Anytime Darlin' by Julia Rachel Barrett

Anytime Darlin by Julia Rachel Barrett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Starting out the first page hooked me. Julia Rachel Barrett has such a way of writing, it makes you feel as if the story is real. I feel like I've known the characters in this book forever.

Devlin is a teenager who lost her family in a car accident, and she was the only one who survived. After staying in the hospital to recover she went to live with her Aunt Carolyn and Uncle William. At first everything was going good until her Uncle started beating her Aunt and threatened to kill her if she ever said anything to anyone. Devlin keeps her mouth shut but one day she just can't take him beating on her Aunt Carolyn anymore so she intervenes and cuts him in the leg with a knife. William Franz then takes Devlin to the basement; beats her; rapes her; and then locks her in the basement so she can't get out. Carolyn and Devlin end up finding a way to communicate with each other and Carolyn informs Devlin that her Grandfather left her money and the land to her, and tells her to run and get away. Devlin escapes and almost dies until she is found in a K-Mart under the shelf asleep and on the verge of death.


When Jake McKenna pulls up to rush a teenage girl in critical condition to the hospital he never imagined to find what he did. Devlin he knows there is something different about her than all of his other patients. On the brink of death Devlin is soothed and comforted by the fact that the paramedic Jake stayed by her side through everything. He stayed by her side when she confessed what happened, when she found out her aunt had been killed, and while she was recovering. Jake McKenna has never lost control but when he is around Devlin he just can't help it. There is a connection between them that he just can't describe.


Janice has grown up being unappreciated, and is a dissapointment to her parents. Although Janice is rich, and could practically have anything she wants she is very insecure because no one has ever really shown her love. With Jake, Janice feels secure, but she can tell that he distances himself from her at times. Janice made the mistake of cheating on Jake while he was away. She knew they weren't going anywhere in the long run, and she wanted to make him jealous. She made him jealous alright, and pushed him right out of her life. She know that she is pregnant and it's not Jake's baby. When Janice sees how Jake takes care of the runaway Devlin she grows furious, envious, and wishes that he was like that with her. Janice tries to convince him that it is his baby and fails miserably. The blood tests confirm that it isn't Jake's baby.


While going through the trial of her Aunt's murder the police find out that William Franz was behind more than just a murder and issue a warrant for his arrest, but he fled the country before they could arrest him. Janice's mother "Bitsy" was an accomplice and worked with William Franz to find Devlin. Bitsy gets arrested while William Franz runs free. After the trials Devlin decides she needs to move on with her life. After she didn't receive a call from Jake on her birthday she announces that she is going to leave and start a life of her own.


After four years Jake McKenna and Devlin Barre are reunited because of Mike and Beth's marraige. Devlin is the bridesmade and Jake is the Best man. Jake picks up Devlin from the airport and it is just phenomenal. When they see each other they go into this heart melting kiss that will warm your heart and make you all giddy inside. Although they run into a couple of bumps with Janice and William Franz this couple ended up beating the odds and ending up happily with each other.


This book was steamy, very sweet, and made you cheer for Jake and Devlin to be together. This book seemed like a 600 page story because the character's lives and story lines were so well developed. They are just so great together. I have to say the villain William Franz really made me angry, I just wanted to hop into the story and arrest him myself. I really, really enjoyed this book. Anytime Darlin' left me with a smile on my face and a wish that I had a Cowboy like Jake McKenna.


Julia has done it again. She has made me care about the characters, not just the main characters but all of the sub-characters too. They all have an interesting story and are all connected to each other somehow. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, steamy scenes, and a happy ending.

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