A Temporary Christmas Arrangement - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2804 - Dec 2020)

Series: Bravos of Valentine Bay (Book 9)
            Bravo Family Ties (Book 60)

They're about to go their separate ways come the New Year…

Neither Harper Bravo nor Lincoln Stryker are planning to stay in Valentine Bay. She's got big-city career plans, and he's trying to figure out how to balance work and caring for his orphaned niece and nephew. But when Lincoln moves in next door and needs a hand, a cash-strapped Harper can't help but step in. They make a deal: just during the holiday season, she'll nanny the kids while he works, and then they'll each leave town. But when they can't deny the spark between them, will love be enough to have them both changing their plans?

Another fantastic Bravo book. Linc Stryker arrives in Valentine Bay determined to give his orphaned niece and nephew a Christmas to remember. He's feeling just a bit overwhelmed as he tries to balance work and caring for Jayden and Maya. Lucky for him, he meets Harper as soon as he arrives.

Harper Bravo is the last of her siblings (except for the missing Finn) left uncoupled. That's okay with her as she has plans that don't include staying in Valentine Bay. Though she enjoys working with the production company she and her sister Hailey own, she is looking for more. Harper has plans to move to Seattle and pursue her architecture dreams. All she needs is enough money to make the move.

I loved the first meeting between Linc and Harper. While Linc gets Maya out of the car, Jayden takes off for Harper's cottage, which is next door. He remembers her from the previous year. Surprised at finding Jayden alone at her door, she takes him back to the Stryker house. Linc's relief at seeing her with Jayden is evident, and Harper quickly jumps in to help him get settled with the kids. Knowing a good thing when he sees it, Linc offers to pay Harper to watch the kids when he has to work.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Linc and Harper. The sparks between them are obvious from the beginning, but both try to ignore them. Linc is only in Valentine Bay for the holidays, and Harper has her plans in Seattle. I liked watching them become friends, sharing some alone time as they get to know each other. The attraction between them continues to simmer until they decide to give in to it. The more time they spend together, the more Linc wants to see where it goes while Harper fears that they won't last past the holidays. Just as she agrees to continue the relationship past the new year, a combination of events makes her rethink that plan. I ached for her on Christmas, as she realized her feelings for Linc only to have him make a bone-headed mistake (though with good intentions). To make matters worse, Linc's ex-fiancée arrives in a desperate attempt to get him back. I was very impressed with Linc's ability to maintain his cool around that spoiled brat of a woman and her two enablers. I loved seeing Hailey show up with some advice for Harper about not giving up. Even better was Hailey's straight talk with Linc and what he did with it.

Family is always a big part of the Bravo books. For Linc, nothing is as important to him as making sure that Jayden and Maya have a happy holiday. He's a bit worried about pulling it off because he didn't have the best example growing up. His mother is still bitter over her divorce from Linc's father, and her conversations with Linc show it. She is also selfish and interfering. Linc's father has always been distant and is on his third wife. There were some terrific scenes with him as he showed some unexpected changes in attitude. Jayden and Maya are simply adorable.

The Bravo family is large and loving. Sunday family dinners have played a part in all of the books as love interests are included. I liked the way that Linc and the kids fit so easily into the group. Their brother Finn, who disappeared during a family trip when he was ten, is always on their minds. Each book has talked about their ongoing search for him. There's an unexpected development in that search during the epilogue, and I can't wait for the next book to see where it goes.

Home for the Baby's Sake - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2793 - Oct 2020)

Series: Bravos of Valentine Bay (Book 8)

            Bravo Family Ties (Book 59)

He’d do anything for his son… 

…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.

Their Secret Summer Family - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2762 - May 2020)

Series: Bravos of Valentine Bay (Book 7)
            Bravo Family Ties (Book 58)

It’s the perfect summer: sun, surf, sand and a secret fling!

It’s just fun and games…

Until someone falls in love.

Officer Dante Santangelo doesn’t “do” relationships, but the busy single dad happily agrees to a secret summer fling with younger, free-spirited Gracie Bravo. It’s the perfect arrangement. Until Gracie falls for Dante, his adorable twins and their ever-present fur baby. Gracie wants a life with Dante. Either she can say goodbye at the end of the summer…or risk everything to make this family happen.

Fantastic book. I've been waiting for this story ever since that brief glimpse of Dante and Grace at the bar in The Husband SheCouldn't Forget. I had a feeling there was something there, and I was right.

Grace is the youngest of the Bravo clan and the last to move out of the family home. Now that her oldest brother Daniel is married (TheNanny's Double Trouble), she feels like a fifth wheel. She also butts heads with Daniel regularly because of his overprotectiveness. She's ready for a place of her own.

Dante is a divorced father of twin girls. He likes his job as a cop, has a terrific house, and sees his daughters regularly. He has a fairly active social life, but romantic love and marriage are not in his plans. Been there, done that, and failed, and has no intention of trying again.

I enjoyed the opening. Dante pulls Grace over for speeding, but after writing her the ticket, he invites her over for dinner and to talk about whatever it was that was bothering her. They are long-time friends, thanks to Dante's friendship with her brother, Connor. I loved seeing their mental processes, as each catalogs the non-friend attributes that they've noticed. I liked their conversation over dinner and their ability to talk about anything. However, this dinner is accompanied by a bottle of tequila, and it isn't long before inhibitions begin to fade, especially on Grace's side. Her method of making a point fanned the banked flames into an unexpected fire. Unfortunately, Dante was filled with regrets by the next morning and pulled back, while Grace was ready to run with it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the development of their relationship. It was fun to watch Grace tempt and torture Dante after he pulled away, hoping for a repeat performance. Dante's struggle to resist was formidable, but it was only a matter of time before he caved. They agree to a summer fling, but Dante insists on it being secret. He doesn't want to deal with family expectations when nothing will come of it.

With Dante's daughters visiting for six weeks, opportunities to be together were not easy to come by. It was amusing to see how they managed it and witnessing the growing intensity. Grace also spent time with Dante's daughters, getting to know them. It didn't take long for Grace to realize that she wanted more than just the secret summer fling. I ached for her when she accepted that Dante was never going to give her what she needed. There were many times when I wanted to bash Dante over the head or shake him until his teeth rattled. Grace makes him feel things that he's never felt before, but he refuses to admit it. I hurt a little for him, too, because it's his own fears that hold him back. I loved the "full circle" conversation that set him straight. Dante's big moment at the end was great, and I loved his daughters' reactions.

As always, I love the family relationships in these books. Dante is close to his family and has a marvelous relationship with his daughters. I found his history with his ex-wife interesting, especially the insight provided by Connor. He is also close to the Bravos, thanks to his friendship with Connor, who is married to Dante's sister, Aly. There have been occasional strains on the bond, and I loved seeing a little bit of "gotcha" at Connor and Aly's party. The Bravo family continues its traditions of family dinners and loving support. Grace knows that they have her back, even when she asserts her independence. I loved the time she spent with Hailey and Harper, and can't wait to read their stories.