Hothouse Flower: 2 (Calloway Sisters)

Five stars isn’t nearly enough for what I rate this book.Before I even started the series I highly anticipated Ryke and Daisy’s story and I always thought they’d be my favourite couple. Oh how completely right I was! You know the quote from wuthering heights “whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same”? Well I’m almost 1000% sure that these two were written with that quote in mind.I laughed, I cried and my whole body felt crushed at moments but Ryke and Daisy’s relationship blew me away. It’s a relationship built off of friendship and love and I adored absolutely everything!Watching them overcome the obstacles in their life together and the support they both gave each other throughout everything, warmed my heart to no end!I was completely heartbroken for Daisy, hearing about her trauma and seeing it happen before our eyes was gut wrenching. She deserves the world, she deserves her freedom!I adored seeing Ryke’s relationship with his brother develop and become stronger, as well as his friendship with Connor!And then overall I just adored seeing the six of them together as a friendship group and seeing how close they’ve become! I think this is one of my favourite families of all time!

I have *Temporarily put 4 stars for this book*, for the sole reason of having finished it JUST last night, and I usually need to sit with the book after to assess my thoughts in hindsight. But at a prima facie level, I would give it 4 stars. I WOULD have given it 5 stars, if Lo's reaction to Daisy's and Ryke's relationship was a LITTLE less predictable. That was the anticipated climax of the book and the fact that I predicted it was, alright (*shrug* but still iconic!).I like many other fans, was not a real fan of Ryke's character in the first couple books. I found him annoying in his arrogance and when cross comparing to Connor found that he lacked that charm that would leave a feeling of slight... well... suspense. But BOY was I wrong. The onion layers slowly started to peel off in this book and I as a self-flagellating connoisseur, I LOVE to be proven wrong by authors. I still feel like there is something missing, regardless of having finished the book, about Ryke's character. SOMETHING doesn't add up. I know he is obviously hiding a lot, but I think there is more to his issue with his father than what was told on the face of it.Aside from character assessment, I found his care-taking of Daisy beyond wholesome and adorable. They are both compatible in their way of coping family issues, and I am glad that they found each other to feel less alone when facing their inner turmoils.That's it for now. I g2g pick up rock climbing now and find my own personal brooding rock-climber and fellow early morning sympathiser.

This was the much anticipated next story in the Calloway Sister’s series, a spin off from Krista & Becca’s Addicted series. If you haven’t read the Addicted series you really should. These books are some of the best written on the market. They draw you into the story-line with amazing characters, emotional scenes, and a depth to the overall novel which is way beyond many books available at the moment. These are not short books but you can’t help but cry when they finish and you just want more!Hothouse Flower tells Ryke and Daisy’s story, the two fifth wheels in their family’s relationship. Lo & Lily and Connor & Rose are still present throughout this story and add to the emotional rollercoaster that you are taken on by Ryke and Daisy as they try to resist their feelings for one another whilst under the scrutiny of their family.Daisy, now 18, is still struggling to come to terms with the intruder in her home but it is Ryke and not her sisters who she turns to for support. Ryke, despite his foul mouth, is sweet and tender towards Daisy but has resisted his feelings towards her, until now. Ryke is under pressure not to act on his feelings though and is continually warned by Lo to keep away from Daisy, his girlfriend’s little sister.I love Daisy’s personality and don’t give a damn attitude. She lives life to the full even if it results in her life being put in danger, repeatedly. Combine that with Ryke’s desperation to protect her and you have an amazing story which pulls on your heart strings.***“You’re a hothouse flower,” I tell her. “You can’t grow under natural conditions. You need adventure. And security and love in order to stay alive.”***Ryke and Daisy throughout the book face ups and downs whilst all the time just wanting to be together, alone, and without the pressure of their family and paparazzi bearing down on them.I’ve never met such a dysfunctional group of characters who work so well together. Lily and her sex addiction, Lo and his alcoholism, Rose and her OCD and Connor with his holier than thou attitude. I love the bickering between Rose and Lo and their sparring never gets old. It’s these dominating personalities though which are Daisy’s downfall and over the last few years her life has slowly spiralled out of control and without Ryke at her side she would have fallen and been forgotten.***“No restraints. One-hundred-and-fifty miles per hour. You and me, sweetheart.”***I loved the ending to the story, it has a HEA with no cliffie in sight, but sets the scene nicely for more of these loveable characters.Reviewed on behalf of Jezabell Girl & Friends