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Review

4.5 stars!

The second book in the Carmichael Family series, this is Maddox and Ashley’s story, a deliciously fun and sexy friends-to-lovers romance.

Ashley has just called off her wedding to her douchebag cheating ex fiancé, yet she’s not giving up the dream honeymoon that she planned and paid for – four days of luxury in the Bahamas. She doesn’t want to go alone, so her best friends concoct a plan to find her somebody to go with – putting a post on Ashley’s social media asking people to apply to join her, and they will choose the lucky winner. Sound a bit far-fetched? Perhaps. But it’s a fun set-up, especially when her long-term friend and forever crush, Maddox Carmichael wins the prize.

Maddox and Ashley met in the first grade, and have remained friends all these years. They’re always had feelings for each other, but while Ashley is a marriage-and-babies kind of girl, Maddox is strongly anti-relationship. They know they want different things, so they’ve never even tried to act on their attraction. But now the gloves are off. They’re on their way to paradise where they will be sharing one bed and all of the romance in the world, and they agree to finally explore their mad sexual tension for a holiday fling.

“I think you misunderstood the assignment,” I say, laughing. “You touch me when people are around and I can’t do anything about it. And then once we’re alone, you step away.”
…
“For the record,” he says, licking his lips. “I understood the assignment perfectly. And I will touch you when we’re alone. I’ll touch every inch.”

It’s wild and hot, and I love how naturally Maddox and Ashley are able to switch their friendship into a relationship without either of them really realising it. They think they’re enjoying a friends-with-benefits fling, but their feelings for each other are already so strong, and they are in way deeper than they realise or ever expected.

Translating that into life beyond the holiday is where things get tricky, and they have some figuring out to do. Ashley has bounced from bad relationship to bad relationship and she’s been burned, while Maddox doesn’t even want to have an actual girlfriend. But they’ve fallen together so naturally, so beautifully, and so easily, are they prepared to give that up?

“Make the memories, Ashley. Make them while you can. I’m not promising you that it will work out, but I am saying that you don’t know if you’ll get tomorrow. If you want him today, that’s enough.”

This is such a gorgeous romance. Maddox and Ashley are fantastic characters, and I love how confident and comfortable they are with each other. I love the moment where they realise they’re finally going to be able to act on their decades-long crush, and how easily they come together. It’s fun and flirty and SO freaking sexy! The drama at the end is a bit unnecessary, but is thankfully resolved quickly, and I loved their story.

Ashley’s two best friends, and the rest of the Carmichael family all have great parts to play. And you cannot talk about this book without mentioning Banks – the youngest of the Carmichael brothers. He’s a funny, immature, child-like, attention-seeker who loves to prank, adores his big brother and who steals every scene he’s in, and I just adore him.

I’m loving spending time with this family, and am looking forward to diving into Jess’s book up next.

4.5 stars!

I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Joe Arden and Grace Grant. Grant isn’t my favourite narrator, but Arden does a great job.

 

The Carmichael Family