Romance

Good book. Alex is about to have her dreams come true as the head chef of a new restaurant in town, as long as the construction of the kitchen gets done on time. Sam has been hired to finish the kitchen. There's a heat that's obvious between them from the moment they meet. Alex sees no problem getting involved with Sam. She doesn't do commitments and he's only in town for a short time. Then she discovers that he and his son are moving to town permanently and he's interested in more than short term.

I loved Sam. He's a great dad who wants a fresh start for himself and his son. His wife died a couple years ago and then he discovered that his father-in-law was a crooked contractor. Now he's looking forward to living in a small town where people care for each other and look out for each other. He isn't really interested in a new relationship since he's going to be busy setting up his business and taking care of his son. He's attracted to Alex as soon as he meets her and looks forward to getting to know her better. He likes the way she's direct about what she wants. He enjoys her sense of humor and discovers that under her brash exterior is a very kindhearted woman. It's not too long before he's starting to think of Alex in longer terms, but he can't get her to agree. Every time he thinks he's making some progress she pushes him away. He senses that there is a deep pain that keeps her from accepting the idea of a future with him. I really liked the way that he kept trying to get close to Alex. He knew he was falling for her and he was pretty sure that she felt the same but he was having problems getting past her walls. Even when he tried to stay away from her he was aware of what she was doing. I loved his final attempt to get her to open up to him and share her pain. This expressed his feelings perfectly: "I love you, Alexandra. Nothing you’ve told me tonight changes that. I love you in spite of all the reasons you think I shouldn’t. In part, maybe, because of the those reasons. You’re the person you are today because of everything that has happened to you.”

Alex is a serial dater. She doesn't do more than a few dates with any one man, preferring to keep all her relationships light and casual. Part of her fear of commitment comes from the way her father deserted the family when she was a kid. She doesn't want to open herself up to that kind of pain again. Currently she is way too busy getting the new restaurant up and running to spend time with a man anyway. When she meets Sam she finds him very appealing and thinks it would be fun to be with him for the short time he'll be in town. She doesn't expect the intensity of her attraction to him and tries to pull away from him. She's willing to go for friendship with him, but is afraid what might happen if she goes for more. When she finds out that he has a son and that they are moving to town permanently she takes it as just one more reason to stay away from him. I liked the way that her soft heart doesn't let her stay away for long. She adds him to the people she cooks for, finds herself enjoying being around his son, and occasionally is tempted to let him get closer. But as much as she comes to care for him she has a secret pain that she hasn't even shared with her family and friends, that makes her feel that she doesn't deserve that kind of happiness. She doesn't seem to see the same good person that everyone else sees, the one who cooks for shut-ins, takes care of a friend who is dying of cancer, rescues a lost dog and takes it home with her, and is there for any friend who needs her help. I loved the way that she finally opened up to Sam, expecting him to reject her, and is stunned to find out that he doesn't, that he loves her just the way she is. ( )

Currant Creek Valley was a lovely return visit to what has become one of my favorite little towns Hope's Crossing. I absolutely adore small town romance series and RaeAnne Thayne has become one of my favorite authors in the genre. She has created a charming little town full of fun dynamic characters that I look forward to visiting with each new release.

Alexandra McKnight thinks she has her life completely under control and everything is falling into place. She is about to get her dream come true, her own kitchen in the new restaurant in town. She only dates guys that don't plan on sticking around very long. So when Sam Delgado is hired to finish her new kitchen sparks fly. A little flirting and friendly dates seem fine to Alex, until she finds out that Sam is going to stick around town. Alex has some issues from her past that makes her hesitate to enter into long term relationships.

Sam Delgado is one handsome, sweet guy that is raising an adorable little boy Ethan. I loved Sam's commitment to his son and wanting a nice life for both of them. Sam also has some issues from that past that he wants to leave behind when he moves to Hope's Crossing.

I truly enjoyed reading Alex & Sam's story. Of course while getting to know Alex and Sam a little better it was nice to catch up with the fine folks of Hope's Crossing that I met in the previous books in the series. I always feel like I am catching up with old friends. I have had the pleasure of reading the other three books in this series and I personally can not wait to get my hands on the next book If you are like me and just can not get enough of the small town romance series books, then I recommend you check this one out. If you haven't read the rest of the series, then by all means check those out as well. ( )

4 STARS

Hope's Crossing book 4

I like Hope's Crossing books. It is a community that has pulled its self together. The characters are interesting and keep me wanting to know more about them. It is good to see old friends and what they are up to now. It is also a clean read.

Alexandra is about to have her dream come true. She is going to have her own restraunt. That if her kitchen is done on time. Alex only dates guys who won't be around for the long time. She is also hiding a secret. Alex has a big family, most who live close by.

Sam came to Currant Creek Valley to work. He is taking over to finsh the restraunt after the last guy had to leave on family business. Sam was a army ranger. He is looking for a new home to raise his son in. Sam does not let Alex know that he has a son or thinking of moving his business to Currant Creek Valley.

Alex on first meeting Sam after a misunderstanding occured asks him if he is married? So if they want to go out she needs to know that he is single. Sam says yes but he was a Ranger and they always lead the way. So he asks her.

They had a great time and on a walk around town Alex found a stray dog around town. He was skinny but had a collar on him. Alex names him Leo. She hopes to find his owner.

Their are no big secrets to reveal. Only personal trials they each face but you are slowly getting the answers you want to know. I did not want to put the book down last night. Read till my eyes could not focus anymore.

One secret of Sam's is he has a cute son living with his brother while he finshes the school year. Than Sam will bring him to Hope's Crossing.
Ethan is very smart and friendly. He is not afraid to hint at what he likes.

I would read more books about Hope's Crossing in the future.
I was given this ebook to read and in exchange asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley.
Publisher: Harlequin HQN (March 26, 2013) 320 pages ASIN: B00ALTVHJI

discription below taken off of amazon

If you build it, love will come…to Hope's Crossing.

Alexandra McKnight prefers a life of long workdays and If you build it, love will come…short-term relationships, and she's found it in Hope's Crossing. A sous chef at the local ski resort, she's just been offered to Hope's Crossing. her dream job at an exclusive new restaurant being built in town. But when it comes to designing the kitchen, Alex finds herself getting up close and personal with construction foreman Sam Delgado….

At first glance, Sam seems perfect for Alex. He's big, tough, gorgeous—and in town for only a few weeks. But when Sam suddenly moves into a house down the road, Alex suspects that the devoted single father of a six-year-old boy wants more from her than she's willing to give. Now it's up to Sam to help Alex see that, no matter what happened in her past, together they can build something more meaningful in Hope's Crossing. ( )

This one wasn't my favorite in the series, but it was a decent read. I loved the character of Sam--strong, patient, great father, fantastic...hands. His son, Ethan, was awesome--reminded me a lot of the boy in Jerry Maguire. (Did you know the human head weighs ten pounds? ;)) The chocolate lab was sweet (though yet another example of a fictional animal who makes me feel inadequate as a non-fictional owner, but I digress.) The character I had problems with was Alex. She just seemed too hung up on her issues, which, when we finally find out what they are, just didn't add up to the hype as far as I was concerned. Of course we got the HEA, and saw many favorite characters from the other books, so in the end all's well that ends well. I'll definitely be looking forward to the next installment--and only partially to see what Ethan's up to :) ( )