Series:
The Paradise (Book 1)
Two and a half months have passed since Brodie Carter
showed up in Spanish Fort, Texas to meet the father who never knew he even
existed. Well, family is family, and Brodie is welcomed in (once everyone gets
over their shock). Getting to know his seven half sisters and all their spouses
has not been an easy job. Add to that Audrey Ross, the obnoxious, sassy,
overbearing woman who owns the orchard next to his. Between Audrey haggling
Brodie to buy his property and his matchmaking Great Aunt Bernie setting him up
on flop dates, nothing seems to be going right.
And then a tornado demolishes the house Brodie and his
brothers live in and everything they own. At least the orchard and farm are
left untouched. Luckily, his new family offers up rooms to Brodie and his
brothers while they work to rebuild. They move into the former brothel known as
the Paradise, and try to get on with their lives.
Audrey claims the storm is an omen that Brodie should
sell, but that's the last thing he's going to do. No one boils his blood like
she does, and Aunt Bernie can see it. Can Brodie and Audrey stop arguing over
their properties long enough to realize the spark that's growing between them?
Fun enemies-to-lovers, family-centric romance. In the previous
series (which I haven't read yet), Brodie came to Spanish Fort to find his
biological father. Once Joe Clay and his family got over the shock, they
embraced Brodie and his two brothers. Brodie bought an organic orchard that was
once part of a feuding family's land. He's determined to make a go of the
orchard, but matters are complicated by the woman who owns the land next door,
and a tornado that levels his house. His family invites Brodie, Knox, and Tripp
to move into their home until they rebuild.
Audrey wants that land back in the family. The backstory
of how it came to be split was a vital part of the story. She constantly
harasses Brodie about selling to her. Audrey's great aunt Hettie lives with her
and hates Brodie's family with every fiber of her being. She pushes Audrey even
harder to get the land back.
Audrey and Brodie's encounters are antagonistic from the
start. She pressures him to sell to her, telling him he'll never succeed, and
mocks his organic principles. But underneath the antagonism are sparks of
attraction that neither wants to acknowledge - until they can no longer resist.
Their interactions are particularly enjoyable, especially in scenes like
Brodie's blind date and the encounter with the stray pot-bellied pig. Their
antagonism diminishes as they get to know each other, and friendship grows,
with stronger feelings not far behind. I appreciated how they took their time
getting to know each other, ensuring their feelings were genuine rather than
reactionary.
Their lives and relationship become complicated by their
families. Brodie's Aunt Bernie is an unrepentant matchmaker, determined to find
him a wife - anyone except her nemesis's niece, Audrey. Audrey's Aunt Hettie is
even more vocal about her disgust for Aunt Bernie, who used to own a bar, and whose
family owns the house that used to be a high-end bordello a hundred years ago. I
enjoyed watching Audrey and Brodie navigate the obstacles and find their path
to happiness. There are twists involving Hettie and Bernie that caught me by surprise
and added both tension and hilarity to the story. I liked the ending and look
forward to seeing more of Brodie and Audrey in future books.
Though I haven't read the previous series, Sisters of the
Paradise, I never felt lost. References to the past usually came with enough
explanation to understand the connection. I thoroughly enjoyed the family
relationships on Brodie's side of the family. I liked how the sisters and their
husbands jumped in to help when the tornado leveled Brodie's house, including assisting
with the rebuilding. Aunt Bernie was a hoot with her matchmaking attempts, and
her feud with Hettie provided some wild scenes. I liked Brodie's brothers. The
relationships among the three brothers were close, giving support, teasing, and
the occasional kick in the pants. I loved how they were just as welcomed into the
family as Brodie, even though they are not blood-related. I look forward to Tripp
and Knox's stories.
For Audrey, the family mainly includes just her and Aunt
Hettie. There is a cousin that Audrey has little contact with because of the
family feud. Audrey promised her uncle she'd care for Hettie after his death,
but it isn't always easy. Hettie isn't just contrary; she can be downright
mean, which frequently frustrates Audrey. I liked seeing Audrey stand up to her
in the end, but I didn't like Hettie's reaction or her actions. That's one
character I wouldn't mind never seeing again.
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