Hothouse Flower (ADDICTED SERIES)

FINALLY!!! This book has been four books in the making and I am so glad to finally get to read Ryke & Daisy’s book. Right off the bat let me just say THIS BOOK DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I loved finally getting to delve into the minds of these two fascinating characters – the daredevil and the jacka$$. Their relationship has been pretty much forbidden for as long as they’ve known one another but now Daisy is finally eighteen and ready to start making decisions on her own. But, this is not a smooth-sailing storyline for these two. One would think that since she is an adult now, nothing would be in their way, right?! Wrong! Krista & Becca Ritchie gave me one hell of a story and I will try to articulate why this book is so freaking awesome.Ryke Meadows was always a little rough around the edges. He has a dirty mouth, he is unapologetic and he does and says what he wants. But oh do I love him. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that I think everyone knew there was something more between Ryke and Daisy, even back when she was only sixteen years old. But because Ryke would have never done anything about it, it has been a waiting game for him, Daisy and us, the readers, until it became “okay” for these two to finally get together.And then there was the youngest Calloway, Daisy. This one gave me a headache every time she was around. I think in previous books I just got frustrated with her impulsive, reckless behavior. But, I think I also forgot how young she really was and how much she was being put through at such a young age. My viewpoint of her changed completely the minute I got a chance to be inside her head. I always knew she had a crush on Ryke (let’s be honest – who didn’t?), but what I respected was that although she may have pushed the boundaries with him, she never crossed the line. She respected him and herself enough to never let her feelings push them too far.The interesting thing about this book is that the reader was finally able to see the truth behind their relationship. I myself was surprised by the misconceptions about these two that the other characters saw in previous books. As the book began, they are strictly friends – no touching, no kissing, nothing sexual. However, there is a bond there that rivals Lily & Lo’s connection. These two family misfits, the ones who never seemed to “fit in” found a commonality in each other, the oldest and the youngest, just gravitated towards one another. I was very surprised by how close they really were and how respectful Ryke was of his “Daisy is off limits” mantra.Daisy harbors secrets – ones that only Ryke knows – and she has been dealing with them for a long time. Ryke has always been there for her to help her find the light when all she saw was the dark. But, when these two are forced to be apart, the real challenge begins. Can Daisy really be as independent as she claims she wants to be? Is this life of a supermodel what she really wants? Can Ryke start to date and be with other women when the only one who has been in his head has been Daisy? Can they handle each other being with different people?These two together were explosive. I loved every single moment that they shared after they finally got their heads out of their asses and allowed themselves to be selfish, to be together. Yes, they finally get to profess their love to each other and everyone else and it was one of my favorite reveals! I will even go as far as saying that these two had more passion for one another than any of the other couples, or at least they showed it in a more obvious way. This book was seriously steamy and sexy. Prepare to fan yourself – I know I did multiple times!I freaking love this book, this series, these characters and these authors. There I said it. I am so emotionally invested in this series that I don’t know what I will do with myself when the series finally ends. I’m trying to block that part out for now. Krista & Becca Ritchie are by far two of my favorite authors and I can honestly say that I will read pretty much anything they write from now on. This is the fifth book of theirs that I have read and over the course of these, I have really learned to trust them and their vision for these characters.Their writing style is unlike anyone I have read before. Krista & Becca have a way of forcing the reader to really be in the character’s head, regardless of whether you’ve read the story from other characters’ perspectives. When I was in Ryke’s head, I forgot what it was like to be in Lo’s or Connor’s and the same applied for Daisy. It is so blatantly obvious that they know their characters inside and out.I’m in awe at how they are able to find each character’s individual voice and stay true to that. As the reader, I was given the opportunity to now see the world from each of the six different characters’ perspectives and I honestly do not have a favorite – they are all amazing. No matter whose head I was in, I loved the character that I was reading. Krista & Becca have a talent that is so rare and I cannot wait to see what they come up with next.I cannot recommend this book enough. It is a MUST READ and this series is one of my favorites. These characters have embedded themselves into my heart and I am almost dreading the release of the final two books in the series.

"...he’s the kind of guy who wants to slay all those monsters for me. Too bad he can’t get to the ones in my head. Even if he tries."ok off the bat, i will just say i am still not a fan of the age gap we worked with. i think i wouldn't care if ryke hadn't really thought much of daisy before. like give me a "oh wow, one day she grew up and i just realized she's a woman but i can't reckon with it" trope. that being said, i chose to roll with it for the story's sake.this was good ptsd rep and i think a lot of what daisy goes through is what a lot of young celebs or people close to celebrity have to suffer as a sort of collateral damage to fame. i do love how much ryke is there for her and cares for her, he really does do a lot for the people he loves.“But if I crash,” she says, slinging her leg over the seat. “I’d rather crash with you.”the moment where daisy is thinking about how mad she is that lily is a famous sex addict and how much it has affected her life and how much it's hurt her... it just felt like one of the most real moments in daisy's head where she had some real AGENCY where she wasn't a victim and wasn't just pretending to be daredevil penny lane. it was raw and imperfect and human and i felt like it was a place she could work from to stand on her own two feet finally.i think i would have really loved this had daisy been aged up to 21/22 instead of just turned 18, but beyond that i wouldn't change anything else. something i'd like to see in daisy and ryke's next book is maybe her finding what her real passion is."She’s the sun. I’m the dark. If she’s gone, I can kiss that light away. Without her, I know I’ll never see it again."

Addicted to You, Ricochet, Addicted for Now: I fell in love with LiLo.Kiss the Sky: I saw another side of Coballoway that made me swoon.Hothouse Flower: I'm under the spell of Raisy."She's the sun. I'm the dark." - Ryke MeadowsI've been a fan of Ryke since the first book. From the very beginning it was obvious there was so much more going on with this guy than the abrasive personality and bad language. It was apparent he had a heart of gold and was incredibly compassionate - his involvement in getting Lo sober was completely selfless. This is a guy who is fiercely loyal and will go to any lengths for those he loves. But he also struggles constantly with his past, with his decisions, and worries about the impact he is having on those around him. He had a lonely existence before connecting with Lo and being drawn into the lives of the Calloway sisters (and Connor) but he would rather walk away from these people he considers both friends and family than know he's causing more harm than good.Daisy has long been the daredevil, the adventurer. Not a wild child, though. She's a people pleaser, she does what is expected of her and is living the life chosen for her by her mother, including a career that brings her more stress and loneliness than any happiness. As the youngest of the sisters, she also often feels left out. But she never shows any of that. Instead, Daisy is all smiles, a playful, colorful ball of energy. In Hothouse Flower we see how deeply Daisy has been impacted by the publicity surrounding Lily's addiction as well as the reality show. Anxiety, insomnia, night terrors. Daisy doesn't share this with her sisters and no one seems to notice her suffering. Except Ryke.The attraction between Daisy and Ryle has been brewing since Ricochet. Both have refused to act on their feelings and have instead developed a close friendship. Ryke seems to be the only one who sees beyond Daisy's sunny personality and knows what she goes through privately. He is determined to be the one there for her to talk to, to lean on, when she feels overshadowed by her sisters and their issues. In Ryke, Daisy has found a true friend. Someone she can be honest with and share what she is dealing with. Despite their knowledge that they cannot be more than friends, the sexual tension is off the charts and they are constantly crossing boundaries. When Daisy is afraid to be alone at night and struggles with insomnia, Ryke stays with her every night - ensuring she is safe, coaxing her into sleep, holding her when the nightmares some. But all of this must stay hidden from everyone else.The evolution of Ryke and Daisy's relationship was portrayed so perfectly. Watching as they fought these feelings, even forcing themselves to seek out other people, only to come crashing together was simply delicious. Their relationship was everything I hoped it would be and more. Their honesty, their connection, their chemistry... All. The. Feels!Hothouse Flower was an emotional read and I was moved to tears several times. Oh, the tears! Krista and Becca have made me love these characters over so many books and watching them suffer and hurt is so hard. So many of the issues they face are through no fault of their own and are based on the actions of others or simply circumstances, and the unfairness of what they have to deal with is overwhelming at times.I found myself so disappointed with Lo throughout much of the book. His just-under-the-surface anger with Ryke is nothing new. And he's known for lashing out with his biting comments, his attempt to inflict the pain he feels on others. But he was bitter and hurtful here, even for him, and he didn't mind spreading it around. While I understand his struggles with his father, with his addiction, it still hurt to watch him lash out again and again, especially at Ryke. The one who would do anything for Lo. I also had a hard time with his constant berating of Ryke for every little interaction with Daisy. Ryke was already in turmoil over his feelings for Daisy; the accusations from Lo just added to it. I know that Lo grew up knowing Daisy and she was like a little sister to him as well, but it's not like she was still a child. At 18 she'd led a life that had already exposed her to so much. And the grief he gave Ryke over the age difference... seven years. I just don't find that shocking or unreasonable (this probably has a lot to do with the fact that my husband is 14 years older than me). Eighteen and twenty-five aren't so very far apart and I can only guess that Lo's big issue was that he still thought of Daisy as a little girl.I have to mention the awesomeness that is the Ryke/Lo/Connor bromance. These three guys... how can you not love them? They give each other crap, they bicker, they insult, but they are there for each other. They hold one another up when needed. They are sounding boards, confidantes, friends and family. And I love how protective they are of the girls. They each have alpha tendencies (some more than others... ahem) and their desire to protect, calm and love these women in their lives is instinctual. Love that!Krista and Becca Ritchie have done it again. I simply adore this series and these characters and I'm so glad there is still more to come. I can't wait to see what happens next.

So I didn’t think I’d feel so many emotions reading this book but as I go through the series and read every couples story I’m really getting attached to these characters. This is about Daisy and Ryke and I was super excited to get to their story and this didn’t let me down.I love how much both Daisy and Ryke grow so much as people. Their stories really are beautiful. I felt a connection with Ryke and his growth in my opinion was so nice to read about and I found myself quite emotional. I also absolutely LOVED the whole dynamic of the group. We got a lot of sweet moments of the core six and how they are becoming a family of their own.I found the whole message about fake friends and finding those people in your life that are there to stay super powerful. Lots of heartfelt moments were in this book and I definitely connected to some. Some things from both Daisy and Rykes POV will stay with me for life because they made me realize that even in my own life, it’s important to find those that will be there for you no matter what, both in friends and family. It’s not worth keeping relationships where you put in more effort or you don’t receive the love you give back. Overall I really loved this book and the impact it had on me.

It took me some time to REALLY connect with Lily and Lo and Connor and Rose. But Daisy and Ryke?? Their story won my heart instantly. They are now my favorite couple in the whole series and I love this book so so much. It had a great character development for EVERYONE which I loved the most. The spice was spicing, the emotions were emotioning...ah everything about this book was so good.

I highly recommend reading this series together with the Addicted Series (reading order on the author's website)This series focuses more on the other two sisters: Rose and Daisy. It has so many incredible tropes, and I loved the strong family bonds and friendship they developed with each other.𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫: 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐲 & 𝐑𝐲𝐤𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏:Ryke and Daisy - Daisy and Ryke. They fit so well together but seem so wrong for each other.This book was heavy and had some shocking moments. Their relationship got built up for 4 books, and I am happy with how KBR dealt with their age gap. I loved Daisy and could relate to some of her struggles. The road trip feeling of the story fits perfectly for these characters!→ 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 2&4 ←- Grumpy x Sunshine- Age Gap- Banter and teasing- Model x Rock Climber- Wild and sporty Couple- Famous People- FOUND FAMILY/ strong Friendship & Family ties- Part of a series🎧Theme Song: If You Love Her - Forest Blakk𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 & 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲.

Autoras maravilhosas, personagens maravilhosos, plots intrigantes, casais sensacionais. simplesmente amei!! O livro faz parte da série addicted/calloway sister. Recomendo muito para pessoas que gostam de NA e de romance <3