THE O'CONNOR FAMILY SERIES is a wonderful collection
of Katie Reus' O'Connor family and their love stories. This
collection is perfect for readers, like me, who love
romances set in small-towns. Each story has a hero who
pursues a woman with dogged and delightful determination
and is a mix of sexy and sweet. The stories are told from
alternating perspectives. A common denominator in each
story is some behind-the-scenes matchmaking -- usually
done by the O'Connor matriarch. One or two stories
include a mischievous character who tries to throw a
wrench into a burgeoning romance out of jealousy. All of
these tales of small-town love are delicious and highly
entertaining.
In "Merry Christmas, Baby," Nora Cassidy is a hard-
working business owner and legal guardian for her
teenaged sister. The story opens with her nursing a
broken heart because of Jackson O'Connor. From Nora's
perspective, Jackson has been sending some mixed signals
-- first playing a hot and heavy attraction and then
disappearing on her. Thankfully readers get Jackson's
perspective and are able to put the pieces together of
what happened. Jackson works hard to show Nora how much
he really cares about her, and that he deeply regrets
ghosting out on her. Jackson's a flawed hero, but his
later explanations and actions woo back Nora and make him
sympathetic to the reader. I like how Nora has a
wonderful inner strength and demands respect.
Fallon O'Connor has a situation that
many women can relate to in "Tease Me, Baby." Fallon
constantly feels as
though she has to prove herself to her intimidating yet
well-meaning mother. Throughout this story, Fallon has to
sort through what life choices she makes because they are
something she wants, or whether her relationship with her
mother is affecting her choices. Into this
mother/daughter drama walks Sheriff Brad Fulton. Fallon
and Brad have an unexpected holiday tryst and the
attraction and eventual relationship builds over the
course of the story. In "Tease Me, Baby," readers get a
better understanding of the O'Connor family dynamic -- the
good, the bad, and the goofy.
"It's Me Again, Baby" is a tale of two lovers reunited
after a misunderstanding has kept them apart for the past
three years. When Maguire O'Connor lays eyes on Samantha
Murphy, that old attraction comes back to life for both
of them. It doesn't take long for the misunderstanding to
get cleared up. Maguire doesn't waste a lot of time
before letting Samantha know how much she still means to
him, and that he wants to pick up exactly where they left
off. This romance is super steamy with a stalker thrown
in to add a dash of suspense.
"Mistletoe Me, Baby" is perhaps my favorite story in this
collection. I love stories in which one friend has
secretly been in love with another friend. In this case,
Nolan O'Connor has secretly been in love with his BFF
Miranda Flores for as long as he can remember. Thinking
she friend-zoned him, he hasn't tried to make a move...
until now. Miranda asking Nolan to be her fake fiancé to
get her overbearing family off her back finally gives
Nolan the opportunity he's longed for. It's so much fun
as Nolan surprises Miranda with his kisses and tender
gestures that seem too real to merely be a charade for
her family's benefit. The scenes between Miranda, Nolan,
and Miranda's 11 year old nephew are particularly
heartwarming. The scenes between Miranda and Nolan, once
he turns up the heat, are sizzling.
Merry Christmas, Baby:
Legal guardian for her sister, Nora broke her no-romance
rule for Jackson, but when he does something she can’t
easily forgive, he’ll have to prove a second chance, and
her heart, are worth the risk.
Tease Me, Baby:
Reluctantly leaving town to fulfill an obligation, Fallon
can’t let her desire for Brad derail her plans. But the
sexy sheriff is determined to prove she’s already right
where she belongs…in his arms.
It’s Me Again, Baby:
When his new realtor turns out to be “the one who got
away,” Maguire knows a second chance with Samantha is
within reach…if he can save her from the menace who
followed her home.
Mistletoe Me, Baby:
Nolan already wants Miranda, so playing her fake fiancé
is no hardship. Convincing her family—and the whole town—
is easy. Convincing Miranda, especially after tragedy
strikes, proves far harder.