Search - Rescue Me (Lovett, Texas, Bk 3)

A bit of a slow start but once it got going it had some funny bits. It was definitely better than "Daisy's Back in Town" which was the first book. That one was horrible.

Although this one was nothing remarkable, it was a nice book to pass the time.

It’s a fun, fast read set in small-town Texas. Lovett is one of those towns full of ‘Thou Shalts’, ‘Thou Shall Nots’, and “Everybody Knows Thats’ and Sadie left it years ago in a cloud of dust, with a final wave and no regrets. Now she’s coming back, briefly, making a command appearance as a bridesmaid for a cousin she doesn’t even know. It’s just a temporary blip in her life, not like she was planning to stay. But still, being back in the town which expected a princess and got her instead, dressed in a bubble gum pink bridesmaid dress that might have appealed to a teenager, and trying to deal with a father who had always talked more to his horses than to her? Not so easy, especially since she was the ultimate failure in Lovett’s eyes; a thirty-three year old husbandless, childless woman with no date for the wedding. Is it any wonder she has issues?

Enter Vince, a retired Navy SEAL with his own set of issues. Like the resentment of having to retire due to hearing loss acquired during the engagement which killed his best friend. Like refusal to admit his PTSD issues. Like aimlessness about what to do now. Like refusal to commit to anyone and anything…

They meet over his dead truck on the highway as she’s heading into town. She gives him a ride, as he slides out he says ‘If there’s anything I can do for you…” She asks him to be her date, he turns her down and they go their separate ways. Yeah, like that’s going to happen. Seems he’s in town to visit his aunt who wants to sell him her business. And that ‘blip’ in Sadie’s life? Sidelined when her father gets smashed up by a horse and she puts her life on hold to oversee his care and be there if he needs her.

Over time Vince and Sadie develop from casual meetings to friendship and their chemistry was hot from the start. There are the usual romantic pitfalls, clever dialog and hurt feelings as they move from strangers, to uncommitted bed buddies, to a Relationship [yeah, that's with a capital R] and finally the dreaded ‘C’ word, Commitment…

It’s a entertaining read. It does a good job of being a stand-alone read even though it is part of the Lovett series so order is not important. There are a couple of hanky moments but they don’t overshadow the happily-ever-after.



Lovett, Texas series

#1 Daisy’s Back In Town

#2 Crazy On You (only released in ebook form)

#3 Rescue Me

Sadie Hollowell left Lovett, Texas at the age of 18 and has only been back for the occasional holiday gathering with her father who she has never gotten along with very well. A young cousin’s wedding is what has Sadie coming back to Lovett this time around. Forced by familial obligations to stand up in a wedding she plans on driving in and driving right back out ASAP. When Sadie helps Vince (Autumn’s brother from Any Man of Mine) with a ride into town after his truck breaks down, she discovers paybacks are sometimes sexy and her stay in Lovett is suddenly looking up.

Both Sadie and Vince have their issues, but their chemistry with each other is never in question. They have an easy friendship, a hot sex life and a relationship that is fun to read without all the games and drama that usually bogs down the road to happily ever after. Sure their road to HEA isn’t all paved with sunshine and roses, but the bumps they do encounter are more normal and true to life.

The book ends with a hint at the next story and heroine and I am ever eager to get my hands on that book!

Rachel Gibson has been on my automatic buy list since I discovered her writing many years ago. This book only further cements her place on that list. I laughed, I cried and I flew through this book in one afternoon. I simply couldn’t put it down, nor did I want it to end. This is one of those books I will probably read and reread over and over.

Cherise Everhard, May 2012