Blood Is Thicker Than Ink. . . Norah O’Malley has been alone for a long time. It’s been ten years since her father and four brothers shipped her off to be raised by her aunt. Seven months since she’s seen the guy who got her pregnant–who still doesn’t know. And it’s two weeks since she came home to Chicago and discovered none of her family wants to talk–or listen. She never expected to walk …
She never expected to walk into a tattoo shop seven months pregnant and get her socks knocked off by instant attraction. She can’t even see her socks. But Kai Ellis is big and gruff and sexy as hell, and if he has a past, well, so does she. Even more, Kai knows how to listen so that Norah feels just a little less alone . . .
All the chemistry in the world can’t help Norah make her decisions. And no sizzle of desire will make Kai believe in happy endings. But a little time with someone who understands might just change everything . . .
more
When Norah O’Malley finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, she knows that there is no way she can stay in Boston and continue to go to school, so she reluctantly packs her belongings and heads home. Showing up in her current predicament and facing her family has her completely on edge, she knows her brothers are going to want answers…answers she’s just not ready to give. The father of her child is not in the picture and she knows her brothers are not going to take the news well, but it is what it is, and they are just going to have to except that fact. Being back in her family home, after ten years away, is a little surreal, and extremely lonely, with no friends to speak of, and being trapped at home with a crabby ailing father, she is going stir crazy and in need of something to do. Luckily her brother’s boss needs someone to help care for his mother, and he’s willing to give Norah a shot at the job, and the minute she meets her new boss, she knows she’d like a shot at something else too… his heart!
Kai Ellis has turned over a new leaf, and is trying to keep his life on the straight and narrow, and his soul focus is his new business. He doesn’t have time for dating, or relationships, and when the mood strikes he prefers to keep his interactions with women on more of a no strings attached nightly basis… but that all changes when he meets Norah! He hires to to help care for his mother, and the more time she spends in his home, the more he looks forward to her being there… and the more he doesn’t want her to leave. He knows he is no good for her, he has a checkered past, and a girl like her deserves far more than he can offer her, but for some reason she doesn’t seem to care, nor does she take a hint when he tries to push her away… she wants him and she just isn’t willing to take “no” for an answer!
This was my first experience with this authors work and I have to say I was truly impressed with what I found! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Kai and Norah’s story, it captivated my attention right from the start and had me flying through the pages as fast as I could swipe them. I was really impressed with the writing style, and how easy it was for me to just fall right into the story. and I could tell that Ms. Schroeder put a lot of time and care into developing these characters. My only complaint would be that they didn’t act on their undeniable chemistry as soon as I would have liked them too… none the less I really enjoyed this first read, and look forward to reading more from this author very soon!
ARC requested through NetGalley, and kindly provided by Kensington Books in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.