We were a scandal waiting to happen. But I didn’t care.For years my life had already been an unending downward spiral. Then my grandfather, Jack, gave me an apartment no one knew about. A secret bequest after his death, and the brief note that accompanied the gift sent me running to Italy.I’d gone to Venice to find peace, knowing I was weak, and instead I found him.Damon Saxe was magnificent, … instead I found him.
Damon Saxe was magnificent, brilliant, jaded, and white-hot danger. I was consumed by him as I’ve never been by anything or anyone. Vibrant and unrelenting wakefulness burned inside me when he was near.
And he became everything I craved and all I lived for.
Khloe Manzone wasn’t the right kind of girl for me. In fact, she was the type that could cost me everything. The bonds on me weren’t shackles a man could break free from. Having her as my lover was allowed. Wanting her was foolish. Loving her—agony. And we would become each other’s most private big little lie, filled with us and desire.
Letting go of us was inevitable, even as it tormented me to tear us apart.
THE SAND & FOG SERIES is about the Manzone family, filled with passionate loyalty, enduring hope, and forever love.
Each book in this series is carefully written so that you can understand and not feel lost even if you haven’t read the other books in the series. You can start the Sand & Fog Series with The Last Girl. But be warned: the characters cross-over from book to book and it’s easy for readers to fall in love and become addicted to my other spunky heroines & swoon-worthy heroes and binge read for days!
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE LAST GIRL:
“Loved this story!!!”-Reader Review
“[Damon]’is outrageously fun, inescapably likeable and wonderfully alluring.”-RosyLovesBooks, Reader Review
“I read a lot…This is my favorite series.”-Reader Review.
“Absolutely loved this book…She brings you into the Manzone family and you want more after every book. You are drawn to Khloe and Damon and want happy.” -Reader Review
“AWESOME!! A MUST READ. READ THE WHOLE SERIES!!!! You will NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!! You will fall in Love with her work.”—Reader Review
“Wow!!! Not only do I have book hangover but I feel sorry for the next few books I read because they just won’t live up to this in quality or feels…Read read read! Then go send yourself on the most amazing journey and catch up with all the other books.”-Reader Review
“Damon officially added to my book boyfriend dungeon. Can’t have a girl swoon so hard without any consequences.”-Reader Review
“I love every book about this family.”-Reader Review
“The books keep getting better and better.”-Reader Review
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This was a very unexpected fairytale in the best way possible.
This story was definitely not something I was expecting at all. It was so much more. I fell in love with this family 2 years ago. I had the privilege of being able to read and see all these characters grow up. Chrissie and Alan hold a special place on my heart. Their love can never be topped. When Eric’s story came out in Gone Guy, I was like, damn this could beat Chrissie and Alan. Boy was I wrong.
Khloe and Damon took that throne. Sorry Chrissie, sorry Alan. You can’t overlook that chemistry, those feelings, that raw intimacy. Khloe and Damon gave me that completely. Maybe Damon being a prince helped him a bit, but his title never came into play here. I saw him as a regular guy, not royalty at all. Also let’s face it, Khloe is music royalty so she can definitely sit on her own throne.
We see that regular guy and girl relationship with Eric and Willow. But in this story its showcased more. Even with the over the top security measures and trips, it’s there. Khloe is just a regular girl trying to live her life privately and with the people she loves. Same goes with Damon, he wants to live that life and be able to be himself and be with who he chooses to be.
Khloe’s health is something I didn’t expect at all. That took me for a loop. Well played Susan Ward, you stunned a long time fan. It’s interesting to see how this truly affects Khloe’s persona and life. It truly impacts her and definitely makes you want to shake her and tell her to snap out of it. I love how it’s written though, even if it makes me mad, it also helps me understand her own insecurities. Made me out myself in her shoes, and ask if I would of done differently? Honestly, probably not. She doesn’t make herself a martyr. She doesn’t let people pity her, she doesn’t even cry about the unfairness. She’s a survivor, that’s what she is.
I relived Jack’s death. I did not like that. Not because it was bad or horribly written. It was because his passing still affects me. I cried again. I’m crying now writing about it. He was like my grandpa too. His wisdom carried on throughout all the Parker sagas. Going through his loss again, definitely opened that wound back up. His letter to Khloe was one of my favorites. It was him and his matter of fact view of thinking. I’m glad it was him who helped push Khloe out of her bubble. It was cathartic, one of his last wishes and arrangements. Help Khloe live like she wanted to. Like she deserved to.
That cliffy, is definitely something else. It just left so many questions open. Susan knows how to hook us in that’s for sure. I’ll be waiting for November. Can’t wait to see Damon’s way of thinking. He’s officially added to my book boyfriend dungeon. Can’t have a girl swoon so hard without any consequences. We will see his sentence next book. Can’t wait!
TAKE IT ON THE RUN!!!
Talk about double dealing. Maybe a double edge sword, it cuts both ways. This is one interesting, intriguing, heartbreaking, gut wretching, overwhelming sadness, fear and against impossible odds tale. I was hooked from the start and reeled in for the duration. Susan’s characters were on point and so realistic I felt I could just reach out and touch them. You feel everything they are. Sadness, pain, undisguised heartbreak, barring their souls isn’t an easy thing to share. Their personalities are complex, believable with flaws that just makes it that much easier to relate with. They have qualities and traits that play off one another and balance out perfectly. The scenes are so vivid and detailed as she lays them out and breathes life into the storyline that really make it pop. With all the twists and turns, surprises along with soul ripping news that really shines a light on the circumstances. Susan did a remarkable job bringing this read together beautifully. Fantastic job Susan, thanks for sharing this awesome read us.
Absolutely loved this book. Of course I love Susan Wards books. She brings you into the Manzone family and you want more after every book. You are drawn to Khloe and Damon and want happy. Did not expect to almost throw my kindle at the end, but that’s what a great author does!!! Love this book
Love, love, love this book! Susan Ward is one of my favorite authors and every page of this book kept me wanting more of the Manzone family.
I so love these characters. I highly recommend this book!
I love this whole series. I read all her books
Khloe and Damon’s story had it all. The heartbreak, love and other roller coaster of emotions. Damon is a playboy with duties he can’t leave. Khloe has a terminal illness and inherits an apartment from her late grandfather. This is when she and Damon meet and become instantly attracted to each other. A good read that I enjoyed and recommend.
I received an arc and am leaving a review.
I really liked this book. It is based on a reality very few people can talk about with authority. We have Khloe who is a very determined young woman who does not live in the moment but lives like she has an expiration date pasted on her forehead. She pushes everyone she loves away from getting too close to her thinking it’s what’s best. Little does she realize that she is hurting herself and the very people she thinks she is protecting. Throughout the first half of the book, it kept me guessing as to what was really going on with Khloe. Then it is revealed what has Khloe on the run from facing emotional intimacy with her family and friends. Well not all her friends. She has two girlfriends who know what she is about and accept her regardless. All her immediate family knows only part of what she is about and treats her with kid gloves. Her parents love her very much and give her everything they think would make her happy. But it becomes clear to Khloe that people can see straight threw her. Her mother, father, grandfather Jack, all can see different parts of the wall she has put up around her heart. Khloe has been involved with Zane for two years. She considered him a friend. He knew what she was about and tried to accept her the way she was. But it proved to be too much for him to bear that she would never return his love. So, he broke up with her. At the same time, she met Zane’s sinfully gorgeous cousin Damon. She immediately felt something in her she had never felt with another man. It terrified her. But Damon was charmed, enthralled, intrigued by Khloe even though she acted like she could not stand him. Damon did not let that stop him from pursuing her. He started to see through her act and called her on it. If anything, Damon was completely upfront and honest with Khloe. He still did not understand why she was the way she was but that did not stop him from trying to get to know her. The more she was attracted to Damon the harder she tried to push him away. Eventually, Khloe relented a little and allowed herself to spend time with Damon. She actually started to really enjoy herself. Which frightened her. She had never been so vulnerable with a guy before. When Khloe came back to the reality that she created for herself, there was no room for Damon in it. She told him to go away. He loved her and did not want to leave her. It upset him that he did not understand what drove Khloe to such lengths to push him away. But he left. Khloe missed him terribly. Damon still had not given up on her. He continued to keep in touch with her asking her to fly out to his ranch in Wyoming. She never did. Then her grandfather Jack became seriously ill and did not have long to live. Before he died, Khloe was able to spend some one on one time with him. He told her that they were in the same boat in the fact that everyone would die one day. That it did not matter how long one lived but how one lived each day to the fullest. He wanted so much for her. She ended up spilling all her secrets to him. After his death he left her a letter he wrote to her bequeathing a secret gift that no one in the family knew about. He left her an apartment in Venice, Italy. He implored her to go and find out what she wanted from life not what life wanted from her. He told her that is where he went when he was younger, when he was broken and needed time to figure himself out. He told her no one knew about this and told her to keep it that way. She had a bodyguard named Cody. Khloe had a very strong bond to Cody. He was the only person alive that saw everything, knew everything and never judged her. Khloe could just be herself with him. Although Cody never subscribed to the way she would keep people at a distance and he was always rational and objective in their talks. He never sugar coated anything with her. But he did it with kindness and love. Khloe loved and hated this about him. He made her see at least try to make her see things could be different in her life if she wished it to be. Anyway, Khloe’s grandfather Jack told Cody about the apartment so he could get her there and set her up to live there. After Jack’s ashes were set free, she finally decided to take a risk, jump into the unknown and head for Venice. She approached Cody and he set it up for the next day. Khloe’s parents thought she was going to Europe to be with her two girlfriends but she told them she was going on an adventure with Cody. They did not worry too much because she had Cody with her. When she and Cody arrived at the apartment in Venice, she was not tired and was excited to be there. Cody went over everything with her, security codes and the like. He gave her a burner phone so no one could track her except him. He explained about the security built into the apartment along with panic buttons in every room. When Khloe was beginning to get into being there, Cody dropped a bomb on her. He would be leaving after she was settled in. Khloe was stunned by this and could not imagine being there without him. Cody told her that this was the way her grandfather Jack wanted it and he was not going to let him down. He went on to tell her that Jack wanted her to be on her own so she could explore her limitations and try to see if they were hindering her or helping her. All Jack wanted was for Khloe to give herself a chance to really find out what it was she wanted in life and to learn how to live in the moment. After Cody left, she realized this was the first time in her life she was on her own. No one to impress or to deal with. No reminders of home. Nothing to do except to learn to live one day at a time. She got into a routine after a while running errands, going to the grocery store and exploring the area. One day returning from grocery shopping, there Damon sat on the steps of her building. Damon still would not quit pursuing her. He got the information of her where about from Cody. She did not want her new reality disturbed by him and asked him to leave. But Damon was on to her and made her realize that she wanted the opposite. She wanted him and wanted him there with her. Damon would not give up on having a relationship with her. He still did not know why she kept pushing him away but was determined to figure it out. He finally won a small victory. In a terrifying moment, Khloe broke down and told Damon she loved him as much as he loved her. He asked her what she wanted him to do. She told him several things he had to do in order for him to keep seeing her. He vowed to move heaven and hell to give her what she needed. But she had to understand that he came with baggage too. Finally, they were both on the same page. It was time to remind Damon that he did not know everything about her. He told her she would tell him in time, when she was ready to. This was an extraordinary story of a young woman learning to live and love. I can’t wait for the next book in the series The Last Guy. I want to find out what is going to happen to Khloe and Damon. This is an emotional read and I highly recommended. It is a different type of romance and I know you will not be dissapointed in it.
I’m satisfied but I cannot wait for more!!! The world Ward has created for us with the Manzone/Parker’s just gets better and better. Khloe has me hook, line, and sinker. And Damon is perfection in his naughty royal suit. So many emotions and I’m still reeling from this book. Not only do I have book hangover but I feel sorry for the next few books I read because they just won’t live up to this in quality or feels. The ending here was a perfect place to stop but I’m so ready for more. Bring on the next chapter of Damon and Khloe and I cannot wait to see how their story ends – or really fully begins. Read read read! Then go send yourself on the most amazing journey and catch up with all the other books.
It had good word building but it just didn’t keep my interest.
I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t read the other books in the series but I hated this story. From page one I hated the h. She’s mean, spiteful and just un-likeable. I soldiered on to see how it is when she tells him. And she doesn’t. Not in this book. Uh. So not putting myself through the trouble of the next book. I’ll just leave it.
Another fabulous book by Susan ward! I can’t wait for more!
I forced myself to read 25%, but the story never improved. I felt like I read the same page a hundred times.