Paige and Lee are in the running for fave couple…
Some time ago I read the first book in this series and then at some point added this fourth book to my TBR list. When I finally got around to reading it I decided to go ahead and start at the beginning and read them all in order though. While I do love this series, I almost wish I hadn’t done that just because I was really looking forward to this book but found a lot of the storyline was basically a repeat of the second and third books and that was distracting.
In this series we have a very tightknit group of Montgomery siblings and their friends. This is the third book in a row where a Montgomery sibling has wound up with one of the close friends, yet somehow each time they act surprised and struggle with “we shouldn’t…. This is wrong”. After the third couple and the same reaction, I had to shake my head. At this point surely no one would be surprised or upset, so it was really a nonissue. In fact, the brothers were actually all supportive about it. It was these two that were all in their own way. When Paige was getting in her own head and way, she started saying “I just need to breathe”, which was exactly the same things that Brenna kept saying in the last book 🙄 So while there really wasn’t anything wrong with the storyline (I actually love it) I do wish I had read this one first like I initially intended so it wasn’t a three-peat in those parts, which I find annoying.
Paige spent the previous books in a relationship with Colton, but got left behind when he made a career move to NYC and didn’t even consider bringing her. She was heartbroken, but the hits kept coming when she discovered she was pregnant. With her siblings all married off and starting their own families, she didn’t want to be a burden and felt alone. To be honest, the “I’m all alone” when she pushed her family away and refused to lean on them was a bit tedious. Being a strong woman doesn’t mean not accepting help, especially when you have such an involved protective family. But I digress… Unexpectedly, Lee volunteers to be at her side. Even he is surprised by his offer, as he always said he’d remain single with no kids forever. He has a tragic childhood that has colored his outlook (Trigger warning for some: Parent suicide). These two play “dating but not dating” for almost a year before they finally open their eyes and accept what is clearly happening between them. They are very sweet together. Lee is a great partner and a great guy. He steps up for Paige and the baby in a big way, and any guy that voluntarily steps up for that responsibility is amazing in my book.
I enjoy this series and love the Montgomery clan. I definitely enjoyed this book, which I expected, but wish so much of the writing wasn’t a repeat of the previous books.