Review: Kiss the Sky by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Posted January 24, 2014 by Kim in Reviews / 7 Comments

Review: Kiss the Sky by Krista & Becca RitchieKiss the Sky Series: Calloway Sisters #1, Addicted #2.1
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Publication date: January 24, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Format: eARC
How I got it: From the author
Add it: Goodreads
Buy it: Amazon
My rating:

Virgin. Sex addict. Daredevil. Alcoholic. Smartass … Jackass. Her five friends are about to be filmed. Reality TV, be prepared.

Rose Calloway thought she had everything under control. At twenty-three, she’s a Princeton graduate, an Academic Bowl champion, a fashion designer and the daughter of a Fortune 500 mogul. But with a sex addict as a sister and roommate, nothing comes easy.

After accepting help from a producer, Rose agrees to have her life filmed for a reality television show. The Hollywood exec is her last chance to revive her struggling fashion line, and boundaries begin to blur as she’s forced to make nice with a man who always has his way.

Twenty-four-year-old Connor Cobalt is a guy who bulldozes weak men. He’s confident, smart-as-hell and lives with his equally ambitious girlfriend, Rose Calloway. Connor has to find a way to protect Rose without ruining the show. Or else the producer will get what Connor has always wanted—Rose’s virginity.

This New Adult Standalone Romance can be described as Friends meets The Real World. Expect fist fights, drugs, sex of varying degrees, crude humor and competitive alpha males. Definitely for mature readers audiences only.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration.
This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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My Thoughts

My love affair or some might even say obsession, with Krista & Becca Ritchie’s books began about midway through Addicted to You. It was real, believable, and challenged my way of thinking about addiction. The fact that the story was told with real, complex characters, while not always necessarily likable, were ones I wanted to see succeed, made it all the better. As much as I grew to love Lily and Lo, I was always found myself intrigued by Lily’s older sister, Rose, and her boyfriend Connor. In Kiss the Sky, I had the opportunity to get to know both of them. Very well.

“People hope to touch the sky. I dream of kissing it.”

“He is power and perfection in so many ways that I will never admit aloud. His head would be humongous by the fact.”

Both Connor and Rose are incredibly ambitious. Connor is an MBA student who will eventually be the CEO of Cobalt, Inc., and Rose is a designer with her own line. After her sister’s sex addiction is revealed to the world, judgment is strong and her family is suffering. In an attempt to gain some positive publicity, Rose hesitantly agrees to a reality TV show starring those closest to her: her boyfriend Connor, her sister Lily and her fiancé Lo, her younger sister Daisy and Lo’s brother Ryke. Or, as show promos like to call them: Virgin. Sex addict. Daredevil. Alcoholic. Smartass … Jackass. Reality TV meets real-life drama, love, and sex in this story.

“We haven’t formally met,” I say, holding out my hand. “I’m Connor Colbalt. The guy whose girlfriend you want to fuck. And just so you understand, the odds don’t look good for you.”

Things go awry the minute the show’s producer Richard decides to move into the house and is a constant source of trouble. He’s a real dick. He’s chasing Rose, making offensive remarks about her youngest sister Daisy and trying to push Lily and Lo back towards their addictions. The man had not one single redeeming quality. But it was through all his flaws and devious behavior that we got to see the best of Connor and Rose. And the other characters too.

And that’s all I’m telling you about the plot. 🙂 Do you want to know more? Read it for yourself. Seriously. You just have to experience this one.

“In nearly ten years of knowing Connor, we always seem to return to each other – even when we were thousands of miles apart, on two separate planes of existence – even when it seems like our futures had strayed. He may not believe in fate, but I do. And I know I’m fated to be with him.”

What I will do is gush endlessly over the characters. Three books with these characters and I can say unequivocally that I love each and every single one of these characters. Are they flawed? Yes. Do they know it? Yes. Do I care? No. I love them more because of their flaws. Connor is controlling and dominant and sexy as all hell. He’s also fiercely loyal, protective, passionate, and a romantic at heart. Rose is strong, determined, more than a little uptight, unwilling to let go… and a virgin. Until Connor begins pushing her outside her comfort zone and gives her what she truly wants and/or desires – sexually and otherwise. They are a powerhouse couple with a dynamic I can’t even begin to explain or compare to any characters in any other book. Together they were sheer perfection. 

“I came in and did exactly what he didn’t want. I calmed every single fucking person. I flicked over his rook, his bishop, and protected my queen. I mouth, Don’t fuck with me. These five people mean more to me than words can express. I’ve never once felt like I had a real family. But with them – I know I do.”

While Lily and Lo aren’t the focus of this book, they certainly play a huge role, so their fans will love the continuation of their story. They’re so flawed, but trying so hard to fix themselves and keep each other, no matter what they’re up against. Their love is apparent, as is their dedication to each other and their determination to beat their addictions. Rose’s younger sister Daisy is an intriguing character. I can’t wait to learn more about her in the next book, Hothouse Flower. I’ll also be happy to admit I’m more than a little in love with Lo’s brother Ryke. If it’s wrong to ship a Daisy/Ryke pairing, then I don’t want to be right.

“I’ve wanted so many things in life,” he says softly, “but you’re the one that has meant the most to me.”

Seriously, y’all. I could fangirl over this book all day long. Everything I’ve read by Krista and Becca Richie has been phenomenal, but this is downright brilliant. The control and loss of control, the power plays, the drama, the characters, and their relationships… it just blew me away. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this book. It’s engrossing and unpredictable. It took me through the full gamut of emotions. I laughed, I swooned, I cried. I just can’t ask for anything else in a book. Except, maybe, MORE of Connor and Rose. I have a huge book hangover after this one and I’m not entirely sure I will ever be able to get enough of these characters.

“Kiss the sky with me,” Connor whispers, a beautiful smile pulling his lips, “and don’t ever come down.”

I’d give this one ten stars if I could.

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Kim

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