Virtuous college freshman Maggie has always played it safe. That is until she ran into mysterious hottie Ethan and his eclectic group of extreme sports enthusiast friends. Now all she wants is to chase the seemingly forbidden love of Ethan on the thrilling, sexy, and dangerous adventures that Ethan experiences daily. Ethan gives off a dangerous vibe, yet Maggie has never felt so safe. She knows he’s keeping secrets and that’s the reason he won’t commit. But what could possibly be that bad? Tech millionaire Ethan is left stranded while on a camping trip with his best friend. Forced to bum a ride with a very innocent young girl, Ethan is instantly charmed by Maggie’s wholesome sweetness. He should say no and run away but he can’t. He wants her as fiercely as she wants him. But can he protect her from his perilous past?
Everything was changing in her life and it was just a tad bit much for her to handle. Her way of rebelling is to pick up a hitchhiker. This book while a great well written story, just stretched me a bit too much. I really wanted to be all in for this debut novel and I almost succeeded. I wasn't a real fan of hers, I mean, I understand this girl is young but the way she went from one guy to the next, unable to make up her mind was exhausting and bothersome. The fact that these 3 guys are all stumbling over themselves and ok with her being all over the place just makes it worse. It didn't help that she was a crier (yeah I know I shouldn't be so hard hearted but come on) and it seemed to be her go to mode. Yes I enjoyed the story and will probably try to remember to check in on the next one. I really just need a stronger female lead, not one whose go to mode is to make bad decisions or become unsure of her decisions, then cry. Between her crying and the guys I just can't in good conscience give a higher rating.
This novel was a fun read that took me back to my days in Colorado. I don't usually read romantic action adventure YA, but I wanted to read this because of the setting. The story flows smoothly and doesn't take long at all to pull the reader in. Cruuz is adept at writing robust descriptions that aren't clunky or overdone. There are a few of what I consider central characters and I enjoyed the chemistry between them. It's a funny book, with humor and sarcasm sprinkled throughout. The chapters are well organized, and yes, there are a few typos and grammatical errors, but those didn't take away from the novel.
I would recommend this to genre readers, teens who like to do outdoor activities, and people who like adventuring in Colorado. Sure am looking forward to that next book!
4/5 because I see amazing potential. Congratulations on a first book.
Quote: “We all hugged as was tradition when saying goodbye with our tight little family, you know Christian values and all.”
Um, you can read many of my prior reviews and see that I don’t get politically correct often at all. But, come on!?!? Lots of people of many belief systems hug their families goodbye. It’s beyond arrogant for the author to implicitly suggest otherwise.