REVIEW: Flirting with Love (Love in Bloom #18; The Bradens #10) By, Melissa Foster

Elisabeth Nash has spent years dreaming of returning to the small town of Trusty, Colorado, where she spent summers with her favorite aunt. When she inherits her aunt’s farmette, she closes her Los Angeles pet bakery and pampering business, sure that life in Trusty will be as peaceful and as welcoming as she remembers. But being an outsider in the close-knit town proves to be very different from the happy summers she remembers from her childhood—and falling for Trusty’s hot, wealthy, and sinfully irresistible veterinarian, Ross Braden, sends the rumor mill into a frenzy.

Ross Braden learned long ago that gossip spreads faster than weeds in his small hometown, and Ross loves nothing more than his privacy. For that reason, he doesn’t date women who live in Trusty. But that was before blond, beautiful, and refreshingly honest Elisabeth Nash flew into his vet clinic seeking help for her panicked piglet and turned his comfortable life—and his heart—inside out.

Despite rumors about Elisabeth’s motives toward her aunt’s property, passion brews between Elisabeth and Ross. Every steamy kiss and every sensual touch brings the pair closer together, and when Ross helps Elisabeth try to fit into the town he adores, it makes their bond even stronger. But even Elisabeth’s efforts toward reaching the community, and the love she and Ross so desperately believe in, might not be enough for the protective small town to offer them a future. 

Whenever I have the chance to read a book written by Melissa Foster I jump at the chance. The Love in Bloom series is probably one of my favorites. Every book introduces us to a new swoon-worthy guy in every book. This is the new installment in the amazing Braden family.

“A man like Ross would probably chew her up and spit her out. But, oh, would the chewing be delicious.”

Elisabeth Nash has spent most of her adult life waiting for the day that she can be back in Trusty, Colorado. After her aunt dies and leaves Elizabeth her pie making business she sees this as the opportunity to move back to the town she never wish she left. When she finally gets to Trusty she realized the close-knit town take care of their own and she is not one of them. She is an outsider and they make sure she knows it.

“In her mind this is what Trusty was- comforting, safe, open arms at the ready. She’d been wrong. This wasn’t Trusty at all. This was Ross Braden.”

Elisabeth like most of Melissa’s heroines was really sweet. She has been dreaming about Trusty for as long as she can remember and when she finally gets there she tries to make the best of it. She knows there are rumors and people talking about her but she tries to win them over anyway. She doesn’t give up at the first sign of trouble. She keeps her head held high and tries to win the town. Elisabeth is definitely strong-willed and stubborn in the best way.

“I never thought I’d see the day when I’d think of a woman before my practice, or before my family, and when I got up this morning, my mind went to you-and it never left.”

Ross Braden is the second oldest son and the Trusty veterinarian. Nothing comes before his animals or his family. He likes his privacy and he never dates in town. He does whatever he can to keep his name out of the Trusty town gossip. Everything changes when a woman crashes into his practice with a squealing piglet. For the first time he wants a woman in town.

“It was a kiss like no other. Right out of the movies. That moment, that second, that kiss, was without a doubt the best thing she’d ever experienced in her life.”

I am sorry to say that this was the first Braden man I had to warm up to. I didn’t really care for him at all in the beginning. I hated that he cared so much about the rumor mill and in the beginning kind of believed what he was hearing about Elisabeth. He made some snap judgments and it really bothered me in the beginning but he won me over. Ross is sweet, caring, and gentle. He holds a special place in his heart for animals and he was ridiculously romantic. Once Ross got to know Elisabeth He broke all of his rules and he did everything he could think of to help her win over the town.

“They hadn’t even been on a real date yet and it felt like she was his.”

I really loved these two characters together. They were both hopeless romantics and that is rare to see in male characters. They both had faith in love, destiny, and fate. Once they got to know each other they went with their hearts. They didn’t let a timeline tell them when it was ok to do anything. They did what felt right and it ended up making everyone happy. Their connection was real, honest, and steamy. They definitely had chemistry. Melissa brings all of the Braden clan into this book and I really like how we never really lose track with the other members of this big family. They each make an appearance and we get caught up with what they have been doing.

“Lissa, I have a feeling I’ve been waiting for you my whole life.”

This is the tenth book in the Braden family series and Melissa Foster has yet to make a couple that I didn’t fall in love with. She creates relationships that are real and jump from the page. When you read her books you find yourself with this happy dopey smile on your face. Melissa’s writing is flawless and she never writes a book that is boring. Each book is unique and has something new to offer. I love this series and can’t wait to read more!

        

                

Connect with Melissa

Website ♥ Facebook ♥ Twitter ♥ Fostering Success ♥ Goodreads Author Page

a Rafflecopter giveaway