Addicted Series Lovefest: In Which My Love For LiLo Becomes More Obvious, Maybe

SOME KIND OF PERFECT RELEASES IN TWO DAYS, YA'LL. It's hard to believe that it's been about two years since I fell head first into this wonderful world that is the Addicted series. Or that Krista and Becca have written ten amazing books in what, three years?! [I have no doubt that SKoP will have me in tears]. Not only is that a lot of books, but if you've read the Addicted series you know how massive these babies are. 'Tis proof of their superwriting powers!

Today, Fizzle Force bloggers around the world are celebrating Krista & Becca and sharing our love of all things Addicted series *twirls and dances* We're coming to the end of a spectacular era! Just thinking about the epilogue book makes me emotional.

What the Addicted Series Means to Me

My irl friends aren't big readers. Probably 90% of the time, I'm fangirling about a book to my cousin who has ever only read YA (and that's on the rare chance that she feels like reading). I needed an outlet for my thoughts and she was kind enough to take on my crazy hah. I'll never forget the day when Jenn and Lanie [I love you both dearly for this too] asked me if I was interested in helping with what is now known as Krista & Becca's Fizzle Force on fb. My first thought was OMG *self fist bump*. It was almost like being asked if I wanted to be one of the knights of the round table, you know? Part of a team, a book club, which I have always wanted to be a part of. There was finally a place for me to talk about my favorite series and characters without seeming over the top insane. Because the majority of the members are just as big a fan of these books as I am :'). 

I've also had the pleasure of meeting the sweetest readers on this planet because of the Addicted series. I swear, the Fizzle Force is made up of the nicest people ever!! Like Lily from Lily's Book Blog, Amy from Foxy Blogs, A. from FMA Book Reviews, Linda from Second Bite Book Reviews, Jasmine from The Reading Escape, to name a few. If you could imagine how excited and freaked out I was of becoming an admin, I was equally so when accepted into the loving arms of the Fizzle Reads girls, my OTP of Pain squad sisters. I had secretly stalked half of these girls *cough* Siiri, Sue, Sil and Zee *cough* for the longest time because of their fab blog and/or graphics heheh. Now, these four, plus Lisa, Jessi, Katie, Eri, Almera and Laura, are practically my sisters (you're stuck with me, sorry) who I love and hate for pushing so many cute books on me. Every day is brighter talking to anyone from this fandom. Thank you, Krista & Becca for writing these inspiring books and bringing us all together!

If ever there were a series to highlight the importance of being comfortable in your own skin, persevering through hardships and doing what you love, the Addicted series is THE BEST. I'm a sucker for romance. I like childhood friends to lovers stories. When I first read ATY, KTS, HF etc, I didn't expect to feel such a strong connection with the characters. I'm a huge fan of the NA genre but rarely have I read one with such depth in it's characters and story. The Addicted series is actually the first series that I've invested 110% of myself in. I wrote a tumblr post once about why I love the Addicted characters and after re-reading it now, I've realized how my reason for loving one character could easily apply to any of the others. I love them so much my heart hurts. It's thanks to the Addicted series that I've come to embrace myself and appreciate what I have. So, I'd also like to thank Krista & Becca for encouraging me to be me *hugs you both tightly*.

Most Fizzle Force darlings know that LiLo is my #1. I contemplated the idea of making a graphic for the lovefest but decided to do something new. It's a mash-up of two of my favorite things: LiLo and singing! Note: the only thing original about the clip you're going to hear are the lyrics hah. I've rewritten the first verse and chorus of  Taylor Swift's Style to explain a few of the reasons why LiLo is life and the Addicted series is basically my bible. I had a lot of fun writing this. Maybe one day I'll learn the piano score of the song and do a full cover but until then... voila, an acapella snippet of LiLo by moi! TEAM LILO FOREVER.

If you have not read the Addicted series yet, please, please, please give this story and these characters a chance. I promise you won't regret it. Addicted to You is free on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and iBook, so it's the perfect time to start because Some Kind of Perfect the epilogue book will be releasing on May 20th! Thanks for taking the time to read this little tidbit of my Addicted love.

Review: LONG WAY DOWN by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Title: Long Way Down

Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Calloway Sisters #4 / Addicted #3.2
Publication Date: November 20, 2015
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With a seven-year age difference, Ryke & Daisy have faced an uphill battle in the eyes of the world and their families. Known as the most adventurous, fast-paced couple—their next step has always been elusive to the rabid media.

Behind the scenes, heartbreaking trouble continues to test Ryke & Daisy's resilience and shape their future.

They promise:

To never slow down.
To never compromise who they are.
To never abandon their love for each other.

But persevering their happiness also means adding more risks. One that Connor Cobalt wouldn't even take. As professional free-solo climber, Ryke is no stranger to risk, but this next step with Daisy wagers more than just his health.

With their lives on the line, Ryke & Daisy head towards the vast, wild unknown in this epic final conclusion to the Addicted series.

**Author's Note**

It's possible to only read the Calloway Sisters spin-off series without reading the Addicted series, but you MUST read Fuel the Fire (Calloway Sisters #3) before reading Long Way Down (Calloway Sisters #4). It's highly recommended to read the books in the recommended reading order, which is in tangent with the Addicted series.

*Jae's Note* 

READ IT ALL I SAY.

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"Wherever you go, I'll go. I'll be here no matter what..."

How do I review a book that essentially ends an era? One that touched me to the core? And how do I move on from that book when it left me feeling blessed for the life I live and proud of the person I've become? I just can't without shedding more tears in the process. But I'll do my best to explain why Long Way Down is my new favorite book, and why you should start reading the Addicted series [pronto] if you aren't already. I'm just going to bare my soul to you in what I hope will be a short spoiler-free review. I apologize in advance should it make no sense at all.

Blog Tour + Giveaway: LONG WAY DOWN by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Hello, lovelies! TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY. A.K.A. LONG WAY DOWN RELEASE DAY. Words cannot express how much I adore this series, these authors, these characters and this 'world'. Long Way Down will be the last book and Raisy's happy ending gah. I've been both anticipating and dreading tomorrow for months. But I'm very glad to be participating in this blog tour with so many other Addicted series fans! Seriously, I just want to break out into dance and song (high school musical style).

To follow along and check out the other stops, just click on the tour banner! There are tons of fun posts and exciting teasers. Be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post too :)

On to business! Today, I have the pleasure of sharing with you part 2 of the Newlyweds Game: Friends Edition wooooooot. I couldn't stop grinning while reading through the answers and I hope you won't either. Enjoy! <3

Review: FUEL THE FIRE by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Title: Fuel The Fire

Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Calloway Sisters #3 / Addicted #3.1
Publication Date: April 2, 2015
| +Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo | iBooks |

Protect your family. At all costs.

It'd take the impossible to hurt Connor Cobalt, even for a moment.

Protect your family. At all costs.

At twenty-six, his narcissistic tendencies have made room for the people he loves.

Protect your family. At all costs.

And he loves Rose. But when his love is threatened, when his greatest dreams with her are compromised—what is the cost then?

Protect your family. At all costs.
Love will guide his choices.
For the first time in his life.

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"Love. It meant nothing to him. Now it's guiding his choices."

The Addicted series is my all-time favorite NA contemporary romance series and it continues to get better and better with each book. Fuel the Fire touched on real-life matters like mental illness, misogyny, sexuality, society's demand for labels. Throughout the series, there's an underlying theme of feminism and the media's portrayal of women. But in Fuel the Fire, the media plays a much greater role, as does the emotional damage it causes. This book also highlights the lengths a parent will go for their child, a person for their loved one. For every new Addicted novel review I write, I feel like I'm just repeating myself. But I can't stress it enough how emotional, how inspiring and how relevant I find this series to be. These are more than just romance novels. If I had to sum up Fuel the Fire in one word, it was extraordinary. To be honest though, even that word doesn't do it justice.

Blog Tour + Giveaway: FUEL THE FIRE by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Hello, darlings! FUEL THE FIRE IS LIVE WOOT WOOT *rolls out the cake* It's the last day of the blog tour and I'm super excited to share this post with you! All the stops in this tour have been so freaking awesome—I am certain these girls possess magical powers. For Connor and Rose's first tour, it's PRETTY. DARN. EPIC. The dynamic of the Addicted characters is one of my all-time favorites. I love their friendships...their love. For today's post, Lily, Lo, Connor, Rose, Ryke and Daisy will be playing the game 'Taboo'. How the game works:

• You draw a card that has a secret word you want your teammates to say/guess. 
• There's also 5 words listed that you are not allowed to say when giving clues. 
• You are not allowed to say parts of the secret word either. 
• Should you say any of the 'taboo' words, the card is void and you don't score a point
• Rounds are timed so you try to get as many points you can in that time frame

We know how well the couples work together, so significant others will be split for some good ol' fashion boys vs. girls! Be sure to check out the other stops (click on the tour banner) and enter the giveaway at the end. Hope you enjoy!!

All Hail the Addicted Series King: Happy Birthday Connor Cobalt + Treasure Hunt & Giveaway!

Hello, loves! Today is a special day. Today's the day the literary world's most charming, sexy and arrogant intellect was born! That's right Addicted fans, it's Connor Cobalt's birthday *cheers and hollers* Siiri at Little Pieces of Imagination has brought together myself and some fabulous bloggers to celebrate the one and only Richard Connor Cobalt *cough* our king *cough*. I hope you enjoy and don't forget to enter the amazing giveaway at the end of the post! You'll have to do a little work for a boat-load of extra entries, this is for Connor after all, he loves a good challenge ;)

Review: ADDICTED AFTER ALL by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Title: Addicted After All

Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Addicted #3
Publication Date: October 31, 2014
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Two addicts. One epic love story.

Prepare for the worst.

That's what Lily and Lo try to do when Jonathan Hale schedules an "important" meeting. The problem: after being swept into the public eye and battling their addictions, they're not sure what the worst is anymore.

In a sea of many changes--including Ryke and Daisy living with them--Lily realizes that the best part of her fluctuating hormones might just be the worst.

Her sex drive is out of control.

Loren knows that she's insatiable, but he's not giving up on her. She's too much a part of him. And as he carries more and more responsibility, some of the people that he loves doubt his resolve.

In the conclusion to their love story, Lily and Lo stand side-by-side to fight, one last time, for their happily ever after.

**Due to the 2-year gap between Addicted for Now (Addicted #2) and Addicted After All (Addicted #3), you must read Thrive (Addicte #2.5) and/or the Calloway Sisters spin-off series before reading Addicted After All.

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"He is my soul. I am his. The moment we give up on each other is the moment that neither of us exists."

I can't even use love to describe what I feel for this series because what I feel is beyond it. This story and these characters become a part of you, making you feel every emotion with great intensity. Krista and Becca did a phenomenal job bringing these characters to life. They're real, imperfect and human. When they laugh, I laugh. When they feel pain, I cry. And when they're happy, I  jump up and down, shouting in glee to the world. The Addicted series will forever have a special place in my heart as one of my favorite series of all-time. 

"A bad day can overturn into a better one. And all we have to do it be with each other."

 Addicted After All wins my heart for giving Lily and Lo the happy ending of all  HEA. They struggled for this. And it was beyond perfect. LILO FOREVER!! Thank goodness we'll see them again in Fuel The Fire and Long Way Down though because I'm not ready to say goodbye for real just yet *silently cries*. 

The tone of Addicted After All felt different from the previous installments of the series and because of that, I found Lily and Loren's growth most evident in this one. It always felt like Lily and Lo, as well as the other couples, were in their own world, isolated from reality. I don't think the previous books had this many secondary/other characters interacting with the main group. It felt like they were finally in the real world, a part of society and surrounded by people. A huge leap for Lily and Lo since isolating themselves to drown in their addictions back in Addicted To You. They've come a long way from the first book. Really, I just want to cry thinking about how far. Lily is still her awkward, adorable self that blushes tomato-red but she's not shying away from conversation, from people. And Lo, oh man Lo, his demeanor has taken a 180 degree turn for the better.

"I will wander with Loren Hale through every moment, good and bad."

The relationships in this series and most certainly in AAA, let me tell you, gold. The bromance between Lo and Connor/Ryke will always be my favorites. Then there's that between Lo and Rose, Lily and Ryke, Daisy and her sisters, even Ryke and Connor for goodness' sake. And that's just those within the main characters! There's also Jonathan and his sons, Greg and his daughters. ALL of these relationships just grew deeper and more significant. Those that were broken were mended. This series shows what true friendship entails. Their love for one another goes beyond blood ties. Whenever the words 'girlfriend', "fiancée", "wife", "husband" or 'best friend' were mentioned, I just wanted to dance and cheer. 

This book crossed the barrier between character and reader. There were some surprising turn of events, both good and bad. The Truth or Dare game made me grin. The flashbacks made me melt. I went through my tissue box. When Connor spoke on behalf of everyone near the end of AAA, I bawled. If there was a bucket by my bed, it would've been filled with my tears. I can't even, you guys. Best and favorite scene EVER. Sorry I'm being so vague, but Addicted After All (and this entire series really) is a book I think you need to dive in head first without any ounce of knowledge. Just know, 'wow' and 'omg' were words I've repeatedly said while reading this book. And for you Raisy and Coballoway shippers, there's a lot of them too! My heart was incredibly satisfied.

"You and me." "Lily and Lo."

Their characters aren't the only ones with superpowers—Krista and Becca Ritchie have proven themselves as a writing super-duo. Their writing continues to improve and impress. Their words painting the most vivid picture. It's like watching the story play out on screen. I cannot wait for the final books in the spin-off series. More Coballoway! More Raisy! MORE LILO! 

If you have yet to read this series, drop whatever you are doing and give it a chance! I cannot recommend this series enough. Remarkable characters, both main and secondary. The Addicted series is full of friendship, bromance, sisterhood and love. There's also lots of silliness, cursing and sexy times. But if you're looking for a story with depth that will take you on one hell of an emotional journey, This. Series. Is. For. You.

PS. #Raisyisalive

Extras: Calloway Sisters edit, OTP edit, LILO Forever edit, "Lily Hale" edit

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The Addicted Series is split into 4 phases that connect together and span a continuous timeline.

The books don't have cliff hangers so you can start reading them right now!

You won't regret it.

-- Phase 1: (Lily & Lo) --

Addicted To You

| Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

Ricochet

| Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

Full-length companion novel (you should read it anyway!)

Addicted For Now

| Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

-- Phase 2: Spin-offs --

Kiss The Sky

| Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

(Rose & Connor)

Hothouse Flower

| Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

(Daisy & Ryke)

-- Phase 3: (Lily & Lo) --

Thrive

| Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

Full-length companion novel (MUST READ!)

--> My Review <--

Addicted After All

| Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

-- Phase 4: Spin-offs --

Fuel The Fire —Winter 2015

| +Goodreads |

(Rose & Connor)

Long Way Down —Winter/Spring 2015

| +Goodreads |

(Daisy & Ryke)

Loren Hale's Spooktacular Birthday Celebration + Giveaway

It's a big day today. Not only is it Addicted After All release day, but it's Loren Hale's 24th birthday too! *cheers and claps wildly* 

I may be a tad (to put it lightly) obsessed with the Addicted and Calloway Sisters series by Krista and Becca Ritchie. 

But who isn't? Maybe not to my extreme... but still ;)

After Lily's Birthday Extravaganza back in August, we thought it was only fitting that 

we celebrate the birth of her other half and *cough* my *cough* soulmate, Loren Hale.

Since Lo's birthday falls on Halloween, I've put on my costume and decorated to suit the occasion!

I've invited some fantastic people to join me in wishing Lo a very happy birthday!

We have nachos, wine, chocolate, cake, blow pops, something for everyone. Sit back and relax.

Be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the celebration.

Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy the post!!

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Promo Tour + Giveaway: ADDICTED AFTER ALL by Krista & Becca Ritchie

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Addicted After All releases in 2 days (plus a few hours)!!!

Lily and Loren are finally getting their happy-ending and I've stocked up on tissue boxes in preparation.
For those who don't know, the Addicted Series by Krista & Becca Ritchie is one of my all-time favorites!!
The name says it all. It's addictive. The story sucks you in and the characters bury their way into your heart.
You can learn a thing or two from the series as well. Like how OTP means 'One True Pairing' or how sexy cornfields can be hehe.

These Addicted Blog Tours are EPIC. I'm so very glad that I get to be a part of one.
Today, I get to share with you the Character Profile of the lovely, bright and wild Daisy Calloway!
Be sure to check out the other blogs on the AAA tour and don't forget to enter the giveaway :)

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Review: THRIVE by Krista and Becca Ritchie

Title: Thrive

Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Addicted #2.5
Publication Date: July 18, 2014
| +Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

Two years will change them forever.

When rumors spread like wildfire—like having three-ways with her boyfriend's rock climbing brother—Lily Calloway spirals into a dark place. Her bedroom. Loren Hale is more confident and determined to keep their sex life private, even from their friends, and he helps Lily in the only way he knows how. But how much love is too much?

Their lives are filmed, watched, and criticized. And through it all, Lily and Loren have to face enemies they never thought they'd see, demons they don't know if they should bury, and setbacks they didn't think they'd meet. Not this soon.

And one rumor could be too much for them to handle. It will test their greatest limitations, and if they don't hold onto each other, someone is going to drown.

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"We're going to have our happy ending. It’s just going to take us a little while to get there."
   

There are few authors that I’d drop everything to read their books for. Krista and Becca are one, and I say one because it’s like together they make up one superhuman-magic-possessing-or-possibly-mutant-author. Their writing has the ability to evoke so many emotions and make you fall in love with the characters in a flash. Thrive was high up on my most anticipated releases list and it didn't disappoint.

*This book is NOT A STAND-ALONE, Thrive bridges the gap between Addicted for Now and Addicted After All. I highly recommend reading the Calloway Sisters spin-offs, Kiss the Sky and Hothouse Flower, before reading Thrive. This book fills in many blanks that come up in the spin-offs and by doing so I think you'd get to better experience the journey that is the Addicted series. Not to mention, Kiss The Sky and Hothouse Flower are AWESOME.*

"If anything, this is all my fault. I'm the one who went down this path."—Lily

"I'm giving everything I possibly can. And it's still never enough."—Loren

In Thrive, we're back in the POVs of Lily and Lo following the media leak of Lily's sex addiction. Because Thrive spans the timelines of both KtS and HF, we finally get to know LiLo's thoughts and feelings on everything happening around them. Character development was BIG in Thrive. Relationships also become deeper and more meaningful. If you haven’t fallen in love with LiLo yet, this is when you will. And even though they were among a supportive group of friends, you still notice how isolated they are. There were some very amusing scenes (LoCo!) and some that made me cry (Loren&Ryke). Overall though, Lily and Loren's struggle throughout the book was heart-wrenching and tore me to pieces.

"He's a piece of me. You cut it off, and its like going through life with no lungs.  

That is how deep our love really goes."

I could go on and on about how amazing Thrive (the entire book was basically highlighted haha) is but you should just read it and see for yourself. Thrive is amusing, steamy and even enlightening. This book is about love and friendship…about strength and determination. It’s about the lengths one will go for someone important. Lily and Loren's love is the kind you don't forget, we're talking Romeo & Juliet memorable.

"We aren't connected by our addictions. But by our childhood. 

Souls fused together from the very start."  

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Poppy

I wasn't surprised that I ended up loving the oldest Calloway sister. 

Poppy was the mother figure Samantha failed to be. 

She's nonjudgmental, tender and (in my mind) soft-spoken.

We didn't see much of her in the previous books but here, for the few scenes she was in, she shone.

Superpowers

"Do we have superpowers in our world?"

"Yeah," he says, "but you're not invisible."

"What can I do then?"

"Fly," he says, "with me."

And then he piggy-backs her...

THE FEELS!

Extras: Character Casting, Princesses of Philly video, Celebrity Crush edit, LiLo edit, dream cast edit

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The Addicted Series is split into 4 phases that connect together and span a continuous timeline.

The books don't have cliff hangers so you can start reading them now!

Seriously, right now.

-- Phase 1: (Lily & Lo) --

Addicted To You

| Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

Ricochet

| Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

Full-length companion novel (you should read it anyway!)

Addicted For Now

| Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

-- Phase 2: Spin-offs --

Kiss The Sky

| Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

(Rose & Connor)

Hothouse Flower

| Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

(Daisy & Ryke)

-- Phase 3: (Lily & Lo) --

Thrive

| Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo |

Full-length companion novel (MUST READ!)

Addicted After All —Fall 2014

| +Goodreads |

-- Phase 4: Spin-offs --

Fuel The Fire —Winter 2015

| +Goodreads |

(Rose & Connor)

Long Way Down —Winter/Spring 2015

| +Goodreads |

(Daisy & Ryke)