This was a cute, quick read. I loved the premise of the brother left with a baby having to confront the unknowing father. Very three men and a baby, minus one man. The chemistry between Shane and Brandt was immediate and their banter was adorable (even if a few lines were overused). There were some moments I found a bit repetitive and a bit unbelievable, but overall the relationship was one that was about trust, admiration, devotion, and mutual respect. While the romance was not as slow burn as I like, it was quite steamy (be ready to fan yourself). The fact that Brandt is a smoke jumper and Shane is a country musician made the story intense and seductive (the singing, the fear, the adventure). I wish I could have heard Shane's music, I imagine it was soulful, beautiful, and would make me cry. No wonder Brandt fell for Shane and his quiet, stoic, poetic soul. Now, while some of the story is funny and heartwarming, the book also tackles some hard topics. Shane's sister, Jewel's mother, is clearly suffering from post partem depression and I liked that the novel did not gloss over this. Both Shane and Brandt continue to worry about her, to talk about how they can help her, to push her to seek help, while also making the best decisions for Jewel's upbringing and safety. Brandt and Shane also both had rocky upbringings, but in different ways. Brandt was in the foster care system, and therefore never relied on anyone but himself and forced himself to remain unattached due to a fear of loosing or needing someone who would not stay. Shane, on the other hand, had parents. However, his parents were unreliable, were always on the move, and were constantly at odds with each other. Because of this, Shane never had a stable home and therefore does not trust easily and finds himself believing people to be similar to his parents and sister; flighty, immature, and looking after only themselves. This was a good comparison of life both without and with a family, but with both leading to loneliness and trust issues. The novel also focuses on the danger of Brandt's job and the decisions he must make now that he is a father and has a young child depending on him. It also forces Shane to reconsider his nomadic lifestyle, the one he learned from his parent's and realizes was not the best upbringing. If he means to be in Jewel's life, what does that mean for his dreams and career in music? If you are looking for a sweet read, with deeper meaning and lots of steam, look no further. Thank you to @HarlequinPublicityTeam for sending me a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
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