If there’s one thing, one small glimmering light of optimism
in this current situation, then it has to be the fact that there’s definitely
more time for reading. Right?
I’m definitely getting my moneys worth at the moment from my
Kindle Unlimited subscription, plus working my way through my current stockpile
of books on my TBR shelf. And, with a bunch of new reads being released this
month, there’s plenty to keep you entertained! And one of my most anticipated
books of the month has to be ‘Unforgettable’ by Melanie Harlow, the last book
in the Cloverleigh Farms series.
Back then, I had it all.
Wicked fastball. Killer instinct. Cocky grin. Full
package. (And believe me, I knew how to score.)
My senior year, I was a first round draft pick with a
two-million-dollar signing bonus. Before I could even legally buy myself a
beer, I made my Major League debut.
Point is, I was invincible.
Until one day I wasn’t.
After tanking my career – during the World Series, no
less – the last thing I want to do is return to my hometown, where every jerk
in a ball cap has an opinion about what went wrong with my arm.
So when my sister drags me back to town for her wedding,
I vow to get in and out of there as quickly as possible.
Then I run into April Sawyer.
In high school we were just friends, but I’d always
wanted her, and I’d never forgotten her – the red hair, the incredible smile,
the crazy, reckless thing we did in the back of my truck the night we said
goodbye.
It’s been eighteen years, but one look at her and I feel
like my old self again. I can still make her laugh, she can still take me down
a notch, and when the chemistry between us explodes, it’s even hotter this time
around – and I don’t want it to end.
But just when I think I’m ready to let go of the past and
get back in the game, life throws me a curveball I never saw coming.
‘All at once, I remembered how easily I’d fallen into his
arms eighteen years ago – and I knew instinctively how easily it could happen
again if I wasn’t careful. Tyler Shaw just did something to me.’
‘Unforgettable’ is the fifth and final book in the
‘Cloverleigh Farms’ series by USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow.
Funnily enough, I happened upon the series just before lockdown, burning my way
through the previous Sawyer sisters books in rapid succession. Starting with Frannie
and on to Chloe, then my favourite of the series so far with Meg, followed by
Sylvia, ‘Unbreakable’ tells the final Sawyer sister’s story – April. With it
being the final book in the series, Harlow has pulled out all the stops – and boy
does she deliver!
April Sawyer is probably one of the strongest heroines I’ve
ever come across in a contemporary romance book. An event planner at the family
business on Cloverleigh Farms, April is dedicated to her job but can’t help but
feel that thanks to something in her past, she has trouble opening up to
potential suitors that want to be in her life. Without giving away major
spoilers, I can see why keeping such a secret in Aprils past caused her to be
so guarded, but the strength she gained to carry on her life and the compassion
she shows to others, especially Tyler, is so refreshing.
Tyler Shaw is in one word: dreamy. A recently retired
baseball star, he had an incredible pitching career which suddenly and inexplicably
ended when he got the yips (fancy baseball terminology for nerves I think?).
Anyway, it was an unfortunate occurrence and I can totally understand why Tyler
felt so angry all the time, but there were definitely times I wanted to reach
into my Kindle and give him a good shake. Some of the stuff he did, or the ways
he acted, honestly made me feel a little frustrated at times, especially when
they seemed to conflict with other scenes where I would be genuinely rooting
for him.
My *confused* feelings towards Tyler aside (I genuinely
think he’s a good character, just flawed and frustrating), I found his story
with April to build up nicely and work through at a pleasant pace, nothing
seemed rushed or forced. The past between the two was at first something I thought
I might struggle with – I’ve always found that dropping the reader into a story
where two characters already share history is way more challenging than showing
the reader two characters forming a completely new bond from scratch.
Thankfully though, Harlow is more than up to the challenge and easily draws you
straight in to April and Tyler’s story without so much as a hitch.
‘Wherever you are is home to me. And I don’t want to
leave home again.’
One great thing about book series’ is that your favourite
characters from previous books weave in and out of future books. I loved seeing
the sisters from the four books beforehand living in their happily ever afters,
and it was such a bittersweet moment for me once I finished ‘Unforgettable’,
knowing that this was the end.
Overall, April and Tyler’s story was beautifully written,
pulling you in from *that* very first chapter. I’m so sad at this series
ending, but what a perfect way to say goodbye to the Sawyer family. Seeing
April finally get her happy ending with Tyler was a beautiful moment, and the sweetest
way to round off the Cloverleigh farms series.
Are you adding ‘Unforgettable’ to your list to read during
quarantine? Or have you already read some of the Cloverleigh Farms series
before? Let me know in the comments below!
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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