Three Brothers

by Nicole Williams

I grew up with three brothers. They weren’t tied to me by blood, but our connection went beyond genetics or bearing the same last name. Our connection was forged the summer I turned thirteen, the summer my mom ended her life and left me in the custody of John Armstrong, a man I’d never met. Packing all I owned in a couple of boxes, I left the familiarity of the big city and headed west to Red Mountain Ranch, set in a lonely valley outside of Jackson Hole.

Nothing was as it seemed at Red Mountain—it didn’t take long for me to figure that out. John was kind to me but distant, as if he was afraid to let anyone get too close. His three teenage sons had their own devices for keeping love as far away as they could. The eldest distracted himself with cheap relationships that had a shelf-life of one night. The middle son threw himself into the rigor of running a ranch, and the third wielded cruelty and mind-games in his quest to keep people from getting close.

Time has gone by, and I’ve spent those years trying to forget the brother I’d fallen for—the biggest mistake of my life.

Finally, I’ve moved on. Finally, I’m back. But what I didn’t realize was that running away from the wrong brother meant I’d also run away from the right one. The one who’d been there for me all along, waiting in his brother’s shadow for the day I either would or could move on.

But a decade is a long time to wait. Has the brother I should have chosen all of those years ago moved on too? Am I about to discover that my biggest mistake wasn’t falling in love with the wrong brother, but failing to return the love of the right one sooner?

Does unrequited love have an expiration date?

I’m about to find out.

Author’s Note: This book is a “sweet” romance that isn’t overly sexy. Fans of Lost & Found will be interested in Three Brothers.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Westerns, Drama, Friends To Lovers

206 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 19, 2015

About the author

Nicole is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author who got her humble start dictating books to her parents at the age of three and her big break nearly three decades later when she signed her first publishing deal. She grew up an avid reader and writer who majored in Economics because a Creative Writing degree was lofty and impractical, not to mention a pipe dream. Irony, you wily fiend.

When she isn’t embroiled in a book, she spends her time playing wife and mom to her two favorite people in the world, and referee to their three rescue pets/wildlings. Nicole lives in the Evergreen State on the quieter side, ideal for an admitted recluse who enjoys the diversity of outdoor endeavors the Great Northwest offers.


Nicole loves hearing from her readers. You can connect with her on:

Facebook: Author Nicole Williams
Instagram: author_nicole_williams
Twitter: nwilliamsbooks

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ‘Cursed’ stars!

“We don’t get to choose how we die, but we get to choose how we live.”

One thing I can say about Three Brothers is that it is not your average NA/romance book. It’s got a unique story line. I haven’t read anything quite like it. And I love finding that in a book. Finding that story that makes me emotional, makes me feel, AND is not your run of the mill story. That is something special and it doesn’t happen nearly enough! This is not just a romance. It’s a story of coming home, a story of finding yourself, letting go, forgiving and moving forward.

Scout just finished Veterinarian school. After being gone seven years, she’s coming home. Home to a place where four different, but equally important men are. One is like a father to her. One is like her big brother. One has always been her very best friend. And the other, well, it’s complicated.



It’s not been accidental that she’s been gone that long, someone has kept her away. But no more. She’s not letting what happened in the past control her future. She will deal with these Armstrong boys and then decide where her life will go, but no more running.

I really liked Scout a lot. I didn’t love that she left her best friend for so long, but I understood why she felt the need to do that. One of my biggest issues with this story and probably the main reason it wasn’t a five star read for me, is that I wanted more of Scout’s past. I wanted to know what led up to her coming to stay with the Armstrong boys when she was 13? It’s mentioned quickly towards the middle/end, but I wanted more.

I thought the relationship she had with all 3 boys was well done. Chase. She was able to help Chase heal and grow after suffering such loss. I loved Wolf. Conn. As tumultuous as their relationship was, in the end, she was able to give him the peace and forgiveness he needed. And then there is Chance. She was able to give Chance back his best friend.

So the question I know you’re all wondering is which Armstrong brother has her heart? Well… I guess you’ll have to read and find out!



This is not a light and easy read. The entire book is centered around a death getting ready to take place, and a curse that is keeping the Scout and her love interest apart. It’s been proven time and time again that the Armstrong men are cursed. All of their wives have met untimely deaths.

“Would you let yourself love someone if you were convinced it would be your love that would kill them?”

It was an interesting spin. Just when things with the ‘curse’ started to fade a little, we were hit with a HUGE twist. One I didn’t see coming and induced a mini-panic attack. So readers, be prepared to be thrown for a loop!

Three Brothers is an emotional, beautiful and original story. It’s got a swoony hero, a lovely romance, and a lot of heart wrenching moments. I loved going on the journey that these characters took us. And most of all, I loved that they took a chance on love. That they would rather risk being together than not. That they decided to live every day to the fullest with one another, then living potentially safe lives apart. If you’re looking for a different type of love story, I would recommend this!

“I’ve got you now. That’s all that matters. Right now, right here, you’re mine.”

[Lady Vigilante (Feifei) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars!



Nicole Williams is an author who has penned several of my all-time favorite books – namely the Lost & Found series – and there are some aspects I’ve come to expect in her stories that make them so enjoyable: a sweet and swoony hero that makes my heart go pitter patter, a lush, atmospheric setting that makes me want to dive into the book and never come out, and a captivating storyline guaranteed to never bore me. As far as these three things go, they’re all present in Three Brothers and for the most part I really thought this would be at least a 4 star read for me. However, I didn’t count on the last 20% of the book to be not so…appealing, hence I had to drop a star. There were a couple of 2-star scenes that made smoke steam out of my ears, and yet there were also many 4 or 4+ star scenes I adored, so rounding off to 3 stars felt appropriate to me.

7 years after leaving the one place she calls home, the heroine Scout is back in town as her foster father is dying and she needs to make amends with him. Of course, it also means seeing his three sons Chase, Chance, and Conn, the three boys who each have a special place in her heart. With Chase, she only feels sisterly affection and they tease each other incessantly. With Chance, he’s always been her best friend, her rock. And with Conn, he’s like fire where Scout is water. He’s the tortured bad boy she crushed on, lusted after and desperately wanted to fix, only to get badly burned. Now 7 years later, a more mature Scout is genuinely over him. This time, a truly beautiful and tender romance develops between her and her best friend Chance, who’s always loved her from afar. With him, the ranch that served as a symbol of so many bad memories is wiped clean.



I’m going to have to take this next paragraph and dedicate it to the hero Chance because he made my heart MELT. Honestly, I haven’t swooned over a hero this much for a while now, and sort of feel a little guilty for rating a book with him in it only 3 stars. Usually the really bad boys, the tortured ones like Conn would get my panties in a twist, but this time it’s the good guy who stole my heart. He’s sweet, but not overly so where it becomes nauseating. The quietly intense way he loves Scout really touched me, and he’s a guy you’d never have to question his fidelity or loyalty because protecting her and loving her is all that matters to him.



^^Seriously, I can’t even. In context of the book, it was even more swoony.

But alas, there were many issues I had with the story. First being that I NEEDED details about Scout’s past when she just moved to the ranch. I seriously can’t believe all of that was left out. Whenever she or the boys referred to past events and the devastation that was caused all around, I literally was tapping my foot waiting for someone to divulge details but none were given. It made the story feel like a chunk was missing. I need those details for the story to feel whole.

Another thing that pissed me off big time was the last 20% of the book. I’m not going to lay out what happens exactly as it’s a major spoiler, but it’s safe to say I was not a fan of the way things wrapped up (don’t worry, the hero and heroine are alive). A twist that came out of NOWHERE created extra drama totally not needed and then that finale…oh my god. I seriously felt like throwing up. All I’m going to say is that I think the author took the easy way out.



However, this book is probably the author’s most thought-provoking story yet and it certainly did make me feel. I actually think the blurb is misleading because aside from the sweet hero, nothing about this story was sweet. It was introspective, at-times depressing, and emotional. There are no steamy sex scenes but I actually enjoyed the book more that way. The lack of steam fit in perfectly with the pace and tone of the story.

Usually there’s this special spark in this author’s books that make me instantly fall in love with them, but sadly, it was missing in this one. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this story for what it was worth, and I would recommend reading it just for the perfect hero alone.

Three Brothers is a standalone romance unrelated to this author’s other books. Despite what’s hinted at in the blurb, there is no cheating and no love triangle.

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story took me down a completely different journey than I originally thought. I have always enjoyed Nicole William’s writing and when I started this one I thought I was going to get a light hearted story about losing love and finding it. However, with Three Brothers you get a little more than that. I think this story had a deeper love and was more heartfelt.



Scout was orphaned at thirteen and sent to live with her closest kin, John Armstrong. John had three sons: Chase, Chance, and Conn. These men became Scout’s family. These three brothers helped shaped her into the person she is; one was the hot guy who joked around with her, one was her best friend, and the other her childhood love. One night after being hurt by one brother she runs away.

It has been seven years since Scout’s returned to Red Mountain Ranch. This land holds so many memories for her, not all positive. The only thing that could bring her back is happening, John is dying. When Scout returns home things are a wreck. Everyone has lost their way and John’s impending death isn’t helping matters. Chase has lost his wife just weeks before, Chance is working himself to death, and Conn is drinking his liver away.

As Scout begins to settle in she is seeing how things changed. Scout doesn’t do anything special, she is just there for them and tells them what needs to be said. Gradually things begin to change and they open up about their fears. This land that was her home for so many years they believe is cursed. The Armstrong’s are a very wealthy family, but it is old money and was obtained through vicious means by their ancestors. The family believes that as a curse any woman the Armstrong men love will die a young death.

"It doesn’t matter because curse or no curse, Chase believes there’s one. That’s where the power rests - the belief in existence, not the actual existence.”

Scout is shocked to learn this theory and doesn’t put much stock into their thoughts, until this curse threatens to separate her from her potential great love. I personally don’t believe in curses and such, I am a very pragmatic thinker. However, I do love how Ms. Williams presented it and showed that it didn’t matter if it was real or not. The curse being the reason for keep his feelings quite didn’t feel like unnecessary drama to me, and how he conveyed his fears melted my heart.



As I mentioned this story takes a lot of different turns and had a lot of twists. Since I wasn’t expecting this type of book I didn’t even see them coming. I enjoyed how things were going and was completely hooked until the last 10%. The events didn’t cause me to not enjoy the story, I just wish things had been a little different.

When I finished I was hoping for more of an epilogue, but I realized it was an example of their true love. Both would rather take the risk and be together than live a hundred years without the other. I think that is true love and it’s beautiful. By the end of this story I loved these characters, my heart broke for them, and I wanted everyone to get their HEA.



ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel L · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3.5 stars

"We don't get to choose how we die, but we get to choose how we live."



When Scout was thirteen years old her mother died and she was sent to live with the Armstrong's. John, the father, and his sons Chase, Chance and Conn. Chase was the big brother she had never had before, Chance was her best friend, and Conn became her teenage obsession. After living with them for five years, Scout ended up fleeing. Now seven years later, John is dying and Scout must return home.

"How could I have been so blinded by one brother that I missed this one? The one.

This book was an exploration of the family dynamic and how different people deal with grief. The Armstrong's believed there was a curse on them that whatever women they loved died due to a natural accident, and many women already had died that way. Scout as a sister loved them and they loved her back.

I really liked the idea that after choosing the wrong guy for so many years, that Scout came back and fell for the brother who had loved her in secret all along. I did not like the plot that belief in the curse would keep him away.

Why 3 stars? The pacing was pretty slow and while I liked the book, I don't feel the urge to reread it in the future, and honestly there could have been a bit more romance in this book for me. So if you want a well written family dynamic book, this one is for you.

[Natasha is a Book Junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There is no one better for me than you. There never has been, and there never will be.”

As someone who reads so avidly and is constantly seeking that next great story, that next unforgettable journey to hold me captive and overwhelm me emotionally, I am getting pickier and pickier the more books I read, and it takes more now than it used to for a story to rock my world and make me swoon over every word in it. But there are some authors who never fail to do just that, time and time again, their powerful prose never disappointing, and their stories always making me feel so much, and always in such different ways. This is one of those extraordinary books. A timeless tale, a tale in which powerful themes are approached with subtlety and sensitivity, a tale in which even the most understated of scenes has the ability to fill us to the brim with emotions, and while the deliberately unhurried pace of this story might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I personally needed it to be just as it is because it ensured that every message took root, that every life lesson got heard, and that every single deeper meaning was conveyed just right. I fell in love with these characters, so much that I never wanted to part with them, but even more than that, I fell in love with a touching story of love, loss, courage and forgiveness, a story that made my heart smile cover to cover.

“I’d spent more time away from that place than I’d spent there, but I’d learned that some places and people leave a deeper impression than others, regardless of time.”

Scout is a young woman in her mid twenties who has spent seven years of her young life running away from a place that made her the person she is today. A place filled with memories, both good and bad, she has allowed her heartbreak to keep her away from the only place she calls home, and from the only people in her life that she considers family. But when a tragic turn of events takes her back to that very place, Scout is forced to confront old demons while rekindling bonds that never should have been severed in the first place.

“I’d let one person and the memories of him keep me from this place for seven years. I’d never make that mistake again.”

Scout grew up with the three Armstrong brothers by having spent five of her most impressionable teen years living under the same roof, raised by the same man and treated as one of them, but she forged very different ties with each of the brothers, their differing personalities reflecting the type of relationship she formed with them—a loving best friend, a playful older brother, and an unrequited teenage crush. But when she returns to Red Mountain Ranch after seven years of absence, nothing is as it once was. And where once there was life and joy, now there is only despair and bereavement haunting the halls of her old childhood home.

“Life was heightened on those thousands on acres, and no one who entered its boundaries was exempt. The highs of life were higher, but the lows followed the same pattern, and in my experience, the lows outweighed the highs at Red Mountain.”

Taken aback by all the changes, Scout is forced to confront all that she has left behind, and the very reasons that drove her away from a place she loves so dearly. She is no longer the vulnerable young girl whose heart led her astray, and the Armstrong brother whose past actions have troubled her for so long no longer has the same power over her. Amidst past and present heartache, Scout has to finally recognise her unhealthy obsession for what it once was and allow her heart to see what had been in front of her all along.

“What I wanted to give and wanted to feel wasn’t hiding in the darkness… it had been in plain sight the whole time.”

But love is the very thing that the Armstrong men fear the most, and sometimes finding the love of your life does not necessarily mean you are allowed to keep it too. Especially when old family secrets are thrown into the mix.

A beautiful and at times heart-shattering story about learning to live life to the fullest, fearing nothing, not even death, and living it with no regrets, the entire story is akin to a nostalgic trip down memory lane, evocative of an old-fashioned world where life was simpler, more predictable, and where human bonds and their connection to the land they lived on formed the essence of a person’s life. With great finesse and unquestionable sophistication, Ms Williams has gifted us with a tale to make us reflect, to stop us in our tracks and make us evaluate our own life’s journey. This is not a story about the highs and lows of one’s life—this is the story about the space in between, the simple joys, the important joys, the daily joys, and about learning to appreciate and celebrate every last one of them.

“You make life fun, not matter what we’re doing. I wake up with a smile, even if the first thing on my list is scouring through a pile of cow crap to see why one of them’s sick, because I know you’re here. I know I’ll get to see you when you show up and chore the say away with me.”

[4.5 STARS]



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[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by author in exchange of honest review

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Three Brothers by Nicole Williams is one of those books that goes beyond the typical romance, but really explores the topics of coming home, forgiveness, letting go, finding happiness, moving on, finding love and living. This book was an emotional read and yet touching that will make you FEEL.



Seven years has passed and Scout returns back to her hometown and her adopted family after learning that the man who was a father figure was dying. Back home in her hometown, the Armstrong men played a big role in her life. John was the father figure. And the three Armstrong brothers were a big part of her life. One was the big brother figure. One was the best friend. And one was the complicated and distant one. All four men in their own ways were part of Scout. So when Scout returns home to the ranch, she learns that each of the Armstrong men is suffering with hurt, loss, anger, resentment, and sadness. And as the Scout and the Armstrong men navigates this painful time in their lives, secrets begins to unravel, love begins to bloom, friendship mended, and acceptance of life and death slowly begins to heal broken hearts.

Three Brothers was one of those books that needs to be read and experienced. It was a story that makes you explore the topic of coming home, acceptance, friendship, family, love, loss, forgiveness, and finding oneself. As you read further along in the book, one brother will capture your heart and swoon. One will make you feel the hurt and loss. And one will break your heart. This book packed so many emotions and was filled with many life lessons that as a reader you find yourself FEELING every emotion that Scout and the Armstrong men takes you on. Three Brothers was a powerful sweet read that is filled with raw real and vulnerable characters, whose pain and past will tug all the heartstrings.

“What I wanted to give and wanted to feel wasn’t hiding in the darkness… it had been in plain sight the whole time.”

Nicole Williams
Review can also be found on Four Chicks s Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...

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[Dino-Jess ✮ The Book Eating Dinosaur ✮ · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know what I'm thinking when I see a book with the title, Three Brothers?

8======D
8=====D
8======D

There should have been dicks galore in this! Here's a dick! There's a dick! Suprise, there's a dick on your shoulder!

But sadly, that was not the case.

There is absolutely NO described sex in this book. None. At all. YET THERE ARE THREE PEENS IN THE STORY! This is a total travesty that needs to be remedied immediately.

I am upset.

Have I mentioned how much I don't enjoy closed door sex scenes in books? If not, here is my battle cry: I HATE CLOSED DOOR SEX IN BOOKS.

Why would you have me read all of the build up and drama in this story, only to leave me with blue lady balls at the end? You spent so much time telling me about how well built Chance was. How broad his shoulders were. How tall he was. I WANT TO SEE THIS PLAY OUT IN THE SEXY TIMES.

I want to read about how Scout runs her hands over Chance's big shoulders while he's plowing her. Come on. That's some gold right there and I just came up with that off the top of my head.

Now in relation to the story, on one hand, I would like to say that Nicole Williams is a perfectly capable writer. She just chooses to write things at a dawdling pace and it gets a little boring along the way. But on the other hand, I feel like this never went to an editor. The tense was CONSTANTLY changing in this. We would go from present tense, to past tense - within the same paragraph. It was quite the slog to get through all the tense changes and this impeded my reading experience until I just ended up changing the words in my own mind so that it made more sense.

Oh and of course we have to touch on the drama llama that appeeared at 80%. What the actual shit. From 80% onwards this book went truly off the rails. There was no reason that all of those things had to happen. Especially not the big plot twist that made me bark laugh. It was ridiculous™. So over the top and unnecessary.

This is the second book by Nicole Williams that I have read and she does have a certain type of magic to her writing. Sure, both experiences I have had with her have been sup-par, but I am not writing her off yet. I believe there is gold here. I would really like to see what would happen if she wrote some full blown erotica. I bet that would be the stuff of dreams.

In the end, I guess it is my expectations that were to blame for my lack of enjoyment in this book. I wanted three peens and I got none. It was a long journey to get through this, for absolutely no pay off whatsoever.

I'm disappointed, but will surely try more of Ms William's work in the future because I can't seem to stay away.

2 Stars

[Aileene · Rating 1 out of 5]

2nd book I read from this author.
2nd book and I was just as disappointed as the first one.

Somebody shoot me now.

The story was about Scout and her adoptive Armstrong family.
John Armstrong who was like a father to her.
Chase, the eldest of the Armstrong siblings and her big brother.
Chance, the middle brother and her very best friend.
And Conn, the youngest, rebel and tortured bad boy she had crushed on and lusted after.
He's the very reason why she ran away and finished her veterinary course of 7 years away from these men.

He was MY reason why I continued on reading this.

A situation happened that left her no choice but to come back. Of course, that would also entail meeting and living with the Armstrong brothers again.

But this time, our Scout believes she is capable and mature.

Ok, I'm going to take this bit to another direction.

First chapter didn't reel me in.
Few chapters in and I was starting to doubt and think maybe I was missing something, something so remarkable other readers found hence the high ratings.
Half way in and it still wasn't wow'ing me.
The ending?


The whole story was painfully slow and boring as f*ck.
Too much description on everything and info dumping. When someone says blue, it's blue. Everyone knows what colour it is. No need to say sky is blue, ocean is blue. IT'S BLUE. Full stop.
I don't need repetitions and too much elaborations in the entire story of their daily minutiae and their dramas.

The drama. Hurt my head.



The author's note was misleading. Nothing sweet about this book. Slow, too much drama and a lot of repetitions, yes, but never sweet.

The blurb and the title, it may hint love triangle but didn't happen.

The twist in the end, whilst it piqued my curiosity it was totally UNnecessary.

And lastly


Lastly. Three brothers.
Three men.
Three red blooded males.

THREE.

OF.

THIS.



And yet, I didn't get any porny action. There was one but it was a behind closed door scene.

What.

The.

Ever.

Loving.

F*ck.



For others is an eye for an eye.
For aileene, behind closed door scene equals

my door closing.

This author and her books are not for me.

Rating it 1 Star.

Buddy read with my beautiful Geishas

[Donna ~ The Romance Cover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Nicole's writing and this book is no exception. It has everything in it that I have come to expect from her and more, I would go as far to say this is the best written book of hers that I have read. I would have loved to have given this book a better rating but I just thought that the ending wasn't fitting to the story. It just seemed drama for drama's sake and it felt rushed. Up until about 80% I loved this book then I felt it kinda lost it's way.

This book is full of wit and banter and a swoonworthy male lead, it had me laughing in many places and choked up in others.

full review to come)

[✿kawehi.reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆ I received an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ☆

Three Brothers was one of those emotionally gripping reads where at the end, left me feeling depleted and in an utter mess.

After her mom tragically takes her life, Scout finds herself shedding her city girl roots, to a rural valley community on Red Mountain Ranch.

There, she comes under the guardianship of John Armstrong and the cohabitation of his three young songs, and here her troubles and beginnings take flight…

“One of the few grains of wisdom I’d gleaned from my mom before she ended her life the summer I turned thirteen was that there were three types of men: The kind who appealed to our heads—the good guys who were sage, smart picks who’d never hurt us but would never really excite us either. The kind who appealed to our hearts—typically the broken, damaged ones we couldn’t help but fall hard and fast for and the ones we yearned to fix. And then there were the kind who appealed to the below the belt region. Those were the guys with swagger in their step and a knowing glint in their eyes. They lit our worlds on fire, but like any fire burned thought its tinder, it extinguished as quickly as it had erupted.”

So, my thoughts?

Truth to be honest, I kind of spent a good chunk of this read analyzing the three brothers and matching them up and trying to figure out who would match best with Scout, if any. Who would be her knight in shining armor? And the most unlikely candidate?

You know how all us girls tend to fall for the bad boy but never notice the one that’s always been in the shadows helping us all along? Yep, Scout is just like us gals in that painstaking department!

I really felt as if I could identify with her and feel (reader-wise) as if I were in her shoes and predicaments.

With her love life in shambles, witnessing the only fatherly like figure she's ever had tragically withering away right in front of her, and learning a harrowing secret that will change everything…it was definitely a roller coaster ride filled with many how and low mixed emotions!

#A brilliant read filled and delicate portrayal of life in this touchingly honest and beautifully crafted plot filled with drama, suspense, and heart quenching twists, revelations, and turns!! I loved it!!

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had some problems with this one. The main one being? It was outrageous. I mean it started out great. Loved it, loved the idea. However, as it progressed, it started moving from great plot to ridiculous plot. It was sort of along those lines of "Hey! What all shit can I throw into this one story?" The following points are what I mean, they start from the beginning of the story and show it's progression into facepalm territory...Don't read the spoilers unless you want the story ruined for you.

1. The story starts out with Scout going back to Red Mountain because John, her adopted father, is dying. All good here. I mean it is sad but I guess she needed a reason to come back right?

2. Then there was the push/pull factor between the "bad" brother and the "good" brother. Still all good.

3. We found out that one of the brothers had gotten married and lost his wife to a freak accident 2 weeks before Scout arrived. So now there is that death with the impending death of John. Really? Is that necessary? I mean yeah, stuff can happen...but that soon? That close together? Did it have to happen at all?

4. Next was the curse . Ummm okay. Strange but alright. Still added the eye roll factor here.

5. After that was the final decision between the "good" brother and the "bad" brother, if one at all. Okay, all good there.

6. Finally! After a long daggone time in the book does the hook-up between Scout and the "good" brother come in to play. Even though it never showed that. Another thing not showed, another disappointment.

7. Oh no, not enough has happened. So why don't we enclose some incest. I mean, hey you might have slept with your biological brother but it is okay. Thought we should wait until you actually had sex with one of the brothers before the secret comes out that one of the three is your real brother. Which one? Who knows? How's that for some added drama? No? Need more?

8. Well...John becomes unresponsive. Don't know which brother. So, you might be in love with your half brother....but it's okay. Why don't we let you resolve your issues with the "bad" brother? Then John finally comes to, surprise surprise. Cue eye roll. Now he tells you who your brother is.

9. Not enough added crap? Okay, how about this...Someone else dies. With that death is a lot of unresolved issues. And conveniently, the death is.....well outrageously stupid. Is that good enough? No? Need more?

10. Here...John dies minutes after the other person dies. His death is not so shocking. But really was number 9 necessary?!?

11. What next? Let's go destroy the cursed property. Will that help with the curse? By now I am shaking my head.

12. Last but not least...Now we need a happily ever after. Uhhh huh.

Not to mention the fact that Scout's past with the brothers was NEVER shown. Like....never. Supposedly the "bad" brother that she fell for when she was young did tons of things to her to make her life miserable, but you didn't get to see it....at all. Then the "good" brother was supposed to have been her rock, but again it never showed nor gave examples. We have nothing to go on. We don't know what happened. So what was the point in all of that if we have no comparison? I thought there would be some flashbacks or something. Nope. How are we to know what was so bad? How their connections were? What transgressed to lead up to the present point. For such an emphasis to be made, there should have been something. Because of all of this I could not connect at all with the "love interests". There was no chemistry, no emotions, no....anything. It was dull and fell incredibly flat. Basically, in my opinion, it didn't come across as a romance since the "romance" was, in fact, lacking.

This book was draining and disappointing.

[Glire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un rancho, muchas desgracias, un padre enfermo, tres hermanos y una chica. Si esto te suena familiar seguramente has visto la película Legends of the Fall, también conocida como Leyendas de Pasión y si no la has visto, ¿qué esperas?.



Y, en cierto modo, podríamos decir que esta es una versión moderna de esa historia. Más o menos. Quizás.

La historia comienza cuando Scout, luego de 7 años de ausencia, decide volver a Red Mountain para despedirse del moribundo John Armstrong, su padre adoptivo luego de que ella quedara huérfana a los 13 años. Los hijos de John: Chase, Chance y Conn- también están allí y poco a poco nos vamos dando cuenta de lo diferente que es la relación de Scout con cada uno de ellos y del porqué de su larga ausencia del lugar que fuera su hogar durante esos años.

La escritura me gustó desde el principio y la historia -aunque no es la octava maravilla del mundo- me entretuvo bastante. Además últimamente se hace casi imposible encontrar una protagonista que me guste en un libro New Adult, y sin embargo Scout logró ganarse mi simpatía; es amable y cínica justo en las dosis indicadas. Así que se deben estar preguntando por qué entonces solo le di dos estrellas. Y la respuesta es: POR EL FINAL.

Durante el primer 80% del libro vamos viendo como la historia de amor se forma poco a poco y puede sentirse la química entre Scout y Chance; al mismo tiempo que Scout lucha por dejar atrás la atracción enfermiza que sintió hace años atrás por Conn. Pero aunque si bien tiene su toques dramaticones, también tiende a ser divertido, por lo que hasta ahí llevaba sus tres estrellas.

Sin embargo, el ultimo 20% arruina todo con un plot-twist innecesario y digno de telenovela mexicana: John confiesa que uno de sus tres hijos es en realidad medio hermano de Scout, pero no dice cual es... hasta el ultimo minuto... ¡cuando está en su lecho de muerte! El medio hermano de Scout resulta ser Conn. Por lo que, de no haber sido porque Conn es un idiota, hubiesen estado en una relación incestuosa.

Me vas a decir que si tu eres John y ves que tu hijo y su media hermana están en actitudes evidentemente románticas, ¿los vas a dejar tener una relación incestuosa solo para guardarte el secreto de que son hermanos hasta el ultimo minuto de tu vida y así darle dramatismo a tu muerte? ¿Are you kikirigüiking me?

Por si eso no fuera suficiente, justo cuando finalmente John decide decir la verdad, Conn muere en un accidente automovilístico..

¿Por qué Nicole Williams? ¿Por qué tenías que arruinar así el libro con ese final?

[Arlene Cavill Thurston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointed. I am huge fan of Nicole's having LOVED the Crash series (JUDE SWOON) so I could not wait to jump into this one. Well 25% in, and I am waiting. Waiting for that connection, that moment my heart skips a beat or I heavy sigh over my newest BBF. Never happened. Nothing about the characters or story captivated me - I felt nothing. I put it aside for a day and came back & still couldn't finish.

[Nancy❤The❤Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~4-EMOTIONAL-HEARTS~~

Nicole William has done it again. She’s managed to pull multiple feelings out of me. I loved her Crash and Lost and Found series. She didn’t disappoint in this standalone, Three Brothers. When I read the blurb for this book, two things went through my mind. The first being, three guys and one girl, woohoo this could be really interesting and the second being, I hope this isn’t your typical romance novel. I will say this isn’t your typical romance novel. This book held me captive and played with my emotions. All the Armstrong men hold a piece of my heart. Chase is the oldest of the three and he’s known to have flings that last all but one day. Chance is the middle brother that is the responsible one. Conn is known as the bad boy. All three men keep woman at a distant because they’re afraid of the 200 year curse that they believe followed the Armstrong men. They believe that any woman that fell in love with an Armstrong was signing their own death certificate by hanging around. I felt bad for all three Armstrong brothers. They wanted to have a normal life but the fear of losing the woman they love overruled their lives. Tragedies seem to happen upon the woman the Armstrong men loved. I think you this is the kind of book that you would have to be in a certain mood to like. If you’re looking for a deep, touching, no hot steamy sex scene kind of book, then go out and grab Three Brothers.

[☆.。.:*・°☆Love2Read♡HEAs☆.。.:*・°☆ {Anne} · Rating 2 out of 5]

3 Depressing Stars

Sorry, but this book didn't do it for me at all. I quit reading it 4 different times!

It seemed that everything that happened in this story was SAD! Too much heartbreak, sickness, accidents and ultimately death. I felt compelled to keep reading so I could get to the part where things start looking up. But no, that never completely happened. Even their HEA was colored somewhat negative.

The only real positive was the wolf pup. That was great.

Oh well, we can't like them all. (︶︿︶)

[A.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I WANT TO SCREAM! I WANT TO RIP ALL THE SHEETS AND PILLOWS OFF MY BED AND TEAR ALL THE CLOTHES FROM MY CLOSET AND THROW THEM ON THE FLOOR!!! This is my heart, dead and bleeding on the floor. I hate you as much as I love you which is saying a lot considering I've loved every single book of yours that I've read. You made me cry big fat ugly tears and I hardly ever cry. Are you proud of yourself? You should be. This book was epic, astounding, beautiful, and so many other adjectives I can't think of right now because it also made me mad. I want to go back in time and say "No, Nicole Williams! Do NOT do that!" But the story wouldn't have been the same if you hadn't. The story had a slow build, which did get a bit confusing with all the C names at times, but it coalesced into one giant, epic explosion of emotions that had me bouncing in my seat and yelling at my Kindle. Five beautiful, heartfelt, deserving stars to Three Brothers.

[Chyna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too slow for me…Nicole Williams was dragging Three Brothers a lot. There was also no chemistry between the power couple. No sign, no nothing. So disappointing I was really looking forward to sharing this with you guys, but sadly this is one of the worst books Nicole Williams has written. :(

[Megan Fall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shattered me. It was a hard, ugly-cry read! I loved it and absolutely hated it at the same time. I loved that she ended up with the brother she did, but did the rest have to happen???

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Brothers is an emotional read that held my attention from the start. The novel looks at the relationships Scout has with the man who took her in when her mother died and his three sons. She shares a different connection with each of the men; a father, a best friend, a brother, and an obsession. Coming home makes her examine each relationship as well as reevaluate them.

If I’d known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with him.

The author has a way of creating characters so vividly it’s like they appear before your eyes. It has nothing to do with the way she physically describes them, in that way she can actually be vague at times, but it’s the intense emotions she gives to her characters that brings them to life. Three Brothers may be the hardest to read of all Williams’ books because of it. Not only do we have to deal with the impending death of Scout’s father figure John Armstrong, who’s life is slowly being stolen by Parkinson’s, we have to watch as Scout fights the feelings she has for the man who drove her away. As if this wasn’t enough, we are presented with the burdens of the three brothers as well. Death, addiction, and martyrdom hang like a cloud over the Armstrong family.

In between the darkness Three Brothers has one of the most breathtaking love stories I’ve even had the pleasure of reading. I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever come across a hero so absolutely in love with woman. What made this love story so beautiful and different was how selflessly this man loved Scout. He wasn’t loud or boastful, he didn’t use grand gestures or make undying declarations. He loved her more completely in one day then most men could love a woman in a lifetime.

“ . . . I’ve got you now, and knowing that will be the one thought that gets me through the hard times in life, and it will be that last thing I think of before leaving this life. That’s all I’ve ever wanted or can imagine ever wanting, knowing that there was a time when you wanted me too.”

On top of all that are secrets and twists that I never saw coming. I can usually work out the whodunit’s of a story but even I couldn’t have predicted all the surprises of Three Brothers. My only complaint was that I wished the physical moments had given us more than fading to black. But the author did state in the synopsis Three Brothers wasn’t “overly sexy” so I was a little prepared, even thought I thought it was more tame than her Lost & Found series. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves an epic love story with more emotion and than sexual situations.

Review to be posted at Love Between the Sheets
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[Derna · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ***

Three Brothers by Nicole Williams is Scout’ story. After learning that her adopted dad is dying Scout returns home to Red Mountain the place she ran away from seven years before. She reconnects with the three brothers that she grew up with; her relationship was each of the Armstrong brothers in the past had been unique as it was different. One was like a big brother one was like a best friend, and one tangled with her heart and ultimately the reason she left Red Mountain.

“If I’d known then what I knew now, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with him”

When she returns, she finds that some things have changed; She soon discovers that the running from the brother that hurt her meant leaving who would do anything for her, and each Armstrong man is suffering in different ways.

“I felt like all the men I cared about were being torn apart, brick by brick, and there was nothing I could do to stop it”

The story was an emotional read about coming home, love, loss, friendship, forgiveness, sacrifice, hope, acceptance and moving forward. Scout was a strong character and love the way she wanted to help others. It was interesting to watch her relationship with each of the men play out, as she tries to mend the past, move on from the hurt, as secrets are revealed, as love starts to develop.

“I’ve got you now. That’s all that matters. Right now, right here, you’re mine.”

The Armstrong men were a mixed bunch, and I had mixed feelings about them. They were suffering in different ways for very different reasons, and my heart went out to them, they had me reaching for the tissues and swooning at the same time.

“There is no one better for me than you. There never has been, and there never will be.”

Overall, I enjoyed Nicole Williams lasted novel, it was different from what I was expecting, and in a good way, not your typical NA romance. Three Brothers was a well-written heartwarming story. It may have not been as she says overly sexy, but that didn’t matter, as it wasn’t needed, I loved being on this journey with the characters.

“,Would you let yourself love someone if you were convinced it would be your love that would kill them?”

The twist towards the end did take me by surprise; it made for an interesting turn of events that left me a little anxious while reading. If I were to say anything, it would be that I would have loved more about Scout’s past as I felt that was lacking but that being said, it didn’t take away my enjoyment of this book that I read in one sitting.

Fans of Nicole’s will love this one, and I highly recommend that you add Three Brothers to your TBR list.

[Teresa Mary Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

Three Brothers is a beautiful story about one girl and how her life is forever changed by one family. It is a story of her growth and decisions regarding what she wants in life. I really enjoyed this story and it is the kind of story that made my heart all gooey. It is incredibly sweet and it really works its way into your heart.

Scout has just finished up school and is ready to start her life when tragedy calls her back to her past. It is clear that Scout needed to get away from her past and specifically leave someone behind but in the process of doing that she also left some great things about her life behind. Conn was bad for her and she needed him out of her life, but she let that bad eclipse all of the good. When she gets back she realizes she was wrong to cut out the good and starts to realize that her past could also be her future. I really liked Scout. She was a great character and I liked watching her discover herself.

Chance is the good that Scout left behind. Chance is a wonderful character. I absolutely loved him. He is so sweet and kind and puts everyone else before himself. Chance and Scout were inseparable growing up; they were best friends and were always there for one another. However, things are a bit different now. Scout is no longer clouded by her feelings for Conn and she can see that Chance may have been the right one for her all along.

I really loved the slow build of the romance in this one. Even though Chance and Scout are best friends, it takes time for their relationship to develop into more. It is a slow burn and I really loved that. I loved that neither one jumped into it and I loved watching it develop. It was such a sweet romance and I absolutely loved it. I also loved that it wasn’t just romance. It was more about Scout coming to terms with who she wanted to be. I do wish we had gotten to see some of Scout’s past at the ranch and see what events shaped her. I can only imagine how horrible Conn was at times as what we see of him now is not great. He says some truly hurtful things.

Three Brothers is a much slower moving novel than some of Nicole’s other books, but I think it was the right pace for this story. It needed to take its time and build up in just the right ways. The twist at the end nearly gave me a heart attack and then the twist on top of the twist really hurt my heart. It is a sweet read but it’s not without its heartache.

Three Brothers is a really good read and fans of Lost & Found will definitely enjoy this one as well. Nicole really knows how to deliver a story that gets under your skin and into your heart.

[Preet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm at a loss for words. This book has put me through the wringer and I'm still struggling to find the right words for what I felt while reading this book. I was super excited when the news broke Three Brothers was coming and soon. I'm always excited about Nicole William's books. The blurb hinted at a story that held the potential for a dramatic home coming of sorts with possible former lovers reuniting or new connections being made and every excerpt and teaser I read and saw whipped my desire to read this book into a frenzy.

I love how the blurb hinted at everything in the story and yet gave nothing away. I so wanted to know why Scout had run away from Red Mountain and returned under duress. I ached for the Armstrong men as Scout recalled how times used to be and how different things were now. I really liked Scout. She was stronger than she thought, putting herself back in a situation that had the potential to really hurt her and finding a way to deal with it. I also loved her philosophy of helping those needed help as much as she could. The Armstrong men were delicious but tortured. Like Scout, I couldn't help wanting to ease their pains and offer them solace.

The thing that stands out most for me is the emotions. I experienced so many as I was reading. The two most pervasive were sadness and hope. When I started this book, I had no idea what Scout had faced, let alone the Armstrong family. I was both awed by their resilience and hurting for them simultaneously. There were moments when I couldn't stop the tears as they flowed down my cheeks and when I finished reading I was ugly crying. I don't think I'll be able to think about this book without getting teary.

Nicole Williams has written a masterpiece. This story is raw, gripping, and breathtakingly beautiful. It's about family, love, sacrifice, and so much more. It's a powerful attestation to true love and also the trials and tribulations that come with finding it and losing it. I sincerely wished the book had been longer, because while I was devastated when I finished reading it, it felt like I finished the book in no time. I would've loved to have seen bits and pieces of the way things were before Scout left. I didn't want the story to end. I want to know what happens to Scout and the Armstrong men in the future. I never want to stop reading Nicole's books and this one is no exception.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very impactful story. The kind that when you finish, makes you sit back and really think about life and all it's many twists and turns.

Scout had fallen for the wrong brother many years ago. Sent to live with a man and his three sons after her own mother took her own life after dealing with depression. For what, Scout didn't know at the time.



Conn, the brother like figure she knew would crush her, yet she was drawn to him like a moth to the flame. After he literally squashed her heart one fateful night and sent her running for 5 long years, knew he had made the right decission for her.



Chase, the brother like figure that was in true fact more like a brother to her then any of the others. Suffered the "curse" of Red Mountain and has struggles of his own to get past in order to go on with life.



Chance, the brother who was her best friend growing up and was always there for her. Always there to pick up her broken heart when Conn crushed it. Always there to take her to their favorite bars and just hang out. Little did she know just how much Chance wished for her to open her eyes.



John, the father like figure to her and the father to the 3 brothers, was dying of Parkinson's. His illness brought Scout back to Red Mountain to spend his last days with him. She wasn't prepared for all the heartbreaking changes she saw the day she returned. It wasn't the same house she had spent 12 years of her life in. There was no joy, laughter, or brotherly banter going on as there use be. That seemed to all be dying right along with John.



Coming to terms with all that was changing, and being faced with the consequences of her heart and her feelings for Conn, she quickly saw just how wrong she had been for being drawn to him. The wrong brother in deed. She has a battle on her hands to prove to Chance that the "Curse of Red Mountain" will not strike her as it had all other women the Montgomery men have loved.



And, the final twist, just when she didn't think her heart could take anymore. Finding out her mother and John had a secret of their own they had been keeping from the 3 brothers and herself. To be able to find that out before John took his last breath was the fate of Scout and Chance.



This amazing story has all the twists, turns, tears and tumultous feelings an exceptional story should. I am truly affected by the family on Red Mountain.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so emotional it took me most of the day to recover and I still can't stop thinking about the characters.

Three Brothers is an emotional journey fraught with tragedy incorporating an ancient native american curse, family secrets and characters that are destined to take a strong hold of your heart. I have to say that the day after I finished this book I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters, I desperately wanted to follow their journey into the future. In fact, I spent a good part of the day in a melancholy daydream.

Told from the point of view of Scout, returning to the ranch following a five year absence, to pay her respects to the man that helped raise her. She is also hoping to achieve closure on her relationships with the brothers.

Scout was sent to live with the Armstrong’s when she was 13 following her mothers suicide. Forming very different relationships with the three brothers that lived there; best friend, obsession and big brother.

It always amazes me how siblings can be so very different in looks and personality; Nicole does an amazing job of capturing both the differences and the similarities between the three brothers as well as the bonds that tie them together.

Alongside the relationships between the brothers and Scout, Nicole provides a thought provoking examination of the connection we feel for certain people that come into our lives. Sometimes you can feel an inexplicable connection to someone without an explanation for its origin, whether that connection is platonic or romantic. Maybe there is a deeper reason the universe is trying to get you to notice. People are brought into our lives for a reason, the discovery of that reason could very well be life-altering :)

There is so much going on within the plot in such a short space of time. Fast paced although completely character driven. Chance stands out as one of the best ‘good guys’ there are. My heart ached for him and his reluctance to love due to the family curse. He is at the top of my list of book boyfriends ;) Can you imagine being loves like that *sigh*

There is a poetic and profound feel to the narrative, Three Brothers is one of those books that once you have read it the story stays with you. Unforgettable.

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole Williams is an author who I will automatically pick up when she has a new release. The author creates such vivid characters and storylines that you can't help but find yourself immersed in the world. THREE BROTHERS is such a story.

Scout is returning to Montana to say her goodbyes to the only father figure she's ever known. But coming home also means coming face to face with the reason she ran from the only home she really knew seven years earlier. Scout discovers that the Armstrong men she thought of as family were just as broken as she was and, for the first time, it might be her that can help put them back together.

This was an incredible story. Scout was a woman who had her share of emotional upheaval, caused by the death of her mother and the emotional games played by youngest Armstrong brother, Conn. She'd closed herself out to the only family she knew in an effort to protect herself. But as soon as she was back home at the ranch, the woman she should have been starts to emerge. As an adult, she's able to see the emotional games for what they were and finally let go. When she does, she discovers that those feelings she had as a teenager were nothing compared to discover her soul mate was right under her nose.
The Armstrong men never made things easy for Scout, but in the end they showed her what love is and how opening herself up to made her life complete.

An absolute pleasure to read and a story I highly recommend to anyone...especially if you've never picked up a Nicole Williams book before.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally didn't see this book going where it went. Very different storyline from what I've read in the past. It was a very slow-burn kind of book - pacing was slow, but I loved it none-the-less. Highly recommend.

[❤️Melanie G.📖💛 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. I had hoped for more from the ending but the closure was achieved from the story. Great strong characters in the story that you love and hate but mainly love.

[Cinta · Rating 5 out of 5]

4-4.5

WOW that was a heart breaking read. Not something I expected from Nicole Williams.

With that ending I hope she releases some sort of novella or at least a book for Chase !

[K3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartbreaking story filled with angst and drama and a little bit of shock factor. I adored all of the characters. Such a heartachingly beautiful love story.

[Amber (Cosying Up With Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh shit. All the tears. My heart hurts.