REVIEW: Close to Home by Lily Everett

In Close to Home by Lily Everett, Tessa Alexander loves her husband, undercover DEA agent Johnny Alexander, but feels like she’s nothing but an obligation to him. Determined to set him free, she moves to Sanctuary Island while Johnny was undercover for two years, leaving him only with a Dear John letter and divorce papers.

Johnny cares about Tessa, but in their eight years of marriage, he could never bring himself to be intimate with her. He felt like he would be taking advantage of her. They married when she was almost eighteen and he was twenty-two so she could get his medical benefits and the medical help she needed. He also doesn’t believe he’s capable of love. When he returns to the Dear John letter, he’s surprised by how upset he actually is. His handler assigns him to therapy on Sanctuary Island, with the hope that maybe Johnny and Tessa can work things out.

When they reunite, Johnny is surprised by the chances in Tessa. She’s no longer the meek woman he had left behind. Instead she’s confident, outspoken, and co-running a bakery. Tessa was surprised when Johnny kissed her; it was the first kiss they ever shared. When he suggests they get couples counseling, Tessa agrees but can’t believe he wants to try to save their marriage. She thinks he’s still trying to save her.

Both Johnny and Tessa had to learn who each other was, as it seemed like they didn’t truly know each other at all despite having been married for eight years. It was a bumpy road, but it was interesting to watch each of them learn to accept who the other was, as well as to accept the mistakes they each made along the way.

There’s a side story of Marcus and Quinn, and I’m interested to read Marcus’s story. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding him, including why he has a stash of weapons hidden in his office and why he’s been back on the island for weeks yet hasn’t visited his father.

The book also has a splash of mystery and suspense, as someone tries to run Johnny and Tessa off the road at one point. Johnny believed it was someone from one of his previous ops, but also suspects someone may be after Marcus. I didn’t expect the culprit to be who it was, which was a nice twist to the story.

While this is book five in the series, it can be read as a standalone. This was my first trip to Sanctuary Island, but it won’t be my last. The author has created a heartwarming tale of two people learning to overcome their pasts, discovering who they are, and rediscovering their love. It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys second chance romances.

Book Info:

Publication: February 7, 2017 | St. Martin’s Paperbacks | Sanctuary Island #5

When Tessa Alexander came to Sanctuary Island, she left behind a marriage to a man who didn’t love her the way she loved him. When she finally found the strength to set them both free, she discovered friendship and self-acceptance in her adopted hometown. Now she’s settled into a quiet life on her own—never expecting to see her husband again.

Johnny spent almost two years deep undercover, unable to let his wife into his cold, dangerous world. He’s shaken to the core when he comes home to find her gone. It’s painfully clear that Tessa is no longer the timid young woman he married—she’s become a force of nature, a brave and determined beauty. Johnny can’t let her go without a fight so he sets out to seduce his own wife. But will passion alone be enough to convince Tessa that her new life should include a second chance at happiness with a man who must learn to believe in love?