Years after loss forced him back to his Maine hometown, Sean Galloway believes his life is finally on track. He’s up for a big promotion with a restoration supply company, and planning a wedding with the owner’s daughter. Cassidy Vance fled Maine with a devastating secret. Ten years later, she returns to ask Sean to sign away parental rights to a son he never knew he had. Back when she was … was eighteen, an adoption plan seemed the best decision. But she’s learned it was a fraud, and nine-year-old Jonah may be in danger.
When Sean inserts himself into her undercover investigation in upstate New York, the outcome is nothing either could have imagined.
more
This book is the second in the series, however, I have not read the previous book. After reading Cassie’s story I intend to read the rest of this series.
This was a quick read yet the author does a great job of describing the characters (something I have found to be lacking in some books). There are SPOILERS ahead!
Original Finish is the story of Cassidy and Sean. They were high school sweethearts, one year apart in school. Cassie discovers she’s pregnant and goes to tell Sean only to be told he’s got plans to kick her to three curb! Heartbroken, pregnant and without a clue what to do Cassie leaves Maine and heads to New York City. There she, seemingly serendipitously, meets a lawyer who says he specializes in private adoptions and that he can find a family for her baby. Cassie keeps her pregnancy, the birth of their son, as well as his subsequent adoption a secret from Sean.
Fast forward nine years, Cassie can’t get over giving up her son and wonders how he’s doing. Her well meaning friend asks her boyfriend, who is a PI, to look for her son. Hoping that they can provide comfort to Cassie by giving her proof that her son is happy. Instead? He discovers that the man who adopted her son, forged his identity, and is in prison for murdering his wife a month prior and her son is in foster care. Cassie is brought up to speed and leaves NYC to go obtain a waiver of custody from Sean, in Maine, where he happens to be busy planning his wedding to his boss’s daughter.
Sean had been left wondering what had happened to cause Cassidy to disappear from his life, from town, from the face of the earth. Now, she’s back and she has rocked his world. He has a son? He’s in foster care?
Cassie and Sean join forces to fight for their son and in the process they both come to the realization that neither of them ever got over the other. Sean discovers how deceptive his fiance is and kicks her to the curb.
You’ll be rooting for Cassie and Jonah throughout this story, and by the end for Sean too. Contains a Happily Ever After.
A long and winding road… but worth the wait
Original Finish, Book 2 of the King’s Harbor Series by Madeline Olson, is a wonderful and lovely romance with tons of feels and a little of everything that made this book an entertaining read. It’s also stand-alone. I haven’t read book 1 yet, but I will be adding it to my TBR list for sure. Madeline Olson is a new author to me and I have quickly become a fan of her writing.
This fast-paced book has a very interesting plot and captivating characters. The plot kept me fully engaged and I really appreciated the fast pace of this story, I never felt as though I were missing anything. Sean and Cassie come together after nearly a decade apart and without intending to, embark on a second chance as they seek to regain custody of their son. These two are awesome, I loved their self talk as it often made me smile. All of the characters, and there are many, are engaging and equally wonderful. I’m so looking forward to more King’s Harbor series books.
Overall, a really wonderful second chance love story with an equally wonderful HEA for this couple, finally arriving at what should have been their original finish – together forever.
I read an ARC of this book from Hidden Gems and voluntarily share my review.