Michelle Major

Whenever life gets tough, I know that I can always relax with a book from Michelle Major. I can depend that the book will have an interesting plot, well written characters - mostly likable but there's always at least one character to dislike - and a happily ever after ending. Fortune's Baby Claim is book one in a new series and fit all of my criteria for a good read.

The two main characters are

-Esme. A single mother with a three month old son. Her ex had died in a boating accident but he was psychologically abusive and after going through that, she knew that she'd never fall in love again.
-Ryan. The single father of a three month old son. His girlfriend didn't want to be a mother so she left him with the baby and then died in a car accident.

Both are in love with their sons but Ryan is struggling with being a single dad while he tries to manage his job working for his father's company. When Esme does a DNA test, she's amazed to find out that she doesn't recognize any of the names on the report and even her name isn't there. She goes to the hospital the next day to try to get to the truth and when she explains her concerns, the hospital calls in Ryan. It turns out that the hectic night at the hospital when both boys were born caused them to be given the wrong baby. After talking through the issue, they decide to co-parent the two boys. Nothing romantic involved, just a set of rules that assigns who does what and when. Of course, readers of romance novels know what often happens to platonic plans and the more Esme and Ryan get to know each other, the more sparks that fly between them. Will they and their two sons get a happily ever after? The book is a great read as it slowly solves this question.… (meer)

Even better than a romance novel is a Christmas romance novel. Michelle Major's new book takes her readers back to Magnolia, South Carolina for this look at two people who at one time vowed to never speak again but are now forced to work together on the same project.

Lauren hated Magnolia and when she left, she vowed to never return. Two events convince her to return -- her brother is getting married and asked he for help planning the wedding plus her teen-age daughter has gotten expelled from high school for some bad behavior and Lauren decided that a change in scenery might change her attitude. She tries her best to stay away from her controlling and rich father and her step sister but her daughter will stop at nothing to meet her grandfather. When they arrive at an old summer camp to stay in one of the cabins, she finds that it's in deplorable shape. The man who is overseeing the campground is her old boyfriend Ben. She and Ben had been an item in high school but when she left town angry at her family and Ben she vowed never to speak to them again.

This is a book full of family turmoil, pain from an old relationship and a lot of mother/daughter bickering -- Hannah was a teenager so that was no surprise. Will Christmas bring reconciliation between the family and between Lauren and Ben and bring them a happily ever after?

This book was well written and I enjoyed all of the characters and their interactions with each other. My favorite character was Hannah - she always had a good question or comment that helped bring things in focus for her mom. I can always depend on this author to bring a great story line with characters that you feel that you know. The fact that this one is set at Christmas makes it even more special.… (meer)

The story opens with a heartbreaking scene involving Cassie and Aiden as children. The events of that day affected each differently as they grew into adulthood. Aiden and his mother and sister left Crimson right after this, escaping from an abusive situation.

Twenty years later, Cassie is a veterinarian filling in at the same vet's office where she volunteered as a child, hoping to be hired permanently. She's surprised when Aiden arrives with his nephew, George, who has found an injured puppy. Cassie immediately takes care of the pup, which gets her in trouble with the other vet. Some antagonistic sparks are flying between Aiden and Cassie, as he insists they are not keeping the dog while Cassie treats the situation like they are. But under the antagonism are sparks of another sort.

Cassie has been an animal lover all her life. It shows in her menagerie at home and how she connects with the animals and their owners at work. She gives her all to her work to the detriment of her personal life. Her sunny personality covers some painful memories that affect how she approaches relationships.

Because of the abuse he suffered as a child, Aiden has closed off his heart and feelings to everyone except his sister and nephew. He is in town for a short time to help them after the death of his sister's husband. He does not intend to stay long in a town with so many bad memories.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Cassie and Aiden develop. Though they try to avoid each other and the sparks that fly between them, circumstances keep throwing them together. Cassie's sunny personality soon finds its way into the dark corners of Aiden's heart. I enjoyed seeing them spend time together, whether dealing with dogs or hiking local trails. Giving into their attraction brings them closer, but while Cassie is ready for more, Aiden can't let go of his need to protect himself. It takes the thought of losing her for him to finally let go of his fears and let her in. Cassie also has to overcome her insecurities and, in doing so, finds a future she hadn't expected.

The epilogue was terrific. I enjoyed seeing what a difference love has made in their lives.

I liked the scenes showing Cassie in her work as a vet. Her care and compassion make a big difference in the lives of the pets and owners she interacts with. I detested the vet she was working with - the same vet who Aiden dealt with twenty years ago. He is heartless and has no business being a vet. His constant denigration of Cassie was infuriating. The vet she was filling in for was her mentor as a child. I expected better of him in his dealings with Cassie. He came through in the end but should have been more supportive earlier.

#netgalley… (meer)

This is a sweet romance about two people who knew other as kids and then met again as adults. When they meet as adults, it's at the vet clinic where Cassie is one of the vets. She loves animals and has a house full plus spends so much time at her job that she has little to no time for a personal life. Aiden has shut down his thoughts and his heart about ever falling in love. He was abused as a child and the mental scars still exist. When they meet, his nephew has found a puppy and wants to keep it but Aiden is absolutely against keeping the dog. He is amazed when he sees the girl that he used to know in school and there is instant animosity between them. Can Cassie's sunshine personality thaw Aiden's heart and help him find the courage to let her into his life.

Even though this is book 10 in a series, it can be read as a standalone with no problem. I don't read a lot of romances but the author really pulled me in with all of the animals and Cassie's love and care for the animals. She was a well written character and even though you knew from their first meeting that Cassie and Aiden would get their happily ever after, it was an interesting story as they struggled with their pasts in the hopes of a future… (meer)