{"id":23314,"date":"2017-07-02T10:32:16","date_gmt":"2017-07-02T14:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=23314"},"modified":"2017-07-02T10:33:18","modified_gmt":"2017-07-02T14:33:18","slug":"review-damage-like-us-like-us-1-by-krista-becca-ritchie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=23314","title":{"rendered":"Review: Damaged Like Us (Like Us, #1) by Krista & Becca Ritchie"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook\u00a0 <\/a>|\u00a0 <\/strong>Paperback<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n
\n

\r\n <\/div><\/div><\/h4>\n
\n

Review<\/b><\/h4>\n

I. LOVE. THIS BOOK! I love it HARD!<\/b><\/p>\n

5 huge stars!<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Ritchie twins have once again given the fans what we want, and have brought us back into their Addicted<\/i> world, but this time writing about the next generation. And though set in the same world, this book has a feeling that is different from the originals, which I really appreciated, though there is still that incredible sense of family and friendship that runs strongly throughout the series, and an emotional, heartfelt and steamy romance that captured my heart and left me hugging my kindle and already planning my next re-read.<\/p>\n

Obviously if you\u2019ve read the Addicted<\/i> series, you\u2019re going to appreciate this book on a much deeper level than somebody who is starting fresh, but there is some background given and this book could<\/i> be read as a standalone. Just be aware that there is SO much context to the overarching story that is this series and its characters that you will definitely be missing out without having read the Addicted<\/i> books first. Also be aware that this is an m\/m book. Don\u2019t let that put you off if you haven\u2019t read it before, because this love story is so fun, so natural, so full of chemistry and so beautiful, that you can\u2019t help but fall in love with these two as they fall for each other *dreamy sigh*.<\/p>\n

Fans of the Addicted<\/i> series will remember little Moffy as the oldest child of Lo and Lily Hale \u2013 the adorable little boy who stole our hearts with his sweetness. Well Maximoff is now 22 \u2013 well adjusted, happy and successful, and I was so incredibly impressed at who he has grown up to be. He stole my heart as a toddler, and now he\u2019s done it again as an adult with his intelligence, his quiet strength, his commitment and loyalty to his family, and his steadfast, responsible nature and caring heart, and he has become one of my all-time favourite characters of the series.<\/p>\n

You wonder why I didn\u2019t become bitter at the world.
\nYou wonder why I don\u2019t resent the world.
\nBecause I knew I needed to become something that could withstand the world.
\nFor my siblings, for my family, for anyone who\u2019d grow up after me and need someone to defend them when they can\u2019t defend themselves; when they need a shoulder to cry on or a safety net to fall in \u2013 I\u2019m here. I\u2019ve been here.
\nI\u2019m always here.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Maximoff has accepted has accepted the craziness that is his life in the media, and has firmly placed himself in the role of staunch defender for his loved ones, and damn, that strength is sexy! But along with that, he refuses to expose anybody else to that kind of life so he\u2019s never had a relationship, preferring meaningless hook ups and keeping his close relationships within his family, as they are the only ones he can trust.<\/p>\n

But as crazy as Maximoff\u2019s life is, it\u2019s about to get a whole lot more so when he is assigned a new bodyguard \u2013 Farrow Keene, the man who used to protect his mother, and the man that Moffy has crushed on since he was 16 years old.<\/p>\n

Dear World, stop fucking with me. Sincerely, an agitated human. <\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019m not going to go into too much detail about the story, because you just want to dive in and experience it all as it unfolds, but OMG, I just love Maximoff and Farrow together! The chemistry is there from the very beginning – attraction tempered with a healthy amount of snark – but no matter how much they may try to resist the forbidden pull between them, their need for each other is impossible to resist, with the sexual tension building until every moment between them is dripping with anticipation.<\/p>\n

He leans forward, his lips an inch from mine. And very deeply, very huskily, he whispers, \u201cWhat do you want, Maximoff?\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And it\u2019s all so natural! I could feel every little moment as things change between them. It flows, it makes sense, it\u2019s easy and it\u2019s perfectly paced, and it just happens<\/i>. Like it\u2019s meant to be.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all so elementary.<\/em>
\n Kissing.<\/em>
\n I want to do more. I want<\/em> more. In a way that I\u2019ve never even had before, and is that what\u2019s being offered. Is it even possible?<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And as much as I loved Maximoff, Farrow was right up there with him. Another strong, protective alpha, he is no-nonsense and open about his feelings and what he wants, and I love that! And he\u2019s such a great match for Maximoff! Whether they\u2019re teasing, bantering, flirting, or all of those at the same time, their playful hotness blends perfectly with their growing feelings (and of course their passion for each other is off the charts!) and it\u2019s all beautifully written as they embrace all that is happening between them.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you see, Maximoff? There\u2019s a cement wall in front of you, and you\u2019ve just been told to be <\/i>satisfied with staring at it \u2026 And so you just stand there, not able to see the other side.\u201d
\n… \u201cWhat\u2019s the alternative? \u2026 Me hating my life?\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s my job to help you over the wall \u2026 I\u2019m going to give you what you\u2019ve never been given.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The forbidden nature of their relationship adds further intensity and a delicious twist to their developing relationship, but at the same time creates a \u2018this is meant to be, no matter what\u2019 sort of feeling that I revelled in. These two just get<\/i> each other, and I happily lost myself in their story.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know there may be a point where a crisis in my family may conflict with whatever\u2019s happening in your life \u2013 and you\u2019re not going to like who I choose.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019re going to choose your family because that\u2019s who you are,\u201d Farrow says strongly. \u201cAnd I will love you for it.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As always, the dynamics throughout the story are sensational \u2013 the relationships are beautifully explored, and in addition to the wonder that is Maximoff and Farrow together, I loved seeing Maximoff with his parents, his uncles, his siblings and cousins. I especially loved seeing the changes in the relationships as the kids have grown, and catching up with these characters that I love so much was fantastic.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s something so human and warm about my dad.
\nIt\u2019s his love of the people around him.
\nHis love for his wife and children.
\nHis love for me. It\u2019s more powerful than anything I\u2019ve ever known.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And I loved getting to know the security teams that protect the entire family. From their interplay with each other, to the close relationships that they have with the ones they protect, there are some wonderful dynamics in play, and I can\u2019t wait for that to be explored more in future books of the series.<\/p>\n

And as we\u2019re watching Maximoff and Farrow\u2019s relationship unfold, we also get to spend a lot of time with the other Hale, Cobalt and Meadows kids (Jane and Sulli in particular), and there are storylines there just begging to be written.<\/p>\n

Going into this book I had a lot of questions about Maximoff, and I was so gratified that they were answered \u2013 his attitudes towards sex and alcohol after being raised by two recovering addicts, his feelings towards his Uncle Ryke following the rumours of his paternity, and his relationship with the press after being raised in the public eye. I feel like these issues were addressed really well.<\/p>\n

The book ends in a great place and I was left completely satisfied, but I am so in love with these characters and their story that I am hungry for more. And I was thrilled to discover that the next book of the series LOVERS LIKE US, will be a continuation of Maximoff and Farrow\u2019s story, because I really feel that there is so much more to explore with these characters!<\/p>\n

We\u2019re in this shit together, and we\u2019re going to get out together. No matter what.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This was a truly special read, and I am eagerly awaiting whatever comes next.<\/p>\n

5 stars!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Like Us<\/b><\/p>\n

Spin-off from the Addicted<\/a> series<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Like Us series is a true series, one continuous timeline, that follows a family of wealthy celebrities and the people that protect them. It must be read in the following\u00a0order.<\/p>\n

\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

Damaged Like Us (#1)<\/strong> (Moffy & Farrow)
\n<\/strong>Review<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Lovers Like Us (#2) <\/strong>(Moffy & Farrow)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon <\/a><\/p>\n

Alphas Like Us (#3) <\/strong>(Moffy & Farrow)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Tangled Like Us (#4)<\/strong> (Jane & Thatcher)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Sinful Like Us (#5)<\/strong> (Jane & Thatcher)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Headstrong Like Us (#6)<\/strong> (Maximoff & Farrow)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Charming Like Us (#7)<\/strong> (Oscar & Jack)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Wild Like Us (#8)<\/strong> (Akara & Sulli & Banks)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Fearless Like Us (#9)<\/strong> (Akara & Sulli & Banks)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Infamous Like Us (#10)<\/strong>\u00a0(Akara & Sulli & Banks)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Misfits Like Us (#11)<\/strong> (Luna & Donnelly)
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Unlucky Like Us (#12)<\/strong> (Luna & Donnelly)
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Nobody Like Us (#13)<\/strong> (Luna & Donnelly)
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fore more info on the Addicted series, and other books by these authors,
\ncheck out our Krista & Becca Ritchie Author Spotlight<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Buy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook\u00a0 |\u00a0 Paperback Review I. LOVE. THIS BOOK! I love it HARD! 5 huge stars! The Ritchie twins have once again given the fans what we want, and have brought us back into […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23221,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":5,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"Product","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[57,50,49,335,9,29],"tags":[675,637,48],"class_list":["post-23314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrities","category-favourite","category-feeeeeeels","category-mm","category-romance","category-steamy","tag-krista-becca-ritchie","tag-like-us","tag-review"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Damaged-Like-Us-Cover.jpg?fit=150%2C234&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-642","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23314"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23314\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}