Review: Nobody Like Us (Like Us, #13)

Nobody Like Us by Krista and Becca Ritchie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMFG. This book should come with a warning label: do not to read in public. It put me through an emotional rollercoaster.



By the way, this book is massive! A chunkster. I took my time reading it because I wanted to savor every moment since this is the last book of the series. And wow, what an epic ending to the series. I couldn't think of anyone better or more fitting to close this chapter other than Luna and Donnelly. I've been invested in these characters from the very start (from the parents/first generation, the Addicted Series) and none of the other books evoked such emotion from me (close second is Some Kind of Perfect). There were so many laugh-out-loud moments, heartbreaking moments, heartwarming moments, some OMFG moments, and ugly cry moments. I haven't cried so much from a book in so long.



Luna and Donnelly have my heart and this book has everything I could ever ask for. It's the best ending.

View all my reviews

Review: Unlucky Like Us (Like Us, #12)

Unlucky Like Us by Krista and Becca Ritchie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book deserves all the cosmic stars.

I don't even know how to write this review without giving anything away.

I guess I'll start by saying all the parallels between Lunnelly's and LiLo's story makes my heart sing! This book in particular definitely reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Addicted After All

"You have the purest parts of my heart, and I'm certain that in every alternate universe, I'm always, always in love with you."

To witness this unfold and actually happening is just.....oh my heart!!!



I think Unlucky Like Us is more plot driven than all the other books and it surely put my heart through the wringer! It had me bawling my eyes out and laughing simultaneously like a madman! I honestly couldn't put this book down and stayed up all hours of the night just to keep reading. I don't know what else to say without giving out spoilers. This is probably my most favorite book in the series so far and the wait for the next book will be unbearable! I’m just hoping that after all that Luna and Donnelly go through that they get the best, most epic ending to their story.

View all my reviews

Review: Misfits Like Us (Like Us, #11)

Misfits Like Us by Krista and Becca Ritchie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full disclosure, I have been shipping Luna and Donnelly [Lunnelly] since Lovers Like Us, which was 9 books ago! Their interaction with each other in Lovers Like Us caught my eye and I haven't been able to let go since. When the authors finally announced that Lunnelly was going to get a book, I was the happiest person on earth!



We waited nearly 5 years to get Lunnelly's story and I have to say after reading it, it was definitely worth the wait!



Ever since Some Kind of Perfect, I've wanted Luna to have her happily ever after. I love that Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie tie all these stories together. Since I read the Addicted Series before the Like Us series, I feel like I have a better understanding of all the characters (Krista and Becca's books are very character driven!) and I get a sense that I've watched these characters grow over the years, from the parents (the core 6 characters from the Addicted Series) to the children (the characters from the Like Us series) - it's a truly wonderful thing to experience! To get a better understanding of the person that Luna is, I think it's best to start (at least) from Some Kind of Perfect when we're first introduced to Luna. She is weird to the core and unabashedly herself regardless of how people treat her and view her as a second hand embarrassment.

We first met Donnelly in Damaged Like Us, but Luna and Donnelly don't start to orbit around each other until Lovers Like Us. Donnelly's character doesn't give a fart whistle about other people's opinion. He is confident and believes in himself, even (and especially) when no one else does. The differences (and similarities) between Luna and Donnelly's characters make them such a cute and unique pair and they're just so perfect for each other. I am over the moon for this pairing and I'm so excited that they continue their story in two more books! I can't wait to read more of their epic cosmic love.

Also, I love all the "Easter eggs" and the parallels between the Addicted Series and the Like Us series. There are so many of them that I bet even if I re-read both series from beginning to end, I will still miss a lot of them. I've read all 26 books by these authors (10 of them from the Addicted Series and 11 from the Like Us Series) and I am still very much in love with their writing. Their stories just completely captivate me and I'm very very much looking forward to the next books to come!!


------- Initial Reaction: June 26, 2020 -------

Lunnelly trilogy! We're getting a Lunelly trilogy!!!!! I don't even know what to think right now. Cake. Has. Name. I can't function.



View all my reviews

Review: Alphas Like Us (Like Us, #3)

Alphas Like Us by Krista and Becca Ritchie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a HUGE fan of Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie. My sappy, cheesy romantic self lives for the "soul mate love" that these authors write about. I felt that type of love in every single one of their books since Addicted to You, and I think it's the type of love that we all secretly (or openly) crave; to have someone love you that deeply, truly, unconditionally.

I tried and failed to prolong this story, reading it slowly to make it last. I want Moffy and Farrow's story to keep going. The "soul mate love" feeling in this book is so intense, I don't even know how to describe it. I feel every action and word spoken by the MCs from every fiber of my being. Moffy and Farrow's love for each other is so deep that I feel like my heart is on capacity overload! Love, love, love the cute romance!!!

As always, this book has everything I absolutely love about these authors' works. The banter: check. The strong familial bonds: check. The strong friendship bonds: check. Interesting first and secondary characters: check. Makes you want more: check check check.

I don't know how these authors manage to do it, but every single time I want more of the side characters! Their writing is truly magic. They make everyone so interesting that I swear, not one single character is one-dimensional. I'm so excited for more books to come in this series and I can't wait to hear some news about possible books for other characters (just throwing this out there in case KB reads this *wink wink*).

My review of Damaged Like Us
My review of Lovers Like Us


------- Initial Reaction: March 16, 2014 -------

Seriously you guys





View all my reviews

Review: Lovers Like Us (Like Us, #2)

Lovers Like Us by Krista and Becca Ritchie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so engrossed in this book that I didn't realize when I turned the last page that I had reached the end of the story.



I hate it when that happens.

So, I love how this book starts right where we left off in Damaged Like Us. I love how the issues that were left hanging from Damaged Like Us and from the beginning of Lovers Like Us were resolved by the end of the book. I love the depth of each character that Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie creates; they seem like "real" people and it's what makes them so relatable and what makes me want more. Krista and Becca are seriously the only authors I know who give us that "more." Each character's traits and personality, the way they speak, the way they act, and every little thing that makes them who they are...I can't help but wonder how in the world these authors keep track and not get confused. Krista and Becca are wonder twins for sure.

Their writing is phenomenal. I'm not only interested in the main characters but the side characters as well. I loved getting more of Jane and Moffy's siblings. And Sulli too! I loved getting to know more about the bodyguards. I loved the friendship and family bonds. I just love so much about this book! I can't wait till the next book in the series is out!!

My review of Damaged Like Us
My review of Alphas Like Us


------- Initial Reaction: Mar 16, 2014 -------

I can't. I mean. OMG.



View all my reviews

Review: Damaged Like Us (Like Us, #1)

Damaged Like Us by Krista and Becca Ritchie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So, this is my first MM book and it is seriously one of my favorite romcom reads this year. Just like the authors’ previous books, I immediately loved the dialogue and banter between characters from the very start. I like how the story starts off giving us a bit of a background about Maximoff and Farrow’s history. Kind of laying the foundation, if you will, and setting up the atmosphere between the two of them. I love their chemistry! The UST is so thick you can cut it with a knife!

Having read the Addicted Series beforehand, I feel so much more connected to the characters in this story. I’m deeply invested in them and they affect me a lot more than just any other book because I feel like I witnessed them grow up through the years. I can see how growing up with 3 very strong men and 3 very fierce women (his parents and his aunts and uncles) in his life influenced the person that Maximoff has become, and it’s so wonderful to read about.

There are so many laugh-out-loud moments and some very intense moments. It was such a fun read for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the friendships, bonds between family and the bodyguards, and the super cute romance. It's stories like this that make me love reading so much more because the authors create such realistic characters that they transport me into that universe and I love to get lost in it. I’m re-reading the book again simply because I can’t get enough of this world and my favorite characters. The next book can’t get here soon enough!!!

I'm just gonna leave this right here...



------- INITIAL REACTION: MARCH 16, 2014 -------

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!





View all my reviews

My Review: Some Kind of Perfect (Calloway Sisters #4.5) by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Some Kind of Perfect by Krista and Becca Ritchie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this epilogue book!! Now, before you go diving into it, please take note that this is no ordinary epilogue. By that, I mean this is one gigantic book that is about 700 pages long (not quite sure of the exact page count yet since the paperback isn’t released). To me, it’s like a huge Addicted Series bonus material, only I get to keep it on my shelf in book form :D. It is 100% character driven with no central conflict. It’s what you would expect in an epilogue only it spans a period of 10 years (between the time that Long Way Down ended to the Long Way Down epilogue), contains 6 POVs, and it serves as: 1) a conclusion to the Addicted Series; 2) all the questions you ever wanted answered about what happened to the core 6 characters are probably contained in this book; 3) you get to witness the next generation of kids being born and growing up; and 4) it’s a great transition to the Like Us series which features the Addicted kids all grown up. Do you have to read Some Kind of Perfect? No. Let me reiterate. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK. I would say that this book is really meant for all the hard-core, devoted fans of the Addicted Series who just can’t seem to get enough of their beloved characters. As Krista and Becca Ritchie clearly pointed out before releasing this book, you can read Long Way Down and the epilogue at the end of that book. Long Way Down ’s epilogue was put in place for anyone who doesn’t want to read Some Kind of Perfect and still have a sense of closure. “Some Kind of Perfect just simply gives you more.”

If you’re one of the hard-core, devoted fans of the series, you don’t want to miss out on this perfect epilogue! I think that you will absolutely love this book because you get to read LiLo’s, Coballoway’s, and Raisy’s POV one last time and see them as parents. Witness each of them still working through their challenges, and get introduced to different challenges as parents. It was truly marvelous to witness how much they’ve grown and how far they’ve come, and how much they’ve overcome.

The past can’t drag me under.
I relive the better parts that are intertwined with bad. Because I look back and think, Christ, we were so goddamn fragile.
Look how far we’ve come.
Look at us now.

You will also get to read about Willow and Garrison. Their scenes are so much fun to read and I can’t wait for the next chapters of Whatever It Takes to be released! There are so many heartwarming moments and I laughed in every single chapter for about the first 35% of the book. After that, it was a mix of emotions. There will be lots of tears shed. LOTS. Crocodile tears. Especially if you hate goodbyes. You’ll witness some of the trials and tribulations that the core 6 and their children will face and it makes me thrilled and anxious to read the Like Us series.

Truly magnificent. THANK YOU KRISTA & BECCA for gifting us fans this one final Addicted book to satisfy our cravings!!

-------------------
Sharing Lanie's amazing Fan Made Book Trailer on Some Kind of Perfect

My Reviews On:
Addicted to You (Fan Made Book Trailer)
Ricochet
Addicted for Now
Kiss the Sky (Fan Made Princesses of Philly Commercial)
Hothouse Flower (Fan Made Book Trailer)
Thrive
Addicted After All
Fuel the Fire
Long Way Down

Check out the Addicted Series Trailer
My own Fan Made Videos

View all my reviews

My Review: Fuel the Fire (Calloway Sisters #3) by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Fuel the Fire by Krista and Becca Ritchie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’d say that this is the best book out of the Addicted/Calloway Sisters series, but I think I’ve said that after each one I’ve read. Everything in this book just hit me on so many levels that it means so much to me. I can’t even explain it without giving the story away. But this…

To be real.
To be herself, to love every part of her own soul, no matter if it’s what someone else desires or not.
- Connor Cobalt

This quote just about sums it up nicely for me. This is one of the big reasons why I love this book. The underlying message to be yourself in a world where anything and everyone is constantly labeled is one of the strong points in this book for me.

Rose…she’s something fierce. There is no other character like her in anything I’ve read. Her intelligence and confidence…she will always be an inspiration.

Then Connor, oh my gosh, Connor. He’s come a long way from being an asexual sponge. I think Connor and Ryke are the icing on the cake in this story. Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly love them more, Krista & Becca give me a thousand more reasons to. I can’t find a good way to write this review without spoiling the plot. I don’t know how to articulate my feelings for this book. There are so many rare moments that you just have to experience for yourself.

The bond between the 6 main characters is even stronger. The love between them is indestructible. I want to be a part of their family. I want their story to continue and I can’t wait to read more of what lies ahead for Ryke and Daisy in the final book *sobs* of the series, Long Way Down.




-------------------
My Reviews On:
Addicted to You (Fan Made Book Trailer)
Ricochet
Addicted for Now
Kiss the Sky (Fan Made Princesses of Philly Commercial)
Hothouse Flower
Thrive
Addicted After All

Check out the Addicted Series Trailer
My own Fan Made Videos

View all my reviews

 

Review: Amour Amour by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Hi Fizzle Force! Here is my review of Amour Amour. If you haven't read it yet, don't worry, I try to keep my reviews spoiler free. You'll be delighted to hear that there are lots of references to the Addicted world within the book! In case it's not obvious enough in my review, I absolutely LOVE this book!  I love that Krista & Becca's stories are so realistic that it feels like they could truly happen in real life. The characters they create are so endearing and I feel as if they could be my friends. Thoralai is my new otp!


Amour Amour by Krista and Becca Ritchie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After finishing the Addicted Series and loving it, I was extremely excited to get my hands on this new standalone novel by Krista & Becca Ritchie. These authors are some of my absolute favorites from whom I'd immediately buy every book they put out.

I find that one of the things I love about these authors' books is the one resounding theme with all the male leads - they all let their women be. They're not manipulative or controlling (except for maybe Connor Cobalt from Kiss the Sky, but he's a green rooster (one of a kind) so he's on a league of his own anyway) and they treat their women with utmost respect.

Amour Amour has that and everything I love! Swoon-worthy alpha male, no insufferable main character, no instalove, wonderful supporting cast, awesome lasting friendships, humor, and a happy ending. Plus, there's no cheating and no love triangles.

The book instantly lures you in from the prologue and I was hooked after the first two chapters. The UST between Thora and Nikolai is so steamy and so thick you could cut it with a knife! The chemistry and pull between them is...WOW! It's intense from the very first time they meet. Their kisses...OMG O.O

And Nikolai (Nik)! Oh Nik. He's such a mystery and a great positive force in Thora's life. I need a Nik in my life. I think we all need a Nik in our lives! I just love the advice he gives and the things he says to Thora.

"Don't count your losses before you see the scoreboard. It'll plague you with insecurities that aren't worth your energy or emotions."

Everything about him and the way he is with Thora is just so mesmerizing. I love how he cares for his family, for his siblings. He drives people to do their best and it's so inspiring. This whole story is inspiring! Amour Amour inspires you to go after your dreams. To take the risk because you never know what you're capable of, or what could happen if you don't give yourself a chance to find out. Yes, there could be roadblocks to your success; to reaching your goal, but it's not the end. You have to work hard to get what you want. Usually, the ones that aren't easy to get; the ones that take a lot more effort to reach are the ones worth so much more in the end. You get a greater sense of accomplishment and you cherish it that much more because you know that you did it all.

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

Thora is so relatable. Everything she goes through and all her trials and tribulations are a lot of the same stuff I go through or have gone through. Someone once told me, "if you think you can or you think you can't, you're right!" It's all in our mind and when we feel like we can't do something, we don't try as hard to get it and we give up too easily. I love how Thora is her own cheerleader. She motivates herself to do better and to be better. I want to be like her.

And then there are the supporting characters like John and Timo that I can't get enough of. Camila and Katya who are just adorable and so likeable! I wish there were more about them in the book.

This book is just...I don't even have a good enough word to describe it. I know for a fact that I'm reading it again soon! It makes me want to go to Vegas and see a circus (such as Cirque du Soleil), both of which I've never done! And of course, I love that this book is in the same universe as the Addicted Series. All the mentions of the characters from the Addicted series (Ryke, Daisy, Connor, Rose, Lily, and Loren), the drinks (Fizz Life, Diet Fizz, Lightning Bolt!), and the reality TV show, Princesses of Philly (PoPhilly) made me all giddy with excitement! I can't wait to read this one again!

View all my reviews

Review: Addicted After All (Addicted #3) by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Addicted After All by Krista & Becca Ritchie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodness me, where do I even begin with this book? With this series!? I can't form any coherent thoughts right now with all the LiLo, Coballoway, and Raisy feels flooding my mind and rushing through me. How do I even translate everything I'm feeling into words? I'll start with this quote since it's pretty spot on.

"All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened and after you are finished reading one you will feel that all that happened to you and afterwards it all belongs to you: the good and the bad, the ecstasy, the remorse and sorrow, the people and the places and how the weather was." ~Ernest Hemingway

I don’t know what else to say except that I feel like I’m saying farewell to my closest and dearest friends. Whatever reservations you’ve had about reading this series, please put them aside and give it a chance. Addicted After All completes the series so you can begin with Addicted to You and work your way up. This could be your next favorite series of all time. You just never know. I admit that it's a pretty big commitment with 5 books (not including the spinoffs, Kiss the Sky and Hothouse Flower), but the ending of Lil and Lo’s story is very, very rewarding. You get to witness the characters progress from their lowest points and weakest moments to their strongest.

"We've been obliterated and we've come together whole for the first time. Our lives are meteor showers on rewind. I don't think we even knew what we'd be once we pieced ourselves back."

The authors did a fantastic job of building the characters and supporting characters where it feels like you've known these people for a long time. Not only that, but it is something you can truly imagine happening in real life. Krista and Becca Ritchie have grown as writers this past year and it clearly shows within the pages of this book!

There are SO many wonderful unforgettable moments in Addicted After All. It’s a complete contrast from Addicted to You. No longer do Lil and Lo hide from their problems or run away from challenges. They face them head on and with more conviction. This series has taught me to never give up even when you hit your lowest point. It’s all just temporary. The moment that you give up is when it all becomes permanent. It's like Tony Robbins said:

“Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives.”

Witnessing Lily and Lo’s journey from rock bottom to their battle to sobriety, and standing beside them cheering them on as they fight for their happily ever after is the most gratifying of all. And the love that Lil and Lo have for each other truly, truly shines.

"I love how he makes me feel normal. How my brain isn't some vast deep filthy wasteland to him. In his eyes, I'm some kind of perfect."

I cried so much with this book, but they were happy tears for the most part. It's like following your favorite television show for YEARS and then watching the finale. As you watch, you anxiously hope and pray that the characters get the ending that they deserve. In this book, everything that I hoped for was satisfied and more! My respect for Jonathan Hale rose then wavered. It's so obvious how much he loves his sons and OMG! That security code!? *dies with all the feeeeels!* We find out who eventually inherits Hale Co. And we see what happens between Lily and her parents. As much as I hated Samantha in the past books, I actually grew to understand her in this one.

Also, one of the best parts about this book is that you get so much more of all six characters. The bromance and sisterly love is just AHH-mazing!

I love Lo and Connor’s friendship. I can’t get over how friggin cute and funny they are!

"He thinks he's poking at a weak spot of Connor's, but he's doing a poor job. He can't break the guy. He's built of titanium or some sort of indestructible alien material. Like Superman."

LoCo in Mexico? Holy guacamole! I was completely done for after that! I cannot get them out of my head! I was in total shock and had to re-read that scene. It took me a moment to snap out of it. I'm really looking forward to Fuel the Fire and reading more about Connor!

The bond between Ryke and Lo and how much they truly love one another just gets to me! The way Lo looks up to Ryke and how much Ryke believes in Lo...*sigh*

"Ryke would endure hell for eternity if it meant that I could go to heaven. Once upon a time, I think I would've let him."

And I really loved seeing the girls together!

Their bonding moments are so much fun and a little crazy at times. I enjoyed seeing more of Poppy too! Maybe not so much Sam though. He grated on my nerves here and there. And I am so, so happy to have Daisy be more part of the group. I'm curious about what the future holds for her and Ryke and I can't wait to read more about them in Long Way Down

Plus, it was really nice to see Lo & Rose's and Lily & Ryke's friendship develop into something so heartwarming and solid. In Lily's words, "I love the hot-tempered triad." I will forever cherish this group of six people and will never ever forget them for as long as I live!!

And oh my goodness, Lily! She is such a goof and she always cracks me up! I don't know how many times I cried from laughing because of her adorkableness. At one point, I laughed so hard that I peed a little. She is such a spaz! If there is anyone that I am going to miss the most, it's her (and her dirty mind).

It’s really sad to think that this is the final book in Lil and Lo’s POV, but I can revel in the fact that I have the entire series and I can read it again and again for as many times as I want. From the moment I opened Addicted to You, I was hooked in the way that the story unfolded. Such wonderful storytellers Krista and Becca Ritchie are. I want to continue to live in this world that they've created where a Lo, Lily, Rose, Connor, Ryke, and Daisy exist. I love all their different quirks and personalities and I absolutely love their sense of humor!

If I could give this 7 wonderful stars, I truly would! Addicted After All is BY FAR my FAVORITE book in the series!! Now, if you don't mind, I think I'll go find a secluded corner somewhere and cry quietly because my favorite series has ended.

-------------------
My Reviews On:
Addicted to You (Fan Made Book Trailer)
Ricochet
Addicted for Now
Kiss the Sky (Fan Made Princesses of Philly Commercial)
Hothouse Flower
Thrive

Check out the Addicted Series Trailer
My own Fan Made Videos

View all my reviews

Review: Thrive by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Thrive by Krista & Becca Ritchie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“We aren’t connected by our addictions. But by our childhood. Souls fused together from the very, very start.”

This quote really gets to me. It is the basis of why I fell in love with Lily and Lo and it sums up the way I feel about this series. I’ve become so invested in Lily and Lo’s story and in the six main characters involved. Every time I read these books, I am immersed in their universe. Reading each book in the series is much like watching a television series from season to season. We get to know each of the characters more and more with each passing year. Six characters and six books in and still the authors have made sure that Lily, Lo, Rose, Connor, Daisy, and Ryke stay true to character. I feel like they are my closest friends and we’ve been through so much together.

If you have just stumbled upon this review, please know that Thrive is not a standalone novel. Let me try to give a quick breakdown.

The Addicted series begins with Addicted to You (Addicted #1) where we meet Lily and Lo; one is a sex addict and the other is an alcoholic. Best friends since childhood, they know and understand each other well. Slaves to their addiction and buried under lies, they foster a destructive relationship that could ultimately lead to their demise.

The story continues on to Ricochet (Addicted #1.5) where we are taken deeper inside Lily’s head as she struggles to fight her addiction. Events in Addicted to You lead to a separation between Lily and Lo, and they each are left to deal with their own demons without each other. This book contains a lot of heartache and history between Lily and Lo and we find out what exactly is the root cause of Lily’s sexual addiction.

The third book in the series takes us to Addicted for Now (Addicted #2). Here, we witness Lil and Lo’s growth and how their relationship progresses. This time, they fight against enabling one another and giving in to their addictions. The battle to stay sober is heightened when Loren’s past comes back to haunt him and threatens to destroy Lily.

Then, we are given a break from Lily and Lo’s heartbreaking story by shifting the focus on to Lily’s sisters Rose’s and Daisy’s life in the Calloway Sisters spinoff series.

In Kiss the Sky (Addicted #2.1, Calloway Sister #1) we are taken inside Rose and Connor’s head. We get an insight to their story and get to know them better.

Hothouse Flower (Addicted #2.2, Calloway Sister #2) is told in Daisy and Ryke’s POV as we get to know them better and find out what’s really going on between them as the depth of their relationship is revealed.

Lily and Lo’s story continues on in the spinoff series, which leads us to Thrive (Addicted #2.5). It takes us back into Lily and Lo’s POV. Thrive covers the time before, after, and during the same period as the spinoff series. Lily and Lo continue their battle to stay sober as they face more and more obstacles. Will they make it out together, or will one (or both) of them fail and surrender to their demons?



Thrive is very character driven. In this book, we witness the brotherhood, sisterhood, and friendships progress as each relationship is taken to another level, becomes deeper, and grows stronger. There is so much growth in each character throughout this book. We also see tensions rise and fights break out! This book has filled me with so much emotion; so much pain and heartache that by 84 percent of the way through, I just couldn’t hold it back any longer. The dam broke. I flippin ugly cried and couldn’t stop. It was uncontrollable.

But like the books before it, Thrive still contains a lot of the awkwardness and humor that we’ve all come to love. Every time the three guys or the six characters are together, I always expect a lot of bickering, bantering, and comic relief. Krista & Becca Ritchie never disappoint!

I found Lily even more adorable (I didn’t think that was possible) and my heart continues to ache and go out to Lily and Lo. Their struggles in this book are just so much more intense that I found myself crying in nearly every single chapter. I fell even more in love with this series.



The Addicted series is heartbreaking, gritty, gut wrenching, and even funny at times, and it’s sure to captivate your mind and your heart. These books are unlike anything you’ve ever read in the NA genre; they are raw and intense and filled with real life struggles. It will give you a glimpse of how an addiction can literally posses your mind and take over your life. So, if you haven’t yet, I highly suggest that you pick up the series today and see why so many of us have become so engrossed and addicted to this touching story!


-------------------
My Reviews On:
Addicted to You (Fan Made Book Trailer)
Ricochet
Addicted for Now
Kiss the Sky
Hothouse Flower

Check out the Addicted Series Trailer

View all my reviews

Hothouse Flower: My Review

Hothouse Flower by Krista & Becca Ritchie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You know that moment when you get to the end of a chapter, turn to the next page, and realize that it was the last page of the book? You panic because you’re not ready for it to end yet, so you’re left re-reading that last line a few times, close the book, then sit there for several minutes, staring into space in deep thought about what you just read. Then, once it sinks in that the story is over, you’re overwhelmed with all these emotions and you can’t decide whether you want to laugh or cry. That’s what I felt at the end of this book and what I’m still feeling now.



Hothouse Flower is a spin-off of the Addicted series and is the second installment of the Calloway Sisters series. It seems like it’s been years that I’ve been waiting for Daisy & Ryke’s story. They met when Daisy was 15 and Ryke was 22. Their story began when Ryke agreed to help chaperone Daisy’s 16th birthday. I am deeply and emotionally invested in this series. My love for these characters began with Lily and Lo’s epic love story in Addicted to You , then Rose and Connor’s perfect relationship in Kiss the Sky (Spin-Off)(Calloway Sisters #1), and now Daisy and Ryke’s forbidden romance in Hothouse Flower . Although you don’t have to read the Addicted series at all, I would strongly suggest doing so before getting into the Calloway Sisters series because of character development. You get so much more out of the story and witness how Daisy and Ryke’s relationship progresses and evolves throughout the years. You connect with them on a much deeper level if you start from the very beginning. Here is the recommended reading order:

Addicted to You (Addicted #1) – Lily & Lo’s story begins
Ricochet (Addicted #1.5) – Story of the time Lily & Lo spend apart (also beginning of Daisy and Ryke’s story)
Addicted for Now (Addicted #2) – Lil & Lo’s story continues (Daisy & Ryke’s story continue to develop)
Kiss the Sky (Spin-Off)(Calloway Sisters #1) – Rose & Connor’s story (a must read before you read Hothouse Flower)
Hothouse Flower (Spin-Off)(Calloway Sisters #2) – Daisy & Ryke’s story
Thrive (Addicted #2.5) – Lil & Lo’s POV covering the same period as Kiss the Sky and Hothouse Flower
Addicted After All (Addicted #3) – Final book of the series

Ryke is a very caring individual. He’s a jackass, he’s crude, and he’s very blunt. Despite his rough exterior, he has the kindest soul. Having been raised by a single mother, Ryke loves and cares for all women. He’s there for everyone he truly cares about. And Ryke is completely torn between taking care of Daisy and being there for his brother.

“We each have our roles, and I know mine is to keep an eye on this girl and that guy. I just don’t ever want to be faced with the decision of having to choose between them. If that day comes, then fuck me.”

Daisy is the youngest of four sisters and because of the age gap between her and her older sisters, she always got left out and wasn’t really close to any of them. It’s so heartbreaking to see how Daisy desperately wants to be closer to her sisters. But she needs to realize that she has to open up to them too. Modeling at a very young age, she’s lived a life under constant scrutiny. Her life as a fashion model is not a very easy one. Modeling is a precarious job where people are treated with less worth than the clothes that they wear. Daisy is endlessly worrying about her weight so she maintains a strict diet. Daisy was forced to grow up fast. Add that on top of the fact that her mother, who controls everything she does and goes everywhere she goes, suffocates her. She’s chained; she’s bound; she finds escape by being impulsive and doing as she pleases when her mother isn’t around.

When shit hits the fan, Daisy finds a reliable and trustworthy friend in Ryke. Daisy has found that she has no real friends ever since she and her family were put under the spotlight because of certain events and information leaked to the media.

“As I watched each friend call me a sex-addict-in-training and a media whore, stabbing me routinely in the heart, Ryke was the one who pulled out the blades. He even shielded me from them. He’s like my wolf—dangerous, alluring and protective—but I can never get close enough or he’ll bite me. He’s my last real friend. But I know that’s not entirely true. He’s the only real one I’ve ever had.”

Daisy confides in him and they grow closer and closer over the years. There’s an attraction there that neither one of them can act on in fear of their family’s reaction, and because it’s legally not allowed given that Daisy is underage. It’s obvious that Daisy is attracted to him and she’s constantly flirting with him; always pushing his buttons to get a rise out of him. But Ryke would never let on that he’s in any way, shape, or form attracted to Daisy. He maintains a platonic relationship with her and when Hothouse Flower begins, they’ve been friends for over two years. He’s the only person who is truly there for Daisy but being friends with her puts a lot of pressure on him because of the circumstance they’re in.

“I wish I could take away her problems. I’m not used to being unable to fix things, and it hurts, having to watch her go through this while I pretend that my presence is a fucking solution.”

In this book, Daisy is now 18 and Ryke just turned 25. Daisy is finally free of her mother’s grasp and is living in her own place. Because of Ryke and Daisy’s close relationship, they are incessantly hounded by Ryke’s little brother Loren about keeping their relationship non-romantic. But as Connor observed in Kiss the Sky,

“While Lo believes he’s protecting Daisy from his half-brother, he’s really creating a barrier between Daisy and the only person here who’ll look out for her first rather than last.”

Daisy’s mother despises Ryke. It just seems like everything is against them being together. What’s great about this book is that it takes you inside both Daisy’s and Ryke’s head. You get the dual POV so you have both sides of the story. And it is a beautiful story of friendship, romance, and forbidden love. When the moment comes when Ryke is left to decide exactly what Daisy means to him and whether or not he truly has feelings other than friendship for her, it is absolutely mind blowing! It will leave you completely breathless. The stairwell scene…INTENSE!!! That’s all I have to say about that.



Both Ryke and Daisy are completely misunderstood and the only people who see their relationship for what it is, has no problems, issues, or qualms on whether or not they should be together romantically, are Rose and Connor. But expect a lot of humor and smartass remarks every time these six characters get together. There are so many funny and awkward moments in the book! I seriously look forward to the banter between them and I’m so glad that we get a lot of moments with the six of them in this book! The dynamic with these characters is just unbelievable. It’s hard not to fall in love with every single one of them.

Rose’s quips had me laughing my ass off! I think she totally outdid Connor in her comebacks.

“If you disappoint my little sister, I will personally snip off your balls and feed them to Connor’s cat.”

Connor is the see-it-all, know-it-all guy in the group. But as much shit as he and Ryke give each other, Connor has great influence on how the story plays out. When Ryke was literally broken down and second guessing all the choices that he’s made in the past, Connor was his voice of reason and helped to put things in perspective. One of my favorite Connor quotes to Ryke,

“What you’ve done for them, it’s nothing short of heroic, and if you can’t see that, then you’re blind, my friend.”

Lily is flippin cute as always. Her weird and eccentric behavior cracks me up! She and Ryke should seriously just admit that they’re BFFs.

Lo really got under my skin in this book. I mean I understand that he’s got a lot of anger and hate and he’s under a lot of turmoil as a recovering alcoholic. But I don’t think these justify his actions sometimes. He’s not the only one suffering. Each one of them is fighting their own battles. There were moments when I wanted to shake some sense into him and I definitely wished that Ryke would just punch him in the face. But that wouldn’t have helped the situation and it would’ve done more harm than good. Still, I love Lo to pieces and I can’t wait to read Thrive and find out all about what was going on inside his head during these times.

And I swear any time that the three guys are together, I am done for! The banter is through the roof hilarious!! There’s a lot of bromance going on.

This book was a major head rush! Beautiful story with a wonderful ending that leaves me wanting more!!! I loved every minute of it. I’ve had the most difficult time writing this review because so much happens in the story and I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read any of the books in the series. I think this is my absolute favorite book from Krista & Becca Ritchie. Wait. No. I still love Lily and Lo. Actually, I love them ALL in all their different, quirky, crazy, and effed up ways!! But seriously, this book is by far the best that they’ve written. No, wait, I can’t say that either because I absolutely love Addicted to You and Kiss the Sky was the most complicated of all with the reality TV show worked into it...and well...I really love all the other books as well. Krista & Becca Ritchie will totally blow your mind! They are absolutely wonderful and insanely brilliant!!! I’m completely and utterly addicted to their writing and this series! I haven’t had a book hangover this bad.


quote in poster from Ricochet


quote in poster from Addicted for Now











My Reviews On:
Addicted to You
Ricochet
Addicted for Now
Kiss the Sky

View all my reviews

Review: Kiss the Sky

Kiss the Sky by Krista & Becca Ritchie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



❤ An ARC was provided by the authors ❤

This is a standalone book and is a spinoff from the Addicted series. If you haven't read the series, no worries. You don't need to have read it in order to read this one. Since this book hasn't been released yet (release date is Jan 24, 2014), I will keep this review spoiler free.

WOW WOW WOW. Mind: Blown.



I had some pretty big expectations for this book and let me tell you, Krista & Becca did not disappoint! I have to admit, I think this is the best that they have written so far. And that's saying a lot for me since I am completely obsessed with the Addicted series! To say that I think I might like the spinoff better...well...that's just blasphemy.

Great points about this book:
1. It's a standalone (as I've mentioned before)
2. No insta-love
3. Solid relationship (and I mean solid as a rock)
4. No cliffhangers at the end
5. No cheating
6. No love triangle
7. Lots of laughs (as well as tears)

Bad points:
....well....honestly, I really have none to list.

Here, I thought the story couldn't get any better than Lily and Lo's (from the Addicted series). I love being proved wrong :)

Rose + Connor = perfection. Damn these two are a powerhouse couple!



In the Addicted series, you don't get to see much of Rose and Connor. In Addicted to You (Addicted #1), Rose came off as a stuck up, spoiled, cold-hearted, bitch (in my opinion).

"Rose frightens children, pets, and even grown males with her icy eyes and chilling glares."

Connor also came off as stuck up but at least he didn't seem cold-hearted. I thought this was a good (and funny) quote of Connor in Addicted to You:

"I sincerely think that Connor is asexual. Like a sponge. He probably wouldn't even notice if you [Lily] hit on him."

Rose and Connor together were described as "two asexual people bonding together--a once in a lifetime happening." I mean, they were basically viewed by the other characters as robots.

But through the series, we see more and more of Rose and Connor. We come to realize that Rose is quite possibly THE BEST sister anyone could have. She will go to the ends of the earth (even sacrifice her own life) for her sisters. In Kiss the Sky we get to see inside Rose's head and we find out just how caring and loving she is, despite the tough exterior that she puts on.

Then, there's Connor. To me, it was thrilling to see Connor change from the beginning to the end. I loved being inside his head because he was such an enigma in the Addicted series. In Kiss the Sky, we're given a glimpse of his childhood to show how he came to be the man that he is. And as the story progresses, we witness how he changes. How being with Rose turns some of his views askew and makes him question some of his major beliefs. I was pleasantly surprised by Connor. I'm a Ryke fan myself, but I fell in love with Connor in this book (I fell even more in love with Ryke and Lo too, but that's beside the point). I just couldn't help it!

For all the Lily & Loren lovers, there is plenty of them in this book. Much more than I expected; in fact, it made me miss them a lot, especially when Lily was being her goofy self. There was one chapter when I was just laughing non-stop. Loved the banter between all 6 main characters. And just as in the Addicted series, anytime there's a scene that involves the 3 guys, you can pretty much expect some laughs.

I am also looking forward to reading Daisy and Ryke's story in Hothouse Flower (to be released Mar 2014)! I'm really interested in and can't wait to see what's going to happen between these two!!



I found a lot of parts in this book just ridiculously funny! Even Rose was funny! Who knew Rose could be funny?! But there were also a couple of parts where I was just a blubbering mess. Krista & Becca definitely know how to pull on my heartstrings. The ending had my chest swelling. My heart was literally beating out of my chest. My head is still spinning.



I'm so excited for the release of this book. Everyone will be in for a treat! So, get ready to laugh your socks off and cry your eyes out on Jan 24th! Kiss the Sky solidifies my desire to read every single book by Krista & Becca Ritchie! Love them to no end!!

Here are some teaser excerpts and posters released by the authors that give us some very telling hints on what's to come!





Connor


Rose


Rose


Rose + Connor


Connor


Rose


If you're interested in the Addicted series, here are my reviews:
My Review of Addicted to You (Addicted #1)
My Review of Ricochet (Addicted #1.5)
My Review of Addicted for Now (Addicted #2)



View all my reviews