Terrific book. I have read a few of the Madaris family books, but I need to read the others. Mama Laverne, matriarch of the family, vowed to find perfect matches for all her great-grandchildren. She has a 100 percent success rate so far, but some of the guys are determined to foil her efforts. The prologue of this book opens with Chance and his cousin, Corbin, discussing the problem. Corbin's precautions are over-the-top, while Chance accepts that he will eventually end up on her list.
Thanks to a broken engagement, Chance is in no hurry as he has trust issues. He served in the military, and when he came home in a wheelchair, unable to walk, his fiancée walked away. He credits Mama Laverne with motivating him to prove the doctors wrong. He's back to normal, physically, but limits himself to one-night stands.
We also meet Zoey. Injured in a car accident that killed her parents when she was eight, she has no memory of her life before the accident. Zoey was raised by her aunt, who refused to discuss her parents. She is now an orthopedic surgeon and professor at Johns Hopkins. When her aunt dies, Zoey finds some information about her parents that sends her to a ranch near Houston, looking for answers.
The first meeting between Chance and Zoey doesn't go well. Chance jumps to conclusions about Zoey, which angered her. I enjoyed watching her tear into him and call him out on it. Once he learns what she is looking for, Chance introduces her to Mama Laverne.
The book is a terrific mix of present and past, as Laverne remembers the events that happened between the two families. The past is rife with tragedy, lies, and heartbreak, and I ached for these ancestors of the present-day characters. Laverne kept these secrets for many years, but it may be time to lay the past to rest.
I loved watching Zoey learn about her past. For the past several months, she's had flashes of what might be memories of her parents. Those flashes occur more frequently now; she believes they are actual memories, not wishful thinking. Zoey receives family photo albums and diaries that her mother's best friend saved. These items play a critical role in Zoey's discoveries.
I enjoyed seeing Chance and Zoey's relationship develop. Underneath their initial antagonism were intense sparks of attraction. But Chance doesn't do relationships, and Zoey doesn't do meaningless flings, so they try to bury their feelings. However, they spend a lot of time together, and as friendship grows, so do their feelings. It was amusing to see Chance work so hard at denying what he felt when everyone around him could see he was falling for her. Zoey recognizes her feelings sooner. Things start to look up for them until Chance's ex-fiancée shows up, determined to take him back.
As more of the past comes to light, Laverne must decide how many secrets she will divulge. Matters become complicated when a surprise connection turns dangerous to Laverne and Zoey. That confrontation was intense and unexpected, and I was on the edge of my seat until it was over. The ending was sweet and emotional. I loved seeing Zoey and Chance overcome the obstacles of their pasts. The epilogue was fantastic. I loved the conversation between Zoey and Laverne.
The author writes about wonderful family relationships. The relationship dynamics of the past were fascinating, with love, jealousy, honor, and stubborn pride playing a role. The current family illustrates its close ties with how they support each other, look out for each other, and occasionally call each other out when needed. Throughout it all, it is clear that Mama Laverne is the glue that holds them together.
Thanks to a broken engagement, Chance is in no hurry as he has trust issues. He served in the military, and when he came home in a wheelchair, unable to walk, his fiancée walked away. He credits Mama Laverne with motivating him to prove the doctors wrong. He's back to normal, physically, but limits himself to one-night stands.
We also meet Zoey. Injured in a car accident that killed her parents when she was eight, she has no memory of her life before the accident. Zoey was raised by her aunt, who refused to discuss her parents. She is now an orthopedic surgeon and professor at Johns Hopkins. When her aunt dies, Zoey finds some information about her parents that sends her to a ranch near Houston, looking for answers.
The first meeting between Chance and Zoey doesn't go well. Chance jumps to conclusions about Zoey, which angered her. I enjoyed watching her tear into him and call him out on it. Once he learns what she is looking for, Chance introduces her to Mama Laverne.
The book is a terrific mix of present and past, as Laverne remembers the events that happened between the two families. The past is rife with tragedy, lies, and heartbreak, and I ached for these ancestors of the present-day characters. Laverne kept these secrets for many years, but it may be time to lay the past to rest.
I loved watching Zoey learn about her past. For the past several months, she's had flashes of what might be memories of her parents. Those flashes occur more frequently now; she believes they are actual memories, not wishful thinking. Zoey receives family photo albums and diaries that her mother's best friend saved. These items play a critical role in Zoey's discoveries.
I enjoyed seeing Chance and Zoey's relationship develop. Underneath their initial antagonism were intense sparks of attraction. But Chance doesn't do relationships, and Zoey doesn't do meaningless flings, so they try to bury their feelings. However, they spend a lot of time together, and as friendship grows, so do their feelings. It was amusing to see Chance work so hard at denying what he felt when everyone around him could see he was falling for her. Zoey recognizes her feelings sooner. Things start to look up for them until Chance's ex-fiancée shows up, determined to take him back.
As more of the past comes to light, Laverne must decide how many secrets she will divulge. Matters become complicated when a surprise connection turns dangerous to Laverne and Zoey. That confrontation was intense and unexpected, and I was on the edge of my seat until it was over. The ending was sweet and emotional. I loved seeing Zoey and Chance overcome the obstacles of their pasts. The epilogue was fantastic. I loved the conversation between Zoey and Laverne.
The author writes about wonderful family relationships. The relationship dynamics of the past were fascinating, with love, jealousy, honor, and stubborn pride playing a role. The current family illustrates its close ties with how they support each other, look out for each other, and occasionally call each other out when needed. Throughout it all, it is clear that Mama Laverne is the glue that holds them together.
