TRIPLE Reviews and Giveaway ~ Addicted Series by K.B. Ritchie

Addicted Series by K.B. Ritchie

Addicted to You (Book 1)

She’s addicted to sex. He’s addicted to booze…the only way out is rock bottom.

No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex. 
Their real vice may be each other.



6 GLOWING STARS!!! 

Wow, what a HOT mess! I need to be upfront and say, this book has all the ingredients for an immediate DNF from me, yet I LOVED it! Maybe it was because of all the disappointing books I read before and this one broke my book slump? I don’t know, but the first thing that I thought of once I finished was this book reminded me why I read NA romance . 

So this story is about Lily and Loren, one a sex addict and the other an alcoholic O_O Right from the beginning, I felt like this book would be different from other NA reads, since it isn’t just the hero or the heroine who needs saving, it’s both, so how could a romance work out? And both addictions to sex and alcohol are extremely hard to overcome, and even more difficult to portray, but K&B did a fantastic job of convincing me, the reader, the hopelessness of their situation, their unshakable addictions, and later, their very real struggle against these addictions. 

“I don’t want to be fixed. I just want to live and feed my appetite. It just so happens that my appetite is a sexual one.” 

In all outwardly appearances, Lily seems to be a quiet and reserved person, but she really is a sex addict. From a young age, she’s had a looooooooong history of sexual activity, and to her, it’s not so much she’s addicted to the sex itself, it’s more she’s addicted to the high, the feeling of empowerment she gets when she’s sexing it up in bathroom stalls, backseats of cars, bar corners, and basically anywhere andeverywhere. Her one saving grace, the one person who is her rock, is her childhood best friend Loren. 

“His addiction scares me sometimes. Alcoholism can destroy livers and kidneys, and one day, he may not wake up from a night of bingeing. But how can I tell him to stop?” 

Loren “Lo” drinks himself into a stupor daily. His reasons aren’t revealed until later in the story, but as I was reading, I could feel how jagged his pain was, even though I didn’t know where it stemmed from. I connected with his character so strongly, I think if I could, I would be able to reach into the book and physically touch his pain. I thought Lil's struggles were heartbreaking, but when I got to the core of Lo's emotions, my heart cracked. 

This is no sweet, vanilla romance. In my opinion, it’s dark, it’s raw, it’s broken. Their addictions are so ingrained that in order to be together, they have to fight themselves, constantly, daily, and to see them succeed...and fail, sometimes got too emotional for me to read. That being said, this book also has the most EPIC banter between the characters, and I swear I probably woke up my entire apartment complex with my laughing! ^_^ To read a book that triggers both extreme ends of my emotional scale is truly a phenomenally written story. 

The ending of this book left me feeling open and vulnerable. There isn’t a cliffhanger, but there are literally so many routes Lo and Lil’s story could go, and my biggest fear is that the route they take will end up with their separation. I, for one, cannot wait to start reading the next books in the series! As soon as I can kick real life out of the house, I will be cuddled up with book 1.5 and reading away! 

I originally intended to give this book the full 5 stars, however, the unique premise of the book, the detailed, poignant portrayal of these characters, and the fact it broke my book slump, makes this a 6 star read for me! 

ARC kindly provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

~Feifei

Ricochet (Book 1.5)

As a sex addict, Lily Calloway must do the impossible. Stay celibate for 90 days. 

Cravings and fantasies become her new routine, but while Loren Hale recovers from his alcohol addiction, Lily wonders if he’ll realize what a monster she really is. After all, her sexual compulsions begin to rule her life the longer she stays faithful to him. 

Progress. That’s what Lily’s striving for. But by trying to become closer to her family—people who aren’t aware of her addiction—she creates larger obstacles. When she spends time with her youngest sister, she learns more about her than she ever imagined and senses an unsettling connection between Daisy and Ryke Meadows. 

With Lily and Lo’s dysfunctional relationship teetering and unbalanced, they will need to find a way to reconnect from miles apart. But the inability to “touch” proves to be one of the hardest tests on their road to recovery. Some love brushes the surface. Some love is deeper than skin. 

Lily and Lo have three months to discover just how deep their love really goes.

4.5 stars!!

"We started a fake relationship. We ended it. We dated. We loved. And then we separated. Pain, happiness, joy and hurt ricochet from each path taken and from each memory uncovered." 

^^I just LOVE that quote...summarizes Lil and Lo's journey beautifully!

This novella picks up right after the ending of Addicted to You. Lo is now in rehab for three months and Lil struggles to curb her sex addiction without Lo there to support her. This emotionally evocative novella details the three months Lil goes through. Some chapters contained flashback years of Lil and Lo's childhood, which just aboutmelted my heart when I read them. 

And when they finally reunite after three long, hard months?

Everyone, please, take a moment for this out-of-the-world couple.

Simply breathtaking and unleashed the tear ducts.



I really can't articulate just how deeply connected I am with this couple. Everything about them clicked with me: how real their struggles, how fervent their love, howconsuming their story. 

As always, K&B injects their signature humor! I just about peed in my pants from all the hilarious banter! I wasn't quite convinced of Ryke and Daisy's budding relationship, though  a particular scene (can't say or it'd be a spoiler) brought a huge smile to my face. 

Krista and Becca Ritchie, you two ladies are marvelous! Couldn't ask for a better novella, and I was completely with Lil and Lo the entire time! 

*jumps into Addicted for Now*

Copy kindly provided by the authors (and appreciated by me) in exchange for an honest review

~Feifei

Addicted for Now (Book 2)

Release date: November 30

He's addicted to booze. She's addicted to sex...staying sober is only half the battle.

No. More. Sex. 

Those are the three words Lily Calloway fears the most. But Loren Hale is determined to be with Lily without enabling her dangerous compulsions. With their new living situation—sleeping in the same bed, for real, together—Lily has new battles. Like not jumping Lo’s bones every night. Not being consumed by sex and his body.

Loren plans to stay sober, to right all of his wrongs. So when someone threatens to expose Lily’s secret to her family and the public, he promises that he’ll do anything to protect her. But with old enemies surfacing, Lo has more at stake than his sobriety.

They will torment Lily until Lo breaks. 

And his worst fear isn’t relapsing. He hears the end. He sees it. The one thing that could change everything. Just three words. 

No. More. Us. 

WOW! I’ve never really had an ultimate favorite NA couple before, but I think I’ve found the one! Lil and Lo, hands down, is now my favorite!! There is just something special about this flawed, broken couple that tugged at my heartstrings and left me breathless! 

This second book in the series picks up right after the events of Ricochet. Lo is back for good after a long three month separation, but the struggles still exist. Lil is still battling her sex addiction and now with Lo in tow (ha!), the difficulty to contain and fight her urges gets harder. 

“This is too hard. I feel like I can’t escape my addiction. If I’m with you, I want to have sex with you. If I’m not alone, I want to fuck me. Nowhere is safe.” - Lil

^^ See what I mean? Her road to recovery was long and draining , and there were times I thought I would give up. Then I really thought about it, and realized that Lil isn’t just a one-time, insta-sex addict; no, she’s been having this addiction since her early teens, so almost a full decade. I, fortunately, have never struggled with an addiction (books don’t count!) so I don’t know the intrinsic values or motivations involved, but I do know it is not easy to break old habits. I think part of the reason why I had a hard time in the beginning was because of this dark, self-loathing state Lil was constantly in, and at times, it really did get too emotionally intense for me to read that I had to pause, but I always came back. There was no question of me not loving this story; it was if I could survive reading it with my own heart intact. 

“Lo is not built of armor. He goes into every fight without the padding. He lets people hurt him because he believes he deserves that pain. It’s sick.” -Lil



I’m so, SO glad that K&B added in Lo’s POV! Never before have I wanted a guy’s aspect so much!! It’s one thing to write in the perspective of a sex addict; it’s another to write it from a long-term, now rehabilitated alcoholic’s stance. I thought I fell for him in Addicted for You and Ricochet, but BOY! Did.I.Fall.Harder.For.Him.Here. His determination for helping Lily and his dedication in maintaining sobriety struck a deep chord in me. Made me tear up. Made me fall even more in love with this couple.

“Your addiction is much different, and there’s less support there. I knew I’d be strong and you’d be struggling. It’s just the way it is. I’m prepared for this. I won’t leave. I won’t ever fucking leave.” - Lo

Another part of my heart cracks.



This book was completely different from the first two. It certainly had the R&B signature humor, but a lot less than before. This book was more emotionally charged, but in smaller increments. A pinch here, a word in there. Every word that hurt, every action that made me tear up a little all built up and right at the 64% mark, -BAM-, the big bomb dropped and I must have cried a river. I swear this must have been K&B’s plans all along, to build up all this emotion until you get to the really climatic twist, and you let it all out. 



The second half of this book dialed up the emotional intensity by a dozen!!! My heart was in my throat, my feelings all wild, and my body was literally shaking from some of the events that were happening. AHHHH!!! Just thinking about it is bringing back all these feels! The scene where Lo confronts his past, I just wanted to weep for him, but I couldn’t. It’s one of those “you have the tears in your eyes but they won’t leak out” types. Muted sobs. 

Yet another scene that stole a piece of my heart.



And the scene where Lil and Lo recount one of their earliest childhood memories? Oh I cried then. The innocence of it all, the pure, raw passion and love they have...I don’t think it’s possible to not be emotionally affected by them. 

“She doesn’t have to say, I love you because... The sentiment is attached to each and every word. She loves me because she believes I’m strong. She loves me because she’s a part of me.” - Lo

^^Granted it was taken out of context, but it was extremely heartwrenching to read nonetheless. 

Their all-out consuming story owned me. I had the perfect music playing, and the perfect atmosphere to be receptive to their story so I was completely with Lil and Lo. 200%. The ending is beautiful. There is one more book coming up, which will be the conclusion to the Addicted series, but for now….I’m satisfied. I’m more than satisfied. If you’ve read the first book’s ending, you will understand the ending of this one. 

CANNOT recommend this series enough!! Dear Ritchie ladies, you have written a groundbreaking NA series and I impatiently eagerly await for the next book!

ARC kindly provided by authors (and greatly appreciated by me!) in exchange for an honest review. Please note that all quotes are taken from an advanced copy and are subject to change in the final edition.

~Feifei 

Krista & Becca Ritchie write New Adult books that make you cringe, gasp, and go ooh-la-la. (If you do that sort of thing.) They are currently working on the spin-offs and final books in the Addicted series. Connect with them on twitter and their website: kbritchie.com

Book 1 Amazon US link: Click Here!

Book 1 Amazon UK link: Click Here!

Book 1.5 Amazon US link: Click Here!

Book 1.5 Amazon UK link: Click Here!

Book 2 will be released on November 30!

a Rafflecopter giveaway