Now or Never

3.5 stars--NOW OR NEVER is the fourth instalment in Victoria Denault’s contemporary, adult SAN FRANCISCO THUNDER romance series. This is thirty year old, home renovator Holden Hendricks, and twenty-nine year old, primary school teacher Winnie Braddock’s story line. NOW OR NEVER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Told from dual first person perspectives (Winnie and Holden) NOW OR NEVER follows the enemies to lovers, acrimonious relationship between thirty year old, home renovator Holden Hendricks, and twenty-nine year old, primary school teacher Winnie Braddock. Years earlier Winnie’s brother Jude’s best friend Holden Hendrick’s made Winnie’s life a living h*ll. Teasing and bullying escalated until the day Winnie punched Holden and broke his nose. Fast forward to present day wherein Holden Hendrick’s has returned to his home town, unwelcome and without forgiveness for sins of the past. When given the opportunity to renovate and repair the Braddock’s family cottage in Maine Holden will come face to face with his past, a past that is unwilling to forgive and forget. Enter Winnifred Braddock, and the woman with whom Holden will fall in love. What ensues is the tempestuous relationship between Holden and Winnie, and the potential fall-out as secrets and the inability to trust continue to push Holden at every turn. Holden Handricks’ life was destroyed when at the age of ten, his mother died in a freak accident. Angry and grieving, for the next several years, Holden lashed out at everyone and everything, including our story line heroine. Holden’s earlier self-destruction destroyed any chance of turning professional in the game he loved, a game he sacrificed for someone else. Hoping to make amends to everyone back home, the constant rejection was difficult and painful. Winnie Braddock just buried her beloved father and is unable to let go of the grief and pain. Breaking up with her boyfriend of eleven years meant Winnie wanted time alone never thinking she would spend weeks with a man she decreed her mortal enemy. Living side by side Winnie would soon discover that the man with whom she is falling in love is not the same, angry boy whose actions turned her life upside down. The relationship between Winnie and Holden is acrimonious at best. Their bitter and caustic back and forth is fuelled by Winnie’s inability to trust, and the reminder of a time long ago when Holden did everything to push Winnie’s buttons. Secrets from the past, and Winnie’s issues of trust continue to dog our couple throughout the story. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. We are reintroduced to Winnie’s brother Jude and his wife Zoey (Scored #1), and their sisters Dixie and Eli (Slammed #2), Sadie and Griffin (When It’s Right #3); as well as a Winnie’s friend and townie Cat’ Holden’s sister Bradie and her son Duke, and a couple of Holden’s friends from the past. The world building departs from hockey and the San Francisco Thunder. Holden was a rising star in the junior hockey leagues but life choices destroyed any chances for a professional career, a career every knows would have been as successful as Jude’s. NOW OR NEVER is a story of family and friendship, death and loss, forgiveness and moving forward. The character driven premise is engaging and spirited; the characters are broken, flirty and real; the romance is moving and emotional. NOW OR NEVER reveals the pain of childhood trauma; the regret of sins and bullying; and the second chances for two people hurt by words and loss. On the flip side, I struggled with the heroine’s immature attitude throughout most of the story, sometimes too much childish behaviour is difficult to accept.

What an emotional and moving story! I have loved the Braddock family from the start and watching them struggle and then rise to each challenge or setback that they face has been amazing. Winnie's story was the most poignant and heartfelt of the series for me. There were times when I felt like I was right there grieving the loss of her father alongside her. Now or Never can be read as a stand alone, but I think it would be most appreciated if read after enjoying the previous 3 books in the series. This enemies to lovers romance had me rooting for Holden and Winnie from the start. Both are trying to make peace with their pasts and move forward. When life brings them back together unexpectedly, they surprisingly find comfort and understanding in the other. I loved that Holden could really "see" Winnie and helped her by sometimes pushing her to face scary feelings that others would shy away from. From the moment they come back into each others lives, Holden is all in and I really appreciated that. Sure he made some mistakes, but at the end of the day, he was trying to make amends and become a better man. It did take me a little to warm up to Winnie, but her behavior and actions made a lot more sense as her walls came down and you could see what she was facing and going through. I think all readers can understand how devastating the loss of a parent can be whether they have experienced it or not. Checking in with the Braddock siblings was awesome, especially Dixie and Eli. I think those two will always be my favorite Braddock couple. I'm definitely going to miss this family! *I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book *

Great book with a wonderful ending!