Review: Seattle Sullivans (book #1) - full of emotion, laughs and HOT love scenes
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 21, 2013
In The Way You Look Tonight (The Sullivans #9) by Bella Andre, Rafe Sullivan has become jaded when it comes to love, thanks to his solid career as a private investigator. Years of proving just how many spouses cheat on their loved ones has made him, justifiably, a bit cynical. At least he has some examples of lasting love to reflect on with his parents in Seattle and his cousins in California, to whom he remains close. Rafe's realtor sister Mia informs him of an opportunity to get back the lake house they grew up visiting outside the Seattle area when it goes on the market. He has to agree that a change of scenery would do wonders for his life at this point so he decides to buy it and take a much needed vacation."Jesus Christ, when had Brooke turned into Marilyn Monroe? Twenty years ago she'd been a cute kid. But now? Hell, now she was every single one of his dirtiest fantasies come to life."Never in his wildest dreams did Rafe expect to see Brooke Jansen still staying next door in her grandparent's house, when he arrives at the lake. She was a few years younger than him and had been a sweet, innocent girl who loved to play in the lake and who was best friend's with his sister Mia. Brooke is just as sweet and caring as he remembered, but he can see she filled out in all the right places thanks to the bikini she's wearing when they meet again for the first time in twenty years. Rafe ends up staying with Brooke while he cleans up the horrible mess inside his house. When they can't ignore their obvious attraction, she offers him a chance to have a summer fling with no strings attached, saying she wants to be wild for once in her life. Rafe knows he should convince her to remain strictly friends so he doesn't tarnish her almost childlike innocence, but he can't help himself. He's never had such an intense reaction to any woman before. He only hopes he can keep a level head and not hurt her, or he will never forgive himself."When she was eight years old, the crush she'd had on Rafe was sweet. Innocent. But what she was feeling now was decidedly not sweet. Nor was it anywhere close to innocent. Wild. The thought--no, it was more desire and pure need than it was a cognizant thought--came at her in an instant: I want to be wild with Rafe Sullivan."Brooke Jansen loves living in the lakeside house her grandparents left to her after their unfortunate car accident. She gave up her job in Boston working in HR to start her own business making handmade chocolate truffles that she sells locally. Although she misses them terribly, she feels connected to her grandparents, remembering the wonderful summers she spent here with them. She also remembers the "Seattle Sullivans" that stayed next door during her childhood. Especially Rafe Sullivan whom she had a huge childhood crush on for years. While she's in the lake cooling off, remembering those fun days, a ruggedly handsome man roars up next door on a motorcycle. Brooke is shocked to see it's Rafe and can't help but to throw herself into his arms in a big embrace. She offers him a place to stay after they take a look inside the house next door and see what a disaster it is. She knows she won't be able to even think straight with him so near so she decides to be brazen and suggests they have a wild summer together as friends-with-benefits. Only, Brooke didn't realize that she would be in way over her head and fall completely in love with Rafe.Bella Andre's first book about the Seattle Sullivans is a great way to start off! It was a quick but enjoyable read full of emotion, laughs and HOT love scenes. Um, laying in chocolate ganache on a granite work surface, hello... Rafe is my favorite kind of bad boy: he has a tough, rugged persona with an intense job and sleek motorcyle, but he cares deeply for his family and protects his loved ones at all costs. And it was easy (at least for me) to relate to Brooke wanting to break free of her good girl lifestyle, to be wild and reckless for the summer. Given her attraction to Rafe and the fact that she felt comfortable with him as she had known him almost all her life, he was the obvious choice. They were definitely a perfect combination. Now I can't wait to read Mia's story next in book ten!