Melissa Senate

This was a sweet second-chance story with a little bit of heat. Eight years earlier, a chance encounter between eighteen-year-old Annabel and twenty-one-year-old Logan led to a three-day relationship that had lasting consequences. But Logan was gone before Annabel knew she was pregnant, and she could not reach him. And when she could, she didn't. Cody is seven years old, Logan's biggest little fan and neither knows the truth.

I liked Annabel and Logan. The backstory is a little show more heartbreaking. They connected quickly and deeply over those three days together, sharing hopes and dreams. Annabel's belief in him did great things for Logan's confidence. Even after such a short time, Annabel dreamed of a future together. Those dreams took a hit when she learned that Logan never wanted children of his own and that nothing would keep Logan in Bear Ridge. Logan's relationship with his father is difficult at best and often emotionally abusive. A late-night phone call from his father that last evening reinforced Logan's need to get away. When Logan left the next morning, he cut all ties with Bear Ridge, including Annabel, going so far as to change his cell number and move several hours away. When Annabel realized she was pregnant, she could not reach him.

As the book opens, Annabel's son tells her that his "My Hero" essay will be on the paper's front page. She has a feeling that her secret is about to come back and bite her. Meanwhile, Logan has a minor injury he has to recover from, and his manager sends him to the Dawson Ranch for that recovery time. He will also meet his special fan. One look at the information in the paper, and Logan has a feeling about that little fan.

Logan and Annabel impressed me with their handling of the revelation. Annabel doesn't make excuses for her actions. She knows she was wrong. Now that the secret is out, she will do her best to smooth the relationship between Cody and Logan. I could feel her nervousness over sharing Cody with Logan and her worry about the future with him in their lives. Be that as it may, she doesn't try to keep them apart, instead including Logan in everything from school pickups to bedtime rituals.

Logan is shocked but understands why she didn't contact him. Though he had never intended to be a father, once he knows about Cody, he is determined to be the best father he can be. The scenes with Logan and Cody are so sweet as they get to know each other. I also loved that Logan has no problem acknowledging Cody as his son to anyone and everyone they meet and that he doesn't let his celebrity overshadow their growing bond. Logan makes an impulsive promise to grant seven of Cody's birthday wishes to make up for the birthdays he's missed. Some of those wishes are steeped in emotions wrapped up in Logan's memories of his life in Bear Ridge. To fulfill those wishes, Logan will have to face those memories.

Complicating matters is the attraction that still sparks between Annabel and Logan. Neither has forgotten the other over the years, and their connection is as strong as ever. Annabel is wary of risking her heart again, especially since Logan makes no secret of his plans to continue his rodeo career. I loved that Annabel understands Logan, what drives him, and doesn't try to change him. She does, however, know that he needs to face his past. I enjoyed how he got a boost in that direction, thanks to Cody. Annabel does her part in easing Logan's way and finds a crucial piece of information to help him. Meanwhile, Logan is at war with himself. Part of him can't wait to return to the rodeo, but another part pushes him toward Annabel and Cody. I loved the ending and seeing how Logan solved his dilemma.

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Terrific enemies to lovers story. Brandon and Cassidy have a history together. They dated for a while in high school when she was a freshman, and he was a senior. They broke up over a misunderstanding on her part, but Brandon was a jerk about it, so they've avoided each other ever since. Then they ran into each other at his brother's wedding while avoiding all of the people talking about why neither was married yet. Too much champagne and high school reminiscing led to a quick roll in the show more hay, and now Cassidy is pregnant.

Brandon and Cassidy's outlook on love couldn't be more different. Thanks to watching his thrice-married father, Brandon doesn't believe that love lasts. He's very careful to date only women who understand his position. Being wealthy and good-looking, Brandon never has trouble finding female companionship and certainly has never had to work for it.

Cassidy is an intelligent and independent woman. Raised by a single mother, she has worked for everything she has. She owns the very popular and successful Java and Juice coffee shop and is finally ready to expand her business to a second location. Though she's had several unsuccessful relationships, she hasn't given up on love and finding The One.

I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Brandon and Cassidy. Their encounter in the stable went beyond anything either expected. Cassidy felt a little hope in her heart until Brandon talked about being together for as long as it lasted. Disappointed and a little hurt, she turned him down flat, surprising Brandon. Over the next couple of weeks, Brandon couldn't get her off his mind, so he was pleased when he got a text from her to come to see her. Pleasure turned to shock when she told him she was pregnant.

I was pleasantly surprised by Brandon's reaction. Instead of denial or insisting it wasn't his, he stepped right up and took responsibility. But then he went a step further with a business-like proposal of marriage. Of course, Cassidy turned him down, letting him know she wouldn't marry without love. Cassidy won't give in on that subject no matter how hard he tries. They do agree to get to know each other better to be good co-parents. I loved watching Brandon demonstrate that he has all the right instincts. There are sweet scenes of his efforts to take care of Cassidy, from food to a coat she'd been dreaming of. I loved their trip to the parenting class.

Cassidy fought hard against falling in love with him when he obviously cared. The evening they babysit for a friend was tough because Brandon was a natural with little Maeve. Her biggest problem with him, besides his anti-love stance, was his tendency to take control. The purchase of the coat was bad enough, but when he interfered in her request for a bank loan for her business, she hit the roof. Her confrontation with Brandon was hard enough, but when his dad overheard and stuck in his opinion, she'd had it. When she attended a family dinner a few days later, I loved watching her tear into Cornelius. Unfortunately, Brandon froze when she faced him with what she really wanted.

The ending was terrific as Brandon finally realized the truth of his feelings. I loved seeing his emotional declaration to Cassidy and her belief in what he said. I hope they pop up in later books so I can catch up with their lives.

I also enjoyed the part that Winona Cobb played in their relationship. Her "readings" and comments are always enigmatic until her subjects look back and see what she meant. Her statements to Brandon and Cassidy are no different. show less

Loved the dogs, less so the romance.

Years after he broke up with her on prom night, Matt and Claire meet again at a dog shelter. Now at a loss for what to do after his army career, Matt’s certain of one thing, he still isn’t right for Claire, he wouldn’t make a good husband or father the very things Claire most wants out of life, so he’s determined to train a dog for his beloved niece and then skip town, but the more time he spends with fellow shelter volunteer and sudden neighbor, show more Claire, the more uncertain his plans to leave become.

It’s not that I didn’t like Matt and Claire together, they have chemistry, it just didn’t seem as if there was a deep enough conflict keeping them apart. Matt repeatedly says he isn’t good enough for Claire yet there weren’t many examples of his unworthy behavior aside from dumping her on prom night, it felt like there wasn’t much substance behind his reasoning. As far as Claire goes, I thought she made it far too easy for Matt. I don’t have an issue with her pining over the same guy forever, but I would have liked to see more resentment from her after such an extensive period of pining and since losing him shattered her for a time, it would have been plausible for Claire to be more reluctant or even downright begrudging at the prospect of taking another chance on Matt, instead Claire spends much of the novel waiting for him with open arms (she even begs him to have sex with her). I longed for more resistance from Claire, to see more of her spine, see her make Matt work to win back her trust.

Far and away the dogs were my favorite aspect of A New Leash On Love, each written with their own unique and ever so lovable personality, they made for dimensional secondary characters, and ultimately I was more emotionally moved by their situations than I was by Matt and Claire’s relationship. show less

Nick Garroway is a former soldier and an honorable man. Before a soldier dies while saving Nick's life, the man asks Nick to check on a woman he got pregnant and abandoned. Nick plans on making sure she, and her twin babies, are doing okay. He then plans on checking on his father, as they were estranged while he was in the military. Finally, Nick plans on purchasing a ranch.

Brooke Timber is a single mother to twin sons. She is working hard at keeping her wedding planning business afloat show more despite stiff opposition, and the fact that her nanny had to take some time off. Her grandmother left her the business and when her grandmother was alive it was thriving. Brooke can barely rope in any clients, even though living in the town of Wedlock, where marriage and multiples thrive, Brooke is struggling.

When a great opportunity presents itself - and almost slips through her fingers - Nick shows up at her door. She thinks the handsome stranger is there to answer her ad for a temporary nanny. He is only there to check up on her, but when he sees her predicament, and hears two screaming babies, he jumps in and makes matters right, thus saving her business opportunity. Nick cannot explain why, but, in a matter of moments, he takes on the job of being the nanny, or more appropriately, manny.

What a wonderful book! If not for the babies, the love story is totally adorable. This book worked on every level. This is a nice, clean and sweet romance that I truly enjoyed. The story even added angst when it came to Nick's relationship with his father and brother. I think this gave what might have been an overly sweet story just the perfect balance.

This book by Melissa Senate is my first by her, but it certainly won't be my last.

Many thanks to Harlequin Special Edition and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion. show less