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Book Cover C2’s review of Destiny (Serendipity, Book 2) by Carly Phillips
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 3 Jan 12

In Carly Phillips’ Destiny, we return to the small town of Serendipity. We see how things are going for the residents we met in the first book of the series, and the second Barrons brother, Nash, gets his happily ever after. Eventually.

Nash is still dealing with the fallout caused by the return of his estranged brother, Ethan (hey, read about Ethan’s book here). Everyone else seems to have welcomed Ethan back with open arms, but Nash just can’t. And that is causing friction with the rest of the family.

At Ethan’s wedding, Nash has a brief encounter with Kelly Moss. Nash’s dad and Kelly’s mom had an affair years ago – an affair that resulted in their half-sister Tess. Kelly brought Tess to live with Ethan after her mom abandoned them and she could no longer handle the troubled teen. Nash’s parents were killed in a car accident when Tess was a baby. Kelly has recently moved to Serenity. She wants to be closer to Tess – who is doing quite well in her new situation (after some bumps) – and needs a change of scenery after some drama in her personal life.

As Nash and Kelly begin to have a relationship, outside forces cause difficulties – some small, some not so small. Nash is a bit of a control freak, probably because of his childhood – everyone he has cared about has left him, except his younger brother, Dare. But, suddenly, there are all sorts of changes in Nash’s life – his older brother is back after being gone for years, he has a sister he never suspected existed, and his ex-wife just started dating. Not to mention getting involved with a woman who isn’t so forthcoming with details about her past.

When Kelly uncovers some information about Nash’s past, Nash is thrown into a tailspin. Suddenly, he is questioning all sorts of things he had taken as truths all his life. And Kelly is there for him the whole time. But Kelly’s secrets are about to rear their heads.

Will Nash be there for Kelly when she needs him? Or will he be stuck in his own problems and feel betrayed? And will Kelly finally prove to herself she isn’t like her mother and move forward as a strong, independent woman or let her doubts and past mistakes overwhelm her?

I have to say I didn’t enjoy Destiny as much as the first book in the series. Maybe because Serendipity is a twist on the bad boy/good girl trope and I do so enjoy those stories. Nash never quite gels as a character for me – supposedly he’s this rigid, sees-everything-in-black-and-white guy, at least according to the other characters in the book. But he never actually seems that way…he just comes across as stubborn, mostly. Maybe that is on purpose, since he’s supposed to be learning to loosen up…I dunno. And Kelly is an okay heroine, but she’s supposed to have all these hidden insecurities and issues from her past – let me just say they are very well hidden until they became a plot point. It just gives things an awkward feel.

So, does this book stand alone? No, I say you should read the first book before this one. It’s better and you’ll know what’s going on. Even though there is a disconnect between how the characters are described and the way they are portrayed, Destiny isn’t a bad book, and I am optimistic about Dare’s book (coming soon).

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Grade: C-

Summary:
Nash Barron may be cynical about love, yet even he likes a good wedding. But the only good thing about his brother’s wedding is Kelly Moss. Nash can’t help but admire her confidence and beauty, but he’s forced to keep his distance because getting involved with Kelly could destroy his relationship with his newly discovered half sister, Tess…
Kelly came to Serendipity to give Tess–her half sibling as well, thanks to an illicit affair–a second chance at life. She learned long ago not to rely on anyone but herself. Besides, she doesn’t want to upset Tess’s life by pushing for a fling with Nash. Except the more she gets to know him, the more vulnerable she becomes to the kindness beneath his gruff exterior, and the less she’s able to stay away. But she has other reasons for keeping her distance. Like the secret from her past she knows Nash will never forgive…

Read an excerpt (pop-up, Flash-based…FYI).

Other books in the series:

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