Review: Hollie Porter Builds a Raft by Eliza Gordon

raft (noun): when two or more otters rest together,
often holding hands, so they don’t drift apart

Hollie Porter has put her old gig as a 911 operator and sad single girl in an attic-bound box, right where it belongs. She’s rebounded nicely from her run-in with Chloe the Cougar in the wilds of British Columbia, and this new life alongside concierge-in-shining-armor Ryan Fielding? Way more fun. After relocating to Ryan’s posh resort at Revelation Cove, Hollie embarks on an all-new adventure as the Cove’s wildlife experience educator, teaching guests and their kids about otters and orca and cougars, oh my.

When darling Ryan gets down on one NHL-damaged knee and pops the question of a lifetime, Hollie realizes this is where the real adventure begins. It’s all cake tasting, flower choosing, and dress fittings until a long-lost family member shows up at the Cove and threatens to hijack her shiny new life, forcing Hollie to redefine what family means to her. What is she willing to sacrifice to have one of her very own?

As Ryan’s words echo in her head—“Our raft, our rules”—Hollie has to face facts: a raft isn’t always tied together with blood and genetics. Sometimes it’s secured by love and loyalty… and occasional help from the clever creatures that call Revelation Cove home.

4 Star Review by Jen Skewes

I absolutely adored Must Love Otters and was so excited to find out that we would be getting more of Hollie and Ryan.  I loved these two together and could not wait to see what interesting situations these two would find themselves in this time around.  Concierge Ryan is a sexy retired NHL player who now runs and owns a resort.  Holly is the quirky girl that he fell in love with a year ago.  And  Hollie Porter Builds a raft is their journey to finding their hapiily ever after. 

This book takes place about a year after Otters ended.  Concierge Ryan and Hollie are still together and still going strong.  They are still in love more now than ever.  So much so that Ryan gets down on one knee and pops the question.  So now it is their time to build a raft together.  And we get to be there with them every step of the way as they plan the big day together.

I loved seeing Hollie and Ryan together.  Ryan is the sexy guy who gets the beautiful yet quirky girl that he fell in love with.  She manages to get herself into situations that just seem impossible to understand.  But no matter what Ryan loves her.  You see just how much in this installment as well. He is completely swoon worthy and head over heels in love with Hollie.  You can see just how much he truly adores her.  And it just melted my heart.

Planning a wedding is not easy at all, between the dress shopping, the cake tasting and setting a date.  Oh and we cannot forget the person from your past who all of a sudden has an interest in your life and will stop at nothing to get your attention, and not in a very good way.  My god if I was related to that woman I would have run far away…lol.  But Hollie manages to take all this stress in stride.  Yes there are mishaps along the way but this would not be Hollie’s wedding if there wasn’t.  But she has the man of her dreams by her side to help her through it all.  And in the end everything that they went through, the tears, the stress, the craziness, will all be worth it. 

I loved the supporting characters especially the relationship that Hollie has with her dad.  There were some sweet father/daughter moments that I loved.  I loved seeing these two be there for each other.  But I also loved how well Hollie got along with Ryan’s family as well.  His mother being like the mother she never had and a sister in Sarah.  They has such a wonderful connection.

If you love a romantic comedy that is filled with fun, witty and laugh out loud moments then this series is for you.  I hope you all fall in love with Hollie Porter and Concierge Ryan just as much as I did.  They are the perfect match.  Thank you Eliza Gordon for giving us more of these two characters.