Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good conclusion to the series. Finn is the youngest of the Brannigans, and at this point the only one left unattached. As a Navy pilot he's enjoyed the adrenaline rush associated with it and the attentions of the ladies on the ground. However, between his father's death and two near-death experiences, Finn is ready for his next adventure. Conveniently, his father left him an airline in the wilds of Alaska, giving Finn a chance to enjoy some peace and quiet. To aid in that, he doesn't tell anyone in Caribou, Alaska, that he's the new owner of the airline. They all believe that he's just another pilot. His peace and quiet come to an abrupt end when he picks up a runaway bride who plans to use the intended honeymoon cabin for her own chance at peace and quiet.
Tori has had a rough year. Her singing career is at a standstill while the now-bankrupt recording studio finds a buyer for her contract, leaving her broke. Her engagement to her childhood crush comes to a crashing end when she discovers his cheating, lying, and actual plans for the future. I had to laugh when she reminisced about finding out about his cheating and how she thought about "Bobbitizing" him. I'm old enough to remember that event, especially since it happened not far from where I lived. Tori may be down, but she isn't out. She is determined to write some new songs and restart her career, even if she has to go back to the beginning to do it.
Both Finn and Tori get a shock when he arrives in Anchorage to pick up a honeymoon couple. They had had an intense one-night encounter a year earlier, something that neither of them was able to forget. I enjoyed that reunion as the sparks flew fast and furious between them. Finn rocked the cocky pilot attitude, pulling out all the stops in flirting with Tori. Tori can't deny that the sparks are still there, but she's not in the mood to restart anything with Finn. I liked how Finn backed off a bit, his protective instincts coming up when he realizes that she's hurting. I loved the way he looked after her that first night when he went to check on her and found her somewhat the worse for champagne.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Finn and Tori. Finn was all for seeing where the sparks would take them, but Tori wasn't so sure. The depth of the connection she felt during their one-night encounter had scared her into running. Meeting Finn again stirs up those same feelings and the same fears. Because of her past, Tori has trouble believing that love lasts. While Finn started out going for the attraction, it wasn't long before he realized that there was something more going on. But he too had some issues believing that love was in the cards for him. It was great fun to see him call one of his brothers for advice, and have that brother bust out laughing because he'd done the same thing. Finn also has the problem of Tori not knowing that he is a billionaire's son and owner of the airline. He knows he has to tell her but keeps putting it off for the "right time." I ached for both of them when the truth came out. Finn knows he screwed up, but he isn't going to give up. Tori rightly felt betrayed, and it only added to her belief that love never lasts. I liked the lecture she received from her best friend, and what she did with the advice she got. Tori's big moment was great as she used her music to tell Finn how she felt.
The central theme that ran through all seven books was the importance of family. From a collection of brothers that rarely spoke to each other, much less spent time together at the beginning, to the loving, supportive brotherhood they became, their journeys were unique and emotional. Though their father had been an absentee one after their mother's death, with each book the depth of his love for his sons became more evident. In Finn's case, he had it a little easier than his brothers because his father spent some quality time with him on their trip to Alaska. There was also an interesting twist to the Alaska connection that I didn't see coming, showing that Finn wasn't the only one who had secrets. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up to the series. The scene in the library was a moving one, and I loved that Finn was the one to start the new tradition.
Tori has had a rough year. Her singing career is at a standstill while the now-bankrupt recording studio finds a buyer for her contract, leaving her broke. Her engagement to her childhood crush comes to a crashing end when she discovers his cheating, lying, and actual plans for the future. I had to laugh when she reminisced about finding out about his cheating and how she thought about "Bobbitizing" him. I'm old enough to remember that event, especially since it happened not far from where I lived. Tori may be down, but she isn't out. She is determined to write some new songs and restart her career, even if she has to go back to the beginning to do it.
Both Finn and Tori get a shock when he arrives in Anchorage to pick up a honeymoon couple. They had had an intense one-night encounter a year earlier, something that neither of them was able to forget. I enjoyed that reunion as the sparks flew fast and furious between them. Finn rocked the cocky pilot attitude, pulling out all the stops in flirting with Tori. Tori can't deny that the sparks are still there, but she's not in the mood to restart anything with Finn. I liked how Finn backed off a bit, his protective instincts coming up when he realizes that she's hurting. I loved the way he looked after her that first night when he went to check on her and found her somewhat the worse for champagne.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Finn and Tori. Finn was all for seeing where the sparks would take them, but Tori wasn't so sure. The depth of the connection she felt during their one-night encounter had scared her into running. Meeting Finn again stirs up those same feelings and the same fears. Because of her past, Tori has trouble believing that love lasts. While Finn started out going for the attraction, it wasn't long before he realized that there was something more going on. But he too had some issues believing that love was in the cards for him. It was great fun to see him call one of his brothers for advice, and have that brother bust out laughing because he'd done the same thing. Finn also has the problem of Tori not knowing that he is a billionaire's son and owner of the airline. He knows he has to tell her but keeps putting it off for the "right time." I ached for both of them when the truth came out. Finn knows he screwed up, but he isn't going to give up. Tori rightly felt betrayed, and it only added to her belief that love never lasts. I liked the lecture she received from her best friend, and what she did with the advice she got. Tori's big moment was great as she used her music to tell Finn how she felt.
The central theme that ran through all seven books was the importance of family. From a collection of brothers that rarely spoke to each other, much less spent time together at the beginning, to the loving, supportive brotherhood they became, their journeys were unique and emotional. Though their father had been an absentee one after their mother's death, with each book the depth of his love for his sons became more evident. In Finn's case, he had it a little easier than his brothers because his father spent some quality time with him on their trip to Alaska. There was also an interesting twist to the Alaska connection that I didn't see coming, showing that Finn wasn't the only one who had secrets. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up to the series. The scene in the library was a moving one, and I loved that Finn was the one to start the new tradition.
