REVIEW: On the Rocks by Sawyer Bennett

Synopsis:

He left to travel the world for fame and glory, but only after spurning Gabby Ward and crushing her young heart. Now Hunter Markham has come back home to the sand and salty breeze of the North Carolina Outer Banks so he can open up Last Call, a beach bar nestled among the dunes of the Atlantic.

Gabby Ward is not happy that Hunter has returned. Bitter over his rebuff years before, she’s content to stay far away from him and his dangerously charming ways.

Gabby’s well-schemed plans to ignore Hunter go up in flames when he presents an offer to her that she simply can’t refuse, throwing them together in a common quest to each reach their goals. Working together day in and day out proves to be problematic for Gabby, who soon realizes that the feelings she had for him are still very much alive. Hunter struggles to reach through to Gabby’s cold heart, all while starting a new career away from his life as a top ranked, professional surfer.

What starts out as a mutual business arrangement soon turns into a passion that neither of them can continue to deny.

Hard choices lay ahead for both of them when Hunter is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to return to the pro surfing tour.

Choices that could destroy what they have built or take them further than they ever had dared to hope.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20343102-on-the-rocks?from_search=true

Buy Links:

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1h2AtPu
BN:  http://bit.ly/1ftk8Py
iTunes: http://bit.ly/NZgjMj

Review:

***ARC was provided by author in exchange for an honest review***

Five years ago, Gabby finally gave in to her feelings for her best friend’s older brother and kissed him, only to be called a mistake and a little sister. Hunter’s reaction and subsequent dismissal has fueled Gabby’s hatred for him. Since then, their interaction has been brief and anything but cordial. But that’s all about to change; since Gabby’s father’s death, she has been running her father’s construction business. Hunter left and became a highly regarded pro-surfer, but now he’s back and looking to expand/remodel his bar. Gabby needs this remodel job to prevent her father’s company from going bankrupt. The only problem is she can’t let go of the bitterness she still feels from Hunter’s snub all those years ago or the overwhelming attraction she still feels for him. Will Gabby be able to bury her feelings for Hunter and stay professional spending so much time together, or will she finally get the man she’s always wanted when Hunter starts to feel not so sisterly feelings towards her?

I’m a huge Sawyer Bennett fan. She is one of my go to writers for dual point of view books. She has the uncanny ability to allow readers into her main characters’ heads to truly understand where they are coming from, including what their struggles and insecurities are. She creates strong lead characters who aren’t afraid to tell it like it is or fight for what they want…even if it sometimes backfires.

Gabby Ward is a fantastic heroine. She’s feisty, courageous, and honest. She doesn’t mind hard work, and even though she works in a man’s world doing construction, she doesn’t allow anyone to walk all over her. She does have a softer side, though, and her feelings for Hunter as well as her friends and family are shown by her constant support and selfless acts to put everyone else first.

Hunter Markham definitely knows how to wear a pair of board shorts. There’s nothing hotter than surfers with mad skills…in more ways than one 😉 His need to protect his siblings only adds to his hotness. He’s a take charge kind of guy, and when he sets his sights on Gabby, he’s going to make damn sure he shows her exactly what she means to him both in and outside the bedroom.

What’s great about this story is that there is not a barrage of angst. Of course, there are a few people who try to get in the way of Hunter and Gabby’s relationship, and there is definitely some moments of miscommunication, but the book is more about how a relationship can evolve into something more and be exactly the thing that both people desperately need.

On the Rocks is a great read. There are witty exchanges, hot sex scenes, and just the right amount of angst to make the main characters acknowledge what they truly want. It’s the start of another amazing series from Sawyer Bennett. Bring on Brody’s story…for some reason, I have a feeling there’s going to be more angst involved with this one!

4 poison apples