Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) reviewed Finding You / Knowing You (Candellanos, Bks 1 - 2) on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I had somehow managed to overlook Maureen Child's books for years, but discovered her recently with the Marconi Sisters Trilogy. Those three great books coerced me into picking up the Candellano Family Trilogy, starting with FINDING YOU/KNOWING YOU. And I'm so glad I did!
In FINDING YOU, we meet Carla Candellano, the youngest Candellano sibling, and only daughter. Surrounded by Mama, the family matriarch, Tony, the oldest brother and town sheriff, and older twin brothers Nick and Paul, Carla is the "baby" of the family that they all dote upon. Carla's life had, until two years ago, been spent working for Searchers, a company that performed search operations to find missing victims in earthquakes, hurricanes, or those lost in mountains or forests. Along with her dog, Abbey, Carla was one of the best at her job, and it was her life. She loved doing what she could to find missing people with the help of her pet--until the one day she found a boy that she knew personally, too late to save him.
Ever since then, Carla has drawn away from everything that matters to her. She quit her job, moved back home to Chandler , California , and so far has avoided her Mama's plan to find her a husband. She's contented herself with spending time with Abbey and the new pups she plans to train as search dogs. Until Jackson Wyatt and his daughter, Reese, move into the summer place across from her own house.
Jackson has come to Chandler as a last resort. His six-year-old daughter was involved in a tragic automobile accident over a year ago that took her mother's life, and she hasn't spoken a word sense. He only has the summer to somehow get Reese to return to the land of the living before her haughty and very well-to-do maternal grandparents ship her off to a pshychiatric facility.
FINDING YOU is contemporary romance at it's best. Three people, each lost in their own memories, regrets, and heartbreak, will have to learn to love and trust again to find their way back to a wholesome life.
In KNOWING YOU, we get the story of Paul Candellano and Stevie Ryan. Stevie grew up with a wandering mother who searched the world for her next wealthy husband, but after several marriages and so much moving around, at twelve Stevie had had enough and moved to Chandler to live with her father. His love, along with the love and acceptance of her best friend, Carla Candellano, and her family finally gave Stevie a feeling of belonging.
She had also fallen in love with Nick Candellano, the "aw-shucks, look at me, I'm the best" NFL playing brother. When she got him too many times with another woman, Stevie finally gave up on rescuing Nick. Instead, the last few years have been spent making her business, The Leaf and Bean, the best coffee shop it can be, and rescuing the stray animals that she always seems to find in Chandler .
Now, after Carla's wedding to Jackson , Stevie is feeling a little lost, a little lonely, knowing that her relationship with Nick is definitely done and over, and that she may very well be destined to live her life forever alone. Until a night spent with her good friend, Paul, Nick's twin, where things heat up and one thing leads to another. Suddenly, it's not just Paul's friendship she's craving, but his body in her bed.
Paul Candelllano has always had a crush on Stevie Ryan. Long before she hooked up with Nick, Paul wanted to be more than the shoulder that Stevie cried on when Nick's antics drove her to tears. Now, he's finally had Stevie physically, but he's not sure where it will lead. What will the Candellano's, especially Nick, think about a budding relationship between the quiet, responsible twin that the other half of the Nick/Stevie whole?
KNOWING YOU is the story of a woman who has to come to terms with a birth mother who is never going to be who she wants to be, the discovery of a sibling that doesn't need to be rescued, and the fact that true love has to be persued, regardless of consequences.
This book, full of two wonderful, heartwarming stories, is a true delight for your keeper shelf!
In FINDING YOU, we meet Carla Candellano, the youngest Candellano sibling, and only daughter. Surrounded by Mama, the family matriarch, Tony, the oldest brother and town sheriff, and older twin brothers Nick and Paul, Carla is the "baby" of the family that they all dote upon. Carla's life had, until two years ago, been spent working for Searchers, a company that performed search operations to find missing victims in earthquakes, hurricanes, or those lost in mountains or forests. Along with her dog, Abbey, Carla was one of the best at her job, and it was her life. She loved doing what she could to find missing people with the help of her pet--until the one day she found a boy that she knew personally, too late to save him.
Ever since then, Carla has drawn away from everything that matters to her. She quit her job, moved back home to Chandler , California , and so far has avoided her Mama's plan to find her a husband. She's contented herself with spending time with Abbey and the new pups she plans to train as search dogs. Until Jackson Wyatt and his daughter, Reese, move into the summer place across from her own house.
Jackson has come to Chandler as a last resort. His six-year-old daughter was involved in a tragic automobile accident over a year ago that took her mother's life, and she hasn't spoken a word sense. He only has the summer to somehow get Reese to return to the land of the living before her haughty and very well-to-do maternal grandparents ship her off to a pshychiatric facility.
FINDING YOU is contemporary romance at it's best. Three people, each lost in their own memories, regrets, and heartbreak, will have to learn to love and trust again to find their way back to a wholesome life.
In KNOWING YOU, we get the story of Paul Candellano and Stevie Ryan. Stevie grew up with a wandering mother who searched the world for her next wealthy husband, but after several marriages and so much moving around, at twelve Stevie had had enough and moved to Chandler to live with her father. His love, along with the love and acceptance of her best friend, Carla Candellano, and her family finally gave Stevie a feeling of belonging.
She had also fallen in love with Nick Candellano, the "aw-shucks, look at me, I'm the best" NFL playing brother. When she got him too many times with another woman, Stevie finally gave up on rescuing Nick. Instead, the last few years have been spent making her business, The Leaf and Bean, the best coffee shop it can be, and rescuing the stray animals that she always seems to find in Chandler .
Now, after Carla's wedding to Jackson , Stevie is feeling a little lost, a little lonely, knowing that her relationship with Nick is definitely done and over, and that she may very well be destined to live her life forever alone. Until a night spent with her good friend, Paul, Nick's twin, where things heat up and one thing leads to another. Suddenly, it's not just Paul's friendship she's craving, but his body in her bed.
Paul Candelllano has always had a crush on Stevie Ryan. Long before she hooked up with Nick, Paul wanted to be more than the shoulder that Stevie cried on when Nick's antics drove her to tears. Now, he's finally had Stevie physically, but he's not sure where it will lead. What will the Candellano's, especially Nick, think about a budding relationship between the quiet, responsible twin that the other half of the Nick/Stevie whole?
KNOWING YOU is the story of a woman who has to come to terms with a birth mother who is never going to be who she wants to be, the discovery of a sibling that doesn't need to be rescued, and the fact that true love has to be persued, regardless of consequences.
This book, full of two wonderful, heartwarming stories, is a true delight for your keeper shelf!
Dawn M. (Harleygirl) -
Helpful Score: 1
Excellect -- two stories about the Candellano family. Can't wait to read about the last brother.
Helpful Score: 1
Two books in one. I really enjoyed them both and just started to read the third in the series "Loving You".
Mollie G. (amethystlover) reviewed Finding You / Knowing You (Candellanos, Bks 1 - 2) on + 330 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Two novels about the Candellano family. Very good read.
Linda A. (Springfieldreader) reviewed Finding You / Knowing You (Candellanos, Bks 1 - 2) on + 458 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Part of the Candellano Family Trilogy. I would highly suggest reading all of them.
