Lake + Manning (Something in the Way) Paperback – February 13, 2018

The conclusion of Bear and his Birdy…is both heart-warming and gut-wrenching. Honestly, it’s indescribable the big and epic grandness to the entirety of the series, and culminates in the final installment of a truly magnificent, raw, powerful, evocative, moving, and incredibly haunting Quartet.In Book 1, it's not just the beginning, but a beginning of an end because once Lake and Manning met, that was it. Something in the Way was about the intangible and fragile perceptions of what we think we know and how it wars with what we want, however indecipherable but instinctual. And richly multi-layered in the complex emotions for both characters. For Lake, at 16, it was love. A kind of love that came from somewhere so deep inside her, it gave her goosebumps from the inside out. For Manning, at 23, it was nostalgia. A brief sweetness in a dark abyss of his childhood that he lost, can’t shake, and somehow thinks he can regain in Lake. It is that remembrance of an innocence he hadn't touched or seen in an age that draws him to her. In him, he awoke, finally became alive, the second he saw her... In Manning, Lake's innocence was everything he needed, and everything she wanted to give. Only to him.In the next book, Somebody Else's Sky, everything is changed. And not. Not when it comes to the essentials of Lake's love for Manning but also her trust and belief in him as a good man. For Manning, the demons that haunt him continue to steer him on a path away from what he knows is wrong but also completely right. He lives on a different edge of darkness, and it lives within him. But it is a madness he's accepted and it can't be undone. He’s not going to hide that he lives in the real and in real he must in order to live his empty life. He already knows he doesn't get to have what others have, only what the fates will bestow upon him. He’s still trying to do the right thing, save Lake from himself. However, out of everything he tries so hard to control, he can't control his own path, his deep and growing feelings, towards Lake. Or the emotions that tear him apart and consume him. No, he can't save himself, but he'll give her everything he can--as long as it's not with him.Sometimes heaven is out of reach, and so the stars are close enough. In Move the Stars, time has passed. It's fast-forward and we're given a Lake a little older, somewhat wiser, and without her hero… A hero who has given up on his own dreams so that she can thrive. It's all a grand design--of Manning's making--his choices, his decision, his final verdict. But Lake isn't a girl anymore. And she's angry. She's hurt. Lost. Adrift. When Manning comes careening back in her life, the pull that's always been there, hasn't changed. In fact, it's become explosive. Finally, Manning lets himself believe, want, and have everything he's wanted, dreamed and wished for...but reality upends them both and this time...it's Lake that makes her choice. And walks away.Book 3 was supposed to be the end...but I *felt* it wasn't. That there were still layers to be unraveled. This time, it's Lake's story. Manning's, too. More importantly, it's their story. This time, Lake has the control but not the strength--not on her own. In this taut finale, it's about how much they need each other, and yes, deserve each other but how, in each other, they can truly overcome any obstacles and face all their fears—and they do—on their own terms. In this final installment, Lake + Manning, it's finally about them. Their journey, together. Their pain, struggles, joy, bliss--as a couple, a family, a team. No more distractions, no more outsiders pushing and pulling at them--they both will confront the stars and overcome, together. It's just them, on they own, good or bad, up or down, they either rise, or they fall--but together. This is a story as only they could wish it, and dared; to dream for more and to finally get everything they could hope for.However people felt about each book (ranted, raved, despised, loved, cried, hated—and every other emotion felt), Jessica Hawkins has delivered one of the most thought-provoking and intense emotional roller-coaster of a series. I sometimes didn’t like where she took us but I respected and admired her risks and writing a realistic and real story for the characters, and not trying to appease readers, and considering we’re a fickle bunch, it impresses me more she went with her gut and took those chances. In a genre filled with generic and formulaic romances, this Quartet goes beyond just a simple romance and digs so deep into the psyche and soul of two characters that they not only embed under your skin, but some piece them actually stays there. You cannot deny that Ms. Hawkins has a stunning and beautifully fucked-up view of romance and her characters but that’s what makes this series and her point of view so fascinating and hard to ignore. She's a master at character development. A storyteller who knows how to tell a story. She's an artist in the way she uses words to paint every aspect of this book for the reader's mind. Her words force you to feel--sometimes sad, happy, ugly, angry, bitter, heartbroken--emotions. Few books make your gut clench, your breath hitch, you brain hum with anticipation at what unexpected curveball she'll throw out you. Nothing is without intention, purpose, and focus. She's not about the fluff, and everything about the heart…about telling the story as it should be not told and not trying to write something that readers want or demand. She writes a story about two people with all the trimmings, including the triumphs and struggles that I think are quite relatable, eloquent, devastating but oh-so deliciously wonderful to read.If you don't read this final of a magnificent series, an extended HEA epilogue (60k words!), you are missing out in a big way. It has everything you want, wanted, and so much more. She continues to surprise me and I loved everything about it. But if you choose not to…well, maybe that’s for the best because Ms. Hawkins is still going to going to get a reaction out of you—and I’ll bet it’ll be an unexpected one at that. Not since CJ Roberts' The Dark Duet Series, have I been so pulled and strung out in the best possible way (x4! I guess I like to be emotionally destroyed). These characters aren't like any you've read. They feel like real people and we're taken along with them on their journey. They bleed, they hurt, and they love, and they can still laugh after all the hell that's reigned down on them. Sigh…I'm gonna miss Lake and Manning. I'm even going to miss Tiffany and their parents and all the secondary characters that also had an impact and also beautifully written to enhance the plot and challenge/support our MCs. I'm glad to have been part of their journey, their strife and especially their victories. And I think this last book truly completes the series in a way that won't leave you for quite a while but will think back with a deep, satisfied sigh, and with great fondness.

THANK YOU. That’s all I wanted. You took me for a vicious ride thru those series. Thankfully in the end it was all worth it and I couldn’t be more happy. What a beautiful ending to this rollercoaster of a series.

When I read the first three books in this series, I read them with my heart in my throat and my stomach hurting the entire time. These two people went through hell before they finally found their way back to each other. And when they finally did, I was so elated!! But I have to be honest, I felt a little ripped off that we didn't really get to spend any time with them once they reached the end of the long road they traveled to get to there. I was like, "yay! they're finally together!" but I was also like, "that's it? what's next for them?"So when Jessica announced she was going to give us more of Lake and Manning's story, I was over the moon! Get it, over the moon? Okay, bad joke, but seriously, after suffering through SO many things over the years, I desperately needed these two to find their happily ever after. Without anyone conspiring to keep them apart, without anyone judging them for being in love, without that weird awkwardness of Lake being in love with her sister's ex-husband. Because come on, we all know she loved him first and they should have been together from the get go!I should have realized that Jessica wouldn't just give these two a smooth ride down their road of happily ever after. But the best things in life are the things you work the hardest for. And Lake and Manning both know that fate is fickle and it has a tendency to put the worst of challenges in your path and then sits back to watch how you handle them. These two have already been through so much, I wasn't sure there was anything else that could block their path to happiness. But alas, another huge obstacle threatened to put a dark cloud over them.I started this book not very happy with Manning. I hadn't really forgiven him for all of the decisions he made over the course of this series. Decisions that, with all of his good intentions, ended up hurting Lake way more than I think he ever realized they would. And he was making another one that I was sure was just going to be another thing that would hurt Lake. But it didn't turn out that way, and as the story progressed, Manning showed that he really did have nothing but the best intentions when it came to Lake and how he felt about her. Time and time again, he was such a source of strength for Lake, supporting her and holding her up when she was at her weakest, lowest points. I think I liked Manning way more in this book than Lake, so kudos to Jessica for changing this overly stubborn reader's mind about him!!This was a very emotional read. By the time we reach the end of this book, and now the series, 25 years have passed. Lake and Manning persevered over all the years, and move heaven and earth, the moon and the stars to get their happily ever after. I finished this story with sappy tears in my eyes, and a heart full of love and happiness. Thank you, Jessica, for giving us such a beautiful ending to Birdy and her Great Bear!

Yesss!! Sooo much yesss!! 5/5!!!Where to even begin?!This whole series, PHENOMENAL!!This book though!Manning and Lake!I cried for her, finding out about her fertility issues! I will forever love manning though, and his support for his babies, and Mat!Sooooo happy for them and their whole family!Seriously, this series was a home run!Absolutely loved every bit of it!

Finally, a happy ending. Goodness grace, did I suffer reading this series? Couldn't Mrs. Hawkins have thought of something "more" painful than all the obstacles Lake and Manning had? I really enjoyed the epilogue. So beautiful. Trigger warnings: this book talks about infertility, and it hits home for me. I also have endometriosis and also can't get pregnant. There's adoption and redemption in the story as well. The way Lake suffers seeing pregnant women around her is spot on. Beautifully written, as always, this was a perfect ending for this story. I still don't like to think about the almost 5 years Manning and Tiffany were married, and I hate to think it took Lake and Manning over a decade to be able to be together, but hey, that is life. I'm sure if.you enjoyed the other 3 books, you'll enjoy this one as well.

The end to 4 books of romance and angst. I was happy at the end of MTS, however I was thrilled with the unconditional romance and love between Manning and Lake that we finally see at the end. Some of the storylines in this book I didn’t like, this the rating. I would have preferred much more interaction between them and no outside angst of certain people. However, Jessica Hawkins is a great story teller and well known for her romantic stories with the right amount of angst.

If you want a book that grabs you by the heart, squeezes so tight you don't think you'll survive and won't let go... this is the series for you.From the first book, Something in the Way, I just knew that this book was going to destroy me. But I hoped, hoped above all reason that I would be pieced back together by the end. And I wasn't disappointed. Finally together, Manning and Lake are living the life they should have always had. But life isn't easy. And difficulties arise and you just want to scream! You want things to get easier for them both.There are sweet and tender moments and even though Manning is an alpha male, he still gets nervous around Lake which is adorable. He will do anything for her and your heart melts. He is an ideal book boyfriend which is perfectly expressed here:"In my arms, you're protected."Swoon worthy moment...Lake wants everything to be perfect for Manning but does perfect exist? She gets frustrated at herself especially when people around her get the one she wants to give Manning. You feel her anguish and pain in your chest and you pray that things take a turn for the better for her.Lake + Manning is the perfect conclusion to an amazing series which has a special place in my heart. It was nothing what I expected but everything I wanted. Even after finishing the book, the story continues to live deep in my soul. I hope to have even the smallest amount of strength that Lake possesses and the good fortune to find a man like Manning. I'll wish upon a star or two and hope that they answer me.

Oh my God! I just loved this series I wish it wouldn't have to end. Lake and Manning got their happy ending. What an emotional ride these three books were. Couldn't put them down. WOW!

Creativity, Food for the Soul. A Perfect Love Story with pure Characters that are brought to life through this amazing journey of 2 people destined to be together. Thank you for your talented craft Jessica and putting together an unforgettable romance that had me laughing, crying, heart breaking in every possible way. 10/10 Readers you will not be disappointed in this 4 book box series Something in the Way ... Bravo Miss Hawkins 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻