Christine Rimmer

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.

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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.

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Terrific start to the new series. I sat down to read this and couldn't put it down until I finished it. Jace won my heart from the beginning.

Jace is a nice guy - kind, considerate, smart, and good-looking. Part of the wealthy Abernathy ranching family, Jace spends most of his time working on the family ranch. He is also a volunteer firefighter who works regular shifts at the firehouse. Jace is best known around town as a bachelor who tends to go out with women who need help in some way. He's all into the relationship until the problem is fixed, the woman becomes clingy, or he loses interest. His family teases him about his "white knight" tendencies, and he swears to turn over a new leaf.

As the story opens, Jace spots a fire in progress while running errands. After calling it in, he enters the apartment to see if any is there. He discovers a young woman in active labor and gets her away from the fire. I ached for Jace as he delivered the baby but realized the mother was in a bad way. She begs him to raise her baby if she doesn't make it, as neither she nor the baby's deceased father had any family. Jace makes that promise, hoping it won't be needed, but when he arrives at the hospital later, he finds out she died. Jace is determined to keep his promise and makes a bit of a scene at the hospital when he tries to see the baby. Nurse Tamara talks him down, lets him see the baby, and sends him on his way.

Tamara loves her job as an OB nurse, caring for mothers and babies. Her job gets all her attention after breaking things off with her cheating boyfriend. She doesn't have much patience for men right now, and Jace's insistence that he will foster and adopt baby Frankie strikes her as unrealistic. She knows the rules of the game and that Jace doesn't meet most of the requirements. But she isn't hard-hearted and does her best to let him see the baby when possible.

I enjoyed watching this relationship develop. Jace's determination is undeniable, and with the help of his family and most of the town, Jace succeeds in gaining foster parent status for Frankie. He enlists Tamara to help him learn the ins and outs of caring for the baby. Neither is looking for a relationship. Tamara is still wary of getting involved, and Jace wants to concentrate on Frankie. But there is no denying the sparks that flare between them.

Jace is especially taken with the knowledge that Tamara doesn't need him. From changing her tire to her job as a nurse, she is an independent and confident woman with no interest in depending on Jace for anything. Though they initially limit themselves to friendship, it isn't long before both realize there is something more between them. I loved seeing them together, both with and without Frankie, as they got to know each other and felt like a family.

There are a few bumps along the way to their happy ending. Jace makes up his mind quickly that Tamara is the one for him and has trouble holding back his feelings. Meanwhile, Tamara is wary of the speed of their feelings and worried that she's making a mistake. Help sorting out her feelings comes from an unexpected source, and Tamara can finally see that she and Jace belong together.

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I really should know better than to start a Christine Rimmer book at night. I could not put this one down until I finished it around 4 a.m.; it was that good! This book is about Jobeth Bravo, who first made her appearance as a little girl in Practically Married (May 1998 - Silhouette). Now she is all grown up and ready for her own HEA.

Sixteen years earlier, Jobeth and Hunter were high school sweethearts. But Hunter couldn't wait to leave Medicine Creek and escape the memories of his home life, leaving town right after graduation. He wanted Jobeth to go with him, but she refused to leave her home and family behind. Hunter is now the successful host of a home improvement show and has brought that show to his hometown for a summer of filming.

Jobeth doesn't know how she feels about Hunter's return. Though she was heartbroken when he left, surely, she is over him by now? They've both been married and divorced, and she's recently adopted a little girl. So, when her dad asks if it would bother her if Hunter stayed at the ranch house, she swears it would be fine. Only it wasn't. Even after all these years, she couldn't forget the pain of her heartbreak, so she tried to avoid him - not easy with him living in her parents' house.

Hunter was wary of his return to Medicine Creek. His memories of his life there are wrapped up in his mother's death, his father's drinking, and his perception of how the town looked at him. The best memories are those he made with Jobeth, except for his regret over how they parted. He looks forward to seeing her again. He knows rekindling their relationship isn't possible - their lives are still too far apart. But he'd like to feel as though they could be friends again.

I enjoyed watching the development of Hunter and Jobeth's relationship. Jobeth spent the first week or so doing everything she could to avoid seeing him. Hunter didn't let that go on for long, eventually showing up on her doorstep. I liked that they cleared the air over their past, each admitting to some regrets. Underneath the tentative renewal of their friendship was an attraction that was even stronger than it had been when they were young. Though they tried to ignore it, eventually, it became too much. They believe they can indulge themselves for Hunter's remaining time there without risking their hearts because they know nothing can come of it. Of course, we all know how that is going to go.

There are some wonderful scenes in Wyoming. I loved seeing Hunter with little Paisley and his encounters with people who "knew him when." I loved seeing how distance and maturity changed his perception of those people. Hunter also talks Jobeth into visiting LA with him and introduces her to his life there. I loved seeing Hunter embrace his growing feelings and sensed a determination in him to find a way to make it work. But Jobeth panics over her feelings for Hunter and pushes him away. I ached for both as they faced the prospect of history repeating itself. Their struggle is heartbreaking, and I was rooting for them to find a way to overcome their obstacles.

The ending was terrific, though a piece of Jobeth's past created some unexpected drama. Seeing her and Hunter realize that anything is possible if they put love first was great.

I liked seeing more of Starr Bravo Tisdale (Fifty Ways to Say I'm Pregnant) and how her life has progressed since her story. I look forward to more stories of the next generation of Bravos. I got quite a chuckle from Jobeth explaining her extensive family connections to one of Hunter's friends.

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