Above All

Heart of the Adirondacks #1

by Rebecca Brooks

Reeling from a sudden breakup, Casey Webb leaves Brooklyn, drives north, and settles in a sleepy mountain town in upstate New York. She’s 34 and happy being alone…until she reads the acknowledgments in her ex-boyfriend’s hit debut novel, thanking his new girlfriend “above all."

Good thing Ben Mailer is in town. He may only be 26, but the hot, Brooklyn-bound chef offers the perfect distraction. Soon Casey is having the best sex of her life—on a mountain, in a boat, all over the cozy cabin she calls home. But as their fling turns into more, the demands of Ben’s family and budding career make moving to her idyllic town impossible.

Now Casey must decide what she can’t live without—her life in the mountains, or the younger man she wants to be hers above all.

*Author's note: This is a re-release of Above All, published in 2014 by Ellora's Cave. Contains mountain men, baked goods, sex in a row boat, and a guaranteed HEA.*

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

299 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2014

About the author

Sign up for Rebecca Brooks's monthly newsletter for her travel updates, hiking updates, news on new releases, and giveaways just for subscribers: http://rebeccabrooksromance.com/newsl....

Rebecca Brooks lives in New York City in an apartment filled with books. She received a PhD in English but decided it was more fun to write books than write about them. She has backpacked alone through India and Brazil, traveled by cargo boat down the Amazon River, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, explored ice caves in Peru, trekked to the source of the Ganges, and sunbathed in Burma, but she always likes coming home to a cold beer and her hot husband in the Bronx.

Learn more: http://www.amazon.com/Rebecca-Brooks/...

Reviews

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.

If you like contemporary romance novels that deal with healing after bad break-ups and a slight age difference between the two then look no further then this great book. Casey flees the city after a bad break-up only to find her self living in a cabin at a campground that is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. She likes it here and has interest in men until one fateful day when a group checks in with one of the being really cute. She tries to not get involved but over some time (more then one visit) her feelings convince her otherwise. Just when she thinks things will work out there is an unpleasant surprise that leads us to the redeeming ending. Perfect for fans of the genre. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

[Ayekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book! I think I have a little book hangover. I want to move to Bonnet. I want my own Chef Ben. Never mind Chef, just give me Ben and a few of his delectable baked goods. The man knows his way around the kitchen and other rooms of the house.
Ben meets Casey when he and some friends from college come up to Bonnet to the campground where she now works and lives. Casey has escaped city living and it was a happy accident she found herself in Bonnet and a home with the Geller's. She loves what she does and her life is so much simpler and she has time to escape into her art work as well. Ben is in his last year at the prestigious Culinary Institute in NYC. His parents have his future mapped out, his heart lies in baking. His dream is to open a small cafe and perfect his baked goods. He takes an immediate liking to Casey and invites her to their campfire and their attraction is palpable. Casey is a little more than aware of their age difference but it didn't bother Ben (or me). Casey is at a loss when Ben and his friends leave, keeping herself busy and is surprised when Ben comes back to visit. She has a friend who lives in town who she talks to about him and Lee plays both sides of the fence at times but you can see why she does. When he plays hooky from class and comes up to spend the weekend with her, they talk about the future and what he wants and she's all in. So is he. These two are incendiary together. Rebecca can write some steam and she doesn't let the reader down in this one. He's only a month away from graduation so they'll see each other after that. You know when you get blindsided in a book because you sure as heck didn't see that coming. Yeah, well that happened. I was probably as stunned as Casey. Casey's operating on autopilot and Geller let's her have her space. One weekend an art dealer shows up and spots her sketches and wants to see more of her work. Reluctantly she shows it to him and he wants to give her a solo show in NY in Feb. Meanwhile he also wants fresh work, the new work has an edge to it because her world is now very different without Ben in it. She kind of goes along with the whole art thing, but after Ben shows up at her showing and things turn once again, she packs her clothes, skips out on her friends and heads back to Bonnet. Life is better now. Different, but better, Casey keeps her nose to the ground, does her work and that's it. I love how this book is divided into seasons. When Casey starts finding coffee cups that didn't come from the local diner and some of the people coming into the campground talking about the little bakery place and Casey is getting tired of picking up lids from this place. Looking at the cup and logo, she doesn't recognize it
until one day Ben pays her a visit. Not believing her ears, he tells her he's opened a cafe and bakery down the road and maybe she might stop by. Right. She puts it off for a few days and then she goes and sees for herself. What happens then? You have to read the book to find out. The book is a must read. I'll read anything Rebecca writes and this one was stellar. She shines right through the book, just like her characters, above all.

*arc graciously gifted by author for an honest review* thank you Rebecca!

[Laura Nelson (Tangents and Tissues) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly think Rebecca’s books should come with a warning: Do not read on an empty stomach! Seriously *shakes head* - no joke *shrugs* Don’t believe me? Check out Make Me Beg and then we can talk.

In fact... bear with me while I take a short intermission to grab a snack.

I’m baaack!

*burps*

*blushes*

Apologies! *smirks*

Right, where was I? Oh yes, so I think it’s safe to say that we all deal with broken hearts differently. Relocating to a sleepy mountain town may seem a tad extreme to some *pinches fingers*, but to Casey Webb it’s heaven. Everything about Bonnet speaks to her soul. Here, in this place, she is finally home.

One thing she doesn’t want or need is a man. Douchecanoe has put paid to that! She’s happy with the life and circle of friends she’s made here in the mountains even if her closest friend is twenty years her senior. Her days are spent working at the camp site, and her free time is spent exploring the area and indulging her love of art.

Only this thirty-four-year-old’s abstinence is about to be severely tested when one hot young twenty-six-year-old stud named Ben Mailer arrives at the camp site with his friends for the weekend. Despite Casey’s best efforts, the connection between these two won’t be denied. And, ladies, he cooks! I know right - where do I get one?

I’m talking E-L-E-C-T-R-I-C!

“Her whole body was a wick, and he alone knew how to make her ignite.”

Oh, and ignite she did... *bites lips* I say again - where can I get one?

What I love about this author’s writing is there is always the one scene which is on the diiiirrttyy side of the scale *winks* You know what I mean? *coughs* Boat! *taps nose and winks* Say no more...

For all I loved his moves, *whispers* and boy, did Ben have the moves - two words: neck kisses - I wanted to throttle him on occasion and ask him to grow a pair. *holds hands up* Just being honest, peeps! But, as I got to know more about this aspiring chef, the more I could understand him. Understanding does not equal agreement with all his decisions, however.

For me, the things I will take away from this story are - Where there’s a will there’s a way, and the best things in life are worth fighting for because we all deserve our own above all.

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

34 year old Casey left Brooklyn after boyfriend of 7 years broke her heart. Now she lives in the small town of Bonnet, and she's been alone ever since. Not alone as in no one in her life, but no one to love her the way she secretly yearns for. One day 26 year old Ben shows up at the campground she helps the Gellers run, and she finds herself attracted to the younger guy. When he shows up to her small cabin and they indulge in a hot encounter, suddenly she's wondering what she's doing with this much younger man who seems at a crossroads in his life, set to return to culinary school and finish his degree, or open up his own cafe as he really wants.

I was internally cringing when they started their affair because it was patently obvious that Ben was not so much immature, but so uncertain and indecisive, and at such a different place in his life than Casey. Although I found their chemistry to be pretty hot, I doubted the durability of whatever they were; and when it became obvious that Ben was going to hurt her as I suspected he would, I really wondered how they would ever make it.

I liked Above All, but I did find it a little slow moving, especially in the middle. They weren't together as a couple for very long, to the detriment of the story. I liked both characters, and the secondary characters; but I would have appreciated a stronger connection between the two, and them together as a couple for more than perhaps the last chapter.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie moves to Bonnet after she breaks yup with her boyfriend of 7 years. It was hard and nasty. All she wants is to be alone for the rest of her life.

When a group of people come to her area to camp things change for Cassie. Ben has good looks and charm can he tempt Cassie?

The characters were ok. It seem to take them both a while to fight for what they wanted. Ben didn't have much of a backbone so to speak. He needed to stand up to his family more. But overall a nice story of and older women and younger man who makes it work.

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read an ARC copy of this.

Overall I enjoyed this book. My issue was with Casey. At times it was hard for me to like her. Her low self-esteem was annoying. I liked Ben even though he had a few dick moments. At least he came to his senses. I was just glad that they got their HEA in the end.

[Melanie Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Above All by Rebecca Brooks is romance from Ellora’s Cave (July 2014). The story follows Casey, a 34-year-old woman who had her heart broken after her boyfriend of 7 years, Nick, moves on. Casey moves 200 miles away to Paper Lake, home to a campground. When we meet Casey, she’s been living in a cabin at the campground for a year, which is part of her pay for working there. Her family sees her choice to live such a rustic life–she did abandon a PhD in Art History program in NYC–a big waste.

But Casey can’t say no to jumping into the freezing lake each morning, nor can she say no to the beautiful Bonnet mountains. Later, she finds it very hard to say no to Ben, a 26-year-old young man in cooking school who camps at Paper Lake with his friends one weekend…

Above All is a novel both predictable and puzzling. Very few romances ever surprise me; typically, surprising stories don’t end with the main characters together. Romances pretty much always have a man and woman who start off hot and heavy, spend a long time apart because something keeps them apart, one character (usually the woman) chases the other only to be heartbroken by a cousin/sibling/gay friend who appears to now be dating the person chased, and then a grand gesture that reunites the couple, elevating them to happily-ever-status. Does predictability ruin a romance? Not really; it’s a billion-dollar formula for making women squee, and Brooks hits all the right notes for squeeing once she gets her characters having sex.

Some problems in the beginning:

At first, Casey is sad about losing Nick. He’s finally published his book that he worked on for years, the one for which Casey was a dutiful reader and commenter, but Nick’s acknowledgments say, “Above all, thank you to Aubrey Peterson…” Who the frick-hole is Aubrey Peterson?! *insert rage and anger* When she does meet Ben as he checks in to the campground, Casey refers to his “puppy-dog” eyes/facial expression so many times I kind of want to hurt something. The whiny vowel sound of the “y” and the pop sound made from “pup” grated on my ears over and over. However, I am aware that not all readers think about things like word sounds and I may be alone in my complaints. Worse still was the way Ben kept showing up at Casey’s–and employee’s–cabin, which was not right near the campsites. Even Casey calls Ben a stalker at one point, echoing my own concerns. Stalking someone enough doesn’t make for a romance, it makes for a case of stalking.

After Casey accepts this young man stalking her, she decides she wants to have sex with him–his kisses are just too damn good. When she goes to unbuckle his belt, though, he pulls away and says he has to get back to his friends at the campsite. For the rest of the book, this moment is deemed one of running away, as in Ben runs away because he’s the kind of man who runs away. I was puzzled, though; Casey and Ben had only briefly talked 2-3 times. Why should he jump right in bed with someone just because he likes her? I saw him as more gentlemanly, but the moment is forever held against him as a black mark.

Once Casey and Ben start having sex, things pick up:

There is sex. Lots and lots and lots of sex. Once Casey and Ben do get it on, they don’t stop. They’re hiking, but stop for sex. They’re boating, but stop for sex. They’re going to eat food, but stop to have sex (so much wasted food in Above All). They jump in the freezing lake, and once Ben’s dick stops turtle-ing, they stop for sex. My response was very George Takei: “Ohhhh, myyyy.” The scenes are superbly written. Brooks pays attention to details, like using a condom every time (though not for oral sex), wiping up cum strings from Casey’s mouth, the clit as a pleasure center, etc. Never does the sex feel cheap or gratuitous or make me think, “Oh, please.” It’s realistic. The details are very good, and this book is bound to make you cross and re-cross your legs as you read.

The puzzling bit comes from the fact that Casey and Ben don’t really talk to each other. Ben knows nothing of Casey’s relationship with Nick, nor does she talk about being in a PhD program. He does come upon (stalk) her once and see that she is painting, but then leaves her alone. The only significant thing they discuss is that Ben wants to open a bakery, but his parents want him to be an Italian chef. I felt like food is food; it’s not like his parents wanted him to be a lawyer instead. Plus, he’s 26. But, this is a big point of contention for Ben. Other talking? It doesn’t happen when Casey are Ben are together in a situation where clothes can come off. When Casey misses Ben during their separation, she remembers “the first night in the cabin, the rock ledge on the mountain, the rowboat, the lake, the woods themselves.” These are all places they’ve had sex. What else is there? After the characters do hook up, not once do Casey or Ben say “love.” Although dubbed a romance, and despite many mentions of heartbreak and hearts wildly beating, there is no “love.”

There are a few situations in Above All for which Brooks provides readers with some really, truly fun dialogue or phrasing that made me like her characters. Casey’s old lady-friend Lee tries to fix Casey’s huge, tangled, curly red hair before a date, but Lee can only shake her head and say, “That’s between you and your god, but may I suggest investing in some detangler?” When Ben returns to the campground to find Casey chopping wood, she realizes, “At one point the prospect of running into him again with an axe in her hands might have been quite appealing.” During their time together at the campground, Casey convinces Ben to jump in the lake with her one morning, and I giggled as I read:

She went to pull his towel off to wrap hers around him so they would both be together in the towel, skin against skin. But Bun pulled away quickly, a look crossing his eyes.

“No way,” he grimaced. “You’ll never want to come near me again.”

“What are you talking about?” Casey paused, confused.

“The cold!” he cried.

Casey laughed and ripped off his towel with one hard tug, but his hands flew straight to his crotch.

“I’m shriveled up like a sack of times! Tinier than a fingerling potato!” he cried as he leapt, buck naked, up to the cabin, his adorable butt a moon of white bounding over the path.

Over all, I do recommend Above All by Rebecca Brooks for its hot sex scenes that are sure to get you eyeing your partner over the pages, and for the way she got me thinking differently about relationships. Who am I to assume that all pairings have to be about love? Perhaps Casey and Ben, in some unwritten future, do fall in love and say it. I’d also recommend this book just for the scene during which Ben enters a women’s restroom and crawls under a locked door.

I want to thank Rebecca Brooks for sending me Above All for review in exchange for my honest opinion. Please check out more about Ms. Brooks writer life at her Meet the Writer feature here on Grab the Lapels!


This review was originally published at Grab the Lapels!

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

SILLY WOMAN😵💋
Casey is a woman who spent 7 years of her life with a man She really didn't know, and seven years at a teaching job in NYC she didn't like. Her ex boyfriend, Nick, is a writer, and when he finally publishes the book( after their breakup) he worked on the entire time they were together, these is no mention of her.
After the breakup, Casey basically runs away to upstate, and comes up in a little tourist town called Bonnet, that seems to be calling her home. She finds a job at a private campground on a lake, and she loves the hard work and solitude.
A year she has been there and finally Nick's book is published to great fanfare. Its all over the internet, because Casey tries to avoid looking at the ads.
She is pretty cozy in her caretakers cabin, in the woods, on a lake, near Bonnet mountain.
The summer season is just starting when a group of mid twenty something folks come to camp and rehash college times.
A man named Ben, a professional chef, is among the group. As soon as Casey sees him, they both feel a pull towards each other.
But heavens to mergatroid! Casey is about ten years older than 26 year old Ben! The whole premise of the story is silly, because Casey thinks she is much to old for him. Humbug!
Bosh! A younger man is perfect for a woman in her thirties, or forties!

Been there, done that, and it's wonderful!

ARC Received from HG.
This book is $3.99 at the time of this review. No KU.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey left New York with a broken heart. She found a safe haven in the small mountain town Bonnet. There she works at a lakeside campsite. She loves spending time outdoors and can’t get enough of painting the beautiful view. She lives a solitary life, but feels much less alone than with the author she used to live with. Casey isn’t looking for love, but when Ben and his friends visit the campsite, she’s tempted. He’s several years younger, but they do have a connection. Ben is on his way to become a successful chef and his life is in the city, will they even have a chance to get to know each other?

Ben has a demanding family. His parents have certain standards and he’s supposed to meet them. He isn’t free to do as he pleases, but he can’t stay away from Casey. Whenever he has time off he goes back to Bonnet. Their time together is limited, but they make sure every minute counts. Ben is almost ready to start his career and a lot is being asked of him. Where will he end up working and what will the next step in his life mean for his relationship with Casey? If he has to choose between expectations and love, what will it be?

Above All is a sexy emotional love story. Casey’s ex-boyfriend hurt her a lot and Bonnet offered her the fresh start she so desperately needed. She feels right at home and never wants to leave. She’s a talented and smart woman and she knows what she wants. She loves spending time in the mountains, she isn’t a city girl and enjoys each second of her outdoor life. I loved how Rebecca Brooks makes Casey's dreams and wishes come to life and I could easily picture her paintings. I loved how passionate she is. She has that in common with Ben. Casey is creative with paint and Ben is a prodigy in the kitchen. They share a terrific vibrancy and unique understanding of the world. Finding out if they’d be able to combine their wishes and dreams kept me glued to the pages.

Rebecca Brooks has a wonderful descriptive writing style. She makes her gorgeous setting come to life very well. I loved Bonnet, it’s a stunning choice for a love story. I liked the complexity of the city versus mountains situation. It's a dilemma that gives the story a nice layer of depth. Rebecca Brooks clearly understands each phase her main characters are going through and skillfully works with tension. There’s plenty of chemistry and sparks fly off the pages. I loved the combination of an amazing setting, a terrific true love story, the wisdom of life, fabulous romance and mouthwatering food. I highly recommend Above All, it’s a hot, charming, moving and fascinating book.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Above All (A Heart of the Adirondacks Novel) by Rebecca Brooks  
Happiness doesn't reside in false moments of perfection. It requires that we do the work. Above All is about knowing our worth. How can a person expect to find true love and happiness, if their not being truthful with themselves? Broken hearts, fresh starts and electric chemistry are a jumping off point for Casey and Ben. Brooks entrances with seduction, but the driving force behind the temptation is self discovery. Life is more than losing yourself in naughty moments. It's about loving every cell, emotion, hope, imperfection and choice that makes up who we are.

[Mandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of this book takes place at a campground, and for some reason this pleases me. I enjoy camping/outdoorsy romances. Casey recently broke up with her long-term boyfriend, got the hell out of New York City and now is a manager at a camp ground in the Adirondack mountain area. The peace, calm, and hard work makes Casey’s blood sing. She is finally home, and is happy. Her ex made everything about him, and never let Casey be herself, so she cherishes her life now.

One evening, a group of people reuniting after college come to spend the weekend at the campsite. Included in this group is Ben, who is attending the Culinary Institute Academy, studying italian cooking. His real passion is baking, but he is trying to please his parents. Ben is about eight years younger than Casey, and while she notices the age difference, she can’t help but notice how attractive he is. Over this weekend, Ben starts making more and more excuses to leave his friends and hang out with Casey. These two fall hard and fast, but real life gets in the way for a while.

This book doesn’t have an abundance of conflict, but I was okay with that. It reads easy and I really liked Casey. The author does a nice job setting the campground scene – you can feel Casey swimming in the icy water early in the mornings, and busting her butt chopping wood later in the day. It really felt as if she belonged there. Besides running the campsite, she is also a very talented painter, and sketches and paints when she has time. This plays a bigger part later in the book which didn’t really fit in with the flow of the story. I won’t spoil too much, but I didn’t love how this side-storyline was brought it. It felt rushed and forced.

Back to the romance, Ben and Casey fall quick for each other – the problem though is that Ben is going to an intense school in New York City while Casey has responsibilities at the campground. This book is broke into seasons. We start in summer and have a few chapters. Then Ben leaves after his weekend and we jump ahead to fall. Then other things happen between them and we jump ahead to winter where we eventually end back in summer when the book comes to a close. I had a little bit of a hard time with this – we see Ben and Casey fall in lust, and have lots of hot sex, but the big time jumps takes away from building a consistent emotional connection with the characters. Ben leaves after the initial weekend and all of a sudden its weeks and weeks later. You can tell the reader Casey missed him but we weren’t present for when it all actually happened.

I give good points for a camping romance – there are a lot of good scenes, especially in the first part of the book. But I needed a smoother ride to the happy ever after.

Rating: C+

[m · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly one of the worst romances I’ve read in a while. I enjoyed the beginning but the middle and the end were such a drag. I really considered DNFing near the middle because the story dragged so much but decided to push through and kind of regret it.

The beginning was super fun and promising with the whirlwind meeting of Ben and Casey and their relationship. However what ruined it for me was how many breaks in their relationship happened throughout the entire book. There were at least 3 or 4 times where the characters were not together or in contact and it just go so repetitive and boring.

Another issue I had was the whole age gap. I don’t really care about an age gap but the fact that the female lead was so much older than the male lead was brought up so many times with no point. Like ok we get it, shes older than him. So what. No need to bash it into our heads.

Also with the age gap, the female lead is supposed to be in her mid thirties. But so many actions that she takes re: their relationship portrays her as being in her teens. That’s how dumb she is.

I also didn’t like the male lead and honestly think that neither of these characters had any personality. They didn’t have any chemistry either and I honestly just didn’t care about what happened to them.

The flow of the story was also poor. The beginning was super light and fluffy and had a good balance. The middle was just so random and had no romance line going on at all. The book was so cut and paste and it seemed like two different stories just stuck together with no flow.

Overall, I’m kinda sad that this sucked so much because it sounded promising but it was just SO bad. If I could give this book 0 stars, I would.

[DJ Sakata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

“Moving on was going to require leaving the woods and getting a friend set that didn’t have gray hairs, hip replacements and a few false teeth.”

“But then her mouth ran away from her – her own brain could never be trusted sometimes – and to her surprise and shock and embarrassment she found herself still talking.”

“The fact that she didn’t want a date with Evan didn’t mean she wanted him to find her unappealing.”

“When she at last pressed her mouth to his, it felt like coming home. He tasted of fire and smoke and earth, and fresh bread and soap and something so clean, so pure, it was like spring water to her lips.”


My Review:

If you like realistic, plausible, believable, and well written love stories, this is the book for you. But beware, Ms. Brooks will break your heart, and she will do it more than once, damn her and her gifted storytelling… I fell for it three times! Hence, the believable part of my review, as if you live in the real world, you are going to heartbroken, and typically, more than once. Her characters are likable, funny, and people I would enjoy knowing. Her story is current, emotional, heartfelt, and ah so sensual, oh my yes! I was panting and gasping like a fish that has jumped the aquarium. I did not find any other works listed under her name but have a hard time believing this offering could be her first work – but if so, she belongs in the advanced class. I hope to see much more from her in the future.

[Have Coffee Need Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Mailer... put your yummy yum yum in my mouth.

Stop your dirty minds! He's a chef. Although I'd totally let him put his yum yum in my mouth!

I’ve always loved a story that ended in food! Food and books? Was it my birthday and I didn’t know? Rebecca Brooks has written a great Women’s Lit novel about a Romance infused with delicious words all based on a hot man cooking! Casey Webb escaped from one man whose relationship was so toxic she almost lost her identity. If there is anything she learned it was that young = dumb. She has learned with age that you need to be your own person to know who you are and what you want. This theory is put to the test when the man she meets and begins to fall for is in that “young = dumb” category. Now she is waiting for the other shoe to drop. Can Ben Mailer prove to Casey that you are never too old to learn new things?

Read my meoview here---> Makin' The Love Monday - Above All by Rebecca Brooks

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Above All was only my second foray into romance novel territory, but I'm so glad I picked it up. It knocked my socks off--and I bet the people sitting around me on the train wondered why I was blushing so furiously while I read it!

Rebecca Brooks gives her characters real, meaty dilemmas to contend with, and they're not ones that are solved quickly or easily. Her prose is vivid and compelling; I found myself staring out at the trees, wishing I could drag my husband away for a week in the wilderness! And the scenes between the main characters were steamy to say the least. All in all, a delightful read!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic debut by a new author on the romance scene! Above All is thoughtful, wry, and really hot. It's a thinking woman's romance novel. I identified with Casey--her smarts and self-reliance, but her desire to make it work with someone--and that's not often the case in romance novels, when protagonists are two-dimensional and don't feel like real women. Bravo to the fantastic Rebecca Brooks for writing a romance novel that satisfies and also makes one reflect about their own life!

[Elisabeth Lane]

I was all in with the older heroine and younger hero and their vocational struggles. But by 43% I was a little weary of the immature hero, the aggressively self-conscious heroine and their ridiculously euphemistic sex. Had to stop.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

See full review at:

http://romancenovelsforfeminists.blog...

[A Klue · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my requirements above all else in my romantic reads is to feel a genuine romantic connection between two people who are willing to fight for love. Casey and Ben, the main couple here, were extremely physically attracted to one another and shared some off the charts very smexy scenes but didn’t seemed to have that destined to be together soulmate spark that ignited their hearts enough to never give up on being together. By 50%, though they were finally intimate, I just couldn’t see them becoming and staying a couple. Mainly because compromise didn’t seem to be on the table. Honestly though, they were their own worst enemy at times, especially Casey. She was ate up with doubts and her own insecurities about everything. Due to the large amount of time they spent apart, there is little wonder even they didn’t think they had a chance the majority of the time. Ben was out of the picture so much he felt like a subcharacter.

Casey constantly reflecting back on the boyfriend who dumped her, which was the catalyst for her winding up living in a campground, made her come across weak to me. Walking away from her home and all her possessions not only made her weak and defeated, but pretty stupid, too. Yeah, she sure showed her ex now didn’t she? I can just picture him grinning ear to ear while counting a big wad of cash after leaving the closest pawn shop. Also, despite the fact she enjoyed her current surroundings and lifestyle, it still felt like Casey was hiding from the rest of the world. Her insecurities about everything made her exhausting to be around.

Ben seemed like a very young, sweet, hardworking, good enough guy at first but too much of a hand wringer himself and lacked backbone regarding his career and standing up to his family for my taste. Knowing he wasn’t man enough to fight for his own causes, I found it hard to believe he would ultimately end up fighting to keep his lady love. That hunch proved correct.

Casey being so closed minded did not help matters either. For an artist who supposedly saw life and landscapes through an all encompassing lense that allowed her to capture minute details and motion on canvas and paper, she often did not see and embrace other people’s perspectives. She was quick to hang up on Ben and not return his calls or texts, which would have given him a chance to explain and possibly work things out.

Here’s to hoping others really fall in love with this book. I certainly wish this author continued writing success. Unfortunately, I just found this pair of supposed lovebirds to lack the fire and passion necessary to create a memorable love story.

Romance Safety Gang: Ben seemed awkward and an inexperienced lover the first time they hit the sheets, so Casey took charge. Therefore, I feel it is likely he was a virgin. He kept saying, “Is this OK?” Casey reflects often on the boyfriend of many years that dumped her. It is implied Ben was too busy with culinary school to have a girlfriend. A close friend tried to set her up with a date months after Ben and she parted ways. She declined. Ben much later claims he wasn’t with any other woman but was about to go on a date when Casey out of the blue showed up on his doorstep. Casey seemed to be the one who pushed him away the most but acted like he dumped her.

Title: Above All, Author: Rebecca Brooks, Pages: 299, stand-alone, young chef hero, 8 year older heroine, very steamy scenes, pretty sure he was a virgin hero, poor me/woe is me, insecure, hand wringing heroine, most of the book they were apart, very graphic steamy scenes, no love triangle, brief OW drama, brief OM wants to date her scene.

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/PR firm.)

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the very talented Author REBECCA BROOKS, in exchange for an honest opinion.
This is my very honest opinion of her hot and sexy book- Above All ( a haeart in the adirondacks novel). Having never read any of this any of this author’s books before. I was unsure what to expect. However- the fact that she had written it with the setting of the Adirondack mountains intriqued me very much.
The way in which she has described the scenrey – the mountains- the park . Ms Brooks brings them to life right before your eyes. Even the icy water in the Adirondacks- ( that really seems like it never warms up lol). Her characters are written so true to life. And are defined so well you are able to visulize them.
As our story starts out we find ourselfs in the mountains at a campsite. Where Casey Webb has ended up living from her sudden brake up ex-boyfriend. Now she has just checked in a group of friends wanting to get together again from college years. One of the guys shows up late and he is currently finishing school to become a chief. Ben Miller comes in makes small talk with her. See’s she is reading a book and decides she needs to read the book he has – begs her to take the book. Once she opens it and starts reading it- Reads the deadication. Boy is Casey hot mad! Above All he wants to Thank is girlfriend cause without her he could not have completed this book. What!! It was her sweat and tears that helped him not that bimb bo.
Later Ben seeks her out with a beer wants her to join them at the campsite. Which she does. They getting talking about her ex- the author of the book. She tells them they have him all wrong. If they only knew. Casey leaves before she gives away any information about knowing him.Ben shows up at her cabin . This is where the excitement begins !!
In order to find out what happens between Casey and Ben you NEED to read the BOOK. And ABOVE ALL what will Casey choose??
This is one hot fast read! Romance – Made for all to read – Above all ( A Heart of the Adirondacks Novel) was published on July 20th, 2018. I recommend this book to everyone who loves a good Romance novel. This one has a strong heroine character in it. I give it 5 mouse paws . Now HIKE to your nearest retail outlet and get your copy today. This is one book you don’t want to miss. Make sure to add it your goodreads reading list. And then go to BOOKBUB.com and add Rebecca Brooks to your following list.
Remember now GET YOUR COPY TODAY!!!

[Jasminnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 50%

I'll start from the beginning: I've never read an age gap romance where the woman is older than the man, and to be honest I wasn't entirely sure that I'd enjoy this dynamic. But the issues I had with Above All were entirely unrelated to the age gap. In fact, I rather enjoyed Ben's innocence and sense of hopefulness in contrast to Casey's more...I suppose bleak outlook on life? My main gripe with this was that there was no chemistry between Ben and Casey. Nothing from their interaction during Ben's first stay would have lead me to believe that they were both pining after each other for 2 months after a few short days together where NOTHING EVEN HAPPENED. The entire time I was reading I kept thinking: Did I miss a chapter? Or two? Or three?? Ben and Casey went from just meeting to “it was the biggest mistake of my life not to grab hold of you when I could” and “there’s no way I’m letting you go” in the blink of an eye. All I can say is ????? They barely knew each other for 72 hours, so no Ben, it could NOT possibly have been the biggest mistake of your life.

Sigh. Maybe it was just love at first sight and I'm a skeptic? Who knows? But it wasn't believable, and that's the biggest issue that I have with the romance genre. If the romance doesn't feel right, I physically cannot continue reading because I have no emotional commitment to the outcome of the relationship.

For what it’s worth, I really enjoyed Ben though. His innocence and boyishness made him likeable, and to be honest he was a breath of fresh air after coming from the stereotypical hyper male big dick energy portrayal of male leads in the romance genre. I'm interested in reading more romance novels with this type of male characterization.

Also, this is entirely 100% irrelevant and maybe kind of petty, but who the hell is the guy on the cover? Ben is literally described as "lean and wiry"...which the guy on the cover is uh, most certainly not. That being said, maybe I missed out on Ben getting really jacked in the later half of the book that I never read. Or maybe I'm just sick of seeing shirtless dudes on book covers. Literally anything would be preferred - even the book title alone on a solid background colour would be better than another seeing another faceless, naked torso. But again, irrelevant.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casey Webb is running from her heartbreak and settling in the small mountain town she's found herself in is the perfect place for her to heal. However, when Ben Mailer comes to town, Casey finds herself succumbing to the intense chemistry they share, even though she's sworn off men. Will Casey take a chance on Ben or will she let her shot at happy ever after slip away?

What an interesting and engaging read Ms. Brooks has delivered in this first book of her Heart of the Adirondacks series where the heroine is a few years older than the hero; the storyline was fast-paced and kept me entertained from start to finish because of the obstacles these two have to face to be together including whether the hero or heroine will be willing to move to be with the other since the heroine loves where she lives and the hero needs to be in the city for his career.

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories because the heroine was hurt big time by her ex and I could understand why she's reluctant to give another man a chance, even though she shares such strong chemistry with Ben. However, in saying that, I liked that she took a chance on Ben because he's a good guy, despite everything he puts the heroine through. Moreover, the heroine is resilient, courageous and I liked how Ben helps her to heal from her past and renews her faith and trust in men, even if there are a few speed bumps along the way that had me worried Casey would give up on Ben. While the hero, he's confident, charming at times, a good friend, persistent when it comes to getting to know Casey and I liked the decisions he made, even though they were hard ones when it came to his relationship with Casey. Will he find a way for the pair to be together without hurting those that want what's best for him when it comes to his career?

Overall, Ms. Brooks has delivered a really good read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was strong; the romance heats up the pages and had me liking that Casey took a chance on Ben; and the ending had me loving the hero's determination to prove to the heroine that she's the one for him and he's not going anywhere, especially with the commitment he's made in following his dream. I would recommend Above All by Rebecca Brooks, if you enjoy a story encompassing an older heroine-younger hero romance, the opposites attract trope or books by authors Tessa Bailey, TS Joyce, Alexis Daria and Lauren Layne.

[Mandie Foxylutely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Above All is an older woman (34) and younger man (26) romance. Not much of an age gap but it was one of the draws for me to this book.

Casey is recovering from her broken heart after her boyfriend of seven years dumps her. To add insult to injury he dedicates the book he published to his new woman, even though it was Casey that had supported him whilst he was writing it. Now starting afresh is a mountain town at a campground she helps run, Casey is finally feeling content. Her lack of a love life is one aspect she has not dwelled on until the sexy young man comes to visit the campground.

Ben is on a reunion visit with his old group of friends and the campground is one place they used to visit. When he checks out Casey at the reception, he can’t get her out of his head and makes excuses to keep ‘bumping into her’.

Eventually Casey and Ben give in to their attraction for each other but both know it cannot last as Ben still has to graduate chef school and then take up a position his dominant father has arranged for him in a prestigious Italian Restaurant in New York.

There were lots of twists and turns to the romance and nothing was plain sailing. Casey tended to play herself down a lot with her major insecurities and Ben seemed to be an enigma that I could just not fathom who or what his real character was. At most he came off as an insecure man child even though he was 26! I just wished he had been more alpha. By the end he did finally find his balls and chose his own future and not that chosen by his family.

The passion was fairly prominent and regular but in some stages it was just over use of sex that I got fed up of and flipped over a few scenes.

Overall it was an OK read but I wanted more connection, more dominance from Ben and less self analysing from Casey. I loved the atmosphere of the mountain town and the locals which for me made the read more enjoyable. So as the romance was a little lack lustre for my personal taste this was a 3.5 star read for me.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 7/27/18.

I absolutely adored the setting of this romance--summers in the Adirondacks make up some of my earliest memories, and Ms. Brooks captured the setting perfectly in this book. Casey and Ben are great characters, and so cute together. Plus, he cooks! And makes a perfect croissant. Paired with those abs, what more could you want? ;)

This is a re-issue of Ms. Brooks' first published novel, and as such it has a bit of a different flavor than the later works of hers that I've read. The entire story is from Casey's POV, and at times her insecurities do get to be a bit much. Ben makes some fairly predictable moves that sometimes lean toward the dickish side of the spectrum, and it would have been nice to know what was going on in his head at the time just to be reassured that the HEA was indeed on the horizon somewhere. (Their attraction is pretty insta-, but it takes more than a year for them to actually become a couple. There's stretches of time we don't see on the page, but still, it's a good chunk of time from meet cute to HEA, and for a lot of that time they're not together.) The ending is wonderful, though, and I really liked the choices that both Ben and Casey have made in their lives by that point.

Now I just need to grab the novella from the series () and take a week's vacay up north (with an almond croissant or two, of course), and I'll be good!

Rating: 3 1/2 stars / B-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I volunteered to read this ARC for an honest review. I absolutely loved this story about Cassy and Ben. Cassy is a thirty something woman who thought she had it all, but only to find out she wasn't who she thought she was. The story starts a year after she had left her life in NYC behind, moving to the town of Bonnet by Paper Lake. She has made a family there with the Geller's and Lee. Helping out at the camp ground the Geller's run, she happens to be in duty the night Ben and his friends check-in beach in May. There is just something about him that drives her crazy, but he's to young age thinks. After spending a few days running into each other, seeing her swim naked, offering for her to hang out with them by the fire, Ben works up the courage and gives her a kiss. The next night things heat up again, but he backs off and leaves. She is confused, then he shows up again in July to see her and try again. Things heat up quickly. But when it's time to go, she doesn't want him to. But he says it's only temporary, since he graduates in August. But imagine her surprise when he calls the day off graduation and says he can't come back. To hurt to listen, she cuts him out of her life. A twist of fate leads then together in February at an art show for her paintings. There is a lot of twist and turns for the couple to find the right path to take back to their happy place. Even though he's 6 years younger, here makes her happy. Watch out, it's not only the kitchen that gets hot in this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Shyla
Book provided by the author
Originally posted at Romancing the Book

Above All was part, coming of age, and part sweet romance. Not to say It lacked passion or sex scenes. It simply captured the purity, beauty, and thrill of really falling for someone completely for the first time. To be fair, it accurately displayed some of the heartaches when things go awry. Casey is in her mid-thirties, but still coming into her own, and finding her place in many ways. She walked away from what some would call the ideal life and wound up working at a campground. I liked her pluck, humor, and ease with herself.

The redhead possessed an irresistible charm, and I truly enjoyed the unusual setting! I learned about operating a campground, and the local area. Casey is convinced she’s incapable of love, and then she meets Ben. The twenty-six-year-old chef in training is on a much-needed vacation with friends. Friendly, attractive, and open, he caught her eyes. Things heat up between them, and hilarity and passionate interludes ensue.

Ms. Brooks is a master at weaving humor, heartache, and romance together seamlessly. There were some low points. I felt a bit disoriented and taken out of the story by the time jumps, and the characters reactions. It felt like there were certain things that were blown out of proportion for “drama’s“ sake, but I truly enjoyed the story overall.

[Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caution….Reading Above All will make you hungry.

I must admit I wasn’t expecting all the hotness. Ben and Casey can’t seem to get enough of each other. Since I’m admitting things...I have to say I didn’t read the blurb for the book. Going in, all I knew was that the hero was a chef and the hot times took place in the woods and in a rowboat. That was all I needed to know in order to want to read the story.

When things don’t work out with her boyfriend, Casey Webb empties her bank account, buys a used car, and travels from New York City north to the Adirondacks. There she finds a place to heal and reassess what she wants in life. She ends up in small town Bonnet, living and working at a campground. It’s been a year since she set out for parts unknown. If you were to ask her, she would say she was over her failed seven year relationship. But in truth, it’s still apart of her.

Ben Mailer and a couple of college friends arrive from various parts of the country to spend a weekend camping. Unbeknownst to Ben, walking into the office of the Paper Lake Campground introduces him to Casey and a future he never knew he wanted. But these two have obstacles in their way: 1) Casey is eight years older than Ben (her issue, not his) and 2) Ben lives and works in Brooklyn. These two are going to have to decide what they’re willing to do in order to live the lives they want and need to be happy.

Above All isn't told in first person, but rather in third person. The story is actually told from Casey's viewpoint, if that makes sense. I would have loved to have known what Ben was thinking throughout the story. Age was such a big deal to Casey, at times, her consistently bringing up their age difference really bothered me. For me, the story read more like women’s fiction, instead of contemporary romance. Rebecca did a good job of showing Casey come into her own and make peace with her life. She realized that, “Sometimes she was lonely and often she was alone. But she wasn’t unhappy. She had made peace with what her life had become.”

**Received a copy from the author and reviewed the book voluntarily.**

[SBee Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

“A sweet, sad, sexy, and finally triumphant story!”

Casey has put aside her own personal growth for the good of supporting her man, who decides to leave her in his dust as he strikes out for his own fortune. Not looking forward and not looking back either, Casey leaves for the solitude of the mountains where she hides and slowly reacquaints herself with nature, trying to find some healing ground and helping out at the Paper Lake Campground. But when a much younger male guest starts to make it more and more apparent that he is interested in her, she reluctantly opens her heart again to this new and unexpected experience and give this fragile relationship a chance. I voluntarily reviewed this book.

Ben seems to know what he wants when he becomes more serious with Casey. He is going to graduate from the Culinary Institute of America and slowly work his way up and earn a reputation for himself. But when his plan to relocate from Brooklyn after graduation gets waylaid, this throws both of them into a tailspin and breaks them apart unexpectedly.

Casey is given yet another major chance to move on with her life, though in a different way, but will she take that chance or remain a hermit at the campground, where she is once again licking her wounds? I voluntarily reviewed this book.

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casey is a 34 year old woman who ends up in Bonnet after her long time boyfriend breaks her heart. She has no problem living out in the middle of the woods, as the solitude suits her fine at this point in her life. That is until a group of college age people come to camp, and she meets Ben for the first time. They share a connection that neither saw coming, so then it becomes quite frustrating push & pull from there on out, because she isn't going to leave where she's at, and he has a life in the city. However, the distance of where they live doesn't change the fact that they have a chemistry that leads to sexy times that could set the woods on fire! Now, I had compassion for Casey, but at times I really wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled, as her flight tendencies got frustrating more than once, especially when she flip flopped about the age difference. And Ben just wanted to be with her, and yet, there were times that he just let things stay the way they were, meaning that they didn't communicate at all. I did love the colorful cast of secondaries, who added a great deal of humor to the mix, which was needed in between the drama of Ben & Casey's issues. Rebecca Brooks has a talented writing style that always transports me into her world, and Above All was no exception. So yeah, can't wait to see what she puts out next, and HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this my favorite of Rebecca's books? No. Did I struggle at times? Yes. Would I read it again. ABSOLUTELY. Because the moment when you *get* what Rebecca is doing and how she's engaging you as the reader? OMG waterworks.

There are so many perfect moments in this book. Moments that you don't often see in romance: like that first sex scene we ALL can relate to! I love how the HEA comes to be. Lee is #goals.

Casey isn't the most easily likeable heroine but that's in part because a) she reflects back to us readers our deepest insecurities at times (omg at the end when they're looking out the window and she's joking but not) and b) because it's hard to sit with someone's pain like that and easier to blame her and get angry. But then you realize that as the reader you're doing EXACTLY what Casey's, well everyone, is and you have a good cry for all the women who don't feel good enough, who don't fit in wherever they live/work/etc and blame themselves instead of just acknowledging it's a bad fit. And then you dive back into the book renewed and with a gentler heart.

Also, you will be hungry throughout this book. Uncomfortably so at times (because you'll also be turned on and your body is all how do I prioritize these two needs?!). And consider moving to the mountains. And REALLY want to see Casey's paintings.