I received a copy of this book and when I was done I bought the other books in the series.. This was book #3 and last in the Van Allen brothers series, and I was happy to discover there were more books about this family. I stayed up really late reading these books! Kimberley Ash tackles serious issues but not with a heavy hand. Her characters face real emotional challenges that they have to work through, but somehow she accomplishes this with grace and humor. I grew to really care for these people in all three books in the series, though it's not necessary to read the first two to enjoy the last. I'm looking forward to more books by Kimberley Ash.

I'm not a huge fan of "Second Chance " romance , usually I find myself bored while reading .

In free me , the book started wonderful , Raya was strong , grumpy and badass heroine . On the other hand , Matt was sweet , caring , cheerful and delightful character .
Both of them were sweethearts eight years ago , they had a great relationship then something happened and both of them left hurting ....

Not different from the usual plot for this type of books .....
But at the same time , this story wasn't bad ...

If you want to read a small town sweet second chance romantic novel , this one is for you .

This is the third book in the series. Matthias and Raya used to be an item all through high school then one day he breaks up with her or so she figures out and joins the Army. And puff he’s gone.
Now, here we are eight years later. She is still an EMT like they both trained to be and were doing together before he left. He is returning now a war hero, a medic. She is trying to shore herself up and not hold a grudge against him. Act as he dumped her when she needed him the most. Although she did, she’s moved on and she’s not going to snub him but for sure not falling at his feet either.
Matt knows he screwed up and he wants to make amends. Seeing her for the first time is harder than he thought. He realized for the last eight years he had been avoiding coming home at all as to not face her and what he did.
He would have reenlisted again if his dad did not ask him to please not and come home. Something about the way he pleaded told him he needed to be back home no matter what ghost he had to face.
She wishes to see Matt for the first time she could have been a lot more indifferent to him being back and orbiting in her close space and hometown makes her jumpy. If what she hears is true keeping up his skills being a medic for the Army, he is wanting to come back on the squad. Only now this time she’s Captain and will be his boss.
However, when they do talk about what they both remember about their tragic ending to their relationship is so very different. Leaving the raw still after eight years and a lot of unsaid words and emotions. With hurtful words that were said in order to mask the pain, they both thought they had worked through.
The thing that throughs them the most is that after all the things said and time that has passed there is overwhelming sexual want and underlying love for one another. Neither wants to go back and give the town something to talk about.
Staying out of each other’s way was proving impossible. Each running, it is a mixture of pain, sorrow, regret, and longing with a whole lot of simmering passion. Was this worth all the avoiding or was it just easier to finally decide to stand still and talk? When they do, they may be surprised as to what their words to each other in time of pain heard and interpreted to mean.
Words can be powerful and when you love someone how do they know what you’re thinking if not with words. But we use words during heated moments without thinking as Raya did. To see how they get past this long-held pain for both of them, you will need to read about their love for one another.
I give this: 5 ++++ stars. Provided by netgalley.com Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

Free Me is the third and final book in Van Allen Brothers series by Kimberly Ash. The story has come full circle each one about the Van Allen boys. Here is Matt and Raya's story. From the start of the book it pulls you in and does not disappoint.

Matt and Raya have a deep history. Matt comes back after being gone for 8 years in the Army. He left Raya when he needed her the most and now they must learn to coexist with Raya as Matt's boss. The two must figure out if they can move on from their past hurts and leave their relationship in the past or is there a possibility of starting over.

Thank you to Tule publishing and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. ❤📚

Free Me by Kimberley Ash
When you love something, let it go…
To everyone in his hometown, Matthias Van Allen is a hero. Back from his posting as an army medic, he’s welcomed with a party the whole town attends. Everyone’s happy to see him – except his ex-girlfriend, Raya. First, Raya lost her father, and when Matt joined the army, she was left with no one.
Raya Piacenza‘s used to being alone now. She’s made her way in the world and doesn’t need anyone or anything except her jobs: an EMT captain and personal trainer. But now Matt is back, pushing her buttons in a way she thought she’d grown out of. Worst of all, she’s now his boss.
As Matt settles back into the community and Raya is offered a chance to leave it, they will have to figure out if their lives have room for each other – or if they should set each other free.
This is Raya Piacenza and Matthias Van Allen's story.
Raya had never been this nervous. This was worse than the day she’d found out she’d been appointed captain of Tanner’s first aid squad, the youngest ever to get the position—not without controversy. This was worse, because she didn’t want to be nervous that Matthias Van Allen was coming home. She wanted to feel nothing.
Yet, here she was, at the airport, in a group consisting of Matt’s mother and seven or eight members of the squad, inside another crowd of people waiting for their loved ones. Except she wasn’t waiting for her loved one. She was waiting for Matt, who’d chewed up her heart, spat it out, stomped on it, and then joined the freaking army just to get away from her.
She wished she could just skip this touching reunion, but that was impossible. If she missed any part of it, she’d be labeled as petty, or worse, not over him. Raya had enough to do to keep people’s focus on her abilities, without giving them any reason to see a weakness in her armor. Now that, she really couldn’t stand. She raised her chin and paid more attention to her surroundings. The passengers came into view, luggage in hand or trailing behind their outstretched arms like loyal pets. At lunchtime on a Saturday, most of them were parents with children jumping around them or grumbling in their arms. Raya sighed and tried to loosen the muscles across her shoulders. The rest of her group moved around impatiently, craning their necks to see behind the families. Raya kept her head down.
His smile changed, cooling, becoming more polite, though no less devastating. “Hey, Raya.”
A sheepish, apologetic smile would have been more satisfying, but at least he didn’t grin at her like a maniac. “Matthias,” she said, giving him a little of the ice in her heart.
“How’ve you been?” he said.
Free Me by Kimberley Ash is a 3 star book.
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
more books by Brenda.
Kimberley 's Books with Tule:
Forgive Me
The Van Allen Brothers
Forget Me
The Van Allen Brothers
Free Me
The Van Allen Brothers

Since the cover felt familiar I checked my Goodreads: yep, another part in the Van Allen Broters series. Since I read Forget Me of Jonah, I was very happy to read on about Matt. He left to join the army eight years ago and returned home now, since their father, Peter, hinted it was time for him to get home.
Worried about his father, Matt decided it was time to return home. And to face the love of his life, Raya, after abandoning her eight years ago.
Raya is probably one of few people, who are not overjoyed to see Matt returning home. And she will make sure that Matt will regret his decision to walk away, when she needed him most. Now, she doesn't need him - or any other man - any more. She is just fine all by herself.
All she has to do is convince her treacherous body that Matt is off-limits. And of course try to behave like his boss, now that he rejoined the EMT Squad.
What she didn't count on, was the changes in Matt. And while Matt tentatively explores his new relationship with Jonah, he also learns about Peter's past and the effects on different lifes.
Reeling with emotions, Matt turns to the only one who ever believed in him and who understands him like no one else: Raya.
Can Raya let him in? Or will she walk away just like Matt did all those years ago? Find out for yourself in this wonderul read about second chances, self esteem and family ties. Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

Free Me is a well written romance. Good plot, well developed characters and a good setting. I will definitely be reading more books in this series. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the 3rd and final book in the Van Allen Brothers series by Ms. Ash. I have read all 3 and enjoyed them very much. This book is the story of Matt, the son of Peter and Mariah. Peter left Jonah’s mother for Mariah and he always held a grudge against Matt. Matt is retuning from his military tour since his dad has asked him not to re-enlist. We learned in the last book that there is a 3rd son, the secret brother Lucas. Matt is unaware of Lucas and he has an awful relationship with Jonah who has always resented that he and his mother were who Peter chose.

Matt is retuning to his EMT squad led by his old girlfriend Raya, who he had left under bad circumstances. A party at Sullivan’s bar and grill as planned to celebrate Matt’s Return. Jonah is in a relationship with Laurel Sullivan and gets upset when he learns of the gala celebration. He eventually puts all the negative feelings behind him and works on being a good brother. Raya is still upset at Matt for leaving her to join the army. She also blamed him for her dad’s death. After some time she came to realize that wasn’t his fault. She also is part owner in the gym she and Matt used to work together. Her partner convinces her to hire Matt.

Over time and lots of interactions, Raya and Matt are able to get their friendship back and then the stronger feelings return. There is some suspense, angst , sad moments and of course romance. A terrific book and series. So glad I read all 3 books.

A nice enjoyable read, I just felt lacked the spark of previous books but still entertaining and nice writing.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Free Me is book three in Kimberley Ash’s Van Allen Brothers series. This second chance romance has the returning army medic brother, Matthias at its center. Miscommunication, assumptions and just growing up separated Matthias from Raya. Now that he is back, he wants to win her over again. His warm personality made him an engaging character. Raya is described as prickly but it is a cover to protect herself.

While Matt is open and honesty his family is full of heartache. Much of the story is concerning this since it all comes to a final full circle in this book. The brothers are part of the story too but one could still enjoy Matt’s book without having read the first two. I will say that if this is the first Van Allen Brothers book you read, it will entice you to want to read the others. Heartfelt family drama read as well as a second chance romance.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ray was nervous because Mathias/Matt is coming home. She wanted to feel nothing but she was with Matt’s mother-Mariah- and seven or eight members of the squad. She was watching for matt, who had chewed up her heart, spit it out, and stomped on it and then joined the Army to get away from her. She wished she could skip the reunion, but if she missed any part of it she’d be labeled petty or worse not over him. Raya had enough to do to keep people to focus on her abilities. Matt was even better looking than eight years ago. Somehow Raya knew he knows she was there all along. His smile changed, more polite as he said “ Hi Raya” than he asked how she’d been. She was aware the group was watching them . her and Matt’s story had ended years ago. She said she was fine and shall they go? Raya was on call all day so she couldn’t drink her sorrow away. She went outside stood by the heater and she heard that familiar voice say hello. How could he have snuck up on her? He asked if they could go somewhere quieter and talk for a couple of minutes. Matt regretted his attempt to talk to Raya was interrupted by his friends. At the airport Matt had braced himself to see Raya, the love of his life. Unfortunately she glowed with hatred for him and he’d earned it. He didn’t think he’d ever forgive himself for what he’d done. It was Matt’s negligence that cause Raya’s father’s death. The first aid squad was all volunteers. Raya was now part owner of a gym, her business partner was Rafael. She loved the physicality of the gym. She was proud of herself for finding a job that didn’t force her behind a desk all day. Dealing with paperwork for the squad was bad enough . As much as she loved them all , Raya had to work doubally hard to make sure they didn’t find one flaw in her actions as captain. Rafael and her hard work had paid off but they were victims of their success. Raya had to add more group classes to the schedule to meet the demand and her time was getting squeezed between private sessions, her groups, and the first aid squad. Raya’s father had been father and mother to her since raya’s mother had left when she was eight. Than her father died in a car accident. The one that had sent Matt away. Maya had loved Matt for six years before he left. Not on;y was Matt coming back to the squad but rafael had talked raya into oking Matt to come back to work at the gym. He said they could be on a different schedule and not have to run into each other, like with the first aid squad.
I loved this book. I loved that she volunteered for the squad and felt like they were family to her as she had no real family left of her own. I was glad she was there for Matt when he needed her. I was happy that Matt came to know his other two brothers and they accepted each other. I just loved this story but was sad for the pain and anger and abandonment Raya felt the eight years Matt was in the service. I didn’t want to put this book down. I felt like I was there with Matt and Raya and everyone. I loved Matt and Raya together. I loved the pace and the plot. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend it.

Free Me is the third book in Kimberley Ash's Van Allen Brothers series. I have been waiting for Matthias's story since the first book and this did not disappoint.

Matt and Raya have a deep history. When Matt comes back after 8 years away, the two must figure out how to coexist with Raya as Matt's boss. The two must figure out if they can move on from past hurts or leave their relationship fully in the past.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The latest book in this triology.

Matt is back from the armed forces, home after finding out his Dad is ill. Returning home also means he has to face Raya, the ex he hurt and left behind 8 years ago. Will he get a second chance?

This is the third book in this series and even though I haven't read the two previous books I had no trouble following the story line It is a wonderful sweet second time around all though is it the second time when you never really left the first time

This is Mattias Van Allen the youngest brothers story he loved Raya eight years before but he was to young and stupid to fight for what he wanted and he allowed her to walk away but he has never gotten over here Now they are working together and once again he will try to prove his love to her So begins a complicated love story as these two try to fight their way back to one another All of the boys have been damaged by their father but maybe Mattias has suffered the most after all he was also contending with ADD and very low self esteem

The entire Van Allen Brothers series (Forgive Me, Forget Me, and Free Me) is an excellent set of complicated love stories. Each revolves around love and the failings of a father.
Free Me covers the youngest brother, Mathias, and the fallout from his leaving the love of his life, Raya, when she needed him the most. Eight years have gone by and they now find themselves thrown together at work. It’s a touching and engaging story of Matt and Raya and their struggles to regain what was lost to them.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A nice read with a hero who isn’t tall, but still is dark and handsome, “Free Me”, by Kimberley Ash (Tule Publishing), explores the “I’ve loved you for years” trope and is the third story on the Van Allen Brothers series.
Matt is a short man, almost the same height as the heroine, but displays all the other attributes of male romance heroes, and I found that lack of height, combined with his charming Puerto Rican good looks, his muscles and general efficiency, simply gorgeous.
His optimism and well-tempered personality are attractive too, even when we are questioning whether the first is a lingering affect of his attempts to mask the ADD and the self-esteem problems (more a thing of the past in the story).
I found it endearing how he candidly admits that Raya is the love of his life.
Having not read the previous books, I had no trouble connecting the dots and relating to the characters, namely his brothers and their partners.
Besides finding Peter, Matt’s father, a nasty person, I felt Peter’s bewilderment and ignorance or even callousness towards his son’s ADD an incongruence, since he was a college teacher and “so smart”.

I’d been waiting for Matt’s story and his and Raya’s romance did not disappoint. I do wish they had delved a bit more into what drove them apart - they discuss it but in a more superficial way - we know what happened, what was said but they never go deep. Raya’s fears were very poignantly expressed and handled well. The author did a very good job of having the other characters gently expose the falsity of her inner voice when it came to making connections. I also thought the author handled well revealing to Matt the truth about Peter and his illness served as a good vehicle to bring the three Van Allen brothers together. The epilogue was a sweet way to tie up the three stories.

A great addition to The Van Allen Brothers series, Free Me by Kimberley Ash. I've enjoyed the series since the first book in the series. The author pulls you in from the start of each book. I look forward to reading more by this author.

***I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review***

Raya and Mattias had young love and then life happened and they broke up. Mattias left town because he thought that was what Raya wanted. Years later Mattias comes back and they get their second chance at love.

The book was okay, there was some difficult parts to keep me interested.

This, the third and final book in the Van Allen brothers series, is a worthy conclusion to the series. Matt has been away from home, serving in the army, for the past eight years. He left home suddenly, taking his girl friend at her word when she told him to leave. It never occurred to him, that she was just angry at the time.

Raya has been incredibly lonely since the death of her father, and what she considers to be the desertion by her long-time boyfriend. What she doesn’t seem to recall is that he left her because she told him to.

Matt’s return brings a lot of turmoil with it. Both he and Raya struggle with how to move forward. They were together for six years before he left, and neither has truly moved on since their break-up. Matt is also stunned to discover that his father is terminally ill and that he has a half-brother of whom he was never aware.

Can Matt and Raya move forward together or will they let past mistakes stand in their way?