Photo Credits: Free-Photos Edited by Vaishali Title: Love & Chaos (Growing Pains #4) Author: Willow Summers Genre/Themes: Contemporary Bad Boy Romance, Erotica, Family Relationships Year of Publication: 2014 Version: E-book - kindle app R E V I E W...
“And you never know which way the winds are going to blow. One minute, angel. The next, villain, laughing all the while. But she’s really fun if you just roll with it. She is absolutely the salt-of-the-earth. One hundred percent gold.” ‘Love and Chaos’ was one of those reads that made me think ‘My, I wish I’d read this sooner’ because this is the kind of romance that pins my eyes to the pages, has my gears engaged and my attention diverted. Willow Summers is an author to keep any eye on in the romance genre and I’m definitely going to keep my peepers open for more! This is the fourth book in the Growing Pains series but can definitely be read as a standalone which was what I did because I haven’t read the three previous books which take place from Cassie’s brother’s POV. This book is abundance of fun, passion and camaraderie with characters to pedal a fantastically energetic story wrapped up with a big dose of love and chaos with love challenging the uncertainties of insecurity. Cassie McAdams is our female protagonist, sister to a protective brother and a friend to many - the crazy and gregarious alike. After being asked by her gay friend Peter to accompany him to his family’s annual get together masquerading as his girlfriend, Cassie takes the offer to help out a friend in need and visit Peter’s family in the wine country. Peter’s family don’t know of his sexuality, it’s been a secret well-secreted from his blood because he’s terrified of their rejection, suffocated with the idea of losing the love of his family. But it’s his father’s traditional, orthodox way of placement and values that has Peter quaking in his fashionable shoes, and afraid of challenging his dad’s habitual domain. “There’s no one like a loved one that can make you feel as on top of the world. Equally, no one can make you feel so low your belly scrapes the deck. “ “My father tolerates me because I almost fit in his ideal role of a man. Let that crumble, and watch what happens." Peter chose to live a lie with the expense of keeping hidden his instinctive identity which is also his biggest secret. But lucky for him Cassie offers a solution, also offering herself a chance to divert attention off of her own life. Charismatic, vivacious and wonderfully quirky, Cassie was a relatably kindred character to me - her ever-changing temperament was very much parallel to my own so it’s safe to say I loved her character and her characteristics as a protagonist because she presents something different. With a competitive sporty disposition, stubborn flexibility and a sporadic spirit that all span an individual woman who resembles the heart of a storm but in that core sits a tender heart that treasures love and wants acceptance for her singularity. Cassie is a bit of everything, she flies and rotates in every direction and is always up to challenge prejudiced opinion. ‘Jace chuckled and headed toward Peter. “Where’d you find her?” “In the aisle for psycho white women for hire.” Peter followed Jace. “I can hear you two idiots, you know that, right?” Cassie said, thinking pretty seriously about throwing something.' On her first visit to the wine country Cassie swaps words with a handsome, gorgeous as sin, Harley-riding stranger, whom she soon runs into again when she realises she’ll be spending a lot more time in proximity and his company. Cassie’s reasons for being here tie closer to her one-chance encounter..because of course he just happens to be Peter’s eldest brother Jace. Cassie’s taste In men has thus far proved tasteless with little substance, and although Jace has the the perfectionist looks to match, is Cassie just rolling with the same wild motions and mistakes of romance? Is Jace just another pretty face, a man to resemble the ones before him who have carved Cassie and poured her into a cast of insecure reflex? “You’ll be fine. Just be sweet little you. When you’re not punching people and playing horrible jokes, you’re apple pie.” Cassie grimaced. “Apple pie made with bitter apples, maybe.” “Exactly. Bitter apples make the best pie.” ‘Peter rolled his eyes. “See? They like you, though. Think you’re a lady.” “Joke’s on them.” Cassie doesn’t believe she has the qualities that most would want in a long-term partner - her history with men has only washed her with the brittle hands of self-doubt and dried her with the coarse washcloth of manifested vulnerability. Alas, Jace isn’t foreign to such feelings either. Along with Cassie’s presence brings forth revived passion for this stone-faced man of pensive conduct because when he meets a beautiful ball of turbulence named Cassie he’s trapped in her crazy and forced into the oscillating lull of her unpredictable behaviour… and he doesn’t want mercy. Jace is subdued, mellow, restrained but caging his nature by licking his own wounds and salving his own wounds. “Uh oh, here comes my knight in scowling armor.” ‘He’d lost his faith in loyalty that day. Lost it in a big way.’ ’He was so large and powerful, but so stoic. And that intent focus; it was like he had the power to wave away all other distractions and hone in on her individually; as if the world was a nuisance and he chose not to bother with it in favor of her.' When Peter observes the obvious chemistry dancing idly and repressively between his brother and his friend he feels damned either way; facing the butcher’s block and potential shunning by unleashing this truth into the family home or keeping his secret and neglecting Jace and Cassie’s happiness. Jace is facing his own dilemma; how is he supposed to deny the natural chemistry already present and building between him and Cassie without hurting his brother’s trust? A powerful embellishing glow can’t go amiss or forsaken but a platonic distance has to be kept what with suspicious eyes following and watching. ‘Her gaze settled on his. “Are you a narc?” “What?” he asked, glancing around. “Why? What’d you do?” She shifted her weight. He ripped his gaze away from the shapely hip that jutted out. “If I hide this chocolate in selfishness, will you tell?” “Why do you need to hide it? Don’t like to share?” She stared. “No,” he assured her dutifully. “I won’t tell. We can always just get you more chocolate, though.” “Yes…we could. Or you could just keep your big mouth shut." Is this Cassie plunging into her customary lets love fast and wild, or is Jace the real deal? But sometimes when you know, you know, and when you do you just might believe the words ‘insecurity’ and ‘caution’ have no place in your life. I like that Jace and Cassie are both morally considerate with relationships and they make a fantastic couple! Cassie is different, she’s individual and most would find it a stress and burden to find and cultivate the beauty in that. But Jace just fits with her as a thoughtful admirer, not scared to approach her pandemonium. Hesitancy is terrifying for Cassie because she’s been carved from it. Vulnerability plagues Jace because he’d been hurt by showing it. Cassie’s loyalty to Peter has to mean something but will love outshine loyalty… ‘Disorientation crossed his face first and in one moment his world tilted on its axis—he was so profoundly lost he had to reach forward and brace himself on the wall behind her—before everything cleared. Warmth filled his gaze then. Solidity. Assurance. His ever unbreakable confidence.’ ‘Peter smiled that sad smile again, a man in reach of an angel, only able to watch it spread its wings and fly away.' What to say, what to say! ‘Love and Chaos’ balances a faultless and ample ambience of family fun and powerful passion. I’ve always been of the steadfast belief that characters fuel and enrich any and every story and i remain unwavering in that belief - You’ll love this collection of fun and witty characters, and you’ll also thrive in a genuine, mutual, brewing intimacy between two people who admirably and bravely decide to jump in with both feet, deciding to crumple insecurity between their own embrace. ‘His gaze bored into her, pushing passed her barriers. Opening her up. Reaching into that place he’d found last night. That dark place of insecurity. The spot she hid, worried she wasn’t enough. Worried something within her was too deeply flawed to be loved.’ “Don’t be ruled by your fears, honey. Have faith and hope, the rest will work out." ‘Love and Chaos’ is a combination of desire, warmth, heat, the banter of a wholesome family with the pressures of familial acquiescence. With jostling jokes, playful competition and the kind of family idiocy we all feel and know, Summers certainly took a punch at convention while giving us a seat to watch what can happen when a sprightly ball of love and chaos chances love with a man who takes a shine on both. Endlessly funny. This is a story of what can go right after so many relationship wrongs. “I am usually pretty level-headed—I didn’t appreciate that snort, Jason. Anyway, as I was saying, I am pretty level-headed—seriously, stop snorting, it’s true—but I can get a little…shall we say…” “Wild? Insane? Bat-shit crazy?” Peter smirked at them as they neared.' ‘She glanced at the beer. Then at the wine. Then at her stuff on the ground. “He just got the last word.” Well, that would never do.’ I gave this book 4.5 stars -C O N T E N T W A R N I N G: Descriptive sex scenes and swearing. One scene depicts a character revealing his sexuality so if you have sensitivities to negative reactions to same sex relationships be mindful of this. --------------------------------------- M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read --------------------------------------- THIS PART MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS !! S O M E T H O U G H T S/ C O N C E R N S: 1) Some editing problems including the misplacement of a name and spelling mistakes. 2) This books is great and I loved every second. I do however think the wine excavation trip was a tad too long as a scene. 3) It would have been nice to see how Marcus integrated into Peter’s family. When Jace moves to L.A. it’s pretty much about him and Cassies, which i understand as this is their story, but considering that this book hinges on Peter’s secret it would have been nice to see this play out a bit more. Although, maybe Peter will get his own story 4) The sex scenes were great - they weren’t just passionate and sexy but soaked in a soul deep spark. 5) There is a strong connection that unfolds fairly quickly between Jace and Cassie - which I don’t mind - but for those of you who like a nice build up, this book has that too because Jace and Cassie only properly get together a significant portion through the book. 6) I like the realism that comes with the reaction of Peter coming out to his family. It’s never easy, and coming out can be a struggle with both the person and their loved ones. There isn’t always this idea that coming out will be accepted with warm words and an affectionate embrace. I liked that his dad’s reactions were real and in alignment with his character disposition. I'm a bit of a quote hoarder and there were just too many great ones in this story so naturally i had to list them below (Some contain swearing)... F A V O U R I T E Q U O T E S: “I may look like a Swedish model,” Cassie huffed out, “but I act like an alley cat. Absolutely no inner beauty to speak of.” “Oh, yes, beautiful and feisty. No one ever likes that combination,” Marcus drawled with sarcasm as he wiped up the table.’ “Cassie, honey, you can’t use straight girl warfare on a gay man and expect it to work.” ‘He wanted to steal her away and let her flirt with him before giving him a kiss. Just one kiss that he could remember for the rest of his life. The earth-bound angel that deigned to stoop and waste her smiles on him.’ ’She was a tornado that wore men out. Her utter chaos of personality drove people away.’ “There’s one other thing you should know about all of us getting together. While technically we are all men, when together, we have the combined age of twelve.“ “Have you forgotten how Krista and I act together?” “No, Cassie, you don’t understand—“ Peter was cut off as both doors of the car were ripped open. Cassie screamed in surprise as a blond head poked in her side, arm out in front holding a cell phone, selfie at the ready. “SELFIE!” he yelled as a brown head poked in the other side, phone in the exact same position. “Selfie!” The guy next to Peter shoved Peter’s shoulder, pushing Peter closer to Cassie. “Forced photo bomb!” ’Demetri jumped into the melee, phone out. “Photo bomb!” Nick ran around the car and stuck his face into the pose with a huge, gaping smile. “Photo bomb!” These people were insane.’ “You acclimate quickly, huh? Quick on your feet?” Jace still stared with an impassive expression. “You stare a lot, huh? Trying to work on your ESP?” Jace’s lips quirked. He gave a tiny shake of his head and turned to the trunk. “I’ll be expecting that lesson in ping pong.” “I don’t give lessons. I give spankings.” His lips quirked harder, one side almost pulling into a half smile.’ “I will slap you like a bitch and make you sob uncontrollably. I’m that good.” A chuckle fought the heaviness in his chest. A smile fought the crippling vulnerability. “And then I’m going to smack you with the paddle, just because I can.” She nodded seriously and took her hand away. “Are you terrified?” “Huh?” She studied him. “Yes. You are. Just admit it. Scared shitless.” A big smile lit up her face as she turned, her laughter floating around the room.’ ’The woman had just made him do a complete 180. She’d manipulated him away from troubled waters into…what? What was this? This light, buoyant feeling? What was he supposed to do with it? Smile and sling a joke—because that’s what he felt like doing.’ ’She really could’ve used a bar of chocolate. Seriously. She was only as sweet as the intake of chocolate made her.’ ’His eyebrows furrowed as he noticed her scrutiny. He dropped his hands into his lap, trying to cover the moment before. “What?” She wasn’t buying it. With an evil grin, she jabbed his side with two fingers. As expected, he jolted, the bench whining beneath them. His lips quirked into a suppressed smile as he said, “What are you—stop!” She jabbed him again, just to make sure. “Stop!” he said with a laugh, coming as close to a giggle as a masculine man could. “Don’t.” He sobered. “Don’t, seriously.” “Wow,” she said, laughing. “Never grew out of that ticklishness, huh?” Arms firmly covering his side, he faced the valley. He couldn’t get rid of the grin. “Shut up.” ’He’d probably forced down all his joy in life so she couldn’t get to it, and in the meantime, he braved his days instead of living them.’ “You are cracked, you know that?” “Shut up, you like it.” “How does Peter deal with you?” “Ten foot pole. We have a few. Keep them around the place.” Still laughing, he settled back down, glancing at her to make sure she wouldn’t jab him again. She almost did, just to show him who was boss..’ “I almost feel like writing some of this down. Such profound scrapes of wisdom should be savored…” She laughed and gave him a light shove. “Stick around, kid. I’ll delight you with my philosophy. None of which is true or correct.” “I was wrong in the store. About being good for a girl. You know, as opposed to just being good.” Jace put his hands into the pockets of his sweats. She gave him a sideways glance. “You’re a man. You’re often wrong.” ’At dinner they’d found so much to talk about, but now, in this setting, he had no words. Only feelings. Foreign, deep feelings for someone he shouldn’t be feeling anything for.’ “Jace has opened up, too. Way up. Sometimes, like now, he’s almost back to the guy I remember as a kid. He’s still really subdued most the time, though.” Cassie whipped her head around so hard she got dizzy. “Subdued? He photo bombed the owner’s dog ten minutes ago!” “I was spreading my dazzling wit to those less fortunate.” “You want that punch in the mouth, or what?” A smile lit up Jace’s face. He shook his head and stepped back so she could pass in front of him. “You and punching people.” “This too shall pass.” “That’s where I’ve landed, is it? In the land of clichés?” “You have jealousy issues, I have emotional A.D.D. We’ll be alone forever—I think I’ll start a cat collection, what about you?” “What’s that, doll? You need a lesson on awesome?” “What are you even talking about?” Cassie yelled back. “I could give you the lesson.” “I could give you all a lesson.” Demetri shot forward and waved his finger in the air. “And now I will dance.” “She needs to be doted on, Peter. She likes it. She likes when someone goes looking for her. She likes when someone jokes around with her, or guides her. She likes all that stuff. She might not say it, because she doesn’t want to admit it, but she flourishes with it. I know I don’t know her as well as you do, only a couple of days, but making her smile is a treasure in itself. Can’t you see that?” ”Girls never have it easy where sex meets men’s judgments, did you notice that? Straight men have all these rules they think a woman should live by, and a whole different set of rules they live by. Cassie, the dear heart that she is, let you stay in the world of your expectations.” ’Jace's gaze never wavered. His blank mask looked like it was cut from stone. Without thought, she reached up to wrap her fingers around his chin and wiggled. "Why so serious?" Stone creased...then crumpled into a bewildered smile. "You go from mature adult to silly kid in the space of a few seconds. How is this possible?" "It's a gift." "You're...one of a kind." "That's what they say—though usually behind my back so I'm not offended.’ ’Jace continued to stare as she ordered another round. And stared through its delivery. And stared after she'd had a sip. "Keep it up and you'll be staring at my fist in 3D." Cassie gave him a sideways glance.’ “Showed up, I see.” Jace shook his head as he went to retrieve the ball. “I don’t like losing.” “Then you should stop challenging me…” “There’s that refreshing confidence I grew up with,” Peter said. Jace did a double-take at Peter. “There’s that personality I didn’t miss…” Cassie barked out laughter. ’You just have to trust that he’ll work it out. Trust and have faith in him, Cassie.’ ’For that matter, why was she sneaking up on him? What was she going to do, stand at the edge of the bed like a creep and watch him sleep? That wouldn’t set off warning bells if he woke up or anything. What am I doing, you ask? Oh, nothing, just standing here with a hungry expression, watching you at your most vulnerable. Why?’ ’Suddenly terrified she’d be caught at her most psychotic, she bent like a cat burglar on a roof. Waiting, though not sure exactly what she was waiting for, she held her breath. “What are you doing, Cassie?” Oh shit! Without even thinking, she shuffled toward the exit, a manic giggle exploding out of her. She slapped her hand over her mouth as she reached the door, nearly bursting through and sprinting to her room like a naughty kid. That would be weird, though…’ I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers, bloggers and writers. Hearing about reader opinion is the fuel to my reader appetite, so get in touch and comment below! SHARE ON FACEBOOK L E A V E A C O M M E N T A N D L E T' S T A L K A B O U T |
VaishaliBorn in the UK Archives
February 2024
Categories
All
2019 Reading Challenge
Vaishali • [Vicarious Living] has
read 15 books toward
her goal of
30 books.
hide
2020 Reading Challenge
Vaishali • [Vicarious Living] has
read 1 book toward
her goal of
20 books.
hide
2021 Reading Challenge
Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] has
read 1 book toward
her goal of
10 books.
hide
2022 Reading Challenge
Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] has
read 0 books toward
her goal of
5 books.
hide
2023 Reading Challenge
Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] has
read 0 books toward
her goal of
5 books.
hide
DisclaimerAll images of book covers on this site belong to the authors and publishers of the books.
|