What It Takes by Willow Aster is live!

The second book in the Windy Harbor series, this is a sweet and fun brother’s best friend/best friend’s brother, enemies-to-lovers story full of chemistry and a long-secret love. It’s such a great read, and I loved it.

 

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Narrated by Rose Dioro & Sebastian York

 

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Blurb

A Sexy, Small town, Enemies to Lovers, Brother’s Best Friend romance from USA Today Bestselling Author Willow Aster

Camden Whitman has always been in my life. I met him when I was five and he was seven, but when he and my brother became best friends, I became nothing more than the pesky little sister he didn’t want around.

There was a period of time when I thought I felt a connection between us, but he shut that down faster than I could blink. Fast forward to adulthood years later, and here I am, still the annoying little sister he can’t stand.

Now there’s one difference: I want nothing to do with him.

I’m happy running The Kitty-Corner Cafe in my small town of Windy Harbor, Minnesota, and love living in my little slice of paradise on Lake Superior…until Camden decides to move here and open up a new restaurant.

Who cares if he’s a well-known chef who can prepare the most delectable food? He will never hear that from me. He’s wrecked my small-town, stress-free bubble and filled it with his abrasive comments and intrusive looks.

But then the unexpected happens. One night, when both of our walls are down, I see a glimpse of something other than distaste in his eyes. And it has me wondering if I’ve misjudged the man that has always gotten under my skin.

When those boundaries are crossed, there’s no turning back. Camden is on a mission and will do whatever it takes to make me his…

What It Takes is book two in the interconnected, standalone Windy Harbor series.

 

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Review

4.5 stars

The second book in the Windy Harbor series, this is a sweet and fun brother’s best friend/best friend’s brother, enemies-to-lovers story full of chemistry and a long-secret love. It’s such a great read, and I loved it.

Camden and Julianna (Juju) met as kids. Their parents became best friends, Camden became best friends with Juju’s older brother and she became best friends with his younger sister, but the two of them always shared a special connection. Attraction was just starting to develop, but when the two boys made a pact to stay away from each other’s sisters, Camden and Juju’s friendship fell apart. In the years since, they have become completely antagonistic to each other, their bickering famous among their families.

Now, after years of separations, Camden and Juju are both back living in the small town of Windy Harbor. She runs the local coffee shop/bakery, and he is opening a restaurant at his family’s new resort. There is still a lot of anger and snark between then, but with the dual POV we also see that there are some complicated feelings there as well. When sparks of their long-held attraction become impossible to hide, they both realise that this is the chance they’ve been waiting their whole lives for, and everything changes.

“You’ve never known how badly I wanted you…or how much I wanted to be standing next to you, doing every part of our life together.”

God, I love these two together! They are so obviously in love, and when they finally get the chance to explore their feelings, they’re all in – banter, flirting, sweetness and sexy time, and I was shipping these two so hard.

“I don’t know how you keep managing to surprise me, but you do,” she moans. “I had no idea you were gonna be a dirty talker.”
“I haven’t really been before,” I say. “But you’re the one I’ve been dreaming of for a lifetime, so I wanna say it all. And I want to do it all If you’ll let me.”

But the very thing that kept them apart all of these years is still very much a concern. They need to tread carefully while they figure out what they are to each other and what they want from their future. It’s a great ride, with lots of sneaking around, input from loved ones, and moments of discovery as they come to understand the depth of their feelings for each other and who and what they want to be together.

“Don’t be afraid to show her how you feel. If you still love her after loving her for a lifetime, then you will have the life of your dreams.”

It’s such a beautiful love story, with a big cast of family and friends who are a big part of the story, and I love this group together! They’re so much fun, and I’m excited to continue on with the series.

I loved this one. 4.5 stars.

An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.

 

Windy Harbor

 

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About the Author

Willow Aster is a USA Today Bestselling author and lover of anything book-related. She lives in St. Paul, MN with her husband, kids, and rescue dog.

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