Can a reformed player ever truly play by someone else’s rules?Sam Walsh has finally put an end to decades of self-destruction, turned over a healthy new leaf, and now he’s ready to call himself a married man. But love and marriage are only the beginning, and life is about to get much more complicated.Will tying the knot tie down a free spirit?Tiel Desai never imagined herself getting married … spirit?
Tiel Desai never imagined herself getting married again, and before she can blink, she’s swept up into the Walsh wedding whirlwind. If that chaos isn’t enough, she’s also busy winning over her future in-laws, grappling with a bumpy adjustment to her new job, and staying afloat when a string of disappointments hit.
They’re building a future, but can they ever fully demolish the past?
Sam and Tiel beat back their demons and learned to love each other, but love might not be enough to solve every problem that crawls their way.
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I found Kate Canterbary and the Walsh family when the first book was mentioned on a blog I love. I was looking for a new book and it looked interesting. I was hooked from the first page and I haven’t looked back. Restored is the continuation of Sam and Tiel’s story. The happily ever after doesn’t always come with “I do.” I loved everything about this story. I loved that we didn’t have all the angst of meeting and falling in love. We get to see what marriage is like – the ups and the downs. It’s also a bonus that we get to see the rest of the Walsh family. I think I’ve said this before but I am so excited to see what Kate does next. Her writing is smart, detailed, with great editing (!!!) and her characters are always spot on. Not perfect but perfect for each other. And perfect for me!!
When you finish a book and immediately start it again, you know you have a true 5-star, favorite-of-all-time book in your hands. Another sign of a great one? You highlight approximately 83% of said book. 😉
Kate Canterbary truly, truly has an amazing gift and ability to write characters that you are just SO SURE are real, that these are the people at your coffee shop or office, or living next door to you. She has an incredible ability to create characters that you can identify with, cry, laugh and grow with. I just haven’t ever had a book (or series of books) that I’ve connected so deeply with.
We catch up with Sam and Tiel after Sam’s trip in Necessary Restorations and we receive the privilege of walking through some amazing times and also some extremely tough times. We get to see how Sam is there for her is some huge, huge ways and the reverse is true of Tiel for Sam. Of course we also got snippets of the rest of the Walshes and those were some of my favorite moments.
A few questions from previous books were answered, some were hinted at and of course, new questions arose. I cannot say how much I enjoyed this book. The steamy moments are as steamy as ever, in true Kate Canterbary fashion. The tough and tender moments are both beautifully written and emotionally draining in the best possible ways. If you want a book with heart, laughs, family, and some craziness, then this is the book (and series and AUTHOR) for you!!!
100% spoiler-free book review
Restored is the follow-up of Necessary Restorations, the story of Sam and Tiel. Although you could probably read it as a standalone, you would miss a lot by not reading how they met. I can’t even fathom anyone is reading a Walsh series book and not wanting to read the others.
This book is very different from the regular contemporary romance, just because it starts right after Sam proposed to Tiel. After that, we all know that love still has to grow and fight what life can throw at us.
Sam is not the regular hero we use to find in romance novels. Of course, he’s handsome, but besides, he’s not an alpha male, and he has so much baggage he’s still learning every day how to deal with it.
Tiel is a brilliant musician, a very skilled therapist, and you could think she’s thriving from outside. I always find a part of me in all Kate Canterbary’s heroines. Maybe that’s why I’m constantly pulled toward her books.
It’s my second read of this one, but I haven’t reviewed it before. I just can’t get enough of the Walshes; they are my book family.
Restored – The Walsh Series – Book 5 by Kate Canterbary
In Restored we catch up with Sam and Tiel and we get to spend some quality time with Riley.
Restored starts right where Necessary Restorations ended, Sam proposing to Tiel. It’s nice to see they are doing well, considering all they both went through in book 3. Tiel’s family continues to give the poor woman grief but Sam has done some real soul searching and that time away certainly helped him get to a far more positive head space, a place where he has needed to be for a very long time. Oh, and Riley lives with them at the firehouse.
As time passes, Tiel and Sam work on continued communications to prevent the miscommunications that went on between them before. It seems to be working out, of course the one thing they have never had problems with is sex and it just keeps getting better! Now that they are engaged, Teil knows that she is going to have to inform her family. There is a phone call, her father invites her and Sam for Thanksgiving, they finally accept the invitation. What could go wrong? Maybe that should have been what didn’t go wrong. As we found out in book 3, Tiel’s family really have not bothered to even learn about what Tiel does. Since she wanted nothing to do with the family business she must just be wandering around doing nothing. We know that is farthest from the truth and even though Sam thinks he is prepared for them all, once there he realizes no one can be prepared. To say it went badly doesn’t describe the verbal abuse that came out of mouths and when Sam reached his breaking point, he grabbed Tiel’s hand, said good bye and told them not to look for an invitation to the wedding. Trying to deal with the aftermath, Sam and Tiel spend a couple of days in NYC and on the drive home come up with the most amazing plan for their wedding. Have a big party and right in the middle get married.
Oh, and keep the wedding part secret until the night of the party. They do however, let a couple of people know, Ellie Tiel’s best friend and Riley who oddly enough is a master of secrets and keeping his mouth shut. Well, unless he feels the need to finally out something! In the meantime, Tiel works really hard to get closer and make friends with Lauren, Andy and Shannon and she is.
Christmas Eve rolls around, the wedding occurs and freaks all the guest out in a good way (well maybe Shannon has a bit of a hard time) but they are married and all seems well.
Now, before we go any further let’s just take a moment to talk about their 3rd wheel…Riley or RISD or batman. Riley somehow has several super powers, he forgets to zip up his pants (something his sibling never let him forget), he is a master surprise wedding planner, he has a habit of walking in when Sam and Tiel are having sex, he can keep a secret like nobody I have ever seen. On top of that his insight into situations is freaking scary and holy hell he is an amazing designer when it comes to all things that architectural design! Who the hell knew that????
Sam and Tiel do have other issues and they are great at discussing them and figuring things out but they are still holding back on a few things and they really want to start a family. Sometimes things don’t happen the way we plan or want them to but Sam and Tiel work really had to move past the work issues and life issues that come their way. In the end we have watched Sam and Tiel fall in love, break up, move past the breakup and find their love and secure it and move on living as a couple and being part of the ever expanding Walsh family.
When looking at Sam and all he has been through with his health issues etc. is that he has over time kept a lovely communication going with his mother. He tends her grave and talks his problems out with her spirit. Those moments in the book are so heartwarming and special.
Kate Canterbary has taken us through the growth of Sam and Tiel, their family relationships, their own relationship and given us a story of love, acceptance and how a family can grow and get better.
Great series. Real characters and great stories. I read the series as fast as I could. Love Kate Canterbury’s style. Each story can hold its own but is better read together. Keep writing Kate!
Can I start by saying Wowza!
Kate never fails to amaze me with her story writing. Restored is the continuing story of Sam and Tiel with the rest of the Walsh tribe in all their family glory. With this story Kate was able to make some very sad subjects relate-able and with tact and a dash of Walsh humor. Her writing makes you think, makes you cry and makes you laugh out loud! (With some snorting I am embarrassed to admit) She has made a lifelong fan with myself and I would read anything that she wrote, even her shopping list! Well done Ms. Canterbary! I look forward to the next books!
I am so in love with the Walsh Family . Sam and Tiel did not disappoint . This couple may be so different from one another but they are truly a positive influence and asset to one another.
The rest of the Walsh clan is certainly in the picture and they are always bring their A game to the literary table. They are such an amazing cast of characters that are a pleasure to read!
~~Michele McMullen ~~
Love getting the chance to catch up with Sam & Tiel, as I just adore them! Love that their story came full circle, with a new beginning once again starting in an elevator!
Catch up with Tiel and Sam and few new faces. Thoughtful, funny, heartbreaking and joyous all in one sweet and beautifully written story.
This is the book I needed for when I finished Necessary Restorations. Although I felt complete at the end of Sam and Tiel’s story, there was a part of me that did want to learn more from their POV.
Reading Necessary Restorations is a necessity and all the books before. This book fits in the timeline and gives you insight to these characters interworking. As I stated before, Sam and Tiel are beautifully complex. And Kate Canterbary delivers an imperfect HEA. Because seriously, isn’t that how real life is? Again the story gives you a mass of emotions without being ‘ruined’ and some great insight for the other Walsh members. I didn’t expect this book to be any easier, and trust me, Ms. Canterbary delivers on this. But you’ll become deeper engrossed in the tale and addicted for more Walsh family stories.
I find once I have an author that weaves a story that captures my attention, I will be forever drawn. It’s hard to put into words how she captivates this reader, but this will be one series I know I will find myself re-reading over again like a favorite TV drama. 5 out of 5 stars.
Restored (The Walsh Series Book #5)
Kate Canterbary
Sam and Tiel part two. I love Sam and Tiel together, I love their individual quirks their mutual love and admiration for each other. I didn’t think there was any more to their story, then I read Restored. There was so much more to add to their story. I love how there was little snippets and teasers for the other Walsh’s and their ongoing stories. Kate’s talent for drawing her readers in and holding on until the end is indescribable. She makes you want to get lost in the Walsh world, and never be found. You cannot go wrong with 1-clicking ALL of Kate Canterbary’s books.