When Ethan agreed to work at a sawmill his family is purchasing, he didn't foresee getting fired on his first day. He should be mad at the fiercely outspoken female foreman, but something about her seems disconcertingly familiar -- even though Ethan is sure he'd remember meeting a stunning beauty like Anna Segee before.
Anna has never forgotten Ethan -- or the schoolgirl crush she had on him before her father whisked her off to Canada. Now the shy, gangly girl is grown up and back in Oak Grove with a new name, new confidence, and a newly inherited mill of her own. Her superb reputation in a male-dominated industry hasn't come easy, but even harder will be ignoring the sexy man Ethan has become. . . .
Very good follow-on to The Seduction of His Wife. In this book, the Knight family has decided to purchase Loon Cove Mill from its retiring owner. Ethan is tagged with getting a job at the mill to learn the business while the purchase is negotiated. Unfortunately for him, he makes a really stupid mistake the first morning he is there and gets himself fired by the foreman.
Anna has been the foreman for Loon Cove since her return to Oak Grove a few months earlier. She had lived in Oak Grove with her mother until she was eleven when her father took her to live in Canada with him. She never forgot Ethan and how he rescued her one day. That shy girl has grown into a woman with a great reputation in the industry, the confidence to go with it, and a run-down mill inherited from her maternal grandfather.
I loved that first encounter between Ethan and Anna. Ethan's inattention nearly got him flattened, and if Anna hadn't been as good as she is, he would have been dead. As it was, she wrecked the loader she was driving trying to avoid him and was hopping mad when she got out of the damaged vehicle. All Ethan saw was a mad driver in a hard hat and carrying a tire iron, and decked her before he realized she was a woman. He was horrified at what he had done (both parts), but she was in no mood to listen and fired him immediately. They didn't recognize each other, but Anna quickly learned who he was. A few weeks later, they met again, this time with Ethan being one of the new owners. That encounter was good also, especially when Anna realized that it was Ethan who would be renting one of the cottages on her new property. There are definite sparks between the two of them, as Ethan is instantly attracted to Anna, the spitfire, and Anna is still drawn to her childhood crush. Matters get more complicated when Anna's truck slides off the road on the way home and Ethan saves her. It was an intense scene as he raced to get her out before the truck slid down the ravine. It was followed by the fun of seeing Ethan's determination to take care of her, and Anna's equal determination to take care of herself. I also laughed out loud at Ethan's introduction to those who shared her house.
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. The first few days, as Ethan takes care of Anna after her accident, are great fun as they constantly butt heads. Ethan is a bit old-fashioned and isn't used to a woman who is quite so independent. Anna, having spent the last eighteen years with an overprotective father and four equally smothering brothers, is determined to prove herself. As the weeks went on, Anna and Ethan learned to work together, with Ethan gaining a great deal of respect for Anna and her abilities, and Anna separating her girlhood crush from the man he is now. Underneath it all, the chemistry between them continued to build. I loved the heat generated when Anna decides to go after what she wants. The next morning is hilariously complicated by the unexpected arrival of two of Anna's brothers. I enjoyed Ethan's reaction to their treatment of Anna and the insight it gave him to the woman she is. Their feelings for each other grow, but neither is ready to admit to them. When Anna's past comes out, Ethan is there to support her. I loved how he surprised himself by his need to protect her and his realization of just how much he cared. I also liked the way that Anna didn't just go along with his plans but stood up for her own needs. The scene at the end where she went looking for him was an excellent portrayal of the dynamics between them. I loved Anna's description of their relationship to her stepmother: "We are like Oil and Vinegar most of the time. But when you shake us up real good, the combination is heavenly."
There is also a bit of suspense running through the book. Ever since Anna arrived, she has had problems with intruders on her property, as well as persistent attempts by resort developers and the local historical society to buy her property. There's a great scene with Anna going after the intruders and nearly getting Ethan too. I liked the teamwork as Anna and Ethan figured out what the intruders were looking for and why. An intense confrontation at the end brought answers and sadness.
When I first started this series, I was a bit puzzled as to why there were only two books when there were three brothers. That was answered when Paul found his own love during this book. I liked Anna's support of Jane and how she encouraged her to tell Paul the truth and his reaction. The scene when Paul and Jane arrived at Anna's house was great. I loved how Ethan so quickly relieved Jane's fears and welcomed her to the family.
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