Review: Handle with Care (Veteran Movers #3)

Handle with Care (Veteran Movers #3)
by Marie Harte 

Blurb:

Evan Griffith has had a hell of a day...

And that was before he met the stunning, sexy woman having a meltdown.

Evan Griffith has had many careers in his life. But who knew working for his family's moving company would hold just as much action as his stint in the Marine Corps? On an unforgettable job, Evan finds himself taken by a teenage conman and confronted by a woman wielding a knife—and promptly falls head over heels for her.

Kenzie Sykes is doing her best to raise her little brother and keep him out of jail—all while dealing with her own broken heart that just hasn't healed. She doesn't have time for romance. He's not asking... Until he is, and she finds herself saying yes.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

So the saga of the Veteran Movers and their friends continues with the accountant turned mover and the sexy pseudo-mom that steals his heart with her sass and weirdness.  I found I was reluctant to begin this series, but as I get deeper and deeper into the stories of the Griffith men I kick myself a little more for waiting because the first two stories were so great and Evan’s was just as wonderful. Marie Harte has the ability to pull readers into the lives of her characters and make you feel like you are just one of their friends living their stories right alongside them and that ability is nothing to take for granted in an author.  Evan’s story begins with him on an assignment, filling in as a mover for his cousin who was injured in the previous story.  Evan is the family accountant and to now has been the somewhat silent partner, but he has left his full time job and decided to become more involved in the team and to that end he is surprised to meet some extremely interesting characters at this newest move.  When his phone is “stolen” by a neighborhood teenager during the move, he returns to the scene of the crime and finds himself drawn into the family and friendships of the clients and the woman that grab his attention from the beginning.  Kenzie is dealing with a lot as her best friend and business partner is moving into her boyfriend’s home, her teenager brother Daniel (also her ward) is becoming a serious handful, and the abysmal facts of her personal life. She doesn’t really have time for the attraction she feels for Evan, but there is no denying that he is a nice guy and seems to get her even though she is truly odd to most people.  There is a connection that is undeniable and the more time she spends with him, both solo and as a family with Daniel; it becomes obvious that if things go wrong more than just the two of them could be hurt.  Is it worth the hurt for the chance at happiness or better to step back and never have a shot at everlasting love, only Evan and Kenzie can truly decide that. I loved Evan from the beginning and it is obvious he is a loving son and cousin, true sweetheart, and despite evidence to the contrary, mature enough to know that he love Kenzie and fight for what he wants.  I loved seeing him find a new path to happiness in life, one that included a larger group of family and friends, Kenzie and Daniel.  I also loved seeing him work to build a friendship with Daniel completely separate from the relationship he was building with Kenzie, giving them both something they were missing in their lives and strengthening the bonds they each have with Kenzie in the end as well. Kenzie on the other hand was way too big of a scaredy cat for me through most of this story, refusing to see the great guy right in front of her, trying to build something great with her.  She has obviously been hurt a lot in her past and we can see that she has some hang-ups, but jeez I wanted to scream at her just like her friends did more than once, especially when she basically destroyed Evan at one point. Once she finally worked though her shit and found a way to embrace her chance at a future of happiness, Kenzie became a kickass character and I couldn’t see anyone else being Evan’s match now.  The heat between Kenzie and Evan was undeniable from the moment they clapped eyes on one another, despite them both trying to hide it, and even their friends and coworkers (and Daniel!) could see the attraction, so once they finally gave into their need the fire burned fast and high.   I am dying for the next story which I hope with be Smith’s and we will get to finally find out how he will integrate into the estranged family, but any of the guys will be acceptable (and HOTT) in the meantime.  Definitely a sexy masterpiece of alpha and powerful men. 

*ebook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.