JUST THE THING is book two in Marie Harte's Donnigans
series. At first glance, Gavin Donnigan appears to be
just a typical player, as well as a hot gym instructor.
Zoe York easily turns down all Gavin's invitations to
flirtation, despite being physically attracted to him.
Zoe eventually caves when she starts to realize he is
more than just a hunk. Over the course of this book,
Marie Harte expertly balances fun and sexy shenanigans
with deeper themes like dealing with grief over a lost
loved one and PTSD.
Gavin is the real surprise in this story. For readers who
might not have read the previous book, Gavin might seem
fun, but not having much substance. Zoe slowly gets to
know him better, along with the reader. Zoe is no
stranger to grief, having lost her twin sister. As a
military veteran, Gavin struggles with his survivors'
guilt from his time as a soldier. I like how Marie Harte
shows a realistic and healthy picture of coping with
loss. Zoe and Gavin are at slightly different stages in
the grieving process, and I like how she is able to give
him support and the benefit of her experience. Even
though he struggles, Gavin is in therapy to try to find
peace. As it turns out, Zoe is sexually compatible with
Gavin, and someone who helps give him what he needs
emotionally as well. Gavin's family members and friends
are a little kooky -- especially the family prank wars --
but they're a caring bunch of kooks who try to help Gavin
and Zoe with their relationship. I like the way the
story, as well as the relationship, is so well balanced.
JUST THE THING is another exceptionally red-hot romance
by Marie Harte with a strong yet sweet hero. Gavin is
more complex than he first appears, but he is a
sweetheart and makes the effort to get to know everything
about Zoe and woo her accordingly. Gavin's moonlit
gardening date with Zoe is super romantic and can't help
but make the reader fall in love with him. I look forward
to reading more about the Donnigan family and their
friends in future books.
A FLING MIGHT BE JUST THE THING...
Gavin Donnigan left the Marine Corps a shell of a man,
hounded by guilt for deaths he couldn't prevent. But
teaching a self-defense class at the local gym brings some
stability to his life―along with a gorgeous leggy woman who
won't give him the time of day.
Zoe York lost her twin sister to a freak car accident a few
months ago. She's been struggling to bury her grief, but it
isn't until she signs up for a self-defense class with its
distractingly hot instructor that she begins to come out of
her shell again. With the memory of her sister telling her
to live a little, Zoe decides a fling with buns-of-steel
Gavin Donnigan might be just the thing.
Soon they're sparring both in and out of the gym. And for
the first time in a long time, each is looking forward to
tomorrow.