Proving Paul's Promise by Tammy Falkner

Reed Brothers #5

Summary:

"He has watched her from afar…

     Paul Reed has been raising children since he was a child himself, but he wouldn’t change his life, even if given an opportunity. That is, until one of his brothers says four little words that shake the foundation of his world. “She’s not a lesbian,” shouldn’t be quite so earth shattering, but suddenly the woman he loves is available, and he’ll do whatever it takes to win her over.

They call her Friday, and she’s hiding more than just her name...

     Friday has worked in the Reeds’ tattoo parlor for four years. She’s become more than just an employee, and she loves being in the middle of something so wonderful. She treasures the way the Reeds live for one another, and she adores the way they take care of their family. She would do just about anything to be part of it, if not for the fact that she doesn’t deserve a family of her own. Or does she? Friday is punishing herself for her past, and by doing so, she pushes away the one man who could truly love her.

 Separately, they’re strong. Together, they’re vulnerable. As a team, they rock."

This has been the book in the series that I have been waiting for, Paul and Friday's story. I knew it was going to be great, and it was.

Friday and Paul have a pretty intense connection, she's been working at Reed's for the past four years, and during most of that time, he thought she was into girls so he never made a move on her no matter how badly he wanted to. Until his brothers finally told him that she wasn't, and then when he and Friday shared an earth shattering kiss, he walked away from her.

Friday was always an  interesting character that was mostly in the background of the story, even though she had been around since book one. I really liked getting to know her better through this book. Though I would have liked to learn her "real" name since it was hinted that Friday was not it.

Paul and Friday have their share of ups and downs, but in the end, they come out fine. Their relationship is also one of the longest running ones, spanning the entire time they knew one another, even though they weren't "together" during that entire time, they wanted to be. Friday is Paul's perfect match with her retro-punk look, and sassy attitude.

This was also the only book where there wasn't really any force keeping them apart, they went through that in the other books and the only real problem they had was their own stubbornness.

I love each and everyone of these books, and I can't wait to read Sam's story, even though I'll be sad for their stories to end. The Reed brothers are my favorite male characters in all contemporary literature. They are tattooed men that are very sweet and respectful of women. They are men that look like bad boys but are far from it.