Review: So sweet
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 13, 2013
Claudia and Chase met under unusual circumstances when Claudia went into labor at an isolated cemetary. She ends up delivering her daughter in Chase's bed, and disappearing from his life. Nine months later, Claudia applys for a job at Chase's company. Turns out she is from the area, and her best friend's husband works for Chase. Small world.Claudia and Chase both have scars from less than ideal childhoods. Claudia also became a widow the week before she found out she was pregnant. Although Claudia and Chase are attracted to each other, their emotional baggage and the fact that Claudia now works for Chase complicates matters.What worked for me - Chase - A reformed bad boy,a self described loner who avoids emotional entanglements like the plague, he is undeniably drawn to Claudia and baby Sarah. Ms. Kelly writes his character so well, capturing the yearning he has to belong to the little family Claudia has created with her baby, as well as the surety that he has no right to expect Claudia to accept him. Chase is very alpha, a my way kind of guy, but Claudia softens his rough edges.Watching him slowly open up to Claudia, and learn to trust her was touching.Claudia - the product of an emotionally neglectful family, a very young widow and single mother, one could expect Claudia to be a quivering mass, but no. Our girl has a backbone. Kind of a slow and steady type of heroine, she knows what she wants and that is to provide a stable, loving home for her daughter. Chase is a puzzle to her. Claudia wants him, but is determined not to let a man be more important than her child.Dorian - Chase's grandmother, and matchmaker extraordinaire. She is fabulous.What didn't work as well - As mentioned in other reviews, there are a few continuity and editing blips. Not enough to make me give up, but enough to be noticeable. As I got into the story, though, the errors faded into background noise.Bottom line - Like all Leslie Kelly books, the writing is crisp, and the story flows swiftly. So many sweet moments throughout the story, thrown in like bits of treasure. Not a great deal of external conflict, just the struggle of two cautious people trying to find their way to each other. I loved it. Time well spent.