Title: Best Worst Mistake
WSeries: Brightwater #3
Author: Lia Riley
Release Date: October 20, 2015
Sometimes the worst mistakes turn out to be the best…
Smoke jumper Wilder Kane once reveled in the rush from putting out dangerous wildfires. But after a tragic accident, he’s cut himself off from the world, refusing to leave his isolated cabin. When a headstrong beauty bursts in, Wilder finds himself craving the fire she ignites in him, but letting anyone near his darkness would be a mistake.
After her Hollywood life went up in smoke, Quinn Higsby decided to leave Tinseltown behind and return to Brightwater to care for her ailing father. She spends her days in a small bookstore, until her peaceful existence is up-ended by a fascinating but damaged man. Quinn is determined not to be scared off by Wilder, not once she’s experienced the heat of his passions.
But when an arsonist targets the community and Wilder is accused, he must confront the ghosts of his past. Will his desire for Quinn burn him up or will he be able to tame the wildness inside and rekindle a hope for their future?
Oh, Wilder Kane gave me a certain kind of wild—the kind that comes from a well-written, engaging, sexy and oh, so charming book. Starring a gruff, grumpy, craggy near-hermit, and a sassy, sparky, fun bookworm. *Sigh*
When Wilder Kane’s smoke jumping career ends in tragedy, he ends up back in the one place he never wanted to return…Brightwater, California. He refuses to be anything other than the quiet, taciturn, black sheep of the Kane family though, so he’s not exactly making friends galore in his out-of-the-way cabin.
When circumstance brings ex-Hollywood gofer, and current local bookseller, Quinn Higsby to Wilder’s doorstep, she is determined to find the heart of gold she is sure is hidden underneath his stubborn, brusque exterior. Until an arsonist starts to target the town and both Wilder and Quinn are drawn into the mystery…
Can Quinn break through to Wilder, or will their spark fizzle before it catches ablaze?
I’ve really enjoyed this series from Lia Riley, and this one is my absolute favorite. It gave me ALL THE FEELS, and I found myself close to tears and turned on…kinda at the same time, if I am honest. It’s just THAT good—engaging in a way that makes putting it down an impossibility, and the prospect of reaching the end a little disappointing, because, damn it, you want to stay with this couple forever.
Wilder…I don’t even know where to start with this guy. He’s a grump, a little mean almost, but not really. Because you know—you just know—that beneath the exterior is a truly good man, who has been a little beaten down by life, and what/who he believes he is…even though he’s not. Sorry for that roundabout sentence, but I am confident that if—WHEN—you read this fabulous book, you’ll understand. Wilder is sexy-as-hell despite (because of?) his flaws, and he is perfectly imperfect, a broken and scarred man that made me all swoony inside.
And Quinn—I completely loved her. She was fun and determined, a good person who was working my dream job—a bookstore in a picturesque town. I loved how she pushed at Wilder, knowing what we all knew too, that there was good underneath, and I adored that she saw in him what sometimes even his family did not. She fit into this story, this series and this town perfectly.
The mystery that makes up Best Worst Mistake was interesting, and although I thought I had it figured out early, I did not, which was a very pleasant surprise. I’m absolutely in love with this small-town series and I can’t wait for more—and there has to be more…
~ Review by Beth
A childhood family tragedy resulted in Wilder Kane putting as much distance between himself and his family as possible. Now a surly, sexy, strong smoke jumper in Montana, it is cruel irony when a horrific parachute accident ends with him back home and under the care of the family he spent so long pushing away. Broken in every way imaginable, Wilder holes up inside his sterile, secluded home—no more willing to engage now than he ever was before. Wilder remains withdrawn and reclusive until the day Quinn Higsby comes barreling into his life.
Quinn has her own reasons for keeping herself on the sidelines of society—a failed career in Hollywood and an ailing father have left her with her own fair share of baggage. She’s intrigued by Wilder, though; drawn to him in a way she can’t quite explain. He’s not friendly, or warm, or particularly handsome, but there’s a kindness underneath the stony surface into which she’s determined to chisel.
Wilder and Quinn are opposites—she’s the light to his dark—but their chemistry is undeniable, and they balance each other out perfectly. He’s surly and prickly and unapproachable, but Quinn is strong and feisty and not afraid of Wilder’s sharp edges. She soothes them down, draws him out, and restores his humanity in a way he never even thought possible. It’s a lovely thing watching these two learn how to let each other in.
I don’t know if it’s just my inexplicable attraction to crabby, wounded heroes, but the heat in this book was kicked up several notches as well. Like, DAMN. Wilder and Quinn steamed up my Kindle—their mixture of tenderness, unexplored intimacy, and raw need was enough for me to issue a panty-soaker warning on this one. They’re intense, sexy, and explosive.
Oh. My. Goodness.
For me this is—hands down—the best of the Brightwater series yet. I am a sucker for a good “Beauty and the Beast” story and this one satisfied on all levels. Steamy, tender, laugh-out-loud funny, and full of the quirky Brightwater secondary characters I’ve come to love; there’s a little bit of fairy tale mixed with a dash of mystery and the end result is pure swoony pleasure.
~ Review by Shelly
After reading about the two other Kane brothers, I knew Lia would pull out all the stops with Wilder and I was absolutely right! This story is a classic fairy tale which could not be more fitting for this dynamic duo.
Wilder is a fierce, alpha male that likes his privacy, while Quinn is a lovable, outgoing book enthusiast. Ring any bells? This Beauty and The Beast couple didn't instantly hit it off but once they did, there was no stopping them!
Their story was full of fireworks, sass and a whole lot of taming the beast...who really wasn't that beastly at all. I can't wait for the next addition in the Brightwater series!
~ Review by Kelly
Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult and Contemporary Adult romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments.
A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn't mind. Much. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about future books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound mighty fine.
