I loved the first two books in this series and already loved Boone from Adriana Locke’s The Relationship Pact, which was his cousin Larissa’s story, so I was excited for this one. Coy Mason was a really fun character in Reputation so I was eager to see which brother would be my favorite after this book. As taken as I was with Coy, Boone wins because his story is just, wow.
Based on the rest of the series, I expected a fairly lighthearted will they/won’t they but this was so much more. Playboy Boone is immediately smitten with Jaxi but she’s extremely guarded and understandably so, because calling her life hard is a huge understatement. She grew up in an abusive home with an alcoholic stepdad and a mother who blamed her for his awful behavior. Her only solace was Jeanette, the older sister who sheltered her for years then suddenly cut all contact after leaving home at eighteen. Jaxi has nobody except her cousin Libby and after breaking things off with a loser boyfriend who broke her heart and escaping a sleazy landlord who wanted her to pay in sexual favors, Jaxi is ready to start over. A too-good-to-be-true opportunity in Hawaii to nanny for her boss’ son’s family is just what she needs and Jaxi is elated.
She sells everything she owns and travels to Savannah to spend her last days on the mainland with Libby, with only a knapsack and a few changes of clothes. Libby has to travel with her husband for his work but wants Jaxi to make herself at home until it’s time to head to Hawaii. Boone’s flirtation and Jaxi’s reticence to get involved with the handsome neighbor are exactly what I expected but just when he seems to be breaking through the walls she’s put up around her, Jaxi’s life changes completely and without any warning.
Now she’s homeless and Hawaii is off the table completely. She’s still going to start over but it’s going to be very different from the Hawaii plan. Boone only wants to help but Jaxi doesn’t want to depend on anyone and she certainly doesn’t want to chance having a broken heart again. She tries hard to push him away and succeeds at first but Boone wins her over. There’s an X factor here nobody expected and it’s a formula for a great story. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say “Wade” and you’ll understand once you’ve read Reckless, which you do right this minute.
This is a standalone but if you’re planning to read the whole series, there are spoilers so you may want to start at the beginning and read them in order.
Reckless on Amazon
Reckless
by Adriana Locke
Mason Family book 3
Published 2021
“How did you get in here?”
That’s not what you want to hear when you’re staring into the sea-green eyes of the hottest man you’ve ever seen. Yet I suppose it’s a fair question, considering I’m an uninvited stranger standing in Boone Mason’s kitchen.
If you think that’s bad–just wait. It gets worse.
This charming and wealthy playboy, who can’t pay his bills on time or find his way to the grocery store (but we all have flaws, right?), is sweet. Confident. Playful. He’s almost perfect. And, to make matters worse . . .
He’s smitten with me.
I know what you’re thinking. You’re rolling your eyes. You’re assuming this is some opposites attract situation–or that maybe we can be friends who turn into something more.
How can this be a bad thing?
Well, it’s simple. I’m not the kind of girl you fall in love with. Just to be sure, the universe reminds me of that in an unforgettable, in-your-face kind of way.
I might have broken into Boone’s house, but I won’t let him break my heart. I won’t break his either. There’s too much on the line to be that reckless.
