Cardwell Christmas Crime Scene - B.J. Daniels (HI #1677 - Dec 2016)

 Series: Cardwell Cousins (Book 5)
             Cardwell Ranch (Book 9)

Dee Anna Justice had thought that her convict father was her only living relative. Now Walter Justice, fearing for his daughter's safety, urges her to seek out her cousins in Montana. Calling in a decades-old debt, he also enlists private investigator Beau Tanner to protect her.

Despite their fiery attraction, she resents the bodyguard her dad foists on her. Trust doesn't come easy to DJ. But the warm, embracing family she finds at Cardwell ranch just might begin to soften her suspicious nature, and learning to trust the sexy PI may be the key to saving her life.

Good story that focuses on the importance of family. As the daughter of a conman, DJ grew up always on the move, believing that her father was the only family she had. She discovers otherwise when a doll and photograph are mysteriously left in her apartment. When she confronts her imprisoned father, DJ learns that she has cousins in Montana on her father's side and the possibility that her mother's relatives may have "found" her. Her dad insists that she visit her cousins where she will be safe.

Meanwhile, dad contacts the son of a former partner in Montana to call in a favor. Beau is now a private investigator, but he had made Walter a promise many years earlier. Walter is concerned for DJ's safety and asks Beau to watch out for her. He also refuses to tell Beau the details of what he believes is happening.

I loved DJ's arrival in Montana. She had been very wary about meeting these relatives she knew nothing about, but from the moment she arrived, she felt at home. She was surprised to find out that a former roommate of hers had impersonated her with the family and caused trouble (Cardwell Ranch Trespasser). One of the things she wants from the visit is to get answers about why her father had kept them a secret. She was not happy with Beau's arrival and his insistence that she is in danger.

I liked the development of the relationship between Beau and DJ. Beau had never forgotten the one time he met her, when he was ten and she was five. He had sensed she needed help then but was too young to do anything. Now he has his chance to protect her, and he won't mess it up. There were sparks between them immediately, though both are wary of them. Neither one is very good at trusting people, thanks to their lives with conman fathers, but those shared childhood experiences also form a connection that neither can deny. I liked seeing them learn to trust each other, as Beau stuck close to DJ. There were several sweet moments between them, and I especially enjoyed the Christmas tree search. The heat between them continued to build, as did their feelings for each other. There was a little problem with lack of communication which pulled them apart at the end until a conversation with his secretary opened Beau's eyes. I loved his big moment at the end, which was sweet and romantic.

The suspense of the story was good. The bad guys are known from the start, but the backstory of why DJ is in danger is revealed slowly. There are two different hit men, each with his own motivations. The person who started the trouble had warped values but was also taken advantage of by someone she trusted, making the situation worse. Getting the points of view of the various players was excellent at building the tension to the final confrontation. There were some interesting twists leading up to the end, both satisfying and heart-wrenching.

 

Promise Me You - Marina Adair (Amazon Publishing - Oct 2018)

A heartening romance of friendship, second chances, and the healing power of love…

Mackenzie Hart has made a career out of writing about eternal love, so when she finds her perfect match in Hunter Kane, she decides to put it all on the line. Irresistibly charming and drenched in alpha-male swagger, Hunter isn’t just the catch of the town -- he’s Mackenzie’s best friend. Only someone beats her to the altar. After a fresh start and three years to recover, the last thing Mackenzie expects is for her old life to come knocking…

Recently divorced, musician Hunter Kane wants to reconnect with the woman he left behind. Admitting his biggest mistake comes first. What comes next is up to Mackenzie. He hopes she’ll give him a second chance. He may have been the one to break her heart, but he knows he can also be the one to mend it.

As a tenuous friendship turns into something more, Hunter’s life on the road beckons once again. Will love be enough to keep them together, or will their wildly different worlds be too much for them to overcome?

A very emotional friends to lovers and second-chance story. Mackenzie is a talented songwriter and has been working with Hunter Kane and his band for a while. She and Hunter are friends and writing partners, but she wants more. Unfortunately, she's waited too long to tell him, and Hunter is about to marry another woman. Unable to handle the pain of seeing him with another woman, Mackenzie walks away from the celebrations and disappears.

Three years later, Hunter is divorced and the band is in trouble. Their last album tanked and Hunter is having trouble getting his songwriting mojo back. Their record label is threatening to drop them if he doesn't accept one of their suggested songwriters to help. The problem is that the songwriting duo that Hunter wants to team up with isn't cooperating. Hunter really irritated me in this scene, as he comes across as very arrogant. He's so certain that he can charm the writers that he wants that he refuses to consider any other option, even blackmailing his cousin into setting up a meeting.

What Hunter doesn't know is that the songwriting "duo" of Mack and Muttley is Mackenzie and her Seeing Eye dog. At the time of Hunter's wedding, she had just found out that she suffered from the same hereditary eye disease that her mother had had. The same disease that had made her mother dependent on Mackenzie and derailed her own plans. Mackenzie never wanted to be dependent on someone that way, but finding her way in her new reality has been harder than she expected. Brody works to convince her that it's time to face Hunter again, but Mackenzie is afraid of being caught up in Hunter's take charge personality and losing herself in the process.

I ached for Hunter when he found out the truth. He was stunned, confused, and angry. I was a bit angry at him for walking away without a word. His confrontation with Brody opened his eyes to what Mackenzie had been through, and it took him some time to process it. In spite of what Brody told him about her need for privacy, he was determined to get her back with him.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Hunter and Mackenzie. It started out rough because of the way that Hunter forced himself back into Mackenzie's life. I was pretty irritated with the way that he steam-rollered right over her objections. Some of those objections were just because she was afraid of leaving her comfort zone, but some of them were legitimate concerns. Hunter is one of those guys who has a Superman personality. If he sees something wrong, he wants to fix it. He also tends to assume responsibility for a lot of things, such as the band and everything that makes it a success. Mackenzie is most desperately afraid of being dependent on someone else, the way that her mom was dependent on her. I loved the ease with which they were able to resume their working relationship. Just being with Mackenzie again made Hunter able to get past the writer's block he'd been suffering from, mostly because she was the rudder that steered his thought processes.

Seeing Mackenzie again made Hunter finally admit to himself that he'd always had feelings for her. He had buried them before because of their age difference, and that he didn't want to screw up their working relationship. Now he's ready to do something about it, but he realizes that he has to get past all of Mackenzie's walls, especially her refusal to accept help. It was interesting to see his complex run up against her independence. Mackenzie also had a habit of holding herself back, lacking the confidence to believe that she can do it. I liked the confrontation between Mackenzie's sponsor and Hunter, as she laid out for him what Mackenzie's issues and challenges really were. I liked that he saw her point and made changes in his actions that would help Mackenzie the right way. I liked seeing the progress that she made, but it was still painfully slow.

Unfortunately, Hunter still has something of a blind spot when it comes to their relationship. He sees the progress they've made with their writing, and that she has made with her independence, in the context of their future as he sees it. The success of their collaboration propels the band to the next level, and he sees Mackenzie at his side through it all. It takes Brody pointing out that she may not see things the same way before Hunter gets a glimmer of the problems. At the same time, Hunter has pushed Mackenzie into an activity that she doesn't feel quite ready for, and it comes back to bite him in the butt. I ached so much for Mackenzie because of the fear she felt, and how overwhelmed she was by what happened around her. Those fears led her to push Hunter away. His pain at her words was intense, as was his anger at the way she refused to give them a chance.

It was satisfying to see his misery as he gave her the space she wanted. It was even more satisfying to see Brody point out to Hunter just how selfish he had been. I loved Hunter's "light bulb" moment as he finally saw the light. His timing in going after Mackenzie was perfect. She has spent the last week wallowing in her misery but was finally pulling herself together. Her realization that she had allowed herself to push Hunter away was eye-opening for her. What followed was a terrifying period of time that had my heart in my throat. I loved seeing her use the strength she didn't know she had to get through it, just in time for Hunter to find her. I loved the perfect combination of caring for her and supporting her that he showed. I was thrilled to see that they finally actually talked and listened to each other. The ending was fantastic and showed that they had finally found the balance that they needed.

Same Time, Next Christmas - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2660 - Dec 2018)

Series: Bravos of Valentine Bay (Book 3)
            Bravo Family Ties (Book 54)

They’re each other’s Christmas present.

But what about the other 364 days?

Ex-soldier Matthias Bravo likes spending the holidays hunkered down in his remote Oregon cabin. Until Sabra Bond seeks refuge from a winter storm. Now they meet every year for a no-strings Yuletide romance. But Matthias is changing the rules. This Bravo bachelor finally knows what he wants -- Sabra forever. Is she ready to commit to love not just at Christmas but every day of the year?

Terrific book with a very unusual timeline. Most romances take place over a few days to a few months, while this one spans four years. It was a lot of fun to see how both Sabra and Matthias changed over those years. It began when Matthias arrived at his cabin for his yearly holiday retreat. He loves his big, noisy family, but at that time of year, he'd prefer to be alone. Those plans are upended when he arrives at his cabin and discovers a beautiful trespasser. Sabra had been out on an impulse hike when she got caught in a storm. Miles from her car, she broke into an empty cabin to get out of the weather and dry her clothes.

I loved the first meeting between Matthias and Sabra. Matthias wasn't in the best of moods when he arrived, thanks to a small accident with a hatchet and not feeling well, so he may have over-reacted just a little bit. Sabra certainly wasn't expecting a rifle-wielding man to come bursting in the door. I was pretty impressed that she didn't freak out, especially with Matthias's surly attitude. She earned even more points from me when, noticing both his injury and his fever, she refused to leave. Instead, she stood up to him and insisted on helping him. The battle of wills was pretty funny, and I loved seeing Matthias finally give in. Once he started to feel better, Matthias's better nature came out and I enjoyed seeing him and Sabra get to know each other, well enough to be comfortable sharing their pasts. There are also some hints of sparks, but both of them have been burned in the past and have no immediate plans to enter any relationships. Yet those sparks prompt an unconventional idea - indulge themselves in a holiday fling, knowing that when they part, they won't see each other again. So fling they did, and what they had together was fantastic. And when the snow melted, that was it. Except neither really wanted to say goodbye. I loved the plan that they came up with: that if she wanted to, Sabra could return next Christmas, and they would do it again. But there would be no contact for the rest of the time.

I loved the glimpses into their lives over the next year, as neither could forget the other. But both stuck to the agreement until December 23rd came around again. I loved their joy at seeing each other again, and how they couldn't get enough of each other. One of the best things was that it wasn't all physical. I loved the way that they could be content just talking, playing with Matthias's dog, Zoya, even just being near each other while reading. Each of them realized that their feelings were changing, but neither was quite ready to do anything about it. I ached for both of them because their fears were still holding them back.

I loved the roller coaster of emotions over the years as Matthias and Sabra worked their way through their fears, hopes, and dreams. The strength of their feelings was never in question, only what they would do about them. I loved their times in the cabin as they grew closer physically and emotionally. There were some really sweet scenes of the two of them together as they shared the good and the bad of the previous years. There was also a lot of pain as first Sabra and then Matthias allow their fears to push them apart. Those scenes had me in tears as their pain leaped off the page. The glimpses of them during the non-Christmas times of the year showed how deep their feelings for each other were, and how their separations affected them. I was especially rooting for Sabra during that last year as she confronted her fears and allowed herself to build up hope for the future.

The reunion of Matthias and Sabra was everything I could have hoped for. Their joy at being together again was clear. I loved how they were able to face their pasts and see that everything that happened had been necessary for the growth of their relationship. I liked seeing them catch up on each other's lives, especially the changes in his. I adored the epilogue and seeing them with their friends and family. I had to laugh at Sabra's friend Iris and her "talk" with Matthias. I loved how easily Sabra fit in with Matthias's family and the lovely surprise at the end.

 

Operation Notorious - Justine Davis (HRS #1973 - Dec 2017)

Series: Cutter's Code (Book 9)

Katie Moore’s small town is rocked when her best friend is brutally murdered -- and her father becomes the prime suspect. Her dad’s only chance is Gavin de Marco, an attorney who doesn’t trust anything or anyone. Now Gavin is probing secrets heartbroken Katie didn’t know she had -- and sparking an attraction neither can resist.

Betrayal taught Gavin to ruthlessly expose the truth -- and he’s certain Katie is hiding something. Still, her fiery warmth is challenging his defenses every step of the way, making it impossible to stay out of her arms. But surviving a killer’s insidious scheme could shatter any shot he and Katie have at justice -- or a future…

Terrific book. It opens with Quinn getting a call from his sister at their office in St. Louis. She's sending attorney Gavin de Marco to him (presumably before she does something drastic) and for Quinn to find something for him to do. I loved his and Hayley's confidence that one of them can get to the bottom of Gavin's issues, and if not them, Cutter most definitely could. We also learn that Gavin has no use for liars of any kind. I loved his arrival at the Foxworth's and his realization that they didn't have a case for him, just before Cutter came into the house. Cutter has a cell phone in his mouth, which he takes right to Gavin. As they speculate about the phone's owner, the bell rings, and it is Katie Moore, who chased after the phone thief. As soon as she's in the house, Cutter sits at her feet and gives his people "The Look."

Katie moved to town six months earlier, to escape the memories of the death of her best friend, Laurel. She had discovered Laurel's body in their apartment, where she had been brutally murdered. Katie still suffers from nightmares, and desperately misses her friend. To top it all off, she just found out that her father has become the police's number one suspect. She's worried about her dad because he doesn't seem too concerned, but she senses that he could be in trouble. She's stunned when Cutter leads her right to the person that could help her.

As always, it's fun to see the reactions when Cutter does his doggy magic. Gavin is a little quicker to pick up on it simply because he's been with Foxworth long enough to be aware of Cutter's reputation. Katie is more skeptical, at least at the beginning. She has experience of his therapeutic benefits but is unaware of his more professional talents. I also enjoyed seeing him immediately start in on his matchmaking plans.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Katie and Gavin. There are sparks of attraction from the get-go, but both try to fight them. Gavin is very cynical about people in general and tends to see the bad in them. Katie, on the other hand, sees the best in people first. As they work together to find out the truth about Laurel's murder, Gavin and Katie have the opportunity to get to know each other. I liked seeing Katie break through some of Gavin's walls. Her kindness and compassion made it possible for Gavin to share things from his past that have made him the man he is. Gavin is a bit freaked out by the way his feelings for Katie grow. He found himself protective of her and worried about how she'll take it if they find her father is guilty after all, something he's never done before. His cynicism gets in the way of their relationship at times, when he suspects her of lying and/or covering up important information. I ached for Katie at the end, when she was confronted by the lies that were told, and the effect it had on her belief in people. I loved Gavin's big moment, when he realized the depth of his feelings for her, and how much she had changed him. I loved seeing the ruthless, cynical lawyer made vulnerable by love.

The suspense of the story was very good. At the beginning, it was very easy to see why the police were focused on Katie's dad. Gavin's involvement upped the stakes for everyone involved. I loved his attention to detail and the intensity with which he tackled the investigation. His interview with Katie's dad was interesting and added a bit of doubt to Steven's innocence. Both Gavin and Cutter could tell that Steven was hiding something. Thanks to his reputation, Gavin's being involved in the case stirred up some trouble. This became clear when Gavin was attacked by a knife-wielding assailant and later run off the road. Evidence and circumstances pointed to Katie's dad. The resulting confrontation had some unexpected twists that changed Gavin's view of some things. But it was the information that Gavin received from Quinn that put the final pieces of the puzzle together. I loved how Gavin, Katie, Cutter, and the rest of the folks from Foxworth came together to bring the killer to justice.

I can't wait to see what is next for the folks at the Foxworth Foundation. At the very least Cutter still has Charlie, Tyler, and Rafe to find the perfect partners for.

 

Operation Alpha - Justine Davis (HRS #1937 - Mar 2017)

Series: Cutter's Code (Book 8)

After a series of his ex-girlfriends die mysteriously, tracker and tech expert Liam Burnett vows to steer clear of romantic entanglements. But when he's assigned to work with Ria Connelly, unwanted feelings ambush Liam. And though he warns Ria that he's not looking for anything serious, the outwardly cheery bachelor can't help but fall for the beautiful teacher

With Cutter, the uncannily brilliant dog, the two collaborate to help a troubled student. Their discoveries of scandalous secrets provoke extreme danger. Only when a killer threatens Ria does Liam finally rethink his reluctance to care he must protect her at all costs. Could she be the one who breaks the girlfriend "jinx"?

This was another terrific Cutter's Code book. It opens with a blast from the past, as the young lady who was the inspiration for the start of the Foxworth Foundation, returns to ask for help for a friend. Emily is now sixteen, and she's worried about a classmate who recently lost his mother. Emily brought along one of her teachers, who is somewhat skeptical as this is not the type of thing Foxworth is known for. I loved Emily's background story and Quinn's heartfelt statement about what they do. Liam was also in on the meeting, as he had been with Cutter when the women arrived. I loved how Cutter made friends with Emily and Ria then turned around and gave his people "The Look."

I've always liked Liam, who is the upbeat, charming tracker and techie. He also has a unique history with Foxworth, as he was recruited after hacking into Foxworth's systems. Liam had been on a bad path until Quinn pulled him off it. He's been a valued member of the team ever since. He has also been known for laughing as his coworkers fell to Cutter's matchmaking schemes, but also steering clear of any relationships himself. Here we learn that he has had three romances in his past, and each one has ended with the death of the lady in question. Liam blames himself for each one, and won't allow himself to risk another's life.

I liked the development of the relationship between Liam and Ria. Their meeting was amusing as they are both immediately attracted. Ria's been burned in the past, but her attraction to Liam hit her hard. She has a great deal of trouble reining in her imagination whenever she looks at him. The effect on Liam is even stronger. I loved seeing him totally unable to concentrate, losing his place in conversations, and with his imagination running wild. Since they have to work together to get to the bottom of Dylan's problem, there are plenty of opportunities to get to know each other. I ached for Liam who fought his feelings all the way, certain that he is jinxed when it comes to love. I loved seeing Ria get past his walls and get him to open up to her about his past. I loved his shock when, instead of being disgusted with him, Ria shows her understanding and then gives him another point of view. I felt his fear when, after giving in to what was growing between them, Ria ended up in danger. I loved how she trusted him and the effect it had on him. His big moment at the end was fantastic. I loved seeing his vulnerability, and his determination to give Ria the space he thought she needed after what happened. The hope that grew in Ria's heart as she listened to him was terrific, and I loved her response.

The suspense of the story was really good. I loved that the Foxworth team was totally onboard with finding out what was happening with Dylan. It was great to see Liam use the various types of martial arts as the hook to get closer to him. The class demonstration was terrific, and the scene with the bully was great. As Dylan became more comfortable around Liam, it was easy for Liam to see that whatever was happening, it was wearing hard on Dylan. The scene when Liam took Dylan to pick up his little brother was heart-wrenching, as was the confrontation when Dylan's father arrived at the gym during one of the lessons. That also set Liam's alarms going off and gave him a direction for his investigation. What he found out was not really a surprise. When he and Ria set plans in motion, it triggers an unexpected reaction. I was on the edge of my seat (and up way past my bedtime) as I followed the action. I liked the realism of Liam's panic before he got himself under control and did what he does best. The final confrontation was intense and terrifying, and I ached for little Kevin. I loved Ria's trust that Liam would be there and her efforts to help. Cutter, of course, was awesome.

The Laird - Grace Burrowes (Sourcebooks Casablanca - Sept 2014)

Series: Captive Hearts (Book 3)

He left his bride to go to war...

After years of soldiering, Michael Brodie returns to his Highland estate to find that the bride he left behind has become a stranger. Brenna is self-sufficient, competent, confident-and furious about Michael's prolonged absence.

Now his most important battle will be for her heart

Brenna is also hurt, bewildered, and tired of fighting for the respect of those around her. Michael left her when she needed him most, and then stayed away even after the war ended. Nonetheless, the young man who abandoned her has come home a wiser, more patient and honorable husband. But if she trusts Michael with the truths she's been guarding, he'll have to choose between his wife and everything else he holds dear.

Good ending to the Captive Hearts series. Michael made his first appearances in The Captive and The Traitor, as part of the undercover team sent to France by Wellington. Just before he left for the war, nine years earlier, Michael had married Brenna. They had been betrothed since he was thirteen and she was eight. When the marriage took place, Michael was twenty and Brenna was sixteen. Though Brenna begged to go with him, Michael left her behind, telling her that she would be safer at home.

The book began as Michael returned home, appearing without notice. Brenna is shocked, angry, and worried. She has spent the years since his departure taking care of home and hearth with little communication with her husband. It hasn't been easy. Her husband's uncle actively works against her, and the people of the clan that she tries to care for look on her with contempt and suspicion. She is furious with Michael for abandoning her, and his staying away even after the war ended only aggravated her more. But, in spite of her anger with him, Brenna also remembers the days when he was her only friend, that she felt safe and protected with him. Michael is glad to be home, his duties to his country finally at an end. He hopes to find peace and healing in his land and the arms of his wife.

I loved that first meeting between Brenna and Michael. He gets quite a shock when he discovers that she isn't the plump, quiet, girl that he left behind. Instead, he finds a strong, capable woman who is justifiably angry at him. I loved that he admitted his mistakes and promised to do better. Brenna has had such a miserable time that she's ready to call it quits on the marriage. She makes good points that they don't know each other anymore. Michael is determined to make the marriage work, but he is also sensitive to Brenna's feelings. I loved his patience as he slowly worked his way past her walls and earned her trust. There are some very sweet scenes as he woos his wife, showing her the care and respect that she has craved for so long. Brenna is wary around Michael. She quickly realizes that she still cares for him, but she has secrets that could easily destroy his respect for her. I loved seeing the two of them together, as their shared history helped ease the way for them to get to know each other again. I especially enjoyed seeing Michael's belief in Brenna and determination to make things right for her. Brenna also helps Michael deal with the memories of the things he's had to do over the years. I loved the ending as both of them are able to put the past behind them and move on to a future together.

Underneath the happiness of Michael's return, there is also the undercurrent that something isn't quite right. The antagonism between Brenna and Angus is clear, and Michael wants to know why. I liked his quiet watchfulness as he gathered the facts before he made his move. It made me happy to see his righteous anger over how she had been treated by his people. Michael wasn't quite done yet, and he continued his investigation. He did not expect what he found, and his shock and horror were indescribable. The confrontation was intense, though I was not surprised by either accusation. I had disliked Angus from the start because of his attitude toward Brenna, and my suspicions of him continued to grow throughout the book. There were times when he made my skin crawl, and I wanted to yell at Brenna to expose him. There was a slight redemption at the end, but overall I think he got a better ending than he deserved.

I loved seeing St. Clair and Milly (The Traitor) when they arrived to visit the Brodies though their timing was certainly awkward. The friendship between the two men is clear, as is the respect. I loved seeing St. Clair give Michael relationship advice. I also enjoyed the growing friendship between Milly and Brenna and loved Milly's part in revealing some of Brenna's troubles to Michael. It was terrific to see the changes in St. Clair since Milly came into his life.

There were other secondary characters to round out the story. Brenna's MacLogan cousins were somewhat integral to what was going on. They were there because of Brenna's marriage to Michael but were not universally accepted. Angus used them as a stick to keep Brenna in line but also had to be wary because of what they knew. I was angry at them for their part in the event that turned the clan against Brenna, but I also liked Hugh's support of Michael as he worked to get at the truth. Maeve was an interesting addition to the story. I ached for her and the betrayal she felt as her sister sent her away from the only home she had ever known to a brother she had never met. It was no wonder that she was as prickly as she was. She was also lonely, which made her a prime target for Angus. I liked Brenna's understanding of how Maeve felt, and her desperate need to protect Maeve. It would have been a lot easier if she had told Michael why she was so adamant in her rules. I would love to see a book with Maeve as the heroine.

Naughty but Nice - Donna Kaufmann (Kensington - Nov 2018)

Series: Hamilton (Book 3)

Businessman Griffin's never believed in luck...until sassy-sweet small-town baker Melody turns his world around. Except there's a catch: There's no way he'll be able to build his empire and hold on to her. His new "lucky charm" could destroy all his dreams...or make this Christmas better than he ever imagined possible...

Good story about a man who is all business until he meets a woman who teaches him how to enjoy life a little. Griffin is an Irishman who has come to the US to build a resort that is set to change the character of the small town where it will be located. Not everyone is pleased with his plans, especially bakery owner Melody.

There's more to Griffin than first apparent. He has concentrated on business and shut off his emotions because of the things he went through growing up. He never felt like he fit in and was bullied and abused by various family members. It was recently revealed that his father was adopted and Griffin has come to Hamilton to get to know his "real" family and learn about his inheritance.

Melody grew up in Hamilton, then left to become a lawyer in Washington DC. She came home to support her best friend who was dying of cancer, found she liked being a baker, and took over the bakery when her friend died. She has done her research on what happens to towns after Griffin's company "helps" them, and she doesn't like what she sees.

Griffin and Melody strike sparks off each other from the beginning. There is a definite attraction between them. I loved their first meeting, as Griffin was in search of coffee. She made her displeasure with him and his plans quite obvious there and again at the town council meeting. I liked the way that Griffin went to her shop that evening to talk to her about it and ended up staying to help. Griffin was amazed by the desire he felt to tell her things about his past, things he doesn't share with anyone. Within a short time the two of them find themselves giving in to their attraction. It was interesting to see the two of them get closer, obviously falling for each other, while agreeing to disagree on the plans for the town. Melody believes that their relationship will last only until Griffin moves on to his next project and wonders how she'll handle it when he's gone. Meanwhile, Griffin comes to realize that what he feels for Melody is much deeper than he had ever expected. I loved seeing his big moment at the end, and how his feelings for Melody had changed his views of his family. While the story never had the big conflict that I expected from the opening scenes, it ended up being a pretty sweet romance.