Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good book. Zane came home to Eagle Ridge after his Army Ranger career ended in injury. Along with his brother, Adam, he started an adventure watersports business. He enjoys his bachelor life and sticks to women who don't expect commitment. That all comes to an end when his dog, Gambler, crashes into the new librarian, Harper, and knocks her over. Something tells him that his life will never be the same.
Harper moved to Eagle Ridge from San Francisco, determined to change her life. Naturally shy and introverted, she's been called boring once too often. She has a list of goals, and getting distracted by Zane wasn't in the plan.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Zane and Harper grow. Though the chemistry between them runs hot, both have been burned in the past. As a young soldier, Zane fell for a Southern girl who allowed him to woo her, but when he got serious, she called him too big, too clumsy, and too rough around the edges for any woman. Thanks to her, he feels like the proverbial beast and destined to be alone. He often feels like a bull in a china shop, along with his neurotic dog, who really is. Risking his heart again is not in the cards. Zane also has lingering issues over his mother leaving the family after he outgrew his childhood asthma. Harper, too, has been hurt. Engaged to an attorney for two years, he suddenly broke their engagement when she reserved the church for their wedding. Not only did he claim she was too boring, but he cheated on her for six months with one-night-stands. She's not interested in another relationship.
Complicating matters, Zane's brother Adam and his sister Bailey have both recently found love interests. Though he won't admit it, Zane feels a little out-of-sorts. The townspeople say he's moping because he's still single and keep trying to set him up with various women. In a convoluted series of events, Zane claims that he and Harper are an item, forcing them to spend time together. I loved watching them get to know each other - the big, tough guy with a hidden soft spot and the petite librarian with an unexpected adventurous side. I loved seeing Zane's softer side come out as he showed Harper how wrong her ex was about her. I ached for him and his insecurities as his feelings for Harper grew, but he had trouble believing she would want him. I liked seeing Harper blossom under Zane's attention, discovering she's stronger and braver than she knew. There's a terrific scene when her ex shows up in Eagle Ridge expecting to pick up where he left off, and I loved seeing her disabuse him of that notion, aided and abetted by Zane. I loved their "aha" moments when each one realized the depth of their feelings. Zane's big moment was sweet and emotional, and I loved how it happened.
There was a secondary romance between Zane's father, Sam, owner of the local diner, and the diner's manager, Brenda. I especially enjoyed his reaction to her makeover.
Harper moved to Eagle Ridge from San Francisco, determined to change her life. Naturally shy and introverted, she's been called boring once too often. She has a list of goals, and getting distracted by Zane wasn't in the plan.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Zane and Harper grow. Though the chemistry between them runs hot, both have been burned in the past. As a young soldier, Zane fell for a Southern girl who allowed him to woo her, but when he got serious, she called him too big, too clumsy, and too rough around the edges for any woman. Thanks to her, he feels like the proverbial beast and destined to be alone. He often feels like a bull in a china shop, along with his neurotic dog, who really is. Risking his heart again is not in the cards. Zane also has lingering issues over his mother leaving the family after he outgrew his childhood asthma. Harper, too, has been hurt. Engaged to an attorney for two years, he suddenly broke their engagement when she reserved the church for their wedding. Not only did he claim she was too boring, but he cheated on her for six months with one-night-stands. She's not interested in another relationship.
Complicating matters, Zane's brother Adam and his sister Bailey have both recently found love interests. Though he won't admit it, Zane feels a little out-of-sorts. The townspeople say he's moping because he's still single and keep trying to set him up with various women. In a convoluted series of events, Zane claims that he and Harper are an item, forcing them to spend time together. I loved watching them get to know each other - the big, tough guy with a hidden soft spot and the petite librarian with an unexpected adventurous side. I loved seeing Zane's softer side come out as he showed Harper how wrong her ex was about her. I ached for him and his insecurities as his feelings for Harper grew, but he had trouble believing she would want him. I liked seeing Harper blossom under Zane's attention, discovering she's stronger and braver than she knew. There's a terrific scene when her ex shows up in Eagle Ridge expecting to pick up where he left off, and I loved seeing her disabuse him of that notion, aided and abetted by Zane. I loved their "aha" moments when each one realized the depth of their feelings. Zane's big moment was sweet and emotional, and I loved how it happened.
There was a secondary romance between Zane's father, Sam, owner of the local diner, and the diner's manager, Brenda. I especially enjoyed his reaction to her makeover.
