Former Navy
SEAL Max Brannigan is a loner with a strong protective streak and an ocean of
survivor’s guilt that drives him to take risks no sane man would take. When he
gets the news his billionaire father died and left him a horse farm in
Kentucky, he’s busy protecting a group of American military contractors in a
war zone. The first moment he’s able, he’ll fly back to the US and dispose of
the farm. What does a man like him need horses for anyway? Of all the things
his father could have left him, this certainly ranks up there as the most
bizarre.
Elinor
Applegate lives for her horses, but life on the farm isn’t easy. Once-thriving
Applegate Farm has fallen on hard times in the past few years. It was only with
an influx of cash from her mother’s old friend that Ellie’s been able to keep
the family operation going. All her hopes to turn around the business and buy
back her rights to the farm lie on the hooves of a colt destined to greatness.
She’s just got to get him there first.
But when
sexy, ruthless, infuriating Max Brannigan shows up, Ellie realizes her troubles
are worse than she thought. He knows nothing about horses—and he cares less
than nothing about her dreams. To Max, the horses are useless and have to go—in
spite of the fact that every encounter with Ellie only makes him want to drag
her into his arms and kiss the fire right out of her. But Ellie will fight hard
to keep her dreams alive, even if she has to fight dirty. Max has spent most of
his life protecting people and assets from danger—but can he protect himself
when Ellie launches a full-scale assault against the walls surrounding his
heart?
Release Date: November 29, 2016
H.O.T. Publishing, LLC
7 Brides for 7 Brothers #5
Contemporary Romance
Review copy provided by publisher
Liza's Review:
Max is the 5th
book in the 7 Brides for 7 Brothers series, and while I plan to go back and
read the first 4 books in the series, I can say from personal knowledge that Max reads well as a stand-alone story.
When billionaire James Brannigan died, he left each of his 7
sons an inheritance that had something to do with his and their mother's past.
With Max, his father left him the deed to the Applegate Farm in
Kentucky. Unknown to Max, his mother was a best friend with the original owner
of the farm and she had a great love for the horses raised and trained there. Max,
who is a former Nave SEAL, is now working as an independent contractor in war
zones and is ready to get out and start his own protection service stateside. Max is so
not prepared to meet Ellie Applegate when he comes to Kentucky to
sell the farm and move on with his life. Ellie has been raised to run the
farm and train the horses her entire life and thanks to Max's dad, she was able
to keep the farm when her mom was sick.
First of all, I absolutely loved Ellie. She is such a strong
character. She has had to work pretty much around the clock with almost no
help to keep her farm and training facility running after her mom
got sick. She has scrimped and saved to do everything in her power
to keep the farm running while paying back to loan to Max's
dad. She is also an amazing friend and employer to the one
employee she still has. I also loved how she was willing to stand up to Max
when he first approached her about selling the farm so they could split
the proceeds equally. I love strong women, and Ellie had strength to spare.
Max and Ellie also seemed to connect pretty quickly.
Yes they had really great chemistry, but I really loved they truly
became friends before they became lovers. Ellie showed Max everything about the
farm that she loved and even was able to find people and pictures to share
stories about his mom on the farm. I just really loved watching their
relationship develop from friends to lovers and absolutely fell in love with
them as a couple.
While I wanted Max and Ellie to have no issues to get
to their happily ever after, I knew that Max needed more time to accept what
he knew he wanted in his heart. When Ian Black, yes that Ian Black,
contacted him for a new mission, I knew he would take the job, even knowing how
much it would hurt Ellie. OMG I wanted to cry when he left for his mission,
knowing they loved each other. I also wanted to hit Max for hurting Ellie
that way.
After reading Max, it
made me want to go back and read the first 4 books in the series to see what
James Brannigan had done for his other sons. I honestly loved their dad seems
to making amends for not being their for his sons after their mother's death
with each bequest. Fans of Lynn Raye Harris will absolutely adore Max, and new readers will fall in
love with her voice.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (B+)
