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Review

4.5 stars

I love this book! Absolutely hilarious but also incredibly deep and emotional with a bit of action and suspense, and a UST-laden, deliciously angsty romance that had my heart pounding. This book has it all!

This book follows on from Not You It’s Me but can definitely be read as a standalone. Phoebe West was introduced in the first book, and it was clear then that she had a thing for her older brother’s best friend, Nate. In this book we get to see her infatuation up close and personal, and it’s intense! Phoebe has loved Nate her whole life, but after ten years of him pretty much ignoring her and by doing so breaking her heart over and over, she decides that it’s time to try and move on.

How do you stop wanting someone you’ve dreamed of for most of your life? He’s a habit I don’t know how to break.

Nate is an ex-member of the Special Forces, and is a total badass now running his own ‘security’ business. He has always been a presence in Phoebe’s life but, unbeknownst to her, he made a deal with her brother that sisters are off limits so he has stayed away. But just as Phoebe tries to make the break, Nate starts showing up in her life warning her that she is in danger.

And with the two of them around each other in a way they haven’t been in years, the chemistry between them is blisteringly hot. Lots of hot looks, heavy breathing and spark-inducing touches ensue, and the UST is EPIC!!!

“Are you going to kiss me?” I ask quietly.
He pauses. “Thinking about it.”
I gulp and hope it’s not too obvious. I’m thinking about it too.. “Are you weighing the pros and cons?” I ask, leaning into his touch.
“Only cons here, West.” He shakes his head. “You and me… we’re a story that won’t have a happy ending. A tragedy. Nothing good comes from a tragedy.”
“Well, maybe…” I grit my teeth so I don’t say something I’ll regret, and take a steadying breath. “Maybe I’d rather live in the wreckage with you for while than fake a fairy tale with someone else forever.”

But this isn’t a wham-bam-thank-you-mam situation. No, Nate has been through hell in his life and he has demons that he needs to deal with, and it’s an emotional journey as he comes to terms with everything that he’s feeling.

“The only time the ghosts disappear from his eyes is when he’s looking at you.”

I love the way Phoebe and Nate’s relationship progressed!! There is no ‘let’s screw and get it out of our system’ going on, no OTT alpha claiming, and no ridiculous game playing. This is the establishment of a real relationship, and while there is some angst, it’s realistic and serves only to build the excitement and deepen the emotional intensity between them as they hash out their issues, and there is sensational character development as they build something incredibly special. It’s beautifully done!

“Love, real love, the kind that lasts forever… it’s not patient or kind. Not pretty or perfect. It’s rough and hard as all hell. It’s ugly.” He steps closer, eyes never shifting from mine. “Love is holding someone’s filthy, tarnished heart in your hands and claiming it as yours anyway.”

The accompanying storyline ties in perfectly to the love story. The danger that Phoebe is in is very real, and the action, suspense and excitement is fantastic as it all unfolds. But as deep and meaningful as this story is, it’s also really light-hearted. Phoebe’s inner thoughts are so freaking funny as she analyses everything going on in her life. I’m usually not a fan of too much inner monologue, but this one is so well done, I enjoyed every moment of it!

True friends don’t judge one another. They judge other people. Together.

There’s also a really nice check in with Gemma and Chase from the first book, and I enjoyed the opportunity to see them again, and I really like how they tied into the story. And I loved Phoebe’s brother, Parker, and her kind-hearted yet totally slutty and inappropriate BFF Lila just adds to the hilarity.

“Frankly, this whole pining-from-afar, I-hate-your-guts-but-I’d-like-to-ride-your-face thing you’ve got going is not working for you.”
“That was… visual.”

This book is the full package – funny, intense, emotional, exciting and beautifully romantic with a bit of action and suspense on the side. It’s great fun, and I loved it. I’m so excited for more – Parker and Tink are up next!!

4.5 stars.

 

The Boston Love series

 

Check out our Contemporary Romance Recommendations page for more great reads.