Review: Falling for Her Enemy by Victoria James (Still Harbor #2)
Note: This ARC was provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
When Hayden Brooks is approached by a woman with whom he had a one-night stand seven years ago and names him as the father of the daughter she gave up for adoption, he knows he won't rest until he learns the truth. His quest lands him on the other side of the country and the quaint town of Still Harbor is as far from the busy metropolis where he lives and heads his family's multi-million-earning business. Learning more about the little girl who's supposed to be his daughter means he'll have to meet Cassandra's adoptive mother, but Hayden doesn't expect to be as drawn and attracted to beautiful baker Alexandra McAllister as he is from the moment they lock eyes. Soon, Hayden is falling for precocious Cassy and his gut tells him that she's every bit his child. He also finds himself falling for Alex, but Hayden is very much aware that should the paternity prove that he is Cassy's biological father, taking Cassy away from Alex will be enough cause for her to want nothing to do with him at all. Is there a possible happy ending for each one of them?
Falling for Her Enemy is the second book in the Victoria James-penned Still Harbor contemporary romance series and takes place some time after its predecessor, which already gave readers an idea that this sequel would be abut Alex McAllister and her daughter Cassy. The story here was so different from the one that Kate Abbott and Matt Lane shared in Falling for the P.I. and I mean that in a totally good way. The quality of the writing is still as good as ever, and I feel that the storytelling was even better here, with the story flowing seamlessly from start to finish. The threat of someone who wants to find out if Cassy is really his daughter comes in the form of Hayden Brooks and the fact that he can offer everything that Cassy could ever dream because of his financial standing is just one more reason why Alex considers him an enemy. After all, the life Alex has created for Cassy is a good one and the bond they share rivals any other mother-and-child's. Adoption was a means to an end and Alex and Cassy are devoted to each other.
One of the best things about this series is its distinctive cast of memorable characters. Alex was such a great heroine in that she was self-sufficient but leaned on her sisters whenever she needed them. She was a wonderful mom to Cassy and even though it took a good while for her to trust Hayden, she saw the kind of person he was instead of focusing on him as the man who could take away her daughter. Even if Hayden did come off as somewhat distant and cold in the beginning, the man simply needed to reach his own comfort level. After all, it isn't every day that you realize that you could be in the same town as the daughter you never knew existed. He may be wealthy but he isn't arrogant and his generosity isn't a way for him to manipulate others or to make them feel as if they're beneath him. And then there was dear Cassy, who was difficult to resist whenever she misused a particular word and the fact that she was trying so hard to play matchmaker for both Alex and Hayden made her such an adorable little kid all throughout.
I certainly have no complaints about this book and can't really think of anything that I need to point out in terms of missteps. Victoria James took this up a notch and if I liked the first book, I undoubtedly loved this one. With that little scene involving Alex's other sister Cara Hamilton has me mighty intrigued, what with those comments that both Alex and Kate made. I know that the third book is slated for a 2016 release but I've already added it to my to-be-read list because after reading the first two books, I'm confident that this final addition to an already favorite series will be more than worth the wait. I'm not just highly recommending that you read Falling for Her Enemy, but I'm highly suggesting that you read Falling for the P.I. and read them in order. The connection that Kate, Alex, and Cara have, one that's passed on and shared by their three adoptive daughters--Janie, Cassy, and Beth--is the truest love story in the series and I'm glad each one of them ends up with the best possible guys. I'm giving Falling for Her Enemy five stars. ♥
Release Date: 09 November 2015
Date Read: 09 November 2015
Learn more about Victoria James.
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