I gave the first book 5 stars, because I really enjoyed reading it and loved both protagonists. 
But unfortunately I can’t say the same about the second part. 
The timing of the first kiss was horrible. In my opinion it should’ve either happened at the end of the first book when they went outside during the final ball OR the second kiss scene should be the first.
I think in general a lot of things were just very unrealistic and this made it very hard for me to connect with the characters as a reader. Kitt’s pov was just insuferrable and also made no sense. 
On top of that there were a lot of repetitions like the constant “I hate him”, “I’m going to kill him”, “oh no I can’t kill him” “maybe I don’t hate him??” and “oops we kissed again”..

I mean at the end of the day they killed each anothers father and I think it is plotwise reaaally hard to make this up. Even if they forgave each other at the end.

 
and also a very limited vocabulary, because some  sentences were repeated over and over again.
While reading the first book I was constantly excited and didn’t want the book to end, this time it was the complete opposite.
The end was very predictable

because come on..a small box that fits into his pockets? and his reaction when Callum gave him the box? It’s obvious that it must be something small like a ring.

, but still I’m excited how this will end and I’m still going to read the last book.
I hope that this was just a (bad) build up for the third book and that we won’t be disappointed again.
I’m giving 3,5 stars because I loved the first book, likeable protagonists and I have some hope for the last part.

I don’t really know what to make of the ending. Kind of odd. Overall though, I think this could’ve been condensed into 150 pages and combined with the next book. I get the “side quest” complaints and think this may have been better as a duology instead of a trilogy. 

Hmm..

Can I just say, how did we go a whole book without them kissing, and suddenly, in Reckless, all they do is just that? Their first kiss was so underwhelming and left field—it sort of made me cringe. I was thrown off and didn't feel like reading the rest, but I was in too deep already. (Your Honour, it's Malakai Azer's fault). 

But Lauren Roberts is pretty good at writing professions of love, descriptive paragraphs, and romantic scenes. So many parts made me want to just underline the shit out of them if only I had the physical copy. I felt that the writing style this time was much more repetitive though, and I did encounter a few spelling and grammatical errors so I don't know what that was about. 

And I get that the entire book was based on the word 'Pretend,' but it was just odd. If someone kissed me like that and said, "Pretend," I'd whack them in the face. But ok. Honestly was about to throw a tantrum if it was said one more time-

and. KITT WHAT THE HELL MAN? Also... Calum..? Is he.. evil? And why is Calum suggesting this diabolical idea to Kitt? Ugh. but KAI AZER. You shall get your beauty. (Lauren Roberts, he better.) On that topic, Kai's monologue at the end felt weird because they spent the entire book in the fricking outskirts of Ilya hating on each other, making out for pretend-sakes and whatnot, Kai dragging her to all that pain just to let her go... I don't know man, kinda weird. Oh, and the ending felt a bit rushed too, like Roberts was trying to meet the word count of some essay or whatever.

* sigh * I'm in TOO deep. And with that ending, those god-forsaken 6 words that Kitt uttered, yea. I have to read the next book for certain.

This book is a little frustrating to me. It has the seed of something that could be so good, but the execution just isn't there. There are some truly great scenes, but they are buried in material that feels more like a rough draft than a finished work.