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Bentley #1
Falling for a Bentley
Not every story is a perfect fairytale.
Victoria (Tori) Anderson has spent her entire life invisible. She plays the good girl well doing whatever it takes to pacify those around her, including her scumbag boyfriend who doesn't necessarily deserve her loyalty. When tragedy strikes bringing her boyfriend's extended family into town Tori is offered a way to escape in a dangerous package.
Multiple tattoos and piercings should warn Tori to stay away but something about Sterling Bentley draws her in: into his life, into his bed, into his soul, his heart and his pain. What do you do when you find the love of your life and they are the opposite of what you thought you wanted?
Do you run?
Or do you stay?
Sometimes we don't get to choose. Sometimes life brings us the unexpected, challenges us, and pushes us out of our comfort zone for a reason.
Sterling Bentley just might be Tori's reason.
FALLING FOR A BENTLEY is a story about addiction, forgiveness, heartbreak and hope. Recommended for ages 18 and up due to sexual situations, drug use and language.
Victoria (Tori) Anderson has spent her entire life invisible. She plays the good girl well doing whatever it takes to pacify those around her, including her scumbag boyfriend who doesn't necessarily deserve her loyalty. When tragedy strikes bringing her boyfriend's extended family into town Tori is offered a way to escape in a dangerous package.
Multiple tattoos and piercings should warn Tori to stay away but something about Sterling Bentley draws her in: into his life, into his bed, into his soul, his heart and his pain. What do you do when you find the love of your life and they are the opposite of what you thought you wanted?
Do you run?
Or do you stay?
Sometimes we don't get to choose. Sometimes life brings us the unexpected, challenges us, and pushes us out of our comfort zone for a reason.
Sterling Bentley just might be Tori's reason.
FALLING FOR A BENTLEY is a story about addiction, forgiveness, heartbreak and hope. Recommended for ages 18 and up due to sexual situations, drug use and language.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2013
54 people are currently reading
1755 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
July 6, 2013
TOTAL COVER WHORE ALERT! The urge is directly connected to my one click trigger finger!
The last time this happened it was
" Losing Me, Finding You " ..... Lets hope this is NOT the same level of Epic Shittiness/FAIL !!!
Victoria Anderson is an outcast with an odd fascination with birds. What she wants more than anything is to be seen and heard.
Sterling Bentley wants the opposite. He wants to disappear; fade away into the blackness that has enveloped his life. In the midst of the struggle of his life, the last thing he needs is the responsibility of caring for some timid damaged girl, or maybe that’s exactly what he needs.
❤❤❤
Not even sure what happened here !!! It's going to be hard to do a spoiler -free review / rant / figure out wtf I just read!
The last time this happened it was
" Losing Me, Finding You " ..... Lets hope this is NOT the same level of Epic Shittiness/FAIL !!!
Victoria Anderson is an outcast with an odd fascination with birds. What she wants more than anything is to be seen and heard.
Sterling Bentley wants the opposite. He wants to disappear; fade away into the blackness that has enveloped his life. In the midst of the struggle of his life, the last thing he needs is the responsibility of caring for some timid damaged girl, or maybe that’s exactly what he needs.
❤❤❤
Not even sure what happened here !!! It's going to be hard to do a spoiler -free review / rant / figure out wtf I just read!
October 23, 2015
Falling for a Bentley
was a big surprise. I thought it was just going to be about a good girl falling for a bad boy type of love story, and it was, but it was also like nothing I have read before. It is very different from the YA books that I have read. It just seemed more realistic. It’s a very sad, overwhelming, intense, heartbreaking book. The story deals with quite a bit of heavy issues and I thought they were all handled really well. I guess it’s always easier for people who have gone through similar situations to relate to the book and probably feel more of a connection with the characters because we can sympathize with them. So let’s just say that there were some things in this book that I could relate to and one point I was a sobbing mess. Like a real hot mess. The kind of sobbing I was thankful to be alone for lol.
Victoria had an accident when she was a child that has left her with a fear of heights, some scars, and with a love for birds. She has a really unique talent for carving wood. I really liked that she had this talent. It’s not something you would probably see a female MC having in a YA book. She has a really close relationship with her father and a strained one with her mother. The relationship with her mother is complicated due to how close Victoria was with her Grandmother, who was a pretty rotten mother herself. She’s in a relationship with Colton who is her high schools star quarter back. It’s not the normal formula relationship since Victoria is considered an outcast and not popular at all. But she had a friendship with him before it became more. But now that it is more she wishes it could go back to before. Now she is stuck in a relationship with a boy who treats her as an object instead of a person. When she tries to break up with him he turns on the charm or makes her feel guilty so she stays. But when she finally feels like she can let him go tragedy strikes his family and she feels even more pressure to stick by his side. This tragedy brings some more Bentley’s into the story, his Uncle Bentley and his cousins Sawyer and Sterling. Sterling is the bad boy in this story who is more damaged than any other bad boy I have read about. His father is verbally and physically abusive and his upbringing has been far from happy. When Tori meet’s Sterling he sets her heart a flutter and makes her feel things she should feel for Colton. They exchange some banter and flirt a bit. After a blow out with her mother Tori drives to Colton’s and walks in on Sterling being plummeted by his father. When his father is done and Sterling is on his way out he gives Tori his hand and the choice to go with him. Once Tori take’s his hand everything changes for them both and with those changes comes tragedy, heartbreak, and an intense love.
It took me a hot minute to warm up to Victoria. It wasn’t because she was a bad person or anything like that. It all came down to how she continued to let Colton treat her. It drove me nuts. But I soon realized she felt obligated to stay and in the end she felt sorry for him. Colton and his Uncle Bentley are the two characters I despised the most in this book. They absolutely made me sick to my stomach with disgust for them.
I would have had no problem giving the story five stars if not for the fact that the book is in desperate need of being edited. There were too many mistakes to overlook for me to just dismiss it. But if you can look past that and just lose yourself in the story you won’t be disappointed. At least I wasn’t.
Victoria had an accident when she was a child that has left her with a fear of heights, some scars, and with a love for birds. She has a really unique talent for carving wood. I really liked that she had this talent. It’s not something you would probably see a female MC having in a YA book. She has a really close relationship with her father and a strained one with her mother. The relationship with her mother is complicated due to how close Victoria was with her Grandmother, who was a pretty rotten mother herself. She’s in a relationship with Colton who is her high schools star quarter back. It’s not the normal formula relationship since Victoria is considered an outcast and not popular at all. But she had a friendship with him before it became more. But now that it is more she wishes it could go back to before. Now she is stuck in a relationship with a boy who treats her as an object instead of a person. When she tries to break up with him he turns on the charm or makes her feel guilty so she stays. But when she finally feels like she can let him go tragedy strikes his family and she feels even more pressure to stick by his side. This tragedy brings some more Bentley’s into the story, his Uncle Bentley and his cousins Sawyer and Sterling. Sterling is the bad boy in this story who is more damaged than any other bad boy I have read about. His father is verbally and physically abusive and his upbringing has been far from happy. When Tori meet’s Sterling he sets her heart a flutter and makes her feel things she should feel for Colton. They exchange some banter and flirt a bit. After a blow out with her mother Tori drives to Colton’s and walks in on Sterling being plummeted by his father. When his father is done and Sterling is on his way out he gives Tori his hand and the choice to go with him. Once Tori take’s his hand everything changes for them both and with those changes comes tragedy, heartbreak, and an intense love.
It took me a hot minute to warm up to Victoria. It wasn’t because she was a bad person or anything like that. It all came down to how she continued to let Colton treat her. It drove me nuts. But I soon realized she felt obligated to stay and in the end she felt sorry for him. Colton and his Uncle Bentley are the two characters I despised the most in this book. They absolutely made me sick to my stomach with disgust for them.
I would have had no problem giving the story five stars if not for the fact that the book is in desperate need of being edited. There were too many mistakes to overlook for me to just dismiss it. But if you can look past that and just lose yourself in the story you won’t be disappointed. At least I wasn’t.
June 3, 2013
Hellooo gorgeous (winks) yes I'm talking about the cover I mean doesn't he remind you of anyone from a certain bookie? (coughtravismaddoxcough) One thing I didn't like right off the bat was how tiny the wording is on my kindle I mean I have good eyes but damn! But then a friend told me how to fix it so I was cool. Jonah is such a sweetheart, "Tori, lost of people are afraid of heights," Jonah replies. "It's no big deal." Colton I'm not sure I like him he's such a damn tool, "my parents died in some crazy a** plane crash, but I'm fine. Well...thought you'd want to know. Call me later." As I get more and more into the book I realize I have no clue what the hell team I'm gonna be on, Team Colton, Team Jonah, or Team Sterling (cocky little s***). Tori I just feel for her, her mom is such a b****, "no! Don't touch them! You have no right. It's not my fault you're unhappy with your life! Don't take your failures out on me! Grandma was right about you! You always find something to complain about." Team Colton is out and so isn't Team Jonah which means I'm Team Sterling!!! God that boy is so protective, "you effin' ever hit her again I will kill you." Sterling that boy is so damn honest, "go to sleep, Phoenix. It's hot in here, my head is effing pounding, and I couldn't get it up even if I wanted to. I'm not going to touch you. I swear."
July 6, 2013
I'll start this off saying i read at least 4 to 5 books a week and NO story line scares me. This was the first book for me about drug addiction. With that being said I've read books about drug addicts but I actually LIVED it through this book! It was absolutely heart breaking for the characters and myself. I was on an emotional roller coaster the whole time. You have to read "Falling for a Bentley" it was amazingly beautiful!!! This was my first from this author but won't be my last :)
June 30, 2013
Victoria (Tori)is dating a d-bag named Colton Bentley, one day his parents die & his cousins from out of town show up,introducing Sterling Bentley. He's rough, dark, rude, crude & HOT ! ! Tori is instantly drawn to him, although she is cautious about him. Tori's mom is a evil-bitch-spawn from the 7th circle of hell & alienates her daughter. Her father is an amazing loving man, made me wonder the entire book why the heck he was with his wife....Anyhow one day after a drunken stupor at Victoria's house Sterling is treated pretty badly, he & Tori make a bold move, and leave. I really feel it was the best thing she ever did for herself. This girl is the most unselfish person ever. When Tori & Sterling get to LA she's in for a HUGE surprise when she sees the demons Sterling is battling. She does her best to help him. A tragic event in Tori's life causes her to have to go back to her home town. Just before leaving LA, her & Sterling get into a huge fight. While at home he come to visit her to give her support, but she tells him he needs to leave & he realizes he needs to make himself better, cause he realizes he will never find love like he has with Tori.
This wasn't the type of book where the two main characters see each other & its instant love, NO it is a awkward trip to LA & a lot of struggles.
Does Sterling overcome his inner demons or does he loose Victoria forever?? Not gonna tell you, but i will say with 100% certainty you will, laugh, cry, get mad, heck its a emotional roller coaster reading this book but its DAMN GOOD ! !
This wasn't the type of book where the two main characters see each other & its instant love, NO it is a awkward trip to LA & a lot of struggles.
Does Sterling overcome his inner demons or does he loose Victoria forever?? Not gonna tell you, but i will say with 100% certainty you will, laugh, cry, get mad, heck its a emotional roller coaster reading this book but its DAMN GOOD ! !
Want to read
June 25, 2013FREE today on Amazon US (6/24/2013).
October 9, 2017
Favorite Quotes:
There are two things in this world that every woman should do for her career. Learn how to play golf better than any man, and marry someone with a prominent last name.
Dimples should come with a warning: Dangerous! Could knock your world off its axis, categorized as a weapon, proceed with caution.
There is nothing worse than being shown who you love is not who you think they are. Instead, they are the evil twin of your beloved.
I’d like to read your eyes for hours, and taste your lips for days,
Great. He’ll be better for the next girl. I’m either a genius. Or stupid.
My Review:
This book gutted me. I feel like I have been turned inside out, but it was so worth it! I actually clicked on this book by mistake, as I was expecting a book with a similar title and did not catch my error until I was halfway through. And of course, by that time I was so engrossed in the story that I couldn’t have stopped if my kindle had exploded. Ms. Law has an exceptional knack for writing. She has a remarkable talent for emotive story-telling and building up into heartbreaking scenes, which had me anxious and tight chested several pages before the actual climatic events that had me clutching my chest and outright sobbing. As I am rarely moved to tears, anyone who can achieve this feat generally earns a 5-star review. In all honesty, Ms. Law succeeded in reducing me to a quivering mess several times. This was a complicated story of family drama, heartache, grief, loss, coming of age, addiction, physical and emotional abuse, and love. I cared about the characters… I was anxious for them, I was crushed and then stricken when his moronic and horrific mistakes became too real and she had to walk away. I grew increasingly anxious as I drew nearer and neared the end of the book for fear they were broken beyond repair and it wasn’t going to resolve. I cannot recall the last time I have felt so devastated - I am ruined, but now have a shiny new favorite author.
There are two things in this world that every woman should do for her career. Learn how to play golf better than any man, and marry someone with a prominent last name.
Dimples should come with a warning: Dangerous! Could knock your world off its axis, categorized as a weapon, proceed with caution.
There is nothing worse than being shown who you love is not who you think they are. Instead, they are the evil twin of your beloved.
I’d like to read your eyes for hours, and taste your lips for days,
Great. He’ll be better for the next girl. I’m either a genius. Or stupid.
My Review:
This book gutted me. I feel like I have been turned inside out, but it was so worth it! I actually clicked on this book by mistake, as I was expecting a book with a similar title and did not catch my error until I was halfway through. And of course, by that time I was so engrossed in the story that I couldn’t have stopped if my kindle had exploded. Ms. Law has an exceptional knack for writing. She has a remarkable talent for emotive story-telling and building up into heartbreaking scenes, which had me anxious and tight chested several pages before the actual climatic events that had me clutching my chest and outright sobbing. As I am rarely moved to tears, anyone who can achieve this feat generally earns a 5-star review. In all honesty, Ms. Law succeeded in reducing me to a quivering mess several times. This was a complicated story of family drama, heartache, grief, loss, coming of age, addiction, physical and emotional abuse, and love. I cared about the characters… I was anxious for them, I was crushed and then stricken when his moronic and horrific mistakes became too real and she had to walk away. I grew increasingly anxious as I drew nearer and neared the end of the book for fear they were broken beyond repair and it wasn’t going to resolve. I cannot recall the last time I have felt so devastated - I am ruined, but now have a shiny new favorite author.
May 29, 2013
The cover alone I'd give this a 5! lol... Story is about young adults, dealing with bad parents and addiction... It's not your typical young adult love story.
August 27, 2015
FALLING FOR A BENTLEY had a lot of promise; unfortunately, it didn’t quite realize its potential - not even close. There were numerous typos; and it simply, had sloppy editing. I found at times that the author was truly able to portray the subject matter in a raw and realistic way, but for the most part, it was as if I was stuck in either a Narcotics or Alcoholics Anonymous meeting while being subjected to the same old regurgitated rhetoric.
I could definitely be wrong, but I got the impression that the author hadn’t personally struggled with addiction, but may have had a loved one who had. After reading the epilogue, I felt it was necessary to say that there is absolutely no room for cockiness when it comes to recovery and those who let their guard down with such arrogant beliefs as they’ve ”beat addiction” will soon be out there looking for their next fix. There is no beating it. There is no cure. It doesn’t matter how much time one has under their belt, they are just as susceptible to relapse as any newbie.
The religious aspects in this book seriously grated on my nerves, but what I found even worse were the couple instances of blatant gay bashing. The one I found most offensive was during one of Colton Bentley’s inner-dialogues at the beginning of the book.
Seriously, was that necessary, or was it meant to offer the reader a glimpse into how much of an ass Colton truly was? I really hope it was the latter, because that thought was the only reason I didn’t DNF this book right then and there.
Now, I’m going to be completely honest, even at the risk of leaving myself susceptible to a lot of backlash, in order to explain why I had such a strong response to this quote. In my experience, I’ve found that many people with extreme religious beliefs – mind you, NOT ALL – also tend to be against gay rights and are sometimes even homophobic. The reason this is pertinent, is to explain why I found this quote so offensive within this particular book, whereas I probably wouldn’t have had such a strong response if it were in another book that didn’t contain such strong religious context. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for religious freedoms and such, but what I don’t like is when someone tries to force any personal belief, of any kind, on another, OR what’s even worse, is when someone feels it is okay to talk negatively about or use derogatory comments at the expense of another person or group.
Obviously, this book hit a lot of nerves for me. Even though it might not have been my cup of tea, that doesn’t mean others won’t love it, so give it a try. I do want to say, the cover is amazing and it caught my attention every time I stumbled upon it, so bravo to the cover designer, especially for finding such a fine specimen to grace the cover!
I could definitely be wrong, but I got the impression that the author hadn’t personally struggled with addiction, but may have had a loved one who had. After reading the epilogue, I felt it was necessary to say that there is absolutely no room for cockiness when it comes to recovery and those who let their guard down with such arrogant beliefs as they’ve ”beat addiction” will soon be out there looking for their next fix. There is no beating it. There is no cure. It doesn’t matter how much time one has under their belt, they are just as susceptible to relapse as any newbie.
The religious aspects in this book seriously grated on my nerves, but what I found even worse were the couple instances of blatant gay bashing. The one I found most offensive was during one of Colton Bentley’s inner-dialogues at the beginning of the book.
”I sit forward, wringing my clasped hands, swallowing as hard as a fagot.”
Seriously, was that necessary, or was it meant to offer the reader a glimpse into how much of an ass Colton truly was? I really hope it was the latter, because that thought was the only reason I didn’t DNF this book right then and there.
Now, I’m going to be completely honest, even at the risk of leaving myself susceptible to a lot of backlash, in order to explain why I had such a strong response to this quote. In my experience, I’ve found that many people with extreme religious beliefs – mind you, NOT ALL – also tend to be against gay rights and are sometimes even homophobic. The reason this is pertinent, is to explain why I found this quote so offensive within this particular book, whereas I probably wouldn’t have had such a strong response if it were in another book that didn’t contain such strong religious context. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for religious freedoms and such, but what I don’t like is when someone tries to force any personal belief, of any kind, on another, OR what’s even worse, is when someone feels it is okay to talk negatively about or use derogatory comments at the expense of another person or group.
Obviously, this book hit a lot of nerves for me. Even though it might not have been my cup of tea, that doesn’t mean others won’t love it, so give it a try. I do want to say, the cover is amazing and it caught my attention every time I stumbled upon it, so bravo to the cover designer, especially for finding such a fine specimen to grace the cover!
July 19, 2013
Let me start off by saying I'm at a loss for words. This book was really a great read. I tend to get drawn first to a book by the cover and let me say I love this cover. Lately I've been a total book worm but sometimes the books start becoming very similar and this book was a breath of fresh air, finally something really different, realistic. It also kept me on my toes never giving away the ending. I love books that truelly pull you in and warm your heart. I don't cry in many books and this I needed the tissues for. Props to the author I will be reading more of her books. There were grammatical errors but I coming to the conclusion most ebooks that are not higher priced have them. If you liked a beautiful disaster you'll love this book as well. Love when I find free books totally worth buying. Like finding a diamond in the ruff!
June 26, 2013
Total cover whore and it was free. But the cover hot damn he is freaking scorching hot.
So this book was intense. But not good enough to keep me from skim reading. I kind of got lost with all the POV jumping. I got confused and had to go back a few times.
Sterling was a jackass. A scorching hot, totally f*ckedup jackass. He had some redeeming qualities, but damn does it take a strong women to stay with him.
Tori was hmmmm drawing a blank. She wasn't very memorable. Kind of a push over. But she did become strong towards the end.
Colton needs to be junk punched. I'm up for the task. I would sleep like a baby after.
I'm giving it 3 1/2 stars due to the cover (yummy) and the plot. It has a very strong and important message and I glad the book was written. But just didn't grab a hold of me. I had to keep going because I had to know what happened.
Loved the epilogue. Wrapped up the story nicely.
So this book was intense. But not good enough to keep me from skim reading. I kind of got lost with all the POV jumping. I got confused and had to go back a few times.
Sterling was a jackass. A scorching hot, totally f*ckedup jackass. He had some redeeming qualities, but damn does it take a strong women to stay with him.
Tori was hmmmm drawing a blank. She wasn't very memorable. Kind of a push over. But she did become strong towards the end.
Colton needs to be junk punched. I'm up for the task. I would sleep like a baby after.
I'm giving it 3 1/2 stars due to the cover (yummy) and the plot. It has a very strong and important message and I glad the book was written. But just didn't grab a hold of me. I had to keep going because I had to know what happened.
Loved the epilogue. Wrapped up the story nicely.
June 4, 2013
Why I read this book? YES!!! Because of the damn cover!!! Love it!!!
Well, this started out good. But....a few chapters in and I was kinda confused. Wait!!! Tori (the goody good girl) has a boyfriend Colton Bentley (the douchebag) (I had to mention his last name you would see the significance later on) who likes her cousin Keira (the school slut/popular/hot girl) who has a secret crush on Jonah (the school pariah) who has a secret crush on Tori who in return has a secret crush on Jonah. CONFUSED????
So if Colton is the douchebag, why the title? Well enter ----> Sterling Bentley (the addict/damaged/hot/tattooed cousin of Colton)........so now I understand the title. HEHEHEHE!!!!
The story was actually good. Though the love triangle or should I say square, between Tori/Colton/Keira/Jonah just confused me a little. I though Tori and Jonah would fall in love and live HEA and then Tori catches Keira and Jonah and then BAM Jonah disappears from the picture and enters Sterling. The author could do away with Keira and Jonah being out in the picture and having a separate story IMO. Well, WTH I'm not a writer so what do I know.....LOL. Another little glitch is the fact that Tori with Sterling when in fact they have known each other for just 48 hours (I think it was shorter) it was just plain stupid.
Though I would say it's not that bad.....I would still recommend this if you want a short read. WTH it has some wonderful moments. My favorite being:
I'm going to start charging you a penny for every minute you're on my mind and one day I'll buy you a million dollar mansion."
Well, you gotta check it out we have different opinions anyway. =)
Well, this started out good. But....a few chapters in and I was kinda confused. Wait!!! Tori (the goody good girl) has a boyfriend Colton Bentley (the douchebag) (I had to mention his last name you would see the significance later on) who likes her cousin Keira (the school slut/popular/hot girl) who has a secret crush on Jonah (the school pariah) who has a secret crush on Tori who in return has a secret crush on Jonah. CONFUSED????
So if Colton is the douchebag, why the title? Well enter ----> Sterling Bentley (the addict/damaged/hot/tattooed cousin of Colton)........so now I understand the title. HEHEHEHE!!!!
The story was actually good. Though the love triangle or should I say square, between Tori/Colton/Keira/Jonah just confused me a little. I though Tori and Jonah would fall in love and live HEA and then Tori catches Keira and Jonah and then BAM Jonah disappears from the picture and enters Sterling. The author could do away with Keira and Jonah being out in the picture and having a separate story IMO. Well, WTH I'm not a writer so what do I know.....LOL. Another little glitch is the fact that Tori with Sterling when in fact they have known each other for just 48 hours (I think it was shorter) it was just plain stupid.
Though I would say it's not that bad.....I would still recommend this if you want a short read. WTH it has some wonderful moments. My favorite being:
I'm going to start charging you a penny for every minute you're on my mind and one day I'll buy you a million dollar mansion."
Well, you gotta check it out we have different opinions anyway. =)
June 19, 2013
Um.. What the F##k did I just read? I'm not even going there! Okay.. Maybe I will.. 1st The cover of this book had me drooling, I stayed up half the night just so I could finish the book before this one.. Next I was never ever, ever expecting Sterling to be a drug addict.. and an A$$ hole to boot.. The way he acted I would of throat punched and left his butt in the basement but, thats me. (Moving on..) The way Colton treated Tori in the beginning made me want to reach in and slap some sense into that girl. Um, Hello douche waffle signs were everywhere. So, I like the ending but man oh man I have a crap load of questions.. So I'm really hopeing the author is going to write a story with Star and Sawyer.. maybe .. Keria and Jonah??
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July 5, 2013
07/05/2013 --
Overall Rating = 1 Star
Book Cover / Book Blurb = 5 / 3 = 4 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 1 Stars
Character Development = 2 Stars
Story Appreciation = 1 Stars
Worth the Chili = 5 Stars [$Free for me on Amazon]
Cover love can get me into so much trouble. This is an example. Thank God it was free. I think the author was going for a YA/NA Inspirational element that just came off wonky to me. Definitely not my cuppa'.
A strange one you may like. I certainly didn't -- at all.
Overall Rating = 1 Star
Book Cover / Book Blurb = 5 / 3 = 4 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 1 Stars
Character Development = 2 Stars
Story Appreciation = 1 Stars
Worth the Chili = 5 Stars [$Free for me on Amazon]
Cover love can get me into so much trouble. This is an example. Thank God it was free. I think the author was going for a YA/NA Inspirational element that just came off wonky to me. Definitely not my cuppa'.
A strange one you may like. I certainly didn't -- at all.
July 20, 2013
I actually like it with all the drama
June 28, 2013
So let me begin by saying that while I will attempt to write this review with as few spoilers as I can manage, there are plot points which I will need to reveal in order to be fair in my review. Not revealing them will make this review stilted and I'd like to be as thorough as possible as I believe this author has a great deal of potential. Those who know me know I would not bother to write this sort of review if I felt otherwise.
All right, now that that's out of the way. I really wanted to give this novel a higher rating. The actual meat of the story was compelling; the look at addiction and its fallout for those who love an addict, as well as for the addicts themselves, was well thought out. Though not mentioned in the synopsis, it becomes clear early on that Sterling Bentley is an addict. His behavior toward his loved ones (and I use this term loosely - if you read the book you'll understand why) is, at times, despicable. But, as is often the case with addicts, there are underlying problems that Sterling is running from. He's not simply an asshole looking to beat up the world. He is really and truly damaged. The relationship he has with his father is painful to watch and endure. As I reader I felt myself wincing at their interactions. Watching someone being systematically torn down and knowing that Sterling had spent his life under the merciless thumb of his father was heartbreaking. I immediately understood why Sterling internalized his emotions, sheltering himself, finding refuge in addiction and amongst the prison walls he'd erected for himself. I never found his lashing out at people to be founded on cruelty but more based on self-preservation. If what we are taught to think and feel about ourselves is based on anger and ridicule, then how are we expected to navigate a world in which others expect to see the good in us?
If you're unable to understand the complexities of addiction and how self-loathing can manifest in the abuse of others, then this may not be the book for you. It's easy to become angry with Sterling. He makes terrible choices, he treats people poorly, he commits some egregious acts, especially toward Victoria (Tori). No, he never physically harms her in any way, but he does other things which are equally henious and hurtful. If you aren't able to parse this all out and put it all into context, you may walk away from this book hating him. I didn't hate Sterling. I actually really liked him as a character. He was raw and unapologetic, he was pained and damaged, but underneath it all there was a hidden desire to be accepted and loved.
You may also disagree with Tori's need to "fix" Sterling. But I got that, too. And, in the end, it became clear she understood there was truly no way she could affect any change in him. Tori's journey with Sterling, though dark, was something necessary for her as well. Though never exposed to the type of treatment Sterling had been exposed to, she suffered from an overbearing and angry mother whose expectations were unachievably high. Coupled with a severe injury suffered during a childhood accident, Tori was always made to feel inadequate. Her hobbies were ridiculed, her future mapped out, her boyfriend selected, all by a mother who seemed determined to create a second chance for herself. When you witness all that Tori has endured over the course of her life - the accident, the lose of a loved one, the absolute rigidity of her mother, the loveless relationship she has with her asshat of a boyfriend - you begin to understand just how much she needs someone like Sterling in her life. As unhealthy as he is, both to himself and to her, he provides a way for her to prove her self-worth, to become self-sufficient and step out of the shadows of her previous life.
When Sterling and Tori meet they immediately begin to seek each other out, not fully cognizant of the why thrusting them together. But the why was simple. Tori's ability to nurture was compelling to Sterling's unloved heart and Sterling offered Tori's nurturing side something to be fixed. Was this a healthy relationship? No. It was frought with danger and an entirely different kind of addiction. What people often lose sight of, and these characters were no exception, is that we can no more affect change on another human being than we can effect the weather. We may provide the impetus for change but change must be made at the behest of the person suffering the affliction. What was nice to see was that the author understood this as well and allowed her characters to suffer through this discovery and come out the other side.
To some extent these two characters are meant for each other, in other respects they're about as right as lipstick on a pig. Should you read this book you will no doubt find yourself becoming angry with one or both of them at some point during the course of the novel. It's impossible not to, they are both young and impulsive, making life-altering decisions with very little thought to consequence. But they learn and adapt over time, and I really appreciate that the author didn't merely wrap it all up in a neat little bow and make it all better. It's gritty and upsetting and real.
So why the three stars? Well, there were a few reasons for that. First, I found the beginning of the book rather unfocused. There was a point at which I understood what the author was trying to accomplish but it actually detracted from the story. The first several chapters (about 15% of the book) are dedicated to setup. However, the amount given wasn't required. As a matter of fact, the story would have been far more impactful if chapters one and two were kept intact, and chapters three through seven were condensed into maybe one or two chapters. In addition, there are a few POV changes that made little sense. I found little to no value in hearing from Keria (Tori's cousin) and Colton (Tori's boyfriend), especially since they disappeared from the story for a huge chunk shortly afterward. Writing first person does limit what you can reveal, it's limiting in many respects because you're viewing the story solely from the protag's eyes. That being said, there are other ways in which to reveal information pertinent to the story without POV shifts. Keen observation by the protag, revelatory dialogue, observed interactions between secondary characters are just some of the ways in which to reveal information.
This POV shift happens again when Sterling enters the story and while I actually enjoyed reading the inner dialogue and getting to see things through his eyes, the author didn't spend much time in his head. There were aspects of the novel which would have been better told from his perspective, times at which it would have made it edgier or, perhaps, even softened it. These were aspects I craved and felt were necessary. Another POV shift happens toward the end of the novel when first we hear from Starr (Tori's new friend and Sterling's ex-girlfriend) and then from Sawyer (Sterling's younger brother). While these POV's actually added a layer of depth to the story, both providing backstory on Sterling, they would have been more impactful coming directly from Sterling or even Tori. Each POV change was literally one chapter, so when looking at the story as a whole they offered little to the plot and the reader beyond the aforementioned revelations. So, when you tally this all up there are six distinct POV's involved in the telling of this story. Far too many. Even really seasoned authors have difficulty navigating through a mindfield like that. Each voice must be distinct and offer something tantalizing to the reader in order to justify their presence. Sadly, this was not the case and would be something worth changing.
My second big issue was the grammar in this novel. There were so many instances of misused words, words chosen incorrectly or simply ommitted that it was a distraction. I know authors are able to revise and reissue their works and I hope that this author does just that. I recently read Rule by Jay Crownover. I'd put this book off because I'd read about all the typos and grammatical issues but then the author fixed them and re-released the book. While I never read the original version for comparison sake, I gleaned enough from the reviews to understand that the subsequent editing was a success. I strongly recommend that Adriana Law do the same, it would garner her another star and I will gladly add it to this review/rating. I usually give indies a pass when it comes to stuff like this because I understand that these novels lack the polishing one would find from a big house release. But when these instances occur on every page I have to make mention of it. There were also punctuation problems; sentences without commas, question marks ommitted, quotation marks missing from indented paragraphs.
Not to get too nitpicky but there were also some tense issues. Mostly in the beginning of the book. Specifically all of chapter two. This was written in present tense but should have been written in past tense as the protag was nine.
My third issue was the ending. I don't want to make it seem as though I wasn't entirely pleased, that's not the case at all. I think part of it was executed really well, it's the epilogue I'm not entirely happy with. In my estimation, these finals scenes should have been added as chapters and the story extended a bit into an epilogue that reached beyond the point the story ended. I don't want to give too much away, but what I will say is that the book ended too abruptly. No, there's no cliffhanger, all is resolved and there's a HEA, sort of, but it felt like there should have been more.
If you can get past these issues I think you'll enjoy the book. I will say that the author mapped out a good, well paced story. I wish more time had been taken developing the relationship between Sterling and Tori, I think it would have made the story more compelling but I was ultimately okay with how things worked out.
All right, now that that's out of the way. I really wanted to give this novel a higher rating. The actual meat of the story was compelling; the look at addiction and its fallout for those who love an addict, as well as for the addicts themselves, was well thought out. Though not mentioned in the synopsis, it becomes clear early on that Sterling Bentley is an addict. His behavior toward his loved ones (and I use this term loosely - if you read the book you'll understand why) is, at times, despicable. But, as is often the case with addicts, there are underlying problems that Sterling is running from. He's not simply an asshole looking to beat up the world. He is really and truly damaged. The relationship he has with his father is painful to watch and endure. As I reader I felt myself wincing at their interactions. Watching someone being systematically torn down and knowing that Sterling had spent his life under the merciless thumb of his father was heartbreaking. I immediately understood why Sterling internalized his emotions, sheltering himself, finding refuge in addiction and amongst the prison walls he'd erected for himself. I never found his lashing out at people to be founded on cruelty but more based on self-preservation. If what we are taught to think and feel about ourselves is based on anger and ridicule, then how are we expected to navigate a world in which others expect to see the good in us?
If you're unable to understand the complexities of addiction and how self-loathing can manifest in the abuse of others, then this may not be the book for you. It's easy to become angry with Sterling. He makes terrible choices, he treats people poorly, he commits some egregious acts, especially toward Victoria (Tori). No, he never physically harms her in any way, but he does other things which are equally henious and hurtful. If you aren't able to parse this all out and put it all into context, you may walk away from this book hating him. I didn't hate Sterling. I actually really liked him as a character. He was raw and unapologetic, he was pained and damaged, but underneath it all there was a hidden desire to be accepted and loved.
You may also disagree with Tori's need to "fix" Sterling. But I got that, too. And, in the end, it became clear she understood there was truly no way she could affect any change in him. Tori's journey with Sterling, though dark, was something necessary for her as well. Though never exposed to the type of treatment Sterling had been exposed to, she suffered from an overbearing and angry mother whose expectations were unachievably high. Coupled with a severe injury suffered during a childhood accident, Tori was always made to feel inadequate. Her hobbies were ridiculed, her future mapped out, her boyfriend selected, all by a mother who seemed determined to create a second chance for herself. When you witness all that Tori has endured over the course of her life - the accident, the lose of a loved one, the absolute rigidity of her mother, the loveless relationship she has with her asshat of a boyfriend - you begin to understand just how much she needs someone like Sterling in her life. As unhealthy as he is, both to himself and to her, he provides a way for her to prove her self-worth, to become self-sufficient and step out of the shadows of her previous life.
When Sterling and Tori meet they immediately begin to seek each other out, not fully cognizant of the why thrusting them together. But the why was simple. Tori's ability to nurture was compelling to Sterling's unloved heart and Sterling offered Tori's nurturing side something to be fixed. Was this a healthy relationship? No. It was frought with danger and an entirely different kind of addiction. What people often lose sight of, and these characters were no exception, is that we can no more affect change on another human being than we can effect the weather. We may provide the impetus for change but change must be made at the behest of the person suffering the affliction. What was nice to see was that the author understood this as well and allowed her characters to suffer through this discovery and come out the other side.
To some extent these two characters are meant for each other, in other respects they're about as right as lipstick on a pig. Should you read this book you will no doubt find yourself becoming angry with one or both of them at some point during the course of the novel. It's impossible not to, they are both young and impulsive, making life-altering decisions with very little thought to consequence. But they learn and adapt over time, and I really appreciate that the author didn't merely wrap it all up in a neat little bow and make it all better. It's gritty and upsetting and real.
So why the three stars? Well, there were a few reasons for that. First, I found the beginning of the book rather unfocused. There was a point at which I understood what the author was trying to accomplish but it actually detracted from the story. The first several chapters (about 15% of the book) are dedicated to setup. However, the amount given wasn't required. As a matter of fact, the story would have been far more impactful if chapters one and two were kept intact, and chapters three through seven were condensed into maybe one or two chapters. In addition, there are a few POV changes that made little sense. I found little to no value in hearing from Keria (Tori's cousin) and Colton (Tori's boyfriend), especially since they disappeared from the story for a huge chunk shortly afterward. Writing first person does limit what you can reveal, it's limiting in many respects because you're viewing the story solely from the protag's eyes. That being said, there are other ways in which to reveal information pertinent to the story without POV shifts. Keen observation by the protag, revelatory dialogue, observed interactions between secondary characters are just some of the ways in which to reveal information.
This POV shift happens again when Sterling enters the story and while I actually enjoyed reading the inner dialogue and getting to see things through his eyes, the author didn't spend much time in his head. There were aspects of the novel which would have been better told from his perspective, times at which it would have made it edgier or, perhaps, even softened it. These were aspects I craved and felt were necessary. Another POV shift happens toward the end of the novel when first we hear from Starr (Tori's new friend and Sterling's ex-girlfriend) and then from Sawyer (Sterling's younger brother). While these POV's actually added a layer of depth to the story, both providing backstory on Sterling, they would have been more impactful coming directly from Sterling or even Tori. Each POV change was literally one chapter, so when looking at the story as a whole they offered little to the plot and the reader beyond the aforementioned revelations. So, when you tally this all up there are six distinct POV's involved in the telling of this story. Far too many. Even really seasoned authors have difficulty navigating through a mindfield like that. Each voice must be distinct and offer something tantalizing to the reader in order to justify their presence. Sadly, this was not the case and would be something worth changing.
My second big issue was the grammar in this novel. There were so many instances of misused words, words chosen incorrectly or simply ommitted that it was a distraction. I know authors are able to revise and reissue their works and I hope that this author does just that. I recently read Rule by Jay Crownover. I'd put this book off because I'd read about all the typos and grammatical issues but then the author fixed them and re-released the book. While I never read the original version for comparison sake, I gleaned enough from the reviews to understand that the subsequent editing was a success. I strongly recommend that Adriana Law do the same, it would garner her another star and I will gladly add it to this review/rating. I usually give indies a pass when it comes to stuff like this because I understand that these novels lack the polishing one would find from a big house release. But when these instances occur on every page I have to make mention of it. There were also punctuation problems; sentences without commas, question marks ommitted, quotation marks missing from indented paragraphs.
Not to get too nitpicky but there were also some tense issues. Mostly in the beginning of the book. Specifically all of chapter two. This was written in present tense but should have been written in past tense as the protag was nine.
My third issue was the ending. I don't want to make it seem as though I wasn't entirely pleased, that's not the case at all. I think part of it was executed really well, it's the epilogue I'm not entirely happy with. In my estimation, these finals scenes should have been added as chapters and the story extended a bit into an epilogue that reached beyond the point the story ended. I don't want to give too much away, but what I will say is that the book ended too abruptly. No, there's no cliffhanger, all is resolved and there's a HEA, sort of, but it felt like there should have been more.
If you can get past these issues I think you'll enjoy the book. I will say that the author mapped out a good, well paced story. I wish more time had been taken developing the relationship between Sterling and Tori, I think it would have made the story more compelling but I was ultimately okay with how things worked out.
June 21, 2013
"Love something let it go, if it comes back it's yours"
From the start this book was different from anything I've recently read. For example, three (3)...yes 3 POVs in the first few chapters. I found myself intrigued by getting the different perspectives. At times I was confused but the POVs helped to understand the history of how they all related.
Victoria is a senior in high school on the cusp of several milestones. She is dealing with fractured relationships, self image issues, and the pain of loss, physical and emotional.
Sterling...Sterling I just want to hold his heart...he so is beautifully damaged and unwanted. We a get a gritty glimpse into his despair, loss of opportunity and how he deals with the consequences.
These two would have never met if it wasn't for Colton, Victoria/Tori's boyfriend. Yes, a minor love triangle however, don't be discouraged. I do not like triangles and this was not bad, when decisions finally needed to be made they were.
The heartache of loving someone who renders you helpless was all consuming in this piece. Pushing you to love them from afar. Through heartfelt one-liners I found myself rooting for everyone involved. Sterling broke my heart with his fighting demons. While Tori made me reach out to comfort her through her pain of loving someone like Sterling.
The supporting characters made me smile and hopeful. I'm crosing my fingers for Saw & Starr's story and Keria & Jonah.
I'm happy that I got the chance to experience Tori and Sterling in "Falling for a Bentley".
"Now that we're together, what took you so long?" - Dream
**Posted on Amazon as well**
From the start this book was different from anything I've recently read. For example, three (3)...yes 3 POVs in the first few chapters. I found myself intrigued by getting the different perspectives. At times I was confused but the POVs helped to understand the history of how they all related.
Victoria is a senior in high school on the cusp of several milestones. She is dealing with fractured relationships, self image issues, and the pain of loss, physical and emotional.
Sterling...Sterling I just want to hold his heart...he so is beautifully damaged and unwanted. We a get a gritty glimpse into his despair, loss of opportunity and how he deals with the consequences.
These two would have never met if it wasn't for Colton, Victoria/Tori's boyfriend. Yes, a minor love triangle however, don't be discouraged. I do not like triangles and this was not bad, when decisions finally needed to be made they were.
The heartache of loving someone who renders you helpless was all consuming in this piece. Pushing you to love them from afar. Through heartfelt one-liners I found myself rooting for everyone involved. Sterling broke my heart with his fighting demons. While Tori made me reach out to comfort her through her pain of loving someone like Sterling.
The supporting characters made me smile and hopeful. I'm crosing my fingers for Saw & Starr's story and Keria & Jonah.
I'm happy that I got the chance to experience Tori and Sterling in "Falling for a Bentley".
"Now that we're together, what took you so long?" - Dream
**Posted on Amazon as well**
May 1, 2015
Victoria, known as Tori is an eighteen-year-old that plays the role of a good girl and does what is expected of her, all the while keeping the frustration of never feeling good enough inside. She is ready to break up with controlling boyfriend when his parents are killed in an accident.
His cousin, Sterling Bentley comes with his father to take over planning of the funeral, where he meets Tori. Tori and Sterling recognize they have much in common and she leaves home to be with him. Sterling is addicted to drugs and it isn't easy living with him but she does her best to show him he is good enough and help him find himself. The reality is the Sterling has to want to find himself and she can't do it for him.
The story of addiction is a hard one to write and show all the feelings and struggles and Adriana Law does an excellent job with the emotional struggle of Sterling the addict and the woman who loves him. One of our family members is over twenty years clean and sober and the tough love we used to move him in that direction was one of the hardest things we have ever had to do. It isn't just the addict that suffers but those who love him/her and have to watch helplessly suffer even more because they don't have any way to change the situation.
It you want an emotional love story, Falling for a Bentley is an excellent one.
His cousin, Sterling Bentley comes with his father to take over planning of the funeral, where he meets Tori. Tori and Sterling recognize they have much in common and she leaves home to be with him. Sterling is addicted to drugs and it isn't easy living with him but she does her best to show him he is good enough and help him find himself. The reality is the Sterling has to want to find himself and she can't do it for him.
The story of addiction is a hard one to write and show all the feelings and struggles and Adriana Law does an excellent job with the emotional struggle of Sterling the addict and the woman who loves him. One of our family members is over twenty years clean and sober and the tough love we used to move him in that direction was one of the hardest things we have ever had to do. It isn't just the addict that suffers but those who love him/her and have to watch helplessly suffer even more because they don't have any way to change the situation.
It you want an emotional love story, Falling for a Bentley is an excellent one.
August 20, 2013
So many emotions after reading this book. Before I go any farther I only gave this book 4 stars because I think the extra POV's in the book were too much in the beginning and confused the hell out of me. On to the story, Amazing Read I think I loved the fact that the author talked to the reader and really went in depth with some deep subjects. There are so many things I would like to touch on but, I cannot due to the fact that there is little I can say about the story without giving out spoilers of the story. I loved Victoria and the depth that she showed was amazing I loved Sterling, Sawyer, Starr, and all of the characters because they brought so much to the story. Amazing read that all of you should take the time to read!
May 31, 2013
The cover is awesome nah??
The story is about Victoria who is a bird lover and also is always controlled by her mother. The shock wave in her boyfriend life made her finally want to throw all worry and the good girl vibes and to start anew with her boyfriend hot cousin Sterling. Sterling is also damaged goods but will Victoria and Sterling be able to find light in the darkness surrounding them??
The story is good but sorry not my type. If you are looking for a story where there is girl who has had enough, hot guys and of course problems surrounding them and how they end up solving them this it.
The story is about Victoria who is a bird lover and also is always controlled by her mother. The shock wave in her boyfriend life made her finally want to throw all worry and the good girl vibes and to start anew with her boyfriend hot cousin Sterling. Sterling is also damaged goods but will Victoria and Sterling be able to find light in the darkness surrounding them??
The story is good but sorry not my type. If you are looking for a story where there is girl who has had enough, hot guys and of course problems surrounding them and how they end up solving them this it.
October 13, 2013
This book was surprisingly really good! I love the cover and it's why I got the book to begin with. I've had it on my iPad for a whole now and for whatever reason wasn't giving it a chance. Glad I did!! Very emotional read. Drug addiction usually is. Heavy and dark. I was in love with sterling at the mention of his name. Then describing him ahhhh tattoos piercings dark hair silver eyes yep in love:) there were a lot of grammatical issues in this book but I didn't feel like it ruined the story for me. I would recommend this book for sure!
July 23, 2014
Reading the summary for this book did not prepare me for what I was to endure reading it. I love stories that have happy endings and I wasn't sure if this one would. The story is very centered around drugs and having never touched/read about drugs, I was shocked. It was a good book but it also managed to tear my heart into tiny pieces and stomp them into the ground. This book was very emotional for me. I warn anyone looking for just a regular romance to not read this but if you think you can handle it go ahead and do.
September 12, 2013
this is one of the first free books that actually kept me wanting to turn the page. this is a story about a girl trying to save an addict...an addict that she falls in love with. it was a rough dirty read and I found myself in her place. not that I've dealt with loving an addict before but Adriana does a great job with her writing making you think you are standing there witnessing their love one going thru th lowest of lows. job well done.
September 16, 2013
Colton is such a jerk, and treats Tori like crap.
Then he tries to make a pass on her cousin, and she also finds out that he has been messing around with others as well. Tori is a naive girl and doesn't even call him on that shit!
Tori meets Colton's cousin, Sterling-a rebel to his family. She gets caught up with Sterling and goes through a whirlwind of emotions with him. At the end, its a cute story, but wished Tori and Sterling had more to add to the book.
Then he tries to make a pass on her cousin, and she also finds out that he has been messing around with others as well. Tori is a naive girl and doesn't even call him on that shit!
Tori meets Colton's cousin, Sterling-a rebel to his family. She gets caught up with Sterling and goes through a whirlwind of emotions with him. At the end, its a cute story, but wished Tori and Sterling had more to add to the book.
June 26, 2013
Disclaimer: if you are looking for a feel good read, this is not it! At least until the bitter end. This story is full of angst, pain, self loathing, and poor decision making. However, it was all woven into a better than average story that holds quite a bit of truth. I would definitely recommend it, but know it is like watching a train wreck... I couldn't put it down.
June 27, 2013
This book really surprised me! I obviously started this book bc hello?! The cover is HOT. After being a little confused in the beginning it all started making sense and it really was a fantastic story!
February 25, 2014
Interesting and lovely book.
Read
December 13, 2014I remember now why I don't read NA, especially ones in desperate need of an editor.
June 3, 2013
Sorry for any spelling/grammar errors.
I liked the beginning, but then once Sterling arrived everything turned for the worse.
He took her for granted and pretty much treated her like shit throughout their relationship. It wasn't healthy at all, really. It seemed completely made up of lust and lust alone.
When they're at the first party we meet Jonah and I honestly forgot about the fact that she falls for a Bentley. So, I really liked Jonah. He was sweet. But then their connection is abruptly stopped because he sleeps with her friend. He leads her on and then has sex with Keria. Who is a somewhat shitty friend. Instead of telling Tori that Colton was abusive and tried to have sex with her, she instead lies and says he sells drugs. This erupts a lot of problems, because it makes Tori completely unaware of the fact that her boyfriend can turn aggressive and place her in danger. You're a magnificent friend. Going back to Jonah, he even has a POV in the beginning that makes it seem as if he's a main character. Sterling didn't at all. I could actually see them together, but it never happened; Keria and Jonah's relationship seemed too forced as did Tori and Sterling's. He texts her later on asking to explain and sort issues out, but she never replies, and so the whole idea of them becoming a thing is dropped and never spoken of again.
The boyfriend, Colton, was an asshole who had this idea that he could obtain whatever he wanted simply because he thought he deserved it. And when that didn't happen, he'd get real pissy and scream "Bitch", "Tease", "Whore", and so on. Yeah, douche bag. Later on his parents die, and he's completely crushed with his only source of happiness being Victoria. This is basically where we meet Sterling. They don't even have much of a conversation, he and Victoria, so there's no reason for there to be feelings at all other than basic physical attraction. He's rude during the family dinner, and later on when she goes over to Colton's house for whatever reason she sees Sterling getting the shit beat out of him. Sterling goes to leave, and he asks her if she's coming. And she goes.
She leaves behind her family.
She leaves behind her douche boyfriend.
She leaves everything for this complete stranger.
And he treats her like shit. And she stays with him.
What the hell?
"I didn't mean it." "It won't happen again." "I'm sorry."
Bullshit Bullshit Bullshit.
You fucking leave his ass.
She finally did, but he then became a complete and total creep following her and calling her nonstop.
Then Epilogue and "Oh look I've changed happy ever after yay."
There's also these small traits of Tori's that I thought would take center stage more often; Her bird carvings, fear of heights, and the whole leg and hand issue along with the scar. They seemed to make up a big part of her but weren't really brought forth to actually be discussed.
The writing wasn't bad, given there were a few errors here and there that failed to be corrected during editing I guess.
I just couldn't like the characters. The only one I did like was Jonah.
I liked the beginning, but then once Sterling arrived everything turned for the worse.
He took her for granted and pretty much treated her like shit throughout their relationship. It wasn't healthy at all, really. It seemed completely made up of lust and lust alone.
When they're at the first party we meet Jonah and I honestly forgot about the fact that she falls for a Bentley. So, I really liked Jonah. He was sweet. But then their connection is abruptly stopped because he sleeps with her friend. He leads her on and then has sex with Keria. Who is a somewhat shitty friend. Instead of telling Tori that Colton was abusive and tried to have sex with her, she instead lies and says he sells drugs. This erupts a lot of problems, because it makes Tori completely unaware of the fact that her boyfriend can turn aggressive and place her in danger. You're a magnificent friend. Going back to Jonah, he even has a POV in the beginning that makes it seem as if he's a main character. Sterling didn't at all. I could actually see them together, but it never happened; Keria and Jonah's relationship seemed too forced as did Tori and Sterling's. He texts her later on asking to explain and sort issues out, but she never replies, and so the whole idea of them becoming a thing is dropped and never spoken of again.
The boyfriend, Colton, was an asshole who had this idea that he could obtain whatever he wanted simply because he thought he deserved it. And when that didn't happen, he'd get real pissy and scream "Bitch", "Tease", "Whore", and so on. Yeah, douche bag. Later on his parents die, and he's completely crushed with his only source of happiness being Victoria. This is basically where we meet Sterling. They don't even have much of a conversation, he and Victoria, so there's no reason for there to be feelings at all other than basic physical attraction. He's rude during the family dinner, and later on when she goes over to Colton's house for whatever reason she sees Sterling getting the shit beat out of him. Sterling goes to leave, and he asks her if she's coming. And she goes.
She leaves behind her family.
She leaves behind her douche boyfriend.
She leaves everything for this complete stranger.
And he treats her like shit. And she stays with him.
What the hell?
"I didn't mean it." "It won't happen again." "I'm sorry."
Bullshit Bullshit Bullshit.
You fucking leave his ass.
She finally did, but he then became a complete and total creep following her and calling her nonstop.
Then Epilogue and "Oh look I've changed happy ever after yay."
There's also these small traits of Tori's that I thought would take center stage more often; Her bird carvings, fear of heights, and the whole leg and hand issue along with the scar. They seemed to make up a big part of her but weren't really brought forth to actually be discussed.
The writing wasn't bad, given there were a few errors here and there that failed to be corrected during editing I guess.
I just couldn't like the characters. The only one I did like was Jonah.
April 11, 2015
There is nothing worse than being shown who you love is not who you think they are. Instead, they are the evil twin of your beloved.”
Esta leitura pode ser confundida com qualquer drama da vida real. Não é uma história de amor rendodinha, não é um drama familiar que se resolve em todas as suas nuances.
Terminei o livro com uma sensação de que a angústia produzida foi levemente aplacada, mas não completamente suprimida.
Dois jovens com famílias disfuncionais. Victoria tem um pai permissivo e amável, porém sua mãe é dominadora e egoísta. Ela tem fobias a vencer e, acima de tudo, precisa tomar suas próprias decisões, torna-se autoconfiante.
Sterling tem um proeminente sobrenome. A mãe o abandonou aos cuidados de um pai violento e depreciador. Ele cresceu em um ambiente totalmente favorável a autodestruição. Ele poderia seguir um caminho diferente, mas foi seduzido pelo vício.
Victoria e Sterling se apaixonam. O amor não surge a partir de momentos memoráveis. Longe disso. O sentimento brota nos momentos mais dolorosos. Victoria faz todo o possível para resgatar Sterling das drogas, mas a luta é inglória.
Uma coisa é certa, o livro deixa claro que superar um vício provém de uma imensa força de vontade pessoal. Assim, não adianta uma família perfeitamente determinada a resgatar o seu ente querido. Ao que parece, o amor recebido não é suficiente. O viciado tem que se permitir amar, só assim ele poderá ser resgatado pelo seu poder curativo. Por isso, Sterling tem um longo caminho a percorrer para só assim se sentir digno do amor de Victoria.
Enfim, apreciei a leitura. Algumas pontas ficaram visivelmente soltas. Como foram apresentados mais de um POV, deu a impressão que histórias paralelas foram inseridas no contexto e isso causou alguma confusão. Mas, como se trata de uma série e o segundo eu ainda não li, talvez a autora apresente algumas soluções mais conclusivas. O certo é que este casal tem uma história com começo, meio e fim sem descartar várias possibilidades.
Passagem do livro: Isaías 42: 16
Esta leitura pode ser confundida com qualquer drama da vida real. Não é uma história de amor rendodinha, não é um drama familiar que se resolve em todas as suas nuances.
Terminei o livro com uma sensação de que a angústia produzida foi levemente aplacada, mas não completamente suprimida.
Dois jovens com famílias disfuncionais. Victoria tem um pai permissivo e amável, porém sua mãe é dominadora e egoísta. Ela tem fobias a vencer e, acima de tudo, precisa tomar suas próprias decisões, torna-se autoconfiante.
Sterling tem um proeminente sobrenome. A mãe o abandonou aos cuidados de um pai violento e depreciador. Ele cresceu em um ambiente totalmente favorável a autodestruição. Ele poderia seguir um caminho diferente, mas foi seduzido pelo vício.
Victoria e Sterling se apaixonam. O amor não surge a partir de momentos memoráveis. Longe disso. O sentimento brota nos momentos mais dolorosos. Victoria faz todo o possível para resgatar Sterling das drogas, mas a luta é inglória.
Uma coisa é certa, o livro deixa claro que superar um vício provém de uma imensa força de vontade pessoal. Assim, não adianta uma família perfeitamente determinada a resgatar o seu ente querido. Ao que parece, o amor recebido não é suficiente. O viciado tem que se permitir amar, só assim ele poderá ser resgatado pelo seu poder curativo. Por isso, Sterling tem um longo caminho a percorrer para só assim se sentir digno do amor de Victoria.
Enfim, apreciei a leitura. Algumas pontas ficaram visivelmente soltas. Como foram apresentados mais de um POV, deu a impressão que histórias paralelas foram inseridas no contexto e isso causou alguma confusão. Mas, como se trata de uma série e o segundo eu ainda não li, talvez a autora apresente algumas soluções mais conclusivas. O certo é que este casal tem uma história com começo, meio e fim sem descartar várias possibilidades.
Passagem do livro: Isaías 42: 16
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