Review: A sweet, angsty  Friends to Lovers story. I totally loved Garrett!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 29, 2013
(Quote)Hot glances? Yes. Happily ever after? No. He was like her. Independent, Unattached, and content to stay that way.Garrett has been friend-zoned by Kiersten for ten years. But one night changed it all. He has crushed on her for a long time and would love to give her more, but she has been broken and beat down by past relationships. And it is a little more complicated since he is best friends and coaches with her big brother and her son is on their basketball team.Three months later, a little surprise gives him the "in" he needs to press his way into her life and home. He is determined to win her over and move in for the kill. But she has been burned too many times in the past and is guarded, terrified, and lacking trust.(Quote)Kiersten refused to even try relationships ever again. She was broken. Unfixable.Garrett was the perfect guy. Anyone would be thrilled with him: he loves hard, loves her kid, is devoted, loyal, sexy, and sweet. But she is so skittish that she will not really give him a fighting chance to be more than friends. Their new living arrangements are awkward at best. She is so guarded and constantly pushes him away and hurts him, I really wanted to shake some sense into her. They have really hot chemistry. He totally adores her and would love to commit in all ways. But she creates barriers to keep him from getting too close. Her insecurities, trust issues, and their complicated life causes turmoil. They have serious issues with communication and admitting their true wants and feelings."If I can earn her trust...I can earn her love. I know it."~Garrett"I think you underestimate her pain."~Mike"And you underestimate my commitment...I won't give up until I win."~Garrett(Quote)He was like a knight hammering a door with a battering ram. The door would break eventually...and then what would happen? She would be completely vulnerable.It was a roller coaster to figure out if these two could ever get on the same page at the same time. A constant battle of warring emotions and feelings and eventually someone has to give up the fight.I liked her son Chris and her brother Mike. They were outspoken and did not hesitate to call foul on these two struggling friends, sometimes lovers, and partners. Heaven knows these two needed all the help they could get. For two people that had been friends for ten years, they sure could create some awkward, frustrating situations. And they had no clue what the other was really thinking. I was so glad she gave us both of their points of view.It was a cute, sweet, fast novella but also had emotions and drama. It had enough details and I felt like it was a complete story despite it's shorter length. I was invested in these characters, their relationship, and family. I like Diane Alberts' writing style with humor and likable characters with good chemistry. It seems like Kiersten's brother Mike needs to the next man in this series. He is fighting the idea of love and really needs to fall. This is the third book in the Take a Chance series, but can easily be read as a stand alone story. The first book Try Me is about Erica and Jeremy, the second book Love Me is about Kiersten and Mike's other sister Brianna and Erica's brother Thomas. So each book is about a different couple but the couples are related in some way.Thanks to Diane Alberts and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.