Reckless

Can we talk about this cover? I mean, come on! I adore it so much. It's stunning, and so Ethan and Tori. I just keep going back and gazing at it. Beautiful!

This book was such a joy to read, I loved every second of it. I loved Shameless so much and couldn't wait to get my hands on Reckless, and it didn't disappoint. It was sweet and sexy. Totally a standalone, it's set years after Shameless, although Kat and Brady do make appearances it's not necessary to read their story first, but seriously, why wouldn't you? They're awesome.

I love Lex's writing, the way she pulls you into the scene and the story that you lose all sense of where you are and who is around you. I got lost a lot with this book, I was torn between wanting to get to the end and find out what happened to wanting it to last longer. It was all the things. It's not a secret that I adore single parent stories, there is just something about the struggle the parent goes through and somebody coming into their lives and loving the children like their own, ya know? It gives me all the feels.

In all honesty, I wasn't particularly fond of Tori in Shameless, but I totally loved her in this book, she was feisty and vulnerable. I really felt for her a few times through the story. The way she cared for the children and stood up for herself. Yes! Tori's growth through the story was wonderful to see and the development of her character really made the story. Ethan, oh boy, I wanna save a horse and ride a cowboy too, especially if he's anything like the sweet, hardworking, loving father that Ethan is. He wasn't afraid to say he screwed up. I just adored him. Logan was a great side character, that bad boy needs a book. Friends to Lovers? Yes please! Seriously, Lex, I'll do almost anything, just gimme! Allison, ugh, I hated her. So much. I wanted to throat-punch her on more than one occasion. Mila and Cody stole the show, they were the sweetest things.

The way Ethan and Tori's relationship started and progressed and changed was wonderful to be a part of. There wasn't a lot of angst, the conflict was not dragged out and I really enjoyed that about this story. It really focused on their relationship together and with the children - some of those moments were so precious. I may have teared up at seemingly random moments. It had some great humour, usually courtesy of Logan, but it wasn't overused. The sexy times were sexy, for sure, but also pretty swoonworthy too. It was simply beautiful.