Riley, an Air Force captain, is injured and returns childhood home to recover. All the single ladies in this town are hot for Riley and want to be his caregiver (yes, really). Claire steps in to help. He and Claire were friends growing up, but adulthood took them in different paths. Claire started a relationship with Daniel (Riley's BFF). Fast forward several years. Claire and Daniel are on the outs. Claire and Riley have sparks (because of course they do!). Riley tries to keep her at arms length (in part because she "choose" Daniel over him and Daniel was his BFF).
This is a mix of friends to lovers/2nd chance (because she always wanted Riley). Claire and Riley were okay. Daniel, Trisha (someone who had the hots for Riley), and Jodi (another someone who had the hots for Riley) were meh characters that were just annoying after awhile. Neither understood the word "no." I also thought the whole plot-line regarding Ethan (Claire's son) were weird.
This is a mix of friends to lovers/2nd chance (because she always wanted Riley). Claire and Riley were okay. Daniel, Trisha (someone who had the hots for Riley), and Jodi (another someone who had the hots for Riley) were meh characters that were just annoying after awhile. Neither understood the word "no." I also thought the whole plot-line regarding Ethan (Claire's son) were weird.
Riley and Claire have been friends for as long as they can remember, they both gave their hearts to the other but they never acted on it nor even touched, even when Riley left to the Air Force. Riley lived by 'man code' and his best friend Daniel was on and off with Claire so she was off limits due to the code.
Years later Riley is injured and is home trying to recuperate so he can get back out into the field but its not just a shoulder he'd dealing with but PTSD. He has one month to get back to 100 % to be able to lead a rescue team. Riley thought get in rehab and gone without compilations, but just waking up he life got complicated, there are strange teenage twins in his bed and another woman in his brothers' bed he he comes home. Then later on he will be face to face with a 2 year old boy, then finding a different woman in his kitchen cooking, this one he knows since he was young, Claire.
Claire's life was mostly a great with loving grandmother, friends and their parents. She didnt have a mother or a father but that didnt stop her from living life and falling in love with not one but two boys, one was HOT and the other had things in common with her. But everything she have live by will come causing her to look back at everything and she needs to deal with Riley back in town and her as well as every single lady in and out of town, as well as a few past flings that she knew Riley had with. One being Trisha, a busy body no gooder that came back to town in hopes to get Riley back. Then there will be Jodi coming into town, that is in a way Rileys sex buddy/girlfriend. Oh and Daniel her on and off again boyfriend since school and hes there in hopes to take Claire as his own and to rub it in Rileys face. Doesnt help Claire that she has a son that is not Daniel or any other man in their little town, but it's in many gossip circles that Ethan looks just like the McCords brothers and people want to know who is the daddy? Riley, Lucky or Logan.
Lots of secrets, truths and what not will be revealed. Very touching second sorta chance. Also has a bonus story, a novella that actually is the first in this series and its about the brother's only baby sister
Years later Riley is injured and is home trying to recuperate so he can get back out into the field but its not just a shoulder he'd dealing with but PTSD. He has one month to get back to 100 % to be able to lead a rescue team. Riley thought get in rehab and gone without compilations, but just waking up he life got complicated, there are strange teenage twins in his bed and another woman in his brothers' bed he he comes home. Then later on he will be face to face with a 2 year old boy, then finding a different woman in his kitchen cooking, this one he knows since he was young, Claire.
Claire's life was mostly a great with loving grandmother, friends and their parents. She didnt have a mother or a father but that didnt stop her from living life and falling in love with not one but two boys, one was HOT and the other had things in common with her. But everything she have live by will come causing her to look back at everything and she needs to deal with Riley back in town and her as well as every single lady in and out of town, as well as a few past flings that she knew Riley had with. One being Trisha, a busy body no gooder that came back to town in hopes to get Riley back. Then there will be Jodi coming into town, that is in a way Rileys sex buddy/girlfriend. Oh and Daniel her on and off again boyfriend since school and hes there in hopes to take Claire as his own and to rub it in Rileys face. Doesnt help Claire that she has a son that is not Daniel or any other man in their little town, but it's in many gossip circles that Ethan looks just like the McCords brothers and people want to know who is the daddy? Riley, Lucky or Logan.
Lots of secrets, truths and what not will be revealed. Very touching second sorta chance. Also has a bonus story, a novella that actually is the first in this series and its about the brother's only baby sister
Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good second chance/friends to lovers story. Riley has come home to Spring Hill to recover from injuries received in the war. He just wants peace and quiet to do so, but discovers that every single woman in town is determined to be the one to help him. The only one whose attention he wants, Claire, is his childhood friend, but she chose his best friend, making her off limits to him. However, there is a spark between them that cannot be denied.
Claire has always had a thing for Riley, but he was determined to put Spring Hill behind him and do something more with his life. Thanks to her somewhat turbulent childhood, she only wants to have a permanent home with a husband that is there for her. So she picked their friend Daniel as the one more likely to give her what she needed. But when it comes to her final choice, will her heart or her head take the day?
I liked Riley a lot, even though he was a bit stubborn about his "man rules". His calling was to help people, and he did that by becoming a combat rescue officer. His most recent mission ended up with him badly injured, as well as haunted by some of the things that happened. He is on medical leave, where he has a certain amount of time to get back to full strength, or risk losing the career that defines him. He wants Claire, but his rules put her out of reach, so he tries to keep things in the friend zone.
I liked Claire too, although she occasionally frustrated me. She is back in Spring Hill with her two year old son, to clear out her late grandmother's house and get it ready to sell. Her relationship with Daniel has been on-again, off-again, and he is currently pushing for her to marry him. Seeing Riley again brings back all her old feelings and creates a conflict for her. She wants Riley, but knows he'll be leaving again, whereas Daniel offers her the stability she craves.
I really liked the development of their relationship. Because they've known each other so long, they are aware of each other's baggage. I loved seeing how Claire was so tuned in to Riley's struggles, especially his flashbacks. She always seemed to know just what to do to bring him out of them. Riley knows all about Claire's childhood, and is there for her as she faces some of her demons while she clears her grandmother's house. It was great to see that having Riley there gave Claire some of the strength she needed to deal with Daniel. Claire decided it was time to go after what she wanted from Riley, even if she was sure that she was going to end up hurting at the end. It took a little effort to overcome Riley's objections, but eventually he gave in to his own desires. This brought them closer, though both try to deny their true feelings. I loved Riley's surprise when he finally realized what was happening between them. The ending was sweet and romantic with a touch of humor thanks to Claire's son.
I loved Claire's son Ethan. He was adorable, and pretty typical of his age. I really liked the way he took to Riley, and found it funny that it just fed the town gossip mill. It was very telling to see the differences in the way he reacted to both Riley and Daniel. I loved the potty training scenes, and Riley's solution.
The relationship between Riley and Claire was complicated by three people - Daniel, Trisha and Jodi. I especially disliked Daniel. He was very close to being a bully in my opinion, in the way he treated Ethan and refused to take no for an answer from Claire. Trisha was one of the women who was trying to snag Riley for herself. Her interference in Claire's and Riley's lives seemed intent on making trouble between them. Jodi was a woman that Riley had had a kind of relationship with. Her appearance in Spring Hill came at a really bad time. She, too, had some issues letting go. It was funny to see what happened when the three of them came together.
I also enjoyed getting to know both Logan and Lucky a little better. Lucky is the wild brother, who travels the rodeo circuit and is a ladies man. I liked the way that Lucky was there for Riley during his visits to the base. It was interesting to see the relationship between him and his twin brother Logan. Logan is the oldest and the one that took over the family business and has made it successful. It's obvious that he really wants both Lucky and Riley back home, but doesn't know how to fix their relationships and make it happen. It will be interesting to read their stories and see what drives them.
Claire has always had a thing for Riley, but he was determined to put Spring Hill behind him and do something more with his life. Thanks to her somewhat turbulent childhood, she only wants to have a permanent home with a husband that is there for her. So she picked their friend Daniel as the one more likely to give her what she needed. But when it comes to her final choice, will her heart or her head take the day?
I liked Riley a lot, even though he was a bit stubborn about his "man rules". His calling was to help people, and he did that by becoming a combat rescue officer. His most recent mission ended up with him badly injured, as well as haunted by some of the things that happened. He is on medical leave, where he has a certain amount of time to get back to full strength, or risk losing the career that defines him. He wants Claire, but his rules put her out of reach, so he tries to keep things in the friend zone.
I liked Claire too, although she occasionally frustrated me. She is back in Spring Hill with her two year old son, to clear out her late grandmother's house and get it ready to sell. Her relationship with Daniel has been on-again, off-again, and he is currently pushing for her to marry him. Seeing Riley again brings back all her old feelings and creates a conflict for her. She wants Riley, but knows he'll be leaving again, whereas Daniel offers her the stability she craves.
I really liked the development of their relationship. Because they've known each other so long, they are aware of each other's baggage. I loved seeing how Claire was so tuned in to Riley's struggles, especially his flashbacks. She always seemed to know just what to do to bring him out of them. Riley knows all about Claire's childhood, and is there for her as she faces some of her demons while she clears her grandmother's house. It was great to see that having Riley there gave Claire some of the strength she needed to deal with Daniel. Claire decided it was time to go after what she wanted from Riley, even if she was sure that she was going to end up hurting at the end. It took a little effort to overcome Riley's objections, but eventually he gave in to his own desires. This brought them closer, though both try to deny their true feelings. I loved Riley's surprise when he finally realized what was happening between them. The ending was sweet and romantic with a touch of humor thanks to Claire's son.
I loved Claire's son Ethan. He was adorable, and pretty typical of his age. I really liked the way he took to Riley, and found it funny that it just fed the town gossip mill. It was very telling to see the differences in the way he reacted to both Riley and Daniel. I loved the potty training scenes, and Riley's solution.
The relationship between Riley and Claire was complicated by three people - Daniel, Trisha and Jodi. I especially disliked Daniel. He was very close to being a bully in my opinion, in the way he treated Ethan and refused to take no for an answer from Claire. Trisha was one of the women who was trying to snag Riley for herself. Her interference in Claire's and Riley's lives seemed intent on making trouble between them. Jodi was a woman that Riley had had a kind of relationship with. Her appearance in Spring Hill came at a really bad time. She, too, had some issues letting go. It was funny to see what happened when the three of them came together.
I also enjoyed getting to know both Logan and Lucky a little better. Lucky is the wild brother, who travels the rodeo circuit and is a ladies man. I liked the way that Lucky was there for Riley during his visits to the base. It was interesting to see the relationship between him and his twin brother Logan. Logan is the oldest and the one that took over the family business and has made it successful. It's obvious that he really wants both Lucky and Riley back home, but doesn't know how to fix their relationships and make it happen. It will be interesting to read their stories and see what drives them.
