♥♥♥ 4 STARS ♥♥♥
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“If you are nothing else in this life, be wise, be compassionate, and be strong because those three are everything”
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"You remembered."
His fingers curled around her neck and he put his forehead to hers before sharing, "I remembered, Rocky. I remember everything. I remember every...fucking...thing."
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This book was awesome! I very much enjoyed it. Tanner Layne and Raquel 'Rocky' Merrick were a young couple in love. Everyone knew they were meant to be. But one day, Rocky just leaves him without a word. It left him with a pain so big, that he never really got over it. But time went on, and eventually he did too. He is now a divorced father of two sons. The book starts with Layne waking up in a hospital after being shot and finding Rocky in the room with him. He wants her to leave and he doesn't want her to go. Rocky seems to want to get back together. Layne wants that too but doesn't want to get hurt. In his next case where he investigates a dirty cop, Rocky wants to be a part of that too. so they form a plan to pretend to be a couple in order to do so.
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"Live this with me, just live it, whatever happens, however it happens, just live it with me..."
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I loved Layne! He was a great man and trying his best at being a great father to his teenage boys. I absolutely LOVED that this whole book was in his POV. He was a total badass alpha and very dedicated to his work, but I loved that he also took the time to spend it with his sons, who were badasses in the making. I felt for him and the pain he went through after Rocky left him. Yes, he did move on with the mother of his sons and other women, but he never loved any other woman like he did Rocky. I loved the pace in which their relationship developed. It was slow but steady. And when the bow chika wow wow times started happening, it was so freaking hot and yet so sweet. I loved it and him!
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“Don’t let me leave you,” she whispered so quietly he almost didn’t hear her.
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Rocky was also such a great female character. She was strong yet broken from an event in her past. Which was quite a terrible event, my heart really broke for her, I can't even imagine going through that. And I couldn't believe that her family did nothing to help her get past that all these years. Despite all that, she was caring and loving towards others but I loved it when she was like that towards Layne's boys. I loved seeing them interact. She was in a loveless marriage and seeking for divorce, but her husband was not making it easy for her to get it. Never has she forgotten what she left behind with Layne, and now she wants to get it back, if he allows it. I really liked that when she let herself love, she made that person feel it. She was also quite protective and very capable in defending herself. I really liked her, and with Layne, they were perfect.
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"Okay, well...yesterday sucked and I didn't like watchin' you go through that, Rocky, and I was thinkin' last night about it and thinkin' I didn't like watchin' that but why wasn't because it sucked, you havin' to go through that but because you were hurting and I didn't like watchin' you hurt so I reckon that means I love you," Tripp announced...
"So see, stupid."
"Not stupid, baby, and thank you. That feeling is mutual... for both you guys."
"Cool," Tripp whispered.
"Yeah, cool," Jasper repeated also on a whisper.
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There were quite a bit of subplots with all the investigative work Layne was doing. But also on the relationships of his two sons. I LOVED anything to do with Jas and Tripp, his boys were so AWESOME! I feel totally weird saying this about a teenage character, but I fell in love with Jas. He is gonna grow up to be one badass man, I just hope he gets a book when he is older, then I won't feel so weird about having a crush on him. I also loved Tripp, he was very endearing as the youngest brother and so sweet. I was happy that these two got a bit of a HEA of their own.
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"Thank you, baby" she whispered.
"For what?" he whispered back.
"A beautiful life."
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What I didn't really like about this book, were the subplots on Layne's work. Not because it wasn't interesting, because it was, but because it became too much at times. I had a bit of a hard time following it all. I was like 'who's that guy again?' because there were so many characters involved. But otherwise, it was a very interesting storyline. I loved this book and loved it even more when Joe would appear *sigh*. I loved Layne and Rocky, especially when they would cuddle in bed. I loved his sons and the part they played in the story. The epilogue was so wonderful! I was very happy with it and I'm keeping my fingers crossed on Jas having his book. LOL! It was a really great read.
