A Proposal for the Unwed Mother - Lauri Robinson (HH #1578 - May 2021)

Series: Twins of the Twenties (Book 2)

A second chance…with his first love?
 
New York businessman Connor McCormick's heart was broken when his sweetheart Jenny Sommers disappeared seven years ago. Now Connor is unexpectedly reunited with Jenny -- and discovers she's a midwife to pregnant runaways and a single mother herself. Winning Jenny's trust when she's wary of depending on anyone and protective of her daughter won't be easy, but Connor isn't about to walk away when she needs him…
 
Good story of second chances, secrets, and trust. Seven years earlier, Connor and Jenny were sweethearts. A misunderstanding, leading to a foolish act of revenge, ended with Jenny leaving town while Connor was away. Brokenhearted, Connor buried his pain in his fledgling telephone business and became very successful. He never expected to find Jenny while knocking on doors selling his telephones.
 
Jenny is a survivor. She became pregnant in high school, was forced into a home for unwed mothers by her mom, fled the cruel treatment she received there, and found a home helping other young women like herself. Her daughter, Emily, is the light of her life, and becoming a midwife feeds her soul. The shock of seeing Connor brought back memories she thought were buried.
 
I enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Connor and Jenny. They got off to a rough start with Jenny slamming the door in his face, and Connor determined to get answers to his questions. I liked Connor's refusal to give up in the face of Jenny's resistance and how she finally gave in. I wanted to shake her when she told her story, disgusted that she hadn't trusted Connor enough to get his side of the events. Even after he told her the truth, she still jumped to conclusions about other things. Connor is a good man whose early years of trying to please his father grew into a bit of a white knight complex. When he sees something wrong, he wants to fix it. After getting a little too involved in Jenny's business, Connor finds himself on the receiving end of her temper and told to leave her alone. That comes to a quick end when Jenny desperately needs his help.
 
Jenny and her housemate Gretchen secretly help young women from Albany's home for unwed mothers escape the cruel treatment there. When Jenny begs for his help, Connor can't say no. What he experiences that night ignites a need to help Jenny in her mission. Despite some early clashes, Connor and Jenny find their shared commitment helps bring them closer together. The revelation of Jenny's final secret causes a bit of a bump, but Connor realizes his feelings for Jenny outweigh the past events. I love that they learned to talk about their issues before they become obstacles. I loved the ending, from the wedding to the epilogue.
 
One of my favorite things was the relationship between Connor and Jenny's daughter, Emily. The little girl was adorable and took to Connor right away. I especially enjoyed the present he bought her and seeing the bond it built between them. I loved his nervousness when he waited to talk to her about marrying Jenny, his protectiveness when dealing with the class bully, and his joy at becoming her father.
 
Once again, the author made the story come alive with her attention to detail. I loved the little things like the clothing and slang and the description of Connor's car. Then there was the information about the treatment of unwed mothers and its skillful weaving into the story. The pain and suffering they experienced were vividly portrayed, and I rooted for them in their fight for better treatment. I also enjoyed Connor's telephone activities. I didn't know that just anyone could start their own phone company. The lighthearted banter Connor exchanged with his potential customers was a nice contrast to some of the darkness of the women's stories.

Scandal at the Speakeasy - Lauri Robinson (HH #1566 - Mar 2021)

Series: Twins of the Twenties (Book 1)

Of all the speakeasies in town he walked into hers…
 
Guilt drives New York cop Patrick McCormick, who promises to reunite schoolteacher Lisa Walters with her long-lost father. Only, Lisa also runs an underground speakeasy! Tough yet innocent, Lisa might be the only one who can help Patrick overcome his past, but she's on the wrong side of the law. Patrick must remember he's there to fulfill a promise, not fall in love…
 
Good book with romance, family drama, and some unexpected suspense at the end. I loved the Prohibition-era setting and the author's deft use of language, description, and real-life events to set the scene.
 
New York cop Patrick, aka "Mick," is haunted by his father's death. Those feelings drive him to leave New York for Missouri to reunite a dying friend with his daughter. However, instead of the schoolteacher he expected to find, Lisa is the owner/operator of an underground speakeasy. Complicating matters, Lisa doesn't believe that her father is alive, forcing Mick to take desperate measures to ensure her cooperation.
 
Lisa's life has been difficult. Her beloved father died during the war, leaving her mother to fall prey to a cruel man. When her mother suffered a stroke, Lisa gave up her teaching plans to care for her. To protect her property from Duane's depredations, Lisa took over the speakeasy. A smart and loyal young woman, Lisa found innovative ways to help her town weather its economic downturn. Mick raised her suspicions as soon as he entered her speakeasy because she knew a cop when she saw one.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Mick and Lisa. They got off to a rough start because Lisa didn't believe him and Mick threatened to bust her speakeasy if she didn't come with him. Because she runs a speakeasy and he's a cop, they are just about as opposite as they can be. But during the three-day train journey from Missouri to New York, each of them begins to gain a new perspective about the other. Lisa sees Mick's human side and understands a little of his need to help Tony reconnect with her. At the same time, Mick gets a look at the possible ramifications of Lisa's departure. I liked seeing Mick's growing respect for Lisa's abilities.
 
Matters are complicated by the growing attraction between Mick and Lisa. There are significant obstacles between them. First is the whole cop vs. speakeasy situation. Lisa needs to return to Missouri to protect her interests from her stepfather's interference, and Mick's life and work are in Rochester. Second, neither Lisa nor Mick has marriage in their long-term plans. Mick has a failed relationship in his past that makes it hard to trust women. Lisa saw the effects of both of her mother's marriages and wants nothing to do with it. However, the more time they spent together, the more each of them longed for a way to be together. Issues with her stepfather put Lisa in danger, and saving her helps Mick see what's essential in his life. I loved the ending and how both Mick and Lisa overcame the obstacles that kept them apart.
 
Both Mick and Lisa suffered from family drama. Mick's was mainly internal, stemming from his early reluctance to follow in his father's footsteps. Mick wanted to be a police officer, and this caused many arguments between himself and his dad. Mick said some things he regretted during their last fight, but his father's death prevented him from making amends. Those regrets motivate Mick to help Tony. Lisa's drama is front and center in the book. She has to face the hurt and anger she feels at what she sees at his desertion of his family. As she learns the truth, that pain and anger turn to her mother, and she deals with her feelings of betrayal. I ached for her and how her world turned upside down. The final blow came with the revelation of Duane's methods of insinuating himself into her mother's life. I  loved Mick's support of Lisa as she worked through everything and his protectiveness when it was needed. It was great to see Duane get his just desserts.
 
I loved the epilogue and seeing Lisa so happy. There was a nice lead-in to the next book about Mick's brother, Connor. I can't wait to read it.