They say things come in threes – good things…bad things…strange things…all the things. So it could be said that this saying is true of the Santillian triplets. You may have met the oldest, Ash Santillian, the grumpy accounting guy with a love for all things Zelda (and cookies), or Magnolia Santillian Russo, the landscape designer who is building her business and growing her family with the impending birth of her twin boys, and you may have heard about Linden, the arborist who loves longs walks in the woods, quiet and peaceful mornings, and the solitude his little cottage near the great forest provides to him.
Well, that solitude went out the door when Jasper-Anne Cleary showed up in her beat up station wagon, trying to enter the home next door to Linden's home which had been vacant for two years. After a “media event” went sideways in her role as a political strategist, Jasper showed up to the vacated home, tail between her legs and a crowbar in her hands to enter the home she was gifted after her Aunt Midge died. The initial interaction between these two characters is off the chain – Linden reacts in ways he doesn’t expect – seeing through her polished but contrite responses to his questions. Jasper is seconds away from the meltdown she has felt for hours – and refuses to allow this growly, overgrown man-bear to see her as anything other than competent.
The chemistry between the two characters is strong, both gravitating toward but not certain about each other, with Jasper refusing to show weakness or demonstrate anything other then competence in front of Linden or anyone else. Linden simply cuts through all that BS to see someone who is overcompensating for something, although he has no idea what, and simply wants to take care of Jasper. The interactions between the two characters as Jasper attempts to bake, complete home maintenance and renovations and simply be in the same room with her neighbor are both funny - nails, crowbars and broken boxes in the driveway and revealing - in power dynamics, traditional gender stereotypes and simple vulnerabilities each character possesses. When Linden’s mother, Diana, shows up one day to his home with Jasper donning a loaned flannel shirt from Linden and wet hair, well let the assumptions and emotions begin.
This author has a way with righting angst and witty banter into each book she has delivered to the world, and her 21st book is no exception. Of the three triplets, Linden is likely the most complex, and definitely is a dirty, dirty lumberbear. Jasper is professional, knowledgeable and as her story unfolds, the reader can see how certain events caused her to build walls that were 15-30 feet high around her. Linden does a subtle and gentle demolition of those walls to get to her true self. The book is a strong read and rounds out the Santillian Triplets with HEAs all around. If you have enjoyed this author in the past, you definitely want to pick this book up to hear her next story. I wasn’t expecting to like Linden as much as I did – and am ever so grateful for the sheer genius of the author. Highly recommend!
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Reviews with images
A super enjoyable read!
This was a fun read. I really enjoyed the banter and tension between both characters and loved watching their love story emerge. Linden was a big, hairy, delicious, grumpy grump and was SO much fun to read. Jasper was a determined boss-lady down on her luck after a bit of scandal, and took a bit more time for me to warm up to. She was a very independent woman and was really trying to work on finding herself and her true desires in life. Her character grew on me more and more as the story developed, however, this book was very long and some of the details, descriptions, and backstory had me wanting to skim at times.Overall, the plot kept my attention and I loved the steamy hot & cold moments with Linden and Jasper. Finding themselves and what they each wanted, as well as finding each other, was just a wonderful well-deserved HEA. Linden was absolutely a grumpy man-bear, throw in the beard and the incredibly sweet gestures and words, he stole the show in this one. I want my very own lumberbear.
Top reviews from other countries
ClaM85
Great (title and marketing angle of the modern retelling of the beauty and the beast is just wrong)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2021
Nix @ Scorching Book Reviews
Lumberjack’s are hot
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 3, 2022