Review: a cute and clever story with just the right touch of romance and conflict to keep readers glued to the pages
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 16, 2014
What a cute and clever story with just the right touch of romance and conflict to keep readers glued to the pages as they hope for a happy ever after for this couple!  Shelly Bell has given us two characters, ostensibly at cross purposes, and found a way to give them a glimpse into the ‘what may be’, as they deal with what is and what it means to them individually and together.Ryan is in the middle of a huge life change, formerly worth millions his bottom line is in single digits, and he hasn’t shared that information with anyone.  When his uncle’s will is revealed, he finds that he has inherited the old mansion.  Not seeing a downside, Ryan is willing to deal with the conditional bequest, for at the end the property can be sold and he can walk away with funding for a new start.Portia is surprised by a bequest from her Aunt’s husband.  Growing up in an unstable situation, her desires for a home of her own just may have been met.  She is convinced that this opportunity will, after the 90 day conditional residency, provide her with the home she always wanted.They arrive at cross purposes to share this home, and there just may be some manipulation and intervention from elsewhere.  The night before they take up residency, Portia has a dream that features Ryan, a man she had never met.  Yet Ryan’s uncle was maneuvering for him to find a purpose and joy that is not necessarily financial, and uses this opportunity to play matchmaker.Brought together by chance, neither had initially considered a romantic attachment, but their chemistry is undeniable.  Slowly they start to share the stories of their lives and their dreams for the future, yet they are still reluctant to explore what their feelings may mean. Both Ryan and Portia are slowly developing before our eyes, rich with emotions, desires, regrets and wounds.  The ‘forced’ cohabitation as a condition of inheritance as crafted by his uncle was a clever way to get Ryan to slow down and see what truly is important.  For Portia, her desire for a stable home to call her own is overwhelming, and always just out of reach. While I adored the story of the two of them together, and could actually believe in the romance as it developed, my favorite character was the Uncle, with his foresight and manipulation of these two for something more lasting and nourishing than a home.I received an eBook copy of the title via Tasty Book Tours for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.