“I’m glad you’re here with me. I’m sorry I tried to make you leave.”
“I was never going to leave,” I said.
She held me tighter. “I know. I like that about you.”
Kelly Jo Sullivan is looking for some peace and quiet at the remote cabin she’s rented for two weeks. But to the world, she’s known as country music sensation Pixie Hart and her fans and the paparazzi make it so she really can’t be as incognito as she wants. Her brother wants to make sure she’s safe so he gets his former Navy SEAL buddy, Xander Buckley, to agree to head up to the cabin to keep an eye on her. A plan that does not go over well with Kelly. Xander has his work cut out for him, especially when Kelly tries firing him within moments of their meeting and then she threatens to make him sleep outside. She may find his overbearing protectiveness infuriating but she can’t deny that once she finally takes a chance at getting to know him, he’s actually a good guy and sees her perhaps better than anyone ever has. But their lives are on very different paths, no matter how good together they are in their little bubble of the cabin, is there any real hope that things could continue once they return to their lives?
I’ve been eager for Xander’s story since I met him in Runaway Love. He was such a good secondary character in that book and I knew he’d make an even better lead. I’m happy to report that I was correct! He was sweet and very protective and quick to apologize if he was ever a jerk. He was loyal to his friend and accepted the job without question even when he had a lot of stuff going on elsewhere in his life. He and Kelly were not fans of one another when they first met but I enjoyed seeing them thaw toward each other. Their initial animosity and especially their first meeting were a lot of fun though! Oh, and Xander’s existential crisis over Kelly’s toys cracked me up.
I wasn’t sure how I’d like Kelly, to be honest, when I read the blurb I pictured some tiny rhinestone-wearing country diva. But while that may have been the image her label curated for the public as Pixie Hart, Kelly Jo Sullivan couldn’t have been further from that. I liked her journey of learning to stick up for herself and finding the courage to ask for what she wanted. Xander helped a lot with it, but he mainly just opened her eyes to what she was worth and she did the rest. I won’t say Xander was responsible for this new bravery, I think she would have gotten there herself eventually but a little nudge from a trusted person doesn’t hurt!
I enjoyed them as a couple too. They had great chemistry and it was refreshing that the main angst in this story was from external sources. I also thought Kelly fit in perfectly with Xander’s family and I was glad to see Austin and Veronica and other members of the Buckley family throughout this one.
I look forward to my next return to Cherry Tree Harbor!
“Thank you,” I said.
“For what?”
“For understanding me. For knowing what I need. For being willing to give it to me.” I closed my eyes. “For being in my corner.”
He stroked my back and spoke quietly. “It’s a nice place to be.”
The Book Boyfriend Addict 