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Fall and Rise #2
Faster We Burn
Katie Hallman is done with douchebags. Done with guys who treat her like crap and leave her broken. But then Stryker Grant is there anyway. With his numerous piercings and bleached hair, he’s the polar opposite of all of her past relationships, which makes him the perfect candidate.
At first, Katie just sees him as a physical escape from her previous rocky relationship, and Stryker doesn’t seem to mind just being a distraction from Katie’s problems. But soon he’s getting under her skin, peeling back layers she’d rather keep covered. She tries to make it clear that she doesn’t want a relationship, but keeps breaking her own rules.
Then a tragedy sends Katie into the only arms who are there to catch her, and she’ll realize that she needs him more than she ever thought possible. But is she ready to let herself trust another guy with her already-battered heart? Or will she push him away to protect herself from getting hurt again?
At first, Katie just sees him as a physical escape from her previous rocky relationship, and Stryker doesn’t seem to mind just being a distraction from Katie’s problems. But soon he’s getting under her skin, peeling back layers she’d rather keep covered. She tries to make it clear that she doesn’t want a relationship, but keeps breaking her own rules.
Then a tragedy sends Katie into the only arms who are there to catch her, and she’ll realize that she needs him more than she ever thought possible. But is she ready to let herself trust another guy with her already-battered heart? Or will she push him away to protect herself from getting hurt again?
450 pages, Nook
First published April 18, 2013
About the author
Chelsea M. Cameron
101 books4,789 followersChelsea M. Cameron is a New York Times/USA Today/Internationally Best Selling author from Maine who now lives and works in Boston. She's a red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, former cheerleader, and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, eating brunch in bed, tweeting, and playing fetch with her cat, Sassenach. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.
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January 28, 2013Release on April 20! If you are a blogger and would like an ARC, please email me: chel.c.cam@gmail.com with your blog link and what format you'd like :)
May 16, 2013
4-4.5 Sweetheart Stars
We meet Katie and Stryker in ‘Deeper We Fall’. Katie is Lottie’s roommate, and Stryker is one of Zan’s friends. Everyone knows that there is something up between the two of them... but they both insist there isn’t. They are only friends, thats all. Friends that hook up.
Katie is your typical college girly-girl. She wears a lot of pink, dates the cute popular jocks/frat guys... that life hasn’t been working for her lately. She doesn’t really know who she is or what she wants out of her life, and after getting out of a terrible/abusive relationship with Zac, she needs something different. Some one different. Then one night, she meets him. Stryker Grant.
That is pretty much how their relationship began. Appearance wise, Stryker very different from Katie's normal type. He has dyed blonde hair, tons of tattoo's and piercings. Stryker and Katie are pretty opposite of one another, but somehow, they form a bond. Their sex only rule soon turns into a friendship. Stryker is someone who Katie can really talk to. Bad things have happened to the both of them in their pasts, but Stryker gives Katie some sound advice and listens to her when she needs an ear.
Katie quickly gets freaked out by their friendship. There aren’t supposed to be feelings involved. Stryker is so not her type. Not the kind of guy she would ever date. Her family just enforces that when she brings him home for Thanksgiving. He knows his place with Katie, but that doesn’t mean he likes it.
Katie soon realizes that there is so much more to Stryker than what meets the eye. He is nothing like she thought he was.
They go through a lot together. Dealing with their pasts, tragedy strikes for both of them. They both screw up, make mistakes, but they are both there for each other. They hang out, start to take things slow. They connected through music.
Their relationship gets to be too much for Stryker. He can’t continue to just sleep with Katie. He’s not happy just being her fuckbuddy. He is developing real feelings for her. Katie doesn’t know how she feels. But Stryker has quickly turned into her best friend, and she has some strong feelings for him as well. They both try to fight it at times, but when its there, its there.
This may not be the most original premises for a story- bad boy and popular girl have a no strings attached sexual relationship, then start to develop feelings for one another. We’ve all read it before. But it was a little different. I already had a great connection to both of the MC’s from reading ‘Deeper We Fall’. I fell hard for Stryker in this book! He is just the most awesome guy, and exactly the type of guy Katie needed. I had some issues with Katie at the beginning, but by the end she stepped it up. It was fun to catch up with Lottie, Zan, and the others. I’m hopefull that Trish will get her own book, or Simon and Brady, or even Will and Audrey. I would love more from these characters!
We meet Katie and Stryker in ‘Deeper We Fall’. Katie is Lottie’s roommate, and Stryker is one of Zan’s friends. Everyone knows that there is something up between the two of them... but they both insist there isn’t. They are only friends, thats all. Friends that hook up.
He was a guy and I was a girl who was willing to have sex with him. No attachment, no feelings, no clingy behavior.
“Why the fuck do you wear so much pink?”
Katie is your typical college girly-girl. She wears a lot of pink, dates the cute popular jocks/frat guys... that life hasn’t been working for her lately. She doesn’t really know who she is or what she wants out of her life, and after getting out of a terrible/abusive relationship with Zac, she needs something different. Some one different. Then one night, she meets him. Stryker Grant.
‘You ever fucked a guy with a lip ring?’
‘Nope.’
‘Want to try?’
‘Absolutely.’
That is pretty much how their relationship began. Appearance wise, Stryker very different from Katie's normal type. He has dyed blonde hair, tons of tattoo's and piercings. Stryker and Katie are pretty opposite of one another, but somehow, they form a bond. Their sex only rule soon turns into a friendship. Stryker is someone who Katie can really talk to. Bad things have happened to the both of them in their pasts, but Stryker gives Katie some sound advice and listens to her when she needs an ear.
“Everybody goes through hard shit in their lives. It’s how you deal with it that determines what kind of person you are.”
Katie quickly gets freaked out by their friendship. There aren’t supposed to be feelings involved. Stryker is so not her type. Not the kind of guy she would ever date. Her family just enforces that when she brings him home for Thanksgiving. He knows his place with Katie, but that doesn’t mean he likes it.
I wasn’t husband material. I wasn’t boyfriend material. I wasn’t forever material. I was ‘guy you fuck’ material.
Katie soon realizes that there is so much more to Stryker than what meets the eye. He is nothing like she thought he was.
“You’re not like everyone else.”
“You’re not like everyone else either sweetheart.”
They go through a lot together. Dealing with their pasts, tragedy strikes for both of them. They both screw up, make mistakes, but they are both there for each other. They hang out, start to take things slow. They connected through music.
Their relationship gets to be too much for Stryker. He can’t continue to just sleep with Katie. He’s not happy just being her fuckbuddy. He is developing real feelings for her. Katie doesn’t know how she feels. But Stryker has quickly turned into her best friend, and she has some strong feelings for him as well. They both try to fight it at times, but when its there, its there.
You and me.
No space.
Always.
This may not be the most original premises for a story- bad boy and popular girl have a no strings attached sexual relationship, then start to develop feelings for one another. We’ve all read it before. But it was a little different. I already had a great connection to both of the MC’s from reading ‘Deeper We Fall’. I fell hard for Stryker in this book! He is just the most awesome guy, and exactly the type of guy Katie needed. I had some issues with Katie at the beginning, but by the end she stepped it up. It was fun to catch up with Lottie, Zan, and the others. I’m hopefull that Trish will get her own book, or Simon and Brady, or even Will and Audrey. I would love more from these characters!
July 26, 2016
Faster we burn takes us back to the Halloween party, where Katie and Stryker first meet. (The action slightly overlaps with the last book, Deeper we Fall)
"You're the girl who has what everyone
thinks is this perfect PINK life."
Katie ~ Loves, loves, LOVES all things pink! ♥ She coasts through school doing just enough to get by, she has no idea what she wants to major in or where her career path is going. She’s had it with guys who treat her like shit, she just wants a way to forget her past. So she uses sex to escape, to lose herself…...…she does not want any attachments, any chit chat, just SEX ………..sex with Stryker the guy who is the opposite to anyone she has been attracted to before.
"I don't need a boyfriend. I just need someone to f*ck me. That's you."
Stryker ♥ ~ Tattooed, pierced, artistic, musically talented……he plays the drums, the violin, the guitar, the banjo….Swoon, swoon, swooooon!!!! He is only too happy to provide the ‘sex escape’ that Katie needs so much!! And he sings songs to her.....adorable!!
It wasn't a sweet kiss. It was a demanding get-your-clothes-off kind of kiss.
"I'll call you" ~ Katie
"Me and my di*k are looking forward to it."
The Sex is not massively detailed but it's hot all the same, it had an intimate feeling to it, a closeness that was lovely.
She spells it out to him, the way it has to be……….
"I probably was just a distraction for her until someone better came along. That hurt more than I thought it would."
I wasn't husband material.
I wasn't boyfriend material.
I wasn't forever love material.
I was 'guy you f*ck' material.
♥???????????????♥???????????????♥
"I'll still have sex with you, but the talking and the soul-sharing and all that? I can't do it anymore." ~ Katie
Again and again the boundaries have to be defined because the layers are being peeled back, Katie finds herself wanting to talk to this interesting, charismatic young man that is, Stryker. When she is low she can call him, he is always there for her.
Then tragedy strikes in Katie’s life and the one person she needs is Stryker, he is there for her, he makes the bad feel better………but still they are……..
Just Friends????
Will this change? Will she trust Stryker with her love and her heart? Well………you will have to read to find out. There is a lot of angst along the way, Stryker is not perfect, and he makes mistakes, acts without thinking, which affects the people around him. There were times I wanted to shout at him.....NO DON'T DO THAT!!!!!
"You're pushing me away and I want to know why, Stryker."
Yes, it was predictable in places and maybe one tragedy too many but that's life sometimes; I loved the beautiful storytelling and the perfectly developed characters!!!
We get to see the rest of the cast again which I loved. The friends are described as a family in the book, and that really comes across, they are all there for each other when needed. Their relationship with each other warms the heart. ♥ ♥ ♥
I love that we get to glimpse more of Lottie and Zan and see their future togetherness.....beautiful!!!
"You and me. No space.
"You're both trying to stop it, but here's the thing. It's going to happen anyway. Something that powerful is like a speeding train. You can slow it down, but it's never going to stop."
July 26, 2015
Reread July 2015: I really enjoyed going back to this story! I think I'll read book 3 and 4 soon. The characters in these books are just so sweet and fun! I'm especially curious about Audrey and Will.
First read: April 22-24 2013
First read: April 22-24 2013
May 28, 2013
3-3.5 Pink ★'s
Faster We Burn is the second book of the Fall and Rise series, and tells the story of Stryker and Katie. The timeline slightly overlaps with that of Deeper We Fall , beginning with the Halloween party where these two first meet. It is assumed that you have read the first book, and so no time is wasted re-introducing the characters.
The story is different in that Stryker and Katie's "relationship" doesn't progress in the usual way. It starts off strictly sexual, as an escape for Katie.
“I don’t need anything from you except a physical distraction, and now that I’ve got it I’m going to go back to my room to watch movies with my friends and smile and be fine. Because I am.”
"He wasn’t the boyfriend type. He was type-less. Not a friend, not a boyfriend. He was a guy. A guy I had sex with and who painted my toenails and let me bitch about my problems and took my sarcasm and thought I was funny."
(um yeah, he paints her nails!)
It evolves into a friends-with-benefits arrangement, then just friends, then something more. In between each of these stages there are also periods where they are 'nothing' because one of them pushes away. Even when they are together, it is anything but a smooth ride.
" You said sex with no strings. Don’t get mad at me for giving you what you asked for. If you want more, you have to tell me. I’m not a fucking mind reader"
" I feel like I want us to be best friends. I feel like I want you to be the person I tell everything to. I feel like I could see you every second of every day and it wouldn’t be enough."
“I know you’re scared and I’m scared as hell too. That’s what love is, being scared as hell, but doing it anyway because it’s worth it.”
Stryker was an amazing hero. He'd had a tough life, but he made sure he and his sister could fight through it. He's tattooed and pierced, a bit of a bad boy, and a genius with music, art, cars, and his double majors. He plays in a band and hasn't quite figured out where he wants to go in life. He likes Katie, sees through her facade, and won't accept her BS.
"You’re the girl who has what everyone thinks is this perfect pink life. The girl who spends all her time trying to be something she’s not. The girl who’s barely hanging on."
“You drive me insane because you never know what you want and you expect me to just accommodate you. And I do it. Every time. You say jump and I get out a goddamn trampoline. When I’m not with you, I’m thinking about you. I can’t stop thinking about you and wanting you."
He wants to be with her, give her what she needs but he keeps thinking he's not good enough for her. Aargh!
" I wasn’t husband material. I wasn’t boyfriend material. I wasn’t forever love material. I was ‘guy you fuck’ material."
" Every time she looked at me with such hope, it killed me. I wasn’t the guy she thought I was. I wasn’t the guy she needed me to be."
He tries to push her away several times by being a jerk
" I was being a dick to her, but that was what I did. I was a dick. I pushed people away. It was so much easier than caring."
But Katie doesn't want to let go. I really liked the scenes where he'd be an ass and expect her to walk away, only finding her refusing to budge. My favorite part was when he walked away on Thanksgiving and then how she made it up to him.
Katie... well I couldn't get her for most of the book. Not my fault, she was very confusing because she was so confused. She doesn't know who she really is or how she really feels or what she wants to do. I don't blame her, how many of us were just like that during college after all, but she did frustrate me. I won't call her weak because she had an unexpected strength within her. Stryker does her best to help her find herself.
“You’re a girl who’s been trying to be something she’s not for her whole life and it finally stopped working for you. Now you’ve got a chance to be who you really are.”
“Everybody goes through hard shit in their lives. It’s how you deal with it that determines what kind of person you are.”
There was plenty of sex, nothing too explicit but still smokin'. There were also tender moments, like when he'd draw on her. Music was a strong connection throughout.
The old gang was here again and they were excellent supporting characters. There were also new faces, like the wonderful Kayla and Adam, the eccentric band members and the crazy bitch, Ric.
What kept me from enjoying this book more was the endless sh!t tossed their way, it was just one drama after the other. They just couldn't catch a break! If the number of problems they faced were less, I probably would've felt the angst and sorrow, but all I did was think, here we go again!. . And I was really pissed about the BIG secret, where I kept waiting for an explosion but it just withered away after being dragged forever!
Overall, I liked Faster We Burn, I loved Stryker and awwww'd at the ending, but I was also exhausted from all the drama. I'm very curious to know more about Will and Audrey now!
** I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Faster We Burn is the second book of the Fall and Rise series, and tells the story of Stryker and Katie. The timeline slightly overlaps with that of Deeper We Fall , beginning with the Halloween party where these two first meet. It is assumed that you have read the first book, and so no time is wasted re-introducing the characters.
The story is different in that Stryker and Katie's "relationship" doesn't progress in the usual way. It starts off strictly sexual, as an escape for Katie.
“I don’t need anything from you except a physical distraction, and now that I’ve got it I’m going to go back to my room to watch movies with my friends and smile and be fine. Because I am.”
"He wasn’t the boyfriend type. He was type-less. Not a friend, not a boyfriend. He was a guy. A guy I had sex with and who painted my toenails and let me bitch about my problems and took my sarcasm and thought I was funny."
(um yeah, he paints her nails!)
It evolves into a friends-with-benefits arrangement, then just friends, then something more. In between each of these stages there are also periods where they are 'nothing' because one of them pushes away. Even when they are together, it is anything but a smooth ride.
" You said sex with no strings. Don’t get mad at me for giving you what you asked for. If you want more, you have to tell me. I’m not a fucking mind reader"
" I feel like I want us to be best friends. I feel like I want you to be the person I tell everything to. I feel like I could see you every second of every day and it wouldn’t be enough."
“I know you’re scared and I’m scared as hell too. That’s what love is, being scared as hell, but doing it anyway because it’s worth it.”
Stryker was an amazing hero. He'd had a tough life, but he made sure he and his sister could fight through it. He's tattooed and pierced, a bit of a bad boy, and a genius with music, art, cars, and his double majors. He plays in a band and hasn't quite figured out where he wants to go in life. He likes Katie, sees through her facade, and won't accept her BS.
"You’re the girl who has what everyone thinks is this perfect pink life. The girl who spends all her time trying to be something she’s not. The girl who’s barely hanging on."
“You drive me insane because you never know what you want and you expect me to just accommodate you. And I do it. Every time. You say jump and I get out a goddamn trampoline. When I’m not with you, I’m thinking about you. I can’t stop thinking about you and wanting you."
He wants to be with her, give her what she needs but he keeps thinking he's not good enough for her. Aargh!
" I wasn’t husband material. I wasn’t boyfriend material. I wasn’t forever love material. I was ‘guy you fuck’ material."
" Every time she looked at me with such hope, it killed me. I wasn’t the guy she thought I was. I wasn’t the guy she needed me to be."
He tries to push her away several times by being a jerk
" I was being a dick to her, but that was what I did. I was a dick. I pushed people away. It was so much easier than caring."
But Katie doesn't want to let go. I really liked the scenes where he'd be an ass and expect her to walk away, only finding her refusing to budge. My favorite part was when he walked away on Thanksgiving and then how she made it up to him.
Katie... well I couldn't get her for most of the book. Not my fault, she was very confusing because she was so confused. She doesn't know who she really is or how she really feels or what she wants to do. I don't blame her, how many of us were just like that during college after all, but she did frustrate me. I won't call her weak because she had an unexpected strength within her. Stryker does her best to help her find herself.
“You’re a girl who’s been trying to be something she’s not for her whole life and it finally stopped working for you. Now you’ve got a chance to be who you really are.”
“Everybody goes through hard shit in their lives. It’s how you deal with it that determines what kind of person you are.”
There was plenty of sex, nothing too explicit but still smokin'. There were also tender moments, like when he'd draw on her. Music was a strong connection throughout.
The old gang was here again and they were excellent supporting characters. There were also new faces, like the wonderful Kayla and Adam, the eccentric band members and the crazy bitch, Ric.
What kept me from enjoying this book more was the endless sh!t tossed their way, it was just one drama after the other. They just couldn't catch a break! If the number of problems they faced were less, I probably would've felt the angst and sorrow, but all I did was think, here we go again!. . And I was really pissed about the BIG secret, where I kept waiting for an explosion but it just withered away after being dragged forever!
Overall, I liked Faster We Burn, I loved Stryker and awwww'd at the ending, but I was also exhausted from all the drama. I'm very curious to know more about Will and Audrey now!
** I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
June 22, 2013
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion
Faster we burn picks up towards the end of Deeper we fall from the POV of Stryker and Katie.
Katie is a pink obsessed, home grown American girl that becomes damaged goods. Katie’s need to make everyone happy and need to be what is expected of her sets the back drop for disaster. However, Katie’s fierce loyalty to her friends more than makes up for WTF moments.
Stryker is the pierced, tattooed blondie bear with the jaded background. But outsides can be deceiving. Stryker is a freaking Genius (it’s in the book). He’s musically talented, an artist, a cook and knows how to set a girls body on fire. Stryker is the perfect knight in shining armour and seems to be the only person capable of getting Katie to see herself for who she really is.
You. Me.
No Space
“Whatever you want me to be, that’s what I’ll be”
The soundtrack to this book is freaking fabulous, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragon just to name a few set the tone for multiple scene that had me in major swoon mode for Stryker.
Faster we burn picks up towards the end of Deeper we fall from the POV of Stryker and Katie.
Katie is a pink obsessed, home grown American girl that becomes damaged goods. Katie’s need to make everyone happy and need to be what is expected of her sets the back drop for disaster. However, Katie’s fierce loyalty to her friends more than makes up for WTF moments.
Stryker is the pierced, tattooed blondie bear with the jaded background. But outsides can be deceiving. Stryker is a freaking Genius (it’s in the book). He’s musically talented, an artist, a cook and knows how to set a girls body on fire. Stryker is the perfect knight in shining armour and seems to be the only person capable of getting Katie to see herself for who she really is.
You. Me.
No Space
“Whatever you want me to be, that’s what I’ll be”
The soundtrack to this book is freaking fabulous, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragon just to name a few set the tone for multiple scene that had me in major swoon mode for Stryker.
April 22, 2013
Faster We Burn is another amazing story by Chelsea. Lord I was hooked right from the first page to the end and I did not want their story to end. We first meet Stryker and Katie in Deeper We Fall. Katie is Lottie's roommate at college and Stryker is Zan's best friend. Lord these two are the polar opposite from one another but when they come together they fit like hand and glove.
Katie is your all american girl who is living the college life. She has it all grades, good looks, and a great boyfriend. On the outside she has it all but on the inside she is dying because her relationship with her great boyfriend is anything but great. He abuses and controls her and she keeps that from everyone until she has had enough and she leaves him. She swears off guys and decides he will do the one night stand thing and not get emotionally attached. Then she meets Stryker and her world changes and she is not sure what happened or why but she is going with the flow.
Stryker is a bad boy with a great soft heart. He has tatts for days and he is a musician but there is something about Katie that tugs on his heart. So when she suggests they sleep together with no strings attached he agrees. Only as they get closer to one another something else is happening to them and they are trying like hell to fight it. Stryker only loves one person in his life and that is his sister and he is not sure if he can love Katie the way she deserves but the heart knows what it wants and it wants Katie and Stryker together.
So when something devastating happens to Katie and she runs to the one person she can trust Stryker is there for her with open arms. Will Katie open her heart up to him and give it to him freely or will they both pull away and stay friends with benefits?
Katie is your all american girl who is living the college life. She has it all grades, good looks, and a great boyfriend. On the outside she has it all but on the inside she is dying because her relationship with her great boyfriend is anything but great. He abuses and controls her and she keeps that from everyone until she has had enough and she leaves him. She swears off guys and decides he will do the one night stand thing and not get emotionally attached. Then she meets Stryker and her world changes and she is not sure what happened or why but she is going with the flow.
Stryker is a bad boy with a great soft heart. He has tatts for days and he is a musician but there is something about Katie that tugs on his heart. So when she suggests they sleep together with no strings attached he agrees. Only as they get closer to one another something else is happening to them and they are trying like hell to fight it. Stryker only loves one person in his life and that is his sister and he is not sure if he can love Katie the way she deserves but the heart knows what it wants and it wants Katie and Stryker together.
So when something devastating happens to Katie and she runs to the one person she can trust Stryker is there for her with open arms. Will Katie open her heart up to him and give it to him freely or will they both pull away and stay friends with benefits?
April 25, 2013
BIG FAT FIVE STARS!!!
I loved this book! I was just blown away by how quickly I got pulled into the plot-- into Katie and Strykers story. At first it did seem a bit disjointed, I found myself having to re-read lines to understand what was going on, but I quickly got used to her style of writing and I fell in love with Stryker, Katie, and the gang.
This book made me cry, smile, and fall in love. I absolutely LOVED that Stryker just "got" Katie. He was whatever she needed and never threw her "bitchiness" or messed up thinking in her face. He was kind and patient. I loved it. And then later, when Katie has the chance to totally blow up and Stryker, she doesn't. They talk it out *GASP*, they understand each other, and they support each other. Even when they don't really know how.
Great book, love the characters, I totally recommend it. Am DYING for a book 3... there are a bunch of unfinished story lines there with that friend group and I hope we will get to read those soon :).
I loved this book! I was just blown away by how quickly I got pulled into the plot-- into Katie and Strykers story. At first it did seem a bit disjointed, I found myself having to re-read lines to understand what was going on, but I quickly got used to her style of writing and I fell in love with Stryker, Katie, and the gang.
This book made me cry, smile, and fall in love. I absolutely LOVED that Stryker just "got" Katie. He was whatever she needed and never threw her "bitchiness" or messed up thinking in her face. He was kind and patient. I loved it. And then later, when Katie has the chance to totally blow up and Stryker, she doesn't. They talk it out *GASP*, they understand each other, and they support each other. Even when they don't really know how.
Great book, love the characters, I totally recommend it. Am DYING for a book 3... there are a bunch of unfinished story lines there with that friend group and I hope we will get to read those soon :).
April 14, 2013
ARC review:
I absolutely loved Faster We Burn. I'm a seriously huge fan of her My Favorite Mistake and I didn't think I could love a book as much as I do that one. BUT I did! I love Stryker and Katie. I love her obsession with pink and his awsomeness with music and drawing. I cried..like seriously cried...I laughed and at times I wanted to kill a character or two.
There are many reasons why Chelsea Cameron is a best selling author. Faster We Burn is just one of those reasons!
I absolutely loved Faster We Burn. I'm a seriously huge fan of her My Favorite Mistake and I didn't think I could love a book as much as I do that one. BUT I did! I love Stryker and Katie. I love her obsession with pink and his awsomeness with music and drawing. I cried..like seriously cried...I laughed and at times I wanted to kill a character or two.
There are many reasons why Chelsea Cameron is a best selling author. Faster We Burn is just one of those reasons!
April 14, 2013
**Given ARC in exchange for review**
WONDERFUL, AMAZING! Chelsea Cameron has another HIT! :)
*Just a note, some quotes below*
The wonderful writing of Chelsea Cameron has done it again and given me another favorite to add to my list. She captivates her audience with Faster We Burn just the way she did with Deeper We Fall. In the second book in the Rise and Fall series, we follow Katie and Stryker.
Katherine Ann Hallman has everything figured out in life except who she is and where she is going. She puts off this picture of Miss Perfection to those who know and love her most, and those who don't. She has what everyone considers the perfect boyfriend, until he's not anymore and he takes their relationship to the wrong kind of physical. In walks Stryker Grant, white knight on a horse. Katie wants nothing to do with Strkyer because let's face it, he's no where near her type. When Stryker goes to check on Katie after the incident involving Zack, her ex, he tests her boundaries and just plain old pisses her off.
“I may not know you, specifically, but I’ve known girls just like you before. You’re the girl who has what everyone thinks is this perfect pink life. The girl who spends all her time trying to be something she’s not. The girl who’s barely hanging on. You’re an idiot because you think you can keep it up, and you’re an idiot to think that you have to.”
She uses what she knows will make her forget all her problems, sex and Stryker is there and willing. We begin this back and forth between Stryker and Katie, a just sex scenario but nothing ever stays just sex does it?
Katie and Stryker through their own sexual frustrations develop an almost friendship that none of their friends really understand. Slowly they develop an understanding of each other and slowly they develop more than those just sex feelings. They start to spend more time with each other and starts to learn each others quirks, “You’re a closet foodie. I knew it, Nice try, Mr. Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but you couldn't fool me for long.”
On continues their strange arrangement until Stryker just can't take it anymore. He wants more than he is willing to admit to from Katie. He wants it all, and everyone around him sees it but him and the one person he wishes would.
Stryker tries to walk away from Katie because she just still can't figure out who she is and he feels all she is trying to use him for is just the sex and the semi friendship they developed and he is looking for more. He turns to the wrong source when Katie and him are on the out only fueling his fire that she is the only one he could ever want. Through a bunch of struggles and grief they are finally able to begin to work toward something that they both just have been looking for since the beginning, LOVE. Katie is able to slowly learn who she is and where she wants her life to take her. She learns slowly through trial and error that Stryker may just be exactly what she is looking for around the same time he finally realizes that he may love her just as much as everyone keeps saying.
“You drive me insane because you never know what you want and you expect me to just accommodate you. And I do it. Every time. You say jump and I get out a goddamn trampoline. When I’m not with you, I’m thinking about you. I can’t stop thinking about you and wanting you. I want to walk across this room and do what you want, but I can’t. I can’t fuck you anymore.” “Why not?” “I can’t just fuck you because I love you!”
They slowly learn that together they may just be better and together they may be able to find that future of love, trust and happiness they both so desperately crave. Sometimes with the help of someone who loves you, it is easier to rise up from the ashes instead of burning to pieces. This is a tale of a love hard fought and the strength to move forward and become the person you wish you could have been all along. Faster We Burn takes you on a roller coaster of emotions but shows you the only thing that really matters is love, life and happiness and those who give that to you.
I would give this great book 4.5 stars out of 5 stars. My only complaint being I wish the ending gave just a little more. It is definitely a must read and needs to be on your TBR if it is not already there. Chelsea Cameron continues to make me her biggest fan and I can't wait for the next book in the Rise and Fall series. I know I couldn't put Deeper We Fall or Faster We Burn down so I am sure anything else coming out of this fabulous author will be the exact same way!
WONDERFUL, AMAZING! Chelsea Cameron has another HIT! :)
*Just a note, some quotes below*
The wonderful writing of Chelsea Cameron has done it again and given me another favorite to add to my list. She captivates her audience with Faster We Burn just the way she did with Deeper We Fall. In the second book in the Rise and Fall series, we follow Katie and Stryker.
Katherine Ann Hallman has everything figured out in life except who she is and where she is going. She puts off this picture of Miss Perfection to those who know and love her most, and those who don't. She has what everyone considers the perfect boyfriend, until he's not anymore and he takes their relationship to the wrong kind of physical. In walks Stryker Grant, white knight on a horse. Katie wants nothing to do with Strkyer because let's face it, he's no where near her type. When Stryker goes to check on Katie after the incident involving Zack, her ex, he tests her boundaries and just plain old pisses her off.
“I may not know you, specifically, but I’ve known girls just like you before. You’re the girl who has what everyone thinks is this perfect pink life. The girl who spends all her time trying to be something she’s not. The girl who’s barely hanging on. You’re an idiot because you think you can keep it up, and you’re an idiot to think that you have to.”
She uses what she knows will make her forget all her problems, sex and Stryker is there and willing. We begin this back and forth between Stryker and Katie, a just sex scenario but nothing ever stays just sex does it?
Katie and Stryker through their own sexual frustrations develop an almost friendship that none of their friends really understand. Slowly they develop an understanding of each other and slowly they develop more than those just sex feelings. They start to spend more time with each other and starts to learn each others quirks, “You’re a closet foodie. I knew it, Nice try, Mr. Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but you couldn't fool me for long.”
On continues their strange arrangement until Stryker just can't take it anymore. He wants more than he is willing to admit to from Katie. He wants it all, and everyone around him sees it but him and the one person he wishes would.
Stryker tries to walk away from Katie because she just still can't figure out who she is and he feels all she is trying to use him for is just the sex and the semi friendship they developed and he is looking for more. He turns to the wrong source when Katie and him are on the out only fueling his fire that she is the only one he could ever want. Through a bunch of struggles and grief they are finally able to begin to work toward something that they both just have been looking for since the beginning, LOVE. Katie is able to slowly learn who she is and where she wants her life to take her. She learns slowly through trial and error that Stryker may just be exactly what she is looking for around the same time he finally realizes that he may love her just as much as everyone keeps saying.
“You drive me insane because you never know what you want and you expect me to just accommodate you. And I do it. Every time. You say jump and I get out a goddamn trampoline. When I’m not with you, I’m thinking about you. I can’t stop thinking about you and wanting you. I want to walk across this room and do what you want, but I can’t. I can’t fuck you anymore.” “Why not?” “I can’t just fuck you because I love you!”
They slowly learn that together they may just be better and together they may be able to find that future of love, trust and happiness they both so desperately crave. Sometimes with the help of someone who loves you, it is easier to rise up from the ashes instead of burning to pieces. This is a tale of a love hard fought and the strength to move forward and become the person you wish you could have been all along. Faster We Burn takes you on a roller coaster of emotions but shows you the only thing that really matters is love, life and happiness and those who give that to you.
I would give this great book 4.5 stars out of 5 stars. My only complaint being I wish the ending gave just a little more. It is definitely a must read and needs to be on your TBR if it is not already there. Chelsea Cameron continues to make me her biggest fan and I can't wait for the next book in the Rise and Fall series. I know I couldn't put Deeper We Fall or Faster We Burn down so I am sure anything else coming out of this fabulous author will be the exact same way!
April 15, 2013
Original Review Posted on The Book Cafe
My Rating: 4 1/2 Stars!!
First off, thank you to the kick-butt, rocks my socks author that is Chelsea Cameron for gifting me with an advanced copy of her book. For all who haven't read it yet, pick up Deeper We Fall the first book in this series. You don't actually have to read it to fully understand what's going on in this book, but it's fun to have a little bit more background on some of the supporting characters.
I read Deeper We Fall and loved it. Loved the main characters Zan and Lottie, loved their story. But I tripped and fell face first in love with Katie and Stryker's story in this book. I kinda loved this book just a little bit more (sorry Zan!). You didn't really know too much about Katie in Deeper We Fall except that she was Lottie's roommate, she was dating a complete and total assface Zack and she has a weird, somewhat unhealthy obsession with pink. Same thing with Stryker. He became Zan's closest friend and was an odd genius-mechanic-musician. They were in the peripheral. So glad they became the main focus. They both have some pretty deep scars, Katie's a little bit more recent, and they dive head first into a purely physical relationship in order to try to escape them for a little while. They make this arrangement pretty much at the very beginning of the book. Katie propositions Stryker after satisfying her curiosity of kissing a guy with a lip ring, and being the complete guy that he is, he definitely doesn't turn her down.
Katie has been dealing with Zack. He is the picture perfect boyfriend. All American good looks and perfect manners. Amazing except for a dangerous need to control her. About 20% into the book Katie makes the mistake of meeting up with Zack for closure. By the end of the car ride she ends up battered and broken and tossed onto the front stoop of her dorm building like garbage. She's done. She doesn't want to give her heart to another person. She was fooled and reeled in by his charm and professions of love and it made her rethink everything, including who the person is in the mirror. She can't be with another guy, but she can't seem to turn off the voices in her head and the confusion in her soul. So, she reaches out to Stryker for a "distraction".
Stryker is the guy who protected her from Zack's public lashing at a Halloween Party. He is a genius, a musician, a mechanic. He is tatted up, pierced up, and bleached down. He is the polar opposite of Katie's pink loving, Hallmark Card family having, Taylor Swift listening to self. On paper they don't make sense. He's the guy who you don't bring home to mom and dad and Grandpa Jack. But then he sings to her over the phone to get her mind off things, he paints her fingernails and toenails, he distractedly draws on her hand and you can't help but swoon a little bit. Despite this, their relationship is the ultimate push and pull. They don't want the intimacy that is happening between them and they try and fight it desperately. They both have demons to fight and they don't know how to do it and love each other at the same time and- for lack of a better phrase- they're scared shitless to even try. Katie's been thru hell with Zack, she can't open her heart and she's understandably frightened to even try. She's struggling to find her identity. Stryker has only ever loved one person. His sister Trish. And other than her he's never been loved in return. His upbringing has seen to that. He's cut out for one night stands, not relationships.
They go thru quite a bit of a Tug of Rope game until Katie's world is turned upside down. She's struggling and drowning and the only person who can get thru to her is Stryker. I'll admit it, I cried (damn you Chelsea). It was heartbreaking, but Stryker was perfect. He was everything she needed. He was her support system. Most of all, he wasn't her "physical distraction", he was her best friend. He is not perfect though. He makes mistakes. One mistake in particular....
Their story is not pink and pretty and perfect. Katie is a mess. Stryker is a clusterf*%k. She cusses him out and he takes it. He occasionally acts like a douche and she deals with it. You put these together and they are perfect. They are exactly what the other needs.
PS- Will and Audrey next I wonder?? Hmmmm....
My Rating: 4 1/2 Stars!!
First off, thank you to the kick-butt, rocks my socks author that is Chelsea Cameron for gifting me with an advanced copy of her book. For all who haven't read it yet, pick up Deeper We Fall the first book in this series. You don't actually have to read it to fully understand what's going on in this book, but it's fun to have a little bit more background on some of the supporting characters.
I read Deeper We Fall and loved it. Loved the main characters Zan and Lottie, loved their story. But I tripped and fell face first in love with Katie and Stryker's story in this book. I kinda loved this book just a little bit more (sorry Zan!). You didn't really know too much about Katie in Deeper We Fall except that she was Lottie's roommate, she was dating a complete and total assface Zack and she has a weird, somewhat unhealthy obsession with pink. Same thing with Stryker. He became Zan's closest friend and was an odd genius-mechanic-musician. They were in the peripheral. So glad they became the main focus. They both have some pretty deep scars, Katie's a little bit more recent, and they dive head first into a purely physical relationship in order to try to escape them for a little while. They make this arrangement pretty much at the very beginning of the book. Katie propositions Stryker after satisfying her curiosity of kissing a guy with a lip ring, and being the complete guy that he is, he definitely doesn't turn her down.
Katie has been dealing with Zack. He is the picture perfect boyfriend. All American good looks and perfect manners. Amazing except for a dangerous need to control her. About 20% into the book Katie makes the mistake of meeting up with Zack for closure. By the end of the car ride she ends up battered and broken and tossed onto the front stoop of her dorm building like garbage. She's done. She doesn't want to give her heart to another person. She was fooled and reeled in by his charm and professions of love and it made her rethink everything, including who the person is in the mirror. She can't be with another guy, but she can't seem to turn off the voices in her head and the confusion in her soul. So, she reaches out to Stryker for a "distraction".
Stryker is the guy who protected her from Zack's public lashing at a Halloween Party. He is a genius, a musician, a mechanic. He is tatted up, pierced up, and bleached down. He is the polar opposite of Katie's pink loving, Hallmark Card family having, Taylor Swift listening to self. On paper they don't make sense. He's the guy who you don't bring home to mom and dad and Grandpa Jack. But then he sings to her over the phone to get her mind off things, he paints her fingernails and toenails, he distractedly draws on her hand and you can't help but swoon a little bit. Despite this, their relationship is the ultimate push and pull. They don't want the intimacy that is happening between them and they try and fight it desperately. They both have demons to fight and they don't know how to do it and love each other at the same time and- for lack of a better phrase- they're scared shitless to even try. Katie's been thru hell with Zack, she can't open her heart and she's understandably frightened to even try. She's struggling to find her identity. Stryker has only ever loved one person. His sister Trish. And other than her he's never been loved in return. His upbringing has seen to that. He's cut out for one night stands, not relationships.
They go thru quite a bit of a Tug of Rope game until Katie's world is turned upside down. She's struggling and drowning and the only person who can get thru to her is Stryker. I'll admit it, I cried (damn you Chelsea). It was heartbreaking, but Stryker was perfect. He was everything she needed. He was her support system. Most of all, he wasn't her "physical distraction", he was her best friend. He is not perfect though. He makes mistakes. One mistake in particular....
Their story is not pink and pretty and perfect. Katie is a mess. Stryker is a clusterf*%k. She cusses him out and he takes it. He occasionally acts like a douche and she deals with it. You put these together and they are perfect. They are exactly what the other needs.
PS- Will and Audrey next I wonder?? Hmmmm....
May 17, 2013
In Faster We Burn the characters Katie and Stryker meet at a party. Katie's on again off again boyfriend Zack was causing a scene and her friends came to the rescue. Stryker isn't boyfriend material and doesn't have the look Katie usually goes for with his piercings, tattoos, and bleach blonde hair. But they share the same group of friends. Katie goes in for a kiss and Stryker turns it into a "demanding, get-yout-clothes-off kind of kiss". Both are content to have no strings attached sex. Katie refers to it as a physical distraction and wants to keep a secret from their group of friends. She's not interested in sharing her feelings. She just wants to move on from Zack.
After several hot hook-ups, they begin spending time together and chatting on the phone and by text. Stryker tries to convince Katie not to meet with Zack but she doesn't listen and can tell it's a mistake as soon as gets in the truck with Zack. If you read Deeper We Fall you'll remember this part where Zack beats the s*** out of Katie and then just dumps her out of the truck in front of her dorm. The stories overlap and we get more of the details now that it's in Katie's POV. As much as Katie wants to keep things with Stryker as a "just sex" relationship, she can't help but depend on him more and more. She's the only one that doesn't see how obvious their feelings for one another are. Katie even joins in with Stryker and his friends for one of their music sessions. We meet a girl named Ric who I hate as much as Zack in this book. She's had her sights on Stryker for years. Prepare your-self for the heat after the music session. Katie and Stryker usually have angry revenge-y sex but this time, it's "just you and me" sex.
Stryker goes home with Katie for Thanksgiving and it ends horribly. Katie's mom turns into the ultimate bitch and basically runs Stryker off. It does lead to Katie having a heart to heart with her Dad which ends up being a huge deal later in the story. But Stryker ends up making a huge mistake. It breaks my heart and I really want to shove a submarine up that skank Ric's hoo-ha. Then things for Katie really go to s***ter. Stryker missed his chance to come clean with his secret. He helps Katie through a massive heart break. Stryker has a major case of denial at this point. He doesn't see how in love he is with Katie.
Ric raises her ugly head to start more trouble. Despite her threats to tell Katie about her one night with Stryker, he can't bring himself to tell Katie the truth. Instead Stryker and Katie finally realize that what they feel is love. This was one of my favorite parts. They follow the heart to heart with some oh so hot love making. Now don't judge me but Ric gets what Karma has coming for her. It's probably sad that I wasn't sad about Ric's outcome. I was torn up for Stryker though and the guilt he was feeling. Katie comes through to mend his heart and mind. Then decides she needs a life makeover. I was so distracted by developments with Trish and Katie's makeover that I had completely forgotten about Zack. He seriously needs a good ass kickin.
Katie and Stryker have a rough and not so traditional start to a relationship. It was a roller coaster ride to love. I wasn't ready for the story to end. Now the only thing to do is wait for the next story in this series. I would love a book for Trish, Stryker's sister and Will, Lottie's brother.
After several hot hook-ups, they begin spending time together and chatting on the phone and by text. Stryker tries to convince Katie not to meet with Zack but she doesn't listen and can tell it's a mistake as soon as gets in the truck with Zack. If you read Deeper We Fall you'll remember this part where Zack beats the s*** out of Katie and then just dumps her out of the truck in front of her dorm. The stories overlap and we get more of the details now that it's in Katie's POV. As much as Katie wants to keep things with Stryker as a "just sex" relationship, she can't help but depend on him more and more. She's the only one that doesn't see how obvious their feelings for one another are. Katie even joins in with Stryker and his friends for one of their music sessions. We meet a girl named Ric who I hate as much as Zack in this book. She's had her sights on Stryker for years. Prepare your-self for the heat after the music session. Katie and Stryker usually have angry revenge-y sex but this time, it's "just you and me" sex.
Stryker goes home with Katie for Thanksgiving and it ends horribly. Katie's mom turns into the ultimate bitch and basically runs Stryker off. It does lead to Katie having a heart to heart with her Dad which ends up being a huge deal later in the story. But Stryker ends up making a huge mistake. It breaks my heart and I really want to shove a submarine up that skank Ric's hoo-ha. Then things for Katie really go to s***ter. Stryker missed his chance to come clean with his secret. He helps Katie through a massive heart break. Stryker has a major case of denial at this point. He doesn't see how in love he is with Katie.
Ric raises her ugly head to start more trouble. Despite her threats to tell Katie about her one night with Stryker, he can't bring himself to tell Katie the truth. Instead Stryker and Katie finally realize that what they feel is love. This was one of my favorite parts. They follow the heart to heart with some oh so hot love making. Now don't judge me but Ric gets what Karma has coming for her. It's probably sad that I wasn't sad about Ric's outcome. I was torn up for Stryker though and the guilt he was feeling. Katie comes through to mend his heart and mind. Then decides she needs a life makeover. I was so distracted by developments with Trish and Katie's makeover that I had completely forgotten about Zack. He seriously needs a good ass kickin.
Katie and Stryker have a rough and not so traditional start to a relationship. It was a roller coaster ride to love. I wasn't ready for the story to end. Now the only thing to do is wait for the next story in this series. I would love a book for Trish, Stryker's sister and Will, Lottie's brother.
April 25, 2013
Faster We Burn is Katie and Stryker's story. Katie is coming out of a disastrous breakup with Zack and wants absolutely nothing to do with Stryker Grant. Stryker rescued Katie at a party when things got out of hand with Zack. Then, he shows up at her door with his pierced lip and eyebrow, bleached hair, and tattoos, looking hot as hell, but of course that is not the kind of guy Katie is attracted to, or at least that is what she tells herself, and then he has the audacity to call her an idiot.
He put his foot in the doorway, and leaned into the room. "What I was going to say is that you're an idiot." He folded the cape over his arm. "Excuse me?" "You heard what I said. You're. An. Idiot."
Yeah, he totally called her on her crap and told her like it was, and Katie was seething. One thing leads to another and....
"See you around," he said with a wave over one shoulder "Never would be too soon," I yelled back. I could still hear the sound of his laughter, even after I'd slammed the door and pressed my forehead against it so I could just breathe for a second. The last thing I needed in my life was another guy. Especially one that told me I was an idiot.
The next thing you know, Katie has thrown open the door and flown down the stairs.
He was messing with his lip ring again, but other that that, he was all swagger. He raised his pierced eyebrow. "Is this never?" he said. I shook my head. "You're wrong. About me......."Sure," he said, a smile playing on his lips. I took a step toward him and he moved away from the wall toward me. "I don't owe you anything." "No you don't." "Good. Now we've got that straight - " I grabbed his shirt and yanked him toward my mouth.
And that my friends, is how their relationship begins, with quite a bang, hot, heavy, and intense. Of course, they would never call it a relationship. In fact, Katie is really pretty bitchy to Stryker in the beginning, and out and out tells him she wants him for sex, is demanding, and constantly changing the rules. Granted, she has been through a lot, but I did want to pop her because she was really mean sometimes. Stryker on the other hand was totally patient with her. Of course, he was all up for the sex part, and I don't think she quite knew what to do with him when he would tell it like it is, not get angry with her, and pretty much just go with the flow.
Over time, these two go through some really scary stuff together, but the scariest of all is facing their true feeling for each other. Seriously, these guys face some tough things, and I loved watching their relationship grow as they did. Once Katie got past her bitchiness, I really liked her. I absolutely loved Stryker, everything about him. He has had a really hard life himself. They also have their gang of friends in the story, and I especially loved Trish, Stryer's sister. I hope she gets her own story. I thoroughly enjoyed Faster We Burn from beginning to end. It was one of those books that you sit there and find yourself smiling while you read it. The drama is intense, the romance is hot - really hot - and the story itself was wonderful. Did I mention Stryker sings and plays in a band? That in itself kind of does it for me to. Overall, I really enjoyed Faster We Burn and I would definitely recommend it.
He put his foot in the doorway, and leaned into the room. "What I was going to say is that you're an idiot." He folded the cape over his arm. "Excuse me?" "You heard what I said. You're. An. Idiot."
Yeah, he totally called her on her crap and told her like it was, and Katie was seething. One thing leads to another and....
"See you around," he said with a wave over one shoulder "Never would be too soon," I yelled back. I could still hear the sound of his laughter, even after I'd slammed the door and pressed my forehead against it so I could just breathe for a second. The last thing I needed in my life was another guy. Especially one that told me I was an idiot.
The next thing you know, Katie has thrown open the door and flown down the stairs.
He was messing with his lip ring again, but other that that, he was all swagger. He raised his pierced eyebrow. "Is this never?" he said. I shook my head. "You're wrong. About me......."Sure," he said, a smile playing on his lips. I took a step toward him and he moved away from the wall toward me. "I don't owe you anything." "No you don't." "Good. Now we've got that straight - " I grabbed his shirt and yanked him toward my mouth.
And that my friends, is how their relationship begins, with quite a bang, hot, heavy, and intense. Of course, they would never call it a relationship. In fact, Katie is really pretty bitchy to Stryker in the beginning, and out and out tells him she wants him for sex, is demanding, and constantly changing the rules. Granted, she has been through a lot, but I did want to pop her because she was really mean sometimes. Stryker on the other hand was totally patient with her. Of course, he was all up for the sex part, and I don't think she quite knew what to do with him when he would tell it like it is, not get angry with her, and pretty much just go with the flow.
Over time, these two go through some really scary stuff together, but the scariest of all is facing their true feeling for each other. Seriously, these guys face some tough things, and I loved watching their relationship grow as they did. Once Katie got past her bitchiness, I really liked her. I absolutely loved Stryker, everything about him. He has had a really hard life himself. They also have their gang of friends in the story, and I especially loved Trish, Stryer's sister. I hope she gets her own story. I thoroughly enjoyed Faster We Burn from beginning to end. It was one of those books that you sit there and find yourself smiling while you read it. The drama is intense, the romance is hot - really hot - and the story itself was wonderful. Did I mention Stryker sings and plays in a band? That in itself kind of does it for me to. Overall, I really enjoyed Faster We Burn and I would definitely recommend it.
May 18, 2013
Faster We Burn by Chelsea M. Cameron
Faster We Burn is the second installment of the Rise and Fall Series and is quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors and series as well. This story picks up toward the end of Deeper We Fall with Katie and Stryker.
Katie and Stryker’s story is told from both points of view. The fast paced romance and plot is beautifully written and is sure not to disappoint. Ms. Cameron is a mastermind at her writing style and this story flows really well. Compassion, resilience, and emotions fly high in this captivation new adult series that will leave readers craving the next installment.
Opposites Katie Hallman and Stryker Grant have mutual friends in common. After being burned in the worst way by her boyfriend Zack, Katie feels broken. Stryker can relate because he is broken being an orphan in childhood to a drug addicted mother. The pair quickly become each others distraction but is just sex enough when feelings start to develop. This pair faces tragedy after tragedy and has no one to turn to but each other, but can they be just friends or is love in the air?
Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty, who can not love a guy named Stryker? I mean just the name alone is the epitome of hotness. I’m not really into a guy with piercings and dyed hair, but quickly changed my mind with Stryker. Katie a girly girl that is in love with pink, the all American good girl that goes off to college to please her parents and care what other people think. I think that the author was so smart to pair these two characters showing the diversity and commonality in two people that seem so different on the outside but are so similarly broken on the inside.
I love how the author starts the story between these two in the middle of the previous book, it gives readers insight on what was really going on between these two and different perspectives on the story line. True fans will appreciate this (I know I did). I also loved all the musical influences in this particular installment. I actually looked into some of these bands and I could see it as the playlist for this book.
The one complaint that I have on this is the ending. I do not feel like it was rushed, rather just stopped. That is one thing that I did not like and but that is the only thing. Who knows Ms. Cameron might surprise us in the next installment and give me the conclusion that I want.
I can’t wait to see how the author will write the next chapter in this series and who will get the next book. I hope each character will get one and Allen too. This series gets a 5 star rating, but this particular book gets 4 ¾ stars because of the abrupt ending I had to take off some.
Faster We Burn is the second installment of the Rise and Fall Series and is quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors and series as well. This story picks up toward the end of Deeper We Fall with Katie and Stryker.
Katie and Stryker’s story is told from both points of view. The fast paced romance and plot is beautifully written and is sure not to disappoint. Ms. Cameron is a mastermind at her writing style and this story flows really well. Compassion, resilience, and emotions fly high in this captivation new adult series that will leave readers craving the next installment.
Opposites Katie Hallman and Stryker Grant have mutual friends in common. After being burned in the worst way by her boyfriend Zack, Katie feels broken. Stryker can relate because he is broken being an orphan in childhood to a drug addicted mother. The pair quickly become each others distraction but is just sex enough when feelings start to develop. This pair faces tragedy after tragedy and has no one to turn to but each other, but can they be just friends or is love in the air?
Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty, who can not love a guy named Stryker? I mean just the name alone is the epitome of hotness. I’m not really into a guy with piercings and dyed hair, but quickly changed my mind with Stryker. Katie a girly girl that is in love with pink, the all American good girl that goes off to college to please her parents and care what other people think. I think that the author was so smart to pair these two characters showing the diversity and commonality in two people that seem so different on the outside but are so similarly broken on the inside.
I love how the author starts the story between these two in the middle of the previous book, it gives readers insight on what was really going on between these two and different perspectives on the story line. True fans will appreciate this (I know I did). I also loved all the musical influences in this particular installment. I actually looked into some of these bands and I could see it as the playlist for this book.
The one complaint that I have on this is the ending. I do not feel like it was rushed, rather just stopped. That is one thing that I did not like and but that is the only thing. Who knows Ms. Cameron might surprise us in the next installment and give me the conclusion that I want.
I can’t wait to see how the author will write the next chapter in this series and who will get the next book. I hope each character will get one and Allen too. This series gets a 5 star rating, but this particular book gets 4 ¾ stars because of the abrupt ending I had to take off some.
April 29, 2013
It's crazy because I feel like I've been waiting forever to read this book but then when I was luck enough to get a early copy, I was kind of scared to read it. I guess a part of me was scared I wouldn't be as good as the first book but thankfully I was so wrong.
I won't lie, when I first met Katie in the first book, I judged her. She loves pink, always seems happy and slept with BOTH Zan and his brother Zack and just seemed like one of those airhead sluts. Considering in the first chapter alone, she slept with Styker, I honestly wasn't sure I would ever like her. But there's so much more to Katie then what appears. She acts like that way and does stupid things she knows she shouldn't because she doesn't want anyone to really know who she is. In a way it kind of seems like a cry for her and luckily enough Stryker hears it and wants to help.
Styrker. I loved him from the first book and that just grew with this book. I honestly don't even know how to describe how I feel about him. He's perfect. Or at least as perfect as someone with imperfections can be. Don't get me wrong, Stryker definitely makes mistakes (one of which I don't feel Katie should have forgiven him so easily for) but underneath it all he's a really great guy. A guy who's been through a lot and has a pretty messed up past but I loved how he didn't let that define him.
It was great seeing the gang again, especially Zane and Lottie. I really missed them so much so that now I feel like reading their story again. I'm not sure who the next book will be about but I'm hoping it'll be about Audrey and Will. I'm also hoping that Trish gets her own book but I honestly don't see how that could happen.
Overall, Faster We Burn was amazingly awesome and I can't wait to read more from this Author. If you haven't already and you love New Adult, please pick up this book!
*Received this book as part of a blog tour.
**This review also appears on my blog World of Books
I won't lie, when I first met Katie in the first book, I judged her. She loves pink, always seems happy and slept with BOTH Zan and his brother Zack and just seemed like one of those airhead sluts. Considering in the first chapter alone, she slept with Styker, I honestly wasn't sure I would ever like her. But there's so much more to Katie then what appears. She acts like that way and does stupid things she knows she shouldn't because she doesn't want anyone to really know who she is. In a way it kind of seems like a cry for her and luckily enough Stryker hears it and wants to help.
Styrker. I loved him from the first book and that just grew with this book. I honestly don't even know how to describe how I feel about him. He's perfect. Or at least as perfect as someone with imperfections can be. Don't get me wrong, Stryker definitely makes mistakes (one of which I don't feel Katie should have forgiven him so easily for) but underneath it all he's a really great guy. A guy who's been through a lot and has a pretty messed up past but I loved how he didn't let that define him.
It was great seeing the gang again, especially Zane and Lottie. I really missed them so much so that now I feel like reading their story again. I'm not sure who the next book will be about but I'm hoping it'll be about Audrey and Will. I'm also hoping that Trish gets her own book but I honestly don't see how that could happen.
Overall, Faster We Burn was amazingly awesome and I can't wait to read more from this Author. If you haven't already and you love New Adult, please pick up this book!
*Received this book as part of a blog tour.
**This review also appears on my blog World of Books
August 18, 2013
So I'm going along in the book and its great and I look at my progress on my kindle and see that I'm at 92% and I turn the page and the first few words make so little since I page back and re-read the page before it. Then I turn to the next page again and am completely confused again all of a sudden before I realize that the book just ended and I'm reading the acknowledgements from the author. The story just ends. It's like running into a brick wall all of a sudden. There is absolutely NO indication that you are at the end. That was hands down the worst ending I may have ever read simply because it wasn't an ending. It was the end of a chapter sure, but not the end of the book!!
What was his other christmas gift? What did her mother think about them living together? Did her sister ever say if she was going to move back home now at least for a little while? What else did she get him for christmas? She said she wrapped "all" his gifts in the music paper, but there was only one he opened. What happened at the trial? What was Zach's ultimate punishment? I mean seriously...that's just the beginning of the questions I'm left with!! Ugh!! AWFUL ENDING!!!
I am having to assume there must be another book to come, and if I had to venture to guess based on the info in this one it must be Will and Audrey's story. If not, that only adds to my awful ending comments as we are NEVER told why Audrey keeps Will away at arm's length. I'm torn with giving this book three stars or less because I am so angry with the ending, but against my feelings at this very moment, I DID enjoy the entire rest of the book, and thought that Stryker was an amazing book boyfriend so I am giving it the rating between where I feel it ended and where it was the rest of the time.
99% of this story is a 5 star book. That ending is a 2 star at most, so I'd say a 4 star overall rating is fairly generous. Please tell me though that there is a third book and I WILL get answers to all the million things I was set up for!!
What was his other christmas gift? What did her mother think about them living together? Did her sister ever say if she was going to move back home now at least for a little while? What else did she get him for christmas? She said she wrapped "all" his gifts in the music paper, but there was only one he opened. What happened at the trial? What was Zach's ultimate punishment? I mean seriously...that's just the beginning of the questions I'm left with!! Ugh!! AWFUL ENDING!!!
I am having to assume there must be another book to come, and if I had to venture to guess based on the info in this one it must be Will and Audrey's story. If not, that only adds to my awful ending comments as we are NEVER told why Audrey keeps Will away at arm's length. I'm torn with giving this book three stars or less because I am so angry with the ending, but against my feelings at this very moment, I DID enjoy the entire rest of the book, and thought that Stryker was an amazing book boyfriend so I am giving it the rating between where I feel it ended and where it was the rest of the time.
99% of this story is a 5 star book. That ending is a 2 star at most, so I'd say a 4 star overall rating is fairly generous. Please tell me though that there is a third book and I WILL get answers to all the million things I was set up for!!
May 24, 2013
Not sure how to begin this review. The first book of this series "Deeper We Fall" was really good so I was excited to start this one. It started off on such a positive note and stayed good until three quarters of the way through. I personally think this book could have ended earlier than it did but then the way it actually ended I didn't get. I was at 92% of the story figuring I had at least another 5 or 6% more to go, I click next page and found myself being a little confused. I then realized I was reading the acknowledgments from the author, no warning, no nothing, had no idea the story was nearing the end. It didn't leave you hanging or anything it just stopped. I was also not too crazy about the timeline of events which took place. It annoyed me a little bit that so much happened in only 4 months time, maybe if the characters were a few years older than 18 it wouldn't have bothered me so much. Also I never got to know who Katie was. She was supposed to find herself and figure out who she was but as the reader I feel like that never happened. Honestly overall the story was good, the two book series was good, I guess I'm just not happy with how it ended, left some unanswered questions-like what ever happened with Zack-did Stryker stop feeling guilty with what happened to Ric-did Katie's relationship with her mom turn around and did her mom finally accept Stryker (things this reader would have liked to known), and I would have really liked to see Katie figure herself out and what she wanted to do with her future.
May 7, 2013
I think I have an inappropriate crush on Stryker. And, much like the female lead, I'm not usually attracted to bad boys and my mom would pitch a fit if I brought home a boy like that! But what you find out in this follow-up to the insanely well-written "Deeper We Fall" is that you can't judge a boy (or a pink-obsessed girl) by his cover. It's a testament to the author's talent that this sequel isn't really a sequel captures you without plodding along in lock step to the old plotline. It's not really a sequel because the story occurs in the same time period but from a completely different point of view.
Let me be clear - the author didn't just rehash everything from the male MC's standpoint, leaving you so bored that you couldn't finish the book. No, she gave us a whole new story, with in-depth characters, who just happened to know people we fell in love with in another story. You never felt like she was beating you over the head with the old story, but instead like you were part of a secret club that just happened to know these other friends as well and got to re-live a few wonderful parts of their story. Ms. Cameron flits like a butterfly through the story, making you remember the good parts but the whole time telling you a completely original, all-new story.
I'm telling you - this is an instance where the author's talent for subtlety and respect for the reader's ability is a work of art. Kudos to Ms. Cameron for such a delicately woven story.
Let me be clear - the author didn't just rehash everything from the male MC's standpoint, leaving you so bored that you couldn't finish the book. No, she gave us a whole new story, with in-depth characters, who just happened to know people we fell in love with in another story. You never felt like she was beating you over the head with the old story, but instead like you were part of a secret club that just happened to know these other friends as well and got to re-live a few wonderful parts of their story. Ms. Cameron flits like a butterfly through the story, making you remember the good parts but the whole time telling you a completely original, all-new story.
I'm telling you - this is an instance where the author's talent for subtlety and respect for the reader's ability is a work of art. Kudos to Ms. Cameron for such a delicately woven story.
May 10, 2013
Faster We Burn is the second book in the Rise and Fall Series (the first being Deeper We Fall) and is Katie and Stryker's story, also it's told in both of their POV's.
It brought all the characters back from Deeper We Fall, YAY!! and I have really enjoyed reading about every character so far in this series.
We first met Stryker and Katie in Deeper We Fall. Katie is Lottie's roommate at college and Stryker is Zan's best friend.
Katie is living the college life. She has it all, going to parties, good looks, and a great boyfriend, Zack. but on the inside she is shutting down because her relationship with Zack is anything but great. He abuses and controls her and finally she has had enough and breaks up with him. She swears off guys and decides she will do the one night stand thing and not get emotionally attached. Then she meets Stryker and her world changes.
Stryker is labeled a bad guy, He has tattoos, piercings and he is a musician. There is something about Katie that he just can't let go of. When she suggests they sleep together with no strings attached he agrees. As they get closer to one another something else is happening to them and they are trying to fight it. Stryker is not sure if he can love Katie the way she deserves. Maybe they're better off as friends? Read this awesome book and find out :)
It brought all the characters back from Deeper We Fall, YAY!! and I have really enjoyed reading about every character so far in this series.
We first met Stryker and Katie in Deeper We Fall. Katie is Lottie's roommate at college and Stryker is Zan's best friend.
Katie is living the college life. She has it all, going to parties, good looks, and a great boyfriend, Zack. but on the inside she is shutting down because her relationship with Zack is anything but great. He abuses and controls her and finally she has had enough and breaks up with him. She swears off guys and decides she will do the one night stand thing and not get emotionally attached. Then she meets Stryker and her world changes.
Stryker is labeled a bad guy, He has tattoos, piercings and he is a musician. There is something about Katie that he just can't let go of. When she suggests they sleep together with no strings attached he agrees. As they get closer to one another something else is happening to them and they are trying to fight it. Stryker is not sure if he can love Katie the way she deserves. Maybe they're better off as friends? Read this awesome book and find out :)
May 5, 2013
I truly enjoyed this book. I thought this book was even better then the first book. I loved Katie and Stryker as a couple. Stryker was amazing, even though there was one part that I didn't like him much, because he made a big blunder. He was so supportive of Katie even when she was being kind of mean and snarky to him. I was glad to see that the blunder Stryker made was handled very well, most books I have read with this type of mistake would have been dragged out forever. I found it refreshing that once the mistake came out Katie was level headed about it. I was expecting her to make a big deal about it and that wasn't the case. I also liked that we got to see all the characters from book 1 in this book. It was great to catch up with all those characters and to see what a great support system they were for both Katie and Stryker when they both had tragedy strike their lives. I would have to say that the only negative I have is that the ending was kind of abrupt. I read the last line and turn the page and expected there to be a little more but there wasn't anymore. I think an epilogue would've been good in this case. I am hoping that maybe Will and Audrey or Trish and Max will get their own books.
April 23, 2013
It's amazing how in the last book Deeper We Fall I could not stand Katie. It wasn't for anything she did only for her simple obsession with the color pink. Crazy right?
Any who. In Faster We fall, I can certainly say that Katie is totally amazing.
The story is told by Katie and Stryker. Katie is trying to deal with the after effects of her break up with Zack. Her horrible ex boyfriend. When Stryker comes to the rescue, and their so call arrangement leads to more than Katie had bargain for. Stryker, what a hottie, smart, tattooed and a heart of gold. Katie turned out to be a marvelous person. Who at the bottom had no where to go but up. Finding love and even herself in the process.
Stryker and Katie were amazing together. The whole gang is there so you won't miss any of them. They all have wonderful friendship.
Chelsea manage to captured their feelings wonderfully. Katie's sorrow and happiness. Some great emotional scenes that brought tears to my eyes. I Loved every bit of this book.
Any who. In Faster We fall, I can certainly say that Katie is totally amazing.
The story is told by Katie and Stryker. Katie is trying to deal with the after effects of her break up with Zack. Her horrible ex boyfriend. When Stryker comes to the rescue, and their so call arrangement leads to more than Katie had bargain for. Stryker, what a hottie, smart, tattooed and a heart of gold. Katie turned out to be a marvelous person. Who at the bottom had no where to go but up. Finding love and even herself in the process.
Stryker and Katie were amazing together. The whole gang is there so you won't miss any of them. They all have wonderful friendship.
Chelsea manage to captured their feelings wonderfully. Katie's sorrow and happiness. Some great emotional scenes that brought tears to my eyes. I Loved every bit of this book.
August 10, 2016
Love, love, LOVED Faster We Burn. Stryker and Katie were perfect for each other from the first time he called her an idiot. He was damaged goods but so compassionate, intense, and real. Katie was a great heroine; so strong even though she didn't know it. Thankfully Stryker would always remind her. I love a book where two people who think they don't deserve each other work through that relationship. Their banter and playful times were awesome. They were just what each other needed. The situations the two of them faced were so real and really tests everyone's strength and love. The secondary characters were once again great in this book. I enjoyed reading from Katie and Stryker's perspective's more so than Lottie and Zan. Although I was glad to hear about Lottie and Zan from different the POV. Trish, Will, Simon, and Audrey too. The introduction of the Band and how music assimilates into Katie's life so seamlessly is fun to read as well. I'm so happy I received a copy of this book. I can't wait to read it again!
April 22, 2013
I was anxious to read this book after having just discovered this author and reading Deeper We Fall (which I really liked). I loved that the whole gang from book 1 was in book 2 and completely fell in love with Stryker and Katie. That being said, the book ended way too abruptly! I had to flip back and forth between the pages to make sure I hadn't missed something....I didn't. It was just the end. I felt like there was still more to be said and that certain issues were just glossed over to get to the end of the story.
May 12, 2013
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review *
I could not wait to read this book, after having loved Deeper We Fall(review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...), and was definitely not disappointed!
I thought Katie and Stryker made such a cute couple(where can I get a Stryker please?). This book is very readable though, and very intense, so do not start reading it at night like I did (esp. if you have work the next day!!)as it is impossible to put down.
I liked that the book started by going over the last couple of chapters in 'Deeper We Fall' from Katie and Stryker's point of view as it allowed us to see exactly how their relationship began.
I thought that the relationship between Katie and Stryker was very realistic, and it was nice to see a different side to Katie. However, I would have liked a bit more information/character development with Stryker's past and did not feel that it was explored as fully as it might have been. For instance,
Overall, though I thought that the characters feelings and situations were portrayed well and very realistically.
There were some really sweet scenes between Katie and Stryker and they are now one of my new favourite book couples :-) I was slightly concerned by Stryker's obsession with drawing on Katie, though, as neither of them seemed to have any concerns about ink poisoning (I don't know, maybe I was lectured too much when I was little!)
As with 'Deeper we Fall', I loved the supporting characters in the book and thought that they really added to the story. I liked that we continued to see snippets of Lottie and Zan's relationship. It was also nice to learn more about Trish. The only character I didn't really like was Ric -
Although I have mentioned that this book was very intense, I did feel that the last 20% of the book slightly lacked momentum in comparison to the rest of the book as there was quite a long period of winding down the story. Having said that, it did give Chelsea Cameron a chance to completely wrap up Katie and Stryker's story (as well as tell us about Trish's relationship) which I quite liked as I hate when a book has no epilogue and there are unanswered questions.
Overall, I loved this book and will definitely be reading any further books in this series!
Favourite bit: "Don't do it, Katie. Please."
"Why do you care?"
"Because I care about you!" he yelled. "Christ, how can you not know that?"
(Stryer and Katie)
I could not wait to read this book, after having loved Deeper We Fall(review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...), and was definitely not disappointed!
I thought Katie and Stryker made such a cute couple(where can I get a Stryker please?). This book is very readable though, and very intense, so do not start reading it at night like I did (esp. if you have work the next day!!)as it is impossible to put down.
I liked that the book started by going over the last couple of chapters in 'Deeper We Fall' from Katie and Stryker's point of view as it allowed us to see exactly how their relationship began.
I thought that the relationship between Katie and Stryker was very realistic, and it was nice to see a different side to Katie. However, I would have liked a bit more information/character development with Stryker's past and did not feel that it was explored as fully as it might have been. For instance,
Overall, though I thought that the characters feelings and situations were portrayed well and very realistically.
There were some really sweet scenes between Katie and Stryker and they are now one of my new favourite book couples :-) I was slightly concerned by Stryker's obsession with drawing on Katie, though, as neither of them seemed to have any concerns about ink poisoning (I don't know, maybe I was lectured too much when I was little!)
As with 'Deeper we Fall', I loved the supporting characters in the book and thought that they really added to the story. I liked that we continued to see snippets of Lottie and Zan's relationship. It was also nice to learn more about Trish. The only character I didn't really like was Ric -
Although I have mentioned that this book was very intense, I did feel that the last 20% of the book slightly lacked momentum in comparison to the rest of the book as there was quite a long period of winding down the story. Having said that, it did give Chelsea Cameron a chance to completely wrap up Katie and Stryker's story (as well as tell us about Trish's relationship) which I quite liked as I hate when a book has no epilogue and there are unanswered questions.
Overall, I loved this book and will definitely be reading any further books in this series!
Favourite bit: "Don't do it, Katie. Please."
"Why do you care?"
"Because I care about you!" he yelled. "Christ, how can you not know that?"
(Stryer and Katie)
April 22, 2013
Kat's Review
This is the second book in a series, but it really can be read as a stand alone if you haven't read the first.
The book alternates between Katie and Stryker's points of view, showing how their relationship grows from a distraction from their problems, to a relationship neither saw coming. What I like about the characters in Chelsea Cameron's books is that they are believable for their age group. The scenes between Katie and her mom made me smile because I vividly remember having some of the same types of interactions with my own mom when we saw things differently. The friendships also feel very real to me. Hanging out, watching movies, sharing the appetizers at restaurants because everyone is on a tight budget, those things ring true to me when I'm reading about college students, making it all very believable.
This is the third book I've reviewed from this author, and I find each one better than the last. I don't know if that's because I think her writing keeps getting better, or because I grow to like the characters more and more, but I find that her books are enjoyable and easy to read. The main character of this one, Katie, grew on me from the last book, showing a deeper, more complex personality than was able to shine through in Deeper We Fall. She falls into a physical relationship with Stryker in an attempt to erase her feelings for her ex-boyfriend, but as they spend more time together, they find their feelings for each other moving past just the physical. When things crash down around them, their feelings are put to the test.
This is certainly a book about romance, but it's a modern take on the subject. It's also a book about growing up and growing into who you choose to be, even when those choices don't please everyone.
Rating: A Good Read
There are a lot of New Adult books out there, and Chelsea Cameron's are some of the better written of the bunch. A great way to get introduced to the genre if you're not familiar with it, or a great addition to your collection if you're already a fan.
This is the second book in a series, but it really can be read as a stand alone if you haven't read the first.
The book alternates between Katie and Stryker's points of view, showing how their relationship grows from a distraction from their problems, to a relationship neither saw coming. What I like about the characters in Chelsea Cameron's books is that they are believable for their age group. The scenes between Katie and her mom made me smile because I vividly remember having some of the same types of interactions with my own mom when we saw things differently. The friendships also feel very real to me. Hanging out, watching movies, sharing the appetizers at restaurants because everyone is on a tight budget, those things ring true to me when I'm reading about college students, making it all very believable.
This is the third book I've reviewed from this author, and I find each one better than the last. I don't know if that's because I think her writing keeps getting better, or because I grow to like the characters more and more, but I find that her books are enjoyable and easy to read. The main character of this one, Katie, grew on me from the last book, showing a deeper, more complex personality than was able to shine through in Deeper We Fall. She falls into a physical relationship with Stryker in an attempt to erase her feelings for her ex-boyfriend, but as they spend more time together, they find their feelings for each other moving past just the physical. When things crash down around them, their feelings are put to the test.
This is certainly a book about romance, but it's a modern take on the subject. It's also a book about growing up and growing into who you choose to be, even when those choices don't please everyone.
Rating: A Good Read
There are a lot of New Adult books out there, and Chelsea Cameron's are some of the better written of the bunch. A great way to get introduced to the genre if you're not familiar with it, or a great addition to your collection if you're already a fan.
April 28, 2014
Thank you to Chelsea M. Cameron for giving me an ARC copy of this book.
Okay well, I don't have that much experience writing book reviews but I will give my honest opinion and try to do this book justice. There may be some spoilers from the first book.
This book is a sequel to Deeper We Fall, the main characters are Katie who is Lottie's roommate and Stryker, Zan's friend. The book starts off with Katie's and Stryker's points of view retelling some of the events from the first book. That was one of the things I really liked about the book, that instead of leaving the reader to guess what happened, the author chooses to backtrack the events that led to the plot for this book.
After what happened with Zack the last thing that Katie wants is a relationship, so she makes an agreement with Stryker to have a purely physical relationship. However it is clear from the beginning that these two have a connection and maintaining their relationship free of emotions is not as easy as they thought it would be. I loved the relationship they had, how they wouldn't take any bull from the other one and were always there for each other specially when they both had to deal with tragedies in their lives.
Overall the book was really well written, I really enjoy it when it is told from multiple points of view because it gives the reader more insight. If there was anything else I would have liked to see is a resolution to the whole Zack storyline, I felt like he was written off too quickly. I was also pretty curious about to what major Katie would pick seeing as how Stryker was helping her narrow down her choices (loved that scene). And last but not least, why does she love pink so much!
Anyways,I love all the characters in this book, I really hope we get to see more of them specially Trish's and Will's story, I felt like there was some major juicy drama going on with his relationship.
I'm done with my review, now go on and buy the book. You won't be sorry! :)
Okay well, I don't have that much experience writing book reviews but I will give my honest opinion and try to do this book justice. There may be some spoilers from the first book.
This book is a sequel to Deeper We Fall, the main characters are Katie who is Lottie's roommate and Stryker, Zan's friend. The book starts off with Katie's and Stryker's points of view retelling some of the events from the first book. That was one of the things I really liked about the book, that instead of leaving the reader to guess what happened, the author chooses to backtrack the events that led to the plot for this book.
After what happened with Zack the last thing that Katie wants is a relationship, so she makes an agreement with Stryker to have a purely physical relationship. However it is clear from the beginning that these two have a connection and maintaining their relationship free of emotions is not as easy as they thought it would be. I loved the relationship they had, how they wouldn't take any bull from the other one and were always there for each other specially when they both had to deal with tragedies in their lives.
Overall the book was really well written, I really enjoy it when it is told from multiple points of view because it gives the reader more insight. If there was anything else I would have liked to see is a resolution to the whole Zack storyline, I felt like he was written off too quickly. I was also pretty curious about to what major Katie would pick seeing as how Stryker was helping her narrow down her choices (loved that scene). And last but not least, why does she love pink so much!
Anyways,I love all the characters in this book, I really hope we get to see more of them specially Trish's and Will's story, I felt like there was some major juicy drama going on with his relationship.
I'm done with my review, now go on and buy the book. You won't be sorry! :)
September 10, 2016
Chelsea Cameron is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I loved The Deeper We Fall and was excited to read Katie and Stryker's story. Katie is not at all what I expected based on reading about her in the Deeper We Fall. She has much more going on than the bubbley blonde girl we met early. It was interesting getting to know her better and seeing what she was really like - she was much deeper than I expected. Girl has some serious issues pop up throughout the book but it was interesting to see her work through them and come out much stronger in the end.
Stryker was awesome :) I loved him in the Deeper We Fall and seeing him become Zan's friend. It was great getting to know him better and proving even more so what an awesome guy he is. He does make a few mistakes - but who doesn't? And the way he is with Katie - you can tell he really cares.
Watching these two get together was heart wrenching yet entertaining. I loved the push and pull - I'm sure some people got annoyed with the back and forth but I reveled in every minute of it. There is nothing I hate more than when a couple gets together right away and immediately falls in love. Stryker and Katie were the exact opposite, and Cameron did it in such a way that it felt realistic rather than just a ton of drama. It really is a fine balance. I'm looking forward to seeing what Cameron has coming out next :)
Stryker was awesome :) I loved him in the Deeper We Fall and seeing him become Zan's friend. It was great getting to know him better and proving even more so what an awesome guy he is. He does make a few mistakes - but who doesn't? And the way he is with Katie - you can tell he really cares.
Watching these two get together was heart wrenching yet entertaining. I loved the push and pull - I'm sure some people got annoyed with the back and forth but I reveled in every minute of it. There is nothing I hate more than when a couple gets together right away and immediately falls in love. Stryker and Katie were the exact opposite, and Cameron did it in such a way that it felt realistic rather than just a ton of drama. It really is a fine balance. I'm looking forward to seeing what Cameron has coming out next :)
July 22, 2016
3.75 Stars
Stryker and Katie are a screwed up pair, but they're functional. They work well as a couple. They're so wrong, they're right. I loved reading about them and their HEA. I was with them every step of the way. Towards the end though...meh...I think Ms. Cameron struggles with her endings. Similar to the previous book, it just sort of peters out and meanders too much for my liking.
Katie's a strange one. She's so prickly and closed in. She doesn't trust easy and she's always waiting for the other shoe to drop in a relationship. She's obviously still traumatised by the Zack incident. So to jump into a new and undefined relationship is probably not the best thing. But of course, love conquers all.
Stryker is an awesome hero. I loved him. He likes his cars and his music and his tats. He's comfortable in his own skin but falling in love with Katie takes the bravado out of him a little. I love that he's okay with her pink lifestyle and that he paints her nails and makes her coffee when he's hungover.
Stryker makes mistakes. Bad ones. But I got him, y'know?
Sexual Content: It's a big leap from the first book. I think there's over 4 sex scenes or something compared to the first book's one. Phew! Overkill.
Stryker and Katie are a screwed up pair, but they're functional. They work well as a couple. They're so wrong, they're right. I loved reading about them and their HEA. I was with them every step of the way. Towards the end though...meh...I think Ms. Cameron struggles with her endings. Similar to the previous book, it just sort of peters out and meanders too much for my liking.
Katie's a strange one. She's so prickly and closed in. She doesn't trust easy and she's always waiting for the other shoe to drop in a relationship. She's obviously still traumatised by the Zack incident. So to jump into a new and undefined relationship is probably not the best thing. But of course, love conquers all.
Stryker is an awesome hero. I loved him. He likes his cars and his music and his tats. He's comfortable in his own skin but falling in love with Katie takes the bravado out of him a little. I love that he's okay with her pink lifestyle and that he paints her nails and makes her coffee when he's hungover.
Stryker makes mistakes. Bad ones. But I got him, y'know?
Sexual Content: It's a big leap from the first book. I think there's over 4 sex scenes or something compared to the first book's one. Phew! Overkill.
May 1, 2013
I liked this book a lot. This one picks up during the story of Deeper we Fall where Katie (Lottie's roomie) has just been roughed up by her BF Zack, the whacko, and is saved/comforted by the tattooed and pierced Stryker. Katie is a tad bit damaged and basically uses Stryker as a distraction from life, aka...sex. Of course Stryker is ok with this, but come on we all know somewhere along the line someone is gonna get some feelings and hurt. Yep...that's what happens. Basically both Katie and Stryker realize that their no strings sex pact isn't quite working because they are in love, however life drama keeps them at bay with each other. Lots of tragedy in this on, but lots of feel good lovin too. Stryker is a no-nonsense kinda guy, he spends most of the book telling Katie how it is until she gets under his skin and he cant cope...that was the only negative for me. I prefer him laid back and casual...he became a bit pansy toward the end, lol! I like the secondary characters a lot, and Im hoping Will and Audrey get their story soon!
January 22, 2015
This is the second book in the series and although it glosses quickly over what happened in book one, the majority of the events take place after book one has finished and we still get to see more of the characters from book one.
Although we never get an answer as to why she loves pink so much we do get to learn a lot more about Katie. Unfortunately she is still dealing with the Zack issue, she has another family emergency and both her and Stryker have their 'relationship' to figure out.
Stryker is a secret softie and cares for Katie in a way that he has never done before with any of the other girls he has been with. He is there when she needs her, and she turns up to be there when he needs someone.
It takes time but eventually they both help sort the other out until they both can't live without the other. Both sides really being the other side of their soul and being the true person that the other needs.
It's a really good read, but slightly less good than the first book.
Although we never get an answer as to why she loves pink so much we do get to learn a lot more about Katie. Unfortunately she is still dealing with the Zack issue, she has another family emergency and both her and Stryker have their 'relationship' to figure out.
Stryker is a secret softie and cares for Katie in a way that he has never done before with any of the other girls he has been with. He is there when she needs her, and she turns up to be there when he needs someone.
It takes time but eventually they both help sort the other out until they both can't live without the other. Both sides really being the other side of their soul and being the true person that the other needs.
It's a really good read, but slightly less good than the first book.
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