Dare You to (Pushing the Limits, #2)

by Katie McGarry

[Cocktails and Books]

Aye! This was a tough one! When I picked this up, I had been in a bit of a reading funk and wanted something to pick me up. It wasn't one of those happy go lucky books, but it was one that blew me away with it's storyline and fabulous characters.

Beth Risk wants nothing more than to protect her mother. But when her mother's bad habits land her in trouble with the police, the uncle she looked up to but lost comes back into her life and tries to set her on the right course. But Beth's sense of duty to her mother goes against everything her uncle wants and into the path of Ryan Stone, the one boy that makes her wish for a different life.

This was one of those stories that reminded me of how not everything is as it seems. Both Ryan and Beth hide behind people's perception of them but their stories were actually very different. Despite the circumstances on how they came together, Ryan and Beth both were able to see each other for who they are. They found kindred spirit in each other and discovered just what they were capable of when they had each others backs.

The subject matter was tough. Abuse, drug use and homophobia were key elements to Ryan and Beth's story and weren't pretty. Those elements of the story were gritty, dirty and unpleasant. But they also brought out a strength and determination in the characters that was remarkable and awe inspiring.

This will definitely not be my last Katie McGarry book. She has me hooked with her engaging characters and storylines.