Everett

Drake Brothers #1

by Casey Peeler

Everett Drake left the small town life and his three brothers behind the day he was old enough to enlist. However, he returned sooner than he had planned with a chip on his shoulder.

Taking a job with the local beer distributor, he makes a living, but when a new bar owner arrives in town, he knows exactly what he wants—Stella.

Genres: Family, Contemporary, Short Stories

48 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2017

About the author

Casey Peeler grew up and still lives in North Carolina with daughter. Her first passion is teaching students with special needs. Over the years, she found her way to relax was in a good book.

After reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston her senior year of high school and multiple Nicholas Sparks’ novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading.

When Casey isn’t writing, you can find her listening to country music, spending the day at the lake, being a wife and dance mom, and spending time with friends and family.

Her perfect day consists of water, sand between her toes, a cold beverage, and a great book!

Reviews

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Earlier this year I read Casey Peeler’s Boondocks. I enjoyed the book, although I would not label it a favourite, and was interested in reading more of the author’s work. When I saw the Drake Brothers series, I thought it was time to give her another try.

I’ll be completely honest, I have a love-hate relationship with short stories. The line between the two is very thin. Whilst I did find Everett to be an enjoyable enough read, I did not love it. It was fun to pass a short period of time – being a story you can complete in well under an hour – but it isn’t something I’ll be going out of my way to read again. I’ll certainly be reading Jeremiah – probably Colby and Beckett, too – but I doubt this will be one of those series I’ll be crazy excited about, just something I’ll be willing to read to pass a bit of time.

My issue with a lot of short stories is that I really enjoy seeing all of the small details. I like watching as things develop, as everything plays out. In short stories, we’re given things at a rapid-fire pace. With Everett, I feel as though this kind of storytelling means a lot of the potential was lost. Both our main characters had an interesting background we could have dove deeper into, and the chemistry between the two of them could have been expanded through showing us more of their interactions. I believe this could have been a lot more enjoyable if we’d been able to see all the little things that played out.

As I said, I’m interested in continuing the Drake Brothers series, but I doubt I’ll be doing so in a timely fashion.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The good ole bad boys!!

Great story, quick read, with a little mystery and danger, but passion and comedy too! This start to the Drake Brothers series will have you hooked in no time. And now a bit about the story...

Welcome to Ridge, North Carolina, where the Drake brothers are all grown up. The former young trouble makers all have a place in town. Except Everett, he's just returned from the Navy with an honorable discharge. When Stella moves to town buying the bar he wanted to buy the sparks fly!!

Favorite passages:
- “I’ve had to go over to Molly Simpson’s once a week to rescue her damn cat. I swear I really think she just likes to look at my ass when I climb that ladder up the tree.”
- “They’ve always been trouble, but I’m thinking they look like lions but roar like a house cat.”

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*
While this story had a lot of potential, it just fell short for me.
I liked Everett. It seemed like there was a great story with him, with all he had been through in the military, but we never really saw it. What happened with him at the end, it was just quite confusing.
I liked Stella- she had a lot of guts, picking up, moving, and starting her life over.
But the 2 of them together, apart from the insta-lust, I didn't feel it. There wasn't enough connection between them for things to have progressed so quickly there at the end. I wish there had been more development between them.

***Borrowed through KU.

[Ashley Carr, LSoR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everett Drake enlisted in the military and thought he was leaving his small town behind. When he gets medically discharged from the military he has to return to his small town. The Drake brothers are infamous in their hometown, always looking for a good brawl. Now that they have respectable jobs the brawling is kept to a minimum. Everett's oldest brother hooks him up with a job doing a beer distribution route just to keep him busy. One day on his route he meets Stella and there is an instant spark of attraction. Stella is the new bar owner of the Drake's favorite watering hole. When Stella gets in trouble will Everett be able to step in, in time?

** I voluntarily read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review **

[Tammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet and packed full of story. I was a bit surprised when I started reading and noticed the length but all was good it is a whole story.
We learn the Drake brothers are rough around the edges and have a bit of a troublemaking past. But they are really just good Ol southern boys who don't walk away from a fight.
Stella is a sweet girl who was hurt and wants to start a new life.
Everett is discharged from the Navy and back home starting over.
Love at first sight? Sparks but warning themselves STAY AWAY. Life has a funny way of pushing people together when they need someone. Even when they fight it.
I can always rely on this author for a sweet southern love story with a bit of steam mixed in. Can't wait for the other brothers stories.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fast read. I love these series that focus on a couple in each book. There is lots of action, angst, steamy hot scenes and a great HEA. I can’t wait to read each one. The Drake brothers sound delicious.

[Dana ~ The Dirty Smut'atter]

[Jae · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a shame that once again a great cover got wasted on a crappy book.

[Tiffany Willams · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There's something about him. It's almost as if the more I try to resist him, the more I can't." ~Stella

"She's going to be min, even if she doesn't know it yet." ~Everett

This book was short, sweet, sexy, and sassy all wrapped in one great package!

I think I'm going to like these Drake brothers...Just saying;)

Stella is ready to start her life over, so she goes back to the town she's always loved from her childhood. But one thing is completely different. This time when she arrives, she runs into (almost literally) the hottest guy she's ever seen.

Enter Everett Drake. Lawd have mercy! He's quite a man, I tell you. After being discharged from the military, this once bad boy in town is now back to get his life in order. It just so happens that one certain woman might be what he needs.

"I can't do this meaningless game we've been playing. I want more. I want you."

This story was fast paced and full of character. In true Casey Peeler form, she makes us fall in love with small towns and country boys with just a few pages.

I enjoyed this story so much and I can't wait for more Drake brothers because, as I said, there's just something about those southern gentleman;)

Well done, Casey!

"There no way in hell I can live without you."

[Rebecca Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everett Drake has just returned to his hometown of Ridge after recieving an honorable discharge from the Navy. He gets a job for Bell Distribution but has his eyes on Barger's, a local bar that he would love to own but the owner would never sell to one of the "Drake" boys.

Stella is moving to Ridge after her cousin sells her his bar when he is ready to leave town. She is tough and is ready to make sure no one takes advantage of her.

Both Stella and Everett have an immediate attraction to the other but Everett's family has a reputation and Stella has to make the decision of what she wants by herself. Will she give Everett a chance or follow what everyone else says?

This was a great quick read which was fun with some serious moments thrown in.

I liked Everett and I think they almost need a prequel to talk about all the trouble that the Drake brothers got in as all the Drake brothers seem so respectable now. I liked Everett right from the beginning with his somewhat "cocky" attitude but fun and protective. He was willing to start at any job just to get his life in Ridge back together and I really liked that.

I loved that Stella was strong and was not about to back down but there was something with Everett that she saw beneath all the crap that everyone talked about. She was extremely attracted to him and knew he was more than what he heard.

The chemistry between the two was so hot!! I loved how they just came together. The first twist I was expecting but not the second at all!!

I am really looking forward to more of these brothers!!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was pretty disappointed with this book. Admittedly, I did not know this was a novella (maybe even a novelette) when I started reading it.

There was so little to this book, I really have no idea who any of the characters are. There were teasers as to who they may be, as to what may be motivating them, but nothing concrete. The book was just too short for proper character development.

The relationship that this story revolved around was completely lost on me, as well. There wasn’t enough interaction between the two characters for me to see any chemistry. I have nothing against ‘insta-love’ or anything like that, as long as there is some evidence that the characters may have feelings towards one another, but along with character development, there just wasn’t enough time spent on the characters’ relationship for me to believe they even liked one another.

This book could be a great outline for a full-length novel. Perhaps, if some of the extra stuff – not directly related to Everett and Stella exploring their relationship – was eliminated and those extra pages were dedicated to fleshing their characters and relationship out, this could have worked as a novella/novelette. As it is, there is too much world building and extraneous action in it to feel like a complete story to me.

[Sassy Southern Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everett left his hometown, and brothers, as soon as he was able to enlist. Unfortunately, his time in the service didn't go as planned, and now he's home again, sooner than he'd hoped, and bitter about all of it.

Needing a new job, he gets hired by the local beer distributor, and his plans change yet again once he meets Stella, a new bar owner. She may have purchased the bar he had his eye on, and he'll deal with that, but first she'll be his.

The question is, will Stella, hurt before, risk her heart again? Is Everett truly interested in her, or does he just want the bar? Is a HEA possible?

While this novella was interesting, I do wish it had been longer, allowing us to become better acquainted with Everett and Stella. Hopefully their story will continue in a full length novel focusing on them, or in future books as his brothers find their happiness.

One-click now and follow along as two people must decide what they truly want.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

[Amazeballs Book Addicts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one. The Drake boys have a reputation for being bad boys but they are really nice guys. Everett is back in town after being medically discharged from the military. We don't really know what he has right away. I didn't like the way his illness was portrayed. I struggled with this one after finding out what he had. I had to decide if the way it was dealt with ruined the whole story for me but after much thought I was able to see that Everett and Stella's story itself overcomes any faults that I found with Everett's illness. Stella is looking for a second chance and to start over. Everett is the delivery man for a local beer company and Stella is the new owner of a bar. Their paths cross and there is an instant connection and chemistry. This one is a short quick read so things between Everett and Stella move pretty quickly. I would have loved to read more of about them.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short story. I read this book in one sitting and didn’t put it down once.
Short, fast paced and an enjoyable read. I felt like this book finished within a blink of an eye. I wanted more story and more scenes between Stella and Everett. I was slightly confused on why he was embarrassed about his diabetes? Yes he was discharged from the Navy because of it but other then that what was his reason?
I enjoyed this book. From page one, Everett intrigued me. He came across as a closed book. I just wanted to read the pages of his life. I liked Stella. I liked that achieved her dream of buying the bar. I liked the ending of this book the best. I liked the chemistry between Everett and Stella. Overall, I liked this book.
The storyline for this book is easy to follow and an enjoyable read. I cannot wait to read the rest of the Drake brother’s stories.

[Verna Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everett by Casey Peeler is a fun, sweet, quick read that I couldn’t put down. It’s one of those romances that just jumps out at you. It happens in an instant and you know that it’s meant to be. I loved Stella and Everett’s pull to each other. Their chemistry is sensational.

Everett is back from being in the military and trying to get his bearings when the sassy, in your face Stella shows up in his town. I loved their spunk and how they pushed each other’s buttons. It was an instant love between them that soon becomes exactly what they both needed all along. But don’t think that’s all the story is about. There are some intense moments in the story and they have to fight to recognize what’s right in front of them.

I give Everett by Casey Peeler 3.5 out of 5 BRIGHT STARS!

[Bookish AF • Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Casey Peeler since I first read her Full Circle series (I highly recommend those books). The one thing I admire about Casey is that she always brings her A game to the book. Everett is just another example of her amazing talent. Everett was a great short read. Don't think just because it was a short read that it was lacking in heat or heart.
Everett Drake has just returned to his hometown from the military. Stella has just moved to town to get away from her last relationship and to leave her past in the past. What happens when these two meet?? Fireworks!! Watch them navigate the waters of their recent past to find their way to their future.

[Alphas Do It Better Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Short but sweet introduction to the family!

Everett returns home from the Navy with an honorable discharge but the town still sees him as one of the bad-boy, trouble-making Drake brothers.

Stella decides returning to Ridge, North Carolina sounds like a great plan when the city she lives in still can't forget her "jilted fiance" status five years after the fact! Besides, taking over the family bar has always been a bit of a dream of hers.

When Everett and Stella practically run into each other, sparks fly!

Good book even though it's a bit on the short side. The banter was fun, the boys were cute and Stella was feisty.

AnnMarie C. - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog

[Nikki Costello ***Crazy Cajun Book Addicts Blog*** · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Crazy Cajun Book Addicts for an honest review.

A good, quick, fast paced read from Casey Peeler. It packs quite a punch, it's sexy and sassy and is also a great introduction to the other books coming up in this series, I'm just a little disappointed it wasn't a little longer.

Everett has returned to his home town after leaving the Navy. It's quite an adjustment for him and he's definitely not looking for a relationship, but will all that change when he meets Stella?

I look forward to meeting the rest of the brothers in the series!!!

[Rebecca Arbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great (too) short read!

Way too short but I loved it!

Everett Drake is heading back home! After being discharged from the military he heads back to his home town to live a civilized life. Enter Stella. Stella was looking to make a name for herself. Not many women are in the bar scene, but she wants to put her name out there. Moving to her cousins hometown not only does she get a bar but she also gets a hot bar hand!

Peeler knows what she’s doing! If you’ve not read anything else from her your missing out!!!

[Kathryn Linke · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
Everett is the first title in the Drake Brothers series, and is a very quick, and short read. Although it's short it's still very well written with an engaging story line with action, intrigue and some quite hot and heavy love scenes.

I really wanted more of this couple, I would have liked to have more of their back stories, and seen more development in their relationship.

I will be looking forward to more of the Drake Brothers as this title has left me quite intrigued.

[Tania's Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read. Everett was discharged from the military and was back home with his three brothers. Stella was the new owner of the bar in town.

Stella and Everett tried to stay away but things heated up between these two. These two lovebirds along with his brothers which were all pretty close is a good quick read.

I voluntarily accepted an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted so much for this series because I always love when there is a series about brothers. But, this just didn't work for me. I had no idea it was so short. If it would have been longer, with more of a story, then it could have been so much better. I do like the brothers so far, but it just needed more.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everett has served his country and is coming home to the small town he grew up in. He’s coming back to his brothers and to face life without his adoptive parents. Stella is coming to town to buy her family’s bar and keep it running. Everett is the beer delivery guy. They instantly feel the attraction. And, as they say, the rest is history!

[Jaime Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, quick read. I started the book and was getting into it and next thing I know it’s done. I loved the character of Everett and I believe there should be more of a backstory with him. Wishing it was longer but I will be reading the rest of the books in this series to see what happens with him and the rest of his brothers.

[Katrina Lampkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy read. The storyline moved along nicely. This story focuses on Everett Drake. He is one brother and the author gave each brother their own story. I don't think you would be disappointed in the ending. I actually felt there could have been more. Casey writes a sweet love story.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hmm

Everett is home and has a chip on his shoulder ... But he wants Stella when he sees her. They are awesome together!!!

[Janice Somers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this quick short read. Can't wait for the next story.

[Jenell Shull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved

Casey did it again. I loved it. Short and sweet. When love hits you when you least expect it. This is a definitely a must read

[Amy Rehberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was okay

I liked the story but I felt like something was missing. The back story for the characters. It was a quick story if you're looking for a little book.

[Laura Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

An amazing love story. No matter how this author write a love story i fall in love with her books all over again.