The Whole Package

3 Stars Review by Elizabeth Late Night Reviewer Up All Night w/ Books Blog Reid is part owner of, Vets On The Go! with his brother and cousin. Vets On The Go! specializes in moving people and hiring people that have served in the military. Naomi has recently branched out and now owns her own PR firm. When she sees Vets On The Go! on the news for a heroic act, she is determined that they need her help handling all the PR that is coming their way. Reid and Naomi are instantly attracted to one another but fight it. Typically, I love reading Military Romances because they are my absolute favorite. However, The Whole Package, was missing something. It seemed that the chemistry between Reid and Naomi was a bit forced at times. While I liked the concept of Vets On The Go! there was just way too many characters surrounding it and the plot lines. I will not say it was hard to follow but I did get confused a bit while reading it. Granted it was a good read despite having to push myself through the book. I am disappointed in myself that I could not connect with the characters to give them justice or a great review. I will be reading more of Marie Harte’s work because she is a talented author. Do not let my review stop you from reading The Whole Package. This is just my own personal opinion and your opinion could be entirely different. I encourage you to give it a shot before canceling this book out.

Naomi Starr is a PR expert and she is determined to bring Vets on the Go! into the spotlight, but meeting Reid, might just mean breaking her rule to never mix business with pleasure. Determined to help his brother and other former servicemen, former Marine Reid Griffith finds himself caught up in trying to get a moving company off the ground, but he certainly doesn’t plan on falling in the spotlight of the brilliant – and beautiful – PR whiz. The series starts off with a sweet, moving romance that gets readers motors running and pulses pounding. The characters are strong, endearing and easily captures readers’ hearts and attentions. The chemistry between Naomi and Reid sizzles with lots of electrical current but Naomi is determined to keep to her rule about not mixing business with pleasure which keeps the relationship interesting to say the least. Lots of emotions flow from the pages of this story from the intensely emotional feelings that comes from falling in love and interfering past issued to fun and laughter in the interactions of this delightful and eccentric moving crew that most readers will agree, can move anything they want, anytime they want. The plot is steady paced and has a bit of suspense and intrigue that comes from building up businesses, hiring and firing, siblings and general friction between coworkers and ex-coworkers, in other words a realistic feeling, sweet, cute and fun read that readers can sink their teeth into.

3.75 stars-- THE WHOLE PACKAGE is the first instalment in Marie Force’s contemporary, adult MOVIN’ ON erotic, romance series focusing on the men and women who work for Vets on the Go!-a moving company established to help former servicemen. This is thirty-four year old, Vets on the Go co-owner, and former Marine Reid Griffith, and thirty year old, PR expert Naomi Starr’s storyline. For fans of Marie Harte, there is a slight cross-over with characters from the author’s THE DONNIGANS series. Told from several third person perspectives including Reid, Naomi and Reid’s brother Cash THE WHOLE PACKAGE introduces the concept and characters for Marie Harte’s MOVIN’ ON series. Reid Griffith, along with his brother Cash, and their cousin Evan, own and operate Vets on the Go!, a moving company that hires former servicemen and women, as well as helping those unable to help themselves. When Cash rescues a family from a potential robbery, the entire episode is caught on film, pushing ‘Vets on the Go’ to front page news, news that brings more business than the can handle to their front door. Enter PR expert Naomi Starr, the woman with whom Reid will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Reid and Naomi, and the potential fall-out as Reid suspects Naomi has yet to let go of someone from her past. Reid Griffith, along with his brother Cash, grew up in a dysfunctional family environment, an environment pushed the brothers closer together but sins from the past, parental abuse and betrayal find the brothers struggling with the who, how and why. Meeting Naomi Starr, Reid sees something he has never had, a potential for a future and a happily ever after. Naomi Starr is the youngest in her family, and has always felt she didn’t quite measure up to her more successful siblings. Starting her own PR firm gave Naomi the chance to forget about the past, a past filled with heart break and hurt. The relationship between Naomi and Reid begins as a business arrangement when Naomi sees an opportunity for both her firm and Vets on the Go. Still reeling from a broken heart Naomi battles between head and heart when her attraction to Reid is met equally strong by the same reaction from the man with whom she will fall in love. Misunderstanding and miscommunication find our couple at odds as Reid is unable to look beyond Naomi’s past, as past that comes looking for a second chance. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotica and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Reid’s brother Cash, and their business partner and cousin Evan, and Reid and Cash’s mother Angela; businessman and Reid’s friend Chris Jennings, Jameson’s Gym owner and former Marine Mac Jameson, and trainer Gavin Donnigan; Naomi’s equally large extended family of successful siblings, as well as the men and women, former military personnel who work for Vets on the Go! The world building follows several paths as the author builds and develops some back story for Reid’s brother Cash, as well as the hint of further family drama, secrets and lies. The success of Vets on the Go! Is dependant upon the honesty and hard-working men and women of the family owned business, business that will be hit with betrayal from inside. THE WHOLE PACKAGE is a story of family, friendship, secrets and lies, hurt, heart-ache and moving on. The premise is real, engaging and inspiring; the characters are sassy, sensitive and spirited; the romance is moving and arousing. THE WHOLE PACKAGE is a wonderful introduction to Marie Harte’s new series MOVIN’ ON.