of staying true to yourself and pushing forward even in the face of adversity and doubt was so well done. The concept as a story line sounds cheesy at best and preachy at worst, but it really wasn't like that at all. I felt so inspired while reading this, and even after putting it down.

"This is who I am today. 
Tomorrow I may be the same. But in years, I'll be someone else. 
Someone I may like more. 
Someone I may like less. 
And that's okay. Because I'm still living."

One of my favorite parts the book story was the cast of secondary characters, especially Luka, Timo, John and Katya. They were all so well developed and I cared deeply for each of them by the end of the book., Instead of being background noise for Thora and Nikolai, they each had their own voice. It made the story more believable and dimensional.

I don't think I've ever read such a sensual book, and I'm not talking about sex scenes. The way the physical aspects of their training and performance were described...god, I can't even put it into words.  Both Thora's own performance and that of Nikolai were so vivid, so intense. It was gorgeous, and unlike anything I've ever read. Amazing!

I was completely enthralled every time an acrobatic scene happened. I could picture it so clearly, and Thora and Nikolai's passion for it was incredible. They came to life in those scenes in ways I rarely see in the NA genre!

Speaking of which, their relationship!!!  I ship them, hard. It was real, it was sexy, and they had amazing chemistry. It was surprisingly tender, just a bit angsty, and very emotional. I loved how they were so firmly staying with that they'd choose the circus over each other in the beginning, and struggled with that as the story progressed. It felt like a real life story, like they were tangible people.

A totally pointless point that I loved was their height difference. Thora is tiny, and Nikolai is 6'5". 

"You can't be that surprised. When people see a giant fucking Russian man with a five-foot-something tiny blonde, it's the first thing we all think."

"No...." 
People aren't that curious. But then I envision myself in their shoes. I internally groan - how do they have sex would be in my top five thoughts, for sure.

"And what's your speed?"

"Much faster. Harder. Deeper.''

Nikolai was the perfect male for me. He was sweet, sensitive and loyal, while still remaining a protective and commanding alpha male.

"The things greater than us, Thora, they're not impossible. It's just fear talking, telling you that you can't when you can. I know you can."

I did see the ending coming to some extent, but it was what I was dying for, so I was completely fine with that. 

There's a few minor issues I had with the story, like some grammatical errors and things that just didn't sound right - seriously, how can one bite their own gums???



Overall though, Amour Amour was a fantastic New Adult book that didn't fall into the NA stereotype. If you like strong characters with a drive to follow their dreams and a heaping helping of steamy romance, this is a book for you!

STATS:

Rating: 4.5 stars

Genre: New adult, contemporary romance

Series: Standalone

POV: First person

Steam/sexual content: Very steamy, arousing, moderately graphic sex

Cliffhanger: No

Warning: Sex, some language

Published: 

Length: 395 pages

Goodreads, Amazon

Book Review: Sins and Needles - Karina Halle

From Goodreads

Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents' latest scam. Now she’s much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for – Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. 
Ellie’s counting on Camden still being in love with her, but what she’s not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie’s plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn’t dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it’s one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.

My Review

Ellie Watt had it rough growing up, and life keeps dealing her a shitty hand. 26 years old, dead on the inside and scarred on the outside, she makes a living as a con artist.

On the run from her past and after one con gone wrong too many, Ellie moves back to where she grew up in Palm Valley, California. 

Once there, she stumbles upon her old friend and the last person she ever expected to see again: Camden McQueen. Camden, the bizarre boy she once knew, has grown into a gorgeous and successful tattoo artist with a thriving business.

They catch up, and Ellie promises herself something: one last con, and then she's done. Her victim? Camden, and his still apparent affection for her. Little does she know the love sick boy she knew has changed more than just his appearance, and she has picked the wrong man to fuck over. 

From there, we are swept away into an intense whirlwind of lies, pain, con artists, drug lords, violence, blackmail, sex, and the grittiest of love stories. 

This is not your typical romance. This is dark. This is gritty. This is real, painful, heart pounding and heartbreaking. It took me on one of the most intense emotional roller coasters a book has ever put me on. It sucked me into its world and didn't release me from its clutches until well after I finished the series. Even when I wasn't reading, I was thinking about it and dying to get myself back to it. In Karina Halle's usual way, I was a very willing captive to the story.

   "A name is like a home, then. All those years without a name. All those years without a home."

I loved every thing about this story. Everything. Ellie, Camden, Javier, all of it. I was sucked into it from the very beginning, and was breathless with anticipation every time I turned the page. By the ending, my pulse was pounding, my palms sweating, and my heart was breaking.

I was also on Amazon buying the other books in the series as soon as I closed Sins and Needles.


I loved that these characters weren't your typical golden girl/boy, or the "tortured-but-really-just-misunderstood" flat plastic protagonists that are so common lately. These people aren't the good guys. They've bad people, and they've done some truly deplorable things. I can't tell you how refreshing it was to read someone who wasn't perfect.

"I'm not bad. The world is bad and I'm just trying to survive it."

A lot of people don't like Ellie, and I can see why to some extent. Like I said, these people aren't your run of the mill good guys. They just aren't. Ellie is a con artist; she can be self absorbed, and she's been a heartless bitch. However, that is exactly why I liked her so much. She's wickedly smart, sarcastic, hurt, scared, and alone. I felt so bad for her throughout the book, even after seeing all she has done. Her rawness made me instantly connect with her, and being in her head was a fascinating place.

"Do you think because you can't see my scars that they don't exists? That's the trouble with pain, Ellie. If you're lucky, you can wear it for the world to see. Most people have their pain deep inside, in a place no one ever goes. Not until it's too late."

This is all I have to say for Camden:

Okay, that's not all I have to say, but that sums it up. This man does things to me....delicious, dirty things. But I digress.....

He was a fascinating character! You think you're just getting a second chance love and a pretty face when you first meet him, and then it's a complete 180. He had so many layers, so many things built up inside him. He was explosive, passionate, charismatic, and just so different. 


The "villain" in this story is Javier Bernal and holy shit on a shit stick. Favorite. Character. Ever. While he doesn't have much screen time or anything positive going for him in this book, once you read the second you can't help but me insnared by him. He was one of the most complex characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading.



There were so many layers and twists and turns to this story. It was so full, but I never once felt like it was crammed or rush. It moves along at a good clip, and kept me on the very edge of my seat from start to finish. I was obsessed with the book (and later the entire series), thinking about it constantly and dying to pick it back up whenever I was forced to set it aside. It's more addictive than crack.



My favorite thing about this novel had to be the way it forces you to look at good vs. evil. It does an incredible job of showing the world in the shades of grey that it is, rather than the typical "this is wrong and this is right, no question" angle a lot of books lean towards. I started this book with the idea that everyone was a bad person, and by the end....well, they just weren't. Even after the deplorable acts each and every one of them commits, I walked away with a sense that they were not all bad, and could even empathize with a lot of what happened. It shocked me!



Needless to say, I adored this book. It's one of my only 6 star reads! I highly recommend it, and the two other books in the story (plus the novella! It's the best one I've read all year). If you've never read a Karina Halle book and you're okay with the darker side of romance, I'd suggest starting with this one. Sins and Needles was the one that started it all for me.

I'm pretty happy with this, considering it's my first teaser pic!

Stats:

Rating: 6 Stars!
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, dark romantic suspense
Series: The Artists Trilogy, book 1
POV: Primarily 1st person, flashbacks 3rd person
Steam/sexual content: Intense, explicit
Cliffhanger: YES!
Warnings: Violence, sex, illegal activity
Length: 384 pages
Series order:
Sins and Needles (#1), On Every Street (#0.5), Shooting Scars (#2), Bold Tricks (#3)
Goodreads, Amazon

- The Bibliophile Babe 

Book Review: Lover Awakened - J. R. Ward

WARNING: This is the third book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, and it's the only one I've read. There may or may not be some minor spoilers in this review, as I don't know what is and isn't common knowledge for starting the series. 

 

From Goodreads:

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Of these, Zsadist is the most terrifying member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.

Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…

Zsadist, or Z, is one of the six bothers in the Black Dagger Brotherhood. He was captured at a young age and used as a blood slave and sex slave for decades, and the scars left on him by the experience run deep, both physically and mentally. A cruel and ruthless vampire, he lives a life of constant anger, pain, humiliation, and a cold detachment from his fellow vampires, even his own Brothers. Getting off on the terror of others and constantly punishing himself because of how he is, he is trapped inside a life of hopeless darkness - until he meets and rescues Bella. Bella is a stunning aristocrat who was held captive by the vampires' sworn enemy, The Lessers. 

Once freed, they struggle to come to terms with their connection; Z, terrified of being near Bella, fights it every step of the way, while Bella is determined to crack down his walls and be let in. With a very rough road ahead of them, and danger and drama at every turn, the two must decide just how much damage can be repaired, and what is worth fighting for.

That is really all I can say about it without spoiling the story, but it has an interesting and engaging plot. Now, on to the review!

This book was...a bit ridiculous, but I truly enjoyed it. Definitely going on my "guiltiest of guilty pleasures" shelf, right next to my Crossfire and Night Huntress series. I devoured it, and will covertly be reading the others. 

I had several issues with this book, some of which were mild, others had me grinding my teeth in annoyance. 

First and foremost being holy fucking multiple points of views! There's at least 6 regular, alternating voices, and it got both confusing and frustrating trying to keep everyone straight. There's Zsadist, Bella, Phury (Z's twin), John, the main Lesser, and occasionally a bit from Butch and Bella's brother. The book is in third person, which made it even more tough to follow. I felt like I kept getting spoiled by bits, or wasting my time with unnecessary information. Don't get me wrong, I can see why Ward put more people in than just Z and Bella. Phury was an excellent addition, and I grew to really like John's view of the world. Everyone else, though? I could've happily done without them. Truth be told, I wound up skimming some of this novel.

All the strange names for people and things! I had to constantly refer to the glossary in the beginning of the book. 

The names of the Brothers. Maybe it's explained in the first two books, but why such odd spellings? Zsadist, Phury, Rhage, Vishous, Thorment.... I don't get it. 

The way the book panned out was a bit weird for me. The ending felt very, very rushed, and we didn't get to see much of Z and Bella actually being together. It was a fairly long book at around 440 pages, but it felt like there should've been more to it. We had all this angst and longing between the couple, and there wasn't much closure for me. 

On that note....while the ending was sweet, I didn't really see it as fitting for the couple. Maybe if we'd gotten to see them being together I would've been more satisfied, but given the way it was, it felt more just like Ward was trying to wrap everything up with a cute moment. 

There's a pretty big thing that happens towards the climax of the book, and while I understand that this story wasn't for that character, it felt totally unresolved. Even in the epilogue we don't get a mention, and I read the scene as being monumental to the Brotherhood. 

This line: "An 18-wheeler orgasm overtook him. As the top of his cock blew off..." I'm sorry, but all I pictured is someone getting smushed by a Mac truck, while dealing with a very bloody and very painful dick. 

Apart from that though, I really enjoyed this book. It says something that I could have so many issues with a novel and still devour it. And third person, no less! 

"You are clean."

"Oh, no, I'm not. I'm really not. I'm filthy.  I am so very dirty. I am dirty, dirty.... Can you see the dirt? I see it everywhere. It coats me. It seals me in. I can feel it on my skin -"

Zsadist. I love him. My heart broke for him at every page. Despite having so, so many issues, he didn't read like the typical self-loathing male. He truly believes that he is beyond repair, and he doesn't enjoy the feeling the way so many book men do. I teared up on more than one occasion reading what he felt, what he experienced, or how he thought about himself. He starves himself, washes himself raw, deprives himself of the most basic forms of comfort, and it broke me to read him. The scars left on him by his physical and sexual abuse run so deep, and he can't hide them. Can't fix them. 

"What are you saying, Zsadist?"

He glanced back down at the pencil in his hand and then turned to the table. Flipping the spiral notebook to a new page, he bent way over and labored on the top of the page for quite a while. Then he ripped the sheet free.

His hand was shaking as he held it out. "It's messy."

Bella took the paper. In a child's even block letters there were three words: 

I love you

"Maybe you can't read it," He said in a small voice. "I can do it over."

(this expert is what made me want to read the book)

Zsadist is illiterate. Of all the things, this one struck especially hard. Just imagine for a minute what it's like to not be able to read. Looking at this post and not comprehending a single thing I've written. It probably is a greater horror for us as passionate readers to imagine, but even if you weren't someone who took such joys in reading and writing, the effects of illiteracy are staggering. Not being able to read street signs, warnings, directions. Not being able to write your own name. It's a horrifying thought that there are people, adults, who can't read. It's not as uncommon as you may think. There's more than likely at least one person in your town who doesn't know the gift of words. It's simply appalling to even think of that.

I couldn't get a good read on Bella. I never really connected with her, so I had a difficult time seeing things through her eyes. 

The sex scenes were interesting between Z and Bella. We delve so deep into Z's issues that their trysts become more about how he is coping and thinking, rather than getting turned on by vampy sexy times, and I loved that. Z's sexual abuse has shaped him so much into what he is and how he processes, and the sex between them really did a good job of illustrating how far he could go and how much he was willing to try and repair himself, even when he wasn't actively acknowledging it. It was a clever way to show that Z was willing to try and heal for Bella, even as he so desperately fought it.

"You've got to understand that I die for you every day. Your pain is mine."

Something I found fascinating was the relationship between Zsadist and his twin brother, Phury. That bond they have...holy hell. It was so intense! Sometimes you read a book and two characters' chemistry just jumps off the page. Whether between lovers, friends, or siblings, it's an amazing thing to see. That's how it was with Z and Phury. The care Phury has for his brother, the torture he goes through at seeing him hurt, the way he will do anything in his power to help Z was so beautiful. And Z, for all his problems, cares just as deeply. The reconciliation scene...I cried. I enjoyed seeing the two of them interact more than anything else in the entire story.

It took me 100 pages or so to really get into the book, but after that I breezed through it. It was fast paced, engaging, and kept me wanting. When I wasn't reading it, I was itching to get back to it. That's the sign of a good book to me, despite the problems I had with it. I would recommend it, with a tissue warning.

STATS:

Rating: 3.75 stars

Genre: Adult, paranormal romance

Length: 334 pages (paperback)

Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood, book 3

POV: 3rd person, multiple

Steam/sexual content: Steamy, explicit sex

Warnings: violence, graphic mental, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, graphic sex, drug use

Cliffhanger: For this couple, no

HEA: Yes

From my library 

- The Bibliophile Babe 

Book Review: The Pact by Karina Halle

Hey, everyone! Today I'm reviewing The Pact by Karina Halle. She is one of my favorite authors, and a spin off of this book (called The Offer) is being released this month.
I finished this book a few days ago, and for the most part really enjoyed it.

Synopsis

It all started with a pinky swear…

Linden McGregor is tall, rugged, and gunslinger handsome; a helicopter pilot with a Scottish brogue and charm to spare. He’s also one of Stephanie Robson’s best friends and has fit into that box for as long as she’s known him.

But some relationships can’t be boxed, can’t be classified, can’t be tamed.

Back in their mid-twenties and tired of the competitive hit-or-miss dating scene of San Francisco, Steph and Linden made a pact to marry each other if neither one of them are in a serious relationship by the time they hit thirty.

It sounds like fun and games but as the years to thirty tick past and lovers come and go out of their lives, the pact becomes larger than life.

Sex is inevitable. Friendships are tested. Hearts are on the line.

The pact is about to change everything

"What do you say? How about if we don't find anybody by age, I dunno, thirty, we marry each other?"

"You're actually series?"

"Aye."

Stephanie and Linden have been best friends since they met at age 20. One drunken night in their mid-twenties, after a stream of awful dates and pointless relationships, they make a pact to marry if neither are in a serious relationship by the time they're 30. A few years pass, and with 30 steadily creeping up on them, their attraction to each other grows. Soon 30 is upon them, and they decide to give into their connection and see where it goes. The only problems is James, their other best friend and Steph's ex-boyfriend. Worried about his reaction, they decide to hide their relationship. And we all know how that goes....

"I'd give her up for you. I'd give everything up for you."

I love a good friends to lovers romance, and this was a great fluffy read.

This was a really fun, mostly light book that is perfect for summer. The characters are funny, have amazing chemistry, and come to life on the page. Even though I've never been on the west coast (yet!), I could perfectly picture the San Francisco setting. The secondary characters were well developed and for the most part likable.

As usual with Halle's writing, I blew through The Pact in less than a day. I don't know how she does it, but I'll be reading in the evening and then the next thing it's 10:30 at night. I'll think "just a few more pages", and suddenly 150 pages have gone by. Her writing style is fresh, absorbing, relatable and completely addictive. 

Of course, I've always loved Linden, just like I love many of my friends. But that love for him is turning into something else, something deeper, better, brighter. There's another layer to my love for him, and it gets uncovered more and more every single day. 

I really enjoyed Steph's character. She's a smart woman that starts her own business in a tough and competitive market, and I admired how she struggled to get to where she is. It was realistic, and as an entrepreneur myself I could empathize so well with her. She's hilarious, a dedicated friend, and just a very likable person.

"I think I'm loosing myself. Every time I'm inside you, with you, I think I loose a little bit more. In the end you might have all my pieces. Please be gentle with them. "

I adored Linden...until about 80% through the book. He was perfectly sexy, and with a Scottish accent I found myself doing something like this every time he opened his mouth:

Up until 80% in, again. Until then though, he was sexy, charismatic, loving, gentle and wasn't afraid of his feelings. I loved that about him. He has a messed up family, and has worked hard to step out from their shadow as a helicopter pilot.



Then came page 250 or so...and knocked a star off for me. It ground on my last nerve how Linden was too pussy to own up and just tell James about his relationship with Steph. I hated how Linden pushed Steph away and bent over backwards to make James feel better about himself. He cites his reasoning as James having a screwed up childhood. Guess what, buddy, you did too, just in a different way. You don't need to be unhappy because he is. Misery loves company, but man up. While it was prevalent throughout the book, it really amped up towards the ending, so much it almost felt excessive for Linden's established character.
I like my men to act like men, not people pleasing little boys. Not only that, but I've grown accustomed to Halle having very strong, driven males as her leading men, and Linden didn't fit with that. Dex, Camden, Mateo, and Javier, my husbands Halle's other guys, were so different for Linden that he doesn't fit really fit with my expectations.


The ending, while a bit predictable and in line with Halle's other contemporaries, was satisfying and very sweet.

Despite the issue of Linden's character, The Pact was still a very enjoyable summer read that I recommend. The connection between Steph and Linden is intense, and the sex is perfectly delicious. It's a great little contemporary that will suck you right in, and is a good, gentle (some of her stuff is seriously scary, gritty, or just plain horrifying, but so good) intro to Halle's work if you haven't read her before.

Stats:

Rating: 4 stars

Genre: Adult, contemporary romance

Series: Standalone with an upcoming spinoff

POV: Alternating 1st person

Steam/sexual content: Very steamy, good bit of explicit sex

Cliffhanger: No

HEA: Yes

Published: December 28th, 2014 by Metal Blonde Books

Length: 344 (paperback)

Goodreads, Amazon

- The Bibliophile Babe

Book Review: Maybe Someday - Colleen Hoover

Hey, guys! Happy June. :) I have a review for you today of Colleen Hoover's book Maybe Someday, so let's jump right in.

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!! DON'T READ BELOW THE RED LINE IF YOU HAVEN'T YET READ THE BOOK AND DON'T WISH TO BE SPOILED!!!

Maybe Someday - Colleen Hoover

Synopsis

At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She's in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her--and she's forced to decide what her next move should be.

Soon, Sydney finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbor, Ridge. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there's something about Sydney that Ridge can't ignore, either. They soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one.

A passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance, Maybe Someday will immerse readers in Sydney's tumultuous world from the very first page.

Ridge works from home, and writes songs for his and his brother's locally successful band, Sounds of Cedar. He is in a five year relationship with  Maggie, a beautiful and sweet girl, and shares his home with two quirky and amusing roommates, Warren and Bridgette. He and Maggie are currently doing  semi-long distance for their relationship, and she comes to visit him around every other weekend or so. 

"I can't deny it, though. Anyone who watches how passionately this guy plays would crush on his talent."

Sydney is a college student, rooming with her best friend Tori, and in a two year long relationship with her boyfriend, Hunter. 
Sydney and Ridge are neighbors, and connect through a mutual love of music. Ridge plays the guitar on his balcony nearly every night, and Sydney tentatively starts writing songs to his melodies. When it is reveled that Hunter has been cheating on Sydney -with Tori, no less -, Ridge opens his door to Sydney until she gets back on her feet.

"It's not so easy when you're trying to win the war against the heart."

From there, we are swept away on a very slow-building romance between the two, with a heavy emphasis on the characters' connection and dealing with feelings for someone else while already being in a "committed" relationship. There are brilliant highs and staggering lows, and it's even more complicated than you'd think. We learn something monumental around 60% of the way into the book, and that puts an entirely new spin on this almost three way relationship (no, not like that, you dirty ho ;)). 

"For her I bend, for you I break."

As usual with Hoover's writing, I breezed through Maybe Someday. Her writing is effortless and completely absorbing. She has a real gift for story telling and absorbing the reader that I've only ever seen in a few other authors.

"I want you to hear me love you."

In a very unusual turn of events for the New Adult genre, Ridge is deaf.  I found this to be interesting and refreshing to see, and it made Ridge's inner voice so compelling. It put a unique perspective on all of his relationships and the way he saw life altogether, and that was beautiful. I love a hero that isn't perfect. 
The connection between Sydney and Ridge was beautiful and intense, and aside from the issue I'll be talking about in a second, this would've been a 4.5 star read for me. I loved seeing them together, I loved their interactions and banter, and I adored how they just got each other. 

I really, really enjoyed the lyrics throughout the book. This is sort of a theme with Hoover's writing; her books Slammed and Confess both had art elements in them (poetry and painting, respectively) and as an artist myself, it's something I appreciate seeing. 
The book actually has its own original soundtrack done by Griffin Peterson, and it's really good. It adds an extra element to the book that made it come alive. You can find it on iTunes under either Griffin Peterson or Maybe Someday, and of course it's on YouTube. 

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------------SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!-----------------SPOILERS!!!!!!!------------------SPOILERS!!!!!!----------

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Seriously, you will be spoiled if you read any more.

What almost ruined this book for me was surprisingly not the love triangle, but the way Ridge handled Sydney. As we learn a little more than halfway into Maybe Someday, Ridge's girlfriend, Maggie, has a life threatening and life shortening genetic condition. While Ridge admits to being in love with Sydney, he adamantly refuses to leave Maggie, citing her condition as the reason. Not only is the beyond unfair to Sydney, it's wrong to Maggie. "Hey, babe, so I've met this other girl. She's amazing, and I'm completely in love with her. But don't worry, I'm staying with you because you'll probably be dead by the time you're 30, and I feel bad leaving you. Soooo, I'll stay with you while constantly thinking about and missing this other girl. M'kay?"

That rankled me beyond belief, and he only went to Sydney because Maggie cut him loose. In my eyes, Sydney will always be second best, and that is not something I'd want to be in a relationship. God. I'm getting pissed all over again just talking about it. It says something about Hoover's talent that I was able to finish and mostly enjoy the story after reading that.  Ridge did redeem himself a bit towards the end, though.

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"It's you. My heart wants you."

Aside from that, I really enjoyed this story. The ending was beyond sweet, and their sex scene was tasteful and beautiful. It wasn't my favorite Colleen Hoover book, but I did like it and it was well written and engaging.

STATS:

Rating: 3.5 stars

Genre: New adult, contemporary romance

Series: Standalone, with a spin off of another couple

POV: Dual 1st person

Steam/sexual content: Some steam, mild/non-explicate sex
Cliffhanger: No
HEA: Yes
Warnings: Cheating, mild sex, mild language 
Length: 384 pages
Published: March 18th, 2014
Publisher: Atria Books
Goodreads, Amazon

- The Bibliophile Babe