Ruin Paperback – August 11, 2013

Where to start? Rachel is now officially my favorite author, I have read Ruin and the Bet within two days and they are probably the best books I have ever read, I'm not even sure which I enjoyed more. Ruin or the Bet, I guess both for differen't reasons, now lets move on to those reasons. You instantly fall in love with Wes, I loved him from the start. I loved Lisa and Gabe from the start, I want friends like them. Especially Gabe he is hilarious, and I especially liked him more when getting further and further into the book. I love how he helped Wes, he was a good friend to him and one he needed. I loved Kiersten and her character, I loved her innocence and how Wes opened her up, he is a very smart man and we all should read this book and learn a thing or two from the book and Wes. It was one of the most intense, raw, emotional books I have ever read. You know right off the bat what is wrong with him and the entire book you have this sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, you don't want it to be true. You don't want it to happen, but you try and prepare yourself just in case. I wish there was some sex in it, would of made it a tiny bit better. But it didn't need it and I'm quite happy and refreshed it didn't, most books need that stuff to at least make it interesting and keep you entertained, well for me at least. This didn't. Everything was perfect in this book, characters, timing, the love, friendship,humor,loss, the bigger picture in life, life lessons, meaning, hope, family,never giving up. It had everything a truly wonderful story needs.I really wished there was a bit more to the story, I don't want it to end. But if it has to end, I'm happy with how it ended. Only ONE TINY thing bothered me, which I messaged Rachel and asked. But you don't find out why everyone thinks he is a rapist or what really happened with Lorelei, I have a feeling? But it is never said.I praise Rachel, she knows how to write a damn good book and I will always read anything this woman writes. And you should to.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤I will forever be changed by this book ❤A LOT of quotes I loved:"I'm a bit insulted that you think I'd have to break into a girl's room to get in. Believe me. I knock, they open, I walk in. It's as simple as that.""Hook up with guys. I'm not like that. So now that we've had that particular conversation, we can be friends.""Now, let's go. People to see, milk to drink, freshmen to corrupt.""No reason, I just don't like to think of you being all crazy without your partner in crime.""I tried that excuse once. Apparently they close at three a.m. and have security dogs check under the tables every night.""Combine super hearing with stalking and you're a regular psycho.""Just because you need help to cope doesn't make you any less strong. The truly weak people in this life are the ones who can't admit they need help. They're the ones who can't admit that they can no longer go at it alone. Those are the people who are weak. By asking for help, by taking help, you've just admitted your weakness and in that, you find your strength. The weak of the world are those who think they've got it all figured out and flaunt it to others.""I'm a fifteen-year-old girl trapped inside this body." (LOL, Wes is hilarious!)"...because the minute I met you, I wanted to fight for it.""When you want to be the one to make it beat.""I'm going to make it so hard for you to forget this first kiss that you don't want anyone else kissing you ever again, When the guy you fall in love with kisses you- it better put this kiss to shame- if it doesn't, then he isn't the right guy, because I'm going to do a damn good job, and I want the guy that earns you, that takes that heart of yours and holds it in the palm of his hands...I want that guy to be able to make you feel things. I;ll just be tapping into, Do you understand, Kiersten?""All the good serial killers seduce and then kill.""Right. It's like cutting off a dog's balls without putting him to sleep first. She didn't even give me a warning, just a 'hey, you're nice'.""Hair and hearts,"Studies show that testosterone skyrockets while watching horror movies, add that info nighttime and touching, and you, my friend, have a recipe for a baby rattle and no future."( I LOVE Gabe!)"I don't know why, but I feel the need to congratulate you on being a whore. Why does that feel wrong?""Every time you close your eyes, regardless of where I am or where you are, I want you to remember this.""Wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, alive or dead, young or old, my heart will always be with yours. Every beat you feel against your fingertips...""Now I can say, hey I'm Weston, and I kill monsters on behalf of my very sexy girlfriend so she can sleep at night.""For example, I may be afraid of kissing you or afraid of losing you. I may be afraid that when I close my eyes you won't be here in my arms anymore, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to hold on to you for dear life. I'm living proof that living afraid- is the way to go. You push forward, you fight the demons, you keep moving. Fear tries to paralyze you, to keep you from moving. It stops success, it stops progress- when you do things afraid, you're still accomplishing your goals, only you're doing it knowing that you are truly conquering the Everest in your life.""Dying without really living. Leaving this world knowing that the girl who makes me want to live the most- will have to do it without me.""Life isn't fair, but living? Living is heaven, living is a gift. Every gift is different- every path is different- for some reason this is ours, and the sooner we accept it, the sooner we can stop crying and start living.""Nightmares. I kind of need a knight in shining armor to chase them away.""I'll protect you, slay the dragons, and wait for you in the castle.""Don't give up yet. Sometimes when we think God has written The End, what he really means is The Beginning.""What you two have- it's a once in a lifetime- you fight for him, sweetheart. Fight for him with every last breath, no regrets, okay?""You rescued me and I found my ruin.""Favorite everything. You're my favorite. Out of all the things I could have in the world that would be my favorite, you win. You win all of it.""So why stop at your hair and your heart? How do you expect me to choose? When what I love the most about you- is you.""You may not see every single piece of the puzzle that creates your life- you may not see every move the grand chess player makes- but know, he is in complete control of the game board. Sometimes certain pieces are moved or knocked over to make room for the new ones. Other times, things happen because of the world we live in. But everything, in the end, will always turn out for the good.""I'll still take it, if the offer stands. I want all of it, even the broken pieces, the shredded ones that no longer fit. I want all of them- all of you. I need it all."

Very enjoyable yet emotional book. I really liked this book overall, though in a way it gave me the same feeling I had the first time I watched the movie Titanic. I knew going in that the ship was going to hit that iceberg and the majority of its passengers would die, but I was still hoping for a different outcome and even though the ship sank, the story was so good. This story begins with a prologue that is written in a way that it is hard to tell exactly what is happening, but you know it is bad. Then the first chapter begins three months prior to what happened in the prologue.The story takes place at the University of Washington, where new freshman student Kiersten has a nightmare and her roommate Lisa runs in from her own bedroom after hearing Kiersten screaming. Kiersten blows it off as night terrors, but Lisa is a great roommate and sleeps the rest of the night on the floor. Of course we, as readers know that when a girl in a romance novel has nightmares it usually stems from some type of past trauma. Though we are kept in the dark as to what exactly.The following day at some point, Kiersten’s inner monologue tells us that she takes medication, for either depression or anxiety, though we don’t find out much more than that. Kiersten meets a guy with blonde hair and an eight pack when she literally runs into him. She apparently comes from a very small town and gets embarrassed easily. She ends up running into him again and though she wants to stay away, he seems interested in her.Her roommate Lisa and Lisa’s cousin Gabe fill Kiersten in on who he is afterwards. The guy is Weston Michaels, the current Big Man on Campus, son of one of the wealthiest men in the world, and quarterback of the University football team. He told Kiersten that he doesn’t date Freshmen, but he wants to be friends.The romance between the two main characters starts out very sweet, but there are all kinds of things going on. Weston has a secret and has things in his past that are alluded to, part of which the reader can guess at due to the hints and what he says and thinks. However, I was trying to guess at so much through the greater part of the book.I was also wondering for quite a while what happened to Kiersten that left her medicated and with nightmares. In addition to all the secrets, the relationship is strange, they both seem to not want a relationship but they also seem to want to be together. Weston is always thinking and saying how attracted he is to her, but he just wants to be friends.Kiersten is a bit dense in some ways though she is a likable heroine. She thinks Wes couldn’t possibly like her because he is a senior and she is a freshman and he garners attention wherever he goes but she is from a very small town and is a Virgin. It bothered me a tiny bit because her roommate mentions how beautiful she is, and he is always saying things like how much he wants her. Maybe because he used to be a player, she thinks his wanting her is different than his wanting to date her.This book is written in a way that you end up really liking all the characters. Lisa’ cousin Gabe becomes Kiersten’s best friend and a bit of a protector. The relationship between them is cool. Almost like a big brother. Weston has an “entourage” as he and everyone at the University calls them. They are the bodyguards his father hired. Weston’s father turns out to be much less stern than you would think for someone in his position and Kiersten’s Uncle Jobob (Yes Joe-bob) is a nice guy. All of the characters are well developed and have clear voices of their own.The writing is very good. Like I said earlier, there are secrets that the reader knows partially but I was kept guessing on a lot of things so I truly couldn’t put the book down until I finished. The world-building in the book is really on point. I could totally picture the campus, the dorms, Weston’s father’s home, and all the places they went. The romance was great. Weston and Kiersten developed true love over the course of the book. It was not a hot and steamy book, though their kisses were off the charts. And I really enjoyed it. The book is a standalone and I bought the next two books if that tells you anything.

If you can't handle gushingly romantic books, then this story is not for you. Because this book is full of very long winded declarations of love.Kiersten lost both her parents in a cave diving accident (points for originality here, as most tend to go in car accidents). Since her lost, she has been depressed and suffering from night terrors. Going to college is supposed to be her new start, an opportunity to be young and do something crazy.Weston is in his last year of college. He's rich, good looking and the college's star quarterback. He has it all, except for the fact that he has a tumor wrapped around his heart which is slowly killing him. This year is his last hurrah.When Kiersten collides with Weston it's the chance to grieve with each other and a chance to heal.Ok, this is a good read overall. There were times when a cynical Londoner like me was actually welling up. Some of the declarations of love did cross the 'mooning' line. Especially with some of Weston's philosophical speeches. But the thing that annoyed me the most was the very long epilogue.I'm not stupid, I know that many writers like to set up the next installment towards the end of a story. It's basic marketing, catch the reader whilst you have them in the palm of your hand. However, Ms Van Dyken takes this a little bit too far by giving you outright spoilers. Suddenly new characters are thrown in, relationships assumed. Tell me people, why would you buy the next installment when you already that the couple are going to get together? Also, by writing this way, it leaves huge (and I am talking massive) plot holes. Which makes for a frustrating read.Putting that all aside, it is a good story with great intentions even though the writing is not up to par. Until next time, enjoy peeps 😉

Fab story, heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time.Wes had a big secret, and was telling no one. He didnt want to be treated differently. He had a necw job as an RA, not what you would expect for the hot football star that he was. There were rumours about Wes from last year but no one really knew the truth behind them.Kiersten was a small town quiet girl who was trying to live. She had gone to college to find herself, discover where she wants to be in life. Meeting Wes on her first day had an impact. He convinced her hey could be friends. Kiersten also had secrets.Wes and kiersten bring out the best in each other as they gradually peel each layer back. Cannot wait for the next book.

I read this not long after I read Confess by Colleen Hoover. It was another recommendation from one of my twitter friends. Ruin is all about two main characters Wes and Kiersten.The story started off well with the characters literally running into each other. There is an instant connection between them but Kiersten is really quite innocent (read sheltered) and Wes initially has completely wholesome intentions but the reasons behind his intentions to keep Kiersten at armslength aren’t revealed until much later in the story.The first half of the story focuses on the relationship growing between the two characters. You’re let into some of the secrets behind Wes before Kiersten is and the way he lives his life appears to be quite admirable in the face of his reality, and I knew that there would inevitably be tears by the end of the book.I wasn’t too fond of Kiersten to begin with and I finished the story about the same level of liking. She seemed much, much younger than Wes and although her small town background is touted quite frequently I feel like it was just verging on the YA side instead of the New Adult age of the characters. On that note the female supporting character Lisa acted even more immature than Kiersten.The story is quite cheesy and begins to follow the formulaic plot that can be expected from any romance novel. The latter half of the book felt like it was rushed particularly towards the end of the book and Wes’s last football game. It didn’t see to carry as much weight as the rest of the book despite potentially being more significant.I’ve never read anything by Rachel before, and I’m not sure if I would have enjoyed this more a few years ago. I don’t think I will be rushing to read the rest of the series.

I must have a hard heart, because unlike many reviewers this book didn't make me cry. Yes, the subject matter was extremely sad and I felt for both characters - I've lost a parent and someone through cancer, but it was all a little bit too cheesy and sincere for me.This guy was 22 years of age and is dating, according to him, an extremely sexy beautiful young woman, yet no hint of him attempting to have sex with her, and only a slight one that he was actually turned on when sleeping in the same bed. Wes is a good, strong, male character but perhaps a little bit too noble for a young man of his age and I'm not so sure that he's particularly typical of young men of 22.That doesn't mean it's a bad book, it isn't. It's very well written, the characterisation is good, its funny in parts but just not what I was expecting. It is a good book for an older teenager, purely because there is no hint of sex in there. If you buy it expecting some bedroom action, well there isn't any (except sleeping). Not sure why it comes up under the genre rock star romance. Read it if you like a love story without any bedroom scenes.

How I so loved this book !!! Beautiful, heartfelt, sad, devastatingly amazing to read, so well written.Kiersten has had a tragedy in her life, she has holed herself away with her Aunt and Uncle until it was time to go to college where this shy withdrawn girl meets Weston Michels. He is tall, built, handsome and extremely witty, you really can't help but love this guy. He comes from a wealthy background and has previously been a "player" where the ladies are concerned. This all changes when he literally bumps into Kiersten on her first day at college and they agree to be just friends. The attraction between the two of them is off the scale but she is holding back and Wes has secrets of his own and he doesn't want to commit and hurt Kiersten in any way.Without giving to much away, there were moments in this book which literally took my breath away, moments where I gasped, moment's when I cried, moments when I smiled and my heart was full. This is a love story at it's best. Emotional, spectacular, wonderful !! So good that this is one of those books I will never forget, because from the moment it crept into my heart, it never wanted to leave. Truly unforgettable !!!!