JUST THE THING is book two in Marie Harte's Donnigans series. At first glance, Gavin Donnigan appears to be just a typical player, as well as a hot gym instructor. Zoe York easily turns down all Gavin's invitations to flirtation, despite being physically attracted to him. Zoe eventually caves when she starts to realize he is more than just a hunk. Over the course of this book, Marie Harte expertly balances fun and sexy shenanigans with deeper themes like dealing with grief over a lost loved one and PTSD.

Gavin is the real surprise in this story. For readers who might not have read the previous book, Gavin might seem fun, but not having much substance. Zoe slowly gets to know him better, along with the reader. Zoe is no stranger to grief, having lost her twin sister. As a military veteran, Gavin struggles with his survivors' guilt from his time as a soldier. I like how Marie Harte shows a realistic and healthy picture of coping with loss. Zoe and Gavin are at slightly different stages in the grieving process, and I like how she is able to give him support and the benefit of her experience. Even though he struggles, Gavin is in therapy to try to find peace. As it turns out, Zoe is sexually compatible with Gavin, and someone who helps give him what he needs emotionally as well. Gavin's family members and friends are a little kooky -- especially the family prank wars -- but they're a caring bunch of kooks who try to help Gavin and Zoe with their relationship. I like the way the story, as well as the relationship, is so well balanced.

JUST THE THING is another exceptionally red-hot romance by Marie Harte with a strong yet sweet hero. Gavin is more complex than he first appears, but he is a sweetheart and makes the effort to get to know everything about Zoe and woo her accordingly. Gavin's moonlit gardening date with Zoe is super romantic and can't help but make the reader fall in love with him. I look forward to reading more about the Donnigan family and their friends in future books.

Book Summary

A FLING MIGHT BE JUST THE THING...

Gavin Donnigan left the Marine Corps a shell of a man, hounded by guilt for deaths he couldn't prevent. But teaching a self-defense class at the local gym brings some stability to his life―along with a gorgeous leggy woman who won't give him the time of day.

Zoe York lost her twin sister to a freak car accident a few months ago. She's been struggling to bury her grief, but it isn't until she signs up for a self-defense class with its distractingly hot instructor that she begins to come out of her shell again. With the memory of her sister telling her to live a little, Zoe decides a fling with buns-of-steel Gavin Donnigan might be just the thing.

Soon they're sparring both in and out of the gym. And for the first time in a long time, each is looking forward to tomorrow.