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Monday, June 30, 2014

He Belongs With Me by Sarah Darlington (Indie)

He Belongs With Me
Sarah Darlington
Pub.: February 28th, 2014

He Belongs with MeTwo girls. One Leo. Identical twins, Maggie and Clara Ryder, both grew up with Leo Maddox, billionaire playboy, apparent alcoholic, and heir to his grandfather's world-famous Maddox hotel empire. Their roles were cemented long ago: Maggie, as his best friend and Clara as his childhood nemesis. But when a simple twist of fate changes everything and both girls start to fall for the lean, mean, ridiculously sexy and seemingly spoiled Leo... which girl will win his heart? Throw in a little mischief, drama, and one smoking-hot bartender and lines are sure to blur. But one thing's for certain, neither good-girl Maggie nor rebellious Clara will be satisfied until they each figure out where they belong.

This was a cute story. After reading the first two chapters you go in thinking you know the two girls and are probably already choosing sides - but you're probably choosing wrong! Two twins, who have been clashing their entire lives because of different personalities, oddly enough seem to find the same men attractive. Maggie is down to earth, classy and responsible. Clara is spunky, eclectic and a little more lazy with it comes to taking responsibility seriously. But oddly enough, it's actually Clara who is more protective of her twin and not the other way around.  
 
I found Clara captivating. Her story was so raw and honest I could see why Leo always secretly longed for her, waiting like a wallflower for her stubborn ass to see the light day already. I actually found myself rooting for the pathetic train wreck that is Clare's mentality, who's been planning her escape from these people since childhood.
 
So why only 3.5 stars? Maggie. Had this just been Clara's story, I probably would've 5 starred it. It wasn't that Maggie's story wasn't interesting to read, it's just that it seemed sorta flat compared to her sister's. Where I felt like I got to know the raw, internal workings of a misguided, semi-neglected twin with Clara, I didn't feel that way about Maggie. With Clara, I got to watch as she put the pieces together and realize her attraction to Leo wasn't all of sudden, but something that had been building through the course of their lives. Maggie? A boy who stole her heart when she was younger comes back for her, baggage in tow, and she more or less accepts it and is happy. Which is good, but I guess I longed for that boy to put in a lot more effort into the chasing since he uprooted his life to finally makes his way back to her. Instead, he kinda sat back and just awaited her decision. And I guess I expected her father to add a little friction to their relationship, given the way that boy was kicked out of their lives to begin with. Maggie's story came together like a pretty little bow. Clara's bow, albeit tied after awhile, looked like it had been yanked, stretched and shredded by the family cat.  
 
Read it. Clara's story makes it worth it alone.

Novel provided by author for honest review.

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