3.5 stars

This is sort of a love my big brother's friend second chance romance. It's told for the female leads point of view. Lane has always loved Kale. Growing up the lines blurred between siblings and a more than familial type of relationship. There's definitely love between them, but he was raised to be another of her big brothers. The whole family sees it that way. He settles down with someone else, and she leaves the country. Now she's back home and they're reconnecting. Some of the push and pull before they actually settle things made me want to get mad and tell them to drop the pretense already, but it was an enjoyable read for me. ( )

3.5 Stars. I wanted to give it 4, I really did, but as much as liked it, and obviously connected with the characters (since I cried my eyes out through most of it), there were a few niggley things that just wouldn’t settle with me.

1) It was a bit weirdly dramatic in parts. Laney cried and puked a lot, and there were multiple instances where her crying was accompanied by “swaying from side to side”. By herself, or while hugging others. It was so weird. Who does that?

2) Some of the plot resolutions were convenient and/or so unrealistic as to be preposterous. Everyone was so bloody KIND all the time! Apart from Lachlan. Heh. And, he was so over the top. But seriously, the author wrapped up relations with every minor character in the totally “we all forgive each other and we’re chums now” kind of way.

3) Lane was a total wuss for 90% of the book and then she decides at the end how “strong” she thinks she is. Um, no, not really. You’re a wuss, and a runner. If Harry hadn’t died, you still be wallowing.

But, I loved the growing up relationship with Kale and Lane! Because of that I had to love Kale and Lane, regardless of the stupid things they did in their teens / early 20’s. (Who among us wouldn’t like to go back to change a few stupid choices we made at that age?). I loved the characters, uncle Harry, Nanny, Lavender, Roman...they were endearing and sometimes funny. The HEA was solid. AND, York happens to by one of my top 10 favorite places on the planet, so that was fun! (Like Lane, living in Manhattan would lead me to depression and suicidal thoughts...) ( )

4.5 stars

Holy hell. I knew this book was going to have some feels to it but good Lord I wasn't prepared for this many. This book far exceeded my expectations.

The author does a phenomenal job with creating characters that come alive on the page. I loved the entire family and wanted to know them all better.

Unrequited love is brutal. It is even worse when there is more to it than that and keeping that love a secret hurts everyone involved. Kale and Lane made my heart ache.

My biggest complaint about this book was that the ending felt rushed. Everything was building up to this moment between them and then it was crammed into the last 10% of the book. I wanted a balance between the past and the present.

Still a great book. If you are looking for a book to the at your heart then I recommend this one. ( )

Couldn't put it down even thought I was a bit teary a bunch of different times. ( )

Lane had to come home, as much as she didn't want to. Kale was there and he was the last person she wanted to see, but she had to - for Uncle Harry. Kale and Lane were the best of friends and she adored him. She left because of him. Her hate was so fierce that you could feel it through the pages. ..but she didn't know the whole truth. As she discovered it all, as it unraveled before her - her heart broke. The story of Lane and Kale was the ultimate love story. It was full of a lifetime of love that was suppressed and for all the wrong reasons. As their story unfolded, I couldn't help but shed a tear or two - of the loss and the gain. I would highly recommend this book and is similar in writing to the author's book, Frozen. ( )