Once upon a time, there was a man who stood aside, imagining he could live someone else’s life and dreaming of something which would never be his; yet he wasn’t ready to give it up.

Once upon a time, there was a man who loved a woman. His only wish was to watch her achieve her dreams – without knowing that the only dream she ever wanted to achieve was him.

Once upon a time, there was a woman afraid that no one would ever be able to love her – without knowing that there was a man who had loved nothing but her for his entire life.

That man is me: Reid Johnson. And that woman is her: my deepest secret. Fine, so I have a few secrets – but it would be best not to reveal them, as they could take everything I have away from me. And without those secrets, I’d have nothing to dream of.

There are two things you should know about me before deciding whether or not to read this story:

I’ve never been the person everyone thinks I am.

I’ve never been the man she believes me to be.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

It’s been eleven years, and she still smells the same. She smells like freshly-cut grass, like the morning sunrise. She smells like the sea, washing up forgotten memories. She smells like wood crackling in a fireplace. Sloan smells like home: the only home I could ever dream of going back to every night.

 

You have this armour of cynicism, this tough exterior, but then you do or say things that totally go against your personality, and I can’t understand why. You confuse me.

 

 My Review:

 

I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy the character of Reid for several chapters into the book, although his snarky inner musings and rude and snappy banter often had me snorting into my coffee.   I really should know better than to sip while perusing such a wickedly funny author.

The engaging and provocative storylines hit all the feels and were well woven and laced together with teasing tendrils of hidden complications and issues kept just out of reach yet periodically dangled in a taunting manner to keep me tethered to my kindle. My brain was itching with questions and theories. A.S. Kelly is a rather ruthless tease and a sly and crafty mistress of words. I am eager to amass and lose myself in more of her clever tales.