Kenzie and Brett both avoid romantic relationships. Something in her past makes her trust only her dad and her brothers. Brett wants Kenzie for right now, not forever. He can't do forever. After their date he avoids her for months. She feels rejected , but he knows she deserves better than him. When two people agree to a fling, what could possibly go wrong? Great read! It can be read as a standalone and I read them out of order and it was fine.

This book was a quick read. The story kept my attention and was a good book. I will look for more books from this author in the future.

This is book number three in the series and it begins where it leaves off with book number two, with Brett returning and still wanting to take Kenzie out on a date. Once she finally agrees to go with him and to somewhere other than her brothers bar. They actually have a good time or so she thought until he never gets in touch with her again. Already having issues with dating and finally going out on one in years, she is wondering what she did wrong or if she missed read the signs. Her issues are explained along with what happened to her. Brett is still dealing with a wife who cheated on him when he first joined the Navy and now feels it would be wrong to ask any women top put up with his career until after he retires. That is until after months go by and the two of them run into each other and she confronts him on why he did not call, and if she did something wrong or if he is just a jerk. The two of them begin to realize that they are good for each other and decide to see where it goes. This is a good love story with characters from the other two books, and some issues from the other books get worked out in this book. Overall without giving away too much I really liked this book very much.

Book three in Shelli Stevens’ pub-centred series The McLaughlins, Top Shelf is the story of daughter of the family Kenzie. Gorgeous and friendly but wary of men after an attempted rape years earlier left her scarred, Kenzie hasn’t dated since. She’s attracted to Brett and prepared to date him but mixed signals leave her hurt and confused.
Brett is a navy chief who is also wary of relationships after his former wife and a girlfriend that followed the failed marriage both cheated on him while he was at sea. He just doesn’t trust women and tends to opt for light and fun hook-ups with no strings attached.
I enjoyed watching these two dancing around each other, fighting the attraction, giving into the physical pull but resisting the emotional aspects. For me there was a little too much emphasis on the physical aspects in the sex scenes. I’d have liked less of that and a little more of the emotions there, but I still enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the next one.

A fun, and sexy, romance that is sure to attract readers of Jill Shalvis and who adore series that will cover a family of hot siblings. The family bar setting is a fun one.

This was a great book with interesting characters and storyline. The main characters, Kenzie and Brett, had a rocky start to their relationship, but once it got going it was seriously hot. The sub-plot with Kenzie’s stalker seemed to have a rushed end, and the over-protectiveness of her family and friends was a bit much at times. Having said that, I still really enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more books from this author.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is my first time reading a Shelli Stevens book and I really enjoyed it. Although this book works well as a standalone, I honestly think this could have been a 5 star review for me if I had read the previous two books in the series and had been more connected to the characters from the beginning.

Kenzie is feisty and strong but a traumatic event in her past has made trusting men a challenge for her. It is still refreshing to see her working toward letting someone in. Brett is Navy man who has been burned in his past and doesn't think he can do long term relationships anymore. I enjoyed their chemistry and connection and appreciated how they respected each others views and feelings.. It felt like a story of two people growing and healing together whereas a lot of romances I read seem to involve one character saving the other and I found that refreshing.

I definitely plan to go back and get to know the rest of the McLaughlins now that I have discovered Shelli Stevens and the characters she has created.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book and the whole series. This was an fun, easy read, perfect for a quiet weekend. Looking forward to reading Colin's story!

If you’ve followed The McLaughlins series then you’ll know of Kenzie’s experience, and like me, have probably been waiting for her story. Kenzie has valid trust issues with men and right now the men in her family are about the only ones she truly can trust. Until she met Brett. And that meeting could change everything for her… for the better or the worse.

For the most part I really liked Brett, until he (like many partners in a relationship) does something unthinkingly and just dumb. He’s been hurt badly in his past and in his own way he has trust issues as well. Unfortunately, Kenzie does as well and that mistake with Kenzie may cost him his happy ever after future. I wanted Kenzie to find happiness with an awesome man… and she did eventually, but he’s also human and makes dumb mistakes. The banter, flirting, and connection between Brett and Kenzie is fun, believable and shows the chemistry that is sparking between them. They simply need to work a bit on that relationship, and isn’t that true for all couples. It’s really hard to find that perfect fairy tale romance in the real world.

I had fun with Kenzie and Brett’s romance, and that really is the entire point. Although I always strongly suggest reading a series from the beginning to get the most entertainment value and picking up on those small nuances that don’t always appear in an individual’s story… you could read Top Shelf as a standalone romance. You could, but I still think you’ll get more from the story if you understand the past, but that’s my opinion. I’d recommend this story and this series to any Contemporary Romance reader who enjoys a believable story, human and flawed characters and some interesting secondary characters that make the story come alive.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I really enjoy the McLaughlin’s series from Shelli Stevens. They contain wit and dilemmas surrounding the brothers and sister living in Washington and coping with the opportunity to love that each of them faces. In Top Shelf, it is Kenzie’s story of finding love, through a series of ups and downs created by a cautious, once bit Navy officer. Plus, Kenzie has a horrible experience in her past that truly thwarts her desire to reach out and connect. The story of how she and Brett finally connect is fraught with turmoil, misunderstandings and misconceptions.

The McLaughlin family’s stories make such interesting reading, and book three has all the right stuff, family, friends, some romance and even a very dangerous situation that Kenzie and her roommate find them selves in, it had me reading so fast just hoping a hero would show up and save them.
It’s got a bit of spice to it so I would recommend it for adult readers.
And book four all I ask is hurry.

I’ve read books by this author before so when I saw this book I had to get my hands on it, to find out if it was going to be like her other books I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Well I can tell you that it was and I can’t believe that I haven’t read more by this author lately, that is going to change I can tell you lol. I especially loved the characters and their interactions throughout the story, they had me laughing, smiling etc the whole way through the book. I got some funny looks I can tell you while reading this book lol but it was so worth it. Can’t believe that I had forgotten how amazing of a Author Shelli Stevens is. This book has a great storyline that I really liked and the chemistry between the characters was fantastic and just right for this story. The author has done such a great job with this book and I would highly recommend this book to everyone

We finally get Kenzie's story. I love Kenzie and how she handles her overprotective brothers. A chance meeting with Brett before he shipped out and a promised to see him again when he got back just makes my heart happy. Kenzie fights any relationship with Brett and with good reason once you get to really know her past. Brett seems to be gun shy too with relationships. But can you really blame a guy with his unlucky track record. I love how he eventually breaks Kenzie's walls down little by little. They seem so right for each other. I love this series and I can't wait for more of the McLaughlins.

Top shelf by Shelli Stevens, another great addition to The McLaughlin series. I'm really enjoying this series. The author knows how to put a story together and pull you in from the first page until the last one. Likable characters, and a great storyline and dialogue. If you enjoy small town romance I recommend you read this series. It's a sure win. Look forward to reading the next book in series and more by this author.

I received an arc from Netgalley. Brett and Kenzie both have a backstory that portrays trust issues in relationships. Brett is active in the Navy and divorced. Kenzie has not had a relationship for quite some time after an almost rape.

These two learn to trust again and realize a relationship is worth the risk.

Can’t wait for Delonnas story! 4 stars

Kenzie was hesitant to open herself up after her attack. Long years have passed and she still hasn’t made much progress in reclaiming her life. One night she meets a handsome sailor and he changes her world forever. I was so excited to read her story and her desperation to no longer feel like a victim but a survivor.

Top Shelf by Shelli Stevens is book Three in The McLaughlins series. This is the story of Brett Craven and Kenzie McLaughlin. I haven't yet read the previous books, so for me this was a standalone book.
This was a really great romance that had two people that have been hurt before one a little more than the other. Brett wasn't looking for anything real or permanent and Kenzie had been hurt and only trusted the men in her family. Sparks fly and trust starts to be built between the two of them. There was a few hiccups in the building of their trust but in the end love always wins.
Really enjoyed this book!

Top Shelf by Shelli Stevens is book three of the McLaughlin Series. Youngest and only girl among the siblings has her story here. It will not be a problem to have not read the other books in the series, if you start with this one. All the brothers make an appearance in the story, but it is a stand-alone with a complete HEA. One of the main characters is in the military but I would not say this is a military story as such.

All in all it is an okay story. I liked Kenzie and Brett even with their glaring shortcomings. While the story flows with a couple of time lapses, it is predictable. It became obvious early on, that the past villain would not stay in the past. His lack of judgement in the end seemed too stupid for someone who had evaded justice thus far. Then in all honesty the ending felt that it was just too brisk so that a teaser could be included concerning Kenzie’s brother with her roommate.

This series is on the steamier side. The talk as well as some of the scenes are explicit in nature. Still no cheating, sharing or one-night stands. Fans of this type of contemporary romance will enjoy this McLaughlin’s story.

2 stars
This one was a miss for me. I am not sure if it is because I didn't read the other books in this series, but it felt like it was missing something for me.

This book was amazing to read , I loved everything it and learning what the characters went though