Title: Meant for You by Samantha Chase
The Montgomery Brothers Series Book Five
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: C
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Brand new Book #5 in Samantha Chase’s popular Montgomery series
She dares to dream…
Summer Montgomery wants to be taken seriously almost as much as she wants her brother’s best friend, Ethan. But with a long resume of seemingly random career choices and a protective brother on watch, those things are nothing more than pipe dreams…
Does he dare to try?
Ethan Reed would like nothing more than to live by his own rules. Not wanting to disappoint his best friend Zach, or any of the Montgomerys, Ethan’s had to push his long-denied feelings for Summer aside. But it only takes one night away from watchful eyes to make impossible dreams come true…
Review:
Meant for You is the fifth installment in Samantha Chase’s Montgomery Brothers series. In this outing, William Montgomery is still matchmaking and his free spirited niece Summer is his latest project. He convinces his brother (and Summer’s father) to send Summer to the Portland office to work with her brother Zach in the hopes that her longtime crush on Zach’s best friend (and company VP) Ethan Reed will lead to love.
Summer has been trying to find her niche for quite some time and the rest of her family views her as flighty. The family does not take her seriously and when she begins working with Zach, he does not give her any worthwhile projects. Nonetheless, she shines as she works in the various departments and she is well liked by the other employees. Summer and Zach have been quarreling over his next thrill seeking adventure and to keep the peace, Summer takes off for a weekend retreat. Her overprotective brother asks Ethan to make sure she is ok and Summer seizes the opportunity to act on her attraction to Ethan.
Ethan is a great guy but because of his loyalty to Zach and the Montgomery family, he has decided to ignore his interest in Summer. He is laidback, easygoing and not eager to rock the boat but when Summer makes the first move, he finds it impossible to resist her. After their one night of passion, the two go their separate ways, but when they unexpectedly run into one another while playing tourist, a push from Zack’s assistant and Summer’s friend Gabriella Martine is just what they need to spend some quality time together. Away from the prying eyes of Montgomery clan, Ethan and Summer enjoy getting to know one another while indulging their desire. Both are aware of the potential problems awaiting their relationship when they return to their regular life, but they decide to live in the moment. Unfortunately, the real world intrudes when a crisis brings the Montgomery family together and the couple decides to keep their romance a secret.
The relationship between Summer and Ethan is sweet and there is no denying they share a real connection. But as soon as they are reunited with the rest of Montgomery family, trouble begins. Neither is willing to come clean about their romance and they are forced to sneak around to see one another (which is completely ridiculous considering both of them are adults). Summer’s brothers are overprotective to the point they are insulting to both her and Ethan. The family’s reaction to Summer and Ethan’s relationship is incomprehensible considering that he has been treated like a family member for twenty years.
But what is the most astounding is the patronizing and disrespectful attitude that the Montgomery family displays toward Summer. They unfairly blame her for another family member’s decision and they treat her like a child. She is forced to prove herself over and over again and despite her efforts, they refuse to take her seriously. The utter disregard for her feelings and complete lack of faith in her professional abilities is appalling and absolutely infuriating. This part of the storyline is incredibly frustrating and completely unforgivable despite the story arc’s resolution.
Despite a few issues with the rest of the family, Meant for You is a lovely romance and a nice addition to The Montgomery Brothers series. Fans will enjoy seeing Summer find her happily ever after and Samantha Chase’s intriguing glimpses of Zach will leave readers impatiently awaiting his story.
