Deadly Testimony - Piper J. Drake (Carina Press - May 2016)

Series: Safeguard (Book 2)

The stakes have never been higher as an elite team member must outwit a dangerous killer and save the man she's sworn to protect.

Kyle Yeun didn't start out bad and he doesn't intend to end his life while on the wrong side of the law, either. His testimony to his former employer's environmental misdeeds has earned him a protection detail compliments of the US government. But due to a dark international conspiracy Kyle was unaware of, his former employers have made ending his life a top priority. Realizing he needs more protection than the US Marshals can provide, he turns to Safeguard after seeing the beautiful, deadly Lizzy Scott in action.

One look at Kyle, and sniper Lizzy Scott knows this isn't going to be an easy protection job. He's arrogant, irritating and almost irresistible. Instead of being put off by her hardened attitude, Kyle seems to thrive off the challenge. And she's slowly giving in to his charms. After narrowly escaping the latest assassination attempt, Lizzy starts taking dangerous risks to keep him safe. But the last thing Kyle wants is another life ruined because of his actions. He found his redemption in Lizzy's arms and he'll risk everything to make sure they both make it out alive. As will she, even if it means walking away from him to keep him safe.

Terrific book with excellent balance between romance and suspense. Lizzy is an ex-military no-nonsense member of Centurion, where she frequently serves as the sniper for her team. As this book opens, she has just finished an assignment and is about "peopled" out. She wants to get to her hotel room, take a hot bath, and relax, so she isn't thrilled to find the elevators blocked. Three goons have cornered a man and are doing their best to intimidate him. When they blow off her request for them to move, she takes matters into her own hands. Lizzy is relatively petite in stature and is accustomed to being underestimated. She handily defeats them, freeing the man from their clutches, and goes on her way.

Kyle is currently under the protection of the US Marshals and the Seattle police while he prepares to testify against his former employers. Unfortunately, Kyle doesn't like being confined and tends to slip away from his minders whenever he can. This puts him in additional danger. Kyle is impressed by Lizzy's actions and tracks her down, hiring her to provide extra security.

I loved both Lizzy and Kyle. Lizzy is a bit of a loner due to her place as a sniper, but she knows that to advance, she has to work with others. She is at a crossroads where she has to decide if she'll go back to Centurion on a fire team, or stick with the Safeguard division and take single- or two-person jobs. She is very professional, nearly unflappable, and hates distractions. There is also a feminine side to her that she keeps pretty well hidden from others, though Kyle figures it out pretty quickly. Kyle is smart, honorable, and a bit of a wise-ass. He first came across as a bit arrogant and even a little smarmy with his innuendo-laden comments. But mostly he's frustrated with his protectors for keeping him in the dark and simply telling him what to do with no explanation. He'd be a lot more cooperative if he were allowed to participate in his own safety.

The sparks between Kyle and Lizzy were there from the beginning. Lizzy wasn't too happy about it because there's no room for distraction when you're trying to keep someone safe. Kyle also feels the sparks and derives a great deal of enjoyment out of jerking Lizzy's chain with his blatant innuendos. I loved their banter as he implies, and she shoots him down. The pages almost burst into flame during their sparring session and I loved their honest talk about what is building between them. Over the next few days, as they are with each other 24/7, under stressful circumstances, I loved seeing them get to know each other and share some of the things that have made them who they are. They both acknowledge that there is something special there and that only time will tell whether it will last. I loved seeing both of them learn to let go of a little control and depend on the other. I especially liked that Kyle is willing to listen to Lizzy's instructions and doesn't get bent out of shape when he isn't in charge. The ending was great, as each decided what was best for their future, then found a way to make their relationship work with it.  

The suspense of the story kept me glued to the pages. Lizzy takes her job seriously and has no problem going off the grid when multiple attacks happen in a short period of time. Lizzy realizes that someone desperately wants to keep Kyle from testifying, leading her to believe that he knows more than he thinks he does. I loved watching the lengths Lizzy went to as they made their way through Seattle right under the bad guys' noses. I also liked how she was willing to consider alternate plans when they made sense. The scene at the charity gala was fantastic, especially with Kyle taking the lead with his "hide in plain sight" strategy. The intensity increased as the trial grew closer and the bad guys used Kyle's sister and nephew as bait. I was on the edge of my seat during the final confrontation as Plan A turned to Plan B on the fly. It did come to a satisfying conclusion, though I get the feeling we haven't seen the last of that company.

Hidden Impact - Piper J. Drake (Carina Press - Nov 2015)

Series: Safeguard (Book 1)

Meet the men of Centurion Corporation - an elite group of mercenaries who will go to any extreme to complete a mission - even risk their hearts.

He's not the hero she's looking for As part of the elite Centurion Corporation team, military-veteran-turned-mercenary Gabriel Diaz is a natural defender. He'll do anything to ensure a mission is successful. Anything but get emotionally invested - he learned the hard way that can be deadly. Easy bodyguard jobs in between the more challenging missions are all he's interested in now.

Maylin Cheng is desperate and running out of time. Her younger sister has gone missing but no one seems to take her concern seriously. Her last hope lies in asking an aloof bodyguard for help. He dismisses her outright, but all that changes when she is almost killed in a not-so-accidental hit-and-run right before his eyes.

As Maylin leans on Gabriel, she begins to rely on him for more than just her safety. But as their attraction grows, so does the danger surrounding them. When the elaborate web they're trapped in unravels, Gabriel will do anything to protect them. Even if that means putting his heart in the crosshairs.

This was a good start to the series, with plenty of action and a terrific romance to go with it. Maylin is a caterer, working a high-end event. One of her goals is to talk to the security people working there. Her younger sister, a brilliant geneticist, disappeared during a conference in China, and Maylin can't get anyone to take her worry seriously. She's heard good things about the people of Centurion and desperately hopes that they can help her. Her hopes are dashed when Gabe turns her down flat.

Gabe and his team are on "light duty" after a mission that resulted in injuries. Working a charity event is almost boring, but it's better than sitting around doing nothing. When Maylin first approached him, he thought she was looking for a hook-up. When he heard her reason, he bluntly told her that her case was hopeless. First, she couldn't afford them, and second, her sister was probably dead anyway. But when he later witnesses her nearly run down by a hit-and-run driver, he thinks that there may be more to her sister's disappearance than either of them suspects.

I liked the interweaving of the romance and the suspense. There are sparks between Gabe and Maylin from the beginning, but Gabe prefers to keep his emotions well away from the job. A recent relationship with a coworker that ended very badly only reinforced that feeling. But there is something about Maylin that gets under his skin, and he can't deny the protectiveness he feels toward her. Though he is ready to help her find her sister, rescuing the girl is a different matter, once they get a good idea of where she is. Though he is willing, the boss is adamant that they can't spare the resources. That is until new information comes to light. It was interesting to see the abrupt about-face, and how suddenly everyone was all-in.

It was sweet to see how happy Maylin was when Gabe agreed to help her. One of the things I liked about her was her love of taking care of people, and how she expressed it with food. She has a stellar reputation as a caterer, and it shows. I laughed out loud at the team's reactions to the meals she cooked for them.

I liked seeing the development of their relationship. Though he tries to resist, Gabe can't help caring about what happens to Maylin. Though he is pretty gruff and practical on the outside, inside there is a core of kindness that really comes out around her. It was funny to see his mind keep drifting to the idea of keeping Maylin in his life, then coming up with reasons it couldn't happen. Maylin is a woman used to being independent and relying on herself, but she finds it very easy to lean on Gabe and to trust him. Her heart quickly gets involved, but she knows that anything permanent between them is unlikely. I loved seeing them grow closer and ached for them and their belief that nothing could come of it. I liked the ending, and how a little bit of foreshadowing came to pass and provided a chance for them to have that future - if only they were brave enough to take the opportunity.

The suspense was terrific. From the first attack on Maylin, it was evident that there was more behind her sister's disappearance. Things became even more complicated during a trip to DC and the Chinese embassy. Gabe makes contact with someone who has some interesting information to share. He is also confronted by his ex-girlfriend, the same one who betrayed their team, went over to a rival firm, and shot him in the back. Jewel's involvement proves that An-Mei's disappearance is much more complicated than they knew. I was impressed by the realism of Centurion's investigation, as they dealt with road-blocks and the knowledge that things might not go their way. The rescue mission was a nail-biter, especially with some of the twists they had to deal with. There was an extra twist at the end that I didn't expect, and I'm still not sure I fully understand. I do get the feeling that they aren't entirely done with the bad guys yet.

 

Highland Doc's Christmas Rescue - Susan Carlisle (HMED #1063 - Nov 2019)

Series: Pups That Make Miracles (Book 1)

A chance to mend her body…

A doc to heal her heart?

Search-and-rescue worker Cassandra Bellow arrives at Heatherglen Clinic injured and reeling from the loss of her faithful rescue dog. But a Christmas romance with the gorgeous clinic manager, Dr. Lyle Sinclair, along with Heatherglen's adorable therapy dogs, restores Cass's lust for life. Except soon she must return to America -- unless guarded Lyle asks her to stay…

Excellent book that tugged at my heartstrings. Cassandra arrived at the rehab clinic in Scotland, exhausted and hurting, physically and emotionally. During a search-and-rescue mission in Europe she was severely injured, and her canine partner was killed while saving her. She doesn't understand why she was sent there rather than a rehab facility back in the States, but she's determined to get better and get out. She is also at a crossroads because she doesn't know whether she'll be able to resume her career, or even if she could bear having a new partner.

I liked the development of the relationship between Lyle and Cass. Lyle is the director of the clinic and determined to see Cassandra fully healed. He is sincerely concerned about all his patients' recoveries, but something about Cass calls a little deeper to him. I loved how he is firm with her when she needs it, but that there is an underlying kindness and gentleness in the way he treats her. There were a few times in the beginning when I wanted to shake Cass because she was so stubborn and nearly rude, but Lyle didn't let it get to him. I enjoyed that evening early on when Lyle found Cass almost frozen after she had gone for a walk to avoid having to have dinner with everyone. Again, that mixture of firm and kind was just what she needed. What neither one expected was the flare of attraction between them.

I liked seeing their friendship develop as they spent more time together. I felt a little bad for Lyle when he discovered the full story behind Cass's refusal to work with one of the therapy dogs. He hadn't understood the depth of her grief and liked that he was willing to find a compromise. Cass appreciated his efforts, and I loved seeing the effect it had on her. Though she still avoided making an emotional connection with any of the dogs, the retired rescue dog, Hero, touched her heart anyway. I loved the scene with him and the search for the lost girl. I liked the slow but steady growth of Lyle and Cass's friendship into something more, even if neither was willing to admit to it.

Both Cass and Lyle have issues that hold them back from admitting those feelings. Cass is a bit of a mess emotionally. She isn't sure what her future holds, job-wise, as she doesn't know if she can ever bond with another rescue dog. Romantically, the last relationship she had ended when her boyfriend could neither understand nor accept that her work was part of who she was. She isn't sure that she is ready to risk her heart again. Lyle also had a failed relationship behind him. His girlfriend sent him a "Dear John" letter while he was deployed, making him reluctant to trust again either. He also has an ongoing dilemma with his dying father, who expects Lyle to follow the family tradition and rejoin the military. But Lyle has no interest in doing so, as the time he spent before nearly destroyed him. The problem is, he can't bring himself to stand up for what he wants. I loved seeing Cass stand up for him when he wouldn't do it himself.

I ached for them both when her time at the clinic was nearly over, and Lyle wanted her to stay. But Cass's fears wouldn't let go of her, and she ran, but not before lashing out at Lyle. I hurt for him, because he realized his feelings for her, but couldn't get past those fears. I liked that both of them took their time apart to look honestly at what was holding them back. Cass's big moment at the end was deeply emotional, and I loved seeing the decisions she made. The conclusion was sweet and romantic, and I hope to see more of them in the other books.

I liked the secondary characters, from the Laird to the staff members, to fellow patient Andy. I liked Laird Charles's decision to use the castle as a way to honor his brother Nick's sacrifice. I look forward to reading their stories in the rest of the series. I also liked Lyle's parents. His mom was sweet and welcoming to Cass. Lyle's dad was a bit harder to like with the way he kept hammering at Lyle about returning to active service. He did sort of redeem himself at the end.

Soldier Prince's Secret Baby Gift - Kate Hardy (HR #4687 - Nov 2019)

Series: A Crown by Christmas (Book 2)

One magical night…

…could ignite a royal scandal!

In this A Crown by Christmas story, six months ago Tia Phillips and Prince Antonio of Casavalle shared one passionate night. Now she's on the palace doorstep -- pregnant with his baby! Another royal scandal is all Casavalle needs, so Antonio whisks Tia away to a secret hideaway. Soon Antonio's falling for her, but will Tia accept his hand in marriage when she thinks he's asking only out of duty?

Good book. Tia and Antonio first met when he brought her and her mother word of her brother Nathan's death in action. Tia was not impressed, as Antonio was brusque and cold in his delivery, and barely stayed long enough to deliver the news. He claimed that Nathan was his friend, but didn't show up for his funeral. So when Tia saw him again at a charity gala where she was working, she was not inclined to be friendly.

When Antonio saw Tia, he was wracked with guilt. Nathan's death had devastated him, but as a member of the royal family, he had been taught to keep his emotions under control at all times, so he knew he hadn't handled the visit to the family well. To make things worse, he was immediately sent on another mission, so he hadn't been able to attend Nathan's funeral. He knew how much Nathan loved his mother and sister and felt terrible that he hadn't checked up on them.

I liked seeing Antonio try to get Tia to talk with him. I liked that he understood her attitude, yet persisted in requesting her presence. Tia tried to resist, but when Antonio invoked Nathan's name, she gave in. I loved that encounter in his rooms, as he didn't behave at all like she expected a prince to behave. I was glad that she finally listened to his reasons and forgave him. Her own grief and empathy made it easy for her to give him a comforting hug. What was unexpected was the passion that flared between them, and the form that their comforting of each other took.

Six months later, Tia shows up in Casavalle, after trying for months to reach Antonio. She has been stonewalled all along the way, mostly because she won't tell anyone WHY she needs to talk to him. After all, that kind of news should be delivered in person, not through a third party. I liked that Tia stood her ground until she finally got to see him. To say he was shocked would put it mildly, and not too happy that she had so much trouble reaching him. Unfortunately, the timing of her news isn't the greatest, as the royal family has already been rocked by several scandals. While Antonio tries to figure out how best to handle it, he and Tia head for his private hideaway.

I loved the time that Antonio and Tia spent at his chalet. It was mostly just the two of them, giving them a chance to get to know each other. I loved the effect that Tia had on Antonio, helping him open up to his emotions, learning how to show them. There were some sweet scenes of the two of them together, being almost like ordinary people. I loved how the people of the village, although aware of his royalty, treated him (mostly) as just another man. That said, I enjoyed their surprise when he filled in as Santa at the village holiday party. Even better was Antonio's surprise at how much he enjoyed it. It didn't take long for Tia to realize that she had fallen hard for Antonio, but she was determined to stand on her own two feet. The last thing she wanted was to feel like yet another duty to him. I ached for Antonio because it took him so long to realize that what he felt for Tia was love. Then he had to figure out how to convince her of his feelings. I liked the advice he got from both his brother and his mom. The ending was sweet and romantic. I can't wait for the third book and the story of the surprise sister.       

        

Redeeming Her Brooding Surgeon - Sue MacKay (HMED #1040 - July 2019)

Series: SOS Docs (Book 2)

He couldn't save his friend…

Can she save his bruised heart?

Haunted by the fact he couldn't save his best friend, brooding surgeon Chase Barrington dedicates himself to saving lives. He won't get close to anyone again but is blindsided by a passionate kiss with stunning ex-army doc Kristina Morton. Suddenly Chase is on a roller coaster of emotions, but can he leave the past behind and embrace a future with Kristina?

Very good, emotional book. Chase Barrington runs a Medicine For All medical ship in the Mediterranean, rescuing and treating refugees. He had made this mission his life's work, all in an attempt to assuage his guilt over not being able to save his best friend during an avalanche disaster when he was a teenager. The work is perfect for him - critical, but short-term contact with the patients, allowing him to keep his emotions tightly contained. All of that begins to change with the arrival of Dr. Kristina Morton. She stirs up feelings he's kept buried for years.

Kristina has a mission of her own. After years of not having a place to call home, she's ready to find a permanent position and put down some roots. The director of the previous medical center Kristina worked for suggested MFA as an interim while she looked for that position. Kristina also carries some guilt from an incident in the army when she was unable to save an injured soldier. She's making progress, but the memories still jump up and bite her from time to time. She doesn't expect the sparks that fly between herself and Chase, a man who has no intention of ever settling down.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Chase and Kristina. The sparks between them are immediate and intense, and not welcomed by either one, so they do their best to ignore them. In spite of that, they develop a tentative friendship, as each recognizes the pain that the other experiences. I enjoyed the banter between them as some of their walls begin to weaken. There are some terrific scenes between them, usually taking place in Chase's retreat on the ship, where each of them opens up a little more about their pasts. I especially ached for Chase after the death of one of his patients and loved how Kristina was there for him. But the lowering of those walls also allowed other things to happen, not the least of which was the chemistry between them. Both found themselves thinking far too often about what could happen if they let it, but neither would allow it to gain traction. Kristina wants roots and knows that Chase will never give up his nomadic lifestyle. Meanwhile, Chase is determined not to let himself get that close to anyone ever again.

Things changed when Kristina went home with Chase for his mother's birthday party. Suddenly Chase discovered that he missed home far more than he thought he would. It didn't take him long to realize that it was mainly because of the effect that Kristina had on him. It didn't seem like such an impossibility that he could have a future after all. For Kristina, this trip had multiple effects. First, being with Chase away from the ship made her realize how strong her feelings had grown. Second, having worked for Chase's brother-in-law, Jerrod, at the medical center, had reinforced her vision of what she wanted. Visiting her former coworkers gave her further validation. And third, she was stunned to receive a job offer from Jerrod for after her time with MFA, with everything she could possibly want. I ached a bit for her because the only thing that could make it better would be if Chase came home, too. But even as they gave in to the passion between them, Chase panicked when he thought of letting go of his grief and guilt over Nick's death. I ached for both of them as Chase pulled away from what had been the beginning of hope.

Having gotten to know Chase and his story somewhat in the previous book, Saved by Their One-Night Baby (Ethan and Claire's story), I enjoyed seeing Chase's newly repaired friendship with Ethan. When Ethan returned to the ship to finish his commitment, he noticed the strain between Chase and Kristina. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him poke at Chase and his stubborn refusal to admit that things had changed. I almost lost hope that Ethan would get through to Chase, but eventually, he did. I liked seeing it dawn on Chase that Ethan knew exactly what he was going through because he'd experienced the same roller-coaster of emotions. The ending was fantastic. Chase's "conversation" with Nick was heart-wrenching, but also freed Chase in a way he hadn't felt since he was sixteen. I loved his big moment with Kristina, as he opened his heart fully to her.

Falling Again for Her Island Fling - Ellie Darkins (HR #4686 - Oct 2019)

Her head doesn't remember him…

…but her heart does!

Marine biologist Meena isn't prepared for the jolt of recognition when she meets tycoon Guy Williams while working on development plans for his luxury island resort. Years ago they had a whirlwind fling, but afterward an accident stole Meena's memories -- and much more. She's been searching for answers ever since. Could Guy be the missing piece to her past and her future -- if she's willing to risk her heart again?

Good book. The story opens as Meena lays on the beach, contemplating the environmental impact study she has to do for the man who wants to build a resort on her beloved Le Bijou island. She's also thinking about her frustration over her memory loss. Seven years earlier she was in a devastating car accident that wiped her memories and took her years to recover from. Something that haunts her is the knowledge that she had a serious boyfriend, but she remembers nothing about him. When she meets Guy Williams, new owner of the island and real estate developer, something about him feels familiar, even though he claims they've never met.

Guy can't believe that it's Meena lying on the beach, just like the last time he saw her. He was devastated when she didn't follow through on their plans and come to Australia. He spent years thinking about her and wondering what went wrong. With the success of his business, he hardened his heart, bought the island, and planned to change its character so drastically that it would be impossible to remember the way it was.

I ached for both Meena and Guy. Meena's frustration over her memory loss and her inability to move on with her life made her day to day life sometimes hard to face. I liked her determination to protect the island however she had to do it. She knew that the resort would irrevocably change it, and she didn't like the idea at all. She was looking for any reason to deny Guy his permits. Guy's life has not been a happy one. I hurt for him when he remembered how his parents thought he was worthless, and how his summer with Meena was the happiest he could remember being. Now when he thinks back to the old Meena, he knows she would detest the man he turned into.

I enjoyed the development of Guy and Meena's relationship. Even though he knew he should stay away from her, Guy was as drawn to her now as he was in the past. I liked seeing Meena show Guy the changes that have already happened to the island and the surrounding waters. Meena can feel the connection between them, even though she doesn't understand it at first. Spending time with Meena reminds Guy of the way things used to be. I liked that Guy eventually confessed the truth of their past to Meena because their feelings for each other had never died. I liked that Guy told her everything he'd been through, and the effects on him. He felt that she had to know the truth of who and what he'd become. It took a while, but Meena had to learn to accept Guy for the man he is because she has no memory of the man he was. There were some sweet scenes between them as they got to know each other again. But would the welfare of the island come between them, or was there a way to satisfy both of them? The ending was especially emotional, with both Meena and Guy exposing their vulnerabilities. I loved seeing how it all worked out.

One of the things I enjoyed most was the look at the environmental aspects. I was fascinated by the idea of rejuvenating the coral reef and intrigued by the descriptions of how it was done.

 

Meant to be Yours - Susan Mallery (HQN - Oct 2019)

Series: Happily Inc. (Book 5)

In Happily Inc, love means never having to say “I do”…

Wedding coordinator Renee Grothen isn't meant for marriage. Those who can, do. Those who can't, plan. But she never could have planned on gorgeous, talented thriller writer Jasper Dembenski proposing -- a fling, that is. Fun without a future. And the attraction between them is too strong for Renee to resist. Now she can have her no-wedding cake…and eat it, too.

After years in the military, Jasper is convinced he's too damaged for relationships. So a flirtation -- and more -- with fiery, determined Renee is way too good to pass up…until his flame becomes his muse.

Renee is an expert at averting every crisis. But is she finally ready to leap into the one thing that can never be controlled: love?

Terrific book. This story is about Renee, a wedding planner at Weddings Out of the Box, and Jasper, the local author who writes mystery novels. Happily is a small town, so they've seen each other around but don't really know each other. That changes one games night at The Boardroom when their partnership in a game strikes unexpected sparks. Neither is interested in anything permanent, but what could go wrong with some commitment-free fun?

Renee loves her job as a wedding planner. There is nothing she enjoys more than helping a couple plan that day they will remember forever. I loved seeing the various weddings and Renee's ability to create calm out of chaos. But as much happiness as she gets out of her work, she is convinced that there is no wedding in her future. She's been burned in the past and believes that love is not for her. She also has a rocky relationship with her mother, thanks to a very unusual situation that has left her reluctant to have anything to do with animals.

Jasper is a very successful mystery writer who has made a home for himself in Happily Inc. He is a former soldier who had very bad PTSD when he left the service and considered himself broken to the point of being unable to have any kind of relationship. He is on the way home from his latest book tour (in an RV because he hates to fly) when he is adopted by an abandoned dog. Though a reluctant dog owner at first, it doesn't take long for Koda to wiggle his way into Jasper's life and heart. It quickly becomes apparent that these two are meant for each other, and I loved their scenes together.

I loved the development of the relationship between Jasper and Renee. It starts as sex-only, as neither wants anything permanent. But in a strange turn of events, they spend more time together out of bed than in it and find themselves becoming friends. Jasper asks for Renee's help with the book he is currently writing. He's about to end the successful series, and Jasper and his editor believe that the hero needs to fall in love. Unfortunately for Jasper, his attempts at writing a woman for Vidar have been spectacularly unsuccessful. Things get a little tense when Jasper decides that his best option is to follow Renee in her work. She is not up for that idea at all and makes her opinion quite clear. Jasper, who has a bit of tunnel vision when working, goes above Renee's head which forces her to let him tag along. Renee is rightfully furious, and I liked the way that she told him so, explained why to the point where he saw the error of his ways and apologized. It wasn't the only time he pulls a boneheaded move, and Renee is very good at making him face his mistakes.

Once they get past the anger, they end up spending a lot of time together. I loved watching their friendship grow and turn into something more. I loved Jasper's fascination with Renee's ability to help her couples find the perfect expression of their love. His enthusiasm for getting involved in the whole process, from setting up to serving drinks, was heartwarming. I also enjoyed seeing Renee's reaction to and acceptance of Jasper's tendency to get lost in his creative process. There were several times when they were together that he would totally lose track of when and where he was, but she never made a stink about it. Both of them realize that their feelings are changing, but neither believes that they are in a place to do anything about it.

In the midst of all of this angst, Renee's mother, Verity, arrives for an unexpected visit. Renee has worked hard to keep her mother separate from her life in Happily Inc. because of issues that have arisen in the past. Verity has a unique talent that created problems for Renee, both when she was younger and with her most recent relationship. Renee is afraid of what will happen if her new friends find out about her mom, and she dreads the reactions. I liked Verity a lot, though I also understood Renee's feelings. I had to laugh at the reason that brought Verity to Happily Inc., and the event that came out of it was hilarious. But in the end, it's Verity, Jasper's dog Koda, and Renee's cats Fred and Lucille who help Jasper and Renee understand that they aren't nearly as broken as they think they are. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in future books.