Mess With Me

I have been waiting for Griffin's story. He's been such a mystery throughout the series. I also loved Sasha when we first met her. These two just seem so opposite that they of course they would be the perfect match for each other. I also love the grumpy/sunshine trope.

Griffin has those alpha male qualities that I love. He goes into protection mode over Sasha and I loved it. I'm not sure what to say about Sasha other than I just loved her. She is so kind and caring. The chemistry between these two is really good too. You just know they are going to be perfect together.

I'm so sad to see this series end, because I've loved it. But I'm also really excited to see what Claire has in store for us next!

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

Donna McEachran

1,517 reviews34 followers

Have loved these books and sad to see the end of the family books. Nice little segway to new series so, hopefully, will hear about Griffin, Sasha and the rest of the family.

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

179 reviews1 follower

March 18, 2025

so cutie. definitely the best love story yet. but it was sooooo slow. even after all of that I still don’t feel like I have answers. so many things could have been more detailed like Chester and Glo and Ford. where did Creelman go? what’s up with Sam. idk for such a long book I feel like it could have been more detailed. loved Sasha and Grif tho sooo bad. so cute. omg.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️.5/5

Tima

2,899 reviews30 followers

October 26, 2023

Griffin, the male lead, is people watching at his brother’s wedding when he spots Sasha, the female lead, who is looking spooked. He acts protectively for her before disappearing - crowds aren’t his thing. Later, when he finds her being threatened by a person of interest in his investigation, he again acts to remove her from the situation, taking her back to his hometown for her protection. Then he offers to marry her for her protection, definitely, not because he’s experiencing emotions or anything…

This long story is dual POV, well written and edited, and a complex, marriage of convenience, contemporary, small town romance that finishes up one series and sets up another for the author to commence. I will say that there is background plot that wasn’t finished and the author has left hanging, suggesting that at least one more story is to come in this setting. I enjoyed Sasha’s frilliness - many stories explicitly portray the female lead as not stereotypically feminine, but that was actually a key part of this story. I enjoyed how Sasha showed that an interest in fashion isn’t necessarily frivolous and that good things can happen there too. I enjoyed Griffin’s gruffness, and his clever and methodical nature. I appreciated the contrast they were for each other. I enjoyed the secondary character integration and the importance of multiple others in the structuring of the story.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

Geraldine Streit

725 reviews3 followers

The story is ok, but a little too slow on the action. Everything is too rush in the last 50 pages. Characters are interesting enough but not enough surprising.

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

Anneth Grijalba

352 reviews4 followers

August 3, 2024

Plot felt forced at times, but the writing was good and that’s what made me continue reading

Donna

319 reviews208 followers

2023-arc 5-star-read age-gap

"I think you’re afraid of what might happen if you let yourself feel anything."

💖 Grumpy/sunshine
💖 Marriage of convenience
💖 Opposites attract
💖 Forced proximity
💖 Heroine in danger
💖 Overly protective MMC
💖 No third act breakup
💖 HEA

Griffin sees Sasha at his brother's wedding, instantly sensing she could be in danger. We finally learn more about the broody mysterious Kelly sibling, what he does and why he keeps everything so close to his chest. I love how grumbly and growly he is, yet underneath it all he's so protective and caring. He's willing to do whatever it takes to keep Sasha safe, afraid feeling anything for her will get in the way of her safety.

"I cling to him like I’m drowning and he’s the only thing keeping me afloat. Like he’s the only thing in the world that matters. That my whole life depends on him."

Determined and smart, Sasha is strong and resilient in the face of fear. She challenges Griffin, getting him to show his vulnerability and open up to her. All she wants is to be accepted and loved, to truly be cared for. And she finds that with Griffin and within the dynamics of the Kelly family.

"I don’t want to breathe a breath of air that you don’t."

This marriage of convenience starts out as a way to keep Sasha safe but what happens when feelings become real? The angst between Griffin and Sasha builds until they can no longer hold back and they connect with an explosive chemistry. They're complete opposites yet they complement each other perfectly. They give each other exactly what they need. She helps him relinquish some sense of control, allowing him the opportunity to let down his guard and enjoy life. And he makes her feel a little less alone.

"It doesn’t matter where I am. The most important thing is with you, I’m not alone. I’ve never felt less alone than since knowing you. And I know I’ll always feel that way so long as you bring me with you wherever you go."

My heart clenched through this story of grief and loss, guilt and self-blame, found family and friendships. I loved the direction of this book which was different than the rest of the Quince Valley series as it introduced elements of suspense, captivating my interest with so many layers of complexity all coming together seamlessly. I think it may be Claire's best yet! I'm intrigued by the connection to the romantic suspense series to come and I'm hoping Ford, Griffin's best friend and colleague, finds his HEA too.

* Special thanks to author Claire Wilder for sending me this ARC to read and review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available October 27, 2023. *

arc author-review-team

Kerri Bonvie

222 reviews10 followers

November 6, 2023

Holy smokes I think I want to live in Quince Valley, VT. I would definitely want to work at the resort and I would be helping them all figure out the mystery of Eleanor Cleary. But I am here for the family drama too. At this point, I feel like I know everybody, and that just comes from how well Claire has written these characters. She has given a voice to females in male dominated careers, how everyone deals with grief, and how if a family pulls together they can overcome anything. I have been dying for this book, and it did not disappoint.
We meet Sasha in Play With Me (book 4) as Nora’s best friend in London. When I learnt that Sasha was going to be matched with Griffin in this book I might have squealed, might've yelped, and might have done a dance. I couldn’t wait to see how Griffin’s rough personality was going to take on Sasha’s optimism. Sasha is a handful, but also has a realness to her. Given how she grew up she always wanted to feel appreciated and loved. Wanted others to feel her love and loyalty. I love that about her. She has the biggest heart and loves unconditionally.
I love Griffin’s broodiness. His alpha shows immediately in regards to Sasha. He was instantly jealous of any man looking at Sasha and that included his father. When I first read that scene in the author's newsletter I just knew this was going to be the book of all books. But oh my gosh, I never saw the story unfolding the way it did. There is forced proximity, alpha possessiveness, security guard, and chosen family. There is also a teeny tiny bit of mafia entanglement surrounded by political/family ties. If that isn’t enough it had angst, slow burn and a fake marriage. YES! It had it all.
I loved that the Kelly family all welcomed and enveloped Sasha into their family. No questions asked, she was one of them. They were as protective of her as Griffin was. Loyalty is one of my biggest pitfalls in life. I have always searched for it because I haven’t really had a lot of it in my life. I found that so relatable with Sasha and with Griffin. Actually, it’s a constant throughout this series. I freaking love The Kelly’s!!
I can’t wait for the holiday novella to see how we find out about Eleanor Cleary. I already see where it’s headed and I can’t wait. Every time I think about it I just smile and get a giddy feeling. I think it will come full circle and I can’t wait! If you haven’t started this series, you need to.

♥ WishfulMiss ♥

1,429 reviews115 followers

I debated how to rate this one because I really did love reading Sasha and Griffin's story. The whole Laura thing I thought was going to overshadow their love story, and it does to some extent. But when Sasha is so in love and happy, accepting Griffin, unconditionally, it was hard to hold his first love against him.

I normally dislike when there is a dead significant other in the mix because I don't like when the heroine is made to feel second best, compared to the OW or like she has to compete with a saintly ghost for the H's affection.

That being said, Griffin never does that. There are a few moments where his knee jerk reaction to distance himself emotionally hurts Sasha but our girl never lets him get away with it. I loved how she always called him out on his BS and made him really question his actions. Sasha was a fighter and she fought for her chance at her own happily ever after.

Mess with Me had slow burn romance, steamy chemistry and lovable characters that were both quirky and endearing. I loved the secondary characters too, especially Chester. I even enjoyed the mystery of the Clearys - even though I was late to the party as this story has been ongoing in the previous books in this series. I liked that I didn't have to read five books to finally solve that mystery, lol!

I was loving the romance, the friendships, new and old and the hint of romance for some side characters but the ending was not what I was expecting. And that is what kept this from being a full 5 star review. But I'm definitely intrigued enough to read the rest of this series, even if I did stumble across this one and read the last one first :)

* * * I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. * * *

SAFETY INFO:
Ages : Not specified but Griff mentions he is only 6 years older than Sasha.

Cheating : None.

OM/OW drama : Griff's first love, Laura, died while on the job. He deals with guilt and has to let go of the past in order to give himself a chance with Sasha.

Separation : None.

Possible Triggers: Dead significant other, FMC does most of the chasing.

HEA/HFN : Ends on a HEA (real marriage). But it was overshadowed (IMO) by the fact that his family wasn't there for the "real" wedding, they had to move to a remote small town and away from all her family and friends, Chester is gone and I was really hoping Ford and Glo would become an item but it sounds like Glo is interested in Sam?! And what's up with the bird popping up at the end! Very cliff hanger-y!

age-gap arc bodyguard-mc

Ms. Shawn

2,116 reviews7 followers

October 30, 2023

Griffin Kelly’s family owns the Rolling Hills resort in Quince Valley, Vermont. Griffin is home to attend his brother Eli’s wedding to Reese, who is now a famous singer. A woman in a pink dress catches his eye. She is nervous about something or someone. He is trained to be aware of things like this.

Sasha Macklin is the woman in pink. She is a friend of Nora and Sasha just returned from London to New York. Nora is Jude Kelly’s girlfriend who is finishing up school in London. Sasha loves Reese’s music so they invited her to the wedding. Her brother Sam is a senator who is 10 years older than Sasha. Sam Macklin paid for Sasha to study in London and get away from the family for a while.

Sam is involved in some shady dealings with Vincent Creelman who is in a criminal organization that blatantly bribes local politicians. The company Griffin works for, McCrae & Associates, has been watching Creelman for another client. Lionel McCrae, the CEO, is Griffin and his friend Ford’s boss. He just pulled surveillance off of Creelman and the guys are confused as to why.

Sam sets up Sasha on a date with Vincent Creelman because he owes Creelman. Creelman implies that Sasha is now owned by him. Griffin saves Sasha in the restaurant. He gives her a business card that is blank except for one phone number. A couple of weeks later, Sasha needs to use that number. Creelman sent his goons to grab Sasha at her apartment.

Can Griffin keep Sasha safe at his family’s resort in Quince Valley? Do they really need to get married to ensure McCrae & Associates will help protect her? Will Griffin and his buddy Ford figure out why their boss Lionel McCrae is acting so weird? How is all of this related?

This was one of the most intriguing stories of the series.

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

Rebmay

2,775 reviews50 followers

October 25, 2023

Sasha and Griffin’s story features a slow-burn, advance then retreat romance as well as some intrigue and an ongoing mystery. Griffin is a gruff, no nonsense, and intense kind of guy. He takes his job and his role of protector seriously as Sasha soon discovers. His first sight of Sasha tells him she is in trouble and helping people in trouble is ingrained in him. Griffin is there to rescue Sasha from an extremely dangerous situation her own brother put her in, but she once again denies she needs help. Nonetheless, Griffin gives her his card and tells her to call him if she is in trouble or feeling unsafe. It certainly doesn’t take long for her to need to do just that since she has now become someone’s prey thanks to her brother’s nefarious business dealings.

Griffin takes Sasha under his care and even marries her to keep her safe. He tells himself to keep his distance, to keep his attraction, his libido and most importantly his heart under lock and key. But there is just something about Sasha that sparks something deep within him that he thought was not possible, at least not any more. She has a compassionate, caring and down to earth side that he never would have expected at their first meeting. Their story has some bumps, detours and twists, as well as plenty of steam and emotional moments that make this book an enjoyable read. The secondary characters definitely add more interest to this book, especially Chester who snagged my heart. Somewhere along the way, Griffin and Sasha become aware that they want a real marriage, but they are going to have to fight to have a future together.

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

Tammy Moldovan

1,964 reviews25 followers

Swoons, mystery and danger

I loved Sasha and Griffin’s opposites attract, marriage of convenience romance. This is a heartwarming, funny and steamy romance full of lovable and relatable characters with a smidge of suspense and mystery. The story will give you all the swoony swoons while also pulling at your heartstrings with all the emotions. Expect to feel all the things as the story progresses. Sasha is a bubbly and talkative woman from a wealthy family but she only feels close to her one brother, Sam, who is in politics. Griffin is a grumbly man of few words who works for a private protective agency that is keeping tabs on Sasha’s brother and his potential dirty dealings with a criminal. Sasha and Griffin have met briefly twice before but when Sam puts her into the sights of a dangerous criminal, Griffin steps in to protect her. Since something strange is going on with his boss, Griffin decides marrying Sasha and doing desk work in his tiny hometown is the best way to keep her safe. Griffin is a little rough around the edges and a little wounded and Sasha is also a wounded soul that needs healing. I have a soft spot for the people who are a bit uncomfortable in their skin because they don’t feel like they fit in or are worthy, like Sasha and Griffin. So I love when they finally see their truth and they get swoon worthy HEAs. And what an HEA journey it was. The story was well written and included witty dialogue, three dimensional characters who grow, and an engaging storyline as shown through sweet moments, steamy scenes, chuckles, messy families, painful pasts, danger, plot twists, and all the heart squeezing love. I am looking forward to reading more in this series. 4.5 stars.

Brayzen Bookwyrm

377 reviews52 followers

Small Town Meets Big Suspense

Claire Wilder upped her game and the ante with Mess With Me, book five in her Quince Valley series. I’ve been looking forward to growly and secretive Griffin’s story, but nothing in books one through four prepared me for how much I was going to fall for him. Paired with a heroine I developed and an insta-girlcrush for, a quirky and loveable neighbor, intense family dynamics, and some serious suspense, I was a goner for Sasha and Griffin’s HEA.

Wilder does an exceptional job of integrating the suspenseful element of Mess With Me into the smalltown serenity and tempo built into the entire series. She’s been building us up for a while to expect the unexpected from Griffin, and she delivered. The steam is scorching, and Griffin and Sasha are a powerful match. They’re well-developed and relatable characters, even amidst the chaos of their situation. And they fit perfectly with each other, balancing each other’s strengths and meeting each other within their vulnerabilities to build a solid foundation for their future together.

The pace is steady, bringing the reader along as Griffin and Sasha navigate a treacherous situation and their relationship with care. The final conflict is heart-pounding! I seriously found myself white-nuckling my Kindle and holding my breath.

If you’re wondering about that interwoven mystery about a certain person found in a certain place—Wilder winds that up too. Kind of. She brings us a huge chunk of the puzzle, pushing us closer to all the details, but the full conclusion, one missing piece, is still out there. I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of the Quince Valley crew yet. And I am so here for it.

Barbara Atkinson

946 reviews4 followers

October 26, 2023

There is just something about those Kelly Boys. Griffin is the mysterious one. He prefers to be alone. Has a job that is even a mystery to his family. But he is also a protector, and has a heart of gold. He loves his family, is loyal to his job and friends, takes care of his elderly neighbor, fights the worst kind of demons to make the world a better place
and would give his life for those he loves.
Sasha is a rich girl, loves clothes and babies. She is the sister of a political figure, the daughter of a beauty queen and best friends with Nora. She is sassy, independent , lonely and loves with all her heart. When her life is threatened Griffin will stop at nothing to protect her.
I absolutely loved this story. There is so much emotion in Claire’s works. We see the inter struggles and demons the characters must overcome. We also see them for their true selves. Griffin and Sasha both have to let go in order to truly find each other.
The supporting characters are also great in this book. We see the loyalty and love of the friendships with the characters such as Ford, and Chester. The love of the entire Kelly family and how they will do anything to protect each other. We also see the final chapter of Elenor’s story and the book ends in a small cliffhanger to start a new spinoff series.

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

Monica

1,054 reviews10 followers

Wow! What an incredible ending to this series. Claire's ability to weave a romantic suspense is off the charts. This book has all the most wonderful feels you could want in a book. Intrigue, suspense, catching feelings that quickly morph into more, finding family in the most unlikely place, and finding unconditional love with your hero.

Socialite Sasha Macklin has met Griffin Kelly just briefly a couple of times, but when she finds herself in a dangerous situation, it's Griffin that comes to her rescue. She just didn't expect to need saving from someone she should have been able to trust above all.

Confirmed bachelor Griffin Kelly knew something was off when he and his partner were listening to surveillance recordings. They barely arrived in time to save Sasha from a terrifying ordeal. Keeping her safe in his cabin seemed simple enough until Griffin suddenly announces in front of his family that he and Sasha are getting married. Not only does it shock his family and Sasha but Griff can hardly believe it either, especially when he realizes he's catching feelings for the pretty, chatty, baby loving beauty.

Sasha and Griffin quickly find themselves falling for each other and just when it seems things are going well the trouble they left behind arrives in Quince Valley and not everyone will escape unscathed.

I received an ARC and freely offer this review.

Susan S.

82 reviews3 followers

Read

October 28, 2023

I have been waiting for Griffin's story since I read the first book in the Quince Valley Romance series! Quiet, dark, mysterious work and secretive life... I had no idea how Wilder was going to write Griffin's story, but she did and she did it beautifully!
A personality such as Griffin's was going to need to woman with an equally interesting charm. Enter Sasha. Strong, confident, intelligent, yet venerable at the same time. A woman who can take care of herself but finds she craves the shelter of only one man's arms - that of Griffin Kelly.
Claire Wilder wrote a wonderful romance story with just the right amount of suspense. She was able to incorporate and ending to the common mystery thread found in the other Quince Valley books as well as create the beginning to a new series. I love the way the characters from the other books not only added to this story but also gave us a glimpse as to what has been happening with them since their stories ended. (Or as in the case of Jude and Nora, what is happening at the same time!)
This story had everything you could want in a book: romance, suspense, small town feel, loveable characters, and of course, a happily ever after.
I would definitely recommend this story.

I received an ARC for an honest review.

Sarah | Retro Girl Reads

1,616 reviews93 followers

October 30, 2023

“Mess With Me” is the last book in Claire Wilder’s Quince Valley series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone. I’m a huge fan of both small town romances and the marriage of convenience trope, so I was really excited to read this book - and it was actually pretty good!

The two POV characters are Griffin Kelly and Sasha Macklin. Griffin works in security and is determined not to let anyone in - especially someone like Sasha, who’s bubbly and talkative and far too pretty for her own good. I thought Griffin was a likable character, and I loved how he dropped everything to make sure she was safe.

As for Sasha, I thought she was a total sweetheart. She’s passionate about clothes and shoes and makeup, but that’s not all there is to her personality. She’s kind and funny and sassy, and I loved the way she brought Griffin out of his shell. I also loved the friendship the two of them had with their elderly neighbor Chester, a man who was definitely eccentric but also a total hoot.

The twists and turns were interesting, and even though Griffin and Sasha had communication issues at times, I thought this was a good read overall! I will definitely be looking into more books by Claire Wilder.

lowkeyreader

5,536 reviews52 followers

October 28, 2023

Mess With Me by Claire Wilder is a well-written and engaging story that is a fitting finale to the Quince Valley series. The book is a marriage of convenience small town romance with suspense elements that can be read as a standalone. The story has a lot of elements that will keep readers hooked, including danger, suspense, intrigue, family dynamics, friendships, attraction, and love. The characters, Griffin and Sasha, have great chemistry and their story has some bumps, detours, and twists. The book is emotional, heartfelt, and has banter-to-the-rafters small-town romance like no other. The author is a queen of steamy, small-town romance, and this book is one of the best in the Quince Valley series.

Overall, Mess With Me is a great book that is worth reading. It has a lot of steam, suspense, and romance that will keep readers engaged from the beginning to the end. The characters are relatable, and the story is well-written and engaging. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves small-town romance with suspense elements. I give Mess With Me by Claire Wilder a 4-star rating.

Kelchickbooklover

2,029 reviews68 followers

What an outstanding, suspense-filled, marriage of convenience and slow-burn romance that is impossible to put down. MS. Wilder gives us a storyline that is so intriguing that before you know it you are at the end of the book. Mess With Me is Griffin and Sasha's story that sees the Griffin falling first but he fights it with every bone in his body. Seeing her at his brother's wedding and finding out who she really is has more than his interest piqued. With him working the job he does, he keeps tabs on her even though he is going against his boss's orders. Danger rears its ugly head and that causes Griffin to take Sasha somewhere safe, his cabin. Secrets are revealed, and feelings become something that either one of them can fight. A proposition is offered and the next thing we know is the two of them cross and enter into a fake marriage.
At the turn of every page, danger met them, family members were not who people thought they were and love that was hiding under the surface just got stronger and stronger to the point it broke through and bloomed. I would highly recommend grabbing this amazing book and follow the beautiful love story of Griffin and Sasha.

J.p

1,367 reviews4 followers

October 28, 2023

You know when people say they are as different as chalk and cheese and that oil and vinegar don’t mix? Well this is not the case for Sasha and Griffin,so different in so many ways but they just fit, if only they could see this for themselves. Sasha is at her idols wedding Reese who is marrying Griffins brother Eli ,that’s their first encounter and it didn’t go too well although sparks are there. Griffin is surveying a bad man when he encounters Sasha again, she’s in trouble so Griffin being an undercover James Bond 😂helps her out. In order to protect her life he needs to marry her! Sure Griffin, keep telling yourself that’s the reason! There’s danger, mystery ( still not resolved) so another story there for sure, chemistry, great network of characters and heat. Is Sasha the one that could mellow this broody protective man of mystery when they realise that their marriage is just not for convenience any more?A phenomenal read , I’m not ready to be moving out of Quince Valley just yet, for a small town it sure has its intrigue and secrets.

Dawnmarie Burke

2,179 reviews14 followers

contemporary-romance organized-crime suspense

This is the 5th book in the Quince Valley Romance series featuring Griffin and Sasha's steamy, suspenseful, fake marriage, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract romance. Griffin and Sasha are complete opposites but they are both drawn to each other and he's completely protective of her. Sasha is so nice and kind she's very caring and she keeps Griffin on his toes and the chemistry between them is electric. When Sasha is in danger by people she's supposed to be able to trust Griffin is the first one there to keep her safe. When he finds out that the only way to keep her safe is to marry Sasha he doesn't even think twice they're getting married. I don't want to say anymore and ruin it for anyone else with spoilers. You really need to read this steamy, suspenseful, fake marriage, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract romance to see what happens. I would recommend reading this book.

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

Rachel

741 reviews9 followers

October 23, 2023

The Quince Valley books by Claire Wilder center on a family-run hotel/resort in a small community. There is also an ongoing mystery that runs through the stories. This last book takes up the story of Griffin, a brother who has barely been heard from in the other books, and we soon see why. He is a closed-off personal security operative whose life goes awry when he notices a woman at his brother's wedding. He gets a hunch that she needs protection, and she does. They are an improbable couple, but they like each other, and she agrees to marry him so that his company is obligated to protect her from organized crime enemies of her brother, who is in politics. Complicated, isn't it? This is what I like about Claire Wilder: she can make us believe all this is real and that these people are out there somewhere, and we care deeply about them and their fates. All the loose finds are wrapped up, and an unlikely hero emerges.
I received an ARC from the author and left this review voluntarily.

Floraljoy

1,123 reviews

October 30, 2023

All the hearts:
This book was heartwarming, heartfelt, heart stopping... basically it made my heart sing. Let's just say that I loved it! I found it to be exciting and intriguing, with both the suspense and romance keeping me equally engaged.
Griffin and Sasha made a fabulous couple and thee connection and chemistry between them was palpable. I loved how sassy Sasha brought broody and gruff Griffin to his knees.
Whilst this was the final book featuring a Kelly sibling, I think it could nevertheless be enjoyed as a standalone. However I highly recommend reading all the previous books as they are just as wonderful and unique in their own way. There was no resolution to the ongoing mystery that has been carried through from previous books in the series but apparently all will finally be revealed in the upcoming Christmas novella.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Lucy

843 reviews17 followers

January 15, 2025

This was decent. I think that for an interconnected standalone, the book should be able to stand on its own. The problem with this was that it was slow. The beginning felt fast paced and the last 50ish pages zoomed almost too quickly but at the 50% mark it just started to drag.

I really liked Griffin and Sasha. This was definitely an opposites attract situation because these two characters could not be any more un-alike. But it seemed to work, kind of. The chemistry felt a bit forced, and Sasha throwing herself at Griffin felt so weirdly manufactured that I could really get into the relationship. Honestly Chester was my favorite out of all the characters in this book.

As far as the suspense goes, that was good. I really didn't know how it was all going to go down. In fact, if there was less romance and more of the suspense plot-line (and there was about 100 pages trimmed out) this would have been a high 4 star for sure.

Sue Carter

732 reviews5 followers

October 23, 2023

Readable romantic thriller. I enjoyed the way this started with security expert, Griffin encountering politician’s sister, Sasha at a family wedding. The reader is teased from the start as Sasha is obviously on edge and Griffin’s instincts are aroused that she is in trouble. The story has pace and unexpected twists and turns as Griffin rescues Sasha from an unpleasant encounter with a criminal associated with her brother; keeping her safe necessitates hiding out in his hometown and entering into a fake marriage to protect her. An enjoyable story, with plenty of steam and romance along with the plot twists; in addition, there is the mystery of an old murder associated with Griffin's family which was introduced in a previous story in this series. I particularly liked the HEA which sets up further stories with other characters we meet along the way in this novel.

Silke

1,569 reviews12 followers

October 24, 2023

Mess with Me is the final book in the Quince Valley series, a fitting finale to a series that's earned a spot on my keeper shelf. You will want to clear your calendar before starting to read because this story will grap you with the first sentence and won't let go until the end! There's so much happening - danger, suspense and intrigue, family dynamics both wonderful and really bad, friendships that endure, attraction turning into a sense of belonging and finally, love. It's a rollercoaster of emotions which had my heart and pulse racing. The happy ending is in keeping with the rest - bittersweet. It's a good thing that we'll get to meet up with Sasha and Griff again in a brand-new upcoming series. I can't wait!.

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

Kate

128 reviews

I always, always, always enjoy Claire's writing but I think this one might just be my very favourite. I knew I was going to love Griff when his story came along and boy, did I ever! I just adore a sexy grumpy protector hero and Claire has written him to perfection. Sasha was a wonderful heroine and together they make the perfect couple. I love how she teases him and gets him to open up. The suspense in parts really had me on the edge of my seat so perhaps not the best to read before bedtime! This one really has it all - heat, romance, great friendships and the aforementioned suspense. It was great catching up with the rest of the family too. If you're just starting out in reading romance or if you're a longtime fan, you really cannot do better than a Claire Wilder novel. Perfection. Highly recommended.

Amy Reads Romance

993 reviews11 followers

I can unequivocally say this is Claire Wilder's best novel so far. This Quince Valley series has been fantastic, with each book better than the last. After Play With Me, Jude's story, I didn't think Griffin's story would be as emotional as it is. So much suspense, angst and chemistry! We finally know what Griffin does for a living. He actually isn't a wraith! I always knew he was one of the good guys, but he's a bona fide Hero. Sasha is his polar opposite, and the yin to his yang. It's beautiful. Their happily ever after was not unexpected, but was lovely. The transition from Quince Valley to a new series in North Road, Ohio is exciting. The lead-in for Ford and Glo's story is intriguing, and coming in 2024. Mess With Me is absolutely worth the one click. I hope you enjoy it!

I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

ReadonReader

2,610 reviews6 followers