Lullaby for Two - Karen Rose Smith (SSE #1961 - Mar 2009)

Series: Baby Experts (Book 1)

BROUGHT TOGETHER BY BABY

Vince Rossi would do anything for the adorable orphaned baby left in his care. Problem was, the one doctor suitable to help him was Tessa McGuire--his ex-wife. He had spent years trying to forget the only woman he'd ever loved and the tragedy that had torn their lives apart. And as if things weren't complicated enough, Tessa was more alluring than Vince remembered. Watching her hold his infant son brought back memories of the passion they shared and the love they'd lost. Could one little baby heal their broken hearts and give them a second chance to become a family--this time, forever?

Good book about second chances. Twenty years ago, Vince and Tessa had been teenagers in love. She got pregnant and Vince insisted they get married, especially after her father disowned her. But life wasn't easy with Vince working two jobs to Tessa's one, just to make ends meet. When tragedy happened and Tessa lost the baby, their marriage fell apart too. Both moved on, but neither forgot the other.

Now Vince is back in Sagebrush, an overnight dad of an infant boy, the orphaned son of his police department partner. He is filling in for the police chief at the same time he is getting medical treatment for little Sean. Vince is stunned to discover that the pediatrician is Tessa, and is hit with the memories, good and bad, of their time together. Tessa is equally stunned to see Vince. After the loss of their baby and its consequences, she had gone on to become a doctor but had never forgotten the man who broke her heart.

I enjoyed the development of Vince and Tessa's relationship. They had a lot of past hurts to overcome before they could get to a future together. When Vince looks back to that time, all he can see is that Tessa left him to move back home with her father. He felt that she blamed him for what had happened and he accepted it and got out of her life. All Tessa remembers is that Vince left when she was at her lowest. Though she had listened to her father and gone home with him, she had hoped that Vince would come after her, and she was devastated when he didn't.

From the moment Vince and Tessa met again, it was obvious that their feelings for each other were still there. However, both were wary of taking a chance again. Caring for little Sean brought them together time after time, giving them the chance to get to know each other again. There were some incredibly sweet moments with the three of them together, helping to create a feeling of family. The sparks between them were also as strong as ever, and the heat between them continued to build. But both of them continued to hold part of themselves back. Tessa wasn't sure that Vince was going to stick around this time. Vince wasn't sure that Tessa could believe in him again. A surprise development brought their fears and insecurities to the surface, driving a wedge between them. I loved the eye-opening advice that Vince received from an unexpected source. The ending was sweet as Vince took a chance at winning it all, and Tessa found her dreams could come true after all. 

To Scotland with Love - Patience Griffin (Signet - June 2014)

Series: Kilts and Quilts (Book 1)

Welcome to the charming Scottish seaside town of Gandiegow -- where two people have returned home for different reasons, but to find the same thing....

Caitriona Macleod gave up her career as an investigative reporter for the role of perfect wife. But after her husband is found dead in his mistress’s bed, a devastated Cait leaves Chicago for the birthplace she hasn’t seen since she was a child. She’s hoping to heal and to reconnect with her gran. The last thing she expects to find in Gandiegow is the Sexiest Man Alive! She just may have stumbled on the ticket to reigniting her career -- if her heart doesn’t get in the way.

Graham Buchanan is a movie star with many secrets. A Gandiegow native, he frequently hides out in his hometown between films. He also has a son he’ll do anything to protect. But Cait Macleod is too damn appealing -- even if she is a journalist.

Quilting with her gran and the other women of the village brings Cait a peace she hasn’t known in years. But if she turns in the story about Graham, Gandiegow will never forgive her for betraying one of its own. Should she suffer the consequences to resurrect her career? Or listen to her battered and bruised heart and give love another chance?

Good story about going home. The story opens with Cait's return to the small Scottish village where she was born and spent her childhood. She had given up her career as a reporter in an attempt to be the perfect wife to her cheating and emotionally abusive husband. Now that he's dead (in embarrassing circumstances) she's hoping to escape the scandal and mend her relationship with her grandmother. She doesn't expect to find Hollywood megastar and fellow escapee Graham Buchanan.

Graham is a movie star who is extremely protective of his privacy. When he isn't filming, he comes home to Gandiegow to spend time with his son and little grandson. Duncan and Mattie are his world and he will do anything to protect them.

Cait comes across as pretty selfish at the beginning. Though she claims she wants to reconnect with her grandmother, she has no intention of actually staying with her. Instead, she has bought her own cottage to live in. Her life receives one more blow when she discovers that said cottage burned two days before her arrival. She looks at it as just another indication that her life sucks. Then when she stumbles across Graham, her first thought is to use her time in Gandiegow to acquire the information to write an exposé on him and jump start a return to her former career. She doesn't give a thought to the effect it would have on him, his family, or the village and its residents.

I liked Graham more, though he had his issues too. He is immediately suspicious of Cait and her intentions, which shows that he has good instincts. He obviously loves his son and grandson, though his relationship with Duncan is strained. Graham carries a great deal of guilt over the amount of time he spent away from Duncan due to his filming commitments and now seems to go a bit overboard in his attempts to make up for it. I loved his relationship with little Mattie who seems to be the lone bright spot in Graham's life.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Cait and Graham, and the changes that they experienced along the way. In spite of his suspicions about her, Graham is attracted to Cait from the beginning. Cait was also attracted to him, which conflicted with her plans to out him. Both of them fought hard to resist it, having been hurt in the past and wanting to protect their hearts. Both of them are stubborn, passionate people, and there are moments of extreme sweetness between them as well as times of intense heat.

The more time that she spent with Graham and the others, the harder it was for Cait to continue her plans for her tell-all. As a devastating crisis develops, I loved watching as the entire village pulls together to support those affected. Cait especially steps up to provide the emotional support that Graham needs, which only deepens their connection. But in spite of their growing feelings, both try to deny what everyone else can see - they are exactly what each other needs. It's not smooth sailing though, as Cait's plans come back to bite her and Graham has to decide whether he can trust her after all.

Family is an important theme throughout the story also. Cait came to Gandiegow because of the memories of her life there and because Deydie is the only family she has left. She feels guilty because she allowed her husband to keep her away and isn't sure of her reception. Deydie is a tough nut to crack. She isn't very nice to Cait, with her snide comments and bossy nature, but there are occasional glimpses of her softer side. I felt that through most of the book, Deydie was just as intent on protecting her heart as Cait was. I loved seeing them come together at the end with a heartwarming and emotional scene. Graham also has his family issues to deal with. I ached for both him and Duncan as they butted heads. There were many times when I wanted to shake Duncan and tell him to let the past go. I loved the way that Cait read him the riot act and pointed out that he hadn't had it so bad after all. I adored little Mattie. I ached for what he had been through and what was still to come. It was sweet to see how he took to Cait and the bond that grew between them. 

The Nanny's Double Trouble - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2617 - May 2018)

Series: Bravos of Valentine Bay (Book 1)
            Bravo Family Ties (Book 52)

Meet The Bravos of Valentine Bay…

And the single father of twin toddlers in desperate need of a nanny!

All his life Daniel Bravo has been the responsible one. So when he’s left widowed with adorable twins to raise, he knows he needs help, fast. Enter family friend Keely Ostergard -- a woman with love in her heart for his children, and a gigantic chip on her shoulder for him. She’s the last person he’d ever fall for -- the aversion is mutual. Until it isn’t…

Terrific start to the new Bravo series. Daniel is the oldest of the family, head of the family business, and the one who stepped up when their parents were killed. He was only eighteen but determined to keep the family together. He married his high school sweetheart and together they raised his siblings. There is only one left at home. He is also now the widowed single father of twin toddlers after his wife died giving birth. He's had a succession of nannies, with his mother-in-law filling in when necessary. He's in a quandary now, because Gretchen broke her foot and can't take care of them. He's surprised when his late wife's cousin offers to step in.

Keely loved her cousin Lillie and was there during the last months of Lillie's life. There are things that Lillie told her that have affected the way that Keely looks at Daniel. But she adores Jake and Frannie and will do anything for them, including putting up with Daniel.

I loved Keely. She has a really busy life, with her successful art gallery and her own textile art. She has good friends, and a good relationship with her aunt, who is like a second mother to her. She has a good, though unusual relationship with her rather bohemian, rock star mother. I loved the way that she was ready to put Jake and Frannie at the top of her priority list when it became obvious that Daniel needed help, even though she has issues with his relationship with her cousin.

I ended up loving Daniel, too, though there were times that I didn't like him very much. I loved the way he had put his own life on hold to raise his siblings after their parents' deaths. But that much responsibility turned him into something of a grouch and a hard ass, as shown by his attitude toward his youngest sister, Grace. He had also been looking forward to when all his siblings were grown and on their own, looking at that as him regaining his freedom. He and his wife hadn't planned on having children of their own, but Lillie changed her mind and tricked him into getting her pregnant. He loves his kids, that's obvious, but he still has moments of resenting the delay of his "freedom."

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Daniel and Keely. First, there was a cessation of hostilities between them as they got used to working together to care for the twins. This was accelerated when first one twin, then the other became ill and they had to deal with multiple crises because of it. I loved seeing them realize how much they had in common and begin to grow a real friendship. I especially liked seeing Daniel discover the quiet happiness of having someone to talk to about his day and anything else that crossed his mind. Both of them got quite a shock when they discovered that the friendship had moved into attraction. I loved their attitude that they were adults and entitled to behave as such. As they grew closer, Daniel especially did not want to tell the family that he and Keely were a couple - he wanted to enjoy what they had without commentary or interference. It was pretty clear that the feelings between them were deepening and both knew it, but they also had some reservations about how the family would handle it. There was another complication that cropped up and Keely was really worried about how that was going to go over.

I cried ugly tears during the last part of the book, which was full of family drama. From a confrontation with Gretchen to some learning points for Grace, that was hard enough. But Keely is devastated by Daniel's reaction to her news. I loved the support that she received from her mother, which played out in a very surprising way. I loved Daniel's big moment at the end. He had the perfect mix of groveling and explanation.

The secondary characters were great. First and foremost were the twins, who were absolutely adorable. I loved how different Daniel was around them - happier, more inclined to laugh, and with his love for them plain to see. His younger sister Grace showcased an entirely different side of him. She is twenty-one, yet Daniel still treats her like a child, and they have major blowups because of it. He does it because he knows just how easily things can go wrong and he wants to protect her, but learning how to let go is hard for him. I loved the two sisters, Gretchen and Ingrid. They are so different, and I loved seeing them push each other's buttons. Ingrid, who is Keely's mother, is a trip and a half. I loved her outspoken comments at Sunday dinner because she could see what was obvious between Daniel and Keely, even though they were in denial. I am looking forward to reading about the rest of the family. 

Cowboy SEAL Daddy - Laura Marie Altom (HWR #1686 - Apr 2018)

Series: Cowboy SEALs (Book 6)

THE ENGAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT

After his divorce, cowboy turned Navy SEAL Wayne Brustanovitch swore he’d never remarry. Now he needs a wife -- and fast -- in order to fulfill his ailing father’s final wishes. Wayne has a plan, but for it to work, he’ll need his pregnant friend Paisley to agree to…

A make-believe marriage! Paisley Carter knows her hunky neighbor’s idea is a bad one, even if it’s for a good reason. Then again, after her ex left her pregnant and alone, a no-risk relationship is the only kind Paisley wants. But as she and Wayne play pretend at his parents’ Arizona ranch, the line between the ruse and reality begins to blur. Can Wayne and Paisley resist falling for each other for real?

Good friends to lovers story. Wayne and Paisley have been friends and neighbors for three years, ever since Wayne and his teammate Logan moved in. She has especially appreciated his help since her ex-boyfriend left her pregnant and turned out to be married. But she's shocked when he comes to her with an off-the-wall request.

Wayne is still recovering from the trauma of his divorce and has sworn that he will never remarry. His ex cheated on him with a fellow team member, leaving him convinced that he isn't relationship material. However, a recent call from his father has Wayne reeling. His father says he is dying, and all he wants is to see Wayne married and maybe with a baby on the way before he dies. After a facetious comment by Logan about renting a wife, Wayne decides to ask Paisley if she will pretend to be married to him to ease his father's mind.

I completely understood what was driving Wayne to come up with such an idea, but it had disaster written on it from the beginning. Paisley has a bad feeling about it, but she likes Wayne's father and goes along with it for his sake. I wanted to shake Wayne a few times at the beginning because he seemed to treat it all like a big joke, not seeing how it could go really wrong. I thought Paisley had a more realistic view of the pitfalls that could occur. Still, they might have been able to pull it off if Wayne's friend Logan and Paisley's friend Monica hadn't decided to get married - at Wayne's family's ranch. Suddenly, Wayne's mom wants Wayne and Paisley to make it a double wedding and things start to spiral out of control.

I enjoyed the development of Wayne and Paisley's relationship, but I also spent a fair amount of time wanting to shake them both. From the moment they agreed on the deception, their relationship began to change. I had to laugh when they decided they had better kiss a couple of times to make sure that it would be believable when they arrived at the ranch. Neither one expected the flash-bang of attraction that flared up between them and it freaked them both out. It made things a bit awkward between them until they agreed to put it behind them and concentrate on the plan. Once they arrived at the ranch, the important thing became figuring out what was going on with Wayne's dad. It was sweet to see the way that Peter and Jules welcomed Paisley and were so happy about the wedding and the baby. This just added to the guilty feelings that Paisley had about lying to them. As Wayne and Paisley spent more time together, each of them started to wonder what it would be like if it were real. There were some really sweet scenes with the two of them, especially when Wayne just wanted to be close to her.

I liked Wayne and Paisley, but both of them had some serious issues to overcome. Wayne's ex had done a number on his confidence in his ability to love. Being with Paisley and thinking about her baby makes him happy, but he's afraid to trust that it will last. He uses charm and humor to keep things from getting too serious, but something inside him makes him long for something different. He is so convinced that he doesn't know how to love that he doesn't see that he is in love with her. Paisley frequently frustrated me, with her waffling back and forth about whether or not to go through with the wedding. First, she agrees, then she wants to tell the truth, then she's back to going along with it. Her feelings for Wayne are getting stronger, but she's afraid that she's taking advantage of him. She grew up with a mother who manipulated men into taking care of her, and Paisley is terrified of being like her mom. This often causes her to push Wayne away. I ached for them both at the wedding scene, as Wayne wants to make it real, but can't give Paisley the words she needs to hear, and Paisley's fears won't let her see what he can't say. It takes some time apart, and some serious looking at their fears before either is ready to face their future. I loved Paisley's big moment at the end as she went after what she wanted.

I loved the importance that family played in the story. The biggest part was Wayne's father, Peter, and his health issues. I ached for Wayne and the pain he felt at the thought of losing his father. I loved Peter, with his broken English, his big heart, and his love of John Wayne. I ached for him and his belief that he was dying. I loved the ride that he and Wayne went on, where Peter showed his medical papers to Wayne and got the surprise of his life. Paisley also had family issues to deal with. Throughout the book more and more of her relationship with her mother was revealed, as was the effect it had on Paisley's life. I liked seeing her finally face her mom and the impact it had on her mindset. The epilogue was fantastic, with a great view of their lives a year down the road. I especially loved the bit with "Duke."

The Texas Cowboy's Baby Rescue - Cathy Gillen Thacker (HWR #1685 - Apr 2018)

Series: Texas Legends: The McCabes (Book 1)

FAMILY BY FATE

Finding an abandoned baby and a puppy brings nurse Bridgett Monroe one step closer to her dream of adoption. But Cullen Reid McCabe, aka the gruffest, sexiest rancher in Laramie, Texas, stands in her way. He’s been named responsible for the child -- and he needs her help. Together they care for Robby, and grow closer every day.

Cullen knows what it’s like to grow up fatherless. So he’s determined to find Robby’s birth parents, even if it means Bridgett losing her chance to raise a child. Robby belongs with his real family. But could “family” mean the three of them -- Cullen, Bridgett, Robby and puppy Riot -- not just for now, but forever?

Good book about two people brought together by a baby and a puppy. Bridgett is a nurse who has big dreams of adopting a baby. When she discovers an abandoned baby, she believes it is destiny. But a note found with the baby gives him over to the care of Cullen McCabe. Social services approves Bridgett as a foster parent, but when she experiences a housing crisis Cullen offers to have her, the baby, and the puppy move into his ranch with him.

I liked both Cullen and Bridgett, though each had their frustrating moments. Cullen is honorable, gruff, and more sensitive than is obvious at first. He grew up not knowing who his father was until after his mother died. His childhood was rootless as his mother went from one job and one man to another, without any feeling of security. Even after being claimed by his father, Cullen tends to hold back on his emotions. I ached for him as he still felt like an outsider in his family, but also felt that he caused some of that himself. With his history of buying and selling ranches and moving on, it felt like he kept one foot out the door at all times. I liked that he takes his responsibility to the baby seriously and does everything he can to support Bridgett in her care of little Robby. But he wants to find Robby's birth parents before any decisions are made, which puts him a bit at odds with Bridgett.

Bridgett is caring, nurturing, and a bit stubborn. She has wanted a baby for a long time and has her plans made. She's found the perfect house, is on the foster-adopt list, and is now waiting for fate to deliver the perfect baby. Finding Robby is a dream come true, but with the question of his parentage up in the air, she could still lose out.

I enjoyed the development of Cullen and Bridgett's relationship. The first encounter at the hospital was a little rough, with Bridgett not exactly trusting that he's telling the truth about Robby not being his. I liked that he stepped up right away to be involved anyway and was there to help Bridgett when her landlord kicked her out of her apartment. I liked how there was an almost immediate feeling of family once Bridgett, Robby, and Riot arrived at the ranch. Both Cullen and Bridgett connected with little Robby right away. I especially enjoyed seeing the sweet moments between Cullen and the baby, as his walls began to crumble. Those moments added to Bridgett's growing feelings of family. When the sparks of attraction that flared between Cullen and Bridgett burst into flame, both were ready to see where it led. I was a bit frustrated with them both as their feelings grew more intense, but neither would talk about it. When their insecurities pushed them apart, it took straight talk from family members and some serious soul searching, before both Cullen and Bridgett could see where they'd gone wrong. I loved seeing them finally open their hearts fully to each other. The epilogue was terrific.

A big part of the story was the relationship between Cullen and his father and the McCabe family. There was obvious strain between Cullen and his dad, plus the way Cullen still felt like an outsider. I grew very frustrated with Cullen because the more I saw, the more I felt that he was doing it to himself. I especially liked Cullen's stepmother and the unconditional love she showed him. I wasn't sure how Bridgett's plan was going to turn out and held my breath as it played out. 

Married to Claim the Rancher's Heir - Lauri Robinson (HHSS #469 - Feb 2018)

To claim his heir…

…he must marry his enemy!

Gabe Callaway is outraged when feisty Janette Parker lands on his doorstep with her orphaned niece -- though he soon realizes little Ruby is heir to his ranch! If Janette wants money, he’ll pay her off to keep the little girl in her rightful place. But all Janette wants is Ruby… Will Gabe do whatever it takes to claim his heir -- even marry Janette?

Good book about two determined people, each of whom believes that they are the right person to raise their orphaned niece, Ruby. When Janette received word that her sister and brother-in-law had died, she rushed from Kansas City to Texas to get her three-year-old niece and take her home with her. Believing it's the right thing to do, she stopped at Gabe Callaway's ranch to introduce him to Ruby before continuing on her journey. The last thing she expected was for Gabe to insist that Ruby remains at the Triple C.

Janette is beautiful, stubborn, and fiercely independent. As the daughter of an army officer, she is determined that she will never be subject to the orders of a man again. She has an extremely successful dress shop in Kansas City, which she shared with her sister until she eloped with Max five years earlier. Janette stayed in touch with them and visited when Ruby was born. She is devastated by the loss of her sister and intends to raise Ruby to the best of her ability.

Gabe is handsome, equally stubborn, and has a deep sense of responsibility to his ranch and his people. Five years earlier he had decided it was time to marry and fixed his interest on a young lady he met on the train. After bringing her to visit the ranch, they were hit with a devastating blizzard. As Gabe took care of the ranch, that left his brother Max to entertain Anna, who quickly fell in love with each other. Gabe was hurt and angered by the way the couple left and hasn't seen or spoken to his brother since.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Gabe and Janette. The two of them butted heads from the moment they met. Because Gabe isn't married, and doesn't intend to be, that makes Ruby heir to the Triple C, plus Max's will puts Gabe as Ruby's guardian. Gabe also believes that Janette will give up her claim to Ruby if her offers her enough money. Janette is, of course, infuriated by the assumption and makes it plain that Ruby will be leaving with her. I have to admit that Gabe was pretty obnoxious here and I didn't blame Janette for her attitude at all. As the subject of Max and Anna's wills came up, they realized that their only option was to take their issue to the law. It was fun to see both Gabe and Janette attempt to outwit each other as they make their plans. To their shock, it's the judge who manages to outwit them both.

Besides the sparks of antagonism that sparked between them, there was also an undercurrent of attraction that disturbed them both. After Max and Anna's departure, Gabe had sworn that he would not open himself up to that kind of caring again. Janette had allowed emotion to blind her to the nature of a man before, and she was determined not to do so again. But as they spend time together, they start to see each other differently. When Janette gets a telegram about a break-in at her shop, Gabe insists on going with her. I loved his support of her and how it affected Janette. The growing heat between them leads to a steamy encounter, and also some serious soul-searching on Gabe's part. Meanwhile, Janette feels deep guilt over the trouble she feels she has brought to Gabe, creating some difficult decisions for her.

There is a thread of suspense running through the story, dealing with a man in Janette's past. It turns out he wasn't what he claimed. Though Janette got rid of him once in a most satisfying way, there was more to the story. As the truth was revealed, Gabe's protectiveness takes over. Janette is surprised to find that she is okay with it for the most part. However, when the final confrontation comes, she takes a surprising part in the resolution. The danger also opens both her eyes and Gabe's to what they really want.

I loved the epilogue and the look at the Callaway family several years down the road.

The Debutante's Daring Proposal - Annie Burrows (HH #1332 - June 2017)

Series: Regency Bachelors (Book 2)

"I want you to marry me."

Miss Georgiana Wickford has a plan to avoid the marriage mart -- she'll propose a marriage of convenience! She hasn't spoken to the Earl of Ashenden since their childhood friendship was torn apart, but now Edmund is her only hope.

Edmund refuses to take any bride, especially the unsuitable country miss who abandoned him years ago. But when he sees beautiful Georgie at the mercy of society's rakes, it arouses his protective instincts. And soon the earl is tempted to claim the daring debutante for himself!

Good second chance/friends to lovers story. Georgie and Edmund had been good friends as children. Both of them had been labeled as "different" and as a result were also each other's only friend. Georgie was a tomboy, more interested in fishing, fencing, and outdoor pursuits than in the "girly" ones of fashion, needlework, and gossip. Edmund was fascinated by bugs and all things scientific. As the heir to an earl, Edmund's mother didn't want him associating with "common" children, so he was very isolated. When Edmund became ill, Georgie found ways to sneak in and see him, until it all came to a crashing end. Edmund was sent away to recover from his illness, and both he and Georgie promised to write. But as months went by with no letters, each believed that the other had abandoned their friendship.

Georgie has grown up and changed from the hoyden that she used to be. After Edmund's departure, her father remarried and her stepmother went to great pains to turn Georgie into a lady. Her methods were extreme and Georgie has buried the girl she used to be under a façade of propriety. Now that her father has died, she and her stepmother and stepsister have lost their home. Her stepmother is determined to marry the two girls off to titled husbands. Georgie has a fear of marriage due to something she witnessed and is desperate to avoid the marriage mart. She remembers that Edmund had promised to help her if she ever needed it, and comes up with a desperate plan.

Edmund is shocked when his first communication from Georgie in years results in an incredible proposal. She wants him to marry her and in return she will leave him to pursue his own interests with no interference from her. All she asks is that he doesn't consummate the marriage. Still angry over what he sees as her abandonment, he shoots her down most emphatically. But it isn't long before he feels guilty and decides to go to London and find a way to help her that doesn't involve him marrying her.

I enjoyed the development of Edmund and Georgie's relationship. It is still antagonistic at the beginning as each confronts the other about their past actions. But there are indications that their previous friendship isn't as dead as they thought it was. I liked the way that their former openness began to resurface as they spent more time together. It was great fun to see Edmund go from wanting to play matchmaker to realizing that he didn't want her to marry some other man. He is completely oblivious to the reason he is so reluctant to hand her over as he comes up with reason after reason that this man or that one is unsuitable. He also becomes very protective of her, which lands him in an awkward situation but also opens his eyes.

Meanwhile, Georgie is stuck doing what she doesn't want - entertaining gentlemen callers who aren't truly interested in her. I ached for her as she dealt with the constant criticisms from her stepmother while trying to find an acceptable solution to her predicament. I liked seeing her real personality begin to reemerge whenever she was with Edmund. I enjoyed seeing her call him out on some of his attitudes toward her, especially on those things she had no control over. It wasn't long before she was comparing each of her suitors to Edmund until she finally realized that it was Edmund she had wanted all along.

Both Edmund and Georgie also had to find a way to overcome their own insecurities. Though he puts on a good front, Edmund is affected by the way others see him. He frequently takes things Georgie says the wrong way as they play upon those insecurities. It was quite satisfying whenever Georgie would upend those feelings by being supportive of the real him. Georgie's insecurities have been thrust on her by her stepmother's attitudes and actions. Georgie is a tall girl with a curvy figure, nothing like the current fashion, and she can't see how any man would want her for who she is. I loved seeing her surprise whenever Edmund would compliment her. Her fears of the physical side of marriage also faded when she pictured Edmund in that role.

I enjoyed the ending as Edmund took drastic steps to gain the result that he wanted. It was fun to see the encouragement he received from his friends, who saw things much more clearly than he did. I loved that he was so willing to be whatever Georgie needed from him. The conclusion was sweet, romantic, and intense as both Edmund and Georgie were finally able to put all their fears to rest.

The secondary characters were also well done. Georgie's stepmother was vividly portrayed in her horrible attitude toward Georgie. There were many times I really wanted someone to let her have it. I was not terribly surprised by the revelation of how she came to marry Georgie's father. Edmund's mother, though she had few actual appearances in the book, had a much bigger role in their lives than either knew. Again, I wasn't surprised by what she did. I liked seeing Edmund finally stand up to her.