Never Enough by Lauren Dane (Brown Siblings #4)
September 6, 2011
Erotic Romance
Berkley Heat
Trade Paperback

Reviewed by Helyce

Never Enough is book four in Lauren Danes Brown Siblings Series. It focuses on Adrian Brown, who is a well known and very successful rock star. Adrian does not portray the typical rock star image, however. He’s very much a family man at heart; he cherishes his family, his brother Brody and his sister Erin and their extended families as well as their small circle of friends. In short, he’s extremely private, sticks to places and people he considers “safe” and does not put himself in any situations where he or his family could be hurt. He and his family have suffered unimaginable tragedies and he has good reason for living his life the way he does. Problem is, his lifestyle choices have closed himself off from the possibility of finding the one thing that he wants more than anything, a family of his own.

Gillian Forrester had a horrible childhood. She grew up in England with a less than supportive mother, dead beat dad and a sister. When she’s about 15 her mom finally gives up on her dad and moves them to America. Once there, Gillian blossoms finding her love of music and earns a spot at the prestigious Juilliard School. At twenty-one, her career as a classical pianist in her grasp, her life comes to a halt when her sister Tina gives birth to a baby boy that she doesn’t want to keep. Gillian falls in love with the baby immediately and gives up everything her future held to adopt him and be his mother. Now, thirteen years later, Tina reveals Mile’s father name, as she lay dying. Adrian Brody. Now that she knows, Gillian wastes no time in making arrangements to tell Adrian he has a son even though she knows the risks. Will Adrian try to take Miles away? Will he even want to be a part of his life? Gillian may not have given birth to Miles, but she is his mother and he is the most important thing in her life. She will not allow him to be hurt.

What follows is quite the emotional ride that we’ve come to expect from Ms. Dane’s series. She has a way of writing in which you cannot help but allow the characters to wrap around you and invade your heart and brain for the duration of the story. I’ve read the previous two books, so I had a really good feel for all the characters and they are ALL in this story, a lot, and they certainly make their feelings and opinions known. While the focus is on Adrian finding a place in Miles’ life, you have the complication of Adrian and Gillian having the hots for each other. As both have suffered tragedies in their pasts, they are rightfully secretive and have a really hard time opening up to each other. Adrian tries, he really does and his relationship with Miles is beautiful to watch as they find their way to being father and son. Gillian has a big secret though. While the reader knows what it is because it is revealed early in the story; Gillian fails to tell Adrian even when several opportunities for her to do so present themselves. And like with all secrets, when it comes out, it does so under the worst circumstances and the couple finds themselves angry at each other and alone.

I have always loved the character of Adrian and I’m thrilled with the direction the author took to bring him the family he has always wanted. The way the author writes family is heartfelt and believable and I especially loved the interaction with previous characters which Ms. Dane does so well in all her books. I love Brody, who once again, is the voice of reason for Adrian as he guides him with helpful suggestions and puts him on the right course when he is floundering with decisions of the heart. There are babies now, for Elise and Erin, which just cemented the true heart of the family feel of this book.

I know all you all have been waiting for the stuff about the sex, because this is an erotic novel after all, and it is sexy Adrian’s book. Well, he does not disappoint, and while I didn’t quite picture him the way he’s presented on the book cover, I had no trouble morphing him into the Adrian in my head. Lauren Dane writes awesome sex scenes, however there were a couple of things that didn’t sit well with me. First, I was not happy with how fast Gillian and Adrian tumble into bed. Not only from the standpoint that there is a child involved, it just didn’t mesh with the character of Gillian. This is an itsy bitsy spoiler, but Dane portrays Gillian as a buttoned up and proper woman who has always put her son first and foremost. So I found it difficult to believe that she would have such a cavalier attitude about jumping into a sexual relationship so quickly. Once they take the leap, however, there is quite a bit of sex, in bed and out of it. The second thing is I never quite bought the sexual Gillian even though her “tastes” are hinted at when she talks to her girlfriends and in the actual sex scenes. She seemed a completely different person in bed and it didn’t work for me.

Having said all that, I really and truly loved this book. I went back and re-read the last part of this book and something clicked for me. It was the “secret” being revealed to Adrian at the end that helped me to finally understand Gillian and why she portrayed herself to others the way she did. It has a lot to do with her mother and her sister, and I’m afraid I’m going to leave it at that to keep this spoiler free. Bottom line is, when you find your soul mate and you have that ultimate trust, you can be yourself, in and out of the bedroom.

Rating: B+

Recent Reviews:
Fiction Vixen – A+
Hanging With Bells – 4/5
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