{ arc } review || WORTH IT ALL by Claudia Connor

 

Loveswept | April 19, 2016 | Contemporary Romance
The McKinney Brothers, book 3
★★★★★

SOURCE: PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY

After a car accident stole his dreams of pro football, JT McKinney has made a new life for himself far away from his old one. He spends his time in a prosthetic research and development facility, his attention on machines instead of people until a chance meeting with a young mother and her five year old daughter who need his help. He'll have to let go of the past if he wants a future.

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review || WORTH THE RISK { blog tour }

Worth the Risk by Claudia Connor

Publisher: Loveswept (2/3/2015)

Series: The McKinney Brothers, book 2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

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My Rating: ★★★★★

When a McKinney brother falls in love, powerful emotion and overwhelming desire are never far behind.

Two hearts locked away . . . 

Hannah Walker spends her days coaching children through injury and trauma, one therapeutic horseback ride at a time. She knows all too well how violence can change a child and leave scars that never heal. It’s easy for her to relate to the kids; what isn’t easy is the thought of facing her own harrowing past.

Millionaire playboy Stephen McKinney could use a little coaching himself. Five years ago he encountered his most horrible nightmare—and the nightmare won. No matter what he achieves, nothing can make up for that awful night . . . or so he believes.

Both desperate for a second chance . . . 

Stephen is used to getting what he wants. And he wants Hannah. So when she turns him down, he’s intrigued. What he doesn’t know is that her secrets will lead him to a place he never wanted to go again . . . to a side of himself he’s tried to forget . . . a side that would scare Hannah away from ever loving him. Now his only chance to win her trust is to bare his soul, risking everything he tried so hard to protect.

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{ excerpt } .

Her oldest brother, Nick, stood leaning against the hood of his SUV, looking like the formidable FBI agent he was. Nick was tall and handsome; his hair was dark brown to her light and he wore the perpetual unshaven look well. It gave him a tough look just short of scary.

He lifted his hand and she waved back. Afraid she couldn’t tell him about Max without crying, she’d texted him. And now he was here, checking on her like he always did. Her brothers had raised her, sacrificed for her. Nick more than any of them.

Lexie met them and took Hazel and Allie into the barn. Hannah turned to find Nick’s cop eyes full of concern. That was the look she couldn’t spend an entire night with.

“I’m okay. I’m sad, but I’m okay.”

Nick said nothing for several seconds, just gave her his I-can-read-your-mind stare. “I talked to Luke and Zach. They’re fine with changing plans tonight.”

“I knew you’d say that.” She headed into the barn to get ready for her next student, leaving Nick to follow. “You don’t need to change your plans.”

“Well, you’re sure as hell not sitting home alone.”

“You’re right. I’m not.” She stepped into the tack room and Nick stopped just outside.

“Really?”

“Yes. Really. You can still have your guy party. I have plans.”

“Plans?”

“Yes.” She looked back at him and smiled. “I can have plans, you know.”

“I know you can, you just . . .”

“What?” She reached for a piece of support foam. “Never do?

He leaned against the doorway, watching her. “Where are you going?”

“Drinks.”

“With who?”

She stepped around him and moved down the aisle for Big Ben, a small chestnut pony. “A friend.”

“A friend.” He said it full of suspicion and disdain for someone he didn’t know. Big-brother syndrome plus FBI equaled over-the-top.

“I also manage to have friends.” Kind of. She slipped the halter over the pony’s head.

“Where are you going?”

She speared him with a glare over her shoulder.

“Okay. Sorry.” He held up his hands. “But why don’t you and your friend come over to watch the game?”

“No.”

“No?”

Hannah tilted her head. “Is there an echo in here?”

“On top of not knowing who this friend is, I don’t like the idea of you coming home at night to an empty house.” Immediately he looked remorseful and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Sorry.”

She blew out a shaky breath before speaking. “It’s fine. Dogs don’t live forever, you knew that when I moved out here.” Something he’d been adamantly against, but having the dog had helped.

She loved her four brothers, and she wouldn’t say they suffocated her, though the hum of their hovering could be deafening at times. FBI, Special Forces, firefighter, cop. It was like her very own big-brother protection force. And every one of them liked to be in charge and in control. Especially Nick. If they knew she was going out with a man, let alone a man she didn’t know, they’d freak. Even if it was for their own good.

“I know how to lock a door.”

“I know you do.”

She met her brother’s worried eyes, and not for the first time thought what it must have been like for him at nineteen, suddenly responsible for four siblings. Then she thought of how much more she’d put him through. Put them all through.

If they were ever going to believe she was really okay, if she was going to believe it, she had to prove it. Time to push herself out of her comfort zone. For herself. For all of them.

about Claudia || Claudia Connor attended Auburn University, where she received her undergraduate and masters degrees in early childhood education, and completed her studies in Sawbridgeworth, England. Always a lover of happy endings, she enjoys movies, reading, and spending her days putting on paper the stories in her head. She lives near Memphis, Tennessee, with her husband and three daughters.

connect with Claudia || Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

{ review } .

When I read WORTH THE FALL in June, it was one of my first to-review reads, it was the first time I'd heard of Claudia Connor, and, the reason why I'd never heard of her before, it was Claudia's debut. Oh, and what a beautiful debut it had been.

Right there on all the pages -- Amazon, Goodreads, etc -- it stated that FALL was book one in the McKinney brother series. Reading FALL, you knew that there were a couple un-shacked-up brothers: Stephen and JT, both with their demons. Obviously I was intrigued... 

But with FALL being so flipping great? I wasn't sure how Claudia would make connected books that would even touch the greatness of Abby and Matt's love story. 

....but she did it.

Unlike FALL, where Matt falls in love quickly with Abby, Stephen has to work his mind around it. It was great watching their relationship bloom.

I love when authors start books with huge emotional scenes. If I'm crying in the first few pages, I know that the book is well written and that I'm going to connect to it. Claudia's pretty good (understatement...) with getting the reader to connect.

Reading about Abby losing her dog? Oh my goodness, gracious, was I crying. Max was her everything -- and reading these scenes and 'watching' her try to do normal, every day things afterward? (My goodness, I'm going to cry just writing this part) -- it reminded me of when I had to put down my dog, and when my other dog passed away -- trying to go grocery shopping the day of, trying to exercise away the demons but your mind keeps going back to that face.

Abby has dealt with a lot in her years; losing her dog is fairly minimal in relation, but it's really the first major thing to go 'wrong' since starting to be independent of her overbearing, even though they have legit reasons brothers.

She breaks her own walls by agreeing to go out with Stephen, even though she doesn't expect it to go anywhere. She needs to find normal, and going on a date (with a man who has pursued her all over the city in one day) is normal.

Stephen does things different with Hannah from the start. He knows that Hannah is not his normal 'conquest' and oddly enough, he's ok with that.

It was odd ending a date this way, standing outside a car. It usually ended with him slipping out of a woman's bed mildly rested and covered with guilt.

Not only that, but he wants more... 

"...Did I pass the test? Can I have your number now?” 

No answer. Second time today she’d refused him and still, he ached to arch her back, taste that sweet mouth, nip his way across her cheek and down her throat. “How do you feel about parties?” 

“Um . . .” Her eyes were everywhere but on him, teeth pressing into that bottom lip he was dying to suck into his own. “I’m not really into parties.” 

“I think you’ll like this one.” 

She held out her hand for her keys. “No, but thank you.” 

“Hmm. The birthday girl will be very disappointed. If I don’t make an appearance she’ll get her feelings hurt. I’d hate to do that.” Something flashed in her eyes at the mention of another woman. So she wasn’t totally uninterested. Good. 

“Why can’t you go by yourself?” 

“I don’t want to go by myself. I want to go with you.” 

“Well, if she really wants you to come to her party, she probably won’t be very happy about you bringing a friend.” 

“No, she’d love me to bring a friend. Definitely the more– the– merrier type.” 

“I don’t think so.” Hannah turned to her car, remembered he still had her keys and turned back with her hand out. 

“You sure? Turning five is a pretty big deal.” 

Her mouth dropped open. “Five?” 

“Yes. My niece. Gracie.” He grinned, enjoying her shock.

Ok, so it's not really nice to use his sweet little niece as a ploy to get Hannah to see him again, but c'mon -- man wants her to meet his family already. That's pretty monumental. Even Matt didn't introduce Abby to his family so early (ok, those were different circumstances but...).

And when her fears come to surface and she tries to run -- Stephen doesn't let her. I absolutely loved him in the scene where Hannah discovers the article calling her a 'beast' (in regards to Beauty and the Beast). These two... 

I could read Matt and Abby's story three days a week and never get tired of it.

Stephen and Hannah would take the other days, hands down.

...but then again, JT's story is on it's way (WORTH IT ALL -- isn't that a fabulous title?) and rumor has it those Walker boys will be getting their own chance at happily ever after.

Claudia, you're on a roll. I don't think it's possible for you to fail at this point. Your mind works in beautiful ways and I'm so glad your decided to take a chance and bring WORTH THE FALL to life. Keep on doing what you're doing, lady.

"What are you so afraid to love her?"

"I'm not." He was afraid to ask her to love him.

"I think you are. I think you're terrified to the point you're brought to your knees, to the point you risk it all." 

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WORTH THE FALL -- a summary and opinion

Ahh, finally today I've made it to the book I've been dying to write about since finishing it at 6 am this morning...

Go NetGalley, for finding me another new author to obsess over.

And go figure, she's friends with another new(-to-me) author, Cristin Harber.

Let me tell you how I choose books to read -- I keep tabs on my favorite authors and write their release dates in my planner. Occasionally, and it's extremely rare, Barnes and Noble will throw up a pretty cover on their website, or the grocery store will have a pretty cover hanging out front and center. Yes, I judge my books by their covers. Every now and then, it's the title that draws me in.

Let me tell you how I choose books on NetGalley.

I hit 'recently added' (or select 'date added' in the drop down box in the 'romance' genre) and skim until a title or cover appeals to me. Rarely will I even bother to skim the synopsis. If it looks good, 'request' gets selected. As I selected 'request' on this book, the first line strangely appealed to me -- a mother at the beach with four kids? Navy SEAL? Hmm, can't be too bad, hope the author wrote it well.

Everything about this book, everything, appealed to me. Not a section of this book disappointed me. Don't get me wrong, I like a few sidestories here and there, but the fact that this book was always in Abby or Matt's head was a definite plus for me. It allowed the book to flow and move from one day to the next, to the next, to the next.

The book starts out at the beach, where Matt went with his cousin for a few days away. His cousin also brought along some 'hot' ladies. However, it's not the woman in the sparkling orange bikini that catches his eye.

No, it's the (pregnant) mother of the 5 year old boy who nailed him in the head with a football. Along with Jack, Matt meets 7 year old Annie, a shy little girl who grows to remind Matt of her mother; 3 year old Gracie with love of life, much like most toddlers; and 2 year old Charlie, the little cute monster who probably ends up doing the most work in getting Matt to actually meet their mother. 

After playing with Jack in the sand the first day, he realizes he didn't actually meet the kids' mother. The next day, Charlie runs through and stains orange-bikini's white pants. Between that and Jack and Gracie's continuously asking to play, Matt gets his way in and meets Abby.

Abby is widowed, but she hasn't felt married in many years. It was merely a piece of paper. It hurts her to watch Matt play with the kids and know that her deceased husband had never had any desire to play with them. Jack and Gracie just eat the attention up. Annie is extremely reserved when it comes to Matt, but he doesn't ignore her. Charlie is a cherub who clings to Matt's neck.

It all feels extremely natural and warm to Matt. Daily, Jack asks for Matt to come by the next day and play; daily, Abby fears her kids' hopes will get too high and Matt will eventually leave -- they all do. Besides, Matt is just a stranger they met at the beach.

When asked about what he does, at first Matt leaves out that he's a SEAL. He doesn't want the glorification of his job. He wants Abby to want him. 

As the week progresses, without so much as a kiss, mind you, Matt falls more and more for this woman and her kids. When the week ends, Matt and Abby exchange numbers (not without a scorching kiss, of course, the first of many), but Abby figures he's being nice.

When Matt is back in his normal routine, he can't get his mind off of Abby and her children. He wants to see them. Hell, he needs to see them; maybe he'll be able to get his head back into the game. Two years ago, he'd promised his best friend that he wouldn't quit the SEALs (as Teddy was dying, nonetheless; obviously this is a promise that would be hard to break), which was where his heart had been heading at the time. But Matt keeps seeing Abby in his mind, and he starts to question his loyalty to his friend and wonder more about Abby.

I could probably go on and on and on about this book. I could write a full-on synopsis and tell you every little thing that happened.

But I won't. 

This is a book that any contemporary romance reader in her (his...?) right mind NEEDS to read. Like now. Yesterday, even.

I think what draws me so deeply to this book is the idea that Abby is single, pregnant, and has a brood of children. I love when men step up and take on a fathering role to children that are not theirs biologically. He may have fallen in love with Abby, but there is not a doubt in my mind that he fell in love with those children first. Getting the three littles' opinion didn't take much work, but he certainly worked for Annie's trust -- a fragile trust that he nearly broke later in the story.

On one hand, the way Matt folds himself into her family is lovely and natural, but on the other, I can't help but feel that maybe I'd be a little creeped out by this man needing to play with my children when we'd only known him for an hour. But hey, it worked out.

Most books take about 75% or more to get to the point where the guy realizes he has everything he's ever needed in his arms. The wedding is the epilogue. What I loved about this book is the realization that he could have everything in her and her children, was before they even kissed, before they said goodbye and went their separate ways. The book goes through the true struggles of a military family. It delves into the honor and trust and promises some of these military men make to their spouses, to their buddies on the field. It touches the terror of being away from home and hearing that something terrible happened at home, trying like hell to get back there to see with your own eyes everything was ok. It touches the aspect that sometimes these men (and women, if looking at military as a whole) get called away on the drop of a dime, and feelings get hurt and words get taken wrong.

There's a scene at the beach, the last night, when he's getting ready to leave Abby and the kids -- both driving to their own destinations the next day. He's tucking all the kids into bed, and the sadness in his thoughts made me want to cry the entire scene. Pretty sure I misted up. Maybe even shed a tear or two.

I really loved this family -- because, let's be honest, they were a single unit nearly from the get-go. This is one of those books that I wish the author would do a sequel to; not even an additional story with someone one of them knows (take cousin Rob, for instance) but rather another look at Matt and Abby's lives 5, 10 years down the road. Regardless, I'm excited to read the rest of this new series; with Matt and Abby living so close to his parents' house, perhaps we will get to glimpse into their lives with each additional story.

I re-read nearly every book that I have. I have a few go-to books that I know I can read again and again and never bore of them.

My go-to book for the last year plus was Maya Banks' Whispers in the Dark. 

....my new go-to book may very well be Worth the Fall.