That one night stand? It was just the beginning…
My new neighbor, Elle, is everything I avoid. Chatty, sunshine-y, and determined that since our kids are brand-new BFFs, we should be too.
That would be bad news even if I hadn’t had a one-night stand with her a few months back that turned me inside out.
You see, since my wife died, I keep to myself. I hook up, but it’s always one-and-done. So you can imagine my shock when I discover that the girl next door is the one woman I was hoping never to see again.
Now I’m seeing her again… and again, and again. And all the promises I made to myself? They’re starting to look more like lies.
Review:
OMG, this series!
I didn’t read the original version–the author’s note says it was “lightly edited” before being re-released–and the only obvious changes I saw are the addition of (mostly Gabe) Wilder in the background, which we also saw in an previous book in this series. So I can’t attest to whether or not it’s a “better” book for those who read the original, all I can say is I loved this version!
Those who have read the first two books in the series already saw Sawyer’s mostly silent grumpy self often quietly drinking his beer in the presence of the other guys–and toward the end of Head Over Heels we got a first glimpse of the plot of this one when we saw him just after realizing that the hottest hookup of his life is his new next door neighbor and we knew it was going to be good…and I am here to say, it absolutely did not disappoint 😉
The grumpy/sunshine trope is always fun, but add in the extra complications here–a one time, one night stand; their now being next door neighbors complication; their two sons’ immediate BFF status; not to mention the major baggage they’re each carrying around from their previous relationships–and you’ve got story gold, if it’s done well. And Ms Bell did very well here.
Sawyer’s a (fairly recent-ish, though it’s been over a year) widower, and the author did a masterful job of balancing the constant push and pull of moving on/not wanting to let go that losing a spouse can bring. I loved watching him–reluctantly, at first–fall for Elle and even though *she* was concerned that he was still hung up on his wife, especially given what caused her own marriage to fall apart (spoiler alert: her husband left her for his ex-girlfriend, whom he’s now engaged to) we can see inside his head we notice the changes that aren’t going to be obvious to her yet. I mean, of course he could open his mouth and talk about it–but we all know Sawyer’s not that guy. Even for people who DO like to talk, it’s not an easy subject to discuss…on either side of the conversation.
So if you enjoy maybe-friends-with-benefits-wait-maybe-it’s-more foreplay and sexytimes, this book brings it–but if you’re looking for a heck of an emotional story along with it too, look absolutely no further, because this. Is. It.
Now…how about a book for Brooks, Serena Bell? 😉
(Sleepover is the third in the series, but could be read as a standalone if desired. You’d cheat yourself out of the awesomeness of the first two books and all the little fun ways they’re interconnected, though, so I really can’t say I’d suggest it)
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.