There’s so much to love about Sanctuary Island and Lily Everett once again delivers a romance that shows off the quirky, small town personality that sets the stage for her stories. There’s a fake engagement, second chances at love and family ties, a scam artist, and of course all the wonderful personalities that make up this tight-knit town.

Although this was Marcus and Quinn’s story, Quinn’s parents played a big role in everything that goes down – especially when Quinn finds out that she may be one of the contributing factors to her parents’ marriage problems. Asking Marcus to pretend to be her boyfriend seems like the best plan of attack to show her parents that she is settling down…but when Marcus suddenly announces they are engaged and then Quinn’s parents want them to move in with them for a couple weeks for some serious marriage/family counseling, it’s only a matter of time before the act become more real than show.

Marcus and Quinn were seriously hot together. You could always feel the underlying sparks that would fly every time these two would even so much as think about each other. It was fun watching them both try to keep their arrangement in the friend zone – especially when they had to share Quinn’s old room. But of course those sparks made it near impossible for them to keep their hands off each other – especially when they had to share a bed.

There were several other subplots going on that were nicely woven into Marcus and Quinn’s story and helped set the stage for their shot at a second chance, the two biggest being Quinn’s parent’s marriage problems and Marcus’s estrangement from his father.

Quinn’s parents were struggling to find a new normal now that her dad had retired. Their marriage was hitting some serious bumps and the marriage counselor they have brought in may have more than counseling on his agenda – and he has sucked Marcus and Quinn into his counseling drama. Watching Quinn’s parents struggle was heart-breaking at times and I found myself rooting for them to get their happy ever after as well. You could just feel the love pouring off of her dad and the frustration coming from her mom, and it was so hard to see them both so hurt.

Marcus also has some issues from his past he needs to deal with, namely settling things between himself and his father, a man he hasn’t spoken to since he left home after his mother died. He’s always blamed his dad for not letting him know sooner that his mother was closet to dying, which denied him the chance to come home to say goodbye before she passed. And when Quinn goes to visit Marcus’s dad and we find out there is something important that Marcus needs to know but he’s too bull-headed to go see the man and find out, I couldn’t help but keep hoping that Marcus would man-up and at least see his father and maybe start the healing process.

One of the things I really liked was that when Marcus and Quinn realized that their attraction may have run deeper than the physical, they both agreed to try and see where a relationship may lead – not a lot of angst and drama around it, they both just came to the same conclusion and decided to see where things went. And with the drama surrounding Quinn’s parents, it was nice not to have to deal with too much drama between these two.

Once again I was captivated by all the happenings on Sanctuary Island. The townspeople all play a part in adding color and personality to these books, and as I’ve said before, I think this is a place I’d really like to find on the map. Even though this is a series I think you can easily read this one as a stand-alone. Marcus and Quinn show up in the previous book, but I don’t think their story loses anything if you start here. I would definitely recommend this book and series as one to try!

After falling in love with her last novel, Close to Home, I pounced upon Lily Everett’s Home at Last, and I am delighted to say that I was not the slightest bit disappointed. Heartwarming, believable and captivating from start to finish, Home at Last is a poignant and passionate read you will not easily forget!

Marcus Beckett had left the small town of Sanctuary Island after his mother’s funeral for the bright city lights where he had found employment as a bodyguard. However, the stress and danger of his job had soon got to him and Marcus had decided that there really was no place like home, so he had packed his bags and headed back to his home town and started running the neighbourhood bar. Life for Marcus was a pretty lonely and desolate one – until he clapped eyes on Quinn Harper, Sanctuary Island’s sweetheart and the town’s golden girl. Mutual desire had quickly given way to a passion that simply couldn’t be denied. But despite the fact that Quinn had unearthed feelings deep in Marcus which he had never felt before, he knew that their relationship did not have any hope of surviving, so he decided that the only choice he had was to dump Quinn and to go back to his solitary existence. But little did Marcus realise that his decision to end things with Quinn was going to incur the wrath of the town’s residents and with his best customers now refusing to cross his threshold, he realises that he’s got to come up with a plan – or else risk losing not just his livelihood, but the peaceful life which he treasures so much. Luckily for him, kind-hearted Quinn has come up with the perfect solution to put a stop to all of his troubles: a fake four-week relationship!

Distraction is something Quinn is desperately in need of. She needs to keep her mind off her parents’ marital troubles and if her neighbours desist from this ridiculous grudge against Marcus and go back to drinking in his bar, so much the better. But Quinn hadn’t counted on their convenient arrangement leading to something far deeper – something that will not just ignite the spark of desire that sizzles between them, but will also heal both of their hearts.

Will Quinn and Marcus’ fake engagement become the real thing? Or are there too many obstacles standing in the way of their happy ever after?

There is magic on every page of Lily Everett’s Home at Last. Romantic, emotional, dramatic and simply spellbinding from beginning to end, Lily Everett aims straight for the heart and does not miss with this beguiling and enthralling tale that I just couldn’t bear to put down. Humour, sensuality, passion and emotion are deftly intertwined in this unforgettable romantic read and readers are sure to fall in love with brooding Marcus and spirited Quinn.

Captivating, thrilling and emotional from start to finish, if you’re looking for the contemporary romance of the year, then look no further than Lily Everett’s Home at Last!

Marcus Beckett blew off of Sanctuary Island 14 years ago, without a backwards glance, after his mother died of cancer, a cancer that his parents had hidden from him until it was too late. But now he is back on the island and the first thing he does is screw (literally) the sweetest girl on the island Quinn Harper, who was his childhood neighbor, the kid 10 years younger than him, who he used to call turbo, and the one who rented an apartment from him and now wouldn't talk to him, as he messed it up so badly! But she is not the only one, everyone on the island is boycotting the bar, because of how he behaved with Quinn.

But when Quinn comes up with a plan, not only to save his bar, but save her parents marriage, Marcus is powerless to resist; but will it all end in disaster?

So I'm thrilled to be reading my second Sanctuary Island book, and I should really go back and restart the series, but I have to say that you could totally do what I have done and pick up any of them, as they are stand alone books.

I was thrilled to see Miss Patty back in this book (she really is my favorite charater), and I also loved Marcus and Quinn's characters, in seperate ways. I liked Quinn's sweet nature and Marcus's gruff exterior, but slightly softer heart.

The author has managed to spellbound me with her beautiful writing and enchanting storyline; Lily Everett has quickly become one of my favorite authors of 2017!

I give Home At Last 5 well deserved stars!

Quinn is in despair over the crumbling of her parents’ marriage and suspects their “marriage guru” Ron is at the foot of all their problems. When talk of their marriage ending in divorce turns to selling their home and property on the secluded Lantern Point of Sanctuary Island Quinn knows she must take action.
When Quinn was 12 years old she had a crush on their only neighbor’s son, Marcus, ten years her senior. After high school she had a brief fling with Marcus before he left to enlist in the Army, followed by (unknown to her) a stint in the Secret Service. His tour with the Secret Service has left deep scars on his soul that he refuses to talk about.
Marcus is home again, running the only bar in town, which is failing due to a lack of customers. Quinn knows why and only she can fix it. The small population on the island blames Marcus for breaking Quinn’s heart, for she is the town darling.
Quinn believes that she can save her parent’s marriage by pretending to have a romantic relationship with Marcus. She convinces him to go along with her scheme by telling him she can bring customers to his bar by making the townspeople believe she has forgiven him for leaving her when he joined the army. What neither of them counts on is the pretense turning into something real. They fight it, give in, turn it into something more, then realizing this is going nowhere, dissolve the pretend/real love affair.
Meanwhile, something smells with her parents’ marriage counselor and his credentials or lack thereof, and his true intentions on Sanctuary Island.
This is a great book and a bit of a suspense story. A wonderful read, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys true romance.

Understanding loss is hard to fight with no guide book to help. Since it is handled differently by everyone you never know how to respond. It is a touching story about getting that second or third chance at love. Parts of the story were so touching you felt like they were your friends. Reading with an open mind because parts were so real you thought you were there and parts didn't feel real but could have happened.

Marcus an ex bodyguard and Quinn the hometown sweetheart. With a ten year age gap and small sleepy town they both grew up in can these two unlikely people have the love connection Quinn believed in since she was a twelve year old girl?

Unfortunately this book had huge gaps and the flow of the book was very hard to fallow. Here's in lies this readers thought process. The story is somewhere and ultimately it has the potential to be sweet and endearing. It just missed the mark who wants to start fifty percent through the book to like the characters. They are likable just for me I was so board if I wasn't reading it as a arc I would have stopped reading before the book was finished.

Compared to the predecessor of this book, this one felt more like an obligation to Beckett's story. The attention given to the romantic element was definitely well detailed. But I was expecting more drama and danger considering Beckett was part of Secret Service.

Fantastic finish to a great series. This is book six in the Sanctuary Island series and although the prior books give just a little backstory for Marcus and Quinn, it's not really necessary to read previous books to enjoy this one. Marcus and Quinn had a very brief fling years ago. He left town after his mother died leaving behind a heartbroken Quinn and a town with a long memory. Now he's back looking for some peace and tranquility hoping to run his small town pub and relax. Problem is that long memory of the townspeople is leaving his bar empty. When Quinn approaches him with a crazy fake dating proposal his first instinct is to say no but her pleading voice and reasoning that this will show the town that she's forgiven him convince him to give it a try.

I highly recommend this wonderfully written book.

Another wonderful addition to the Sanctuary Island series. Thought it's a stand alone, I would recommend that you read book 5, Close to Home , for a better understanding of the relationship between Quinn and Marcus.
Marcus left the island the day of his Mother's funeral. A young man furious with his Father for keeping him away from his mother's last hours promising never to return.
He is back after almost 15 years, and his young neighbor, is now a beautiful woman . Their attraction is powerful, but Marcus feels he is not good for her and Quinn has been hurt more than once by him. Still, she is full of life and hope because she feels Marcus is a man that needs to be loved.
The story is heartbreaking, full of family conflicts, complex relationships, and a town that is very opinionated. But it's also a story that reminds us that loving someone with all your heart, is worth the complications, the disagreements, the happiness and sadness, and everything in between because in the long run, love and that person are worth it.
Definitely a book not to be missed.
I was gifted this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Home at Last by Lily Everett
A Sanctuary Island Novel #6

Quinn Harper had a childhood crush on her older neighbor, Marcus Beckett. In the previous book of this series the two had been together for a bit and then Marcus broke it off – hurting Quinn deeply. This book is the story of their fake return to dating as a ploy to keep Quinn’s parents from divorcing one another. Little did Quinn know that spending time together would lead to a whole lot more than either expected.

I love Quinn – what a sweetheart she is – even if she is having trouble figuring out what profession she wants forever. She is full of life and just what Marcus needs. Marcus…he is a curmudgeonly sort of guy that made decisions after college that caused his life to do a 180 degree turn. I don’t think he regrets that decision but he lets anger keep him from talking to the one person that he really should have. Quinn’s parents – a flaky mom and a diligent dad now in retirement and struggling as they move forward were easy pickings for a con man – will Quinn be able to take the blinders off her mom’s eyes or will her parents leave one another after thirty years of marriage?

I enjoyed this story and hoped it would all work out for all involved. I believe that Quinn brings out the best in Marcus and that Sanctuary Island is a magical place for second chances and healing.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. This is my honest review.

3.5 Stars

Quinn is not happy with Marcus but she has loved him her whole life and she wished she can convince him that she worth the risk. When things seem array in her parents life she comes up with a plan and she hopes its a fool proof plan, nothing can go wrong right?
Marcus wants Quinn but with the age difference and with his own secrets he would like to keep close to his chest. He thinks she deserves better but when she comes up with a plan to help her parents he wants help her. But will he be able to keep everyones heart in tact and walk away with his pride?

I love the fun characters of Sanctuary Island the one thing the author is consistent about in all the books is she sucks you in and make you want to get on the next plane and visit just to walk down the streets and meet these fun people and that is the same throughout this book. This book is fun it has you laughing and crying and guessing through out the whole book. The story truly is well written and it wont disappoint. The story has some strong language and some adult scenes in it so it may not be for all readers. Over all if you have been following this series or not grab this book its so worth the read.

Be prepared to be swept off your feet by the most unlikely person – Marcus. So tough and yet probably the most endearing character you will ever meet all thanks to Lily Everett in the next book of the Sanctuary Island series – HOME AT LAST. Hard to say but HOME AT LAST may just be the best of the bunch – definitely qualifies as one of my favorites of a fabulous assortment of stories.

We met Quinn and Marcus as sort of supporting cast in a previous Sanctuary Island story. They caught my attention and lucky for us – Lily Everett felt the same. Quinn and Marcus deserved their own book so here it is.

Undeniable connection between these two people that have actually known each other their entire lives – lived in houses each remotely located at the tip of the island. Quinn always had a soft spot in her heart for Marcus and although ten years difference in age they had a respectful kind of relationship that transcended the age difference. Quinn love following Marcus and his friends around and to his credit Marcus was fine with that.

Their lives were so disparate though. Quinn grew up with a flower child aura believing mother and hardworking dad and lots of love. Marcus’ family life hit a sudden dead end in the passing of his mother. It was no wonder that Marcus’ life would ultimately take him away from the island. Military and secret service became his new life – his family and now returning to Sanctuary Island Marcus has some deep emotional personal wounds that are still raw.

Quinn is the breath of fresh air that Marcus desperately needs. A brief affair went nowhere – because Marcus would not allow Quinn to take on his demons. So he summarily squelched the best thing that ever happened to him in a very long time. And in doing so hurt Quinn and angered the close know community on the island that basically closed ranks around their darling. How dare he hurt their Quinn – totally unacceptable.

But Marcus is Quinn’s fiercest protector and as such agrees to act as her boyfriend in a crazy scheme she concocts to save her parents’ marriage. And of course this is where it becomes complicated. Sorting real from fiction when the lines get decidedly blurry. Especially when it is so obvious to anyone around them that they are in love.
There is something about a Lily Everett story that makes you feel as if you are a participant in a wonderful adventure – a sort of guest at a grand party – with a guest list of your dearest friends. Marcus and Quinn practically jump off the page – a very real almost human creation of Lily Everett’s fabulously talented mind and imagination. HOME AT LAST is one of those books you really don’t want to end. The conversation is smart, sharp, and witty and brings out so much about each character. The vision of each scene is vividly captured. All and all a terrific addition to the Sanctuary Island series which has been a joy to read.

Marcus was born and raised on Sanctuary Island, left to go to college, came home only for his mother's funeral, left again and is now back after losing his charge while in the Secret Service.. He runs into Quinn, his next door neighbor he has a history with. Quinn has always loved Marcus but, now she is dealing with a relationship guru her mother has brought into their home to help mom and dad to ''reconnect.' Quinn and Marcus decide to conjure up a fake engagement in order to figure out just what this fake guru wants. This book is about forgiveness, acceptance, self-reflection and the fact that love does, ultimately conquer all.

Marcus and Quinn have such a history in this book. They dated awhile back and he dumped her. Now, Marcus is back and running the bar, but almost no one is coming in. Quinn will do almost anything necessary to keep her parent's marriage together. This includes making a deal with an old ex. She'll bring customers into his bar if he agrees to play her fiancee for four weeks. What they don't count on is what happens when they start to be honest with each other and real feelings develop.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Can you forgive? Marcus knew coming home would be hard but he never knew that someone from his childhood would change everything. Quinn has loved Marcus forever and she was hoping that he would come home eventually but not this broken.
Marcus just wants to lick his wounds and get on with his life but Quinn won't allow him and he knows that there is no stopping her.
Marcus & Quinn enjoy their time together but he can't see a future with her as he has nothing to offer her, he can't give her happiness and his love as he doesn't belong in them.
Quinn needs his help and he gives in and goes along with her crazy plan to save her parent's marriage but all it does is make him realize that he has to let her go.
Quinn was hoping to change his mind but he has gone without saying goodbye and it has broken her heart as she knows that she could never love anyone as much as she loves him. Marcus needed to make peace with himself and his past and now that he has made up with his Dad he knows that he needs to go for the woman that he loves but will she take him back after all the hurt that he has caused?
A beautiful love story of forgiveness, taking chances and just letting go

3 - "Only with you..." Stars.

Lily Everett takes her readers back to Sanctuary Island for the sixth book in the series Home at Last. This is Marcus and Quinn’s book and I was eagerly looking forward to reading their story.

IMAGE.

Unfortunately, the story the author delivered fell way short of the expectations I had, especially after the way this couple were with each other in the previous book from the series Close to Home, it was made very clear that Marcus is a man with a number of personal demons that he wasn’t really dealing with, and Quinn was the woman that helped calm, stormy waters. So to have everything that was implied in the small amount you see of them in the previous book almost brushed under the carpet in this one left me really disappointed.

"Face it. You’re in a pickle."

The other thing that really bugs me is when an author gives you a secondary character in a book, and you get to know them, then when they get their own book, completely acts out of the character that you have already got a general impression of. That was 100% the case with this one, and the things Marcus agreed to in an effort to help Quinn out with her family issues were totally out of character for the guy I had previously got to know.

"I may be an optimistic idiot when it comes to romance, but even I have my limits…!

And that is where we hit the motherlode of my issues, the whole ridiculous situation with Quinn’s parents, and Dastardly Doctor Ron, the marriage guru/con-man. It was beyond ridiculous, and took what could have been a sweet, poignant second chance romance between her and Marcus, and turned it into a bit of a farce.

"What a mess."

I’ll be honest, I had high expectations for this book, the author gave me them and they were built on the couple and their budding relationship that she teased me with in the previous book, so to take that story-line make it secondary, and to put everything Quinn’s flaky mother, and spineless father were bumbling through in the forefront felt like a huge let-down to the story that this couple could have had if the author had kept the focus on them. The parts when they were together (and there weren’t a huge amount, sadly) took me to the place I wanted to be with them, but it just kept being overshadowed by the unnecessary familial drama between her parents.

"You’re my hero…"

"I’m nobody’s hero."

"If you want me to buy that… You’re going to have to stop being there for me when I need you the most."

I love visiting Sanctuary Island, and my disappointment on this occasion won’t stop me visiting again in the future, I just wish the author had stayed true to the couple that deserved to have the focus on them and their story in this one, rather than being put on the back burner for what quite frankly was a ridiculous and childish level of unnecessary drama.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

It was a cute book, but the main female lead got on my nerves. Just seemed like a story told too many times.

Well finally got to the end of another Sanctuary Island novel and loved it, the hero Marcus is easy to hate because he is so buried in self loathing that only a angel like Quinn could love him.

Sadly, we have to go through a lot of angst and a bit of a evil side plot to make things interesting, add in some really odd plans for helping Quinn's parents and you have what ends up being a very enjoyable novel that fits right onto the heels of the previous novel Close to Home and so you might as well get these 2 books together.

4 Stars for an enjoyable day of reading.

First off, I really liked this book. And although it is not the first in the series I had no problem following along with the story. I liked how the family worked to expose the crook, and I liked how they all worked and played together. The only thing that I felt was a little off was the attitude and reaction that Marcos had towards his father. I could understand parts of it, but more was needed to make it seem to warrent the extreme anger he still held. Other than that, I highly recommend this book and author, and I'm currently reading the book just previous, which is Tessa and Johnny's story. Good stories for a fun escape to a great place.