"You're the one who left, remember?"
How could he ever forget?
Celebrated entrepreneur Mack Holloway has come home to
Moonlight Ridge to care for his foster dad and save his family's once-luxurious
resort. But to accomplish either he must face his past -- the woman he left
without a word, resort manager Molly Haskell. He's never admitted what drove
him away, and he's not ready to confess now, even when working in close
quarters ignites a fiery passion that burns away everything else. But Molly is
keeping secrets of her own that could bring them to the brink…
Excellent second chance romance and start to the new
series. Jameson Holloway, owner of the Moonlight Ridge resort, adopted three
boys when they were young. Mack, Grey, and Travis were as close as brothers
could be until a devastating accident split them apart. Mack blamed himself,
and unable to face the guilt, left home, family, and girlfriend without a word of
explanation. Mack and Molly were best friends from the time he was eight years
old, their friendship turning to romance when they were teens. Molly was
brokenhearted at his desertion.
Fifteen years later, all three sons rarely return to
Moonlight Ridge, especially at the same time. But when they receive word that
Jameson is ill and must give up his work for at least six months, they agree to
return home to help. Each agrees to a two-month stint, with Mack taking the
first shift. Mack's reluctance is immediately evident as he faces the memories
of the accident and his poor treatment of Molly. Weary of the estrangement with
his brothers, Mack vows to find a way to mend fences with them. He also knows
that Molly deserves an explanation and an apology.
Molly has always been a part of Moonlight Ridge. Her
father was the resort's CFO until he was caught embezzling money but died
before he could be prosecuted. After the pain of losing Mack, Molly put herself
through school and returned to work at Moonlight Ridge, eventually becoming the
manager. Her selfish, manipulative, and lazy mother and two older brothers leech
off Molly whenever they can, using a youthful mistake she made to blackmail her
into cooperating. Molly thinks of Jameson as a father and will do anything for
him, including work with Mack - but she doesn't have to like it.
The first meeting between Mack and Molly was as painful
and awkward as each expected. Molly's hurt and anger over Mack's departure
burns as hot now as it did fifteen years earlier. They both believe they are
over each other, but the sparks that flare between them prove otherwise. As
Mack and Molly work together to save the struggling resort, those sparks
continue to grow. Though they can't resist giving in to the attraction, both
are wary of the intensity. Mack prides himself on the tight control he keeps on
his emotions, but that control falls apart when he's around Molly. At the same
time, Molly resists her growing feelings for him, unwilling to trust that he
won't walk away as he did before.
Complicating the growing feelings for each other, Mack
and Molly must deal with running the resort. There are a few clashes between
them when their leadership styles differ, but mostly they agree on what must be
done. There are a couple of great scenes where Mack's protectiveness kicks in
on the job, and it's easy to see that he's struggling with his feelings. When Molly's
family starts in on her again, Mack manages to break through Molly's walls and
get the whole story. I loved his support of her and his determination to help
her break free. But when money turns up missing, Molly's past turns the
spotlight on her. Mack makes a boneheaded move in his need for control,
although his intentions are good. Understandably hurt and angry, Molly makes
her displeasure known and walks away from Mack.
Though he realizes right away how badly he screwed up, a
crisis with Jameson delays his chance to make things right. I loved the scene
in his hospital room as Molly discovers her secret wasn't so secret after all. That
revelation resulted in a satisfying confrontation between Molly and her family,
with an added twist from Mack. Mack and Molly finally put their pasts behind
them in an emotional reconciliation scene.
There are a few things that look like they continue
through the series. First, the missing money and where it went remains
unresolved. I look forward to seeing where that goes. Jameson, who drove
multiple nurses away during the first part of his recovery, now has his former
housekeeper riding herd on him. Jameson and Giada's interactions are a hoot,
especially when it comes to his cigars. Last is the estrangement between the
three brothers. There was some progress between Mack and Grey by the end of the
book, but it seems that Travis is still holding out. I can't wait to see how things
work out with them.
How could he ever forget?
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