Here is Carter and Cat’s story! We actually met these two characters in the previous books so I was highly anticipating meeting them again. I am
happy to say, I am not disappointed!
Carter has been working New York as well as managing a gym in Philadelphia. He is a MMA fighter and after one of these fights, meets Cat, who had previously helped Annie and Dante. The two of them have an instant connection, but Cat is resistant to Carter’s charms as she has a daughter and her own ghosts to take care of and never having a guy she could rely on. This is also the first time Carter finds himself pursuing someone, having never been a guy who wanted to settle down after seeing his mom struggle with finding a loving relationship.
I really loved the couple, both individually and together. Cat is strong, smart, and sassy. She has worked hard to provide for her daughter, Ivy, and always puts others first. She is lucky to have a supportive sister, Maggie, and colleague, Ian, as she tries to deflect her past and move forward. She is also very open and willing to speak her mind. I also liked how she doesn’t give in right away. She is definitely the lioness Carter sees her as.
Carter himself always seemed light-hearted but serious when he needed to be. I am glad we got more of his background in this story as well, fleshing out his character. He is also a complete teddy bear when it comes to Cat and Ivy, both cuddly but also fiercely protective. He also has a strong awareness of others around him, able to detect when the atmosphere subtly shifts and knowing when he does something wrong and trying hard to make things right.
The two of them together are adorable and show they were ultimately made for one another. You could totally tell they were meant to be the moment Cat steps into Carter’s exam room. They appreciate each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and while they have some ups and downs, they work together to sort things out and display a partnership. Their relationship is definitely filled with passion, trust, humility and rainbows.
I also loved the side characters. Ivy is sassy like her mother and a walking encyclopedia. The references to animals was a nice touch and foundation to the couple’s relationship; I would contribute the couple’s connection partly due to Ivy. Benji, as Carter’s best friend from childhood, is also applaudable. He is the one who dragged Carter to the hospital where Cat was, when normally Carter doesn’t bother seeing doctors. Benji also proves to be a great confidante (though he might not keep it to himself when it involves the other half) and looks after our main couple. Maggie is a great sister to Cat, allowing her and Ivy to stay with her and helping Cat to move forward and take risks. Ian is also protective of Cat and brings humor to this story. We also see the return of Sebastian, Goldie, Dante, Annie, and Nico, as there are threats in New York from the senator election.
In terms of villains, the author did a great job with making me dislike them with the way they treated others and tried to carry out their plans. I wholeheartedly detested them.
I also enjoyed how the plot moved and the twists weaves in, intersecting storylines and letting the characters really shine. I honestly was hugging myself at times and tearing up during the sad and endearing moments. I really felt for our main couple and everything they were going through personally. Overall, I am gushing about how much I enjoyed this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.