Series:
Holidays, Heart and Chutzpah (Book 2)
Why is this night different from all other nights?
For starters, Jared Leiman is home for the holidays.
Because though he and Caroline Weiss were high school sweethearts, their
postcollege lives took them in different directions. Jared became a big-time
entertainment lawyer in LA, while Caroline became a fitness instructor and
stayed in town to care for her sick mother. And though her mother passed away
three years ago, Caroline is finally free to go where she chooses. Meanwhile
Jared, who inherited custody of his baby niece after a tragic accident, is suddenly
a family man.
So now Caroline wants to leave her hometown in the dust,
whereas Jared might just set up roots there. Because there is one thing that
Browerville, New Jersey, offers the two of them that no other place does…each
other!
Good second-chance romance. Jared and Caroline were high
school sweethearts who were reunited when Jared returned to their small New
Jersey town. Jared broke up with Caroline, leaving her behind to deal with her
terminally ill mother, and never contacted her again. In the ten years since
then, he has become a successful entertainment lawyer and recently became his niece's
guardian. Caroline stayed home, cared for her mom, and did her best.
The story opens as Caroline celebrates booking her dream
vacation. After paying off her mother's medical bills and being free of
responsibilities, Caroline can't wait. The last thing she expected was to run
into Jared. It is a shock and brings back bitter memories of how he left her
behind and basically abandoned her. While Jared feels guilty about how he
treated her back then, he's ready to pick up where they left off.
I enjoyed the rekindling of Caroline and Jared's
relationship. I liked that he had the guts to apologize for his earlier
behavior, but he seemed to think that was all that was needed for everything to
be fine and dandy. Jared's life is in a state of flux. He is grieving the death
of his brother, adjusting to being a dad to his two-year-old niece and trying
to figure out why his job isn't as satisfying as it used to be. Spending time
with his family, away from the pressure of his career, gives him a new
perspective, but he isn't sure what to do about it. There are some sweet scenes
with Jared and Becca as he grows into his new role.
Caroline is wary of spending time with Jared. She doesn’t want
to risk falling for him again and being hurt when he returns to California. She
has also waited so long to be free of responsibilities that she can't see a way
to fit Jared and Becca into her life. However, neither can they stay away from
each other. I liked the support Jared gave Caroline for the fundraiser.
I got a little frustrated with both Jared and Caroline.
They are clearly in love, but neither seems interested in finding a way to be
together. Jared is determined to make Caroline see that he has changed from the
inconsiderate jerk he used to be, but he spends a lot of time thinking about
himself and how things affect him. Caroline can only focus on how different their
lives are and that she doesn't want to lose the independence she's earned. It
takes parting again for each to see what is important and how they can be
stronger together.
There is also a bit of mystery in the story. Caroline's
long-awaited raise and promotion are on hold because of a budget shortfall. She
becomes suspicious when the numbers don't seem to add up. I liked her
determination to uncover the truth and enjoyed watching her efforts.
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