are you kidding me?!?! this is SO GOOD. lessons in sin is a joke compared to this, sooo sorry @pamgodwin ( )

4.5 stars

I live for the books that can suck me in from the first moment and not let me go. This was one of those books. It grabbed me by the neck and it hurt to both read and breathe. I thought I had it figured out with the whole young girl marrying someone older to help her and her sister out of a precarious situation. This was that but it was so much more than that. There is a mystery at play here. The author leaves you wondering who can be trusted, who is a friend, and what is the purpose or motivation behind what is happening.

I sure wondered the motivations, especially when it came to Caroline, a friend that could have saved her from all of this. Especially, in light of what she witnesses Poppy going through. It is a bitter pill to swallow, but everyone, Caroline included, seems to have a reason for doing what they are doing and that ups the mystery even more. Poppy's sister, Zilla is also a mystery, but perhaps, the biggest mystery and unknown is Ronan. I loved the first meeting between Poppy and Ronan. The bantering was delightful and edgy. When he is reintroduced, I have my concerns. Is he good? Is he bad? Is he just someone Caroline is using? These questions really come to light when the book ends on a cliffhanger. April seems to be forever away as I wait to get those answers.

This is the first time reading this author but it will not be my last. I did struggle with Poppy a bit because I wanted her to see what Zilla and Ronan were telling her about not being so naive or easily manipulated. However, I have a funny feeling that the author is going to give this girl a spine and she is going to become fierce after so many years of being beaten down. ( )