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Redwood Ridge #3
New Tricks
Loving someone is something you never forget how to do . . .
Zoe Hornsby has enough on her plate. Her pet grooming business tucked inside her friends' veterinarian clinic is busy, and all her free time outside of work is dedicated to caring for her mother's ailing mind. Dating is certainly not on her agenda. For all she cares, the town gossips of Redwood Ridge, Oregon, can set their matchmaking sights on someone else. Because no way would she consider sexy veterinarian Drake O'Grady her perfect guy. Once upon a time, she may have harbored a little crush, but he'd only had eyes for her best friend. And the crazy attraction building between her and Drake now? Down boy, down.
After Drake lost his wife to cancer, he's finally clawed his way out of grief and beginning to feel more like a part of the human race. But he's appalled to learn his prying family thinks he's ready to jump in the dating pool. And the woman they thrust at him couldn't be more inappropriate. As his dead wife's best friend, Zoe is off limits. Even if they seem to share a common sadness, she is too potent a personality to get romantically tangled with. Yet she's making his heart beat and blood roar like he never thought it could again. And he doesn't want to just exist anymore . . .
Zoe Hornsby has enough on her plate. Her pet grooming business tucked inside her friends' veterinarian clinic is busy, and all her free time outside of work is dedicated to caring for her mother's ailing mind. Dating is certainly not on her agenda. For all she cares, the town gossips of Redwood Ridge, Oregon, can set their matchmaking sights on someone else. Because no way would she consider sexy veterinarian Drake O'Grady her perfect guy. Once upon a time, she may have harbored a little crush, but he'd only had eyes for her best friend. And the crazy attraction building between her and Drake now? Down boy, down.
After Drake lost his wife to cancer, he's finally clawed his way out of grief and beginning to feel more like a part of the human race. But he's appalled to learn his prying family thinks he's ready to jump in the dating pool. And the woman they thrust at him couldn't be more inappropriate. As his dead wife's best friend, Zoe is off limits. Even if they seem to share a common sadness, she is too potent a personality to get romantically tangled with. Yet she's making his heart beat and blood roar like he never thought it could again. And he doesn't want to just exist anymore . . .
214 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2017
64 people are currently reading
1664 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Moran
48 books1,329 followersKelly Moran is an international bestselling author of enchanting ever-afters. She gets her ideas from everyone and everything around her and there's always a book playing out in her head. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself.
She is a RITA® Finalist, RONE Award-Winner, Catherine Award-Winner, Reader's Choice Finalist, Holt Medallion Finalist, Book Excellence Award Finalist, Amor Book Award-Winner, and landed on the "Must Read" & "10 Best Reads" lists in USA Today's Lifestyle section. She is a former Romance Writers of America® member, where she was an Award of Excellence Finalist. Her books have foreign translation rights in Germany (where she is a Spiegel Bestseller), France, the Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, and the Netherlands. She also writes horror as Kelly Covic. In 2024, she founded her own publishing company for fiction called Rowan Prose Publishing.
Her interests include: scary movies, all kinds of art, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet coffee junkie and chocoholic. Tell no one. She's originally from Wisconsin, but she resides in South Carolina with her three sons, their wily dog, a bearded dragon, and their sassy cats. She loves hearing from her readers.
Visit her website for up-to-date book news and where to follow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 400 reviews
September 1, 2017
3.5 - "Talk to me..." Stars!
Kelly Moran takes her readers back to Redwood Ridge, with New Tricks and we finally get widower Drake O’Grady’s story.
I won’t lie, I have been itching to get my hands on Drake’s story since we were introduced to him and his brothers in Puppy Love, having devoured the previous two books and absolutely adored the stories that his brothers Cade and Flynn were given I was interested to see how Kelly would play his story out.
"Take this second chance with both hands and don’t look back"
It was intimated early on that there was more than just friendly feelings potentially emerging between him and pet groomer Zoe Hornsby, but with his reluctance to step back into the dating world after his loss, and her already packed schedule with trying to balance a full time job and her ailing mother’s 24 hour care, neither seemed particularly interested in stepping out of the friend-zone. You get deeper into both their heads in the telling of this book, and I won’t lie a large portion of the story left me underwhelmed.
"Haven’t heard you laugh much lately… I missed the sound."
Maybe my expectations were too high... why is it that what we anticipate the most, often then delivers the least. The previous two books were full of heart, heat and emotional turmoil, but the pace was perfect, the developing feelings grew along with everything that was happening between the couple in question, and the secondary characters added depth to the story line in general. But for the first half of New Tricks I struggled so warm to Zoe or really understand her behavior and motivation for certain things at all, and in the second half I just wanted to give her a slap, talk about playing the martyr.
"I kept thinking about how you felt pressed against me and the wild way you made my heart pound… I didn’t think the organ worked anymore. Then I kissed you and now I can’t shut off the switch you flipped."
Yes I could understand her reluctance to move towards a relationship with Drake especially when you take into account that no other man in her life has stuck around and that his dead wife was also her best friend.
"You don’t play fair…"
"I’m not playing at all."
I think what frustrated me the most is that Drake is as vulnerable as she is when it comes to expressing his feelings, maybe even more so, and is trying to move on with his life and relationships in particular with a romantic involvement with her(and boy his attempts at wooing her were just so endearing). But rather than fumble along with him, talk things through and work the hard stuff out together, she just made everything that much more difficult by not talking and shutting him out. The balance for me was off between them because of it. There was definitely more take than give on one side of the partnership this time, whereas his brothers stories kind of evened out as things progressed, and it didn’t quite happen this time.
"You reached out to me in the darkness and gave me a lifeline."
However I did in general enjoy the book, it just didn’t quite hit the levels of excellence the previous two did, I couldn’t put them down, whereas I found myself doing just that with New Tricks to allay my frustrations with Zoe’s behavior. The secondary characters carried this story along for me in part, and I am pleased the the author is carrying on the series herself with the O’Grady men off the market, I think it’s a stellar idea for her to turn her attention to Redwood Ridge’s single and ready to mingle First Responders and Police Force in the future books.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
Kelly Moran takes her readers back to Redwood Ridge, with New Tricks and we finally get widower Drake O’Grady’s story.
I won’t lie, I have been itching to get my hands on Drake’s story since we were introduced to him and his brothers in Puppy Love, having devoured the previous two books and absolutely adored the stories that his brothers Cade and Flynn were given I was interested to see how Kelly would play his story out.
"Take this second chance with both hands and don’t look back"
It was intimated early on that there was more than just friendly feelings potentially emerging between him and pet groomer Zoe Hornsby, but with his reluctance to step back into the dating world after his loss, and her already packed schedule with trying to balance a full time job and her ailing mother’s 24 hour care, neither seemed particularly interested in stepping out of the friend-zone. You get deeper into both their heads in the telling of this book, and I won’t lie a large portion of the story left me underwhelmed.
"Haven’t heard you laugh much lately… I missed the sound."
Maybe my expectations were too high... why is it that what we anticipate the most, often then delivers the least. The previous two books were full of heart, heat and emotional turmoil, but the pace was perfect, the developing feelings grew along with everything that was happening between the couple in question, and the secondary characters added depth to the story line in general. But for the first half of New Tricks I struggled so warm to Zoe or really understand her behavior and motivation for certain things at all, and in the second half I just wanted to give her a slap, talk about playing the martyr.
"I kept thinking about how you felt pressed against me and the wild way you made my heart pound… I didn’t think the organ worked anymore. Then I kissed you and now I can’t shut off the switch you flipped."
Yes I could understand her reluctance to move towards a relationship with Drake especially when you take into account that no other man in her life has stuck around and that his dead wife was also her best friend.
"You don’t play fair…"
"I’m not playing at all."
I think what frustrated me the most is that Drake is as vulnerable as she is when it comes to expressing his feelings, maybe even more so, and is trying to move on with his life and relationships in particular with a romantic involvement with her(and boy his attempts at wooing her were just so endearing). But rather than fumble along with him, talk things through and work the hard stuff out together, she just made everything that much more difficult by not talking and shutting him out. The balance for me was off between them because of it. There was definitely more take than give on one side of the partnership this time, whereas his brothers stories kind of evened out as things progressed, and it didn’t quite happen this time.
"You reached out to me in the darkness and gave me a lifeline."
However I did in general enjoy the book, it just didn’t quite hit the levels of excellence the previous two did, I couldn’t put them down, whereas I found myself doing just that with New Tricks to allay my frustrations with Zoe’s behavior. The secondary characters carried this story along for me in part, and I am pleased the the author is carrying on the series herself with the O’Grady men off the market, I think it’s a stellar idea for her to turn her attention to Redwood Ridge’s single and ready to mingle First Responders and Police Force in the future books.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
October 8, 2017
4.5 Heartwarming Stars
New Tricks by Kelly Moran is a beautifully written, heartwarming friends to lovers romance and I loved it.
This was one of those books once you start reading you can't put down.
The plot is well done, the pacing spot on and the characters were likable, easily relatable and I loved them together.
Watching Drake and Zoe's relationship move from best friends to lovers was entertaining and also painful.
Zoe had so much going on in her life she was scared of opening her heart to Drake.
What if things didn't turn out, could she risk losing her best friend?
After losing his wife Drake knows first hand there are no guarantees in life, we should follow our hearts, live for the now and enjoy every moment with our loved ones.
I admired Drake for his strength, his support and his unconditional love for Zoe and everything she was going through.
Getting to their happily ever after wasn't a smooth road, but the journey was well worth it.
Each book in the Redwood series has been entertaining, heartwarming and a joy to read and I highly recommend them all.
*Get your copy of New Tricks now*
Amazon: http://a.co/hValKYX
B&N: http://tinyurl.com/zvhvngv
iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/hty4na3
Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/j6rdzos
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.*
New Tricks by Kelly Moran is a beautifully written, heartwarming friends to lovers romance and I loved it.
This was one of those books once you start reading you can't put down.
The plot is well done, the pacing spot on and the characters were likable, easily relatable and I loved them together.
Watching Drake and Zoe's relationship move from best friends to lovers was entertaining and also painful.
Zoe had so much going on in her life she was scared of opening her heart to Drake.
What if things didn't turn out, could she risk losing her best friend?
After losing his wife Drake knows first hand there are no guarantees in life, we should follow our hearts, live for the now and enjoy every moment with our loved ones.
I admired Drake for his strength, his support and his unconditional love for Zoe and everything she was going through.
Getting to their happily ever after wasn't a smooth road, but the journey was well worth it.
Each book in the Redwood series has been entertaining, heartwarming and a joy to read and I highly recommend them all.
*Get your copy of New Tricks now*
Amazon: http://a.co/hValKYX
B&N: http://tinyurl.com/zvhvngv
iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/hty4na3
Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/j6rdzos
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.*
July 29, 2017
A mix of heart break, anticipation and racy bedroom scenes to keep the heart pumping and the blood boiling.
Zoe and Drake have been through enough. While they are successful in making an income through their love of animals, Zoe being a groomer working out of Drake’s vet clinic, everything else seems to have been a test. Zoe, living at home and doing everything she can to care for her Dementia ridden mother in her childhood home, is scared of many things but puts on a brave front.
Drake is the talk of the town for own as the mourn the love of his life’s passing, but is slowly waking up and feels like he is wanting all the wrong things – or people.
Moran is masterful at creating characters a reader easily connects with, situations that are both tragic and filled with hope and spinning it altogether to make for an intriguing read!
Zoe and Drake have been through enough. While they are successful in making an income through their love of animals, Zoe being a groomer working out of Drake’s vet clinic, everything else seems to have been a test. Zoe, living at home and doing everything she can to care for her Dementia ridden mother in her childhood home, is scared of many things but puts on a brave front.
Drake is the talk of the town for own as the mourn the love of his life’s passing, but is slowly waking up and feels like he is wanting all the wrong things – or people.
Moran is masterful at creating characters a reader easily connects with, situations that are both tragic and filled with hope and spinning it altogether to make for an intriguing read!
August 25, 2021
Wohlfühl-Buchreihe. Genau das richtige, um sich einzukuscheln mit ner dicken Decke, nem heissen Kakao und ner Duftkerze. Ich geniess es immer wieder.
November 18, 2018
Ich sitze in der Ecke meines Zimmers und kann nicht aufhören, mich von der Geschichte wieder zu erholen.
Die Geschichte um Drake und Zoe ist wunderbar! Ich liebe die beiden, ich liebe die ganzen Emotionen, die sie in mir ausgelöst haben und ich liebe Redwood! Ich hätte niemals erwartet, dass mir diese Reihe so dermaßen ans Herz wachsen würde. Eigentlich mag ich es richtig dramatisch, aber dieses ganze Drama haben die Bücher nicht gebraucht. Keineswegs.
Wenn ihr diese Reihe lest, macht euch auf einen Sturm der Emotionen gefasst. Ganz besonders in 'Es beginnt mit einer Nacht'.
Ich hatte so oft tränende Augen und zum Ende hin, braucht ihr Taschentücher.
Ich durfte vorerst zum letzten Mal in die Welt von Redwood eintauchen, aber ich werde die Reihe wohl öfter rereaden, und außerdem sollen angeblich noch weitere zwei Bände folgen. Ich bin gespannt❤
Die Geschichte um Drake und Zoe ist wunderbar! Ich liebe die beiden, ich liebe die ganzen Emotionen, die sie in mir ausgelöst haben und ich liebe Redwood! Ich hätte niemals erwartet, dass mir diese Reihe so dermaßen ans Herz wachsen würde. Eigentlich mag ich es richtig dramatisch, aber dieses ganze Drama haben die Bücher nicht gebraucht. Keineswegs.
Wenn ihr diese Reihe lest, macht euch auf einen Sturm der Emotionen gefasst. Ganz besonders in 'Es beginnt mit einer Nacht'.
Ich hatte so oft tränende Augen und zum Ende hin, braucht ihr Taschentücher.
Ich durfte vorerst zum letzten Mal in die Welt von Redwood eintauchen, aber ich werde die Reihe wohl öfter rereaden, und außerdem sollen angeblich noch weitere zwei Bände folgen. Ich bin gespannt❤
July 11, 2017
New Tricks is the 3rd book in the Redwood Ridge Series.
It is a fabulous, heart wrenching , love inspiring , sexy, smart assed, make you cry Kind of story!
I need a Drake of My own. Zoe and I have a lot in common with our mothers. These two together are dynamite.
10 million stars
reviewed ARC
I recommend this story , the whole series to Everyone!!!
It is a fabulous, heart wrenching , love inspiring , sexy, smart assed, make you cry Kind of story!
I need a Drake of My own. Zoe and I have a lot in common with our mothers. These two together are dynamite.
10 million stars
reviewed ARC
I recommend this story , the whole series to Everyone!!!
August 28, 2017
NEW TRICKS was absolutely adorable!!! I was looking for a sweet romance for the summer and this was exactly what I was hoping for!
I loved both Zoe and Drake! She was fierce, feisty, and opinionated...and had some amazing one-liners, and Drake was a bit broody (which I have to admit I always love haha), and he was also extremely supportive, thoughtful and super sexy. I have to admit that going into this story I was expecting a sweet romance, maybe with a bit of sex, but NEW TRICKS actually ended up being quite steamy—I definitely didn't mind that though, but definitely don't go into this one thinking it'll be a clean romance. ;)
I loved the story and the romance, too. I always love a good friends-to-lovers romance, and this one was super well done!! Drake and Zoe's relationship was amazing right from the start. They were super supportive of one another, and had a really strong past. I loved it even more when their romance started though. They had some serious chemistry!
If you know me, it should also come as no surprise that I'm a sucker for dogs...in real life and in books, so I loved that Drake had two of them and that he happened to be a vet! I definitely have to go back and read the first two books in this series too because I really want to see how Cade and Avery's, and Flynn and Gabby's stories unfolded! Dogs, sweet romances, great secondary characters, and fantastic writing too...I'm sold and super excited that I have two more books to go back and read now!
Overall, I loved NEW TRICKS!! I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes sweet, sexy friends-to-lovers romances!
I loved both Zoe and Drake! She was fierce, feisty, and opinionated...and had some amazing one-liners, and Drake was a bit broody (which I have to admit I always love haha), and he was also extremely supportive, thoughtful and super sexy. I have to admit that going into this story I was expecting a sweet romance, maybe with a bit of sex, but NEW TRICKS actually ended up being quite steamy—I definitely didn't mind that though, but definitely don't go into this one thinking it'll be a clean romance. ;)
I loved the story and the romance, too. I always love a good friends-to-lovers romance, and this one was super well done!! Drake and Zoe's relationship was amazing right from the start. They were super supportive of one another, and had a really strong past. I loved it even more when their romance started though. They had some serious chemistry!
If you know me, it should also come as no surprise that I'm a sucker for dogs...in real life and in books, so I loved that Drake had two of them and that he happened to be a vet! I definitely have to go back and read the first two books in this series too because I really want to see how Cade and Avery's, and Flynn and Gabby's stories unfolded! Dogs, sweet romances, great secondary characters, and fantastic writing too...I'm sold and super excited that I have two more books to go back and read now!
Overall, I loved NEW TRICKS!! I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes sweet, sexy friends-to-lovers romances!
July 25, 2017
The third book in the Redwood Ridge series..Sweet, moving, and you will need Kleenex.
Zoe and Drake both lost the same person. She was his wife and her best friend. It was hard yet they stood by each other.
Heather made them promise to take care of the other after she was gone
Drake wasn't ready to move on, but Zoe challenged him. One moment in time changed his thinking about them.
Zoe had so much on her plate and the last thing was her feelings for Drake.
If you like Jill Shalvis, Rachel Lacey, Kristan Higgins you will love this book..
See what happens.
Zoe and Drake both lost the same person. She was his wife and her best friend. It was hard yet they stood by each other.
Heather made them promise to take care of the other after she was gone
Drake wasn't ready to move on, but Zoe challenged him. One moment in time changed his thinking about them.
Zoe had so much on her plate and the last thing was her feelings for Drake.
If you like Jill Shalvis, Rachel Lacey, Kristan Higgins you will love this book..
See what happens.
September 26, 2017
Drake likes to give his woman options, “the way I see it, we can do one of two things. Make out like teenagers as you suggested earlier, or go to sleep. I’m up for either but, given a choice, I take door number one.” Zoe knows how to drive her man wild, "she nipped his jaw, sucked on his neck. “I don’t care where you take me, just so long as you do it now.” When her hot tongue traced the shell of his ear , he about collapsed. Christ Almighty and all the angels..." I loved this book, I'm in love with this series, the loving characters and the small town.
Read
June 16, 2017"If you’re a Jill Shalvis fan, Kelly Moran should be on your auto-buy list. New Tricks is a heart-touching, toe-curling, binge-worthy read, and puts Kelly firmly on my list of beloved romance authors." ~Kelsey Browning, USA Today Bestseller
August 18, 2017
4.5 stars
New Tricks is Drake (the oldest O'Grady brother) and Zoe's story. I've been (im)patiently waiting for this one. All of the bread crumbs given in previous books by the author promised a quite emotional read. With Zoe being both Drake's and Heather's -- his deceased wife -- best friend, it's a friends-to-lovers with a side of guilt kind of situation. I want to know how Kelly Moran tackled that.
Well, guess what this book is another winner for me; it's totally right up my alley.
I thoroughly appreciated the fact that while in the beginning Drake might be in conflict regarding his new-found feeling towards his best friend, but then he completely embraced it. Drake saw Zoe in both her strengths and vulnerabilities. The progress from seeing Zoe as his best friend to someone Drake loved a lot more was convincing; it helped that Zoe was in his life since forever. They had their own special moments, even when Heather was still alive.
In terms of pursuing this relationship, Zoe was the one holding back. Usually I'm easily annoyed with a heroine's tendency to run away from her possible happiness. In this case, though, I could understand why Zoe was reluctant. She had a lot on her plate. It was more than Drake being her dead best friend's husband, but there was another issue related to Zoe's mother having early onset dementia.
For me, Zoe's excuse rang true and it was heartbreaking to read. My heart went all out for her. I thought Zoe was an amazing character, and she might be my favorite heroine from this series. If I have an ounce of her beautiful heart, I'd probably be a better person.
Reading Drake and Zoe's relationship flourished was a delight. That grand romantic gesture by Drake made me all teary eyed *sigh*.
I wish there is one more chapter, an epilogue maybe, just so I can see everyone in their happily ever after
Redwood Ridge has been an excellent series read. I'm so happy that the author tweeted back to me back in July and said that there would be more books from Redwood Ridge (Jason the firefighter is next followed by Parker the sheriff!)
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
New Tricks is Drake (the oldest O'Grady brother) and Zoe's story. I've been (im)patiently waiting for this one. All of the bread crumbs given in previous books by the author promised a quite emotional read. With Zoe being both Drake's and Heather's -- his deceased wife -- best friend, it's a friends-to-lovers with a side of guilt kind of situation. I want to know how Kelly Moran tackled that.
Well, guess what this book is another winner for me; it's totally right up my alley.
Same heart; different ways of love
I thoroughly appreciated the fact that while in the beginning Drake might be in conflict regarding his new-found feeling towards his best friend, but then he completely embraced it. Drake saw Zoe in both her strengths and vulnerabilities. The progress from seeing Zoe as his best friend to someone Drake loved a lot more was convincing; it helped that Zoe was in his life since forever. They had their own special moments, even when Heather was still alive.
In terms of pursuing this relationship, Zoe was the one holding back. Usually I'm easily annoyed with a heroine's tendency to run away from her possible happiness. In this case, though, I could understand why Zoe was reluctant. She had a lot on her plate. It was more than Drake being her dead best friend's husband, but there was another issue related to Zoe's mother having early onset dementia.
For me, Zoe's excuse rang true and it was heartbreaking to read. My heart went all out for her. I thought Zoe was an amazing character, and she might be my favorite heroine from this series. If I have an ounce of her beautiful heart, I'd probably be a better person.
Reading Drake and Zoe's relationship flourished was a delight. That grand romantic gesture by Drake made me all teary eyed *sigh*.
We met in an empty room.
Two broken souls among the fray.
Years and distance and regret between us,
And with one call, you stayed.
I wish there is one more chapter, an epilogue maybe, just so I can see everyone in their happily ever after
Redwood Ridge has been an excellent series read. I'm so happy that the author tweeted back to me back in July and said that there would be more books from Redwood Ridge (Jason the firefighter is next followed by Parker the sheriff!)
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
September 5, 2020
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ für Zoe.
Zoe ist eine so tolle Protagonistin in der ich mich zum Teil wieder gefunden habe und absolut mitfühlen konnte.
Normalerweise tue ich mich schwer mit Büchern, in denen ein Protagonist seine „erste“ große Liebe bereits hinter sich hat und es um eine neue Liebe geht wenn ihr wisst was ich meine.
Hier viel es mir allerdings leichter da mein Drakes verstorbene Frau nicht direkt kennen gelernt hat.
Umso mehr hat sich Zoe mit ihrem Verhalten Stück für Stück in mein Herz geschlichen und die Dynamik zwischen den beiden hat mir auch wahnsinnig gut gefallen
Zoe ist eine so tolle Protagonistin in der ich mich zum Teil wieder gefunden habe und absolut mitfühlen konnte.
Normalerweise tue ich mich schwer mit Büchern, in denen ein Protagonist seine „erste“ große Liebe bereits hinter sich hat und es um eine neue Liebe geht wenn ihr wisst was ich meine.
Hier viel es mir allerdings leichter da mein Drakes verstorbene Frau nicht direkt kennen gelernt hat.
Umso mehr hat sich Zoe mit ihrem Verhalten Stück für Stück in mein Herz geschlichen und die Dynamik zwischen den beiden hat mir auch wahnsinnig gut gefallen
April 24, 2019
Das Buch war wieder so süß 😍, ich liebe die Redwood Love Reihe einfach 😍.
Trotzdem fand ich Band 1 und 2 ein bisschen besser 🤔. Im dritten Band gab es - finde ich - 1-2 Längen 🤔.
Vielleicht liegt es auch daran, dass ich im Moment nicht ganz so motiviert beim lesen bin wie sonst 🤷🏻♀️.
Jetzt freue ich mich einfach auf Band 4 😄
Trotzdem fand ich Band 1 und 2 ein bisschen besser 🤔. Im dritten Band gab es - finde ich - 1-2 Längen 🤔.
Vielleicht liegt es auch daran, dass ich im Moment nicht ganz so motiviert beim lesen bin wie sonst 🤷🏻♀️.
Jetzt freue ich mich einfach auf Band 4 😄
May 10, 2020
Oh Gott, es ist schon wieder vorbei.
Warum zur Hölle sind das nur 3 Brüder? Kann das nicht ne Großfamilie sein? :-(
Ja, was soll ich sagen - auch die Geschichte von Drake und Zoe hat mich innerhalb kürzester Zeit vollständig in ihren Bann gezogen (kurze Nächte, wenig Schlaf - ihr kennt das!).
Und wieder mal ein Redwood-Buch, was ich nicht trockenen Auges hinter mich bringen konnte.
Die verstorbene Heather sorgt hier für zahlreiche traurige Moment, denn sie war nicht nur Drakes Ehefrau, sondern auch Zoes beste Freundin - viel Potential also für herzzerreißende Momente.
In punkto Erotik war das meiner Meinung nach der beste Teil bisher, doch auch die Story um Drake und Zoe war toll - wunderschön und gefühlvoll erzählt die Autorin über Angst, Sorge, Verzweiflung und Trauer, aber auch über die schönen Momente der beiden Protagonisten.
Und wenn man die beiden nicht sofort in sein Herz schließt, hat man wahrscheinlich einfach keins.
Warum zur Hölle sind das nur 3 Brüder? Kann das nicht ne Großfamilie sein? :-(
Ja, was soll ich sagen - auch die Geschichte von Drake und Zoe hat mich innerhalb kürzester Zeit vollständig in ihren Bann gezogen (kurze Nächte, wenig Schlaf - ihr kennt das!).
Und wieder mal ein Redwood-Buch, was ich nicht trockenen Auges hinter mich bringen konnte.
Die verstorbene Heather sorgt hier für zahlreiche traurige Moment, denn sie war nicht nur Drakes Ehefrau, sondern auch Zoes beste Freundin - viel Potential also für herzzerreißende Momente.
In punkto Erotik war das meiner Meinung nach der beste Teil bisher, doch auch die Story um Drake und Zoe war toll - wunderschön und gefühlvoll erzählt die Autorin über Angst, Sorge, Verzweiflung und Trauer, aber auch über die schönen Momente der beiden Protagonisten.
Und wenn man die beiden nicht sofort in sein Herz schließt, hat man wahrscheinlich einfach keins.
September 29, 2017
My Rating:
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
And you call yourself my friend. Get out of my house. And don’t come back without cupcakes or tequila.
Zoe was dangerously close to hyperventilating. Her lungs had shrunken to prunes and her throat was tighter than Spanx.
He was man enough to admit he couldn’t handle her. With a passing glance, she had the ability to make a guy weep, beg for mercy, eat out of the palm of her hand, lose all thought process, shrivel his goods, and have him believe he wanted all of it.
I’ve talked to animals the same way all my life. Identical to how I converse with men— slowly and with as few syllables as possible.
Whatever you posted, just take it down. You’re like a geriatric small-town version of Gossip Girl, and I’m fed up.
My dentist was like, you need a crown, and I was all like, I know, right? A sparkly one.
My Review:
I have enjoyed each of the three books in this engaging series although New Tricks was the most emotive, angsty and melancholy of the three as both main characters had experienced significant trauma and loss. I reveled in the cranky Drake coming alive again after mourning his wife for four years and was thrilled it was Zoe who caused his heart to thump. Zoe’s situation squeezed my heart, as her dilemma is a very real and relevant concern for many. I adore Kelly Moran’s vivid and expressive writing style, for example, she described Drake’s eyes as, “the shade of forbidden chocolate.” And I enjoyed the amusing banter and updates of the continuing stories of the siblings and co-workers from previous books as well as the Battleaxes who also return to meddle, gossip, and stir up small-town drama.
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
And you call yourself my friend. Get out of my house. And don’t come back without cupcakes or tequila.
Zoe was dangerously close to hyperventilating. Her lungs had shrunken to prunes and her throat was tighter than Spanx.
He was man enough to admit he couldn’t handle her. With a passing glance, she had the ability to make a guy weep, beg for mercy, eat out of the palm of her hand, lose all thought process, shrivel his goods, and have him believe he wanted all of it.
I’ve talked to animals the same way all my life. Identical to how I converse with men— slowly and with as few syllables as possible.
Whatever you posted, just take it down. You’re like a geriatric small-town version of Gossip Girl, and I’m fed up.
My dentist was like, you need a crown, and I was all like, I know, right? A sparkly one.
My Review:
I have enjoyed each of the three books in this engaging series although New Tricks was the most emotive, angsty and melancholy of the three as both main characters had experienced significant trauma and loss. I reveled in the cranky Drake coming alive again after mourning his wife for four years and was thrilled it was Zoe who caused his heart to thump. Zoe’s situation squeezed my heart, as her dilemma is a very real and relevant concern for many. I adore Kelly Moran’s vivid and expressive writing style, for example, she described Drake’s eyes as, “the shade of forbidden chocolate.” And I enjoyed the amusing banter and updates of the continuing stories of the siblings and co-workers from previous books as well as the Battleaxes who also return to meddle, gossip, and stir up small-town drama.
September 27, 2017
New Tricks managed to wring every emotion out of me!
How awful it must be to love someone, and there be major obstacles to that love? Zoe Hornsby is a pet groomer in Drake O'Grady's Veterinary Clinic. They have been friends since they were kids along with Zoe's best friend Heather. Zoe had a huge crush on Drake, but he fell in love with, and married Heather. Zoe unselfishly stepped aside, never letting Heather or Drake learn of her feelings for Drake. The three remained close friends. Heather developed Ovarian cancer and died. Drake and Zoe were devastated. As Drake was dealing with Heather's death, Zoe was trying to help Drake through their shared grief of dealing with her death, and her Mom's early onset dementia.
After four years, Drake looks around, and sees his brothers are all settling down with their wives and girlfriends, and decides it's time for him to come out of mourning and start dating again. For Drake it was like waking up after a long sleep, and he finally SAW Zoe.
Zoe is doing everything she can to take care of her mom, and keep her in their home. Zoe is hiding many fears behind a brave face. She's dealing with the knowledge that her mom's dementia could be inherited. Although Drake is ready to start anew with Zoe, Zoe's fear of inheriting her Mom's dementia, will not not allow her to commit to more than being lovers.
Kelly Moran pulled every emotion out of me with Zoe and Drake's story, part laugh out loud funny, part ugly cry, part sizzling hot. Wholly emotional.
How awful it must be to love someone, and there be major obstacles to that love? Zoe Hornsby is a pet groomer in Drake O'Grady's Veterinary Clinic. They have been friends since they were kids along with Zoe's best friend Heather. Zoe had a huge crush on Drake, but he fell in love with, and married Heather. Zoe unselfishly stepped aside, never letting Heather or Drake learn of her feelings for Drake. The three remained close friends. Heather developed Ovarian cancer and died. Drake and Zoe were devastated. As Drake was dealing with Heather's death, Zoe was trying to help Drake through their shared grief of dealing with her death, and her Mom's early onset dementia.
After four years, Drake looks around, and sees his brothers are all settling down with their wives and girlfriends, and decides it's time for him to come out of mourning and start dating again. For Drake it was like waking up after a long sleep, and he finally SAW Zoe.
Zoe is doing everything she can to take care of her mom, and keep her in their home. Zoe is hiding many fears behind a brave face. She's dealing with the knowledge that her mom's dementia could be inherited. Although Drake is ready to start anew with Zoe, Zoe's fear of inheriting her Mom's dementia, will not not allow her to commit to more than being lovers.
Kelly Moran pulled every emotion out of me with Zoe and Drake's story, part laugh out loud funny, part ugly cry, part sizzling hot. Wholly emotional.
February 23, 2018
I absolutely loved this book. I read a lot, and this is likely my favorite book this year! This was my first book by Kelly Moran and will definitely not be my last (I must find them all and start my binge read)
This book is very well written. The story is unique. The characters are fantastic and well developed. This book has everything I want in a book. There is humor, friendship, love, and a bit of drama.
This book is very well written. The story is unique. The characters are fantastic and well developed. This book has everything I want in a book. There is humor, friendship, love, and a bit of drama.
July 25, 2019
4.5/5 ⭐️
Hach ja, ich habe dieses Buch geliebt. Es ist für mich der beste Teil der Reihe. Endlich gab es Spannung, die nicht nur eine Szene umfasste, sondern das ganze Buch über ging. Es war sehr emotional & Zoe und Drake total tolle Charaktere. Ich konnte ihre Beweggründe sehr gut nachvollziehen, auch wenn Zoe mich sehr oft genervt hat. Die ganze Idee war vielseitiger als die, der ersten beiden Bände. Der Schreibstil ist weiterhin total toll und auch die Atmosphäre traumhaft. Es gibt mehr Details und alles hat einfach mehr gepasst. Ein wirkliche tolles Buch, das mich sehr beeindrucken konnte. ❣️
Hach ja, ich habe dieses Buch geliebt. Es ist für mich der beste Teil der Reihe. Endlich gab es Spannung, die nicht nur eine Szene umfasste, sondern das ganze Buch über ging. Es war sehr emotional & Zoe und Drake total tolle Charaktere. Ich konnte ihre Beweggründe sehr gut nachvollziehen, auch wenn Zoe mich sehr oft genervt hat. Die ganze Idee war vielseitiger als die, der ersten beiden Bände. Der Schreibstil ist weiterhin total toll und auch die Atmosphäre traumhaft. Es gibt mehr Details und alles hat einfach mehr gepasst. Ein wirkliche tolles Buch, das mich sehr beeindrucken konnte. ❣️
November 25, 2019
Hach, das Ende war richtig schön 😍
August 14, 2017
Received an ARC from Netgalley on behalf of Kensington Books Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
https://bookplusheart.com/2017/08/13/...
I am not a widow and I pray I never have to be one. However, having to be a widow at a young age, even if that is in your late 20’s early 30’s cannot be easy. I had a friend who became a widow and was left with two little ones. You hear stories of such here and there, but you can never put yourself in that situation. The thoughts can become too painful. Drake is in that situation.
Drake has been a widow for about 4 years now. His wife, Heather, passed away from ovarian cancer. They didn’t have any children, but the turmoil and life altering consequences have left scars on his heart. He is just now getting out of his rut. Barely. The main person that has helped him deal with the loss of Heather is her best friend Zoe.
Zoe and Heather were best friends forever. They were complete opposites, but balanced one another off well. Zoe has sacrificed so much of her own happiness for those she cares about, including her love for Drake. She is now sacrificing everything for her mother that has dementia – Alzheimer’s. It has gotten pretty bad at her house. She tries to take care of everything herself, but that is not always possible. Drake has been able to get through to Zoe’s mother and wants to help. Zoe just pushes him away. Drake has not a problem pushing back and making sure Zoe knows he isn’t going anywhere.
These two stubborn individuals realize that handling everything on their own isn’t going to always work out. They need each other to help pick up the pieces. Drake overcoming the death of his wife and Zoe trying to keep her life together, make these two the perfect opposites and complementary for each other.
With meddling aunts and moms, friends that have to put their two cents in, and their own passionate desires, these two opposite friends will succumb to their need for comfort and longing love towards one another.
I am going to tell you now. I loved this story. It was great. So many layers to these characters. They had real issues and obstacles to each overcome. They couldn’t just jump into a romantic relationship with one another, it had to be gradual and in their own time.
(Small Spoiler) Drake is amazing. He is patient, strong, and level headed. He is a mans man. Which makes him Oh, So desirable! I love that Zoe is confident in some parts of her life and other ones not so much. She tells Drake she doesn’t want to replace Heather, but she does want to have Drake’s heart. When Drake finally tells her how he feels he expresses and gives Zoe security of his love for both Heather and her. He expresses how he loves them each differently and equally. I loved it. It was one of my favorite scenes in the book. (End of Spoiler)
I highly recommend this story, you will not be upset. You will get your HEA and some nice steam to go with it.
I HIGHLY recommend!
4.5 Hearts
August 13, 2017
Technical stuff: This is book three in the Redwood Ridge series. While this book definitely stands alone and you don't have to read the other books in this series to appreciate this one, you really should because they're fabulous and because knowing Drake and Zoe's backgrounds only amplifies how gorgeous their relationship is. There is both cursing and on-screen sex in this one. If those things will cause you to leave a bad review, you should probably skip this one but it would be a shame because this book is beautiful.
I have to admit that just like with Tracking You, I was nervous about reading this book. I absolutely loved the first two books of this series and I was concerned that this book might not live up to the amazingness of those book, but Ms. Moran proved that she flat-out knows how to write a series that just keeps getting better and this book was *every single thing* that I wanted it to be. Drake and Zoe's story is so beautiful and so gut-wrenching that I didn't want to stop reading it to do real life things, I NEEDED to know what was going to happen with these two and I didn't care if dinner got made or the laundry got done when they were still in limbo.
Drake, much like his two brothers, is a strong and very sexy male character but he doesn't have to do all of the 'alpha' posturing/swaggering/acting like a jerk that is so bafflingly popular in romance novels these days to be sexy man – he showed he was a real man that by unashamedly caring about Zoe (and all of his people), by pursuing Zoe without hesitation despite the viable reasons that could have held him back, and by showing Zoe what true love does. Drake didn't need to belittle or control her in order to feel like a man, he was comfortable in his own skin and in his feelings for her and I LOVED that about him. And Zoe, to her credit, stayed true to herself despite the fact that she had so much chaos going on around her that it would have been easy for her to keep hiding herself and let her fear take over her life. I ugly cried my way through the scene where she flees her house (being vague to avoid spoilers) and felt my heart break as we learned about her life with her mother and about her tattoos.
I could seriously go on and on about how much I loved this book, but I don't want to spoil any of the beautiful things that happened in this book. I never write this in a review but all I can say is - JUST READ THIS BOOK. You won't be sorry.
If you love a book with two characters who belong together, who love hard and fight hard to make it work, you're going to love this book. I am so indescribably sad that this series is coming to an end. I wish there was another O'Brien sibling – or four – hiding in the woodwork so that we had more Redwood Ridge books to look forward to.
Although I received an ARC of this book, I was under no obligation to write this review or to pre-order this book. I both things because just writing this review and thinking back to the book gave me all the feels in the world and everyone should know how great it is.
I have to admit that just like with Tracking You, I was nervous about reading this book. I absolutely loved the first two books of this series and I was concerned that this book might not live up to the amazingness of those book, but Ms. Moran proved that she flat-out knows how to write a series that just keeps getting better and this book was *every single thing* that I wanted it to be. Drake and Zoe's story is so beautiful and so gut-wrenching that I didn't want to stop reading it to do real life things, I NEEDED to know what was going to happen with these two and I didn't care if dinner got made or the laundry got done when they were still in limbo.
Drake, much like his two brothers, is a strong and very sexy male character but he doesn't have to do all of the 'alpha' posturing/swaggering/acting like a jerk that is so bafflingly popular in romance novels these days to be sexy man – he showed he was a real man that by unashamedly caring about Zoe (and all of his people), by pursuing Zoe without hesitation despite the viable reasons that could have held him back, and by showing Zoe what true love does. Drake didn't need to belittle or control her in order to feel like a man, he was comfortable in his own skin and in his feelings for her and I LOVED that about him. And Zoe, to her credit, stayed true to herself despite the fact that she had so much chaos going on around her that it would have been easy for her to keep hiding herself and let her fear take over her life. I ugly cried my way through the scene where she flees her house (being vague to avoid spoilers) and felt my heart break as we learned about her life with her mother and about her tattoos.
I could seriously go on and on about how much I loved this book, but I don't want to spoil any of the beautiful things that happened in this book. I never write this in a review but all I can say is - JUST READ THIS BOOK. You won't be sorry.
If you love a book with two characters who belong together, who love hard and fight hard to make it work, you're going to love this book. I am so indescribably sad that this series is coming to an end. I wish there was another O'Brien sibling – or four – hiding in the woodwork so that we had more Redwood Ridge books to look forward to.
Although I received an ARC of this book, I was under no obligation to write this review or to pre-order this book. I both things because just writing this review and thinking back to the book gave me all the feels in the world and everyone should know how great it is.
September 20, 2017
I so enjoyed this book. All the characters relate so well together. I love Zoe's quirky attitude. She is such an awesome character. I loved how she pulled him out of his depression after Heather died. It was so great to read them go from friends to lovers. It was so awsome how he proposed to her. Another great hit for Ms. Moran. Now I have to go read the two before this one.
November 20, 2018
Mein absolutes Lieblingsbuch der Redwood Love - Reihe!
Die Charaktere waren wieder mal super sympathisch. Bei Drake war mir das sowieso klar, da ich ihn schon im ersten Band richtig gerne mochte. Aber auch Zoe ist mir super schnell ans Herz gewachsen, nachdem wir mehr über ihr Leben erfahren haben.
Im zweiten Band hatte ich ein paar Probleme mit der Liebesgeschichte und dachte hier wäre es ähnlich, da sich Drake und Zoe wie auch bereits Flynn und Gabby bereits vorher kannten. Bei Flynn und Gabby konnte ich dann tatsächlich nicht so richtig mitfühlen. Hier war das aber überhaupt nicht so. Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen den beiden war toll aufgebaut und konnte mich total begeistern.
An dieser Reihe gefällt mir ja allgemein immer ganz gut, dass jedes Buch auch ein ernsteres Thema behandelt. Hier haben wir eigentlich gleich zwei: Drakes Frau ist gestorben und Zoe kämpft mit der frühzeitigen Demenz ihrer Mutter.
Ich hatte tatsächlich erst Angst, wie die Witwer-Problematik gelöst werden würde. Das hätte auch total nach hinten gehen können, aber ich war wirklich positiv überrascht.
Und das Thema der Demenz hat mich wirklich umgehauen. Klar, auch die in den anderen Büchern behandelten Themen sind nichts außergewöhnliches. Aber Demenz ist dann doch ein Thema, mit dem die meisten schon einmal Kontakt hatten. Jedenfalls gibt es bei mir gleich mehrere Demenzfälle in der Familie, weswegen mich die Thematik wirklich mitgenommen hat.
Dazu dann noch Kelly Morans super Schreibstil... Eigentlich bin ich kein großer Fan von Sexszenen, vor allem nicht, wenn sie recht lange sind. Kelly Moran hat es aber tatsächlich geschafft, eine wirklich schöne seitenlange Sexszene zu schreiben, bei denen ich kein einziges Mal mit den Augen rollen oder Szenen überspringen musste.
Ich dachte nicht, dass das möglich wäre. Aber gut, ich hätte auch nie gedacht, dass mich Romance jemals so begeistern könnte.
Ich hoffe wirklich, das Gerücht um die zwei weiteren Teile in dieser Reihe ist wahr. Ich kann es zumindest kaum erwarten, mehr über Redwood zu lesen.
Die Charaktere waren wieder mal super sympathisch. Bei Drake war mir das sowieso klar, da ich ihn schon im ersten Band richtig gerne mochte. Aber auch Zoe ist mir super schnell ans Herz gewachsen, nachdem wir mehr über ihr Leben erfahren haben.
Im zweiten Band hatte ich ein paar Probleme mit der Liebesgeschichte und dachte hier wäre es ähnlich, da sich Drake und Zoe wie auch bereits Flynn und Gabby bereits vorher kannten. Bei Flynn und Gabby konnte ich dann tatsächlich nicht so richtig mitfühlen. Hier war das aber überhaupt nicht so. Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen den beiden war toll aufgebaut und konnte mich total begeistern.
An dieser Reihe gefällt mir ja allgemein immer ganz gut, dass jedes Buch auch ein ernsteres Thema behandelt. Hier haben wir eigentlich gleich zwei: Drakes Frau ist gestorben und Zoe kämpft mit der frühzeitigen Demenz ihrer Mutter.
Ich hatte tatsächlich erst Angst, wie die Witwer-Problematik gelöst werden würde. Das hätte auch total nach hinten gehen können, aber ich war wirklich positiv überrascht.
Und das Thema der Demenz hat mich wirklich umgehauen. Klar, auch die in den anderen Büchern behandelten Themen sind nichts außergewöhnliches. Aber Demenz ist dann doch ein Thema, mit dem die meisten schon einmal Kontakt hatten. Jedenfalls gibt es bei mir gleich mehrere Demenzfälle in der Familie, weswegen mich die Thematik wirklich mitgenommen hat.
Dazu dann noch Kelly Morans super Schreibstil... Eigentlich bin ich kein großer Fan von Sexszenen, vor allem nicht, wenn sie recht lange sind. Kelly Moran hat es aber tatsächlich geschafft, eine wirklich schöne seitenlange Sexszene zu schreiben, bei denen ich kein einziges Mal mit den Augen rollen oder Szenen überspringen musste.
Ich dachte nicht, dass das möglich wäre. Aber gut, ich hätte auch nie gedacht, dass mich Romance jemals so begeistern könnte.
Ich hoffe wirklich, das Gerücht um die zwei weiteren Teile in dieser Reihe ist wahr. Ich kann es zumindest kaum erwarten, mehr über Redwood zu lesen.
July 2, 2017
Netgalley copy in exchange for an honest review.
MY BABIES!
I was so happy when I was granted access to the third book in the Redwood Ridge series, because it meant reading more about characters I loved dearly already!
I fell head over heels for Drake, let's be honest here: his character was incredibly well-written, raw and most importantly, extremely realistic. Zoe's one was beautiful, too, and their interactions had me grinning like an idiot during my train journey. I had to look up from my book every once in a while to check if no one was looking at me funny.
The pace was intense and fast, and their romance burning so slow I could not wait for it to fully bloom. And I loved it when it did!
It was fun, quick to read and I had the best time between those pages, with these characters I love dearly.
MY BABIES!
I was so happy when I was granted access to the third book in the Redwood Ridge series, because it meant reading more about characters I loved dearly already!
I fell head over heels for Drake, let's be honest here: his character was incredibly well-written, raw and most importantly, extremely realistic. Zoe's one was beautiful, too, and their interactions had me grinning like an idiot during my train journey. I had to look up from my book every once in a while to check if no one was looking at me funny.
The pace was intense and fast, and their romance burning so slow I could not wait for it to fully bloom. And I loved it when it did!
It was fun, quick to read and I had the best time between those pages, with these characters I love dearly.
August 19, 2017
Wow! I recently discovered Kelly Moran's books, and I have a new author in my top 5. What an emotional book! Zoe is a delightful character, full of quirks and strength. Drake is a quiet soul, trying to figure out how to move on after his wife's death. Both are afraid of the feelings they are realizing they have for each other, but both know the other one deserves a chance at happiness. The trick for Zoe is to realize that she deserves that happiness as well. Add in her mother with dementia, and nothing is easy. But with strength, perseverance, and love, as well as the well-meaning actions of the Battleaxes (who are determined to be matchmakers), they slowly find their way. Lots of ups and downs, laughter and tears. A wonderful read!
July 12, 2017
Another winner by Kelly Moran. Really enjoyed this series and the people in it. This last book really had me laughing and smiling and then sniffing and crying. So many emotions but that's what Moran is good at.
April 29, 2020
Für mich das beste Buch der Reihe! 😍
January 17, 2021
Really liked this one, so much that I will forget how last couple of pages ruined everything for me.
The ending was OTT, it simply wasn't necessary. Why not making some cute epilogue?! Why rush to that and ruin everything in basically 2 cheesy pages?!
But honestly liked it a lot. Haven't read the first book in series yet, but from all that I can see Drake is and will be my favorite brother.
Liked both Zoe and Drake, liked how the story went, some things I did find weird but I am gonna pretend that never happened.
The ending was OTT, it simply wasn't necessary. Why not making some cute epilogue?! Why rush to that and ruin everything in basically 2 cheesy pages?!
But honestly liked it a lot. Haven't read the first book in series yet, but from all that I can see Drake is and will be my favorite brother.
Liked both Zoe and Drake, liked how the story went, some things I did find weird but I am gonna pretend that never happened.
November 5, 2018
Persönliche Meinung
Auf Drakes Geschichte war ich sehr gespannt, denn irgendwie konnte ich ihn in den vorangegangene beiden Büchern nicht so richtig greifen. Umso überraschter war ich, als er sich zu meinem Favoriten gemausert hat. Nicht die Geschichte, sondern Drake. Er weiss, was er will, er kämpft dafür, er ist gleichzeitig verletzlich und steht zu sich. Das mochte ich sehr.
«“Und du erklärst den beiden jetzt bitte, dass es nicht das ist, wonach es aussieht.“
Cade grinste. „Für mich sieht es als, als würdest du Drakes T-Shirt tragen, als wäre dein Haar vom Schlaf zerzaust und als würdest du in seiner Küche Frühstück machen.“
„Okay dann ist es irgendwie doch das, wonach es aussieht.“
Drake konnte nicht anders: Er lachte.»
Allerdings fand ich, dass Zoe eher schwach dargestellt wurde. Nicht im Sinne von, dass sie nicht stark wäre, sondern dass sie in Band 1 und 2 immer so taff und stark und witzig war und hier irgendwie ruhig und zurückhaltend und einfach irgendwie nicht so Zoehaft. Auch dass sie scheinbar einen Ruf als Partygirl hatte wurde in diesem Band gar nicht gezeigt. Sie war für mich praktisch ein anderer Mensch. Ruhig, insichgekehrt... wir haben eine sehr verletze Zoe kennengelernt. Aber ich hatte mir so sehr gewüsncht dass SIE Drake erobern würde und muss.. und nicht umgekehrt. Sobald es in das typische Schema gefallen war, hat sich mein Intresse ein bisschen aufgelöst.. =(
Was mir auch nicht so gut gefallen hat, war die Tatsache, dass Zoe eigentlich schon immer in Drake verliebt war, aber dann wo es soweit wäre, gar nie wirklich zeigt, dass sie ihn will. Ich verstehe ihre Argumentation total, aber ich konnte sie nicht nachvollziehen.
«Er räusperte sich. „Dich beunruhigt die Vorstellung, dass sie uns zusammenbringen wollen.“
Sie starrte ihn lange an. Intensiv. „Abgesehen von all den anderen offensichtlichen Gründen, warum das eine schreckliche Idee wäre: Du und ich, das wäre ein direkter Trip in die Stadt namens Frust.“»
Ich fand allerdings auch, dass Drake und Zoe die schönste Liebesgeschichte von allen drei hatten. Die mit der ich persönlich mich am meisten identifizieren konnte.
Aber... und vielleicht liegt es an mir, denn ich bin ganz anders veranlagt als die Buchcharaktere, aber ich finde man kann es mit Trauer auch übertreiben. Und herrjemine aber das Gelabere von Wegen sie kann nicht mit ihm sein wegen Heather hat mich manchmal etwas arg an meine Grenzen gebracht. Wenn ich einmal sterbe, dann wünsche ich, dass all meine liebsten weiterleben und zwar glücklich! Ich glaube deswegen, konnte ich mich nicht ganz immer in der Geschichte versinken.
Auf jeden Fall aber wars ein romantisches Ende einer tollen Reihe, das mir sehr gefallen hat.
Fazit: Ich werde Redwood vermissen.
Auf Drakes Geschichte war ich sehr gespannt, denn irgendwie konnte ich ihn in den vorangegangene beiden Büchern nicht so richtig greifen. Umso überraschter war ich, als er sich zu meinem Favoriten gemausert hat. Nicht die Geschichte, sondern Drake. Er weiss, was er will, er kämpft dafür, er ist gleichzeitig verletzlich und steht zu sich. Das mochte ich sehr.
«“Und du erklärst den beiden jetzt bitte, dass es nicht das ist, wonach es aussieht.“
Cade grinste. „Für mich sieht es als, als würdest du Drakes T-Shirt tragen, als wäre dein Haar vom Schlaf zerzaust und als würdest du in seiner Küche Frühstück machen.“
„Okay dann ist es irgendwie doch das, wonach es aussieht.“
Drake konnte nicht anders: Er lachte.»
Allerdings fand ich, dass Zoe eher schwach dargestellt wurde. Nicht im Sinne von, dass sie nicht stark wäre, sondern dass sie in Band 1 und 2 immer so taff und stark und witzig war und hier irgendwie ruhig und zurückhaltend und einfach irgendwie nicht so Zoehaft. Auch dass sie scheinbar einen Ruf als Partygirl hatte wurde in diesem Band gar nicht gezeigt. Sie war für mich praktisch ein anderer Mensch. Ruhig, insichgekehrt... wir haben eine sehr verletze Zoe kennengelernt. Aber ich hatte mir so sehr gewüsncht dass SIE Drake erobern würde und muss.. und nicht umgekehrt. Sobald es in das typische Schema gefallen war, hat sich mein Intresse ein bisschen aufgelöst.. =(
Was mir auch nicht so gut gefallen hat, war die Tatsache, dass Zoe eigentlich schon immer in Drake verliebt war, aber dann wo es soweit wäre, gar nie wirklich zeigt, dass sie ihn will. Ich verstehe ihre Argumentation total, aber ich konnte sie nicht nachvollziehen.
«Er räusperte sich. „Dich beunruhigt die Vorstellung, dass sie uns zusammenbringen wollen.“
Sie starrte ihn lange an. Intensiv. „Abgesehen von all den anderen offensichtlichen Gründen, warum das eine schreckliche Idee wäre: Du und ich, das wäre ein direkter Trip in die Stadt namens Frust.“»
Ich fand allerdings auch, dass Drake und Zoe die schönste Liebesgeschichte von allen drei hatten. Die mit der ich persönlich mich am meisten identifizieren konnte.
Aber... und vielleicht liegt es an mir, denn ich bin ganz anders veranlagt als die Buchcharaktere, aber ich finde man kann es mit Trauer auch übertreiben. Und herrjemine aber das Gelabere von Wegen sie kann nicht mit ihm sein wegen Heather hat mich manchmal etwas arg an meine Grenzen gebracht. Wenn ich einmal sterbe, dann wünsche ich, dass all meine liebsten weiterleben und zwar glücklich! Ich glaube deswegen, konnte ich mich nicht ganz immer in der Geschichte versinken.
Auf jeden Fall aber wars ein romantisches Ende einer tollen Reihe, das mir sehr gefallen hat.
Fazit: Ich werde Redwood vermissen.
August 10, 2017
This book packs a heavy emotional punch. The heroine, Zoe, is trying to deal with her beloved mother’s early-onset dementia. That’s just so painful to contemplate. Zoe is a feisty and fiery woman, but her life has taken a very depressing turn. The guy she had a crush on in high school, her life-time friend Drake, fell for Zoe’s best friend and married her. Then Heather died of ovarian cancer. Zoe is still Drake’s good friend and they have grieved together over Heather’s death. Add in that she works for him as a pet groomer at the veterinary office that Drake runs with his brothers and their wives.
Drake is finally ready to move on after his wife’s death and has realized that Zoe is the woman for him. But he has to overcome her fears and her desire to save him from the pain that a relationship with her could mean.
It’s all very depressing even though, I knew it was a romance novel and would end in a HEA. But the situation is so very sad. And Drake was just the greatest guy and Zoe was so likeable. If you don’t mind a romance novel that also touches on some heavy material, you’ll enjoy this story.
I was given a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Drake is finally ready to move on after his wife’s death and has realized that Zoe is the woman for him. But he has to overcome her fears and her desire to save him from the pain that a relationship with her could mean.
It’s all very depressing even though, I knew it was a romance novel and would end in a HEA. But the situation is so very sad. And Drake was just the greatest guy and Zoe was so likeable. If you don’t mind a romance novel that also touches on some heavy material, you’ll enjoy this story.
I was given a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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