Review: Romance and humor
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 31, 2014
This romance has a lot of humor as well as touching romance. It employs the well-worn secret baby trope, which is always a lot of fun. It’s also a tale of lovers reunited, but because of past hurts they’re fighting an attraction that never died.Emma Grant and Rafe Iuliano were once very much in love, but their break-up was bitter. Three years later, they’re forced to meet again at the Jersey Shore to settle the details of her father’s will. When Emma’s father died, he left the Summer house in Audubon Springs to Emma and Rafe equally. This is not a cozy cabin or a bungalow. It’s a home worth millions.Emma finds her attraction to Rafe hasn’t faded, though she tries her hardest to push the feelings aside. He’s grown even more handsome and dynamic during their separation. Still, she’s determined to drive him crazy and force him to surrender his half of the home. First she poses as a snooty macrobiotic queen who throws away all of Rafe’s food to “cleanse” the kitchen. Rafe retaliates by hosting a loud, rowdy, guys-only football watching party complete with beer and smelly cigars. Plenty of comic scenes ensue as the two butt heads and try to out-do each other with obnoxious tricks.But aside from the comedy, there are serious themes. Emma has several secrets. Her three year old daughter Elana is also Rafe’s child, but he knows nothing of her.  Emma’s also being blackmailed by her brother Daniel. If she doesn’t get Rafe to sign over his half of the house, Daniel will reveal Elana’s existence to him. As she spends time with Rafe, Emma realizes she never stopped loving him. She wants to tell him the truth about their daughter, but will he ever forgive her for her deception?The book had me chuckling a number of times and also had me feeling sympathy for the struggles of Emma and Rafe. I was on the edge of my seat several times saying “Tell him, tell him already!” when Emma’s about to tell Rafe the truth about their daughter.Emma grows during the story and finally stands up to her controlling family. She’s a wonderful mother and her daughter is the center of her life. As much as I liked Emma, I loved Rafe. He’s sexy, funny and smart. He writes poetry! And his big boisterous, loving Italian-American family added to the fun.Return to Audubon Springs was a very satisfying romantic read. If you enjoy a story with humor, romance, family and a sexy hero, you’re sure to love this one.I purchased this book myself. This review originally appeared at The Divas of Desire blog.