Book Review: Kiss the Sky

Title: Kiss the Sky
Series: Addicted Series (spin-off)
Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Publication Date: January 24, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository

Rose Calloway thought she had everything under control. At twenty-three, she’s a Princeton graduate, an Academic Bowl champion, a fashion designer and the daughter of a Fortune 500 mogul. But with a sex addict as a sister and roommate, nothing comes easy.

After accepting help from a producer, Rose agrees to have her life filmed for a reality television show. The Hollywood exec is her last chance to revive her struggling fashion line, and boundaries begin to blur as she’s forced to make nice with a man who always has his way.

Twenty-four-year-old Connor Cobalt is a guy who bulldozes weak men. He’s confident, smart-as-hell and lives with his equally ambitious girlfriend, Rose Calloway. Connor has to find a way to protect Rose without ruining the show. Or else the producer will get what Connor has always wanted—Rose’s virginity.

My Thoughts

Kiss the Sky pulled out so many emotions out of me that I don't know how and where to start. All I know is that I'm crying, really crying, for Lily Calloway and I know that this book is about Rose and Connor but there's no escape of what Lily's been going through. Also, this book had me in such a predicament of secondhand embarrassment yet at the same time, it was hysterical.

My love for Rose Calloway has reached its peak to a whole new level. I love her even more and her smart mind is one of the many beautiful assets I find so endearing. Now that I've read the book with her POV, I'm now forgetting why she's labeled as a cold person because being inside Rose's head is one of the many great encounters I had as a reader. She's the kind of girl that doesn't let men who walks on her. She fights and she's a headstrong character with a heart that cares so deeply for the people around her especially her sisters. Now this is the part where I cried that's connected to Lily.

In the first two books, Addicted to You and Addicted for Now, we've been inside Lily's head (and Lo's) and we've seen her in her worst and in the state of getting better and trying to get stronger to get past her addiction and how hard it was to witness her falling into the dark. But with another person's POV (aside from Lo's), it seemed to be harder because I feel Rose's pain when it comes to Lily and how she was treated the most differently from the family. And I'm thankful for Rose as a sister because she's the greatest. It's so perceptible that she loves Lily and how much she wants to protect her. I'd be the happiest if I have a sister like Rose.

Connor Cobalt is one sexy and smart human being that has a wonderful heart and I'm delighted that he and Rose found and have each other. I loved Connor ever since he made his first appearance. Though in Kiss the Sky, he's surprised me with some attitude that wasn't shown in the first two books. He is the reason for the secondhand embarrassment I feel so strongly that I had to take a pause from continuing because it was impractical to do so even if he was doing it in such a sexy way that made me want to fan and hide myself at the same time.

As much as I enjoyed and somehow devoured this book, I got a bit iffy about the whole 'reality tv' thing. I understand that Rose agreed to it for the sake of her company, her family and the Calloway name but I honestly didn't think it was a good idea. Their lives have been filled with such gossip and their privacy has been scrutinized by the media and other people and reality tv is probably not the right thing. There could've been another way to save their sake just not exposing their daily lives on television for the whole world to see knowing how much of a hell hole being in the in the public eye is and considering how disgusting their producer is, just NO. I was also waiting for them to have Scott beaten to a bloody pulp because he deserves it so much. I hated him and I hated seeing him win.

Another is Daisy. I love Daisy, she's one of the characters I would definitely save from the horrible pressure and unwanted stuff out there but sometimes I want to shake her senses? I get the fact that she's young and she's been dragged around by their mom in such a young age for modeling and other stuff where a girl in her age would be scribbling notes in school and mingling with friends instead of posing in front of cameras and being like a Barbie doll. I dislike the fact that she seemed to be such an easy target for men who ogles her body and she seemed to be fine with it and makes the excuse of saying that she's used to it because she's posed with lesser clothes in front of cameras. And she tags along a guy who simply wants to get in her pants and when they offered to beat the shit out of him, she defends him by saying he's her boyfriend. It's ridiculous. But I'm glad that she doesn't let them touch her because that would absolutely disgust me and I'm sure, her family and friends (the circle of friendship in these books) would definitely kill that guy.

Bottom line, I enjoyed the book like the first two but I still don't think I could love this series no matter how much the characters are wonderful unless I get the easy atmosphere between Lily and her mother. It just pains me how Samantha Calloway loves her three daughters: Poppy, Rose and Daisy so dearly yet Lily gets nothing but a cold shoulder and a tightly forced smile. I can't stand reading when one parent has that kind of attitude and is the reason for a daughter's suffering. I'm hoping to read some apology from her to Lily in Addicted After All.

My Rating:

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Book Review: Addicted for Now

Title: Addicted for Now
Series: Addicted, #2
Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Publication Date: November 29, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Dark
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository

Those are the three words Lily Calloway fears the most. But Loren Hale is determined to be with Lily without enabling her dangerous compulsions. With their new living situation—sleeping in the same bed, for real, together—Lily has new battles. Like not jumping Lo’s bones every night. Not being consumed by sex and his body.

Loren plans to stay sober, to right all of his wrongs. So when someone threatens to expose Lily’s secret to her family and the public, he promises that he’ll do anything to protect her. But with old enemies surfacing, Lo has more at stake than his sobriety.

They will torment Lily until Lo breaks.

And his worst fear isn’t relapsing. He hears the end. He sees it. The one thing that could change everything. Just three words.

My Thoughts:

When I thought the first book was painful, oh was I wrong. This book made me cry for the characters, in a good way. A very good way because I feel proud towards the characters. Especially for Lily and Lo. They’ve come so far and I’m just so happy for them. As a couple and as individuals.

I also love the relationships between the siblings and how the situations that happened somehow strengthens those relationships: the Hale brothers and the Calloway sisters. It was so great to read that Lily and Lo were never alone, that they have these people who are always there for them. I’m just in awe, really. So much happened and a lot of them seemed to be like nightmares but they all have each other and they got through it. Connor was there as well and speaking of Connor, I just admire him even more in this book because he’s this calm, quiet and smart guy but when you hit a nerve, you definitely don’t want to hit another because you definitely won’t stand a chance. And he’s been such a good friend to them which I’m so happy that he didn’t turn into a bad guy. My heart aches for Ryke, so much especially at the last remaining chapters but Loren was there. His family. Another scene that I cried upon because of the Hale brothers. I’m weak when guys get sincere for their bros/friends and gets all teary. It would’ve been also nice for the Calloway sisters if Poppy made an appearance. I loved her "Please don’t shut us out" talk with Lily in the first book (which also had me in tears).

This book dealt with Loren out of rehab, Lily trying to control her addiction and an Unknown person who happens to know Lily’s secret. I never guessed who was this Unknown until the moment he/she was revealed. I had my suspects and whenever I read with someone labeled as Unknown, I would usually guessed it. But this one had me surprised, no lie. I like how the situation was handled when they found out. I definitely wanted to strangled that person. He/she had no right and not only hurt Lily, but damaged also another. Let’s just say that that person’s plan didn’t went well.

I would’ve given this 5 stars if I wasn’t bummed with the ending. I thought there was more but then I reached the Prologue for the next book which happens to say, "No, this is the end for book 2" and I was sad. I wanted to read a proper conversation between Lily and her parents (esp her mom, I hate her mom). More about Jonathan Hale because I’m conflicted on what to feel for him. He loves his sons (yes he does love Ryke too, I believe) but then, it’s in some kind of Jonathan-Hale-way that I’m too confused to understand. I really did wish Poppy made an appearance. I think she’s also the kind of sister who would be there with her siblings throughout.

Oh and I just also realized that the Calloway sisters’ names are derived from flowers’ names. Yes, I was slow to figure that out.

I still love this book. I really do love it and I’m excited for Addicted After All!

My Rating:

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Book Review: Addicted to You

Title: Addicted to You
Series: Addicted, #1
Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Publication Date: June 13, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Dark
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon / Book Depository

No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex. Their real vice may be each other.

My Thoughts

This book was recommended to me by Sue and Aishah and I did plan on reading more New Adult books this year since there actually have been quite some that have been successful in capturing my heart and attention.

Addicted to You was dark, hot, funny, emotional and surprising. The book deals with main protagonists going on their personal addictions: Lily is addicted to sex while Loren is addicted to booze. Two of the many addictions in life that are hard to control and with no help, might just result to something dangerous that can harm the subject. Reading this makes me feel the need to help the characters, even knowing I can’t because they’re fiction. There’s just this part of you when you read it that you want to step into the book and offer your help.

I love how this also dealt with family relationships and friendships. I love the Calloway sisters but Rose and Lily’s relationship just managed to pluck my heartstrings (reminds me of Elsa and Anna from Disney’s Frozen, in a different world and scenario that is). And even if Jonathan, Lo’s father, was kind of harsh towards him, there’s still this father figure in him that really cares deeply for Lo. I don’t want to spoil because you can feel this towards the end of the book. Fathers (and mothers) with attitudes like that yet is actually someone who cares and loves on the inside is something I don’t read very much often in NA. And with Lily and Lo’s addictions, they have their friends who are such wonderful characters because they’re actually willing to help. One of the things that I absolutely appreciate while reading Addicted to You. Sometimes, you really just need someone to talk to and just let everything out when you had enough of the hiding.

The romance wasn’t heavy on angst but quite filled with worry and fear due to secrets and addictions. It’s perfectly flawed in a way one would think that their relationship won’t work but I admire the Lily and Lo because later on, they decided to help themselves in order to be better and to make the relationship work. I also like the fact that they’re best friends before they entered the boyfriend-girlfriend situation. And the bantering mixed with flirting is just sexy and funny that I couldn’t help but let out a Cheshire cat-like grin.

The ending was filled with hope and a promise and I am definitely starting the second book now.

My Rating:

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