Another author I had not read but thoroughly enjoyed. I already purchased the first book in the series, this being the second. I enjoyed the humorous little quips injected into the conversations and thoughts of the characters and dogs, making this author read differently than many of the other contemporary romance books these days. The pace was good, no reliance on cliches - a very nice surprise for NetGalley.

We were introduced to Liv in the first Sequoia Lake book, and I really enjoyed learning more about her and her son Paxton. Ford was a wonderful addition to the series, and I especially liked his friendship with the other guys on the rescue team.

I have read a few books by Marina Adair now, and each one has had alot of romance, humor, and strong characters. I was not disappointed here. Liv's trying to move on after losing her husband while being super mom for Paxton was handled so well. I think struggles and feelings felt very true to life.

Ford, while nowhere near perfect, had a big heart and I liked getting to see part of the story from his point of view. There was a lot of great moments with his trained rescue dog Bullseye, too.

I highly recommend this series!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my second Marina Adair book and unfortunately, I didn't connect with it at all. I struggled with the first book in this series but sometimes first books are difficult because there's a lot of exposition. This go round I felt like the storytelling was all over the place (I was less interested in the side stories and wanted more from the couple themselves) and on top of that I felt like I knew exactly how this was going to play out very early in the book and there was nothing compelling enough to make me want to stick around for it. I think this series might be a wash for me, but I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to read and review.

I had to admire the main character- she had a plan for moving through her grieving and she determinedly stuck to her plan.

This story also shows in a serious, thoughtful manner the difficulty in handling a child's disability.

Wat wasn't quite as well- developed was the chemistry between the two main characters. Both characters were written well but i just didn't feel the sizzle.

This was my first read for Marina Adair! It most certainly won't be my last! I fell in love with her characters. I was hooked from the start and could not put the book down until I was done.

This is book number 2 in this series and it has Liv Preston a mother, and nurse working on keeping her son and herself going after her husband was killed two years ago in an accident. A neighbor Ford Jamison is with K-9 search and rescue out of Reno and is there in Sequoia because he missed a qualifying test. He is also the person who could not save her husband but did save her son and later in the book it is all explained. Dealing with his guilt he finds himself along with his dog “Bullseye” drawn to the woman and to her son. Paxton her son is beginning to open up and heal when he is around Bullseye and when she sees the way Ford talks to Paxton it is gentle and kind for such a large man. Things besides him being good looking are sending her a message that maybe it is time for her to move on with her life. Ford wants to help her but he was not expecting to fall for the pretty women, scared he must decide what he wants especially when she finds out before he tells her that he and Bullseye were the ones that were on the rescue. He does make a dramatic entrance but also does something that shows her that he is all in. A very good story and good characters as well.

This was a sweet little story. But I found this couple to be a little bland, in fact, I was much more interested in the story of Sam and Avery.

Enjoyable read from Marina Adair. The story kept you on an emotional roller coaster because both of the main characters were suffering because of the same loss in different ways. I loved how Ford & his partner & rescue dog were so sweet with Paxton the little boy who Ford was secretly watching over for his late father. I felt sorrow for Liv an ER nurse & Paxton's mother has been doing double parent duties for 2 yrs, trying to bring Paxton out of the shell he's hiding in. I laughed at the antics of Ford's dog & how the dog was a clepto of stuffed animals & would sniff out Paxton whenever he could. I also enjoyed the ribbing that Ford & his work friends did with each other, especially the girlie bouncy castle with 10 screaming little girls set up on bachelor Ford's front yard & him having to play dress up(in tutus & heels no less)with coloured hair & lipstick as well. I cried when Liv found out who Ford really was & put together who all the mysterious gift received in the last 2yrs were from. This book was written with heart & it kept me wanting to read until finished. Recommend this book.

What a fantastic read i just loved this book.A super read you will not be able to put down.This book pulls you in and does not let go super characters well written with a great plot cannot wait to try more from Marina.

I LOVE Liv and Ford! What a great story! The connection between these characters was fantastic and the writing was so good I didn't want to put this one down. I hope this author writes more in this series - it is so good!

Oh man! Have the tissues ready at the end. Liv and Ford have some series baggage, some of which they don't even know about. Ms. Adair made this emotional book fun, sexy, and with an awesome happily-ever-after!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. This is the first book of Marina Adair's that I have read. I have always loved the covers and book summary on the back and to be honest I even have a couple of hers on my book shelf that I still need to read so when I got the opportunity to read this book I jumped at the chance. This is the second book in the Sequoia Lake series by Marina.

Having never read of Marina's books in the past I was not sure what her writing style was going to be but I found that they kept a pretty steady pace and had a mix of romance, heartbreak and humor all rolled into one. I think that Marina did a great job of developing both the characters Liv and Ford so that you would understand their reasoning for their actions but didn't go overboard where you felt like it was dragging on and you lost interest. In addition, I really enjoyed seeing Liv's character grow through out the book from being closed off from letting someone into her life to by the end opening up for more than just a man.

In regards to storyline I found this book to have a couple different ones going on which you would think would be hard to follow but Marina did a good job of intertwining them to make it one great story. I liked how she not only told you of the love story developing between Ford and Liv but also incorporated her son into the mix. It was cool to see how the soon really opened up at the end and became more social with both kids his age as well as his own grandma. Lastly, it has a dog in it. Gotta love a book with a dog in it.

I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the first one in the series as well as the ones that follow. In addition, I will be definitely checking out more of Marina's book as I really enjoy her writing style. I recommend this book to readers who love the romance but also the heartwarming family stories too as I think it has that too.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆
Liv Preston is trying to get her life back together after the death of her husband, not just for herself but for her young son too. Paxton has shied away from most things since his father's death a few years ago. But Liv is determined to make life happy for them both. But when Liv meets Ford Jamison, can she trust her feelings?

Ford Jamison is head of the K-9 unit in Reno, and one hell of a man to behold. He is huge and very handsome. He calls Liv “Cupcake” because when they first met, she was wearing scrubs with cupcakes on them and doing surgery on a stuffed dog.

But Ford has a secret and he is only in town for a short time, but is afraid when Liv learns his secret, she will hate him. Can he tell her the truth and move on? Will Liv be able to accept the truth and trust Ford in anything else he says? Will Paxton trust and began talking again? And will Bullseye ever stop stealing kids’ stuffed toys?

This story is heartwarming, with points of laughter, and I loved it. Marina Adair has a way of touching your heart in this series. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Every character Marina writes, you just want to fall in love with and Liv and Ford were no exception. When Liv meets Ford, sparks started to fly and both of them were suffering from a form of guilt. Ford over his inability to save her husband and Liv over an argument with her husband. They have some touch and go here and there but eventually they learn that it's ok to let go and to start over again. This book has some adventures, and great humor. I love the Sequoia Lake series and this is a great read for the beach, or at home!

I don't know how to rate this because I love some parts and have mixed feelings for some other parts but anyway I love Liv's love and devotion towards her son, Paxton. Paxton is the cutest, most adorable child it's hard not to love him. The bond between Ford and his dog Bullseye is also my favourite. I also love Ford's flirty ways, as weird as it sounds. He's just a fun guy with a huge crush on the single supermom. The only qualm I had about this story is Ford's inability to come clean about who he really is and the role he played in Liv's husband's death, it made me uncomfortable.

Overall, it was an entertaining read. I really hope that Harris gets a book of his own. He's so adorable with his daughter. And I also want Liv's friend Grace to find her own HEA.

Unfortunately the book was not for me, no review was publicly posted on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads or Twitter etc, so no ratings were affected in relation to it.

This is the sort of happy ending read you'll like for the characters. Liv, Prescott, Ford, and don't forget Bullseye, are all so real. You'll feel Liv's pain as she helps her son overcome his grief. You'll argue with Ford to give it up already and become whole. You'll sniff along with Bullseye. It's a nice story with good characters, nicely written, and entirely believable. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This was an escapist read on a too hot summer day!

Ford and Liv were an interesting, and at times, frustrating couple. Liv, because she seemed a bit too independent, in that she couldn't seem to accept even the most benign of neighborly help. Ford, because of his inability, or stubborn refusal (you decide), to tell Liv what she doesn't know about her husband's death and son's rescue.
But overall, I loved Ford's protectiveness, sexy flirting and, weirdly, his guilty feelings. I like Liv's independence...for the most part...her love and devotion to her son, and her willingness to flirt back! The small town feel and quirky characters in Sequoia Lake brought me back for book two, and it will keep calling me back (for Grace's story next, I hope!!), along with the great storytelling I get with every Marina Adair book I read.

I received an ARC from Netgalley. All thought and opinions are my own.

Marina Adair has a special knack for writing stories that are filled with emotion and that grab you from the start. This book is no exception. I read the first book in the Sequoia Lake series and loved it so was excited to be able to read an advance copy of this book and share my review.

Olivia (Liv) Preston is a single mom trying hard to raise her son Paxton after losing her husband in a car accident. She is living in the small town where her husband grew up and works hard each day as an ER nurse. Her focus is on her son and helping him deal with losing his father.

Ford Jamison is the head of the K-9 search and rescue team in Reno and has been assigned to desk duty in Sequoia Lake as a disciplinary measure for not completing his recertification testing. He has his reasons for not completing the testing and he has ties to the small town but no one knows why but Ford and his supervisor. He struggles with his secret… especially when he realizes how attracted he is to Liv.

Liv is working through her grief and is not sure she is ready for a relationship but cannot deny the chemistry she feels for Ford. They take tentative steps forward in their relationship but when his secret is revealed, can their tenuous relationship survive?

One character in this book definitely stole my heart…. Bullseye the rescue dog! The scenes with him and his stuffed animals will sure make you smile!

This was a heartwarming story of healing and of moving forward. I would recommend it and look forward to the next book.