Series:
Love at Hideaway Wharf (Book 2)
Diving headfirst into uncharted waters.
Independent single mom? Free-spirited Franci Walker's got
it covered. Until she goes into labor early…with only fellow diver Archer Frost
to help. And after unexpectedly delivering Franci's baby, Arch can't resist the
coworker who's secretly brought sunshine his way for years. But Arch has spent
years burying his feelings -- first his guilt over the accident that left him
with an amputation and killed his best friend, then his growing attraction to
Franci. Maybe the new mom -- and her sweet baby -- can lead Archer out of those
turbulent seas for good…
Terrific book. Franci and Archer are friends and
coworkers at the local dive company. Archer's best friend is Franci's older
brother, Sam. When Sam leaves for a trip to the UK with his fiancé, he extracts
a promise from Archer to watch over a very pregnant Franci.
Franci is stubbornly independent and plans to raise her
baby on her own. Her family's super-protectiveness frustrates Franci, who sometimes
feels smothered by the attention. She pushes back against Archer's attempts to
help her. Not only does it go against her independent nature, but it also makes
it difficult to resist her overpowering attraction to him. Everything changes
when a monster storm coincides with Franci going into labor early.
I loved Archer. He is a man who cares deeply about his friends
and family, but he locked away his emotions after a tragic accident. He has
also buried his growing feelings for Franci, believing he is too old and no
good for her. He has a lot of love to give if he'd only forgive himself.
I loved watching the relationship between Franci and
Archer develop. Each has buried their feelings for each other until that fateful
storm. I loved how Archer got his foot in the door to check on her by offering
to help her paint the nursery. Neither expected Franci to go into labor early -
she was counting on the family tradition of being overdue, and Archer followed
her lead. I found it amusing that Archer figured out she was in labor long
before she did. With no one able to get to them because of the storm, that left
Archer to deliver the baby. Thank goodness for his Coast Guard rescue training!
I loved his support during the process.
Neither expected the depth of the bond formed in
delivering baby Iris. I loved seeing baby Iris create cracks in the walls
around Archer's heart and then watch Franci widen those cracks further.
Circumstances cause Franci and Iris to stay with Archer for several weeks,
allowing them to grow closer. I liked how Franci began understanding why Archer
is the way he is. I ached for Archer as he fought his feelings. I cheered when
he faced one of his deepest fears and won in an incredibly emotional scene,
opening a path to his heart's desire. The epilogue was terrific.
One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the
treatment of Asher as an amputee. It isn't the focal point of who he is, just a
fact of his life. The challenges and daily life are portrayed realistically and
without drama.
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