I knew from the very start that Garrett’s book was going to own me. It’s not a surprise to me that this is easily my favorite book of the entire series because Garrett is basically my favorite kind of hero:
Sexy – Check
Wounded – Check
Grumpy – Check
Soft underbelly so sweet I could feast on it for days – Check
I could have stood for a little more…surliness from him. And sometimes Charlie’s efforts to get him to clue in felt painfully awkward (or maybe just painful) but even despite those minor quibbles, this book gripped my heart in a way the previous books weren’t able to. It dipped and ached and soared for these two friends as they fumbled and fought their way toward their happily ever after.
While I think I’ve made it clear how much I adored Garrett, it bears mentioning that I also loved Charlie quite a bit. I adored her relationship with Sydney and how unexpectedly angst-free that played out. I loved her loyalty to Garrett, how she knew his heart and refused to let him make fear-based decisions. She was strong and loyal and the payoff for that was a sweet sweet treat for my heart once she finally bulldozed Garrett’s walls and all that soft sweet underbelly came on full display.
I couldn’t put this book down and read it in less than a day. I was fully engaged, flipping pages almost compulsively as I lost myself in this completely satisfying love story. It’s funny, adorable, occasionally frustrating, but in the end just so perfectly, sweetly satisfying - and I 100% know I’ll be back for more (because: Vance). ~ Shelly, 4.5 Stars
************
I have been a rabid Piper Rayne fan since her Modern Love series. They write the perfect combination of heat, humor and heart and are frankly one of the best. They seriously continue to BRING it and deliver all the swoons, the sass and the HOT and growly men we love to devour. Case in point: Garrett Shaw. These ladies legit have dangled this perfect specimen in our faces in the first two books in this series and we were finally going to see how he was gonna catch his fish named Charlotte (Charlie) or get reeled in in the process. And boy did they deliver. This broody single father and the (forbidden) woman he's always wanted brought all the fireworks and I seriously couldn't get enough!
Single father and widower of twelve years Garrett Shaw has always known Charlotte "Charlie" Rose. She is his bestfriend's little sister and a constant reminder that he has a responsibility to look out for her. But what happens when little "Charlie" Rose grew into a hot and sexy firecracker who was persistent in her pursuit? A man only has so much restraint, right? Well get ready because BOOM goes that explosion, folks! Their passion was fiery and their chemistry electric.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked that the authors were cautious in balancing Garrett's fear of committment (due to his fear of losing another loved one) with his undeniable attraction for Charlie. He tried to resist her as best as he could but eventually chemistry and passion won out. What I had a slight issue with was the fast turnaround in which he suddenly changed his tune. I for one (jaded NYer that I am) was suspicious LOL. I couldn't help but be wary that his sudden capitulation was out of the blue and not because he suddenly saw Charlie as his one and only. Yes, folks - I have a girl crush on Charlie. She was sweet, sassy and protective of those she cared about. And while I shook my head at her a few times (thinking Garrett needed to GROVEL more), she was the legit bomb and my favorite of all three heroines.
All in all this was a great read and a little bittersweet as I'm not ready to say goodbye to Climax Cove. But as all good things must end, I am SO ready for Vance and his Dirty Truths. Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula
***********
Oh, but this was exactly what I needed to pull me out of my slump! Since I have my very own grump at home, I seem to have a serious soft spot for characters that remind me of him. Hard on the outside, but soft and in love on the inside. Garrett was everything I wanted I wanted him to be and more.
Obviously he was brooding and sexy as sin. Yet, since that wasn't quite enough to sizzle my ovaries he had to be a devoted and amazing father. Boom! Exploded. A little dense sometimes, I mean really, what Charlie should have done was give him a knock upside his head. Yet still, he had all the best intentions and I just wanted to give him a big hug and tell him it would all be ok.
Charlie. Favorite character in this series. Hands down, no contest. So strong and feisty, yet so generous with her affection. I like assertive go get 'em Charlie. She was the kick in the pants Garrett needed, and his safe haven all in one.
Seeing the crew get to interact all paired off was an absolute delight, and having a few of my old favorites thrown in for good measure felt like a homecoming. Any doubts I had about this series after reading Dane and Ava's story were washed away only a few chapters in. This is the Piper Rayne I've come to know and love, and this was them at their snarky, swoony best! ~George, 4.5 Stars