Barbara L. (Barbllm) reviewed A Family to Cherish (Men of Allegany County, Bk 5) (Love Inspired, No 719) (Larger Print) on + 241 more book reviews
A Family to Cherish boasts two very smart, hip, female characters which arent often seen in Love Inspired romances. Meredith Brennan left her small hometown to learn the fine art of beauty and hairstyling, and now wants to open a spa. Widowed Cam Calhoun is a contractor and electrician, who accepts the job of inspecting and building Merediths spa, while trying to keep an eye on his impressionable daughters, whom he thinks are tomboys.
Meredith and Cam have a past, and while others want them to get together, some do not. Meredith offers a partnership to her friend Heather, who is running her mothers hair salon in the town. I loved that Meredith sees opportunity and takes it, instead of just wishing for something to happen; as a bonus, she and Heather rekindle their friendship.
Cams mother is a nasty piece of work. She continually berates him and complains that women shouldnt wear dresses and high heels. She is the typical spinster. However, she gets put into her place very quickly, by Meredith: Cams a grown man. Im a grown woman. And no one has the right to tell us what to do or how to do it. So lets make sure thats clear up front, okay? She also remarks, And lastly, respect is a two-way street. Those who desire respect need to show it in return. I wanted to stand up and cheer.
The story is filled with humor and love and great dialogue. Heres an example, a conversation between Meredith and her sister-in-law Callie:
Remind me again why men are necessary.
Propagation of the species?
Modern technology could argue otherwise.
Meredith is running from an unsavory past. When she left town, she began living with a man who lied to her; he was married the entire two years they were together, and now his family has political aspirations. This makes Meredith flee the city for her hometown. This doesnt make town gossip Claire Dennehy go easy on her, though.
But Dana Brennan, Merediths grandmother, takes Claire down: Who do you think you are, Claire Dennehy? You thought it was okay to walk in here and go off on my granddaughter because of something that happened 14 years ago? She goes on for a page and a half and brooks no dissention. Its beautiful to see women standing up for themselves and for their friends.
Cam and Meredith begin a tentative courtship. Cam worries that his daughters Sophia and Rachel will become too prissy. But he soon realizes that women are perfectly capable of putting on soccer cleats and winning the game and then changing into a dress and heels and going out to dinner. The books romance is fairly predictable, but the female characters and their spunk and love for each other make it worth searching out.
Meredith and Cam have a past, and while others want them to get together, some do not. Meredith offers a partnership to her friend Heather, who is running her mothers hair salon in the town. I loved that Meredith sees opportunity and takes it, instead of just wishing for something to happen; as a bonus, she and Heather rekindle their friendship.
Cams mother is a nasty piece of work. She continually berates him and complains that women shouldnt wear dresses and high heels. She is the typical spinster. However, she gets put into her place very quickly, by Meredith: Cams a grown man. Im a grown woman. And no one has the right to tell us what to do or how to do it. So lets make sure thats clear up front, okay? She also remarks, And lastly, respect is a two-way street. Those who desire respect need to show it in return. I wanted to stand up and cheer.
The story is filled with humor and love and great dialogue. Heres an example, a conversation between Meredith and her sister-in-law Callie:
Remind me again why men are necessary.
Propagation of the species?
Modern technology could argue otherwise.
Meredith is running from an unsavory past. When she left town, she began living with a man who lied to her; he was married the entire two years they were together, and now his family has political aspirations. This makes Meredith flee the city for her hometown. This doesnt make town gossip Claire Dennehy go easy on her, though.
But Dana Brennan, Merediths grandmother, takes Claire down: Who do you think you are, Claire Dennehy? You thought it was okay to walk in here and go off on my granddaughter because of something that happened 14 years ago? She goes on for a page and a half and brooks no dissention. Its beautiful to see women standing up for themselves and for their friends.
Cam and Meredith begin a tentative courtship. Cam worries that his daughters Sophia and Rachel will become too prissy. But he soon realizes that women are perfectly capable of putting on soccer cleats and winning the game and then changing into a dress and heels and going out to dinner. The books romance is fairly predictable, but the female characters and their spunk and love for each other make it worth searching out.
