I savored this like the absolute treat that it was, and ADORED every second of it. Rarely does a series maintain its quality throughout multiple installments, but each book in this series has gotten better and better. I loved Mile High and The Right Move stole my heart in a major way, so Caught Up had a LOT to live up to. I was worried that it wouldn't. But it only took a few pages to get wrapped up in the story, and it held me captivated every moment after that. The sexual tension is off the charts, the playfulness made it so much fun, and the angstier elements had my stomach in knots. The steady, sweetheart of a hero had me absolutely SWOONING in so many moments, and I loved that the firecracker of a heroine brought out a different side of him. The banter and chemistry between them jumped off the page, and the spice... wow. Intense and scorching. I'm happy to report that this exceeded my VERY high expectations, and is easily one of my favorite books of the year.
The story follows Kai (32), a pro baseball player who unexpectedly became a father last year. The weight of responsibility and shifting priorities have turned him into a serious, reserved man who barely remembers what he used to be like. After Kai fires his son's most recent nanny, his coach finds someone else to fill the role - his daughter. Though Miller (25) has a life and career of her own, she's been feeling restless and burned out recently. She needs a break. So taking care of a sweet little boy for the summer doesn't sound too bad, even if she has to deal with his broody father. The two clash at every turn, but it's impossible to deny that the sparks flying between them are combustible. Opposites attract, and Miller brings out a side of Kai that he forgot was inside him. But Miller has made it clear that she won't be sticking around after the summer, and that's something they both have to keep in mind.
I'm not intimidated by a 500-page book when I know that I'm in for a deliciously well-developed romance, and this is exactly that. Tomforde put me through every emotion, crafting a love story that's comedic one minute and heart-wrenching the next. I loved the found family aspect, and I also loved the tension of knowing that these two were quickly heading towards trouble. Though I found Miller to be an immensely compelling and complex heroine, I was smitten with Kai from the start. He stepped up to be a (fantastic) dad, and the plentiful family moments were adorable. So cute. What I loved the most though was how Miller brought him back to life and pushed him to want more for himself. The tension of knowing Miller would be leaving added so much friction to the story, and you could definitely feel that as the emotional connection grew. The spice was incredibly multi-faceted and intimate, while also being vivid and HOT. Every scene had me hooked in one way or another, and I was teary-eyed and fully focused during the final scenes. A powerhouse of a read, this isn't one that I'll soon forget.
Audio note: Highly recommended! I was SO excited when I saw that Alex Kydd was narrating, he's a personal favorite of mine. He's really honed his skills over the past couple of years, and he embodied Kai perfectly. It's my first experience with Megan Wicks, but she was also fantastic. They both delivered a true performance, infusing so much emotion into the story. It's one of those audiobooks that greatly enhanced an already-excellent story. The runtime (about 15 hours) was too much for a single day, but that's okay because I only wanted to listen when I had time to be completely engaged. I'd consider this to be a hot slow burn, with the spice taking a bit to fully kick in. Definitely not one I'd listen to at work. Interestingly enough, I found that the ebook didn't match the audiobook word for word - I brought up the ebook during important scenes, and there were some clear (mostly minor) differences. Not sure which version is newer, I'm assuming that'll get resolved soon. Just keep that in mind if you're planning to switch between the two versions, as I like to do. If you're new to audiobooks, this would make a great introduction to them though, just saying!
Hannah Hicks
Cliente Kindle
Jeeves Reads Romance