Destiny (Serendipity Series, #2)

Oct 21, 2011 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-out-do-yourself, 211-books-in-2011, october-2011, read-in-2011

I was a little hesitant going into this book because I didn't care for the hero in the previous book. He was harsh and judgmental and I wasn't sure how he would be in this novel. Phillips did an excellent job with him, however. He showed major growth. I was frustrated with him during the first half of the book, but he really changed over the course of the second half.

The romance was well done and the secondary characters fun and interesting. Another great entry in the series.

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Jan 04, 2012 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, for_review, family_sibling_series

Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads

Nash came across in SERENDIPITY as maybe the harshest brother, very angry and unforgiving of Ethan and decisions he made as an 18 year old kid. He’s also a bit non-accepting of Tess and as a result she shies away from him, not caring about getting to know him. She’s bonded with Ethan, and as Nash isn’t interested in getting along with Ethan, Tess’s mind is pretty much made up about having a relationship with Nash – not happening. Nash sees everything in b...more Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads

Nash came across in SERENDIPITY as maybe the harshest brother, very angry and unforgiving of Ethan and decisions he made as an 18 year old kid. He’s also a bit non-accepting of Tess and as a result she shies away from him, not caring about getting to know him. She’s bonded with Ethan, and as Nash isn’t interested in getting along with Ethan, Tess’s mind is pretty much made up about having a relationship with Nash – not happening. Nash sees everything in black and white and he struggles to be what he thinks people need him to be. His first marriage didn’t work out, but he still calls and wants to help his ex, Annie, thinking she always needs help now after her MS diagnosis, instead of listening to her and want she really needs from him, as a friend.

Nash’s growth in this book is one of him becoming more self-aware. His eyes are opened up to how people perceive him and he doesn’t like the reality of it. He makes a real effort to change, realizing that the issues he thought were other people’s problems, are really his own and he takes steps to repair relationships within his family. Lies that people told him hit Nash hard. He has to deal with his youngest and closest brother Dare in a way he never thought he’d have to. His relationship with Dare has always been the one solid thing in his life and to have that turned upside down, because of Dare, is something that triggers Nash to start looking at why people aren’t comfortable coming to him with problems, and it’s a turning point for Nash personally.

One new, strong presence in Nash’s personal life is Kelly, Tess’s half-sister. Kelly is still struggling with her decision of leaving Tess on Ethan’s doorstep just a few short months ago. She knows it really was the best decision but still worries that Tess may have seen it as just another person abandoning her, like their mother did. But she sees Tess thriving in Ethan’s care and home and her decision has given Tess the stability that she’s never had before. Kelly’s moved to town to be closer to Tess and she’s trying to fit in, and makes a fast friend in Annie, Nash’s ex.

Nash and Kelly become closer as the story goes and even though Tess objects at first, because, well…it’s Nash, they are comfortable with each other and find a happiness together that neither one was expecting. Kelly has some personal baggage she’s also dealing with and it ultimately drives a wedge between her and Nash when she doesn’t come clean to him. He sees it as just one more person keeping the truth from him. Both Nash and Kelly have issues to work through on their own, but once they’re able to repair relationships, in Nash’s case, and put the past completely to rest, for Kelly, they can finally move forward together.

“I can’t have this conversation now.”

Not while her fingers were hovering around the hard edge threatening to burst through his pants.

She met his gaze and grinned. “We’re not going to do much talking,” she promised, her eyes glittering with desire. “I just wanted you to know that I get you. And when you’re with me, you can just feel what you’re feeling and I won’t judge…”

He nodded, his throat full, touched beyond reason that she’d thought so long and hard about him. What he wanted and needed. He wanted to express his gratitude, his feelings and once again he reached for her.

Once again she eased out of his grasp. “And now you’re going to lean back and just enjoy. No thinking, Nash. Just feel,” she said, and knelt down in front of him.

Their relationship was sweet and very easy going. They had issues to move past and do, but they came across on page as a fun couple, and a couple that was well matched for each other. While I enjoyed their scenes together, I felt a bit more invested in Nash and his relationship with his brothers, Ethan and Dare. He had a lot of ground to cover with Ethan, and was able to finally let himself “get” where Ethan was coming from and start to move past the hurt he’s carried for so long.

…Ethan turned to Nash and spread his hands out in front of him. “Well? What now?”

Nash ran a hand through his hair. Damned if he knew.

“As much as you don’t like it, we’re brothers. I was wrong back then, but I can’t change the past.”

“So what do you want from me?” Nash asked.

Ethan shrugged. “Get to know me. Judge me for who I am today, not who I was or what I did.”

“That much, huh?” Maybe Nash could give him a kidney too.

Ethan nodded in understanding. “Yeah, I’m asking for that much.” He let out a dark laugh. “You never know. You might just like me.”

Nash rolled his eyes. “Don’t hold your breath, big brother.” Despite himself, a smile edged the corners of his mouth as he followed Ethan out of the office and back to the party.

The most drama came from an unlikely source in the fun loving, (seemingly) happy Dare. That turned out to be a great cover for the hurt and pain Dare has been hiding for many years, all going back to one horrible night when he was 15. When the truth comes out, Nash questions everything he was led to believe about why he and Dare were split up and sent to different foster homes after their parents died. And for Dare, we get a small glimpse at what kind of inner demons he’s been dealing with, all from that one night that still haunts him and it’ll be interesting to see how he deals with it and if he can find some kind of peace and move forward in his book.

One of the side stories that hit on a personal level for me was Annie, who is living with MS. My mom was diagnosed with MS over ten years ago, and it really brought Annie’s story to life more for me, and even though she’s not on page a great deal, I felt like I knew her and some of her struggles very well. When I read it’s to completely escape reality, my happy little book world, but sometimes even books have a way of bringing something in your real life front and center and for me, in this book, it was Annie.

Nash went from being the brother I wanted to smack the most in SERENDIPITY, to the brother I wanted to see reconcile with his family, have a solid relationship with his sister, and find some happiness and love with Kelly. Carly Phillips delivers with a light, fun read, a sweet romance and gives us a family that I can’t wait to read more about in small town Serendipity.(less)

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Jan 15, 2012 Literary Cravings rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally Reviewed at Literary Cravings

Impressions

Destiny, the second book in the Serendipity Series, is about Nash Barron and his romance with Kelly Moss. In the first novel of the series Serendipity we were introduced to the Barron brothers Ethan, Nash, and Dash and I have to say that Nash was my least favorite out of them. So I went into this story a little wary, knowing that I would end up hating him even more or he would end up growing on me.

What Worked

Nash begins to have feelings for his...more

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Nov 12, 2011 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was lucky enough to be the recipient of an ARC of Carly Phillips "Destiny." I have been a fan of Phillips for years and one of my favorite series is her "Hot Zone" series, but I have to say that I think the "Serendipity" series might just take it's place before it is all over with.

The adventures of the Barron brothers are complicated in Serendipity and nothing is different in Destiny, but they take a journey that ends up being a turning point for their entire family. Phillips does a fantastic...more

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May 06, 2012 Norma rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, kindle-ebook, read-2012

3.5 stars I really had no interest in reading Nash's book when I got this. I was reading it just to get to Dare's book. Dare intrigued me from book one.

Anyway, this book left me pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed it. Nash comes across as a pretty unlikable, hard man. But he slowly won me over. He's rigid and difficult, but he's human still the same.

Kelly, who I also didn't really care to get to know better, also surprised me. She's a great character with a lot of love in her.

This book is fla...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Hbeebti rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: used

Pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this one.

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Nov 12, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

Gotta love those Barron brothers!! Nash is the quintessential overbearing alpha male. He takes control of everyone around him and is a no-nonsense sort of guy. So, when he starts falling for his half-sister's half-sister (yep!), things get complicated. Kelly is still feeling guilty about dumping her troubled half-sister on the doorstep of said sister's older brother, Ethan. Ethan is rich, recently married and has resources that Kelly could only imagine. She wants to be there for her sister but k...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Svenja rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-sterne

Ach ich liebe ja so tolle, einfache, romantische Frauenromane für zwischendurch. Und gerade wenn Carly Phillips die Bücher geschrieben, kann man damit rechnen, dass man genau das bekommt. Die Geschichten sind zwar vom Prinzip her immer gleich, aber von welchem Genre kann man das auch nicht behaupten ;)

Nun zum Buch. Man muss auf jeden Fall den ersten Teil der Barron-Serie gelesen haben, denn alle Figuren die dort erwähnt wurden, tauchen auch in diesem Buch wieder auf. Das gefällt mir sehr gut. A...more Ach ich liebe ja so tolle, einfache, romantische Frauenromane für zwischendurch. Und gerade wenn Carly Phillips die Bücher geschrieben, kann man damit rechnen, dass man genau das bekommt. Die Geschichten sind zwar vom Prinzip her immer gleich, aber von welchem Genre kann man das auch nicht behaupten ;)

Nun zum Buch. Man muss auf jeden Fall den ersten Teil der Barron-Serie gelesen haben, denn alle Figuren die dort erwähnt wurden, tauchen auch in diesem Buch wieder auf. Das gefällt mir sehr gut. Auch, dass "Ich will nur dein Glück" nahtlos an den ersten Band anknüpft, finde ich sehr gut. Vielleicht sollte man also vorher nochmal schnell "Ich will doch nur küssen" durchlesen. Ich habe ein paar Seiten gebraucht, bevor ich wieder in der Geschichte der Familie Barron drin war.

Nach den ersten 100 Seiten ist schon so viel passiert, dass ich während des Lesens die ganze Zeit überlegt habe: "Was soll denn jetzt noch passieren". Doch das Buch dann abzubrechen, bzw. wegzulegen wäre ein Fehler, denn tatsächlich schafft es Carly Phillips die über 400 Seiten zu füllen, ohne das dem Leser auch nur einmal langweilig wird. Es werden noch viele (überraschende) Geheimnisse gelüftet und die Barron-Brüder werden erneut auf eine harte Probe gestellt.

Kelly ist eine Frau, die man zur besten Freundin haben will. Die ist nett und hilfsbereit. Auch wenn sie eigenen Probleme hat, versucht sie nicht, andere damit zu belasten. Das Leben hat ihr übel zugespielt, aber sie ist ein Steh-auf-Männchen. Mit Nash hatte ich am Anfang (auch schon im ersten Band) meine Schwierigkeiten. Doch jetzt im Nachhinein muss ich sagen, dass ich sein Verhalten total nachvollziehen kann. Er wurde mir immer sympathischer.

In dem Buch findet man noch eine Leseprobe des dritten Teils "Ich will ja nur dich!" (erscheint im Mai 2013)
und die lässt auf ein weiteres spannendes, schnulziges, romantisches Werk von Carly Phillips schließen. Ich freu mich schon.

Meine Kaufempfehlung: Für alle die auf romantische Bücher für Zwischendurch stehen, kann ich die Barron-Serie nur empfehlen. ABER man sollte den ersten Teil "Ich will doch nur küssen" zuerst lesen, damit die Protagonisten einem schon mal vertraut sind.

Carly Phillips hat es wieder geschafft einen Frauenroman zu schreiben, der den Leser sofort in den Bann zieht. Auf jeden Fall ist "Ich will nur dein Glück" ein würdiger Nachfolger von "Ich will doch nur küssen". Ich kann hier nur die volle Punktzahl geben, weil es wirklich nichts zu meckern gibt. (less)

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Oct 23, 2012 Pat rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, always-worth-re-reading, chick-lit, favorites, romance, series, series-r-us

3.5stars actually.
Hmmmm….. contemporary romance. Let’s see… You have the betrayals, misunderstandings, rocky road to romance, a bit of conflict, etc – so there is nothing new here. That doesn’t mean you can’t get excited about run of the mill the way Ms. Phillips does it.

From this convoluted family tree a new romance blossoms between previously a-hole Nash and his half-sister Tess’ half sister Kelly. After that first steamy kiss at a family, Nash thinks the best thing for him is to stay as far...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Lindy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Reviewed for TwoLips Reviews
4 Kisses, 1 Pepper (M/F, oral sex)

Nash Barron knows he needs to stay away from Kelly Moss for the sake of his shaky relationship with his half sister Tess. Kelly is Tess's half sister too, but Nash and Kelly aren't related.

Nash's older brother Ethan deserted Nash and their younger brother, Dare, after their parents died, and Nash still hasn't forgiven him. Both Nash and Dare were put in foster homes, but not together. Nash was placed with a well-to-do family, and Dare...more

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May 15, 2012 Visionary rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My second foray in Carly Phillips and the second book in her Serendipity series -- and she did NOT disappoint!

This series is fast becoming a favorite of mine. I simply cannot get enough of the town Serendipity and it's occupants! Especially those Barron brothers!! Yum!

This tells how much I enjoyed the book: I started in the morning immediately after finishing the book before. I read the book in spurts here or there through the day, and I refused to go to sleep until I finished it. Which I di...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-books-read, romance

Very good book. Now that Ethan and Faith are settled, and Tess is living with them, life is starting to settle out for Kelly. She has a good job in town and can see Tess as often as she can. At the wedding she and Nash give in to a moment of passion, but then decide that they can't pursue it because it could mess with Tess's newfound life. However, they find that they just can't stay away from each other. Besides dealing with their own feeling, both have other issues to deal with. Nash is dealin...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Katherine Grey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Destiny is nice read with good characters and a well-written story. Nash Barron is a lawyer who sees things in black and white which causes a great deal of strife among his family. While I can understand his initial antagonism toward his brother Ethan, I felt if he had put aside his self-righteous anger and listened to his older brother, things between them would have changed sooner than they did in the course of the book.

Kelly is a paralegal who has moved to town to be closer to her half-sister...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Joyfully Reviewed rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: joyfully-reviewed-melissa

Destiny is a Joyfully Recommended Read

Both Nash Barron and Kelly Moss are cynical when it comes to love. Experience has taught each of them to guard their heart. Kelly’s mother had a long ago affair with Nash’s father, an affair that resulted in Kelly’s now 13 year old sister Tess. With Tess running with the wrong crowd and getting into trouble, Kelly had no choice but to come to Nash and his brothers for help with her. A situation which puts Nash and Kelly in constant contact with each other an...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: family, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Setting - small town of Serendipity, New York.

Themes - forgiveness, not holding on to all the control, love

Characters:

Barron brothers:
Ethan - oldest - wild as a teen, trying to get parent's attention. when in town jail, parents called at 3am, driving to get him, hit and killed by drunk driver, went into service to straighten out his life, leaving 3 brothers.

Nash - middle - when parents died at 16, he was adopted by a rich couple who had lost their son a year earlier when he was in a fight at a...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Jessi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-challenge, appealing-characteristic-character, contemporary, part-of-a-series, romance, 2012

The stories of Serendipity continue in a book starring Nash Barron and Kelly Moss. Their relationship is based on the fact that her mother and his father had an affair which resulted in a child, half-sister to both of them. The fact that they are undeniably attracted to each other is inconvenient. Their sister, Tess, doesn't like Nash. She loves their brother Ethan who had deserted Nash when the boys were young. Nash has held a grudge ever since.
Kelly is trying not to make waves. She only just p...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Christi Snow rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Review:

So far, I am really enjoying this series. It provides a fun contemporary read set within a family dynamic that I really enjoy. The first book featured Ethan, the oldest brother of the family and the pariah for abandoning the younger two, Nash and Dare, when their parents died suddenly when all three were teenagers. Nash is the middle brother and, like in most family dynamics, the most willing to hold a grudge. I liked the development of the relationship between Nash and Ethan in this b...more My Review:

So far, I am really enjoying this series. It provides a fun contemporary read set within a family dynamic that I really enjoy. The first book featured Ethan, the oldest brother of the family and the pariah for abandoning the younger two, Nash and Dare, when their parents died suddenly when all three were teenagers. Nash is the middle brother and, like in most family dynamics, the most willing to hold a grudge. I liked the development of the relationship between Nash and Ethan in this book. Actually, that is probably my favorite thing about this book. I love how their relationship is evolving and becoming more rather than just confrontational. I love that this motley crew of a family is starting to grow back together, even though it is incredibly painful for them to get there.

Adding to that pain are Kelly and Tess. Tess is the half-sister, and teenage rebel, to the three Barron brothers. Kelly is her half sister on the other side of the family. Kelly is NOT a blood relation to the Barron boys, even though the family dynamic here is a little convoluted. Kelly & Nash are incredibly drawn to each other, even though they realize that a romance may not be the best thing for their troubled half sister. (You know, the family dynamic didn't seem as weird when I was reading the book as it does now, typing up this review...LOL!) Yes, it's a little odd, but it's a romance novel. You are expected to suspend disbelief a little bit.

I also really liked Nash's personal evolution in this book. Nash is a lawyer and he sees things in black or white. He is pretty staid in his beliefs and not very forgiving when someone does something that he doesn't agree with. When his solid world falls apart, he has to re-examine himself and how he reacts to other people. There is a huge character growth arc that really helped me to enjoy this book more. I thought that it was really creative how Carly used Nash & Annie's marriage and subsequent divorce/friendship to illustrate his issues so clearly. This is a great book on the sociology of people and why people react the way that they do. Nash had no control over what happened in his life at 16, so he has done everything in his power to control every aspect of it ever since.

What I didn't enjoy about this book were those nagging little details like how Nash and Kelly are *almost* related. Also, she has an issue that isn't really an issue. It just has the appearance of one. Just like how Nash and Kelly have the appearance of being related. They were nagging little things that were surface items only, but both of those things are seriously taboo, which lent almost a tainted air to the book. I didn't enjoy that aspect of it. I wish that the story could have been written with a slightly different dynamic so that it didn't have that minuscule taint. It just kind of gave the book a slightly weird feel, but that's probably just me...

Personally, I cannot wait for Dare's book. I loved the little glimpses that we saw of his cracks. I think that his is going to be a pretty powerful story!
(less)

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Apr 06, 2012 Francesca the Fierce ~Eyelet Ecstasy~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-2012, genre-contemporary-romance, read-audio-books

This review was posted at Under the Covers

The Barron brothers are all so hot! Nash is no different. He's a lawyer now, and the one who still holds the most resentment towards his brother Ethan for what he did. But now that Ethan and Faith are on their honeymoon he doesn't mind trying to get close to his half sister Tess. And if that means spending more time with her sister Kelly, then he won't complain. He's been attracted to her since she came into town.

Nash has trust issues. He's been lied to...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Destiny is the second book in the new Serendipity series by Carly Phillips. This could be read alone but it really is a more fulfilling read if done in series order.

This was a very sweet contemporary romance between Nash Barron and Kelly Mass. Kelly has had to almost raise herself and her kid sister, Tess, alone but turns to the Barron brothers, Tess’s half-brothers, for help when their mother leaves them. With Tess now living in Serendipity with her half-brother, Ethan Barron, Kelly has decided...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: review, romance, read-in-2011

Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2011/12/29/...

Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: January 3rd
How I got this book: NetGalley

I’m a big fan of both Carly Phillips and small town romances, so the Serendipity series is right up my alley. After reading the first book in the series, I was hooked. However, I was also a little worried that Nash was going to be too emotionally immature for me to enjoy as a hero. I am so happy to report that this was NOT the case!

Nash is the middle bro...more Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2011/12/29/...

Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: January 3rd
How I got this book: NetGalley

I’m a big fan of both Carly Phillips and small town romances, so the Serendipity series is right up my alley. After reading the first book in the series, I was hooked. However, I was also a little worried that Nash was going to be too emotionally immature for me to enjoy as a hero. I am so happy to report that this was NOT the case!

Nash is the middle brother and holds a lot of guilt and resentment towards his two brothers. He also hasn’t had the easiest time getting to know his younger sister Tess. And despite that fragile relationship, he can’t seem to stop thinking about Kelly and how much she turns him on.

Kelly settled in Serendipity to make sure that Tess could stay with Ethan, and to start over for herself. But every moment she spends with Nash just makes her want to spend more and more time with him. But she worries that between her recent illicit past, and Nash’s inability to let people go and Tess, they might never be able to make a relationship work.

I love books about families. The dynamics between everyone involved can be so beautiful and amazing if it’s done right. After having read a series recently where it felt as if the siblings never grew up, I was a little hesitant as to where Phillips would take the characters. I was so happy to see Nash really make an effort to grow up and change and develop as a character, instead of hold onto those resentments and guilt. While things aren’t exactly hunky-dory at the end of the book, there is also a vast amount of emotional progress, and I couldn’t be happier.

Both Nash and Kelly aren’t exactly portrayed in the best light in the first book. Kelly is Tess’ half-sister from her mother’s side who drops Tess off at Ethan’s doorstep. Nash is the angry brother who can’t seem to let go of the past and move onto a new future. But I am so happy that we got to see things from their perspective. I ended up cheering for them both about a quarter of the way into the book. Kelly is having to deal with a very embarrassing and hard situation from back home, and the only friend she makes ends up having a history with Nash, causing even more discomfort for Kelly. But I loved the way those two developed a friendship despite that. It was sweet and wonderful.

Nash is a complex hero, and his struggles were so fun to watch. He went back and forth with his emotions so many times, and watching him have to work through everything and grow as a character was so awesome. Although there were times I wanted to smack him for taking two step forward and then one step back, his overall growth as a character just blew me away. It was really refreshing to have to watch the hero go through such an emotional roller coaster, and come out victorious.

In true Phillips style, the romance between Nash and Kelly was great. They had moments that made me laugh, made me want to cry and had me fanning myself from the heat they generated. I’m such a huge fan of Phillips’ and she is, in my opinion, one of the best contemporary romance authors out there!

All in all I loved Nash and Kelly’s story. Their courtship was so fun to read, the characters became so alive and animated throughout the story that they dragged me into their lives and had me wishing I was there with them. I can’t recommend this series enough!
I give Destiny an A-(less)

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Jun 17, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-by-michelle

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A light-hearted contemporary story about love between two completely different people, one who held onto his integrity, and the other who embraced the unexpected.

Opening Sentence: Nash Barron might be cynical about life and more recently about love, but even he normally enjoyed a good wedding.

The Review:

Nash Barron and Kelly Moss share a connection. Within their unusual and dysfunctional family, they both feel like strangers. Theirs is a fam...more

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Jan 13, 2012 jR rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I waited for this book since I first read the debut in this series because I know that anything Carly writes is good. I don't have any love for Nash in the first book but I know his actions towards Ethan is justified because of what had happened in the past. So I wasn't particularly waiting for this book aside from the reason that I get to have a glimpse in the lives of the people in Serendipity. BUT when I read it, I instantly fell in love with Nash. He is just like any other human being influe...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Marquetta (LoveToReadForFun) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, contemp-rom, penguin-pub

Nash Barron had a lot of making up to do. In the first book in the series, he was a total ass towards his older brother Ethan and then to Ethan's soon-to-be wife Faith. I immediately disliked the middle brother, Nash, and my dislike of him carried on to Destiny. I wondered if Carly Phillips was able to make Nash a likable character. Throughout most of the book, I didn't like him. But I didn't like him because of the way he treated his brothers. As a sibling, he sucked. But as Kelly's love intere...more Nash Barron had a lot of making up to do. In the first book in the series, he was a total ass towards his older brother Ethan and then to Ethan's soon-to-be wife Faith. I immediately disliked the middle brother, Nash, and my dislike of him carried on to Destiny. I wondered if Carly Phillips was able to make Nash a likable character. Throughout most of the book, I didn't like him. But I didn't like him because of the way he treated his brothers. As a sibling, he sucked. But as Kelly's love interest, he was awesome. Crazy, huh? But it was like Nash was two different characters in this book and he had my emotions all over the place.

Nash has not forgiven or forgot that his older brother Ethan took off after their parents died. Ever since Ethan has returned to Serendipity, Nash has not let him forget it. Destiny starts off at Ethan and Faith's wedding reception. Everyone is enjoying the festivities but Nash finds it difficult to be happy for his brother. As far as Nash is concerned, neither Ethan nor Faith (whose father was part of a Ponzi schemed that affected a lot of the Serendipity residents) deserve to be happy. Hold a grudge much?

Destiny is a book that kept me engaged from start to finish. I was invested in Nash's redemption. Nash is a character that had me cursing, yelling, holding the book tight in frustration. LOL! And I loved it! I love characters that elicit great emotion from me. At one point I called him a self-righteous mofo. And in my opinion, that's exactly how he was acting. In Destiny, Nash has to do a lot of soul-searching and introspection. Nash would point the finger at everyone else for letting him down but not look at himself as the reason why the people closest to him lied and betrayed him. Which I don't think he was betrayed but secrets were kept due to Nash's rigidity. Nash sees everything in black and white. There's no room for a gray area. It's difficult to confide in someone like that because you feel like they are going to immediately judge.

Kelly is making a life for herself in Serendipity so that she can be close to her sister, Tess. Her attraction to Nash is unexpected but she is not afraid to pursue it. As her relationship with Nash gets deeper, Kelly's past rears its ugly head and threatens to ruin the life she has built for herself and her relationship with Nash. Nash and Kelly's relationship is very steamy and sexy. Kelly is very different from Nash's ex-wife Annie, whom Nash feels the constant need to protect due to her illness. But when he's with Kelly, that urge to protect isn't there because he sees her as an independent woman. Kelly helped Nash work through his family issues. I loved how she supported him without judgment.

As much as Nash frustrated me, I loved his character. I went from liking him to not liking him to liking him again. Destiny isn't just about Nash and Kelly's relationship; it also focuses on the Barron family dynamic. Ethan is back with a new wife and a teenage sister. The Barron brothers are finding their way back to each other. It's a long and difficult road.

Even though Nash worked my nerves, I loved Destiny. I loved seeing the characters grow and how they are becoming a family, baggage and all. Nash is a complex character who needed to change the way he viewed his family and the world. I am so happy he finally took the blinders off. Luckily he has an older brother that wasn't afraid to tell Nash about himself.

Destiny is a great addition to the series. I thoroughly enjoyed even with my frustrations with Nash.
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Jan 02, 2012 Bells rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

From the moment Nash and Kelly met in book one of the series, they had an instant attraction to each other and that attraction continues in their book Destiny. Their lives are now intertwined because of their half sister Tess which gives them the opportunity to see each other more. I have to admit that when I didn't get the best first impression of Nash since his character was very abrasive to more than one character in Serendipity. He's probably the least liked Barron brother out of the three a...more From the moment Nash and Kelly met in book one of the series, they had an instant attraction to each other and that attraction continues in their book Destiny. Their lives are now intertwined because of their half sister Tess which gives them the opportunity to see each other more. I have to admit that when I didn't get the best first impression of Nash since his character was very abrasive to more than one character in Serendipity. He's probably the least liked Barron brother out of the three and was very nasty to his older brother Ethan because of some issues from their past. Nash has never forgiven Ethan for what happened when they were teens and his feelings toward him carry over into this book. Although Nash is still angry and bitter, it's not until he learns more about what exactly happened in the past is he able to mend their broken relationship. This mending happens with the help of one special female that comes into his life just in the nick of time. Kelly helps Nash get to the root of his feelings and this helps the healing process begin. We get to see another side of him when he's around Kelly and it's refreshing to see him more relaxed than what he normally is. We also get to learn more about Kelly and her past from her raising Tess when she was a teen, to her having to give up on some of her hopes and dreams to do that. Nash has nothing but total respect for her and their experiences enables them to understand each other on a different level.

Nash's character is very complex because the past has shaped him to be the man that he is. He learns so much in this book about his 2 brothers as well as himself. Secrets and feelings are revealed between the Barron brothers and Nash realizes that he isn't the easiest person to get along with. This is when Carly Phillips amazing writing comes into play because she takes a character that isn't the easiest to like and strips him emotionally until he is raw. But instead of placing the blame on someone else, he realizes that he could change as a person, and this is when the other characters get to see the side of Nash that Kelly has seen all along. This change allows the healing process between the brothers to begin and I'm so looking forward to reading what will happen between them next.

The one thing that I enjoy most about this series is the opportunity for the characters 2nd chances in their lives. Whether it's something they want to prove to others as well as themselves, Carly Phillips makes it happen and her readers get to see those characters shine. I truly enjoy her books and equate her writing to the comfort of a cozy throw blanket. I know when I pick up one of her books to read that I am going to be entertained and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series Karma which features the youngest Barron brother Dare. I can't wait to revisit these characters again who've I've come to know and love. (less)

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Feb 18, 2012 Nath rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, read-2012, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 3/5 (C)

Why this book? I was looking for a good contemporary romance and saw on Goodreads that Holly enjoyed this one.

So, my thoughts? I think the writing was good and I really liked Nash's character. He was basically a really good guy with issues and those were understandable. You cannot blame him being angry with Ethan, because ultimately, Ethan's desertion placed him in a really tough spot. Being taken by a rich couple, but seeing your brother suffer poverty... Not understanding why the couple...more 3/5 (C)

Why this book? I was looking for a good contemporary romance and saw on Goodreads that Holly enjoyed this one.

So, my thoughts? I think the writing was good and I really liked Nash's character. He was basically a really good guy with issues and those were understandable. You cannot blame him being angry with Ethan, because ultimately, Ethan's desertion placed him in a really tough spot. Being taken by a rich couple, but seeing your brother suffer poverty... Not understanding why the couple who's taken you in had such wealth and couldn't take in another boy... There was guilt, resentment, love and gratefulness and Nash had to deal with all those contradictory feelings as best as he could. Then, there's his ex-wife who is Nash best friend and divorced him when her MS got worst because Nash stifled her, but for whom Nash still really cares about. He's hurt by the divorce, but still there to help her out. I think Nash's character had a lot of depth and that made him really interesting. Unfortunately, at times, it also seemed a bit too much of "me, me, me" and I think in that sense, Destiny wasn't very well-balanced. It's almost as if the first half was all about Nash and the second half, Kelly... and Kelly's troubles with her ex-boyfriend wasn't as interesting.

The romance was just okay for me. Overall, my problem is that they fell into bed too quickly to my tastes. I liked that they didn't let the situation concerning Tess hamper their attraction. At the same time, I felt besides physical attraction, they didn't really know each other enough. Also, I'm surprised after her previous relationship, Kelly would go to bed with Nash without having a clearer idea of the future. I just didn't know what these two were looking for. Sex? A meaningful relationship? Let just takes the first step and see where it leads us? I wished they had dated a little, got to know each other a bit better instead of basing the whole relationship on physical attraction.

Finally, two last things that bothered me about this book. The first is Kelly working as a paralegal for Nash's ex-father-in-law and also the lawyer who handled Nash and Dare's foster care situation. Yes, the paperwork that Kelly found involved Nash, but wasn't it a tad unethical to show it to him? The question was raised, but also brushed off too quickly to my tastes. Had it been another guy in Nash's shoes, not dating Kelly, would she have shown him the papers? I'll venture no. The other element didn't really bother me per se, but I thought it was superfluous, was the whole storyline involving Nash's ex-wife. I think Nash had enough issues without an ex-wife and her new romance.

Final Verdict?In the end, I simply never really got hooked by Destiny; although I think it was more me than the book.
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Jul 11, 2012 Rowena rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review

This is the second book in the Serendipity series by Carly Phillips. It's also the middle Barron brother's story and the one that I wouldn't have thought I'd like after meeting him in the first book. This is Nash's book. We met Nash in Ethan and Faith's story and I wasn't a fan. He was such an ass and he had such a huge chip on his shoulder where Ethan was and I wanted him to get over himself and move on with the rebuilding of their family. Of course, I was reading the story from Ethan's point o...more This is the second book in the Serendipity series by Carly Phillips. It's also the middle Barron brother's story and the one that I wouldn't have thought I'd like after meeting him in the first book. This is Nash's book. We met Nash in Ethan and Faith's story and I wasn't a fan. He was such an ass and he had such a huge chip on his shoulder where Ethan was and I wanted him to get over himself and move on with the rebuilding of their family. Of course, I was reading the story from Ethan's point of view and I didn't know the extent of what Nash went through after Ethan took off and reading this book put all of that into perspective.

In this book, we get to find out how things turned out for Nash. The Barron brother who went to the rich family. There was a whole lot of grief, a whole lot of secrets and a whole lot of betrayal going on in Nash's life and it affected Nash. All of it did and after reading this book, I got it. I understood why Nash was the way that he was and like Holly knew I would, I fell like a rock for him. Nash was such a good guy that went through some pretty rough stuff (the death of his parents, his brother's abandonment, secrets, etc...) and yet, at his core, he was still a really good guy.

I thought Kelly was the perfect heroine for him. She was soft in the places that Nash was hard and she was just the person to help him mend the broken fences with his family. I loved how she helped him develop a relationship with Tess and I loved seeing the dynamic between Tess and Nash change, loved seeing Tess thaw in her feelings for Nash.

I thought I would feel funny about the close relationship between Nash and Kelly (they share a sister) but I didn't. Not at all. I really enjoyed getting to know them both and thought they were a good fit for each other.

My one gripe with this story was Kelly's secrets. I wish she would have come out and told Nash the truth about Ryan sooner than she had. It was such a big waste of time, hiding it from him, knowing what she did about Nash and secrets. I wish she had been more open and honest about that part of her life since she had such big feelings for him.

Aside from that, I thought the story moved at a great pace and the romance was steamy enough to make me sit up and take notice. I enjoyed watching Nash and Kelly's relationship grow stronger and stronger with each day and when they did it in Kelly's boss's office? I loved it. It was an overall well written, entertaining story and I'm so glad that I finally read it.

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

This review was originally posted on Book Binge by me.(less)

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Jan 17, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, fiction, need-review, read-2012, romance, dft

Review posted on Dark Faerie Tales

Nash Barron and Kelly Moss share a connection. Within their unusual and dysfunctional family, they both feel like strangers. Theirs is a family amidst the process of healing and mending, mainly for Tess, the young teen who is a common thread for them both. Individually, they are doing the best that they can raising Tess, allowing becoming a part of everything. Ethan and his newly married wife, Faith, just went on their honeymoon, leaving Nash and Kelly to take c...more Review posted on Dark Faerie Tales

Nash Barron and Kelly Moss share a connection. Within their unusual and dysfunctional family, they both feel like strangers. Theirs is a family amidst the process of healing and mending, mainly for Tess, the young teen who is a common thread for them both. Individually, they are doing the best that they can raising Tess, allowing becoming a part of everything. Ethan and his newly married wife, Faith, just went on their honeymoon, leaving Nash and Kelly to take care of Tess.

Nash is the middle brother in this family of Barron boys. Ethan, Dare, and he were all raised separately, and Nash cannot come to grips for his forgiveness towards Ethan. The sudden death of his parents, and the abandonment of Ethan, left Dare and himself to live in seperate foster homes. For Nash, only sees the black and white of their situation, not allowing himself to grow from the pain. Instead, Nash festers on it, finding it hard to accept and embrace that Ethan isn’t the young teen who tore his life, and family, apart.

Kelly raised Tess on her own. Their distant mother went into one marriage after another, eventually taking off without so much a care in the world. Kelly lives in shadows of her past, her mother’s past, and their secrets. Love and desperation forced Kelly to leave Tess on Ethan’s doorstep, and now she has finally followed to become a part of this unusual family.

Nash and Kelly’s love is simple amongst the intricacies of their world. Their attraction was unexpected, and maybe even a little complicated because of their families. But they find solace being with each other, and a sense of peace. While it took a while to be sure of what they have, they found their relationship to be filled of friendship and a commitment towards Tess. Nash was different around Kelly, making him much more enjoyable as a character. I found that he was a little more human, than the brass and aggressive brother that he is towards everyone else.

Phillips’ world is familiar, especially with a contemporary setting. Maybe the familial situation isn’t normal, but the feelings of betrayal, solitude, love, and kinship is. Each character in the Serendipity series had depth to them that doesn’t always exist in contemporary romance. Phillips always paces Destiny really well, despite the many bits of information for the reader to take in. As a reader, I felt a part of their town, their family, and their lives, easily a part of everything.

Love is a huge part of Destiny, and the series. Phillips talks about many different forms of love, from the ups and downs of brothers, to the complications of unexpected love. Destiny is a great contemporary romance fitting for a weekend read. Phillips will take you on a roller coaster of emotions, ending with happiness and joy. (less)

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Jan 13, 2012 Helyce rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-for-smexybooks, contemporary-romance

Nash Barron’s teenage years were tough, to say the least. At 15, both his parents were killed when their car was hit by a drunk driver. His older brother, Ethan, left town leaving Nash and their younger brother, Dare, to the foster care system. Nash was placed with an affluent family in Serendipity while Dare was placed in a home that already had too many foster children. Eventually, the family that Nash was placed with adopted him. He grew up very comfortable, went to a nice private school and...more Nash Barron’s teenage years were tough, to say the least. At 15, both his parents were killed when their car was hit by a drunk driver. His older brother, Ethan, left town leaving Nash and their younger brother, Dare, to the foster care system. Nash was placed with an affluent family in Serendipity while Dare was placed in a home that already had too many foster children. Eventually, the family that Nash was placed with adopted him. He grew up very comfortable, went to a nice private school and then college where he studied to become a lawyer.

But Nash has never been able to let go of the guilt he felt that he ended up with such a wonderful family and Dare did not. When they were kids, he’d take Dare clothes and extra food whenever he could. He tried his best to take care of Dare, but he was just a kid himself. He never understood why the Rossman’s hadn’t been able to take both he and Dare. They certainly could have afforded two children. So Nash did what he could, but the guilt he felt certainly had a lot to do with the man he turned out to be.

Kelly Moss, too, had a less than perfect childhood. Raised with her half sister, Tess, by a single mother, Kelly had huge responsibilities before she was an adult herself. When their mom leaves Tess in Kelly’s care without a word, Kelly is forced to put her life on hold to care of her teenaged sister. Tess doesn’t make it easy; acting out and getting in trouble. When Kelly realizes she’s in over her head, she finds Tess’s half brother, Ethan Barron and enlists his help in getting Tess under control.

Now living in Serendipity, both Kelly and the Barron brother’s focus is on creating a loving family atmosphere for Tess and to provide all the support she needs to feel comfortable and know that she can trust the adults in her life to be there for her. While Tess has warmed up to both Ethan and Dare, she hasn’t reached that level with Nash and he knows it’s because he hasn’t been able to forgive Ethan for leaving him and Dare when their parents died.

If all that wasn’t enough, Kelly and Nash cannot deny their attraction to each other. From the moment they met, there was something between them, but they both fight it, worried about Tess and how she’ll react. But the attraction is too strong and it’s not long before they give into it, both declaring that it’s just sex, that neither of them is looking for a relationship. Very quickly, however, they both realize that there is much more to their relationship than just sex, but neither of them is willing to admit it. The road to them admitting their feelings for each other is filled with obstacles, most of them long kept secrets, that when revealed, will threaten to destroy their fragile relationship before it ever had a chance.

I enjoyed Destiny, which surprised me because I didn’t care for either Nash or Kelly in book one, Serendipity. Since it’s inferred that Kelly and Nash are attracted to each other at the end of book one, I assumed that the author planned to put these two together, and I admit I wasn’t thrilled about that. In Destiny, we learn a lot about the time directly following the deaths of Nash’s parents and what Dare and Nash went through after Ethan leaves town and the younger boys are placed in foster care. It sheds much light and explains so much about Nash’s character and personality as an adult. Secrets kept from Nash during this time to protect him are revealed and as you can expect, the fact that people Nash trusted hid important information from him, hits Nash hard, threatening his once solid relationship with Dare as well as his new relationship with Kelly.

Ms. Phillips has crafted a beautifully complicated family in the Barron brothers and I found myself wanting to smack them each upside the head while at the same time hoping that they would find their way to forgiveness. Not only is the relationship between the brothers tested, but Nash’s relationship with Kelly is as well. Just when you think their insecurities and disappointments will keep them from pursuing what they really want; Nash comes through and totally surprises Kelly. I am completely invested in this series and very much look forward to Karma which will be Dare's story!(less)

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Jan 04, 2012 Liza rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Loved Nash every bit as much as Ethan after reading his story.

I have said many times that Serendipity is my favorite contemporary romance of the year. I loved Ethan and Faith so much. That being said, I loved Destiny even more. I know many people had a problem with Nash in Serendipity because he wasn’t ready to forgive Ethan. I admit, I called both Nash and Dare buttheads in the beginning of Serendipity. However, I could see where Nash was coming from, so I was excited to see Destiny was Nash’s...more Loved Nash every bit as much as Ethan after reading his story.

I have said many times that Serendipity is my favorite contemporary romance of the year. I loved Ethan and Faith so much. That being said, I loved Destiny even more. I know many people had a problem with Nash in Serendipity because he wasn’t ready to forgive Ethan. I admit, I called both Nash and Dare buttheads in the beginning of Serendipity. However, I could see where Nash was coming from, so I was excited to see Destiny was Nash’s story.

I wanted to know more about Nash so I could better understand him. I already understood his looking at things in black or white, as I see many things that same way. Nash also has issues with abandonment thanks to Ethan up and leaving them after their parents death, Dare being placed in a separate foster home, and his marriage to high school sweetheart April ending in divorce. Honestly, Nash is put through the ringer in Destiny. I think it makes him a better man, brother, lover, and future husband, but it was gut-wrenching to read some of the things he has to go through.

Kelly is very similar to Nash with her black and white thoughts on morals. She was raised by a woman who cheated with married men and abandoned her youngest child to find her next meal ticket. Kelly has just come back into Tess’s life after leaving her with her brothers to raise. She has every right to be concerned about how getting involved with Nash might effect her future relationship with her sister. Nash has the same concern about Tess, especially since Tess is Ethan’s biggest cheerleader and she already has a problem that Nash still has issues with Ethan.

However, neither Nash nor Kelly can deny their attraction for one another and their chemistry is off the charts from the very beginning. Their journey isn’t really an easy one for either of them. Nash has to finally deal with his abandonment issues with Ethan and the secret Dare has kept from him since they were kids. I did like that Ethan stood up to Nash about leaving them behind. Nash finally saw Ethan had lived with the guilt he felt from their parents dying on the way to pick Ethan up from jail. Nash and Ethan took a big step in the direction of being brothers again. Dare’s secret coming to life made me bawl my eyes out. Nash being Nash, took a bit to come to terms with not only why Dare kept a secret but what the secret actually was. It just broke my heart to see the wall go up between the two brothers who had been so close for their entire lives.

Of course, when Nash has his world crumbling all around him, Kelly realizes she needs to tell Nash a secret from her past. Life and her mother get in the way and Nash finds out Kelly’s secret before she can tell him the whole truth. Again, so sad for Kelly and Nash. Both characters really were kicked in the teeth a few times in this book. I have to say I think both Kelly and Nash are stronger for all they each had thrown their way on their path to love.

We got to spend more time with several of the supporting characters from the town of Serendipity. I love April, who is Nash’s ex-wife and Kelly’s new best friend. She is such a strong woman and finally saw herself that way following her diagnosis of MS. Divorcing Nash, who was her best friend all through high school couldn’t have been easy, especially when she knew she would have MS episodes for the rest of her life. However, that diagnosis was what it took for her to realize she wanted more out of life. Joe, who runs the local bar in Serendipity has been attracted to April since high school. Since he is a natural care giver, April holds off going out with him for a long time following her divorce. She finally steps out of her comfort zone and agrees to go out with Joe when she sees Nash has real feelings for Kelly. April even accepts Joe’s help when she has a MS flair-up and still goes out with him once she feels better. I loved April from the minute we met her and was glad to see her find someone to love and someone who loved her back.

Destiny is my favorite book I've read ever by Carly Phillips. I loved seeing Nash change as his and Kelly's story progressed. As much as I loved Serendipity, I loved Destiny even more! In my opinion, the Serendipity series is the best series ever by Carly Phillips. Karma, the third book in the Serendipity series, is Dare’s book and set for release in May 2012.
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Jan 28, 2012 Danielle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was really on the fence about Nash from the first book and I was hoping Carly could redeem his character in Destiny which she did. Nash had a lot of making up to do and had to finally find peace with his family. Throughout the book you get into the mind of Nash and why he is the way he is. I couldn’t help but feel for him when some things start to come to light. His emotions took you on wild ride from page to page.

Nash was holding a grudge on his older brother Ethan for taking off and leaving...more I was really on the fence about Nash from the first book and I was hoping Carly could redeem his character in Destiny which she did. Nash had a lot of making up to do and had to finally find peace with his family. Throughout the book you get into the mind of Nash and why he is the way he is. I couldn’t help but feel for him when some things start to come to light. His emotions took you on wild ride from page to page.

Nash was holding a grudge on his older brother Ethan for taking off and leaving Dare and him alone after their parents passed away. When Ethan returns to Serendipity, Nash makes it real hard on Ethan so he doesn’t forget what he has done. Now it is time for Nash to heal and try to understand why things happened the way they did. The question is will he finally be able to move on and put these things behind him?

Destiny kept me from wanting to leave my sofa so I could finish it. I couldn’t help but get invested in how things were going to work out for Nash. I found myself frustrated with him time and time again, but that only intrigued me more and more. I honestly couldn’t put it down. I didn’t like the way Nash always put the blame on everyone else and he never took accountability for what he has done, but once I understood him better he became a much more lovable character.

Kelly is just starting to make her life in this town so she can be closer to her sister since she has raised her. The attraction between her and Nash was not only very unexpected, but complicated. Both are afraid to pursue what they are feeling. After the kiss I couldn’t wait to see how things were going to play out between them. With her past threatening her future in this new town made this story even more interesting. Carly couldn’t have picked a better heroine for Nash. She was there to help him work through his problems and move on with her.

This is another wonderful read by Phillips!! She always makes you feel some real emotions through her detailed writing. This is a hard road to travel for the Barron’s but it is worth the read. I just couldn’t get enough. Now waiting for Dare will be a real killer but I am excited to see what road Carly takes him on. I loved this book. It will always be a re-read for me.

A wonderful second book in the series with promising future of Serendipity.
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Destiny (Serendipity #2)

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