Review: I’ve enjoyed every title that I have read from her pen, and this was no exception.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 11, 2014
Mary Ann Rivers never ceases to delight, I’ve enjoyed every title that I have read from her pen, and this was no exception.  Using characters that are real, with issues, hang-ups and even their own particularly amusing gaffes in relationships, her stories amuse, entertain and leave you with a smile.Sam is a beautifully defined character with a boatload of issues: all stemming from his mother’s death when he was a young child.  He’s compensating for that early lack of control with an obsession to have the final say in every outcome: and at a farm – that will be difficult.  Animals tend not to take direction and orders particularly well, and Sam’s discomfiture with that fact, and many others make him enjoyable to watch even as you want him to loosen his grip.Nina has had a rough patch after the death of her husband, and leaving all that she knew to team up with a friend in a new venture in Ohio.  Her loss-fears are increasing as her friend and business partner has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, but Nina is determined to move forward and do her best to ignore her fears to focus on the what needs doing now.Effectively presenting the character’s point of view while not stinting on the interactions between them, Sam and Nina develop and grow as the story moves forward. There were also several inclusions that show the couple as they interact individually with other people in their lives, as their own relationship grows and develops, their other relationships do start to show changes as well.Though not without a few issues in Nina’s often extensive navel gazing, and a few moments where it was necessary to go back and discover who was speaking as Rivers is not a “said Nina” sort of writer, did have me flipping back a couple of times: but in the grand scheme of things these were minor issues only annoying at the moment and forgotten soon after.You do not have to read the first in this series to enjoy this title (I didn’t), but I cannot help but think if you are a fan of the series you will enjoy this book.  Contemporary romance readers looking for real characters that leave you with a sense of ‘I could see that”, this is the book for you.I received an eArc copy from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.