When I picked this book up one night before bed, it was so good that I had to force myself to put it down and get sleep for work the next day. I took it on my vacation to Branson the following week, and often stayed up later reading it there as well. This definitely works as a standalone, because I hadn't read the first book in the series, and didn't need to have read it in order to enjoy this story. However, I now want to go back and read the first one, because of getting to meet those characters in this story. I also am going to be ready to read the next book, as I assume it will be Kinsey's brother who takes center stage in that one. This was a sweet, quick read, with a few steamy parts. I look forward to getting to meet this author next weekend at Book Bonanza.