Pushing Patrick & Claiming Cari
By Megyn Ward
Holy Hotness!
I’m not usually one for super angsty romance, so when a super angsty story pulls me in, keeps me engaged, and refuses to let go, I know it’s going to become a fast favorite. Megyn Ward’s Pushing Patrick is exactly that book!
Patrick and Cari kick off the Gilroy Clan series in spectacular fashion. The spice level is off the charts, the passion of the characters and their relationship hits hard and keeps on hitting, and the circumstances and situations they live through are intense and emotional. Ward seamlessly weaves in elements of humor, desire, deep friendships, trepidation, and solace, introducing characters who build a strong foundation for not only Cari and Patrick’s relationship, but the relationships within and surrounding the Gilroy family.
Pushing Patrick is part one of the duet with Claiming Cari, and Pushing Patrick does end on a jaw-dropping cliffhanger. It is so absolutely worth reading and continuing with the series. Their eventual HEA is stunning and worth all the angst the author and characters put the reader through. Have tissues handy throughout. And yes, it is ok to yell at certain characters. They need it. They earned it. They deserve it. And they can handle it. They brought it on themselves, to be honest. And yes, to me that is a clear sign of a well-written story with characters you can sink your every emotion into.
The audiobooks for both Pushing Patrick and Claiming Cari are incredible. The narrators capture the characters perfectly, creating distinct voices and personalities for each character they read. Their cadence and pacing is top-notch as well. I oftentimes found myself sitting in my driveway after a long day, reluctant to turn off the story and return to my regular scheduled programming (aka life). When narration makes you feel like you are immersed in the story, that is audiobook perfection.
The other thing Ward does brilliantly is build her supporting characters to a level where I need their stories. It’s beyond wanting to know what their deal is—it’s a visceral need to have that level of closure that will only come from finishing every book in the series. And I fully intend to do just that.
