What Makes a Family? by Nicole Foster... QC #190

What Makes a Family by Nicole Foster, SSE, #1853, September 2007 (series: book 3- Brothers of Rancho Piñtada)

After an injury ended Cort Morente's career as a detective, he was sort of in a slump. A friend decided he needed to do something. That something was in the form of an 11 year old boy named Tommy. Tommy was abandoned by his mother when he was 2, never knew his father, lived with an abusive uncle, bounced around from foster home to foster home  (from which he always ran away from). He hadn't been in enough trouble that might land him in jail but that might be where he is heading unless maybe someone befriends him and maybe becomes almost like a mentor. And that someone is Cort. But Tommy doesn't trust easily. Cort enlists the help of Tommy's resource teacher and basketball coach at the community center, Laurel Tanner. Both agree that neither is looking for a relationship. They are only joining forces to help Tommy. We know Cort doesn't want a relationship because he is sort of trying to figure out where his life is going due to his injury. But why is Laurel skittish? But feelings creep up on them anyway.

Cort was very open, not the brooding hero type. He opened up to very easily to Laurel not just about his accident but also about his family and a wide variety of subjects. Whereas Laurel remained tight-lipped. This seemed to result in mixed messages about what she wanted from Cort. I felt the story was steady. The subject matter was very emotional. I thought the conclusion was anticlimactic and other subject should have been addressed before they got their HEA. Because these things were still lingering so they didn't disappear. I did like Cort though. After his career as a detective ended he was sort of lost. So while this is a touching story I felt some parts were dragged out while others need to be addressed more. In July we get to revisit Luna Hermosa and Rancho Piñtada for another brother's story in The Cowboy's Lady.

Excellence Rating- Good+ ~ Steaminess Rating- Romantic- Sensual (*)

Personal total- 95 ~ harl/sil- 78 ~ other- 17

Ratio of TBR/ new- Totals since Jan 1= 37/58 ~ May = 5/11

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