Not much bothers him…until his best friend’s little sister moves to town.Carefree personal trainer Drake North is long on charm and short on connections that do more than skim the surface. His main ties are to his family and his best friend, so when his friend’s little sister moves to town, Drake promises to look out for her. But when he offers her his spare bedroom for a few nights, he might be … few nights, he might be getting in over his head.
High-end honeymoon planner Mackenzie Shaw can take care of herself. In her job for the rich and famous, she leaves nothing to chance. Moving back to Nashville gives her the opportunity to finally get what she’s always wanted—a fulfilling career, a close-knit group of friends, and a permanent address. All she has to do is ignore her years-old crush on her brother’s best friend.
Though opposites attract, Drake has no interest in settling down anytime soon. But when Mackenzie travels overseas for work and he finds himself following her around the world, he’s forced to admit there’s nothing shallow about his feelings. Can he prove he’s ready to dig deep and convince Mackenzie he’s everything she needs?
True Colors is a stand-alone novel in the North Brothers series (which is a spin-off of the Hale Street series).
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This couple was so hot I had to stick my head in the freezer to cool off! The author takes the reader on an adventure to an exotic island near Fiji. I could have hung in that world a whole lot longer. Love this North Brothers series, and can’t wait to start the next one.
True Colors is an excellent story. Wonderful characters and interesting storyline entertained me throughout the story. I plan to read more from this series.
11/13/2021 “True Colors” (nook) was a great story that immediatley reeled me in. It is heartwarming with a good dash of family love as well as strong family ties. As the drama unfolds around Drake and Mackenzie it is evident that they go after what they want.
5 stars
I received a free copy of the the novel The North Brothers book 2: True Colors by Amy Knupp and this review was given freely.
A heartwarming and easy flowing best friend’s little sister rocky romance with a childhood crush realized, a reformation of a playboy, a hint of steam and the continued busy lives of the North family blended with the Hale Street crew. Personal trainer and part time North Brothers Sports employee Drake North is stunned by his feelings and the changes in his life caused by his best friend Ezra’s little sister, high-end honeymoon planner Mackenzie Shaw moving back to Nashville.
Truly lovely romance..
I see your true colours shining through, I see your true colours and that’s why I love you… The blurb & previous reviewers have covered the story so I won’t get into that. What I can say though is that it was seriously good page turner, a complex story but a charming toe curling read that gave me all the feels. I received an arc & this is my honest & voluntary review.
Ohhh my….. What a great story. This is one of those reads that will leave you sighing yet eager to read the next book. The setting, in Nashville, Tennessee, will make you feel like you are there. But it’s the characters that truly draw you in. They are so realistic and believable that you’ll swear they are real. The story is one that will have you laughing, sighing, and at times telling the characters what to do lol. It’s a really well written engaging romance. The North Brothers are sigh worthy and the women they fall in love with aren’t weak they are strong women who make their men even better and best of all happy. I love a truly happy ending that leaves me smiling for days. This one is highly recommended!!!
True Colors is a quick and very enjoyable read.
It is a best friend’s sister and a little second chance romance combined. Drake and Mackenzie are not looking for any serious relationships. However, the attraction they have for each other is very strong.
The main characters are strong and well developed in this story. The supporting cast are also excellent. Being surrounded by positive people and healthy relationships are important. The author does a great job with this story!!
My first book by Amy Knupp, so I will be looking for more books by her.
Oh.my.word! I’m so in love with the North Brothers. I can’t decide which one of them I love more. In this story, we get to see more of Gabe and Mason. I love the interaction between Cole, Drake, Gabe and Mason. They are awesome together and you can feel that love.
Drake is a dream come true. He realizes who he is and why he is the way he acts, and I respect that. Too bad, at 30 years old that he also realizes what he has been doing and why. He just doesn’t put all the pieces together until Mackenzie came back into his life. Oh, how the mighty fall. I love his fall. I didn’t even mind when he had to deal with Ezra. Not a fan of Ezra but I understood his reasoning. I just get tired, sometimes, with the “don’t mess with my sister” plot point. Ms. Knupp did a great job of keeping that to a minimum and let Mackenzie take care of that.
Mackenzie is a great heroine. Fighting a crush isn’t easy but I admired her for standing up to Drake when needed. No woman had ever done that, and he needed it at times. She made him think but also had him reevaluate his lifestyle and what he really wanted out of life. *sigh* I love that. Normally it’s the other way around.
What draws me to this series is Ms. Knupp’s writing. It’s low on the angst meter and she lets her characters talk to her and to each other. She has a knack for inserting humor when necessary and also the emotional times, too. Nothing is heavy-handed, but her characters grow and it’s fun to read.
By the way, loved, loved seeing Cole and Sierra again. I just love that grouch and it was fun seeing him with his family again.
Do yourself a favor and get this series. It’s fun to read and I can’t wait for Gabe’s book. Now that one will be a doozy.
I am so in love with this series. Coming from a family of six kids it is interesting watching the interactions between the different North brothers, and watching them fall in love one by one.
At the start of the story, neither Drake or Mackenzie have any intention of getting involved in a relationship, let along a long term one. Mackenzie is busy with opening a new office for To the Stars in Nashville and Drake has made it his mission to not become too involved or committed to anything or anyone.
When there is a mishap at the apartment Mackenzie has rented, Drake insists she stay in his guest room. But as they spend more time together, the attraction between the two of them becomes harder to ignore. And Drake being Mackenzie’s brother’s friend doesn’t help matters – you know, the old friend code making Mackenzie off limits.
I loved the progression of the relationship between Drake and Mackenzie and how Drake was so thoughtful in the surprise he planned for Mackenzie for their last day on vacation. It was also great having so many of the characters from the Hale Street series in this book. It just makes me want to pick and move there so I could be part of their friendship/family.
I received the ARC of this book directly from the author as part of her ARC team. Understandably, I am a fan of this author and her books. This is the second book in the North Brothers series, and this again shows another handsome, wealthy brother that has a great family but shies away from relationships and commitment. This book adds in the best friend’s sister element, when Drake ends up having his best friend’s little sister stay with him, except now she is all grown up and beautiful. In this case, Mackenzie has always had a crush on Drake, but realizes that he is not long-term possibility.
In the prior book, Drake was introduced as the youngest brother, who has not settled into a corporate job with the family and instead works in both retail and as a personal trainer. He seems to be treated like he is flying by the seat of his pants, but I looked at it as someone working pretty hard at two different jobs! Although there is not a career there and he can probably afford to do that because he has a wealthy family, I thought the two jobs was downplayed a little. Also, I think the author did an excellent job of dissecting why Drake has hesitated to settle down. One of the main issues between them as a couple is that Makenzie works very hard at her job as a high-end honeymoon travel consultant (Coolest job – who knew this existed), as she opens a new office in Nashville!
The relationship between Drake and Mackenzie has a few ups and downs, especially around her brother discovering what is going on between them. Also, I felt that they had a very good friendship and she not only helps him look at a future with her, but also how to develop a career path to go forward. My favorite part was the “grand romantic gesture” that can only happen in fiction, but it was a great fantasy for the rest of us!! Great couple with electric chemistry who seem to really grow as their relationship does. Cannot wait to read the next book, thinking it will be Gabe’s story?!??
I’m loving the North brother’s series so far. Don’t miss out on True Colors. If any of you had a brother who had a best friend that worked as a personal trainer. Then you probably had a secret crush on him. Well, this book starts with said brother’s friend, Drake offering Mackenzie a place to stay. I mean what else is a guy to do when his best friend’s kid sister moves home. But after arriving back home the apartment isn’t available. And she doesn’t no anyone else in town. While living in the same house. He realizes that Mackenzie is all grown up. And he finds her fun and attractive. But he’s not looking for forever. But then again neither is Mackenzie. I won’t ruin the read for you. Grab your copy and see if Mackenzie will decide forever with her brother’s best friend might just be what she wants. And whether or not Drake will realize she’s not just his best friends little sister but the woman for him.
This is book 2 in the North Brothers series and the first that I have read and I loved it. An older brother’s best friend romance and I am all for it. Drake and Mackenzie were so good together. They both weren’t looking for a relationship but fate and love has other plans for them. Loved watching them move from being just friends to so much more. Great story and I can’t wait to read more from this series and this author.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow! The author nailed the best friend’s little sister, troupe – very authentic, especially Ezra’s reaction. Drake and Mackenzie are amazing as individual characters but, supercharged as a couple. As an added bonus, the author surrounded them with family and friends that push the story forward instead of just used being used as filler. I love that we get to revisit Hale street…as it is a unique place (and series).
Looking forward to witnessing the other North brothers fall in love and maybe Ezra – hint…hint
I love these books set on Hale Street in Nashville. True Colors is a delight to read. There are wonderful main and supporting characters and a heartwarming story line. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and hated to get to the end!
I absolutely LOVE reading about the North Brother’s being brought to their knees.
I also love a good brother’s best friend story (repeat after me: KINDLE CRACK!)
Drake and Mackenzie were fabulous.
Flawed, flirty, fun and hella hot.
Gotta love the protective big brother aspect, that’s always going to incite some drama. I hope I get to find out more about Ezra- I’m super intrigued about him!
Anyway, this story was a quick and easy read. HFN and there is plenty of room for another epilogue or story for Mackenzie and Drake -which I would happily devour.
It always tickles me when a hero does something impulsive and out of character without realizing that his love for the heroine is the motivating factor. I rub my hands together giddily, knowing the resolution to the story is going to be epic, entertaining and oh-so satisfying.
Drake North is the man-child of the North family, working retail in various departments of their sporting goods store, moving to a different apartment when the mood strikes, as well as moving from woman to woman, never letting roots take hold in his heart. He has very few people in his life he can count on, but his best friend, Ezra, has stuck by him since they were kids.
Ezra’s sister, Mackenzie Shaw, has moved way too many times in her life, and she’s excited to finally get a place of her own in Nashville. She has the coolest job ever (pardon my editorializing) as the person who plans extravagant honeymoons for her famous clients. Think travel agent times a thousand, and OMGee, those trips she *has* to take so she’s familiar with the places she sends her clients!
Anyway, she’s opening a Nashville branch of the company and plans to live in apartment for a few months while she finds her dream home. But when Drake picks her up at the airport as a favor to Ezra, she finds that her apartment is uninhabitable, having had a run in with a car, so Drake offers her his guestroom. They’re friends, right? What could possibly go wrong?
The trip down destiny’s road with Drake and Mackenzie is so much fun! I think these two inspire a new saying: the more they fight it, the harder they fall. And Drake fights his feelings every step of the way, even when his outrageous actions clearly show he’s in love. Their story is light-hearted and amusing, with just enough angst to make it interesting. The North brothers are fantastic characters, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. So far, I think Drake’s story is at the top of my list, so don’t pass this one up! You won’t be disappointed.
This is the second book the the North Brothers series and the second book to earn 5 stars from me! The first book was about Cole, the middle “forgotten” brother that felt alone and a bit of an outcast from his family. This one centers on Drake, the youngest and most “carefree” brother that never seems to take anything too seriously. That is, of course, until he is reunited with Mackenzie, his best friend Ezra’s, little sister.
Knupp does a wonderful job of giving her characters some depth to their personalities. Cole felt that he was the “black sheep” of his family for a reason that went beyond his high IQ and middle child syndrome. In the same way, Drake’s approach to all aspects of his life (his job, relationships, etc.) is to just go with the flow and to not commit to anything too deeply. The reason for these two takes on life stems from the same root but with branches in different directions. Knupp lets you inside minds and the hearts of the North brothers and as soon as she does, you’re hooked!
I love the way she gives her female characters a backcone. While the North brothers may know what they want and have definite ideas about how to get it, the women are no pushovers. Mackenzie has a plan and she sticks to it throughout the story. I’m also glad Knupp allowed Mackenzie to have had past relationships. Too often, we read about the many women in the man’s past while the women have lead a chaste life. Knupp definitely gets it right in this series.
I would highly recommend this series.
I enjoy best friend’s sibling stories, and this is a good one of those. Mackenzie is Drake North’s best friend Ezra’s little sister – and you can imagine how Ezra reacts when he finds out that Mack and Drake are in a relationship after he asked Drake to fetch her from the airport. This is a great return to Hale Street, and an enjoyable read with engaging characters.
I received a free copy of this book, and this review was posted voluntarily.
5 stars
I received a free copy of the the novel The North Brothers book 2: True Colors by Amy Knupp and this review was given freely.
A heartwarming and easy flowing best friend’s little sister rocky romance with a childhood crush realized, a reformation of a playboy, a hint of steam and the continued busy lives of the North family blended with the Hale Street crew. Personal trainer and part time North Brothers Sports employee Drake North is stunned by his feelings and the changes in his life caused by his best friend Ezra’s little sister, high-end honeymoon planner Mackenzie Shaw moving back to Nashville.
This is Drake and Mackenzie’s story. Mackenzie is Drakes’ best friends sister whose is off limits. They’ve known each other for a long time. We get to see them with their feeling growing for each other. It’s a fast moving book with great characters, And you’ll see lots of familiar faces.