The Man I Can’t Have (Ward #1) (Ward Duet)

*laying in my bed staring at the last page of the book with my mouth wide open*

Holy Shit…I didn’t see that coming….

GO.ONE.CLICK.RIGHT.NOW.IF.YOU.HAVEN’T.READ.THIS.BOOK.YET!!

HOLY SHIT…This book blew me away!!

It Was AMAZEBALLS!!!

Gahhh Shanora Williams…5 Outstanding Stars from me…

I think I need a minute b4 I start the 2nd book in this duo..but Lord have mercy I’m glad I don’t have to wait for it to be released!!!

GO in blind ladies..GO IN BLIND!!

5 OUTSTANDING STARS Y’ALL!!!

Let me start this off first by saying that I love Shanora and all of her books. She goes above and beyond trying to keep connected to her readers, which we appreciate.

Now on with my review. This book was one that I was biting at the bit to read and it did not disappoint! I received it early because I’m apart of her ARC reader group.

One of the main characters, Mr. Ward, has a somewhat dark past. He has things that he has nightmares over and blames himself for. Yet he is a decent man who works hard and tries to be a better person. Plus his sex appeal is off the charts!

His deep Southern drawl, body made for sin and eyes that can see into your soul, are panty melting.

Gabby is a recent collage graduate, an artist and a newly wed. She’s had to work hard for what she had until she got married to a wealthy business owner.

She moved away from her family and friends to enjoy new scenery, a new house and a new landscape architect.

She’s smart and witty, talented and loves her family. There’s a lot going on in her head that others don’t know about.

Without giving much away the sex, chemistry, angst, self doubt, hate, rage, and fear are rolled up into a wonderful book. It makes you hate certain people, love others and want some DEAD! HAHA

I joked with some other readers when my husband was texting me while I was reading this, that he was interrupting time with my book boyfriend. But seriously though, I didn’t put it down until I was finished and seriously though about reading it again. Now I cannot wait for the second book!
Kuddos to Shanora for hitting another one out of the park!

“Every single one of these kisses are stolen, because I don’t belong to him. I belong to someone else— a man who would lose his mind if he ever found out.”

I’ve had my eye on this one since before it was even released. Having never read anything from this author, something about this one kept pulling me in. However, the whole cheating thing kept pushing me away. Am I totally against it in fiction? No….but its just uncomfortable for me. Its safe to say by writing this that I caved…..and I am so glad I did!

“I’ve been thinkin’, and somethin’ tells me this life you’re livin’ isn’t really you.” His voice is low, gruff. “It’s a good life,” I tell him.

The writing is just insane. It is full of so much underlying emotion, so many signs that something is so devastatingly wrong in the house that Gabby exists in. The signs are there, but you are so wrapped up in the emotionally charged build up between Gabby and Marcel that you don’t see. Its phenomonal story telling, truly. Every single type of scene is perfectly developed. And for one of the first times ever, an author made her male lead MOAN…..do you know how sexy that visual is? Worth 5 stars alone! Legit shiver inducing.

“He has no respect for you. He treats you like a child, and it’s fucked up because I’ve gotten to know a little about you over the past few days— enough to realize you’re a smart woman. Naive sometimes? Yes. But you’re smart… and you deserve better than what he gives you.”

Told in dual POV, this is a slow burning romance that includes a cheating wife of a very shitty husband. But if that subject matter bothers you, this might not be the book for you (and gawh will you be missing out). If you decide to read it, get ready for a build up that is sweet torture….because things don’t fully heat up until well past the 50% mark. But for once, I can honestly say the build up, the tension, and the intensity between these two is worth every bit of it. You will go through every forbidden thought, every guilty fantasy, and every feeble attempt with both of these characters as they attempt to fight something that is already destined. Its ah-mazing!

“I could do so much to you right now, and he wouldn’t even know it.”

Gabby just moved to Hilton Head (btw–amazing place lol) with her wealthy husband Kyle. Alone in the too big house he bought for them while hes away at work all the time, she decides to put some energy in her dream backyard. On the referral of a neighbor, she hires Ward Landscaping having no idea the owner will change the course of her life forever. He is far too hot for her to have to be around but more than that, he takes the loneliness away.

“He makes you feel lonely, even when he’s here. I don’t. And you know it.”

But soon they both realize things have gone way past professional with them. The fantasies, the forbidden thoughts, and secret looks…..its all things that mean bad news and even worse consequences. But what happens when you meet the perfect person who really sees you when its too late? Vows are forever, but Gabby can’t ignore what she feels for Marcel can she? Can you really fall for someone who can never be yours?

“Because if you aren’t in love with him, then maybe I won’t feel so bad about the things I wish I could do to you.”

This does not have a HEA. In fact, the ending is a cliffy that is both emotionally painful and infuriating! Good news, The Man I Need (Ward Duet Book 2) is already out so you can jump right in to find out their conclusion!

“You’re everything I never knew I wanted.” He shudders a breath, pressing his forehead to mine. Our eyes connect. “It’s just my luck that the woman I really want is already taken by someone else.”
It is pretty evident from the start that Gabby spends more time pretending to be happy than actually being happy. We are kept pretty much in the dark about her marriage to Kyle (almost like a friend who gets what she wants us to know) and the history that her best friend hints to, but there are warning signs dropped throughout that tell us Gabby has her reasons. Irs heartbreaking watching her pretend. Pretending to be a different person when Kyle is home. Convincing herself she is happy. Finding reasons to be thankful for her husband. Making excuses for his arrogant asshole ways. We have a front row seat to the beginning of a miserable marriage, so it can get frustrating reading as Gabby works so hard to make herself happy and grateful in it…..she settles and its easy to see she must have some reasons. In fact, this might be the first book I actively rooted for a heroine to cheat on her husband…..I just wanted her to see what its like to really be happy and cherished. Is she dependent? Yes. Is she a pushover? For the most part. Is she weak minded? Sometimes. But, its written in a way thats understandable and sad. I wanted her to be just as happy as Marcel did!

“He is so perfect— everything I’ve always wanted in a man. Too bad he can never be mine.”
Marcel is book boyfriend material for sure. Smoking hot, totally manly, a no bullshit alpha….but he also wants Gabby to stop settling for less than she deserves. What he does isn’t the most noble, but I couldn’t even be mad at him. He tries so hard to stay away but alphas go after what they want. Shanora did an amazing job at creating this specimen. He knows the woman he wants will likely never truly be his, yet he is willing to risk his own heart in order to show her what a better man could do for her….
“Your pussy deserves to be worshiped, Gabby. Kissed. Licked. Fucked.” He meets my eyes. “And I’m going to do every single one of those things to you tonight.”
And as much of a man’s man as he doesnt hesistate with vocalizing how he feels….which lead to some of the most heart wrenching scenes in the book for me!
His fight for Gabby ain’t over yet, and I can’t wait to see him win her over once and for all.

“You don’t have to pretend with me,” he rumbles with his lips on the shell of my ear. A shiver wracks through my body, my hand freezing on the doorknob. “I’m not your husband. I don’t want you to be anything else but who you really are.”
The way these two characters are written is with such a deeper connection that they feel like the married couple while Kyle is the outsider. The way they see each other, really see what each tries to hide made me weak….its just something. The fact that they know its doomed yet its too much to ignore, its the forbidden love thats worth all the consequences in the end. He seriously worships her, puts himself through so much just to be close to her. And the sexual chemistry….the way they are what the other has needed without even realizing theyve been missing out….
“God, what am I doing?”“You’re about to be fucked by another man,” he says on the crook of my neck. “And you’ll love every fuckin’ second of it.”
…..its so hot! These two will have you rooting for sneaking around and divorce no matter how against the cheating notion you may be!

“How long has this been going on?”“Has what been going on?”“You pretendin’ you’re happy with him.” It’s a statement.

This isn’t full of sex. Its not even an immediate love affair. The slow burn is truly agonizingly slow…..but the build up is where this story earns every star its been given. Shanora did an incredible job at creating two characters that are easy to root for and understand, making it easier to stomach the whole married woman thing.

“If you were mine, I’d drop everything for you. Give you the whole goddamn world, little thing.”

If you are on the fence about this one, just jump in. I promise you will thank me afterwards! Its easily made its way on my all time favs list, and i cant wait to finish their story with book 2!

“I became his tonight, on a dining room table that doesn’t even belong to him.”

Shanora William did an awesome job with this book. I loved how she made in between an landscaper and house wife. I usually dont like books like this but it was a real eye opener.

I recommend it even if you dont like books about cheating because it’s a real eyer. It shows how woman need to be treated and not stay in abusive relationships.

I love it love. It is a duet and the 2nd book is out too. By Rebecca

Oh my god! What is this? Gah! This book just about stumped me! I don’t know what to say! Yes, I’m shouting, screaming mess when I reached the ending. I just can’t! Because- it’s- GAH!!!

You are probably thinking what has gotten into me. Believe me, I’m clueless too. I was just here, reading along, slowly getting to know the characters, living this very realistic world that the author is depicting, feeling the angst of Gabby and Marcel’s love story, thinking already that I know how this is going to end, and then suddenly, BAM! You can imagine how I look at that time: mouth hanging open, completely baffled, thinking “what the what?” because that plot twist near the end was something I didn’t see coming! Whoa!!!

I have always said that I will try and read tropes that I haven’t tried before and this book is one of those. I admit, after reading the title and blurb, I was a bit conflicted. Cheating in any form is not something I can just ignore in any book. No sir. I even said, I can already guess what was the story based on the title of this book alone (I was partly right, by the way but still…) It was a very pleasant surprise. I LOVED it. It was INSANE!

And Marcel, my man. I can say his name over and over and I will never get tired. I will go on and say this; he is my new book boyfriend. There is no way you can’t fall for this guy. His depth in character and his pain is something you can relate to. He is clearly the man that Gabby needs. You will know why when you read this story. At first, I had Gabby pegged as a naïve, sweet, weak woman but as the story progressed, I was amazed by her strong will.

With that little cliffhanger ending and questions burning in my mind, I’m surely going to read the last book in this duet.

Oh..my… This book was everything that I was looking for and more. I am so addicted to Gabby, Marcel, and Kyle’s story. Their story sucked me in and left me with that WTH moment with the cliffy, but that just made me want the next book so much more.

This new to me author is now an absolute favorite of mine now. I loved everything about her writing.

Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Wow just Wow!!! I’m blown away from that ending and can’t wait to pick up the next book to find out what happens next!
Gabby and Marcel started out so innocent but it soon was more then that..Feelings started to happen and actions is acted on.. This book is so freakin good with well written characters! It will keep your attention from beginning to end!

I’m a huge fan of Shanora’s writing so I’ll devour anything she writes, but this duet is one of my favourites now. Marcel is the kind of hero women dream about their whole lives and the way he loves is beyond comparison. It’s not an easy love story, but the best ones never are!

My heart cannot take it! Holy cliffhanger!!! This book was everything, I could not put it down. It had the angsty forbidden and cheating that is so drama filled! Definitely one of my top reads of 2019.

The Man I Can’t Have (Ward Duet)
By: Shanora Williams
Narrated by: Lacy Laurel, Aiden Snow

This is not my typical romance, but with the narration team, and an author I love, I took the chance. Kyle and Gabby just got married and now have moved to a new house, a new town and are starting their new life together. Kyle travels a lot, so Gabby decides to take on the project of landscaping her backyard. With recommendations, she hires Marcel Ward and the chemistry between these two is palpable. It’s only a matter of time before the sparks ignite. This is what bothered me I think. While I didn’t like Kyle, and I know Gabby is lonely, it’s hard to wrap my head around these two even thinking about getting together. Until the last chapter. Now with this ending, and I need more and want to get the rest of the story! The entire book is a huge build up to this intense cliffhanger, it’s imperative to get the next book and find out the where things will lead. It’s hot and steamy, it’s guilt ridden and frustrating, it’s loving and passionate and it’s surprising and horrifying! All the things you love to have in a story and keep you on the edge wondering!

Lacy Laurel and Aiden Snow are amazing in the narration. Give these two any story and it will keep me entertained, but this one was exceptional. Lacy brings Gabby all the feelings. You can feel her loyalty and conflict, as well as the growing uncertainty and passion as the story progresses. Aiden is using that raspy growl of his, with an accent to make you swoon. He is alpha protective as Marcel, and you can feel his growing frustration and love through his voice inflections. I can’t wait to hear the conclusion of their story.

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