Tuesday, July 23, 2013

My Review - Strong and Stubborn



STRONG AND STUBBORN, the final installment of the Husbands for Hire series, held up to its name.

Naomi Higgins along with her friends came to Hope Falls with three things in mind, start a sawmill, save a town, and find a husband.  What they end up offering the men who answer their ad is a cross between a mail order bride and a lottery.  Naomi’s two friends have found their man.  Now it’s up to Naomi to choose a husband from the men who are vying for her attention.  Unfortunately, even though she is fond of a few of the men, they don’t stir her heart.  But, when Michael Strode comes along, she finally feels the flutter.  Though Michael fills her thoughts, her past secret haunts her mind.  Thinking Michael is too worthy for the likes of her, she ignores her heart and knows she must choose between the other men competing for her hand.

Michael is not only looking for work in Hope Falls, but is hiding from his contentious in-laws who seek to take his son away from him.  His marriage of convenience was a ruse to hide the unscrupulous behavior of his now deceased wife.  And though his son is not his by blood, he loves him fiercely and refuses to give him up.  Hoping to provide Luke with a home, Michael goes to Hope Falls to work at the new lumber mill.  When he meets Naomi he is immediately smitten.  Feeling his past decision to marry for money is a mark against him, he feels unworthy of Naomi’s attention.  But watching the other men fall all over themselves to get her attention is almost more than he can bear.

I really enjoyed STRONG AND STUBBORN.  I feel it had the spark and energy that was missing slightly from the first two books.  Michael was hometown sweet, and I only wanted the best for Naomi.  The added suspense with finding out who was responsible for the accidents happening in Hope Falls made for a well rounded story.  Kelly Eileen Hake really did save the best for last.

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