Finn - JoAnn Ross (Castlelough Publishing - Dec 2016)

Series: 7 Brides for 7 Brothers (Book 7)

Finn Brannigan has a need for speed. Fast cars, fast jets, and the fast life that comes with being a TOPGUN naval aviator. He's flying missions over Afghanistan when his media mogul father dies unexpectedly, leaving Finn an airline in the wilds of the Alaskan wilderness. Which is a cool surprise, though he hasn't a clue what he's supposed to do with three small planes half a world away.

Nine months later, burned out from multiple deployments, Finn leaves the Navy and heads north to the Last Frontier to escape the world. But his planned isolation is blown to bits when a runaway bride insists he fly her to her planned honeymoon cabin located in his remote mountain town of Caribou.

As the short Alaskan summer spins out, Finn finds himself wanting to slow the days down and savor every delicious moment with the free-spirited singer/songwriter who’s made him feel alive again.

Tori Cassidy has had it with dishonest, cheating playboys. Alaskan bush pilot Finn Brannigan is exactly the kind of man she can envision building a life with. Hardworking. Honest. Ordinary.

There’s just one problem: Finn is lying about who he really is.

Good conclusion to the series. Finn is the youngest of the Brannigans, and at this point the only one left unattached. As a Navy pilot he's enjoyed the adrenaline rush associated with it and the attentions of the ladies on the ground. However, between his father's death and two near-death experiences, Finn is ready for his next adventure. Conveniently, his father left him an airline in the wilds of Alaska, giving Finn a chance to enjoy some peace and quiet. To aid in that, he doesn't tell anyone in Caribou, Alaska, that he's the new owner of the airline. They all believe that he's just another pilot. His peace and quiet come to an abrupt end when he picks up a runaway bride who plans to use the intended honeymoon cabin for her own chance at peace and quiet.

Tori has had a rough year. Her singing career is at a standstill while the now-bankrupt recording studio finds a buyer for her contract, leaving her broke. Her engagement to her childhood crush comes to a crashing end when she discovers his cheating, lying, and actual plans for the future. I had to laugh when she reminisced about finding out about his cheating and how she thought about "Bobbitizing" him. I'm old enough to remember that event, especially since it happened not far from where I lived. Tori may be down, but she isn't out. She is determined to write some new songs and restart her career, even if she has to go back to the beginning to do it.

Both Finn and Tori get a shock when he arrives in Anchorage to pick up a honeymoon couple. They had had an intense one-night encounter a year earlier, something that neither of them was able to forget. I enjoyed that reunion as the sparks flew fast and furious between them. Finn rocked the cocky pilot attitude, pulling out all the stops in flirting with Tori. Tori can't deny that the sparks are still there, but she's not in the mood to restart anything with Finn. I liked how Finn backed off a bit, his protective instincts coming up when he realizes that she's hurting. I loved the way he looked after her that first night when he went to check on her and found her somewhat the worse for champagne.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Finn and Tori. Finn was all for seeing where the sparks would take them, but Tori wasn't so sure. The depth of the connection she felt during their one-night encounter had scared her into running. Meeting Finn again stirs up those same feelings and the same fears. Because of her past, Tori has trouble believing that love lasts. While Finn started out going for the attraction, it wasn't long before he realized that there was something more going on. But he too had some issues believing that love was in the cards for him. It was great fun to see him call one of his brothers for advice, and have that brother bust out laughing because he'd done the same thing.  Finn also has the problem of Tori not knowing that he is a billionaire's son and owner of the airline. He knows he has to tell her but keeps putting it off for the "right time." I ached for both of them when the truth came out. Finn knows he screwed up, but he isn't going to give up. Tori rightly felt betrayed, and it only added to her belief that love never lasts. I liked the lecture she received from her best friend, and what she did with the advice she got. Tori's big moment was great as she used her music to tell Finn how she felt.

The central theme that ran through all seven books was the importance of family. From a collection of brothers that rarely spoke to each other, much less spent time together at the beginning, to the loving, supportive brotherhood they became, their journeys were unique and emotional. Though their father had been an absentee one after their mother's death, with each book the depth of his love for his sons became more evident. In Finn's case, he had it a little easier than his brothers because his father spent some quality time with him on their trip to Alaska. There was also an interesting twist to the Alaska connection that I didn't see coming, showing that Finn wasn't the only one who had secrets. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up to the series. The scene in the library was a moving one, and I loved that Finn was the one to start the new tradition.

 

James - Roxanne St. Claire (South Street Publishing - Dec 2016)

Series: 7 Brides for 7 Brothers (Book 6)

Running a billion-dollar hedge fund doesn't leave a lot of time for fun in the sun, but that doesn't bother James Brannigan. After spending his youth helping his widowed father raise six younger brothers, James took a cue from his workaholic dad and channeled all his energy into business. So when he learns that his father left him a tiny winery on the Amalfi Coast, he's not thrilled. A trip to Italy is the last thing his busy schedule needs, but the winery has to go. Which means...he has to go to the winery.

Kyra Summers is the definition of a free-spirit. In her thirty years on earth, she’s never stayed in one place long enough to put down roots until she arrived in Positano and fell hard for the bold flavors, hot sun, warm people, and above all, the wonderful wine. Her job at a small, local winery is her first attempt to make a real home and the people who run the place start to become like family to her. Until the winery's new owner, a devastatingly handsome, shockingly ruthless billionaire, arrives with plans to shut it all down. Kyra's willing to do whatever it takes to save this place she loves--even if it means cozying up to a man who's harder than granite and twice as cold.

But the Italian sunshine has a way of heating things up--with every fiery exchange, they strike sparks and draw irresistibly closer together. James is stunned by his attraction to a woman unlike any he's met before, and Kyra discovers a simmering passion hidden behind his polished exterior. But passion won't be enough to change James's mind and his priorities, which is exactly why his late father sent him to Italy. Changing James is going to take a much bigger risk--it's going to take love.

I loved this book. Colin, the patriarch of the Brannigan family, died eight months earlier, after an illness he kept from his seven sons. Though he tied up his billions in a trust for five years, he left each of his sons unique legacies. James received ownership of a tiny winery on the Amalfi coast of Italy, a bequest that left him thoroughly confused. He never knew his dad owned a winery, and running a hedge fund is not conducive to winemaking. Besides, James doesn't drink wine or anything alcoholic because it can lead to a loss of control. The best thing he can do is unload it fast and get back to what he does best. With an offer already in hand, James heads to Italy to check the place out before signing on the dotted line. He doesn't expect to get blindsided by Kyra, the pretty and bubbly tourist liaison for the winery.

Kyra toured the winery during her world travels and never left. After moving from place to place for most of her life, something about Positano made her want to put down roots. She was embraced by the Sebastiani family who quickly made her feel like one of them. When they hear that the new owner is coming to visit, Kyra is determined to find out his intentions. She'll do anything to help her family.

I loved the development of the relationship between James and Kyra. It got off to a slightly rough start as laser-focused, business-only James was confronted by bright and cheerful Kyra, who refuses to be deterred by James's cold demeanor. I laughed out loud at Kyra's success at rolling right over James's attempts to avoid going with her, then at his reaction to riding the Vespa. James realized from the very beginning that Kyra was going to be trouble for him, and he was right. There was no denying the attraction between them, but worse than that was the way she got past his walls.

Both James and Kyra were raised by workaholic parents. James's dad buried his grief at his wife's death by immersing himself in work, leaving James to watch out for his younger brothers. It was Colin's influence that had James following in his footsteps, both in business and in choosing work to avoid his feelings. Kyra's mother was also a workaholic, leaving Kyra in the care of nannies most of the time. All Kyra wanted was her mother's attention, but all she got was watching her mother coldly destroy people's lives in the name of business. Instead of becoming like her mother, Kyra became the opposite. She left home at eighteen and traveled the world, getting to know people of all kinds, always in search of a sense of belonging.

It was so much fun to watch Kyra teach James how to relax and enjoy himself. The more time they spent together, the stronger the attraction became. They also developed a sense of trust in each other that enabled them to share painful parts of their pasts, and in that sharing began to heal. The attraction and trust deepened into stronger feelings. Kyra knew she was going to hurt when James left, but she couldn't stop what was happening. It took James longer to realize what he was feeling. I loved his moment of revelation and his determination to show Kyra the depth of his feelings. Who knew that stuffy old James had the capability for something so romantic? But fate threw them a curveball in the form of trouble at the winery. I ached for Kyra and her feelings of betrayal, and for James and his bewildered devastation. I loved the ending and how both James and Kyra found what they were looking for.

The winery itself was at the center of the story. In previous books we saw how James's father had his reasons for each bequest, each son learning something about himself and his parents along the way. At the beginning James was closed off and determined to sell the winery at the earliest opportunity. But as he got to know the Sebastiani family, the rush to sell began to fade and thoughts of keeping it began to grow. When the matriarch of the family shared her memories of James's parents and their visit there, it brought back memories of happier times. I loved seeing the effect it had on James and laughed a little at the confusion it caused him. His conversations with assorted brothers only confused him more. At the same time, James began to question some things about the winery itself. I had my suspicions long before James did and wondered if he would figure it out. I loved when the light went on and James realized what was going on. His reaction was fantastic and I loved seeing the combination of the old ruthless businessman James and the new and improved James with a heart. The confrontation at the hotel was great, followed by him riding to the rescue (on a Vespa, by himself, with no helmet!) at the winery. That scene was exciting and heartwarming and perfectly showcased the new James. The epilogue was great, and I loved the conversation with Finn, the last man standing in the Brannigan family - for now.

Max - Lynn Raye Harris (H.O.T. Publishing - Dec 2016)

Series: 7 Brides for 7 Brothers (Book 5)

Former Navy SEAL Max Brannigan is a loner with a strong protective streak and an ocean of survivor’s guilt that drives him to take risks no sane man would take. When he gets the news his billionaire father died and left him a horse farm in Kentucky, he’s busy protecting American military contractors in a war zone. The first moment he’s able, he’ll fly back to the US and dispose of the farm. What does a man like him need horses for anyway? Of all the things his father could have left him, this certainly ranks up there as the most bizarre.

Elinor Applegate lives for her horses, but life on the farm isn’t easy. Once-thriving Applegate Farm has fallen on hard times in the past few years. Only an influx of cash from her mother’s old friend enabled Ellie to keep the family operation going. All her hopes to turn around the business and buy back the land lie on the hooves of a colt destined to greatness. She’s just got to get him there first.

But when sexy, ruthless, infuriating Max Brannigan shows up, Ellie realizes her troubles are far worse than she thought. He knows nothing about horses—and he cares less than nothing about her dreams. To Max, the horses are useless and have to go—in spite of the fact that every encounter with Ellie only makes him want to drag her into his arms and kiss the fire right out of her. But Ellie will fight hard to keep her dreams alive, even if she has to fight dirty. Max has spent most of his life protecting people from danger—but can he protect himself when Ellie launches a full-scale assault against the walls surrounding his heart?

Good book. Max is one of seven brothers, each of whom received odd bequests from their father upon his death. For Max, he was puzzled when he received the deed to a Kentucky horse farm. As a former SEAL and current security operative, the last thing he needs is a horse farm. He plans to go to Kentucky when he can, check the place out, and sell it to raise the money he needs to start his own security firm.

Ellie is the last living Applegate on the farm that's been in her family for four generations. She's doing her best to keep the farm going, helped by a loan from an old friend of her mother's. She has big plans to pay off the loan, but it's going to take a little time. Time that may have just run out.

I liked both Ellie and Max. Ellie is hard-working, determined, and caring. Her farm and the horses mean the world to her. I loved seeing her with those horses, from the pregnant mare to Champ, the horse who holds all her hopes and dreams. There are times when it seems that she works 24 hours a day. Ellie also has a big heart. I loved seeing her friendship with Lacey and the fun they had together. Ellie also watched out for Lacey, who had issues with an obnoxious ex-boyfriend. I liked Max, too, though there were a few times I wanted to shake him. Max has a tremendous protective streak that started when he was a kid. Even though he's a middle brother, he felt he had to watch over them, especially after their mother died. That protectiveness grew stronger when he was a SEAL and later as he worked security is world hotspots. Max has some commitment issues thanks to the way his father withdrew from the family after his wife's death. He doesn't believe in love, despite seeing four of his brothers fall.

There were sparks between Max and Ellie from the beginning. He arrived expecting a farm of racehorses that he could sell for big bucks, and instead found a bunch of "prancers." This attitude did not endear him to Ellie. He made it clear from the start that he wants to sell and move on. Ellie does not just roll over and accept his offer. She is determined to keep the farm, but that means she has to keep Max from selling it before she can complete her plans. It was fun to see Ellie push back against Max and to see his amusement at her misunderstandings of the type of person he is. I enjoyed watching the attraction build as they learned more about each other. It wasn't long before they went from adversaries to friends, and from there to lovers. Max was a bit freaked out by his attraction to Ellie. He has no intention of sticking around; watching the grass grow would drive him nuts, but he keeps picturing himself in her future. Ellie knows he doesn't plan to stay and tries to protect her heart, but her feelings can't be denied. I ached for both of them at the end as Max tried to run from his emotions. I had to laugh at his "aha" moment as he finally realized the truth. I liked the ending and seeing that hint of vulnerability in him as he faced Ellie.

Like his brothers in the other books, Max discovers that the off-the-wall inheritance wasn't so odd after all. Each son has been given something that their father believes will help them avoid making the mistakes he did. Finding out about his mother's connection to Applegate Farm helps Max see a different side of his father. Seeing Ellie's commitment to the continuation of her family's traditions also makes him look at the farm from another angle. I liked seeing the changes he went through as all of these things caused him to re-examine his life and his plans.