Review: Love Sawyer! Exceeded my expectations!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 10, 2014
Sawyer Bennett took one look at Emmett dancing at Parker's bachelor party and knew she was someone he had to get to know better. The problem was that she disappeared and was hard to find. And when they do inadvertently cross paths again, it is not Sawyer's finest moment. And when they see each other again, it just has to be fate. Soon they are spending time together and Sawyer is totally besotted. But she keeps holding back and keeping him in the friends zone. Emmett has a secret...a big one. And how Sawyer deals with it will determine how they proceed.Oh Sawyer... You just have to love him. I have from the first book Emerge, but I adore him even more now. He's always been the outspoken, crass, clueless, playboy who is also protective and a good friend. He is like that annoying brother that everybody secretly wishes they had. But as the series has continued we have started to see the little cracks in his sarcastic, lover boy armor. We are beginning to see a man who has watched his friends fall in love with wonderful women and started wishing that maybe he could find someone to share his life with.(quote)Maybe it's all the "true love" bulls*** around me, everyone's pairing off, my friends adored by some of the hottest, coolest girls you'll ever meet, but I'm starting to feel like anything but the lucky bastard who escaped the claws of a woman. I feel like something's missing. Oh, f*** me, I'm a godd**n chick, dreaming of my skipping, extraordinary Princess Charming.There are so many different side of Sawyer. We already knew the c**ky, big mouth, fun, crazy, and sarcastic one. But now we get to see the one that's more unsure, vulnerable, emotional,  protective, generous, and caring. We also see the man who is striving to do better and make changes for the future, while taking what life brings him in stride. Well, most of the time anyway.  And this sweet, devoted, loving Sawyer just absolutely melted my heart."You're a one of a kind man. Hard body, soft heart."(quote)The person I am around Emmett, it's the me I want to be. It feels natural.I liked Emmett too. She is sweet but strong, a little reserved but also spirited and sassy. She is independent minded and does not like to depend on others. When her life came crumbling down around her she picked herself up and did the best she could. She had no support until Sawyer barreled into her life and brought the crew with him.  So it just made it all that more meaningful that Sawyer decided he was going to be there for her and that the crew also took her in.  Of course I still love the crew. We catch glimpses of most of them and we get a lot of Dane and Laney in this one. Their relationship with each other and with Sawyer is so special. They truly are all a family that sticks together, takes no prisoners, and kicks the other's ass if needed.I loved Sawyer and Emmett together. They were so compatible and their relationship was based on friendship, mutual like and respect, as well as passion. And I liked that despite their easy going relationship that they did have hurdles, doubts and insecurities. They each had to put in extra work at times to deal with their own fears and those of their partner in order to try to build a life together. But their lives changed pretty fast and sometimes it was hard for them to keep up. Stress, responsibilities, jealousy, feelings of unworthiness, and anxiety all have an affect.But when it is all said and done will at all become too much? Will she not only lose Sawyer, but also her new found friends and pseudo family?I really enjoyed this one.  I loved how Sawyer just jumped in as Emmett's Knight in Shining Armor even if his suit was a bit rusty. He just put a big smile on my face for most of the book. Sure there was some  drama and angst, some insecurities, misunderstandings and miscommunication. There were times I wanted to shake them both or yell at them like one of the crew. But there were so many times that was laughing out loud and some that I was tearing up. Sawyer just has that effect on me. Overall it was a really funny, engaging, sweet, emotional, and heart warming read. It was everything that I hoped that Sawyer's book would be and more.  I never would I have expected him to end up where he did, but it all seems just right for him. I am looking forward to more in this series...Bring on Zach!Thanks to SE Hall for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.