Fool for Love is the second book in Marie Force’s Gansett Island series. While the first book of the series introduced us to the McCarthy family and told the story of oldest son Mac, this second volume gives us a romance between Mac’s best friend, Joe, and his only sister and the youngest McCarthy, Janey. Joe has been in love with Janey from afar for years, while Janey has been in a long-term, but also long-distance, relationship with her high-school sweetheart, David, who is studying to become a doctor. But when Janey finds David in bed with another woman on their anniversary, she’s devastated. When her car breaks down while fleeing the scene of her heartbreak, she calls the only person she can think of for help and that happens to be Joe. He takes her home and tenderly cares for her, and when she all but begs him to make love to her, he can’t resist even though he knows it might lead to his own heartbreak down the road. Soon he has almost everything he’s ever dreamed of, but David’s revelations, family machinations, and Janey finally getting a chance at her dream career may stand in the way of their HEA.

Joe is a steady guy who’s lived on Gansett Island all his life. He owns and captains the ferry that runs between the island and the mainland. Although a best friend to her brother, Mac, he’s also been a friend to Janey, and he’s been in love with her for as long as he can remember, maybe even since they were kids. Before he ever had a chance to reveal his feelings, he watched Janey chose David in high school and she has remained with him ever since, leaving Joe struggling to move on. He still sees Janey all the time and wants her desperately, but knows he can’t have her, even though he also sees that David doesn’t treat her with the respect she deserves. So his life is filled with work, hobbies, and the occasional dalliance with a woman that’s never been anything more than a physical release, while there’s a big Janey-sized hole. When he’s the one Janey calls after the fateful night she catches her fiancé cheating, he’s more than happy to help her pick up the pieces, and when she begs him to make love to her, he’s helpless to resist. It’s the best sex both of them have ever had, and from there on, they simply can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. But Janey is uncertain about her true feelings for Joe, leaving him in a painful limbo. Joe is a real sweetheart of a guy, who isn’t afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. When given the chance with Janey he’s been longing for most of his life, he doesn’t hesitate to jump in with both feet even though he knows it might lead to his own heartbreak later on if Janey can’t return his feelings. I love how he’s always there for her, and pulls out all the stops to romance her in hopes of getting her to fall in love with him. He’s one of the most devoted and loyal romance heroes I’ve ever read.

As the youngest McCarthy, Janey has had to put up with four older, over-protective brothers all her life, but even they couldn’t see David’s flaws to prevent her heart from getting broken. Janey fell for David as a teenager and has been with him ever since. They had plans to get married, but their relationship is a long-distance one with David living in Boston and Janey staying on the island. After going to surprise him on their anniversary and seeing him in bed with the other woman, she doesn’t even stop to confront him, and instead, runs away, only to have her car break down. Since all her family and friends are on the island, the only person she can think to call is Joe, who keeps a house on the mainland. He doesn’t hesitate to come to her rescue and provide comfort for her devastated heart. One thing leads to another, and soon, all Janey wants is to feel something besides pain. Although Joe tries to talk her out of it, she eventually wears him down and gets him to make love to her, which turns out to be a revelation. Sex was never as good with David as it is with Joe, and Joe is so much more attentive in general than David has ever been. But with her barely ending their thirteen-year relationship, she isn’t sure what her true feelings are for Joe. She’s always loved him, but is she in love with him? Is that even possible in such a short length of time, or is he just the rebound guy? While she tries to figure it all out, Joe encourages her to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian – something that David had discouraged – but when her dream comes within reach, she doesn’t think she can have both it and Joe. Janey is a very relatable heroine who is sweet but with a backbone. She never wavers over the end of her engagement even when David comes begging her to take him back and makes a major revelation. Even though she questions her feelings for Joe given how quickly it all happens, she’s always cognizant of possibly hurting him and doesn’t want that. She even tries to make what she thinks is a selfless choice, but I adore how Joe turned the tables on her to show her just how much he truly loves her.

With Gansett Island being a long-running series, there are supporting characters aplenty, many of whom get their own books in the series. The McCarthy parents, Big Mac and Linda (Celebration After Dark) are there to support their kids, and this time around, Linda was more likable, even though I worried for a moment that she might be conspiring with David’s mom to push him and Janey back together. Mac and Maddie (Maid for Love) get several of their own POV scenes as we see them preparing for their wedding, and their relationship hits a small snag when Janey confides in Maddie who remains mum about what’s going on between Janey and Joe. The other three McCarthy brothers, Evan (Hoping for Love), Grant (Falling for Love), and Adam (Waiting for Love) return home for the wedding, and Maddie’s sister, Tiffany (Longing for Love) is seen in a couple of scenes. As I read, I wondered about what might happen to David. Although he was unfaithful to Janey and didn’t always treat her the way she deserved, he wasn’t a totally bad guy, and the author did end up giving him a sympathy factor. This made me curious if she might redeem him, and the answer is yes in the book, Time for Love. Then there’s Mac and Joe’s friend, Luke, who much like Joe, has been in love with a woman named Sydney for years. He gets one POV scene where he sneaks over to her house in hopes of getting a glimpse of her after she returns to the island following a devastating loss. Their book is the next one of the series, Ready for Love, which I very much look forward to reading. Of course, I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention Janey’s menagerie of special needs pets who are just too cute for words.

If you can’t already tell, I absolutely loved Fool for Love. At first, I wasn’t sure about the insta-love plot (at least from Janey’s side), but Marie Force really sold it. Joe and Janey are simply perfect for one another. Joe is a to-die-for hero who’s kind, loyal, and not afraid to put his heart on the line, while Janey is sweet, strong, and knows what she wants out of life. Their love scenes are plentiful and steamy, while their romance is deeply emotional and gave me all the feels I look for in a romance. I loved the secondary storyline of Mac and Maddie’s wedding preparations, which helped tie the book into the greater series story arc, as well as the brief introduction to Luke and Sydney’s story that’s yet to come. With two big winners in a row, Marie Force has earned a spot on my favorite authors list and I can’t wait to continue the series soon. ( )

Sweet story on how sometimes good friends can end up one another's happily ever after. ( )

Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over

When I finished book one of the Gansett Island series, I picked up the next two because I liked how the series modeled the supportive aspects of love, whether between partners, parents and adult children, or true friends. Fool for Love turns that on its head by making a good part of the conflicts arise from the clashes between those types of love, especially where meddling is concerned.

It’s weird to point to the brotherly and friendship loves as the main issue in a book that starts with Janey catching her fiance in bed with another woman, but it’s true. If the book is about David at all, it’s about him showing his true colors and the fallout from that, though I have to say I was surprised by how the David situation wraps up. Can’t say more without spoilers, but it took an unexpected turn.

It’s not a spoiler to say Janey breaks up with David. That should be obvious. But that she turns to Joe without knowing he’s been deeply in love with her for as long as he can remember is only the first complication. Her big brother Mac is also Joe’s best friend and confidant, making for another problem, one I’ll leave to your imagination except to say he’s as protective of Joe as Janey.

The troubles Janey and Joe face as they explore where their true emotions lie (or at least Janey does) while trying to keep their relationship secret were a little obvious at points. Still, being telegraphed only made them more tension filled as I anticipated how, and where, a particular slip would catch them out.

There are a lot of detailed open-door encounters in this book, but it works because it builds a connection when the emotions are still too tangled up in everything else going on. Even more, this traditional resolution of a romance serves to complicate their situation pretty much every time.

Having noticed the above, I have to say I had issues with the consent situation of their first encounter, though not in the direction you’d expect. However, Joe’s reluctance given the circumstances proves critical as the story continues and in no way is it glossed over or considered unremarkable, so it works.

Joe has no interest in being Janey’s rebound relationship. He’s in it for the long haul. Despite the attempt at secrecy and concerns about them jumping in bed together too quickly, their relationship really demonstrated how it should be, especially when compared to how David treated Janey during their long engagement. Joe and Janey’s connection happens pretty fast, but Joe would say it had taken forever, and Maddie, Janey’s soon to be sister-in-law, would agree.

This book starts right on the heels of the first and is fascinating in how it’s interlaced with the previous story. Not only is Mac and Maddie’s approaching nuptials a key part of this story, but their relationship has challenges raised by Joe and Janey’s attempt to stay a secret. Mac and Maddie even take over the viewpoint at times, and for scenes unrelated to the main story. I found this interesting and engaging, supporting how absorbed I was in this place and the people who live there. I read the first book over a year ago, but I recognized pretty much everyone and remembered their issues, too.

Fool for Love is different in every way from Maid for Love, offering a new story set in a familiar place with old friends. Not quite second chances, not quite unrequited love. A beautiful story of patience rewarded and surrounding your friends and family with support and love. It’s easy to see why so many enjoy this series. I have clearly joined their number.

P.S. I read Fool for Love as part of the box set. ( )

Fool for Love (Gansett Island #2) by Marie Force  
 
When the heart is at the wheel there is no set route. There are always surprises in store and lessons to be learned. Just ask Janey and Joe. She holds his heart, but is clueless on what to do with it. He knows her soul and wants to heal the pieces of her broken heart. Fool for Love is the epitome of life. A never ending cycle of lessons to be taught and emotions in need of exploration. Gansett Island is the perfect destination for romance. ( )

I like the voice, but Joe is far too nice. He doesn't seem to have any quirks or flaws. I also find it difficult to believe that Janey gets over her fiancé's betrayal that quickly. ( )