The Closer You Get by Carter Ashby

Book Title: The Closer You Get (A Fidelity Novel) 

Author: Carter Ashby 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Release Date: May 21, 2015 

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

If there’s one thing Rye Holcomb hates, it’s small, tight-knit towns with high virtues and zero tolerance for outsiders. Fidelity is just such a town. And Rye is just such an outsider. So when he and his brother, Cash, take jobs in Fidelity, Rye decides not to get too comfortable. Which is why he is avoiding some rather confusing feelings for his new boss, Cora McKay.

Cora was born, raised, and baptized in Fidelity. She owns a thriving construction business, has a close circle of friends, and is the breadwinner for her mother and four sisters. The one thing she lacks is a sex life, something she’s never longed for until now. One conversation with Rye sparks her sexual awakening, and, in spite of his reputation as a man-whore, Cora can’t resist giving in to his advances.

As Rye enjoys initiating his virgin employer, and Cash experiences a relationship with a man for the first time in his life, they begin to think of Fidelity as home. But small towns have brought them trouble in the past, and it appears Fidelity holds trouble for their future. Can their newfound relationships be enough to overcome a past that relentlessly follows them? Can two men who have been burned by love learn to trust again?

He took one step toward her, closing the distance between them a little bit. “I’m sorry I hurt you, Cora. I’m sorry for what I did Sunday. That was just really shitty of me, and I got no excuse. But I figured out that I’ve done this to myself. You have every right to think badly of me. I walked into this town figuring it was just like any other town, so I might as well get mine while I could. I already had my mind made up, so when something sweet and amazing came my way, I didn’t have a fucking clue how to handle it.”

Her heart pounded hard in her chest, and she found she couldn’t keep staring into his eyes.

“Cora, when you smiled the first time, you changed my life. I haven’t been able to get you out of my head this whole time. I’ve been praying to God all week that I haven’t messed things up for good.”

Now she felt she could barely breathe.

“Did I? Did I mess things up for good?”

She couldn’t even turn to look at him. He must have sensed it because he touched her chin with the tip of his finger and turned her head toward him. His eyes were so incredibly beautiful and earnest.

She cleared her throat and in a husky voice, asked, “What is it you want with me?”

“Just a chance. Let me prove to you that the guy you’ve known the past month isn’t really who I am. It’s just who I became after giving up on people. I can fix this, Cora.”

She opened her mouth to answer though she didn’t know what to say. Thankfully, the sound of trucks approaching interrupted them. She turned toward the noise. “We should get back—”

He spun her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers as he smoothed her hair off her forehead, leaving his hands to gently cup her face. The urgency and sincerity in his kiss undid her. She fisted her hands in his shirt and held on.

“I want you,” he whispered against her lips. “I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you, Cora.”

Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Sometimes… you just have to take a chance…

Rye and Cash are as close as brothers can be. They’ve only had each other to rely on for the last few years and Rye continues to protect his younger brother as best he can. Moving to the small town of Fidelity is not the perfect place but both are starting to settle down and, just maybe, fall in love. Cora is Rye’s boss and the complete opposite of the one night stands he usually finds attractive. Cora is innocent in so many ways and knows Rye is not the steady, respectful man everyone expects her to settle down with. Theirs is not the only love story though as Cora’s best friend Adam has eyes only for Cash. Both couples are fighting different battles, between each other and even within themselves, which makes for rocky courtships all around. Throw in bigotry, jealousy – and family – and you have the makings of an emotional roller coaster. When the dust settles, would anyone emerge a winner in the gamble of love?

This was definitely a love store with a capital ‘L’. There is the traditional bad boy meets good girl scenario but also a good boy meets good boy story as well. While the world may be embracing tolerance on a more global scale, when one faces it within their family, their friends and their community, not everyone is ready to be so accepting. Many different facets of what it means to be human are exposed in the pages of this story. Betrayal, violence, intolerance and jealousy vie with nurturing, protectiveness, loyalty and love as the two couples try to find their way. Rye was an irresistible jerk that redeemed himself through the love of his brother and the underdog. His courtship of Cora was, at turns, romantic and darn right hilarious. I almost fell off the chair laughing at the movie night date. While his character stood out for me all the main characters were likable, despite wanting to kick them a time or two. With so much heartache and heartbreak, the ending was almost bittersweet. I can’t wait to read more about the other intriguing people of Fidelity! I mean, what’s really up with that Sully guy?

Carter Ashby is a hardworking housewife and homeschool mother by day, and a romance reader and writer by night. She lives in rural Missouri with her husband, three children, and two dogs.

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