Someone You Deserve by Harlow James

Someone You Deserve: Carrington Cove Book 2
Harlow James
Release: October 4, 2024

Why you need to #ONECLICK this book…
🔥small town
💕single mom
🔥best friend’s widow
💕he falls first
🔥grumpy hero
💕brother’s best friend
🔥friends to lovers
💕secret relationship
🔥mutual pining

Rule number one of bro-code: exes, sisters—and of course, wives—are off-limits.

Don’t think about them and sure as hell don’t kiss them.

But what if your best friend dies, and suddenly you want the woman who has always been his?

Four years ago my childhood friend lost his life serving our country, and Astrid and her kids became my responsibility.

But before I knew it, something started to shift between us.

Her smile started to make my stomach twist. Our conversations gave me something to look forward to. And working with her made me appreciate just how strong she truly was.

But then one night, I did the one thing I shouldn’t have but couldn’t fight any longer—I kissed her.

She pushed me away, told me it was a mistake, and begged me to forget it ever happened.

And then she shoved me deep and fully into the friendzone, where I’ve resided since then.

Until one instance changes everything and I know for certain she’s the woman I want.

Just when I think we’re on the same page, a secret from our past threatens to destroy our future.

I shouldn’t want my best friend’s widow. I shouldn’t care what other people think.

But in the end, the only thing that matters is being someone Astrid deserves, and I’ll stop at nothing until she believes that too.

eBook: https://mybook.to/someoneyoudeserve
Paperback: https://mybook.to/someoneyoudeserveSE

Audio narrated by Aiden Snow and Vanessa Edwin: https://adbl.co/4dUoOmS

EXCERPT

“Why are you acting this way?” she fires back at me.

“What way?”

“Like an older brother who doesn’t approve of me going out with a boy.” She mimics my stance. “Newsflash, Penn. I already have a protective older brother. I don’t need another.”

“Trust me, I have no desire to be your brother, Astrid. But I just don’t understand where your head is at. Dick is the last guy on Earth you should be going out with.”

She rolls her eyes. “Jesus, you and Grady must have talked.”

We did, but she doesn’t need to know that. “He’s not good enough for you,” I say instead—because it’s the fucking truth.

“I’m not going to marry the man, Penn. It’s just dinner.” Then she straightens her spine and steels her gaze. “And you know what? It felt nice to be wanted. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt that way.”

If she only knew how badly I want her, how much I fucking crave her.

Does she not think about that night as much as I do?

Tell her, Penn. Tell her and remind her what that kiss felt like three years ago. Show her how she makes you feel, how she makes your body come alive—how being with her feels like breathing.

“Astrid, I…” I fucking want you.

“Mommy?” Lilly comes down the hall, rubbing her eyes.

Fuck.

It’s just as well. Letting the truth run from my lips would only do more harm than good.

Someone You Deserve by Harlow James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

🎧📖Audio and eBook Review📖🎧

My author 💙bestie💙 did it again *heart eyes*!! #swoonfest

I did my process in reverse this time, meaning I read my ARC one weekend and waited till the next weekend to get lost in the audiobook. You guys are going to absolutely love this audiobook because Aiden & Vanessa were glorious, but if you don’t like audiobooks and choose to read this story, it is also going to be glorious. There are some circumstances that did hit me a little harder while I listened to the audiobook which technically would qualify it to be a better experience, but I honestly don’t think it was a big enough impact to warrant me shouting from the rooftops that audio is the only possible way to feel this story cuz that’d be a lie! Okay, so that’s that LOL Now let’s talk a bout this swoonfest shall we!

Listen, this was romance personified. Like the entire story felt romantic and very deeply sincere. Every action and reaction between Penn & Astrid had an air of destiny to it and it all felt endearing and just swoony! I know I should be using better language but gah, that’s honestly what happened. During my listening, I felt myself being swept in by the story and it made so happy because when I felt, it was resounding and wonderous.

I won’t lie and say that the ”secret” Astrid was keeping didn’t make me eyeroll, because it did LOL that woman shouldn’t have had any inner conflicts with what was happening but I’m not the writer so *shrug* and I also won’t lie and say that Penn’s inner conflict didn’t make my eye twitch a time or two because, reasons I can’t say because spoilers … BUT none of that matter because the story as a whole was a huge, yes, you guessed it, swoonfest! That’s my term and I’m sticking to it!

Another well deserved 4.5 stars rounded to 5 because half stars are not a thing!

Sidenote: I really need to listen to Aiden Snow more! Lol I mean I listen to plenty of Vanessa Edwin and she’s a winner every time but I’m seriously lacking in my Aiden listens and his voice is ❤️‍🔥raawrrrr❤️‍🔥 👏🏻round of applause all around!👏🏻

View all my reviews

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MEET THE AUTHOR: Harlow James is a wife and mom who fell in love with romance novels, so she decided to write her own.

Her books are the perfect blend of heartwarming, addictive, and steamy romance. If you love stories with a guaranteed Happily Ever After, then Harlow is your new best friend.

When she’s not writing, she can be found working her day job, reading every romance novel she can find time for, laughing with her husband and kids, watching re-runs of FRIENDS, and spending time cooking for her friends and family while drinking tequila shots or a blended margarita.