Rescue Me
by Jennifer Johnson- Paperback: 302 pages
- Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press (August 28, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1935817167
- ISBN-13: 978-1935817161
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sweet
My Rating 4.25 of 5.0
Product DescriptionReview: This is a sweet, easy, happy ending, romance read.
Sitting in front of her parents’ house in a U-Haul truck at midnight, Amy Mann decides it’s time to break it to them that she’s divorced from her husband and moving back home with her seven-year-old son, Toby. As Amy settles into her hometown, she has a plan to get out of debt, get her college degree, and put her life together.
Enter Captain Riley Pennimon, local firefighter and superhero to Amy’s son. Riley is kind, brave, and civic-minded. The captain does not fit into Amy’s putting-her-life-together plan, and yet he is way too good looking without a shirt. Much to Amy’s chagrin, Toby decides that Riley is just what they need for a happily-ever-after.
But, can Amy make peace with the demons of her mistakes and let the captain rescue her? And…can Riley let go of the pain of his past and grab onto the family he’s always wanted?
Amy has sworn off men after a bad experience getting pregnant and then married too young to an unfaithful, irresponsible jerk. (Okay she doesn’t call him that directly but if the shoe fits....) She is glad her marriage gave her Toby but now she wants to have some control over her own life even if she has to struggle to get her life together. She is determined to stand up for herself and manage on her own. She is glad to move home to get the help of her parents but she doesn’t want them, or anyone else, to give her money or solve her problems for her. She especially doesn’t want a handsome firefighter paying her bills and trying to direct her life.
Riley sees a beautiful woman and wonderful child when he meets Amy and her son, Toby. He doesn’t set out to “rescue her” but he can’t help but want to make her burden easier. He also loves spending time with Toby who reminds him of his own son who died at childbirth.
Riley is a fire Captain and pretty much a take charge guy. Clearly he and Amy knock heads and he has to battle to get past her defenses. Riley is awfully sweet and set on winning Amy if only he can figure out a way to get her to accept all that he has to offer, not just financially but emotionally too.
The story flows nicely and the author does a nice job developing these characters as real to life, flaws included. Amy is very stubborn but her reactions could be considered really honest in light of her history. Riley is such a gentleman but he bumbles a few steps along the way. And Toby is an exuberant seven year old boy who is quickly drawn to the warmth and friendship that Riley offers.
I rather expected more difficulties with the ex-husband but it was okay that he was mostly out of the picture after unexpectedly exerting some visitation rights. He was only a peripheral character.
The dialogue is fun and the story entertaining with conflict and a warm romance. Riley plays a mandolin and I enjoyed that the author used a song that he wrote for Amy to express the message of the story. When you need a break from paranormal or thriller suspense this would be a nice book to snag for a quick sweet read. I would be please to read more novels by this author.
xxx
Thank you to Turquoise Morning Press and the author for supplying this book for review.