Member Reviews
The Garner brothers are such a delight and this third book for Ms. Finz's Garner brothers series is a charming, nicely-paced, smooth read. Smooth in more ways than one because of the hero.
Win is a charming jokester. The one that loves the ladies. The one that usually pursues. However, he realizes a change needs to be made. But a spanner gets thrown into the works, causing that plan to go out the window because there's something about Darcy Wallace that makes Win want to break his new decision not to pursue women.
Being paired with Darcy on a project means no avoiding the tension between them. And there's plenty of tension. Deliciously hot tension that makes this story such an interesting and quick read. Really, I loved Win. He's dreamy, charming and I can understand why he wants to change his ways. Women love him but a near miss has made him change his priorities in order for his brothers to start seeing him differently and help with the family business. Will what he's trying to do work? Will his brothers see that he's finally growing up? Becoming the man they believe he can be. The brother that can help the family business the way he's supposed to.
While Darcy, she's been through a lot in her life and I could understand why she wants Win to be the one to help her get her groove back. Her divorce wasn't easy and getting back in the saddle with the town player might be the best way to see that she does deserve love. That her loveless marriage won't stop her from finding love, even if Win isn't the one for her forever. Still, hopefully being with him is a good start to recovery of finding her perfect match. Moreover, Darcy is such a strong heroine determined to get on with her life and move on from her painful divorce. Certainly, she does just that with Win, even if he isn't the most co-operative at the start. Yet, their connection is more than enough to convince both that what they have is the real thing. The real deal. A future of happiness.
Overall, Ms. Finz has delivered a wonderful read full of great characters in the main and secondary and a plot that had me hooked from start to finish. Really, I enjoyed both the main characters in Darcy and Win. They're likeable with such an intense connection.
I loved this book! It has it all: drama, love, touching moments and something to warm your heart. Just a beautifully written story by this amazing author and I will absolutely looking up more books by her. Definitely recommend to all book lovers out there
This was the best opposites attract romance I've read in a very long time. I mean Darcy and Win are polar opposites. The only things they have in common are where they work and where they live. But somehow Stacy makes this story work and it's believable. I'm really getting into my sweet romances and this one was no different. It was good, had laughs, had adventure, but made me swoon all at the same time.
The opening scene really sets the story off and is a little misleading as to it being a sweet romance and not a hot steamy one. Darcy's personality is like a lot of people I know, very critical of herself, shy, introverted, but has an energy that makes you wonder how she could be so quiet. Win really brings out the best in Darcy, and in turn, she brings out the best in Win. I like to call it leveraging each other's assets. It's where you build off the contrasting elements to make a superb team. This is how I am with my significant other.
I'm giving this a 5 of 5 propellers because I loved it. I laughed several times and it will be on my end of year list. This is a stand alone so don't feel you have to pick up the others in the Garner Brothers series. However the others are great and they are not just opposites attract. As a final note, I'm hoping Stacy gives us the baker and the bar owner story next, but I think it would be a spin off of the Garner Brothers series.
Garner Brothers #3, YAY Win and Darcy finally get together! Win is typical youngest child syndrome, he's a bit spoiled and self centered, reckless with money and willing to take risks but he's so charismatic and very social and confident and he's truly a nice person you can't help but like him and he plays on that. He knows he's good looking and he's not shy about it. But because of this none of his older brothers take him seriously and after the near father encounter he had he's realized he needs to take the family business seriously. Darcy is a people pleaser and until recently she was in a loveless marriage. Realizing she needed more she left him and moved to Glory Junction to be with her Grandmother and started working at Garner Adventure. Finally starting to live life for herself who better to end her dry spell than free-with-his-favors Win, only he turns her down. Win has grown up a lot in the last six months and he's stopped sleeping around and when shy Darcy offers herself to him he's dumbfounded and kind of hurt that she thinks he would be that easy after what happened but he also starts to see Darcy as something more than just the receptionist at his family's business.
Darcy has been wanting more responsibility at GA and when the opportunity to host the employees of a big social media company's corporate retreat and team building weekend Darcy and Win are paired together for securing the job. If they succeed then Darcy gets her promotion and Win gets his raise. When Darcy's Mom shows up out of the blue and Win starts telling her than Darcy can't get back together with her ex because Darcy and Win are already married, it was a joke all ment in fun but Darcy having to deal with her mother's harsh criticism doesn't think it's funny. Win sees how her mother treats her and becomes very protective of her but that's just the start of Darcy's familial problems.
Darcy and Win's relationship is hot and heavy but because of Darcy's insecurity she is constantly doubting herself in the relationship and is just waiting for him to end it to be with someone better. Win on the other hand has fallen head over heels for Darcy and there is no one better for him. Reading the other two books and this one you can really see the change in Win and how much he has grown up, not to much because that devil may care attitude really helps with securing new clientele. Overall, this was a delightful opposites attract romance, they balance each other out once they learn how and they are good for each other. As always Stacy Finz writes a heartwarming and entertaining romance. Don't miss the next novella in the anthology Santa's on His Way where Stacy Finz writes Snowed In about Glory Junction's own Rachel Johnson, owner of Tart Me Up bakery, and the yummy bar owner, Boden Farmer. (out in September)
This is the third – and last – book in the Garner Brothers series, and I was looking forward to finishing out the series. There was a pretty large chunk about this book’s hero, Win, in the second Garner Brothers book, Want You, that mostly dealt with his relationship with Brittany. I was annoyed by him in that book, but I attributed it to the fact that I didn’t like how much his subplot was taking away from Deb and TJ’s story. Turns out, I just really don’t like Win!
After his last relationship took a turn for the worse – he nearly married his last girlfriend after she lied about being pregnant with his child, when it was really another man’s – Win’s sworn off casual hookups and is rethinking his life, looking to take on more responsibility at his work, the outdoor sports guide company owned by his family. So when he comes home to Darcy, the sweet and quiet receptionist at work, laying around in lingerie in his bed, he’s interested, but turns her down. Darcy’s horrifically embarrassed, even more so when Win now seems fixated on hanging out with her as a friend, insisting on taking her out to lunch and to the rodeo.
Darcy’s a bit of a doormat. Even though they’re divorced, she still helps her ex-husband out with his business. While she’s painfully shy around the other Garner brothers, she’s always felt comfortable around Win – well, until the lingerie incident. A child of a loveless marriage, her father pretty much ignores her and her mother criticizes her for being too frumpy. All Darcy wants is some recognition for her hard work, so when she and Win are assigned the chance of landing a Silicon Valley startup as a new corporate client, she jumps at the chance to get a promotion out of the receptionist role. Win’s equally motivated – he wants a raise so that he can check another item off his “become an actual adult” list and buy a house.
“It had taken the rest of the rodeo for the fact that she’d been married to sink in. Shy, quiet, horny little Darcy. He never would’ve guessed it. Not in a million years. Then again, he didn’t know much about her personal life. All their conversations had either been work-related or about him.”
Win’s constantly portrayed as a child-man, a guy who’s lucked into a job that lets him indulge his love of outdoor sports, but is somehow also still relentlessly chased and pursued by pretty much every woman who sees him. He’s self-obsessed and thoughtless, and isn’t used to thinking of anyone but himself. When they run into Darcy’s ex at the rodeo, Win lies and says they’re engaged, and then when Darcy’s mother unexpectedly shows up at work, Win starts telling an outrageous story about how they’re actually secretly married. Darcy is mortified, but Win doesn’t understand what he did wrong, or even get that he did anything wrong. After Darcy painstakingly plans out the company’s trial weekend visit, without even consulting her or giving her a heads-up, he throws her plans out the window and goes with “what feels right.” It was frustrating watching what was supposed to be the hero again disregarding Darcy’s hard work and not understanding what he was doing was hurtful. I was honestly really looking forward to the explanation for why he dropped out of the Olympic team, as it’s been hinted at before as being a sore spot for him, and I thought the explanation would reveal some bit of character that’d make him more sympathetic. I was disappointed to find out it was just because it took too much time away from his other activities. That’s not to say that he doesn’t improve over the course of the book, but to me, it felt like too little too late.
This all sounds awful, but besides, well, Win, I liked the rest of the book. I loved the setting of Glory Junction and all of its various crazy locals, and I loved the various activities they take the prospective customers to. While I liked seeing Darcy complete her transformation into a more self-assured woman, I still think she could’ve done better than Win! So, overall, I’d still recommend it to someone who’s read the previous Garner Brothers books and wants to complete the series.
Darcy and Win both needed to break out of their expectations set on them partially through their past actions and partially from their personalities. Watching them dance around each other before finally opening up and trusting was entertaining and sweet. Good book.
Love You by Stacy Finz
Garner Brothers #3
Book three in the Garner Brothers series finds Win and Darcy Wallace find their HEA. It is a combination of friends to lovers and workplace romance that sees womanizer Win and Darcy the office employee Darcy pretending to be in a relationship and then getting to know one another better as they work, play and deal with family issues alone and together. Characters from previous books make an appearance again and well…it was an okay and rather predictable story that was well written even if the characters did not resonate with me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Zebra Shout for the ARC – This is my honest review.
2-3 Stars
I really liked this story, the characters were great and very well developed and they evolved and grew through the story as well. The plot moved along at a decent pace, with some funny parts thrown in. This is the last Garner Brother's book in the series, but I never felt like I was in the dark about the other brothers and their romances, nor did it spoil those stories if you read out of order. Overall, a very good story.
Love You is another book in the Garner Brothers Series. This time Win Garner is up. I liked this series and the emphasis on the outdoor, extreme sport business, even though I don’t actually do much of it. Stacy Finz writes an easy read that is entertaining.
While I liked the story I found Win to be a player who knew it and reveled in that knowledge. I wish he had been a bit less arrogant about that but glad that he saw the need for improvement in his life. Darcy Wallace was drawn to him for what I think is all of the wrong reasons. She seemed to want to use him. Roles are reversed, then seen through both POVs. Which is actually kind of funny, when you read how each viewed the other as well as their team dynamics.
There is nothing better then reading a book that you feel is just so much fun to read. It makes the book so much better. That's how I felt when I read Love You. I just got a bang out of it. Sure, there are a few emotional parts but the author handles them so well that they just enhance the story, not become the focal point.
As a whole Love You is like I said a fun read. I just love the interaction between Darcy and Win. The story for them starts out with a bang or should I say a not bang and keep going from there. I know you want to know what the not bang was...read the book!
I totally understood why Win decided it was time to stop playing the field and give up the ladies for a while. You'll learn more about this when you first read Want You. This is why I love reading series in order. It helps to build the story for the next character.
Poor Darcy just wanted to prove something to herself and it didn't work out the way she wanted it too. But, what did happen between her and Win was so much better. They ended up learning so much about each other and really got to know the real person.
It's such a good story!
These are two characters I really loved to read about. In fact the whole series has been great. Love these brothers and I hope the series keeps going on. I really like the town and a certain bar owner. Hint..hint!
I really enjoyed this fun romance between Win and Darcy. Darcy is tired of being the one who organizes and takes care of everyone without getting any credit. Her marriage was a sham and left her feeling unwanted. Win is a ladies man or manwhore depending on who you talk with. Darcy knows he can make her feel like a woman but unfortunately for her, he's on a new mission to only have sex in a meaningful relationship. Since they have to work together it gets complicated. Loved it!
I know I've said it before, but I just adore Stacy's small-town romances set in the Sierra Nevada mountains; she reminds me SO much of Jill Shalvis in her writing. (And that is a good thing as we all know!) I've been looking forward to Win's HEA after his brothers got theirs, and this one did not disappoint! Win has quite the reputation as Glory Junction's playboy until his last girlfriend tried to trick him into marriage by claiming he was the father of her baby. He decides to go cold turkey when it comes to sex, until Darcy appears in his bed one night trying to seduce him into sleeping with her. He refuses nicely but she is humiliated nonetheless, though he promises never to speak of it to anyone. What a beginning to a relationship, right? Toss in her ex-husband Lewis and Win's brilliant idea of a fake engagement to throw him off hounding Darcy, plus the requisite Garner humor and you are left with a hilariously rocky road to romance.
But it's not all sweetness and light, and I do have a HUGE bone to pick with Stacy. I was reading the story while waiting in a car dealership for my car to be looked over when I reached a certain point in the narrative where I had stop before I started crying in front of a bunch of people I didn't know. Not cool! Except, that's the #1 sign that I'm sucked into the story and characters...she's just lucky it didn't go where I thought it was going. I might have had to boycott her future books if she had! (I'm setting myself up here for the future, aren't I?)
My other unhappiness is due solely to the fact that Win is the last of the Garner brothers, so what happens now? I'm a huge fan of the Nugget series as well, so I'm hoping she spins this off into a general Glory Junction series. I'm not the only reviewer who thinks Boden needs his HEA with oh, I don't know, maybe Rachel?? A pub owner and a bakery owner sounds like it could be a sweet combination! (Sorry not sorry!) Whatever comes next, I know that us readers will be in for a fantastic story from a gifted author!
Thank you to Kensington Zebra Shout and Netgalley for the chance to read this early! (Though I have also preordered a hard copy which is winging it's way to me right now to complete my collection!)
This series is about the Garner brothers who own Garner Adventures in Glory Junction. Book 2 was very good , so I decided to read this one as well.
It centers around Win Garner, and Darcy Wallace. Win is the youngest of the brothers. He is the happy go lucky player of the family. No one takes him seriously and they all think he’s unreliable. Darcy has been working at Garner Adventures for a year as the receptionist. She is dependable but very shy, and still recovering from a loveless divorce.
Watching these two relate to each other, and in turn seeing one blossoming and the other one proving his capacity and dependability, was entertaining and touching.
They each brought out the best of the other. But Darcy is full of insecurities and had a difficult upbringing, and Win is not sure he is worthy of Darcy.
Aside from an engaging plot and complex characters, it also highlighted the fact that when children are put down by their parents, these insecurities and self-doubts affect them later on into adulthood.
At times you will laugh out loud, and at others, feel the heartbreak of the characters. Will they find their HEA? Read it and you’ll find out.
I was entrusted this copy by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
In the third in the Garner Brothers series by Stacy Finz, Darcy Wallace decides that her life needs more excitement. She is employed by Garner Adventure, but want she wants is quite a different kind of excitement. Having lived with a sexually-frigid husband and gone through a difficult divorce, she hatches a plan to literally get her groove back with the town's playboy, Win Garner. However, despite his reputation, Win refuses to play along. He had a near-miss at almost being roped into marriage, so he is trying to avoid hopping into bed with any woman right now. Besides, Darcy works for his company.
Despite initial objections, Win and Darcy are paired up on a work project, so they are forced to spend time together. With the sudden tension between them now, it is quite a surprise that they get on together quite nicely. Win and Darcy share an undeniable chemistry. Things spiral on out of control almost immediately when Win makes a shocking announcement to their families.
Love You was a quick, fun and sizzling read. Stacy Finz weaves a delightful story with characters and situations that sizzle right off the pages. She writes exceptionally well and pens quirky characters. The humor was a surprising twist to this engaging story. I loved the ending, and even though this stands perfectly well as a standalone, I would love to read the first two books in the series. It was nice, however, to get to know other members of Win's family, so I sensed the continuity that I missed. I will also follow Ms. Finz and read her books in the future.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
While I hate to see the Garner Brothers series wrap up I am excited to finally get Win Garner's story. Stacy Finz definitely made it a fun one. Win was always the carefree, wilder brother but lately he's been trying to change his image by getting more involved in the family business and changing his player ways. When Darcy Wallace decides it's time for her to put some excitement in her life she turns to Win to liven things up. When he turns her down she can't believe it. Now she's stuck working on a special project with him and the sizzling chemistry between them is hard to resist. Can she tempt him back over to the dark side?
I loved this book and series. I highly recommend it to everyone.
Darcy Wallace may be an employee at Garner Adventure, but the kind of excitement she’s looking for is more of the indoor variety. After a sexless marriage and a painful divorce, who better to help her get her groove back than the hottest player in town—Win Garner himself. There’s just one flaw in her seduction plan: he won’t cooperate.
Win is used to being the pursuer, so when Darcy turns the tables it throws him off his game—at first. Not that he isn’t tempted, he’s just trying to change his ways. Yet when he and Darcy are paired up for a work project there’s no avoiding the tension between them—or the fact that they make an indomitable team. Soon, Win begins to feel their connection is no game. This could be the real thing. And one no-strings-attached night together just might seal the deal . . .
Cute and fun
This is my first book by Stacy Finz.
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
The humor
Dual POVs
Part of a series: The Garner Brothers
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Cute with a bit of heat, this is an ideal beach read. A romance chronicling a once again playboy (Win), who is a solid guy all around, and the woman (Darcy) who steals his heat. I enjoyed it.
I received an ARC of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
“Women loved him. Young, old, single, married, it didn’t seem to matter. From the time he was old enough to grow whiskers, they’d been throwing themselves at him.”
Please. Stop.
What I don’t get is this:
Are there actually readers out there who thinks this is appealing? Believable? Endearing? Romantic? Swoon worthy?
And
Why would we take the hero’s word for this??????
Often in these books (present book applicable) the hero is the one who mentions how good he is in bed, how he can make women squeal, moan, scream out in pleasure…
If I am going to believe ANYONE the judgement would be coming from a female character who knows the hero intimately.
I don’t want to read about how slutty a man is, just as I don’t want to read about how slutty a woman is.
That’s right, I’m an equal opportunity slutty condemner.
The amount of people you have slept with gives no indication how good in bed you are, it does however say something about your character.
In this book there are paragraphs upon paragraphs about how many women the hero has slept with, so about two chapters in I could not stand his breathing guts.
Internal monologue like this didn’t help:
- It had taken the rest of the rodeo for the fact that she’d been married to sink in. Shy, quiet, horny little Darcy. He never would’ve guessed it. Not in a million years. Then again, he didn’t know much about her personal life. All their conversations had either been work-related or about him.
I would not recommend this book.
Love you is a well written romance. I enjoyed the plot. I haven’t read this author’s books before and I really enjoyed her writing.