Book:
Anything for You
Author:
Kristan Higgins
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre:
Contemporary Romance;
Fiction
Due Out: December 29, 2015
Blurb from Goodreads:
Before you get down on bended knee, you
should be pretty darn sure the answer will be yes. For ten years, Connor
O'Rourke has been waiting for Jessica Dunn to take their on-again, off-again
relationship public, and he thinks the time has come. His restaurant is
thriving, she's got her dream job at Blue Heron Vineyard—it's the perfect time
to get married.
When he pops the question, however, her answer is a fond but firm no. If it ain't broke, why fix it? Jess has her hands full with her younger brother, who's now living with her full-time, and a great career after years of waitressing. What she and Connor have is perfect: friends with an excellent benefits package. Besides, with her difficult past (and reputation), she's positive married life isn't for her.
But this time, Connor says it's all or nothing. If she doesn't want to marry him, he'll find someone who does. Easier said than done, given that he's never loved anyone but her. And maybe Jessica isn't quite as sure as she thinks…
My Review:
The Blue Heron series by author Kristan
Higgins is one I have been devouring many times over the past few years. All the stories are well written, with
very witty dialogues and extremely funny characters. Two of them being the O’Rourke twins. Much as I love the hilarious men and
women who make up the town of Manningsport, there are none better than Colleen
and Connor O’Rourke. I have shared
my opinion on Colleen’s love story (click my review here: Waiting On You), now here is the story
of her other half, Connor.
In previous books, Connor was always
portrayed as someone stoic but very funny, loving yet sarcastic, hot (hubba
hubba) and …uh…. Very good with his hands… because HE IS A CHEF guys! (Mind out
of the gutter please hehehe). Here
we finally, FINALLY, get to see the other side of Connor, his patience, his
kindness and his love for one woman and one woman alone, Jessica Dunn, the
woman who has had his heart since he was 12 years old.
Connor is not complicated. He is a hardworking bar owner and chef
who wants to get married. He has
been seeing one woman for over a decade albeit secretly since the woman in
question prefers it that way.
Connor wants to have a family because he truly and fully loves
Jessica. And while she has never
uttered the words “I love you” to him, he has been the only man in her life for
quite awhile.
Jessica’s life is complicated. Very complicated. She practically raised herself and her
brother since her alcoholic parents were less than useless. She also has a reputation since High
School that never quite disappeared….she is/was Jessica Does, as in Jessica
does anyone who wants some. Her
life has changed for the better since getting her degree and working for the
Holland family and their vineyard, and she has moved on and away from the
trailer park, but a shadow has been cast and she believes she can’t be more
than what she is. She also has a big
burden by the name of Davey, her mentally challenged brother who happens to
HATE Connor with a passion because of an incident with a dog in their
childhood. So how can she plan a
life with Connor when in her mind, there is nothing left to give him except for
what they have occasionally?
One thing you’d have to understand about the
Blue Heron series is that it does happen in a small town of Manningsport and as
such, many lives, many characters are intertwined. So the characters here in Anything for You are the same
characters from the first four books which means a lot to readers like me
because whenever I read a new Blue Heron book, I feel like I’m coming home and
touching base with people who matter to me. And yes, corny as it sounds, the O’Rourkes and the Hollands
matter to me a lot and I need to see their happy endings. So this book here is a gift. If Connor had not been
given a good one I would have been very pissed. But as it is my entire face is smiling and I haven’t stopped
rereading my copy since first receiving the ARC. In fact, I went back to read ALL the 5 Blue Heron books the past few
days just because I want to. And
Jessica. Her character was always
the aloof one ever since The Best Man (Blue Heron book #1) and I didn’t quite
know if I liked her enough. But
Higgins has a way of making you LOVE her characters, even the most annoying
ones, so here I was rooting for Jessica to end up with the perfect man, Connor.
To fully appreciate Connor (and his magical
wit), you’d first have to know where he is coming from, and to do that you’d
have to fall first for Colleen….which is why you have to read WAITING ON YOU
before diving into this one. Better
yet, start from Book #1 for a better and clearer understanding of all these
wonderful relationships and characters I am raving about. Yes, I am Raving….I love this
series. In terms of romance and
sense of humor, few can compare.
Higgins is an author who knows her audience well. I am not yet ready to say goodbye to
the good folks of Manningsport so hopefully there are a few more up her
sleeve…..perhaps Ned and Sarah?
How about Charlie? Heck,
there’s always the next generation of the Hollands and O’Rourkes. Do I hear a yes?
Please click the links for the reviews of the Blue Heron series:
The Best Man
The Perfect Match
In Your Dreams
