BLOG TOUR: Make It A Double by Sawyer Bennett, Christie's Review

Make It A Double
Last Call, #2

Adult Contemporary Romance

Released April 21, 2014
Rating: 3.5 stars

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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*

I was very excited to get a chance to read Brody's story. He is Hunter's twin from On the Rocks, the first book in the series. The anticipation for Brody's story was built up well in book one. He's a fun, outgoing guy who everybody loves and after a tragic event, is sent to prison and after parole returns to town never the same. He intrigued me. A man who is forever changed- a family man who now is pushing his family and friends away and can't seem to fit in quite like he used to. He's now dealing with some harsh demons and he doesn't know how to move on from his past.

Alyssa is the most kindhearted of the group of friends. She also comes from a very wealthy background and has money that would take care of her for the rest of her life if she didn't want to work, but she isn't selfish or entitled. She has a deep love for animals and started a no-kill shelter for dogs, cats, and horses which she runs almost exclusively by herself. She is just a genuine and easygoing person who anybody would want to know and be friends with. When she crosses paths with Brody for the first time, he judges her on his preconceptions of how spoiled and snobby he thinks rich people are and after offending her and hurting her feelings, they now avoid each other at all costs. They want nothing to do with each other, but when he unexpectedly spends the day with her at her shelter, he starts to see how badly he misjudged her.

Their feelings rapidly grow for each other at this point. I was a little disappointed at the story from this point. I felt that their progression from dislike, to friendship, to deep feelings was too rushed and I didn't feel a connection with them like I was expecting to. I just felt like something was missing and their relationship could have used more of a build up. I enjoyed them together, but it was just good when it could've been great. Brody's reluctance to progress past friendship with her initially was due to his feelings of inadequacy over her wealth and his lack of it, his family's sure disapproval of him, and feeling like he didn't deserve her because of his past. This caused some great sexual tension built up the anticipation very well. I was rooting for them to get together and admit their feelings.

There was an added conflict with Alyssa's ex boyfriend. They dated recently, but she left him after a scary incident when he started choking her when he got angry. She avoids him and is a little nervous over the fact that he can't seem to take the hint that they are over. His stalking escalates throughout the book until he starts behaving dangerously. This a was pretty textbook stalker plot and pretty predictable but it was sweet to see Brody get protective and defend her when it was needed.

As usual, I was very satisfied with the sexual chemistry. Sawyer Bennett knows how to bring the heat and get your heart rate going. I will say, there were no complaints there.

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Overall, it wasn't a bad read, but I was expecting a little more based on my enjoyment of the first book and the potential with the dark and brooding Brody. The story progression felt a little rushed and the suspense part involving the stalker was a bit predictable for me. But while it wasn't perfect, it still made for a quick and easy read that was still enjoyable.

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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