A truly pleasurable read with a southern flair sure to thrill any contemporary romance fan.

This novella is my second foray into the world of writer Kendall Grace. My first experience with her was not a positive one but I wanted to give her a chance to redeem herself to my jaded palate and she stunned me silly. This is a perfect example of how you must read several books by a writer before you can determine if you are a fan or not. If I had judged Kendall based solely on that first novella, I would have missed out on a truly pleasurable read. However, that being said, I thought the cover of the novella needed a bit of a face lift – the man was a little too scraggly for me. Not that I will hold that against the author.

High-powered New York attorney Anna Reed is summoned to her family’s old home town of Liberty Alabama when her mother has a careless accident. She is about to be made a partner at her father’s old law firm and her dreams are about to be made…until she meets hometown southern boy Trey Jacobs. Her mother’s neighbor is hotter than all get out and practically knocks her off her feet from the get go. Her mother needs Anna’s help to keep her business running during the busy season and help her recover from her injuries. But agreeing to stay with her mother also puts Anna directly in Trey’s way day in and day out. As a stunning romance sizzles up the sheets, barn wall, garden bench and more, Anna is in danger of losing all that she thinks she holds dear and the love of the man of her dreams.

One of the best parts of this contemporary novella is the complexity of the main characters and their appeal in general. Trey is your typical southern man with a honey sweet demeanor that can charm the birds from the trees. How can you not love a man who calls you darlin’? Trey has been hurt before and goes into his attraction to Anna with his eyes wide open. I loved that he is realistic in his expectations of their relationship and that he has the tenacity to stick to his guns when it really matters. He was the perfect, sexy, go-getter hero that I love in modern romances.

Anna, or Annabelle as her mother calls her or Belle as Trey addresses her in his husky southern drawl, may think she wants to be a big city attorney. But, as the novella progresses the reader discovers her hidden talent as an artist and a depth to her character that makes her very appealing. I love the fact that she is an independent girl wanting to take care of her mother but with a vulnerability that we rarely see in contemporary heroines.

The story is filled with the author’s creative witticisms and intelligent dialogue which added to the overall delight I found while reading this novella. The characters, both lead and minor, are written with style and great perspective which allows the reader to be drawn into the world of Liberty Alabama. I like that the author presents a legitimate plot conflict that is not trivial but in the end very simple to overcome. And what an ending… I really enjoyed the way Kendall resolves her plot lines and gives her lovers their much-deserved happy ending.

The love scenes were exciting and intimate but not erotic or too graphic. In fact, they were more tame than I expected from a novella published by Ellora’s Cave. Don’t get me wrong, I found the sensuality fit the book perfectly.

As I mentioned, I am so happy I gave Kendall Grace another chance and read this novella. It was fun and endearing and totally worth the read.

Reviewed by: Danielle