Review: Preachers Daughter and the Dashing Duke!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 11, 2014
**4.5 stars**To be such a small town, Holland Springs has been packed full of exciting moments and larger than life romance. We've seen everything from race car drivers to celebrities to British royalty and there has been no shortage of conflict and intrigue. Coming back to Holland Springs is like coming home for me and I couldn't wait to dive into this story. Liam and Bella couldn't be more opposite. He's royalty and she's a preachers daughter. He's liberal, she's conservative. With differing viewpoints and sizzling chemistry, Be Mine takes it's place in the series as another enjoyable experience.I knew at the end of Not Over You (book 5 in the series) that Bella's life was about to get a whole lot more complicated when she dropped a baby bomb on her brother while heading out the door to tell the baby daddy. What happens in Holland Springs doesn't quite stay there and turns both Liam and Bella's lives upside down. I love the idea that these two character were completely opposite from the other. Bella grew up raised by two devout Christians with her father the preacher of their local church. They weren't wealthy by any means but what they lacked in finances they made up for with love. Because Liam appears to be wealthy now, one would assume his upbringing was flawless. Full of caviar, tennis lessons and rides on his private jet with a trust found the size of the plane. What you'd be surprise to learn is that Liam's life growing up was anything but perfect. Liam probably had it worse off than Bella and still knows what it's like to struggle with this current money woes weighing him down. If he can't find a wife soon and get an heir in her with the quickness he stands to lose everything he's built for not only himself but for the people who count on him for employment. The one thing they have in common is that they've both been scorned by previous lovers and both keep their hearts locked away out of fear of being hurt again.I'd like to start off talking about Liam because this guy, although gong about things a little sneakily, deserves some accolades. He came from nothing being the son of a disgraced woman with a father who wanted nothing to do with him and didn't even care to help knowing both their plights in life. Growing up feeling like the bastard society labels you as isn't easy to overcome. I love a man of integrity and Liam had it in spades, always fighting and clawing to survive. Liam isn't the worlds most perfect man by any means and he may have stuck his foot in his mouth more times than I could count but the size of his heart far outweighs the size of his wallet. The genuine affection he felt for Bella and the child they made was adorable and heartwarming. Any man who takes responsibility for their actions wins cool points by default. He was patient, nurturing, protective and so sweet. Liam was the kind of guy that when the chips were stacked against him he never gave up. To be raised with a neglectful father and no male role model he turned into a great man. And if you need another reason to love him just remember. Liam is a kilt wearing Scotsman with a sexy accent so... you're welcome!Bella on the other hand was a little bit of a handful at all times. Stubborn and slightly naive, she did her level best to work my nerves. Getting the story behind her past and the thinly veiled hints about a previous pregnancy with her high school boyfriend Heath finally eased my curiosity. I have been assuming for a while the reason behind the loss but quickly found my assumptions to be incorrect. A reckless moment at a young age had haunted her for years and kept her from getting back into a similar situation. Her decision to track Liam down about the repercussions of their night made me happy that she had obviously learned her lessons in life and put her child's well being ahead of her own. Taking care of herself, getting plenty of sleep, eating right and bonding with Liam were all positive signs of her growth. Until a mission trip gone wrong put her and the child in danger, making me want to scream and shake her. Bella is the kind of woman that needed a man like Liam to keep her ass in line. I normally like a headstrong heroine who does her own thing but this time I was on the guys side. I still loved her and I'm glad she learned a valuable lesson through all the trouble even if she did piss me off sometimes.You wouldn't think two people with such different personalities and clashing opinions could have so many amazing and tender moments but Bella and Liam had my cup running over. I'm not sure if it was the baby thrown into the mix or just the overall sweetness of seeing a grown man at the mercy of a fetus but the love captured in Be Mine was perfectly done. I enjoyed watching these two get to know each other, support each other and genuinely fall in love along the way. Holland Springs is a place I never want to say goodbye to because it's been such an amazing series it's hard to let go of characters you love. At least I'll always have memories to tide me over and highlights I can go back through if I started to feel nostalgic right? For lovers of beautiful romance, saucy sexy goodness and drama that hardly feels that way you can't go wrong with any of the books in this wonderful series.