The Last in Line

Love at Last #3

by Katerina Simms

She’s on the run from a horrific past. He’s on the verge of a riches to rags nightmare. Until one chance encounter changes everything…

Burlesque bar owner Freya Cortez, leads a razzle-dazzle life until she learns her mother has just weeks to live. Now she is forced to juggle a once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity with the torment of her far-from-perfect childhood.

Millionaire party-boy Max Tindall is facing financial ruin, even his most prized possession is at risk—his home. But a casual encounter with Freya gives him one last chance to turn his life around.

Though Freya has vowed to never fall in love, even she can’t deny Max is the kindest person she’s ever met, the one man to challenge her “no settling” rule. But how can a woman so fiercely independent ignore the fact that there's something gravely amiss with him? Something even he hasn’t noticed. Something bound to destroy both their lives.

Genres: Abuse, Contemporary Romance

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2023

About the author

Katerina Simms is a contemporary romance author, RWA Emerald Award Finalist, and International North Street Book Prize semi-finalist. She was originally born on a sunny Mediterranean island, only to move to the weather-challenged suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.

Tea addict, nature lover, and terrible gardener, Katerina’s novels feature vivid modern settings and heart-stirring characters, punctuated with the occasional good laugh. Her romances skirt the edges of women’s fiction, and her favorite tropes are opposites attract, slow burn, and heat with heart.

Two of her author idols are the legendary Nora Roberts and Susan Elizabeth Phillips, though she doesn’t suppose they know who she is.

If you’d like to receive updates on new releases, deals, and get a FREE novella, subscribe to Katerina’s newsletter today! https://katerinasimms.com/newsletter-...

Reviews

[Ash J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This whole series was awesome and really emotional. This book focuses on Freya and Max. Freya was a bar owner who had a really traumatic and tough childhood and Max was a rich guy who was very carefree and loose with his money. Things happened and Max lost his money and got a job with Freya at her bar. They had previously had a one-night stand but she refused to mix business with pleasure. But Max's good looks and charm won her over and they continued to dabble with each other in a friend's with benefits basis. Until Max started to catch feelings. This book was really emotional with both Freya's childhood stories and Max's mental issues. I loved both characters and got immediately involved in the read. This is a definitely recommended read by me. I received a review copy of this story and am leaving a voluntary honest review.

[Silke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last in LIne is not for the faint of heart. Max, the 3rd and last sibling to find love, presents a careless facade, more or less drifting through life while struggling with unresolved issues. When he hits rock-bottom, he meets Freya. A survivor of unmentionable abuse, she is a true self-made woman who knows everything there is to know about being down and building herself up. Their way to a happy end is a long one - but I was rarely so happy for a couple to get there. This last book in the series is just as emotional and sometimes hard to process as the last two. Yet at the same time, very rewarding und a true inspiration. A fantastic series that has a place on my keeper shelf. Ms Simms really did an outstanding job of packaging very heavy and haunting issues into engaging romance stories.
I received an ARC by the author but am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in The Love at Last Series and it is Freya and Max's story. Freya owns her own bar but when she heard that her mother has only a few weeks to live Freya is conflicted about how to keep her business going but deal with her mother and also all the childhood memories that Freya has which is not good. Max is a wealthy playboy and loves to party but now he is on the brink of looking it all and now he needs to try and then his life around but how is the question that Max is asking himself. When Freya and Max meet everything changed but will they be able to help each other and get over there difficult situations only time will tell what the outcome would be for them. I really enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to reading more by Katerina Simms in the future as this book was so well written and engaging and I recommend you read it and you will not be disappointed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Aksita Sarangi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one of a beautiful number by the author 💞 really loved and enjoyed the chemistry and romance the angst and emotions between the characters were heartwarming.I definitely recommend the book for a steamy contemporary reader.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the series brings Max and Freya's story. The author does a beautiful job building their story ,filling it with tons of emotions ,a bit of anxiety and a whole lot of steam. It's a heartwarming read that kept me glued to the pages right to the end. It's well written with descriptive scenes ,moves fluidly and is an entertaining read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is the third book in the series. All of the books were really good, I enjoyed this series a lot.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has a lot of emotional baggage that we all carry around at one point or another. Dealing with family and finding ourselves are some pretty deep stuff. I love how strong Freya is and how she helps Max in his time of need and how she helps herself In the process. Wonderful plot .

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katerina Simms gives us another heartbreaking story of how damaged people finally find the love they deserve. This time we have Max, who has appeared in the previous books in this series, still a mess. He has run through all his money and most of his options. He meets Freya, an even more deeply damaged person, and they fall for each other. She is practical and knows how to manage things because she has always needed to do it for herself. Terrible things happen to both of them. He clings to her, and she ends the relationship about 75% through the book. She has tons of exciting and resourceful friends, and there is a lot of fun in this book as well as the anguish. Her shove makes Max finally work through all he has been through and Go To Therapy. This is a great addition since few people get professional help in these stories. Needless to say, after a couple of years, they meet again and get another chance.
I can't say enough about how well Katerina Simms writes! She keeps multiple points of view and storylines going faultlessly. She gives us complex and fully realized characters to love.
I received an ARC from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rach3l · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting from when I read the first book, I wanted to know more about Max. So I was excited when I was able to read this one. I enjoyed Max’s story and getting to meet Freya. They definitely had a lot to mentally work through between the two of them but it was an interesting journey.

Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review

[Zsa Zsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was packed with drama, angst, recriminations, reflection and so much more. Freya and Max were written in a way that was compelling and entertaining, with chemistry to spare.

[TELA666 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that surprised me with the maturity of the characters, both in age and their actions. It is nice to see a relatable setting without college graduates earning millions. It is hard to write about why I loved this book so much without giving anything away. So I will just say if you want a story of what relationships are in the real world, this is for you.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great chemistry between the characters throughout the pages. The storyline flowed smoothly and was well developed.

I received a copy and am voluntarily leaving my honest reviews.

[M19arta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story evoked more emotion in me than I could have predicted when I started reading it.

At first, I was unconvinced about the two main characters and skeptical about their potential relationship. Max was a complete doofus, but after a while, I grew to rather like the simplicity of his character and the profound goodness in him. With Freya, it was a bit worse. Don't get me wrong. I think her story is very important. Her traumatic childhood and grief for the person who abused her broke my heart and moved me a lot. However, I found it hard to be convinced about her motives regarding her relationship with Max.

You know the saying, "If you don't want me at my worst, then you don't deserve me at my best"?

Well, this is what Max should tell her at the end. Because being dependent on each other can be toxic, and I get what Freya was trying to convey, but it is wholly different from helping each other and having each other’s back.

I was angry at where the story went at one point, but obviously, the romantic in me will always win, and I was pleased to see them get their happy ending. It was worth it to get to the epilogue.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in this awesome series and is Max and Freya’s story. Max is a millionaire playboy who is on the brink of losing everything, while Freya is the owner of a burlesque bar, and she has just discovered that her mother is ill and only has weeks to live. Freya is conflicted on how to juggle her mom’s care, and keeping her business running, and when she meets Max, they can help each other through their difficult circumstances. This is a well written story which is filled with angst, emotions, and is an entertaining, heartwarming, and steamy all-consuming page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children of abuse deal with that abuse in so many different ways. Some are angry forever, but some are able to forgive and find success in their lives. Freya serves as a poignant reminder that even those who forgive never forget. This is the story of two damaged people who, against all odds, are somehow able to complete one another and find love through the damage. I found myself smiling throughout this story, that hit home in a few different ways. Not the typical love story, Freya and Max have to battle to be together and work hard to become the people they are meant to be. If you are into romance without meaning, this isn’t the story for you. This is more than a romance; it is a story about life.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freya, bar owning, independent, hardworking and hard earning woman. Max, rich but squandering his money, squandering and drifting along until the bottom is beginning to fall out. A one night stand, friends with benefits arrangement. They each have issues and deal with them in their own ways. Emotional, struggles and difficulties, strengths and weaknesses, drive and determination required, all combine to make an interesting storyline.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was Max and Freya’s book. Burlesque bar owner Freya Cortez, leads a razzle-dazzle life until she learns her mother has just weeks to live. Now forced to juggle a once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity with the torment of her far-from-perfect childhood. Millionaire party-boy Max Tindall is facing financial ruin, even his most prized possession is at risk—his home. But a casual encounter with Freya gives him one last chance to turn his life around. It was an intriguing read. And voluntarily leaving my review.

[Book Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really lovely to read about a positive, strong female character that was willing to go it alone after a dismal childhood. No spoilers here but what a toxic mother….. the way in which she overcomes difficulties in her life was inspiring. Would definitely like to read Gideon’s story.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good written story. Very heartwarming, deeply emotional with hints of funny moments and seriously hot scenes. You become so engrossed in this book, you can't put it down. Highly recommend!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

310ppHave tissues handy on the two days (or one extremely long one) that you read this heart-warming contemporary adult opposites-attract romance set in Melbourne, Australia but you will also find chuckles along the way.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Raylene Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love can win even when the abuse are deep and you have to over come them. Together you can heal and go forward in life,.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.