Want Me Always

 Want Me Always b

y Lea Nolan

The book follows Wren and Smith.

Smith Conners grew up on Heron Harbor.  Wren Donovan regularly visited the island with her father and sisters growing up.  Smith and Wren became close friends until age fifteen when Wren’s father lost his funding.  They no longer went to the island.

Wren returns to Heron Harbor at 34 when she took a week off from her law firm.  It should have been her wedding week but her ex-fiancé Pierce was in Jamaica with Lolita (woman he cheated with).  

Wren needed a pick me up the first night in Heron Harbor and went to Smith’s restaurant, Harbor’s Edge. Smith can’t believe his luck and decides to spend the week making Wren realize he is the one for her.  

They had the best week and fell hard for each other. 

Wren finds out Pierce and Lolita got married.  Pierce and Wren both made partner at the firm but she has to move to Atlanta to accept it.  

Wren had decided to leaves the firm and start her own practice in Heron Harbor to be with Smith.  Until she sees Smith with his ex-flame Brittany and assumed they were flirting.  Smith follows her to set things straight, but Wren still leaves saying she was too damaged for a relationship.

Once in Atlanta, she decided to submit Smith’s cookbook to a literary agent.  The agent helps him get published and he goes on a book tour.  The book tour has a stop in Atlanta.  His mom visits Wren and convinces her to attend his event.

While at the event, Wren realizes he dedicated the cookbook to her.  She takes a chance and hopes he gives her another chance.  

They end up together living in Heron Harbor where she also opens her own practice.  

If you like second chances, friends to lover or it was also you troupes then Want Me Always is a perfect choice.  

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  I enjoyed the story so much I purchased book 2 Claim Me Now and will order book 3 Hold Me Forever once it’s released.

Reviewed by w

Malibu Rising

 Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Part one of the book sets up the history and beginning of the Riva family. 

Mick met June while she was waiting tables at her family’s restaurant. They both fall in love at that moment. Mick was just starting to build his career and June loved the idea of what that could mean for her life.  As Mick’s career was taking off, June ended up pregnant with Nina.  They got married and a few years later Jay came along.  Mick had an affair with Carol Hudson.  Carol dropped their son Hudson “HUD” off to June saying she couldn’t do it anymore.  June took Hud and raised him as her own.  June and Mick got a divorce. A few years later they got remarried and had Katherine “Kit”.  It ended in another divorce and Mick disappearing for good.  June started drinking and was forced to work at her parents restaurant to makes ends meet.  One night with all the kids at friends’ houses, June drowned in the tub.  She had seen that Mick had gotten married and started drinking.  Nina was forced to drop out of school and raise her brothers and sister. 

Nina accepted a job as a swimsuit model to have a way to provide for her siblings.  Brandon Randall came along and promised everything she wanted but no one had given her.  Expect a year after getting married, he cheated on her and left.  He did to her what she watched Mick do to her mom.

Part Two is about the Riva Party that Nina throwing every year.  It was a party where invitations weren’t sent out.  You were welcome to attend as long as you knew the address.  

Brandon showed up asking for another chance.  Nina was willing to give him one until Carrie (the affair) showed up.  She then asked them both to leave.  

There was alcohol and food provided.  The people brought weed, LCD, and Cocaine.  People were making out with anyone and everyone, having sex, and trashing the house.  

Casey showed up hoping to talk to Nina.  When her parents died, she found a picture of her birth mother that stated she was the product of a one-night stand with Mick.  

Jay and Hud got into a fight over Ashley who was Jay’s ex and the love of HUD’s life.  The fight is broken up by none other than Mick.  Kit realized she likes women not men. Mick get all of the kids (Nina, Jay, Hud, Kit and Casey) down to the beach.

Mick admits he wasn’t around because he was selfish but wanted a chance now to be part of their lives.  They all decide after the heart to heart that he doesn’t deserve another chance.  

While they were at the beach, the cops were called to break the party up.  It had gotten out of hand with people stealing, throwing items and someone firing a gun.  

In the end, HUD and Ashley get their happy ever after, Nina gets to live her live for herself, and they all accept Casey as a sibling.  

The story was overall enjoyable.  Part One was just enjoyable enough to keep you interested and Part Two was a page turner.  It kept you wanting to know what would happen next.  However, it is not one I’ll probably read a second time.

Reviewed by Shelly