Always Mine, the first book in the Honey Mountain series by Laura Pavlov, is live and it’s a fave for 2022!

A beautiful friends-to-lovers romance that is fun, sexy and gorgeously swoony, I was completely swept up in this beautiful small-town romance, and I absolutely loved it.  

 

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Blurb

He fights fires for a living, but the flames building between us may be too big to extinguish.

Niko West is the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Six feet, four inches of broody, chiseled Greek god in a firefighter suit.
He’s also been my best friend since kindergarten.
He always says the only solid thing in his life is our friendship.

He’s Honey Mountain’s favorite player and I’m what you’d call a relationship girl.
But when I find myself single for the first time since turning sixteen, I make Niko an offer he can’t refuse.
Who better to show me what I’ve been missing?
But now that we’ve crossed that line, I don’t know if friendship is enough for me.

 

 

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Review

5 stars!

OMG, what a fantastic read! A beautiful friends-to-lovers romance that is fun, sexy and gorgeously swoony, I was completely swept up in this beautiful small-town romance, and I absolutely loved it!

This is the start of a new series for Laura Pavlov, and we are introduced to the Thomas sisters from the small town of Honey Mountain. They were raised by their very proud and loving dad after their mother passed away when they were teenagers, and they are as close as can be. This is the story of second-eldest, Vivian.

Vivian and Niko have been best friends since childhood. They have been there for each other through ups and downs, and are a huge part of each other’s lives. So, when Vivi finds herself single for the first time since high school and realises just what she’s been missing in her one lacklustre relationship that ended badly six months previously, she decides it’s time to experience what epic sex is all about. And who better to turn to than the man she trusts the most? A broody, closed-off-to-everybody-but-her man with proven skills who is known as the town’s player who she knows won’t be interested in anything other than a quick fling – her very own best friend.

This may not be a unique storyline, but the way Pavlov writes it is just awesome. It’s funny and honest, and in a true reflection of Vivian and Niko’s friendship, she has full trust in him, and she lets it all out there.

“So, you really don’t think you could maybe, I don’t know, rock my world? Go downtown and show me what I’m missing? Teach me a thing or two before I get into the next relationship.”
I spewed coffee all over the table in front of me. “Jesus, Honey Bee. Prepare a man before you say it so casually.”

Vivi’s blatant attempts to lure Niko into her bed had me laughing out loud, and though Niko has feelings towards her that are more than just friendly, he’s never allowed himself to go there. Not only because she’s been in a long-term relationship, but she has been his touchstone in life, the one person who has always been there for him, and he refuses to mess with that. And after surviving his devastating childhood, he’s not interested in a relationship or family, or any of the things that he knows Vivi wants.

“I’m not going to have sex with you, Vivian, because you and I see sex differently.”
She cleared her throat. “How so?”
“I fuck. You make love. And you deserve that, but that isn’t me. But I can sure as hell manage to rock your fucking world without sticking my dick in you.

But the more he thinks about it, and the more Vivi encourages him, Niko can’t resist the attraction that has always been there for him. The chemistry is fantastic, and the sexual tension builds brilliantly, and when he finally gives in, they take that final step, and it’s hot and passionate, and the connection that they share changes everything.

“Thank you,” she said, and a tear ran down her cheek which startled me.
I swiped it away with my thumb and searched her gaze. “Are you upset?”
“No,” she said, and her voice trembled. “I’ve just never felt that before during sex.”
“Yeah, it’s powerful shit, right?” I pulled her close, wrapping her up tight in my arms.
What the fuck was I doing? How the hell was I ever going to walk away?

I love these two together so much, and I loved watching their friendship shift so effortlessly into more. They do their best to keep things casual, but it’s so right and so special, they quickly realise that they’re in way deeper than they ever intended to be. They’re completely honest about everything that’s happening between them, but it’s a scary situation for Niko, who never wanted to be feeling anything like what he feels for Vivi, and my heart broke for both of them as they try to figure out what they are to each other, and what they want from the future.

“I love you, Vivi, but not the way you need me to.”

They have some soul searching to do, but the drama is short-lived and well-written, and brings only minor angst that works to builds intensity in the story, so that when they do actually come together, those scenes had me cheering and grinning like a fool.

“It’s always been you. You just weren’t mine yet.”
“You’ve always been mine, Vivi. It just took me a bit to claim you.”

The relationship stuff is resolved earlier than expected in the book, so we get to see lots of time with them together as a couple and figuring out their new life together. Just in time for real drama to hit. Niko’s family is a mess, and there are big developments there which have a huge impact on them, and Vivi’s past also plays its part. But they’re strong together, and I loved watching them face everything and find their happy ending, which again had me grinning like an idiot.

“I’m all yours, baby.”
… “Always mine?”
“Always.”

I love these characters so much! They are funny, playful, caring and honest, and from the very beginning their love for each other is beautiful to see and I loved watching it change and deepen so naturally. Niko is that wonderful mix of broody and sweet-hearted, and his vulnerabilities just made him all the more irresistible. I loved watching him come to understand and accept his feelings for Vivi, and then openly and eagerly dive headfirst into everything he was once afraid of… gah, he’s just amazing!

There’s also a wonderful bunch of side characters – Niko’s buddies at the fire station are entertaining, and I adored Vivi’s sisters (filterless Dylan, in particular, is a freaking riot!). I cannot wait to read more about them as the series continues, and with the brief hints that we get during this book, I am so excited for Everly’s second-chance-romance coming up next in Ever Mine.

This is such a great read full of humour, heart, and a beautiful, natural, functional romance that absolutely owned my heart. It’s a fave for 2022!

5 stars!

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

Honey Mountain

 

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About Laura

Laura Pavlov writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance that will make you both laugh and cry. She is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome almost grown kids, and dog-whisperer to a couple of crazy Yorkies. Laura resides in Las Vegas where she is living her own happily ever after.

 

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