Good conclusion to the series. Like the previous book, Bare Devotion, portions of this story overlap the earlier books, this time from Jeb and Jena's perspective. A big part of the first book was Brandon dealing with Jeb stealing fifteen million dollars from their boat-building business and disappearing. In this book, we learn that Jeb took that money to save Brandon's sister's life. Jena was taken by a drug cartel and would have died without the ransom that Jeb provided. But there was more to the story.

Jeb grew up with the Boudreaux kids and was especially close to Jena. As they grew up, their childhood friendship grew into a college romance. After graduation, Jena broke it off when she decided to work for the CIA, but the attraction between them never died. A few years later, they reconnected and entered a "friends with benefits" relationship. That relationship took a hit when Jena's capture showed Jeb that he hadn't really known her after all. Though he did get Jena back to New Orleans, Jeb feels that his relationships with Brandon and Jena will never be the same and decides to move on. However, that turns out to be more difficult than he imagined.

Getting Jeb and Jena to a future together was a complicated process. Both of them have kept secrets from each other, and regaining trust isn't going to be easy. At the top of the list is that their feelings for each other have deepened, but neither dares to admit it. Jeb wants more from Jena but no longer feels that he deserves it. He also has some trouble reconciling her career with the CIA and how he has always viewed her. Jeb is a man who, thanks to his past, is compelled to take care of others. His ego takes a hit when he realizes that Jena is well able to take care of herself. Jena is very independent, and admitting that she sometimes needs Jeb is tough for her.

The struggle between Jeb and Jena felt very realistic. They had to learn to talk honestly with each other about their needs and dreams for the future. I ached for Jeb because he thought his actions made it impossible to stay in New Orleans, despite assurances otherwise. Jena faced her own problems of adjusting to civilian life and overcoming her need to keep part of her separated from everyone. Complicating matters was the intense attraction that made it challenging to keep their hands off each other. Some good scenes showed Jena and Jeb sharing things they hadn't shared with anyone before, and some sweet scenes that reminded them of the good parts of their past together. It all looks very promising until Jena's past comes calling and throws everything into turmoil. There are some tense moments for Jena that also prove to be eye-opening. The ending was wonderful. I loved the scene at their tree as they finally opened up fully to each other. The epilogue was a perfect wrap-up for all three couples.

This was not as good as I was hoping for. It was slow and repetitive and I would hope any follow-ups would be more like the first one.

I’m finally throwing in the towel. As I mentioned in my review of Bare Devotion, I’m frustrated with this series. I have a hard time leaving things unfinished and, it seems to me, this is the last in the series, so I can quit this author. There is just so much potential in her stories. She has wonderful concepts and storylines. The execution is just not there for me. I’m not connecting with the characters on the level I should be, especially in this book.

I had actually been looking forward to the story of Jeb and Jena. To this point we have heard about them both but not met either one. It was intriguing that Jeb was a lifelong friend of the Boudreaux family yet stole millions of dollars from his best friend, and somehow it was a forgivable offense by the end of the first book. What exactly happened? Why did he take off with the money? Although we knew some of these answers, we hadn’t yet gotten the whole story. We get a lot of answers here, but for some reason I couldn’t be made to care very much. I think, in part, it was the repetitiveness of the story. How many times does the reader have to be told that Jena was in the CIA and had to keep secrets, or those secrets made her feel guilty? How often do we need to be reminded that Jeb and Jenna have been best friends since childhood? For that matter, did we have to be constantly told that Jena and Jeb had secretly had a relationship with each other numerous times in their adult lives?

Which brings me to another issues…inconsistencies. At first, it really seemed as though Jena’s family was fully aware Jeb and Jenna had dated in both high school and college. Then it was some big secret. Although they went to prom together??? Jena’s whole endeavor after becoming a “civilian” back in New Orleans had nothing to do with her father, Hudson. As far as I could tell, her brother Brandon was the backer and had the suggestion. Then, about 75% into this book, everyone started referring to it as Hudson’s project. It made no sense, he had absolutely nothing to do with this project…that was moving at warp speed, by the way.

Here’s the thing, I’m not here to bash the author or this story. I feel as if that’s what this review is becoming. Please know that it’s only because of my frustration level. If I felt this author was terrible or this story idea was the pits it wouldn’t bother me, I’d say it’s a bad book and be done with it. The problem (now I’m being repetitive) is that I feel this author has huge potential and her ideas are solid. I really wish her team of friends, editors, and publishers would help her to reach that potential. She could truly shine if they did.

Unfortunately, I think I’m done with this author. I have to many other wonderful authors and books on my TBR list to keep beating my head against the same wall.

Jena Boudreaux has spent a long time hiding her feelings that she can’t drop the pretence when it comes to her longtime friend Jeb DeVillier. Their long and complicated friendship was blown apart when she reached out to him when kidnapped and he realised some of what she had been hiding from him. They are now both back in New Orleans but it seems that nothing will heal the rift that has opened between them despite their strong connection. The first book I have read from this series, wish I had read the first two previously. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don't think I have ever seen the word 'sexy so much in my life. Sure I get it, it's a great way to describe something (a noun if you would) but after seeing almost every other sentence describing the relationship between Jen and Jena, it became rather tiring and such a turn off. Despite that little annoyance, I did find the series to be somewhat enjoyable but not enjoyable enough for me to finish it. I did like the storyline about being Jeb/Jena being more than friends, less than lovers and dealing with the consequences of her actions of lying to her family/friends on her double life but there was just that little 'something something' missing that could've added some wow factor to the story.

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet, sexy romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

Passionate story about rebuilding a life, a love and a friendship after an almost tragedy ripples through the lives of lifelong friends.