Best Worst Mistake by Lia Riley Series: Brightwater #3
Publication Date: October 20th 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 235
Source: Publisher
Format: eARC
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Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely mine.
The third sexy and emotional novel in debut Avon author Lia Riley’s Brightwater series set in the mountains of Northern California
Sometimes the worst mistakes turn out to be the best…
Smoke jumper Wilder Kane once reveled in the rush from putting out dangerous wildfires. But after a tragic accident, he’s cut himself off from the world, refusing to leave his isolated cabin. When a headstrong beauty bursts in, Wilder finds himself craving the fire she ignites in him, but letting anyone near his darkness would be a mistake.
After her Hollywood life went up in smoke, Quinn Higsby decided to leave Tinseltown behind and returned to Brightwater to care for her ailing father. Spending her days in a small bookstore, her peaceful existence is up-ended by a fascinating but damaged man. Quinn is determined to not to be scared off by Wilder, not once she’s experienced the heat of his passions.
But when an arsonist targets the community and Wilder is accused, he must confront the ghosts of his past. Will his desire for Quinn flameout or will he be able to tame the wildness inside and rekindle a hope for their future?
Review
I really love this series and how different each of the brothers’ personalities are, but I think that BEST WORST MISTAKE is my favorite so far. Quinn and Wilder are like two pieces of a whole finally connecting and fitting together. Why? Because Quinn is light to Wilder’s dark and challenges him to live life to the fullest, something he hasn’t done in a long time and it doesn’t hurt that they have some many shared interests. Because they needed each other to quench the desire to belong to someone.
Wilder Kane has always been the black sheep of the Kane family and when his smoke jumping career was cut short due to tragedy, he returned to the one place he did not plan on returning to – his hometown of Brightwater, California. In keeping with his black sheep persona, Wilder retreated into himself and became a recluse living in seclusion but all it takes to throw his world upside down is a sassy and talkative bookworm.
Quinn Higsby left the bright lights of Hollywood behind for the pristine beauty and small town charm of Brightwater when her handsy boss cost her her job. Being in Brightwater is bittersweet for her because she loves the relaxed pace of Brightwater, enjoys her job at the book store and has fond memories of vacations spent with her father here but his declining health and what it means for her have her concerned. Wilder Kane is just the distraction she needs with his gruff and curmudgeonly exterior that hides a heart of gold as well as painful and haunting secrets. But with Quinn’s own worries hanging over her head, is getting involved with Wilder a smart choice? And with an arsonist on the loose, can she find happiness with Wilder? Or will their relationship crash under the combined weight of their issues?
I enjoyed Quinn’s character so much, the way her mind works and also how she says almost everything that goes through her mind, but most of all I love that she was able to see that under Wilder’s grouchy exterior beat the heart of a man longing for a connection. The tragic end to Wilder’s career is enough to elicit sympathy for him but the weight of the burden he’s carried and the penance he’s paid for so long are heartbreaking. I love that in spite of hits he had taken from life, Wilder didn’t give up on himself and also didn’t give up on Quinn and most of all, I enjoy that their relationship was without drama. This is a really sweet story with dialogue that had me chuckling and having the siblings reconnect and support one another through everything is one of my favorite things about this book.
Ms. Riley has done a great job with the series so far and I really hope that she adds more books to the series because inquiring minds want to know what the deal is between Kit and Goldie.
Excerpt
It had been a while since he’d been in the company of any woman who wasn’t a medical professional or intimately involved with his brothers. Also, as much as he didn’t want to admit it, he had a type and this forward, strong-looking woman fit it right down to that thick wavy brown hair pulled back at the nape of her long sexy neck.
Necks were underrated female geography. He loved how they tasted when he kissed them there, how they smelled as he nuzzled.
Equally fascinating was her lush mouth, how the corner remained quirked on one side despite the natural pout, as if in perpetual secret amusement.
This woman was bright, spunky, and happy, despite her father’s miserable situation. His heart sank. He had nothing to offer someone like her, not when his whole world had burned to a cinder.
He shook himself inwardly, not moving a muscle. No point succumbing to the ugly truth, however true. Maybe he could pretend to be a normal guy for the night. Normal except for the scars, the missing leg, and the fact he hadn’t spoken to a living soul since Sawyer dropped off his groceries six days ago, and was tongue-tied around strangers at the best of times.
Shit.
What would Archer do? His younger brother was good with people, especially the ladies. He’d navigate this situation like a pro.
She gave him a tentative smile, probably because he was staring at her like a loon.
Compliments. Women like compliments.
“Your teeth are real white,” Wilder blurted. Goddamn it, the words hung over them like a comic strip balloon. He wished for a string to grab on to, so he could stuff the idiocy back into his mouth, swallow it down.
“Excuse me?” Her shoulders jerked as her lips clamped, clearly not anticipating the awkward flattery.
At least he hadn’t said how much he liked her neck. Yet.
Damn, this was a mistake. He wasn’t good with people. Didn’t like people. Didn’t need people.
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About Lia Riley
Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult and Contemporary Adult romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments.
A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn't mind. Much. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about future books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound mighty fine.
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