REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: LOVE SURFACED by Michelle Lynn

The equations are simple.

Piper Ashby + Brad Ashby = Twin Siblings

Brad Ashby + Tanner McCain = Best Friends

Piper Ashby + Tanner McCain = Off limits

Tanner and I abided by the rules. We stayed on our designated sides of the relationship circle.

Ignoring swarming butterflies.

Brushing off skipped heartbeats.

Settling on lingering stares.

Here’s the secret … a hand extended over that invisible line once, exponentially changing the equation. I was convinced we could make our relationship work until Tanner broke the trust he embedded in me from the age of seven.

One deceit of mega proportions and the relationship we built for that short month vanished. I swore never to speak to him again and it’s worked. Until now—two years later, when my brother’s wedding places me face-to-face with the best man—Tanner McCain.

Leaving one equation to be solved. Can love surface twice?

~ARC gifted to Kris & Vik Book Therapy Cafe in exchange for an honest review.~ 

♥♥♥ 3.5 STARS ♥♥♥

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

“Why now?”

“I honestly can’t stay away anymore.”

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

Piper has been in love with Tanner for as long as she can remember. He’s always been there in her life as kids, as teens, and now as young adults. The problem is he only sees her as his best friend’s twin sister. But things change when their friendly flirting becomes so much more. They end up having a secret relationship so they don’t hurt her brother Brad. Tanner doesn’t want this to be a fling, he wants more and to tell his best friend how he feels about his sister. Before that happens, however, things come to a bad end when Tanner reveals some information to Piper he had been keeping from her.

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

“You’re the girl for me, and I doubt a carbon copy of you is out there somewhere…Just know, you’ll always hold my heart.”

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

Two years later and Tanner is training hard to swim in the Olympics. Piper gave up on swimming and is now working as a teacher in a community college. She hasn’t had any contact with Tanner since he broke her trust. And now it seems she will see him again since he is the best man for her brother’s wedding. Despite Piper trying to get over Tanner, one meeting with him and she is almost ready to cave. Their attraction is just as heady as it always was. This time, Tanner isn’t going to give her up without a fight.

I thought the story was a sweet one. I really enjoyed the first part of the book where Tanner and Piper are seniors in college. I liked the banter between them but not as much as I liked the scorching connection they shared. It was crazy hot! The whole story was in Piper’s POV, which I usually don’t mind, but there were times I really wished I could get Tanner’s perspective. The only reason I didn’t care too much for Piper’s POV was because of how insecure she was that could get annoying at times. At least she had Bea, her best friend to keep her in line. I did find it a bit frustrating not knowing what it was that Tanner told her that led to their break up. We do get to eventually find out, but I desperately wanted to know what it was. Once I found out what it was, I kind of thought Piper overreacted just a tad, and she was very stubborn in not letting Tanner explain everything to her.

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

“I love you, Piper Ashby, and I promise never to ruin us again.”

●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●  ●

Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was sweet with some drama and angst to make things interesting. I absolutely loved Tanner, he was one sexy beast. Not to mention such a loving and selfless man. I really liked the cute and romantic epilogue. It was a good read and it was definitely something I can see people enjoying.

“Piper.” He hesitates before joining me on the cement stoop.

I question why he even searched me out even though it’s been his MO lately, popping up wherever I am.

He places his arm across my shoulders and pulls me into him, which only brings a ripple of warmth to the pit of my stomach. “Come here.”

My head burrows into his strong chest, and his hand soothingly roams up and down my back. I sink into him. With the comfort of his arm, the tension in my shoulders from placing fifth in my swim meet slowly releases.

Refusing to let him make my mind race with his confusing affection, I sit up. Swiping the tears from my eyes, I honestly confess, “Tanner, it was my last shot.”

He begins to shake his head, but I stop him, “No, I have to realize it. My dream of swimming in the Olympics is over.” I rise to my feet, and the heaviness in my chest sinks back into place now that I’m out of his embrace.

He follows me over to the oak tree. Coming up behind me, his hot breath tickles my neck. My pulse races into overdrive, reminding me of how badly I want him.

Why does he keep leading me on? 

He continues to toe the line between friendship and more, but he never actually steps over it. Each time his hand brushes mine or his eyes search me out, my heart stops beating for a moment as I hope this is it—until he crushes the fluttering butterflies and steps away.

I close my eyes from the view of Michigan University’s football stadium because I need to calm my insides. “Why are you here?”

He should be with my twin brother, preparing for their own meet.

“You should be in warm-ups.”

His hands land on my shoulders, and he leans down. At our connection, a tingle spreads through my body.

“I saw you leaving the pool house.” His voice cracks.

I hear his deep intake of breath.

“That’s not what I’m asking, Tanner.”

When I turn around, I almost collapse when I come face-to-face with this gorgeous guy. He’s absolutely one hundred percent the perfect male.

My perfect male. 

His brown hair is tucked away in his MU hat that’s flipped backward. His lips and cheeks are rosy from the early spring chill in the air. With only a sweatshirt and track pants on, he’s the epitome of a college student. His good looks remind me of the unbearable yearning that pulls me toward him.

His eyes are so transparent that I can see the torment of his inner turmoil from our situation, meaning nothing has changed for him. He’s as conflicted as ever because I’m his best friend’s sister.

“I don’t know.” His voice is soft, caressed with the sweetness he’s shown me the last few months.

Michelle moved around the Midwest most of her life, transferring from school to school before settling down in the outskirts of Chicago ten years ago, where she now resides with her husband and two kids. She developed a love of reading at a young age, which helped lay the foundation for her passion to write. With the encouragement of her family, she finally sat down and wrote one of the many stories that have been floating around in her head. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can be found playing with her kids, talking to her mom on the phone, or hanging out with her family and friends. But after chasing around twin preschoolers all day, she always cherishes her relaxation time after putting the kids to bed.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.lynnauthor?fref=ts

Twitter: @michellelynnbks

Website: http://www.michellelynnbooks.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7065829.Michelle_Lynn