Built to Last by Elisabeth Grace

At seventeen, the small town of Saltwater Springs had been everything to Scarlett Devereaux—as had her boyfriend Luke. Never had she imagined she’d have to leave them both behind—until the night that changed everything. A decade after skipping town Scarlett returns to start over in the only place that ever really felt like home. But when nothing goes as planned, she’s forced to turn to Luke for help.

With a drunk for a dad and a mom making pocket change at the local diner, no one ever thought Luke Garrity would amount to anything. After building a successful contracting business he’s proven everyone wrong professionally, but things in his personal life are upside down. Making it the exact wrong time for Scarlett to return to Saltwater Springs.

With a history of devastation and heartbreak between them can Scarlett and Luke make amends, or will secrets from the past threaten the foundation of Scarlett’s new life? Were Luke and Scarlett really built to last?

4 Star Review by Ashley

Lately I've been on a kick of highly emotional reads and Built to last is the change of pace that I've been needing. Elisabeth Grace perfectly captured the charm of a small town in this romance. It was stocked full of humor and heart. And some good ol' southern sayings that took me back to the summers I spent there as a child.

I was hooked from the beginning and found myself rooting for Scarlett to succeed. This woman is equal parts brave, strong, sultry and sensitive. She has returned home after a decade away and is trying to make her once dream a reality. With her hopes dwindling as fast as her funds, she stakes her last prayer on the contractor she finds on a whim. What she wasn't expecting was for her biggest regret to walk into her unfinished bakery, Luke Garrity.

Oh, that Luke- insert swoon. The years have been good to him. He is running a successful business and has everything he ever wanted; except Scarlett. I think he was just as shocked as she was to come face to face. Years of hurt, anger, wondering and lost memories seem to fall away as they spend time working together on the bakery. Luke is determined to have his Lettie back and will do anything to make that happen. I loved seeing this big guy show off his even bigger heart. Seeing him with his mom and niece just melted my heart. And his patience and understanding where Scarlett was concerned was just what she needed to lower her walls.

When Luke surprises the socks out of Scarlett she lets it all out. Her reasons for leaving all those years ago...My heart absolutely broke for Scarlett. For what she had endured and found a way to move past (for the most part, you don't ever get over something like that). For having to relive it all again. For shattering Luke's dreams of their future. I wasn't quite expecting Luke to react the way he did but I got it, truly I did. And when Scarlett finds herself in quite the sticky situation my heart was pounding. WOW! I didn't see that coming at all and I'm down a thumbnail to prove it.

Overall, Built to Last was a fast paced story that was jammed packed with all the feels. Elisabeth Grace balanced the drama, hurt, steaminess, fear and hope very well. There was also a hearty dost of humor at the hands of the secondary characters. Those one liners had me in stitches. But most of all, I felt the love between Luke and Scarlett. Beyond the hurt and heartache, there was the unrelenting, unconditional love. And that ending, left me with a happy, satisfied smile.

Amazon

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