Anything For You by Kristan Higgins

* * * 1/2

Before you get down on bended knee…

…you should be pretty darn sure the answer will be yes. For ten years, Connor O'Rourke has been waiting for Jessica Dunn to take their on-again, off-again relationship public, and he thinks the time has come. His restaurant is thriving, she's got her dream job at Blue Heron Vineyard—it's the perfect time to get married.

When he pops the question, however, her answer is a fond but firm no. If it ain't broke, why fix it? Jess has her hands full with her younger brother, who's now living with her full-time, and a great career after years of waitressing. What she and Connor have is perfect: friends with an excellent benefits package. Besides, with her difficult past (and reputation), she's positive married life isn't for her.

But this time, Connor says it's all or nothing. If she doesn't want to marry him, he'll find someone who does. Easier said than done, given that he's never loved anyone but her. And maybe Jessica isn't quite as sure as she thinks… 

Review:

I love a lot of romance tropes and Anything For You includes one of my favorites.  Falling-in-love-as-children/teens-then-finding-each-other-as-adults.   I’m sure there is a better way to describe it but we’ll just go with that for now.  Connor falls head over heels in love with Jessica Dunn when she not only saves him from a dog attack but also when he sees her usually hidden vulnerability after dealing with bullies all day at school.

Jessica Dunn is a wonderfully complicated heroine.  She learned in her teens to use sex as way to protect herself and her brother.  Yes, she had to deal with name calling (she lost count of how many times people have called her Jessica Does) but, to her, that was a small price to pay for safety.   After high school, she moved out to get away from her alcoholic parents and took her younger brother (who was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) with her.  She worked multiple jobs to keep her brother safe and to give him every opportunity possible. She also busted her ass to work her way through school and earn a Master’s degree.  She proves she’s a fighter and survivor at every turn. 

Connor O’Rourke is a strange combination of simple and complicated. He’s really the ultimate introvert and I found him at turns to be frustrating (his relationship with Jess and his lack of understanding in regards to her brother) and completely loveable (his relationship with is sister and patient focus on the things he loves).

I understood their attraction to one another.  Connor is one of the few people that has seen Jess’s vulnerable side and he treats that with care (except for that one time but no spoilers – let’s just say I wanted to throw him through a window).   He also truly appreciates her dedication to her brother and her constant motivation to make a better life for them.  Jess sees Connor as one of the few people that treats her with respect and not just as someone that will easily agree to sex.  She stopped being that girl a long time ago and Connor is the one person that never saw her as that girl.  Match made in heaven right?  Of course not.

As amazing and strong as Jess is, you don’t walk away from a childhood like hers without scars.  Her need to care for her brother runs deeper than sibling devotion and she will do WHATEVER it takes in order to make her brother happy.  And, because of something that happened when her brother was small, her brother vehemently hates Connor.  To the point he becomes violent.   Rather than seeing if that is something that can be resolved therapeutically or medically, she decides that there can be no normal relationship for her and the one guy she’s ever been in love with.  But she’ll take what she can get with a secret relationship. 

Connor has his own set of parental issues.  Having a father that was not only unfaithful but also the kind of guy that would knock Connor down in order to put his twin sister on a pedestal.  Needless to say, Connor has some issues believing in his own self-worth when it comes to relationships. Which is why he puts up with Jess’ need for secrecy and their on-again, off-again relationship.   But after a decade he has to step back and decide if it’s worth the constant emotional strain and the sacrifice of his dreams of having his own family.   

But this isn’t just about their relationship.  Kristan Higgins does an amazing job of incorporating the growth and resolution of other relationships in Jess and Connor’s lives.  There is Connor’s attempt to forge a relationship with Davey which is sweet and sometimes alarming.  Jess and Davey’s dad shows up after being MIA for years.  He’s sober and wants to make amends.  Then there is Connor’s dad who is also looking to have a better relationship with his son.  None of these relationships are given quick fixes.  Each take work and they weave in perfectly with Connor and Jess’s romance.   

On top of that there are the positive relationships these two already have.  Between the Holland family and Connor’s twin sister, Colleen, these two main characters have an amazing and humorous support group.  Despite the heaviness of some of the story lines, there were some hilarious laugh out loud moments.  Higgins shows true adeptness at balancing comedy with serious situations in this novel.

I struggled with my rating on this book.  There was obviously a lot that I enjoyed.  But there was a lot that made me uncomfortable and/or annoyed.  Mostly in regards to Connor’s reaction to things.  His lack of confidence made him tactless and awkward to the point it was uncomfortable and not entirely forgivable.  In the end, he grows a backbone but until that point it could be difficult to read. 

That being said, I’ve read four out of the five Blue Heron books and this is my second favorite (it’s really hard to top Emmaline’s book, In Your Dreams).   If you are a Kristan Higgins fan, you won’t be disappointed one bit.  And if you enjoy your romance infused with the perfect mix of comedy and angst, I urge you to pick this one up.

Nat

Waiting on Wednesday (173)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.



By Estelle Laure
Publication Date: December 22, 2015

Can the best thing happen at the worst time?

Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy, inconvenient love—is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother. With blazing longing that builds to a fever pitch, Estelle Laure's soulful debut will keep readers hooked and hoping until the very last page.

By Marnee Blake
Publication Date: December 28, 2015

A new adult romance from Entangled's Embrace imprint...

When "normal" ends, survival begins...

The sickness came on suddenly and violently. When it was done, waitress Blue Michaels was different in a really strange way. And the entire town of Glory was dead...except for her.

Only that's not exactly true. A handful of people made it, including U.S. Army Specialist Seth Campbell, who was caught in the wrong town at the worst time. He's fierce and protective, and way too good-looking. As much as they need a leader—as much as Blue wants to trust him—there are too many questions and not enough time for answers. Now they are hunted. But what their pursuers don't know is each of them has strange new powers. And they'll use their "gifts" to survive...no matter who stands in their way.






By Kristan Higgins
Publication Date: December 29, 2015

Before you get down on bended knee… 

…you should be pretty darn sure the answer will be yes. For ten years, Connor O'Rourke has been waiting for Jessica Dunn to take their on-again, off-again relationship public, and he thinks the time has come. His restaurant is thriving, she's got her dream job at Blue Heron Vineyard—it's the perfect time to get married. 

When he pops the question, however, her answer is a fond but firm no. If it ain't broke, why fix it? Jess has her hands full with her younger brother, who's now living with her full-time, and a great career after years of waitressing. What she and Connor have is perfect: friends with an excellent benefits package. Besides, with her difficult past (and reputation), she's positive married life isn't for her. 

But this time, Connor says it's all or nothing. If she doesn't want to marry him, he'll find someone who does. Easier said than done, given that he's never loved anyone but her. And maybe Jessica isn't quite as sure as she thinks…

If You Only Knew by Kristan Higgins

***

From Harlequin:

The drama, hilarity and tears of sisterhood are at the heart of the thoroughly captivating new novel by New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins - a funny, frank and bittersweet look at marriage, forgiveness and moving on.

Letting go of her ex-husband is harder than wedding-dress designer Jenny Tate expected... especially since his new wife wants to be Jenny's new best friend.  Sincsing this isn't exactly helping her achieve closure, Jenny trades the Manhattan skyline for her hometown up the Hudson, where she'll start her own business and bask in her sister Rachel's picture-perfect family life... and maybe even find a little romance of her own with Leo, her downstairs neighbor, a guy who's utterly irresistible and annoyingly distant at the same time.  

Rachel's idyllic marriage, however, is imploding after she discovers her husband sexting with a colleague.  She always thought she'd walk away in this situation, but her triplet daughters have her reconsidering her stance on adultery, much to Jenny's surprise.  Rachel points to their parents' perfect marriage as a shining example of patience and forgiveness; but to protect her sister, Jenny may have to tarnish that memory - and their relationship - and reveal a family secret she's been keeping since childhood.  

Both Rachel and Jenny will have to come to terms with the past and the present and find a way to get what they want most of all.  

If You Only Knew is my first Kristan Higgins, but won't be my last!  BiblioJunkie Nat loved In Your Dreams (she says it has her favorite heroine ever and that's some high praise!), but I've been eyeing my Kristan Higgins' books in my tbr pile for a really long time.  After describing If You Only Knew to Nat, she says that it is a departure from Higgins' usual work.  I didn't find any of Higgins' trademark hilarity in If You Only Knew, but it was an engrossing book, with a varied cast of characters.  

Jenny is the driven career woman who longs for a family, Rachel is the pushover finding her own voice, their mother is horrible, Adam is a douche, Owen's a bit of a well-meaning jerk and Leo is the king of mixed signals.  They all come together to keep you up until 2 a.m. on a work night so that you are falling asleep at your desk...  I feel like this is the best compliment I can give a book - I was wiling to forgo sleep to read it.  There were some twists and turns, adorable kids and a farting dog to keep you entertained, but mostly, the book is just about swinging at the curveballs life throws at you.  

~Shel

Waiting on Wednesday (159)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.

By Marina Adair
Publication Date: August 25, 2015

A blast from her past...

Charlotte Holden, Sugar's favorite pediatrician, knows better than anyone that love only leads to heartbreak. Instead, she's focused on creating the Grow Clinic, an outpatient center for children. All she has to do now is to host the best Founder's Day Parade in the history of Sugar, Georgia, to win over a big-city donor. Easy as peach pie. Then sexy Jace McGraw blows back into town and utters those three words every woman dreads: we're still married. 

...leads to tantalizing trouble

Jace McGraw was making an offer on his dream business in Atlanta when he was told that his wife had some credit issues. Wait, his wife? The annulment went through years ago—or so he thought. He'd walked away only to keep his troublemaker reputation from ruining her dreams. But now that they have a second chance, Jace offers Charlotte a deal: he'll grant a discreet divorce in exchange for 30 days and nights of marriage. Because this time he isn't going to let her go without a fight. 



By Kristan Higgins
Publication Date:  August 25, 2015

Sisterhood in all its drama, hilarity and tears is at the heart ofNew York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins's thoroughly captivating new novel, featuring the wit and romance that readers have come to expect from the much-loved creator of the Blue Heron series...

Wedding-dress designer Jenny Tate understands the happily-ever-after business, yet somehow she's still involved in her ex-husband's life. In fact, Owen's new wife may—inexplicably—be Jenny's new best friend. Sensing this, well, relationship isn't helping her move on, Jenny trades the Manhattan skyline for her hometown up the Hudson, where she'll be able to bask in her sister Rachel's picture-perfect family life…and hopefully make one of her own.

Her timing couldn't be more perfect, since Rachel will need her younger sister. Her idyllic marriage has just fallen to pieces in spectacular fashion after she discovers her husband sexting with one of his colleagues. Second chances aren't in Rachel's nature, but the desire for an intact family has her rethinking her stance on adultery, much to Jenny's surprise. Rachel points to their parents' "perfect" marriage as a shining example, but to protect her sister Jenny may have to tarnish that memory—and their relationship­—and reveal a secret about their family she's been keeping since childhood.

During this summer of secrets and lies, temptation and revelation, Jenny and Rachel will rely on each other to find the humor in their personal catastrophes, the joy in their triumphs…and the strength to keep hanging on. 


By Noelle August
Publication Date: August 25, 2015

Playing the occasional club gig just isn’t cutting it for twenty-two-year-old cellist Skyler Canby, who’s trying to support herself and her mother back home in Kentucky. Persuaded by her best friend Beth to accompany her on an audition for the first feature film launched by Blackwood Entertainment, she figures why not? Beth’s a shoe-in for the lead, but maybe Skyler’s newly dyed pink hair will help her stand out enough to score a small speaking part.

Never in her wildest dreams does Skyler imagine she’ll land the lead role or that she’ll have her shoes knocked off her feet by the kiss her audition partner, Grey Blackwood, plants on her—a kiss that feels very real and not at all “acted. ”

After throwing a party that causes thousands of dollars of damage to his older brother’s home, reckless musician Grey Blackwood gets roped into working off his debt on the set of his CEO brother’s newest project. Grey spends his days fetching coffee and doing odd jobs around the studio, but he lives for nights when he performs with his band. He knows if he can stay focused, success as a singer is just around the corner. But that’s tough with a distracting pink-haired girl occupying his every waking thought.

Skyler and Grey have every reason to resist each other. But, like a song neither of them can get out of their minds, they have no choice but to go where the music takes them. 

In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins

* * * * 1/2

Emmaline Neal needs a date. Just a date—someone to help her get through her ex-fiancé's wedding without losing her mind. But pickings are slim in Manningsport, New York, population 715. In fact, there's really only one option: local heartthrob Jack Holland. Everyone loves Jack, and he won't get the wrong idea…. After all, Jack Holland would never actually be interested in a woman like Em. Especially not with his beautiful ex-wife creeping around, angling to reunite ever since he rescued a group of teens and became a local hero. 

But when the wedding festivities take an unexpectedly passionate turn, Em figures it was just one crazy night. Jack is too gorgeous, too popular, to ever end up with her. So why is she the one he can talk to about his deep, dark feelings? If Em is going to get her dream man, she'll have to start by believing in him…

Review:

Warning!!!  If you don’t want to hear gushing over one of the best romances of the year you should probably not read on….

There are few heroines as awesome as Emmeline Neal.  Seriously.  I’m still trying to figure out how we can invite a fictional character to Shel’s BFF island.  It’s totally possible that Shel and Bel would replace me with Emmaline but I wouldn’t even be mad.  She is that cool.  She carries a gun and a stun gun.  She is proving to be an amazing cop and negotiator.  She has the cutest puppy in all the land.  She loves her sister.  She even loves and puts up with her insanely annoying parents.  She is confident in herself as a person.  She can dish it with the best of them.  Yep, Emmaline Neal is perfection.  I fully admit to falling in love with her just as much as I fell in love with Jack.

Jack.  Jack Holland.  Winemaker and local hero.  My favorite kind of guy.  The nice guy.  The honest guy.  The guy so genuine and humorous that everyone loves him.  In other words, a forever boy.   But I never thought I would ever say this about a forever boy…Jack is TOO nice.  It might be his biggest flaw.  The one flaw that might just cost him the chance of an amazing relationship with Emmeline Neal.

Put these two together and you have a highly likeable and entertaining couple.  But they aren’t without their problems.  Although he won’t admit it, Jack is suffering from PTSD after rescuing a car full of kids from a freezing lake.   He’s just going through the motions while battling flashbacks and panic attacks. And if that isn’t stressful enough, his crazy ex-wife is in town angling for reconciliation.  And Emmaline?  Well she is trying to come to terms with the fact that the ex that she was with for over 15 years is truly moving on and she hasn’t moved on at all.  But her ex can’t know that.  Which is why Emmaline gladly (or grudgingly) takes the very sexy and nice Jack Holland with her to the wedding.  Can’t have anyone thinking she’s still hurt and pining after being tossed aside for that evil personal trainer.   

Jack is more than happy to go away with Emmaline for the weekend.  He’s been the “fake” date before and doesn’t mind the job.  And the idea of getting away from his ex-wife sounds fabulous.   Add in the fact that the wedding is in California and Win/Win!  Jack and Emmaline might know each other but they aren’t friends so their growing friendship over the weekend is a lovely surprise to both of them.  But the thing neither of them planned was to add sex into the equation.  Add that awkwardness to their crazy lives back home and both are at a loss.  Fortunately they have a whole nosy town that is more than happy to help them figure it out.

I have to say that the minor characters provided just as much entertainment as Jack and Emmaline.  There are Jack’s three wildly inappropriate sisters (there really should be a series of short stories about Pru’s post-menopausal sex life) who are nosy and hilarious.  And thank goodness for them and the rest of Jack’s family.  Someone had to knock some sense into that guy at a few points in this book.  Police Chief Levi  (Jack’s brother in law and Emmaline’s boss), who isn’t fooled at all by Jack’s silence on the PTSD and who also puts up with Emmaline’s wonderfully snarky conversations.  There are also the members of the Bitter Betrayed Book Club that not only provide Emmaline with friendship but also set her up for one of the most embarrassing moments in wedding party history.  Ok, maybe I didn’t love every character.  I certainly didn’t love Jack’s ex-wife.  That girl was bat shit crazy.  But the rest of the people in Manningsport are amazing.  Even if they are all up in everyone else’s business.

The only complaint I had with this book is that I felt the resolution of Jack’s feelings and his subsequent actions were a bit rushed.  Granted this book is already 480 pages so maybe it needed to end soon. I just felt I wanted to know a little bit more what Jack was thinking at the end.  That being said, this is still one of the best romances I read this year.  Anything that makes me laugh out loud, pour multiple glasses of wine and crave Skittles is a winner in my book.

Nat

Waiting on Wednesday (118)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.



Title: In Your Dreams
Author: Kristan Higgins
Publication Date:  September 30, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin

Emmaline Neal needs a date. Just a date—someone to help her get through her ex-fiancé's wedding without losing her mind. But pickings are slim in Manningsport, New York, population 715. In fact, there's really only one option: local heartthrob Jack Holland. Everyone loves Jack, and he won't get the wrong idea…. After all, Jack Holland would never actually be interested in a woman like Em. Especially not with his beautiful ex-wife creeping around, angling to reunite ever since he rescued a group of teens and became a local hero. 

But when the wedding festivities take an unexpectedly passionate turn, Em figures it was just one crazy night. Jack is too gorgeous, too popular, to ever end up with her. So why is she the one he can talk to about his deep, dark feelings? If Em is going to get her dream man, she'll have to start by believing in him…












Title: He's So Fine
Author: Jill Shalvis
Publication Date: September 30, 2014
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

For Olivia Bentley, Lucky Harbor is more than the town where she runs her new vintage shop. It's the place where folks are friendly to strangers-and nobody knows her real name. Olivia does a good job of keeping her past buried, not getting too cozy with anyone . . . until she sees a man drowning. Suddenly she's rushing into the surf, getting up close and personal with the hottest guy she's ever laid hands on.

Charter boat captain Cole Donovan has no problem with a gorgeous woman throwing her arms around his neck in an effort to "save" him. In fact, he'd like to spend a lot more time skin-to-skin with Olivia. He's just not expecting that real trouble is about to come her way. Will it bring her deeper into Cole's heart, or will it be the end of Olivia's days in little Lucky Harbor?