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Sanctuary Island #5
Close to Home
The best journeys take us home….
When Tessa Alexander came to Sanctuary Island, she left behind a marriage to a man who didn’t love her the way she loved him. When she finally found the strength to set them both free, she discovered friendship and self-acceptance in her adopted hometown. Now she’s settled into a quiet life on her own―never expecting to see her husband again.
Johnny spent almost two years deep undercover, unable to let his wife into his cold, dangerous world. He’s shaken to the core when he comes home to find her gone. It’s painfully clear that Tessa is no longer the timid young woman he married―she’s become a force of nature, a brave and determined beauty. Johnny can’t let her go without a fight so he sets out to seduce his own wife. But will passion alone be enough to convince Tessa that her new life should include a second chance at happiness with a man who must learn to believe in love?
Fall in love with Close to Home by Lily Everett!
When Tessa Alexander came to Sanctuary Island, she left behind a marriage to a man who didn’t love her the way she loved him. When she finally found the strength to set them both free, she discovered friendship and self-acceptance in her adopted hometown. Now she’s settled into a quiet life on her own―never expecting to see her husband again.
Johnny spent almost two years deep undercover, unable to let his wife into his cold, dangerous world. He’s shaken to the core when he comes home to find her gone. It’s painfully clear that Tessa is no longer the timid young woman he married―she’s become a force of nature, a brave and determined beauty. Johnny can’t let her go without a fight so he sets out to seduce his own wife. But will passion alone be enough to convince Tessa that her new life should include a second chance at happiness with a man who must learn to believe in love?
Fall in love with Close to Home by Lily Everett!
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 7, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
February 5, 2017
Close to Home by Lily Everett is a 2017 St. Martin’s Press publication.
I have really enjoyed this series. Close to home is another heartwarming addition to the Sanctuary Island saga.
When Johnny emerges from a two year deep cover operation with the ATF, he discovers his young wife of eight years, Terri, has written him a ‘Dear John’ letter. He is heartbroken, but heads to his wife’s newly adopted home town to win her back.
Tessa, left her ‘in name only’ marriage, changed to name to Tessa and moved away to Sanctuary Island, hoping to begin a life of independence and find a man who would really love her the way she needs to be.
She never imagined Johnny would come for her. The couple agrees to a trial period to see if their marriage can be saved.
However, there is something sinister going on, as well. Johnny can’t seem to shake the feeling that Tessa remains in danger and his protective instincts are on high alert.
Can Johnny convince Tessa to give their marriage a real chance this time? Has someone from Johnny’s past followed him to the island? Is Tessa in danger?
Each of the main characters has a compelling story and I liked both Johnny and Tessa. Their love story is more of an emotional one with a tender and sweet chemistry between them, but there is also a bit of sensuality, too.
The plot includes a slight element of suspense, and there are a few tense moments as the book reaches its final chapters.
There is also a side story which will segue into the next installment, with Marcus and Quinn, and I’m looking forward to seeing how all that plays out in the future.
Overall, this is a solid and enjoyable contemporary romance with just the right amount of emotion and spice which is just the way I like my romance novels.
4 stars
I have really enjoyed this series. Close to home is another heartwarming addition to the Sanctuary Island saga.
When Johnny emerges from a two year deep cover operation with the ATF, he discovers his young wife of eight years, Terri, has written him a ‘Dear John’ letter. He is heartbroken, but heads to his wife’s newly adopted home town to win her back.
Tessa, left her ‘in name only’ marriage, changed to name to Tessa and moved away to Sanctuary Island, hoping to begin a life of independence and find a man who would really love her the way she needs to be.
She never imagined Johnny would come for her. The couple agrees to a trial period to see if their marriage can be saved.
However, there is something sinister going on, as well. Johnny can’t seem to shake the feeling that Tessa remains in danger and his protective instincts are on high alert.
Can Johnny convince Tessa to give their marriage a real chance this time? Has someone from Johnny’s past followed him to the island? Is Tessa in danger?
Each of the main characters has a compelling story and I liked both Johnny and Tessa. Their love story is more of an emotional one with a tender and sweet chemistry between them, but there is also a bit of sensuality, too.
The plot includes a slight element of suspense, and there are a few tense moments as the book reaches its final chapters.
There is also a side story which will segue into the next installment, with Marcus and Quinn, and I’m looking forward to seeing how all that plays out in the future.
Overall, this is a solid and enjoyable contemporary romance with just the right amount of emotion and spice which is just the way I like my romance novels.
4 stars
February 7, 2017
4 - "Give us a month." Stars!
Close to Home takes me back to one of my most favorite places; Sanctuary Island, this is the fifth book in Lily Everett’s captivating series.
I absolutely adored Johnny and Tessa Alexander’s story, a couple who have been man and wife for years, but have never really lived as man & wife so much so that Tessa decides it’s time to up-sticks and make a fresh start for herself on Sanctuary while Johnny is deep undercover and knows nothing about it.
"I’m not the meek, mousy weakling you married."
This isn’t your standard romance in the respect that this is a married couple. But I liked that the author took their situation and ran with it. Tessa’s early life plays a huge part in the reasonings as to why they were married in the first place, and Johnny with the ghosts in his past and a massive hero complex, just cannot accept that she has moved on and no longer needs his protection, as such it takes him the length of the journey to arrive on the Island to decide he is going to win her back, but she’s not the girl he left behind, she’s a woman, and one who has been managing on her own very well, thank you very much.
"I want to live. I want to love, and be loved."
Their reconnection was sweet and poignant, both of them have secretly been lusting after the other the whole time they have been married, but it takes the threat of divorce for Johnny to step up and admit to his feelings.
"You’re every fantasy I’ve had for years. Give me a chance to prove what kind of husband I can be…"
There is a little suspense running through the plot as well as great inclusion from Marcus and Quinn, this is the couple who the next book in the series focuses on, and from what you see of their coming together in Close to Home and subsequent separation, I am expecting great things from their story Home at Last, which is due for release early March.
"Sanctuary Island is pretty wonderful. I can’t imagine ever wanting to live anywhere else."
I love this series, the Island, it’s inhabitants, it’s like taking a holiday in your mind while sitting on the periphery and watching a really good love story unfold.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
Close to Home takes me back to one of my most favorite places; Sanctuary Island, this is the fifth book in Lily Everett’s captivating series.
I absolutely adored Johnny and Tessa Alexander’s story, a couple who have been man and wife for years, but have never really lived as man & wife so much so that Tessa decides it’s time to up-sticks and make a fresh start for herself on Sanctuary while Johnny is deep undercover and knows nothing about it.
"I’m not the meek, mousy weakling you married."
This isn’t your standard romance in the respect that this is a married couple. But I liked that the author took their situation and ran with it. Tessa’s early life plays a huge part in the reasonings as to why they were married in the first place, and Johnny with the ghosts in his past and a massive hero complex, just cannot accept that she has moved on and no longer needs his protection, as such it takes him the length of the journey to arrive on the Island to decide he is going to win her back, but she’s not the girl he left behind, she’s a woman, and one who has been managing on her own very well, thank you very much.
"I want to live. I want to love, and be loved."
Their reconnection was sweet and poignant, both of them have secretly been lusting after the other the whole time they have been married, but it takes the threat of divorce for Johnny to step up and admit to his feelings.
"You’re every fantasy I’ve had for years. Give me a chance to prove what kind of husband I can be…"
There is a little suspense running through the plot as well as great inclusion from Marcus and Quinn, this is the couple who the next book in the series focuses on, and from what you see of their coming together in Close to Home and subsequent separation, I am expecting great things from their story Home at Last, which is due for release early March.
"Sanctuary Island is pretty wonderful. I can’t imagine ever wanting to live anywhere else."
I love this series, the Island, it’s inhabitants, it’s like taking a holiday in your mind while sitting on the periphery and watching a really good love story unfold.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
January 6, 2017
He was always her hero and she loved him with all her heart, but the marriage between Johnny and Tessa wasn’t based on their mutual love. Johnny needed to protect her from her past. Tessa had dreams of being Johnny’s wife in every sense of the word, but that was never to be. After he had been undercover and gone for almost two years, Tessa knew it was time to set both of them free. No longer a scared and timid little mouse, Tessa has blossomed, grown into her self-confidence and taken life by the horns on her own terms. Far from where they made their home and as much as she missed him, she knew she had done the right thing.
Johnny wasn’t expecting a Dear John letter after two years undercover with the scum of the earth all that kept him going was the thought of coming home to Tessa. The only thing he could do was hunt her down, talk to her face to face and stand tall as her verdict is announced. Had he realized he truly loved her a little too late? Should he have told her? Can he win back her heart? Should he even try? What if she no longer needs him to protect her?
Lily Everett’s CLOSE TO HOME is a wonderful romantic tale complete with the meddling old lady who knows far more than she even lets on. Tessa has remade herself, become a person capable of standing on their own two feet and she feels the pride of accomplishment deep in her soul. She would gladly take Johnny back on HER terms, but she is terrified that spelling them out would send him packing. Johnny has a hero complex, but his feelings for Tessa go far beyond being her caped crusader, he would do anything to get her back, but will she believe him?
Sweet love, growing pains and a chance to fix the wrongs of the past, all bundled up neatly in Lily Everett’s own words that almost sing about love on each page! A second chance romance that proves that marriage takes love, commitment and nurturing to survive life’s little flies in the ointment.
I received an ARC edition from St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Sanctuary Island - Book 5
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (February 7, 2017)
Publication Date: February 7, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Print Length: 304 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Johnny wasn’t expecting a Dear John letter after two years undercover with the scum of the earth all that kept him going was the thought of coming home to Tessa. The only thing he could do was hunt her down, talk to her face to face and stand tall as her verdict is announced. Had he realized he truly loved her a little too late? Should he have told her? Can he win back her heart? Should he even try? What if she no longer needs him to protect her?
Lily Everett’s CLOSE TO HOME is a wonderful romantic tale complete with the meddling old lady who knows far more than she even lets on. Tessa has remade herself, become a person capable of standing on their own two feet and she feels the pride of accomplishment deep in her soul. She would gladly take Johnny back on HER terms, but she is terrified that spelling them out would send him packing. Johnny has a hero complex, but his feelings for Tessa go far beyond being her caped crusader, he would do anything to get her back, but will she believe him?
Sweet love, growing pains and a chance to fix the wrongs of the past, all bundled up neatly in Lily Everett’s own words that almost sing about love on each page! A second chance romance that proves that marriage takes love, commitment and nurturing to survive life’s little flies in the ointment.
I received an ARC edition from St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Sanctuary Island - Book 5
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (February 7, 2017)
Publication Date: February 7, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Print Length: 304 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 13, 2017
Link to full review below! Not my favorite trope (miscommunication) but it worked for this story. Enjoyable and mature! See full review on The Book Disciple
February 11, 2017
4 stars
Close to Home was a well written and beautiful second chance love story.
It warmed my heart watching Tessa and Johnny come together. They needed to put away the past and open their heart to each other unconditionally without fear and know this was a forever kind of love.
I loved how their love story unfolded, they made my heart swoon and left me with a smile on my face.
The Sanctuary Island series is a beautiful and romantic read, each book can be read as standalone and I highly recommend them.
*Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.*
Close to Home was a well written and beautiful second chance love story.
It warmed my heart watching Tessa and Johnny come together. They needed to put away the past and open their heart to each other unconditionally without fear and know this was a forever kind of love.
I loved how their love story unfolded, they made my heart swoon and left me with a smile on my face.
The Sanctuary Island series is a beautiful and romantic read, each book can be read as standalone and I highly recommend them.
*Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.*
February 7, 2017
Close to Home
'Close to Home' by Lily Everett is book 5 in the "Sanctuary Island" series. This is the story of Terri/Tessa and Johnny. I have not yet read the other books in this seires so for me this was a standalone book. Johnny first met Terri when she was hiding in his parents barn. Terri was upset and crying and Johnny's protectiveness kicked in. Johnny and Terri ended up getting married. Terri was grateful for Johnny being so protective of her. Johnny's undercover job took him away for months to years at a time. In Johnny's protectiveness mind set he hasn't fully slept with her. Thinking she is still the fragile girl. While Johnny was away on one of his undercover assignments Terri decided to give Johnny his freedom and leave him. Terri thought to start a new life on her own to become a stronger person and to also let Johnny find someone he could love. A year into become Tessa instead of Terri and moving to Sanctuary Island she has started a new life working at a bakery. But one day she looks up at the bakery and Johnny is there talking to her boss. Johnny was shocked to learn his wife has left him and even more shocked to see how much Terri has changed. But the one thing Johnny still knows is that he wants her even more. This was such a sweet and moving romance which showed there are some great second chances! "My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
'Close to Home' by Lily Everett is book 5 in the "Sanctuary Island" series. This is the story of Terri/Tessa and Johnny. I have not yet read the other books in this seires so for me this was a standalone book. Johnny first met Terri when she was hiding in his parents barn. Terri was upset and crying and Johnny's protectiveness kicked in. Johnny and Terri ended up getting married. Terri was grateful for Johnny being so protective of her. Johnny's undercover job took him away for months to years at a time. In Johnny's protectiveness mind set he hasn't fully slept with her. Thinking she is still the fragile girl. While Johnny was away on one of his undercover assignments Terri decided to give Johnny his freedom and leave him. Terri thought to start a new life on her own to become a stronger person and to also let Johnny find someone he could love. A year into become Tessa instead of Terri and moving to Sanctuary Island she has started a new life working at a bakery. But one day she looks up at the bakery and Johnny is there talking to her boss. Johnny was shocked to learn his wife has left him and even more shocked to see how much Terri has changed. But the one thing Johnny still knows is that he wants her even more. This was such a sweet and moving romance which showed there are some great second chances! "My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
January 4, 2017
I liked the journey that Johnny and Tessa took to find their way back to each other. It took them both facing different things in their life to realize what they both wanted. Johnny, while deep undercover, uses his wife's memory to help him cling to his sanctity and to help him return home. But what happens we he comes home and things are a lot different than he anticipated? Tessa, his wife, isn't the same woman he left.
March 11, 2017
Rated 4.5 - CLOSE TO HOME by Lily Everett is an unusual second chance romance that features a marriage of convenience and an unstable husband returning from years of undercover work to find his wife gone. Quite a different spin for romantic suspense.
Johnny is a mental mess when he comes off his latest assignment. He sees danger everywhere and suspects everyone. After finding out his wife ran off to Sanctuary Island to start a new life a year ago, leaving him divorce papers to sign, he follows her to convince her to remain his wife. Will Johnny’s obsessive need to protect push Tessa farther away?
Johnny married Tessa to save her from her past. Tessa wants a divorce, even though she loves Johnny. She feels it’s not enough to love someone who doesn’t love you in the way you need it. Tessa has grown up while Johnny was gone and has made a life for herself that doesn’t include him.
Johnny is one of the most unusual heroes I’ve read. He’s off-putting at first because he’s so paranoid. Tessa’s love for him made me believe he might be right for her, if he can learn to trust and not suffocate her new, hard-earned independence. Their journey is emotional and uplifting as they learn through horse therapy to work as a team.
Johnny seems wacko at times, and then sensible when he stops reacting and listens. His habit of seeing shadows lurking everywhere ramps up the tension, along with possible suspects. This made Johnny one of the most intriguing heroes I’ve read in a contemporary romance novel, because he’s far from normal but his heart is in the right place.
Tessa is fun as she pushes Johnny away. She may have been timid early in their relationship, but she proves her self-reliance. Her personal growth is evident by the end. She doesn’t let Johnny push her into anything she doesn’t want or need. Their relationship is unstable, unusual and intriguing.
There were a couple situations that seemed far-fetched to me, but that’s not unusual in romantic suspense. I’m a hard sell when it comes to mixing romance with danger. That said, this novel was more believable and entertaining than the majority because the characterization was consistent and convincing.
Sweet with a couple sensual scenes, CLOSE TO HOME will satisfy most romance readers’ preferences. Although Johnny and Tessa are attracted to one another, the novel focuses on fixing their broken relationship. Their situation is uncommon, so it’s different from most second chance romances. It’s almost like they’re meeting for the first time, because their time apart has allowed them personal growth outside a marriage that had never truly been traditional.
If you haven’t read the SANCTUARY ISLAND series yet, each book stands on its own but they’re so entertaining that I suggest you start with SANCTUARY ISLAND which is my favorite. Then, continue with SHORELINE DRIVE, HEARTBREAK COVE, and HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, which will prepare you for book five, CLOSE TO HOME, and book six, HOME AT LAST.
Author Lily Everett has a knack for combining quirky with normal without it seeming over the top. I always root for her characters and keep coming back for more. This author is reliably good at characterization, so even the most unusual or cranky earn my devotion. Speaking of cranky, wait until you meet Marcus. I’m anxious for Quinn to douse him with what he deserves in HOME AT LAST, available March 7, 2017. Watch for my review coming soon to Romance Junkies.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies. Digital ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
Johnny is a mental mess when he comes off his latest assignment. He sees danger everywhere and suspects everyone. After finding out his wife ran off to Sanctuary Island to start a new life a year ago, leaving him divorce papers to sign, he follows her to convince her to remain his wife. Will Johnny’s obsessive need to protect push Tessa farther away?
Johnny married Tessa to save her from her past. Tessa wants a divorce, even though she loves Johnny. She feels it’s not enough to love someone who doesn’t love you in the way you need it. Tessa has grown up while Johnny was gone and has made a life for herself that doesn’t include him.
Johnny is one of the most unusual heroes I’ve read. He’s off-putting at first because he’s so paranoid. Tessa’s love for him made me believe he might be right for her, if he can learn to trust and not suffocate her new, hard-earned independence. Their journey is emotional and uplifting as they learn through horse therapy to work as a team.
Johnny seems wacko at times, and then sensible when he stops reacting and listens. His habit of seeing shadows lurking everywhere ramps up the tension, along with possible suspects. This made Johnny one of the most intriguing heroes I’ve read in a contemporary romance novel, because he’s far from normal but his heart is in the right place.
Tessa is fun as she pushes Johnny away. She may have been timid early in their relationship, but she proves her self-reliance. Her personal growth is evident by the end. She doesn’t let Johnny push her into anything she doesn’t want or need. Their relationship is unstable, unusual and intriguing.
There were a couple situations that seemed far-fetched to me, but that’s not unusual in romantic suspense. I’m a hard sell when it comes to mixing romance with danger. That said, this novel was more believable and entertaining than the majority because the characterization was consistent and convincing.
Sweet with a couple sensual scenes, CLOSE TO HOME will satisfy most romance readers’ preferences. Although Johnny and Tessa are attracted to one another, the novel focuses on fixing their broken relationship. Their situation is uncommon, so it’s different from most second chance romances. It’s almost like they’re meeting for the first time, because their time apart has allowed them personal growth outside a marriage that had never truly been traditional.
If you haven’t read the SANCTUARY ISLAND series yet, each book stands on its own but they’re so entertaining that I suggest you start with SANCTUARY ISLAND which is my favorite. Then, continue with SHORELINE DRIVE, HEARTBREAK COVE, and HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, which will prepare you for book five, CLOSE TO HOME, and book six, HOME AT LAST.
Author Lily Everett has a knack for combining quirky with normal without it seeming over the top. I always root for her characters and keep coming back for more. This author is reliably good at characterization, so even the most unusual or cranky earn my devotion. Speaking of cranky, wait until you meet Marcus. I’m anxious for Quinn to douse him with what he deserves in HOME AT LAST, available March 7, 2017. Watch for my review coming soon to Romance Junkies.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies. Digital ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
February 7, 2017
I love a marriage in trouble trope as it t can present a different kind of conflict in an already established relationship. I liked the set-up in this one. At the age of seventeen, Tessa had to escape the commune her parents raised her in, for her own health and safety. She hides in a neighbor's barn and this is where twenty-two year old Johnny finds her. He gets her medical attention and then feels protective over her. He asks her if she wants to marry him so she can be on his health insurance before he is deployed. She agrees, and he goes off to the middle east, while she lives her life by herself. Later, he ends up joining the ATF and going very deep undercover . Through all this time - eight years - he has only pecked her on the cheek. It's truly a marriage of convenience and Tessa is done with it. She is ready to live an independent life since Johnny has never made a move to make their relationship romantic. She leaves him before he comes out of his undercover assignment.
When Johnny makes it back home after his assignment, he realizes Tessa is gone and tracks her down. Deep down he loves her, he has always just been scared to tell and show her. Tessa has started a new life on Sanctuary Island, working in a bakery and figuring out who she is.
I was ready for angst, and emotions and all those romantic feelings of two people who love each other but have kept it hidden for eight years. But we don't get that. Instead we get a lot of telling but not a lot of showing. Tessa is wary when Johnny comes to her new home, but everything works out super easy. They start counseling. They start making out. I needed more exploration of past feelings. A deeper look into their relationship and feelings. One of the best things with a marriage in trouble story is the complicated feelings that layer the marriage. In this one, since they haven't taken their relationship to a physical level - there could have been so much intense exploration. But it's all skimmed over and then too easily worked out.
Instead we get a ton of pages for a supporting character named Marcus and his shady background and a developing romance for him. And then a very odd suspense part takes over the last quarter of the book which felt completely out of place and when you learn what is happening it just seemed silly.
This one missed the mark for me
Grade: D
When Johnny makes it back home after his assignment, he realizes Tessa is gone and tracks her down. Deep down he loves her, he has always just been scared to tell and show her. Tessa has started a new life on Sanctuary Island, working in a bakery and figuring out who she is.
I was ready for angst, and emotions and all those romantic feelings of two people who love each other but have kept it hidden for eight years. But we don't get that. Instead we get a lot of telling but not a lot of showing. Tessa is wary when Johnny comes to her new home, but everything works out super easy. They start counseling. They start making out. I needed more exploration of past feelings. A deeper look into their relationship and feelings. One of the best things with a marriage in trouble story is the complicated feelings that layer the marriage. In this one, since they haven't taken their relationship to a physical level - there could have been so much intense exploration. But it's all skimmed over and then too easily worked out.
Instead we get a ton of pages for a supporting character named Marcus and his shady background and a developing romance for him. And then a very odd suspense part takes over the last quarter of the book which felt completely out of place and when you learn what is happening it just seemed silly.
This one missed the mark for me
Grade: D
February 10, 2017
Review for Romancing the Readers Blog:
https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
When I first signed up for this tour I signed up to do only the excerpt then couldn't help myself and I read the book. What can I say, I'm weak!
I've read a few books in this series and enjoyed them very much. I really should have read the series in order because I'm one of those people that hate reading out of order but it seems like I only have time to review a book by her every few books.
Weird, I know!
I really enjoyed Tessa and Johnny's story. You can really feel the caring between these two. I wanted to know more about them and their story. I usually don't care for stories that already start with the characters being together but I decided to try it anyway.
The only thing I wish for is that characters did the things they thought about. My action and less what's in their heads. Other then that,..
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
When I first signed up for this tour I signed up to do only the excerpt then couldn't help myself and I read the book. What can I say, I'm weak!
I've read a few books in this series and enjoyed them very much. I really should have read the series in order because I'm one of those people that hate reading out of order but it seems like I only have time to review a book by her every few books.
Weird, I know!
I really enjoyed Tessa and Johnny's story. You can really feel the caring between these two. I wanted to know more about them and their story. I usually don't care for stories that already start with the characters being together but I decided to try it anyway.
The only thing I wish for is that characters did the things they thought about. My action and less what's in their heads. Other then that,..
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
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January 20, 2017You can find this review in English below.
Dnf @ 53%.
El problema de esta historia soy yo. No es el tipo de lectura que me gusta.
Cuando leí la descripción me pareció original e interesante, pero una vez metidos en faena me parece una historia un poco floja, predecible y repetitiva. No soy fan de protagonistas que son incapaces de sentarse y tener una buena conversación que acabaría con todos sus problemas.
Sé que hay un montón de gente a la que le gustará esta historia. Es una pena que no me encuentre entre ellas.
Yo me lo pierdo…
ARC provided by St. Martin´s Press via Netgalley.
Dnf @ 53%.
The problem with this story is me. It's not the kind of read I like.
When I read the blurb I thought it was original and interesting, but once I began to read I found the story a bit weak, predictable and repetitive. I'm not a fan of MC´s who are unable to sit down and have a good conversation that would end all their problems.
I know there are a lot of people who will love this story. It's a pity I´m not one of them.
My loss...
Dnf @ 53%.
El problema de esta historia soy yo. No es el tipo de lectura que me gusta.
Cuando leí la descripción me pareció original e interesante, pero una vez metidos en faena me parece una historia un poco floja, predecible y repetitiva. No soy fan de protagonistas que son incapaces de sentarse y tener una buena conversación que acabaría con todos sus problemas.
Sé que hay un montón de gente a la que le gustará esta historia. Es una pena que no me encuentre entre ellas.
Yo me lo pierdo…
ARC provided by St. Martin´s Press via Netgalley.
Dnf @ 53%.
The problem with this story is me. It's not the kind of read I like.
When I read the blurb I thought it was original and interesting, but once I began to read I found the story a bit weak, predictable and repetitive. I'm not a fan of MC´s who are unable to sit down and have a good conversation that would end all their problems.
I know there are a lot of people who will love this story. It's a pity I´m not one of them.
My loss...
February 7, 2017
This is actually my first read by Lily Everett and I loved it, so much that I'm looking forward to more from her and I will be going back to read the previous titles. CLOSE TO HOME is heartwarming, sweet and romantic, with a powerful message about commitment in relationships.
Necessity brought Tessa and Johnny Alexander together, but something more powerful kept them together. Tessa fell in love with her husband but she knows that while he cares for her, he only sees her as someone to protect and his code of honor will not let him walk away from her, so she makes the choice to set him free.
Johnny has successfully kept the intensity of his feelings for Tessa under wrap but thoughts of her sustained him for the two years he's been undercover and the last thing he expected was to find that she has left him. Much to his surprise when he finds her, the scared young girl he left behind is gone; replaced by a confident, independent, capable woman, taking charge of her life on her own terms. Johnny has got few options available to him: he can admit his feelings for his wife and fight to win her back, or he can deny them and lose her forever. Not much wiggle room for him.
This was such an enjoyable story for me. Both Tessa and Johnny have baggage from their past that they did not let get in the way of fighting for their relationship. Watching Tessa spread her wings was just as entertaining as it was watching Johnny rein in his protective tendencies and get to know the woman his wife had blossomed into.
This story clearly illustrates that there are no shortcuts to a successful relationship or marriage and there was something endearing about the effort both Tessa and Johnny put into making it work, opening themselves to each other and building the relationship they both wanted one piece at a time.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series and if the sneak peek the author gave us is anything, it promises to be just and enjoyable as this one.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely mine.
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Necessity brought Tessa and Johnny Alexander together, but something more powerful kept them together. Tessa fell in love with her husband but she knows that while he cares for her, he only sees her as someone to protect and his code of honor will not let him walk away from her, so she makes the choice to set him free.
Johnny has successfully kept the intensity of his feelings for Tessa under wrap but thoughts of her sustained him for the two years he's been undercover and the last thing he expected was to find that she has left him. Much to his surprise when he finds her, the scared young girl he left behind is gone; replaced by a confident, independent, capable woman, taking charge of her life on her own terms. Johnny has got few options available to him: he can admit his feelings for his wife and fight to win her back, or he can deny them and lose her forever. Not much wiggle room for him.
This was such an enjoyable story for me. Both Tessa and Johnny have baggage from their past that they did not let get in the way of fighting for their relationship. Watching Tessa spread her wings was just as entertaining as it was watching Johnny rein in his protective tendencies and get to know the woman his wife had blossomed into.
This story clearly illustrates that there are no shortcuts to a successful relationship or marriage and there was something endearing about the effort both Tessa and Johnny put into making it work, opening themselves to each other and building the relationship they both wanted one piece at a time.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series and if the sneak peek the author gave us is anything, it promises to be just and enjoyable as this one.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely mine.
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February 18, 2017
The town of Sanctuary Island is a place that you would want to visit or make your home. The people are great. I enjoyed reading Tessa and Johnny's story. I am glad that Johnny fought for Tessa. As I got to know them both better and their relationship, I could tell that Tessa was not quite ready to give up on Johnny. Although, I understood why she left as their relationship did start out as Johnny looking at Tessa as more of someone he had to protect versus his wife. By the end of the story however, Johnny did see Tessa in a new light. Yet, as much as I did enjoy reading this book, I did feel like it moved slowly. Not that I needed Tessa and Johnny to jump right into each other's arms as if nothing happened. However, I just felt like I did not experience lots of passion between them.
There was another couple that was featured in this book. They were Marcus and Quinn. They were fun with their witty banter and the connection they shared. In fact, I thought that they took a little away from Tessa and Johnn'y story as I found them more interesting. I can't wait to read more about them in the future.
There was another couple that was featured in this book. They were Marcus and Quinn. They were fun with their witty banter and the connection they shared. In fact, I thought that they took a little away from Tessa and Johnn'y story as I found them more interesting. I can't wait to read more about them in the future.
February 1, 2017
Tessa had spent years waiting for her husband, Johnny, to return the love she so freely gave to him. After wait so long with no results, she has given up hope and found the strength to walk away. She loves him just that much. She left to give him the freedom to choose the one he did want. Johnny had been keeping more than his love away from his wife. He had been living a completely, separate life. Now that he was free of the obligation that tied his hands and his words he was ready to make things work out with his wife. It was just a bit too late to do so.
I found this installment of Sanctuary Island to be beautiful. A man that wanted the idea of a life with that one woman but had not the foresight to see that what he had was not going to wait forever. A woman that gave up the idea of having that forever. Opting to live again and not wait on the sidelines. I found a rich compelling romance of taking that second chance and making it more than a lifetime with that someone. Johnny and Tessa had much to overcome. The needed to get to know each other all over again. Everett had me turning pages and consuming the read like it was all that I could think of. The connection and passion Johnny and Tessa shared was lovely. The words on the pages made you want to sit up and take notice.
I found this installment of Sanctuary Island to be beautiful. A man that wanted the idea of a life with that one woman but had not the foresight to see that what he had was not going to wait forever. A woman that gave up the idea of having that forever. Opting to live again and not wait on the sidelines. I found a rich compelling romance of taking that second chance and making it more than a lifetime with that someone. Johnny and Tessa had much to overcome. The needed to get to know each other all over again. Everett had me turning pages and consuming the read like it was all that I could think of. The connection and passion Johnny and Tessa shared was lovely. The words on the pages made you want to sit up and take notice.
February 4, 2017
Johnny and Teri/Tessa – I have mixed feelings. The story is sweet and flows but I have trouble believing it could really happen. That said, it is fiction so it may not have to be believable?
What I liked:
* Tessa’s strength whether as Teri or as she has emerged as Tessa
* Johnny’s kindness and caring
* The supporting characters
* The lead into Quinn and Johnny’s story (hope it is next)
What I didn’t like:
* The lack of true communication between Johnny & Teri during their eight years of marriage – had trouble believing their relationship could have been as it was for so long
* The fact that Johnny was not willing to see that his time undercover impacted his behavior and he had things to work through – he did sort of figure it out, though
* The easy resolution to many issues: marriage, where they would live, etc.
* The twist that brought danger to Teri
All in all this was a sweet second chance at love love story with likable characters and a HEA with a great lead into the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. This is my honest review.
3.5 Stars
What I liked:
* Tessa’s strength whether as Teri or as she has emerged as Tessa
* Johnny’s kindness and caring
* The supporting characters
* The lead into Quinn and Johnny’s story (hope it is next)
What I didn’t like:
* The lack of true communication between Johnny & Teri during their eight years of marriage – had trouble believing their relationship could have been as it was for so long
* The fact that Johnny was not willing to see that his time undercover impacted his behavior and he had things to work through – he did sort of figure it out, though
* The easy resolution to many issues: marriage, where they would live, etc.
* The twist that brought danger to Teri
All in all this was a sweet second chance at love love story with likable characters and a HEA with a great lead into the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. This is my honest review.
3.5 Stars
February 7, 2017
Loved this and loved returning to Sanctuary Island! This is a wonderful story of Tessa, a woman who loves her husband with her whole heart. She loves him enough to let him go so he can find a woman who will fill his heart. Johnny is a man who loves deeply but doesn't quite know how to show it. He thinks he's giving his wife what she needs but when he returns from an undercover assignment to find her gone, he has to face the fact that he needs to fight for her and show her exactly what she means to him. Their marriage may have started out unconventionally but anything worth having is worth fighting for.
I highly recommend this one.
I highly recommend this one.
February 18, 2017
ARC REVIEW
Book Five of the Sanctuary Island series. If you are just getting into it that's fine this can be read pretty easily as a standalone. It's a pretty emotional story without a bunch of angst, but the lack of communication between Tessa and Johnny just really made you want to strangle them at points. I mean really you've known and been married to each other for how many years and you never sat down and talked?! How do you know you love each other if you never really talked to each other! Thankfully that all gets fixed. Sanctuary Island is a quaint little island where everyone knows everyone else and all their business.
Tessa was raised in a commune but when she got sick and her father refused to let her get help she ran away. She found her way into Johnny's Mom's barn. Johnny took her in and married her so she could get on his health plan. Johnny just joined the military and promised the naive "Teri" they would just have a marriage of convenience. Over the years "Teri" fell in love with the man who made it his life's goal to save people, but after eight years of loving someone who didn't love her in return was too much. She left when he went undercover for the ATF and filed for divorce so she can start a new life a new life where she wasn't reliant on someone else or their obligation. When "Teri" moved to Sanctuary Island she back Tessa and feel in love with the town and the people.
Johnny has a lot of guilt to the point that everything in his life is dedicated to saving people to make up for the one he couldn't. Johnny fell in love with Teri almost immediately but at first she was so innocent he didn't feel right doing anything more than hugging and a peck on the cheek. But eight years have passed and he is so desperate for his wife to finally be his wife. But then he gets a Dear John letter and divorce papers. Johnny is determined to find her and convince her they need to stay with each other. Because of Johnny's childhood he doesn't feel like he has the capacity to love. He wants Tessa but he can't give her what she needs and that is to admit he loves her. Tessa has given up already and even though she promised him a month of therapy and getting to know each other she has no hope that it will work out.
Johnny practically placed Tessa on a pedestal in their marriage. She was something fragile that he had to protect and through the therapy they finally really talk to each other and learn things they never knew. The suspense bit at the end also helped Johnny realize that Tessa didn't need him to save her. There is also a side story that kind of gets in the way, it's nice but it's only there to build up the back story between the characters in the next book.
Overall, it was a nice read, kind of sweet good story. It did have a stretched out ending it seemed like it would never end.
Book Five of the Sanctuary Island series. If you are just getting into it that's fine this can be read pretty easily as a standalone. It's a pretty emotional story without a bunch of angst, but the lack of communication between Tessa and Johnny just really made you want to strangle them at points. I mean really you've known and been married to each other for how many years and you never sat down and talked?! How do you know you love each other if you never really talked to each other! Thankfully that all gets fixed. Sanctuary Island is a quaint little island where everyone knows everyone else and all their business.
Tessa was raised in a commune but when she got sick and her father refused to let her get help she ran away. She found her way into Johnny's Mom's barn. Johnny took her in and married her so she could get on his health plan. Johnny just joined the military and promised the naive "Teri" they would just have a marriage of convenience. Over the years "Teri" fell in love with the man who made it his life's goal to save people, but after eight years of loving someone who didn't love her in return was too much. She left when he went undercover for the ATF and filed for divorce so she can start a new life a new life where she wasn't reliant on someone else or their obligation. When "Teri" moved to Sanctuary Island she back Tessa and feel in love with the town and the people.
Johnny has a lot of guilt to the point that everything in his life is dedicated to saving people to make up for the one he couldn't. Johnny fell in love with Teri almost immediately but at first she was so innocent he didn't feel right doing anything more than hugging and a peck on the cheek. But eight years have passed and he is so desperate for his wife to finally be his wife. But then he gets a Dear John letter and divorce papers. Johnny is determined to find her and convince her they need to stay with each other. Because of Johnny's childhood he doesn't feel like he has the capacity to love. He wants Tessa but he can't give her what she needs and that is to admit he loves her. Tessa has given up already and even though she promised him a month of therapy and getting to know each other she has no hope that it will work out.
Johnny practically placed Tessa on a pedestal in their marriage. She was something fragile that he had to protect and through the therapy they finally really talk to each other and learn things they never knew. The suspense bit at the end also helped Johnny realize that Tessa didn't need him to save her. There is also a side story that kind of gets in the way, it's nice but it's only there to build up the back story between the characters in the next book.
Overall, it was a nice read, kind of sweet good story. It did have a stretched out ending it seemed like it would never end.
March 17, 2018
I loved the small town vibe and colorful characters on Sanctuary Island! While I didn’t particularly like Johnny’s illogical reasoning for not getting intimate with Tessa, I understood why he did what he did. I also liked the mature attitude Tessa and Johnny had dealing with their relationship, although the miscommunication thread dragged longer than I expected. Now Marcus and Quinn..they are the wild ride in this story and I’m looking forward to seeing them get their own!
March 23, 2017
This is the story of Tessa(Terri)Alexander and her husband, Johnny. Johnny works for the ATF and has been in deep undercover for the past two years. During that time, Tessa has left D.C. and moved to Sanctuary Island and found inside of herself the woman she wanted to be. Johnny comes home and discovers her gone and sets out to win her back. The book was a quick easy read.
February 24, 2017
I wanted to like this book. I really did. I liked the premise of a story about a couple who are already married and trying to find their way back to each other. To me, it's a fresher storyline than the usual hate/love relationships that end in marriage. However, this story just really fell flat and I was a bit bored with it.
First, I really didn't find any kind of connection to either of the main characters. Tessa's character, while newly independent seemed weak to me. Johnny, on the other hand, didn't seem as strong as I would imagine an ex-military and ATF agent to be. They didn't really seem to have too much chemistry between them and I really didn't care if they stayed together or got divorced. They just had an odd relationship and it didn't seem genuine or real to me.
The storyline never really stayed on pace for me either. There were parts where the story moved quickly but then other parts it seemed to drag on. There is suddenly an awkward second storyline involving Marcus and Quinn. I'm not quite sure if Marcus is a bad guy or a good guy and Quinn just seemed like someone who was out for a good time. The entire epilogue of the book was about these two so I'm wondering if the next book in the series will be about this couple. As I've already got the next book I shall soon see.
One of the redeeming qualities of this book is Patty, the owner of the Patty Cakes bakery. She was a delightful character and I liked how she was with Tessa, Johnny, and Marcus. She made Marcus seem human and showed a more gentle side of him than anyone else in the book.
I read this book as a standalone and I think most readers can. There doesn't seem to be any backstory missing from the previous books or anything that led me to believe I would have enjoyed this story more had I read the previous books in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.
First, I really didn't find any kind of connection to either of the main characters. Tessa's character, while newly independent seemed weak to me. Johnny, on the other hand, didn't seem as strong as I would imagine an ex-military and ATF agent to be. They didn't really seem to have too much chemistry between them and I really didn't care if they stayed together or got divorced. They just had an odd relationship and it didn't seem genuine or real to me.
The storyline never really stayed on pace for me either. There were parts where the story moved quickly but then other parts it seemed to drag on. There is suddenly an awkward second storyline involving Marcus and Quinn. I'm not quite sure if Marcus is a bad guy or a good guy and Quinn just seemed like someone who was out for a good time. The entire epilogue of the book was about these two so I'm wondering if the next book in the series will be about this couple. As I've already got the next book I shall soon see.
One of the redeeming qualities of this book is Patty, the owner of the Patty Cakes bakery. She was a delightful character and I liked how she was with Tessa, Johnny, and Marcus. She made Marcus seem human and showed a more gentle side of him than anyone else in the book.
I read this book as a standalone and I think most readers can. There doesn't seem to be any backstory missing from the previous books or anything that led me to believe I would have enjoyed this story more had I read the previous books in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.
February 14, 2017
I don't know about you guys but I love books about a guy in uniform, and I was really drawn to the blurb on this book. I liked that this guy was coming off of a long term undercover assignment only to find out that his wife had left him while he was gone. Yes it sucks, but I liked that the whole book was going to be about him trying to fix his marriage, what can I say, I like people who work for it.
So when the book starts I was pretty for a chapter or two. I liked Johnny, or rather I kind of liked where his story started. His assignment has just ended, it seems like it went really well and he's getting all these accolades at his job for doing a great job on this long term undercover work. It's clear he wants to get home to see his wife, and then of course the shoe drops. She left him a dear John letter, with divorce papers. I don't know about you guys, but to me it made me kind of hate her right off the bat. I mean I'm sure it's hard to live away from your husband for such a long time, I'm an army wife so I've been there, but to just leave him, move out your home, not leave a forwarding address, and basically just take off seems all kind of messed up.
Of course Johnny goes to track her down and try to fix whatever is wrong with his marriage, and this is where things went off the rails for me. Apparently these two, Johnny and Tessa, have been married for like almost a decade and apparently have not so much as kissed. It's weird. I get why she left him, he wants to be loved, not have a roommate. And as it turns out Johnny has feelings for her, wants her physically, and loves her, so why weren't they involved? And I'm sorry I know almost no guy who is going to go almost a decade without sex of any kind, so either he was sleeping with other people while they were married, or I dunno, it was just weird to me. I had a hard time getting on board with the whole premise of this couple. There is some backstory to explain things, but it still didn't work for me.
Also another huge problem I had was the writing style. The POV kind of jumped around without much warning which was kind of off putting. But more than that, for me, was the I guess I would call it simplistic writing style. It didn't draw me into the characters or the plot and seemed more like a short and sweet style, sometimes it felt a bit cheesy or not like real people, it just did not work for me. I think if you like the kind of short and sweet romance books, this would probably work for you, but it did not do anything for me.
February 4, 2017
I’m a big fan of second chance romances and I also love reading stories that tackle life after marriage, but somehow – and I’m still not entirely sure why – this book lost me along the way. It started off well, with Johnny coming back to his real life after so long undercover to find that his wife was gone. So he went after her and… well, there was something about Tessa that I couldn’t quite warm to. I understood her need for independence, but the way she went about it was pretty hard on Johnny and half the time it wasn’t independence she was clinging to so much as stubbornness.
I found Johnny a lot easier to like and sympathise with. He’s a protective kind of guy and once rescued Tessa from a bad situation. Yes, his view of her does need to be updated because she’s clearly not still the waif he originally married, but at least he’s willing to try. He’s a loyal man who has every intention of honouring his marriage vows, even if he isn’t the best at opening up about his hurts. He’s a good man and I liked him, despite his bouts of over protectiveness.
I don’t know why I didn’t like Tessa as much. Part of it is the way she ran away from Johnny and continues to push him away because, boo hoo, he doesn’t lover he like she loves him and she needs to be independent now, so long, thanks for the memories. She doesn’t even seem to want to try when Johnny wants to patch up the cracks in their marriage. I just didn’t have much patience for her, to be honest.
And I never felt any chemistry between them. They have a lot of history together, so I could see why Johnny didn’t want to let that go, but I could never see why they loved each other. Well, I could understand Tessa since Johnny had been her hero for so many years, but since she didn’t want him doing anything for her anymore… yeah. I struggled with the romance.
This was probably not helped by the secondary romance that runs alongside this one, setting things up for the next book. I liked secretive Marcus and his gruff, grumpy ways, but Quinn really got on my nerves. Perky and pushy people are not my favourites to read about, especially when they’re riding roughshod over other people’s wishes.
So overall this was an okay read for me. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I’d read all of the previous books, but mostly I struggled to remain interested in the characters for the whole book and I wasn’t as invested in seeing them overcome their problems as I would have expected. On the strength of this read I’m not sure I’d be interested in trying the rest of the series, but since I’ve already been offered the next one for review, I guess I’ll try again and see how I feel after that.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
I found Johnny a lot easier to like and sympathise with. He’s a protective kind of guy and once rescued Tessa from a bad situation. Yes, his view of her does need to be updated because she’s clearly not still the waif he originally married, but at least he’s willing to try. He’s a loyal man who has every intention of honouring his marriage vows, even if he isn’t the best at opening up about his hurts. He’s a good man and I liked him, despite his bouts of over protectiveness.
I don’t know why I didn’t like Tessa as much. Part of it is the way she ran away from Johnny and continues to push him away because, boo hoo, he doesn’t lover he like she loves him and she needs to be independent now, so long, thanks for the memories. She doesn’t even seem to want to try when Johnny wants to patch up the cracks in their marriage. I just didn’t have much patience for her, to be honest.
And I never felt any chemistry between them. They have a lot of history together, so I could see why Johnny didn’t want to let that go, but I could never see why they loved each other. Well, I could understand Tessa since Johnny had been her hero for so many years, but since she didn’t want him doing anything for her anymore… yeah. I struggled with the romance.
This was probably not helped by the secondary romance that runs alongside this one, setting things up for the next book. I liked secretive Marcus and his gruff, grumpy ways, but Quinn really got on my nerves. Perky and pushy people are not my favourites to read about, especially when they’re riding roughshod over other people’s wishes.
So overall this was an okay read for me. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I’d read all of the previous books, but mostly I struggled to remain interested in the characters for the whole book and I wasn’t as invested in seeing them overcome their problems as I would have expected. On the strength of this read I’m not sure I’d be interested in trying the rest of the series, but since I’ve already been offered the next one for review, I guess I’ll try again and see how I feel after that.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
March 2, 2017
Review to follow.
February 7, 2017
I have to admit I have only read one other book in this series and normally I hate picking up in the middle of a series but I love the whole marriage in trouble tropes so I had to read this one. Plus the hero is a undercover agent how could I resist?
Johnny and Tessa met when she was 17 and he was 22. Tessa was living in a commune and her parents didn't believe in modern medicine which she needed among other things. When Johnny finds her he brings her home and offers to marry her so she can get the treatment she needs under his insurance before he is deployed. He doesn't touch her and spends years way at time but Tessa looks forward to when he comes home. After he joins the ATF and still spends time away on undercover assignments but Tess realizes that maybe its time for her to do things on her and while she loves Johnny she believes he will never see her that way and only the girl he found all those years ago. Tessa moves to Sanctuary Island to start her new life and when Johnny returns from an undercover assignment that he has been on for 2 years he finds his wife gone. Now Johnny is set to win her back but its not going to be easy Tessa has changed and he has to get to know his wife again in hopes they can be together. With danger lurking around Johnny has some hard choices to make and hopefully keep her safe but can they have the real marriage they both want and deserve?
The one issue I had was I felt both characters didn't show their feelings. There was a lot of telling that they cared but I didn't really see enough effort saying yes I am showing you how I feel about you. There was some sweet parts that were swoon worthy such as neither of them have been with someone else even though their marriage was based on Tessa just needing medical treatment so I really thought while they took their vows and stood by them that they never strayed was on the sweet side.
There is a second romance going on in this story that I felt took away from Johnny and Tessa's story and frankly I could have done without it only because the next book is actually about this couple. Maybe the set up could have been one part but I didn't need updates every few pages on them.
Overall this read was just okay for me but I do plan on reading the book in the series in hopes its done a little differently.
Johnny and Tessa met when she was 17 and he was 22. Tessa was living in a commune and her parents didn't believe in modern medicine which she needed among other things. When Johnny finds her he brings her home and offers to marry her so she can get the treatment she needs under his insurance before he is deployed. He doesn't touch her and spends years way at time but Tessa looks forward to when he comes home. After he joins the ATF and still spends time away on undercover assignments but Tess realizes that maybe its time for her to do things on her and while she loves Johnny she believes he will never see her that way and only the girl he found all those years ago. Tessa moves to Sanctuary Island to start her new life and when Johnny returns from an undercover assignment that he has been on for 2 years he finds his wife gone. Now Johnny is set to win her back but its not going to be easy Tessa has changed and he has to get to know his wife again in hopes they can be together. With danger lurking around Johnny has some hard choices to make and hopefully keep her safe but can they have the real marriage they both want and deserve?
The one issue I had was I felt both characters didn't show their feelings. There was a lot of telling that they cared but I didn't really see enough effort saying yes I am showing you how I feel about you. There was some sweet parts that were swoon worthy such as neither of them have been with someone else even though their marriage was based on Tessa just needing medical treatment so I really thought while they took their vows and stood by them that they never strayed was on the sweet side.
There is a second romance going on in this story that I felt took away from Johnny and Tessa's story and frankly I could have done without it only because the next book is actually about this couple. Maybe the set up could have been one part but I didn't need updates every few pages on them.
Overall this read was just okay for me but I do plan on reading the book in the series in hopes its done a little differently.
February 7, 2017
Home is where your heart is. What do you do when you realize what matters most is no longer there? Close to Home by Lily Everett is a story about losing what matters most and fighting to get it back.
Tessa Alexander ran away from a home at a young age to save herself. With nowhere to go, she finds a savior when least expected. But after years of longing for her husband and knowing she is not loved as she loves him, she decides to set him free. He helped her when she needed it most and will always be grateful, but now it’s time to move forward.
Tessa starts over on Sanctuary Island. A new name, a new job, a new chance. Wanting to put the woman who was timid and lived in the shadows behind her, she finally finds herself and a new life. Though we do not get to see a lot of Tessa’s past besides memories, I loved the new woman she became. It was very clear she was now a different woman. She was strong, determined and very likable.
Johnny Alexander was a man that always did the right thing. He lives with guilt from the past and promised himself he would do whatever it took to protect the innocent. But how far would he go to protect someone he cared about? I loved Johnny, but he also held himself on such high standards, he missed out on something right in front of him.
Determined to be a good man, he protects the woman he married to save her, even when he desires her more than anything. But does he love her? I found the blurb so interesting, I had to read this one as soon as I saw it and I was not disappointed.
After being undercover for two years, Johnny comes home to discover his wife has left, supposedly to set him free. But it was thoughts of her that helped get him through the dangerous world he was submerged in. He decides he can’t let her go, but he has a fight ahead of him to win her back. The woman he married has changed and has her own wants and desired now.
I loved Johnny and Tessa. They cared for each other, but had to face some obstacles and learn how to communicate. This was not an easy task. Could each of the set aside their desires to find a compromise to finally be happy? Could Johnny see past the girl he saved to the woman that now stood in front of him?
Close to home was an enjoyable read. Two main characters that are easy to like and root for, island residents that kept us laughing, a bit of suspense and look at the next romance. I would definitely recommend this book.
I give Close to Home by Lily Everett 4-stars.
Happy reading!
Tessa Alexander ran away from a home at a young age to save herself. With nowhere to go, she finds a savior when least expected. But after years of longing for her husband and knowing she is not loved as she loves him, she decides to set him free. He helped her when she needed it most and will always be grateful, but now it’s time to move forward.
Tessa starts over on Sanctuary Island. A new name, a new job, a new chance. Wanting to put the woman who was timid and lived in the shadows behind her, she finally finds herself and a new life. Though we do not get to see a lot of Tessa’s past besides memories, I loved the new woman she became. It was very clear she was now a different woman. She was strong, determined and very likable.
Johnny Alexander was a man that always did the right thing. He lives with guilt from the past and promised himself he would do whatever it took to protect the innocent. But how far would he go to protect someone he cared about? I loved Johnny, but he also held himself on such high standards, he missed out on something right in front of him.
Determined to be a good man, he protects the woman he married to save her, even when he desires her more than anything. But does he love her? I found the blurb so interesting, I had to read this one as soon as I saw it and I was not disappointed.
After being undercover for two years, Johnny comes home to discover his wife has left, supposedly to set him free. But it was thoughts of her that helped get him through the dangerous world he was submerged in. He decides he can’t let her go, but he has a fight ahead of him to win her back. The woman he married has changed and has her own wants and desired now.
I loved Johnny and Tessa. They cared for each other, but had to face some obstacles and learn how to communicate. This was not an easy task. Could each of the set aside their desires to find a compromise to finally be happy? Could Johnny see past the girl he saved to the woman that now stood in front of him?
Close to home was an enjoyable read. Two main characters that are easy to like and root for, island residents that kept us laughing, a bit of suspense and look at the next romance. I would definitely recommend this book.
I give Close to Home by Lily Everett 4-stars.
Happy reading!
February 9, 2017
CLOSE TO HOME by Lily Everett is the perfect combination of romance, desire, and suspense. Johnny Alexander has dedicated his life to protecting those that need him, from his job working undercover at the ATF, to his unusual marriage to Terri. Ever since the day he found her hiding on his family farm, he has done everything he can to make her happy. Well, everything except touch her and make their marriage real in every way possible. Terri is so pure and good that she deserves the best, and Johnny knows the darkness that lies within himself. But when he finishes an undercover operation of almost two years, to find that she has left him and set up a new life for herself on Sanctuary Island, he cannot let her walk away from him. But Terri is not the same quiet, scared girl anymore. Calling herself Tessa, she has finally moved on from her childhood and is determined to build an independent and happy life for herself. Completely in love with Johnny, she has released him to let him find love and happiness, but when he shows up on her island, Tessa doesn't know what to think. As they begin to really get to know each other, their desire for each other cannot be denied. But danger has followed them from the past, and as they struggle to understand each other, can they find a way to trust in what is growing between them before it is too late?
With beautiful characters that will burrow into your heart and the community of Sanctuary Island which is idyllic, CLOSE TO HOME by Lily Everett is a book that must be devoured! Although easily read as a standalone, I highly recommend the series, and I eagerly await more from Sanctuary Island.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com
With beautiful characters that will burrow into your heart and the community of Sanctuary Island which is idyllic, CLOSE TO HOME by Lily Everett is a book that must be devoured! Although easily read as a standalone, I highly recommend the series, and I eagerly await more from Sanctuary Island.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com
February 5, 2017
I like this series. Lily has done good for her people, as those do her! Each story is a bit better than the previous. Miss Patty owns the local bakery and takes Tessa under her arm. Johnny spent 6 years in the military and 2 years undercover. Now he is coming back. Tessa was brought up in a commune but ran away when she got sick and wasn't supposed to. She is found in Johnny' s barn and he gets her healthy and marries her. Spoilers. She moved away and Johnny is going to find her. Major Spoiler! There are lots of twists here as they get set to try to come together again. There is a very Major Spoiler. It was very hard to put this story down. There are places when you have to walk away. There will be some sex times when Tessa and Johnny get close. I would still recommend to read this story. Watch for the ending. Don't let this get away! I volunteered to read and review this book.
December 31, 2016
Having read and enjoyed many of the books from the Sanctuary Island series, I was eager to read a new installment. And like the others, this book was filled with characters that you couldn't help but get involved with. In this case we meet Johnny who has just ended a 2 year undercover mission who wants nothing more than to see his wife. However, in the 2 years that he has been gone, Tessa has left him to start a new life. While you might think that what Tessa did was wrong, her reasons for leaving actually made sense. Tessa agrees to give Johnny four weeks to change her mind about the divorce while she continues her new life on Sanctuary Island. This was an usual but endearing second chance romance. There was also an intriguing secondary story line that is setting the foundation for the next book in the series. Can't wait to see what else Lily Everett has in store for readers.
February 9, 2017
I didn't understand why he wanted to save his marriage out of LOYALTY but not love. What's the point? it came out like a his marriage to her was his job and responsibility rather than a commitment. AND THEN HE DECIDED NEVER MIND, so he dear johned her. what the fck? then he again realized he loved her. Dude, I'd kick you to the curb.
February 13, 2017
Whoops, I did it again – picked a book that I didn’t know was part of a series. However this one stands up perfectly well on its own and I don’t feel that I lost anything for not having read the previous books in this series.
Johnny works for the ATF and has just returned from two years deep undercover to find out that his wife of eight years has left him a “Dear Johnny” letter. Despite the fact that their marriage was unconventional, Johnny isn’t willing to let it go like that so he tracks her down. He finds that Terri, his shy and timid wife has morphed into Tessa, a woman with a different haircut, a big laugh and a confidence that was missing before. She seems determined that although she’s grateful to Johnny for helping her years ago when she desperately needed it, she’s okay now. And that they should go their separate ways. But Johnny asks for a month while he attends a therapy program designed to help him transition from undercover back into reality.
Johnny had one of those massive hero/saviour complexes. He rescued Tessa, then known as Terri as a terrified teen and even married her to help her before shipping out with the army. After several deployments he joined the ATF, working undercover operations and pretty much everything he does revolves around helping and protecting people. I know he’s just come back from a very long and dangerous mission but Johnny sees danger everywhere even in the tiniest town in the world. He meets a new person in town (Johnny himself is new in town) and immediately assumes the guy is some kind of criminal because he has watchful body language and a military demeanour. Instead of assuming that maybe he’s burned out or has retired, he wonders if he’s used his military skills to segue into crime but he bases this on nothing just his instinct. If this is Johnny’s instinct at work, it makes me worry for the skills of the ATF division, frankly.
Despite the fact that Johnny and Tessa were married for eight years, he spent most of those away either on deployment or undercover so their marriage, which began as one of convenience and help for Tessa, wasn’t even a real marriage, something that I found a little hard to believe. I couldn’t really see the point of having it unconsummated for so long other than to exacerbate Johnny’s hero complex. He has this view of Terri (as she was back then) of being this precious, fragile flower and perhaps she might’ve been when they first met. But she began to put herself back together but his view of her really didn’t change until after she left him and he was confronted with the new Tessa who wasn’t afraid to state her opinions and was willing to go out there and find happiness. I think Tessa felt that Johnny would stay with her forever in the platonic marriage they had for all time out of loyalty, obligation and a need to protect her, so she chose to leave him so that they both might find something truly deeper than that. Whilst Johnny might’ve wanted Tessa (even when he didn’t touch her) he had said he wasn’t open to the whole love thing and Tessa wanted that. Johnny had to learn the hard way that his feelings for Tessa ran deeper than what he was willing to acknowledge.
I think this story was okay – I would’ve liked more background to their marriage and I’m glad Tessa took it upon herself to carve out a life without relying on Johnny. But I think that ultimately Johnny’s obsessive need to protect and save really got on my nerves. There was an attempt to give it a good background but it came too late in the story and was brushed over too quickly, as was how he was going to move on from it. I think I was more interested in the secondary story which sets up the couple in the sixth book, I kept waiting for them to reappear.
Johnny works for the ATF and has just returned from two years deep undercover to find out that his wife of eight years has left him a “Dear Johnny” letter. Despite the fact that their marriage was unconventional, Johnny isn’t willing to let it go like that so he tracks her down. He finds that Terri, his shy and timid wife has morphed into Tessa, a woman with a different haircut, a big laugh and a confidence that was missing before. She seems determined that although she’s grateful to Johnny for helping her years ago when she desperately needed it, she’s okay now. And that they should go their separate ways. But Johnny asks for a month while he attends a therapy program designed to help him transition from undercover back into reality.
Johnny had one of those massive hero/saviour complexes. He rescued Tessa, then known as Terri as a terrified teen and even married her to help her before shipping out with the army. After several deployments he joined the ATF, working undercover operations and pretty much everything he does revolves around helping and protecting people. I know he’s just come back from a very long and dangerous mission but Johnny sees danger everywhere even in the tiniest town in the world. He meets a new person in town (Johnny himself is new in town) and immediately assumes the guy is some kind of criminal because he has watchful body language and a military demeanour. Instead of assuming that maybe he’s burned out or has retired, he wonders if he’s used his military skills to segue into crime but he bases this on nothing just his instinct. If this is Johnny’s instinct at work, it makes me worry for the skills of the ATF division, frankly.
Despite the fact that Johnny and Tessa were married for eight years, he spent most of those away either on deployment or undercover so their marriage, which began as one of convenience and help for Tessa, wasn’t even a real marriage, something that I found a little hard to believe. I couldn’t really see the point of having it unconsummated for so long other than to exacerbate Johnny’s hero complex. He has this view of Terri (as she was back then) of being this precious, fragile flower and perhaps she might’ve been when they first met. But she began to put herself back together but his view of her really didn’t change until after she left him and he was confronted with the new Tessa who wasn’t afraid to state her opinions and was willing to go out there and find happiness. I think Tessa felt that Johnny would stay with her forever in the platonic marriage they had for all time out of loyalty, obligation and a need to protect her, so she chose to leave him so that they both might find something truly deeper than that. Whilst Johnny might’ve wanted Tessa (even when he didn’t touch her) he had said he wasn’t open to the whole love thing and Tessa wanted that. Johnny had to learn the hard way that his feelings for Tessa ran deeper than what he was willing to acknowledge.
I think this story was okay – I would’ve liked more background to their marriage and I’m glad Tessa took it upon herself to carve out a life without relying on Johnny. But I think that ultimately Johnny’s obsessive need to protect and save really got on my nerves. There was an attempt to give it a good background but it came too late in the story and was brushed over too quickly, as was how he was going to move on from it. I think I was more interested in the secondary story which sets up the couple in the sixth book, I kept waiting for them to reappear.
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