Wrecked (Barnes Brothers, #1)

by Shiloh Walker

In the nineties, Abigale Applegate and Zach Barnes were the most beloved sitcom child stars in the world. Then they grew up and left Hollywood behind…

Whatever happened to Abigale Applegate?
She’s been wondering the same thing.

With her Hollywood dreams long gone, Abigale now has a nice, neat, uncomplicated life—until the day her perfect fiancé needs to talk. Dumped, a little more than shattered, and totally confused, Abigale turns to Zach, her best friend since forever, to help her pick up the pieces. He does it with the gift of a journal. She can vent her frustrations and sketch out a new plan. Zach just hopes he’s part of it. Because he’s been in love with Abigale his entire life.

When the journal falls into Zach’s hands, he discovers Abigale wants a new man. And fast. Nothing more than a hot distraction. Zach has a plan of his own: He’s going to be that man. It’s his last chance. Abigale might be out to shake up her life, but Zach’s out to reinvent it. Now, all he has to do is convince Abigale that life can go as planned.

• ISBN10: 0425264459
• ISBN13: 9780425264454
• Publish Date: 2 April 2013
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Penguin USA
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780425264454

Reviews

[Rowena]

Like many people, I’m such a sap when it comes to those friends to lovers love stories and this story was another great example of why I love them so much. I haven’t read very many books by Shiloh Walker but I’m thinking I will definitely be checking out more of her contemporaries because I thought she did a great job telling Zach and Abby’s story.

So Zach and Abby are child stars all grown up. They were on a sitcom together when they were kids and they stayed best friends after the show got cancelled. It’s now years and years later, both Zach and Abby are adults and they’re both out of the Hollywood spotlight (though not completely because can you ever get out of that spotlight?), living in Arizona. Abby has her own catering company and Zach has his own tattoo shop. Abby is getting married and Zach is going to let her.

Even though he’s been in love with her almost his entire life.

When it comes to best friends, I think Zach is one of the very best written best friends that I’ve read in a very long time. There wasn’t a thing that Zach wouldn’t have done for Abby and the wealth of love that he had for her only strengthened his resolve to make her happy. I found it almost impossible to believe that in all the years that they’ve been friends, Abby never once noticed his feelings for her but hey, stranger things have happened so why not?

This story was good. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and I enjoyed Walker’s writing style. It was fun and all of it felt so real. I appreciated Walker’s efforts in this, I was wrapped up in every single thing that happened between Abby and Zach. Through all of the boneheaded thoughts, fights and everything else, it was a fun ride that I’m glad to have been a part of. I definitely want to see more stories from this cast of characters so I’m hoping that there will be stories for Zach’s brothers.

[Cocktails and Books]

This was a book that took me a bit by surprised. I didn't expect it to have the level of emotional angst it had or to find myself needing Zach to finally get this feelings all out on the table.

Abigale Applegate and Zach Barnes were child stars on one of America's favorite family sitcoms. Both us them gave up the glitz and pitfalls of Hollywood to live a somewhat quiet and normal life in Arizona. But when Abigale's engagement ends, Zach decides it's finally time to show Abby just who she is meant to be with. But Abby is a woman that never does anything without a plan and it's up to Zach to show Abby that you can live and love without having it written down.

What I loved about this story was Zach. He made this book for me. He was one of those guys that you'd never expect to wear his heart on his sleeve. And despite how he felt, he was always exactly what Abby needed...even when it broke his heart. He was a special man and I was on the edge of my seat hoping, praying, needing him to get this HEA (he really deserved it).

I wasn't sure about Abby, because I couldn't believe she could be that clueless about Zach. But she grew on me. She was determined to live life on her terms after what she went through with her horrible stage mother. Unfortunately that meant she lived by her journal and her written plans and didn't see much outside of her plan. That's the only reason I can think she never realized what she had right in front of her with Zach. But when she's forced outside of her comfort zone, she does finally manage to open her eyes.

It was a great read and one that had me rooting for Abby to finally open to eyes to just what was out there for her.

[Melanie]

I don't normally read contemporary romance much. I'm more into paranormal or suspense. I like the action and fast paced story lines. However, I do read Shiloh Walker's contemporary romances. She develops great characters and a storyline that I don't get bored with. I started reading her books with a romantic suspense with some paranormal aspects to it. I've since fallen in love with her writing.

In this book, you have two former child actors who have stayed friends even after they left the business. It is a little frustrating because Abby is blind to the love that Zach has for her and the fact that he tries so hard to hide it from her. As you read further into the book, more is explained about their thoughts about their relationship.

As you read this book, you also find yourself wanting to know more about the secondary characters. Right now, this book is listed as a standalone. Hopefully, if this book does well, we'll get see a Keelie book in the future. Also, Zach's brothers should be on that list as well.

I was given this book by the author from a contest on Twitter. An honest review was requested, but not required.

[EBookObsessed]

When Abigail Applegate’s fiancé called off their wedding, she called the one person who has been there for her since they were kids, her best friend and former child co-star, Zach Barnes. Abby was surprised when Zach told her that Roger never loved her. He just wanted to be with “Kate.”

Zach believed that if Roger had loved her, “when you walked into a room, it would have shown on his face,…he’d have been so busy staring at you because he just had to see you…” What Abby never realized was that for all these years it was Zach who had been watching her every time she walked into the room.

Zach couldn’t believe his luck that Roger, that prick, walked away from Abigail before the wedding. It was one of the worst days of his life when Abby announced she was marrying that worthless bastard. Roger never loved her, but no one could ever love Abby as much as Zach does.

Abby makes a list of things she needs to do next, including having “a torrid affair.” When Zach finds out Abby’s plan, he knows he can’t keep quiet any longer and watch her with another man or worse, risk losing her to someone else. This is the chance he has been waiting for most of his life. He only needs to convince Abby that he would be the perfect man for this torrid affair, then maybe he can finally convince her to love him forever.

THOUGHTS:

I’m a sucker for a good friends to lover story. You can tell that Abby and Zach had a solid friendship and you feel for Zach in his almost lifelong love for Abby and how painful it has been to support her in relationships with other men who have continually hurt the one woman he wants to worship.

Once Abby takes a good long look at her best friend, she realizes how gorgeous and sexy Zach is and how perfect he would be for her. After all their years together, they knew the best and worst of each other, but at first she feel creepy lusting after her best friend. That is until she gets up the nerve to kiss him and things quickly sizzle between them in new and exciting ways.

Poor Zach, as he finally gets the woman he has been desperate for, several “friends” who have watched him moon for Abby for years seem to try sabotage his relationship just as it is getting off the ground.

I enjoyed reading the story unfolding between them as their new romantic relationship deepens their friendship.

Received an ARC from netgalley.com, courtesy of the publisher. Thank you.