Review: Semper Fi!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 5, 2013
My 4.0 star review from Guilty Pleasures book reviews:I have completely enjoyed this series by Melissa Schroeder.  The Santini men have all proven to be men of honor, men of strength, and men who when together can act like little boys!  While I have loved watching each meet and fall in love, I have to admit some of my favorite scenes in each book has been when they are all together.  It's entertaining and interesting to watch them interact with each other and especially when Mama (Joey) Santini is around.  As much as I love her sons, I have to say she is a character that stands out and I so hope Melissa has plans to one day write the story of how she met Stewart.I always enjoy when an unrequited love is finally realized.  There is something special about this type of match up and when both parties had feelings for years, it really sets the tone for the story.  Vincente has been in love with the same woman since high school.  Problem is she was his best friend's girlfriend and then his wife.  It's not like he sat back and pined for her for years but he never really felt a strong connection with any other woman.  She's back in town now and divorced not to mention widowed and he's decided it's finally time to make a move.Julianna Andrews has been through a lot since the last time she saw Vince and after "the kiss"(the one he gave her the day of her wedding rehearsal) she's not sure she should see him.  One thing she knows; she doesn't have time for a man and she doesn't want to get married again something she knows Vince will eventually want.  However, she's forgotten how convincing a Santini man can be when he wants something and right now Vince wants her.It was easy to like both of these characters.  The fact that Vince has been carrying a torch for this woman for years is very telling and while he moved at breakneck speed once he re-entered her life I can understand it because he's waited a long time.  The problem is he doesn't realize what Jules has been through emotionally or physically and it takes her a little while to catch up.  Jesse (MJ's brother from book 1) makes an appearance as someone who has been there for Jules and makes sure Vince knows under no uncertain terms not to mess with her affections.One thing I have appreciated about this series of novellas is that we get the background on the characters.  They are well developed and we have the necessary information to understand where the characters are coming from and where they are headed.  Would I have liked longer stories? You betcha, but that's just because I'm greedy!I went into this book a little sad knowing this was the last book in the series but prior to writing my review Melissa told me there will be an additional book called A Santini Christmas.  I'm excited to see what that book will entail and hope that maybe we'll see more of the elder Santini's in that one.  I very much enjoy Vincente and felt it was a good ending to this series.  The fact that we got to see the whole family together made it special and I loved watching the family dynamics change with all the new women running around.  Nicely done!