REVIEW: MAKE IT A DOUBLE BY SAWYER BENNETT

MAKE IT A DOUBLE

BY USA Today Best-selling Author Sawyer Bennett

Last Call, #2

Adult Contemporary Romance

Released April 21, 2014

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Brody Markham has endured a nightmare, spending the last five years in prison and losing everything that was dear to him. Now he’s back home, trying to survive in a world he doesn’t recognize anymore. While his family and friends desperately try to reach through to him, he shelters himself further and further away from their love.

Alyssa Myers has worked her entire life to distance herself from the luxurious and privileged lifestyle in which she was raised. Running her non-profit agency, The Haven, she is content to spend her days helping abused animals find sanctuary, which fulfills her in a way that money just can’t buy.

Maybe it’s that she recognizes in Brody some of the same characteristics she sees in her homeless wards, but Alyssa is powerless to stop her personal quest to make Brody whole again.

While Brody struggles to surface from the darkness, Alyssa tries to protect her heart in case he’s not willing to accept the light that she offers him.

*MAKE IT A DOUBLE can be read as a stand-alone*

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OUR REVIEW:

You may recall that Brody intrigued us in the first book in this series. He was all broody and mysterious and quiet and curious. And then there was his very harsh name calling, for no apparent reason, at Alyssa. Harsh. I wasn't exactly sure what to think about him...so I expected answers, and answers I got. Righto, there are no stones left unturned here...which was great, because waiting until the end to find out reasons for stuff can be frustrating, and the pace for which we got the "good stuff" as I shall say, was nicely timed. 

Turns out Brody is dealing with more than just adjusting to life after prison and his outburst with Alyssa, while ridiculously off base in its aim, was based on some things that he felt from experience. So..I sort of forgave him for it. He's really a good guy just trying to figure out how to live his life..how to open himself to being vulnerable...how to put his past behind him and move forward. And it just so happens that once Alyssa gets past his assholish comment (and he apologizes for it), she seems like the perfect girl to help him move forward. She's understanding and confident and does not shy away from speaking her mind. Alyssa doesn't tiptoe around Brody and yet doesn't feel the need to be a jerk to him either. Through his volunteering at Alyssa's no kill animal shelter, they get to learn more about each other and a new found appreciation and respect forms between them. I really loved the idea of The Haven, Alyssa's shelter. It was a great setting for the story with both humans and canines having a place to get a fresh start to a new life...and like Shelley said, Alyssa was a great heroine for never waiting for someone else to make the first move. I appreciated that. 

There are so many reasons why I look forward to reading a Sawyer Bennett novel. I love that she picks an issue or a cause and embeds it in her storyline (like this time it was a  no kill animal shelter). I love that she creates characters that don't shy away from honest and real communication --no matter how uncomfortable (and these two characters are really good at communicating). And I love how within pages, I've disappeared inside a story only to resurface to do annoying things like work or eat. 

The second book in this series definitely did not disappoint; I'll be eager to see what happens in book 3. I too will look forward to what comes next. This one wasn't perfect for me, but I have a lot of feels for it anyways. It wasn't one specific thing and I personally think it was just me, mixed with late nights and a day of traveling that put me into a funk...so if you're new to Sawyer Bennett or a seasoned veteran like us, I think you will have a great time at The Last Call again. 

Shelley: 4 Stars
Courtney: 3 1/2 Stars

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

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