Cam Montgomery is a single full time dad who knows his priorities: his kids, his job, his team, his side business. Dealing with his disaster of an ex-wife is bad enough, not to mention delinquent football players and a meddlesome mother. Cam doesn’t have the luxury of time for anything more, especially a relationship. Even if it is sassy-wiseass Paige Carpino, who can still be sweet, but at every … every turn knocks him on his ass with the unexpected.
That’s figuratively speaking of course. Paige might come in a small package, but she makes up for it in spirit. An energetic spit-fire who has some heat to her sauce, she’s dedicated to her new business ventures, her family and a select group of friends. She’s never put herself out there, but then again, there’s never been anyone worthy of putting herself out there for.
Until one day in a burger joint, an asshole practically enters her into a wet t-shirt contest with his drink. Who knew a wet t-shirt could be the beginning of your life. Or more importantly, that asshole would be your reason for being. But anything and all of the above can happen when you finally put yourself out there for a single-dad-ex-football-player-smarty-pants-hot-man. When you throw the Carpino’s, the Montgomery’s and an eighty-five year old bossy woman in the mix, it’s a recipe for…well…something big.
Warning: This book contains a hot dad, a sassy heroine, steamy parts and naughty words. If you’re under the age of 18, this author is frowning at you with her mama eyes telling you to walk away.
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I. Love. This. Book. Easily my favorite out of the series, but I mean, I love every one of the books so that’s saying a lot!
I love finding books that make my heart happy – and Paige and Cam’s HEA overflows my heart with all the feel-goods! Give me a alpha male who’s got some rough edges but makes up for it in the best of ways, and a charming, girly, sassy, sweet heroine who’s his perfect match, who’s both soft and strong, and I will melt and swoon through the whole story!
Random FB find – someone posted the author’s name, I checked out the book list & this sounded REALLY GOOD! So I clicked, and I read, and turns out – it’s REALLY GOOD! I absolutely adored the story of Paige & Cam! She’s feisty & super sweet, he’s grumpy but an awesome dad & the way they meet, then meet again, is so much fun!
They start off irritated w/ each other, but then kind of manage a friendship of sorts, which morphs into a relationship & it’s all a very, very enjoyable read. And the kids!! This author wrote some great kiddos! The writing is reminiscent of Kristen Ashley, without all the extra descriptiveness or repetitive dialogue (I love KA, so that is not a slam!). It’s the cadence of dialogue that reminded me of KA, and that was a VERY good thing! : )
There’s crazy stuff going on, drama & action & sweet & steamy & family time that will make you swoon. I highly recommend this story and this author – and I’m now going to do something I rarely do, and that is go right into reading the book before this in the series (which I didn’t realize was a series when I started this one). There’s a preview for Overflow at the end of this story, and I got so sucked in that I just bought it & am going to continue it today. So! There ya go! : ) (Review written Apr 24 2016)
2nd read review: I did a re-read via Audiobook and man I forgot how much I loved this couple. I even caught myself crying at one particular scene as I’m listening and driving myself to work. When I finished the book, I honestly wanted to start the audiobook over right away and re-listen to it again. Cam and Paige were so easy to fall in love with. Also, the narrators did a fantastic job and I highly recommend the audiobook version.
1st read review: So incredibly good! I loved that this author gave us quality time with this couple together. Very little was spent apart. I really enjoy seeing a couple be a couple and not have a push and pull for the whole story.
Cam is going onto my favorite Alpha list. He’s a single dad and that’s just hot how good he was to his kids. He was dominant but not overly so. He took the care of Paige and the kids seriously.
Paige is also one of my favorite heroines. She was sweet but sassy and genuinely liked everyone. I loved that she became friends with an 85 year old woman. I also loved how she handled the wicked witch of an ex-wife in a kill em with kindness manner. I’ve loved all three books in this series!
This has been one of the best series!!! Love this!!!
Loved this book so much. Cam and Paige have so many great moments. They had an unpleasant introduction, Cam was a bit of grump and Paige is sassy. These two were so entertaining together. Cam is bossy as hell and Paige finds she kind of likes that but makes sure she still gives him a hard time about it. This books has everything you want it: comedy, drama, sex, heartbreak. Again I love this book ( but I do suck at writing reviews, sorry)
Another great read in this series. Cam is ALPHA and swoon worthy. Definitely more of a insta love storyline with a suspense element added in. I went back and forth between reading and listening. Lauren Sweet and Aiden Snow did a fantastic job narrating. It’s definitely worth the read or listen.
Okay read. Lovely interaction between Paige and Cam’s children. There was a lot of sex and this took some of the charm away from the story.
Whew, I really don’t know where to start or what to say…I know, I know, that never happens. Well…..here’s what I will say, in every relationship there is a give and take percentage wise, like 60/40 or 70/30, but these two were 90/10 for sure. Cam was bossy, and I don’t mean like she joked about him being bossy….he was BOSSY. She’d say no and then he’d have her do it anyway, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think she really cared, but she gave in every single time. As much as I adored Paige…Cam not as much. I will say that Cam did give in 1 time….thank goodness for that, because it redeemed him a lot for me.
This was such a great storyline and so, so much happens in this book. It was so realistic in the fact that one day your life is all calm and roses, and then boom….a big ol sh*t storm is brewing. And let’s be honest, when 1 thing happens then more happens like it is coming all at once. This book tugged at my heart so much, which I know is a testament of what a powerful writer Brynne Asher really is….I cried like a baby. Everything these two felt, I felt too. Just so much raw emotion and I just kept on reading and reading, one more page, one more chapter, not able to get enough. Wow….just wow. Powerful book is what this was and that is the best description for it.
A favourite reread!
I’ve reread this book quite a few times now, and it’s STILL my favourite single dad book out of all the single dad books! I love Paige Carpino and Cam Montgomery together. Athica Lane is my favourite book out of the 3 books in the Carpino series ( interconnecting standalones ) – although I really liked the other 2 books in the series as well. All 3 are worth a read.
Brynne Asher has done it again with another 5 Star read in the Carpino Series. “Athica Lane” was fantastic. Brynne has such a knack for writing memorable meetings between the H and h.
Paige was such a fiesty, high-energy heroine, I just adored her. And Cam was so Alpha-Hot I couldn’t stand it. They balance each other out so well and make for a great read. Cam is older and knows what he wants. Paige is younger and just enjoying life, not sweating the small things. The relationship between Paige and Cam’s kids is so sweet.
After reading the Carpino Series I am pretty sure I will be reading anything Brynne Asher writes in the future.
This book hit me straight to the heart. I loved reading about Paige fight for her HEA and that her man fought just as hard as she did. Well written and filled with so much love and I love reading about all the side characters.
Oh good god almighty….I loved Cam and his bossy ways. From Brynne’s signature original “first meet” until the HEA….Cam is AMAZING…flawed but still AMAZING!!!
But let’s not skip over Paige with her sweet yet sassy mouth, gigantic heart and serious skiiiilz in the kitchen. All I’m going to say is PUMPKIN COOKIES!!! Make them.
Add in all the crazy Carpino/Montgomery tribe and you have PERFECTION.
I think I could read anything Brynne writes and love it. Her stories are always original. They tug at your heart and make you laugh out loud the next minute.
Love loved loved this book!
Paige Carpino was having an okay day until some asshole bumps into her and spills his soda all over her shirt and then doesn’t even apologize. After telling the guy off, she leaves and goes about her day, doing her best to forget about the crazy hot jerk. She never expected to see him again, and definitely not at her sister’s front door to pick up his two kids that Paige was watching.
Cam Montgomery never thought he would see the sassy woman that told him off again, and especially not with his kids. Not wanting to deal with her anymore he decides he can change his schedule so that Paige doesn’t have to watch them. But she was having none of that, and told him that she likes his kids, she will continue to watch them, and that was the end of that. Cam starts to see a whole different side to the in your face girl he first met – and he likes what he see’s.
I sat in an uncomfortable chair all night long because I refused to go to bed or even to move and have to put this book down for one second. I loved this story and it was one of those that you are dying to get to the end the whole time you’re reading because you want to see how it will end, but then once you get to the end you want to cry because it’s over. The characters were amazing and perfect for one another and I loved them both.
Cam was the football coach at the local high school and he also had his own gym. I really liked how hardworking he was and, even though we didn’t get to see too much of him at his job, it was evident that he loved what he did and was passionate about it. He didn’t trust very easily because of his past with his crazy ex, but once he started to open up to Paige, it was like he was a completely different person. He was sweeter and even a lot more sexy. Seriously guys, Cam with his kids was totally swoon worthy.
Paige gave off this tough girl personality but under all of that she was sweet and caring. It didn’t take long for her to accept Cam and his kids into her world and for her to go all mama bear protective. I loved that she just jumped right into it and didn’t let herself get scared away. She was a caterer and had her own blog which kept her pretty busy, but never too busy for those she cared about. I thought it was great how much time she spent with the kids and how easily they were accepted into her life.
There was actually a lot going on in the story, more than just the romance of Cam and Paige, but I won’t tell any of that so everyone can still be surprised when things start happening. In all honesty there was so much happening that it should have been too much but somehow everything just worked together. The story just continued to flow and work together. The book is over four hundred pages and took me all night to read but it seemed like I finished it super fast because there were no slow or boring parts.
Overall, I loved this story and it was sweet with some intense times that made it impossible to put the book down. We still get to see the Carpino family and all their craziness PLUS the Montgomery family who is just as crazy and I loved all the secondary characters. I hope Cam’s family will get a story!
Warning: Don’t read this book on an empty stomach. Paige baked a lot and made me so hungry I made three dozen cookies after I finished this. I don’t even want to admit to how many of those I ate.
This is probably my favourite book I’ve read by this author. Cam is every girls hero. He’s hot, dreamy and a fantastic dad. I simply could y put it down. I was so sad it had to end. Can’t recommend this book and series highly enough.
Athica Lane~
By far my favorite of the three, Cam will forever be my favorite book boyfriend, I absolutely loved him and Paige. I actually read this book first, it was brought to my attention from social media, still Cam is go to when I am in a ready slump.
They have a one of a kind love, Paige is so feisty and Cam is such a good dad, I could read this over and over.
Brynne will always be a go to author for me, her writing just captivates you, she has a beautiful way with words
The final book in the Carpinos trilogy was quite possibly the best of the bunch. Cam is a single dad with an unstable, pain in the rear, ex-wife, and he doesn’t have time for his attraction to Paige, a woman far too young and unsuited to him and his life. What he doesn’t realize is that Paige is perfect for him. Once they finally give in to their attraction, they work well together until Cam decides that the relationship isn’t good for either of them. Unfortunately, Cam’s rash decision opens Paige up to the man who’s been stalking her, just waiting for his chance to let his unhealthy wishes come true.
Between drama with an out-of-control ex-wife, Paige’s stalker, and Cam’s family emergency, Paige shows Cam that she’s more than able to take on his life. While Cam thinks Paige is reckless, she knows that she’s acting out of love and that she weighs the risks before making any move.
Cam and Paige do find their way back to each other, in part because Cam is metaphorically slapped upside the head by both his family and Paige’s, and get their HEA in the end. Overall, this was the perfect ending to the trilogy, and this tends to be my most reread book in the series.
Brynne Asher is back, and giving us a whole lot more Carpino love. Athica Lane is Cam and Paige’s story, and it was beautiful. It was an entertaining read with a well-rounded reading experience which makes it hard to put down. I loved it!
Summary:
As a single dad, Cam Montgomery has a lot on his plate. With essentially two full time jobs, two kids, a home, an unpleasant ex, and the little things that spout from those larger things, he has no room, let alone energy, for anything more. That is until he gets a hint of what Paige Carpino has to offer. Paige is walking on air lately, and it has a lot to do with her new, successful catering/blog business. She has her family, her food, and a select set of friends, and is finally starting see some truly happy. That is, until she runs smack dab into the brick wall that is Cam. In the middle of a fast-food joint, with spilled drink, and a wet t-shirt, it’s safe to say, their first meeting didn’t go well. Cam was every bit of an asshole, while Paige’s sassy wisecracks didn’t help. When fate has them crossing paths soon after, lingering hostility and mistrust form a barrier between them. But as Paige is watching Cam’s children, distance is not something they can indulge in. Before too much time has passed, a sizzling, irresistible attraction emerges between them. Cam can finally see the sassy, giving, and loving woman for who she is instead of the in your face mask she wears for people on the outside. Paige sees what a fantastic dad Cam is, as well as his dedication to both his family and his career. Neither are very open, but with each other it’s easier. Commence smooth-relationship-sailing, or at least that’s what should happen. Anything and everything can happen when it involves the Carpinos, and now with the wildcard Montgomerys thrown in. What follows is a humorous, sometimes intense, and always hopeful journey of two people dealing with obstacles in the form of family, friends, exes, businesses, bossy old ladies, territorial cats, and hurtful demons from the past. Luckily, obstacles are but a grain of sand when love, family, and the beginning of something beautiful is just within reach.
As the Carpino series progresses, the books get better and better. Athica Lane was even better than I imagined, and I imagined it would be pretty great. So far, the Carpinos and the wonderful cast surrounding them, haven’t had any trouble capturing my heart. They are entertaining, funny, close-knit, supportive, meddling, and so much more. Basically, they are all that’s good and sometimes frustrating about family. I have absolutely fallen hard for Ms. Asher’s writing because the base of it is structured around family, and who wouldn’t want to be apart of the crazy, in-your-business, protective, and loving Carpinos? Since meeting Paige in Overflow, I have been looking forward to her story. At first glance, she could be mistaken for flighty and unsettled. Luckily, we get to see the real Paige, and she was amazing. Thoughtful, loving, supportive, funny, and bursting with energy, she was not at all hard to get to know. I loved how dedicated she was after finding her niche. She was supportive and went out of her way to help others. I loved her sassy personality. She was fun and easy to read because she’s the type of girl I myself would want to know and have as a best friend. I admired Paige’s strength in standing up for her dreams of the future, and not compromising. It’s not easy giving up something you love in order to achieve something else you know you’ll love more. Cam was incredibly sexy, and most of that sexiness came from him doing awesome dad things. He was dedicated, all in, with his children and not afraid to show it. I love that in a man, and tell my own husband that he’s never hotter than when he’s with our son (or cooking/cleaning). Cam was also hardworking, protective, and alpha male. I liked that he didn’t rely on his family’s money to make it through life, but instead followed his heart and do what he loved. All of that said, he made some mistakes and just about broke my heart a couple of times. He was burned badly in the past and unfairly took this out on Paige, but he made up for it in the end after getting his head on straight. They both needed each other. There relationship was sweet, passionate, and full of hope. Of course we had more going on than just the romance, but it wasn’t overwhelming or rushed. The subplots played well into the overal romantic theme, and made for an irresistible read. I loved seeing glimpses of our past MC’s, as well as the rest of the Carpino clan and now the Montgomery family (can we please get their stories**crosses fingers**). Again, it’s a close-knit family we’re reading about, and for me, I felt like apart of the family. I am so lucky I found Brynne Asher and Overflow, because I’ve not only found a great book family, but also an author that has a lot of goodness left to give us. She’s definitely an author on the rise, and I’m eagerly looking forward to said future goodness, as well as the comfort of rereading the first three Carpino books. <3
An ARC was kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Paige offers to watch her sister’s kids while they go away for their anniversary. She will also have the neighbor’s kids in the afternoon. While getting ready, she stops to get food and runs into some guy and ends up wearing his drink.
Cam is a single dad working 2 jobs, being a coach and most important, a dad. He can’t believe he just spilled his drink after some woman runs into him.
This is how their relationship starts. Now between their jobs, his ex wife and a friend of hers who has become creepy, they are building something. That is until they go meet his family. After that, things fall apart for awhile.
Cam is bound and determined to win her back.
Loved this series. Hope you do too.
Athica Lane is by far my favorite in the Carpino series! Oh I just loved Cam! Something about a single dad who loves his kids like no other does it for me every time. I also loved Paige. A successful, intelligent business woman, who’s also sassy – what’s not to love there. Their story had plenty of steam and a good amount of suspense as well. Prior to reading Brynne’s Carpino series, I had read her Killers series (also highly recommend!), but I’ve so loved reading her first series and seeing her writing develop.