Guarding the Crease is the 9th and final book in author G. K. Brady’s Playmakers hockey romance series. Nine playmakers and swoony Coach LeBrun’s storGuarding the Crease is the 9th and final book in author G. K. Brady’s Playmakers hockey romance series. Nine playmakers and swoony Coach LeBrun’s story in the prequel. I know how you feel; I wasn’t happy that this was the end, either. But there are always re-reads and re-listens and good news I’ll share later.
This is goalie Wyatt Tompkins’s story, the perfect wrap up of the perfect series and transition to what comes next. If you’ve read and listened to the entire series (and if not, why not??) then you’ve met Wyatt before, in Book 6, No Touch Zone, when Dana “Mac� McPherson took Wyatt’s job. Although he was an excellent, elite level goalie, Wyatt was a first-class jerk, a troublemaker. Fighting, carousing, unbearably cocky and self-centered and it was nice to see him go. So when we meet Wyatt again at the beginning of Guarding the Crease we figure we’ve got the same old Wyatt: the one who has lost his friends, his job with the Blizzard, the womanizer, drinker, fighter, pretty boy bad boy. But this is G. K. Brady and this is The Playmakers and we’ve seen the other players start out cocky and then learn a few lessons, meet good women, and instead of just easy on the eyes become easy to be around.
Wyatt and Serena have history. Bad history. He’s the guy who makes her PR Director job so much harder trying to downplay or put a positive spin on his antics � over and over again. He thinks of her as that uptight, tight-lipped, angry woman who hates him. But when she’s being attacked in the parking lot at a fundraiser he doesn’t think twice about stepping in, even though he doesn’t even really realize it’s her and he has no idea who the man is. And when she has an asthma attack he insists on getting her proper medical care and staying with her until it’s safe for her to be alone.
Whoa, who is this guy? This isn’t a Wyatt we’ve seen before. Sure, he’s still cocky and hasn’t acknowledged to himself or anyone else that he’s really that bad. For now he doesn’t think he has to actually change so much as convince the Blizzard he has. But a Wyatt Tompkins who for even a second thinks about someone else? We could quickly get used to him � and we do.
Wyatt is still a smart aleck, still cocky and his desperate desire to look good to management and regain a permanent position on the team focuses on “look good.� He doesn’t believe he’s really all that bad; he doesn’t really need to clean up his act � he just needs to convince the Blizzard that he has. But he has some eye-openers coming.
This new Wyatt has Serena confused. Sure, he was always a handsome hunk, but this guy who has a brain and can carry on a conversation and isn’t always leering? Danger! She could start to like that guy. The more we learn about Wyatt’s family, what’s happened to him in the past, what is still happening, the more attractive he becomes. His behavior isn’t excusable, but some things are starting to make a little more sense.
Author Brady does her usual amazing job of moving the story and the possible relationship between Wyatt and Serena smoothly along with humor and heat and more than a few bumps along the way. There’s so much going on in each of their lives: Wyatt’s evil mother, mending fences with his teammates, Serena’s evil coworker sabotaging her with the team’s owner, her attacker from the fundraiser still around and still a threat. Brady seamlessly weaves all these situations together, sometimes making it feel like a happy reunion as we catch up with the team and spend time with family members that aren’t evil, and sometimes it feels like a horror movie, when it seems like someone is always watching, undermining, trying to do harm and cause trouble.
Serena feels she “owes� Wyatt for saving her, not to mention the intriguing little tingles she is starting to feel around him and agrees to be his plus-one at his brother’s wedding. Wyatt needs a date that will fit in, and one of his usual puck bunnies won’t do it. But Serena has touched something in Wyatt; he also feels some of those tingles but he also feels somehow softer, gentler when around her and he kind of likes it. The wedding weekend is a disaster in many ways, tragic, sad, a mess. But it’s also funny and happy and brings our favorite couple closer together, as she learns more about him and his family and what’s underneath the façade of Bad Wyatt, and he sees a new side of her as well, one that maybe even likes him and wants to be near him. And let’s not forget the steamy, sexy, swoony, sweet bits that are Brady’s specialty. You sigh and wipe your brow and touch your heart � fabulous.
I was lucky enough to receive an advance listening copy of Guarding the Crease with a multicast of Gideon Frost, Addison Barnes, and Zachary Johnson narrating. Fantastic doesn’t cover it. Reading a G. K. Brady book is perfect; listening is a step beyond, and multicast is just wow. They captured all the emotions � the hope and the sorrow, the love, the breathiness, the humor, all there � and it was like being present at all their interactions. A wonderful story, wonderfully told, with a wonderful ending � and the good news � lots of backstory and a peek into the lives of Wyatt’s cousins in Brady’s new Fall River series which is underway and is just as good as The Playmakers. I’ll miss the hockey guys but maybe they’ll show up now and again. I loved this book, love the series, love this author, can’t recommend it enough. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. ...more
A Deadly Flame is an exciting police procedural that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat right until the very end. All that you know iA Deadly Flame is an exciting police procedural that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat right until the very end. All that you know is a whiskey distillery burned to the ground. A body, as yet unidentified, was found inside, and a young firefighter also died, possibly because of faulty equipment. DS Malkie McCulloch is heading up the investigation and must work alongside the fire investigators to discover how the fire started, was it intentional, was the unidentified person a murder victim or a casualty of the fire?
Fingers are pointed, information is withheld, suspects look guilty except for “gut feelings� which don’t count for much in court. Theories are formulated, discarded, brought forth again. It’s non-stop action and thrills.
In addition to the investigation, there is a lot going on in the lives of Malkie, his co-worker and good friend Steph, and others. Disturbing events that may impact their careers. A Deadly Flame is the third book in the DS Malkie McCulloch series. There is enough in this story to make it work as a standalone but you may want to go back and learn the main characters� backstories.
Thanks to Storm Publishing for providing an advance copy of A Deadly Flame via NetGalley. It kept me glued to the page wondering what would happen next, guessing over and over who was guilty and who was not, and provided a very satisfying conclusion. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. ...more
Author Mike Martin has a special talent for writing books that just make you feel good. You may know him as the author of the long-running, successfulAuthor Mike Martin has a special talent for writing books that just make you feel good. You may know him as the author of the long-running, successful, satisfying Winston Windflower mystery series. You may not know, however, that he has also written several charming books for children. Princess Sophie and the Christmas Elixir is the latest of these books and it is absolutely delightful.
Princess Sophie is adorable. She loves everyone � her parents the King and Queen, all the people in the kingdom of Melodica, and all the animals of the forest � and they all love her right back. She’s a cheerful, kind, happy little child, and the Christmas season is her favorite time of year.
But this year it just doesn’t feel right, some of the Christmas spirit seems to be missing and Princess Sophie is determined to bring it back. She visits the best magician in the kingdom, Lady Ariana, who mixes an elixir containing the secret ingredients of Christmas Magic.
This book was a joy to read and every child (and adult) I know will love it. The illustrations are beautiful with the perfect balance of words and picture on each page for young readers to enjoy. The words are carefully chosen and sweetly engaging: jingles jangles, horns hooters, wrapping singing clapping, for example, with a bit of rhyme thrown in here and there and the hint of a feeling that will take adults back to their favorite Dr. Seuss book or their favorite old time (1960s!) animated holiday special, and will draw children right in.
A beautiful book about love and belief, care for others, and capturing Christmas magic, a book that will join your regular rotation of special holiday books. Thanks to author Mike Martin for providing an advance copy of Princess Sophie and the Christmas Elixir. I loved it and you will, too. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. ...more
Oh my gosh, this was one of the most adorable romances I have ever read, and just the thing to kick off my holiday reading. Such a large group of quirOh my gosh, this was one of the most adorable romances I have ever read, and just the thing to kick off my holiday reading. Such a large group of quirky, fascinating characters and I loved every single one of them.
Susan and Gary Dunsky and Erik and Jody Cummings have been best friends for a long time. Lived next door to each other for a time, their kids grew up together (Bea, Kayla, Naomi, and Yvette Cummings and Charlie Dunsky) and they have had a holiday tradition for years and years and years to spend Christmas together in a little cabin. Idyllic, right? Even more idyllic when Bea and Charlie fell in love and everyone knew their perfect lives would go on and on. Except Charlie went off to college, became a money-making workaholic and that was that. No more Bea and Charlie. Christmas isn’t quite as Christmas-y trying to avoid each other in a crappy little cabin in Pithole, Pennsylvania.
Bea and Charlie have moved on with their lives. She has a good job and a great boss, but not really any friends except those she works or rooms with and tells herself relationships don’t work out because she doesn’t have time for them. Charlie has his own company, makes lots and lots of money and is a success, isn’t he? Except the pressure has taken a toll and there are things he’s never shared with anyone, especially Bea.
Charlie is a tender spot in Bea’s heart that won’t quite heal, but she’ll manage. Christmas this year will be better: they’re going to a different place, a cabin in Here, NY, and Charlie’s name wasn’t on any of the planning lists so she assumes he won’t be there. Sign of relief. Except the rideshare from New York City to Here that she expected to be her sister turns out to be Charlie. And the location isn’t the only thing different this year; Charlie seems different. More relaxed and his focus seems to be not on work and money but on her. Can her heart handle it?
What follows that car ride is hilarious moments, tender, sweet, heartbreaking conversations � and heat. Lots and lots of heat. But is there more than heat, enough for an HEA?
Ghost of Ex-Mas Past is charming, delightful, fun. Every family member is unique and interesting. Charlie is so sweet, so concerned, so sometimes caveman. Pretty nearly perfect. Come to think of it, maybe it’s the name, because every book I’ve read lately with a Charlie in it was pretty nearly perfect. Thanks to author Liz Alden for writing a story that drew me in and wouldn’t let me put it down and for providing an advance copy for my reading pleasure. Already a favorite author, this is another Liz Alden gem for my collection. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. ...more
An exciting psychological thriller that combines a police procedural with the continuing personal trauma of the lead detective as the child of a seriaAn exciting psychological thriller that combines a police procedural with the continuing personal trauma of the lead detective as the child of a serial killer. A man that her work with the FBI requires her to meet with on a regular basis to try and find closure for the families of his many victims. The Killer Instinct is Book 3 of the Detective Margot Phalen series. I have not read the first two books and this book works just fine as a standalone, but I am intrigued and want to learn more about Margot so will be reading those books as well.
Margot is an interesting character, often gruff and standoffish but gets your sympathy right away. She changed her name, moved away, started a new life, except her father somehow seems to have connections everywhere and knows who she is, where she lives and what she does for a living. And insists she is the only one he will talk to in prison. So much for rebuilding her life and putting away bad guys. She’s wary, has a number of defense mechanisms for blending in, not following visible patterns and not getting close. She has very few friends, except for the connection with her partner, the only one who really seems to get her. There is a hint of attraction there but in addition to always being hesitant about opening up, Margot is afraid to jeopardize the friendship.
The chapters in The Killer Instinct alternate between the present in San Francisco and Margot’s progress in trying to solve her current cases and the unwelcome visits to her father in prison, and the past in Oakland, where her father Ed is a child, tormented, ridiculed and humiliated by his mother. Just as you begin to feel sorry for this poor little boy you are treated to his innermost thoughts and actions: wanting to kill a cat to cause pain to the cat’s owner, wanting to hurt and kill his mother because of how she treats him. A scary little boy that grew up to be a scary man.
The Killer Instinct is non-stop action and suspense, full of twists and turns and huge surprises and the perfect tantalizing setup for the next book. Thanks to Storm Publishing for providing an advance copy of The Killer Instinct via NetGalley. I recommend it and the entire series. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. ...more
I am going to move to Dragonfly Lake and never, ever leave. The small town that author Amy Knupp has created has got to be the most wonderful place inI am going to move to Dragonfly Lake and never, ever leave. The small town that author Amy Knupp has created has got to be the most wonderful place in the world. With each new book and new series, she expands on beloved characters, giving us a look back to see how their happy-ever-afters are progressing, introduces new characters we love at once, and focuses on a couple of special people for us to watch and cheer on to what we hope, hope, hope will be their HEA. In Single All the Way, book 2 in Knupp’s Single Dads of Dragonfly Lake series, the extra special people we get to spend time with are Ben and Emerson.
Ben is the Dragonfly Lake vet with the llamas. Emerson is the owner of a hair salon in town. They’ve known each other forever, have both lost spouses, are both now single parents. Ben had feelings for her back in high school but when Ben’s best friend Blake and Emerson got together Ben did what good friends do and never spoke about his feelings. Shoved them back where they belonged. Except now that they’re roommates in Ben’s house, keeping those feelings shoved down isn’t quite so easy. They both have had good lives, mostly. Ben’s marriage was good for a while, but his wife Leeann was sadly and tragically a woman who just couldn’t be happy and she took her own life. Emerson and Blake were happy, except that he was gone so much for the military she often felt like a single mom already. Ben and Emerson may have had some hard times but they don’t regret their choices because they each have children that mean everything to them.
Emerson has to suddenly move and needs to find a temporary place to stay. Ben has the space, Emerson’s a friend in need, and it’s the least he can do for his best friend’s widow. Emerson is grateful, the children are starting to bond in their own way, and having another adult � plus Ben’s feisty grandmother Berty � around to help out is something she’s never had and could get used to. But try as she might to tamp them down, Emerson is starting to have some inconvenient feelings for Ben, and that Friend Zone is getting harder and harder to stay in.
What follows is page after page after page of joy. It’s not all sweetness and light, but there is an awful lot of sweetness, tenderness, romance. The feelings get harder and harder to contain, and Ben and Emerson decide they are adults and adults can do adult things (steamy, swoony things) on a temporary basis, but there is a lot more at stake and a good amount of fear and hesitation, especially on Emerson’s side. But Ben can be a pretty persuasive guy (not to mention oh so sexy) and is determined to show Emerson a holiday full of holiday spirit as her partner in Christmas mayhem. And show her temporary does not have to stay temporary.
There are serious scenes, sexy scenes, heartwarming scenes and funny, funny scenes - with llamas and kids and the other single dads of Dragonfly Lake giving Ben a hard time and Emerson’s friends doing the same to her. Dragonfly Lake is bursting with holiday merriment, catching up with old favorite characters is fantastic, families are growing, love is in the air � why would you want to be anywhere but Dragonfly Lake?
I was lucky enough to both read an advanced copy of Single All the Way and listen to talented, always entertaining narrators Patrick Zeller and Stephanie Nemeth-Parker perform the audiobook. Zeller makes Ben vulnerable and hesitant but strong and protective and so full of love at the same time, and that sexy voice in the sexy scenes will make you shiver. Nemeth-Parker’s Emerson is fragile and strong, afraid but aware some things are too good to pass up, and a sensual woman with Ben. I thoroughly enjoyed Single All the Way and cannot wait to see which single dad is front and center next. I can’t recommend this book strongly enough � and you should always listen and read along. These stories are meant to be listened to but seeing the words on the page tugs at your heart. I received a free book. I voluntarily leave this review. All opinions are my own. ...more
If you are looking for a story to get you into the holiday spirit, Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea is it. it’s warm and tender and a wondeIf you are looking for a story to get you into the holiday spirit, Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea is it. it’s warm and tender and a wonderful addition to the Micklewick Bay Series.
The Happy Hartes Bookshop is flourishing in Florrie and Ed’s capable hands. Sure, they still have to watch their funds and be creative with their offerings, but between Florrie’s decorations and Ed’s window displays everyone in town loves the shop and they are drawing more and more tourists in. Most days it’s almost possible to forget the anger and resentment from Ed’s parents that his grandfather left the shop to Ed and Florrie and not to them. Ed and Florrie are in a romantic haze, looking forward to their future together, until an animated telephone discussion between Ed and his always angry father, and Ed’s subsequent behavior seemingly searching for something in the attic. Florrie doesn’t press, but whenever she tries to talk to Ed about it he quickly changes the subject.
What is he hiding? Is he going to leave again? He’s left once before, overwhelmed with the shop and his parents and life in general, but he soon returned and promised he would talk to her first if he ever felt like that again. Ed is so affectionate with Florrie, seems so sincere, so in love, but Florrie can’t help the worry; she doesn’t think her heart could take it if Ed wasn’t with her. But why won’t he talk to her? if there is some trouble with his father or the shop, why won’t he share it and let her help?
Micklewick Bay is a wonderful place, full of wonderful people � and a few that are not so wonderful. Florrie’s family is close and supportive, welcoming to Ed, happy about their relationship and future. Ed’s parents are demanding and selfish. When mysterious things happen and parts of the bookshop are damaged their friends and family � almost the entire town � pull together to help them. After Ed does finally share more about his childhood Florrie is determined to show him the best holiday ever and launches her Happy Christmas Memories Project with special activities and events to fill his heart with happy memories to take the place of the sad ones currently residing there.
The story contains a good mystery, a lot of love, good friends and special family, and a little lesson in how to trust. Thanks to Storm Publishing for providing an advance copy of Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the wonderful characters of Micklewick Bay. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. ...more
I already thought I wanted to read everything author L. B. Dunbar writes. Elevator Pitch made me certain of it.
Meet Verona � Vee � Huxley. Age 45, widI already thought I wanted to read everything author L. B. Dunbar writes. Elevator Pitch made me certain of it.
Meet Verona � Vee � Huxley. Age 45, widow, mom, writer of super spicy romance novels, rabid baseball fan with a long-time sports crush on a certain former World Series pitcher.
Meet Ross Davis. Age 47, sexy silver fox, widower, dad, former World Series pitcher (yes, that pitcher, see Vee Huxley above), and manager of the Philadelphia Flash baseball team.
The first chapter of Elevator Pitch is hilarious, improbable, and perfect. So laugh-out-loud funny you need a tissue to wipe your eyes and a moment to catch your breath. OMG, Vee is in an elevator with her crush. Who is surly and rude because he’s the probably-soon-to-be-fired manager of the Flash since they just lost the World Series. Vee is almost speechless being in the elevator with Ross, he’s speechless because he doesn’t want to talk � and then the elevator stalls, she starts to have a panic attack with a hot flash on the side for good measure, and desperately needs the ladies� room. Finally able to dash out of the elevator she runs to her room, except the room she tries to open is his room. Well, that went well. So room service and hiding out is her plan. Except the knock on the door reveals Ross with a bottle of Scotch. Supposed to be for a celebration but what the heck, maybe she’ll have a drink with him.
And right there this funny story that has you wheezing with laughter is suddenly thoughtful, insightful and a little bit sad. They talk, they drink, they sleep. It’s comfortable, no pressure. And sleeping is all that happens. Until Arizona, where Vee is watching spring training for her Chicago Anchors. And where Ross Davis, former World Series pitcher for the Anchors is now the new manager of the Anchors. And when he spots Vee in the stands the world of sports superstition takes over his mind and he decides she’s his lucky charm. Isn’t it obvious? They were together after that elevator fiasco and he was soon offered the Anchors manager job; she’s at the game and they win. They need to sleep together again � just sleep � and good things will continue to happen. Yes, it sounds absolutely ridiculous but author Dunbar makes you think there just might be something there � and makes you certain there is something there between Vee and Ross, even if they don’t know it yet.
Elevator Pitch is well-written, full of witty yet deep dialogue, tender, touching, funny and sometimes bizarre situations and people who’ve lived and loved and not always had much luck. Vee’s husband was a police officer killed in the line of duty. Not always a good husband, not always a good cop. She feels guilty that she doesn’t miss him more, still remembers the bad times, and has serious trust issues and no faith in a happy future. That silver fox has no trouble finding female companionship, but they’re young, mostly shallow and the relationships don’t last long. He’s full of guilt, too. He was a faithful husband � well, always faithful as far as other women goes � but not very faithful to making his wife and sons a priority. Lots of regrets and doesn’t expect much change in the future.
So they sleep together and the lucky charm thing seems to be working. But of course first it’s all business, then friendship, then feelings, and where is all that supposed to lead? The story is as poignant, achingly sweet and romantic as it is slapstick funny. Ross and Vee are drawn together and things feel so right � except they’ve both wary and vulnerable, not sure the timing is right or that the feelings are real. They misunderstand, get angry, pull away, but those growing feelings keep pulling them back. In addition to the sweet, steamy, satisfying plot, Elevator Pitch is populated with clever baseball references and characters from some of Dunbar’s other books. It was engaging and enthralling, with big gestures and sweet little touches; I couldn’t put it down and cannot wait for the next book in the series. I loved it and you will, too. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. ...more
This is why I love author John Grisham. He is such a talented, extraordinary writer, fiction or nonfiction, that I was barely into the first chapter oThis is why I love author John Grisham. He is such a talented, extraordinary writer, fiction or nonfiction, that I was barely into the first chapter of Framed and was already incensed, outraged and sick at heart. This book is so compelling, but I hardly know where to begin to review it because it is astonishing and beyond belief that these miscarriages of justice happened over and over and over. Framed reads like bad fiction, where the chain of events, unreliable witnesses, corrupt officials, illogical happenings feel like something you couldn’t even make up. It’s chilling when you realize these things really did happen, but even more chilling when you also realize that while the fact that the seventy people serving life or death sentences for the crimes of others Centurion has freed to date is amazing and commendable, it is likely nothing more than a drop in the bucket. How many more people are suffering in prison for crimes they did not commit.
Each of the ten cases presented is unique, but they all also have far too much in common. Their convictions were not accidents but a result of deliberate actions taken by people who work in law enforcement and the medical and judicial systems and for some unfathomable reason decide they are judge and jury and want to be the executioner as well. They lie in suspect interviews, threaten, withhold evidence from the defense because they deem it irrelevant, use scare tactics with children, make deals with jailhouse snitches, conduct procedures and testify when they are not qualified or licensed, fail to follow leads even when the actual guilty party is known; it just goes on and on.
Are these supposed-to-be-trustworthy officials all evil? It’s hard to not believe that, when so many of them work tirelessly to get someone sentenced to death when they know there is no reliable evidence, when few of them suffer consequences for their behavior and in fact get promoted to judges or other high positions. They operate not from a presumption of innocence but of guilt � or is it pride or laziness or power or what that makes them refuse to look elsewhere once they have settled on a suspect, no matter how unlikely their guilt seems. An example: for one judge, as a way to demonstrate his appreciation for his District Court Clerk’s twenty years of devoted service to courthouse administration, he picked her birthday as the date for the subject to die. What??
Framed is a hard book to read, but it should be required reading. It is horrible, heartbreaking, impossible to put yourself in their shoes. It’s eye-opening: when we read or see on television that new evidence has been found, enough to justify a new trial we feel relief, like, wow, it’s finally over for that person. But this is seldom the case. The “system� fights back to keep them incarcerated; it’s decades before most of them are released, if ever.
Framed is masterful and will stay with you a long, long time. When there is finally a release, it’s uplifting and you are glad because so many are working on their behalf, but it’s really more relief than joy, because these poor people have had their lives ruined, taken away, and for many, many years. No, life is not fair, but this is well beyond unfair. Is there any way to avoid this? It’s like a dark domino chain: this points to this, that points to that, then to who, on and on, all based on a false premise, and how on earth can you make someone not be corrupt anymore?
Thanks to NetGalley and authors John Grisham and Jim McCloskey for providing an advance copy of Framed. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. ...more
“My wife died giving birth to our daughter.� Okay, this is definitely a first sentence to get your attention. And if you’re not crying by the end of t“My wife died giving birth to our daughter.� Okay, this is definitely a first sentence to get your attention. And if you’re not crying by the end of the first paragraph you don’t even have a heart. Thomas and Jenna went to high school together, married suddenly at age 23 when she discovered she was going to have a baby, and were beginning a new life together. Maybe they were a little young and hadn’t planned their future this far out, but they were making it. Until while giving birth to their baby daughter, Jenna suffered a brain aneurysm and died. Thomas was now a widower and a single dad, just like his own father.
Fast forward eight years. Thomas is now a dedicated, devoted dad to Clarabel, a smart, active, joyous little girl spoiled outrageously by her grandfather Pops and her Uncles Patrick and Matthew. And Thomas? His name is now almost officially Mr. Grumpy. He loves his little girl, he is good at and likes his job at the family’s Sugar Mountain Resort but women, dating, relationships? No, thanks. He finally got over (most of) the self-inflicted guilt from Jenna’s death, he worries about being a good father, work and Clara keep him busy, and that’s more than enough. Until Brooklyn McKay runs into him � literally, wanting to go rock climbing on his chest � and then again as a job candidate to replace his assistant. The state she’s in and why she wants to go rock climbing is happy/sad, the job interview is funny/intriguing. Worth the Fall just takes off and it’s non-stop enjoyment from this point on.
Brooklyn is just getting out of a bad, bad, bad marriage. She refused to admit it to herself for a long time, but she wasn’t ever very happy and feeling taken advantage of and invisible became unbearable. She is good at and enjoys her job, but the position at the resort would be challenging and a new beginning. Being around those sinfully handsome O’Gradys, especially Thomas, is a bonus.
Sugar Mountain is a small town. They all went to the same high school but not at the same time, so while they know of each other they don’t know each other well. Except that everybody knows the O’Grady family. But what’s with that spark between her and Thomas? They hardly know each other. And spark nothing � it’s about to hit forest fire level.
Thomas is rude, opinionated, judgmental � and sexy. Brooklyn is strong, wary, gives as good as she gets, doesn’t back down � also sexy. Their encounters are often laugh-out-loud funny. They are irresistibly drawn together, then he jumps back almost in panic, then she wonders what she/they are doing, and then it starts again. Factor in the instant warmth she feels for Clara and the adoration Clara immediately feels for her and you’ve got one enjoyable, romantic, charming, steamy, hilarious story. I love stories like this: single parent, precocious yet lovable, adorable child, and the old enemy, new crush, best-friend-now-love-interest stepping into the picture and you can see this instant family forming almost right before your eyes. Makes you feel warm and fuzzy. The heat between the adults will make you toasty warm, too.
Worth the Fall is sweet, steamy, thoughtful, entertaining. Underneath the sexy scenes and the funny scenes is a lot of life happening. And a close look at two people just hanging in, hanging on, trying to get through what life has thrown at them, trying not to feel guilty for the decisions they made, to not feel they are to blame for things they never could control. Their attraction is strong, much more than just casual or physical. It is physical, but there is also romance and trust and yearning. The story is well written, smoothly plotted and introduces us to a large cast of family and friends we hope to see more of. I was drawn into the story at once with that strong first chapter and loved every minute of the book, and the dedication at the start is amazing. I can’t wait to see what’s next in this series and to read more from this talented author. I received an advance copy of Worth the Fall from Wordsmith Publicity. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. ...more
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