At Last by Addison Fox Series: The Brooklyn Brotherhood #1
Published by Swerve Publication Date: November 1st 2016
Pages: 304
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Welcome to Park Heights, Brooklyn where three brothers discover the meaning of family, and taking a chance on love.
After a year of turmoil, Emma Vandenburg Bradley returned home to Park Heights to run her familyβs business β a Brooklyn institution β Unity brewery. Still trying to get her feet back under her, she definitely doesnβt want to be on the spectacularly bad date that ends with getting caught in a bar fight and her high school crush coming to her rescue.
Nick Kelleyβs career in the NFL was cut short, but now he has a successful bar in Brooklyn and his dream of buying the Unity brewery is about to come true. Until he realizes that the mystery woman he savedβand shared a steamy kiss withβis none other than his high school chemistry partner, Emma...who happens to be a part owner of Unity. And sheβs not interested in selling her familyβs legacy. When Emma and Nick find themselves on opposing sides, both are willing to do anything to win. But as their connection grows deeper, they become torn: Can they choose between their love for Unity and their plans for the futureβand for each other?
Cocktails and Books received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
This is the first time I have read an Addison Fox novel and while I really wanted to love it I walked away liking the main characters but found the story to be contrived and in some cases confusing.
Nick Kelley a former NFL quarterback is back home Β in Parker Heights after being forced to retire 5 years earlier. Β Trying to make a name for himself away from football, Β Nick owns a successful bar and now is looking to purchase a brewery in the neighborhood. Β Nick adopted as a boy with 2 other boys – his best friends from foster careΒ found an out with football but always knew he would come back home to Parker Heights. Β When a beautiful blonde steps into his bar he knows from somewhere he realizes that what he thought he wanted has now changed.
Emma has been gone for over 10 years – returns home after her marriage falls apart. Β Having just graduated from business school she hopes to take over her families brewery. Β When she finds out that Nick her high school crush wants to purchase the brewery with her father’s blessing Emma strikes a temporaryΒ plan for herself and Nick to try to come to work together and she can find a way to keep her family’sΒ business. Β What she didn’tΒ count on was how charming and sweet Nick is and her feelings towards him.
I really enjoyed getting to know Nick, Emma and Nick’s family. Β I got the sense of Β how tight-knit the community of Parker Heights is. Β The love story between Nick and Emma is very sweet and thoughtful. Β Where I had issues was the “conflict” the author tries to establish between Emma and Nick. Β It felt forced and really didn’tΒ make any sense. Β Β The story is told from multiple POVs between not only the main characters but a few secondary characters that was hard to follow. Β I did think the conflict between Emma and her father was much more realistic and could have been used as the main conflict rather than trying to force something with the Emma and Nick. Β The pacing of the story was also hard to keep track of which caused more confusion.
Overall again while I enjoyed Nick and Emma’s love story there were quite a few issues with the book that was difficult to overcome as the reader. Β There are 2 more books in this series that I hope flows better than the first one does.
