Rising Assets (Maverick Montana)

“But our lives start with a we”Rising Assets Book #3 of Maverick Montana Series Rebecca ZanettiWow this series only gets better. Didn’t think it possible. I love Rebecca Zanetti’s writing and we waited a long time for our Maverick Montana fix to be sated. Let me tell you the wait was so worth it.This is Colton Freeze and Melanie Jacoby’s story and what a sweet story it is.Long time best friends forever Mel and Colt never wanted to spoil the good thing they had going. Along with their best friend Hawk, the three of them had dreams growing up and none of them included falling for one another.In high school they weren’t as close each dating different people and their lives taking them in different directions but they always stayed in touch. When Colton went away to college he made it a point to text or email Melanie. The longer he was away the more he realized he missed his best friend and looked forward to the texts and emails. When Colton finally graduated and came home to take over and run the family’s business things changed. Sitting in the bar with his best bud Hawk, Colton was told that Mel was working herself to death by working 3 jobs. One at the coffee shop, her ranch and at the bar at night. Colt could not believe what he was hearing. When Mel came into the bar ready for work in a tight little tank top and short skirt just barely covering her, something clicked in Colton. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. He was angry that she didn’t see fit to come to him for help if she needed. But he wasn’t going to make a scene in the bar. Hawk in conversation wanted to know when Colt was going to go after Mel and that the two of them were meant to be. Colt’s response was he didn’t want to mess up their friendship. After Mel’s shift at the bar Colt drove her home and he pulled the controlling act on her MISTAKE. Mel was her own person and she wanted to stand on her own two feet. Besides she couldn’t very well tell Colton why she was going broke. She received devastating news that she would become infertile and not be able to have kids. She had a very short window to get pregnant if she even could. While they were arguing back and forth Colton breached her personal space and they were toe –toe then he leans in grabs her hair and pulls her towards him for a kiss of all kisses. Done hook, line and sinker something shifted and they would never be the same. Colton couldn’t concentrate all he was thinking about was Mel and Mel was constantly distracted with the thoughts of Colton’s kiss. She desperately tried to talk herself out of putting any meaning into it. She knew Colton’s type of women, and she didn’t fit that category. Plus his relationships never lasted. She didn’t want to be another notch in his belt and their friendship meant too much to her. Truth is as much as they wanted to fight it they were in love with each other and probably always have been just never wanted to take the next step. That’s all I can say you’ll need to read Rising Assets and experience the story for yourself.This story was deliciously written, I totally fell in love with Colton’s and Mel’s characters. I loved the way the family gave subtle advice to Colton and then threatened if he hurt her they would hurt him. Including his best friend Hawk. One of my fave characters had a mention in this read “Bob” damn I want to know who “Bob” is. One of my favorite parts was when Hawk told Colt the entire town had a bet going when Colton and Mel would make it official. I cracked up laughing. All the shenanigans going on with the town folk to try and distract them so their date would win was so adorable. And of Course Loni was right in the thick of things. Best supporting character in a book ever. At the end when you find out who the bet taker was, you will be shocked. You will also be shocked at who the winners were. 5* read most definitely and I so want the next book to be Dawn and Hawks. I’m really needing their story.

3.5-4 stars***Spoiler warning - I'm going to tell what Melanie's secret is***This was a pretty good story. I liked Melanie and Colton and while their story wasn't perfect, it was engaging and I did enjoy it.Melanie is a rancher that has her own ranch, left to her by her grandfather after his recent death. She didn't have any family growing up except her grandpa but she had close friends in Colton and Hawk and Colton's mother stepped in to help her when she needed a "woman's touch".Colton has just finished his last degree and is starting as the head of the family business (a financial business). He has been out of town for school and such but now that he's back, he has plans on how his life will proceed. Fortunately for Colton, things don't always go as planned and this becomes clear as soon as he sees Melanie for the first time after he gets back to town.Melanie recently found out that medical problems will inhibit her ability to have kids in the future. She's been trying different procedures and having lots of tests and since she doesn't have medical insurance, she's footing the bill straight out of her pocket and it's not cheap...which is why she's working herself to death. When Colton sees Melanie for the first time since he got back to town, he finds himself unaccountably attracted to her...something that hadn't happened before. He also notices that she doesn't seem to be taking care of herself and he wonders why she hasn't come to him to share her problems (after all, they are BFFs). When Colton confronts Melanie, she basically tries to blow him off and says it's none of his business so Colton decides to give it some time and try to figure out what's going on.While this is going on, it becomes obvious that the attraction between them is mutual and they're both unsure how to handle it. It doesn't help that the whole town seems to be taking bets on when exactly Colton and Melanie will finally get together. Melanie is convinced that the attraction is an anomaly and Colton just wants a fling and then will drop her...which I didn't get since they were such close friends and Colton didn't seem like the type of guy to get involved with someone important to him just to dump them later and ruin their friendship. Colton is kind of flummoxed by his "new" (or maybe just newly discovered) feelings for Melanie and has a bit of trouble figuring everything out. The whole baby/infertility issues that Melanie is having at the time doesn't help much as it just causes more confusion in a situation that was already convoluted. Thankfully, Melanie and Colton get their crap sorted when Colton makes a big production over expressing his feelings (which I loved!) and they end the story with a very nice HEA.This was a pretty enjoyable story. I liked Melanie for the most part. She was a good character but considering her long and close friendship with Colton, I couldn't understand why she'd think he'd treat her like that. Colton was a good hero. He stuck his foot in his mouth multiple times but he wasn't a jerk and made things right when he realized he made a mistake. There were some parts of the story that didn't make sense to me (so it barely made my 4 star rating) but overall, the story was enjoyable and did pretty well at keeping me engaged. :)

This book is one hell of a page turner, it's funny, it's hot and it's addictive, I could not put it down Colton and Melanie are awesome characters but the book also includes a rich cast of friends and family also. Colton is rich, smart and sexy, Melanie is smart, sassy and feisty and they gave been friends since they were little. Colton has not long returned to town but he looks at Melanie in a whole new light. They both try to deny their attraction but tempers flare and anger turns to passion and lust. Can they be more than friends, will it ruin their friendship and will Melanie ever get what she has always hoped for ? A brilliant read, highly recommended.

Colton is the next brother in the Lodge-Freeze family to find himself with a woman, when he had no plan for one just quite yet😂 Melanie has been his best friend along with Hawk, since they were young kids. When Hawk returns from a mission he makes Colton aware that she’s working three jobs which causes Colton to anger. But when Colton glimpses her in one of her “uniforms” he desires her and sees her as a beautiful woman❣️When Melanie sees Colton, she is hit with a knee buckling lust and thinks she might be falling for her best friend, but doesn’t want a relationship to ruin anything between them. She has some personal problems but isn’t quite ready to share these with Colton, until he accidentally witnesses her somewhere she shouldn’t be....mysterious😂A wonderful story of friends to lovers romance with some spectacular family scenes as well. On to Hawk’s story now💕

This was another good book in a good series. Really, it's your typical childhood friends struggling to admit that their feelings have changed scenario. It's well done and I did love Melanie and Colton. I loved Colton's plans. Control freak much? I also love the townspeople and their interfering which adds some humour. It's not a particularly long book but it's an acceptable length, well written, and entertaining.I'm looking forward to reading Hawk and Dawn's book.

I say it every time and then I pick up one of these books and lose a few hours out of the day. Too good to put down.

Another great book by Rebecca Zanetti, her characters are all different and she carries them across her book series perfectly.