Close to Her Heart is an enjoyable read with a little drama thrown in the mix. ~ Autry, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
Dani Carrigan, the academic of the Carrigan family, has always relied on logic when making important life decisions. But when she discovers she’s pregnant—and that there’s a chance her baby may be born “not perfect”—deciding what to do isn’t so easy.
It would help if the father, Adrian Carlson, department head at the University of Washington in Seattle where they both work, would pop the question. But the widower seems more interested in protecting his six-year-old daughter than committing to his new relationship with Dani.
The last time Dani felt so alone and scared was when she was sixteen and her mother died in an accident at their family ranch, leaving Dani to raise her younger sisters with precious little help from her distant and disapproving father. She felt so inadequate then. But is she any more prepared to be a mother now?
Support comes from an unlikely source. Dani always saw her next-door neighbour and friend, divorce attorney Eliot Gilmore, as a charming, handsome, playboy-type. But with each challenge Dani faces, from pregnancy, to delivery and beyond—Eliot reveals himself to be more of a man than she ever guessed. Is it possible that in all the years she’s known him, Eliot hasn’t been playing the field—but waiting for her?
Review copy provided for an honest review
Dani, a scientist at heart has been delivered news she never thought she would hear, her baby may not be perfect. With heavy thoughts and decisions weighing on her, Dani hopes for a proposal from the father.
Adrian, widowed father of a six-year-old daughter, is less than thrilled about the pregnancy news. He starts to throw out alternative options for the baby. He needs to protect his six-year-old before he can worry about another child.
The pregnancy was not planned, and after her meeting with Adrian, Dani is considering her options. Giving her some time to think and Adrian some time to wrap his head around it, Dani finally breaks and tells a close friend about the pregnancy. Eliot has been friends and neighbors with Dani for years and is unsure of his feelings towards Dani and this pregnancy. Then enters Miriam, also a friend and neighbor to Dani and Eliot, and she brings drama to a whole different level. Starting to feel life’s stress the three set off on a vacation where the floodgates open. Miriam dramatically changes the game; forces the cards and makes the pivotal mistake between friends. With emotions strung out, Dani and Eliot revisit their feelings for each other. While all of these changes are going on, Adrian is off do whatever it is that he does….in secret. Once Adrian realizes the secret Dani’s been hiding from him, he is outraged and unaware of Eliot’s position in the room and in Dani’s life. In that moment her heart has picked the champion, the one who will win out over all and accept her and her new life along with all the challenges and rewards.
Close to her Heart is the third installment to C.J. Carmichaels, Carrigans of Circle C series. Each book holds a challenge for each one of the daughters, most of them involving some type of forgiveness and the ability to move forward. So far this is the only one that I could label somewhat predictable. It still had me guessing and dropping my jaw in awe of some characters; but the feeling from the beginning has it leading towards a more predictable story line of friends to lovers. Is it so predictable it’s cliché? No. Does it add another layer to the family dynamic? Yes. Am I happy I read it? Yes. Would I recommend, Close to Her Heart? Yes. It has implied romance and yearning but actual lovemaking scenes are not involved in this novel it’s more of a journey about love, acceptance and celebrating all children, no matter what..
Thanks Autry for the review