My Gift Is You: A Risking It All Short Story

Wow. Rachel Lacey knows how to write a great story. Her books catch your attention from page one. I adore how skillfully she puts pen to paper. Her words are captivating. My Gift is You is a unique book. It is a crossover for her Almost Royal series and the final book in her Risking it All series. I must admit I'm heartbroken that this is the final book to the Risking it All series. In My Gift is You we get Mandy Carson and Cal Rocha's story. Mandy and Cal knew each other in high school and Mandy is the one the got away. Their chemistry is undeniable from the beginning. Cal is very charismatic. I love that we get an update on previous Risking it All characters. My Gift is You is the perfect ending to a great series. My Gift is You is a book to be read again and again. Rachel Lacey has written a masterpiece. She gives life to everything she writes and it's clear to see in My Gift is You. Mandy and Cal leapt off the page from page one. Reading this book was like falling in love. So exciting and a bit exhilarating. I felt like I was transformed into their world. As if I was actually there and not just reading a book. As I read it everything else around me disappeared.My Gift is You was a pleasure to read. I was not able to put it down and neither will you. I am sorry to see this series end but grateful to Rachel Lacey for giving us such an exquisite ending. Her words captivated me and I know they will do the same for you.

Rachel Lacey ties together the end of the Risking It All series and the start of her Almost Royal series in spectacular fashion. celebrating the wedding of one of our couples from the Risking It All series at the venue which is the focal point of the Almost Royal series 😍 Mandy is a difficult character to get to grips with. From the beginning, there is a sense of grief that overshadows all of Mandy's life, although the cause of her melancholy is not revealed for quite so time. Uncovering Mandy's background and family situation provide understanding to her negativity, personally, I cannot imagine what impact it would have on anyone's sense of self. Calvin had a huge crush on Mandy through school and only plucked up the courage to approach her at the senior prom, resulting in an unforgettable night for the both of them. When a freak road accident traps a bird in Mandy's car grill it is as if fate has handed Calvin a second chance at the woman of his dreams. However, Mandy is very skittish where relationships are concerned, mainly due to a lot of unresolved issues concerning her family. Undertaking a weekend together to attend Carly and Sam's wedding (Rock with You)  provides Calvin with the opportunity to turn their reunion into something a little more permanent!!! I loved witnessing Calvin break down Mandy's barriers gently with a great deal of care and consideration. It is through Calvin's tender care Mandy is able to shed the cloud that has been covering her for most of her life and create a happy and loving future for herself and Calvin. My only small gripe with My Gift is You was the abrupt ending, I really could have done with an extended epilogue to gain insight into the future of the couples featured in the Risking It All series 😉

Mandy, on the way home in a snow storm, thinks she hears a "thunk". Upon further inspection, she realizes she's hit a hawk and it's alive, but tangled up in the grill of her car. Her friend calls for assistance from Cal, a wildlife rescuer. Cal, a blast from the past and the guy she lost her virginity to on Prom night, is even better looking than she remembered. After removing the hawk from her grill, she follows him back to the clinic to "help". What starts off as a night of overwhelming sadness, turns out to be the best decision she's ever made... My Gift Is You is a story of second chances, loss, and love. Mandy's struggle over failing and then losing her sister is heartbreaking. Feeling as though she doesn't deserve love or a happily ever after, she's never considered pursuing a relationship--until Cal. I loved how Rachel Lacey returned to Rosemont Castle, successfully entwining her series! If you're looking for a quick, romantic read this is the novella for you. I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.