If I Were You (Inside Out Trilogy), Lisa Renee Jones

BLURB---He is rich and famous, and dark in ways I shouldn’t find intriguing but I do. I so do. I don’t understand why his dark side appeals to me, but the attraction between us is rich with velvety promises of satisfaction. . . .
In the bestselling style of Fifty Shades of Grey, Lisa Renee Jones delivers sexy thrills and heart-pounding sensuality with a tantalizing page-turner in which the eyes of a high school English teacher are opened to a world she never knew existed, and she finds a passionate craving within that she never knew she possessed.
The journal comes to Sara McMillan by chance, when she inherits the key to an abandoned storage locker belonging to a woman named Rebecca. Sara can’t resist peeking at the entries in the journal . . . and she finds a scintillating account of Rebecca’s affair with an unnamed lover, a relationship drenched in ecstasy and wrapped in dark secrets.
Obsessed with discovering Rebecca’s destiny after the entries come to an abrupt end, Sara does more than observe the players in the woman’s life; she immerses herself in the high-stakes art gallery world Rebecca inhabited—and is magnetically drawn to two men. Which one seduced Rebecca with his masterful and commanding touch and brought her fantasies to exquisite life? On a daringly erotic escapade, Sara follows Rebecca’s path to fulfill her own hidden longings. But after she tastes the forbidden pleasures Rebecca savored, will Sara be helpless to escape the same submissive fate?
Next in this thrilling new trilogy: look for Being Me and Revealing Us.


I don't want to be a grumpy reviewer but it's happening.

SPOILERS in this review.

I don't know how to review it. I'm gonna sliiightly rant I think but I don't know. I didn't hate it.

I liked the story, I just felt that it was abandoned about halfway through because Sara got distracted by the pretty Mr Merit.

I'm a bit like, huh? I hate stupid characters. Sara in particular drove me insane.

So Sara finds some journals, and they belong to Rebecca- a woman she has no knowledge about apart from what she has read in the journals.

Sara then goes in search of Rebecca because she is worried about what happened to her........Now. I don't know how I felt about this, she is a teacher and has the summer off. Finds some journals, then goes on some humanitarian mission to find out what happened to her. Random... BUT at this point in the book, I didn't care. I was intrigued enough to continue despite feeling Sara was being stupid.

She discovers she works in an art gallery and gets offered a job (Lucky Sara!!) Naturally owner boss guy is hot and dominant and silently demands she drinks the coffee he made, which she does because y'know.... she wants to please and seek his approval even though she knows she shouldn't because she is a STRONG WOMAN, dammit -_-

THEN comes another hot guy in the form of one of her favourite artists!!!! Who also has an inexplicable interest in the new girl. A guy who is one of them annoying as fuh martyrs being all.....

"Oooh I'm a bad man, you should stay away from me"
Then
"Come away with me for the weekend, I can't be without you"
Then
"I'm a jerk, stay away from me. You deserve better"
Then
"I've never felt this way before, let me stay with you, I miss you"

This is basically Chris throughout the book. Who I liked in the beginning!!! But the plot just basically got left behind whilst Chris and Sara were having all the sex.

And Sara! Well done for resisting so much, you waited like....what...a few days? Before you forgot alllllllll about Rebecca and starting thinking with you slutty brain. Turns out all woman need is a pretty face to forget all their troubles.

She is even toying with the idea that these men had something to do with her disappearance....I'm sorry, what book? So she is SO SCARED for this stranger she MUST go and check up on her but then once she is there, the job offer and pretty men take over everything. It's ok Sara, I'm sure we would all ignore everything else if we were basically controlled by strangers....even though you are aware/annoyed by it, you still do it. Good one mate.
Bleugh, annoying.

The writing wasn't my favourite kind either. "Air crackling between us" and things like that get annoying after a while. I know they want each other. I'm not gonna detail everything that annoyed me because to be honest I could do a chapter by chapter blow of Things That Irritated Bec.

Hmmmm. no, I don't know. I'm mad because I liked the mystery element and wanted more from that. So I will be going straight into book 2 but God Damn there better be a plot

Playing Patience, Tabatha Vargo

Amazon US Link

BLURB----Sometimes all you need is Patience.

Life’s been hard for Zeke. Being a punching bag for his alcoholic father has turned him into stone. Not even the dodgy trailer park he lives in can scare him. Fighting is his release and sex, drugs, and his guitar bring him peace, but deep down Zeke isn’t quite as hard as he makes himself out to be. When he meets Patience, she finds all his broken pieces and puts him back together, but she’s a ray of light in his shadowed life and the last thing he wants to do is bring her into his dark world. Playing careless is easy, playing the bad guy can be fun, but playing Patience is impossible, especially when she can see right through him.

Zeke isn’t the only one who’s broken, and for the first time, in a long time, Patience feels alive. Her black and white world gets a shot of color when she meets Zeke. He’s unlike anyone she’s ever met with his tattoos, piercings, and blunt honesty. She wants nothing more than to let go and ride the wild side with him, but some wounds never heal and the broken pieces of Patience aren’t so easy to find.

***Warning: this book contains graphic language, sex, and violence. Mature readers only. Not intended for young adult readers.***


Okay, with this book for the first time ever I noticed stuff that usually makes me hate a book but here I just casually looked the other way. BUT this gives me a stronger love for it because I love it wholeheartedly despite some flaws.

I seriously loved it, which was weird since I had alarm bells constantly going off like "Men don't talk like this" and "Stop with the crap descriptions" and "Oh dear god, PLEASE check your sentences!!". I don't want to say any of this because I reaalllyyyyy loved it, so so so much but I just can't not say it. Anyway....will detail that a bit more later.


Zeke- beat up by his father, Patience sexually abused by hers meet and we follow their surprisingly sweet romance given the subject matter. It's so dark and dramatic but when they are together they behave more like teens albeit dirty slut bag teens BUT it's nice to see them being normal. I loved when they were together it was beautiful.

Patience was very sweet as was Zeke, although the overlap in the chapters was a bit annoying I still enjoyed reading it. I also like how they would say the same things in their heads so we saw how similar they were.

I'm always very vague with plot but believe me when I say A LOT happens.

I think one of the reasons I loved it was there was no insta-love. Thank the heavens, I can’t bear insta-love. They take ages to develop into anything. Full of doubt and self-loathing the pair of them work really hard at trying to do the right thing by each other.

I read this in a day, which I just don't do but I needed to know what happened. It never lulled and I never lost interest, I regret it now! I crave a great book then when I get one I get greedy and gobble it up super quick then mourn the loss of it. When will I learn not to rush through?!

It was a good old fashioned romance, but of the dark twisted variety.
I know some of my friends will absolutely hate this book and others will adore and favourite shelf it.

But...I need to detail some of the bad things now. Don't want to but it kind of needs to be said.

The POV thing, I'm learning I hate 1st person POV... especially male. I nearly gave up in the beginning because I just couldn't read a man coming up with these long winded descriptions for hair and eyes. People don't talk this way! But then I got used to it and I loved Zeke's voice by the end. He's such a dude.

The editor....Dear God... If it was a payed editor should never work again. Some examples....

“master piece” is not what you wanted here, "masterpiece" it’s just one word.

“Of course I am” is not an appropriate response to “Feel like some company?”.

“Never talk to each any one” Doesn’t make sense. Neither does “pulled in next his” there’s quite a few more.

The Ending Jesus effing Christ.....all I can say is wow, that all happened so fast. Throughout the book everything we get is heavily detailed emotions and personal struggles. Then we get to the end and it's like a runaway wrap-up train with a pretty little bow on top. Did Not Like.

Epilogue was laughable too, I need a bit more detail than I was given

BUT!!!!! AGAIN!!!!
I DIDN'T CARE ONE EENY WEENY TINY BIT!!!! LISTEN TO ME....NOT ONE BIT.
IT IS AMAZING

Honestly, couldn't care less. I loved Zeke and Patience so much I just glossed right over all of it... To get all weird on you all now. It made me realise sometimes a good story is enough, great characters can be an amazing experience. It's not necessary to deconstruct a book and seek out flaws. It entertained me, I had a great journey with these people so I'm not taking away any stars for the faults I found because I never got bored it pulled so many emotions out of me and I'm so glad I read it.
Perfect romance read for me.

Sins And Needles, Karina Halle

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.


***The Artists Trilogy is a dark and sexy contemporary ride about three flawed individuals caught in a world where it's so easy to justify the bad things we do. This is a pure adult read (Not YA or NA).

This is the 1st book in the trilogy. It is followed by the novella On Every Street (released in March 2013) and the sequel Shooting Scars (released in May 2013). The third and final book in the series will also be released in 2013.***


Yeahhhhh, fun fun fun. What was I thinking not reading this sooner? Pssssht idiot.

I loved it! Perfect blend of awesome characters, awesome plot and awesome writing. Usually one single thing out of these three sticks out for me but noooo it was an epic coming together of it's parts.

I love reading about flawed people who I want to shake, yet still I love them. Also you know when tonnes of stuff happens but it doesn't feel annoying and for the sake of it? It was fast paced but not making me like Whoa Whoa Whoa chilllll book 

Ellie is a con artist, it's all she's known since her childhood. She has come back to her home town to start over (again) and bumps into an old friend from high school- Camden. Things didn't end well with Camden and when they meet up...he's all...well. Hmph, you will have to read it if you haven't already because- like me- you've had it in your tbr pile for too long.
My plot overview is offensively vague but if you read my reviews you know this now. I just do ramblings.

Ellie- Stupid girl!!! Don't get me wrong I absolutely love her....but damn that girl needs to grow up. AND STOP DOING SHIT. Ellie, you play with fire girl.....

Camden, my beautiful. The high school weirdo (I was this person in my high school! hahaha but of the arty-farty variety) who grew up to be a dangerous tattooed sexy musician nerd man- also know as purrrfect. Must be mentioned though ever so slightly psychotic, very incredibly bitter but a good man.

I like that they were both kind of stuck. I could scream at both of them to move on. It made their connection more poignant I think because they both needed to get over things and move forward with their lives.

I'm just gonna dedicate a sentence to Camden and his amazingness. Mmmmmm I love you Camden, sexy nerds. Nothing better than a sexy nerd.

I keep seeing Team Javier everywhere?!?! Why, I ask WHYYY??? Is this because of On Every Street? Maybe I'll change my mind after I've read that because right now I will fight to the death for Camden.
*edit, after reading On Every Street I now see the appeal BUT LADIES***********SPOILER************He's a cheaaaater

Anyway, if you want a fast paced romantic thriller kind of thing with shockingly great characters and some damn fine writing this is the one!

Wanderlust, Skye Warren

BLURB----Evie always dreamed of seeing the world, but her first night at a motel turns into a nightmare. Hunter is a rugged trucker willing to do anything to keep her—including kidnapping. As they cross the country in his rig, Evie plots her escape, but she may find what she's been looking for right beside her.

Wanderlust is a dark erotic novel which explores dubious consent, captivity, and power play. Please do not read this if you're uncomfortable with the subject matter or under 18 years of age

Not what I expected at all!!

I expected your average non-con "I've been kidnapped but I like it!!" And that's about it. But there was soooooo much more to it. In fact it's not like that at all, I loved the writing style too, that poetic beautiful style. It was completely different to what I thought, the blurb made me think it would be a good but y'know expected kidnapping read. NOOOOO so good!!!!

Evie is a very sheltered naive girl who after being abused as a child is over-protected by her mother. Her mother feels guilty as the abuser was a boyfriend of hers, so this helps explain her over-bearing behaviour. She taught Evie that all men were monsters and something bad will happen to her is she ever leaves but she eventually does leave and her mothers fears quickly become true, repeatedly actually.

Hunter- huh, I like him! I get him too, I hugely disagree with him but I get the bitterness inside him. Hunter has a story but I won't spoil it for you.

One thing I loved about this book is it's probably the first time I've ever believed someone would react this way. Evie has no prior knowledge of men and relationships. So I suppose this eagerness to be wanted was believable. If you accept things will move quickly purely because it's not a long book, it is paced brilliantly. 

I LOVED THAT SHE KEPT TRYING TO ESCAPE!!! Oh my god, finally! Someone who feels torn because she doesn't hate the guy but is aware enough to know it's purely self-preservation to accept and find the small graces and realize are not actually a good enough thing to stay with him hoping to find love. 

She also doesn't love pain! I loved that too! How annoying is that when you read a book and the woman goes ooooooh this is what was missing from my life! A bossy man who ties me up! Now I'm complete!! Hunter isn't about pain or dominance either which was again refreshing. Now we have a complex guy who has actual reasons for the things he does and has real feelings that make sense. No BDSM here people just pure psychological disturbances.

This book really truly surprised me in that it was all a mind melt, I loved these characters. So much more psychological than expected.

This is about Evie and Hunter. Both broken but fixing each other, I can't believe I'm finding it cute but I am. Hunter is awful in the beginning but he does grow and become a wonderful man. To my twisted brain anyway, haha. 

I would say this was dark and disturbing.....and it kind of was but for me, when it counts, it's a seriously sweet emotional book. I really truly wasn't expecting a book like this. Maybe other people will find it darker than me I may just be the odd one out. 

If you're in the mood for a dark romance that has surprising amounts of depth that is written very well, try this one!!!

Forbidden, Tabitha Suzuma

BLURB---A shocking, heartbreaking story of taboo romance that’s as compelling as it is controversial.

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As de facto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: A love this devastating has no happy ending.

This book.....this bloody book. Editing now three days later....still destroyed.
This is just gonna be a rambling gushing review. Actually more like a post-book analysis than a review.

I wasn't expecting this at all.
When I picked up this book looking at the reviews and status updates I assumed it was just about an incestuous relationship and that was going to be it. So I thought it would just be squicky and twisted.
I just didn't read it as this at all, I could not have cared less about the incest. Literally could not have cared less at all. In fact, it just added to how devastated I was for them.

The relationship between Maya and Lochan was not a seedy dirty thing, it was a survival co-dependent thing. Oh god....I'm reviewing this far too soon after reading. I was not at all comfortable reading it and I did wish they would find a better way to cope, but I get it. Completely and utterly 100%.
I think they were aware that is was due to their upbringing, they both question this then slam down that thought, because who wants to admit that they are fucked up so much that it is making them do these things? It is only with hindsight that they start to question how long they have felt like this. It was never a forgone conclusion when they were younger that they would be together. But I think it was easier for them to think it's because they were meant to be together, they both get incredibly angry when the other dares to question the reasons for their love.
They spent their whole lives playing "Mum and Dad" so they gave each other security....when their mother started becoming even worse (the fucking bitch...good god, I hated that woman)and they needed each other more did this path become the one they took, they were each others only happiness and stability in an otherwise awful chaotic situation. It stops so many feelings of self-loathing I suppose. To be aware that you have been abandoned by both parents.....by falling for the person who knows you so well is the ultimate reassurance that you are lovable. It seems to, not make sense, but I can certainly see the logic in it...I think. I wildly disagree....But I do get it.

Lochan is this book for me, Lochan- this man has possibly just become my favourite character of all time ever ever ever. Never before have I died inside so much for somebody. God I ached for him. He was always swimming against the tide.....drowning. Poor poor poooooooor Lochie. I think once I have had a bit more time to process.....I'll add more. But for now, all I can say is I love him.

Maya, so intelligent. Loved her too, I felt awful for her at the end. I momentarily forgot about Lochie and just had to feel for Maya. 

The writing of this book is some of the best I have ever read. It just cut right through me. You know when you read, and it feels like it's pinpointing an exact place in your mind? Like it just slices through and touches you. Oh fuck...this book!!!! If you haven't read it you need to.
I want to randomly mention the kissing....it's some of the most intense kissing ever. Heavy with so much emotion, I kiss my guy everyday and I feel like I'm not honoring the emotion behind the act after reading about these two. I'm being too flippant with my love! Never before has a KISS shown such intensity, emotion and desperation. Oh god this boooooooooooooooook. Life changing kinds of awesome.

Spoilers now....If you haven't read please don't spoil!! 

I had a feeling quite early on that the way Lochan was behaving could only really point to suicide as an ending....I didn't think it would be this way though, I thought because of his behaviour throughout the book he would have done it sooner rather than a big event push him into it. The way he just descended and spiraled....So it surprised me that he actually had the strength he did. 


I'll probably change this review in a bit. But I needed to....I don't know honor the book by writing something immediately. 
Gonna go cry some more now.

The Collector, Victoria Scott

                  

BLURB----Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence has made him one of Hell’s best — a soul collector. His job is simple, weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal opportunity collector and doesn’t want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment: Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within 10 days.

Dante doesn’t know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of Hell. But after Dante meets the quirky, Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect—he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector, and uncover emotions long ago buried.

Oh Dante Walker, how I love you. 

4.5* 
This book was sooooo what I needed right now, I've had an extra awful few days (read effing mother effing eff bag terrible) and this much was much appreciated by my poor little brain. 
Don't you love how a book can do that? Turn you from a broken fragile mess into someone going SEEEEEEE look at all the NICE in the world....Don't wallow. So it was a wonderful pick me up.....Anyway, enough of my little blahhh moment, onto the book. Excited chatty review coming now......

Dante walker is a soul collector for the Boss Man (Devil, Lucifer....you get it) basically what that means is he roams earth waiting for "sin" to happen so he can "seal" that sin onto the person's soul for good. Once the person is completely "sealed" there soul goes to Boss Man. Boss Man has a plan- the naughty Devil he is- to target an innocent soul. So we meet Charlie, the lovely sweet and innocent Charlie. Dante worms his way into Charlie's life in order to corrupt her.....

But something weird is going on! Dante is being followed and he doesn't understand Boss Man's reason for wanting Charlie or why he'e being followed......Off we go on our adventure.

Dante is one of my favourite male characters ever when I first started reading it I was worried it may get boring or be a bit too full on with all the sarcasm and snark. But it was brilliantly done.
He was the perfect mixture of naughty evil collector/sweet cute protector (That rhymes! I didn't mean to do that I don't like it, it looks cheesy in my review.....but it is what he is, forgive the crap wording)
Charlie, I liked her even though she was the stereotypical naive innocent girl. She was still lovely. 
Even the secondary Characters; Annabelle, Blue, Max and Red were all great fun to read. Especially Annabelle, I loved her.
Everyone was so detailed, it really was a good book.

This was a totally different read to what I'm used to, I feel clean! No sex, drugs, gore, violence anything like that. And I wasn't bored at all. So thank you book for teaching me I can enjoy YA and not get annoyed. I have probably read a handful of YA books and I find myself wishing it was more adult and not kiddy-ish. But I didn't mind reading about teen's going to a dance, or being worried about clothes and stuff at all.

The angel/demon stuff was interesting too. If you don't like that kind of thing (I don't) I would still say give it a chance, the driving force of the book is Dante. Not necessarily Dante the demon, soul collector.
It's such a funny cute book that you can overlook many little things regarding plot and such. With this kind of book you knew where it was going after a few pages but not once did I care even slightly, it was still wonderful watching Dante....not changejust.....I don't know....become unstuck maybe?
So much happens, so even though you kind of know what your end-game will be there are still a few curve-balls coming. 

Wonderful easy on the brain laugh out loud book, go get it! Want number 2 now.

Broken Megan Hart

UK                                          
US

 *This is the link to paperback as it is no longer available to kindle



BLURB---Sadie and Adam are having troubles in their relationship. Adam is a quadriplegic due to an accident years ago. Sadie has a friend Joe who reveals  explicit details of his latest conquests. As time goes by Sadie become more and more infatuated with Joe and begins to look at her life with a new perspective. 

I never cry when reading books....I just don't, I get sad and emotional but I have never been pushed to tears. That was until this bloody book. Dear God, I was heart-broken for Sadie and Adam. 

Quick basic plot line- Adam and Sadie are married, Adam had an accident leaving him a quadriplegic. The book details the effects of this on their relationship and them as people. There is obviously more to it than this, but I don't feel the blurb given hints at the depths in this book, don't get me wrong the sex is awesome but this is not just some porny smut book. In fact in my opinion the sex scenes could be described as undermining a very serious emotional book. I think the only reason they didn't negatively affect my rating is because they are so far removed from Sadie and Adam's story.

Adam's emotions are so raw and real that you couldn't not be devastated for him. Sadie.....you feel so much for Sadie, I was angered by her even though I kind of understood why she did the things she did. It still stunk of self pity. But then I'm still conflicted, what would I do? What would you do? I don't know what I think of her truth be told. 

This book exhausted me, things happened that I didn't want to happen. But then that's life I suppose.....shit happens. I was not expecting this from the blurb. At all, it came out of nowhere and hit me like a truck. 

I loved it

Insanity Lauren Hammond

Adelaide Carmichael and Damien Allen couldn't have been more opposite.
Adelaide's mother abandoned her when she was ten years old, leaving her to be raised by her abusive and alcoholic father.
Damien on the other hand came from a wealthy family, was a local celebrity, and seemed to have a bright future ahead of him.
Despite their differences, Adelaide and Damien were young, wild, and fiercely in love.
And they had a plan.
They were going to run away together.
To live and love each other freely without restraints.
And their plan was set in motion, until tragedy struck and for some reason, Adelaide wound up in The Oakhill Institution for the insane.Adelaide has no idea what she did to wind up at Oakhill, but she knows one thing for sure...
She wants out.
And after Damien follows her there to aid her in escaping, Adelaide slowly begins putting together the pieces of her missing memory.
And it doesn't take Adelaide long to figure out that sometimes...
That one true love never dies.
This is a mature New Adult Romance novel, intended for ages 17 and up. 

Well that was fun! 

In Insanity we follow Addy, who along with her boyfriend Damien were planning on running away together until Addy wakes up in an asylum and doesn't know why. 
So much going on, weird doctors, abusive parents, judgmental parents, freaky nightmares. It's so busy you can't possibly get bored. 

I loved it so much it was really intense. Slightly too sickly sweet for me on the romance front but I didn't really care in the end. I'm never a fan of overly sweet romance I like it and all but you know what I mean right? When it's like every encounter they have is this epic moment and blahhh. I just cringe but there was enough of everything else to still make it great. 

The pacing was excellent, really fast paced but still only drip feeding small details. Each chapter alternates between before Addy got sent to the asylum and after she got sent there. Ooooooh just read it.

The writing has a weird dreamlike quality, so I did feel Addy's scattered brain. Really short sentences, snappy words, repeating little phrases all added to the claustrophobic feel, I really felt the poor girls confusion. 

I can't really say anything else for fear of ruining it. I read the last 10% with my jaw dropped laughing like a psycho and just saying NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY over and over. 

What I want to say is:
GUESS WHAT?!?!?......is really.....and you know ??!?!?? well whats actually going on is........and when ??!?!? yeah!....well really what is happening is.....?!?!?!?!? 
But alas.....I can't, so just reeeeead. 

I thought it was obvious what was going to happen......How arrogant I was!!! I was right but that was just a drop in the ocean of what was happening.

I'm slightly peeved though because book three was supposed to be released a while ago and it kept being put back and now nobody knows when its going to be released. If I had know that I would have waited before reading this. I don't cope well with not knowing, I am not a patient woman. 

But anyway......this book is a seriously fun twisty-turny upside down around and around read

The Opportunist, Tarryn Fisher

BLURB----Olivia Kaspen is a sharp tongued manipulator used to always getting what she wants. With just one exception-Caleb Drake, the one she foolishly let slip away. After a chance encounter brings Caleb back into her life, Olivia finds herself wanting a second chance with her first love, and asking herself how far she is willing to go to get him back.  Her only problem is a red head named Leah, Caleb's new love. Olivia must fight for what was once hers, and in the process discover that sometimes love falls short of redemption.

Oh Man....I don't even know what to say right now. I will say I cried though.....I DON'T CRY! 

Caleb and Olivia are essentially high-school sweethearts who break up badly. They bump into each other years later after Caleb suffers from amnesia and Olivia decides to....I don't even know what she was hoping for to be honest but she talks to him but doesn't reveal all about their history. (bit more to it than that but that covers the important stuff)

Olivia is a really complex character on the surface she is cold and manipulative but to me......she was really just a fragile and reactive immature girl. She is so selfish it's shocking but I don't believe there is particularly any malice behind her actions so much as an ignorance and unwillingness to take responsibility for anything. She is so full of self-loathing that her behaviour doesn't even matter, she just does what she wants because she knows in her head she is an awful person so she just lives up to this. I found it really sad because she is lovely....sorta. Don't get me wrong she does some horrendous things....but I feel like I understand her. I think....I don't know.
We get explanations for her behaviour like her parents deaths and the fact that she was a loner who people only started to pay attention to once she got 'pretty', which I suppose added to her lack of respect for people.
The girl just needs a hug and to be told she's lovely. Then a slap across the face and told to grow up and get over herself.


Caleb...Caleb you are....huh. I really loved Caleb too, I think he worked for Olivia because he took all the control from her. Sometimes though I wished he tried to help her more rather than just pushing her and withdrawing from her. 

Leah I DON'T LIKE YOU, damn I hated her. She was worse than any of them.
The title is the best thing ever. They were all an 'Opportunist'! All three of them, naughty manipulative people!

There is so much more I want to say, I just don't want to spoil anything or give clues. I have certain other feelings towards many other characters but I'm not gonna go there.
I absolutely loved this book, the writing was awesome and really cleverly put together. The way certain things were juxtaposed really cut through me at times. Like when Caleb is being all sweet with Olivia and she is reacting by being flippant or pushing him away. That huge contrast made it hurt that bit more because it was incredibly obvious that Olivia was ruining things for herself. 
Poor Girl! I want to be her mum. 

Urgh....I need a nap now. I'm devastated.