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Review

5 stars

This is the third book in the Cake series, and I am loving these books! I’m completely swept up in the fabulousness of the McKallister family, their unique characters and the fabulous settings that J. Bengtsson creates for them. This time it’s eldest sister, Emma’s turn, and I love watching such a fiercely independent heroine meet her match in wild and free, Finn.

As the title suggests, Emma a fierce force of nature. Stubborn, driven, and passionately protective of her loved ones, she is considered standoff-ish by most of the people in her life. So when she’s driving to a rock festival headlined by her brother, Jake, she’s surprised by her own actions when she’s captivated by a stranger who begs her for a ride, and she agrees.

Finn is a struggling actor who found work flexing his daredevil side as a stuntman. His childhood was difficult, he literally pulled himself out of poverty and chaos, and is working hard to build a life for himself. He’s a good guy with a huge heart, and he’s cruising his way through life, embracing every opportunity and hoping for the best. He figures his luck has changed when he meets Emma.

There’s a spark between Finn and Emma from the very beginning, and Finn takes hold of it and uses it to his every advantage. He’s attracted to Emma, he makes no secret of it, and he sets about winning her over. Emma is in town with her family, but she can’t help but be captivated by Finn, the sense of joy he brings to every moment, and the fun that they have together, and I loved watching them get to know each other. Though complete opposites, they accept each other without question, their banter is fun, playful and flirtatious, and I loved every moment of them together!

Once her family become involved, it’s all over. He’s accepted into the fold, the two of them become inseparable, exploring their chemistry, passion for each other, and falling hard and fast, and it’s beautiful to watch.

Falling in love was a funny thing. I’d always assumed it was something that crept up on you slowly, a feeling that gradually blossomed into something bigger and better until you knew that, yes, this was the one. But that’s not how it was at all. Not with Finn. Love with him was like a punch in the gut, leaving me dazed and breathless. I didn’t have time to prepare or to protect myself, he just barrelled into my life and staked his claim on my heart.

But as easy as things are between them, they are very different people, with very different plans for their future. Though they love each other deeply, watching them wrestle with their feelings and try to figure out whether they can be together, is a heartwrenching ride.

My feels were all over the place reading this book. I was elated watching Emma and Finn meet and fall in love. I could absolutely understand how their pasts shaped them, and what they wanted in their lives. And I could and empathise with all that they were feeling. It’s a heartwrenching and angsty journey watching it all play out.

And then, to add to all of the drama, through flashbacks, we get to explore Emma’s past, going back to the harrowing time when her family was falling apart after Jake was abducted, and then after his return, and the vital role that Emma played during that time. My heart ached once again for the devastating situation, and I love how this series explores the longstanding consequences that impacted every member of the family in such a profound, yet different, way. Emma’s experience was unique to her, and shaped her life, and I loved watching her finally come to terms with it all and see resolution for the pain and grief that has plagued her for so long. I even shed a tear or two.

This book has a beautiful story arc for Emma, and she shows so much character growth as she is swept off her feet so completely and learns to open her heart to somebody. She has some pretty intense lessons to learn, and Finn proves to be absolutely perfect as he joins her on her journey – pushing her, supporting her, and loving her through it all.

This is a beautifully written book that made me fall in love with not only Finn and Emma, but more in love with the McKallisters as I get to know them more. It’s a gorgeous love story and a beautiful story of a family dealing with the unimaginable and continuing to heal all these years later. I can’t wait to continue on with the series.

5 stars. I absolutely loved it.

I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Andie Arndt and Zachary Webber, who are absolute perfection. I definitely recommend listening to this one.