Well, I'm doing this completely ass backwards. I started with the first in the series, I Dare You but then the author had the first chapter of the 2nd book at the back and of course I read it which led to my instant gratification kicking in and I jumped to #2 without reviewing #1. Then of course, I get to the end of the 2nd book and there's the first chapter of the 3rd and, once again - no self control, so I'm off to the races reading that one.
Thus why I'm reviewing the third in the series first. Let me just say, while this isn't my usual go to, I really enjoyed these books. I loved the fact that even though they still follow somewhat the formula of the hot star football players and the college students that worship them, they were each very different characters and they had back stories to contend with outside their relationships with the heroines they fall for.
Blaze is the hot footballer in this story and a character I fell in love with. I desperately wanted to tell him he was worthy. And Charisma is pretty kick ass too though so the book was a win for me.
These characters were already featured heavily in the previous book where they were involved with each other but this one kicks off with Blaze having dumped Charisma in front of practically everyone at the biggest party on campus after the big Homecoming game. She hates him for the public humiliation and the Jekyll and Hyde whiplash but secretly she's hurting like nobody's business. She's also confused as hell with no idea why it went from Go to Stop in 60 seconds flat.
Blaze meanwhile, appears at the beginning, to have completely moved on without a look back and partially that's because he's so damn good at putting on his public face. But one never gets the chance to hate him because his reasons for the huge mistakes he make come from such a heartbreaking background, such low self-esteem and such a desperate need at his one and only shot to prove to himself that he counts somewhere in life and that somewhere - the only place he's ever been able to rely on is football and a shot at the NFL.
These two were perfection for each other. They both have deep seated issues from growing up in putting themselves out there or believing that love is something that actually exists. That someone will stick around for you, that someone will mean what they say and follow through with action. I swear the walls these two both have constructed are equal to the Great Wall of China. But no matter their scars and no matter how bad the break up, the fact is that these two can try and shake it off all they want but their feelings for each other run deep.
Charisma was a tough cookie with a helluva of personality. And Blaze was her ideal match. Watching the push and pull of these two and reading from their POV's had me wanting to shake both of them hard and tell them to try putting themselves out there. The love is there but the road to the two of them finding it was fraught with misunderstanding, lost moments and fear of rejection. But when they finally put it together, it is so worthwhile! This wasn't your average football player looking to gain the world, this was a gem of a man looking for the one thing he never had.
"I'm never going to betray you. My feelings for you…are beyond anything else. I’m not that man. I want a happy ending, Charm. That’s who I am. I’m the guy in Say Anything who begs the girl to take a chance. I’m here."
I totally enjoyed this journey, adored the references to Say Anything and on an added note, I got to spend more time with Vampire Bill - damn, I love that foul talking bird!
****4 stars for taking chances, finding your own family in this world and being brave enough to love!
I Hate You: an enemies-to-lovers standalone
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Blaze is my new babe and he deserves all the love he can get!
I just loved this one! I know that I've been in a Ilsa Madden-Mills roll, trying to catch up in this series before I Promise You, and I even thought that I would get bored at some point, but it seems like I have an issue and can't let them go! Please send help! So far this one is my favorite in the series, and I just wanted to hug Blaze with all my might, and then shake some sense in his lonely and overactive mind. Like all the previous books in this series of Standalones, Blaze had a lot of family issues, but with a happy mask and a stunning smiling always on point, no ones seems to notice how broken and insecure the handsome athlete really is... Until Charisma. Charisma is everything that he wants but can't put in words, and with her own commitment and trust issues, their relationship took forever do really decollate. It's another slow burn, with a lot of angst, teasing, laughter, steamy, and really emotional moments, that keep me in the middle of the path, without any idea to who side I wanted to pick, since both of them were right in their fears and insecurities... Each one waiting for the other to run aways first. It was beautiful to read them conquer their fears and to read Blaze get his chosen family. I wish that Archer had suffered more!
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- Paulina HernándezReviewed in Mexico on March 25, 2020
Totally relatable
Format: KindleVerified Purchase - Mahima SharmaReviewed in India on February 12, 2020
It will keep you hooked
Format: KindleVerified Purchase - Jill jenningsReviewed in Australia on November 8, 2019
Fire in my hands
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