5 “RISD” “Gastro Girl” “Honeybee” “Shortstop” “food moods” “shambles” “Aly” Kisses
Oh…my…gahhhhhhhhhh!!!!! I feel like this is my reaction seriously every time I finish a Kate Canterbary book - especially when it’s a Walsh book – but it legit never gets old. I love feeling this way. Riley was…so much more than I expected. To be honest, I don’t exactly know what I was expecting but it was not this and I mean that in a good way. I have adored these characters from the very beginning with Underneath It All and that love has only continued to grow and expand through The Space Between , Necessary Restorations , The Cornerstone , Restored , The Spire and lastly…Preservation. Technically, each book can be read as a standalone for the most part but really and truly, to get the full experience and appreciate this amazing family, I HIGHLY recommend reading the series in order. It’s not a deal breaker if you don’t but there is so much history and you really learn to appreciate the characters more by reading them in order. Plus the writing is fantabulous and The Walshes is one of my favorite series ever, so you really can’t go wrong.
Riley Walsh…oh my sweet little heart and soul, it’s literally impossible not to love Riley. I challenge anyone. He is goodness and sweetness and laughter rolled up in a big, sexy man who loves good food and gives great nicknames – tell me what’s wrong with that?!?! Nothing…absolutely nothing. Honestly…he excels at flying under the radar…he comes off as unassuming, just the goofy little baby brother who can’t keep his pants zipped…but no, he has so much more to offer and I was unprepared. That boy knocked me clean on my butt. The Walsh family history is…messy, hard, not a good time…each sibling has their own way of coping and it works but…for some reason, Riley’s pain hit differently. But that also made me love him more and getting to know Riley was just…exactly what I needed. I had no idea how much he had to offer…all the heart that was packed under the layers of smiles and quick lines. He is so good at keeping it all together…he’s the protector of all the secrets of the family…especially his own. TBH…I’ve been wondering since we found out about “the secret” in The Spire what Riley was going to do with that little problem/secret…and lucky for both of us, he found a Doctor that had the solution.
‘I didn't want to know him and I didn't want to like him, but I felt compelled to heal him. And that wasn't the doctor talking. Medicine hadn't made me a nurturer. But here I was, wanting to gather up his torn edges and bring them back together in a way that would erase all memory of the pain that had put them there.’
Dr. Alexandra Emmerling…oh Alex, Alex, Alex…who knew someone could pack all that sass into such a tiny body. From the moment she walked in with her red shoes and stole the show, I was an Alex fan. There’s nothing not to like about her unless you’re not a fan of tough, ambitious women who speak their mind and are hilarious. I did have my moments where I almost wondered if Shannon had taught her a thing or two because the stuff that came out of Alex were from the Mrs. Halstead School of smart-butt…and it was the best. But…Alex does come with her own stuff – Riley isn’t the only one who gets to deal with their fair share of family drama. It’s not fun…it sucks and I hated the way it affected Alex. She’s so smart and kind and funny and truly deserves the world…and it just so happens there is a sexy architect who wants to give her just that.
‘I glanced down at her toes and the chipped ruby nail polish there, and couldn't help admitting that I liked this girl. Every salty ounce of her. And I didn't like her because we needed to help each other survive a rocky patch of life. I liked her because I couldn't know her and not like her. She was fierce as heck and had more balls than any man I knew, but there was a quietly adorable side to her, too. Adorable like bright, bright eyes and tattoos I didn't understand and (a__) cheeks that required squeezing.’
Riley and Alex…aren’t looking for each other. I’ll be honest, I have a secret soft spot for couples like Riley and Alex…the ones who think they’ve got nothing in common, who are physically attracted to each other but that’s all there is…then wham! They hit you upside the head with their amazing banter and freak-of-nature chemistry and it’s like WOAH! Where have you been all my life? I seriously loved Riley and Alex so freaking much it’s unreal…and being fair to them, it didn’t take much effort on their part. They’re just that good. They immediately established this friendship that was electric…their personalities just clicked – and the physical chemistry was off the charts, so it was a natural slide into perfect couple-dom. I loved their dating…he toured her around Boston, fed her yummy food and took her to awesome places – how freaking amazing is that?!?! And don’t even get me started on how seriously hot these two were together…like just wow-za. But in all seriousness…their feelings for each other were so raw…and pure. I loved how protective they were over each other…how open Riley was able to be with her and how Alex allowed herself to be vulnerable with him. There were so many amazing moments with these two…I loved falling in love with them.
‘When had it happened? When had Alex stolen all the warm, tender places inside me for herself? And the rough, barbaric ones, too? It was as though she'd wandered into my life, all tiptoes and whispers, and reached in and rearranged my entire existence until it started and stopped with her.
I didn't know, but I was thankful for it.’
Kate Canterbary has crafted a one of a kind family that hits every emotional high note I can think of blended effortlessly together with sarcasm and humor…it truly does not get any better than The Walshes Series. I’m at a complete loss for how else I can sing her praises with what she has done through every book in this series…it just blows my mind. I know this is review is about Preservation but I absolutely have to rave about the series as a whole - each book is so vitally important and the way they all come together just makes it so much more. The thought and detail she has put into each character…how each story blends into the other…how this family is beautifully flawed and yet could not be more perfect if they tried – how does she do it!!?!?! I’ve never read an author that can write like Kate…her style is unique and one of the best I’ve ever read. I adore her style…how she can deliver things in such an elegant and intelligent way…how she can craft wit and sarcasm and then turn around and floor me with some of the sexiest scenes ever…her talent just truly astounds me sometimes. Especially when she can briefly mention Patrick’s lists or have Sam make a comment about a piece of furniture he made or Riley forgets to zip up his pants and there I am, smiling like a freaking lunatic because these 7 people (plus their spouses, plus other secondary characters) make me so insanely happy it should be illegal. I don’t know how she did it and honestly, I don’t want to know, I just need her to keep doing it forever and ever – that’s all!
"What's her nickname?" she asked.
"What?" I asked, my voice still raspy and raw.
"Her nickname," Shannon said. "You always find the perfect nicknames for the people you care about, so I'm just wondering what you chose for her."
Gastro Girl. Shortstop. Honeybee.
But that wasn't it. I couldn't force Alex into the narrow mold of a comic book heroine or fairy tale princess. She wasn't a handful of conveniently aligned characteristics. She was my Elektra, my Mystique, my Leia, my Katniss, my Daenerys, my Agent Carter, my Elizabeth Swann, my Arwen Evenstar, my Buffy, my Beatrice, my Catwoman, my Dorothy Gale, my everything, my…
"Aly," I said. "She's my Aly."
I’ve been a huge fan of Kate’s endings…there is nothing worse than a rushed ending that can completely throw off the flow and Kate has always done such an amazing job of putting in the work and effort with a smooth, complete ending…and it makes allllll the difference in the world. Especially with The Walsh crew. They do everything at their own speed and it works for them (and luckily usually me too). I’ll be honest I wasn’t sure how things were going to play out…my heart strings were pulled…but I was pleasantly surprised – which is pretty par for the course in regards to this series. It was definitely a little bittersweet finishing Preservation because this will technically be the last ‘official’ time I feel this way about a member of the Walsh clan…it’s the last book in the series, the last sibling…yes, there is still Thresholds the Christmas book about all of them, but all of my characters are happy and complete…and there’s nothing for me to be mad about that. I wouldn’t change one thing about any of these books…I loved all of their stories just as much as I love this family (and if you haven’t gathered it yet…that’s a lot!). As much as I will miss them, I will always treasure them…plus, now secondary characters are getting a chance to shine. I’m already ahead of the game in that department because I have read a few of them (Before Girl, The Magnolia Chronicles, Fresh Catch)…and I can’t wait for more. #MakeMeAWalsh #WalshLover
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There are 9 books in this series.
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About the author
Riley’s story
The youngest of the Walsh siblings, Riley, can't seem to settle down and grow up, or maybe that's just what his siblings assume. And he can't stop this crush on his sister in law. Now he needs to find someone to go with him to his alma mater as his girlfriend to avoid his ex and her advances. Alexandra Emming feels like she's drowning in mistakes she made that no one seems to want to let go of. She needs someone on her arm to stop the rumors and the gossip. Alex, a surgeon, is the coworker of Nick, Riley's brother in law, and fate throws them together at the opportune moment. Now they have a plan, an agreement. A specific number of dates and events where they can be seen together and help each other out. But what about the attraction they've felt from first sight? What happens at the end of the agreement? Riley is the final Walsh in the series to get his love story. I have loved Riley throughout the series, and fake dating is my favorite trope, but this one just fell flat for me. It had moments that I loved, but the moments between just weren't enough for me. I enjoyed this more than some of the other Walsh sibling stories, but it wasn't my favorite. I will say, Riley and Alex are wonderful characters and I did enjoy getting to know them. I just felt the third act breakup was a bit too juvenile, but I think that says more about me than them, because it definitely fit their personailities Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 [ID: audiobook displayed on iPhone lying on a blue, green, purple and pink crocheted bag]
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2023
- Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2022
- Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2017
Top reviews from other countries
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2025
Kate Canterbary’s Walsh series is wonderful!
- SandraReviewed in Canada on June 14, 2017
Kate's 7th Walsh Gift to us is just so good. The storyline grows and the emotions build and ...
- Effie NightReviewed in Germany on December 23, 2020
No romance hangover after this!
