I can't think of a better way to end my reading year than with Rick and Desiree. 

Rick and Desiree meet at the beginning of the summer when Desiree's mom, Lizza, tells a couple lies to get her daughters to come to the Cape and watch over her gallery. Desiree is a preschool teacher and Rick's an architect. Even though their romance starts with the clear deadline of when Rick goes back to his home in DC, sparks fly and they fall in love. 

I met Desiree and Rick in the last book of Melissa's I read - Tempted by Love - and it was so much fun going back to the beginning and seeing how their love started. It was also fun seeing Desiree, the best friend Emery misses so much in book 2 of this series (yes, I've skipped ahead). 

This book has all the bests - intense passion, a sweet and thoughtful alpha hero, and a heroine who definitely holds her own. Desiree may not swear or do much to get her in trouble, but when she and Rick are together, the passion definitely speaks for itself. 

As always, I enjoyed Melissa's characters and world-building. Desiree and her half-sister Violet got a new chance to know each other, and Rick's family and friends were a fantastic addition to the story. Everyone melds together so well, creating the perfect summer atmosphere. 

A must-read for all Foster fans!