Seeking to escape the clutches and mental abuses of her ex-
husband, Lia's heart sunk as she realized her desperate
flight to freedom could soon be ended even before the
introductions were over. As Jake Robbins, the tough and
tattooed ex-army brother of her good friend Rose, queried
her son's name as being "Howie Howard", she quickly
recovers from her fright and tells him it was a nickname.
Jake senses that Lia was hiding something, but he admires
her loyalty, grit and determination to be independent,
despite the bald tires on her old been around the block too
many times car and the hungry looks in her kids' eyes for
some food. Hoping the Rose would help her out like she had
in the past, Lia had loaded her car with everything she
could take while still squeezing in her three children.
But, the car had broken down again, she missed Rose's
wedding and now had little money to find a place to stay.
Jake had been cleaning up the resort cottages that had been
in his family for years and gave Lia a face-saving offer of
a cottage to stay in if she would help with the cleaning.
As Lia struggles to make a new living for herself, Jake
finds himself enjoying 10 year old Howie's intelligent
questions, being enchanted by the boundless joy of four
year old Kristen Rose, and even the gothic 14 going on 18
Samantha's antics remind him of his boyhood antics.
Burnt by love's flames in the past, Jake had erected fire-
proof barriers and was intent on being a lifetime bachelor.
Yet, as the thought of a ready-made family and a beautiful
wife crosses his mind, he finds the idea an intriguing
solution. But, why does Lia resist the idea and him with
such vengeance when it is the perfect solution?
Returning to the north country setting of Alouette,
Michigan, Carrie Alexander has spun a captivating, yet
realistic story with a solid and effective plot and very
believable characters. The children and their escapades
ring true as they find joy in the moment, yet struggle
with keeping up the pretence needed to help their mom. With
Lia's ever present concern of being found out, you won't
want to put this book down until you find out if she can
really learn from her mistakes! Enjoy!
Lia Howard Pogue is flat broke and on the run. Her only
hope for a new start is to rely on the kindness of
strangers. One in particular—the rough and tough ex-Army
Ranger who's all hard muscle and soft heart.
Jake Robbin is more than ready to put his wild youth behind
him and settle down. If only he could skip the hassle of
courtship and babies and messy emotions. What better time
for Lia and her three kids to land on his doorstep!
Seems marriage would solve both their problems. Until Lia's
ex shows up…and reminds her she could be making the same
mistake all over again.