The Particulars: Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, available as e-book and in print
The Source: purchased at Kobo
The Grade: C+
The blurb:
One day, Callie Vanetta receives devastating news
She needs a liver transplant. But her doctors warn that, in her case, the chances of finding a compatible donor aren’t good.
Determined to spend whatever time she has left on her own terms, she keeps the diagnosis to herself and moves out to her late grandparents’ farm. She’s always wanted to live there. But the farm hasn’t been worked in years and she begins to fear she can’t manage it, that she’ll have to return to town.
One night, a stranger comes knocking at her door
He’s an attractive and mysterious drifter by the name of Levi McCloud, and he offers to trade work for a few nights’ shelter. Callie figures she doesn’t have anything to lose. He needs a place to stay until he can fix his motorcycle; she needs an extra pair of hands. The arrangement seems ideal until what was supposed to be temporary starts to look more and more permanent. Then she realizes she does have something to lose—her heart. And, although he doesn’t yet know it, Levi stands to lose even more
.
The Review:
I have wanted to read Brenda Novak for awhile, so when this was on sale, I decided to give it a try.
And I am glad I did.
I liked both Callie and Levi. Callie was open hearted, and loyal to her friends. Levi was scarred by his past, and had his reasons for drifting through he states. They are each others opposites, which made their romance even sweeter. I enjoyed following their relationship as it developed from virtual strangers to lovers.
I appreciated that the threat to their relationship came from different sources. There were both Callie’s struggle with her disease, and keeping her slow decline from her family and friends. And then there were Whiskey Creek’s reaction to Levi. Somewere wary, some was more positive. I liked how Levi slowly won over Callie’s friends as they got to know him.
That said it wasn’t perfect. The biggest problem was tha I felt that the uncertainty of Callie’s disease overshadowed their path to HEA. And, I also felt that Levy’s issues was wrapped up too neatly. To me it felt like the author waved a wand, and they were gone. poff
