Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 2/24/2021 + 2547 more book reviews

Good book about two people who are wary about risking their hearts. Kane is a member of a newly discovered branch of the family. He moved from his home in New York to Texas to help his new cousins with their hotel project. Kane is handsome, charming, and an all-around nice guy who has his pick of women, but his relationships never last long. That is until he meets Layla and her daughter, Erin. Layla is a widow who still grieves the loss of her husband. She is beautiful, determined, and very protective of her daughter.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Layla and Kane. They met at the daycare center where Kane picked up his nephew at the same time Layla arrived to get Erin. Kane was immediately smitten and wanted to get to know her better. Layla felt the same sparks but doesn't feel ready to do anything about it. Kane's patience pays off when she accepts an invitation to the hotel's grand opening. I loved seeing Kane with little Erin, who took to him immediately. It's that connection that helps soften Layla's resistance to spending more time with Kane.

I loved watching them spend time together, both with and without Erin along. It's obvious that the feelings between them grow stronger, but neither one is quite ready to admit it. Kane has some insecurity issues related to a secret he hasn't shared with Layla. He's wary of opening up completely for fear of being judged. It takes him a while to get to the point of trusting enough to share. At the same time, Layla worries about how fast things are moving between her and Kane, afraid of the effect on her and Erin if he ends the relationship. Those fears come to a head when Kane confesses his feelings and Layla pulls back.

I ached for Kane and the hurt he felt by Layla's withdrawal. I liked that he stood up for himself and refused to deny what he felt just to make her comfortable. In an emotional confrontation, Kane lays out his feelings and pushes back against Layla's excuses, leaving a lot for her to think about. I loved how a little kick in the pants provided by Kane's brother opened her eyes to what she was doing. The final scene was fantastic as Layla let go of her fears and allowed herself to be happy.

There is also a brief mention of the collapsed deck from last month's book (Her Texas New Year's Wish) and the uncertainty about its cause. Was it an accident, or was it sabotage? No conclusions have been reached, and there is an underlying worry that something else could happen.

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