*MAKE IT A DOUBLE can be read as a stand-alone*

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I'm not a man that gets what he wants, whether it's from bad luck or the fates. I know better than to even wish for anything good.

Brody Markham had it all: a rich, beautiful girlfriend, was in med school, and had a loving family including an identical twin brother, Hunter. But one night shattered his dreams. He is now trying to readjust to life outside of a prison cell where he spent the last five years. But it is overwhelming, stressful, and makes him moody, angry and withdrawn. He is not the same easy going, fun guy that went away. He has trouble sharing his experiences and that has put a rift in his relationships with his family and friends. And he has secrets and other issues that he keeps buried deep. 

Alyssa is a transplanted rich girl. Once she made friends in the Outer Banks, she kept them and ended up moving there. She hates the life of excess her parents live and instead chooses to run a non profit animal shelter and give back. She is not a spoiled princess, but a hard worker and good friend. 

We saw Brody and Alyssa have a rocky start in On the Rocks. He was quite judgmental and mean to her when she just offered him a place to do his community service. But Brody is aware of  what some rich girls are capable of so he misplaces his anger onto her. 

My heart broke for Brody. He drew my attention in the first book and I just could not wait to get inside the head of this complicated man. His life literally changed over night and now he is left trying to pick up the pieces. He has lost himself and still feels isolated. He has insecurities and feelings of worthlessness. He has been through so much and is so broken. Every time he would start to find a bit of humor, peace, and hope, his negative thoughts would isolate him again. He has secrets and burdens that he keeps locked down tight and they smother him. And Alyssa surprises, confuses,  and challenges him.

F***, but this woman has my insides twisted. I want her to kiss me, but I don't. I want to f*** her hard and all night, but I can't. I want her to tell me other things she sees about me, but I;m afraid of what I might hear.

Alyssa is so real, honest, and non judgmental. She is nothing like her cold, uppity family and has never known unconditional love. It does not take long for Brody to realize he was wrong about her and to  work with her instead of against her. She sees underneath his rough exterior and recognizes the good in him even when he could not see it  himself. Her faith in him soothes his battered soul. 

Maybe it's because I have a naturally soft heart, and maybe it's because Brody reminds me of my poor lost souls that come into The Haven. I want to care for him, and let him know he's safe. But there's another side of me that does a hell of a lot of thinking about him too, and that's got nothing to do with my soft heart and everything to do with my hormones. 

Their enemies to friends to lovers story is complicated,  tender, real, and hopeful. There is denial, guilt, and fear. But ultimately they are two broken souls just trying to find some peace together.  They have shared interests and good chemistry. But Alyssa has her own issues affecting her life that could threaten not only their relationship but also Brody's freedom.

She represents everything that could possibly be good in my life now, and while it scares the sh** out of me, I'm helplessly drawn to it. It makes me hopeful. 

This was a story of second chances, faith, and the healing power of love. It was told in both points of view allowing us to understand their fears, anxiety, and  feelings. It was emotional, sweet, intriguing, and inspiring. There were some interesting twists and secrets that unravelled slowly during the story. The characters had depth and showed personal growth. And there were some antagonists that I just loved to hate that caused tension and drama. 

I enjoyed more with his twin, Hunter and sister Casey, Gabby, Wyatt, and Savannah. What is not to like about hot alpha indentical twins? I fell for Hunter in On the Rocks, and now Brody has also stolen a piece of my heart. I also  like that the women in this series are feisty, funny and independent minded. They give back as good as they get and keep the guys on their toes. The community is tight and they support each other even in difficult circumstances.  I look forward to future installments with Casey, Wyatt, and Savannah's stories. 

The epilogue in this one was unique and  left me with a big smile on my face. Swoonworthy twins I tell you....

Thanks to Sawyer Bennett for providing me with a complimentary copy in return for an honest review.

In the second book of the Last Call series, Sawyer Bennett brings us Brody’s story. And what a story he has to tell. 

Brody is getting his feet back under him after spending five years in prison. Five years away from his family. Five years knowing his life would never be the same. His dreams of being a doctor were demolished and now he finds himself living in a tiny apartment, wearing clothes his mom bought, driving his parent’s spare car, bartending at his brother’s bar. 

Alyssa and Brody got off to a rocky start at friendship in On the Rocks when Brody calls her a spoiled, rich princess (he used some choice words in there too). Those words put a wedge between them that takes some time to break through. Because as Brody spends more time around Alyssa he learns just how wrong he was. 

I love Brody. His brooding in On the Rocks caught my attention as being a reaction to transitioning back to real life. Being inside his head reinforced and clarified the reasons he was having such a hard time. He had always been a good man, until the accident that sent him to prison, but that stint in prison sucked the light out of him, leaving him feeling negative, lost, and broken. 

Alyssa grew up spending her summers at her family’s beach house, hanging out with the local girls, Gabby and Casey. When it came time to choose a college, she followed her friends to UNC rather than an Ivy League school of her parents’ choice. Now she’s running a no-kill animal shelter near the beach with her friends nearby, proving just how big her heart really is. 

I loved Alyssa and Brody individually, but together I loved them even more. As they work together and move past the initial harsh words exchanged, it becomes clear that they each fill a role the other didn’t know they needed. Alyssa sees the man behind the walls Brody has put up, and Brody offers assistance and support Alyssa can’t get anywhere else. The changes they bring out of the other are marked, especially comparing Brody at the beginning of the book to the Brody that develops by the end of the book. 

Hunter, Gabby, Casey, Wyatt and the others from the series’ Outer Banks world are back to round out the action. The Markhams and the people around them are written in such a way that the whole world feels real, warm, and welcoming, with the exception of a couple key characters, that is. Stacy and Chad were easy to dislike. A spoiled politician’s daughter and a creepy ex-boyfriend, they made perfect antagonist characters opposite both Brody and Alyssa. As the secrets Brody has been keeping come out and we learn more about Alyssa and Chad’s relationship, it only made me root for Alyssa and Brody more than I was from the beginning.

I was looking forward to this book because of the walls Brody was hiding behind in On the Rocks, and it did not disappoint. I started reading it thinking I would be able to pick it up and put it down throughout the day, but I found myself immersed in Brody and Alyssa’s trials and finished reading long before I was ready to leave them behind.