"One of the best books I’ve read this year!"
Reviewed by Miranda Owen
Posted November 25, 2019
Romance Contemporary | Romance Erotica Sensual
DELIVERED WITH A KISS is the fourth and final book in Marie Harte’s “Veteran Movers” series. This “Veteran Movers” series has been a deeply moving saga of three brothers and their attempts to right the wrongs done them by their parents. Each brother is a former soldier and have experienced various struggles connecting with each other and with forming a long-lasting romantic connection. DELIVERED WITH A KISS is about the brother the other two never knew about until recently. The family dysfunction and mangled childhoods these men lived through is like something out of a Shakespearean tragedy.
In DELIVERED WITH A KISS, Smith Ramsey allows the reader to see the kind and caring side that few see. Erin Briggs took a leap of faith by moving to Seattle in the hopes of making her relationship stronger. Unfortunately, her boyfriend was bluffing by daring her to move closer to him. With her love life and moving plans exploding around her, she finds Smith Ramsey. Smith helps Erin find a place to stay and plays the part of unlikely knight errant. Erin is captivated by Smith because she sees the sweet side underneath all the gruff manners and sexy body. Another point in Smith’s favor is his honesty – something Erin’s ex was sometimes lacking when it counted. Smith is attracted to Erin physically, but the more he gets to know her, he is adorably awestruck by her. Erin is one of the only women to appreciate him as a person and enjoy his company rather than only see his striking good looks.
Smith is his biggest enemy in this book. Because of the messed-up childhood he had, it’s difficult for him to believe others would see anything good in him. These insecurities make a relationship challenging. Having this story told from alternating perspectives gives the reader a better understanding of the two main characters. This glimpse into their thinking is useful for the reader, since they occasionally have misunderstandings. Erin becomes a stronger person after knowing Smith, and knowing Erin starts Smith on the path to better communication with those around him and generally helps heal his soul.
DELIVERED WITH A KISS proves why Marie Harte writes some of my favorite heroes – strong, sexy, and with a secret and seductively sweet side. This may be my favorite book in this series, and one of the best books I’ve read this year. The emotional connection that is established between Erin and Smith increases the intensity in the sizzling sex scenes. Smith’s relationship with his landlady and the familial relationship they have makes a nice juxtaposition with the one Smith has with the woman who raised him. I eagerly await Marie Harte’s next contemporary romance.
SUMMARY
Will one wrong move
Bring Erin love
With the right guy?
Smith Ramsey knows all about hard knocks. So, when his newest client gets dumped by her boyfriend, he gets her an apartment in his complex. He tries to steer clear of her, having enough troubles of his own. He's got estranged brothers to deal with on top of learning his mother wasn't his mother. But he can't forget pretty Erin Briggs. And soon he's addicted to more than her cookies...
Erin thought she'd been in love, but now independent and looking at life through clear eyes, she realizes what she felt for her ex in no way compares to what she's feeling for the tough ex-Marine who picked her up when she was down.
Actions speak louder than words. Smith's kindness and gentle core lay buried under old hurts. But can he forgive and forget the past to make a future with Erin? And is she making a mistake by trusting in love for the wrong man all over again?
ExcerptErin stared at the scowling giant, not sure she’d heard him correctly. “Huh?”
He flushed, but the scowl didn’t disappear. For the entire time she’d known him, roughly forty minutes, he’d done nothing but frown, glare, or look expressionless. Exceedingly handsome under the bluster, her tall, dark, and sexy moving man was seriously built.
He stood a solid head and a half taller than her own tiny stature. He had a rough edge of handsome going on, that short dark hair contrasting with his jade green eyes. A tan skin tone told her he spent time outdoors, as did the rough hands that had held her close to that warm body. Smith Ramsey was tall and muscled. Solid. And a lot menacing, if she told herself the truth.
That glare he wore would have scared her if she hadn’t witnessed how gentle he’d been moments ago. How he’d taken care to make her more comfortable and tried to bolster her spirits. The poor guy likely wanted nothing more than to put this entire experience in his rearview mirror.
She sure the heck wanted to.
“I said there’s a rental that recently became available. I know because it’s in my building—Emerald Estates.” His scowl seemed to deepen, were that possible. “I’m serious. It’s a decent enough place. Not super fancy, and the unit is an efficiency. It’s a steal, but it comes with conditions.”
Here it comes. She might be a little naïve when it came to living independently. But she’d had to deal with unscrupulous men before. Not counting Cody. She sniffed to hold back more hurt, angry tears.
Disappointment rose, that this stranger might try to take advantage of her, especially having seen her boyfriend dump her. Could her day get any worse?
“The only reason I get a cheap rent is because I do all the handyman stuff in the building,” Smith said. “The landlord is a pain in the ass old lady who likes bossing people around. But she’s more than fair. I fix everything that needs fixing, she cuts my rent in half. We just had one of the tenants move away to be with family. Mrs. Fine was ninety-four and left because she needed live-in care. So, it’s my job to clean out her unit. If you wanted, you could have it, but you’d have to clean it up first.”
Erin blinked. “Really?” This was the answer to her current dilemma. “What kind of rent are we talking?”
“I think Mrs. Fine paid near to what I did. She didn’t have much money. You need to talk the rent over with Tilly. Like I said, it’s an efficiency.”
It wasn’t as if Erin had much to move, and she didn’t plan on staying in the city, she didn’t think. Just long enough to make enough money to leave again with her feet under her. “Where is it? Is it in a safe neighborhood?”
“Surprisingly, yes. It’s in Greenwood. And to be honest, you can’t touch a place in Greenwood for even half that kind of rent. Not unless you know somebody.”
“It seems too good to be true.” She looked at Smith, feeling hope for the first time since arriving at this mess in her life.
“Well, it is.” He rubbed the back of his head. “There’s always a catch. Tilly—the landlady—she’s a ball buster. And she needs help. Her cook just quit. So, if you want the place, you have to clean it out first. And you have to work for free as Tilly’s cook and housekeeper.”
To offset the rent, that seemed more than fair. “But what if I can’t cook?”
“I’d suggest learning fast if you want the place.” He paused. “I like the old lady, but she’s gone through a lot of helpers in the past six months. She’s hard to get along with, I won’t lie.”
“But you work for her.”
“I like my place, and I’ve dealt with a hell of a lot worse.” He frowned. “But she might be too much to handle. You seem kind of nice.”
“I am. Too nice.” She shook her head. “But I need a place to live. Do you think she’ll want a deposit up front? I can’t afford that right now.”
Smith shrugged. “No idea. But she can tell you what she wants. If you’re interested, we’ll drive over right now and see what’s what. I’ve got your things, and you have nothing to lose. You in or out?”
She glanced at Cody’s home—it was not now and never would be hers—and turned back to Smith. “Let’s go.”
She wouldn’t look back. No matter how much it hurt.
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