Sometimes the biggest emotional risk can reap the best
romantic reward…
After everything she worked for is destroyed,
pediatrician Natasha Gray is determined to build a new life. Divorced, bankrupt
and suddenly a single mom, she's ready to start over in Silver Springs -- on
her own. She certainly doesn't need help from Mack Amos, the man who's already
broken her heart twice.
Although Mack has had feelings for Tash since they first
met, too many things have stood in the way. He's always given her the support
she needs, though, and he'll do the same now. Even if the desire he wrestles
with threatens to undermine his intentions…
But her heart is not the only reason Natasha wants to
keep Mack at bay. More time in her life means getting closer to her son, which
could lead to a revelation neither of them is ready to face.
Emotional second chance story with complex characters. Natasha's
life in LA is upended when her pediatric practice ends in scandal thanks to a
criminal nurse, and her husband ends their marriage at the same time. Tash
takes a job as a nurse at the New Horizons Ranch in Silver Springs, where she
hopes to start over with her six-year-old son Lucas. Helping her move is Mack,
her once-upon-a-time stepbrother, and teenage crush.
Mack has had feelings for Tash, too, but she was sixteen,
and he was twenty-five. He knew that was wrong and worked hard to keep her at a
distance. She always held a special place in his heart, so continuing to help
her is a no-brainer. The difficulty remains in keeping his feelings under
control.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Tash and Mack
grow, but it wasn't an easy one. Their history is complicated. When her mom was
married to his dad, Anya and JT had a very toxic relationship, leaving Mack and
his brothers as the ones watching out for Tash. After what she saw as multiple
rejections, Tash couldn't wait to go. A few years later, on a visit back to
Whiskey Creek for the holidays, Tash encountered Mack, and the old feelings
came rushing back for both of them. But after one night together, Mack's guilty
feelings caused him to pull back, breaking her heart once more. While she's
grateful for his help now, Tash wants Mack gone before her heart gets involved
again.
Mack is tired of denying his feelings. Tash is free now,
and Mack is determined to show her how he feels. He knows she wants nothing to
do with another relationship, and winning back her trust will be a challenge,
but he's up for it. I liked Mack's patience as he chipped away at Tash's resistance.
He knows her well and manages an excellent blend of pushing and stepping back.
The biggest issue is proving to her that he will be there when she needs him. Some
sweet scenes show progress there, such as when she was sick and again during an
issue with her mother later in the book. I also loved Mack's connection with
Tash's son Lucas. He's an adorable kid, and the two of them are sweet together.
Tash fights hard against her feeling for Mack. After
everything that's happened, she feels that the only one she can count on is
herself. Mack says he'll be there, but he's walked away before. However, the
longer he sticks around, the harder it is to resist the attraction between
them. I got a little frustrated with how she dwelled on the past and refused to
see that Mack's attitude changed dramatically. Even when she finally gave in to
the sparks, she refused to see their connection as anything but physical. It
takes some significant family trauma and drama to break down her walls at last.
I loved the ending and seeing them both happy at last.
A lot is going on in this book besides the relationship
between Tash and Mack. First up, we have Tash's ex-husband, a whiny man-child
named Ace. His lack of support for her during the collapse of her practice and
his selfishness during the divorce showed how horrible he was. It gets worse when
he finds and reads an old diary of hers, and it stirs up suspicions about her
son. His actions are childish at best and vicious at worst. Then there's the
paternity issue raised in that diary. Mack is hopeful, Ace is furious, and Tash
wants it all to go away.
Back in Whiskey Creek, more family drama comes home to
roost. Years ago, Cheyenne Amos (Dylan's wife) made a decision with questionable
ethics. That decision comes to light, and the parties involved must now answer
for their choices. When I read that book,
Come Home to Me, I was furious with
Cheyenne and knew that it would come back to bite her. I ended up being pleased
with the handling of the issue, and the relationships came out stronger.
At the end, Anya and JT's relationship takes center
stage. After years away, Anya returns to JT, and they resume their shenanigans.
Both of them abuse drugs and alcohol, which adds to the volatility of their
relationship. When JT is found shot, and near death, suspicion immediately
falls on Anya. Tash is torn between her feelings for Mack, her belief in her
mother's innocence, and Anya's inability to remember what happened. Add in the
reaction of the other Amos brothers, and the tension is off the charts. I had
no idea which way this one would go, and it kept me turning the pages.
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