One summer, two sisters and a chance to start over…
Before the burglary that shattered her confidence,
Phoenix Rose had a fiancé, a successful store and a busy, happy existence.
After months spent adrift, she takes a job at the lakeside resort of Cooper's
Charm. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, friendly colleagues and a charismatic,
widowed boss, Phoenix is slowly inching her way back into the world.
Visiting Cooper's Charm to check up on her little sister,
Ridley Rose impulsively agrees to fill in as housekeeper. Still reeling from an
ego-bruising divorce, she finds satisfaction in a job well done -- and in the
attention of the resort's handsome scuba instructor.
For Phoenix and Ridley, Cooper's Charm is supposed to be
merely temporary. But this detour may lead to the place they most need to be,
where the future is as satisfying as it is surprising…
Terrific story about two sisters who want to take back
their lives, and the men who help them do it. It's also a story of family,
support, and love, letting go of the past and taking chances.
Phoenix had a happy life until a burglary and assault
threw it all into turmoil. After months of drifting, she's determined to find
her independence and reclaim her life. Taking a job as the groundskeeper at
Cooper's Charm will get her back into the career she loves with enough physical
activity to keep her distracted from her past. She doesn't expect the bigger
distraction of her sexy, widowed boss. Cooper purchased the resort several
years earlier, after the murder of his pregnant wife. The first two years were
spent just trying to make it from day to day, but he's slowly found peace in
his surroundings and the varied life of the resort. He still grieves for his
wife, but he's more at peace, until a sexy, hurting Phoenix starts to get under
his skin.
I loved the development of the relationship between
Cooper and Phoenix. I loved their first encounter, the sparks that were there
between them, and the wary way they danced around them. Cooper is aware of
Phoenix's past, which brings out the protectiveness in him. Phoenix is still
dealing with the aftermath of the robbery and the effect it had on how she sees
herself. Cooper is patient in the way he lets Phoenix get to know him and
become comfortable around him. She is surprised by the fact that, in spite of
his size, she is never afraid of him. I liked the slow and steady growth of
their relationship, as the chemistry between them builds. One of the things I
liked best was their ability to communicate, not just the everyday job-related
stuff, but also those things that were more personal. I loved their honesty, as
both agreed that they weren't into playing games with feelings. Phoenix also
has some self-esteem issues about her body because she is quite curvy. Cooper
finds her very sexy and has no trouble letting her know the effect she has on
him. After a bit of excitement at the end, both Phoenix and Cooper were able to
admit their feelings for each other and move on together.
Phoenix's sister, Ridley, had recently been through a
painful divorce, leaving her cynical and a little bitter. When she arrives at
Cooper's Charm to check up on Phoenix, she is at loose ends and impulsively
offers to act as the resort's housekeeper. This also puts her near Baxter, the
resort's scuba instructor. The sparks between them flew fast and furious. I
loved the back and forth between them. Baxter is commitment-shy after a bad
breakup and is known as quite the player, but there is something about Ridley
that gets under his skin. Ridley is only looking for a fun time, however Baxter
blasts right through the walls she has erected around her heart. It was fun to
watch these two chase each other and try to keep their emotions out of it. An
unexpected development forces them to face their feelings and make some
decisions.
There was a bit of suspense involving Phoenix. It appears
that someone is targeting her, and the question is who and why? There are several
suspects, but I was pretty sure who it was from the beginning of the incidents.
The resolution was a nail-biter with Phoenix's life on the line. I loved how it
turned out, especially seeing Phoenix regain that last piece of herself.
No comments:
Post a Comment