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Review

4.5 “I came here for you” stars

OMG, I love this book! Probably my favourite of the series, Rowdy’s book was full of emotion with a great storyline, fantastic characters, and a functional, sexy and delicious romance. I devoured Rowdy and Salem’s story and couldn’t put it down.

Throughout the series, Rowdy has hinted at ‘the one that got away’, the girl that broke his heart and that he never moved on from. Well, this book gives us a bit of a twist when Nash and Rule hire a Manager for their new tattoo shop, and it turns out to be Salem – the older sister of his first love.

Salem and Rowdy lived next door to each other as teenagers – he as a foster child after the death of his mother. Two individuals in a town of conformity, they just ‘got’ each other, they bonded and became the best of friends. But Salem’s life was hard and as soon as she turned 18 she knew she needed to escape her parents and go out and live her own life, so she left, devastating a 15 year old Rowdy who was left alone and felt abandoned once again.

Salem came to town on the recommendation of Phil (the man who knows all). Since leaving home as a teenager after years of repression by her strict parents, she ventured out on her own and her life has been an adventure. She is smart, sassy, and completely comfortable with who she is, and I love her! When she is approached by Nash to Manage the Saints of Denver store, she sees Rowdy’s picture on their website and knows that she needs to be where he is, so she packs up her life in Vegas to move to Denver.

There’s a lot of history between these two, and Salem makes it clear from the very beginning that wants to get to now Rowdy again. But he is still incredibly hurt and angry over all that went down between them in the past, so he pushes her away, not wanting to risk his heart again. Salem works hard to get close to Rowdy and build the trust between them again, and he is soon caught up in her spell, unable to resist her.

I kissed her because I had to. I kissed her because I wanted to. I kissed her because kissing her was starting to make me feel like I had found something I wasn’t really aware I had been looking for. Mostly I kissed her because every time she kissed me back I felt her settling a piece of herself even more deeply inside of me.

Their special connection from years ago is still very much there and it’s obvious that they want each other badly. All that was between them in the past adds a fantastic intensity to everything and the sexual tension is sensational! It’s not all smooth sailing as Salem comes to realise how badly she hurt Rowdy, and the extent of his feelings for her sister, but they are open with each other, they talk and they work through their issues, and I loved seeing them so functional and so willing to work through their fears, move on from the past and fight for what they could have together.

“We can know one thing, Rowdy, but our heart holds on to something else.”
“I don’t want it to hold on to that anymore. I just want it to hold on to you.”

I love Rowdy! He’s a bit of a joker and of course he’s a manwhore, but he has the biggest heart. He was so marked by all of the loss in his life (Salem included), and his past with Salem’s sister is really nicely explored and sensitively handled, but the way he opens up to Salem and literally comes to life when she’s around is absolutely gorgeous! He’s beautifully romantic, and so, so sexy, but he’s still a smartass at heart, and the way he handled Salem and all that they were going through was just perfect.

“Phil owned a cabin out in the woods on a private lake in Boulder that he passed on to Nash … He told me I could borrow it for a few days until we get our shit straight. There’s no electricity and no modern amenities, so all there is to do is fish, fuck, and talk.” He lifted an eyebrow at me with a leer. “I didn’t bring any fishing poles.”

The girls in this series have been a bit hit and miss for me with stupid behaviour, low self-esteem and excessive drama occasionally taking over the story. Not the case with this one! Salem is a fantastic heroine! Sure, she has her moments of vulnerability, but they are understandable and don’t overshadow the story or the relationship that she and Rowdy are developing, and I love that!

It really was all about where I had ended up and not where I had been, because as long as he was there, wherever that happened to be was going to be where I was supposed to be at as well.

And together, they are a powerhouse! Super sexy (damn, this book is hot!), deeply emotional and so, so functional, I love them together!

“You are the last person I want to kiss. The last woman I want in my bed. I want you to be the last girl that touches any and all parts of me, Salem, and that means so much more than a first. Who cares if Poppy was there first or if there were nameless people in between? All that matters is that at the end of it all there is just you, only you, and no one else.”

But an unexpected visitor just may change everything. When Salem’s sister comes to town, will her presence disrupt the peace and happiness they have found? And will the danger that she brings in her wake change everything?

I loved this book. It captivated me from start to finish, and was a great blend of romance, drama, friendship, sex and sweet moments. I was completely caught up in the love story and laughed, swooned, and fanned myself at all of the hotness, and finished it with a huge smile on my face.

“She is my home. I didn’t know I was wandering until she found me.”

As always the other couples in the series blend into the story beautifully, and there continues to be story development for them. Asa and Royal’s hook up is building momentum, and I love the introduction of Zeb and Sayer Built – so make sure you read these books in order! I’m so invested in these characters, I can’t wait to carry on.

4.5 stars.