Finding You is another solid romance from Daphne Elliot and while it can be read as a standalone, I suggest starting with Trusting You so you get a biFinding You is another solid romance from Daphne Elliot and while it can be read as a standalone, I suggest starting with Trusting You so you get a bit more of a feel for the hero in this book. I always appreciate when characters grow throughout a story and both Declan and Astrid grew a lot during this story. We met Declan in book one; the middle Quinn brother is a brooding, loner type that is currently running the family’s fishery business and trying to convince his father it is time he is named CEO. While Declan would prefer to be out on the boats, he has taken over operating the business especially after his father’s heart attack months back. Declan feels a bit like an outsider in his family, choosing to serve in the Navy instead of getting a college degree and he doesn’t feel like he has the respect of his father and while he knows his mother loves him her incessant need to set him up with women so he’ll settle down keeps him from spending much time with his parents. Astrid is new in town and staying in her aunt’s cottage across the street from Declan’s home. As a corporate mergers and acquisitions lawyer she has worked hard to make a name for herself in her firm, but after refusing the advances of a senior partner she is accused of screwing up a merger and put on leave although they’ve let her know she will probably be fired pending an investigation as she refused to sign an agreement to now sue the firm in exchange for a severance package and a reference. She returns to Havensport where she spent summers with her aunt and her cousin as her attorney now judge mother was too busy to pay her any attention. Her whole identity is tied up in her profession and she feels lost and alone until she meets Declan who immediately takes a liking to her. These two seem like complete opposites but as their friendship progresses, they agree to be fake boyfriend/girlfriend to each attend an event with the other. The more time they spend together, they share their hopes, dreams, and insecurities and they begin to see that under Declan’s broody exterior and Astrid’s ice queen exterior are some driven but sweet individuals just trying to make it through life. I absolutely love the Astrid found a friend group thanks to her cousin and they supported her throughout this book and I also appreciated that Declan started the conversation with his father about assuming the CEO title at the fishery. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow and change and despite the missteps along the way, I was rooting for them both throughout. Finding You was a well developed, wonderful, small town romance and I enjoyed it thoroughly. ...more
One of the reasons I love Leah Braemel’s books is the characters are so relatable; characters that work hard, don’t expect everything handed 4.5 stars
One of the reasons I love Leah Braemel’s books is the characters are so relatable; characters that work hard, don’t expect everything handed to them, and just want to be able to live their life on their own terms. Pining For You features Chloe, she’s divorced and her ex did her dirty and it took help from her parents to clear her name. She retuned back to her home town and has been working as a waitress, but finds out that soon she’ll be unemployed. It also features Brad, a certified arborist who works for a small tree service company and has a heart of gold helping the elderly with jobs around their home. Following a storm, they meet at the residence of an older woman Chloe is checking on for her dad who is a property manager and Brad is there to see about a tree that fell on the property and sparks fly.
Chloe is a bit hesitant about getting involved with Brad because she doesn’t trust easy after what her ex did to her and she realizes he’s 9 years younger than her. However, he’s interested and isn’t worried about the age gap and she decides it doesn’t have to be serious it can just be fun. While she does run when she overhears Brad talking to a friend, they did talk it out and in turn she told him about her past and she was able to help him with a business venture.
These two had serious chemistry, but more than that it was easy to see they were both good people with similar values. I enjoyed watching their relationship develop.
I loved Pining For You; it was well written and held my interest from start to finish. ...more
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