…Including returning to the town he left behind.
Valentine Bay’s the perfect place for real estate developer Roman Marek to raise his infant son. But when he snaps up the charming local theater, he doesn’t bargain for tempestuous director Hailey Bravo. Hailey won’t let Roman wreck the thing she holds most dear—and she’s certainly gotten under Roman’s notoriously thick skin. As the duo spar and sparks fly, Roman’s surprised to find that Hailey’s the perfect missing piece for his family. But how can he convince her that this partnership’s for keeps?
Terrific book, full of love, laughter, and tears. It had me hooked from the first chapter until I finished it at 3 am. Roman is a real estate developer who lived in Valentine Bay as a child. His memories of the town are not the best, but he gives in to his mom's suggestion that it would be the best place to raise his son. At her request, he purchases the Valentine Bay theater, though he intends to turn it into a boutique hotel rather than keep it as a theater. Roman wanders into the theater one day while the local theater group is planning their next production and is immediately captivated by director Hailey Bravo.
Hailey and her sister Harper own H & H Productions and run most of the community events that take place at the old theater. She loves the theater and the happiness its events bring to community members. She knows the building has been sold and worries about the fate of both the building and the groups that use it.
The connection between Hailey and Roman is obvious from their first meeting. They both find it easy to talk to each other, and their attraction is immediate. Roman is so determined to get to know Hailey better that he avoids telling her that he is the new owner of the theater. By the time they have finished lunch together, Hailey seriously considers a fling with Roman. Meanwhile, the depth and speed of the connection create panic in Roman, who decides avoidance is his best option. Hailey is hurt and confused when he doesn't call her, but she is livid when she finds out HE is the new owner. The scene where she confronts him is hilarious, both for her actions and his reactions.
I loved the development of the relationship between Hailey and Roman. After that confrontation, Roman realizes that Hailey is exactly what he wants in his life. However, he and Hailey have opposing desires. Hailey is only interested in a fling. She believes that she had her chance at love and will never feel that way again. Roman proposes marriage on his first date with Hailey. But it is quickly apparent that love is not part of his equation. Roman was burned in his first marriage and no longer trusts the idea of love. His proposal is based solely on compatibility and Hailey's evident love for his son Theo. He is willing to do anything to get her to say yes, including using the theater. Meanwhile, Hailey's feelings for Roman begin to grow, but she refuses to believe that love can happen that quickly.
As they spend more time together, Roman and Hailey begin to feel like a family. I got frustrated with Roman because of his unrelenting push for marriage without being willing to admit his feelings for Hailey. Every time he thought about it, his fears of "messy feelings" would get in the way. Hailey knew she loved him and wanted to marry him, but she needed him to be able to say the words. I ached for them both when he pushed her away, giving in to his fears that he would be a terrible husband after all. I felt like Roman earned every bit of the misery he experienced after he sent her away. I loved watching Hailey pull herself together and then decide that she wasn't going to wait around for him to come to his senses. The scene at the hotel was excellent. I especially loved her response to the text he sent her and the effect it had on him. I loved his "aha" moment as he realized that he had made them both miserable for no reason, and the change in him as he finally broke free of his fears. I got a kick out of Roman's sudden enthusiasm for compromise.
I loved the secondary characters. The most adorable one
was Roman's son Theo. One of Roman's most endearing qualities was his
unconditional love for his son. Theo was such a well-loved baby that it was
easy for him to reflect that love back on others. I loved how he and "Lee-Lee"
took to each other. I also loved Roman's mom, Sasha. She was an amazing woman
who raised Roman on her own under challenging circumstances. It was fun to see
how well she knew him and how to handle him. I loved how she took to Hailey from
the moment Hailey stormed into Roman's house. Her blatant matchmaking was
amusing. Her personal challenges near the end of the book showcased her
strength and determination. There was also an unexpected twist that I enjoyed.
I liked catching up a little with the other Bravo siblings and especially getting
to know Harper a bit better. I'm looking forward to her story.
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