Series: Bravos of Valentine Bay (Book 2)Bravo Family Ties (Book 53)
She isn’t a true Bravo --
And now she’s inheriting a temporary husband!
It’s shocking enough discovering she was switched at birth. Now, to fulfill the terms of his adoptive father’s will, Aislinn Bravo must marry Jaxon Winter or he loses his beloved ranch. Living together as husband and wife for three months only deepens Aislinn’s desire for her longtime crush. But how can she dream of a future with Jax when her whole life is a lie?
Captivating and emotional story. What do you do when you discover that everything you believed about yourself is a lie? Five years earlier, Aislinn had briefly worked as a ranch hand for Martin Durand, where she developed a huge crush on the man's adoptive son, Jaxon. Now she's been called to attend the reading of Durand's will. She is shocked and horrified to be told that she was switched at birth with his daughter, meaning that she doesn't have a drop of Bravo blood in her. To top it all off, Durand made it a condition of his will that Aislinn and Jax must marry or Jax will lose his inheritance.
The opening scene in the lawyer's office sucked me into the story and grabbed me by the heart. Aislinn's disbelief and pain at hearing the story of her birth was heart-wrenching. Her meltdown was understandable and believable. Getting the news that she also had to marry Jax was one more blow. Though she claimed that her crush was long over, it was obvious that something was still there. And as much as she hated the circumstances, she still likes and respects Jax and doesn't want to be the cause of him losing the ranch. She struggled over what to do, but the outcome was really never in question. Jax is just as stunned over the will's conditions. To lose the home that has been in his family for generations is unthinkable, and he'll do whatever he must to keep it. After all, it's only for three months.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Jax and Aislinn. The sparks between them were undeniable right from the start. Jax was a bit wary at the beginning, slightly suspicious that Aislinn had found a way to get to Martin and manipulate him. Those feelings didn't last long, as he got to know and like her. I loved the way that he did everything he could to make her feel welcome on the ranch. He's also a pretty straightforward man, and as his attraction to Aislinn grew he made it clear that he wanted her. Aislinn has a harder time of it. Spending time with Jax deepens her feelings for him. Giving in to the desire isn't hard, but believing in a future together is another matter. I ached for Aislinn and the panic attacks she would have each night, and for Jax, who tried to understand but was hurt by the way she pulled away. It was pretty clear that she was fighting against the feeling that she had no control over her life, but she didn't know how to fix it. When the three months are up, both Jax and Aislinn know that they are in love, but Aislinn is still fighting for identity. I loved Jax's patience with her fears and that he never gave up hope. I admit to being somewhat frustrated with her at the end, but I also could feel her pain. Her conversation with Percy and Daffy at the end finally helped her put her fears to rest. I loved seeing Aislinn and Jax come together at the end. There was a sweet little twist involving Martin, also.
I loved the importance of family. The love and care that Jax had received from Claudia and Martin made a great foundation for the love he had for Aislinn. For all the love he had for Martin, Jax was also well aware of Martin's faults, and tried hard to help Aislinn see the good side of the man. The closeness of the Bravo family is a huge part of Aislinn's identity, and the news about her birth threw her into a tailspin. She wasn't sure what the news would do to her relationship with her siblings, and that added to her stress. I loved the unquestioning support she received from all of them, especially as she tried to come to terms with her marriage. I really enjoyed seeing her sisters Haley and Harper playing devil's advocate, to get Aislinn to see the truth. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when the family finally gets in contact with Madison.
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