More
Than She Expected
By
Karen Templeton
Publisher:
Harlequin
(Special Edition)
Release
Date:
March 18, 2014
Laurel Kent never planned on being pregnant and single, but
she’s fathoms deep in love with her unborn child and reasonably confident that,
with a little help from the grandmother who reared her, she can care for her
baby. She bought a house before she knew of her pregnancy, and her work as a
writer allows her to work from home. That’s a plus for a single mother, but it
also means that Laurel lives a rather isolated life. Perhaps that’s why she
loses her heart to the friendly mutt next door who pays her visits and seeks sanctuary
from a storm in her arms, but as appealing as the mutt and his hot, younger
owner are, the owner is clearly marked “Proceed with Caution.” And his penchant
for giggly, young blondes makes clear Laurel is not his type. Still, a woman
can enjoy the scenery without putting her heart in jeopardy—or can she?
Tyler Noble is just being a good neighbor when he persuades
Laurel Kent to let him rebuild the wall between their properties. He has the necessary
skills, it’s the best way to keep his dog in his yard, and it’s no big deal.
But soon he spending way too much time with Laurel, thinking about her far too
often, and settling into a relationship he’s just not ready for. Tyler is not
ready to make a commitment to someone else until he figures out who he is. And
with his history of an unknown father, a mother who surrendered her parental
rights when Tyler was ten, and an adopted family who loved him but never
managed to convince Tyler he really belonged, he still has a lot of baggage to
work through. But if he isn’t careful, he may lose his best chance for the life
he really wants.
Karen Templeton has done it again. She has given readers a
story high in believability with characters who have a high likeability
quotient and layers of internal conflict, a story that quietly seduces the
reader into a full engagement with these characters that lasts until the last
obstacle to the HEA is removed and a blissful conclusion leaves her happily
sighing. I loved the interaction between Laurel and Tyler, and I loved all the
family dynamic. From the new born to the retirement home resident, I found the
characters interesting and endearing.
Templeton’s stories are not filled with high adventure,
kickass protagonists, or smoking hot love scenes. But if you like your
contemporary romance filled with characters you care about involved in
situations in which your friends and neighbors might find themselves, nobody
crafts this kind of story better than Karen Templeton. I’ve been a fan for
years, and More Than She Expected is
just another reminder of why I never miss a Templeton book. This is the second
in her Jersey Boys series, and I recommend both books.
Some romance readers can be real snobs about category
romance, but that attitude prevents them from discovering some of the consistently
best writers in the genre. Do you read category romance? Who are your favorite
category authors?
