ginsbookstuff 's review for:

Somewhere You Belong by Harlow James

5.0

emotional funny tense medium-paced

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Emotional story that hooked me from the beginning. 

 

Holy prologue! This story gripped me emotionally from the beginning and it didn’t let go until the end. This was my first Harlow James book and why the heck did I wait so long? 

 

Willow is brought to Carrington Cove to claim an inheritance. It’s a beach house that the local bar owner, Dallas, has wanted to ever since he was young. At their first meeting, these two do not hit it off but Dallas is determined to purchase the house from Willow. He figures you can catch more flies with honey and befriends her and helps while she’s having the home renovated. 

 

This is a slow burn, friendly relationship. However, when they finally give in? It’s fire!! I loved the banter between these two and with Dallas and his siblings. It was a nice contrast to see how they acted in familial situations based on their background and upbringing. Willow was raised by a single mom figure and keeps herself from getting close or forming attachments to anyone. Dallas comes from a large family with close siblings but a strained relationship with his father. These two really were just what the other needed to move on and start really living life, rather than going through the motions and just existing. Dallas helped Willow open up, and she helped the stoic Dallas show his fun-loving side again. 

 

Connor Crais and MacKenzie Cartwright brought this to another level. MacKenzie gave us all the facets of Willow, showing her strength, sass and vulnerability. Connor embodied Dallas with his gruff, bossy, bedroom tone, his emotion and confusion dealing with his true feelings about Willow and his dad,  to the lighthearted humor needed with the big family dynamics. 

 

I can’t wait to listen to the rest of this series.