Series:
Never Too Late for Love: Ellington Cove (Book 6)
After ten years as an Army medic, Max Crosby became a
bodyguard to stay closer to his family. As a personal protector, there are
fewer medical crises, but plenty of challenges and surprises.
The latest surprise? Ilsa Lambert, the curvy Ellington
Cove wedding planner with the perpetual smile who handles event details with
military precision.
Ilsa is passionate about creating memorable events for
her clients, giving them a romantic foundation for lasting happiness. The work
fuels her, especially when family drama made her personal happily ever after
impossible.
And that drama, in the form of her cousin, is back for
another round.
Ilsa keeps her personal life away from her professional
endeavors, but her cousin won’t be deterred. Ilsa needs protection between
crashing a wedding and his attempts to break into her house.
Max might’ve left love and marriage to his siblings, but
he won’t sit idle when Ilsa comes under attack. Even if stepping into the
breach means getting closer than he should to a woman dedicated to all things
romance.
And through it all, they might find that it’s never too
late for love.
I loved finally getting Ilsa's story. As the wedding and
event planner for the resort, Ilsa is a big part of the Ellington Cove family. She
gets great joy and satisfaction from giving couples the weddings of their
dreams. However, she's given up on her dreams of romance thanks to multiple losses
and family drama, even though her friends keep trying to fix her up. With all
of that, she wouldn't mind spending some quality time with the lead bodyguard
of her latest client.
Max is a former army medic turned bodyguard, a job he's
done for many years. He's feeling a bit burned out - tired of the constant
travel and the frequent drama. He's ready to move on to the next phase of his
life, whatever it may be. As he finishes his current job, he is drawn to the
wedding planner, whose sunny nature and romantic optimism soothe the cynic in
him.
The sparks between Max and Ilsa are evident from the
beginning. Ilsa tries to ignore them, preferring to keep things professional
with her client's bodyguard. She also avoids romantic entanglements because her
cousin Jacob is known for interfering with anything good for Ilsa. The
backstory of Ilsa's life and the trouble Jacob causes her was heartbreaking and
made me root for a happy ending for her even more. Max can't help his
fascination and witnesses Jacob's attack on her.
Max recognizes a potential threat and decides to stick
around Key West and watch out for Ilsa while getting to know her better. Ilsa hates
the idea of causing trouble for anyone, but between the earlier confrontation
and the escalating attacks on her, she realizes she needs help.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Ilsa
and Max. Neither is looking for a relationship, believing love is not for them.
Max thought the time for love had passed him by, but the more time he spends
with Ilsa, the more he rethinks his position. I loved his protectiveness,
kindness, and the romanticism that emerged as he spent time with her. I especially
loved that he told her how special, beautiful, sweet, and talented she was. While
Ilsa has great self-confidence regarding her work, some underlying self-esteem
issues make it hard for her to believe Max could genuinely be interested in
her. I loved seeing him get past her walls. I loved the ending and seeing Max
overcome Ilsa's fears to give them the future they both want. The hospital
scene at the end was terrific.
The story's suspense was outstanding and kept me glued to
the pages from start to finish. We meet Ilsa's cousin Jacob early and discover
how much trouble he is. Though she hates feeling like she's causing problems, Ilsa
quickly realizes that she needs help to deal with him. Max is the first line of
defense, and I loved his determination to keep her safe. Ilsa is also an essential
part of the Ellington Cove family, and I loved seeing her friends rally around
her. I could feel everyone's frustration as Jacob eluded their searches, and the
tension built as they waited for him to make another move. The final
confrontation and its aftermath was a nail-biter but very satisfying.
The epilogue was fantastic. Ilsa has the love she's
always wanted, a new family to be a part of, and a future that looks brighter than
she could have ever imagined.
I can't end the review without mentioning Ilsa's dog,
Annie. Her sweetness, gentleness, and sheer lovableness remind me of my
daughter's three pibbles. I could easily picture her from the descriptions. She
is an integral part of Ilsa's life, and I loved how Annie and Max bonded. I
enjoyed seeing how Ilsa's friends were also big Annie fans.
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