Especially when in walks one Dane Kendrick, not at all the familiar, southern charmer of home, but an animal all his own.
More than, and not just, a love triangle; a story of growing up, friendship, loyalty, first love, primal love...and life.
5 Star Review by Guest Reviewer Allison East
Who doesn't love a good love triangle? There are so many out there! Chase, Brandon, and Harper- Mason, Ash, and Scarlett- Kellan, Denny and Keira- Travis, Parker, and Abby (if Parker even counts!) I always end up liking one, more than the other (Chase, Ash, Kellan, and Travis- if you were wondering) So, I assumed that would happen with this book. This was the hardest decision I have ever made concerning a book boyfriend. I have been in love with Travis Maddox for going on a year- and no one has really lived up to his standards for me. Beautifully broken, I love him. There was a BB in this book- that melted my heart, and had me on the fence with Trav.Laney Walker is such a quintessential heroine. It starts out as Laney is about ten years old. I can tell she is going to be a spit fire from the very first sentence uttered from her mouth.
"Daddy, 'member what you said about not starting a fight, but I could damn sure finish one?"
Yes, love at first speak! She was a pistol, and I was hooked from that sentence.
Then we meet ten- year old Evan Allen and I fall in love yet again.
"Oh, I could see that, tiger. That's not why I did it."
Tiger? Could he not remember my name? Typical boy. "Why did you then?"
He thinks for a minute, kicking the dirt with his toe, and then shrugs. "I'll let you know as soon as I figure it out."
I never heard what he came up with. Turns out, we had plenty of other things to talk about.
The nickname stuff was killing me already!! Fast forward 8 years, Laney and Evan are best friends, although you can tell that they both kind of have it bad for each other.
"Smiling now, despite my mood, I concede and hand him the keys. I simply can't resist the charms that are so completely Evan; those flirty blue eyes, framed by dark, thick lashes, and his crooked little grin as he spouts off those pet names would test any girl's resolve."
God, and this line:
"Laney, you're that girl. The one guys make up in their head when they put all the best parts together to make one perfect girl. The man who gets you to actually pay attention, well, he'll be the luckiest guy on the planet, and he'll know it. All that, and the fact that you never date, is pretty damn intimidating."
Swoon, seriously fanning myself!
Unfortunately Laney and Evan can't attend the same college so they "break up" because Laney doesn't want temptation and mistakes to ruin their friendship. So Laney reluctantly goes to Southern, and Evan to UGA. Now Kaitlyn is Laney's best friend and she also gets into UGA- we don't like her, repeat DO NOT LIKE HER.
When Laney gets to Southern, we also meet her roommate Bennett- who I love. We love her, she is super nice and sweet. Just different enough from Laney to be adorable. My heart is breaking for Evan, because I know he wants more and will do anything to keep her- but I know there is going to be another guy- and I am apprehensive. I start freaking out.
Another thing about Laney I love is that she adores Disney movies- I am a sap for them, always have been. So I found myself comparing all these characters to Disney ones.I feel like Laney is Cinderella- the best known princess of all time- and at this point Prince Charming is Evan. Bennett is like Ariel- because she has the red hair!
There are so many hot guys in the book it's unreal- they meet Zach and Drew first, LOVE them! Can't wait to meet some more. After they meet these guys- they head to the next dorm with 3 MORE attractive men- Tate and Sawyer are roomies, and Dane, Tate's brother.
Oh Dane- how did I ever love Evan!
"Dane turns to us, and GOOD LORD...I hope their parents are breeding professionally because they'd make a fortune! If big brother is hot, then little brother is illegal, immortal, and too damn pretty not to be a girl. This guy seriously belongs on the cover of World's Sexiest Reasons to Drop Your Panties."
And he's a winker- I have a soft spot for that. He comes up with the nickname Disney for her- adorable. And he is a damn musician! Evan didn't stand a chance after that. Especially after Kaitlyn (hose beast) takes a picture of Evan doing a body shot off a skank from UGA.
And another character we do not like, Whitley, is introduced. She hangs all over Laney's Dane (even though at this point, she isn't convinced she is Dane's - but I am.
I get that Laney can't let Evan go, but get real. He's the only boyfriend she has ever known. And he really wasn't her boyfriend for long- he was more of best friend type. (Tod and Copper from Fox and the Hound, for arguments sake)
And like Randy Jackson says on American Idol -Dane was ""in it to win it."
"Happy Birthday, gorgeous girl," he whispers in my ear, tucking a piece of hair behind it.
"Thank you. I thought you weren't here," I answer breathlessly, shaking, unable to mentally process what the serenade did to me."You knew better than that." His lips are now touching my ear. "Didn't you? You think you don't know me and you shouldn't feel this, but you do feel it. Don't you, Laney?" One hand moves to the small of my back and ignites my skin through the thin fabric of my dress.
"Maybe," I barely whisper. I'm terrified of the way he makes me feel; my pull to him is animalistic.
I feel his laugh against my skin as he moves his other hand over my heart."No maybe to it. You feel that, Laney? Your heart beats that fast for me, for us."
Wow talk about panty melting!
"Seriously, where were you when I was 10?"
"Off somewhere, waiting for you."
And swoon-worthy-
"Laney, I want to be with you, exclusively or whatever girlie label you want to put on it, meaning no one gets near here," he says, using his finger to tap over my heart, "but me. I want to touch you, kiss you, freely. I want you to be my girlfriend, mybaby." He rolls his eyes and laughs. "I can't believe you make me outline things and sound like a 16 year old." He apparently feels compelled to remind me he is a man; the way he kisses me now is illegal until you can at least vote.
GAH- stop it already, I get it- I love him <3
When they play 21 questions-one of my favorite scenes- near the end.
"Baby, you can plan our dates, tell me what to wear, run the radio," I wink, "you can even name our kids one day...after Disney characters even. But in the bedroom, the hot tub, against the wall or basically anywhere I have you naked and wet...let me lead."
Ay-yi-yi. S.E. Hall, you did it. You got me to cave on a new book boyfriend after a years' worth of love and devotion to one!
I won't give away anymore- and you will have to read to see if they end up together, which one she chooses. I have already picked my Team, who do you choose?
You have to give this book a read, it is definitely worth it!
*Warning- there is no huge cliffhanger, per se, but there is a book two*
ENJOY!!
One last line to leave you with!
"Because I want to know everything about you. I want to know exactly what only I give to you."
"Oh", I whisper. It's possessive and territorial and strangely hot as hell.
"I can't tell you how happy it makes me." He moves against me, igniting another firestorm within me. "How little you gave him...all that will be just mine."
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