Rory’s life is a mess. After getting dumped by her boyfriend, let go from her job, and losing her apartment, she takes a chance on a new job in a new town. Things can’t get any worse, right?Wrong.When the foundation of Dean Dawson’s life crumbles to pieces at his feet, he swears off relationships of any kind and goes back to a life of bachelorhood, loving and leaving different women every night.… and leaving different women every night.
After dodging what could possibly be the world’s worst blind date, Rory finds herself face to face with Dean—a temptation she knows she should avoid. It’s just one night, and there’s no harm in having a little fun.
Wrong again.
They say when you hit rock bottom the only way to go is up, but nothing is ever that simple.
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New to me author
The devastation he must of felt with his ass of a wife. It broke my heart. Funny to think no one from his family liked her. I really liked this story. Dean and Rory vibed. I don’t even know if that’s the word to describe them but they are incredible together. They are so hot for each other. I adore Rory, I could see myself being friends with her. She’s has quite an uniqueness about her that Dean appreciates. I haven’t read any of the other books (which I will rectify) so I don’t know Dean’s background or his family who by the way are friggen awesome. My first read from this author and I’m happy to say not my last.
I received a complimentary ARC – early release copy of this book in Kindle format from the author for review purposes.
This is book 6 in the series and this was an awesome story. Can it stand alone? Yes I believe it can but some things are discussed in this book that happened in those books and so I do recommend you read them first.
This is Dean’s story and he is the brother that got married to train wreck Kara in the previous stories. In this book his marriage falls apart and he ends up divorced. He is so devastated that he avoids love and only wants one night stands.
This book introduces Rory aka Blaire. She is a nurse who ends up fired, homeless and dumped as soon as we meet her. But she has an awesome family and her brother knows Dean’s brother in law and bestie, the doctor and he knows that they are hiring at his hospital and so Rory ends up moving to Dean’s town and working with his brother in law.
Rory and Dean meet and well there are lotsa fireworks. You have to read it to find out why. But Rory doesn’t want one night she wants more and Dean has given up on love. However Dean can’t stop thinking about her, so what will he do?
Rory is a total nerd but in the best way and she was absolutely wonderful in this story. Dean really needed someone like her in his life and these two were so much fun together. The only thing I hated about this story was that it ended. Kudos to the author for finishing this series off in such an awesome way.
Rate: 4.2/ 5 stars
I always thought Dean deserved so much better than what he got and that’s exactly what Emily gave him in Rock Bottom.
It hurt to see Dean so heartbroken over his failed marriage and so decided upon never again giving a relationship a try. In come Rory – a sexy, fun and easy going girl who he instantly connected with and became friends with his family. Rory was so much like Quinn and the fact that right from the start they became good friends threw Dean for a loop. Rory was definitely a toned down version of Quinn and there is so much of Emily in Rory too.
These two were pretty fun and a little bit angsty. I really enjoyed their story and journey into a real relationship. Dean had a lot to overcome and think about but when the right girl fell into his lap, he couldn’t keep denying he wanted more.
Dean’s second chance at love could not have been more perfect for him. I loved watching him fall in love again, this time with a decent girl. It was so good to hang out with the Dawson crew again and to see everyone and their own little families. This was an amazing ending to such an awesome series. I’m gonna miss this family.
Overall Grade: 1/2
I have been “all in” with the Dawson Family since Side Hustle, the third book of Emily Goodwin’s Dawson Family series. I think it has to do with the fact that there seems to something for everyone here: enemies-to-lovers, brother’s best friend, second chance, etc. For each family member of the Dawson family, there is a guaranteed story that will melt your heart, pull at your heartstrings, and leave you on a happy ending.
Emily Goodwin’s newest book (and I believe the last one) in this series, Rock Bottom, is no different. In her acknowledgments, Goodwin noted that she almost didn’t write Dean’s story. Thankfully, her readers influenced her decision to write a story that would give us a little bit of each family member. Thank goodness, she did because Dean and Rory’s story is, by far, my favorite Dawson story.
Rock Bottom asks some important questions: what do you do when your dreams are over? How much effort should you put into your relationships? Is there something more than you ever imagined? Can a one-night stand become a relationship? In the world of romance, these seem like your standard fodder, and Rory and Dean’s story does a good job of answering those questions.
From the first book of this series, it’s clear that the Dawson Family isn’t a fan of Dean’s wife, Kara. The Dawsons are a close-knit family with weekly dinners. Everyone is involved in everyone else’s business. What happens, though, when your wife cannot connect with your family? How much effort should you put into a marriage that seems to be crumbling? Once Dean decides the answer to this, he is met with a devastating situation. Months later, Dean has given up on relationships, sinking himself into one-night stands. Unfortunately, Dean isn’t the type of guy who can one-night stand for the rest of his life. He is a relationship guy. However, it’s easier for him, so he lives a lie. Enter Rory. After a lost job, break up with her boyfriend, and need for a change, Rory leaves the city of her birth for a new start in Dean’s town. They meet at a bar and decide on one night together. Yet, they connect instantly, and neither of them can stay away from each other for long. As they struggle with their attraction and growing feelings, both of them must decide if the risk of a future is worth potential heartbreak.
One of the reasons Dean’s story is my favorite is its cohesion. In the other Dawson family books, there were moments when the story struggled along. With Dean and Rory, Goodwin crafts this seamless romance that builds as the pages turn. At no point, did I want to stop reading it, instead gobbling her words on the page. Goodwin’s ability to bring her hero and heroine together and pull them apart fluidly grows the story as the story progresses.
Their chemistry is clear from the start. It’s apparent that there is an ease to this coupling. It’s that ease that Dean fights initially while Rory complicates it with an assumed alias. I thought Dean overreacted when Rory’s real identity is revealed. Yet, Goodwin recognizes Dean’s overreaction through the words of his siblings and best friends. Therefore, Dean doesn’t hold it against Rory for long, which allows their chemistry to build instead of peter out.
As Dean and Rory grow closer, Goodwin easily constructs their relationship. When complications arise, thankfully, Goodwin doesn’t allow it to drag on for chapters. Instead, the Dawsons do what they do best: hold each other accountable and push each other to rectify the situation. I think this is the other reason I loved their Dean and Rory’s story the best. Their struggle manifested in the growth of their individual characters, but it didn’t hinder the growth of their relationship for too long.
Lastly, their happy ending is one of the sweetest. For much of the book, Dean’s walls remain intact, so it’s difficult to see the sweet man behind them. As Rory breaks them down, we see more than the broken man who uses sarcasm, $ex, and snark to protect his heart. When the walls fall, Goodwin gifts us with a sweet, compassionate man who adores and falls madly in love with Rory. Their epilogue is one of my favorites as it offers a simplistic, but deep abiding love between the two.
From its start, I couldn’t put Rock Bottom down. I am so thankful that Emily Goodwin listened to her readers and created a story of finding love after devastation. Thankfully, Dean found his true happy ending in Rory because Kara was never right for him or the Dawson Family. If you are a fan of heroes made whole through the love of a heroine, then you will love Dean and Rory in Emily Goodwin’s Rock Bottom.
How could you not love Dean? He acts all tough and macho, but secretly just wants a family of his own. Rory is funny, spunky and is crazy cool! I totally want to be her when I grow up. These two from the moment they met, even with the crazy story they had was intense. Both not looking for a relationship but they found the chemistry everyone wants in a relationship.
So I have been waiting for this book since I finished Fight Dirty. I could not walk away from this series without Dean having a real HEA and that would have happened with Kara. So when if finally happened, Kara out on her ass, although I felt sorry for Dean I was so happy. Rory is so perfect in every way. She so reminds me of Quinn which I think in a weird way is perfect for Dean. I love that the Dawson’s now have Rory to fill that spot that Kara so did not fill. That Dean can have the closeness that they have had because I think he was stuck with one leg in and one leg out. I hated Kara even more for that. Like I would have loved in-laws like the Dawson’s and she just shat all over it. I see lots of opportunity for spinoffs in this book because Emily gave us so many new amazing characters with the Harris family boys and Lennon. I hope Lennon moves close to Rory so we can have some cameos (please pretty please). This series was just so incredible I loved all the characters and it is so bittersweet for it to be over. Thank you Emily Goodwin for giving us the Dawson’s!!
***I did receive a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review***
Rock Bottom by Emily Goodwin was a feel good romance with edge of angst and heartbreak. It had all essential and lovable components of a small town romance with heartaching emotions. A sweet and steamy tale of second chance and forgiveness.
Dean Dawson has sworn off relationships after his disastrous marriage with Kara ended. All his brothers and sister are happily married and they want Happily ever after for him too. But he is disillusioned and bitter. Till he meets Rory, the new nurse in town’s hospital in a coincidental meeting. Rory have come to this town for a fresh start but is Dean the guy for it?
Dean is great character. The author balanced his cocky, arrogant and charming self with his broken parts. But I love Rory even more! She is a bit quirky, a bit odd, a bit shy and a whole lot of accepting and compassionate. She can be awkward and in the next moment be sexy siren. Their chemistry was off the charts hot from the beginng. But the way they connected inside and healed each other was even more beautiful.
Rock Bottom by Emily Goodwin holds some mesmerizing emotions with amazing writing and amazing characters!
Received ARC for honest review
I’m pretty sure since Cheat Codes most of the population of Emily Goodwin fans started begging for Dean Dawson to get a book of his own. It took a minute. We got all the Dawson siblings stories first, and finally last, but certainly not least we have Dean’s book. GAAHH!! Rock Bottom was everything I hoped it to be, and at the same time so much more than I could have even hoped for.
Dean Dawson is delicious, ladies. He is gorgeous, successful, funny, and loves his family more than anything. His interactions with his nieces and nephews will literally melt your heart! He seemed like he had it all. But, he’s bitter and jaded about relationships. He’s happy with no-strings hookups. That worked for him until he met Rory. She was the missing piece of his puzzle he didn’t even know he was missing and WAS NOT prepared for her!
Rory is this beautiful, sweet and sassy surgical RN. She’s down on her luck at the moment and ends up relocating to Eastwood, where our favorite family, the Dawson’s live. There are many similarities between the way Rory grew up and the Dawson family. There’s also a friend of her brother associated with how Rory ends up in Eastwood as well. Rory just wants to find a good nursing job and good man and settle down with. However, her luck has been finding men that don’t want to commit, and she will probably just end up an old lady with several cats instead.
When Rory and Dean meet it’s kismet yet this hilarious mix up of epic proportions. Fate, destiny, whatever you want to call it was hard at play. They just were inevitably supposed to meet that night. It was a hot fun no-strings attached one-nighter. Or supposed to be. One and done! GAH, was it smokin’ but it was this crazy beautiful connection too from the first second. One that had me fist pumping in the air like OH HECK YEAH!! They both deserved this, each other.
Secrets were revealed, some pondering and questioning.They were both terrified, for different reasons. I was one the edge of my seat praying they could get past it, because they really were perfect for each other. But they both would have to put trust out there when their trust had been destroyed in the past. There was no doubt undeniable chemistry between them, but it would take more than chemistry to build a relationship for these two. Will these two be able to get it together?
The entire Dawson crew is present and all up in this book and I could be happier about this. I wish I could make myself a part of their family. They are loud, hilarious, at times inappropriate at the dinner table, wrestling in the yard, but would end you if you spoke bad of their sibling. They are written like a perfect family with flaws and all. I FLOVE them!!
*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book!
My Cr8zysockbookblock blog wrap up!
– Holy Cow!! Dean is freakin hot y’all!! I think because of the bits we had seen of him before we didn’t know how much amazingness he was rocking but dang… I mean dang! I loved this story. It may be my favorite of the Dawson kiddos books. IDK I loved them all so much and I say that everytime, but he just deserved his so much. I loved Rory, she was sassy and sweet and the perfect one to rock his world upside down.
– Lets just call him delectably ,delicious Dean, okay!! These scenes were hot, hot, smokin hot!!
Cliffhanger Warning- OMG! Best Ending Ever!
Rock Bottom is the latest book in the Dawson Family Novel Series. It looks like there are 5 other books in this series. I am sad to say I haven’t read any of the other books in this series but after reading Rock Bottom I will read the rest of this series.
Cheat Codes is Archer Jones & Quinn Dawson’s story
End Game is still Archer & Quinn Dawson’s story
Side Hustle is Scarlet Cooper & Weston Dawson’s story
Cheap Trick is Danielle Cross & Logan Dawson’s story
Fight Dirty is Charlie Wilson & Owen Dawson’s story
Emily Goodwin knows how to write a great story! All the above characters from the other books are in Rock Bottom.
In Rock Bottom, Rory gets layed off, dumped by her boyfriend and has 90 days to move out of her apartment. Dean finds his wife in bed with another man. She yells at him “It’s not what you think”, really? Both Dean & Rory are pretty much at Rock Bottom. Hence the title of the book.
Both Dean and Rory are a little gun shy. Dean doesn’t want to start a relationship and has had a few one night stands and Rory isn’t that kind of girl. She is also not wanting to waste her time. She is looking for a relationship. Will it happen meaning will she get her relationship? Of course she will, this is a romance book after-all and it does have a HEA. It’s exciting to see them pick up pieces of their life and put them back together by being together.
I felt like this book was easily read as a standalone but could it possibly have been made better by knowing who all the characters are. It’s great getting to meet all the family members from both Dean and Rory’s large families.
I loved reading Rory and Dean’s story. I give Rock Bottom 4.5 stars and look forward to read the rest of the books.
Rock Bottom by Emily Goodwin is bk 6 in the Dawson Family series. This is Dean and Rory’s story.
I have eagerly been anticipating Dean’s story since Cheat Codes and let me say Rock Bottom does justice
Dean is so heartbroken over his failed marriage and decided to never again give relationships another try…In walks Rory into his life. She sweet, fun, has a job ( a nurse) , is a self- proclaimed nerd, is beautiful and just hasn’t had the best of1 luck when it comes to relationships. Rory and Dean have an instant chemistry/connection together. They know that what they have is more than a 1 night stand but they happen to be on different thoughts/pages when it comes to ideas on relationships. Rory and Dean have this intense and amazing chemistry together but Dean is jaded after his last relationship. He is not wanting to be in anymore relationships but Rory has him thinking differently. Rory had her own challenging year as well. I liked how she was able to show Dean her heart and soul while being herself. Will they or won’t they? The plot was amazing, the characters are outstanding, and the chemistry is sizzling. Great ending with fantastic writing by Emily Goodwin.
My Rating: 4.5 stars *******
Rock Bottom by Emily Goodwin is book 6 in the Dawson Family Series. This is the story of Dean and Rory. I have read the previous book which of course added to my enjoyment of this one. But I did feel you could make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Dean was once married but his wife cheated on him, so now he is just out to have one night stands…nothing serious. This goes on for a while of being fast and loose. Rory is a nurse who had a job, a boyfriend and apartment, then she lost them all. So when there was a chance to take a new job at a different hospital to start fresh she took it. Dean and Rory meet and they have a very hot encounter thinking to do a one night stand. But it seems that a one night stand wasn’t going to be their story. They can’t seem to stop meeting each other and they can’t turn their feelings off. Their story was funny and steamy. Enjoyed this book.
Rock Bottom is another fabulous Dawson Family Novel. I can’t get enough of the Dawson Family. This is Deans story. You just feel for Dean and everything his wife put him through. He gets a bit out of control with his dating game as he tries to move on. Then in walks Rory. She is so down on her luck when we first meet her but that doesn’t let anything stop her from moving forward. I love how she handles Dean. You will laugh out loud and fan yourself when it comes to Rory and Dean. Rory fits right in and makes fast friends with the Dawson family. She is so loveable. I love how Rory and Dean go through the take it slow stage of dating after their first encounter. This book is so good that I didn’t want it to end. I love Dean and Rory together so much. I couldn’t put this one down. Go one click this one today.
New to me author
The devastation he must have felt with his pain of a wife. It broke my heart. Funny to think no one from his family liked her.
I really liked this story.
Dean and Rory vibed. I don’t even know if that’s the word to describe them but they are incredible together. They are so hot for each other.
I adore Rory, I could see myself being friends with her. She has quite a uniqueness about her that Dean appreciates. I haven’t read any of the other books (which I will rectify) so I don’t know Dean’s background or his family who by the way are friggen awesome.
My first read from this author and I’m happy to say not my last.
Reviewer: Phyl
Dean, YES!!!! I am so happy his family was finally honest with him. I hate it all went down like that but dang. I couldn’t take it anymore. Self centered for no reason and then tried to pull that stunt. They should have let Scarlett lose and Quinn.
I loved Rory. I laughed so hard at her originality. It was a breath of fresh air because Dean was a little uptight and had his guard up for too long. Happy his eyes opened up because it was about to be the end before the beginning.
Thanks Emily for giving Dean his story. It was like he was never happy.
Dean thought he found the one until he walked in on her cheating on him. He has now sworn off relationships but his family doesn’t buy it especially his sister Quinn, who keeps trying to set him up. Rory has the worst day ever, losing her job, boyfriend and home, what is she going to do now? She finds herself leaving her hometown and taking a job at the new hospital in Eastwood. I love that embracing this new town, she allows herself to try things outside of her comfort zone, like going to the local bar by herself. She decides that a one-night stand is what she needs and Dean is just the man to fill that need. From their initial meeting, Dean and Rory have a natural and fun connection. There is an immediate comfort between them which is a joy to experience. Rory has already been disappointed by one boyfriend so what will she do when Dean professes, he doesn’t want a relationship? Will Dean find a way through the hurt from his ex-wife to embrace a new love? Or will he give up on this chance with Rory? The Dawson family is a perfect support system not only for Dean but also Rory as she adapts to Eastwood and their meddling may be the push Dean needs. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.