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Bring Me Back #2
Just Like Home
The biggest secret in her past is the only thing that really matters…
Brantley
It’s the best, smartest decision I ever made. It’s also the one part of my life no one knows about. Until the day everything twists, changes, becomes something I never thought my life would be. Now, I have to trust the one person I swore I’d never put my faith in, my best friend’s brother-in-law. My fierce attraction for him is unexplainable.. But my fear of loving him is even stronger.
Axel
I’d rather be up in the sky, flying my F-16. But that life ended the moment my brother went blind. Helping him became my new mission, but I miss the Air Force life. Nothing makes sense anymore, that is until Brantley Hughes walks into my world with chaos streaming behind her. What’s she hiding? Why does she insist on shutting me out, no matter how hard I try to break down her walls?
When Brantley’s secret is revealed, Axel’s the only one who can keep her safe. Brantley will know if she can finally have the one thing she’s always wanted...a real home.
Brantley
It’s the best, smartest decision I ever made. It’s also the one part of my life no one knows about. Until the day everything twists, changes, becomes something I never thought my life would be. Now, I have to trust the one person I swore I’d never put my faith in, my best friend’s brother-in-law. My fierce attraction for him is unexplainable.. But my fear of loving him is even stronger.
Axel
I’d rather be up in the sky, flying my F-16. But that life ended the moment my brother went blind. Helping him became my new mission, but I miss the Air Force life. Nothing makes sense anymore, that is until Brantley Hughes walks into my world with chaos streaming behind her. What’s she hiding? Why does she insist on shutting me out, no matter how hard I try to break down her walls?
When Brantley’s secret is revealed, Axel’s the only one who can keep her safe. Brantley will know if she can finally have the one thing she’s always wanted...a real home.
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 19, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 19, 2020
Disclaimer: ARC received in exchange for an honest review
It’s been two and a half years since author Diana Gardin released the first installment in her Bring Me Back series, but you wouldn’t know that by how easily she slipped back into the characters and setting of this series with her second entry, Just Like Home. Though some time has passed between the end of Just Like Breathing and the beginning of Just Like Home, Gardin picks back up with her hallmark sense of warmth and familiarity, making the transition between the two stories seamless.
In her latest novel, Gardin pairs Brantley and Axel, two characters with a short history of being thrown together by proximity to Arden and Flash, the protagonists of Just Like Breathing; Brantley is Arden’s best friend, pseudo-sister, and business partner, and Axel is Flash’s brother. Despite having chemistry that was apparent in the first novel, at the start of Just Like Home, Brantley and Axel haven’t yet acted upon their burgeoning feelings, though those feelings are getting harder to ignore.
When Brantley’s past becomes her present, a chain reaction of events continues to pair Axel with Brantley and that nearness fosters their romantic desires, giving way to the type of relationship that Axel craves but Brantley shies away from. Brantley’s fear of a figure from her past has her ready to bolt at a moment’s notice, when all Axel wants is for her to stay... in his life, in his house, and in his bed.
Gardin has an obvious talent for writing rough—but sweet—alpha men suddenly brought to their knees by love. She loves to write about strong, spirited women leveling tough, gruff ex-military men. Gardin is a skillful master of the romantic suspense genre and she frequently churns out swoony alpha guys much to her readers’ delight. Just Like Home is no exception to this, and while it can definitely stand alone, readers of the Bring Me Back series will undoubtedly enjoy returning to Savannah, Georgia, and this group of characters again.
It’s been two and a half years since author Diana Gardin released the first installment in her Bring Me Back series, but you wouldn’t know that by how easily she slipped back into the characters and setting of this series with her second entry, Just Like Home. Though some time has passed between the end of Just Like Breathing and the beginning of Just Like Home, Gardin picks back up with her hallmark sense of warmth and familiarity, making the transition between the two stories seamless.
In her latest novel, Gardin pairs Brantley and Axel, two characters with a short history of being thrown together by proximity to Arden and Flash, the protagonists of Just Like Breathing; Brantley is Arden’s best friend, pseudo-sister, and business partner, and Axel is Flash’s brother. Despite having chemistry that was apparent in the first novel, at the start of Just Like Home, Brantley and Axel haven’t yet acted upon their burgeoning feelings, though those feelings are getting harder to ignore.
When Brantley’s past becomes her present, a chain reaction of events continues to pair Axel with Brantley and that nearness fosters their romantic desires, giving way to the type of relationship that Axel craves but Brantley shies away from. Brantley’s fear of a figure from her past has her ready to bolt at a moment’s notice, when all Axel wants is for her to stay... in his life, in his house, and in his bed.
Gardin has an obvious talent for writing rough—but sweet—alpha men suddenly brought to their knees by love. She loves to write about strong, spirited women leveling tough, gruff ex-military men. Gardin is a skillful master of the romantic suspense genre and she frequently churns out swoony alpha guys much to her readers’ delight. Just Like Home is no exception to this, and while it can definitely stand alone, readers of the Bring Me Back series will undoubtedly enjoy returning to Savannah, Georgia, and this group of characters again.
October 21, 2020
WOW!! Diana, what a book! I LOVED THEIR STORY SO MUCH!!
I loved Brantley and Axel's story so much!! From the beginning I was rooting for Brantley to be able to start over, and get out of that life she lived before. And she did it!!!
Axel, the big softie he is, he just sat back and watched from a distance, not in a creepy way LOL, waiting for his time to shine with Brantley. I don't blame her that it took her that long to realise what was in front of her, as she always had walls up thanks to her no good ex!
To be honest, I could tell which route the book was taking and Diana could have went in a totally different way, but the way she wrote their story, it wasn't as horrible as it could have been, and thank goodness for that! Cause I didn't want anything tooooo horrible to happen to Brantley and Eden.
Of course Axel and Co come to their rescue, but can he reach them in time before Rigo gets to them?
I can't wait to read the next book in the series, and it's all about Parker. I can't wait to hear her story!
Some of my fave quotes from the book:
1. "Yeah. Okay, Spice. I got you covered. You have my number, and I want you to use it. You hear me? You need anything at all, call me. - OHHH AXEL!! I loved his assertiveness in her life!
2. And I suddenly realize what it is. I've giving myself permission to fall for Axel Jackson. - YES BRANTLEY YES!
3. I feel like I'm truly alone with this woman. This woman I'm about to make mine. - AXEL YES!
4. My girls? - I about cried when Axel said this!
5. I'm going to get ready to fight for what's mine. - Axel again, claiming the girls as his.
I loved Brantley and Axel's story so much!! From the beginning I was rooting for Brantley to be able to start over, and get out of that life she lived before. And she did it!!!
Axel, the big softie he is, he just sat back and watched from a distance, not in a creepy way LOL, waiting for his time to shine with Brantley. I don't blame her that it took her that long to realise what was in front of her, as she always had walls up thanks to her no good ex!
To be honest, I could tell which route the book was taking and Diana could have went in a totally different way, but the way she wrote their story, it wasn't as horrible as it could have been, and thank goodness for that! Cause I didn't want anything tooooo horrible to happen to Brantley and Eden.
Of course Axel and Co come to their rescue, but can he reach them in time before Rigo gets to them?
I can't wait to read the next book in the series, and it's all about Parker. I can't wait to hear her story!
Some of my fave quotes from the book:
1. "Yeah. Okay, Spice. I got you covered. You have my number, and I want you to use it. You hear me? You need anything at all, call me. - OHHH AXEL!! I loved his assertiveness in her life!
2. And I suddenly realize what it is. I've giving myself permission to fall for Axel Jackson. - YES BRANTLEY YES!
3. I feel like I'm truly alone with this woman. This woman I'm about to make mine. - AXEL YES!
4. My girls? - I about cried when Axel said this!
5. I'm going to get ready to fight for what's mine. - Axel again, claiming the girls as his.
October 19, 2020
Gardin always gives us great characters. Brantley and Axel are so likable, so perfect together and so real. She also does great suspense and there's plenty of that in Just Like Home.
Brantley's really pulled herself out of her roots, built relationships, a business and a life which includes the daughter she gave up for adoption. She's gotten herself out of the orbit of the boy she loved who is now a man she fears.
Unfortunately, the distance she's created from her former life, both emotional and physical, isn't enough and her ex finds her and the daughter she is now raising. Axel, a former Air Force pilot, and his brother and friends are the wrong people to get on the wrong side of and they're 100% behind Brantley. But can there get to her and Eden in time? As the clock ticks, the suspense builds and the possibilities of very negative outcomes multiply.
I love suspense with my romance and this gave me the perfect amount of both! I'm also a sucker for a happily every after, the likes of which Brantley and Axel make for themselves.
Brantley's really pulled herself out of her roots, built relationships, a business and a life which includes the daughter she gave up for adoption. She's gotten herself out of the orbit of the boy she loved who is now a man she fears.
Unfortunately, the distance she's created from her former life, both emotional and physical, isn't enough and her ex finds her and the daughter she is now raising. Axel, a former Air Force pilot, and his brother and friends are the wrong people to get on the wrong side of and they're 100% behind Brantley. But can there get to her and Eden in time? As the clock ticks, the suspense builds and the possibilities of very negative outcomes multiply.
I love suspense with my romance and this gave me the perfect amount of both! I'm also a sucker for a happily every after, the likes of which Brantley and Axel make for themselves.
October 19, 2020
I have been waiting for this book for some time now and I am so happy to finally have got to read Brantley and Axel’s story. When I met these two characters in the first book Just Like Breathing (which if you haven’t read you need to!) from this series, I knew that they would bring something powerful to the words that hit each page. The story is real, it’s emotional and it captures the struggles of real life, hard choices and sacrifices. But is also is full of love, friendship and tells the story about the unity of family. Family is not always what your born into, family is also those that circle around you in times of joy and also the hard times. It was a amazing book and I once again, I can’t wait for book three.
November 17, 2020
Its been a bit since we first met Brantley and Axel in Just Like Breathing and sparks began to fly between the two of them. (If you haven’t read that one, I HIGHLY recommend it, but regardless, this one is a fantastic standalone).
We finally get to dive into Brantley’s backstory. As a teen, she became pregnant from her high school gang member boyfriend (Brick). To save herself and her unborn child from this life, she gives the child up for adoption, and flees—thinking only of her daughters safety and happiness above her own.
Brantley grew up, built a life for herself, but as tragedy strikes, she’s now faced with raising her daughter, Eden. Brantley will do everything in her power to protect Eden and keep her safe from her biological father.
And so will Axel.
Axel and Brantley have known each other for a year as friends, but the chemistry between the two of them is undeniable. As hard as she tries, she can’t resist Axel’s charm. He’s a swoony, gorgeous, kind alpha with a heart of gold. And it’s so easy to fall in love with him.
This was a great romantic suspense with a lot of heat and heart.
We finally get to dive into Brantley’s backstory. As a teen, she became pregnant from her high school gang member boyfriend (Brick). To save herself and her unborn child from this life, she gives the child up for adoption, and flees—thinking only of her daughters safety and happiness above her own.
Brantley grew up, built a life for herself, but as tragedy strikes, she’s now faced with raising her daughter, Eden. Brantley will do everything in her power to protect Eden and keep her safe from her biological father.
And so will Axel.
Axel and Brantley have known each other for a year as friends, but the chemistry between the two of them is undeniable. As hard as she tries, she can’t resist Axel’s charm. He’s a swoony, gorgeous, kind alpha with a heart of gold. And it’s so easy to fall in love with him.
This was a great romantic suspense with a lot of heat and heart.
October 22, 2020
Another 5 star read.
I read the first book in this series - Just Like Breathing - and loved it. This one is even better. Although you don't have to read the first book, I would recommend it.
I loved both Axle and Brantley. Brantley has gone through a lot. She put her daughter's safety above her own happiness, like any mother would.
Axel was truly a knight in shining armor for Brantley and Eden. He was just what they needed.
I loved the HEA
I read the first book in this series - Just Like Breathing - and loved it. This one is even better. Although you don't have to read the first book, I would recommend it.
I loved both Axle and Brantley. Brantley has gone through a lot. She put her daughter's safety above her own happiness, like any mother would.
Axel was truly a knight in shining armor for Brantley and Eden. He was just what they needed.
I loved the HEA
October 19, 2020
Omg the author knows how to write her books always keep me hooked and this was no exception I can't wait to get my hands on more I LOVED IT !!!!
![Profile Image for Liz [reads books].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1668868475i/23423026._UY200_CR19,0,200,200_.jpg)
October 20, 2020
3½ stars. Review to come.
October 24, 2020
Diana writes THE best alphas! Axel and Brantley were amazing.
October 29, 2020
Another great read! Love all the characters in this series ...loved the storyline
October 20, 2020
Arc recieved for review purposes.
I voluntary read Just Like Home and although there were editorial issues in this early copy I enjoyed Brantley and Axels story.
Brantley's high school boyfriend Brick is part of a gang, it's in his blood, his older brother is a leader so there's no way out for brick, he's destined to step into his brothers shoes one day.
When Brantley gets pregnant she runs away.
The plot doesn't go into gang life but gives you enough to understand why Brantley would flee and want a better life for her daughter.
Brantley starts a new life but always has a fear that Brick may discover her secret one day and find her.
A story of new beginnings, a search for a better future and along her journey twelve years later Brantley unexpectedly finds Axel who is her best friends husband's brother. A year after meeting they stop fighting the mutual attraction.
Although Axel is the hero in this story I actually liked Brick and wanted to know more about him, he didn't have the tough bad boy or dangerous vibe I expected at all, in fact I felt sorry for him.
There's danger, action, drama and hotness and in summary Just Like Home has everything I enjoy in my romance reads.
Told in first person dual pov, leads to hea and is part of a series. Each book a stand alone.
I voluntary read Just Like Home and although there were editorial issues in this early copy I enjoyed Brantley and Axels story.
Brantley's high school boyfriend Brick is part of a gang, it's in his blood, his older brother is a leader so there's no way out for brick, he's destined to step into his brothers shoes one day.
When Brantley gets pregnant she runs away.
The plot doesn't go into gang life but gives you enough to understand why Brantley would flee and want a better life for her daughter.
Brantley starts a new life but always has a fear that Brick may discover her secret one day and find her.
A story of new beginnings, a search for a better future and along her journey twelve years later Brantley unexpectedly finds Axel who is her best friends husband's brother. A year after meeting they stop fighting the mutual attraction.
Although Axel is the hero in this story I actually liked Brick and wanted to know more about him, he didn't have the tough bad boy or dangerous vibe I expected at all, in fact I felt sorry for him.
There's danger, action, drama and hotness and in summary Just Like Home has everything I enjoy in my romance reads.
Told in first person dual pov, leads to hea and is part of a series. Each book a stand alone.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews