I really liked the storyline but wasn’t invested in the characters. Perhaps if I had read any of the other Carothers brothers books, I may have been more invested. Crissanne and Ethan had good chemistry, but there wasn’t any other strife beside Mason.

This is a second chance romance where Ethan Carothers has been friends with Crissanne Moss for years as she was his best frind’s girlfriend and then wife. Now she’s his ex and she’s one to Ethan for help. The problem is that he’s always been attracted to her, even before his friend asked her out he’d been planning to do so. However, since his friend goasked her first, he’s always buried his attraction to her. Now she’s single again, will he be able to resist - and what how will she react?

The problem with reviewing this story is really endeavouring not to give major spoilers away - but I’ll just say I was so annoyed with one of the characters!!!! I hope you’ll realise who and why if you read it yourself. That character’s attitude and behaviour was just so selfish and manipulating-grrr! Others are so much better and deserve greater respect and care .... I daren’t say more in case I reveal anything that might spoil your own enjoyment of the story. This is likely to appeal to anyone who enjoys contemporary second chance romances with an added twist.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it

Forbidden love! With the next book in Katherine Garbera's The Wild Caruthers Bachelors series, we get Ethan's story. He's lusted from afar for years after he moved too slow to make the first move before his friend swooped in and made her his, but when circumstances put Chrissanne within his reach for once, temptation may be too strong. The characters and situation were attention grabbing, and the plot had a bit of intrigue to it as well leaving us wondering what was going to happen for awhile there. Enjoyed it!

When the woman he loves shows up on the doorstep of Ethan Caruthers, he should be thrilled ... if only she wasn't his best friend's girl! When she makes the announcement that she's suddenly single and needed a friendly ear, Ethan takes her in and offers her comfort. He's wanted her since the first moment he saw her all of those years ago ... but you can't get with your best friend's ex ... can you?

Chrissanne Moss can't believe she's wasted so many years of her life on a man that doesn't want forever with her. When she needs a friend, who else would she turn to but Ethan? She has known that he has feelings for her for awhile .. should she admit her attraction as well? When surprising news comes, they are blown away and seek comfort with each other ... but can it last considering their history?

Ethan opened his door and found Crisanne standing there with a pale face and biting her lower lip the day she did when she was worried. She had her camera bag over her shoulder and a suitcase on the step with a taxi pulling away. Ethan’s best friend is Mason and Crisanne had been his girlfriend and Ethan had to struggle to control his intense attraction to Crisanne. He had felt disloyal to Mason yet at the same time he had been powerless to control his attraction. Then Crisanne looked so lost and told Ethan her and Mason had broken up. Mason said she could stay at the condo but she just couldn’t. Crisanne didn’t know where to go until she thought of Ethan. Ethan thought of how Crisanne was single, alone, and hurting. She had grown up in the foster care system. And only had a few close friends, most of who she shared with Mason. Mason and Crisanne had been a couple since they had been freshman in college. Ethan knew Crisanne could really use a friend. Ethan knew t would be awkward when he talked to Mason after he told Crisanne she could stay as long as she needed. Turning her away didn’t sit well with Ethan and the truth be told he wanted Crisanne there with him and he would endure anything to have her in his home. Then Ethan thought he remembered Mason was going to Peru to film his extreme adventure survival show. As much as Ethan wanted Crisanne for himself her happiness came first. Mason had been the one to encourage Crisanne to set up her travel blog, which had turned into a financial boo for her and given her a career Crisanne was in control of. Crisanne wasn’t the type of person to make friends easily. Part was she was competitive but also she had never really learned how to trust. She wanted to be someplace where she felt accepted and Ethan always made her feel like someone. Not a girl who had been abandoned by her crack addicted mother or passed from foster home to foster home because she was too quiet and weirded people out. What Ethan didn’t know was Maso couldn’t get away from Crisanne fast enough when she brought up getting married and starting a family. That night Crisanne and Ethan kissed and almost slept together but Ethan stopped it from happening.
I loved this book. I loved Ethan and Crisanne together and how they interacted. Although at times I wanted to smack them in the back of the head. But it didn’t take away from this book or my ratings oddly enough. I loved this romantic emotional book. I loved the plot and pace and read this book in one setting. I just didn’t want to put this down. I loved the the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend.

Ethan is Craving His Best Friend’s Ex in this perfect light summer read.

Ethan and Mason are best friends. When they see Crissanne at a college party, Mason, always the impulsive one, approaches her. Mason and Crissanne have a romantic relationship but Ethan is envious and regretful that he didn’t approach Crissanne first. Twelve years later, Crissanne knocks on Ethan’s door in Cole’s Hill Texas. She and Mason, who live together in Los Angeles, have broken up. Crissanne’s feelings of friendship for Ethan begin to deepen. Ethan reluctantly reciprocates but worries that Crissanne is only using him to make Mason jealous. When tragedy strikes, will it drive Crissanne and Ethan together or force them apart?

The tug of war between guilt and desire is well defined in Craving His Best Friend’s Ex. Both Ethan and Crissanne’s conflicting feeling make sense. The story is compelling and the sexual tension is hot. Craving His Best Friend’s Ex is a great beach read. 4 stars!

Thanks to the publisher, Harlequin Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

This book was so disappointing and wasn't what I was expecting at all. I wanted forbidden romance but what I got was a characterless and dull romance. I really didn't enjoy this book. The characters had no personality and the romance had no chemistry. Clearly this book was not for me.

I have to say, I loved the premise of the blurb. But....it fell short of my hopes. I felt no real connection to either Crissanne or Ethan. It did have a slow burn but the characters just felt so flat to me that I found myself wandering and drifting from the story line.