Book Review – Effortless by S.C. Stephens

Effortless
BIG SPOILER ALERT!! DO NOT read further if you haven’t read book #1 yet (Thoughtless). Just don’t! You’ll ruin all the fun for yourself. Book #1 was one of the best reads of the year, for me. Not knowing where it was going, or how “they” were going to end up made it even that much more exciting, and heartbreakingly terrifying!

If you still haven’t downloaded “Thoughtless” (what are you waiting for!?), you can get the e-book here (Thoughtless).

I loved this one too!! Effortless was also exhilarating and panic-inducing, and considering Kellan and Kiera’s rocky situation, I was expecting anything.

Anything could happen when it comes to these two. It doesn’t necessarily matter how they felt about each other. They began their friendship making terrible mistakes, Lying to one another, lying to themselves, lying to their loved ones. The scars are still too fresh. But they can’t help themselves when they are afraid of being hurt. Promising things they shouldn’t, making the wrong choices, and ruthlessly hurting each other in the process.

This is why I love these books. Because they rock the boat. This two-book series doesn’t shy away from the risqué situations that are normally considered “misunderstandings” in other romance novels. The “misunderstandings” in these two stories, well… they might actually be real… They might not be jumping to conclusions. The suspicions might very well be founded. Especially after what these two were capable of in book #1.

Ethics and I had crossed paths recently, and I’m not sure that I fell on the right side of the morality line. No, no I’m pretty sure I’d failed miserably. Kellan and I both.

I was nervous, reading #2. Terribly nervous. Oh don’t get me wrong, I LOVED that feeling. I love that kind of book-agony. I even had to moan about it a little to my Facebook girls, once I reached the 39% mark in my Kindle:

Reading #2 in the “Thoughtless” rock star series (Effortless) & stopped at 3am. I’m afraid to pick it back up ’cause I KNOW where it’s headed & don’t know if I’m ready to deal w/ the emotional wreck that’s coming. I’ve frozen them in time at a “sweet” moment & I’m scared to continue. And yet, I’m DYING to continue reading…

It didn’t take me long though. I continued reading 😉 I was literally CRAVING these characters. Needing more. I was ready for them. Throw it at me, wicked author, I can take it. I lived through book #1, and loved every minute of it. *Woops* That’s not nice of me to say, considering how badly some of  these poor characters were tortured! But it’s true. What doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger, and all that. And I was ready to take on the rest of #2.

So what happens? I’ll only tell you a bit, because I loved wondering if I was in for a similar ride again. LAST WARNING – If you haven’t read book one – STEP AWAY from this review. This is your last chance!!

Okay, so, Kellan and Kiera are working on their issues. Nice and slow and sweet. They are not rushing it this time, considering their foundation is not a solid one. Sure, their hearts know each other, but their minds are clearly apprehensive.

Kiera continues to live with her sister in her own apartment, picks back up at Pete’s bar (so we get the old crowd back!! YAY!! I love them all). She DATES Kellan (her kind of “dating”, not his kind of “dating” – tee hee!!).

“You’re the one that kicked me out,” I said, managing to keep my voice light, even though the memory was a painful one for me.

Backing us towards the hall, I watched a flash of pain wash over his face. It was gone instantly though. Shrugging, he laughed out, “Well, it sounded like a good idea at the time.”

They continue living their separate lives, but enjoy growing the relationship, making sure it is rock solid before they move further. Essentially starting over again.

“I know we’ve taken this slow, but I still want to move forward… with you.”

I swallowed at the warmth in his voice, the love in his eyes. I wanted that too, I really did, but I was trying to be a stronger person, my own person and I knew that if I moved back in with him, he’d be my world again. I’d drown in him.

It’s wonderful and relieving to read this. We get to enjoy the relationships that Kiera’s friends have with the other band members, and even the quirky “fling” Griffin is having with her gorgeous sister.

I was wondering… when is it all going to break? Oh I knew what was coming. It was inevitable. Kellan and band are getting popular. Playing local outdoor concert festivals, sharing the stage with some very famous rockstars. His fans (and groupies) are growing in numbers, and Kiera is struggling with his “rock star” persona. Her heart is about to burst!

I resisted the urge to turn and tell them that he was taken, keeping my gaze focused on him instead. I shouldn’t be jealous or irritated by fans…”

And that’s when all of her fears become reality. Kellan and crew just got noticed by that famous band and they’ve been asked to go on tour with them for 6 months.

It was to both want a future for someone, and desperately not want it at the same time. I wished him all the success in the world, but only if I didn’t have to share him.

Yup. You know where this is going. How can you keep an already tentative relationship going when you are so far apart? How can she trust that his bad-boy persona won’t rear it’s ugly head and tempt him to stray with the gorgeous girls that keep throwing themselves at him. After all, she can’t be there for him while he’s on the road, and he’s got quite the playboy past… she accidentally saw it with her own eyes 😯

Kellan didn’t seem at all worried that we’d burn out, but I sometimes did. After all, he could have anybody. Even if he was experiencing something with me that he’d never had before – a true, deep to his core love – a secret, buried part of me knew that now that he’d been opened up to love, he could find it again with someone else if he wanted to.

God I hated that thought.

They’ve both grown somewhat (actually, I found myself respecting Kiera, and her thought process. She knew what she did… she acknowledged, she learned…). Sure they think they completely trust themselves not to “go there” again, but, can they trust the other? Kellan has quite a past, but Kiera sure managed to do a number on him, too.

I just have one more thing to say. Secrets. And… stuff 😉 I promise… you’ll smack yourself in the forehead a few times for sure!!! So good!! SO SO good!! I just wish there was a number three. That would make it better.

Oh, did I forgot to tell you? There will be!! *squeeeeeee* The author said this on her Facebook page:

“hopefully it won’t be too long before I get another one out, although, I don’t want to speed through it because it’s got to be good enough for you guys.”

I could just HUG her and *squee* in her ear!!