***ARC received for an honest review***

Let me start by saying most readers will love this book. A brooding Scotsman. A spunky heroine. They each give as good as they get at their exciting meet-cute and thereafter.

That said - this isn't a trope that goes down smooth with me. Caleb is rude and Ava doesn't like him from the get go. However, she's attracted to him. This is not a thing I can get past. Pursuing a sexual relationship with a man that you genuinely dislike is mystifying to me. Which means no matter how cute the characters or how sweet the read I'm stuck on the outside looking in.

I'll save you my analysis of backdooring a relationship (you know, saying you don't want a boyfriend but you really do so you're basically a couple in your head but spend the entire time saying it's just sex), dishonesty (lying to oneself and the one you purport to love), the self-esteem issues that likely come with loving a man that talks to you/treats you that way, and the cowardice that comes with "I've had my heart broken once so now I'm a bitter prick who humps everyone and sends them on their way without a speck of basic manners bc 'man complexities.'" (if you're over 14 you've had your heart broken. Possibly even shattered. If you're too much of a titty-baby to get back on that horse and ride and thus use it as an excuse for being abominable you're prolly not gonna be the hero upon whom I'm crushing).

I've enjoyed one book in this trope. And while I didn't hate this one I won't be gushing all over it. That said, Alex did love it. Most of y'all will love it. You should read it. You should understand that I am weird. This is my hang-up (I feel like most of us readers have them). This is my hill upon which to die. And here I lie...

<a href="http://www.alleskelle.com/"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1471716947r/20097901.jpg?v=1471716951482"width="400"></a>

It's been a long time since a book compelled me to stay up way too late to finish reading, but this book did just that. I can honestly say I hated Caleb more than I loved him, but when I loved him, I loved him hard. Ava was an amazing character and I was rooting for her the entire book. She deserved happiness, and respect. I need to know more about Harper and Jamie though, so I'm hoping we'll get to see more of those two!