My Review:
Lance Mullen thought he knew what he wanted out of life, until a career ending mistake brings him home to Cliffside Bay. Watching his closest friends marry and start families has Lance wishing for things he doesn’t have. His new beach house, profitable investments and friends and family can’t give him the one thing he longs for. And, his heart is about to get him into trouble again, as he has once again chosen a woman who seems unattainable.
Mary Hansen spends her time reading and relating the people in her life to characters in books. She’s built a wall around her heart that no one can break through after losing her baby, mother and marriage all in quick succession. She’s found a sense of contentment with her books, but Lance seems to be the one person that can penetrate the walls around her heart.
But, when one bad decision on New Year’s Eve after too much tequila change the friendship between Lance and Mary forever, they’ll both need to to take a leap of faith and believe that they can be exactly who they both need to feel whole again.
The entire Cliffside Bay series has been phenomenal, but I really fell in love with Lance and Mary’s story. Lance is such a stand-up guy. His heart is set on Mary and making her happy even when she is as prickly as a porcupine and it seems like there is no hope for a relationship. His unwavering love and support for her is enough to wear any woman down . . . including the untrusting and bitter Mary.
Poor Mary has been through so much, that I understand the walls she has built to protect herself and that she feels more comfortable identifying with the characters in her books. Watching Lance break through to her heart makes for an incredibly gorgeous story.
And, while this is Lance and Mary’s story, readers get to catch up with all of their favorite couples from Cliffside Bay. There are major life events, some happy others heartbreaking and a few even harrowing for each and every couple readers have grown to love throughout this series. These characters are magically woven together to make readers feel like each book in this series pulls you further and further into the happenings of this little seaside community.
Snag your ice cream, glass of wine and box of tissues for Tainted as it’s one heck of an emotional journey. 5 stars!
IT’S TIME TO GET TAINTED!
Tainted: Lance & Mary by Tess Thompson is LIVE.
PICK IT UP AT YOUR FAVORITE RETAILER:
Amazon → https://amzn.to/2S00NB9
Apple → https://apple.co/2pVvs62
B&N → http://bit.ly/2EemQ4w
Kobo → http://bit.ly/2PtutVF
BLURB:
One career-ending mistake sends Lance Mullen home to Cliffside Bay in search of a fresh start. And in no time at all, home begins to feel like the place he was always meant to be. With his beautiful new beach house, his friends and family close by, and a profitable business to grow, life really is good. That is until his heart tries to wreck everything… again.
After losing her mother, child and marriage, Mary Hansen has built a nearly impenetrable wall around her heart. She’s convinced her dream job, a few growing friendships, and a never-ending stream of books to fill her evenings are enough for a contented if not all together joyous life. Though she’s on guard not to get too close to anyone, one careless moment with Lance will shatter her prospects for an uncomplicated future.
The fifth installment of The Cliffside Bay Series by bestselling author Tess Thompson follows the interwoven stories of five best friends, the beach community they love, and the women who captivate them. Prepare to get lost in a wave of small town charm, men you would love to take home to your mother, and smart, resilient heroines you wished lived next door.
About Tess
Like most of her characters, Tess Thompson hails from a small town and will always feel like a small town girl, despite the fact she’s lived in Seattle for over twenty-five years. She loves music and dancing, books and bubble baths, cooking and wine, movies and snuggling. She cries at sappy commercials and thinks kissing in the rain should be done whenever possible. Although she tries to act like a lady, there may or may not have been a few times in the last several years when she’s gotten slightly carried away watching the Seattle Seahawks play, but that could also just be a nasty rumor.
She currently lives in a suburb of Seattle, Washington with her brand new husband, the hero of her own love story, and their Brady Bunch clan of two sons, two daughters and five cats, all of whom keep her too busy, often confused, but always amazed. Yes, that’s four kids and five cats. Pray for her.
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The World Was Hers For The Reading 
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