Married Till Christmas - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2587 - Dec 2017)

Series: Bravos of Justice Creek (Book 9)

An impulse wedding…

Strong, sexy Nell Bravo won't be fooled again. After all, Declan McGrath already shattered her heart into pieces -- not once, but twice. When alluring CEO Deck sweeps Nell off her feet in Las Vegas, though, she tumbles headlong into an "only in Vegas" fling with her first love. But Nell sure didn't bargain on a Vegas wedding!

…a lifetime of love?

It's taken a long time for Deck to finally capture the one who got away. And this time, he's charmed her straight to the altar. But Nell will stay married to him only until Christmas Day -- unless Deck can prove that this time, it's for keeps. With the clock ticking, can Deck convince Nell that he truly is her one and only…or has Mr. Love-'Em-and-Leave-'Em broken a Bravo's heart for the last time?

I loved this book as the last of the Justice Creek Bravos bites the dust. For the last several months Nell Bravo has been doing her best to avoid Declan McGrath, but he keeps turning up wherever she is. They had been high school sweethearts, but he had broken things off with her twice, shattering her heart and her trust. Eleven years later he wants back into her life, and she wants no part of him - or so she tells herself.

Nell is at a construction convention in Las Vegas when Deck turns up yet again, thanks to a bit of maternal interference by Willow Bravo. After months of trying to avoid him, Nell decides that accepting his invitation for drinks is the best way to finally get closure on their relationship and move on. She ignores the little voice in her head that says being anywhere near him is bad for her peace of mind. Drinks turned into dinner and a return of the old easiness of being together. After just enough alcohol to reduce her inhibitions, Nell agrees to a quick Vegas wedding but experiences massive regrets the next morning. After informing Deck that she wants a divorce, she heads for home.

I really liked the development of their relationship. Both have issues from their past relationship that have to be dealt with before they can find their future together. Though Deck seemed to be extremely manipulative at the beginning, he had to take desperate measures just to get Nell to talk to him again. As more of their history was revealed, I completely understood what had driven Deck's actions back then. He and Nell were in love, and Nell was expecting them to get married. But men have their pride, and with Nell being the rich girl and Deck being the poor boy, he wanted to make something of himself first. He was also honest enough with himself to realize that they weren't ready for marriage. Deck's relationship with his father also played into it when his dad convinced Nell to "loan" him some money, which further damaged Deck's pride. Nell never saw the issue, only wanting to help the man she loved and his family. She was devastated by their breakup and all her attempts to make amends fell on deaf ears, except for that one encounter that ended up shattering her heart and her trust completely.

I loved seeing Deck convince Nell not to file for divorce immediately, but to give them until Christmas to try to make their marriage work. He doesn't get things entirely his way, though, as Nell has conditions of her own. Deck is the kind of guy who likes to be in control, thanks to the lack of it when he was growing up, and giving up some of that control wasn't easy. I enjoyed seeing Nell stand up to him and make him look at compromises. Living with Deck is everything she had once dreamed about, but Nell is reluctant to risk her heart again, fearing that Deck will walk away at the end of their Christmas deadline. There is also still the problem of Deck's father and his refusal to let his dad anywhere near Nell. She believes that until that hurdle is overcome, they have no chance to make their marriage work. Everything came to a head on Christmas day, with an unexpected gift from Deck's dad causing a freak out on Deck's part. An eventful day ended with Deck and Nell finally laying their past and fears to rest. The scene in front of the fireplace was sweet and romantic and absolutely perfect.

One thing that was never in doubt was that they still loved each other. Even though Deck had attempted marriage to another woman, it didn't work out because his heart was still Nell's. I loved that he owned up to his mistakes of the past and wanted another chance. He also knew that it wasn't going to be easy. On Nell's side, she had tried to convince herself that her feelings for Deck were dead, but it only took seeing him again to show that they weren't. She fought it during those months he haunted her, but she would never have married him if she hadn't known deep down that she still cared. The chemistry between them was hotter than ever, and that also had its influence on their relationship, because their feelings made that connection so much deeper.

I also loved the scenes with various members of Nell's family. The closeness between the two sets of siblings has continued to grow throughout the series. I also liked seeing the changes in Willow as she found a new love of her own. I enjoyed the assorted get-togethers, from Nell's confession lunch with her sisters to Willow's wedding, and seeing how the previous couples are doing now. It was quite a contrast with Deck's family. I ached for him and his sister over the unhappiness of their childhoods. I was impressed that both of them had turned out as well as they had because of it. Deck is still very close to his sister, and in spite of his issues with his dad, still watches out for him.

This was a terrific series and I can't wait to start The Bravos of Valentine Bay.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book.

Garrett Bravo's Runaway Bride - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2575 - Oct 2017)

Series: Bravos of Justice Creek (Book 8)

Once again, she's running…

When bride-to-be Cami Lockwood finally escapes the clutches of her domineering family, she accidentally stumbles straight into the mountain retreat of the most alluring man she's ever met. Garrett Bravo's never been lucky in love. But that's before a one-of-a-kind heiress rushes headlong onto his doorstep.

But this time, she's running toward something!

Garrett's mother can't resist matchmaking for her relentlessly unavailable son. So what better way to evade her meddling than to pretend that his accidental arrangement with creative, unique Cami is the real thing? Just one catch: he hadn't bargained on falling head over heels for the runaway bride turned woman of his dreams…

I loved this book. Garrett is one of the quiet Bravos. He's co-owner of Bravo Construction and something of a workaholic. With most of his siblings now married, his mother has set her sights on getting him married too. Garrett was married once before, and it didn't work out. As a result, he avoids relationships like the plague. To escape his mother's matchmaking efforts, he has retreated to his mountain cabin for some peace and quiet. He did not expect a vision in white to appear out of the woods.

Cami is on the run. She has left the fiancé forced on her by family expectations at the altar, determined finally to live her life the way she wants to. Run off the road on an isolated mountain road; she tramps through the woods until she stumbles on Garrett and his cabin.

I was hooked from the moment Cami showed up at Garrett's cabin. He is bowled over by her beauty and her irrepressible attitude and utterly bewildered by her refusal to let him get help for her. I loved their conversation as she explained how she got to that point, and he confesses to hiding from his mom. Cami insists on staying with him until it's time for him to go home and he can't tell her no. He's not sure why, but he likes her. She makes him laugh and forget about his problems.

I loved Cami. She's honest about her issues of running away when frustration gets to be too much, and about caving into her family's pressure. I loved her determination to finally be free of it and live the life she wants - as soon as she figures out what it is.

I also loved Garrett. He has some issues of his own, thanks to the weirdness of his childhood and the events of his marriage. He really believes that he sucks at relationships. He still has lingering resentment over his mother's actions when he was a kid, though his relationships with all his siblings are good now. He is also kind and caring.

The development of their relationship was pretty sweet. The attraction between Garrett and Cami was immediate and strong, and so was their connection outside the attraction. During the first couple days, while at the cabin, they talked a lot and found so much in common. Cami falls hard and fast for Garrett but knows that he's nowhere close to feeling the same. All that he knows is that he doesn't like the idea of her leaving, so he talks her into staying with him. He is also very protective of her. I loved the scene where her ex-fiancé comes to see her and Garrett hovers in the background. Cami's time with Garrett and his support of her and her dreams gives her the confidence to stand up to Charles's bullying - and having Garrett there for backup doesn't hurt either. As their attraction builds to its ultimate explosion, Cami's feelings for Garrett continue to grow, and that's just the icing on the cake. But Garrett is a bit freaked out by how right it feels to have her there with him. He doesn't see it ending well because, you know, he sucks at relationships. I loved Cami's attempts to be patient and let him figure out his feelings, but eventually, she has to face the truth. I ached for them both when she sat him down and confessed her feelings, he panicked, and she left. Now he has to find a way to stop hiding from his feelings and overcome his fears, and help comes from an unexpected source. I loved his big moment at the end. It was sweet and romantic.

There are also some interesting family dynamics going on during this book. First and foremost are Cami's issues with her father's expectations and bullying. I ached for her over his unwillingness to let her live the life she wanted. I thought she was amazingly understanding about it, even as she tried to break free. The dinner that she and Garrett went to at her parents' house was incredible. I loved that Garrett's presence gave her the confidence to say what she had to. I wanted to smack her father often, and especially at the end. There was an unexpected twist involving Cami's mother that I really loved. We also get more of the saga of Willow Bravo and the effect she had on all the siblings' lives. There is a fair amount of interaction that involves Cami and her attempts to help Garrett through his issues with his mother. There's one scene near the end with the entire family that upends everything that they thought they knew about Willow. It was interesting to see everyone's reactions.

*copy received in exchange for honest review

The Lawman's Convenient Bride - Christine Rimmer (HSE #2545 - May 2017)

Series: Bravos of Justice Creek (Book 7)

FIRST COMES MARRIAGE

Feisty, fearless Jody Bravo's set to do everything for her baby. She doesn't need anything from anyone -- especially the stepbrother of her baby's late father. But lawman Seth Yancy won't leave her to face parenthood alone, no matter how prepared she is. And even though Jody resists, soon she's taken in completely by his charms -- and agrees to be his wife…

THEN COMES LOVE?

Hunky Sheriff Yancy's not without his fair share of admirers in Justice Creek. After a terrible tragedy years before, though, he's faced life alone. Now the real-life woman of his dreams just happens to be his bride -- and pregnant with the child of his heart, if not his reality. So "father" is a role that will come naturally to Seth. And will "husband" really be that far behind?

Very good story. Jody is pregnant and ready to handle everything on her own. She has everything planned out and is ready for anything. That is, except for the step-brother of her baby's father to get involved. Seth had had no idea that his late brother had fathered a child. At first furious at not being told, he quickly resolves to give Jody all the help she needs - whether she wants it or not.

I liked Jody. She's feisty and independent, determined to be the best mom she can. However, she can be a little too independent at times, pushing away the people that care for her. She has decided that marriage isn't for her, as that would mean risking her heart. She's been hurt twice before and isn't up for a doing it again. She's also got a secret she's been carrying for thirteen years, one that deeply affects her actions as a mother now. I loved how, in spite of being sure she's ready for anything, she still experiences the same doubts as any new mother once the baby arrives.

I liked Seth too. At the beginning he's pretty stiff and judgmental over not knowing about the baby. He had thought he was very close to his brother and couldn't understand why he hadn't been told. Seth is also one of those men who is very conscious of his duty. He has devoted all his time to his job as sheriff, avoiding getting involved with any of the women in town. He was in love once before, which ended tragically, and believes that loving again would be disloyal to his late fiancée.

I loved the development of their relationship. Because Seth won't take no for an answer, he is constantly underfoot, doing anything he can to make Jody's life easier. When she goes into labor early, and none of her coaches are around, Seth is the one who comes to the rescue. The labor and delivery scene is awesome, with the experience creating a big change in Seth. It's pretty sweet how he moves right in with Jody as a mother's helper. Jody knows she should send him home, but the longer he stays, the more she appreciates everything he does. It doesn't take long before they've developed an excellent friendship, one deep enough that they are able to share their worst hurts of the past.

It's pretty obvious that they are falling for each other, but neither wants to admit it. Jody has a pretty good idea of what is happening to her when she realizes that she doesn't want some other woman to win him at the bachelor auction. I loved Seth's insistence on following through with the date, and he really goes all out. By the end of it, he has realized that he wants Jody and the baby in his life permanently, though he still refuses to think of the L word. His proposal is sweet, but a little lacking. Jody, still avoiding her own feelings, agrees that they would suit each other well, and accepts his proposal. But once they are married, she realizes that she wants more than he appears to be willing to give. I liked that she didn't just give up, but was determined to fight for their marriage. She just had to get past Seth's stubborn refusal to believe that he can love again. I ached for Seth as he faced the thought of losing them both. I really liked how he finally admitted he should talk to someone, and that it was his father he opened up to. Seth's big moment at the end was awesome - romantic, sweet and pretty funny. I especially loved the epilogue and how it covered more than just a couple months.

I loved the always present support of the other Bravos and their families, as each one plays a role in Jody's life. It was pretty funny that they all could see the truth of Jody and Seth's feelings, even as they refused to believe. Jody's mom Willow was especially fun at the bachelor auction, as she prodded Jody along the bidding war.

There was one part early in the book that made me laugh out loud and really relate to Jody. When she was settling in for a night at home, her idea of relaxing was binge watching the second season of Outlander. As a huge Outlander fan myself, that made her all the more real to me.

*copy received in exchange for an honest review.