OH MY GOD,, are you kidding me with that ending??!!! I wish I had known there was going to be another book and that this was not a stand alone. 4.75 stars 
 "I don't let anyone get close to me. I keep them at arm's length. The walls guarding my heart went up a long time ago. They don't have cracks or crevices where someone can slip in." 
 I really loved this book, I totally connected with Sidney, and even with Peter, although the book is written in first person from Sidney's point of view. I have to admit that I was hesitant to read this, based on some of the negative or just mediocre reviews, and I honestly cannot understand why it did not get better reviews! I agree that there were some editing errors and that usually annoys the heck out of me (the fact that the spelling of Sidney's name changed back and forth between Sidney and Sydney in the first couple of pages was annoying at first), but this time it did not retract from the story, for me. 
 Sidney is a bit of an enigma. We find out she has moved to Texas from New Jersey for college and to get away from something or someone(?), but that remains kind of a mystery initially. And even though the mystery is no huge secret, we get small glimpses into Sidney's pain, until all is finally revealed. What is revealed is so sad, but not altogether surprising based on her reactions to people and life in general. Sidney meets Peter, sort of by accident, and she finds out quickly that he is also damaged, just like her. 
 Their first "encounter" was, for me, brilliantly written. There was a slow burn, a slow and beautiful build up within Sidney that made me feel like I was feeling it too. It's not something that can be described in a review, it must be read to fully appreciate. It made me ache for Sidney - to let go of her past and just live in the moment. However, happiness does not seem to be in the cards for Sidney, at least at this point. 
 After being basically kicked out by Peter, Sidney retreats back into herself, until she returns to class and finds that her beloved professor (and the one she is a TA for) has died, and his replacement? Yup, that would be Peter. How bad can her luck get now? 
 "There's no way I can deny how I feel about Peter, but there's no way in hell I'm ever going to say anything. Getting rejected once is enough for me." 
 I felt so badly for Sidney, as it seemed like she finally found someone that she could open up to and give herself to, something she has not been able to do since she left NJ. However, Peter is now off limits to her as she is to him. But, as his TA, and his student, they begin a friendship of sorts that was wonderful in itself. The flirty banter between the two was wonderful, except for the fact that Sidney seemed to be oblivious to the fact that Peter felt the same way about her as she did him. 
 "you really are all bark and no bite?' 'I'll bite you,' I mutter under my breath and grab my stuff. 
 Peter grins. 'You should. I'm very sweet, or so I hear-like candy.' 
 'You probably painted yourself in chocolate.' 
 'That'd work, but no. I've got this naturally sweet thing going on.' He grins at me. 
 Sidney and Peter continue dancing around their attraction to each other, keeping their distance for the sake of keeping their jobs and Sidney's scholarship until one evening when the Chair of the department has a talk with them about the perception from other students and staff that they are involved. Only until this happens do they admit their true feelings for each other, only to realize that being together can never be. 
 Meanwhile, Sidney's past, which she thinks is long buried catches up with her, causing action by Peter and Sidney that will change them both forever. 
 The book left on a cliffhanger that I wanted to scream at! Up until that point I was in love with this book, I wanted to take it to bed with me every night. But, that cliffhanger killed me! It made me rethink my review and rating - however I only dropped the rating by 0.25, knowing that I'll get more, eventually, when book #2 comes out. When is it coming out???