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Review

4.5 stars!

Oh, KA! You have to admire how she can write a book with minimal drama, minimal angst (and honestly – minimal story) and still have me completely and absolutely hooked. Toby and Addie’s story is an easy read with a gorgeously functional love story, great family dynamics, and a whole lot of heart, and I loved it!

This book follows on from The Hookup. Toby is Johnny’s younger brother, and Addie is Eliza’s younger sister. Both a little bit wilder and freer than their siblings, we saw their first meeting in The Hookup when a broken-hearted Addie came to town with her young baby and Toby was there for her when she hit rock bottom. From that moment I had hoped we would get to see a love story blossom for them, and was thrilled to finally dive in!

“You Gamble men really don’t fuck around, do you?”
“No, babe, we don’t.”

The title of this book is somewhat misleading. I was all geared up for a slow burn, and while Toby and Addie definitely have that, we don’t get to see it. We see their meeting again where, despite the circumstances, they pretty much fall for each other instantly (though they keep that to themselves), and then we get a very quick recap of the next seven months as they become a big part of each other’s lives. They keep their distance romantically due to their complex family situation, neither of them wants to risk messing with the close and intricate balance of their families, knowing that it could get really awkward if things between them don’t work out. But all the while their attraction to each other grows, creating an emotionally intense situation that becomes even more emotionally intense until it all explodes into confrontation, epic hotness and an instant, full-on relationship.

He tasted her, finally tasted Adeline…
And what was left of him she didn’t already have was lost.
To her.

There is no mucking around for these two! They’ve waited long enough – not just for each other, but also for the kind of love that their siblings have. They’ve found it, and they’re not prepared to let anything stand in their way as they claim it, and I love that!

She gave him another soft look before she hid it and sassed, “You’re into me too.”
“Totally into you,” he admitted openly.

From here, it’s all pretty fast-moving, but I love when KA just throws us into a love story. She writes such wonderful happy time for her couples, and I get fully invested just following them through their daily lives as they figure themselves out as a couple and start to make a life. The little moments mean so much, and she makes them so, so meaningful.

“Give me five more seconds.”
“Why? Just to stand in the bathroom and hold me?”
“Yeah.”
My God. This man.
I moved my hand to stroke his beard at his jaw, whispering, “Toby.”
“Waited a long time for this five seconds.”

That’s actually a pretty big theme for this book. From Addie’s recounting of her childhood with her wonderfully supportive mother who brought them up in difficult circumstances, to the small, precious moments with her sister and her baby boy, it’s all about appreciating the little things and making each moment count, and KA does that so well!

Life wasn’t about disappointment. Life was a journey. The journey of finding what I’d seen on my sister’s face the night before. Finding your place. Finding your people. And settling in so when those cold winds blew, you had warmth to see you through

There’s a great cast of supporting characters who are a big part of Toby and Addie’s lives – Johnny and Izzie, of course, but also the wonderful Dave and Margot who were parental figures to Toby and his brother growing up. Those relationships are so well development and beautiful to see, and they bring a lot to the book.

There’s not a whole lot of story beyond Toby and Addie naturally and functionally finding their happy and then living it. They have some hurdles to overcome, but they are minor, and we get to see lots of happy time, lots of swoony declarations, and lots of sex as they throw themselves into their HEA.

There’s an epilogue which finishes off both books in this series beautifully, and I finished this one with a huge smile on my face and a heart full of swoon.

I loved it. 4.5 stars!

Audiobook note – I listened to this as an audiobook and Stella Bloom and Lance Greenfield do such a great job with these characters – giving them life, heart and sass, and making this such a great book to listen to. KA’s sometimes long-winded sentences can be a challenge to interpret while reading, and I often find myself rereading sections to make sure I take it all in, so having someone giving the proper emphasis and providing context to those long declarations makes it a really smooth read. Plus Stella’s perkiness and Lance’s gruff hotness are just perfect for these characters.

 

Moonlight and Motor Oil

 

Check out more great reads on our Kristen Ashley Author Spotlight