Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Can a secret crush . . .
Jo Walsh has loved Cameron Mitchell for as long as she can remember. Whether front and center in her life or on the periphery, the tall, brooding artist has made his presence seductively and irresistibly known. But whenever they start to get close, Cam pulls away. Jo's tired of keeping her feelings in a box Cam is afraid to open. If he wants her, he'll have to prove it. And if he doesn't, Jo will need to know the real reason why . . .
. . . become the love of a lifetime?
How do you walk away from your soul mate? Cam wishes he knew. No matter how far he runs from Jo, he can't resist looking back at the silver eyes that seem to see right through him. But as well as Jo thinks she understands Cam, the dark truth about his past is something she shouldn't have to handle. Cam's sure that setting Jo free is the right thing to do. Too bad his heart has other ideas . . .
“I think that what I’m going to do to you, I’ve never done to anyone else. I fully expect to worship you, Jo.”
I loved Jo and Cam’s story and I’m so glad I stuck with this series. Great writing, laugh out loud lines (lady garden), and heart warming moments (those kisses!) that kept me reading from beginning to end. I loved everything about this book. This is the story that I’ve been waiting for. If you’ve read the first two books in the series, you’ll know that Jo is Walsh’s sister and Cam’s (maybe) best friend. While you don’t have to read the first two books, it does add to the story because it will reference back to events that occurred.
Cameron (Cam) Mitchell was a dealt a harsh hand as a kid. Abused and raised by an addict for a mother, he never thought he was worthy of really being loved. He’s suffered from nightmares most of his life and after everything that happened between his ex-wife Kerris and himself, it seemed to get worse. The only thing that seemed to calm his demons is his oldest friend and the woman he’s been secretly in love with, Jo Walsh. But what do you do when the woman you’ve always wanted and kept pushing away, finally can’t take the heartache anymore?
“I would have done anything for you. I have done anything for you. We could have been, if you’d had the balls to take me. But you didn’t want me.”
For the last seventeen years, all Jo has ever wanted was Cam. But being in love with someone who she believes doesn’t love her has taken its toll. So when she finally gives him an ultimatum, Cam can’t let her go. These two were meant to be and the thought of losing her for one moment, no matter how much he believes he’d never be worthy of her, hurts him. Cuts him deeply. And all I could do was sigh and say “finally!!” when these two come together.
“Not want you? I fight myself not to take you.”
Fireworks. These two are explosive and like Jo, I feel like I waited forever for these two to get together. Their road is rocky as hell. Cam has to open to Jo if they ever have a shot at being together and when the ghosts of his past continue to torment him, they are in for a fight that neither one ever expected. It is heart wrenching to hear Cam’s story that I literally had a lump in my throat because I felt like I was watching it happen to him. His life was not an easy one before he met the Bennet’s and it will take all of Jo’s strength and love to get him to stay.