Worth the Fall by Claudia Connor (review)

I am pretty chary of giving out 5 star reviews.  My index is whether I get caught up in the story every time I pick it up...even if I am just flipping through for some reason (like trying to write a review, lol).  Those are the ones that I go back and re-read passages because I like them so much...this was one those...and it was serendipity, I saw an excerpt somewhere and was intrigued enough to look for the blurb...even though I had tons of books already in line on the review mountain...


                                           


Worth the Fall by Claudia Connor is the delicious first novel in the ‘McKinney Brothers’ series which details the interactions between recently widowed Abby Davis, who is not only six months pregnant, but is also juggling taking care of her four children during their vacation at the beach. SEAL Matt McKinney is torn between the promise he made to his best friend and his growing desire to continue his successful house-flipping enterprise and settle down. His serendipitous encounters with the captivating Davis family only intensifies his dilemma, especially given the conflicting signals he receives from the prickly Abby. His training taught him to never give up, but can he find a path that will allow him to be at peace with all of his decisions?


This impressive contemporary romance features an unlikely heroine who is just as strong in her own right as the hero is. Oddly enough, even though I tend to not like overly self-effacing women, Abby just resonates with me because she doesn’t wallow in the negatives, just keeps pushing on. The adorable children serve as both an emotional addition and a great source of lighthearted interludes in this heart-tugging story. This was an emotional rollercoaster, as I alternated between surreptitiously sniffling and giggling uncontrollably as I read, captivated by the adventures of characters who were so vivid to me that I was actively willing them to let down their walls and admit how vital they were becoming to each other.

I think that I was most enchanted by the contrast of the powerful well-trained and capable SEAL and his ability to communicate on the level of each child, reach them so effortlessly and treat them so tenderly. There is a hilarious scene when a semi-clad doll’s modesty is being protected by her young owner while the hapless SEAL struggles to figure out how to restore the clothing, as well as a deliciously protective interlude involving a kid, chocolate and white pants! This is a story that I will read again and again, just for the sigh-worthy moments, and I anxiously await the explanations for some of the dangling threads that were adeptly woven amongst the adventures so capably described. Fortunately, Matt comes from a large family, and I look forward to learning more about the rest of the siblings!


© Night Owl Reviews 

I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.