Colters’ Gift by Maya Banks (Colters’ Legacy Series – Book 5)

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About the book: Release Date November 5, 2013 -This is the final books of the series

Lauren Wilder fell for the wrong man, trusted the wrong man, and she paid a very dear price for it. Now broken and wounded, she’s retreated to the bosom of the Colter family and the unshakeable love and support they offer. But the man she once loved and trusted is not without his own power, and he’ll use every bit of his money and resources to make sure he gets Lauren back, no matter whom he destroys doing it.

Liam and Noah were hired by Lauren’s brother to watch over her. But with danger looming, they head to the Colorado mountains—where Lauren has found temporary sanctuary. In her wounded eyes, Liam and Noah see the woman she once was—and could be again. They’re determined to show her everything a man can be—someone who will love her, cherish her, satisfy her, and when the time comes, put their very lives on the line for her.

Review:

Lauren, for the first time since coming to Colorado, is standing on her own. She is working at the diner in town and has her own apartment. She is finally feeling at peace with the decision she made to leave her tortuous relationship behind. Once her brother Max, who is married to Callie Colter, swoops in and brings her home to Colorado with him and the Colters, she can finally start putting herself and her life back together. She was immediately taken in by the entire Colter family, but especially Holly Colter, matriarch of the family, and her three, yes three, husbands. And, once again, the Colters prove that family is everything to them. Mess with one and you mess with them all.

Unbeknownst to Lauren, the two hunky body guards that Max had hired to keep her safe in New York, are still trying to track down the dirt bag that hurt Lauren. While chasing down leads, Liam and Noah discover that Lauren wasn’t totally honest about who and what her ex was. The two of them decide to make a visit to Colorado to question Lauren, and once they arrive, they know that the feelings they had developed for Lauren were real. They’ll do anything to keep her safe and to make her feel loved and protected.

Everyone soon realizes that said dirt bag is still after Lauren, and will do whatever he sees fit to bring her back under his control. While Lauren, Liam and Noah are trying to navigate their way and figure out how to make their relationship work, Lauren is kidnapped by her ex. And what a sick and twisted s.o.b. he is. Will Liam, Noah and the Colters be able to get to Lauren in time and bring her back home? Well, of course. Hello?! Romance novel and all, BUT, the action and suspense in getting to her in time will leave you on the edge of your seat. And, once they get back to Colorado, her HEA doesn’t happen instantaneously. It takes a minute for her to truly over come all that has happened to her and come to grips with her life now.

Colters’ Gift was an amazing last novel in the series. Lauren was a very believable character, albeit a little naïve at first. And Liam and Noah?? Well, to say they’ll leave you swooning is an understatement. Even though parts of this book were hard for me to read personally, (some of what Lauren endured is harsh to say the least), Maya outdid herself with the way she finished their story.

At the end of Colters’ Gift, we get a novella, Colters’ Legacy, which ties everything up. We get to see all of the Colters: Holly and her husbands, Adam, Ryan and Ethan, their three sons and their wife, daughter Callie and her husband Max, and of course Lauren, Liam and Noah. There are babies born and futures decided that are befitting the Colters’ Legacy.

You all know that I worship at the altar that is Maya Banks. The way she tied this series up reiterated, at least for me, that she is one of the absolute best in this genre. I still can’t believe, though, that I won’t be hearing from the Colters down the road. To say I cried like a baby at the end is like saying that Niagara Falls is a stream. If you’re a true fan of this genre, and you’ve not read any of Maya’s series, you have no idea what you’re missing. When I love a book and/or series, I usually end my review with “well done Maya, very well done”, but for some reason that doesn’t seem like high enough praise for me this go around. So, all I can say is that I will miss this group of characters down to my toes, and, thank you Maya Banks for sharing your incredible stories with us. Until next time…………..

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Vickie M.