Melissa Collins

Alternative title: Ryan the runner. We witness Ryan run away from his life/past/relationship one too many times. The length of the book falls on the short side and it made all the running a little unnecessary and soap opera-ish for no reason. He ran away from Quinn so many times that I wouldn't have taken him back. It's not only the number of times he just walked away, it's also his lack of apologies. He didn't do any kind of grand gesture and he didn't groove enough. His reason for not show more coming back to Quinn is not good enough. Not for 12 years of absence and him been forced to come back. A therapist 10 years ago would have been a great idea. He was supposed to be in love with him and yet he never actually acted like it in this book.

Quinn never had and never will have a backbone. He deserved better, like a person who was going to be there for him, not run away and be willing to work his problems with him. His only act that showed some kind of backbone was him dating Todd and even that didn't last long. He should have made Ryan work for it and I would have loved to see that.

The story has many time jumps and it can be days, weeks, months or the big 12-year one. The book is separated into 2 equal in length parts where all the small time jumps happen. I feel like we didn't really need to see Quinn and Ryan back in high school to this extent. We only needed to know the basic, so when they became adults they would have more time to solve their problems and mature in Ryan's case. They needed more time and space to get to know the people they had become because in 12 years a lot of things change, especially one's personality. For me, the first part was well developed, but the second was rushed because the characters had many things to do to fix their relationship and there wasn't enough space or time for them to just do that. I needed to see them working their problems together in a loving and adult way.

I am a fan of Melissa Collins, but this is not one of her best works. I was expecting more stuff happening in the present and not in the past. I didn't get the impression that Quinn and Ryan matured enough or changed over the years because even back then Ryan was running and Quinn was waiting for him to come back. show less

4.5 stars

This is, by far, the best book in the Love Series. Melissa's writing gets better and better. With each book, one can see her writing evolve and improve... Now, I am not saying that she was ever not a good writer. I am saying she is evolving into an excellent writer!!!
I could not put this book down. I read it in two, not too long, sittings! I really wanted to pull an all-niter with this book, but my body wouldn't allow me to! I am pretty sure I dreamed about this book in-between show more starting it and finishing it!
I loved the characters in this book. Mel, being the not your average girl. She isn't your hot or super model girl. She is an average girl, not too skinny, meat on her bones and down to earth girl. Bryan, the attractive down to earth computer dork. Both of them harboring personal issues and insecurities. They are a perfect match for this story!
Yeah, yeah. Boy meets girl. Girl meets boy. They are instantly attracted to one another... So what makes this so not-so-typical? Well, for starters, Mel is very self-conscious and cannot accept that Bryan truly does want her. Bryan, knows what he wants and will take his time showing Mel how serious he is.
Then, you throw in the bitchy ex who will do nothing to come between them. Some family secrets that can be life altering. Some rash conclusions that can destroy them for good. Yes, drama. We all love the drama in the middle of a love story!
I chuckled. I laughed. I cried, on more than one occasion. That equals a pretty damned good story in my book! (Pun intended!) I wanted to slap a bitch (the ex) on more than one occasion. I wanted to shake Mel by her shoulders until her head fell off on a few occasions.
All in all, I absolutely adored this book! I can't wait to see what Melissa has up her sleeve for us next! show less

I can't deny that I liked this book. So, with that being said, you are probably wondering why I gave this a 3.5 star review. Well, you have to remember with me, that isn't a low rating. I RARELY give books 5 stars. My ratings usually fall between three and four stars when I like a book. It takes A LOT to get that 5 star rating from me!
So onward I go.... This book tugged at my heart in quite a few places. The loneliness inside that Madeleine carried is enough to torture anyone's soul. Her not show more knowing how to let herself go and just be is heart breaking. So when someone challenges her soul, there is only one thing to do.... Brace yourself for more heart break?
Heart break is what Reid is ready to give from the word go.... Well, he doesn't intend on it, but it happens. Then the torture the two endure once it happens.... Two tortured souls unwilling to let love in equals a story that is sure to bring about emotions all of the way around.
Now to get to the rating, there is a reason for it. Although I liked this book, it had its moments. Its moments where it lost me and my mind went elsewhere. Melissa is a good author, however, there are parts where she reels you in, your heart starts to swell, and then she just shifts away leaving you lost and unfocused. At least that's where I was. It was almost like she was afraid to deliver that final blow of emotion you are begging for to happen.
Is this book worth reading? Yes. Will you regret reading it? Absolutely not. show less

4.5 stars

This is, by far, the best book in the Love Series. Melissa's writing gets better and better. With each book, one can see her writing evolve and improve... Now, I am not saying that she was ever not a good writer. I am saying she is evolving into an excellent writer!!!
I could not put this book down. I read it in two, not too long, sittings! I really wanted to pull an all-niter with this book, but my body wouldn't allow me to! I am pretty sure I dreamed about this book in-between show more starting it and finishing it!
I loved the characters in this book. Mel, being the not your average girl. She isn't your hot or super model girl. She is an average girl, not too skinny, meat on her bones and down to earth girl. Bryan, the attractive down to earth computer dork. Both of them harboring personal issues and insecurities. They are a perfect match for this story!
Yeah, yeah. Boy meets girl. Girl meets boy. They are instantly attracted to one another... So what makes this so not-so-typical? Well, for starters, Mel is very self-conscious and cannot accept that Bryan truly does want her. Bryan, knows what he wants and will take his time showing Mel how serious he is.
Then, you throw in the bitchy ex who will do nothing to come between them. Some family secrets that can be life altering. Some rash conclusions that can destroy them for good. Yes, drama. We all love the drama in the middle of a love story!
I chuckled. I laughed. I cried, on more than one occasion. That equals a pretty damned good story in my book! (Pun intended!) I wanted to slap a bitch (the ex) on more than one occasion. I wanted to shake Mel by her shoulders until her head fell off on a few occasions.
All in all, I absolutely adored this book! I can't wait to see what Melissa has up her sleeve for us next! show less