Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Best Goodbye: Abbi Glines

by - Wednesday, December 02, 2015


The Best Goodbye (Rosemary Beach #13) 
Abbi Glines 

Expected 12/1/15

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines comes the next sizzling novel in the Rosemary Beach series, featuring well-known playboy and Blaire’s half brother, Captain.

“The look on Rose’s face had screamed that she was hiding something. Hell, she’d practically run away from me. There was something to that. I knew there was . . . “

After ten years in the employ of a mysterious crime boss, River “Captain” Kipling is ready to leave his sordid past—and his cover occupation as an upscale restaurateur—behind him. The only thing standing in the way of his “retirement” is his commitment to launch a new restaurant in the resort town of Rosemary Beach. With his sister, Blaire, nearby, Captain can delay his dream of running a humble bar on the waterfront, but the unwanted attentions of his head server, Elle, have him itching to get out.

Until he notices Rose Henderson, the new server at the restaurant. All he knows about the pretty redhead with the cute glasses is that she’s a hardworking single mom from Oklahoma. But there’s something overly familiar about her laugh . . . something strange about the way she looks at Captain. 
River "Captain" Kipling is trying to leave his checkered past behind and is starting over at least temporarily in Rosemary Beach.  As a young man he suffered a loss that sent his life spinning into a different dangerous direction where he lost the boy he was. And ten years later is hardened, guarded, controlled, unattached, and not sure what his next step will be....but he is not sure it will be sticking around Rosemary Beach even though his sister Blaire lives there. He is currently fulfilling one more hob assignment of helping start up a new restaurant..

Rose Henderson is a new waitress at the restaurant. He has no idea who she really is and that they have a connection. Her life has not been easy and went through a rapid change as well. She grew up fast while having someone rely on her for a change. She is now stronger, independent, loving, and completely dedicated to protecting her daughter, Franny, and making her happy. But she does not trust easily and she is not sure how this delicate situation will turn out. 

Captain was a bit hard to like in previous books and in the beginning of this one. He really did not care, did not feel, and was virtually dead inside. He is untouchable, opinionated, bossy, and often acts like a jerk. It is all part of his non caring attitude.  But now we learn why. We start to see what haunts him. 

When he realizes the one he thought was lost is right in front of him, it brings on more turmoil. But he is still protective of her even if it means protecting her from what he has become. Both are still attracted, but both are afraid of being hurt, hurting the other, or fall out.

We see their story evolve in dual points of view in the present and in flashbacks. So it is a story of young love in a difficult situation and of second chances. They both have fears and insecurities and their secrets are gradually shared. But Captain's past activities leave him with some enemies and now he has people to protect. Can Rose handle his truth? Can he keep them safe?

Initially I was kind of rolling my eyes about Captain's cluelessness, but I quickly bought into how the situation could happen. And I actually really enjoyed this installment. It had angst and heartbreak. It glided between past and present. But I enjoyed seeing Captain's layers peeled back and getting to understand his motivations and see him have emotions. And to see him find something to motivate change. I enjoyed their chemistry and connection, and how it was not just instantaneously restored. They both had some demons to face and some work to do. They were stubborn, temperamental, jealous, and confused. This installment really focused on family, soul mates, attaining full potential, and finding a true home. But it also had a second chance love story along with a danger and suspense component.

I loved getting a bit more with his sister Blaire, Rush, and Nate. I liked the precocious Franny. She was quite a scene stealer. We also check in with Major (Mase's cousin) who is now involved with some of the group from Captain's past. He is definitely intriguing. Abbi sets up the next book Up In Flames...a book that I think a lot of people have been waiting for, but also at the same time dreading due to who the heroine is going to be. But I am really intrigued by the match up and see if she can make this couple likable. 

ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. 
River “Captain” Kipling is completing the last of his cover assignments before he goes into retirement after 10 years of working as a contract killer. His last restaurant launch is in the final stages, but what comes after is still a bit of a mystery. One of his new servers catches his attention, despite the presence of his current fling, and the memories he has worked so hard to bury resurface until “his Addy” is all he can think about.

Rose Henderson is hiding something -- something that has the power to rock Captain’s world. But the boy she knew as River is gone when she looks at Captain now and she wonders if she can finish what she tracked him down to do.

These two have a history that circumstances have torn apart, and neither has been unchanged by their separation.

At first I wondered how he didn’t recognize her, even after 10 years apart. But the explanation given worked, especially given what he thought happened all those years ago. But even without recognizing her physically, I loved that he recognized there was something about her that connected them.

For a change, it wasn’t my love for the characters that pulled me into a Rosemary Beach book. This time it was the journey on which the characters found themselves traveling. So much about this series is based on the ensemble cast that reappears in each successive story, with future characters introduced and well developed long before “their book” is written. But The Best Goodbye follows one character who is a completely new addition, and another who has only existed in the background of a few other books. Even with Captain’s introduction prior, he is not central to the group of friends in the rest of Rosemary Beach, and as a result there are very few cameos from the other characters.

But these two stand alone so fantastically. I couldn’t help but be sucked into their story, constantly wondering what secrets were hidden and how they would shake out. There are hints dropped for the next book, and it promises to be one that Rosemary Beach fans have been clamoring for.

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Rosemary Beach Series on Goodreads 
Combination of smaller series Too Far series, the Perfection series, and the Chance series.


1. Fallen Too Far (Rush & Blaire)
2. Never Too Far (Rush & Blaire)
3. Forever Too Far (Rush & Blaire)
4. Rush Too Far (Rush & Blaire)
5. Twisted Perfection (Woods & Della)
6. Simple Perfection (Woods & Della)
7. Take A Chance (Grant & Harlow)
8. One More Chance (Grant & Harlow)
9. You Were Mine (Tripp & Bethy)
10. Christmas 2014 Novella - Kiro's Emily
11. When I’m Gone (Mase #1)
12. When You're Back (Mase #2)
13. The Best Goodbye - Captain 
13.5 Novella - Dean
14. Up in Flames - Nan
Abbi Glines

Abbi Glines is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Field Party, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, and Existence series. A devoted book lover, Abbi lives with her family in Alabama.
She maintains a Twitter addiction at @AbbiGlines and can also be found at Facebook.com/AbbiGlinesAuthor and AbbiGlines.com.

(Photograph by Keith Glines)




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