Review: The characters just captured my heart
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 7, 2014
This book was inspiring as much as it was steamy. It touched a soft spot in my heart and made me smile over and over again. Kristin Mayer did such an amazing job bringing these amazing characters to life and gave this story so much pizazz. I fell in love with it within the first few pages.Sam has a hidden past. One she doesn’t want to bring to the surface or let anyone know about. Her past has damaged her making her feel tainted and unlovable. But she is anything but that if she just let’s her guard down enough to let anyone past the tough exterior she fronts. She has always used sex as an escape. It has always been her release from stress and it seems to ground her. Although her ways of getting it are a bit unorthodox, she always manages. Again, no one knows that side of her.From the outside, she is a beautiful, confident and strong woman. Inside she is shattered and damaged. She doesn’t think anyone could love her unconditionally, so she has never put herself out there to be loved that way. But with her new job, she is determined to say goodbye to a part of her past that has always been her comfort in dark moments. Of course, it’s not just her new job that has her wanting more out of life.  It’s her best friend who is now expecting, her best friends over protective husband… and it is Mark.Sam and Mark had their hook up. She gave him what every guy wants right? Sex, no strings… it’s pretty cut and dry. But there was something there from that first moment in Vegas. There was something there that he couldn’t deny. But getting through to Sam would be something else all together.When Sam moves to her new home for her job, she instantly becomes overwhelmed with baby talk with her bestie, she needs a release and she needs it now. But she doesn’t have the club to fall back on here. Oh… but she remembers Mark. Mark is amazingly hot, he is kind and he will be just right for what she needs. But when he puts up a little battle and is determined to get more out of this than one more amazing moment together, she knows she has to pull out all the stops. Using a take it or leave it approach she is going to get what she needs. But will Mark?Can Mark find a way to show Sam that her past is just that? Can he help her see that she is strong, beautiful and everything in his eyes? Or will he fall victim to a broken heart because the one woman he can’t seem to let go of is an expert at running away?Now, let’s add the rest of the characters to the mix… Mark’s got this crazy all in your face kind of family, but no matter how over the top they are, Mark loves them all and keeps nothing from them. But Sam’s family is so polar opposite from them. Sam loves her parents, but she grew up in a place where saving yourself for marriage and not living in sin were expected. Of course, Sam’s family didn’t know about her past either. She always kept them sheltered from so much surrounding that part of her life. She was always afraid that their view of her would change.The bestie and her husband, the first two books are their story, so they are just along for the ride on this one, but it is so much fun to have them around. Practical jokes, inside jokes and all around best friends make up this book. Throw in an ex-boyfriend who wants Sam back at any cost and an amazing neighborhood baker that Sam quickly forms a tight bond with and you have the mix for the perfect story.This book touched my heart and made it beat wildly. The steam was off the charts and the story behind Sam and Mark just melted my heart bit by bit. I don’t want to spoil the story by giving away too much but I just adored Sam. Her life wasn’t perfect and hasn’t been for a long time, but the fact that she could see change bit by bit and piece by piece (and cookie by cookie) was inspiring. For anyone that has ever had a dark spot that is hard to over come and has changed who they are, this book just makes watching the change so moving. Sam has a big dark spot that she built walls around to protect herself. But watching those pieces fall away bit by bit just tugged at my emotions.Kristin Mayer has done a great job making these characters come to life. They captured my heart and showed the greatest gift. The gift of love. This is a must read book and worth every one of the five fabulous stars!*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review