Title: Low Country Hero by Lee Tobin McClain
Safe Haven Series Book One
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Welcome to Safe Haven, where love—and a second chance—is just around the corner…
Sunny, carefree days splashing in the ocean—it’s the life Anna George has always wanted for her five-year-old twins. And now that they’ve made it to Safe Haven, South Carolina, she won’t let anyone stand in her way. Not the abusive ex she’s just escaped and not the rugged contractor who caught her setting up house in the shuttered beachfront cabins he’s refurbishing. When he offers Anna and her daughters a place to stay in exchange for her help with renovations, she’s tempted. His gentle way with her girls makes her want to trust him, but she’s been wrong before…
A family is the last thing contractor and former military man Sean O’Dwyer wants right now. But when he discovers Anna and her girls, he recognizes kindred spirits. They’re survivors who’ve seen the worst of people, just like he has, and he’ll do anything he can to help them. As he and Anna spend their days bringing the cottages back to life and their nights sharing kisses in the warm bayou breezes, Sean must choose between the life he always wanted and the family he can’t live without.
Review:
The first installment in the Safe Haven series, Low Country Hero by Lee Tobin McClain is a poignant yet heartwarming romance.
Former soldier Sean O’Dwyer has returned to Safe Haven, SC after several years away. He remains close with his brothers, Liam, who is a police officer in town and Cash, who returns frequently to visit his family. Sean is dedicated to his foster mom, Ma Dixie, and he is trying to help his foster brother, Tony, who is struggling to escape his ex-wife Brandi. Needing some peace and quiet, Sean is renovating several beach cabins when he meets Anna George and her five year old twins, Hayley and Hope. Sean is drawn to the small family and despite his reservations, he enjoys spending time with them. However, his unsettled past continues to haunt him which forces Sean to make a difficult decision about his relationship with Ann and the girls.
Anna has finally gotten the courage to leave her abusive ex, Beau, and she is trying to keep a low profile in case he comes looking for her. She does not find it easy to trust anyone and she struggles with letting anyone get close to her and her daughters. In spite of her trepidation, Anna gradually lets Sean, Ma Dixie and a few other townspeople into her life. As she begins to let down her guard just a bit, Anna is stunned when Sean suddenly pulls away from her, Hope and Hayley.
Due to his family history, Sean does not allow himself to consider having children. Neither he nor his brothers have come to terms with what happened to them after they arrived in Safe Haven. Sean completely understands Anna’s situation and in spite of his efforts to stay away from her, he cannot resist getting to know her, Hope and Hayley. When he can no longer ignore his fears of becoming too attached, will Sean ruin any chance of a future with Anna? And when Anna’s past catches up with her, can Sean protect her from harm?
Low Country Hero is a captivating romance with engaging characters and a realistic storyline. Anna and Sean have yet to make peace with their difficult pasts yet their attraction to one another proves to be impossible to resist. Little Hope and Hayley’s reaction to the turmoil in their lives tugs on the heartstrings. Lee Tobin McClain deftly handles the domestic violence portion of the storyline with sensitivity. Readers who enjoy a clean romance with a slight element of suspense will enjoy this first outing in the Safe Haven series.
