Say You’re Mine
by Diane Alberts
Synopsis:
She’s a challenge he can’t afford to lose…
Navy SEAL Steven Thomas has only ever been able to count on three things: waking up in the morning, going to sleep sometime during the night, and Lauren Brixton. She’s been his best friend since grade school, and what they have is the only relationship he’s managed not to ruin.
Until one drunken night puts that all in jeopardy.
Lauren’s watched Steven flit from one-night stand to one-night stand, seemingly not interested in something more. So when the long-ignored attraction between the two of them blows up in their faces, she does the only thing she can—she pretends she doesn’t want him. But all’s fair in love and war, and Steven’s not about to lose the only person in his life who matters…
Review:
A fun read! Friends-to-lovers–and a great example of it. Steven and Lauren have been friends literally forever (he let her borrow his only pencil in elementary school so she wouldn’t get yelled at. Again) and though Lauren’s secretly had a “thing” for him, Steven’s managed to not think about his bestie “that way”…until he does.
In a BIIIIG way.
They spend a night together, and it’s amazing, of course–except that Lauren got him there in the first place by telling a teensy white lie. No big deal, right? Wrong–lies are Steven’s trigger. After losing his entire team because of his superior officer’s lie, he cannot forgive lies or the people who tell them.
But that’s okay–he’ll never need to know about it. Right?
Yeah, you know how that’s going to go.
The way the lie was revealed was a tad bit forced, but honestly, that’s the only blip in a really satisfying story. Lauren and Steven are a great couple who truly manage to bring out the best in each other. She’s able to get him to talk about what happened overseas, something he hasn’t been able to do since he got back. And she makes him feel like himself again for the first time in…well, a long time. Their HEA is sweet and definitely well deserved.
A great addition to the Shillings Agency series, Say You’re Mine would work fine as a standalone as well.
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.