And Then Comes Marriage - Celeste Bradley (St Martins - Aug 2013)

Series: Worthingtons (Book 2)

After years of being a quiet, dutiful wife, the recently widowed Mrs. Miranda Talbot is finally free to do as she pleases. As an attractive woman of independent means, Miranda is suddenly turning heads all around town. When she meets the dashing Mr. Castor Worthington, she is swept away by his passion. Is he too good to be true?

Little does Miranda know that there is more to Castor than meets the eye. In fact, he's a twin. Castor's brother, also a confirmed bachelor, takes his romantic pursuits--and rivals--very seriously. When Castor discovers Miranda is being courted by his own twin, his competitive nature takes over. Who will be the one to win Miranda's hand and heart? The race to say "I do "is about to begin...

Very good book that is funny in some places and emotional in others.  Miranda's two years of mourning are up and she is ready to start living her life.  She is being courted by Pollux Worthington and really enjoys his friendship.  She sees him while she's out one day and follows him to speak to him.  When she is caught in an explosion he saves her from harm, takes her home, and kisses her.  But what she doesn't know is that this man is Poll's twin brother Castor.  She's furious when she discovers the deception and vows to avoid them both, until they come to her and ask her to allow them both to court her.  They may be twins but they are very different and Miranda is torn between them.

Miranda has spent her life trying to do everything right and avoid trouble.  Her parents had had a drama filled marriage before her father went to prison for embezzlement and her mother died.  She was sent to live with her grandmother who kept her under rigid control to prevent any scandalous tendencies she might show.  She was then married off young to an older, socially rigid man with a sister who was even worse.  Now that her husband is dead she finally has a chance to live a little.  She also plans to enjoy her widowhood and not marry again, putting herself under a man's control again.  She is enjoying the attentions of Mr. Worthington, who has begun to awaken the feminine side of her.  It is her following his assets that puts her in danger from the explosion caused by a Worthington invention, and thrusts her into the arms of Castor Worthington.  

Castor is intrigued by Miranda and takes her home, thinking to have some fun with the widow.  He doesn't realize at first that this is the woman that his twin has been spending time with.  Once he does, his competitive nature kicks in and he is determined to be the victor.  He doesn't expect Miranda to start to mean more than just a romantic victory, and that really scares him.  Castor gave up on the idea of love long ago, when an older woman took advantage of his youth and passion.  He sees a need in Miranda to step outside the life she's been living and he wants to be the one to help her do it, but he doesn't want to hurt her either.  Being with her makes him want to be a better man, but he doesn't think he's capable of it.  

Both Cas and Poll are part of the wild Worthington family.  They have always been even wilder than the others, frequently taking advantage of their twinship to create havoc.  They dabble in inventing things, but those frequently don't turn out the way they intend.  Neither one seems to have much of a moral compass either.  Poll tends to be on the nicer side, whereas Cas definitely has a darkness to his soul.  They have been best friends all their lives until their competition for Miranda drives a wedge between them. It was hard to see the misery that their arguments caused them and their family.  Both Poll and Cas are immature and have quite a bit of growing up to do before they can truly reach their full potential.

The chemistry between them is explosive and Cas introduces Miranda to a side of herself she never knew before. Just as things are starting to look good for Miranda and Cas together, a misunderstanding drives them apart.  Cas's insecurities make him overly sensitive to the plans he overhears his brother and sister talking about and he storms away to do something stupid.  Miranda is lured into witnessing that stupidity by her nasty sister-in-law, devastating her at what she sees.  It is then up to the family to try to bring them together.  The emotional turmoil that both Miranda and Cas go through at this point had me in tears.  It's at this point that Miranda finally starts to develop her own backbone as she tries to put her life back together.  I loved seeing her put that newfound confidence to work, especially when she went after Cas.

There's a lot of humor in the book as the Worthingtons are up to their usual insanity.  Where Attie was dangerously out of control in the first book, in this one she wants to help.  At first she blames Miranda, but soon grows to like her.  She is still pretty devious, and it's fun to see the things she does to "help". There were quite a few places that had me laughing out loud at what was being said or done. I liked the way that she got Mr. Button involved in helping Miranda to look good, even though their intention was initially to draw her away from the twins.  I also liked the way that Miranda took an interest in Attie that her own family never did, and what a difference it made to Attie's behavior.

The epilogue shows the changes in Cas and Miranda's life, and gives us a glimpse into what Poll has decided to do.  There is also a neat setup into the next book, which is Elektra's story.

All He Ever Desired - Shannon Stacey (HQN - Mar 2013)

Series: Kowalski (Book 5)

A second shot at first love?

After college, Ryan Kowalski decided to leave Whitford, Maine, rather than watch Lauren Carpenter marry another man. Now his siblings need his help to refurbish the family-owned Northern Star Lodge and he's forced to face the past sooner rather than later when he collars a vandal -- and learns the boy is Lauren's son….

The last person Lauren needs back in her life is Ryan Kowalski. With a bitter ex-husband and a moody teenage son, she has enough man trouble already. But her son needs to learn a few lessons about right and wrong, even if Lauren has to escort him to Ryan's door every day to work off his crime.

With all this close contact, Ryan and Lauren can't deny the chemistry between them is as powerful as ever. But can a few searing kisses erase their past and pave the way for a second chance at true love?

I love second chance stories and this one was fantastic.  Ryan is back in Whitford to help his family repair the family lodge.  He's left his successful construction business back in Massachusetts for the month he figures it's going to take.  On his brief visits before he's managed to avoid Lauren, remembering the way she shot him down when he asked her to leave with him.  When he catches Lauren's sixteen year old son vandalizing the lodge he offers to let the boy work off the damages, which also gives him a reason to see her frequently.

Lauren remembers when Ryan offered to take her and Nick with him, but she'd been married at the time, even if the marriage wasn't the greatest.  Since her divorce she's spent a fair amount of time thinking about "what if".  But she has enough on her plate dealing with Nick's issues, her ex's bitterness, and trying to make ends meet.  She really doesn't need the complications that Ryan will bring to her life.

One of the things I love about the Kowalski books is that the people seems so completely real.  They deal with the same kind of issues that the rest of us have.  Ryan feels guilty about the way he neglected the family business and is trying to make up for it.  He and his siblings are close, but they each have their own lives.  I really enjoyed the way that they give each other a hard time, but they also provide support when it's needed.  

The beginning of the books spends a lot of time showing us who Ryan and Lauren are.  Ryan is furious at the vandal, but when he learns who the boy is he finds a solution that will work for everyone.  I liked his matter of fact way of dealing with Nick, not letting him get away with anything but also not being too hard on him.  He spends a lot of time teaching Nick and being a good role model for him.  He also takes the time to talk to Lauren and settle their past so that they can move on to the present.  He also discovers that his attraction to Lauren is as strong as ever, but doing anything about it is probably not a good idea.  As for Lauren, she is a single mother working to support her son in a small town without a lot going for it.  Her marriage ended when she caught her husband cheating, but she still shares custody of their son with him.  Knowing that Ryan is back in town adds another layer of stress to her life that only increases when she finds out about the vandalism.  I loved the fact that she was on board with Nick having to work off his debt to Ryan.  Her biggest problem with it is that it throws her and Ryan together more often than she really wants, especially with the attraction she feels for him.

The heat between them continues to build until the day of Ryan's brother's wedding.  With Nick at his father's for the weekend, the chemistry between Ryan and Lauren finally hits its flashpoint and they have an awesome night together.  Things get awkward when Nick arrives home early and finds them together.  Overall, they dealt with it quite well, with realistic attitude from Nick and some honest conversation from Ryan.  This begins a relationship between Ryan and Lauren that neither is quite sure has a future.  Ryan has his business and home four plus hours away, and trying to run his business and have a relationship with Lauren is physically and mentally exhausting.  Lauren knows Ryan has to go back to Massachusetts, but her life and job are in Maine, as is Nick and his life.  

Ryan has a tendency to avoid serious conversations by wanting to just see how things go and let them work out on their own.  When he finally realizes that isn't going to work he goes and has the first serious conversation with the wrong person, setting up a big argument with Lauren because she feels disrespected.  All Lauren can think about is how much she loves Ryan, but the thought of moving away and starting a new life scares her to death.  Ryan's errors just give her an excuse to break things off and try to protect herself. The pain they caused each other had me going through several tissues.  I loved the realism of the argument that was then followed by the family and friend support, which then leads to the couple seeing where they made their mistakes and finding a way to fix them.

There are some great scenes with various members of the family poking their noses into Ryan's business.  They do it with love, but there is also a fair amount chain jerking going on at the same time.  The Kowalski's surrogate mother Rose also plays a large part in keeping everything running smoothly by dispensing food and advice whenever needed.  I love this line of hers: "I don’t harass you kids. I persistently guide you in the right direction."

Master of the Highlands - Veronica Wolff (Berkley - Feb 2008)

Series: Highlands (Book 1)

SHE'S BACK IN TIME...

Lily Hamlin has finally realized that her life isn't as perfect as she once thought. Lily hopes that making a pilgrimage to Scotland, a land she's only heard about in lullabies, will help her to find her place again. But while exploring the Highlands, she discovers an overgrown maze and a strange stone map--and lands in the Lochaber of 1654...

...JUST IN TIME FOR HIM.

Ewen, Chief of the Clan Cameron, is a busy man who must figure out how to save his people from the brutal redcoats and has time for little else. Having sired an heir, the widowed Ewen has no need--or room--for another romance. Then into his life drops a saucy lass with a peculiar accent, no regard for his title--and an arousing body. Drawn to each other despite their differences, they both realize that they don't want Lily to go back to her own time. But with battles brewing between the Camerons, the redcoats, and a rival clan, staying is a gamble.

Pretty good book.  Having devoted years to her job, Lily has finally realized that something is missing.  She takes a trip to Scotland, visiting places that her grandmother talked about and hoping to find some peace.  While looking for something different to sketch she wanders into a strange maze and comes out of it more than 350 years in the past.  She's rescued by Ewen who takes her to his home while he tries to figure out how to get her back where she belongs.  Meanwhile, he is trying to protect his people from the incursions of the English.  He doesn't have time to deal with Lily and her strange ways, but there's something about her won't let him ignore her.

I liked Lily.  She's independent, resourceful, yet also has a soft heart once she opens it up.  Her trip through the maze also showed a somewhat reckless side to her personality.  Her instincts were telling her not to go into it, but she ignored them.  When she came out in 1654 she was very disoriented and was pretty much out of it when Ewen picked her up.  When she regained consciousness at the castle she was sure that she had fallen in with a bunch of crackpot reenactors, even after the truth was explained to her.  She tried running off to find her way back to civilization and ended up captured by some English soldiers.  By the time Ewen rescued her again, she accepted that the impossible had happened and that she was stuck there for the time being.  Since she needs to earn her keep, Ewen puts her to work teaching his ten year old son who is quite a handful.  It takes some work, but she soon has the boy behaving fairly well and interested in learning what she has to teach.  She's pretty adaptable and is soon handling things pretty well.  The arrival of a woman who is determined to marry Ewen by fair means or foul creates some real problems for Lily.  By this time she has realized that she is falling in love with Ewen.  She senses that Rowena is trouble and is kept on her toes trying to protect herself and Ewen's son. The final showdown is pretty intense with Lily needing to protect Ewen's son, and then also protect herself when she's attacked by a rival clansman.  While that turned out well overall, there was also some sadness that came along with it. 

Ewen is young to be laird of his clan, but he was well trained for it.  The Cromwellian army has been wiping out groups of highlanders and Ewen is trying to find a way to keep his clan at peace.  Accepting a bribe from General Monk and swearing allegiance to England is not the way he plans to do it.  I loved seeing him stand up to the general, who did not measure up well compared to Ewen.  It is on the way home from that meeting that he finds Lily.  There's something about her that appeals to him from the moment he met her.  She is very different from any woman he has ever met, and he finds himself really liking those differences.  He's attracted to her but has no intention of ever marrying again.  His wife had been a real stinker, not faithful, and with a nasty personality.  She died in childbirth.  Ewen has his son and feels no need for other children.  He's not overly surprised at her story of time travel, as his foster brother had also come from another time.  He does know that he needs to keep that particular information from others who would not understand.  I loved the way that Lily tests his self control.  It shows that his heart is getting involved even though he didn't want it to.  It was great fun to see those feelings develop and his various ways of trying to fight it.  He did seem a bit oblivious to Rowena's machinations, at least until she put his son in danger.  I liked his growing appreciation for Lily's abilities and the trust he put in her when he left for the battle.  I loved the ending and the way he gave Lily the choice of whether to stay or go, though he made sure to let her know that he wanted her to stay. I liked the epilogue, with just enough information to see they're on their way to their happy ever after.

Though the book can't really compare to Gabaldon (nobody can), Kurland, Moning or Chapman, I found it a very enjoyable book to read.

The Legend of Smuggler's Cave - Paula Graves (HI #1486 - Apr 2014)

Series: Bitterwood P.D. (Book 6)

One man will go to any lengths when a vulnerable woman and her little boy are threatened

County prosecutor Dalton Hale is convinced widowed Briar Blackwood has information that can help him take down a local crime organization. Getting it is no easy task, though, considering the distrust in the Bitterwood police officer's beautiful gray eyes. But since he started his investigation, Briar and her tiny son have been attacked twice. The only solution is to move her and Logan into his home, where he can ensure their safety. However, neither Dalton nor Briar is prepared for the deepening feelings between them. Playing house is one thing, but when Briar's son is kidnapped Dalton recognizes he wants the real deal -- and will put his own life on the line to get it.

Loved this conclusion to the Bitterwood series. There's a lot going on in this book.  First is the mystery of who is attacking Briar and just what it is they want. Second is the romance that develops between Dalton and Briar.  Third is the whether Dalton will ever be able to accept his relationship to the brother and sister he never knew he had.

The book starts with Briar discovering that her aunt has been attacked and her home searched for an unknown reason.  While at the hospital she is questioned by Dalton, who is convinced that her late husband was involved in some shady dealings and that she may know something.  When she and her son are attacked again, he feels an unfamiliar need to protect them, so he moves them into his house.  He's drawn to her in a way he'd never felt before.  

It's been seven months since Briar's husband was murdered.  She doesn't understand why there have been attacks on her after all this time, but she's determined to get to the bottom of it.  She's irritated by Dalton's questions at the beginning, but his concern for her and her son's safety is evident.  When he offers his home to keep them safe, she feels that she can trust him to do it.  She's not so sure she can trust herself around him.

Once they realize that the attacks started after Dalton intensified his investigation of the Cortland organization, they had a place to start looking.  Once they began working together things started happening fast.  When Logan was kidnapped in order to force Briar to turn over information, they had to work quickly to find it and save the little boy.

I loved both Briar and Dalton.  Briar is an independent, confident and kickass mountain woman.  She has always been self-sufficient, even after marrying her husband.  Her recent promotion to police officer has only increased those abilities and she will do anything to protect her son.  Dalton rubs her the wrong way at first but she does cut him a little slack because she knows of the personal issues that are affecting him.  I liked the way that she trusted her instincts and moved in with him in order to protect Logan.  The two of them struck some real sparks off each other, but tried to resist because of everything that was going on. Briar's growing feelings for Dalton were enhanced when she saw how wonderful he was with her son.  I also enjoyed some of the interactions between them as they got to know each other. She does have some feelings of not being good enough for him because of the differences in their lives. She also sees enough of his conflict over his personal issues that she can't resist trying to help him through them.

Dalton has had a rough few months.  In a previous book he learned that he had been kidnapped as an infant, and that his grandfather and father were responsible for the death of his birth mother.  He had a good life growing up, but now he feels like he doesn't really know who he is.  He's feeling all kinds of anger over it also.  He's taken a lot of that stress and channeled it into his work, especially the Cortland investigation, and Briar's husband is an important part of that investigation.  The first time he sees her he feels a tug of attraction, unwelcome though it is.  When he questions her about her husband, he's impressed by her straightforward attitude, but he also sees some vulnerability.  That vulnerability has him wanting to protect her when she is attacked again.  I loved seeing how easily they became part of his life when they moved into his house. I loved seeing him enjoy being with Logan and take to all the daddy like activities.  He realizes just how much he cares for her when she's put into danger.  It was great to see him give her the support she asked for, even though he just wanted to protect her.  I really liked the way that he wasn't threatened by her abilities.  I also enjoyed their interactions about their differences.

One of the best parts of the book was seeing the relationship between Dalton and his brother and sister develop.  It had started out so confrontational on his part that it was hard to see that he would ever be able to get past the anger.  Thanks to the problems Briar is having, he ends up spending more time in Doyle and Dana's company and slowly gets to know them.  There are some great interchanges between them that sound more like siblings than adversaries.  Having been an only child he had no experience with the kind of support that siblings can give until he gets a taste of it here.  I loved seeing the way Briar pushes him to let go of his anger.  

The solving of the mystery was very well done.  I loved seeing the way that Briar's experiences held an important key to finding the missing information.  The kidnapping and search for Logan were definitely edge of the seat for me as I waited for them to rescue him.  There was a very interesting twist to the events that led up to the kidnapping and happened after the rescue.

A SEAL's Salvation - Tawny Weber (HB #783 - Feb 2014)

Series: Sexy SEALs (Book 3), Uniformly Hot (Book 42)

Subject: Navy SEAL Petty Officer Brody Lane

Current Status: On leave

Obstacle: The one girl who was off-limits…

Where Navy SEAL "Bad Ass" Brody Lane goes, trouble follows. Being run out of his hometown years ago for misbehaving with Genna Reilly -- the sheriff's daughter -- was one thing. Now Brody is about to step into real danger. Not the suggestive letters he's been exchanging with Genna, but the kind of trouble that can send a soldier home injured and broken inside…

Genna's entire life has been orchestrated by her family. The right job. The right friends. Enough! Brody's return offers the promise of lust-filled pleasures. Of flesh teased and tasted. She's not expecting to find a soldier with distant eyes who has secluded himself from the world. But this good girl knows exactly how to bring a bad boy back to life….

Very good book.  Brody was the bad boy, son of the local drunk.  Genna was the seventeen year old daughter of the sheriff, with a huge crush on Brody.  One night she took a dare to corner him and kiss him. Just as things were getting interesting they were caught by her father. Brody was given the choice of joining the military or being arrested.  Being a smart guy he left town and joined the navy.

Ten years later, Brody is a navy SEAL who hasn't seen Genna since that night.  When he receives a letter from her, telling him about her brother's death, he writes back, beginning an exchange of steamy letters.  When he gets injured during a mission, his grandmother brings him back to his hometown to heal and try to escape the memories of that mission.  He doesn't expect to be faced with Genna almost as soon as he gets there.

Genna has been paying for that one kiss for ten years.  Thanks to her brother's out of control behavior her parents became even more overprotective.  She's been stuck in her hometown, doing the job her father got her, dating the men they approved of, and never making any waves.  When Brody comes back to town she figures it's her chance to live a little.

I loved the two of them together.  Genna has always had some sass to her personality, but it's been buried under her efforts to please her parents.  It really comes out when she faces down Brody the first time she sees him after he comes back.  She doesn't let him get away with hiding out.  Brody has always had the bad boy reputation, but under all that attitude is a pretty sensitive guy.  The loss of his friend during the mission has caused a loss of confidence in his abilities to protect the rest of his team.  He is ready to turn his back on the job that he loves because he feels he isn't capable any longer.  The chemistry between Brody and Genna is sizzling, but Brody is determined to resist.  I loved seeing the way they settled for friendship at first, giving them a chance to actually get to know each other, before Genna gives in to her attraction and seduces him.

I loved the growth that both characters went through.  Just having her hero back in town gives Genna the self confidence to finally stand up to her parents and go after the life she wants.  I loved seeing the way that she takes her stress-coping mechanism of baking and turns it into the career she can love.  I liked the way that she made her plans with the options that were most flexible for the life she wanted to have.  I loved seeing her with Brody's friends who visited and asked her help with Brody.  It opened her eyes to more of who Brody is beneath the bad boy exterior.  Meanwhile, Brody has had to deal with healing his physical injuries, but also to come to terms with the loss of his friend.  He tries leaving the job he loves behind, but his sense of loss gets even worse.  It is a conversation with Genna's dad that actually brings him the peace he's been looking for, and is reinforced by Genna in an act that shows just how well she's come to know him.

Her Secret, His Duty - Carla Cassidy (HRS #1796 - Apr 2014)

Series: The Adair Legacy (Book 1)

When Debra Prentice discovers she's pregnant, she knows two things are true: that she can't wait to become a mother...and that she can never reveal the father's identity to anyone. Because not only is Trey Winston her boss's son, he's also got his eye on the North Carolina senator's seat--and he doesn't need a scandal.

But when Debra must work with Trey in organizing his fund-raising dinner, the sparks from their one night of passion still sizzle. Trey knows he should stay away from Debra, but it soon becomes impossible. And as Debra's life is threatened, Trey promises to keep her--and, unknowingly, the baby she carries--safe.

Very good book, really kept me wondering what was going to happen next.  Debra has known Trey for years, as she is his mother's personal assistant.  She has been attracted to him from the time they met.  One night, after unexpectedly seeing each other at a local bar, they had a passionate encounter.  Now Debra is pregnant and she can't tell him or anyone else that he's the father.  Trey is about to start a campaign for senator and doesn't need a scandal attached to his name.  His mother, Kate, is thinking about a run for president, and Debra doesn't want to cause problems for her either.

I really liked both Debra and Trey, though there were also times I wanted to shake them both.  Debra is the daughter of a single mother who wasn't really interested in being a mother.  Her father was married and wanted nothing to do with her.  Debra was independent and driven from an early age, and has loved working for Kate Adair Winston.  When she discovers she is pregnant from that night with Trey, she is determined to protect him from the scandal her pregnancy would cause.  When Kate asks Debra to help Trey plan his fund-raising dinner to kick off his campaign, she can't say no.  Spending that much time with Trey, the sparks are not only still there, they are getting hotter.  Debra tries to keep him at a distance, knowing he needs a different kind of wife, but when she becomes the victim of several attacks his protectiveness just strengthens her love for him.  I just wish she wasn't so sure that she wasn't "good enough" to have a relationship with him.

Trey is the oldest of the three brothers and has always intended to run for office.  He is very conscious of what he needs for a successful future.  He has been dating one woman who seems to be perfect for the job of his wife.  But what he feels for her can't hold a candle to the attraction he feels for Debra.  He hasn't been able to forget that night with her and has found his desire to be with Cecily waning, though he knows she is the type of wife he needs.  Working with Debra to plan his event shows him how much he likes being with her.  The sparks are there, but he also just likes to be with her.  He starts to realize just how much she means to him when she is attacked.  He is surprised to find out about the baby, but not at all upset at the idea of being a father.  He asks her to marry him, but she turns him down.  

I got frustrated with Trey's plans to marry Cecily because she was the "right" type of woman to be his wife.  I know that his parents' marriage hadn't been the best example, but that seemed a pretty bland way to pick a partner.  I loved seeing him try to deal with his growing feelings for Debra and try to reconcile them with his future plans.  His eye opening moment was great, but if he had just told her of his feelings some of his stress might have been allayed.  

There are a couple mysteries going on in the book.  The first is who is trying to kill Debra and why.  It starts with some odd things going on in her house before escalating into physical attacks.  There seemed to be several possibilities and I admit to some surprise at the person it turned out to be.

The second one is centered around Kate Adair Winston.  Her husband had been a senator who had not been a faithful husband and created a scandal upon his death.  Kate had taken over his seat when he died and discovered a talent and love for the political process.  She went from senator to vice president and is now thinking of running for president.  At the beginning of the book we learn of a secret in her past.  There are also some questions raised by the ravings of her mother who is possibly suffering from dementia.  By the end of the book we know there is something going on, but have no idea what is behind it.  I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Recipe for Romance - Olivia Miles (HSE #2328 - Apr 2014)

Series: Maple Woods (Book 2)

When Scott Collins walks into the Sweetie Pie Bakery on opening day, Emily is convinced she is seeing a ghost! It has been twelve years since he left town without a word -- twelve years since he shattered her teenage heart. What has brought him back to Maple Woods? And why now?

Time has only improved Emily's beauty, Scott muses. He would give anything to take away her pained expression, to be able to hold her in his arms again. But the family secret that drove him away still stands between them. And telling her the truth could ruin more than just their second chance at a happy ending….

Good book with some heavy emotions on both sides. Emily and Scott had been high school sweethearts, until the day Scott left town without speaking to her.  He hasn't been back for twelve years.  Now he's come back to help out his father's construction business for a few weeks.  Scott has never forgotten Emily or the way he felt about her.  He'd like to be with her again, but the secret that sent him running is still there.

Emily was stunned to see Scott appear at the bakery.  He hasn't been back or even contacted her since he left.  Seeing him again brings back all the pain of his departure, but there's also a part of her that still cares.  Her life hasn't been easy since the death of her father in a construction accident at one of Scott's father's sites. With no insurance money coming, Emily's mom had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.  Then her high school romance ended abruptly.  There was no money for her to go to college, so she has stayed in their small town, and now works as a baker for Scott's sister.  She's finally ready to follow her own dreams and has applied for culinary school.  Even though she knows Scott isn't staying, she can't help thinking of what might have been, especially when they start spending time together again.  Just when she's fallen for him all over again, he finally breaks his silence and tells her why he left.  She's furious that he kept it from her all these years and doesn't know if she can forgive him for what was done or that he didn't tell her to start with.  Emily spent a fair amount of time fighting her feelings because of the hurt and anger from the way he left.  I thought her reactions to his reappearance were very realistic.  I especially loved the pie throwing contest, it must have been very satisfying for her.  It was interesting to see how her sister started out being anti-Scott but by the end was pointing out how much he loved Emily.

Scott had been so in love with Emily back then and didn't understand why his parents had a problem with him dating her. When he found out why he was devastated.  He had a big blowout with his parents and left home that night.  He hasn't been back in twelve years.  He now owns his own construction business in Seattle, but came back to Maple Woods when his sister begged for his help.  He still wants nothing to do with his father, but consents to staying long enough to get the library project started.  Seeing Emily again makes him remember just how much he loved her, and still does.  He's drowning in the guilt he feels over what happened to her father and for leaving without telling her why, but he wants to spend time with her.  As he finds ways to be with her he also realizes he can't hide the truth from her any longer.  It was a difficult decision because he knew it could turn her against him. Scott's problem with his parents actions have created a problem between himself and his sister Lucy (who is also Emily's boss).  He doesn't want to cause her to look at them differently so he can't tell her why he refuses to come home.  Though finally sharing with Lucy ends up making a huge difference to his relationship with Emily, I was disappointed that there wasn't really any kind of conversation with his parents.