Book Summary: 

Falling for my frenemy? Out of the question.

Easton: For as long as I can remember, I’ve been giving Hanna a hard time—and she’s been giving it right back. So we’re both shocked to find ourselves on the same side of a project: helping Hanna win the heart of the celebrity chef hired by my family’s business to give summer workshops.

It shouldn’t be a big deal. A wardrobe evaluation. A shopping trip. Maybe some how-to-get-the-guy advice. I’m an expert on matters of the heart—or, at least matters of the mattress.

But as Hanna starts to trust me and open up, I see her differently. She’s not so much blunt as refreshingly honest, not so much a plain Jane in baggy clothes as… deliciously curvy. And hidden under that spiky, steely exterior is a soft heart she doesn’t show anyone.

Suddenly, the project includes ogling Hanna in dressing room mirrors. Offering her kissing lessons. And desperately trying not to give in to the sizzling heat between us.

I have to let her know the plan has changed: I’ll still help her get the guy she wants. I just need to somehow convince her that it’s me.

My Review:

This book! Go ahead and sign me up for the rest because I am hooked! I hate that I am just learning about this series and coming in on book five because I feel like I have stepped into the middle versus learning about the Wilder family (and the amazing women who have tamed the brothers) from the beginning. Again, incentive to start from book one and work my way through – especially with some of the jaw dropping details that mention throughout Wilder at Last! Don’t get me wrong, each book is a standalone!

Hanna and Easton go together like oil and water. If there is ever a motivator to get up each morning, it is to see how far under each other’s skin they can get before someone cries uncle. The youngest in their individual families, Hannah has known Easton since kindergarten. Sure, he is attractive and rightfully earned the name “panty melter” but this is Easton! Besides, she has better things to do with her time, energy, and effort – particularly getting the attention of wilderness expert and master chef Bear Warden. When Bear shows up to run his foraging program, to help Wilder Adventures gain exposure, Hanna is determined to make him discover a lot more during his visit. Enlisting the help of her naturally flirty friend Easton, she can’t possibly fail. That sentiment would be true if Easton wasn’t finding himself losing focus and getting inexplicably angry each time Hanna looks like she is going to succeed with Bear. Yes, he does look out for her and that has to be the reason he is being irate – he is just being a good friend, Sure, he simply notices how attractive his female friend is suddenly and has started fantasizing about her; but, absolutely none of this is out of the ordinary (and that is the story he is sticking with!)

What I like about it: Easton and Hanna were just too cute for words. I loved their banter and their overall dynamic. The fact that they had known each other since kindergarten, became friends, then frenemies, not realizing that they filled the role of best friend for one another just made me smile. The caught off guard attraction for one another was absolutely hilarious. I also enjoyed the brotherly love between Easton and the other Wilders. Like I mentioned before, coming in at the end means they have already had their stories and are giving insight on their personal experiences. I hate that I have missed those and will definitely be going back to read each of their tales.

As for the heat, Bell did not hold back on the spice at all! If it wasn’t mentally happening, it was physically happening! There wasn’t a moment where the attraction and lust between Easton and Hanna wasn’t crystal clear.

Asides for the blushful moments, the character growth is this short read was unreal! To watch Hanna and Easton transformed, not to be what the other needed, but because the other shined a spotlight on their blind spots was excellent writing. Hanna’s growth was the most captivating. Her coping with lost and abandonment and discovering why she kept people at arms length was such an eye opener. Her reveal to Easton towards the end made my jaw drop. For Easton, to finally discover who he was and what he wanted, it was so pleasing to see him “grow up” and be the man he knew he could be. 

Back to the laughs, I loved Fox! For some reason, I kept picturing Sam Elliot anytime he was mentioned. I am interested to see what he has up his sleeves in the spin off series featuring Hanna’s brothers.

I can’t wait to go back and read this series from the beginning. Bell has made a fan out of me with Wilder at Last. As there are six kids, I am curious if she is going to do another book feature the sister or if her story was already told. In either case, be sure to download the bonus scene! I already loved the ending but that made it even better and solidifies that they were truly made for each other.