Review: Fabulous ~ pulls at your heart strings ...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 15, 2012
For full review including excerpt and dialogue highlight, please visit Reader's Edyn at:readersedyn (dot) blogspot (dot) comReview:So once again, I was given an opportunity to review yet another 1 Night Stand book from the same titled series brought to us by the fabulous Decadent Publishing. You all know how much I enjoy this series so I always jump on the chance to review one of these books. I was intrigued by this particular story because of all of the particulars included within. I wasn't sure if such a story could be pulled off to my satisfaction in the typical 0 or so pages these stories generally run. And having no previous experience reading Ms. Gould, I was even more interested in seeing where this story would lead.Colin's entire life is the Air Force Special Ops. He has a wife who is about to give birth to their first child, but he lives for the job and even when she is in labor, is heading out the door on another mission. Unfortunately life as he knows stops in that moment because when he returns, he returns to a brand new baby girl, his wife has passed away, and his sister-in-law has taken over the care of his daughter. Colin, unable to deal with the guilt he feels for deserting his wife in her time of need, regardless of the fact that he could have done nothing to save her, basically checks out. He visits once in a while, sends money regularly, but cannot stomach the regret he feels each time he sees his daughter. And now, a couple of years later, his feelings toward Emily, his former sister-in-law have changed. Angry at himself for desiring her after she has done nothing but put her life on hold to care for his child, he plans to distance himself even more. So far he has accomplished that well enough with all of his Special Ops missions.Emily, the kind person that she is, would have done nothing other than what she has already done for her beautiful niece. She struggled at first with missing her sister and seeing her in the baby's smiling face each day, but eventually her love for Isabelle took over and a strong bond was formed. She gave up everything to stay with Isabelle and is grateful for Colin's monetary contributions, but finds herself wanting more. Everything changed after a picnic the previous year when she found herself falling deeply in love with the brooding Colin. A brief glimpse of the tender side he guarded so carefully and she was hopelessly lost. She wants more from him, but knows telling him could have the opposite effect and fears his complete absence from Isabelle's life. Now it is up to Madame Eve and her matchmaking prowess if these two are to ever have a chance.At first I found myself annoyed with Colin. I felt like he was using his wife's death as an excuse to stay out on missions rather than come to terms with the fact that there was nothing he could have done while he was there, even if he had been there. And in a sense, he was. But his friend, Bobby, finally sucker punches him into seeing the truth of the situation and gets him thinking about possibilities he hasn't allowed himself to entertain in a long time. And Emily is so sweet and caring that it is hard not to wish for her HEA to come true. Consequently, in no time I was rooting for this pair to find happiness together.I was a bit worried about the former brother and sister-in-law aspect, the death of a mutual loved one, the life of a child, a dangerous career, and the like being tied together in the same story. I wasn't sure if so many components would work out in a novella. But I had nothing to worry about. Ms. Gould did a fabulous job of creating characters that were easily likeable and demonstrated depth even with spending such a short time with them. I only wish the story had continued. I would have liked to have had even more time with Emily and Colin.If you love the 1 Night Stand series, then this book should be an automatic read. And having finally read Ms. Gould, I can say the same of her fans ~ automatic read here. If you haven't tried either, this story is a great one to cut your teeth on. It ranks high in the top 1 Night Stand stories so far as I am concerned and I will definitely be seeking future reads from Ms. Gould. Those of you who enjoy quick reads with a guaranteed HEA, a bit of hot sex thrown into the mix, a determined heroine who knows what she wants, and a brooding male lead who just needs a good knock in the head to see what is right in front of him will definitely love this book! The only question I have at this point is ... will Bobby get his own 1 Night Stand story???(eBook copy provided by author/tour company in exchange for an honest review.)