Christine Rimmer

Terrific book. Maddox Hale grew up on the ranch next to the Bravos but couldn't wait to leave Medicine Creek behind. He's now a successful businessman, thanks to his workaholic ways. For the same reason, he is divorced and hasn't been much of a dad to his two kids. He plans to right that wrong by spending the summer on the family ranch with his kids. Those plans alter when his father breaks his leg, and Maddox goes home early to care for him. First on the agenda is to hire a nurse to supervise Fergus while he heals.

Sarah Bravo is home recovering from an injury sustained while running a free clinic in Bolivia. She is saving money to get her Master's in nursing, and when she hears of the opening at the Hale ranch, she applies.

The story starts with a bang as Maddox and Fergus interview potential nurses. Feisty Fergus isn't thrilled with any of them until Sarah shows up. He knows Sarah well and likes her. Maddox is not as enthusiastic. She's too young, too pretty, and too much of a possible distraction. I laughed out loud at the conversation between Maddox and Fergus as they debated hiring her. Obviously, Fergus wins.

I enjoyed watching Maddox and Sarah's relationship develop. Their attraction is evident from the start, but there are obstacles. Nursing ethics prohibit Sarah from getting personally involved with a patient or a patient's family member. Maddox has no plans to marry again. However, discussions during late-night swims encourage a closeness neither expected, and the attraction becomes harder to resist.

Giving in to the attraction for the summer is one thing, but what happens when Sarah wants more? Maddox's past convinces him that he is unworthy of love, and nothing will convince him otherwise. I loved seeing Sarah stand up for herself and her needs. Maddox earned his misery when he walked away from what he had with Sarah. Some well-meaning interference from Fergus leads to an unexpected twist that motivates Maddox to take a chance. I loved the ending.

Fergus was my favorite secondary character. Nothing gets him down for long. The story behind his broken leg is hilarious, and I loved seeing him deal with the consequences. Maddox's kids were great. I liked the realism of RJ's issues with his father's neglect and Maddox's determination to redeem himself.… (more)

Terrific start to the new series. There is a new town and new characters, with cameos by some old friends. Hayes left town when he graduated from high school after butting heads with his father for years. Though he swore he'd never go back, he went when his mom called, needing help. He didn't expect to come face-to-face with his high school girlfriend minutes after arriving in town. Chrissy was just as shocked to see him. Each plans to keep their distance from the other, but Fate has other plans.

When Chrissy's condo gets flooded, she needs somewhere to stay while it is repaired. She could move back in with her parents, but Chrissy doesn't want to deal with her mom's controlling nature. She's surprised when Hayes offers her a place at the ranch. She's hesitant because of their history, but Hayes swears it's only as friends.

I enjoyed seeing the rekindling of their relationship. They find it just as easy to talk now as back then, but that also brings back memories of their deep feelings for each other. Every time one of them starts feeling stirrings of attraction or closeness, they pull back, afraid of being hurt again. But those feelings become harder to resist the more time they spend together. When they finally give in to the attraction, each tries to convince themselves that it is just "friends with benefits" instead of acknowledging the truth.

I ached for both Hayes and Chrissy as they fought their feelings. I especially wanted to shake Hayes as he continued to deny the truth even after Chrissy dared to speak up. He earned every bit of the misery he felt after they parted. I loved the ending and seeing Hayes face the fears that kept him from accepting Chrissy's love. The epilogue was terrific, and I look forward to seeing more of them in later books.… (more)

This was a terrific addition to the stories of the next generation of Bravos. After a rough day at the library, Piper looks forward to relaxing with some friends at the local bar. But when none of them are available, she takes the unusual step of going alone. She's a little uncomfortable in that situation and is ready to leave when she encounters Jason. She remembers him from when he came to the library in middle school and realizes he has grown into a handsome and sexy young man (emphasis on the young). I loved this scene. Piper feels slightly sorry for herself, and Jason's attention perks her right up. She's surprised at how easy it is to talk to him and shocked when she realizes he's flirting with her. She's even more stunned when she recognizes the sparks that are shooting between them. This leads them to a one-night fling that neither can forget.

Initially, these two seemed like such an unlikely couple, and not just because of the age difference. Jason wants a relationship like his parents and thinks he can have it with Piper. To him, age is just a number. On the other hand, Piper has no interest in a relationship with anyone. After two bad relationships, she is convinced she's happier on her own. Jason doesn't intend to give up on his mission to convince her otherwise.

The stakes go up when Piper discovers she's pregnant. She's not fazed by the prospect of being a single mother and is surprised by Jason's insistence on being involved. While Jason lobbies for a closer relationship, Piper works hard to shore up the walls around her heart. However, an unexpected road trip allows them to get to know each other better and Piper realizes they have something special. There are some sweet scenes as Jason's love and support begin to cause cracks in Piper's walls. However, Piper still has fears to overcome and panics as she realizes the depth of her feelings for Jason. I was glued to the pages as I stayed up far too late, waiting for Piper to let go of those fears. The ending was sweet and emotional; I hope to see more of them in future books.

#ARC… (more)

Terrific book. Sadie, Ty, and Nicole were friends while growing up, though Sadie and Ty spent most of their time competing with each other. When Ty dated and married Nicole, Sadie was firmly on Nicole's side during their tumultuous marriage. After Ty and Nicole divorced, he and Sadie slowly became good friends. There is still plenty of teasing going on as Ty tweaks Sadie about her search for Mr. Right, and she gives him a hard time about giving up on love.

Things begin to change during the run-up to Nicole's second wedding. Sadie and Ty are thrown together as maid of honor and best man. An unexpected and mind-blowing kiss after pre-wedding festivities in Vegas stirs up feelings neither wanted to admit. Ty decides he wants a secret fling with Sadie, but she is against sneaking around.

I enjoyed watching this relationship develop. Ty is adamant that he will never marry again. He has a lot of baggage from his marriage to Nicole and believes he isn't cut out for marriage. He's well-known for his superficial encounters with women and wants the same with Sadie. He believes that if they give in, the attraction will burn out, and they can return to their old friendship. Sadie doesn't want a fling. She has been looking for Mr. Right for years and is still hoping to find him. She also doesn't want to do anything that will hurt Nicole, who is quite the drama queen.

I loved watching Sadie hold Ty off despite the sparks and realizing that her feelings for him were stronger than expected. Her willpower is impressive, as is her loyalty to her friend. Ty is determined to get his way and pulls out all the stops, trying to get Sadie to see things his way. I loved watching the changes he went through as Sadie broke through the walls he put up. His "aha" moment was excellent, as was his awkwardness as he tried to explain his feelings to Sadie. I loved the ending and seeing Ty and Sadie enjoy the happiness they've waited so long for.

I liked seeing characters from previous books. It was great to see Cash and Abby again (The Nine-Month Marriage) and JoBeth and Hunter from Hometown Reunion. I wasn't too fond of Nicole and how everyone felt they needed to tiptoe around her.

#ARC… (more)