Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 9/14/2022 + 2559 more book reviews

Terrific friends-to-lovers story. Cade and Eden grew up next door to each other. Cade is the only son of a wealthy family, handsome and athletic, and all the girls wanted him. Eden's family used to be rich, but they are comfortable now. She was the quiet, klutzy girl next door that always seemed to need rescuing. Cade was her hero, her crush, and the source of her fantasies, then and now.

As the story opens, Eden is celebrating her twenty-fifth birthday and making the same wish she makes every year - Cade and her together. Instead, she gets a notice from the bank that her flighty mother took out a loan against the house Eden bought from her (long story), and the bank is calling in the loan. She recently opened her vet practice but doesn't yet have the clientele to produce the money in a month. Instead, she steels herself to try to get the local country club set to use her for their vet services. An uphill battle, as she and they don't have the best relationships.

Meanwhile, Cade, who left town the day after graduation to join the Navy and escape his controlling father, became a Navy SEAL. He recently lost one of his best friends in the line of duty and is struggling with his grief. His uncle, a trainer, sees Cade's struggle and tries to help, but Cade refuses to accept what his uncle suggests. Before Cade can escape his uncle's presence, he receives word that his father has had a heart attack and he's needed at home.

I liked both Cade and Eden. She is intelligent, kind, and can laugh at herself. She is also somewhat insecure in that she always felt like she was on the outside looking in, never belonging. But she has no trouble going after what she wants when given the opportunity. Cade is a good man who knows what he wants and goes after it. He has a reputation with the ladies but never leads anyone on.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Cade and Eden. They have a long history as friends, especially with Eden's penchant for needing rescuing. But on this trip home, something changed. I loved seeing Eden once again stuck in a tree, with Cade coming along just as he's needed. This time, however, Cade sees Eden as more than the girl next door, and his sudden attraction to her freaks him out. I loved seeing Eden ask him out for a drink "to say thank you." His head tells him to say no, but he finds himself saying yes, with no idea what's in store for him. Seeing Eden step outside her comfort zone and put the moves on him was fun.

Over the next couple of weeks, they can't keep their hands off each other, but what they have is more than just physical. I loved seeing their connection grow as they spent time together. Several scenes had me laughing out loud. Cade's attention gains Eden the attention and acceptance she wants, but her ability and kindness make the biggest difference. Some terrific scenes of her with people and animals show her true self. Her biggest fear is losing her heart to Cade, which seems inevitable. Cade is shocked by how much he enjoys just spending time with Eden. He's always kept a distance between himself and the women he's with, but he can't do that with Eden. It gets more complicated when she sees past his flirty façade to the hurt and confusion he hides from everyone.

When a secret Cade has been keeping from Eden comes out, she feels hurt and betrayed. She thought they'd moved past the damsel in distress needing the big strong man stage. Learning that Cade is questioning his future sends Eden on her own rescue mission. But their lack of honest communication drives them apart, each thinking they know what is best for the other. I loved the epiphany that Eden had and what she did about it. The epilogue was terrific.

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