There is no greater burden than a secret, and Kari Stanley has been carrying one alone for a long time. But fate intervenes in the form of a broken down car and the kind offer of assistance from a handsome stranger with a sweet, southern drawl. In exchange, all she has to do is go to dinner with him. Temptation was never so sweet.
Max Quinn has secrets of his own. His good deeds aren’t just a … aren’t just a product of his southern upbringing; they’re his atonement. As one dinner turns into two, he realizes that Kari just might be his salvation.
As they struggle to find their path together, their secrets weigh heavier on them. Will they be able to trust one another with the truth, or will their secrets keep them apart forever?
This book CAN be read as a stand-alone novel.
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Have I mentioned how amazing Adriana Locke is? No? Well everyone, she freaking is!
From book one with Jada and Cane, there was such a build up for Max and Kari that I just couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book.
Max and Kari story starts in the first book with Jada and Cane, but now we get into the deep stuff with them. In the first book there is this tension between the couple that has something to do with Keri’s past and she just will not share with Max what is going on.
In this book we get the breakdown of the history that causes Keri to be the way she is, to always say “but not today.”
Oh and poor Max, he is truly my all time favorite fella in all of the books Adriana Locke has out. However, what a dummy! Listen to your friends more man! For those that have read the first book, you know what I mean. In this book we are introduced to a certain character (you will know when you read who it is) that is the type of girl that just needs her girl card revoked for life.
Sorry for the rant, back on topic.
Read along with Max and Keri as they explore each other and really learn what true love and forgiveness means. This story will pull at your heartstrings and really make you want to hug your loved ones.
Well, I think I finally am able to breath! This was such a beautiful, captivating and thrilling story that I was fully absorbed in it from beginning to end. We first met and fell in love with Maxwell Quinn and Kari Stanley in The Exception. Max was the charming, handsome, loyal friend who would do anything for Cane and Jada and Kari was the loving, supportive sister who had a cheerful, carefree air. Max and Kari were already together in The Exception so in this book we were treated to how they met and started dating and then move to after The Exception ended. Kari always keeps Max at a distance but Max is undeterred by her attempts, he just needs to figure out why she is so gun shy and fix it. Max is the ultimate loyal, protective, honorable man who wants to do right by everyone. He is the perfect mix of southern gentleman, devoted son, brother & lover, and sexy alpha-man. We see that Kari is intelligent, loving, and kind and is unable to resist Max. I love the witty banter between them and their chemistry is off the charts. But we learn that Kari has a secret tragic event in her past that stifles her from opening up fully to Max for fear he will not love her anymore. But this is not the main focus of this story but part of the story that makes these characters so genuine and believable. We meet new secondary characters who are great additions to their lives but also those that are unscrupulous as well. This is such a well rounded story that flows so naturally from one scene to the next. There are so many sweet moments but so many intense, heart pounding, and thrilling events as well. I wanted to yell at some points but melted in others. We also had more of Cane and Jada which was wonderful and the bromance scenes with Cane and Max were priceless. I loved that Ms. Locke did not create angsty moments to drive her story but created a clever and exquisite adventure that I didn’t want to end. Bravo, Ms. Locke, Bravo!
Aah Max… I love him!! ‘Marry me’ – yes I will is what I would say if he was mine! Although I can’t decide who I love more, Cane or Max??!
I was addicted from the start and could not put it down! Sam was a sneaky b**** but I knew someone would have to see through her!!
Fabulous story thanks Adriana, yet another favourite of your books!!
I don’t even know what to say. I don’t normally fall for the sweet guy. I like the man all alpha and somewhat dark. There’s just something about Max Quinn that you can’t ignore! I knew I liked him in The Exception but man did I not fall in love with him immediately in the beginning of this book!
Max knows that Kari is his forever. He just needs to figure out how to make her realize this. The whole story is just something amazing. You get dual POV to help understand where both Max and Kari are feeling. At the end of the day, all I wanted was for Kari to realize what Max already knew their fate was.
Read this book! Swoon over Max, love Kari, and hold on to the added bonus of more Cane and Jada! There’s even someone we can hate! Well done, Adriana!
Awesome read!!! All 3 books
I’ve heard so much about this series and I wasn’t sure how it would go. I’m mad at myself first not reading these books sooner. Oml. They are so amazing.
Read this series. Don’t listen to anything that may alter your views (like I did). These heroes are so different from one another but best friends. There heroines are sisters that truly love one another, But things get in the way. I loved them all. READ THIS SERIES. I PROMISE YOU WON’T REGRET IT!!!
Max and Kari are amazing!!!!! I never thought I could love these two wonderful characters more than I did before, but I was wrong. We get more Cane and Jada too.
Kari and Max have been together for over a year, but Kari is afraid to really commit to him. She’s hiding something and Max can’t get her to open up about it. She’s afraid that once he knows, he will walk away from her. Her past ends up showing up though and everything comes out in the open. Max shows her that nothing will make him leave. He proves his love over and over as they try to move forward, but someone in Max’s life doesn’t want him with Kari.
Max is so sweet, caring and loving and an absolutely perfect country boy. Kari is just perfect for him too. I loved this series and can’t wait to read more of Adriana’s work.
Loved Kari and Max’s story. Such a great read!!!
I couldn’t wait to read Kari and Max’s story. I fell in love with them when reading the first two books in this series, and I needed to know what was holding these two back. Both characters had been carrying around an enormous amount of guilt, and Kari’s story broke my heart. I shed more than a few tears waiting and hoping for Kari and Max to find their happily ever after. But their lives are turned upside down when a family friend turns out to be a master manipulator.
Sam, oh Sam, there’s a lot I could say about her but I don’t want to give anything away. And then there’s Bri, Blaine, Dr. Connor and well there’s just a lot going on in this book! This is an absolute must read!!!
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Max Quinn…..holy smokes. Next to Graham Landry, I think he is one of my favorite Locke men. He just exudes confidence, yet isn’t cocky in the same way that his best friend Cane Alexander is. He by chance meets Kari, who just happens to be Cane’s wife Jada’s sister. Kari definitely has commitment issues, which causes issues between her & Max. But knowing the secret she was keeping from Max, you could somewhat understand her hesitancy to moving forward. There were some obstacles and craziness to overcome throughout the story, but it only made their relationship that much stronger.
I absolutely fell in love with Max Quinn in The Exception. He’s such a gentleman and grounded in his beliefs and a strong, hard working, laid back man. He has just the right amount of cocky and sweet. Kari and her secret broke my heart. She’s strong and trying to do as well as she can. Of course it was really nice to visit Cane and Jada again too!