Neighbors With Benefits (Anderson Brothers, #2)

by Marissa Clarke

[Lindsey Gray]

You know when they say, "it's always the quite ones"? The same goes for the ones that hold on to their control the tightest. When they lose the long-held control, they do it spectacularly.

In the second book of the Anderson Brothers series, the oldest brother, Michael, is about to spiral out of control. He is fostering a dog for his therapist, working on the biggest deal of his career, and not getting anything done in the bedroom (sleep or otherwise) due to the house sitter in his neighbor's apartment.

Mia is a nomad, moving from one house sitting job to the next, with only one real constant in her life, the group of ladies she instructs in an art therapy class at the local retirement home. She does not realize that her way of life is more about protecting herself from heartache than being able to make connections with people.

After Mia and Michael have a terrible first meeting, Michael feels horrible when Mia's ex shows up and says some of the very same things Michael did. Michael butts in hoping to help the situation and ends up declaring himself Mia's fiancé.

From this point on, I did not have any idea how Marissa Clarke was going to spin this story. The couple's explosive attraction was evident from the first touch, but I never guessed Mia would be the one to hold back. Clarke surprised me at every turn and thrilled me with every kiss. Each kiss was like an event. Some authors get to wordy and descriptive about kisses, passion, and sex. Clarke did not do that here. The couple's first three kisses were like a getting pulled onto the dance floor when your favorite song begins to play, completely spontaneous and uninhibited. Michael's carefully planned life gets upended and, in the long run, he begins to love the mess.

I haven't read the first book in the series, Sleeping with the Boss, but if it is anywhere close to the phenomenal caliber of writing that Neighbors with Benefits is, I will move it to the top of my TBR list.

Thanks so much to Marissa Clarke and Entangled Lovestruck for granting me with a copy of Neighbors with Benefits in exchange for an honest review.