A CEO in Her Stocking - Elizabeth Bevarly (HD #2412 - Nov 2015)

Series: Accidental Heirs (Book 2)

With the reading of a will, single mother Clara Easton's life is upended! Turns out the carefree beach bum who fathered her son was really Park Avenue gold, and he's left his fortune to little Hank. Now she's spending the holidays in dazzling New York City with the man's family, including his sexy twin brother. But Grant Dunbarton is not like the fun-loving charmer who swept Clara off her feet. No way should she fall for a workaholic who knows nothing of comfort and joy. So why can't she tell him goodbye?

Good book. Clara is a single mother who owns her own bakery and works hard to give her son the best life she can. She's stunned to get a visit from a lawyer who informs her that her son's father, a man she hasn't seen in four years, has died. And instead of being the beach bum she thought he was, he was a member of a very wealthy family, and her son has inherited his father's millions. Now she and Hank have been invited to New York to meet his family.

Clara is very nervous and not sure what to expect. She never knew her parents, and was raised in the foster care system. The Dunbarton's lifestyle is completely outside her comfort zone. It doesn't help that her son's uncle, while being her ex's twin in looks is totally different in personality. Her first impression is that he is a cold, ruthless workaholic who has no idea how to relate to her and her son.

I liked Clara a lot. She's a bit of a workaholic herself, but she works very hard to give Hank all the love and attention she never received herself. She's not sure what to expect from Grant and his mother, and is very afraid that they might try to take Hank away from her. As she gets to know Grant, she sees that there is more to him than she expected.

Grant took over running the family business even though his brother had been the older of the two. When their father died when they were kids, Brent went from planning to run the business when they grew up to becoming more irresponsible and child-like. Grant felt a great responsibility to the family legacy and gave up his own dreams to run it. He never plans to have a wife and family of his own, feeling that he is married to the business instead.

I loved seeing their relationship develop. It didn't take long for Clara to see that, in spite of his claims, Grant really wasn't happy with his life. I liked all the little things that she said and did to try to bring some happiness back into his life. She fought against the attraction she felt to him, knowing that nothing could come of it. It was pretty sweet to see the influence that Clara and Hank had on Grant, as he slowly began to see that his life was pretty empty. It was fun to see him loosen up as he talked to Clara about the fish in his aquarium, and lay on his back looking at the stars painted on the dining room ceiling. I ached for them both when Clara and Hank went back to Georgia, believing that the other didn't care the same way.

The ending was really romantic. While I wasn't entirely surprised by what Grant did, there were parts of his actions that were unexpected. I was especially surprised by what his mother did. The epilogue was really great.

I really liked Grant's mother. I had been afraid that she was going to be the type to steal Hank away, or cold and snobby to Clara. She did seem to go a little overboard with some of the things she did, but I loved the way that she embraced both Hank and Clara. There were times when she seemed like a big kid herself.

Only on His Terms - Elizabeth Bevarly (HD #2400 - Sept 2015)

Series: Accidental Heirs (Book 1)

Meet Gracie Sumner, reluctant Cinderella. When the down-to-earth Midwesterner learns her deceptively humble neighbor left her fourteen billion-with-a-b dollars, she doesn't know what to do. Especially when said neighbor's shunned heir, Harrison Sage III, stakes his claim.

Harrison is not amused, especially when the quirky gold digger gets under his skin. How can the sophisticated New Yorker let himself be attracted to the woman who stole his father's fortune? Soon a contested will turns into a contest of wills -- one whose outcome could very well be determined in the bedroom!

Very good story. Gracie was stunned to discover that her neighbor was actually a very rich man who'd left her fourteen billion dollars in his will, with very specific instructions on what to do with it. Things got more complicated when his estranged son made his displeasure known.

Harrison is convinced that Gracie is a gold digger who conned his father out of his money, at least until he meets her. Then he's not sure what to think. She doesn't seem like the gold digger type, but what other explanation could there be?

There is a strong attraction between them from the beginning, but both try to resist it. Harrison doesn't trust her, and he's just too money oriented for her. Gracie is stuck in New York for awhile while things are finalized, and she ends up invited to stay at the home of Harrison and his mother. I loved seeing how that came about and Harrison's reaction to it. This begins a period of Harrison and Gracie getting to know each other.

Harrison grew up rich. For the first fifteen years of his life, his father was there, but not there. Harry the elder spent all his time working to make more money. The his father walked out on Harrison and his mother, disappearing from his life completely. Harrison followed in his father's footsteps, starting his own company and making boatloads of money of his own. He has a very cynical view of others, expecting everyone to be out for what they can get. Meeting Gracie completely confuses him. 

Gracie is wonderful. Her love of vintage clothing just adds to her uniqueness, and I loved her effect on Harrison. She is the type of person who sees the good in other people and has a deep desire to help those in trouble. It made her perfect for what Harry wanted. 

I loved seeing Gracie and Harrison showing each other the things each of them knows about Harry. Gracie had a hard time picturing the kind man she knew as a ruthless businessman. Then it was her turn to show Harrison the man she knew. I loved seeing her open Harrison's eyes to a whole different world. It was fun to see how her outlook on life began to change his. The dancing scene while they were in Cincinnati and how it pushed their attraction to each other over the top was wonderful. The heat and emotion they created that night was amazing. But the next morning, Harrison begins to panic over the intensity of what he felt, and when he finds out some information about Gracie, he confronts her about it. He makes the mistake of falling back into old habits and believing the worst, creating a rift between them. He knows he's being a jerk, but he can't seem to help himself. I loved seeing Gracie stand up for herself, even through the pain of what he says.

The ending is fantastic, with Harrison making amends in a really great way. I loved seeing how he changed. His words to Gracie were sweet, and he was so worried that she wouldn't forgive him. The epilogue was terrific and the perfect wrap up for the story.

That Night with the CEO - Karen Booth (HD #2394 - Aug 2015)

Series: Langford Family (Book 1)

It was a one-night stand -- until her next project has them working side by side!

Entrepreneur Adam Langford always gets what he wants. And he wants the blonde who shared his bed a year ago -- then vanished. Now a tabloid scandal whisks Melanie Costello back into his life -- as his new PR guru! But the real headline would be if their red-hot secret got out.

Transforming the rebellious image of the soon-to-be CEO will take Melanie's best makeover skills. But how do they hide their sizzling chemistry? Her PR firm is on the line. Will she risk everything for the one man she can't resist?

Adam and Melanie had had a one night stand a year ago. He never got her full name and had thought about her often since then. Now he's discovered that she's the PR specialist his father has hired to repair Adam's reputation and he wants more than her professional advice. 

At the same time, Melanie is desperately hoping that he won't recognize her. She really needs this job to hang on to her business, after being betrayed by her former business partner and almost fiance. All she has to do is keep things businesslike.

Adam was a little bit cocky at the beginning, playing with Melanie and pretending that he didn't remember her. He's certain that he can get her back in his bed without too much trouble. Melanie is equally determined to resist, as the survival of her business depends on it. The attraction between them is really strong and it isn't easy.

I loved seeing the relationship develop between them. Adam is resistant to the makeover at the beginning and Melanie's efforts to convince him produce some pretty amusing conversations, especially with his attempts to pursue her. I really liked his comment "We both know the only way to enforce that is the honor system.." and her reply "Yeah, well you need to keep your honor system in your pants." Eventually they end up with a good working relationship, with Adam respecting Melanie and what she is doing for him. He also has the chance to really get to know her and understand why she is so determined to keep distance between them. I liked the bit of protectiveness that comes out when he learns about her ex. Melanie also learns a lot about Adam and that he is much more than what the tabloids portrayed him as. Her feelings for him grow and she has to deal with watching him date the fake girlfriend. The ending was really sweet, with Adam making it clear what he really wants.

The family dynamics that have put Adam in this position are really interesting. Adam's frustration at being forced into a position that he doesn't want is obvious, especially when his sister so clearly wants the job and is qualified for it. Their frustration with their father's old fashioned views is tempered by their love for him and desire to make his life easier. I'm looking forward to Anna's story. I also want to know more about the briefly mentioned oldest son Aiden.

American Pie - Margaret St. George (HAR #345 - June 1990)

Series: Century of American Romance (Book 1)

Spirited and ambitious, Polish immigrant Lucie Kolska arrives in New York on the eve of the twentieth century. Work is scarce, labor is cheap and the tenements are teeming. But Lucie's greatest challenge is born of the heart...

Proud and daring, Dublin native Jamie Kelly dreams of feasting on his slice of the pie -- and he's willing to risk everything to succeed in this brave new world of horseless carriages and moving pictures.

But to make it, Lucie and Jamie must cast off the baggage of their old ideas before they can embrace the best of what America offers: hope for the future and a love that is glory, refuge and strength .... A love that is as brilliant as the promise of the American Dream.

Excellent book about the dreams of two newcomers to America. Lucie and Jamie meet on Ellis Island the day they arrive. Their connection is immediate, but they are separated before they even have a chance to exchange names. Lucie has come from Poland to join her brother, hoping for a better life than she had there. She gets a bit of a shock when she discovers that jobs are hard to find and the living conditions are deplorable. But she won't give up hope that things can be better.

Jamie has come to America from Dublin, also looking for a better life. He has a dream of having his own architectural and construction business someday, but first has to find a way to make a living. This isn't easy for an Irishman in New York, where the Irish are looked down on. He manages to fight for a position on a building site, but it comes at a price.

Lucie and Jamie found each other again, only to discover that the man that Jamie fought and beat for his job was Lucie's brother. As a result, Stefan refuses to give Jamie permission to call on Lucie. Stefan is still set in the old ways, where he has the right to dictate who Lucie can see. Lucie wants to embrace the ways of her new land, and when she has the opportunity to spend time with Jamie she takes it. She feels guilty about deceiving Stefan, but not enough to stop seeing him. Jamie feels the same, but also continues to lobby for Stefan's permission. I loved seeing the way that they used the time to really get to know each other. They also spent a lot of time sharing their dreams with each other.

The slow growth of Lucie and Jamie's feelings was beautifully done. All of it was true to what was permitted at the time. I loved Jamie's persistence in his quest to court Lucie, and how he refused to give up hope. I really enjoyed seeing how he finally earned Stefan's respect and they were able to court openly. But things don't go so smoothly, as Lucie finds a way to make some money on her own, which threatens Jamie's sense of what is acceptable and right. The question becomes one of which is more important to him, his pride or the future they could have together. I loved seeing Lucie stand up for her dreams.

I loved the realistic look at what life was like for new immigrants. The search for work and the prejudices they faced made the pursuit of their dreams so much harder. The difficulties of day to day life did much to kill the dreams of so many, but there were also those who kept their dreams alive. This book also showed the huge differences between the people with money and those who served them.

The secondary romance of Stefan and Greta was sweet and heartbreaking. The reality of Greta's factory work and its physical effects was hard to witness, but Greta maintained a wonderful attitude to the end.