Home at Last

Our Review

It’s hard to believe that we’re already at book six in this engaging series. I was anxious for Marcus and Quinn’s story since getting to know them and their undeniable attraction in book five, CLOSE TO HOME. Sanctuary Island latches onto your heart and you can’t wait to come back to this quirky island of healing. There are always surprises and this one has some doozies.

Marcus Beckett harbors secrets and is a hard man to love. He has been broken by love, and he has no desire to repeat it. Marcus believes he’s unlovable, and for most of this novel, I believed him. He pushes Quinn away at every turn. Little by little his true nature reveals itself, and when he comes clean in the end, it’s beautiful.

Quinn Harper is the quirkier of the pair. She’s a free spirit who reflects her mother more than she realizes it. This story is as much about Quinn’s parents’ failing marriage as it is about her pretend engagement to Marcus. It’s because of Quinn’s parents’ possible divorce that Marcus gets roped into becoming Quinn’s pretend fiancé.

When both couples must live together and are forced to work with a ridiculous, conniving marriage guru, life gets interesting, volatile, and explosive. I began to believe that none of them would end up in a happily-ever-after relationship. The slime-ball marriage guru is very good at creating havoc for his own gain. He’s the creepy villain you’ll love to hate.

Primarily a relationship novel, it’s not riddled with suspense or multiple subplots to keep the story moving forward. That’s probably why I had a much harder time staying connected to this story during a time of distractions in my own life. It’s a much slower pace than previous books, but it still packs a punch.

This novel is essentially a comfort read with quirky characters who aren’t always easy to love. As always, author Lily Everett pulls out the emotion that choked me up. Ms. Everett is gifted at creating rare characters with numerous flaws, who you can’t resist loving in the end. I cried like a baby over some of the circumstances. Once the emotional roller coaster gets rolling down the hill, it’s a wild ride to the end.

HOME AT LAST closed too quickly, leaving me wanting more, but it was extremely effective in reminding me why I love this author’s style. Start at the beginning with SANCTUARY ISLAND and continue through the series. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them as much as I have.