The Father of Her Sons by Christine Rimmer
Wild Rose Sisters #1

I remember first reading Harlequin and Mills & Boon Romances to escape the situation in Lebanon back in the late 70’s and early 80’s. I wanted to enjoy a country and couple that were living a life less fraught than mine was at that point in time. Sometimes more than one book would be read in a day while my very young children played around me and I listened for bombs, shooting, and/or rabble in the streets. I would fall in love with the heroine as she met and got to know the man she would end up with. The stories were almost always easy reading with a happy ending and characters I could escape with as they were on holiday or living in places I had never visited.

This book reminded me of some of those easy reading escapist stories. I think that in this era the plots have changed and become more “modern” but the underlying stories provide the same feel with the knowledge that there will be a HEA at the end of the book.

This is the first in a trio of books about three sisters. Payton is first up. She is focused on her goals and has decided nothing will get between her and becoming a published author. So, when tempting Easton rolls through town, he is a temptation but not going to deter her from her goals. Neither are ready to settle down so why share more than a week together and then move on. As expected…not having contact information for one another doesn’t work out quite as hoped for with an unplanned unexpected pregnancy and no way to let Easton know.

How they meet up again, what they did in their time apart, and why their efforts to find one another were thwarted are brought to light along with the chemistry and caring that never was extinguished over the five years they were not together.

This was a fun easy read and though I often wanted to whisper (or shout) at Payton when she was being stubborn, it was definitely a feel good romance with a happy ending. The children were charming, Easton was great, and Payton dealt with her baggage…eventually.

Did I like this story? Yes
Would I read more in this series? I think so

Thank you to NetGalley and HQN Special Edition for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars ( )

Terrific second chance love story. Five years earlier, Payton worked part-time as a bartender at the Heartwood Inn, lived on and helped at the family farm, and attempted to write a fantasy novel. A former "wild child," Payton vowed to put those days behind her and concentrate on her writing. That means no distractions like men. But on a particularly dull night at the bar, a visiting businessman caught her eye.

In town for a week checking out the Inn as a possible acquisition for the family business, the bartender intrigues Easton. They spend a pleasant evening talking between customers and trying to ignore the sparks flaring between them. They agree on a week-long fling when the chemistry becomes too much to resist, but Payton has conditions. First names only, no exchanging of personal information such as emails or phone numbers, and no contact when it's over. Easton reluctantly agrees, and they spend an amazing week together. At the end, Easton wants to continue seeing her, but Payton sticks to her guns - a move she later regrets when she ends up pregnant with no way to find Easton to tell him.

Five years later, the single mother of twin boys, Payton has nearly given up hope of ever finding Easton. Shocked when she encounters him at a local farmers' market, Payton knows she needs to tell him the truth. Easton, who never forgot her, unsuccessfully tried to find her six months after their fling and is thrilled to find her. Once Easton recovers from the shock of his unexpected fatherhood, he immediately wants to be involved in their lives.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Easton and Payton develop. Easton never forgot Payton, and his feelings for her never diminished. He wants nothing more than for them to become a family for real. Payton is much warier. Her early life taught her that men are unreliable, and she hesitates to risk her heart on him. While Easton wants to marry Payton and be a family, he understands Payton's wariness. He promises to be patient and mostly succeeds with the occasional relapse. I loved watching them grow closer through activities with the boys and time alone together. I liked the realistic pace of the story as it progresses from early fall to Christmas.

Their relationship looks promising until a disastrous visit with Easton's family stirs up Payton's insecurities and causes her to pull back. I ached for Easton, whose love for her has grown stronger. Despite her love for him, Payton still fears being left. I understood Easton's frustration, and I sometimes wanted to shake Payton and make her see what she was doing. I liked the support she received from her family, including the straight talk she got from both sisters. But it was the appearance of an unexpected visitor that truly opened her eyes. The ending was fantastic, with emotional confessions from Payton and a sweet role reversal to wrap it up.

The secondary characters were great. The twins, Penn and Bailey, were adorable and pretty accurate to their ages. I liked how they took to Easton even before they knew he was their father. Payton's sisters each provide support for Payton when she needs them most. I'm looking forward to reading their stories and seeing them find love, too. I loved Easton's brother, Weston, who was in Easton's corner the entire time. He's a bit more on the wild side than Easton, and I'd love to see him get a story of his own. Easton's parents play a significant role in the book, also. I adored his dad, Myron, but his mom took a while to win me over.

#ARC ( )