4.25 STARS ✮ JENNIFER GRACEN ✮ BETWEEN YOU AND ME

BETWEEN YOU AND ME

The Harrisons #4

by

Jennifer Gracen

✮✮✮ 4.25 STARS ✮✮✮

As the only daughter of the wealthy Harrison clan, Tess Harrison has everything—except the baby she longs for. With no husband in sight, she escapes to her family’s retreat in Aspen, Colorado, visions of sperm donors dancing in her head. Instead, she finds Logan Carter. When the ruggedly handsome manager of the Harrison ski house offers to be her baby daddy in exchange for her playing his girlfriend, Tess is breathless to begin the charade. After all, the broken-hearted heiress knows better than to fall in love…

 

She would be Logan’s dream girl, if his dark past had left him with any dreams. Now the brooding bachelor’s only hope is to satisfy his mother’s dying wish to see him happily paired off—and give lovely Tess the baby she longs for.  But when he and Tess opt to make a baby the old-fashioned way, he’s fighting hard against the longing to hold on to the elusive Harrison beauty forever…

One thing you can always be certain of when you pick up a book by Jennifer Gracen is that she will bring you a strong, independent, smart lady and that’s why her books always work well for me. Book four in The Harrison’s series does just that, turning the spotlight on Tess—the girl amongst boys, the sister, confidante and cheerleader—and her HEA plan is a little less conventional.

She didn’t want to spend another Christmas aching and wishing for a child of her own.”

Seeing her brothers settled and their families expanding brings home to Tess the fact that her biological clock is ticking. And with the means to make her dreams come true, she heads off to Aspen to relax and focus on herself and a list of possible sperm donors. She hasn’t always seen eye to eye with the gorgeous manager of her second home and her privileged upbringing and wealth has played its part, but when she and Logan Carter settle their differences and start spending time together, it’s not long before they both realise their new friendship could be mutually beneficial.

Tess was a nice balance of fiercely independent and determined, kindhearted and grounded, supporting Logan through his own personal hell whilst making decisions that will change her life forever. And I loved Logan’s quieter, brooding nature—his past has resulted in a man with no intention of opening his heart to another, yet deep down he’s selfless and although he guards it well, he has a huge heart.

All he knew was he was a lucky man, having fallen somehow into an ideal situation. He could help make this incredible woman’s biggest dream come true.”

Logan and Tess may have had a bit of a shaky start, but as they take the leap from friends to lovers, they bring everything from humour to heartache. And although at times they were a little frustrating and some of their liaisons came with a clinical feel, even that aspect played its part amongst the passion and crescendoing feelings.

I’m here for you, Tess, however you need me.”

With many of the smiles created along the way by Tess’ brothers (Charles still remains my #1), I devoured Between You and Me pretty much in one sitting. But the cherry on top of this friends-to lovers-treat was discovering that this isn’t the end of the series and with a sneaky peek of the opening chapter of the next book, I have a feeling it may be an emotional one. In the meantime, if you’re fancying an easygoing, sexy romance to warm you up this winter, then this hits the spot.

 We found each other.”

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4.25 STARS ✮ EMMA SCOTT ✮ FOREVER RIGHT NOW

FOREVER RIGHT NOW

by

Emma Scott

✮✮✮ 4.25 STARS ✮✮✮

Darlene Montgomery has been to hell and back…more than once. After a stint in jail for drug possession, she is finally clean and ready to start over. Yet another failed relationship is just the motivation she needs to move from New York to San Francisco with the hopes of resurrecting her dance career and discovering that she is more than the sum of her rap sheet. As Darlene struggles in her new city, the last thing she wants is to become entangled with her handsome—but cranky—neighbor and his adorable little girl...

Sawyer Haas is weeks away from finishing law school, but exhaustion, dwindling finances, and the pressure to provide for himself and his daughter, Olivia, are wearing him down. A federal clerkship--a job he desperately needs--awaits him after graduation, but only if he passes the Bar Exam. Sawyer doesn’t have the time or patience for the capricious—if beautiful—dancer who moves into the apartment above his. But Darlene’s easy laugh and cheerful spirit seep into the cracks of his hardened heart, and slowly break down the walls he’s resurrected to keep from being betrayed ever again.

When the parents of Olivia’s absentee mother come to fight for custody, Sawyer could lose everything. To have any chance at happiness, he must trust Darlene, the woman who has somehow found her way past his brittle barbs, and Darlene must decide how much of her own bruised heart she is willing to give to Sawyer and Olivia, especially when the ghosts of her troubled past refuse to stay buried.

Forever Right Now is my sixth read from Emma Scott and once again she has impressed me, creating a memorable story focussing on friendship, trust and hope, driven by two individuals who are coping with the hands life has dealt them, the best they can.

Whilst entirely a standalone read, for readers who have experienced The Butterfly Project, Darlene Montgomery will be no stranger and, having battled the worst of her demons, she’s starting afresh in San Francisco where she soon meets her guarded, grumpy and gorgeous neighbour, Sawyer Haas who is juggling caring for his year-old daughter, Olivia along with studying for his bar exam.

 The way he cares for her only adds to his ridiculous sex appeal.”

This story was true to Emma’s beautiful storytelling style—the slower burn, the way her characters compliment each other, their determination despite their circumstances, how they remain true to themselves, and those moments which make you feel—these are the elements that make her characters and their journeys so captivating. Sawyer, understandably, has a tougher exterior with those he doesn’t know and I adored how Darlene works her way through it with her bubbly nature, unleashing his softer centre by showing him she can be trusted by simply being herself around him and Olivia, despite harbouring her own vulnerabilities.

…you’re like this whirling ball of energy that sweeps people up so they…can’t help getting caught up in you.”

I have to be honest though, as much as I loved Sawyer and Darlene, they didn’t pull a huge amount of emotion from me—it’s so hard not to use Full Tilt and All In as a benchmark—but some aspects here just felt a little too easy. That said there’s no denying that my heart did go out them, I was left with a lump in my throat a couple of times in the latter stages and I was completely smitten by Sawyer’s beautiful baby girl: her interactions with him, and Darlene, melted me.

 If I could have just one moment, one feeling, and live in it forever, I would choose this one.”

Forever Right Now may not be my favourite from Emma Scott but it was a pleasure to read and I struggled to tear myself away from these characters when I had to be a responsible adult and go to work. And I’m certain readers will fall in love with Darlene, Sawyer, Olivia and all the secondary characters we’re introduced to along the way. Some of whom I hope we see again *coughJacksoncough* somewhere, somehow in the future.

You deserved to be loved as you are...”

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