Kelly had to wake up his brother Bray as soon as he snuck back into the house. He was so excited to tell him about ‘doing it’ for the first time. He had other brothers, one in seminary to become a priest so he definitely couldn’t share his news there, and he felt closer to Braydon than the others.
He raced downstairs the next morning excited to get to school to see Rachel again when his mother stopped him in his tracks telling him she knew what he was up to and he had better knock it off. He tried to deny any wrongdoing, but she narrowed her eyes telling him she could tell when her sons were up to no good and in all his years he had stumbled downstairs like a zombie and had never raced to go anywhere in the morning, especially to school.
The next weekend his father called him in before he could rush to meet friends telling him that Rachel’s father had called him about her sneaking out at night and to inform him that since she had gotten caught it wouldn’t be happening anymore. After speaking with Rachel’s father he thought about Kelly’s sister Sheilagh and how he would feel if she had snuck out to meet some punk and Kelly realized that he would kill anyone trying to mess with his sister.
Then his father looked him in the eye and told him that he knew that his five sons did stupid crap, but that Kelly needed to make sure that he realized his actions had consequences and that his mother was upset and bought him condoms. He would prefer that his sons practice abstinence but he knew they were young and they would prefer him to be safe than having a child when he was in high school with someone he didn’t intend to spend his life with. Above all his father demanded that he never mislead anyone with a future that he didn’t plan to give.
Kelly learned at the age of fourteen when he first slept with a girl that it meant something different to girls and he never made the mistake again of not making it clear there was no future involved. Until he met Lexi. Lexi turned the tables on him… after a night at a party she was appalled that he kissed her at the lockers the next day. Saying she had plans for her future and everyone knew that all he was good for was a good time… he was no one’s future.
So ten years and many women later Kelly lived up to his reputation. The bad boy who could guarantee a girl a good time. His Aunt Colleen was the only one who saw beyond the facade of what he could be and offered him ownership of the family pub, O’Malley’s, but he had to earn it.
I loved this story! It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. I would highly suggest that you read this series from the beginning as the characters are recurring and several of Kelly’s siblings have their own POV is this story that gives you even more insight into this family.
Kelly is one of seven siblings to a very vocal and interfering Irish family. Not even his family sees him as anything but a playboy out for a good time. A poker game, a family bet and his life flips upside down.
Ashlynn has had a crush on Kelly since they went to school and ten years later she comes into the pub just to stare at the gorgeous man she would never have a future with. Why would he be interested in the shy, wallflower, town virgin who didn’t know anything outside of farming?
This book is action-packed from beginning to end. I listened to the audiobook version of this story narrated by David Allen Vargo and I don’t think I have enjoyed an audiobook as much as this one!
This is the first time I have listened to David Allen Vargo and I could listen to him all day as he does impersonations of characters. He is total entertainment as he does over ten different voice adaptations in this story and they transition throughout perfectly. His emotional pitch is perfection and I love his background and sound effects.
If you want a steamy hot, small-town romance look no further! Highly recommend this story and am looking forward to listening to this narrator again in the future!