Sandy M’s review of Back to You (Bad Boys of Red Hook, Book 1) by Robin Kaye
Contemporary Romance reissued by Signet 31 Dec 12
I’m a bit perplexed at my reaction to this book. Every Robin Kaye story I’ve read so far I’ve had the best time with. But from the cover to the heroine and her attitude and the concept that we’ve read over and over again, this book just left me feeling blah. The hero and his hard-won honor are the only elements that kept me reading.
First, though, the heroine, Brenna – or Breezy as Storm calls her. It’s been a number of years since Storm walked out on her without saying a word. Yes, he was wrong for doing so, but she had no idea why and now years later she’s still holding a grudge. And she lets Storm know it in no uncertain terms when he comes back to Red Hook when his father is hospitalized due to a heart attack. She’d rather have one of his brothers there to help out in the family bar, but that’s not possible and Storm is who she gets. Bree is one of those controlling women who takes care of everything, in this instance the bar; Pete, Storm’s father; Nicki, Pete’s granddaughter, and anything else she deems needing care. She’s also very insulting toward Storm, not really knowing how to react to the man seeing him face to face once again.
Seeing his father in the hospital hits Storm hard. He’s no longer the hardy, sturdy man who took Storm and two other troubled boys into his home when they were kids, an act that saved them all. Storm thinks he’ll be able to fly in, get his father settled at home, and then fly right back out to New Zealand and his boat building business, which is his passion. And then there’s Breezy. She’s a woman now and the man in him reacts to her every time they’re together, which is a lot considering they’re all living in Pete’s home. Nicki is another of those lost children who needs a delicate hand, and as much as it amazes him, the young girl takes to him right away.
It’s Storm who acknowledges his feelings for Bree first, which I like. Bree decides to go for the sex, no strings attached, because the man is going to be heading back to his boats as soon as he can. So why not have fun in the meantime? But it’s Storm who won’t use her that way, despite the fact Bree is gung-ho to use him no questions asked. He is so patient with her, something I ran out of very quickly when it comes to Bree. It’s not until three-quarters of the way through the book before she begins to look at Storm as the man he is today, not the young, scared kid he was before.
Then just when Breanna finally bites the bullet and admits her feelings for Storm, she pretty much screws everything up when she keeps important info from him. Of course, when he discovers this, he’s angry and it all happens at the wrong time, just when he has to get back to New Zealand to take care of a business problem. Bree thinks this is the end for them, and that irritates me too. She has no faith in the man she just admits she loves, until it’s nearly too late. Storm has grown up, keeps his word when he gives it, and I really like the man. It takes much too long to warm up to Bree, her attitude keeping the reader at bay all that time.
I am intrigued by Storm’s brothers Logan and Simon, and would like to read their books to see how those are handled. I’m hoping those are the Robin Kaye books I’ve come to love.
Grade: C
Summary:
It would take a miracle for Storm Decker to return to Red Hook – or a tragedy….
The neighborhood holds too many painful memories of his troubled childhood, including the mistake that sent him running from the ex-cop he’d come to consider his father. But when Pete suddenly falls ill, Storm is called home to face the past he tried to leave behind long ago…
Breanna Collins never expected to see Storm again after he left town without a word, breaking her heart. She’s angry that he can’t seem to appreciate the changes in their neighborhood. But she still feels a powerful connection to her old flame. And unless she can remind him of all the reasons to stay, she knows he’ll never stick around long enough to give their romance the second chance it deserves…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
