Sandy M’s review of It’s Only Love (Green Mountain, Book 5) by Marie Force
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 3 Nov 15
With the death of Caleb Guthrie in the Middle East, the entire host of characters of this series has been affected. Everyone has grieved, lost a part of themselves, moved on but not forgotten Caleb, of course. All except his younger brother, Gavin. The man is still deep within the throes of grief, even denying himself the love of the one woman who everyone knows can make him feel whole again.
Ella Abbot has been in love with Gavin for as long as she can remember. After sharing a kiss that rocked her world at her sister’s wedding, she’s tried a few times to make something more happen between them, but Gavin always declares he’s broken and not worth her time. But maybe now is the time finally to move on. A girl can only take so much rejection, even the kind she knows would be different if it were steeped in something other than such deep-seated grief. Just short of making that final decision, Ella receives a phone call from Gavin.
Well, not quite. It’s a call from Gavin’s phone, though, asking her to pick up the man who’s again causing trouble at a local bar. She’s his emergency contact and they need her help. Now. So out of the blue she’s picking up his pieces, and this time something resonates with Gavin. He knows he needs to pull himself together. He feels bad at the way he’s treated Ella when she’s been only giving to him. Is he ready to take a chance that the despair that surrounds him will lift and he can be at least a little bit happy, even believe he deserves that happiness? Gavin grabs on with both hands, putting his faith in Ella and what possibly could be between them.
And it works. For a while. Ella is upfront with him – as long as he sticks around, talk things over, and lets her help when he needs it, she’s with him all the way and will love him right through it all. Even despite the cautiousness of her family – all who love Gavin too, but they don’t want to see Ella hurt – she’s willing to throw her entire heart and soul into this relationship. Gavin does well and loves being with Ella. They do have a chemistry that is off the charts. But then, suddenly, it’s like being hit upside the head so hard you see stars, something happens in left field and Gavin runs. It’s going to take a lot to make up for that, but it’s good to see him finally come to terms with what he really has to lose this time around.
I love the Abbott family dynamics, all the fun and teasing that goes on, along with the love of a close-knot family who would do anything and everything for each other. And all through Gavin’s issues, the good man he is always comes through when it comes to his parents. So you know there’s hope for him and wish he’d just see it much sooner.
Another wonderfully heart-warming, as well as heart-wrenching, story from Marie Force. If you’ve not read any of her books, pick one. Any one at all. You won’t be disappointed, because she never disappoints. She writes magic on every page.
Grade: A
Summary:
Ella Abbott has long been secretly in love with Gavin Guthrie. A few recent encounters have only added to her infatuation, especially the kiss they shared at her sister’s wedding. It doesn’t matter to Ella that Gavin is in a bad place. He says there’s no hope for a future with him, that he has nothing to offer her. But all Ella cares about is the love she feels.
It’s been seven long years since Gavin lost his brother. He’d kept himself under control and moving forward until his brother’s beloved dog died and his brother’s widow re-married. Since then, he’s been drinking, fighting, and even getting arrested. It seems the only time his demons leave him alone is when Ella is around.
Gavin knows it wouldn’t be fair to drag Ella into his darkness, but when she inserts herself into his life, what choice does he have but to allow her to soothe his aching heart?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
