Vince Morrison, known to most people as Van.Good with his hands, be it crafting a piece of wood, playing his guitar, or pleasing a lover—he excels at them all.Friendly, flirty, and talented, he’s cool under pressure, and hot everywhere else.But he keeps his heart closed, even as his interest and emotions are tested.Olivia Rourke works alongside him at BAM.Talented, private, and intriguing, she … alongside him at BAM.
Talented, private, and intriguing, she touches something inside him he can’t deny.
He wants to know her. In every possible way.
He wants her to know him.
Her past tells her to stay clear. Van is everything that she wants, and exactly what she cannot have. She has someone else to think of who is more important.
Can either of them risk their hearts?
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Van is the fifth novel in the Vested Interest series and it’s an amazing addition to that series! This book is another Melanie Moreland book that I added to my favorites-shelf. I loved so much about this book, from that hot cover to that lovely epilogue. The progress was great and I didn’t want to stop reading.
I absolutely love Van and Olivia. Van is hardworking, sweet, caring, protective, reliable, talented and strong. He works for BAM as a carpenter and a foreman. When he needs to do something, he’ll do it. Van has felt something for Olivia for a long time, but his past has been keeping him from giving it a shot. Finding real love hasn’t been easy, but Van will find it with Olivia. Van deserves all the love and happiness he’ll find in this book.
Olivia is a kindhearted, talented, smart, fierce and loving woman. She works as a designer and she works a lot, but she loves her job. Olivia sees Van at work. She likes being around him. She also likes watching him play the guitar and perform on stage. Olivia has been hurt in love before and she has someone to think about before giving away her heart, but her heart is safe with Van. She knows he’s different. Olivia, too, deserves all the love and happiness she’ll have at the end.
I’m really loving the Vested Interest series and the BAM family. I fell in love with each couple. It wasn’t any different with Van and Olivia. They are a solid, loveable and strong couple. Nothing can separate them. Van and Olivia have great friends! The secondary characters are amazing. Little Sammy is so cute and adorable. I loved her bond with Van. He would do anything for Sammy. I’m already hoping for another book in this series and I know whose book I want.
Although I am still fairly new to the work of Melanie Moreland, Van has earned his place on my list of all time favorite book boyfriends. Van and Olivia are no strangers as the two work together at BAM. What would surprise them is the emotional pull they have toward each other. They of course must not act on these feelings as they are coworkers nor do they share them with any one else. Each holds a secret that keeps them apart and alone. Will there ever be a time for these two to share their thoughts, their secrets, their attraction? There are surprises at every turn and an overwhelming desire for an HEA for this couple.
Although I am still fairly new to the work of Melanie Moreland, Van has earned his place on my list of all time favorite book boyfriends. Van and Olivia are no strangers as the two work together at BAM. What would surprise them is the emotional pull they have toward each other. They of course must not act on these feelings as they are coworkers nor do they share them with any one else. Each holds a secret that keeps them apart and alone. Will there ever be a time for these two to share their thoughts, their secrets, their attraction? There are surprises at every turn and an overwhelming desire for an HEA for this couple.
Two people with their hearts broken before, can they get past the demons of their past and fall in love? Van tells the charming story of Van and his Liv. I love this sweet addition to the ‘Vested Interest Series’, it made me giggle and swoon at times.
“She had been on my mind all night. Why I had no idea, but for some reason, the past couple of months, she’d slipped into my thoughts more than I cared to admit.”
Van is a hardworking, trustworthy guy. He’s been with BAM for some time now, and he loves his work. While he’s good with wood and dealing with clients, Van’s love life is not so good. He has been hurt in the past, and as a result he keeps away from women. Keeping away from his colleague Liv however is not possible. The sweet, shy woman awakens a lot of feelings in him, and he can’t ignore them. But, like himself, Liv doesn’t have a good track record with men. She wants to keep Van at bay, but she too can’t resist the gentle giant.
“Van made me happy. Were we more attached than I realized, as I had thought earlier? I thought, perhaps, I had my answer.”
Van and Liv, just swoon. Both are so lovable, but both think they’re not worthy of somebody to lean on, not worthy of love. They’re lonely souls, who bury themselves into work, keeping other people at a safe distance. But both are worth so much more, they deserve to find their One. My heart hurts for Van, what happened to him was horrible. I just want to hug Liv and tell her not all men are bad. Van and Liv together? I love them, they are perfect for each other.
Van is book 5 in the ‘Vested Interest Series’ and takes the reader back to the world of BAM. But this time, we’re not in the boardrooms. We get to see the craftsmen and -women who make BAM the success it is. Like in other books by Melanie Moreland, most of the story is told from the Hero’s POV, and Van is no different. Van is a sweet man, who deserves the love of a sweet woman. And in Liv, he finds everything.
“Love filled our hearts. It was my dream brought to life. I met Liv’s gaze, her beautiful eyes soft with emotion. She was my dream.”
Be still my Heart. This book is perfect on every level. Melanie Moreland you lady, did such an amazing job with tbis book. It deserves TEN STARS.
Where do I start because no matter how Breathtaking or Beautiful this story is, you understand till you read it.
This book is about healing broken souls and hearts. It is about showing us that love can come tp at any age don’t ever give up but most importantly it’s about showing us that familu isnt always blood. Ppl can love unconditionally even if their DNA does match.
Most importantly being a sperm sure as fuck doesn’t make you a father.
Van and Liv are such an amazing couple. They are mature people. These two come with such horrid pasts and fears. Their feelings over come all that and watching them fall inlove was Magical.
Sammy for me was my Favourite. Such a beautifully sweet Kid.
Seeing our BAM boys pull together to help Liv and Van was awesome. Its always great to get little Glimpse of them.
Grab this book ladiea I promise you won’t sorry…
This series is getting better and better…
I just love how much lovely characters Melanie Moreland can create and how wonderful this word is.
I wish I could meet them all!
Van and Livy did not have it easy, they are more mature and have been suffered their share of pain. Livy is a single mother and takes care of her adorable daughter as well as is a competent professional and an important asset to BAM, so is Van and he is so so interesting.
My favorite scene is him singing for her and you will adore this lovely couple who overcome so much to be together.
Every time I pick up a book from this author, I find more characters to fall in love with. I love the chemistry and just the over all feeling I get when I read a Melanie Moreland book.
I really enjoyed this sweet, poignant, and steamy forbidden romance. Van and Olivia are coworkers at BAM. Van is drawn to this sweet, smart, sexy woman, but stays away because she is younger and a single mom. But the more time he spends with Olivia and her daughter, Sammy, the more he is determined to make them a family. Olivia has major trust issues and doesn’t make it easy. When her past comes back to haunt her, she is afraid she will lose everything she loves. This is a great addition to the Vested Interest series. We get to see all the BAM characters we have grown to love and Van, Olivia, and Sammy are definitely new favorites! This sweet, charming, emotional romance is a must read!
It was a delight to return to the world of BAM that we know and love. Van is a construction worker for the company who not only manages a number of projects but likes to step in and help as well. He has loved creating wood projects with his hands since he was a child and that has only grown stronger as he gets older.
Liv is a single mother to her four year old daughter Sammy and is the head of the design team for BAM. They have always worked well together and although they are attracted to each other they have never crossed the line from co-workers to friends.
As the feelings between them grow they realize that they are no longer to just be associates and that they want more. They know they should move slowly as they not only have their own pasts to deal with but more important they need to protect Sammy from what may or may not happen between them.
This was a sweet and sexy story about a man with a huge heart who had become a bit of loner until Liv and Sammy entered his life. Liv has her own painful past but once she gets to know the real Van, he steals her heart and Sammy is a scene stealer. Their journey isn’t without its ups and downs but there is no doubting that they were meant to be.
Oh Van. He is one super cute book hero, who finally gives in to his office crush on Olivia. Well, she is a bit guarded, also because of her little girl, but opens up more and more over time.. and Van is taking them into his life, making them his along the way.
Their story is sweet, adorable, if anything a bit too perfect. But so adorable, and loved seeing the other guys from BAM!
Well Melanie Moreland has done it again with book 5 in the Vested Interest series. Van is another wonderful book that is a complete standalone but we do get to see old friends throughout this story from the previous books. To me this book was all about family and being able to open your heart to accepting the new and unknown to ultimately make life better. Van and Liv both work for BAM in the construction side of the business and they finally decide to open up about their feelings for each other but nothing is ever so simple with this author, so of course we are given twists and turns that make this story so much better and will keep you sitting on the edge of your seat. Both Van and Liv have past heartache and heartbreak to work through while discovering their new feelings for each other and then there is Sammy who brings a light to each and every person she is around and will steal your heart from the first time you meet her. This book gave me all the feels and I loved everything about it. I can’t wait for more books in this series because I don’t want to let the characters go!
Where do I begin with this review…. I have to say that this is the first book I have read in this series and I am going to binge read the previous books because DAMN this book blew my mind! I mean Melanie knows how to write a story that grips your heart and has you reading each page faster and faster just to get to the end to see what happens and oh man that Epilogue that was killer! I love a good epilogue but this one was PHENOMENAL!
Van and Olivia are an amazing couple. They work together at BAM and Van is very closed off staying to himself working and when he isn’t working he is singing and playing his guitar. He secretly has a crush on Olivia but he has been hurt so he stays closed off and keeps his emotions in check until one day Olivia’s daughter changes things for them.
Olivia’s daughter has won over Van’s heart and she opens the door for Olivia to finally admit that she has had a crush on Van and wants him but she is scared because she has to take care of her daughter and she comes first. But with her daughter falling in love with Van and building a relationship Olivia opens up and her and Van and her daughter become a family.
Van is book five in the Vested Interest series by Melanie Moreland. I loved this book so much. It can easily be read as a stand alone. I have not read any of the previous books in this series. As they normally do, characters do recur in each book and I find myself wanting to go back now and get some of their stories. But believe me when I say that in this book, one hundred percent of your attention and love will be on these two main characters.
Vance (Van) Morrison works for BAM, a huge land development business. A big part of Van’s job is overseeing his projects. But, he never hesitates to pick up his tools when an extra hand is needed. Van loves working with wood, he was taught by his father. So if picturing this huge hot hunk of man in a hard hat and tool belt isn’t enough, on the side, Van sings and plays guitar in a band. I’ll wait here while you take a few quick breaths into a brown paper bag.
Olivia (Liv) Rourke has worked for BAM for a little over a year as the head of their design team. She is a single parent to an adorable four year old daughter, Samantha (Sammy.) Prepare yourself for cuteness overload because this little girl steals the show.
“She was a forever, not a right now. And I didn’t do forever. I tried it once and it failed.”
Both Van and Liv have the utmost respect for each other and both have secret crushes on each other. But, they keep things strictly professional. They both carry the scars, visible and invisible, of their pasts. Neither of them wants to risk their hearts again and Liv has to protect her daughter. But, a chance meeting, and an innocent invitation from Sammy, makes them both question their resolve, and sets in motion events that will forever change their lives.
“There was something about her that drew me to her, and it had only grown in the months I had known her, no matter how I tried to fight it, or deny it”
Once Van and Liv decide to give things a chance between them, their feelings grow quickly. Maybe they felt this way all along and it just took this long to acknowledge it. Still, they had to walk a fine line between their professional lives and their private one. Van was a huge man and little Sammy so small. There is nothing sexier than seeing a big, burly man sit and play with a child. Van had such a connection to little Sammy. I think the first time she slipped her little hand into his big one, she became his.
“I knew once I fell for him, there would be no turning back and life would never be the same.”
Of course, there are obstacles that threaten their futures. I think what I loved about this book, though, is that no matter the challenges they faced, it didn’t distance them from each other, but drove them closer. Made Van more determined to protect the two people that have become so important to him, his girls.
“I’ve got you Livvy. Both of you.”
I already said it once but it needs repeating. I loved this book. I loved these two so much. It’s sexy and steamy, sweet, endearing, and just wonderful. You won’t be forgetting these characters anytime soon. Don’t even get me started on the epilogue. It was wonderful. Melanie made my eyes water more than once in this book but they were happy tears! Have I convinced you yet? I hope so. Either start here or go back to the beginning of the series, either one. Just don’t miss this wonderful book.
“With him, I was home.”
As with all the Vested interest books, this story had me falling for the characters a little more, there are elements of danger and suspense wrapped up in the romance and Sammy brings a lightness to it.
Van is the full package, strong and sure of what he wants, very protective but willing to make compromises, and so adorable when he interacts with children. Liv is a single working mum, she comes across as strong and independent, but there is a vulnerability not too far below the surface. Both characters have been hurt by their pasts but their attraction to one another is undeniable, you will be rooting for them.
The epilogue had me all kinds of wobbly, it was heart-warming and sweet.
What more can I say – But LOVED this handsome man — All the Swoons!
I am going to break my rule and start with: If you’ve not read Melanie Moreland’s Vested Interest series and want to start, here is a great place. This story not only is in the heart of the Vested Interest world, it is the heart of these characters. Ms. Moreland’s storytelling shines with this friends to lovers story. You’ll be back to tell me you’ll be binging on the rest, because seriously – how can you resist engaging writing as this.
If you are a fan, you will not be disappointed – you’ll be dancing in the book aisles with how swoony and touching this story truly is.
Yes, this is romance at it’s finest as Van and Liv find their way to the HEA they deserve. However, there is one small element not to be ignored – Sammy. The story unfolds with the concern that faces so many modern relationships. How to blend families. To be honest, I’m not sure who Van falls in love with first – Liv or Sammy. But when this man falls, he falls hard. And no one or nothing is going to stop this loyal and protective man from making his family safe and happy.
For those of us already in love with the characters from the Vested Interest stories, Melanie Moreland does not disappoint as she has beloved characters return and visit as this love story unfolds.
This story is every reason why I love and adore the worlds and characters Melanie Moreland creates. It’s contemporary romance at its finest effort of storytelling. I recommend you buy this treasure and binge on it today! PS: Ms Moreland once again proves why she is the queen of epilogues. *heart eyes abound*
5 plus stars and personal favorite!
It is always great to re-visit the boys of BAM, and this fifth installment in the series is no exception. In fact, it might just be my favorite of all of them. As with the other characters in the series, Van is a swoon-worthy, hunk of a man and Olivia is the type of woman you want to have as a friend. The author has a way of writing that makes the reader become invested in the backstories as much as the “present day” issues. It all seems natural and organic. I would have loved this book anyway because I am a fan of the series. But without giving the plot away (I hope) the discussion about adoption hit very close to the heart. We adopted our son when he had just turned four, and I was able to 100% relate to this part of the book. In fact, it all sounded very familiar and personal, so kudos to the author for the research (or however she gained the knowledge) on adoption, because it was real and accurate and it brought me to tears. Another five-star entry in the Vested Interest series. This review was based on a complimentary pre-release copy.
Favorite Quotes:
Between them her tea set was arranged on the table, many of her stuffed animals gathered around it… Van sat on the floor, his legs crossed, a few animals on his lap. A blue boa was draped around his neck, and a tiara sat askew on his head, the plastic gems glittering in the light. He held out his cup, his pinkie extended, no doubt having been schooled in proper tea party etiquette by Sammy, murmuring his thanks for more “tea.”
Call it experience or friendly advice, but if you’re gonna kiss your girl in the office, make sure to wipe the lip gloss off your mouth before pretending it never happened… Pink isn’t really your color.
Hal smiled. It wasn’t a pleasant smile, but rather the kind which happens right before the monster eats you.
My Review:
Van, both the book and the character, were perfection. This deftly written story is a supreme example of my favorite type of book and reason for reading. The premise was relevant, interesting, and entertaining and cast with characters who were realistically flawed while totally appealing and disarmingly endearing. As expected, Ms. Moreland’s storylines were artfully crafted and expertly paced while tapping all the feels and filling my heart with a glitter bomb of delight. And bonus round, the enticing and alluring main characters were gratefully supportive, passionate, and nurturing towards each other rather than engaged in constant conflict or battling their attraction. I was totally enamored and thoroughly smitten with the thoughtful and tender care the gentle giant Van extended toward the women in his life. I have fallen head-over-heels with every book in this divinely written series featuring the men of BAM and hope it continues into perpetuity. Melanie Moreland has mad skills.
4 Stars!
Vince Morrison aka Van is a 39 yr. old single guy living in Toronto. He works for a successful company called BAM where he mostly dealt with the land development side of things, where he enjoyed flipping houses, custom woodwork, and overseeing crews. He’d always been able to build or create anything and loved having a job where he could do demolition and rebuilding. Van often worked alongside the head of their design team Olivia Rourke. She’d joined their team over a year ago, and was in charge of the decorating. As a designer she took care of all the aspects of the final look. They worked well together as they kept busy with their crews and various new projects.
Van had been intrigued by Liv’s talent and beauty from the moment he met her, but had labeled her off limits. As his co-worker he could never act on his attraction. Their relationship had always been strictly professional, but lately something had shifted between them. He was even more aware of her and didn’t know if he could hold back any longer. He’d always been a bit of a loner and didn’t do relationships, but he wanted to explore what was between them. They shared a connection that just felt tight, but just because Van wants something more with her, that doesn’t mean Liv is ready. She couldn’t deny she was drawn to Van, but she had a troubled, messy past that made her overly cautious. She had other priorities and trust issues, but soon Van breaks through her walls. This gentle giant went from co-worker to friend, to lover and protector in the blink of an eye. She just couldn’t resist this massive, beautiful man with a compassionate soul and a heart of gold.
Van is book 5 in the Vested Interest series. He was super swoony. I really enjoyed this story and love this series of close friends that are like one big family. I liked getting more of all the other men too, and look forward to more books in this series!
Van is the fifth book in Vested Interest. Can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend starting this great series at the beginning. I liked the the story, it has wonderful characters who are family to eachother, drama, so much emotion, laughs, and scorching chemistry. Van and Olivia are likeable, their both hard workers, honest, and caring. Add in little Mouse and you have a hit. Secondary characters were great too. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
This is the fifth book in this phenomenal series, and is Van and Olivia’s story. Olivia is a single mom with a beautiful little girl, and she has worked with Van for the past year at BAM. These two have pasts which had defined them into becoming the strong people they are today. These two have an undeniable chemistry between them, but will they act on this? This is a beautifully written story which is heart-warming, humorous, steamy, and filled with love, which all had me totally captivated throughout this addictive page turner, and I cannot wait to read more form this talented author, whose work I highly recommend for all.