Claire Marti - Sunset in Laguna review

This was such a sweet read! I really enjoyed getting lost in Christian’s and Kelly’s journey. While life had thrown both of them curve balls, Christian’s journey was the most powerful. Christian was a military major who had seen several tours of duty. Life wasn’t what it used to be for him. He had a tough road to fully recover and Kelly was the first woman to get past his defenses. 
Kelly had to make big changes in her life and do something completely out of the ordinary for her.  She was a strong character and stood up for what she believed in, even when it cost her everything. She had a trauma in her past she's still struggling with and working to overcome.  It's something she carries around with her and it appears from time-to-time in her everyday life. 
I enjoyed the chemistry between them and while it wasn’t easy, the struggle they had to face. I thought Claire Marti did a good job of showing how much the the things that can’t be seen affect our military, as much as the scars and injuries we can see. Their story was sweet, hopeful and an all-around good read!

Returning to Laguna Beach after four tours in the Middle East, Christian Wolfe leaves the military behind and buys a wine bar, vowing to keep his life simple. He fights to keep his devastating PTSD a secret and refuses to burden anyone else with his baggage. When stunning Kelly Prescott and her red stilettos saunter into town, she drives him past the bonds of his self-control.

Successful in her father’s stuffy law firm, Kelly’s too compassionate to survive in the cutthroat world of corporate litigation. Leaving behind both family and courtroom drama, she moves to Laguna to become general counsel for a nonprofit veterans’ organization.

She didn’t bargain on a gorgeous modern-day Heathcliff, and in Christian, she sees another kind of challenge—one she can’t resist.

Claire Marti - Second Chance in Laguna and At Last in Laguna reviews

I'm reviewing both books in Claire Marti's series today.  And I look forward to more books from Claire in the future! 

Claire Marti is a newer author and this was her first book in her series. This was a sweet read. However, I didn’t quite connect with the characters as I was reading in the beginning. For me, it felt a little predictable and I wasn’t as engaged. As the story went on, I felt more drawn to the characters than I had at the beginning.  I still enjoyed this book and the characters' journey. I liked both Sophie and Nick and even though she didn't want a guy, they couldn't resist the pull they had toward each other. I enjoyed the way Nick wanted to spend time with her and little by little he chipped away at Sophie :)

When Sophie Barnes’s fiancé jilts her at the altar, her carefully planned life implodes. Considering his betrayal to be a rude wake-up call, she leaves everything she knows in San Diego and flees to Laguna Beach. She vows to transform her life by avoiding men for a year and by fulfilling her dream of writing a wildly successful novel. 

Sophie’s new landlord, Nicholas Morgan, is a gorgeous, successful architect with a player reputation. Nick’s avoided the intimacy of a long-term relationship—until Sophie’s independence, courage, and beauty touch his guarded heart. Both Sophie and Nick are terrified of being hurt again, but can they resist the pull of true love?

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I was familiar with these characters as Alyssa is Nick's sister and Brandt is his best friend. I was excited to get their story.  This book picks up where Second Chance in Laguna left off.  Nick and Sophie are off on their honeymoon and Nick asks Brandt to look out for his sister while they're gone.  As a reader, you know that's going to be good! The chemistry between these two is H-O-T-T! They know in their minds that succumbing to the heat between them is a bad idea, but yet, they can't keep their hands off of each other. It was a delicious push-pull between them and I wanted them to work things out! Everyone was experiencing a new normal and Alyssa and Brandt had to find out what exactly was best for them. I really enjoyed their story and couldn't read this one fast enough! I was drawn into their story and didn't want to put this book down.  

Alyssa Morgan has secretly been in love with her older brother Nick’s best friend, Brandt Dempsey, since she was an awkward, lonely teenager. When she catches the bouquet at Nick’s wedding, she throws caution to the wind and propositions Brandt to a two-week fling. He’s tried to ignore how Alyssa has blossomed into a strong, talented, gorgeous woman because as his best friend’s baby sister, she’s off limits.


After they share a mind-blowing kiss, Brandt struggles to fight their undeniable chemistry. His tragic childhood scarred him, but he pushes it deep inside, only allowing the world to see a wealthy, carefree entrepreneur. Forced to work together on Brandt’s latest charitable venture, Brandt and Alyssa’s passion cannot be denied. Alyssa knows he’s the one. Can she convince him they belong together?