A nurse, her puppy… And the family he never thought he’d have? After losing his wife and baby to his best friend, guarded GP Ben Mitchell’s sworn off love. But nurse Toni Butler and her adorable therapy dog Archie are drawing him out of his shell. When a romantic weekend in Vienna leads to an unexpected pregnancy, Ben’s painfully reminded of the family he lost. What will it take for Ben to … take for Ben to believe this family’s for keeps?
“…Ms. Hardy has definitely penned a fascinating read in this book…. With the dialogue, it was entertaining, fast-paced and drew me in right from the moment the hero and heroine meet…the romance was worth the wait….”
— Harlequin Junkie on Heart Surgeon, Prince…Husband!
“This was an emotional and riveting tale…and I loved the way…the chemistry between this couple was instant and strong. However, it was the compelling dialogue and the hero and heroine’s growing relationship that had me reading quickly….”
— Harlequin Junkie on Unlocking the Italian Doc’s Heart
more
Terrific book about two people who have been hurt in the past and are reluctant to risk their hearts again. I enjoyed seeing both Toni and Ben overcome their fears and open their hearts.
Ben moved to the small village of Great Crowmell for a fresh start. After finding out that his wife and the baby she carried belonged to his best friend, he needed to get away from the memories and the pitying looks. He has no interest in entering any new relationships.
Toni moved back to Great Crowmell to care for her grandmother and stayed after her grandmother’s death. After a series of relationships with men who turned out to be selfish jerks, Toni no longer trusts her judgment and has sworn off men.
Ben and Toni got off to a rough start when he tripped over her therapy dog, Archie. After Ben comments about dogs not belonging there, and Toni snaps back, both retreat to their corners. Fortunately, neither one holds a grudge, and they clear the air the next day. Toni is a friendly and kind-hearted woman and wants Ben to feel at home in the village. After inviting him to dinner, where he gets to know both her and Archie, the beginnings of a friendship form. I loved watching Toni and Ben spend time together, getting to know each other, and sharing the hurts of their pasts.
Neither expected the sparks of attraction they felt. After an evening of Ben comforting Toni after losing a friend turned into much more, they had to make a decision. Do they allow past hurts to rule their lives, or take a chance and explore whatever is between them? I loved how they were open and honest about their wants and needs and decided to move their relationship ahead slowly. It was sweet to see the things they did together, from dinners to sightseeing to quiet movie nights. Their romantic weekend away was incredible.
Everything moved along quite nicely, then Toni became pregnant. I wanted to shake Ben, who let his past get into his head and cause him to make a boneheaded mistake. I ached for Toni, who suddenly felt her past happening all over again. Fortunately, Ben’s idiocy didn’t linger too long, helped along by an emergency with his sister’s family. I loved Ben’s big moment at the end, with his heartfelt apology and admission of his feelings. I didn’t blame Toni for being wary at first and making him work for her forgiveness. The epilogue was fantastic, with a nice little twist at the end.
I loved the view of life in Great Crowmell. Like small towns all over, everybody seems to know everybody else and all of their business. I loved how quickly Ben felt at home. I would love to live/visit there myself, especially during their nineteen-forties weekend. Archie was another big part of the book. His obvious joy at being around people and ability to sense what they needed made him an excellent therapy dog. I loved how he turned Ben from an anti-dog person to a dog lover.
On a personal note, I loved Ben and Toni’s trip to Vienna. Having been to the SiSi Museum, I agree entirely with Toni’s love of what she saw. From their carriage tour to the concert to the pastries they ate, it all brought back wonderful memories.