More Than She Expected - Karen Templeton (HSE #2324 - Apr 2014)

Series: Jersey Boys (Book 2)

Neighbor, handyman and…husband? One woman finds her heart's desire right in her own backyard

He's just a friend! is the mantra pregnant Laurel Kent lives by while pretending not to stare at sexy Tyler Noble, the gorgeous neighbor who's been all-too-kindly playing Mr. Fix-It in her house. After all, she needs the help more than she cares to admit -- her sharp-tongued grandmother is her only family. But it's getting nearly impossible to ignore the sparks and butterflies she feels in her tummy every time he smiles at her…and that's not the baby talking!

It's ironic to Tyler that he's repairing the fence separating his yard from Laurel's when all he wants is zero barriers between them! Sure, she's pregnant, and no, she insists she's not looking for Husband #2. But he knows if she'd give him a chance, he could prove that he's the missing piece needed to complete her new family….

Very good book.  Laurel and Tyler have been neighbors for a couple months when he finds out that his dog has been visiting her on a regular basis, thanks to a hole under the fence.  Replacing the old fence with a new stone wall puts them in each other's company quite a bit, and a friendship starts to develop.  Tyler starts looking for more reasons to stop over and visit whenever he can.  

Laurel has to admit to herself that her neighbor is certainly easy on the eyes, but she's not looking for a relationship.  She is pregnant and on her own, except for her grandmother, and has learned to count on no one except herself.  Besides, Tyler is younger than she is and not looking for anything permanent in his life.

Both Tyler and Laurel have secrets and old hurts that make them reluctant to pursue any kind of relationship. The man that Laurel had been in love with didn't want children. He had been married before and his kids were grown, so he ended their relationship.  She also had some abandonment issues from her own parents, who had married because they had to.  When her mother died, her father turned her care over to her grandmother and pretty much ignored her before he died when she was fifteen.  So she is determined to be the best single mother she can be.  She enjoys Tyler's company, but she has to keep reminding herself that she's not looking for a husband.  

Tyler doesn't realize that Laurel is pregnant when they first start getting to know each other.  He enjoys her company but she's nothing like the women he's dated so he's a little confused about why he's so drawn to her.  When he finds out she's pregnant it brings his own issues to the front of his mind.  His mother had lost custody of him when he was ten because of neglect and he was later adopted by the Noble family.  He still never felt like he fit in and tended to take out his feelings in bad behavior.  Because of the way he was as a kid, he feels that he would never be a good father and is determined that he will never marry. He can't resist doing anything he can to make Laurel's life easier and gets more and more involved in her life.

Laurel's independence issues cause her to push Tyler away once the baby is born and she insists she doesn't need any help.  I liked the fact that Tyler tried to give her the space she wanted, but stepped in when it became obvious she did need that help.  I loved seeing the changes that Tyler went through as Laurel and Jonny worked their way into his heart. I especially loved seeing his reaction to the baby's birth. It wasn't until Tyler was able to confront his memories that he was able to fully admit his feelings for Laurel and go for the family he hadn't wanted to admit he craved.

I really liked the theme of the importance of family.  Laurel was alone except for her grandmother, but was determined to be happy with what she had.  Tyler was part of a big family that, even though he didn't always feel part of it, was always there for each other.  I loved the way that his family made Laurel welcome from the beginning.  I also liked the way that Tyler had begun to repair his relationship with his mother and how much better it got because of Laurel.  

I also liked Laurel's grandmother.  She was a feisty lady and had a terrific way of cutting through some of the nonsense that Laurel would occasionally come up with.  I got a real kick out of her appreciation of Tyler's looks.  I also enjoyed seeing her with her friends at the place she lived and the fun they all had.

The Real Mr. Right - Karen Templeton (HSE #2313 - Feb 2014)

Series: Jersey Boys (Book 1)

Is an old crush the new beginning this single mom has been searching for?

Finding refuge from her ex-husband at her friend's house was her best option, Kelly McNeil thought--until Matt Noble answered the door. She'd had a huge, unrequited crush on him as a teenager But as adults, he'd never even given her a second look. Then she got married and left town and, well, now here they are again....

Matt had never mustered up the courage to ask Kelly out, and now fate has literally knocked on his door and given him a second chance. But Kelly is afraid to risk her independence and her children with a man who could only hurt them again. He'll have to prove that he's worth the risk--and that he's the Mr. Right she can truly depend on. Forever.

Very good book.  I love a story that can make me laugh and cry.  Kelly's search for a safe place brought her to the home of her best friend's family.  She didn't expect to see Bree's brother Matt, who she'd had a huge crush on as a teenager.  Unknown to her, Matt had also had a crush on her, but had never had the courage to do anything about it.  Now he's got a second chance, but both of them are wary of risking their hearts again.

Kelly's marriage had started out well, but things changed and when her ex-husband couldn't accept that the marriage was over she knew she had to get herself and her kids away.  Seeing Matt again has brought those old feelings back to the surface.  She has no desire to get involved with another man.  She has finally gotten to the point where she is comfortable with her ability to take care of her family without depending on anyone else.  She can see losing herself in a relationship with him, coming to depend on him and then losing it all again if he leaves.  But she can't resist his friendship, and the kindness he shows her children.  There was a lot that Kelly was dealing with.  She had to provide a stable home for her children who had been through so many changes in the last couple years.  Her son was especially in need of the extra attention.  Matt's presence was good for him, but she worried about them becoming dependent on him.  Her own heart wanted him in her life, but she was afraid to trust him so she kept a certain amount of distance between them.  I loved seeing how a talk with her son about his fears opened her eyes to what she was doing to them both.

Matt is still recovering from his divorce when Kelly reappears in his life.  He is the kind of guy who lives for taking care of people, but his ex accused him of smothering her.  Matt really wants to help Kelly and her kids, but her insistence on keeping total independence keeps him at a distance.  I loved the way that he slowly got involved in her life by trying to keep things at the friend level.  One of the things I loved best about him was seeing how good he was with her kids.  He was able to be a friend and role model for her son.  There was a really  sweet scene where he and Cooper had a man-to-man talk about Kelly that really showed what a terrific guy he really was.  His feelings for Kelly got to be so strong that he couldn't resist her any longer.  But he too had trust issues, for a long time feeling that the only person he could depend on was himself.  That by protecting others he was also protecting himself.  He had to give himself permission to let Kelly get close to him.

I loved the realistic characterizations in this book.  Besides the portrayals of Matt and Kelly, I really liked Kelly's son Cooper.  He had the kind of attitude that could be seen in almost any intelligent eight year old.  He had moments when he'd talk back, but also times when he was incredibly sweet to his mom and little sister.  I also really enjoyed Kelly's mother-in-law and the way she was so supportive of Kelly.  Completely loved the push she gave Kelly that got her closer to Matt, and then the scolding she gave Matt when he appeared to have given up was priceless.