This story really was Melanie and Greyson's. While it takes place in the same locations as the previous books, it lives in a bubble. Or maybe it's that Remy and Brooke are in a bubble? Either way, the roles of Melanie's friends in this story are background noise to the hurricane that is the relationship between her and Greyson. 
 Melanie's optimism, zeal, and enthusiasm was always in contrast to Brooke's focus. But this? This is the real Melanie. Behind that smile and the sunny disposition, Melanie lives in fear of disappointing those around her, of not living up to the life that is expected of her, and of not finding her own Prince Charming as she watches her best friend find hers. As a side character, I liked Melanie. Now that the focus was on her, I loved her. There is so much more to her than it appeared, and I loved every detail and how those details added to her personality. 
 Greyson. Zero. By either name, he was dark in a way Remy never reached. Haunted, focused, determined and dangerous, he was everything that Melanie should have run from. His secrets drove a lot of the tension in their relationship, but it was clear that meeting Melanie was a life-changing moment that he struggled with handling. 
 But despite their very different upbringings and histories, Melanie and Greyson were like two sides of the same coin. They found a connection despite appearing to be so wrong. Even as I cringed watching Greyson and Melanie become closer (because as the story unfolds, we know exactly how Greyson came to find Melanie), I loved watching each of them re-evaluate their desires and future plans based on what they had found in the other. 
 Pandora. At times I wanted to shake her. Others to kiss her. Her prickly exterior is in such contrast to Melanie's sunniness that while the dose of reality was sometimes needed, I wanted her to be so much happier for Melanie than she often was. Her story definitely intrigues me. 
 I have to say, having been a longtime reader of this series, and knowing that this book was rearranged in the series because of an unexpected re-write, I am so glad we had to wait for this specific story. I cannot imagine how Melanie with anyone but Greyson would have worked, their chemistry was that overpowering. They were a mess, they were magnetic, they were polar opposites, but Greyson needed Melanie something fierce, and I am so glad he found her and held on. And boy did it take some hanging on. On both their parts. This was a dark story, full of secrets, pain, and longing, and I loved every moment of it. 
 I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. This review is also posted at Reviews by Tammy and Kim.