I’ve always been good at wearing masks. Not letting anyone see the real me. I’m content being the happy-go-lucky best friend. The strong willed boss. The independent woman who doesn’t need a man.
But the truth is I’m just as broken as the rest of you. I’m terrified that all it will take is one person to make all my carefully constructed walls crumble into fine dust. So I guard my heart with everything I have. Determined to never let anyone get close enough to hurt me again.
All is perfect until HE walks into my life. No… he doesn’t just walk. He struts his good-looking, sex-oozing self right into my space and demands that I see HIM. Making me want what I know I can’t have.
So I did the only thing I know how to do.
I run.
But he just won’t let me go.
BECK
The second I see her, I know she will be mine. I see past the gorgeous smiles and heart-stopping laughter. I see HER. She doesn’t want me to know her secrets or the past that haunts her, but I make it my mission to find out.
To make her mine.
She can run all she wants, but it will never be far enough to stop me from coming after her.
She’s it for me and she knows it.
She’s just too scared to admit it
Through Izzy and Greg I had this depiction of Dee as the funny and witty friend, always there when you need her and just one of those chicks not looking for a relationship. Sufferin succotash was I wrong! Behind the brave exterior was a woman who was haunted and in many ways broken, lost so completely in her darkness she didn't even realize there was one person willing to save her, to fight for her and above all set her free. It was strange to go from this image I had of her in my head, to seeing the scarred woman beneath and my heart ached for her. Don't get me wrong, Dee is everything we've seen in books one and two, fierce, loyal, witty and kind. But there's so much more depth to her character in this one, and we see she's also strong, incredibly brave, determined and heartachingly courageous, she's definitely in my top 15 kick-ass heroines of all time. I won't lie watching her push Beck away I was getting pretty frustrated, she was one of those heroines who pushes away the good guy who's like done everything he can to win her over, so it got to the point where I was clenching my hands hard considering just smashing my beloved Kindle against the wall. While most heroines eventually clue in and give in, they don't do the one redeeming thing Dee does. She admits she's been making mistake after mistake pushing him away, and finally goes about the right way in correcting that. I thought Harper did an amazing job on handling the serious issues that arise within this book, I connected with Dee on a very personal level when her secrets were revealed and my heart really hurt for her. I admired her for her courage and determination to let go and finally start moving forward. It's never easy especially alone, the fact she had am amazing support base made me positively glow with happiness.
We come across all our favorite characters and couples, meet some beautiful new ones and see another side of the Corps team through fresh eyes. Dee and Beck's journey was not easy, but through sheer will and love they find a way to get to the other side together. Through their journey we also get to see the different dynamics in practically all their relationships, I never just wanted it to end. Upon completion I just sat there dejectedly thinking 'what am I supposed to do now?' As usual Harper leaves with more than enough to have us climbing the walls for the next book, and I hinestly cannot wait to see what she gives us next.
“Who would be grateful for this? Two parents that don’t want you. All the money in the world, but no happiness?”
“When Beck finally comes out of the office for dinner, he takes one look at me, and I know he sees the change, because after he looks down at the floor for a few seconds, he looks back into my eyes with the biggest smile plastered on his face.
“Well… all right,” he says, giving me a hug just shy of painful.”
Beck's constant support and love went a long way in healing Dee, and I admire him from never saying anything to Greg or Izzy. Then again that's not his style. But I felt he was justified in his confrontation with Greg, and it just goes to show how easily even those closest to us can be blind to the crippling pain lying behind our fake smiles. Harper portrays how deceptive appearances can be, and makes you question how deep you would search when a loved one says they're 'fine'. It said a lot about not only Beck but also Dee, how they didn't lay blame as such on their friends for their blindness, I think more than anything they were just hurt and justifiably so.
“You’ve got nothing to be scared of with me. Not one damn thing. You’ve had me in knots for months, Dee. Fighting for you, us, and this relationship might drive me mad at times, but it’s a fight I want if it ends with you in my arms.”
“I want it all. Mind, body, soul, and heart. I promise you that when we finally get there, it’s going to be worth the wait. When you open yourself up to me completely… Baby, you won’t even believe how good it’s going to be.”