Cat's Reviews: February 2015

Author: Lucy Gage

Title: Ward Sisters Books 1-4

Series: Ward Sisters Series

Release Date: January 12, 2015

SYNOPSIS

Back to December (Ward Sisters, #1) Only One (Ward Sisters, #2) Right Here Waiting (Ward Sisters, #3) This Year's Love (Ward Sisters, #4) Bonus Content Welcome to the world of the Ward Sisters, Emily, Anne and Charlotte. Get to know them, their friends and the new people who have come into their lives. Start with Emily's story, Back to December, where you'll meet the oldest Ward daughter, and the movie star, Rob Deacon, who sweeps her off her feet. Then, in Only One, you'll get to know Emily's bodyguard, Liam Neely, who happens to be Rob's best friend. You'll also meet Jenna Ackerman, Rob's assistant and his other best friend, the woman with whom playboy Liam falls in love. In Right Here Waiting, you'll learn about Emily's lifelong best friend, Meghan Miles, and meet the soldier who steals her heart, Captain Neil Murphy. And then, in This Year's Love, you'll hear middle sister Annie Ward's story of how she fell for her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh Ricker. Additional glimpses into the lives of these characters û in the form of deleted scenes which didn't make it into the published narrative û are included at the end of each story. For any fans of the series, these are peeks at the characters you won't want to miss.

BUY LINKS

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CAT'S REVIEW

"The Ward Sisters" Book 1-4 by Lucy Gate.

Overall Rating ★★★★.5

Book One - "Back to December" - Emily and Rob. I really liked Rob - being a celebrity, he really was just a down to earth guy looking for his HEA. Emily, the girl next door with her life all planned out, needed Rob more than she could ever imagine. I enjoyed "Back to December" and fell in love with Emily and Rob. They weren't perfect which made them believable. The secondary characters did their jobs well too - I wanted to strangle Rachel! Thanks Ms. Gage for an entertaining tale that makes the reader happy to be part of. ★★★★★

Book Two - "Only One" - Jenna and Liam. So, this one was a bit more intense for me than "Back to December". Jenna and Liam struggle with their feelings and it was a bit frustrating for me, the reader. Liam, a real playboy prior to meeting Jenna - can he reform his ways? Can Jenna trust him to? I liked that we learned more of the background from the first book too. Although I didn't like this one quite as much as the first book (I wasn't a huge fan of Liam's), it was still an enjoyable read.

★★★★

Book Three - "Right Here Waiting" - Megan and Neil. Wow! My absolute favorite! I LOVED Neil and that, even as a young kid, he was able to truly see people. And Megan, what a doll. Together they suffer through much and we wonder, will their love survive? Once again, Ms. Gage has successfully incorporated characters that are easily believed to be real with real life situations that are heartbreaking as well as uplifting.

★★★★★

Book Four - "This Year's Love". Annie and Josh. I was a bit hesitant to read this one. Both characters are from "Back To December" and I didn't really care for either one. However, Ms. Gage did an excellent job of changing my mind. While I still held a bit of resentment for both characters since memories of book one would creep into my mind, learning about their lives and seeing their positive characteristics did help redeem them. This is a friends to lovers story and it was sweet to watch, despite some obstacles along the way. I'm glad I read this and finished the series, although I don't think you need to read all the books, it certainly would help with many of the back stories.

★★★★

EXCERPTS/TEASERS

Back to December

Emily looked at Rob and couldn't read what he was thinking. She could tell there was something on his mind, but she had no clue what it was.

ôCare to share?ö she asked, curious.

ôCan I kiss you?ö he replied, his voice steady.

Em was stunned. She didn't know what to say. It had been over five years since she had been asked to be kissed. She nodded slowly, so as not to appear too eager, though she was, in fact, dying to kiss him. She had been looking at his mouth quite a bit these last few hours, and it always seemed so kissable.

Rob leaned toward her, and she met him halfway. That heady forest scent invaded her nostrils more thoroughly now and her brain swam. He looked at her with a sweet smile, just a little grin that said he was looking forward to this. She met his eyes and his smile with one of her own, though she suspected that, as soon as he'd asked, he'd known what her answer would be by the expression on her face.

His lips brushed against hers, gentle at first, with just a little bit of pressure. The gesture implied respect without stifling the desire that raced through Emily's blood. Her skin heated and the dampness between her thighs, which had been present since dinner, bordered on embarrassing. How could she want someone so much from just a simple kiss?

Only One

They walked back to the car, hand in hand, in an unusual silence. Jenna started to step around the car to the passenger's side, and Liam tightened his grip on her hand so she couldn't let go. Her expression said she was curious as he drew her toward him and leaned against the car hood. She let him guide her until her body was pressed against his and their faces were inches apart.

His heart raced again, which Liam found odd û he hadn't felt nervous before he kissed a girl since junior high. Swallowing hard, he brushed the hair from her face like he'd done earlier. Her breath hitched, and he knew she wanted him to kiss her as much as he wanted to do it. He looked at her mouth, then into her eyes. They leaned in at the same time, crushing their lips together in a long-overdue kiss.

Heat rushed through his body and his dick hardened before she even slid her tongue into his mouth. As their tongues danced, one hand found her ass and pulled her pelvis to his, while the other threaded into her hair, bringing her mouth closer, and deepening the kiss. She whimpered and gripped his neck.

The kiss lasted a few minutes and then they needed air. They leaned apart, touched foreheads, their breath labored.

ôWow,ö Jenna whispered.

ôYeah. I agree,ö Liam said.

Right Here Waiting

Meghan stared back at him as intently. Finally, she said, ôWhat's going on here, Neil?ö ôWhat do you mean? ôThis. What's happening between us? Am I reading you wrong? Are you not interested in me?ö Neil couldn't let her think that. No. Never. He'd wanted her for too long to let her ever believe he wasn't interested, even for a moment. He pulled back, stood still and looked at her. He looked at her mouth. He wanted to kiss her, but if he waited until they were alone, she might give up on him. Danny was right, he had to stop sabotaging this. Neil threaded his hands in her sun-kissed hair. In her eyes, he saw a desire to kiss him as powerful as his own. He leaned in, pressed his lips to hers and a wave of heat washed over him. Meghan leaned into the kiss, opening her lips, and as he slid his tongue into her mouth, Neil had to use every ounce of restraint his military training had afforded him to keep it from getting indecent. Meghan pulled away and saved Neil from himself.

This Year's Love

ôAre you okay?ö she asked.

He nodded slowly and swallowed.

ôUh huh,ö he muttered.

His dilated pupils said he liked what he saw. She grinned. In two strides of his long legs, he was right next to her and it was Annie's turn to gasp û he towered over her.

He looked at her, shook his head, then he crushed her to his body, his face a breath away. She opened her mouth and his tongue plunged inside. Unlike the other morning, he knew this was her and not Em. Yet, he kissed her with even more passion, stealing her air.

Before she knew what was happening, he lifted her off the ground, wrapped her legs around his waist and carried her to the bed. They collapsed onto the mattress, and when his pelvis pressed into her core, they moaned in unison.

ôGod, you're beautiful,ö he breathed around her lips.