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Review

4.5 stars!

The third book in the Sutter Lake series, this is a gorgeously emotional best-friends-to-lovers story that, just like the first two books in the series, captivated me and stole my heart.

From the moment we first saw Tuck and Jensen interact earlier in the series I suspected that there was more to their friendship – little glances and Tuck’s protectiveness over Jensen were fun little clues – so I was thrilled when I learned that they would get a book, and I was right on board for their story.

Tuck is the best friend of Walker (hero from book #1, and Jensen’s older brother). Jensen grew up with the two boys, and over the years also became best friends with Tuck, and he has practically become a member of their family. Jensen and Tuck have always had a special bond, he has been her support and her protector for years, always there when she needed him, and he is just as present for her nine-year-old son, Noah.

Tuck has a huge heart but he’s had a difficult past which has left its mark on him, and he knows that commitment and marriage isn’t for him. He has a well-deserved reputation as being a bit of a manwhore, bouncing from hook-up to hook-up, and he’s never been in a relationship. So it was fantastic getting the opportunity to get inside Tuck’s head to see what his feelings truly are, and yep, it’s there – that deeply hidden attraction to Jensen that he does his best to keep buried. But Jensen has been through a lot, and recent events have left her a little bit broken. She has shut down, and Tuck is determined to bring her back.

“We might end up regretting this. It might be the wrong choice, whatever that means. But if we stop taking risks, we stop living. I don’t want that for you. And I sure as hell don’t want that for myself.”

I was pretty much bouncing up and down with excited anticipation just waiting for these two to come together. Just as Tuck has deep feelings for Jensen, she feels the same, but knowing Tuck isn’t the settling down type, she’s never acted on her attraction and does her best to ignore it. Now, he’s all up in her business, there for her as always, understanding her in the way that only he can and pushing her to start living her life again. And every moment they spend together brings them closer and closer to the inevitable, until all of that pent-up lust and longing becomes too much to hold back.

“You’ve always had a wildness to you. It’s been missing for a while, but it’s coming back. And when I light that match, your eyes burn with it.”
Jensen’s cheeks heated. I brushed the hair out of her face, kissing each temple and then her forehead. “Don’t get embarrassed. It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

It’s immensely satisfying watching these two come together, but to keep things simple, they decide to keep it friends-with-benefits without getting too emotionally involved. Of course, neither of them acknowledge that they are already emotionally involved, so it’s wonderful watching them navigate the changes to their relationship and all that it means – especially now that the door has been opened to more.

She had always been there. For almost as long as I could remember, she’d always been a part of me.

But while they are figuring themselves out, there are dramas in store as Jensen’s questions into the shooting deaths of wild horses in the area makes her a target, and a blast from the past appears and threatens the peaceful life that she has worked so hard to build. As always, Tuck is by her side while she deals with it all, as is her overprotective brother who has no clue what’s really going on with his sister and best friend. It’s exciting and suspenseful, and I enjoyed the added intensity that all of this brought to the story, and it gives Jensen a chance to shine as the strong, independent and confident woman that she is.

“Life is full of horrible things, Tuck. Are you going to protect me from all of them? Then I’ll barely be living. Newsflash, bucko, you have to experience the bad so you appreciate the good. I don’t want you to shield me. I want you to stand next to me.”

But ultimately, this is a romance and the love story is central to everything else that is happening. It’s not an easy road for Jensen and Tuck, and my heart truly ached for them at times. They have some pretty big things to work through, but the emotion between them is too deep for them to deny, and I loved watching them work through it all.

“This is more.” My gaze tangled with his, so many unsaid things dancing between us. “You’ve always been more. It’s just taken me a third of my life to see it.”
A brief flare of panic shone in Tuck’s eyes, mixed with something that looked a lot like pain, but he seemed to rein it in. “I don’t know if I can be what you want me to be.”
I gripped his wrists on either side of my face. “You already are. All I’m asking is that we take this one day at a time and see where it leads.
“One day at a time.” Tuck pressed his mouth against mine. “I can do one day at a time.”

Tuck is so, so amazing. Yes, Jensen is going through a lot throughout this book, but Tuck’s life is pretty much completely upended by his developing feelings, and it’s a particularly beautiful journey for him as he slowly comes to accept all of those changes.

I knew deep down that things were changing. That hope that I could burn out this fire between us, so all that was left was easy affection and friendship was a distant memory.
I wanted more. I wanted everything.

It’s an emotional journey with lots of ups and downs and some surprises along the way. This book had me feeling all the feels, and I loved being with Tuck and Jensen as they slowly find their way to their HEA.

“Understand that this is more.” I cupped her face in my hands. “That this is everything.”

I loved it. 4.5 stars!

 

Sutter Lake

 

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