Tremaine's True Love - Grace Burrowes (Sourcebooks Casablanca - Aug 2015)

Series: True Gentlemen (Book 1)

He's had everything he could ever want...until now

Wealthy wool magnate Tremaine St. Michael is half French, half Scottish, and all business. He prowls the world in search of more profits, rarely settling in one place for long. When he meets practical, reserved Lady Nita Haddonfield, he sees an opportunity to mix business with pleasure by making the lady his own.

Nita Haddonfield has a meaningful life tending to others, though nobody is dedicated to caring for Nita. She insists the limitations of marriage aren't for her, then Tremaine St. Michael arrives-protective, passionate, and very, very determined to win Nita's heart.

Good story about two people who aren't looking for love but find it anyway. Tremaine is a wealthy businessman who has arrived at the Earl of Bellefonte's estate to negotiate for the purchase of the earl's flock of Merino sheep. Upon arrival, he discovers that he's not the only one interested and that the earl contemplates using the sheep as hooks to find husbands for his sisters. Tremaine has had no thoughts of marriage in the near future but finds himself intrigued by Lady Nita, the oldest of the sisters. Nita considers herself firmly on the shelf. After the death of her mother, she devoted herself to running the house and taking care of her siblings, as well as serving as a healer for the district. With her brother's marriage, she has lost the need to run the house and has thrown herself into caring for the villagers and tenants.

I liked both Tremaine and Nita. He is the son of a French Comte and a Scottish woman who lost their lives during the Terror. He is somewhat bitter about the way that his mother abandoned him with his Scottish grandfather and returned to France with her husband. His childhood with his grandfather wasn't very pleasant and has caused him to keep his distance from what little family he has left. He prefers increasing his fortune using his wits rather than depending on his aristocratic background. As plain Mr. St. Michael he doesn't flaunt his wealth. Though a bit standoffish at the beginning, as he spends more time with the family his kindness and thoughtfulness become more apparent. Nita is independent, forthright, and more than a little stubborn. After a brief brush with romance when she was younger, she avoids any plans for marriage. Her dedication to caring for the sick has put her at odds with her family, especially her oldest brother, the local doctor, and the vicar. She won't turn away anyone who comes to her for help, including the local fallen woman. She doesn't judge; she simply renders whatever aid she can.

The relationship between Tremaine and Nita developed slowly. Tremaine was drawn to and intrigued by Nita and the way that she cared for everyone else. They began with quiet conversations as they would encounter each other at various times of day. I loved the scenes where Tremaine accompanied Nita to Addy's house. His compassion and kindness were evident, as was the difficulty of the memories that were resurrected. His actions endeared him to Nita, who had expected him to stay distant while she did what she had to do. I also liked her calming effect on him when he had a problem with his sheep. The more time they spent with each other, the more a feeling of attraction grew between them. As Tremaine spent more time thinking about Nita, he began to contemplate the idea of marriage. His thought processes were interesting, as was his broaching of the subject with Nita. She had a rather pragmatic reaction, with an unexpected prerequisite to accepting. One thing they didn't do was talk about their expectations, and this would come back to cause problems. As much as Tremaine admired Nita's dedication to her healing, he didn't seem to understand that it was more than what she does, it was a bone-deep part of who she is. On her side, Nita didn't understand how deep Tremaine's need to protect her was. When those two things came up against each other, and neither was willing to bend, things did not look good for their future. Their eyes were opened by an unexpected crisis, and I liked how both of them took a hard look at their beliefs. I loved their well thought out solutions and compromises.

There was a secondary story going on involving Nita's sister Susannah and her determination to marry their neighbor, Edward Nash. It turns out that there is much more going on with him than most of her family knows. Nita has her suspicions, but because she learned it in confidence, she is hesitant to say anything. Personally, I think she was wrong in that instance. I understood Susannah's desire to marry since it was what was expected, but I thought she was settling for too little. I didn't like Edward's attitude and treatment of Elsie and Digby, which gave a good indication of his character. I thought he got off a bit easily at the end.

I enjoyed the other secondary characters in the story. Nicholas, of course, who is blissfully happy with his bride, though he also frustrated me at times. If he had simply explained his objections about Nita's healing trips to her, there might not have been so many confrontations. Nita's other two sisters, Della and Kirsten, had their unique personalities and storylines. As the youngest, Della is the one who is most aware of what is going on with everyone else. Kirsten sometimes appears selfish, but she does have a kind heart and ends up being very helpful to Nita. She is also adept at defusing some confrontations. My favorite was George. His differences are handled sympathetically and without judgment. I enjoyed his introspective moments and what they revealed about him. I also liked that Tremaine realized that George was much smarter than many gave him credit for. George also has a very protective side that is revealed in an unexpected way. I hope to see more of him in later books.

 

The Texas Cowboy's Triplets - Cathy Gillen Thacker (HWR #1693 - June 2018)

Series: Texas Legends: The McCabes (Book 2)

THEY’RE BOTH IN TRIPLE TROUBLE!

Some cowboys are meant to be family men, and Deputy Dan McCabe is one of them. Only, this eligible bachelor just can’t seem to find the right woman. Or rather -- he has found her. But single mom Kelly Shackleford just keeps turning him down as if she’s immune to his charms. What could be the only way to Kelly’s heart? Her rambunctious, adorable toddler triplets!

Kelly knows that sexy cowboys and romance don’t mix in any lasting way. Dan is just a friend, thank you very much. But a spark of attraction is turning “just friends” into something warmer and much, much deeper. Kelly doesn’t want a husband or a broken heart…so why can’t she stop falling for this heartbreaker of a cowboy?

Sweet story. Dan is a cowboy deputy who is ready to settle down. He's been the focus of a lot of women who want the same thing, but none of them seem right. That is until he meets Kelly and her adorable kids. However, no matter how hard he tries, he can't get her to go out with him. Kelly likes Dan just fine but refuses to go past being friends. She gave in to a sexy, charming man once and it got her nothing but trouble - and three babies.

I liked both Dan and Kelly. Both of them are warm, loving people. Dan takes his work as a deputy very seriously, believing in the importance of rules and order. He's recently returned home to Texas, after several years working in Chicago. He left when the woman he was engaged to tried to use him to protect her criminal father. Because of that, he has some trust issues with anyone who wants him to bend the rules. He is also fun-loving, patient, and kind-hearted. Kelly is a woman whose children are the center of her world. She has put her life back together after divorcing their father and is happy with the way it is. She loves working with children and giving them a happy start to their school careers. I loved her determination to help the kids of single parents when it came to holiday celebrations. Her biggest blind spot is when it comes to social services workers. She spent a lot of time in and out of foster homes, thanks to her mother's illness and what she saw as uncaring social workers.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Kelly and Dan. Because they are friends, Kelly goes to him for help regarding one of her students. I liked Dan's willingness to help, and also enjoyed how he used it to tease her into finally going out with him. The attraction between them was obvious from the start, but Kelly desperately tried to resist it. She'd been burned by passion once before and doesn't want to risk it again, but Dan won't give up. I loved seeing Dan bond with the kids at the same time he and Kelly grew closer. That closeness with the kids helped soften Kelly's resistance, and it wasn't long before the chemistry between them heated up. The road didn't run smoothly though, as Kelly's emotional responses to problems would butt up against Dan's cooler, more logical ones. When a crisis with the mother of one of her students brought Kelly's issue with social workers up against Dan's duty as a deputy, both of them reacted badly. Thanks to some well-timed advice from Dan's mother and Kelly's friend, both of them realized that they were close to losing something very special. I loved the ending and seeing a mature discussion of what they'd done wrong and where they wanted to go from that point forward. The epilogue was adorable, with a very interesting twist.

The secondary characters were terrific. The triplets were adorable, sweet, but not too much so. They also had their troublesome moments, and I had to laugh about the goats, the boots, and the poop. And like most kids that age, they have no filters on their mouths. Some of the things they said were hilarious (though not necessarily to their mother). I also liked Sharon and her daughter Shoshanna. I ached for what Sharon was going through with her boss and her friends from her old home. I really liked how she and Kelly became friends. Mirabelle was the character I had the hardest time with. Her refusal to bend on the picnic was infuriating, and I really understood Kelly's problems with her. Of course, that put Kelly's back up also, and I wondered what was going to happen. I ended up feeling a little sorry for her.

I hope there will be more McCabe stories, even though the Harlequin Western line is done.

 

Under the Wire - HelenKay Dimon (Avon - July 2016)

Series: Bad Boys Undercover (Book 4)

Only one thing could pull Reid Armstrong away from a vacation he’s earned with every muscle in his finely honed body -- learning that his former fiancée has disappeared on a top-secret science expedition in the middle of nowhere. Second chances don’t come often in Reid’s business, and he needs to prove his worth to Cara Layne or die trying.

Waking up to find her camp destroyed and her colleagues missing, Cara is a walking target. She can’t trust anyone, least of all Reid. Even if his skills get them out alive, he’s a heartache waiting to strike twice. Yet being in close proximity proves their connection burns hotter than ever.

The body count is rising, the enemy is getting closer, and soon Reid will be right back in the position that cost him everything -- forced to choose between the woman he loves, and the job that’s his only hope of saving them both . . .

Good second chance romance wrapped up in a terrific action/adventure story. Reid and his teammate Parker are supposed to be on an enforced vacation in Montana, as members of Delta Team recover from the losses sustained in Facing Fire. Instead, they are sneaking around in Russia, trying to find out what happened to Reid's ex-fiancée, Cara. The documentary team she is with hasn't been heard from and her brother is worried. While she may have destroyed his heart when she walked out on their engagement, he can't NOT go looking for her.

When Cara woke to wind and pain and the sensation of being dragged away before passing out, she thought she was a dead woman. Waking again to find her coworkers missing and the camp destroyed she's not sure which way to turn - until Reid comes walking out of the woods. While she trusts him and his abilities to keep her safe, trusting him with her heart again is another matter entirely.

Sixteen months earlier, Reid and Cara had fallen in love and gotten engaged only two weeks after he'd rescued her. The passion between them was fast and furious and freaked out Cara's logical mind. She was certain that it was an adrenaline-fueled reaction that Reid would quickly regret, so she ended things before he could. But Reid never gave up on his love for Cara and is determined to prove it to her. But first, they have to get out of this alive.

I really liked the rekindling of the relationship. Cara is smart, feisty, and a kick-ass woman. She has no trouble standing up to Reid when she feels that he isn't taking her seriously. She also has no trouble following directions when the situation calls for it. Reid is tough, a bit rough around the edges, and still head-over-heels for Cara. He doesn't understand why she walked away from him, but he's determined to win her back. I loved the banter between the two of them, as Cara tried to get him to understand what she needed from him, and Reid resisted talking about things that he thought shouldn't matter. There were some terrific scenes that were right out of a Mars/Venus playbook and frequently had me laughing out loud. The chemistry between them was still just as intense, also, and found its expression in some very interesting places. I loved seeing Cara finally realize the truth of Reid's love, and Reid accept that strong and silent isn't always the best option. I loved the conversation she had with her brother right before she went after Reid.

The suspense of the story was really good also. While initially, it looks like a case of someone wanting the data that the scientist have collected, it turns out that there were multiple players and objectives. Cara and Reid, with Parker's assistance, are often barely one step ahead of whichever bad guy has gotten close. Each bit of information they uncover is another piece of a puzzle that doesn't always add up. Backing them up is Alliance's head honcho, Tasha, who seems to have an unlimited supply of useful contacts and information that can get her what she needs. Her scenes with Niko were awesome, as she had him right where she wanted him. There were quite a few twists and turns before all was revealed. The final confrontation was intense, and the final revelation not at all what I expected.

The two secondary characters I liked the most were Cara's brother, Caleb, and Reid's teammate, Parker. Caleb is the quintessential protective big brother, who will do anything to keep his sister safe. That he has contacts that are more than your average man would have is just icing on the cake. Since he is a part-time hacker (oh, that word!) with Alliance, that makes things even more interesting. Parker was a riot. I loved everything about him, from his belief in things like Bigfoot and Yeti to the way he gave Reid a hard time about being in love. It was fun to see Cara try to rein in him and Reid when they would get going. I'd love to see him get his own story.

A Very Merry Princess - Susan Mallery (HQN - Nov 2017)

Series: Happily Inc (Book 2.5)

When Princess Bethany’s father, the king, sells one of his best stallions, she insists the animal get the royal treatment. Disguised as Beth Archer, a mere stable hand, she takes him to Happily Inc, California, a quaint wedding destination that’s especially sparkly over the holidays.

Rich women have no place on Cade Saunders’s ranch. He wants a down-to-earth girl-next-door type—like Beth Archer. After a few cocoa-flavored kisses by the Christmas tree, Bethany begins to fall for her irresistibly handsome host. But will Cade still want her when he discovers she’s more familiar with a crown than a cowboy hat?

Short, sweet novella with a bit of heat. Beth is the adopted daughter of a Middle Eastern king and a princess because of it. She was first introduced in Mallery's The Sheik's Secret Bride (June 2000) and was horse crazy even then. When her father sells her favorite stallion to an American, Beth convinces her parents to let her accompany the horse and supervise his settling in. But she wants to go as plain Beth Smith, not the royal princess. She'd been burned in the past by people who used her for their own purposes and longs to be treated as a normal person.

Cade was introduced in the first Happily Inc. book, as Pallas's twin brother. He has wanted to be a rancher for his whole life, and after working at ranches in Kentucky and Texas, he now works for his grandfather on the family ranch. He is in the process of buying the ranch and has dreams of expanding the ranch's horse breeding business. He met King Malik in Texas and was thrilled when that connection enabled him to purchase the stallion, Rida. Cade spends most of his time working the ranch, with very little dating. He was burned by a wealthy woman in Kentucky, who considered him good enough to play with but too far beneath her to marry.

I enjoyed the enthusiasm both characters had for their work. Beth's love of the horse and determination to ensure that he was well cared for was obvious, as was her connection with the horse himself. Cade's excitement over Rida's arrival was clear. I loved Pallas's visit and her amusement over his child-like exuberance.

Cade and Beth connected as soon as she and Rida arrived, bonding first over the care of the horse. There were also sparks of attraction that flared between them. Beth tried to fight the attraction, knowing that she was there a) under false pretenses, and b) she would be leaving soon. But the happiness of being treated like a regular person, coupled with Cade's charm and down-to-earth attitude, made it a losing battle. Cade was attracted to Beth from the moment he met her. Her devotion to the horse was a big draw, as was the way she dove right into life on the ranch. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other and open up about some of their past problems. I loved Cade's reaction when Beth shared (carefully edited) parts of her past. On the other hand, finding out about Cade's past made Beth realize that he would not be happy when he found out the truth about who she is. When an unexpected visitor blows her cover, Beth discovers that she was right to be afraid of his reaction. I ached for her when Cade wouldn't even listen to her explanation. While I understood Cade's reaction, I also wanted to shake him for being so pig-headed.

The ending was terrific. Pallas takes her role as sister seriously and provides evidence to Cade of what an idiot he has been. I loved how Cade realizes that the only thing to do is go after Beth. His confrontation with King Malik was fantastic. I especially loved Malik's portrayal of the outraged and protective father, and Cade's understanding but also determination to make his case to Beth herself. The end of that confrontation was startling, but not entirely unexpected. There was another comment made later by Malik that showed that his choice of a buyer for Rida might not have been all business related.

I loved the secondary characters in this story. Seeing Liana and Malik again, and catching up on their lives was an unexpected bonus. It's clear that their love and support of Beth is just as strong as it was in their book. Beth's inclusion in Pallas's "Girl's Night" showed how easily Beth fit in with the people of Happily Inc. But the best part was the Thanksgiving dinner with Cade's family. His mother, Libby, is just as much of a snob as she was in the first book, but the rest of the family get together was great. I loved Cade's worry that Beth would be hurt by Libby's attitude and Beth's obvious enjoyment of the other members of the family. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Cade and Beth in later books.

 

The Sheik's Secret Bride - Susan Mallery (SSE #1331 - June 2000)

Series: Desert Rogues (Book 3)

LIANA AND THE KING

Single mom Liana Archer had read her share of romance novels featuring dashing, passionate sheiks. Still, she was astonished when sinfully handsome Malik Khan, Crown Prince of exotic El Bahar, hijacked her and her little girl off an airliner and into his lavish palace. Why would the sexy desert prince want a passably pretty schoolteacher from San Bernadino?

Dazed, breathless, and mesmerized with desire, Liana quickly became Malik's royal bride. But dare she entrust her daughter -- or her heart -- to a man who would give them anything but his love? Or might a caring American mother and child finally move this proud, imperious monarch and make his kingdom complete?

Oldie but goodie. Besides the fact that Susan Mallery is one of my favorite authors, I discovered that the little girl in this book grows up to be the main character in A Very Merry Princess, one of the Happily Inc. series of books. This book starts out with a bang, as Liana and Bethany witnessed a staged romantic desert kidnapping, though they didn't know it was staged at the time. One of the participants was Crown Prince Malik Khan, who made quite an impression on both Liana and Bethany. Unbeknownst to them, they also had quite an effect on him, to the point where he practically kidnapped them and brought them to his palace.

Liana is in El Bahar under a two-year contract to teach math at the American school there. The job will help her provide the future she wants to give her daughter. Though life has made her very practical, she also has a romantic side that is fascinated by the handsome prince. However, her very practical self tells her that there is no way that he could return that interest, in spite of the attention that he pays her.

Malik is a man who has been raised to be the next king. He lives his life for the benefit of his country and feels his responsibility very deeply. He is intrigued by the woman who doesn't seem at all intimidated by his royal consequence. He is determined to get to know her better and rolls right over any of her objections. He is also captivated by Liana's daughter and spends a lot of time with her.

I enjoyed the development of Liana and Malik's relationship. From the moment they met the attraction between them was intense. That intensity freaks Liana out and she resists giving in to it. Malik doesn't know quite why he is so determined to keep her with him, but he doesn't want to let her go. When Malik invites Liana to a ceremony with one of the desert tribes, she is intrigued and excited. Upon arrival, Malik is dismayed to discover that the nature of the ceremony has been changed and there is nothing he can do about it. But he makes the mistake of not telling Liana until after they've given in to the passion that built between them. To say that she was angry that she and Malik were married without her knowledge or consent would be putting it mildly. I thoroughly enjoyed Malik's confusion when she wasn't honored by his having married her, and his dismay at her determination to leave at the end of the required thirty days. I also ached for him because he had no idea what was wrong. Because he was put in training to be king when he was four years old, he had no experience in relationships or love. He saw what his brothers have and envied it, but believes that love is something he doesn't need.

Malik knew that to get Liana to stay, he had to get her to love him. It was funny to see him take advice from Bethany on how to do it. His efforts were pretty amusing, especially the parts about her ankles. And though she was willing to wait and see if he could return her love, she could not accept it when his inability to express his love hurt Bethany. I ached for all of them when Liana told him they were leaving, but especially for Malik who could see the emptiness of his life looming before him but didn't know what to do about it. It takes both his grandmother and his father to make him see the truth. I loved his big moment at the end, as he made his peace with both Liana and Bethany, and opened his heart to both of them, in a very impressive way.

I enjoyed the relationship between Malik and Bethany. She is a sweetheart of a little girl, with just as big a heart as her mother has. Like her mother, Bethany isn't overawed by Malik's title; she accepts him for the man he is. I loved seeing her wrap him around her fingers, and he had no way to resist her. Though Malik believes that he cannot and will not love, it's very obvious that he loves Bethany. I loved the way that she confided in him about her father and the fierce protectiveness that Malik felt at the way she had been hurt. This made his later actions that much more painful, though, in the end, I believe it was Bethany who taught Malik what love means.

I liked the secondary characters of Malik's family also. His brothers were just as handsome and full of themselves, but their wives kept them from being too obnoxious about it. I loved their wives who, like Liana, were Americans. They understood what she was going through and made her feel welcome. Malik's grandmother was an interesting woman. There were times I disliked her a lot, such as when she tried to tell Liana how to feel, and for her part in taking Malik from his mother so young. But she redeemed herself quite well at the end when she tried to make Malik see what an idiot he was being. Malik's father was another one that had his good and bad sides, though the good outweighed the bad. I loved the talk he had with Malik at the end when he confessed his sorrow about what he had done, and also told Malik about his love for his wife.

 

Second Chance Girl - Susan Mallery (HQN - Oct 2017)

Series: Happily Inc (Book 2)

Mathias Mitchell's easy smile hides a world of hurt. After the worst kind of family betrayal, he moves to Happily Inc., California -- the wedding destination town supplies a steady stream of bridesmaids, perfect for his "no promises, no pain" lifestyle. Yet he can't stop watching for his beautiful, elusive neighbor on the animal preserve behind their homes.

Gamekeeper Carol Lund knows she's not special enough to attract an alpha male like Mathias, so his offer to help her adopt a herd for her lonely giraffe is surprising -- and his determined seduction, even more so. But just as she finally welcomes him into her bed, his careless actions crush her heart. Will she give him a second chance to prove she'll always come first in his heart?

Good book with the added benefit of being a two-for-one romance, as both Carol and her sister Violet find their happy ever afters. Carol is the gamekeeper at the Happily Inc. Animal Preserve. She loves being outdoors and her work with the animals, especially the lonely giraffe, Millie. She's sweet, friendly, and has a big heart. Mathias is her closest neighbor, and she has had quite the crush on him for a long time. But she doesn't believe that the handsome, charming, and sexy Mathias would be interested in the nothing-special her. So she will be content with their friendship.

Mathias is one of the three Mitchell brothers who left Fool's Gold to get away from their horrible father. Like his father and brother Ronan, Mathias is a glass artist. He contents himself with making "useful" art, for reasons that made me ache for him. He's also a bit of a player, hooking up with bridesmaids who are there and gone, therefore not requiring any kind of commitment. His house overlooks the Animal Preserve and he derives a great deal of enjoyment from watching the animals - and Carol.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Carol and Mathias. They are good friends at the beginning. There is some pretty funny teasing back and forth about her herd. Mathias is surprised that he is so comfortable around Carol since she's nothing like the women he is usually interested in. That comfort allows him to relax when he's with her and escape the tension that he lives with every day. That comfort also leads him down an unexpected path of attraction, which disturbs him quite a bit, because he is a "no promises" kind of guy and Carol is a forever type of woman. Carol treasures the friendship between them, even as she sometimes dreams of there being something more. She's wary when Mathias begins spending more time with her, but when he offers to help her raise funds for more giraffes, she can't turn him down. The time they spend together on this project and helping plan his brother Del's wedding draws them even closer, and the sparks between them get hotter. Though their first encounter doesn't go quite as expected, there's no stopping the fire between them.

I also liked the deeper connection that developed between Mathias and Carol. As she gets to know him and learns more about his family dynamics, Carol senses the pain that he is in. I loved her protectiveness toward him; most notably in her conversation with Ronan and how she gave Mathias a sanctuary to escape his family drama. I liked how Mathias was equally protective of Carol. He understood the depth of her need to help Millie and went above and beyond in his efforts to help Carol make it happen. I ached for him as the depth of his growing feelings for Carol collided with his fears, causing him to pull away from her. That ended up reinforcing one of Carol's fears, leaving me wondering how they were going to get past it. Help came from an unexpected source, and one look made Carol realize that she had to fight for what she wanted. I loved their big moment at the end as they faced their fears and realized that they belonged together.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was getting to know Mathias better. His reasons for creating his "practical art" became clear as more of his relationship with his father came out, even as I sensed that he was capable of so much more if he would just believe in himself. I loved seeing how the relationship between Carol and Millie inspired him and was totally fascinated by the process of his project. I ached for him and Ronan as the fallout from their father's revelation has affected their feelings of who they are. I really hope that things will get better for them in Ronan's book. The arrival of the family for Del's wedding was just as stressful as I expected. The confrontation with his parents revealed a lot about why Mathias avoids relationships.

I can't talk about this book and not mention how much I detest Mathias's parents. His father is a selfish, egotistical man who can't stand to see anyone get more attention than he does. I hate the way he treats his sons. Though Carol's fundraiser benefitted from it, Ceallach's intrusion into the art auction was another example of his attitude. His denigration of his sons' artwork and talents was terrible. I also hated the way that their mother never stood up for them against their father. That a mother could stand by and listen to someone verbally abuse her sons, even if he was her husband, is inconceivable to me. Though I liked that she raised Ronan as if he were her own, and feel a bit sorry for her because of the rift, I also understand Ronan's feelings.

The second romance in the book was that of Carol's sister Violet. I love Violet and her unusual career. She is friends with an old lady in England who provides her with a supply of unique and unusual buttons. Unfortunately, the woman's son jumps to an unfounded conclusion about the packages that his mother sends to Violet, and when visiting the States pays a visit to Violet. He acts like a complete jackass and is rightfully told off by Violet. Underneath his anger is also an unexpected attraction. I loved his discovery of how wrong he'd been, and his apology was very well done. I enjoyed seeing the two of them connect, once they got past that issue. Ulrich's reluctance to go back to England was obvious, even though he knew he had responsibilities that required it. I loved the part that Millie had in ensuring he got to stay longer. I loved seeing he and Violet get to know each other and fall for each other. While there were some obstacles to their being together, they weren't insurmountable. I loved Ulrich's big moment at the end. It was romantic and sweet and completely perfect for them.

You Say It First - Susan Mallery (HQN - Aug 2017)

Series: Happily Inc (Book 1)

Sculptor Nick Mitchell grew up in a family of artists and learned from his volatile father that passion only leads to pain. As he waits on a new commission, he takes a day job as a humble carpenter at a theme wedding venue. The job has its perks -- mainly the venue's captivating owner, Pallas Saunders. Although he won't let love consume him, for ecstasy with an expiration date, he's all in.

Pallas adores Weddings in a Box. But if she can't turn the floundering business around, she'll have no choice but cave to her domineering mother and trade taffeta for trust funds working at the family's bank. Then when a desperate bride begs Pallas for something completely out of the box, her irresistible new hire inspires her. Nick knows she doesn't belong behind a desk, and she knows in her heart that he's right -- where she really belongs is in his arms.

Terrific start to the new series. Happily Inc. is a small town on the edge of the desert in Southern California. Just as Fool's Gold is known for its festivals, Happily Inc. is a mecca for destination weddings. (I loved the explanation of how that happened.) Nick and his brothers, Ronan and Mathias, are recent transplants from their hometown of Fool's Gold. They were introduced in Thrill Me and Best of My Love, including the family drama that caused their departure. Nick is a successful artist who needs something to occupy his time while he waits to hear about a possible (probable?) overseas commission. So he answered an ad for a handyman at Weddings in a Box.

Pallas is the new and still stunned owner of the wedding business, which was left to her by a very good friend. Pallas has always expected to go to work for her mother at the family bank, which is why she got her degree in finance. But her relationship with her mother is strained, as Pallas has always felt that she has failed at earning her mother's love and respect. Libby constantly denigrates Pallas and her wedding business while putting pressure on her to work at the bank. Pallas can't quite bring herself to sell the business, as it calls to something inside her. She has given herself a few months to make a final decision, as she struggles to make the business a success.

The first meeting between Pallas and Nick had me laughing out loud. Pallas was short a soldier for a Roman-themed wedding when Nick arrived for his interview. When her first words are "I need you to take off your shirt," you know it is going to be a fun book. Nick is surprised but willing to play along. He's a little wary about taking the job after that, as playacting isn't his thing, but when he spots the incredible set of wooden panels that will be his project, he can't say no. I loved how he displayed his reverence for the workmanship and what it would mean to work on them. I think that Pallas probably started to fall for him then and there. There were certainly sparks of attraction between the two of them, but a relationship isn't in either's plans. Pallas believes that love only comes when it's earned, that it doesn't just happen. Nick flat-out doesn't do relationships. In his opinion, passion consumes and creates pain, thanks to the example shown by his parents. He refuses to allow himself to feel anything that deeply.

I loved the development of Nick and Pallas's relationship. It started slowly, more as friends, as Nick found himself drawn into the wedding planning activities. Pallas was frequently cautious and tentative at the beginning, without much confidence in her own creativity. I loved how Nick encouraged her by showing her how she could expand on her ideas. As they spent time together over wedding plans, the attraction between them continued to grow. I loved Nick's sensitivity as he waited for Pallas's mind to catch up with her desire, knowing that rushing things would be a mistake. I also enjoyed his protectiveness when he witnessed Libby's attitude toward Pallas. At the same time, Pallas is incredibly understanding about Nick's attitude toward love and passion. She doesn't agree with him and tells him so, but she also doesn't try to change his mind. I loved seeing how the two of them grew and changed over the time they were together, though none of it came easily. I cheered when Pallas made her final decision about the business and stood up to Libby. I wanted to shake Nick when he allowed his fears to come between him and Pallas. I cried when she told him "I love you. You don't have to love me back. I wish you would but if you don't, I'm going to be okay. I get it now. I get what loving someone is supposed to mean. It's a gift. You can accept it or not. That's up to you. It doesn't have to be earned and there's no time restriction. It just is. Whatever happens, whatever you decide to do, I hope you're happy. I hope you find what you're looking for." Nick's lightbulb moment was terrific and I loved that he didn't waste a moment finding her and telling her. His big moment at the end was sweet and romantic and perfect for them.

As the first book in the series, there was a lot of time spent building the world of Happily Inc. Fortunately, Pallas's wedding business was the perfect vehicle to do so. Each of Pallas's friends is unique in character and profession. Carol is the one who runs the local animal preserve (zebras!). Violet, Silver, Wynn, and Natalie are also there for whatever Pallas needs, whether it's moral support and help pull together an awesome wedding. There was also Alan, who had been with the business since its beginning. He's a colorful character who always seems to know just what to do to avert a crisis. The business was a character in itself, and I loved the behind the scenes looks at the weddings. I also enjoyed watching it change and grow along with Pallas. The big gamer wedding was the event that showcased the talents and attitudes of all those involved. I liked seeing more of Mathias and Ronan and get more of what they are going through since their father's revelations. The tensions and attitudes are believable and left me ready to shake both of them, while at the same time I wanted to hug their hurts away. Pallas also had a fair amount of drama in her family, her mother being the largest instigator of said drama.  Her grandpa Frank was a fun guy, and I liked it when he stood up for Pallas. The contrast between the way that her mother treated Pallas and how she treated her twin brother, Cade, made it even harder to like her. We only saw a little of Cade, but I liked what was there. I suspect That he will eventually get his own story.  I liked Pallas's cousin Drew for his support of her, but he also has an unpleasant history with her friend Silver. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with them.