Synopsis

Riley Walker makes all the right decisions and knows exactly where her life is headed.

Riley Walker does not make mistakes.

Riley Walker certainly doesn’t make spontaneous decisions.

But then Riley Walker gets dumped.

Spectacularly, gut-wrenching, stomp all over her heart dumped. And she is feeling more than a little angry. And a whole lot bitter. And suddenly the girl who has always done everything right feels like doing something completely wrong.

Garrett Bellows, lead guitarist for the local band, Generation Rejects, is going through life without a plan. Trying not to think past the next gig or the next party, he has worked hard to not become too attached to anyone or anything. So he is shocked to find himself drawn to the snarky girl with a chip on her shoulder. She pisses him off and puts him down. He knows she’s nothing more than a self-entitled college brat who thinks she’s better than the townie boy without a future.

Alcohol and a hefty dose of lust leads to a night both Riley and Garrett immediately regret. Her embarrassment, his pride and the weight of rumors and misconceptions convince Riley and Garrett that their one-time indiscretion will never be repeated. Particularly when their harshest critics are each other.

But how do you reconcile a head that wants to let go with a heart that keeps holding on?

And what happens when your biggest regret begins to seem almost perfect?

Review

“Blessed are the hearts that can bend; for they shall never be broken.”

If you thought Riley and Damien would end up together, then you’re so wrong. It turns out Damien is an asshole and had actually dumped Riley because he thought their relationship lacks something. This is in turn, made Riley a depressed and lovesick woman who was beginning to question her judgment when it came to guys and dating and other blah blah blah stuff.

I honestly thought Damien and Riley were perfect together but sometimes first impressions are not that accurate. I mean yeah, they seem so compatible. They both support the environment. They’re both English majors. They “fit together like the proverbial missing puzzle pieces, each complementing the other.”Their relationship had been simple and easy. She thought he was her soul mate, and they’ll share eternal undying love.

Then there’s Garrett Bellows, the lead guitarist of Generation Rejects and is a total pothead. Riley and Garrett got off at a bad start and their relationship was already doomed even before it started. For self-righteous Riley, Garrett is the emblem of a loser. He totally disgusts her.

While I may not blame Riley for her awful thoughts on Garrett, I can’t help but feel sorry for the guy. She may not know it but Garrett has stopped living for a while since he lost his loved ones and he’s acting the part of being a loser and a pothead because that’s the behavior people expect from him.

Garrett Bellows is one of the deepest characters I’ve read. He’s shattered inside and had come to terms with it. He’s very real and doesn’t sugarcoat his words just to appease a person. And I think, with Riley’s personality, she definitely needs an eye-opener like him. He has been through a lot. He’s surviving but is still mourning his loved ones. I loved his songs and how he uses it to grieve and express his feelings.

Riley Walker, on the other hand, is another story. In the first book, I found her a bit weird and since she’s pro-environment and tends to lecture Maysie, I thought she was really righteous at that time. It turns out I’m right. I’m seriously pissed at her. They way she judged Garrett and treated him like booty call since she doesn’t have anything to do with a guy who doesn’t think much of his future except to play music and earn a little keep. That’s a big turn off, especially if the guy is really sincere with his word and would give the world if he has to.

This girl certainly carries baggage. She’s got issues with herself and her beliefs. She came from a good family with a loving and very understanding parents but her personality is so different from her two hippie parents.

I hated the fact that the whole book focused almost on Riley doing her best to think of reasons why she and Garrett shouldn’t be together. I want to smack her head for taking so long to realize that they’re good together.

It’s great that Jordan and Maysie are still included in this book. If I were to choose among the two ladies, I’d still choose her. She’s so different from Riley and even though she has issues, she still sees the good in people.

Garrett’s character is not difficult to like. He’s a songwriter too, so that’s a plus. I really liked that song he wrote for Riley.

I hadn’t expected it

It thought you were a joke.

Your whispered words

Wrapped around my throat.

I hated that I loved it

The way you reached inside

Clawing through the wreckage

And the pieces that have died.

You don’t even know it,

You’re blind to what you see

The disillusioned lies

Bleeding out of me.

Quiet slumbers before the storm

Violent eyes, passionate cries,

Resisting and tormenting wanting more.

There is no beginning without an end,

No tomorrow, no future,

losing it all again.

Our story is a nightmare,

Written in stone,

Nothing can change it,

I’ll still be alone.

You want me to need you.

You’ll be waiting awhile.,

Piercing my world

with the ice of your smile.

Your touch is toxic

Your heart’s a mess

Which is why you’ll always be

My prefect regret

My prefect regret.

Regret….

***

My mask means nothing

You see who I am

Breaking me down

on the ground where I stand.

I wanted to lose you

In the face of your pain

Stranded in the dust

Hounded by the shame.

You hated

I loved

I was wrong

You were done

If tragedy had a soul

It was mine you took hold

Caught in the vice

It felt so right.

Terrified to lose

What I never could keep

Drowning in regret

Push it down deep.

But the sun does shine

On the wicked and mean

You licked all my tears

Scraped my heart clean

Together we are more

than the sum of it all

Mighty shall stand

While the weak shall fall

My mistakes almost ruined

The place I belong

Beside you, behind you,

For ever how long.

Take this heart

That no longer bends

Wrap it up tight

It still needs to mend.

My beautiful girl

My breath

My life

I will love you

Hold you

Whatever the price.

Stay with me now

Until time grows old

And only then

Beautiful girl

Will our story be told.

Riley’s one lucky girl. I’m sure there’d be plenty of women out there who would gladly jump his bones! LOL!

Love is really just around the corner. Even if you’re not looking for it, it would still haunt you until you succumb to the feeling. And once you’re infected, your heart won’t choose whom you’re going to fall in love to. Just cherish the moment. Accept it and you’ll be rewarded with a lifetime of happiness.

Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer: This review copy was provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.