Tawna Fenske has a knack for creating engaging characters and stories with humor, heart and a ton of heat. She’s done it again with “The Last,” which is, sadly, the last in a three-book series. (The first and second, “The List” and “The Test,” are highly recommended.)

In this last installment we find Sarah, a newly minted 30 year old, reconnecting with her college buddy, Ian. Their relationship was platonic, though Ian harbored a secret crush, and over the years they have kept in touch, albeit sporadically. A pact they made in school brings Ian back into Sarah’s life in a big way. Agreeing years ago that if they were still single at 30 they would get married, Ian suggests they follow through, but with the caveat that love not enter into it. He’s suffered loss in the past and believes he can save himself more heartache by not allowing himself to love again.

I enjoyed that the two characters had a history, and an easy friendship that they fell back into immediately. It felt natural for them to be together and I liked that there was no drama or misunderstanding between them. They were both honest about their feelings for one another and what they wanted in their relationship. Of course it didn’t hurt that they both wanted to indulge in the chemistry sizzling between them, either. Whew!

As a fun bonus, long-time readers will get a kick out of a few “cameos” in the book. Characters from another of her series, the “Ponderosa Resort Romantic Comedies,” make a fun and welcome appearance. (I highly recommend those books as well.)

One of the things that keeps bringing me back to Tawna’s books is that she writes stories about people that feel genuine. Her characters are relatable. And she adds a twist of wacky humor that makes me laugh. She imbues her stories with warmth and depth, and I always find myself devouring her books. This one felt as if it was over far too soon, not because anything was left out, but because the world she created was so easy to immerse myself in.

All in all, it’s a wonderful end to the series, giving each of the characters their happy ending. It’s funny, witty, sexy and sweet. A delicate and delightful combination that Tawna manages with seeming ease. I highly recommend it.

Note: I was provided an ARC in return for an honest review.

My first Tawna Fenske but absolutely not my last!
I’m a sucker for a marriage of convenience story and The Last did not disappoint. Sarah and Ian were the perfect blend of friends to lovers and second chance love. I adored the inclusive storyline of adults living and thriving with Down Syndrome. The chemistry and steamy sexy times was perfectly balanced out by the emotion of Ian and Shane’s backstory and Sarah and Junie’s relationship, making for a super steamy book with a satisfying amount of emotion and storyline.
Off to read the first two books in the series!

A spectacular story. The author weaves a magnificent tale of love and romance. Ian and Sarah have known each other since college and at 30 decide to fulfill a pact and get married. The relationship is is sizzling hot in the bedroom but Ian doesn’t want to involve his heart. The characters in the story are wonderful and relevant. Junie is especially lovely. Watching the growth that takes place as they work to get to their happy place was heartwarming and very touching.

I loved the first two books in this series so I was so excited for Sarah's story. I actually have loved every book I've read by this author so I knew this book was going to be amazing.

Sarah is turning 30. By now, she thought she'd be married and have family but her dating experiences could be a book of disasters. On her birthday, she tells her friends of a pact she made with her college BFF. If they were both single when they turned 30, they would marry each other. So enter Ian and his new ideas about what marriage should be: a business arrangement.

These two were something else. I loved the banter, the history, the chemistry. I was glued to this book from the second I started to the very end. I can't wait to see what comes next from this author!!

*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

Fast paced friends to lovers

The Last by Tawna Fenske is a quick fun read. I loved not only the sexual chemistry between Sarah and Ian but the friendship connection that has laid dormant in their 10 years apart but reignites as they consider a businesslike marriage. The banter between Sarah and Ian is fun as are Sarah’s interactions with her friends.
I re dived an advance readers copy via Netgalley.

When you pick up a Tawna Fenske book you know you're going to have a good time. Sarah has just turned 30 and she is still single. Having a girls night in to celebrate her birthday. As the drinks flow she tells her girlfriends about a pact she made with her college best friend. If they were both still single by the time they reached 30 they would get married to each other. Ian cant believe his luck when Sarah suggests they meet up for a hookup. Ian has secretly always fancied her and races round to her place. The sexual chemistry between these two is on fire. When Ian suggests they get married he paints a picture of a marriage without all those messy feelings. At first Sarah is up for it, but its not long before feelings grow stronger. It was a really nice surprise that characters from another series had cameos in this book. If you are a fan of romance with fun and on the steamy side. This author is for you.

I have to say that I utterly enjoyed this book it was so funny. So we meet Sarah who had made a bet or promise with her best friend Ian that if they were not both married at the age of 30 they would marry each other. (yes you know where I am going) So on Sarah's birthday, Ian shows up and then the funniness ensues..The only thing that I regretted about this book was that I did not read the previous one, but I will remedy that..Enjoy!

Sarah and Ian are one of the most fun couples I have read in awhile. This unusual arrangement seems sensible at first, but can emotions ever really be ignored? There is so much humor, sexy romance, and heartwarming moments in this book. This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be going back for more!

"Oh my God, I'm kissing Ian Nolan." Sarah & Ian were college buddies, who haven't seen each other in 10 years, and now, all she wants to do is kiss him! Their deal - if they weren't married by the time they turned 30, they would marry each other. Seems like a reasonable arrangement.

Sarah & Ian think this arrangement could actually work. But, one or both may be catching some feelings....

This was such a cute story, it was fast paced but it didn’t take away from the storyline. Sarah turns 30 and doesn’t have the life she expected to and she recalls a pact her and her old college friend Ian had made to each other. We get to see if an emotionally stunted Ian can make things work with the woman who was his best friend in a mutually business like marriage. It was cute and I loved the job Sarah had, the storyline with Shane, and of course Junie.

So it was cute, quick and easy to read. And I thought Sarah was a well written character. But Ian, not so much for me. He felt almost robotic, and not in the way the author intended, as a person trying to avoid emotion, but devoid of personality and not "real". His POV sections were all the same,no, I can not feel emotions, emotions are bad (I'm hearing it in a robot voice). So while I liked it overall, I kept getting yanked out of my happy place by Ian.

The Last by Tawna Fenske is Book 3 of the List Series. This book is part of a series, however it reads as a standalone. This was the first of the series I’ve read and had no problems with starting here. The author does a wonderful job of bringing new readers current without a massive information dump to get us up to speed.

Best friends-to-lovers is a fav type of read for me and whew does Ms. Fenske do it right! I loved the chemistry between Ian and Sarah and best yet was how even after all the years apart they fell right back into their friendship as if they had never parted and ten years had not passed them by. This was a sweet and sexy read with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments that had me hooked.

Please note that an ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review of which this is both honest and completely voluntary.

Funny, emotional, includes reindeer...

I LOVED Ian and Sarah's second chance story! They had been the best of friends in college. They shared hopes, dreams, family. It all ended suddenly and abruptly. No drama, no arguments, Ian was suddenly, gone... Years later, a birthday-infused promise meant a casual greeting steamrolled into marriage in 2 point nothing seconds. Hot, quietly manic with no melodrama, what happened next was....

Perfect. I loved these characters who cared so much for each other. From sweetly holding hands one minute to cheek-blushing reckless abandon the next, they were just so good together. They made each other happy and that just leaped from each page. They made each other smile just because and I couldn't help but smile along with them. When things started to go south I was right there with them, agonizing over it all..

Their story was made even better by an epilogue that is one of the best I've ever read. Packed with every emotion, heartfelt without being overdone, I cried and was, surprisingly for me, so darn happy while I did it...

*I happily reviewed this book (even though it made me cry)...

I adore Tawna Fenske and I'm a big fan of the "marriage of convenience" trope, so The Last should have been a major hit for me . . . and it was. I loved it! It was funny and cute and sexy and sweet—basically, it checked off all the boxes that make me want to read and re-read a book. This series has been a lot of fun and I'm sorry to see it end, yet nevertheless excited for whatever comes next for this author. Highly recommend!

This was a sweet and emotional read and I loved both Sarah and Ian. I really enjoyed the aspect that they were best friends before getting it to a relationship it was very sweet!

This book had some humorous elements to it and I laughed at a lot of parts. I would definitely recommend this book it was amazing!

I loved this book! Characters from prior books, friends to lovers, all sorts of goodness!! Ian is convinced he can never love because he's still heartbroken over his late brother's death and his parents destructive marriage. Sarah has reached her 30th birthday and tells herself she's happy. But despite a depressing example from her parents, she still believes in love. They have been friends since college and made a silly pact to marry if they were still single at 30. A little drunken texting and Ian finds himself on Sarah's doorstep. And the humor, sweetness, steaminess, and a few mistakes lead to their happy ever after. I love that we get to revisit past couples! I received a review copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Another great story where I laughed so hard I cried and cried so hard my head hurt. Ian and Sarah were always meant to be, but grief and loss can be a strong deterrent to feel the good feelings of love. However, trust and faith win over. Love these characters and of course sweet Junie who makes the world so much better. I received this arc for an honest review.

4.5 Stars!
I'm starting this review a little backwards. The stunning epilogue was the perfect capper to Ian And Sarah's romance, as well as the interconnected 3-book series. I even got a little misty-eyed. While this author's women's fiction (ie. Now That It's You, At the Heart of It) are my favorite, these quicker paced rom-coms give me my needed fill until the next release. They also manage to have some hidden depth and poignancy that I equally love from her longer fiction. Like all of her books, the character's are people I would love to have in my life - authentically real. And like every hero before Ian, I think that this one has become my favorite yet. As for the sexy, I think this one has exceeded all previous expectations. IT WAS SEXY! This was a friends-to-lover's romance that delivered on all fronts from an author that has never disappointed.

A very entertaining read! When Sarah celebrates her 30th birthday she can't help but reminisce about her college-friend Ian Nolan. They once made a pact to marry each other should they reach the age of 30 single. And behold: Ian is in town, remembers the pact and knocks on her door! Because of things in Ian's past, he wants to marry Sarah and look at it as a marriage of convenience. But Sarah doesn't want to give up on the possibility of love.

Tawna always writes good stories. There is also a lot of humor in this one and I liked the story about Ian's brother with Down's Syndrome and how this connected to Sarah's current job.

Sarah Keating was sure she’d be married by 30. Husband, kids, the kick-ass career helping adults with Down Syndrome—she assumed she’d have it all, and there’d be no need to fall back on the marriage pact she made with her best pal from college but a tipsy message she sends from her birthday party brings Ian Nolan.

As Sarah and Ian test drive their marriage-of-convenience, they navigate awkward business dinners, a slippery steam room hookup, and a costume party gone awry. Their friendship is stronger than ever, and the sexual chemistry is off the charts but is that enough to make a marriage work, or will one of them fall hard and end up brokenhearted?

This book has it all, humorous characters, risqué romance, and a heartwarming love story with a quirky twist! It's a cute and steamy series. I really enjoyed the writing style and loved the characters.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheLast
Pub Date: 04 Feb 2019