Review: Very good addition to the series :D
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 5, 2013
*A free copy of this book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*4-4.5 starsThis was a very good book. Graham Reece first shows up in the book “For You” from KA’s The Burg series. I really liked what I saw of Reese in that book and have been looking forward to his book. Zara and Reece are really good together and I enjoyed their story.Zara grew up in an abusive home and now has nothing to do with her family. She has made her way on her own for years and things haven’t been easy for her. She met Reece around 8 years before the current time of the book, when he happened to be working in her town for a while before he moved on. She knew he was her “one” but also knew she couldn’t keep him. For 5 years he’d visit and be there for her at some points when she needed help but he’d always leave again so she ends up being forced to break things off with him and tell him she’s moving on.Reece is a good guy but he was screwed over early in life and it made him untrusting of women. Only 2 women have broken past his barriers at all, and that’s Zara and February (the heroine from “For You”). He cared for Feb and his involvement with her for a while earned him an attack by a stalker/serial killer that was killing off past lovers. Once he recovers from his attack he starts to examine his life. He realizes he wants to find a home and build a family, so he goes after the woman he’s always known he was a fool to walk away from, Zara.Things didn’t go well for Zara after she ended things with Reese. She got married to a nice man but she was settling and knew it. She thought she loved him enough but once they were married she found she was losing herself to try to work things out with him. She had to end the marriage (for which she carried a lot of guilt) and around the same time the recession hit and financial issues came up which forced her in to a cheap but not very safe apartment and a low paying job. Reece did show up right after his attack and her divorce but neither of them was in the right state of mind at the time and they just ended up fighting. Reece leaves and gives her some space for a while but shows up again when she needs him and convinces her to move in with him (but only as a roommate) while also offering her a higher paying job. Zara still has feelings for Reece and knows it’s not a good idea (for her emotional well being if nothing else) but agrees because she’s in dire straits.Zara and Reece are just roommates at first. They get used to each other again and become friends again but there are also fights at times as they’re both attracted to each other but not together so there’s tension. Eventually, in halting steps, Reece and Zara get together as more than just roommates. It’s not easy and their communication skills aren’t the best. I’ll admit there were times when Reece didn’t handle some of Zara’s issues the best but he did eventually get very good at expressing his feelings and in very sweet and meaningful ways. Zara didn’t always listen very well and made some misjudgments herself but she came around and learned to trust what Reece was showing and telling her and started bringing her own goodness to the relationship.Soon after Reece and Zara finally come together as a couple, Reece shows his supportive side to Zara as issues with her family come to light. Reece is great about helping Zara with the heavy problems she has to deal with. He is very protective of her and does what he can to lighten her load…I have to admit to falling for him a bit myself. The family issues do get sorted out and the book ends with a satisfying HEA for Zara and Reece.This was a very good book. I really liked Reece and Zara and was happy they got their HEA especially since it was years late. This was a good addition to the series (it reminded me of book 1, The Gamble). I’d recommend this book. Thumbs up. :D* note - I got this as an ARC but liked it well enough that I did purchase a copy from Amazon as well as I intend to reread it in the future.