Unexpected (Masonville Series, Book 3)

All Ben Grayson wants is to keep his family together. All Jamie Garven wants is to be a mother. When Ben’s in-laws sue for custody of his step-children, Jamie decides to take a leap of faith and agrees to marry Ben. Trying to show a happy family while also working through their baggage, the couple seems to be succeeding. But after a visit with Ben's in-laws, Jamie makes a decision that Ben ultimately views as betrayal. It’ll take compromises on both their parts to bridge the chasm … or they’ll be lost to each other forever.

Readers who have read the first two books in this series will be happy to arrive back in Masonville for Jamie and Ben’s story. If you haven’t read the first two books, it would be a good idea to do so, as it will at times be confusing to wade through the characters’ history and some conversations. One will enjoy the comical antics of Ben’s girls, the interactions between the girls and Jamie’s pets, and the heartwarming family moments. Some readers may find the number of obstacles frustrating, especially as some of them pop up with no warning and don’t seem to help move the story along. The author did a great job wrapping up all the obstacles but the story would have been better by extending the original obstacles and leaving out the secondary ones. Despite that, it’s easy to become invested in these characters and their stories. Once this book is finished, the reader will find themselves wanting to go back to read the first two in the series – if you haven’t already.

Heather McCoubrey