Desire Me Dearly

Heron's Landing #3

by Iris Morland

The deepest of desires...
When Kat Williamson moves to Heron’s Landing in order to care for her ailing grandmother, the last thing she’s looking for is trouble--or love. But Gavin Danvers, the father of one of her students, sparks a heat in her that can’t be ignored. Still, he’s in the middle of a divorce, so she tries to keep her distance…until a game she designed subjects her to ever-escalating threats.

Can blossom into the dearest of loves...
Gavin blames himself for his inability to save his ex-wife from her mental illness. No matter how much he wants Kat, he doesn’t think he deserves her. After she finds his daughter hiding in a supply closet at school, the two of them work together to help Emma cope. And when Gavin learns that Kat is being threatened, he insists on protecting her. They quickly grow closer, but then an unexpected enemy threatens everything he holds dear. Gavin must conquer his fears—or stay locked forever in a loveless prison.

**
Discover the enchanting love stories set in the charming town of HERON’S LANDING, Missouri, where romance blossoms alongside the bountiful town vineyards. Each book is connected but can be read as a standalone.

HERON’S LANDING
Seduce Me Sweetly
Tempt Me Tenderly
Desire Me Dearly
Adore Me Ardently

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks, Interracial Romance

152 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 16, 2016

About the author

A coffee addict and cat lover, USA Today bestselling author Iris Morland writes sparkling, swoon-worthy romances, including the Flower Shop Sisters and the Love Everlasting series.

If she's not reading or writing, she enjoys binging on Netflix shows and cooking something delicious.

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Reviews

[Coco.V]

💝FREE on Amazon today (5/20/2018)!💝

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kat, a grade school computer teacher has a crush on Gavin, the father of one of her troubled students. He's aware of her because they had a moment at a baseball game but his past is a roadblock that prevents him from asking her out. When a situation happens with his daughter and Kat rescues her, he's grateful. He wants more, but the guilt of his past keeps getting in the way. Kat is dealing with her own set of problems after being threatened after posting a video game she created for feedback. The invisible troll says some vile things which quickly get out of hand and her safety is at stake. Kat's situation brings them together but he's still not really ready for a relationship. The story takes place in a small town. the pacing is a bit slow and an important aspect of one of the story lines isn't wrapped up.

NOTE: I bought this book in 2016 when it had a different cover, but never read it. The author has updated the cover (love it!) and added more to the story.

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read. Kat is a part time teacher and this is how she meets Gavin. He is currently dealing with some issues with his daughter and it all goes back to his ex wife. On top of all this someone is after Kat. She stays with him until they can catch whoever is after her. Of course while spending time together they fall in love. Thankfully in the end everything works out and they get their happy ending.

[Melanie S · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC of this book. The opinion expressed is solely my own. I was disappointed in Desire Me Dearly. Author Iris Morland has my respect for including a feminist heroine of color in a positive role, and for an honest depiction of the effect of mental illness on marriages, families, and especially children. My disappointment stems from the romance between Kat and Gavin. From the oddly disconnected opening scene to the end, I couldn't find a believable foundation to their attraction. Initially he's married, although in the process of divorce, and their only connection is that she teaches a computer class in which his daughter is a student. Nevertheless, each is portrayed, separately, as being nearly obsessive in their blind attraction to the other. He is written as reclusive and uncommunicative, yet on their third interaction - a professional situation at the school - he pushes the conversation to a personal level and ends up kissing her? It goes on from there. Equally odd is Kat's rather unprofessional morphing of her legitimate interest in a student's welfare with her insta-lust attraction to the student's father. Plus, her questionable judgement in posting her blatantly anti-male online game, only to delete it after she receives nasty backlash from offended males, undermines her character. This woman is supposedly professional, tech and internet savvy, a teacher, and a feminist, yet she sets in motion a stalker situation that she should have seen coming. Her behavior makes no sense. I also take issue with the author's choice to skip over meaningful backstory content and instead fill pages with her main characters' repetitive - and uninformative - internal monologues. In the end, I couldn't understand or sympathize much with Kat or Gavin; the romance felt hollow, the sex unexciting, and the danger contrived. Not my kind of romance.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a teacher, Kat's first concern is for the welfare of her students, but letting the over-sensitive and somewhat prickly Gavin Danvers know that his daughter is withdrawn, takes more than a little courage. Gavin has had his fill of therapists, especially when it appears their intervention made matters worse rather than better. That doesn't change the fact that Gavin is strongly attracted to Kat, but the past keeps getting in the way. When Kat attracts her own problems, Gavin realises that he cannot stand back and watch her suffer and his protective instincts are put on full alert. A fairly suspenseful romance, one with a sting in the tail, is well written and did keep my interest. It also comes to a good conclusion, bringing resolution to more than one problem. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Becky Claxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always I loved catching up with characters from previous books. I struggled some with Gavin. He felt like a weak man to me, but I tried to understand because of all he went through with his ex wife and his daughter’s issues. Kat was a strong woman who had gone through pain of losing a couple of loved ones. She is the type person always taking care of someone else. I liked that she tried to help Gavin’s daughter through her emotional issues. It does get intense as someone is terrorizing Kat, and she doesn’t know who or why. It is an interesting book that I encourage you to read. I was given a copy of the book and voluntarily wrote a review.

[Sage Knightly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 or 4 not sure yet

[Angala Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Awesome book!

[Mary McFarlane · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like a 3 1/2. It was good but it really dragged in some parts. It’s not like her Thornton’s series which I love but this was still a very good series.

[Mermer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this at work the other day! And it was a solid 3🌟 I liked it!
But the FMC narrator wasn’t my favourite! Idk if I’ll listen to the rest I’ll probably just read them!

[Cali Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat Williamson is funny, smart and the perfect person to bring Gavin back to the land of the living after his first marriage ends. Coming back to his family home to heal is for the best especially since it leads him to Kat. I love the banter between these two and the way their personalities are so similar yet different at the same time. Really great visit to Heron's Landing, looking forward to the next visit.

[Tkmla · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Make Me Yours“ von Iris Morland ist der dritte Band ihrer romantischen Small Town Romance Reihe Willkommen in Heron’s Landing.
Gavin Danvers ist frisch geschieden und mit seiner kleinen Tochter Emma zurück in seine Heimatstadt Heron’s Landing gezogen. Hier will er zur Ruhe kommen und sich von den traumatischen Umständen seiner Trennung erholen. Für eine neue Beziehung hat er im Moment überhaupt keinen Kopf, obwohl ihn Emmas Lehrerin Kat tagtäglich in seinen Gedanken heimsucht. Kat Kümmert sich rührend um Emma und bezaubert Gavin mit ihrer positiven und lebensfrohen Art. Dabei hat Kat, abgesehen von ihrer Trauer und Einsamkeit seit dem kürzlichen Tod ihrer Großmutter, auch einige Probleme. Ein rücksichtsloser Stalker schickt Kat ständig angsteinflößende Drohbotschaften, die in Gavin den Beschützerinstinkt anspringen lassen. Also lässt er Kat bei sich einziehen, was bei beiden ein ziemliches Gefühlschaos auslöst.

Das idyllische Heron’s Landing und das malerische Weingut der Familie Danvers sind ein wunderschönes Setting für all die romantischen Verwicklungen dieser Serie. Iris Morland mixt ihre Lovestorys jedoch immer mit einem Hauch Spannung, so dass es auf keinen Fall zu cosy wird. Der Schreibstil liest sich leicht und flüssig und es kommen sowohl Kat als auch Gavin zu Wort.
Kat mochte ich von Anfang an, denn ihre bodenständige und pragmatische Art ist einfach sympathisch. Sie macht kein sinnloses Drama, sondern geht die Dinge strukturiert an, auch wenn sie nicht erkennt, dass sie sich in ihrer fürsorglichen Art fast selbst aufgibt.
Gavin ist nach außen schroff und unnahbar, aber auch er ist eher ein Kümmerer und möchte am liebsten alle Probleme reparieren. Dass er das nicht kann, musste er bereits auf die harte Tour lernen. Aber gerade deshalb ist er noch vorsichtiger und abschottender geworden, was ihn möglicherweise sein Glück kosten könnte.
Das Buch ist nicht allzu lang, aber es enthält alles, was wichtig ist. Man kann mit den Charakteren mitfühlen und die Konflikte sind nachvollziehbar dargestellt. Emotionen und Spannung sind gekonnt verknüpft und ich wurde sehr gut unterhalten.

Mein Fazit:
Ich gebe sehr gern eine Leseempfehlung!

[Birgit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry, but - way too melodramatic, way too many threads (I do not want to call them plots!), way too much illogical behaviour, and way too much dry descriptive narration instead of proper dialogues between the protagonists.
Oh and the protagonists. Where do I start. Okay, way too much brooding going on, Emma, the little daughter with the main problem I'd say, is only "aired out" and brought forward if the author thinks it fits the story. Gavin - how can he feel guilty for his ex-wife's illness, and how did she not get treatment if she was, according to the book, on medication (she did tend not to take it, didn't she?). Then Kat, looking after her mother and grandmother - and needing therapy, poor thing, but at least as an ex-patient she can now tell Gavin what's wrong with his daughter, because she got all this experience. Next: if you are threatened, would you stay with the brooding single parent of a kid you're teaching, in a small town, or with the colleague who offered as well, or just in a bed and breakfast? Attraction: the attraction was there, but instead of captivating the reader with the sizzling sparks flying between the protagonists, any steamy (sort of) scenes were thrown in like an afterthought (oh xxx pages ? I need a sex scene), and again, where was little Emma in all this? Then - and sorry SPOILER ALERT - in the middle of a desperate search for the girl, you declare your love? That's in your mind?????
Language: "he elbowed him with his elbow".... he did? Not with his foot or head? With his elbow? Wow, what masterly control of language. That was one of the more blatant examples, I admit. But still. No. Absolutely no.
In case I haven't made it clear: my very personal opinion about this book is that I do not like it. Not a bit. My apologies to the author who did put it out for people who will love this story, but also for people like me who don't and will say so.

[sjoyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dearly Me Quickly - A Novella

This is a very short interracial novella. Kat is an African-American who teaches computer classes at the elementary school. She moved to Heron's Landing to take care of her grandmother who was suffering from dementia. Gavin moved back home with his eight year old daughter, Emma, after finally divorcing his wife who suffers from bipolar illness but refused his help. Gavin moved to prevent Emma from being affected by her mother. There is something "odd" about Emma. Of course Kat teaches Gavin's daughter, Emma. Kat also designs computer games. One game led to a stalker or was there really a stalker? if so, you immediately know who the stalker is. Does Gavin keep Kat from danger? Does Kat recognize Emma's problem and help Gavin with her? Does a relationship develop between Kat and Gavin? That's the entire storyline. There are other characters, all related to Gavin in some form. Kat has no relatives other than her grandmother which seems strange. Apparently, there are no other African-Americans in that town, or it wasn't important enough to identify any other characters by race. If that's the case, why identify Kat by race. It's nonsensical. That's all the development of the main characters.

This is a quick read with little character or plot development and no drama or intrigue. There's no sex until midway through the book and nothing really erotic. It starts slow but seem to end quickly. It's the third in a series, however it's completely stand alone. This was free when I bought it, but it's not worth more than a dollar and the other books in the series are overpriced. The next in the series is 66 pages and costs $2.99. It wasn't worth that so I didn't purchase it. However, I didn't have a desire to read any others after reading this one. It was OK.

[Erin McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to see a feminist heroine in this book! I’m a die-hard romance novel fan, but it gets old reading so many with the possessive alpha or dom teaching a woman how to be a sub, etc. Kat is a strong, intelligent, educated woman who knows her worth and won’t stand to be mansplained to by meninists (HA! I lol’d when I read those references, first time I’ve seen them used in a romance). I love how she was presented in such a modern way.

I thought the portrayal of the online atmosphere was well done in this book. It reflected not just the safety-behind-anonymity bullying and trolling that goes on in general, but it also accurately portrayed how feminists are often targeted with threats and violence for their views.

The only real negative for me in this book was how it felt like there was part of the story missing. The opening scene didn’t seem to fit. I have no clue why they were together at that time, especially when they weren’t friends and their relationship wouldn’t have resulted in them sitting and eating together at a picnic. There was also a reference later as to when they met. Perhaps these things were included in the earlier books, but as a new reader coming into the series with this book, it left me feeling like I missed a few chapters. Those earlier interactions would have been a great addition and given a more complete picture of Kat and Gavin’s story.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tara Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gavin has had a rough go of it with his relationship. His ex-wife has had a struggle with her mental health for years and, even though they love each other still, they can't be together after she does the unthinkable. When he moves himself and his daughter back to his home town of Heron's Landing he can't help being intrigued by Kat, his daughter's teacher. Kat loves all of her students, but finds it difficult to keep her attraction to Gavin under wraps. Even harder to contain is her opinion on how to help his anxiety ridden daughter.
I loved every moment of this book, even the harder to read parts. Someone is threatening Kat on the computer and continuously becomes more aggressive. When the threats start showing up at her house, Gavin moves her in with him so he can keep her safe. Unfortunately, the threats seem to get worse. Even though I figured out who the culprit was, it didn't make me like the book less. The reasoning behind the threats was interesting to me and I didn't see that one coming. Understanding why Gavin was adament about nothing serious didn't make it less frustrating when he would push Kat away. I do wish that there would have been a converstaion with Gavin and his entire family so they all could have aired their feelings out.
I highly recommend this book, as well as the rest of the series. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

[Elizabeth Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This was an interesting story of two people, Gavin and Kat, who are so used to taking care of everyone else, they don't know how to care for themselves. Additionally, they both have issues of self-esteem, although Gavin is clearly the more damaged of the two. Kat is actually strong and independent, but she really likes to help people, which is problematic when she’s willing to do so at the cost of her own happiness.

Did I mention that Gavin is seriously damaged? His wife had attempted suicide and he felt responsible. At first, I wondered why he would have divorced her, but it was explained that she had insisted. I think Kat should have known that (maybe she did, but I can't remember). Otherwise, I'd wonder how Kat could allow herself to care for someone who left his wife when she was crying for help. Anyway, it's understandable that Gavin had some issues, but I believe any truly healthy woman would have avoided involvement.

The plot was good, with just the right amount of tension. Though there were some surprises, there was also enough foreshadowing to suspect some of what transpired. The characters, though notably flawed, were complex and sympathetic. I would recommend this book and I'd like to read more in the series.

[JigsawGirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this book would be better than the last. I also listed to the audiobook, and the narration was decent. The story just didn't flow for me. Too many implausible things occurred.

I appreciated that the heroine was a woman of color. If I remember correctly, it was mentioned that she moved to Hero's Landing from a larger city. As a woman, first and foremost; A woman from a larger city, A woman of color from a larger city, Kat seemed to have no survival skills, no intuitions to protect herself, no nothing.

Periodically I picked up on some sparks between Gavin and Kat, but I felt no consistency in their chemistry. Once again, we have the back and forth. I didn't understand why Gavin held all that guilt about his wife's health. I could understand him feeling guilty about Emma. As protective as he was of Emma, I didn't understand the decision he made about Kat when trouble came knocking on her door.

I also thought it was interesting that the deputy from the previous book had more to do with Kat's case than the sheriff did. Maybe I missed something.

This book was somewhat of a struggle to get through. Once again, the culprit, the stalker was obvious. I couldn't decide between 2 and 2.5 stars initially, but the more I thought about this book, the more the rating started to cement for me.

As always, I would recommend you read it and judge for yourself.

[Reg Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat Williamson is 26 and had come to Heron's Landing to be with her dear Grandma Lillian who had just passed a month earlier. Kat was a computer programmer in L..A. but was now teaching I.T at the local school. At the Spring Festival she had been awestruck by the handsome bearded older Gavin Danvers and knew he had a daughter, Emma. Now Emma is in Kat's class and Kat notices how shy and withdrawn she is and mentions it to Gavin. She asks him if he has ever considered professional help and he becomes almost angry. He is just as attracted to Kat as she is to him but is overly protective of Emma who has gone through some difficult times emotionally in her eight years. Her mother is mentally disturbed and she and Gavin are divorced for a while now. He still feels for her but doesn't want his daughter to endure the things she had to again. This is a slow burn helped along when protective Gavin has Kat move in with him to avoid a nasty stalker who won't go away. Things get nice and steamy with some building sex scenes. This is an inter-racial romance as Kat is black I think since she has an afro but the writer barely mentions this which is well done. These two despite a bit of an age gap are meant for each other.

[Bellereader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat and Gavin are heating up Heron’s Landing! Kat has been teaching computer science since her Grandmother fell ill, but now that she is gone she has been think more and more about the long lost Computer Programming life in LA. Not much ties her to Heron’s Landing - the only thing that had any real merit would be Gavin Danvers. Gavin is the single dad of one of her students, Emma, that smoldering looks make her weak at the knees. Gavin has been trying to piece life back together since his ex-wife basically imploded and broke not only his marriage but scarred his daughter. Trying the best he can to help his little girl and move on he moved back to Heron’s Landing hoping that it would help them get a fresh start. Since the moment he saw Kat, he wanted things he knew he shouldn't. He's just too broken and has too much on his plate. He knows he should stay away, but his heart overrules his head as he falls helplessly for the strong beauty. Now he will just need to trust that Kat is strong enough to handle his baggage and he is brave enough to open his heart again.

I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book.

[Marichus Real · Rating 3 out of 5]

A three-star review on Heron’s Landing 3 Desire Me Dearly by Iris Morland
Kat is a computer programmer who moves to Heron’s Landing to take care of her dying grandmother. She takes a job in a school to teach the children how to use the computer. One of her students is Emma, a little girl who suffers from anxiety disorder.
Gavin is Emma’s dad. After his wife attempt to commit suicide in front of her daughter, they got a divorce. Gavin is full of anger and fear.
The storyline is good but the execution not so much. Gavin is very rude. He feels he failed his wife and he is angry with his brother for not being with him through his ordeal. At the same time, he is angry with the teachers calling her daughter odd and with the whole world. I don’t like how he treats Kat. I like best Kat. She is caring and sweet. However, the part about her game posted on the Internet is not very credible. How is it that she only received bad comments from men? I think it is too out of the contest.
The best part of the book is the end. It is quick, with a hint of mystery and interesting.
All in all, I enjoyed the book.

[Cherryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

One can't cure everyone

Gavin Davers and Kat Williamson had to learn that. Kat was used to taking care of everybody. She nursed both her mother and grandmother before they died and she felt lost without them. Now there was Emma, Gavin's daughter, who was in trouble and needed help. Gavin was at his wit's end with what to do to help her and pushed everyone away who wanted to help, including Kat, whom he was falling for. He felt as though he was a failure and could not help Emma or his ex wife with their mental issues. He felt that Kat deserved better than a broken man. But, when Kat was threatened, he stepped up to protect her. It was not until that threat extended to he and his daughter that he had an awakening of what he was doing to everybody.I

Iris wrote a story about how mental illness affects not only the person but radiates out to the people around them who love them and how helpless and inadequate they feel to provide help. Both Kat and Gavin were care takers and now with issues being resolved, they can focus on caring for each other and Emma, forging on to their HEA.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know the enigmatic third child of the Danvers clan. We barely got to hear about Gavin in his siblings’ books, so it was interesting to learn more about his life and challenges. We had a better opportunity to meet Kat in the previous book, but we really didn’t get to find out what ‘makes her tick’. The thing that impressed me the most about this book is the way it shows encouragement for getting professional help with mental and emotional difficulties. It also does a very good job of showing the ways those difficulties impact more than just the individual experiencing them. I liked seeing the ways the instant connection between Gavin and Kat manifested, but I’m not sure I completely believe in the relationship that comes from it. The author did such a good job explaining all the ways their expectations didn’t align, that it was a bit of a surprise to me that they were able to overcome them so easily. I thought the thread of intrigue added to the immediacy of the connection between Gavin and Kat, though I can’t say I was shocked by the identity of the culprit behind it. I particularly liked the epilogue and how it brings the three siblings’ stories together.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing in this story is interesting, engaging, and it flows well. The story itself, however, isn't nearly as good as many of the other works from this author. Drama was quite a bit bigger than necessary and the resolution of that drama was the same as well as kind of lackluster. Romance was also kind of a let-down. There was so much potential for the fiery, outspoken, multi-layered Kat and the taciturn, hurting, gruff, brooding Gavin. We learn a lot about these characters individually, together, however, we see longing from afar and more than a little physical attraction. I don't believe that they're building a romance together at all and with a lot of declarations of protection that didn't really jive with how the story played out. And then there's Emma. I was expecting more from Kat and Emma but there was a huge complication there that was eventually accepted by Gavin and strides went toward coping and healing. Overall, this was slightly disappointing based on how much I usually like the author and other books from this particular series. 2.5 stars.

[TinaMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat Williamson returned to Heron's Landing to help her dying grandmother who was suffering from dementia. A computer programmer by trade, she is currently teaching computer skills to elementary school kids.

Now divorced, Gavin Danvers returns to Heron Landing with his daughter trying to recover and heal after trying for years to help his wife manage her bi-polar disorder. Both he and his daughter are still suffering from the repercussions.

Kat and Gavin are both wounded souls, but Kat seems to have dealt much better with her losses, while Gavin and his daughter are still very troubled. The attraction is clear but Gavin let's his head get in the way of his heart, when Kat's stalker threatens her it throws them together and things start to heat up.

This is a sweet, small town romance, showing how mental illness affects relationships and children, with a splash of danger when a stalker targets Kat.

I received an ARC copy and am voluntarily leaving a review. If you like my reviews I hope you will follow my blog. https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/

[Jin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat's been back to Heron's Landing to look after her grandmother and even though she is gone she can't leave yet. This small town she couldn't just leave. She is working as computer teacher at an elementary school and getting along with everyone and she has been seeing Gavin and his daughter. She thought he was handsome but she wasn't sure she could approach him.
Gavin is finally back from Boston with his daughter after a divorce. He was sure he is done with relationships and marriage until he meets Kat. He knew there is something but he wasn't sure if he could be that person for her.
Kat has been getting threats and it escalates and Gavin volunteers to look after her and invites her to his apt. Now they will have to live in close quarters.
Gavin will need to protect two in his life but will he be able to let go and start a new relationship?
It was short read and it might be helpful to read the previous book. It seems Gavin and Kat some history before. It is short read and could be standalone.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book three in the Heron's Landing series. This is Gavin and Kat's story. Gavin is returning home to sort out his life with his daughter after the divorce. However, his daughter's teacher, Kat captures his attention and leaves him feeling protective of her. It turns out it may be warranted. The capturing moment in this story was the discussions on mental health. I believe this is such an important topic and so glad to see the openness beginning to surface on this. Just because it cannot be visually seen does not mean that it is not there. I enjoyed and struggled with Gavin and Kat's story as their road was so challenged and showcased the differences, I was not certain about their ending. I personally love when the author writes in an update on the previous characters and was so happy to this as well. Enjoy!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book that I received complimentary from Hidden Gems.

[Cassey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodness, what a read. Kat and Gavin are some deep folks with their respective issues and somehow they find a way to work it out and be there for each other. There were some things the read touched on - anxiety and the vitriol that is directed towards female devs - which is appreciated in terms of the romance writers not just ignoring the world outside the romance bubble.

However, it wasn't all handled well. When your lead is a Black woman in tech, in a small town...ignoring just what that means rings hollow. It's a take of she just happens to be Black, she just happens to be a woman in tech and it doesn't matter or shape how she interacts with the world...that's not how people work. We contain multitudes and those multitudes all play a roll in our interactions with the world and others.

Aside from tat, it's a generally good read. And a slightly different read than the usual.

*I'm a lucky fish and on the author's ARC team*

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gavin Danvers moved back to Heron's Landing with his young daughter, Emma, after the end of his marriage. Gavin is dealing with guilt as a result of the divorce and Emma is having panic attacks. The bright light in his life is Emma's teacher, Kat Williamson. However, Gavin's guilt is making him keep Kat at arms length. But when Kat is threatened Gavin finds a way to save not only Kat but himself.

I'll admit that this story started a little slow but I'm glad I stuck with it. Kat is a strong heroine despite her self doubts. Although her game brought danger to her life, I'm glad that she didn't immediately give in to the cyber bullies. Gavin made me want to shake him on several occasions. I was happy when he finally realized all he had to lose before it was too late.

If you're a fan of second chance love, I highly recommend this book.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know the enigmatic third child of the Danvers clan. We barely got to hear about Gavin in his siblings’ books, so it was interesting to learn more about his life and challenges. We had a better opportunity to meet Kat in the previous book, but we really didn’t get to find out what ‘makes her tick’. The thing that impressed me the most about this book is the way it shows encouragement for getting professional help with mental and emotional difficulties. It also does a very good job of showing the ways those difficulties impact more than just the individual experiencing them. I liked seeing the ways the instant connection between Gavin and Kat manifested, but I’m not sure I completely believe in the relationship that comes from it. The author did such a good job explaining all the ways their expectations didn’t align, that it was a bit of a surprise to me that they were able to overcome them so easily. I thought the thread of intrigue added to the immediacy of the connection between Gavin and Kat, though I can’t say I was shocked by the identity of the culprit behind it. I particularly liked the epilogue and how it brings the three siblings’ stories together.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.