He’d do anything for his son… …Including returning to the town he left behind. Valentine Bay’s the perfect place for real estate developer Roman Marek to raise his infant son. But when he snaps up the charming local theater, he doesn’t bargain for tempestuous director Hailey Bravo. Hailey won’t let Roman wreck the thing she holds most dear–and she’s certainly gotten under Roman’s … under Roman’s notoriously thick skin. As the duo spar and sparks fly, Roman’s surprised to find that Hailey’s the perfect missing piece for his family. But how can he convince her that this partnership’s for keeps?
New York Times Bestselling Author
more
HOME FOR THE BABY’S SAKE (The Bravos of Valentine Bay Book #8) by Christine Rimmer is a contemporary romance that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. Even though this is the eighth book in the series each featuring a different sibling, it is easily read as a standalone.
Roman Marek is a hugely successful real estate developer who has relocated with his infant son and mother back to Valentine Bay upon his mother’s request. He purchased the old theater in town and plans to use its bones for a boutique hotel, but it is still in use by the community for local projects until the end of the year.
Hailey Bravo and her sister, Harper run H&H Productions and produce all the community shows and projects in the old theater. She loves the theater, her job and her community. When the theater sale is complete, she is worried about the future plans of the new owner.
When Roman and Hailey meet they are both attracted to each other even with the future of the theater between them, but Roman has been lost in love twice before and is not as open as Hailey even though he believes she is the missing piece for his little family. Roman is going to learn that Hailey cannot be managed like a business problem and he is going to have to learn to trust again for the love he truly wants.
This is a sweet and spicy quick read with plenty of family, love and ultimately a very satisfying HEA. Roman is a complex alpha hero who could easily run over a heroine who is not as strong, but Hailey has him matched with her strength, love and understanding. The sex scenes are realistic and not gratuitous. All the secondary characters add to the depth of the story and are not just fillers especially the secondary story revolving around Roman’s mother. I love the Bravo family and really need to check out more of this series.
I recommend this contemporary romance for a well written and heartfelt HEA!
“Home for the Baby’s Sake” by Christine Rimmer reads as a complete standalone, which is perfect for readers (like me) who haven’t yet had a chance to pick up the earlier books in the Bravos of Valentine Bay mini-series. There were a few mentions of past events, but the author provided plenty of background and context, so I never felt like I had started reading in the middle of a story.
Main characters Roman Marek and Hailey Bravo were both quite likeable and sympathetic, and their chemistry was excellent from the start. As a wealthy, successful businessman, Roman was used to getting what he wanted. He pursued Hailey relentlessly, but she kept putting him off and made him work to win her over. I really liked that Hailey stood up to Roman and didn’t just go along with all of his demands. She helped him realize that marriage isn’t a business transaction, and that love was an important foundation for their future as a family with his young son, Theo.
I was very surprised by the breast cancer subplot involving Roman’s mother (a content/trigger warning would have been welcomed and appreciated), but I must congratulate the author for the thorough and accurate depiction of modern breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. As a current breast cancer patient, I really appreciated that the facts were presented clearly, correctly and without any apparent intention to shock or frighten readers. (That’s not to say that it isn’t frightening to go through cancer treatment or that cancer isn’t a serious disease, only that it’s possible to discuss the topic without being overly dramatic, and IMO the author did so here.) The author must have done extensive research on this topic, or perhaps works in the healthcare field or has experienced the treatment for herself.
Overall, I enjoyed and would recommend “Home for the Baby’s Sake” for all fans of sweet contemporary romance. I plan to look for the earlier books in this series and would definitely read future books by this author.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
Who is Roman Marek? Why is he in Valentine Bay looking unhappy? Who is Theo? I like him, he’s a cutie! I have to say I really like Sasha! Hailey and Harper are a great pair. How do they know one another and what do they do for a living? Who is Patrick & Irene? How do they play into the whole story of what is happening in Valentine Bay? What do we learn? Man, I was ready to throttle Roman often throughout this story! Had I been a character in the story, I probably would have, multiple times. May have even up arrested for homicide. I love Hailey’s stick-with it-ness that she shows us. Her never give up attitude was wonderful to read! Enjoy the story!
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT from Netgalley FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin’ With M. Brennan.
Home for the Baby’s Sake by Christine Rimmer
Hailey Bravo and Roman Marek are the main characters. This is a Bravo Book.
Hailey meets Roman after he buys the theater that she is working at and decides that he wants to turn into something else. They clash over this. She finds out that his mother talked him into buying the theater for her and that she wants the theater to stay the same. Hailey finds out that he has a son Theo from a previous marriage and falls in love with Theo and Roman. Roman wants a marriage based on mutual respect and caring and Hailey wants to be in love and for Roman to love her. It was a very good book and I would recommend to anyone looking for a good book to read.
“Home for the Baby’s Sake” by Christine Rimmer is the 8th book in the Bravos of Valentine Bay series. This is the story of Hailey Bravo & Roman Marek. Hailey & her sister Harper owns H&H Productions who has a contract with the Valentine Bay Arts Council to put on various performances. The owner of the theater recently dies and everyone is worried about what will happen to the theater. The theater is sold and the new owner has agreed to keep the contract with the Arts Council to the end of the year, but January 1st he has big plans for the property. Unbeknownst to Hailey as she is working on stage she meets Roman and they have instant chemistry. Roman doesn’t tell her he is the new owner of the theater when he asks her out to dinner. Hailey agrees to dinner and even gives her his phone number. Instead of telling her he is the new owner he states they should get married. After several days Roman doesn’t call Hailey is upset till she learns that he is the new owner of the theater. She confronts him and he states marry me and the theater is yours. Hailey doesn’t want a business agreement for marriage she wants love. Can Roman give Hailey what she needs? Can Love win out? Read “Home for the Baby Sake” you will not be disappointed I certainly wasn’t.
Really enjoyed this 7th story in The Bravos of Valentines Bay series by Ms Rimmer! Although part of a series, each book stands alone. Roman Marek returns to Valentines Bay as the owner of the community theater building which puts him in conflict with Hailey Bravo, the theater director. He plans to repurpose the theater as he continues to run. his real estate business and raises his infant son. This book tells their story of attraction, conflicts, family relationships, & love. Two strong personalities in conflict brings about all kinds of situations for the reader to appreciate especially since the hero & heroine are strongly attracted to each other. No spoilers! Highly recommend this and the other books in this series! Looking forward to the next books about the Bravo family!
I think this is the best book Christine has written so far and I have read a lot of her books over the years. No lie, I was reading this in bed while drinking a cup of tea and ended up spitting tea all over said bed as I was hysterically laughing. I highly recommend this book.
Roman Marek is a businessman. He has come back to his hometown of Valentine Bay so his son will be raised in a small town, not in Las Vegas where he has made his fortune developing rundown properties. A widower, he wants to keep his heart out of his next relationship, although he is looking for a mother for his son.
Hailey Bravo is the theater manager and all-around community event coordinator. She loves Valentine Bay, where she grew up and where her family lives. She is looking for money to keep the theater up and a man to give her heart to.
Roman is the new owner of the theater and has big plans for it. Those plans don’t include keeping it as the community center. As the manager of the theater, Hailey knows that it IS the center of the Valentine Bay community and needs to stay that way. When they meet, it’s insta-lust for Roman, and I don’t even think I like you, for Hailey.
As Roman and Hailey begin to work on the problem of what to do with the theater, can they break through their pre-conceived notions of each other and realize what their hearts already know?
It’s always fun to see the characters from previous books make appearances in the new book. A fabulous addition to the Bravos of Valentine Bay series.
FABULOUS read!! I loved how Christine Rimmer brings us back to Valentine’s Bay and the Bravo family with Hailey’s story!! It’s a great wounded single dad meets love of his life and wants to fight the attraction kind of story. The biggest problem Roman Malek has is trying to convince Hailey Bravo that she needs to marry him for a theater and NOT love!! Hailey’s holding out for love and it takes him a while to realize his mistake. I need to re-read it to count how many times Roman actually proposes!! I also love how Christine weaves in a long lost love story as a secondary romance – making Roman rethink the error of his actions.
Thanks for this latest edition of the Bravos of Valentine’s Bay, Christine!!
Home for the Baby’s Sake is the eighth book in Christine Rimmer’s The Bravos of Valentine Bay series. I immediately fell in love with both Roman Marek and Hailey Bravo. Their immediate attraction and how they deal with it is what make the story. Add is Roman’s mother and her health issues and this a fabulous read.
Ms. Rimmer is her best when she’s writing a Bravos story. This is a standalone book, but I highly suggest reading the other books in the series. They are just that good! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I received an advance copy of Home for the Baby’s Sake which I chose to read and review.
Terrific book, full of love, laughter, and tears. It had me hooked from the first chapter until I finished it at 3 am. Roman is a real estate developer who lived in Valentine Bay as a child. His memories of the town are not the best, but he gives in to his mom’s suggestion that it would be the best place to raise his son. At her request, he purchases the Valentine Bay theater, though he intends to turn it into a boutique hotel rather than keep it as a theater. Roman wanders into the theater one day while the local theater group is planning their next production and is immediately captivated by director Hailey Bravo.
Hailey and her sister Harper own H & H Productions and run most of the community events that take place at the old theater. She loves the theater and the happiness its events bring to community members. She knows the building has been sold and worries about the fate of both the building and the groups that use it.
The connection between Hailey and Roman is obvious from their first meeting. They both find it easy to talk to each other, and their attraction is immediate. Roman is so determined to get to know Hailey better that he avoids telling her that he is the new owner of the theater. By the time they have finished lunch together, Hailey seriously considers a fling with Roman. Meanwhile, the depth and speed of the connection create panic in Roman, who decides avoidance is his best option. Hailey is hurt and confused when he doesn’t call her, but she is livid when she finds out HE is the new owner. The scene where she confronts him is hilarious, both for her actions and his reactions.
I loved the development of the relationship between Hailey and Roman. After that confrontation, Roman realizes that Hailey is exactly what he wants in his life. However, he and Hailey have opposing desires. Hailey is only interested in a fling. She believes that she had her chance at love and will never feel that way again. Roman proposes marriage on his first date with Hailey. But it is quickly apparent that love is not part of his equation. Roman was burned in his first marriage and no longer trusts the idea of love. His proposal is based solely on compatibility and Hailey’s evident love for his son Theo. He is willing to do anything to get her to say yes, including using the theater. Meanwhile, Hailey’s feelings for Roman begin to grow, but she refuses to believe that love can happen that quickly.
As they spend more time together, Roman and Hailey begin to feel like a family. I got frustrated with Roman because of his unrelenting push for marriage without being willing to admit his feelings for Hailey. Every time he thought about it, his fears of “messy feelings” would get in the way. Hailey knew she loved him and wanted to marry him, but she needed him to be able to say the words. I ached for them both when he pushed her away, giving in to his fears that he would be a terrible husband after all. I felt like Roman earned every bit of the misery he experienced after he sent her away. I loved watching Hailey pull herself together and then decide that she wasn’t going to wait around for him to come to his senses. The scene at the hotel was excellent. I especially loved her response to the text he sent her and the effect it had on him. I loved his “aha” moment as he realized that he had made them both miserable for no reason, and the change in him as he finally broke free of his fears. I got a kick out of Roman’s sudden enthusiasm for compromise.
I loved the secondary characters. The most adorable one was Roman’s son Theo. One of Roman’s most endearing qualities was his unconditional love for his son. Theo was such a well-loved baby that it was easy for him to reflect that love back on others. I loved how he and “Lee-Lee” took to each other. I also loved Roman’s mom, Sasha. She was an amazing woman who raised Roman on her own under challenging circumstances. It was fun to see how well she knew him and how to handle him. I loved how she took to Hailey from the moment Hailey stormed into Roman’s house. Her blatant matchmaking was amusing. Her personal challenges near the end of the book showcased her strength and determination. There was also an unexpected twist that I enjoyed. I liked catching up a little with the other Bravo siblings and especially getting to know Harper a bit better. I’m looking forward to her story.
“Home for the Baby’s Sake” by Christine Rimmer brings us back to the Bravo’s of Valentine Bay and Hailey (Lee-Lee) Bravo’s story. Hailey and her sister Harper run H&H production and both help out with the local theater in Valentine Bay. Roman Markek bought the theater for his Mom Sasha but he’s a real estate developer and has plans for the theater. When he meets Hailey the first day he is in town and they find a spark between them. He proposes marriage right away but she laughs it off. I mean how can you marry someone you’ve just met, and love plays an important part in being married to someone.
I absolutely loved this book. It flows well, the characters are believable, and the romance between Roman and Hailey is wonderful like a Harlequin should be.
Loved this book. Hailey and Roman were the perfect couple in this book (once she came to her senses) cant wait for the next book.
Home for the Baby’s Sake (The Bravos of Valentine Bay Book 9)
Author : Christine Rimmer
5
176 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition
Publication Date: October 1, 2020
Description :
He’d do anything for his son.Including returning to the town he left behind.Valentine Bay’s the perfect place for real estate developer Roman Marek to raise his infant son. But when he snaps up the charming local theater, he doesn’t bargain for tempestuous director Hailey Bravo. Hailey won’t let Roman wreck the thing she holds most dear—and she’s certainly gotten under Roman’s notoriously thick skin. As the duo spar and sparks fly, Roman’s surprised to find that Hailey’s the perfect missing piece for his family. But how can he convince her that this partnership’s for keeps?
MY REVIEW
Home for the Baby’s Sake is the 9th Book in the Bravos of Valentine Bay series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone with no problem at all.
First i want to say I LOVE this cover. The baby is so cute and draws my attention. My mom got me into reading romance books with kids in them. Why ? Because kids always have a way of making things more interesting. Same for the ones that have pets in them. Home for the Baby’s Sake is Roman Marek and Hailey Bravo story. Roman is a real estate developer who moved back to Valentine Bay with his mom and his infant son.There is not anything he would not do for either of them. So when his mom asked him to buy local theater she loved so much he did. When he goes to look at the old theater to see what all he needs to do to it he meets Hailey Bravo. Hailey is not going let him turn the one thing she loves the most into a hotel. Not without a fight. I really liked both Hailey
and Roman .But as with any good romance i found myself wanting to shake both of them at times especially Roman. His constantly asking Hailey to marry him even though they just met got on my nerves. The Book moves at a good pace and all of the characters are well developed and likeable.I loved the authors writing style and the fact she described all of the scenes so well. By the time the story ended I wanted more. Can’t wait to read the other books in this series.This is Definitely a good 5 star read.And as with any book you read PLEASE leave the author a REVIEW. Reviews are very important to authors and is what keeps them writing.Thank you Christine Rimmer
for the chance to read and review this amazing 5 star read for an honest review !
*******Disclosure*******
I received a paper copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own.
*************************
Loved Hailey and Roman’s path to a Happy ever after.
I read this wonderful book in one sitting. Loved it.
Roman buys the Valentine Bay Theater because his Mom tells him she wants him to buy it. He usually does anything he can for his Mom so he buys it. He has plans to turn it into a hotel but his Mother is against that idea and she isn’t the only one.
Roman sees it as an investment that will make him richer and Hailey sees it with her heart. What happens when you have two stubborn people together. A whole lot of laughs and really good book. Check it out I really enjoyed it.
Hailey Bravo loves her job as the theater director of the Valentine Bay Theater. Hailey and her sister Harper who own H & H Productions have a contract with the Valentine Bay Arts Council to put on performances. Everyone is concerned about what will happen with the theater after the death of the previous owner. It is known that the theater has been sold. No one knows the new owner’s plans though. Unbeknownst to Hailey as she works on stage blocking for the upcoming Festival of Fall Revue she meets the new owner Roman Marek. Roman doesn’t tell Hailey he is the new owner. Hailey and Roman experience instant attraction. So much so that Roman tells Hilary, while on their first date, they should get married. That sure wasn’t happening so fast. Hailey lost the love of her life three years previously to stage four leukemia. As attracted as she is to Roman, Hilary isn’t ready to get married. As time goes on though Hilary falls in love with Roman. And his eleven- month-old son Theo too! There’s much to work out between the two of them. Sometimes true love and happiness doesn’t come easily.
Roman Marek has had two previous marriages. His first wife Charlene married him for money and that ended in divorce. He married his second wife Nina when she became pregnant with his son Theo. He knew he didn’t really love her though. Nina died in a car accident when Theo was just one month old. Roman’s mother talked him into moving to Valentine Bay where they had lived before moving to Las Vegas. She talked him into buying the theater because it held such fond memories of the children events she and Roman attended there. He doesn’t think she will approve of his plans to turn the building into a hotel. When Roman first set eyes on Hilary he was very attracted to her. It didn’t take him long to realize she was nothing like his previous wives. She was the real deal, so genuine, caring and strong. He wants to marry her but isn’t so sure about being in love.
Home for the Baby’s Sake by Christine Rimmer is part of The Bravos of Valentine Bay series. I was intrigued by the two main characters Hilary and Roman. They are two dominant personalities capable of knocking heads together and finally finding a happy compromise. I found it amusing how many times Roman tries to get Hilary to marry him. They sure do have some serious bumps on the road to their Happily Ever After. I have enjoyed reading the love stories of the Bravo family so far. Good thing there are more of the siblings’ stories to come.
Another awesome read by Christine Rimmer, this is Haley Bravos story and I was excited to read it. Haley didn’t think she would fall for the man who just bought her beloved local theater. Roman and Haley had sparks right away and I loved his little boy Theo, but when Roman breaks up with Haley, can their love bring them back together?? Well, you’ll have to read this awesome book to find out. Ms. Rimmer does it again with another amazing read.