Showing posts with label Bravo Family Ties. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bravo Family Ties. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The Right Reason to Marry - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2731 - Dec 2019)

Series: Bravos of Valentine Bay (Book 6)
            Bravo Family Ties (Book 57)

She turned him down. Twice.

Karin Killigan refuses to marry Liam Bravo solely for the sake of their pending baby. This time, the widowed mother of two is holding out for true lasting love. And even though she is knee-deep in kids and family chaos, Karin and Liam’s attraction is hotter than ever, but Karin won’t settle. Liam will have to prove he’s in it for love if he wants a family for his baby’s first Christmas.

This was a fantastic and emotional book that opens with Liam Bravo getting the shock of his life. A chance encounter with the woman he had a very brief relationship with earlier in the year reveals that she is pregnant - very pregnant. Once he recovers his wits, Liam knows he wants to be involved in his baby's life.

Karin kept putting off telling Liam about his impending fatherhood. She knows he's a good man, and she's sure that he will want to do "the right thing." The problem is that she's already had one marriage for that reason and it didn't work out very well. There's no way she's going to risk her heart again for anything but real, lasting love.

Liam does exactly what Karin feared and proposes marriage. While he's not happy about being turned down, he is undeterred in his desire to be part of the baby's life. He also figures that he will keep trying to bring Karin around to his way of thinking. One of the things I loved about Liam is that when he makes a decision, he goes all in. Rather than trying to handle his involvement from his home in Astoria, he rents the cottage next door to Karin from her brother, Sten (Switched at Birth). Karin isn't happy about it because it keeps Liam far too close for her peace of mind. I loved watching Liam's transformation from carefree bachelor to daddy. The scenes with him and baby Riley, or RG as he calls him, are adorable. He also gets close to Karin's father and her two children. But his main desire is to show Karin that they belong together.

Karin has a tough time keeping distance between herself and Liam. Everything he does shows her that he could be the man to make her happy. But her first marriage left her wary of trusting her judgment when it comes to her feelings. She had loved Bud with all her young heart, but he wasn't ready to be a father and husband. He withdrew, spending more time away than with the family, and even when he was home he wasn't really there.

I loved seeing the development of the relationship between Liam and Karin. Karin ended their earlier relationship when the intensity of her feelings scared her, exacerbated by the discovery that she was pregnant. She was afraid that if she told Liam about the pregnancy, she wouldn't be able to resist him and would repeat her mistakes. In spite of the breakup, neither Liam nor Karin forgot what it was like when they were together. From the moment Liam found out about the baby, he was there for Karin, day in and day out. The more time they spent together, the deeper their connection grew. They also discovered that their attraction was just as strong as it had ever been.

I think Karin frustrated me almost as much as she frustrated Liam. She welcomes him into her home and her life, encouraging him to spend as much time as possible with Riley. But at the same time, she tries desperately to keep her distance emotionally. Even when they give in to the attraction between them, Karin insists on keeping it a secret. Every time that Liam tries to talk about the future, she shuts him down. I ached for Liam, who realized that he loved her and wanted to marry her and make a family with her, but could not break through the walls she had around her heart. I hurt for Karin, too, because part of her knew she was falling for Liam, but she could not let go of her fears. My heart broke for both of them when she panicked over his second proposal. I liked the advice that Liam got from Daniel that helped him hang on to hope. But my favorite was the advice that Karin received from her brother Sten, who capped it off with the comment, "Super painful, isn't it? When your own words come back to bite you in the ass..." I loved Karin and Liam's big moment at the end, especially seeing Karin finally put the past behind her and believe in their love.

I loved the secondary characters, too. Karin's dad, Otto, was terrific. I liked the way that he and Liam bonded, and how he supported both of them. I liked his subtle and not-so-subtle ways of throwing Karin and Liam together. Liam's family was great in the way that they supported Liam in his efforts to win Karin over. I especially liked how they already considered Karin and her kids family because of Sten's marriage to Madison. My favorites were Karin's kids, Ben and Coco. Ben is such a serious little boy, mature for his age, but also showing unexpected vulnerability. His man-to-man talk with Liam was sweet but also heartbreaking in what it revealed. Coco was a trip. Her variety of superhero personas was fun, as was her boundless enthusiasm for everything. I laughed out loud at her lunch with Liam and the story of the leftovers. I loved seeing them wiggle their way into Liam's heart.
 

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

A Husband She Couldn't Forget - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2720 - Oct 2019)

Series: Bravos of Valentine Bay (Book 5)
            Bravo Family Ties (Book 56)

The career she couldn't remember…

The marriage she couldn't forget...

Aly Santangelo's car accident left her with no memory of the past seven years -- not her move to New York, nor her divorce from Connor Bravo. Connor reminds the vulnerable beauty that they're no longer together, even as he lets her into his home -- and his bed. But when unchecked passion leads to an unplanned pregnancy, Aly vows to play for keeps!

Terrific second chance romance. I read it in one sitting, unable to put it down.  Connor and Aly had married very young and divorced after only two years when Connor refused to follow up on his promise to move to New York with her. They haven't seen each other since then. Aly is on her way back to Valentine Bay to care for her mother, her mind on Connor and their past when she is involved in an accident. The resulting concussion blocks her memory of the seven years since their divorce.

This was an emotion-filled story. I could feel Aly's fear and frustration as everyone tried to convince her of the truth when all she wanted was to see Connor. When Aly's brother Dante showed up at Connor's door, Connor's fear of the worst was apparent. He has huge regrets over his part in the end of his marriage, and he will do anything to help Aly. Emotions ran high as Connor struggled to be both firm and kind as well as honest, Aly finally accepted the truth, and Aly's father and brothers reeked of hostility. Her reaction was understandably blunt, which made it even more of a surprise when she showed up at his house, asking to stay with him while she was in town.

I loved the rekindling of Connor and Aly's relationship. It is evident from the start that their feelings for each other never died. Though she still hasn't remembered anything, Aly is confident of her feelings for Connor and wants a chance to repair their relationship. She senses that he still cares, but that he is fighting it. Moving in with him is her way of trying to break down his walls. Connor realizes quickly that his feelings for Aly never died, but there are two things that argue against getting involved again. First, she is still recovering from her injuries, and he doesn't want to take advantage while she is vulnerable. Second, Aly will return to New York at the end of her stay, and that is a recipe for another broken heart. I loved watching Aly chip away at Connor's resistance until he finally gives in. He'll take what he can get and hope for the best at the end.

I liked seeing them get to know each other as they are now. There are plenty of sweet scenes of everything from cooking together to walks on the beach to quiet movie nights. Though it's always in the back of their minds, both of them put off thinking about what will happen when Aly leaves. I cried for both of them when her memories of their divorce returned, and she had to deal with the pain all over again. Aly's discovery of her pregnancy is a complication that adds to her confusion over what she wants for her future. Both she and Connor have some things to work through that create quite a bit of tension. There were times I wondered if Connor had learned anything from his past mistakes. His big moment at the end was fantastic and showed that he finally got it.  

I loved the family relationships in this book. The Bravos are as close as ever, and it was great to see them. Aly's attendance at the family dinners entailed catching her up on their lives, which also served as a reminder to the reader of what had gone before. I really liked how Aly was pulled back in with little fuss. Daniel still serves as the family advisor and does a great job of helping Connor with his decision at the end. Aly's family was terrific too. Aly was the youngest, with three older brothers, meaning she suffered through a lot of overprotectiveness. I enjoyed the glimpses of her life growing up with them, especially with her brother Dante. That she fell in love with Dante's best friend created deeper issues later on. It was both funny and emotional to see the changes that Connor and Dante's friendship goes through over those years. There was a terrific scene that involved Dante and Connor's sister Grace that made me laugh at Connor's reaction and wonder if the tables will be turned at a later date. I liked Aly's relationship with her mom and the help and understanding she received. I loved that Aly's mom was firmly on their side and kept the guys somewhat in check.
 

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Switched at Birth - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2690 - May 2019)


Series: Bravos of Valentine Bay (Book 4)
            Bravo Family Ties (Book 55)

A NEW IDENTITY, A NEW LOVE

Ever since Madison Delaney learned she was switched at birth, her life has been in a tailspin. The Hollywood actress arrives in Valentine Bay hesitant to reveal herself to her new family, but she quickly encounters Sten Larson living next door. The down-to-earth shipbuilder makes Madison question everything she thought she wanted. Can a movie star find happiness in small-town Oregon?

Wonderful entry in the Bravos of Valentine Bay series. I have been looking forward to Madison's story ever since the switch was revealed in Almost a Bravo. Unlike Aislinn, who had her whole family there to support her and help her through the crisis, Madison was alone. The family had been trying for months to get in touch with Madison, but have been stonewalled by her agent and assistant. They finally reached out to their cousin Jonas (The Bravo Billionaire) who was able to gain access to Madison's home.

Madison woke up on her birthday, ready for her tradition of setting her goals for the next year. Though she thought she had no idea what to put down, she was stunned by the goals her subconscious revealed. Her contemplation of those goals was interrupted by Jonas's arrival. Her world was completely upended by the news of the baby switch and what it could mean for her. Within a week she found a beach cottage to rent in Valentine Bay, where she could lie low, think about her plans for the future, and work up the nerve to meet her unknown family.

Madison's next door neighbor and owner of the cottage was Sten Larson. Sten shares his home with his father, widowed sister, and her son and daughter. I loved his close relationship with them all. His sister's teasing and "guidance" are spot on, and received with the expected appreciation <grin>. I especially loved seeing him with his niece and nephew. They were adorable, and it's obvious that he'd make a great father.

I loved the development of the relationship between Madison and Sten. It was cute to see how Madison watched him from a distance at first, believing that he was married and a dad. She was drawn to him but thought he was off limits. Once she discovered he was available, however, she was determined to get to know him better. She was a bit creative in her method, but it did get him to her house. It was fun to see how amused he was, but he was also intrigued. Once he found out about her connection to the Bravos, he tried to encourage her to take that final step and get to know them. I ached for Madison because she was so nervous and stressed over the idea. It created a little strain between her and Sten because he would sometimes push a little too hard. I loved the time that she and Sten spent together doing ordinary things, and how it reinforced her decisions about the changes she wanted to make in her life. The more time they spent together, the more the attraction and connection deepened also. Madison fell hard and fast for Sten, but he fought his feelings all the way. He had been badly hurt in a past relationship, and it affected the way he looked at what he and Madison shared. I wanted to shake Sten at times because he refused to see that Madison was nothing like Ella. I hurt for Madison and loved how she didn't give up on him. The ending was sweet and emotional as Sten finally broke free of his fears. I adored the epilogue with the look at their future.

I loved seeing the other side of the switched babies story. Aislinn had such a hard time dealing with the news that I wasn't sure how it would go for Madison. Her initial shock was understandable. I liked that it didn't take her long to accept the truth. The hard part for her was taking that final step to get to know the family. Though Sten pushed a bit hard, he also believed that it was something she needed to face sooner rather than later. He offered her all the support she could want. I loved the first meeting between Madison and her siblings. It was especially neat to see the closeness between herself and Aislinn. There was an interesting twist involving one of her brothers that makes me very anxious to read his story.