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Taming of the Sheenans #3

The Kidnapped Christmas Bride

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All he wants is a Christmas memory...

Trey Sheenan has cultivated his reputation as Marietta’s resident bad boy, until one day he lets things go too far and he loses everything—his freedom, his fiance McKenna Douglas, and his infant son.

McKenna has loved Trey since they were kids, but she’s had enough. When Trey is sent away for five years, McKenna is determined to do what’s right for her and baby TJ, which means putting her mistakes—namely Trey—behind her, and move on.

When Trey is released early, he returns to Marietta determined to beg McKenna’s forgiveness and become the father TJ needs him to be, only to discover that he’s too late. McKenna’s marrying local insurance agent Lawrence Joplin in a candlelight Christmas wedding.

Or is she?

Once again, Trey risks everything, but this time it’s for love….and the memory of one perfect Christmas together as a family.

Taming of the Sheenan series
Book 1: Christmas at Copper Mountain
Book 2: Tycoon's Kiss
Book 3: The Kidnapped Christmas Bride

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 25, 2014

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About the author

Jane Porter

533 books1,916 followers
Born in Visalia, California, I'm a small town girl at heart. I love central California's golden foothills, oak trees, and the miles of farmland. In my mind, there's nothing sweeter in the world than the heady fragrance of orange blossoms on a sultry summer night.

As a little girl I spent hours on my bed, staring out the window, dreaming of far off places, fearless knights, and happy-ever-after endings. In my imagination I was never the geeky bookworm with the thick coke-bottle glasses, but a princess, a magical fairy, a Joan-of-Arc crusader.

My parents fed my imagination by taking our family to Europe for a year when I was thirteen. The year away changed me (I wasn't a geek for once!) and overseas I discovered a huge and wonderful world with different cultures and customs. I loved everything about Europe, but felt especially passionate about Italy and those gorgeous Italian men (no wonder my first very Presents hero was Italian).

I confess, after that incredible year in Europe, the travel bug bit, and bit hard. I spent much of my high school and college years abroad, studying in South Africa, Japan and Ireland. South Africa remains a country of my heart, the people, the land and politics complex and heart-wrenching.

After my years of traveling and studying I had to settle down and earn a living. With my Bachelors degree from UCLA in American Studies, a program that combines American literature and American history, I've worked in sales and marketing, as well as a director of a non-profit foundation. Later I earned my Masters in Writing from the University of San Francisco and taught jr. high and high school English.

I now live in Seattle and Hawaii with my three sons. I never mind a rainy day, either, because that's when I sit at my desk and write stories about far-away places, fascinating people, and most importantly of all, love. I like a story with a happy ending. We all do.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
Profile Image for Gaufre.
467 reviews25 followers
October 7, 2017
Which one does our female character choose?
Man #1:
... he was sweet, and thoughtful, gentle and kind. If he said he'd be there at seven, he always showed up... five minutes early. If she needed anything, he was there. He treated her like she was the best thing since sliced bread [...] It felt good not to worry that he'd be out too late, drinking too much, getting heated, instigating fights.

Man #2:
[...] everyone said... that he was reactive, responding instinctively without regard to risks and consequence, and she'd seen that they were right. He refused to grow up, refused to control his temper, refuse to bend or yield which meant he could never be depended on.

You guessed right, she chose #2. What else can I say? This book is awful.

PS: Joan and I made up our own extravagant stories to begin to justify the characters' poor decisions.
Profile Image for Crista.
810 reviews
February 22, 2015
4 Stars!

There is just something about a bad boy hero: The type of hero who has just enough sweetness to qualify him as a “good decision”, and just enough bad-boy in him to make him interesting. Trey definitely qualifies under the “bad boy with redeeming qualities” category!

This book is the third book in a series, but can definitely be read as a stand-alone. If you love holiday romances, second chance romances, and cabin romances, this one is all three of those bundled together in one sweet book.

Trey has just been released from prison and is eager to reconnect with his son and ex-fiancée. When he finds McKenna, he realizes that she is about to marry another man. Trey is not about to lose the woman he loves and his son, so he does what any protective, recently released convict would do: he “kidnaps” them both.

The three of them end up in a remote cabin together and the magic of this book lies in the memories that are made in that cabin. The little boy TJ was such a sweet little boy, and his desire to have his family reconnected was so touching.

Trey and McKenna actually were very good at communicating and once they were given a chance to reconnect, it was so very clear that they shared a deep, all-consuming love for one another.

This was a quick read, but was not a shallow read. The characters were all highly likable, but I did knock off a star because I felt that McKenna should’ve never left Trey in the first place. Trey needed her and TJ, and when things didn’t go as planned, she bailed on him. I had a hard time with that and never quite got over that fact.

Overall, a lovely story about second chances and becoming a family.
Profile Image for Jonel.
1,717 reviews311 followers
June 13, 2015
This is one of those rare stories that you will read and never, ever be able to forget. It is intense throughout, heartbreaking at times, and completely satisfying as a whole. Porter takes a look at a life most of us rarely think of, and if we do, it’s with a frown. She humanized things in a manner that allows you to think about them logically while at the same time slowly drawing you into the story. At the same time, she tells us a brilliant story of love and redemption and takes you away to the picturesque Montana countryside.

This is one of those novels that embody the saying ‘nobody’s perfect, but you’re perfect for me.’ I thoroughly enjoyed the male lead. The bad-boy-trying-to-turn-good aura really drew me in. Combined with his long time love you have the perfect pair to capture your heart and your attention. This is all topped off with their young son who strengthens the story, taking it to a whole new level.

As a whole, this was a fantastic tale that I fell in love with. Porter made me laugh & cry. She made me contemplate things I wouldn’t normally think about. Above all, however, she made me fall in love with her story & her characters.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Nikki.
969 reviews258 followers
December 2, 2014
This was a sweet reunited lovers story. The main couple dated through high school and after, even getting engaged and having a baby together. Unfortunately, the hero, Trey, wasn't exactly a model citizen and landed himself in jail. His lady love, McKenna, wanted better for their son so she moved on after a few years. When Trey was released early for good behavior, he decided he wanted to show McKenna he was a changed man. However, much to his surprise, she was getting married. So what does he do? Why, kidnap her and their son of course! Lol. While the premise of this book sounded right up my alley, I'm afraid it fell a little short for me. I did enjoy it, as I usually do with Christmas stories, but it lacked.... something. I'm not sure what exactly, it just didn't hit all my buttons like I'd hoped it would. I liked how McKenna and Trey communicated with each other while staying in the cabin and that she didn't want to keep their son from him and was even able to admit to herself that the man she was supposed to marry wasn't the love of her life, as Trey was. Trey was obviously still in love with her and wanted them to work it out and be a family. I felt for him and how he felt like an outsider in his family. I liked how they talked things out and got back together rather quickly. Not over night, but it didn't take the whole book either. Overall, this was a sweet clean romance about two people who were meant for each other and just needed to find their way back together.
Profile Image for Jessica Alcazar.
4,190 reviews587 followers
April 25, 2015
Well this is Goodreads at its BEST. So this title says I read it on Dec 29th, 2014 but apparently decided to not give it a rating or review. Yea, NO! #sigh
Anywho ..... ARC provided by Tule Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.
OK, so if you keep track of my reviews at all, you MUST know that Marietta is one of my favorite places to spend a few hours in. This was a really heart-warming story about second chances, forgiveness, love, hope, family and faith! Kenna and Tray haven't had the best traveled road in life, but they have a child together and their love is STRONG. You can feel it. But is it strong enough to blur the past and not let it get in the way of the future. Is it really what's best for the family they have already created ..... ? Well, of course THIS reader thinks so, but you just go on and read and let me know what YOU think, k!
Beautifully written and well executed story. Nice, quiet afternoon read!
Profile Image for Joan.
2,199 reviews
October 12, 2017
I have to admit I skimmed through to then end in the vain hope that Lawrence did turn out to be an FBI agent, (this was a buddy read and we had great fun trying to come up with plots that might JUST explain some people's behaviour in this book) but alas, it was not to be. Trey was one of the most unbelievable, self-centred, idiotic men I have ever had the unpleasantness to meet in a book. What sort of man thinks its acceptable to kidnap his own son? And what sort of woman was McKenna going along with him.

Dreadful.

Why it has so many 5 star reviews I have no idea. Do women really fall in love with oafs like Trey? Would YOU want to marry him? (Don't answer that. Really)

euw.
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews859 followers
December 30, 2014
Autry‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews


4 STARS

Review copy provided for an honest review


McKenna is waiting for her wedding to start, any second she will be given the go ahead to walk down the aisle to her future. Fortunately for Trey he has been given a gift, after being gone for 5 years, he can finally speak to Mac (McKenna) and their son TJ. After searching for her unsuccessfully the night before he has no choice but to interrupt Mac’s wedding.
Mac’s world has just come crashing down around her, her first love, her son’s father, the town bad boy has just walked in and interrupted her wedding. And he does the unthinkable, he kidnaps her and her son. McKenna quickly realizes her feelings are flooding back to her, shes at risk of falling back in love with Trey, as if she had ever stopped loving him. Trey is enjoying himself for the first time in years, he has his son and the love of his life all to himself in the family cabin. McKenna has called off her engagement, and his heart is falling steadily for his high school love.
The Sheenan family is picking up where they left off until Trey risks it all to help strangers. Helping a stranger is what go him sent away for years, and now he is risking it all again. As McKenna watches Trey risk his life all of his reckless behavior begins to make sense. But is is too late for Trey and McKenna to put all the pieces together and salvage their relationship, will this last risk take Trey’s life again?
This second chance romance will make you believe in life, love and happiness all over again, Jane Porter did a fantastic job with The Kidnapped Christmas Bride. I enjoyed reading about TJ and Trey and how they were interacting and bonding, and how McKenna was going to fight for their relationship after Trey’s revelation. The Kidnapped Christmas Bride is a great, quick read for the Holiday season.
Profile Image for Bette Hansen.
5,069 reviews40 followers
November 29, 2014
A wonderful read!! A story of forgiveness, hope, and love. I read this in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down. Kenna and Trey have a love so strong it has been able to survive the most trying times. But is it the love Kenna and her young son TJ needs?? Read this one and find out. You will be so happy you did.
Profile Image for Lady E.
479 reviews60 followers
August 24, 2015
2.5 I wanted to like this one a whole lot more. Story fell flat for me.
Profile Image for Night Runner.
1,460 reviews33 followers
August 12, 2021
3. 5Stars for me!

My rating range throughout the story... 2.75 - 3.5

Main Character Ratings... H = 7 - h = 7

Scenes with heat.. No - Clean Romance

Heat Rating... 2/10
Clean - 1 or 2
Descriptive Sex - 5 or above
Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above

The back story... He served time for involuntary manslaughter after stepping in when a guy was beating a pregnant woman. She is about to get married, one day after he was released.

The Romance... Mostly a rehash of their early life and combined love for their child.

The drama explosion... The H risks his life but the h ultimately understands.

Final Notes... OK story.

HEA or HFN? HEA
Profile Image for Lisa Malmquist.
728 reviews21 followers
June 22, 2023
Heartwarming story of bad boy Trey Sheehan who barges into his ex's wedding and kidnaps her and his son. Sounds bad but he is actually not the bad guy he is portrayed.
McKenna and Trey were high school sweethearts and have a five year old child together.
Trey wants just one Christmas with McKenna and his son before he gives up on them.
He feels maybe he can win her over.
His son is overjoyed to be with his father as they are two peas in a pod and are both rough and tumble guys. McKenna was trying to move on with a sweet stable guy but he is not Trey.
Trey risks it all to try for one more chance.
747 reviews5 followers
December 9, 2022
This was a good third book in the series. Tray was a good man who was a rebble. It was lovely to see him and Macenna grow together through the book. Although he did not always handle things correctly Tray had good intentions and principals. He was just wild but it was good to see him really grow and take responsibility through out the book. It was lovely to see Macenna start to accept tray for who he was as the book went on. Falling in love with the characters in this series.
Profile Image for Danielle.
397 reviews73 followers
December 16, 2020
I mean there's literally zero chance the cops don't show up after 48 hours. And what about poor Lawrence, he completely disappears with no fight? Damn bro.

It's actually a pretty good second-chance romance despite the completely bonkers set up.
Profile Image for Les Romantiques.
575 reviews20 followers
December 8, 2014
Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Fabiola
Review Copy from the Publisher

The Kidnapped Christmas bride is the third volume in the Taming of the Sheenans series. I haven’t read yet (but I’ll do it) the first volume, Home to me, but I read the second which I liked very much (review here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ).
After finishing Beauty’s kiss, I couldn’t wait to read Trey and McKenna’s story and I was delighted to see their volume was to be published before the end of the year.

As soon as I began The Kidnapped Christmas bride, I loved Trey. This novella doesn’t really tell the story of the reunion between him and his heroine. It tells how he must improve for her to trust him again.

The love they felt one for the other has never been a problem. But Trey’s behavior has always been an obstacle to a lasting relationship between them. Indeed, he is a real bad boy: he hangs out with rather unsavory friends, he has been arrested several times for minor (generally) crimes, he’s often fighting with the objective to protect the weakest and he ended in jail after being convicted for involuntary manslaughter. Let’s just say that he really perpetrated the crime for which he is punished and it’s what put him in prison for 5 years and what makes McKenna realize she must protect their son. In Beauty’s kiss, the reader learns she accepted to marry another man, and she didn’t let Trey know.

When the story begins, Trey is released from prison with good behavior after 4 years of imprisonment. He learns even before arriving in his home town that McKenna is to be married the next day, when one moment before he was thinking about how to show her he had grown up. His feelings for the heroine never changed and he loves his son. He really doesn’t accept McKenna marrying someone else, however he is conscious of his faults and at the beginning tries not to interfere. This decision doesn’t last long.

I often think in this case that it’s a pity one of the two heroes is very timely to prevent the wedding of the other. Sometimes, that can even make me doubt the happy end. In this story, I think it was absolutely necessary that the hero steps in. And I would absolutely not have been mad at the heroine for marrying another man, for once lol. However, I reassure you, there is no love triangle. The heroine’s feelings are clear as are her wishes for her son. It’s also up to the heroine to take the decision concerning her and her little boy’s futures. Indeed the hero already knows what he wants.

I really liked their little boy, TJ. He can seem a little hard with his mother, but we understand his reactions when we realize the real nature of his mother’s fiancé. TJ needs a man who really loves him, which is why he strongly insists on keeping touch with Trey. And even if Jane Porter has not had the fiancé be a mean future father-in-law in the novella, I think he wouldn’t have been good for TJ’s long-term well-being.

We meet again the previous heroes and the ending of the novella is wonderful. When I closed the novel, I didn’t doubt for a moment our heroes’ HEA, while knowing their relationship won’t exactly be a walk in the park. But meanwhile, McKenna will really have learned to accept Trey as he is, and he will have really matured, therefore he will accept more easily the compromises necessary to a love relationship.

You’ll have understood that I really liked this story and I’m anxiously awaiting the sequel with Dillon and Cormac.
Profile Image for Patty McKenna Van Hulle.
742 reviews10 followers
January 3, 2015
Can a BAD BOY remake himself, grab a hold of his forever girl & son & start anew?

McKenna Douglas is the town GOOD GIRL, but when she saw Trey, she was hooked! She even had to seduce him because he thought he wasn't good enough for her. When McKenna was 15, her family ranch was broken into & her parents & 3 siblings were murdered & Trey was the only person she felt SAFE with! After her son was born, she wanted Trey to be less chaos & more reliable, but with just 1 punch, her world fell part!

Trey Sheenan is an all American BAD BOY with drinking & fighting, but his heart has always belonged to McKenna Douglas. They meet in high school & have been HOT & STEAMY ever since, but with the birth of their son, TJ, he wanted to put a ring on her finger & life Happily Ever After as their perfect family! But it all fell apart, when Trey was defending a woman from her abusive hubby at the local bar, a punch was thrown, the hubby die & he was put away for manslaughter!

Now Trey is out of jail & all he wants is to spend Christmas with his son & maybe be friends with McKenna, but his brother tells him that McKenna is getting married tomorrow! McKenna is finally marrying a man who is steady, reliable & a good role model for her son, but a hilarious thing happened at the altar! Trey wants to straighten out visitation with TJ before McKenna says, "I DO" & her hubby-to-be is PISSED! The next thing McKenna sees is TJ running out of her wedding to be with, "HIS REAL DAD!"

That is how McKenna became a KIDNAPPED BRIDE as she, TJ & Trey are at his mom's cabin celebrating Christmas together! TJ is a Fairy Goddude-in-training sprinkling his PIXIE DUST all over his parents & soon McKenna is breaking off her wedding & thinking that she might have an HAPPILY EVER AFTER with her Trey! Trey just wants to earn McKenna's respect & friendship & to prove that he is a different man. Will McKenna think with her head or heart? Can Trey prove that he is a better man? Is TJ going to get his REAL DAD & MOM forever from Santa?

This is the 2nd book I have read by Ms. Porter & I absolutely LOVED Troy's, Trey's twin, romance, but I do have a soft heart for a yummy BAD BOY! I must say that McKenna is a ROCKING name that just so happens to be my maiden name & my daughter is always complaining that I didn't name her McKenna! McKenna was a grown up woman wanting a grown a$$ Trey, but she still craved his inner wildness! Trey had a great beginning in this romance as his jail journey was filled with shame, pain, loneliness & regret, but he REBULIT himself into a better & stronger man. Trey's tale had me UGLY CRYING my eyes out & that was only the first chapter! This romance would not of work as well without the Fairy Goddude-in-training TJ! He was the Christmas heart of this emotional rollercoaster ride romance! Now my romance peeps know I LOVE some scorching scenes, but Ms. Porter had a squeaky clean G rated romance & it totally worked for this tale & I didn't miss the scorchingNESS! Ms. Porter has a great Montana hometown feel & she even had all the Sheehan boys & their clans join in the holiday mayhem & she makes me want to GOBBLE UP all the other male Sheenans books! I am a BIG SUCKER for a gorgeous BAD BOY, a Fairy Goddude-in-training sprinkling his LOVING PIXIE DUST aplenty & a REUNITED LOVERS storyline, but Ms. Porter stepped it up with her warm & embracing Montana small town feel, so she earns my score of 4 fingers up & 8 toes & I will so push her Amazon AUTHOR FAVORITE BUTTON!

NetGalley ARC given for my honest review.
Profile Image for Monique.
925 reviews68 followers
July 28, 2016
I received this book as an e-ARC free from Netgalley. Below is my review.

I've been glomming the Montana Born books for some time now, but this is my first book about the bad Sheenan boys. As feel-good Christmas stories go, this is a really good one. As a standalone book, not so good, and as a complete story, not so good.

Trey Sheenan has a bad reputation. He's always been a little too wild, a little too quick to anger, a little too much for the residents of Marietta. When his "latest" display of "temper" lands him in jail for 4 years (5 minus 1 for good behavior), he leaves behind a pregnant girlfriend. Now, four years later, he's out and she's getting married.

So, what does he do? Why kidnap his son and McKenna from the church, of course. Up to that point, I was actually enjoying the story. It worked; it made sense. After that, it went off the rails into "are you kidding me? territory". No one calls the cops, no one comes looking for them, no one seems concerned. Yes, McKenna left messages that she was ok, but I'd want someone to come looking for me if that happened. No dice.

And once we get to our new location for the holiday, where does Trey get the money to buy stuff? He's been in jail for 4 years. Does he still have an ATM card? Is his driver's license valid? It takes ages to get all the paperwork and stuff taken care of, how does it happen in less than a day? Where is his parole officer?

As for McKenna, where is her backbone? It takes her all this time to be proud of Trey for protecting a woman getting beat up? Really? With friends like these...

And once they get home, no outraged ex-fiance, no nothing. It's like the wedding never even was on the radar.

Huge plot holes that are never explained do not a good book make. Yet I liked Trey and T.J. I liked how father and son bonded. I liked how eventually McKenna got the point. I liked how the Sheenans came together in support of Trey. Those emotional bonds held the story together enough for me.

Also note: This is a sweet romance: read "no sex".
Profile Image for Diana.
319 reviews32 followers
December 7, 2014
I would have to say I loved this story, it was so sweet and just made my heart melt in such a good way.
Trey and Mckenna had history together since high school. Trey was the bad boy in high school. After high school he still had that reputation that followed him. When Trey is sent away to prison for five years, McKenna tried, she has a son with Trey and it was just to hard to keep taking the baby to the prison. So she stopped going.
A year later, Trey was only in for four years, he couldn't wait to get home and see her and their son TJ. Except he came home to find out she was marrying someone else. So like any man who is in love goes to the wedding, he wants to see her before she gets married, he wants his rights as well to their son. Well the wedding didn't happen, you will have to read this sweet story to find out what happens.
Awesome story, the author did a great job.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for letting read this book and give it an honest review.
835 reviews
November 26, 2014
The cover tells you alot of what the story is about, I'll add it has characters who are so wonderfully real in Trey and McKenna and little TJ just stole my heart, I hoped so much for him to get the family Christmas he was wanting so bad.
I was brought to tears more than once as this story touched my heart and will stay with me forever as I am taking some of Treys words as my mantra I will say every night as I try to fall asleep "You don't have to solve all the problems of the world tonight. Just live. Just love. Just breathe."
And to you lovers of romance I say "Just don't miss this one!"
Profile Image for Shari.
1,743 reviews20 followers
December 1, 2014
This is one Christmas story that you do not want to miss reading. The story of Trey, just getting out of prison and going after the one thing that he values most in life his son, TJ, and of course McKenna if he can win her over again.
This book brings out the true meaning of Christmas and what is important in your heart, and that is family. Christmas does not only last one day but a whole week in this story. I will warn you though, have Kleenex ready, happy and sad tears are a guarantee in this story.
This is must read. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Eugiluam.
414 reviews
April 19, 2023
Just couldn’t get over the last straw being that Trey accidentally killed someone while defending a woman being beat up in public by her boyfriend. Like, that’s one of the few no brainer stand by your man through his prison term offenses. I might be resentful—especially if I asked him not to go out to the bar—but like I’m not break up mad at my guy over that.
Profile Image for Debra Salonen.
Author 99 books204 followers
January 15, 2015
Celebrate a wonderful love story!

A wild beginning. Two dynamic characters with a lot of history between them. And the perfect setting for a reunion story like none other.

I loved it.
Profile Image for Alisa.
145 reviews3 followers
December 5, 2014
These books about the Sheenan's have been great! This book was my favorite! Great Christmas stories.
Profile Image for Terri Reed.
Author 169 books2,820 followers
September 7, 2016
Tear worthy

A beautiful story of redemption, forgiveness and love. This installment of the Sheenan stories was packed with emotion. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Lenore Kosinski.
2,389 reviews64 followers
December 22, 2017
http://celebrityreaders.com/2017/12/2...

3 stars -- This one ended up just being OK for me.  It had some great moments, and it had a lot of moments that frustrated me or made me want to shake my head.  And honestly?  By the time I got to the end, I wasn't feeling super satisfied.

I will note that from my perspective this was a clean read...I don't even think there was fade to black, it was just sort of like all of a sudden it was the next morning and we learned they made love...  I don't mind clean reads...though I prefer fade to black in those cases, b/c at least we get to see where they are heading instead of just being blindsided after the fact finding out we missed all of it.  Made it so that the chemistry between them that was already only so-so became even more disappointing.  Perhaps that is one area that explains my lack of satisfaction.  Might work better for a different reader.

I wasn't thoroughly enchanted by either character.  Trey at least felt a bit more redeemable, and honestly I just felt really sorry for him.  My heart ached for the situation he was in, and how much you could feel he really loved both McKenna and TJ.  I had a hard time understanding this supposed other side to him that was wild and free...I don't get how fighting and drinking (and did he seriously drink and drive, b/c it was implied at one point, and that is NOT cool) are signs of a spirited personality.  That's where he lost me...those things we learn about his past self just didn't jibe with a lot of the rest of the stuff.  Sure, as a teenager, but he did that as an adult too?  I just...I don't know.  I liked the Trey we saw in the book, not the one that was implied.  AND OMG!  I don't understand the whole reason he went to jail.  Like AT ALL.  And why that was some bad thing he should be ashamed of.  I also don't understand McKenna's reaction to Trey and the climax at the lake part...I get being worried, but she initially made it out like the things he was doing were BAD QUALITIES.  I know she eventually figured it out, but how could she have needed to figure it out???  Was I missing something??

And hence I wasn't a huge fan of McKenna.  I know we were given sort of explanations for a lot of things, but the choices she made were not really inspiring.  Not communicating with Trey?  Not telling him why?  Not telling him she was getting MARRIED?  Like WTF?  Seriously.  WTF?  And I was disgusted by her relationship with Lawrence...  I get he didn't seem to be a prize, but way to use a guy...and the explanations we were given for her reasons for going that route were not enough...I needed more...otherwise it just made her look really really bad.  And way to pay attention to how the situation is affecting your kid that you're trying to protect.  Ugh.  Apparently my tolerance is down the drain people.  I'm not saying she didn't have redeeming qualities, but these other things just overshadowed.

Now TJ, in a total twist, was awesome.  And I'm not a kid person you guys.  But he acted his age, he was precocious, realistic, and I loved how they both loved him.  And I appreciated their togetherness as a family after we got past the whole beginning part.  And some parts of this story were really heartwarming, like the day playing in the snow, or the flashback to Trey and McKenna in high school.

*sigh*  And I don't know if it was just me, but I kept feeling like I was missing a lot of stuff.  There was a lot added to help give Trey and Mac depth, but I don't know if it worked.  Like the stuff that happened to McKenna as a child...that sounded horrific, but I felt like I didn't really get enough to understand what I was supposed to be drawing from it.  Like I know in theory, but I don't know if it was successful.  And without reading any of the other Sheenan brother stories, I felt like maybe I was missing a bit there as well.

So yeah.  There was definite potential, but it fell fairly flat for me.  Maybe if there'd been more in the romance department it would have bumped it up a bit.  Also?  I was happy to read that the author is from California, b/c that explains why she thought that someone would be driving a motorcycle in winter after a snow and ice storm...but that doesn't excuse the editors.  If you're gonna write a story in Montana, at least get someone who lives somewhere a bit north to check it over...
892 reviews3 followers
October 10, 2017
Definitely worth the time

The only thing keeping this from five stars was that there were places where not having read the first two books in the series meant missing something. Often a reader picks up a later volume in a seres, as this is, and periodically gets lost because of not having read earlier volumes. While that wasn't a major problem here, it did happen once or twice.

Other than that, however, this was a five-star read. The characters were believeable folks whose growth and development were realistic and based on concrete events or thoughts. There was enough description in this to give my mind something specific to picture--red, green and cream Christmas stockings and a red, green and cream one; the main street of town, and more. Dialogue was believable. The five-year-old sounded and acted like five-year-olds I have known and loved. Subplots moved the book forward. And the relationship between the protagonists was based on character infused with attraction, not on lust. I might actually look for other books in this series, something I don't usually bother doing.
Profile Image for Ida Wilcox.
1,604 reviews6 followers
December 22, 2020
Ok what happen to Lawrence?
He obviously didnt love her that much. He didnt even fight for her and any type of way. Wasnt available by phone when she called. I mean - really. If my boo was missing I will answer any call that comes through the phone just hoping it is them. But not Lawrence he just gave up and disappeared. That says alot of about him. He really wasnt in it.

Second, Mckeena kept her son away from his father for 4 years. I understand going to the jail was dramatizing but she but almost erased him from her sons memory. Which as we found out was soo wrong and totally not good for the son. Then she just left off of a reasoning and let Lawrence into this child life. She was a totally mess and seriously needed therapy. Also, she let her son believe that his father was just totally a bad guy when in fact he wasnt. The murder was an accident and he was defending someone. To me by the description of his character by others he wasnt that bad of a person.

Over all I enjoyed the book though in some areas the characters got on my last nerves.

1,068 reviews5 followers
January 12, 2023
A second chance to get it right for a happily ever after

Trey is released from prison a year early coincidently the day before McKenna is supposed to get married. He shows up at the church and stops the wedding so he can talk to her about his right with TJ. He wants to spend Christmas with TJ getting to know him again. He ends up kidnapping them both and taking them to the cabin that was left to them by his mom. Eventually she thanks him because if she would have married Lawrence, it would have been disastrous. Can they get through everything and be together again as a family or will it be that he just get visitation with TJ? When they finally head back to Marietta, Trey does something reckless and McKenna thinks she may have lost him forever, but did she?
Profile Image for Jamoz23.
5,082 reviews46 followers
July 10, 2024
Read in the box set through kindle unlimited.
Found this a bit unbelievable.
I thought McKenna a bit hard hearted for not standing by Trey when he was sent to prison. But I can understand she was finally over his Jekyll and Hyde behaviour.
He stepped up and was protecting a woman who was being beaten. But at the same time, it felt like Trey was immature and always looking for trouble too. There were other means to stop the abuse, he didn’t have to throw a punch.
Did I think Trey was heroic diving into that lake, absolutely. It was a very courageous thing to do, especially as others were just standing around doing little. But I also felt he was unconcerned about how his actions would affect his ‘family’ especially if he died.
784 reviews2 followers
August 10, 2024
It’s all about him.
He is an asshole because he chooses to be one.
He goes to prison because he is the destroyer.
He gets he girl pregnant and still chooses to be an asshole.
He has to go to prison again and again because he chooses to be an asshole.
He hasn’t seen his 5 year old soon for years because he chooses to be an asshole and had to go to prison…….. again
He is lucky and gets out early not because he decides to be a good guy
No because McKenna had enough and stopped being in touch with him.
She came over to prison with a baby because he is an asshole.
And now he wants her back because that’s what he wants.
That’s one hell of a pity party just for him in the first chapter
He is 36 years old and such a loser it’s disgusting.
Dnf because of this disgusting dick.
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