Book Review — Calmly, Carefully, Completely (Reed Brothers) by Tammy Falkner

I absolutely LOVED this book!! It was pure romantic escapism! Sexy, swoony, and so well-written, with a gorgeous tattooed hero who is guaranteed to melt your heart!

Pete Reed is big, covered in tattoos and fresh out of jail. You’d think he was a bad boy but he’s really a good man with a good heart who made a bad decision and then paid his dues. Now, he’s been signed up to work at a camp for kids with special needs (his ability to sign because of his deaf brother being a plus), and that’s where he meets her. Again. Raegan is the daughter of the couple running the camp. Two and a half years ago, Pete saved her from her worst nightmare and she’s been wanting to thank him ever since…

“You do remember me,” she whispers.

“I think about you all the time, wondering what happened that night after you left.”

You can totally read this book as a standalone. Technically, it’s #3 in the Reed Brothers series (see bottom of post for all the books) but you can either read it on it’s own or even start the series with this book then go back and read the first 2 books after. Totally up to you! You don’t even need to know anything going into this book but just to make things even more clear, just know that basically, Pete’s brother Matt had cancer and as a way to try and get the money for his treatment, Pete got involved with a dealer but was caught and paid the price behind bars. So, this book starts with him getting out of jail.

I seriously LOVE these brothers. Their unquestionable loyalty, camaraderie, and deep-rooted bonds give so much heart to the story. What I love about this series is that it’s not just the main couple that is the highlight… all the other relationships (between the friends, brothers, girlfriends, kids etc) are just pure gold in their own right. All the side characters matter and everyone has a story that you’re made to care about. And while they’re often very deep and heart felt, they can also just be totally hilarious. Like this…

“You need a lesson on the birds and the bees?” Paul asks. “You put tab A into slot B.” He makes a crude gesture with his fingers. “Ot tab A into slot C.” He grins. “Ot tab A into slot D. But some girls don’t like that, so don’t start there. You might even save that for a birthday or special occasion. Yours. Not hers.”

Teehee!! — But back to Raegan and Pete… they were absolutely adorable. Ever since that night in college where Pete saved her, she’d kept her distance from men, but even though they hadn’t seen each other since that night, they’d never forgotten each other. He was the only guy she felt safe around and even though he knew he had to be careful around her, he felt things for her that he’d never felt before and he wanted her to know how much she meant to him. He’d tease and flirt but never push too far. I loved their dynamic!!!

There’s just something about a guy with so much respect not only for women, but for everyone around him, and who can still manage to be a badass that is utterly heart melting. I loved the way Pete was with her. He’d been there at her worst moment and knew the nightmares she was facing. But at the same time, he wanted to bring back the real her that she’d hidden away.

“I want you, Raegan. I want every piece of you.”
“Even the shattered pieces?” she asks.
I… pull her face up to mine. “I’ll be the glue that puts you back together.”

Raegan was pretty awesome too. I loved that even though she’d been though such a horrible experience, she was still strong and learned to defend herself. Haha she even clocked Pete at one point (kind of an accident, don’t worry, he wasn’t a jerk or anything) but it was pretty funny!

“What happened to your eye?” Paul asks. My eye is still a little blue from when she hit me.
“Raegan hit me,” I admit. Logan grins.
“Marry her,” Logan says. “Marry her right away.”

I also have to give a shout-out to Raegan’s parents. They both knew what had happened to their daughter and wanted to keep her safe but were happy to see her find someone she could trust and love. Her mother’s understanding and her father’s hatchet-wielding protectiveness were totally awesome!

“Have fun?” my mom asks.
I nod in answer to her question. “We were roasting marshmallows.”
She quirks an eyebrow at me. “That’s what they’re calling that now?”

“He seems nice… Even though Dad threatened to chop his nuts off.”
“Hey, it works,” he says. But he’s grinning.
“He was very nice. And I promise not to get pregnant…. Good night!”
“It’d be hard for him to get you pregnant if I chop his nuts off!” Dad yells after me.”

I’m positive that at least half my book is highlighted. Quotes on every page had me laughing, swooning, and even tearing up a little. I genuinely loved it all from start-to-finish! If you’re looking for a series that is fun and sexy with a whole lot of heart and a group of heroes who will have you swooning, you have to try this!

Rating: 4.5 stars!!

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** REED BROTHERS SERIES **

Book #1 — TALL, TATTED, AND TEMPTING
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback
Logan’s book #1

Book #2 — SMART, SEXY, AND SECRETIVE
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback
Logan’s book #2

Book #3 — CALMLY, CAREFULLY, COMPLETELY
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback
Pete’s book

Novella #3.5 — FINALLY FINDING FAITH
Buy for Kindle

Novella #3.6 — RAEGAN’S REVENGE & ENDING EMILY’S ENGAGEMENT
Buy for Kindle

Book #4 — MAYBE MATT’S MIRACLE
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback
Matt’s book

Book #5 — PROVING PAUL’S PROMISE
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback
Paul’s book

Novella #5.5 — ONLY ONE
Buy for Kindle

Novella #5.6 — BEAUTIFUL BRIDE
Buy for Kindle

Book #6 — ZIP, ZERO, ZILCH
Buy for Kindle
Sam’s book

Book #7 — GOOD GIRL GONE
Buy for Kindle

Book #8 — WHILE WE WAITED
Buy for Kindle

Book #9 — HOLDING HER HAND
Buy for Kindle
Note: at this point, the numbering changes cuz I think she counts the novellas as books in the sequence (not sure) but this is the ninth main novel.

** NOTE: Both Books #1 + 2 focus on the same couple. Even though in the blurbs, the heroine’s name is different, they are the same girl. She just doesn’t tell him her real name til the end of the first one even though the reader knows it. So, Kit + Emily are the same person. I just don’t want you to worry that the hero is with two different girls in a row because that’s not the case.

** NOTE #2: The main “books” in the series can be read as standalones.