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The Walshes #4
The Cornerstone
A tough-as-nails businesswoman. An arrogant Navy SEAL. A power struggle with no end in sight.
Some people hook-up at weddings. Others break a hotel room bed (and a table, and a desk, and some complimentary bathrobe belts) and discover they've been surviving on bargain basement orgasms their entire lives.
The last one? Yeah. That's all me.
She's driven and demanding...
I wasn't always a bitch. There's a dirty little trick to succeeding in business: the sweet and innocent rarely survive. I fought my way up from nothing, and I don't bend for anyone.
Until Will Halsted ties me to a headboard and makes me his...for now.
One wild, filthy night turns into another, and then...we can't stop. Each time we're together is more addictive than the last, but it's nothing more than a sexy escape from reality.
Or is it?
He's never walked away from a challenge...
I wasn't always a warrior but now it's in my bones and blood. That's what years spent in the Special Forces does to a man. My entire life is classified: where I've been, what I've seen, what I've done, and there's no mission too dangerous.
Until I realize that falling for Shannon Walsh is like trying to swim against a riptide. She's going to tear me up and toss me to the shore, and I'll love every minute of it.
Every time I'm down range, I want her counting the hours until I'm back. Waiting for me. She's done it before; she'll do it again.
Or will she?
They're wrong for each other in every possible way...
Or are they?
Some people hook-up at weddings. Others break a hotel room bed (and a table, and a desk, and some complimentary bathrobe belts) and discover they've been surviving on bargain basement orgasms their entire lives.
The last one? Yeah. That's all me.
She's driven and demanding...
I wasn't always a bitch. There's a dirty little trick to succeeding in business: the sweet and innocent rarely survive. I fought my way up from nothing, and I don't bend for anyone.
Until Will Halsted ties me to a headboard and makes me his...for now.
One wild, filthy night turns into another, and then...we can't stop. Each time we're together is more addictive than the last, but it's nothing more than a sexy escape from reality.
Or is it?
He's never walked away from a challenge...
I wasn't always a warrior but now it's in my bones and blood. That's what years spent in the Special Forces does to a man. My entire life is classified: where I've been, what I've seen, what I've done, and there's no mission too dangerous.
Until I realize that falling for Shannon Walsh is like trying to swim against a riptide. She's going to tear me up and toss me to the shore, and I'll love every minute of it.
Every time I'm down range, I want her counting the hours until I'm back. Waiting for me. She's done it before; she'll do it again.
Or will she?
They're wrong for each other in every possible way...
Or are they?
304 pages, ebook
First published December 8, 2015
677 people are currently reading
3283 people want to read
About the author
Kate Canterbary
47 books5,549 followersUSA Today Bestseller Kate Canterbary writes smart, steamy contemporary romances loaded with heat, heart, and happy ever afters. Kate lives on the New England coast with her husband and daughter.
To get in touch with Kate, please email kate@katecanterbary.com
To get in touch with Kate, please email kate@katecanterbary.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 621 reviews
January 28, 2016
“His hands shifted to my face and he kissed me, fast and hard. It felt like a punishment and tasted like a promise.”
I truly don't fangirl very often. My tastes are weird and sometimes I will adore an author for two or three books and then hate every character they write after that. I bumped into Kate Canterbary right after she released book one in the Walsh series, fortunately. I remember thinking, "Damn, this was one smoking hot, emotional, and captivating story!" But now that I've spent four books with this family and learned with each installment more and more about their past and their present, I'm honestly a goofy, loopy, swooning fangirl for Kate Canterbary. Each time I start a new book, I hope against all hope that this book will be just as unique, just as slapstick/harda$$/bada$$/romantic/se*y as the last one, and each time, I am shocked all over again at just how unique each of these people and their stories are. Shannon and Will are one hot mess, but it never feels messy. It feels right, right from the start.
Shannon is truly the cornerstone of the Walsh family. She's the quintessential matriarch, the one who takes care of everyone else first, and herself last. She's not the cuddly, coddling, maternal type, however. She's the ride your a$$, hound you for days, mock you until you shape up type. Then she can turn around and somehow say just the perfect thing to take care of the emotional needs of her brothers and the women who are falling into their lives.
“I didn’t know how to be the person others worried about, and I rarely knew what to do with their concern.”
Will is a Navy SEAL. This story doesn't focus on his SEAL-ness so much as how it affects him as a person, however.
The story covers months of time, with long pauses for both H/h to reflect on themselves, to miss one another, to fume about a lack of contact, to seethe over a slight, to wallow in their insecurities, or to ache for the person who makes them each feel so much more than anyone else ever has. Shannon is not the chaser in this relationship, and I respect her all that much more for it. She doesn't see Will as commitment material, and she doesn't waste pride begging for scraps. Not that Will ever, ever gives her scraps. The problem is, she expends a lot of effort dodging something that is very real, and something she needs very badly.
“You can go now,” I snapped, finger-combing my hair from my face.
Will paid no attention to me, and instead of getting dressed, he kicked off his jeans from where they were bunched at his ankles. He sauntered toward the bathroom, and I listened, fuming, while the faucet ran. He returned with a glass of water and he shot a cocky grin in my direction.
“I said, you can go now.”
Will flopped down beside me with a laugh. “Yeah, I’m not going to do that.”
If you thought you hated Angus before, you have no idea how much you'll hate that rat ba$tard after reading The Cornerstone. There were no limits to his awful. This was the only thing that I felt was unresolved here. I wanted more than a passing thought about the Walshes father's betrayal. I wanted maybe Sam and Shannon, and maybe even Erin, to sit down and come to terms with how royally messed up their father was.
No matter how much I loved Shannon, there is no way that she overshadowed Will. He's just as dynamic as she is, if you can believe it. At first, he's just drawn to the sassy, bossy redheaded Walsh who is sister to the jerk marrying his sister. He wants her, he gets her. And it is blow-your-head-off amazing. Every. Single. Time.
“You’re a prick,” I groaned. His hips snapped forward and the bed creaked beneath us as he pushed into me. He was so much bigger than I expected, and my mind was quickly numbing to anything but the pleasure surging through my body. He was tearing me apart, thrust by thrust, and I wanted to do the same to him.
“Stop talking, Shortcake,” he said. “You’re ruining this for me.”
The headboard knocked against the wall in a harsh rhythm, as if he was trying to fuck me into the next room. Each time he drove into me, my eyes rolled back in their sockets, and I was convinced I was about to combust, but that didn’t prevent me from getting in some taunts. “Not much to ruin,” I said.
“All this talking makes me think you need a dick in your mouth,” he murmured.”
He gives as good as he gets, and they are so much fun to listen to. It's comedy, it's raw passion, its devastating loneliness, it's a slow realization, and a beautiful ending for the Walsh that is the toughest we've seen yet. An all time favorite!!!
Advance copy provided by the author for review
I truly don't fangirl very often. My tastes are weird and sometimes I will adore an author for two or three books and then hate every character they write after that. I bumped into Kate Canterbary right after she released book one in the Walsh series, fortunately. I remember thinking, "Damn, this was one smoking hot, emotional, and captivating story!" But now that I've spent four books with this family and learned with each installment more and more about their past and their present, I'm honestly a goofy, loopy, swooning fangirl for Kate Canterbary. Each time I start a new book, I hope against all hope that this book will be just as unique, just as slapstick/harda$$/bada$$/romantic/se*y as the last one, and each time, I am shocked all over again at just how unique each of these people and their stories are. Shannon and Will are one hot mess, but it never feels messy. It feels right, right from the start.
Shannon is truly the cornerstone of the Walsh family. She's the quintessential matriarch, the one who takes care of everyone else first, and herself last. She's not the cuddly, coddling, maternal type, however. She's the ride your a$$, hound you for days, mock you until you shape up type. Then she can turn around and somehow say just the perfect thing to take care of the emotional needs of her brothers and the women who are falling into their lives.
“I didn’t know how to be the person others worried about, and I rarely knew what to do with their concern.”
Will is a Navy SEAL. This story doesn't focus on his SEAL-ness so much as how it affects him as a person, however.
The story covers months of time, with long pauses for both H/h to reflect on themselves, to miss one another, to fume about a lack of contact, to seethe over a slight, to wallow in their insecurities, or to ache for the person who makes them each feel so much more than anyone else ever has. Shannon is not the chaser in this relationship, and I respect her all that much more for it. She doesn't see Will as commitment material, and she doesn't waste pride begging for scraps. Not that Will ever, ever gives her scraps. The problem is, she expends a lot of effort dodging something that is very real, and something she needs very badly.
“You can go now,” I snapped, finger-combing my hair from my face.
Will paid no attention to me, and instead of getting dressed, he kicked off his jeans from where they were bunched at his ankles. He sauntered toward the bathroom, and I listened, fuming, while the faucet ran. He returned with a glass of water and he shot a cocky grin in my direction.
“I said, you can go now.”
Will flopped down beside me with a laugh. “Yeah, I’m not going to do that.”
If you thought you hated Angus before, you have no idea how much you'll hate that rat ba$tard after reading The Cornerstone. There were no limits to his awful. This was the only thing that I felt was unresolved here. I wanted more than a passing thought about the Walshes father's betrayal. I wanted maybe Sam and Shannon, and maybe even Erin, to sit down and come to terms with how royally messed up their father was.
No matter how much I loved Shannon, there is no way that she overshadowed Will. He's just as dynamic as she is, if you can believe it. At first, he's just drawn to the sassy, bossy redheaded Walsh who is sister to the jerk marrying his sister. He wants her, he gets her. And it is blow-your-head-off amazing. Every. Single. Time.
“You’re a prick,” I groaned. His hips snapped forward and the bed creaked beneath us as he pushed into me. He was so much bigger than I expected, and my mind was quickly numbing to anything but the pleasure surging through my body. He was tearing me apart, thrust by thrust, and I wanted to do the same to him.
“Stop talking, Shortcake,” he said. “You’re ruining this for me.”
The headboard knocked against the wall in a harsh rhythm, as if he was trying to fuck me into the next room. Each time he drove into me, my eyes rolled back in their sockets, and I was convinced I was about to combust, but that didn’t prevent me from getting in some taunts. “Not much to ruin,” I said.
“All this talking makes me think you need a dick in your mouth,” he murmured.”
He gives as good as he gets, and they are so much fun to listen to. It's comedy, it's raw passion, its devastating loneliness, it's a slow realization, and a beautiful ending for the Walsh that is the toughest we've seen yet. An all time favorite!!!
Advance copy provided by the author for review
November 29, 2015
I absolutely loved this book. A well-written story that keeps you engaged from beginning to end. Will and Shannon are terrific together. Will comes across as the typical Alpha-male always wanting to be in full command.
Will: dominance – confidence - takes charge – leader - NAVY SEAL with a strong sense of mission
He’s competitive, and driven to achieve. He’s intense and passionately motivated, especially when Shannon becomes his target.
Shannon: Strict – demanding – bossy – dynamic – decisive – driven - assertive
No debate, no discussion. She is a control freak that she needs to have things done just so.
When Will sees her at his sister’s wedding, he wants to keep her. He knows that in order to deal with her bossy attitude is by taking the reigns. His only true mission is to get into her heart and get her into his bed. Shannon wants him but she hates the insecurity of his job. She eventually finds it difficult to handle him going away. Will is mega-hot and sex between them is passionate, insatiable and deliciously rough. Can they make this thing between them work?
This erotic story is well written; not crude or overstated to the point of being repetitive or boring. I just have some second thoughts about Shannon’s actions and attitude. Will is straight forward and honest with his intentions but Shannon seems to be too bitchy to recognize his sacrifices and his efforts concerning their relationship. I loved Will and his domineering, combative behavior plus his strong determination to tame Shannon and his dirty-talk!
I highly recommend this book to all lovers of romance with a very sexy, hard-bodied male specimen.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for a fair review.
Will: dominance – confidence - takes charge – leader - NAVY SEAL with a strong sense of mission
He’s competitive, and driven to achieve. He’s intense and passionately motivated, especially when Shannon becomes his target.
Shannon: Strict – demanding – bossy – dynamic – decisive – driven - assertive
No debate, no discussion. She is a control freak that she needs to have things done just so.
When Will sees her at his sister’s wedding, he wants to keep her. He knows that in order to deal with her bossy attitude is by taking the reigns. His only true mission is to get into her heart and get her into his bed. Shannon wants him but she hates the insecurity of his job. She eventually finds it difficult to handle him going away. Will is mega-hot and sex between them is passionate, insatiable and deliciously rough. Can they make this thing between them work?
This erotic story is well written; not crude or overstated to the point of being repetitive or boring. I just have some second thoughts about Shannon’s actions and attitude. Will is straight forward and honest with his intentions but Shannon seems to be too bitchy to recognize his sacrifices and his efforts concerning their relationship. I loved Will and his domineering, combative behavior plus his strong determination to tame Shannon and his dirty-talk!
I highly recommend this book to all lovers of romance with a very sexy, hard-bodied male specimen.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for a fair review.
December 7, 2015
The Walshes still rock: In the fourth book regarding the Walsh Family siblings, we finally get to see what was hinted at in book three, namely Shannon Walsh, oldest girl child and the resident sister-mother to all the Walsh men, meets her match in Will Halsted, (heroine of book one) Lauren’s brother and tasty, dirty talkin’ NAVY Seal. Sigh. What a rocky road to romance it is.
There’s alot of goodness here, starting with the family dynamics of the Walsh siblings. These siblings are fully developed, complex, multi-layered characters. They are lovable, but not necessarily easy to love and that’s a good thing. They aren’t perfect idealizations of what you think siblings should be, but fascinating character studies in how family can love you, break you and build you up like nothing else in this world. I was genuinely surprised when another layer in the onion that is Angus Walsh, the patriarch and all around bastard, is peeled back. I wasn’t expecting it but it explains alot (more on that later). I also love that the spouses for the Walshes are interesting in their own right. I’m just impressed at how these characters come alive, and that’s all due to Ms. Canterbary’s talent. Each story gets better and better, as Ms. Canterbary hits her stride in storytelling. I don’t always agree with her storyline choices, but I’m willing to go along for the ride.
Shannon’s a badass thru and thru: Shannon’s fantastic. She’s like any other Canterbary heroine, which means she’s wonderful and loving, snarky and difficult, and most of all, she is never boring. She has a tendency to helicopter-mom her siblings. It’s behavior ingrained in her since her childhood. She’s spent so much of her life making sure that her family survived and even thrived despite her dick of a father. She’s defined herself through her love and caring for her siblings, to the detriment of her own personal life. It’s her journey to figure out who she is when she is not taking care of her brothers, and I loved seeing her learn to finally let go and take care of herself.
I always thought her story would be intriguing, but I didn’t realize how deep that damage that Angus inflicted went. I would have loved to have seen more of that explored, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it addressed in her sister’s story, because there’s a storm a-brewing there. In any event, I completely understood her ball-busting attitude (that never felt truly mean), but she needed a man like Will to love her. And boy, does he ever.
Will has joined my stable: My girl Michelle and I have been bickering on Messenger because she insists he’s her new book husband. I told her that’s impossible since he’s too busy servicing me. The fight may rage on, but that’s only because Will is a hero worthy of adoration. I mean, show me hottie military guy and yeah, you got my attention. But when you combine that hotness with the emotional honesty of Will? Damn, that’s a keeper.
Will owns his own shyte. He knows he can be a meathead, but he’s a truly stand up guy. He gets off on Shannon’s take no prisoners attitude, and he gives it back to her every single time. He has a fantastic way of calling her on her BS, but the reader is never in doubt that he respects her. He makes his mark on this story, which isn’t easy to do because Shannon is a force of nature. I would have liked to have seen more of his career crossroads, but I’ll admit I was waaaay too busy loving their chemistry to be too upset. Speaking of...
Will and Shannon’s chemistry? Shit-hot: I mean, it’s redonkulus how their chemistry worked for me. Their text messages just made me laugh out loud so many times and I swear my kindle was one gigantic highlight anytime they started snarking together. When stories are focused on the leads trying to keep to a sex-only relationship, the true test for the author to not get lost in just hot sex scenes. Don’t get me wrong, the sex is great. Their banter though? It took that great sex and raised it to another level.
Line crossed: Unfortunately this is a personal bias of mine, but I did try to keep my objectivity while reading it and while writing this review. Let me be clear, the quality of the writing is excellent. There is ALOT that I truly enjoyed about this story and so much going for it. If not for this ONE plot point, I could have seen myself making this a five star read. I just can’t ignore it though - it is a no-no for me and furthermore, I truly don’t think that it enhanced the story in any way.
It is a bit of a spoiler, so for those who don’t want to know look away. For those spoiler hos, proceed at your own risk.
Anyhoodle, moving on.
Teaser for more: Back to the positive (because I did enjoy so much of it), I love the seeds that Ms. Canterbary dropped for the continuation of this series, such as Will’s future co-workers. Also, I cannot wait to learn more about the prodigal sister Erin, who has some intriguing tidbits divulged about her in this book. Finally, I am crossing my fingers that a certain military hottie and a certain executive assistant get to meet and hopefully spark. There’s loads of possibilities and I’m eager to explore them, just as soon as Ms. Canterbary can write it out.
I really enjoyed this. One minor issue aside, I think it’s the best story of the bunch, with a really great hero in Will and a complex, badass heroine in Shannon. If you haven’t checked out the Walsh series, you should. It keeps getting better and better. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
**ARC provided by author for review**
December 23, 2024
Just the reread I needed and omg I love Shannon & Will even more!! Shannon is Beth Dutton imo!!
5+ Captain America & Peanut stars!
“The Hand That Holds it Down', huh? Who holds you down?"
She was strung tight, aching for release, and I wanted her to let me take care of her. "Not even close. But tell me this: how hard would you come for me if I f**ked you up against that glass wall? If you had to let go of everything and give it all to me?"
This book is my complete and total undoing. Will Halstead is my ultimate kind of hero in a book. This book was so perfect and had so many exquisite parts, I don’t even know where to begin. I always knew Shannon Walsh’s book would be my favorite because I can relate most to her. She is the sibling/woman that keeps everyone going, thriving etc..that’s how she shows her love. She over does it, and forgets about self love in the process. I knew that whatever man snagged her had to be quite a match. Will was all that and more. He is the pure definition of alpha, man in charge and real hero being a high ranking Navy Seal. He is the ultimate bodyguard. Shannon needed someone she could relinquish control to, and just get out of her head and feel.
This will be a book that I will constantly reread. It’s definitely a top 10 fave of all time! Will and Shannon are up there with Jamie & Claire. That’s how much I love them.
Kate C has a magical way of writing. The banter, quick wit, and scorching hot scenes left me totally aching for more.
“She linked her hands behind my neck and pulled me down, touching her lips to mine, and when her tongue slipped into my mouth, it tasted like my eternity.”
"I am going to marry you so hard you won't remember your maiden name. I'm going to love you and protect you, and I'm going to put up with your brothers and the violent citrus-throwing, too. You better get used to it because I'm here to stay."
This book checked all my boxes, and rang all my bells. I’m so glad I started this series.
5+ Captain America & Peanut stars!
“The Hand That Holds it Down', huh? Who holds you down?"
She was strung tight, aching for release, and I wanted her to let me take care of her. "Not even close. But tell me this: how hard would you come for me if I f**ked you up against that glass wall? If you had to let go of everything and give it all to me?"
This book is my complete and total undoing. Will Halstead is my ultimate kind of hero in a book. This book was so perfect and had so many exquisite parts, I don’t even know where to begin. I always knew Shannon Walsh’s book would be my favorite because I can relate most to her. She is the sibling/woman that keeps everyone going, thriving etc..that’s how she shows her love. She over does it, and forgets about self love in the process. I knew that whatever man snagged her had to be quite a match. Will was all that and more. He is the pure definition of alpha, man in charge and real hero being a high ranking Navy Seal. He is the ultimate bodyguard. Shannon needed someone she could relinquish control to, and just get out of her head and feel.
This will be a book that I will constantly reread. It’s definitely a top 10 fave of all time! Will and Shannon are up there with Jamie & Claire. That’s how much I love them.
Kate C has a magical way of writing. The banter, quick wit, and scorching hot scenes left me totally aching for more.
“She linked her hands behind my neck and pulled me down, touching her lips to mine, and when her tongue slipped into my mouth, it tasted like my eternity.”
"I am going to marry you so hard you won't remember your maiden name. I'm going to love you and protect you, and I'm going to put up with your brothers and the violent citrus-throwing, too. You better get used to it because I'm here to stay."
This book checked all my boxes, and rang all my bells. I’m so glad I started this series.
February 22, 2020
Ok, this book is cute. Super cute. I always love Miss Canterbary heroes. They are quirky, selfish, vulnerable. There is that sassy smart mouth banter especially from the heroine. Shanon is no exception.
Shanon is a strong independent woman. She takes care all of her siblings and still have career. Shanon is a woman eho have it all. Will storms into her life. Will is confident,cocky alpha male. With a jint of vulnerable from him, I am sold at his first hello.
What can I say more about this book? It is super cute. A good read for the start of the weekend.
4 stars
Shanon is a strong independent woman. She takes care all of her siblings and still have career. Shanon is a woman eho have it all. Will storms into her life. Will is confident,cocky alpha male. With a jint of vulnerable from him, I am sold at his first hello.
What can I say more about this book? It is super cute. A good read for the start of the weekend.
4 stars
December 12, 2015
Dear Kate Canterbary,
You did good boo. I forgive you for breaking my heart with Sam's story in book #3 because you made up for it in spades with Will. Like holy shit fuck I'd marry the fuck out of that sexy book boyfriend.
I'll work on a full review when I get to my computer but I will say that I absolutely loved this book! And that epilogue? Oy, so sweet! I seriously kept swooning over Will and his "yes ma'am's" al throughout the book. I honestly felt bad for him (and the safety gang knows how much I love a guy that chases the heroine) at one point over how hard he was fighting for Shannon. Poor thing hadn't even done anything wrong and he was doing everything and anything he could to win her over. I did find myself wanting to slap Shannon and tell her to take him or I will! But I just loved how he never backed down and he fought for her and understood her so well. This was totally what I was missing from book #3 and I'm so glad this book was a winner for me.
I will say that I still hate the fuck out of Sam and especially with what an insensitive, selfish, unappreciative ass he was to Shannon in this book. After everything she has done for him since he was a child he was just the worst brother. He'll forever be the asshole dickwad jerk off in the series to me.
Safety Gang
I will say that I'm a little nervous about Erin's book because I don't know if I'd want to read about her with Nick. All these years of knowing each other and nothing happens between them? And then the thing that almost happened after the Valentine's Day party would be a hard limit for me.
You did good boo. I forgive you for breaking my heart with Sam's story in book #3 because you made up for it in spades with Will. Like holy shit fuck I'd marry the fuck out of that sexy book boyfriend.
I'll work on a full review when I get to my computer but I will say that I absolutely loved this book! And that epilogue? Oy, so sweet! I seriously kept swooning over Will and his "yes ma'am's" al throughout the book. I honestly felt bad for him (and the safety gang knows how much I love a guy that chases the heroine) at one point over how hard he was fighting for Shannon. Poor thing hadn't even done anything wrong and he was doing everything and anything he could to win her over. I did find myself wanting to slap Shannon and tell her to take him or I will! But I just loved how he never backed down and he fought for her and understood her so well. This was totally what I was missing from book #3 and I'm so glad this book was a winner for me.
I will say that I still hate the fuck out of Sam and especially with what an insensitive, selfish, unappreciative ass he was to Shannon in this book. After everything she has done for him since he was a child he was just the worst brother. He'll forever be the asshole dickwad jerk off in the series to me.
Safety Gang
I will say that I'm a little nervous about Erin's book because I don't know if I'd want to read about her with Nick. All these years of knowing each other and nothing happens between them? And then the thing that almost happened after the Valentine's Day party would be a hard limit for me.
December 10, 2015
Sooooooo, I just finished this book. This book that I just felt like reading. I don’t know. I was supposed to start something else—something I had been really looking forward to—and I couldn’t because The Cornerstone was on my mind. I’d never read this author before, so I didn’t know what I was going to get. Funny? Angsty? Dirty? ALL OF IT <<-- What I ended up getting.
She’s the HBIC. He’s the Alpha. They’re an explosion waiting to happen.
When Shannon Walsh and Will Halsted meet at a wedding—and break a bed—it’s hate at first sight. With the insults flying, along with their clothes, they’re a match made in Hell.
Except what started as one hot, angry fuck ended up becoming a sexy secret and escape from life’s demands—and then…feelings. For Will, a Navy SEAL, getting back to Shannon is starting to become all he wants. For Shannon, the on-top-of-everything businesswoman, being in Will’s arms is the safest she’s ever felt.
Now, if only can they stop sniping at each other long enough to realize that maybe, just maybe, they’re NOT a match made in Hell. Maybe they’re the perfect fit…
Oh, man, THIS BOOK. I LOVED this book. It cracked me up—the texts were raunchy and funny and a joy to read. It turned me on—Will most definitely has game, no matter what Shannon says. Being tied up by this man might just become my new goal in life.
And it broke my heart, because I wanted them to find their perfect. From start to finish, I was addicted to these characters, to this story and now, to this series. I haven’t read the earlier books in The Walshes series, but that’s something I am going to fix ASAP, because wow. I was WOWED by Shannon and Will. By their chemistry and connection. Their unique foreplay. Them.
Shannon is used to being in charge; she’s bossy, snarky and kind of bitchy. And I loved her. She wasn’t abrasive or harsh. She wasn’t a harpy or snitch. She was strong, sassy, fiery and any number of other positive, spirited adjectives. And yet, she was also vulnerable. She took on too much and she felt things that maybe she shouldn’t have, and she was far from perfect. But she was human. So very human.
Will, on the other hand, is pretty freaking close to perfect—at least, in my eyes. He has never met a challenge he hasn’t conquered. He’s domineering, commanding, resourceful, and can dirty talk with the best of them. He wasn’t soft, but neither Shannon nor I needed or wanted soft. He took control—took it—and he won me over with the way he fought for their relationship. Yup, he was perfect. The perfect book boyfriend—real, really sexy, really funny, with an added dash of total fantasy man. I mean, he’s a SEAL, for crying out loud.
While it could be said that reading the earlier books is essential to get a complete picture, and I have no doubt that it would only have added to this reading experience, I had absolutely no trouble following along with the dynamics that made up this crazy family. And now I know what to expect from Kate Canterbary, yes, I am definitely going to have to read the earlier books in this series. ~ Beth, 5 stars
She’s the HBIC. He’s the Alpha. They’re an explosion waiting to happen.
When Shannon Walsh and Will Halsted meet at a wedding—and break a bed—it’s hate at first sight. With the insults flying, along with their clothes, they’re a match made in Hell.
Except what started as one hot, angry fuck ended up becoming a sexy secret and escape from life’s demands—and then…feelings. For Will, a Navy SEAL, getting back to Shannon is starting to become all he wants. For Shannon, the on-top-of-everything businesswoman, being in Will’s arms is the safest she’s ever felt.
Now, if only can they stop sniping at each other long enough to realize that maybe, just maybe, they’re NOT a match made in Hell. Maybe they’re the perfect fit…
Oh, man, THIS BOOK. I LOVED this book. It cracked me up—the texts were raunchy and funny and a joy to read. It turned me on—Will most definitely has game, no matter what Shannon says. Being tied up by this man might just become my new goal in life.
And it broke my heart, because I wanted them to find their perfect. From start to finish, I was addicted to these characters, to this story and now, to this series. I haven’t read the earlier books in The Walshes series, but that’s something I am going to fix ASAP, because wow. I was WOWED by Shannon and Will. By their chemistry and connection. Their unique foreplay. Them.
Shannon is used to being in charge; she’s bossy, snarky and kind of bitchy. And I loved her. She wasn’t abrasive or harsh. She wasn’t a harpy or snitch. She was strong, sassy, fiery and any number of other positive, spirited adjectives. And yet, she was also vulnerable. She took on too much and she felt things that maybe she shouldn’t have, and she was far from perfect. But she was human. So very human.
Will, on the other hand, is pretty freaking close to perfect—at least, in my eyes. He has never met a challenge he hasn’t conquered. He’s domineering, commanding, resourceful, and can dirty talk with the best of them. He wasn’t soft, but neither Shannon nor I needed or wanted soft. He took control—took it—and he won me over with the way he fought for their relationship. Yup, he was perfect. The perfect book boyfriend—real, really sexy, really funny, with an added dash of total fantasy man. I mean, he’s a SEAL, for crying out loud.
While it could be said that reading the earlier books is essential to get a complete picture, and I have no doubt that it would only have added to this reading experience, I had absolutely no trouble following along with the dynamics that made up this crazy family. And now I know what to expect from Kate Canterbary, yes, I am definitely going to have to read the earlier books in this series. ~ Beth, 5 stars
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August 29, 2016
08/25/2016 -- Re-read
I enjoyed it just as much this time as the first time I read it. I love this author.
12/29/2015 --
I feel like I've found a rare gem. I've been in such a reading slump .. I could just kick myself for not reading this sooner. I've had only a few 5 Star reads this year. One thing they seem to have in common is superlative character development, a believable story about people just trying to live life and a soul stirring relationship. I found that in the Lauren Gilley books I've read and now I've found it here. I'm going to quickly try the other three books in this author's back-list and hope that this isn't a "one hit wonder" resembling Billy Ray Cyrus.
I'll read this one again. I also read it as Kindle Unlimited, but since have purchased it for my own library. This was well worth the $4 asking price.
So, what things stick out for me when I think about what I enjoyed most?
1 -- The main characters Will and Shannon. They were interesting. Shannon truly is the cornerstone for her family. The primary players are her four brothers and their significant others. She is the lawyer for their architecture firm. She meets Will at her brothers wedding. Her brother married Will's sister. The attraction for them was immediate and combustible. He is a Navy Seal and part of a terrorist busting special ops unit -- he needed some stateside fun. She is a tough as nails woman who can't seem to find the man for more than an hour or two. Their wedding hook-up is a bit of sum sum to pass the time. They meet again months later and start a text and phone communication relationship. It goes from there. Just normal people developing a normal relationship.
2 -- So, Shannon has some significant baggage. We learn a bit of it, but as disturbing as it is from a cerebral perspective, the author didn't immerse us in it. She touches on it and mentions how Shannon has moved beyond it and then it's gone. It add context, but it isn't debilitating for the reader.
3 -- The sibling relationships. Normal interactions and caring. I love when I have more than one dimension to focus on.
4 -- Love, love, love the title of this book. "The Cornerstone." What a meaningful title. A cornerstone is key to any building. This is a story about people in the building design business. How perfect? Apply it to a person -- Shannon holds her family together. You see it in their interactions. Love it.
5 -- The price. Right now, it is available on Kindle Unlimited. After I read it as KU, I ordered my own copy. I want to be able to read it whenever I want to read it and loan it to someone. It is only $4 and worth the price.
Is there anything I don't like?
1 -- Well, for some, it may be too "normal." For me? I thought it perfect, but full disclosure -- what I like may not work for others. I don't get into the angsty books that have you instantly in love and crying over some horrible wrong done to them when they were five. I'm so over those books.
2 -- I'm not crazy about the cover. It implies it's like every other "dime a dozen" NA books out there and it isn't. I wouldn't classify it as NA. I'd put it in more of a romantic fiction category. It has some sexy times, with very light BDSM elements. Nothing crazy and everything pretty "normal", so no worries.
I really can't think of anything else that bothered me. I enjoyed this story and will read more by this author. I hope *fingers crossed* that they are as good as this one.
Happy Reading!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Overall Rating = 5 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 3 / 5 / 5 = 4.5 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 4.5 Stars
Character / Secondary Character Development = 5 / 4 = 4.5 Stars
“Did I like” Hero / Heroine = 5 / 5 = 5 Stars
Story / Background Story Development = 5 / 5 = 5 Stars
“Did I like the Damned Thing” = 5 Stars
Ending = 5 Stars
Worth the Chili = 5 Stars -- [A Kindle Unlimited selection or $3.99 on Amazon]
Smexy [HEAT] Rating = Steamy
304 pages
First sentence: I was the fucking boss.
Last sentence: I hadn't seen any of this coming -- the love of my life, the beachfront home far from my city, the baby growing inside me -- and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
I enjoyed it just as much this time as the first time I read it. I love this author.
12/29/2015 --
I feel like I've found a rare gem. I've been in such a reading slump .. I could just kick myself for not reading this sooner. I've had only a few 5 Star reads this year. One thing they seem to have in common is superlative character development, a believable story about people just trying to live life and a soul stirring relationship. I found that in the Lauren Gilley books I've read and now I've found it here. I'm going to quickly try the other three books in this author's back-list and hope that this isn't a "one hit wonder" resembling Billy Ray Cyrus.
I'll read this one again. I also read it as Kindle Unlimited, but since have purchased it for my own library. This was well worth the $4 asking price.
So, what things stick out for me when I think about what I enjoyed most?
1 -- The main characters Will and Shannon. They were interesting. Shannon truly is the cornerstone for her family. The primary players are her four brothers and their significant others. She is the lawyer for their architecture firm. She meets Will at her brothers wedding. Her brother married Will's sister. The attraction for them was immediate and combustible. He is a Navy Seal and part of a terrorist busting special ops unit -- he needed some stateside fun. She is a tough as nails woman who can't seem to find the man for more than an hour or two. Their wedding hook-up is a bit of sum sum to pass the time. They meet again months later and start a text and phone communication relationship. It goes from there. Just normal people developing a normal relationship.
2 -- So, Shannon has some significant baggage. We learn a bit of it, but as disturbing as it is from a cerebral perspective, the author didn't immerse us in it. She touches on it and mentions how Shannon has moved beyond it and then it's gone. It add context, but it isn't debilitating for the reader.
3 -- The sibling relationships. Normal interactions and caring. I love when I have more than one dimension to focus on.
4 -- Love, love, love the title of this book. "The Cornerstone." What a meaningful title. A cornerstone is key to any building. This is a story about people in the building design business. How perfect? Apply it to a person -- Shannon holds her family together. You see it in their interactions. Love it.
5 -- The price. Right now, it is available on Kindle Unlimited. After I read it as KU, I ordered my own copy. I want to be able to read it whenever I want to read it and loan it to someone. It is only $4 and worth the price.
Is there anything I don't like?
1 -- Well, for some, it may be too "normal." For me? I thought it perfect, but full disclosure -- what I like may not work for others. I don't get into the angsty books that have you instantly in love and crying over some horrible wrong done to them when they were five. I'm so over those books.
2 -- I'm not crazy about the cover. It implies it's like every other "dime a dozen" NA books out there and it isn't. I wouldn't classify it as NA. I'd put it in more of a romantic fiction category. It has some sexy times, with very light BDSM elements. Nothing crazy and everything pretty "normal", so no worries.
I really can't think of anything else that bothered me. I enjoyed this story and will read more by this author. I hope *fingers crossed* that they are as good as this one.
Happy Reading!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Overall Rating = 5 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 3 / 5 / 5 = 4.5 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 4.5 Stars
Character / Secondary Character Development = 5 / 4 = 4.5 Stars
“Did I like” Hero / Heroine = 5 / 5 = 5 Stars
Story / Background Story Development = 5 / 5 = 5 Stars
“Did I like the Damned Thing” = 5 Stars
Ending = 5 Stars
Worth the Chili = 5 Stars -- [A Kindle Unlimited selection or $3.99 on Amazon]
Smexy [HEAT] Rating = Steamy
304 pages
First sentence: I was the fucking boss.
Last sentence: I hadn't seen any of this coming -- the love of my life, the beachfront home far from my city, the baby growing inside me -- and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2016
“You’re so much … And I want all of it.”
4.5 steamy, romantic, and epic banter-filled stars
I love this series, absolutely love it! Featuring a group of siblings who endured a horrific childhood and who are now all grown and running their own architectural firm (well, most of them), and all of them are up in each other’s lives. These books have it all – beautifully romantic, dramatic, insanely hot, and laugh-out-loud funny, they just get better and better, and I loved this one.
Though each book in this series features a different couple, I would definitely not recommend reading this one as a standalone. There's a lot of background context that builds during each book, and it would definitely be more meaningful if you read it as a series - and why wouldn't you? They're fantastic! Start with this one - Underneath It All.
This is the fourth book in the series and features the second eldest in the family, Shannon. Shannon is the no-nonsense, tough-as-nails 'Cornerstone' of the family. She has taken it upon herself to care for her siblings and she runs their business, and pretty much their lives, working her ass off to do whatever she can to make life easier for them all. She comes across as a bit of a hard bitch, and I loved the chance to get to know the real her during this book.
The book begins a couple of months after the end of the last book, but then takes us back in time to events during book 2, and shows us Shannon meeting Will. Will is a badass Navy SEAL and the older brother of Lauren (heroine from book 1), and it is during Lauren and Matt’s wedding that Shannon and Will meet. And from their very first encounter, you know that this is going to be a great read.
Sparks fly from the very first moment – they are attracted to each other but he is arrogant and super horny from being on deployment, she is feisty and not prepared to put up with his crap. Conversation is had, the gauntlet is thrown down, and then it’s all on.
OMG, I LOVE these two together! Will is super sexy and likes control in the bedroom, and Shannon’s not used to giving that up. It’s a constant battle of wills (even during the sex), and the banter is absolutely epic.
It’s a great combination of being totally freaking hot, while leaving me completely gobsmacked at the things they’re saying to each other, and laughing out loud that it’s all happening the way it is. It’s highly entertaining (and delightfully dirty) reading.
Their wild night together leads to one more… and one more… and one more. And soon Will and Shannon are taking every opportunity they can get to hook up. It’s an escape for both of them, allowing them the opportunity to let go of the pressures of their lives and be wild and free together. And as they get to know each other, their walls start coming down, they start to feel for each other and things get complicated. Will likes his women to challenge him, but Shannon is unlike anybody he has ever met before. Can the arrogant navy SEAL convince his hard-ass girl to take a chance on him for something more?
I love the way everything unfolds between Will and Shannon. Their interactions – whether in real life or during their epic text conversations - are full of fantastic banter that so perfectly captures the argumentative edge that defines their relationship. It’s a phenomenal battle and I can honestly say I loved every moment of it.
And, of course, they are SO freaking hot together!
But even amidst all of the arguing, there is a beautiful love story. It’s not an easy road for either of them and they have a lot to overcome before they can be together, but the heartache is worth every moment for the gorgeous romance that builds slowly and realistically from friendship into so much more.
The timeline of this book crosses over the last two and a half books in the series, so Shannon’s family is heavily involved. They all care for each other deeply, so between their work and social lives, they are together a lot. Each of these characters are different and wonderful in their own ways, but put them together, and you have absolute GOLD! There is a scene between them in their boardroom during a ‘meeting’ where they all start having their own conversations, and I honestly had tears rolling down my face at the ridiculousness of it all. So freaking funny! But what I really loved about this book was seeing Shannon’s perspective on things. I loved her conversations with Patrick, and seeing how the two of them take the ‘Mum and Dad’ role in the family, and I loved watching her deal with dramas going on in her family while trying to come to terms with everything that is happening between her and Will. She changes a lot through this book, and I really enjoyed her journey as she learns to let herself go and finds the courage to claim her HEA.
This is a great addition to the series. I absolutely loved it, and can’t wait to get my hands on the next instalment.
4.5 stars.
Advanced Review Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 steamy, romantic, and epic banter-filled stars
I love this series, absolutely love it! Featuring a group of siblings who endured a horrific childhood and who are now all grown and running their own architectural firm (well, most of them), and all of them are up in each other’s lives. These books have it all – beautifully romantic, dramatic, insanely hot, and laugh-out-loud funny, they just get better and better, and I loved this one.
Though each book in this series features a different couple, I would definitely not recommend reading this one as a standalone. There's a lot of background context that builds during each book, and it would definitely be more meaningful if you read it as a series - and why wouldn't you? They're fantastic! Start with this one - Underneath It All.
This is the fourth book in the series and features the second eldest in the family, Shannon. Shannon is the no-nonsense, tough-as-nails 'Cornerstone' of the family. She has taken it upon herself to care for her siblings and she runs their business, and pretty much their lives, working her ass off to do whatever she can to make life easier for them all. She comes across as a bit of a hard bitch, and I loved the chance to get to know the real her during this book.
The book begins a couple of months after the end of the last book, but then takes us back in time to events during book 2, and shows us Shannon meeting Will. Will is a badass Navy SEAL and the older brother of Lauren (heroine from book 1), and it is during Lauren and Matt’s wedding that Shannon and Will meet. And from their very first encounter, you know that this is going to be a great read.
Sparks fly from the very first moment – they are attracted to each other but he is arrogant and super horny from being on deployment, she is feisty and not prepared to put up with his crap. Conversation is had, the gauntlet is thrown down, and then it’s all on.
“I am not fucking you on a bar,” she said.
Oh, there was the spitfire.
“Let’s get one thing straight now,” I said … “I do the fucking here.”
OMG, I LOVE these two together! Will is super sexy and likes control in the bedroom, and Shannon’s not used to giving that up. It’s a constant battle of wills (even during the sex), and the banter is absolutely epic.
“What was that?” he asked. He didn’t stop thrusting. He went right on rocking over every tender, pulsating inch of me.
“An orgasm,” I said into the blankets. “Surely you’ve encountered more than your own, commando.”
“If that was an orgasm, it was a pathetic one,” he said, his arm snaking around my waist and hiking me up.
I looked over my shoulder at Will, horrified. “Did you just insult my orgasm?”
“Yes,” he said, nodding. “Now get your little ass over here. You can do better.”
Of course this asshole wasn’t finished. “And what are you getting out of this?”
He bent me over the edge of the bed, my feet not even touching the ground as he moved in me. “If you have to ask,” he grunted, “you’ve been doing it wrong.”
It’s a great combination of being totally freaking hot, while leaving me completely gobsmacked at the things they’re saying to each other, and laughing out loud that it’s all happening the way it is. It’s highly entertaining (and delightfully dirty) reading.
“All this talking makes me think you need a dick in your mouth,” he murmured.
Their wild night together leads to one more… and one more… and one more. And soon Will and Shannon are taking every opportunity they can get to hook up. It’s an escape for both of them, allowing them the opportunity to let go of the pressures of their lives and be wild and free together. And as they get to know each other, their walls start coming down, they start to feel for each other and things get complicated. Will likes his women to challenge him, but Shannon is unlike anybody he has ever met before. Can the arrogant navy SEAL convince his hard-ass girl to take a chance on him for something more?
“You’re so much … And I want all of it.”
I love the way everything unfolds between Will and Shannon. Their interactions – whether in real life or during their epic text conversations - are full of fantastic banter that so perfectly captures the argumentative edge that defines their relationship. It’s a phenomenal battle and I can honestly say I loved every moment of it.
I admired how hard she worked at that attitude. She put everything into being pissed off, and it make me want to throw her up against any of the cars in this underground garage and fuck her while she insulted me.
And, of course, they are SO freaking hot together!
We heard a tremendous crack and the right side of the bed buckled beneath us. Will locked his arm around my waist as the bed teetered on a steep angle, and before we could move, the other side of the bed crumbled, too.
“That means we’re doing it right,” he said.
But even amidst all of the arguing, there is a beautiful love story. It’s not an easy road for either of them and they have a lot to overcome before they can be together, but the heartache is worth every moment for the gorgeous romance that builds slowly and realistically from friendship into so much more.
“I’ve spent eleven days with you in the past eight months and that’s all it took for me to fall for you. Because I’ve sent you over five thousand texts and called you two hundred and eighteen times and you know what I have to show for that? I fucking love you.”
The timeline of this book crosses over the last two and a half books in the series, so Shannon’s family is heavily involved. They all care for each other deeply, so between their work and social lives, they are together a lot. Each of these characters are different and wonderful in their own ways, but put them together, and you have absolute GOLD! There is a scene between them in their boardroom during a ‘meeting’ where they all start having their own conversations, and I honestly had tears rolling down my face at the ridiculousness of it all. So freaking funny! But what I really loved about this book was seeing Shannon’s perspective on things. I loved her conversations with Patrick, and seeing how the two of them take the ‘Mum and Dad’ role in the family, and I loved watching her deal with dramas going on in her family while trying to come to terms with everything that is happening between her and Will. She changes a lot through this book, and I really enjoyed her journey as she learns to let herself go and finds the courage to claim her HEA.
“I love you… You are my fire and ice, my calm and chaos, my everything, and I can’t remember life before loving you. “
This is a great addition to the series. I absolutely loved it, and can’t wait to get my hands on the next instalment.
4.5 stars.
Advanced Review Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 14, 2023
sometimes i forget how much i love when the guy is genuinely obsessed with the girl... then i read book like this one and i cry because she is a lucky bastard and i am not.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
March 1, 2020
Some amusing moments in this thanks to the interactions of the heroine and hero.
A few moments early in the book where the main characters had me annoyed and gritting my teeth to the extent that I wasn't sure if I should drop the book, overall glad I didn't.
Potential Triggers:
Acquired via KU.
A few moments early in the book where the main characters had me annoyed and gritting my teeth to the extent that I wasn't sure if I should drop the book, overall glad I didn't.
Potential Triggers:
Acquired via KU.
January 7, 2019
I don't know how I was so late to the Walsh party, but this series has been like Winter break book crack! This was by far my favorite of the series, LOVE Wil!
March 20, 2023
*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*
5++++ “Shortcake” “Commando” “post-deployment horny” “peanut” “Commando tactic” “neutral” “Suck my dick” “Scheduled Sex” Kisses
Good Lord almighty, that’s how you do it! I have been an insanely huge fan of Kate Canterbary and The Walsh series from the moment my eyes read the first words in Underneath It All …I knew there was something intrinsically special about this family and their story and it felt very special to me. I needed to treasure it, and I have. When I usually get hooked on a series I cannot read the books fast enough and believe me, a very strong part of me wanted to do the same thing with The Walshes…but I couldn’t. Like…I cannot quantify how much I love this family, the stories, the writing, e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g about these books and the thought that I will eventually come to the last book actually terrifies me because I NEVER want it to be over. I cannot wrap my brain around that concept. So, I decided to ration myself…I know it sounds crazy, possibly stupid, I agree with both sentiments, but welcome to my crazy brain! If you have no idea who or what I am talking about…we need to fix this right away. While each book in The Walsh Series (Underneath It All, The Space Between , Necessary Restorations , The Cornerstone) is ‘technically’ a standalone, each book is building on the previous one and to truly appreciate the characters and the way the stories are flowing together, I would highly recommend reading them in order. It’s not a deal breaker…but if you did read them out of order, some things might not make as much sense and there might be some spoiler-ish things.
Shannon Walsh…I love this woman. From the top of her red head to the tip of her stiletto ass kicking heels…she is a million different kinds of amazing and I could not get enough of her. I am beyond in love with her sarcasm…her sense of humor is SO dry…and the timing with everything she says could not be more on point. I feel like she could teach doctorate level classes on how to be a smart ass…I love that she takes no prisoners and doesn’t hold back on basically anything. She has insanely high standards and she expects the best, if not better than the best. She has a reputation for being a bitch...harsh…mean even…and I’ll be honest, before I got to know her, I might have agreed with those assumptions – but once you really get Shannon, it all makes sense. She does so much, mainly for her family because they’re all she has and that is how she shows her love…she willingly sacrifices a lot for the people she cares about, and I personally think that’s awesome.
Captain William Halstead…this man…this man…this wonderful, beautiful, amazing man. I adored Will from the moment I met him and that love only continued to intensify and grow and multiply until it took over my entire being. He is absolutely one of my favorite book boyfriends ever…the man redefines the word perfection and I am obsessed with every growley inch of him. I knew it would take a VERY special man to combat with the likes of Shannon Walsh…but Will could not be a more perfect match for her. There is a lot to love about this man…I mean, he’s visually appealing – tall, muscles, golden skin, all wonderful things. Then you throw in that he’s a SEAL…so he’s a bad ass, who loves his country and risks his life on the daily – super duper. Add in that he’s a surfer boy, loves his family, is charming, funny, sweet, caring, sexy, dirty mouth, intelligent…I mean, I could keep on listing it for days – like I said before, the man is perfect. But…the cherry on top of this flawless man was how he treated Shannon. His actions spoke louder than any words he could ever say when it came to the way he felt for her…and I ate up every moment of it. He was so attentive to her, paid attention to all the things she did and I couldn’t get enough if I tried. My love for Will knows absolutely no bounds…
Shannon and Will are sheer bliss…absolute perfection…everything that is good and right with the world. If this world isn’t ready for their exchanging verbal warfare or launching limes at each other…then I don’t want to be a part of it. I loved every minute of Shannon and Will’s story…every moment of it was a precious piece of a puzzle bringing them to their forever…it was an inevitable outcome and the process to get there wasn’t always pretty…but it was perfect because it was theirs. With every quippy come back Shannon had to something Will said, I fell harder…for every time Will threw Shannon on the bed, I melted into mush…for every small milestone that would have felt like no big deal with any other couple, I took as a monumental accomplishment. Will and Shannon are not lovey dovey people…their compliments are few and far between, but the gestures and the way they made me swoon, gah! There are no words. Their actions speak for their emotions and when Will and Shannon show their love, it’s the best thing ever.
Kate Canterbary is a freaking genius of epic proportions and we’re all not worthy. I will never…ever…ever get tired of Kate’s style of writing. It’s just not in my being to not fall completely in love within the first few sentences of one of her books and then it’s just a steep plummet into full obsession, so by the end I’m like an addict dying for their next fix. That’s what her words do to me…not complaining about it, just stating facts. Her style is so unique…her voice is one of the most original I’ve ever read, her characters are messy and flawed and absolutely wonderful. I love every one of them…even the ones I don’t know so well yet (*cough cough* ERIN! *cough cough*) Her story lines are so perfectly paced…I love the way the books are flowing into each other – because it looks like Shannon’s book overlaps with Sam’s books (Necessary Restorations) – which actually makes sense because Sam and Shannon are very close, but I digress. The main point here is that when it comes to anything coming out of Kate’s brain (Walsh related or otherwise)…I’m here for the party. She has never let me down which is a trend I’m sure she will continue, if I’m lucky, forever.
The ending was…all that I needed and then some. I really don’t think I can overstate how much I loved how The Cornerstone was paced and the ending was the pièce de résistance. All it takes is a rushed ending to completely un-do so much in my book, and I reeeeeally loved the way Kate handled Will and Shannon’s ending. It was epic levels of awesome…everything I wanted and a ton of other things I didn’t even know I wanted. I legit feel like the heart-eyed emoji right now because of how much I loved The Cornerstone. I hate to pick favorites with The Walshes, because they’re all perfect in their own way, but Shannon is definitely giving her brother a run for their money. #HonoraryWalsh #TakeMeToBoston #ILoveTheWalshFamily
5++++ “Shortcake” “Commando” “post-deployment horny” “peanut” “Commando tactic” “neutral” “Suck my dick” “Scheduled Sex” Kisses
Good Lord almighty, that’s how you do it! I have been an insanely huge fan of Kate Canterbary and The Walsh series from the moment my eyes read the first words in Underneath It All …I knew there was something intrinsically special about this family and their story and it felt very special to me. I needed to treasure it, and I have. When I usually get hooked on a series I cannot read the books fast enough and believe me, a very strong part of me wanted to do the same thing with The Walshes…but I couldn’t. Like…I cannot quantify how much I love this family, the stories, the writing, e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g about these books and the thought that I will eventually come to the last book actually terrifies me because I NEVER want it to be over. I cannot wrap my brain around that concept. So, I decided to ration myself…I know it sounds crazy, possibly stupid, I agree with both sentiments, but welcome to my crazy brain! If you have no idea who or what I am talking about…we need to fix this right away. While each book in The Walsh Series (Underneath It All, The Space Between , Necessary Restorations , The Cornerstone) is ‘technically’ a standalone, each book is building on the previous one and to truly appreciate the characters and the way the stories are flowing together, I would highly recommend reading them in order. It’s not a deal breaker…but if you did read them out of order, some things might not make as much sense and there might be some spoiler-ish things.
Shannon Walsh…I love this woman. From the top of her red head to the tip of her stiletto ass kicking heels…she is a million different kinds of amazing and I could not get enough of her. I am beyond in love with her sarcasm…her sense of humor is SO dry…and the timing with everything she says could not be more on point. I feel like she could teach doctorate level classes on how to be a smart ass…I love that she takes no prisoners and doesn’t hold back on basically anything. She has insanely high standards and she expects the best, if not better than the best. She has a reputation for being a bitch...harsh…mean even…and I’ll be honest, before I got to know her, I might have agreed with those assumptions – but once you really get Shannon, it all makes sense. She does so much, mainly for her family because they’re all she has and that is how she shows her love…she willingly sacrifices a lot for the people she cares about, and I personally think that’s awesome.
"Hmm," I murmured, scratching my chin while I stared at her. "You need me to tie you to the headboard again, don't you? Maybe a good, hard fuck to start the day? We can bend that bratty attitude of yours into shape."
Shannon murmured to herself, a small smile lifting her lips, and she narrowed her eyes in my direction. "That's a charming offer," she said, "but I don't think your dick can reach my attitude, let alone bend it.”
Captain William Halstead…this man…this man…this wonderful, beautiful, amazing man. I adored Will from the moment I met him and that love only continued to intensify and grow and multiply until it took over my entire being. He is absolutely one of my favorite book boyfriends ever…the man redefines the word perfection and I am obsessed with every growley inch of him. I knew it would take a VERY special man to combat with the likes of Shannon Walsh…but Will could not be a more perfect match for her. There is a lot to love about this man…I mean, he’s visually appealing – tall, muscles, golden skin, all wonderful things. Then you throw in that he’s a SEAL…so he’s a bad ass, who loves his country and risks his life on the daily – super duper. Add in that he’s a surfer boy, loves his family, is charming, funny, sweet, caring, sexy, dirty mouth, intelligent…I mean, I could keep on listing it for days – like I said before, the man is perfect. But…the cherry on top of this flawless man was how he treated Shannon. His actions spoke louder than any words he could ever say when it came to the way he felt for her…and I ate up every moment of it. He was so attentive to her, paid attention to all the things she did and I couldn’t get enough if I tried. My love for Will knows absolutely no bounds…
"I like you like this," I said, my fingers twisting in her hair.
"Drunk?" she asked. "I've heard that before. All of my law school friends said I was too much to deal with until I'd had a few beers."
"Relaxed," I clarified. "You're never too much for me. But right now, you just look…" I leaned back and cupped her face, my thumb sweeping across her flushed cheek as I studied her. "Like you aren't holding up the world. Like you're as sweet and simple as summer peaches. But sweet and simple are the last words I'd use to describe you. You're smart and beautiful and really fucking complicated."
"Too complicated?"
"Probably not," I said, my lips brushing over her neck. "Why don't you sit on my face while I think about it?"
Shannon and Will are sheer bliss…absolute perfection…everything that is good and right with the world. If this world isn’t ready for their exchanging verbal warfare or launching limes at each other…then I don’t want to be a part of it. I loved every minute of Shannon and Will’s story…every moment of it was a precious piece of a puzzle bringing them to their forever…it was an inevitable outcome and the process to get there wasn’t always pretty…but it was perfect because it was theirs. With every quippy come back Shannon had to something Will said, I fell harder…for every time Will threw Shannon on the bed, I melted into mush…for every small milestone that would have felt like no big deal with any other couple, I took as a monumental accomplishment. Will and Shannon are not lovey dovey people…their compliments are few and far between, but the gestures and the way they made me swoon, gah! There are no words. Their actions speak for their emotions and when Will and Shannon show their love, it’s the best thing ever.
‘I was drowning in Will, and as he banded his arms around me and squeezed tight for the tenth time this evening, I knew this wasn't scheduled sex anymore. It was tipping into affection and concern and other feelings.
It was scary, but then it wasn't.
I knew scary things—death and disease, violence and abuse—and this wasn't like that. This was warm and happy and special, and maybe…maybe it was finally my turn.’
Kate Canterbary is a freaking genius of epic proportions and we’re all not worthy. I will never…ever…ever get tired of Kate’s style of writing. It’s just not in my being to not fall completely in love within the first few sentences of one of her books and then it’s just a steep plummet into full obsession, so by the end I’m like an addict dying for their next fix. That’s what her words do to me…not complaining about it, just stating facts. Her style is so unique…her voice is one of the most original I’ve ever read, her characters are messy and flawed and absolutely wonderful. I love every one of them…even the ones I don’t know so well yet (*cough cough* ERIN! *cough cough*) Her story lines are so perfectly paced…I love the way the books are flowing into each other – because it looks like Shannon’s book overlaps with Sam’s books (Necessary Restorations) – which actually makes sense because Sam and Shannon are very close, but I digress. The main point here is that when it comes to anything coming out of Kate’s brain (Walsh related or otherwise)…I’m here for the party. She has never let me down which is a trend I’m sure she will continue, if I’m lucky, forever.
"I love you," I said. I could live for centuries, and I'd never forget the way Will's eyes softened and glowed when I said those words. "And you have to know I don't come to that statement lightly, and —"
"Shut up," Will interrupted. His hands raced up my body to cup my face. "I love you, too, and I'm not listening to any opening remarks or qualifications on the matter. You are my fire and ice, my calm and chaos, my everything, and I can't remember life before loving you. Now shut up and strip, unless you want me ripping those clothes off."
The ending was…all that I needed and then some. I really don’t think I can overstate how much I loved how The Cornerstone was paced and the ending was the pièce de résistance. All it takes is a rushed ending to completely un-do so much in my book, and I reeeeeally loved the way Kate handled Will and Shannon’s ending. It was epic levels of awesome…everything I wanted and a ton of other things I didn’t even know I wanted. I legit feel like the heart-eyed emoji right now because of how much I loved The Cornerstone. I hate to pick favorites with The Walshes, because they’re all perfect in their own way, but Shannon is definitely giving her brother a run for their money. #HonoraryWalsh #TakeMeToBoston #ILoveTheWalshFamily
December 31, 2015
Ending 2015 on a perfect note with the fourth book in the Walsh series ... Shannon and Will really know how to get to it down right dirty ! As always loved the siblings banter .. the text messages between Shannon and Will were hilarious and all the emotions and feels were packed to the fullest !
December 13, 2015
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
5+ Peanut Stars
The first half of the book focuses on events that happened between Shannon and Will starting from the day of the wedding between her brother and best friend, Matthew and Lauren, and continues thru to the time of Sam and Tiel. Every time Shannon disappeared and couldn't be reached - remember when Sam gets stuck in the elevator and can't reach Shannon? This book will explain all of those disappearances.
Will, Will, Will - How can I explain him. There's just something about Shannon that brings out the alpha dominant in him. He loves her snark, he loves how she tries to dominate him, and he even loves how she takes care of her siblings, even if he hates how they abuse it. After one night with her, his world view has changed.
Will's life in the Navy is all he's ever wanted. He spends more time on mission than the average SEAL. But after being with Shannon, that all changes. His view of what his life will be is colored by this little woman that he can't get enough of.
Shannon might make jokes about being the loving aunt with a bunch of cats to her future nieces and nephews, but that's how she really feels. She's spent most of her life as the mother figure to all of her siblings, she can't see to her own life. She feels guilty spending special and holiday time away from them to be with someone who she can't see a future with, even though her view of things start to slowly change. When Sam almost dies and then takes off in Necessary Restoration , Shannon makes the decision that what she may want and need doesn't matter when it comes to her siblings. She needs to be there for them. But Will won't let her make that decision.
We also learn why Angus, who deserves a very special place in hell, called her names and kicked her out as a teen. Shannon is a very strong person to get the help she needed to move on with her life without anyone telling her to do so, and not going wild when she left her family home.
Will these two very strong and stubborn people be able to find their way to a real relationship? Will Shannon be able to let Will in all the way? Will she be able to step back from parenting her siblings?
I could say so much more, but I don't want to ruin the book. It's the best of books about the Walsh family. I loved ever moment of it, from the crazy laugh out loud moment to sad realizations. I'm even more desperate to know what happened between Shannon and Erin and the reason they no long speak, even when they are in the same room.
Everyone has to read this book. It was FANTASTIC!
5+ Peanut Stars
The first half of the book focuses on events that happened between Shannon and Will starting from the day of the wedding between her brother and best friend, Matthew and Lauren, and continues thru to the time of Sam and Tiel. Every time Shannon disappeared and couldn't be reached - remember when Sam gets stuck in the elevator and can't reach Shannon? This book will explain all of those disappearances.
Will, Will, Will - How can I explain him. There's just something about Shannon that brings out the alpha dominant in him. He loves her snark, he loves how she tries to dominate him, and he even loves how she takes care of her siblings, even if he hates how they abuse it. After one night with her, his world view has changed.
Will's life in the Navy is all he's ever wanted. He spends more time on mission than the average SEAL. But after being with Shannon, that all changes. His view of what his life will be is colored by this little woman that he can't get enough of.
Shannon might make jokes about being the loving aunt with a bunch of cats to her future nieces and nephews, but that's how she really feels. She's spent most of her life as the mother figure to all of her siblings, she can't see to her own life. She feels guilty spending special and holiday time away from them to be with someone who she can't see a future with, even though her view of things start to slowly change. When Sam almost dies and then takes off in Necessary Restoration , Shannon makes the decision that what she may want and need doesn't matter when it comes to her siblings. She needs to be there for them. But Will won't let her make that decision.
We also learn why Angus, who deserves a very special place in hell, called her names and kicked her out as a teen. Shannon is a very strong person to get the help she needed to move on with her life without anyone telling her to do so, and not going wild when she left her family home.
Will these two very strong and stubborn people be able to find their way to a real relationship? Will Shannon be able to let Will in all the way? Will she be able to step back from parenting her siblings?
I could say so much more, but I don't want to ruin the book. It's the best of books about the Walsh family. I loved ever moment of it, from the crazy laugh out loud moment to sad realizations. I'm even more desperate to know what happened between Shannon and Erin and the reason they no long speak, even when they are in the same room.
Everyone has to read this book. It was FANTASTIC!
December 17, 2015
4.5 Stars
I didn't care for whatever issues Sam and Tiel had in the previous book so it took me days to finish that one. But THIS I finished in a few hours. <3
I didn't care for whatever issues Sam and Tiel had in the previous book so it took me days to finish that one. But THIS I finished in a few hours. <3
August 30, 2020
The couple's verbal sparring was fun to read. There were some real zingers. It took me a bit to warm up to Will's dominate ways in the bedroom. I mean, the first time they were together he was bam, right into it. There was no taking a moment to even see if she had the same kink. It came off as overbearing. But like I said, I warmed up to it and even found it fitting for them. Shannon, of course, liked the dominate kink. I wouldn't change this, and I know there are plenty of people in the world like this, but I found it annoying that she did so much for her siblings and they didn't give her the respect she deserved. But when she explained that it was the way she showed her love and we learn of something that happened in her childhood, it made sense to the character.
Recommend.
Recommend.
December 5, 2015
I wasn't sure I would like The Cornerstone. It seemed like it might be a bit too hot for me. It is very steamy, but I didn't find it over the top. At first, I didn't really like Shannon either. I have a hard time connecting to heroines who are ball busters all the time. But, again, I was surprised to find that I didn't dislike her at all. I haven't read the other books in the series and it didn't affect my enjoyment of this book. What can I say about Commando? He was such a great hero. He is demanding, pushy, and a bit crass. I loved it. Even when he was being pushy and crass you could feel the love for Shannon. That is not an easy task for a writer to pull off successfully. Often times when the hero is such a bad ass alpha, the relationship can feel very superficial. I can honestly say, I didn't feel that way about these two at all. Honestly, this book just totally surprised me-I was not sure what to expect and I was a bit hesitant but Kate Canterbary had made me a believer! I certainly plan to grab the other books in the series (except maybe not Sam and Tiel...not sure I care about those two...) Honestly, I would enjoy reading more about Will and Shannon. I don't know that I would ever get tired of them!
Heat: 4.5
Triggers: Mentions of molestation
Trope: Military
Cliffhanger: No
POV: Dual
If you liked: Johanna Blake, CD Reiss, Kendall Ryan
Heat: 4.5
Triggers: Mentions of molestation
Trope: Military
Cliffhanger: No
POV: Dual
If you liked: Johanna Blake, CD Reiss, Kendall Ryan
September 7, 2023
Will and Shannon. I really liked this one. One of the best of this strong series. Captain Will Halsted is gorgeous, and he's a great match for the feisty Shannon. I was a little disappointed in the way things panned out in the end for Will, but it did resolve the book neatly. Overall, a very enjoyable reread.
December 30, 2015
My favourite of this series so far. Loved it.
December 23, 2015
I received and ARC for and honest review.
OH HOLY MOTHER OF EVERYTHING GOOD I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!! I'm gonna start by saying that Kate Canterbary books have recently become one of my new obsessions and if your have not read her books what the hell are you waiting for? Ok now i will talk about the book in as little detail as possible so nothing is ruined.
Shannon Walsh is the bada$$ head b!23h Of the Walsh clan and ruler of all. She has taken care of her family since she was just a kid and now she is the fiercest redhead on the block. the question is Who takes care of her?
Will is the hardcore NAVY SEAL (yes it needs to be in CAPS) brother of Lauren and is what every women needs in the alpha male dominance department. Sinfully sexy and can melt our Shannon down to the bone.
This Book has a very well developed story line and goes back to explain what the hell was going on in Necessary Restoration with Shannon, so you might want to read the other books first so you know everyone. Their incredibly hot conversations and text banter will have you laughing and get you hot and bothered. the perfect blend between comedy and Sexiness that i expect in these books. I loved every part of this book it was perfect! I highly recommend you read it!!!
OH HOLY MOTHER OF EVERYTHING GOOD I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!! I'm gonna start by saying that Kate Canterbary books have recently become one of my new obsessions and if your have not read her books what the hell are you waiting for? Ok now i will talk about the book in as little detail as possible so nothing is ruined.
Shannon Walsh is the bada$$ head b!23h Of the Walsh clan and ruler of all. She has taken care of her family since she was just a kid and now she is the fiercest redhead on the block. the question is Who takes care of her?
Will is the hardcore NAVY SEAL (yes it needs to be in CAPS) brother of Lauren and is what every women needs in the alpha male dominance department. Sinfully sexy and can melt our Shannon down to the bone.
This Book has a very well developed story line and goes back to explain what the hell was going on in Necessary Restoration with Shannon, so you might want to read the other books first so you know everyone. Their incredibly hot conversations and text banter will have you laughing and get you hot and bothered. the perfect blend between comedy and Sexiness that i expect in these books. I loved every part of this book it was perfect! I highly recommend you read it!!!
December 1, 2015
The text messages Shannon and Will exchange are just not normal at times:
"Will: Hold on. You were watching porn and you didn't call me? How many movies have we watched over the phone together? At least 10
Will: You can call me when that Eurotrip movie is on but you can't call me for PORN?
Will: I expect a call when porn is involved."
Will just has all sorts of problems, "yes, she is, but I'm not here because…okay, yeah I'm here for her," I said. "My last mission went to ***t, my arm is fucked up, and I'm thinking hard about retirement. On top of that, I left things in shambles with my girlf—err, my Shannon, when I saw her before this deployment. Come back and she's dating a d****ebag." I love this series but this was my favorite book out of it, Will is all alpha.
June 26, 2024
I’ve heard a lot about Shannon and Will, so I jumped right to this book instead of reading the series in order. I’m sure I missed some references and the previous characters do appear a lot, but overall I didn’t have a hard time enjoying this one without reading the other books first.
Things start hot and heavy between Will and Shannon, but I liked that their relationship as a whole developed slowly. Yes, there are hiccups and it took a bit for these two idiots to get it right, but it’s clear from the get go that they have something special. I loved how all in Will was and that he knew just when to push and when to yield. He really was such a great partner for Shannon. I also appreciated that there wasn’t an unnecessary third act break up. The epilogue was very sweet and left my heart happy. I hope to go back and read the other books in the series now!
CW (from author): History of emotional and sexual abuse by a parent; parent loss; estranged family member; caring for a side character with chronic illness; reference to a main character injured during active duty military service; brief reference to a side character who experienced homelessness; brief reference to being forced out of the home as a teenager
Things start hot and heavy between Will and Shannon, but I liked that their relationship as a whole developed slowly. Yes, there are hiccups and it took a bit for these two idiots to get it right, but it’s clear from the get go that they have something special. I loved how all in Will was and that he knew just when to push and when to yield. He really was such a great partner for Shannon. I also appreciated that there wasn’t an unnecessary third act break up. The epilogue was very sweet and left my heart happy. I hope to go back and read the other books in the series now!
CW (from author): History of emotional and sexual abuse by a parent; parent loss; estranged family member; caring for a side character with chronic illness; reference to a main character injured during active duty military service; brief reference to a side character who experienced homelessness; brief reference to being forced out of the home as a teenager
July 21, 2023
We finally get to Shannon's book and I've been highly anticipating it since The Space Between. Shannon Walsh is a bitch boss, and I love her for it. Will is a Navy SEAL, also Lauren's older brother. Shannon and Will first meet at Matt and Lauren's wedding. Shannon was tasked with intercepting Will, and that's when they first hook up. They keep in touch for the next year and a half and meet up in secret whenever Will has some time off.
I will begin this review with a disclaimer that I usually stay away from military-themed books. It's a personal preference, for many reasons that I refuse to get into. When I do end up reading these types of books, I try to ignore the military politics as much as possible. There are a few things in this book that really pissed me off, like Shannon's jokes about "invading other sovereign nations" 🤡 Ms. Canterbary, I don't know you personally, but this is enough for me to dislike you. Military nonsense aside, the romance itself was really well done. Shannon's book is by far the best one in the series.
I love Will and Shannon's dynamic. It's not often I come across two Alpha characters paired together. Will enjoys getting Shannon all riled up and their banter is the funniest thing ever. I love that he encourages her to spend time away from her demanding family. He also encourages her to stop stressing, to relax, and to enjoy herself. Most importantly, he pushes her to do things for herself instead of continuously mothering her grown brothers. Will's annoyance with Shannon's brothers is one of my favourite thing about this book because it's something that I've felt since Underneath It All. I completely agree with Will that Shannon's brothers undervalue and underappreciate her for everything that she does for them. And I really wish we had a scene with Will and her brothers, where he straightens them out. But alas, that was missing.
Even though it is torturous, I love that Will and Shannon spend time away from each other and that part of their relationship develops via texting. Frankly, the other couples in this series are a bit too codependent. Will and Shannon having no choice but to spend time away from each other actually strengthened their relationship. Shannon herself says: "It gave me time to think, and though the distance from Will was hard, it was healthy." And I agree completely with that statement. I also love that Will and Shannon spend time away from the Walshes and they get to live in their own bubble, temporary as it may be. It was important for Shannon to prioritize herself and spend time away from her brothers.
What I love the most though is that we get to see Will and Shannon being domestic. That's so rare in romance novels that don't revolve around a marriage of convenience. It's so cute that Will lives with Shannon, cooks and cleans for her, goes with her to spin class, etc. I love that their story takes place during the span of a year and a half. This timeline gives us the opportunity to see many different sides of their relationship, including the domestic side. Will and Shannon may insult each other and throw limes at each other as a form of foreplay, but they are arguably the most mature couple in this series. I love the way they lean on each other. The way they understand each other. The way they care for each other. The way I swooned when he took care of her while she was PMSing.
The dreaded third act was well-executed for the most part. But again, we really needed at least one scene with Will and her brothers. I can't believe I was deprived of Matt's reaction! Come on!! The oddest thing about the third act was Erin subtly offering an olive branch to Shannon. It feels like it came out of nowhere, with no build up whatsoever. But I guess we will find out more in Erin's book. Will I be continuing this series? I don't think so...at least not now. Shannon was the only character I was truly interested in and now that she has her HEA, I'm good to go LOL.
I will begin this review with a disclaimer that I usually stay away from military-themed books. It's a personal preference, for many reasons that I refuse to get into. When I do end up reading these types of books, I try to ignore the military politics as much as possible. There are a few things in this book that really pissed me off, like Shannon's jokes about "invading other sovereign nations" 🤡 Ms. Canterbary, I don't know you personally, but this is enough for me to dislike you. Military nonsense aside, the romance itself was really well done. Shannon's book is by far the best one in the series.
I love Will and Shannon's dynamic. It's not often I come across two Alpha characters paired together. Will enjoys getting Shannon all riled up and their banter is the funniest thing ever. I love that he encourages her to spend time away from her demanding family. He also encourages her to stop stressing, to relax, and to enjoy herself. Most importantly, he pushes her to do things for herself instead of continuously mothering her grown brothers. Will's annoyance with Shannon's brothers is one of my favourite thing about this book because it's something that I've felt since Underneath It All. I completely agree with Will that Shannon's brothers undervalue and underappreciate her for everything that she does for them. And I really wish we had a scene with Will and her brothers, where he straightens them out. But alas, that was missing.
Even though it is torturous, I love that Will and Shannon spend time away from each other and that part of their relationship develops via texting. Frankly, the other couples in this series are a bit too codependent. Will and Shannon having no choice but to spend time away from each other actually strengthened their relationship. Shannon herself says: "It gave me time to think, and though the distance from Will was hard, it was healthy." And I agree completely with that statement. I also love that Will and Shannon spend time away from the Walshes and they get to live in their own bubble, temporary as it may be. It was important for Shannon to prioritize herself and spend time away from her brothers.
What I love the most though is that we get to see Will and Shannon being domestic. That's so rare in romance novels that don't revolve around a marriage of convenience. It's so cute that Will lives with Shannon, cooks and cleans for her, goes with her to spin class, etc. I love that their story takes place during the span of a year and a half. This timeline gives us the opportunity to see many different sides of their relationship, including the domestic side. Will and Shannon may insult each other and throw limes at each other as a form of foreplay, but they are arguably the most mature couple in this series. I love the way they lean on each other. The way they understand each other. The way they care for each other. The way I swooned when he took care of her while she was PMSing.
The dreaded third act was well-executed for the most part. But again, we really needed at least one scene with Will and her brothers. I can't believe I was deprived of Matt's reaction! Come on!! The oddest thing about the third act was Erin subtly offering an olive branch to Shannon. It feels like it came out of nowhere, with no build up whatsoever. But I guess we will find out more in Erin's book. Will I be continuing this series? I don't think so...at least not now. Shannon was the only character I was truly interested in and now that she has her HEA, I'm good to go LOL.
September 2, 2019
Review to follow. Shannon is my new BFF and Will top Book Husband. Review to follow.
*An ARC was provided by the author for an honest review.
*An ARC was provided by the author for an honest review.
December 7, 2015
Review to come.
January 24, 2021
VOTO 4.5 STELLINE
💜✨Una notte soltanto. Una notte da non ripetere. Un'attrazione che non porterà a niente di buono eppure Shannon e Will non riescono a non rivivere ogni momento che hanno condiviso in quella stanza d'albergo.
Non dovrebbero volersi in questo modo, non dovrebbero cercarsi solo per ritrovarsi ancora, non dovrebbero stare così bene l'uno con l'altra, eppure ogni dubbio viene magicamente scacciato da quegli istanti irripetibili che li vedono insieme.
Quando la distanza farà affiorare la mancanza, quando la necessità di nascondersi sarà eclissata dal bisogno di viversi, quando i sentimenti ammalieranno la potente attrazione sarà proprio in quel momento che #LaVedovaNera e il suo #Commando dovranno fare i conti con una missione da compiere assolutamente speciale quella in cui il cuore gestisce le emozioni e prende a calci la paura.
Torna Kate Canterbary con questo quarto volume della sua serie sui fratelli Walsh. Una serie che adoro per la sua leggerezza, per l'intensità di questa famiglia, per la bellezza e anche la particolarità dei legami tra questi fratelli.
Shannon mi ha da sempre incuriosita e in questo libro emerge in maniera prepotente, splendida nelle sue insicurezze, dolce a suo modo nel voler tenere sotto la sua ala tutti i suoi fratelli, nessuno ecluso. Sarà Will a mostrarle con la sua stupenda irruenza che si può e si deve amare prima di tutto se stessi e solo dopo si può decidere di concedere tempo e sentimenti agli altri, e lui posso giurarvelo la amerà in ogni modo possibile, dentro e fuori dalla camera da letto.
Assolutamente consigliato ✨💜
December 15, 2021
4.5 stars
"Because I've spent eleven days with you in the past eight months and that's all it took for me to fall for you. Because I've sent you over five thousand texts and called you two hundred and eighteen times and you know what I have to show for all that? I fucking love you, and you're there and I'm here and that's why I hate you."
Never did I ever think alpha meathead SEALs could be a thing for me. But Will Halsted came charging/marching/parachuting out of a plane into my life (and obviously, Shannon Walsh’s life too), and now I seriously need to reassess. Adding frog skeleton tattoos and skimpy beige UDT shorts to my list of “mmmm, yes please”.
Amazing love story about two people who just know how to get shit done, and take care of the people they love. It’s competency porn on both sides all over the fucking place, and I can’t get enough of Shannon and Will!
The previous books for her brothers thus far—Matt, Patrick and Sam—pale in comparison because Shannon kicks major ass and basically runs their entire lives, often without due credit. Recognizing this, all Will wants—sweet, sexy, gorgeous hunk—is to be that man that puts her first for once. Thank god for Stern Brunch Daddies like Will Halsted. Swoons all around.
And the chemistry and steam between these two... Ridiculously hot. 🔥🥵🔥 I didn’t even mind the insta lust on steroids at the beginning. Literally breaking the bed at Matt and Lauren’s wedding? Hell to the fucking YES.
TW: past account of sexual and emotional abuse
"Because I've spent eleven days with you in the past eight months and that's all it took for me to fall for you. Because I've sent you over five thousand texts and called you two hundred and eighteen times and you know what I have to show for all that? I fucking love you, and you're there and I'm here and that's why I hate you."
Never did I ever think alpha meathead SEALs could be a thing for me. But Will Halsted came charging/marching/parachuting out of a plane into my life (and obviously, Shannon Walsh’s life too), and now I seriously need to reassess. Adding frog skeleton tattoos and skimpy beige UDT shorts to my list of “mmmm, yes please”.
Amazing love story about two people who just know how to get shit done, and take care of the people they love. It’s competency porn on both sides all over the fucking place, and I can’t get enough of Shannon and Will!
The previous books for her brothers thus far—Matt, Patrick and Sam—pale in comparison because Shannon kicks major ass and basically runs their entire lives, often without due credit. Recognizing this, all Will wants—sweet, sexy, gorgeous hunk—is to be that man that puts her first for once. Thank god for Stern Brunch Daddies like Will Halsted. Swoons all around.
And the chemistry and steam between these two... Ridiculously hot. 🔥🥵🔥 I didn’t even mind the insta lust on steroids at the beginning. Literally breaking the bed at Matt and Lauren’s wedding? Hell to the fucking YES.
TW: past account of sexual and emotional abuse
April 5, 2020
Must Read
Shannon and Wes are my go to so far in this series. Seriously if you haven’t read the Walsh series you’re missing out.
Kate delivers a sexy, witty and moving story. Combined altogether your in for a book hangover of epic proportions.
The characters are strong. Their stories are moving and everyone e has a story. It’s not pretty and sometimes it’s confronting but the delivery is spot on. The research that goes into these stories boggles the mind.
With Shannon and Wes I couldn’t help but fall for this guy. His need to care for Shannon will have you melting. Shannon’s a strong lead, she’s had to be. But with Wes she can let go, well as far as she can that is.
Two strong determined people. Who will make you laugh and also make you feel.
Shannon and Wes are my go to so far in this series. Seriously if you haven’t read the Walsh series you’re missing out.
Kate delivers a sexy, witty and moving story. Combined altogether your in for a book hangover of epic proportions.
The characters are strong. Their stories are moving and everyone e has a story. It’s not pretty and sometimes it’s confronting but the delivery is spot on. The research that goes into these stories boggles the mind.
With Shannon and Wes I couldn’t help but fall for this guy. His need to care for Shannon will have you melting. Shannon’s a strong lead, she’s had to be. But with Wes she can let go, well as far as she can that is.
Two strong determined people. Who will make you laugh and also make you feel.
December 13, 2015
FIVE 'CITRUS THROWING' STARS!
I have enjoyed each installment in The Walsh Series by Kate Canterbury, but The Cornerstone has moved right into the top position as my hands-down favorite of the series. I knew I'd enjoy it, but I wasn't anticipating just how much I would like it because, let's be honest, anyone who's read the series knows that Shannon is, um, well... she's difficult.
"I was the f**king boss.
Shannon Walsh gives new meaning to the phrase small but fierce. She is a pint-sized powerhouse of a woman who, by her own description, tames lions for fun. An attorney running the day-to-day business side of the the family architectural firm, Shannon is the glue that holds it ALL together - the business and her brothers' lives. She's got a full plate managing Sam's medical and mental health, planning Matt and Lauren's wedding, handling the revolving door of assistants for the moody Patrick and reminding Riley on a daily basis to zip up his pants. She is in charge of it all for each one of her brothers. Dry cleaning, ordering suits, doctor appointments, hosting the holidays, and absolutely everything in between, she has so many balls in the air at any given time, it's no wonder that the woman just can't seem to ever shut it down and relax. Brusque, bitchy and bossy, Shannon is a five-foot-nothing, red-headed force to be reckoned with.
"You're a misogynistic meathead."
Will Halsted, a career Navy SEAL commander, is stateside for his sister's wedding - to a man he had no idea she was even dating - after nearly three years on the front lines leading dangerous operations hunting terrorists. He's meeting the Walsh clan for the first time at Matt and Lauren's wedding. Shannon is tasked with the assignment of keeping on eye on Will to prevent any potential kidnapping and interrogation attempts he may make involving the groom. Dealing with his "post-deployment horny," Will readily admits he does not like Shannon, but yet he is still very attracted to her, and thus a wedding hook up is inevitable. The sharp barbed insults the two of them hurl at each other only serve as foreplay, and they definitely set the tone for the rest of their dealings with each other.
"I knew this wasn't scheduled sex anymore."
Explosive chemistry and Will's uncanny ability to boss the bossy Shannon equates to more hook ups whenever he is stateside. For Shannon's part, the only time she can ever seem to shut down, relax and quiet her mind is when Will is ordering her to do so, generally while they're having sex. They add texting to the mix, and the witty, snippy banter doubling as foreplay continues. It's during one of their weekends away when Will confiscates her phone that all hell breaks loose at home, Sam implodes, and Riley lays into her upon her return about not being there when they needed her most that has Shannon deciding she has to end it with Will. Unfortunate timing given that Will is headed out on a long, radio silent deployment. Before he leaves he is able to deliver his parting shot to Shannon warning her that he'll be coming for her when he gets back.
"Someone had to make things easier on her, to lighten her load."
When Will finally comes back for Shannon, showing up unannounced at her apartment late one night, he has more than just a chilly reception from Shannon to deal with. He knows it's not going to be easy to win her back, but he also recognizes that this woman deserves to be fought for, to be won. While he's dealing with some major issues of his own, the only thing he knows for certain is that he wants to be where Shannon is, so he digs his heels in, determined to wait her out. Will a long-time-coming argument waged by hurling insults - and citrus - coupled with Will's never-ending, patient ability to manage Shannon be enough to end the war?
I positively loved this story. Shannon was a tough one to love, but Ms. Canterbary really peeled back this character's layers for her readers showing us what really made her tick. The beauty of this relationship was how Will just so totally got Shannon, how he understood what it was that she needed, and how he was the only person in her life able to give those things to her time and time again. As hilarious as their banter was, there were poignant moments, too. This is the Walshes, after all, and there is a world of pain that each one of them deal with relative to their childhood, the death of their mother and the horrid abuse at the hands of their father. There were several moments throughout this story when I could literally feel Shannon's relief at Will's mere presence, even when she was fighting it or refusing to acknowledge him. Will wanted nothing more than to give this woman a break, and he made it abundantly clear that in their relationship, he would be the one taking care of her, not the other way around.
As I've come to expect from the talented Kate Canterbury, The Cornerstone was exceptionally well-written and a fabulously developed story. It ticked off so many of my favorite things in a romance story with it's oh-so-smart humor, a patient and loving alpha male who was unmistakably in charge, a genuine love between the main characters and, of course, plenty of smoking hot sexiness. I enjoyed every minute of this book! I love the Walshes, I love this series, and I love Kate Canterbury! This, folks, is what contemporary, erotic romance is all about! Well done, Kate!
I have enjoyed each installment in The Walsh Series by Kate Canterbury, but The Cornerstone has moved right into the top position as my hands-down favorite of the series. I knew I'd enjoy it, but I wasn't anticipating just how much I would like it because, let's be honest, anyone who's read the series knows that Shannon is, um, well... she's difficult.
"I was the f**king boss.
Shannon Walsh gives new meaning to the phrase small but fierce. She is a pint-sized powerhouse of a woman who, by her own description, tames lions for fun. An attorney running the day-to-day business side of the the family architectural firm, Shannon is the glue that holds it ALL together - the business and her brothers' lives. She's got a full plate managing Sam's medical and mental health, planning Matt and Lauren's wedding, handling the revolving door of assistants for the moody Patrick and reminding Riley on a daily basis to zip up his pants. She is in charge of it all for each one of her brothers. Dry cleaning, ordering suits, doctor appointments, hosting the holidays, and absolutely everything in between, she has so many balls in the air at any given time, it's no wonder that the woman just can't seem to ever shut it down and relax. Brusque, bitchy and bossy, Shannon is a five-foot-nothing, red-headed force to be reckoned with.
"You're a misogynistic meathead."
Will Halsted, a career Navy SEAL commander, is stateside for his sister's wedding - to a man he had no idea she was even dating - after nearly three years on the front lines leading dangerous operations hunting terrorists. He's meeting the Walsh clan for the first time at Matt and Lauren's wedding. Shannon is tasked with the assignment of keeping on eye on Will to prevent any potential kidnapping and interrogation attempts he may make involving the groom. Dealing with his "post-deployment horny," Will readily admits he does not like Shannon, but yet he is still very attracted to her, and thus a wedding hook up is inevitable. The sharp barbed insults the two of them hurl at each other only serve as foreplay, and they definitely set the tone for the rest of their dealings with each other.
"I knew this wasn't scheduled sex anymore."
Explosive chemistry and Will's uncanny ability to boss the bossy Shannon equates to more hook ups whenever he is stateside. For Shannon's part, the only time she can ever seem to shut down, relax and quiet her mind is when Will is ordering her to do so, generally while they're having sex. They add texting to the mix, and the witty, snippy banter doubling as foreplay continues. It's during one of their weekends away when Will confiscates her phone that all hell breaks loose at home, Sam implodes, and Riley lays into her upon her return about not being there when they needed her most that has Shannon deciding she has to end it with Will. Unfortunate timing given that Will is headed out on a long, radio silent deployment. Before he leaves he is able to deliver his parting shot to Shannon warning her that he'll be coming for her when he gets back.
"Someone had to make things easier on her, to lighten her load."
When Will finally comes back for Shannon, showing up unannounced at her apartment late one night, he has more than just a chilly reception from Shannon to deal with. He knows it's not going to be easy to win her back, but he also recognizes that this woman deserves to be fought for, to be won. While he's dealing with some major issues of his own, the only thing he knows for certain is that he wants to be where Shannon is, so he digs his heels in, determined to wait her out. Will a long-time-coming argument waged by hurling insults - and citrus - coupled with Will's never-ending, patient ability to manage Shannon be enough to end the war?
I positively loved this story. Shannon was a tough one to love, but Ms. Canterbary really peeled back this character's layers for her readers showing us what really made her tick. The beauty of this relationship was how Will just so totally got Shannon, how he understood what it was that she needed, and how he was the only person in her life able to give those things to her time and time again. As hilarious as their banter was, there were poignant moments, too. This is the Walshes, after all, and there is a world of pain that each one of them deal with relative to their childhood, the death of their mother and the horrid abuse at the hands of their father. There were several moments throughout this story when I could literally feel Shannon's relief at Will's mere presence, even when she was fighting it or refusing to acknowledge him. Will wanted nothing more than to give this woman a break, and he made it abundantly clear that in their relationship, he would be the one taking care of her, not the other way around.
As I've come to expect from the talented Kate Canterbury, The Cornerstone was exceptionally well-written and a fabulously developed story. It ticked off so many of my favorite things in a romance story with it's oh-so-smart humor, a patient and loving alpha male who was unmistakably in charge, a genuine love between the main characters and, of course, plenty of smoking hot sexiness. I enjoyed every minute of this book! I love the Walshes, I love this series, and I love Kate Canterbury! This, folks, is what contemporary, erotic romance is all about! Well done, Kate!
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