THE BIGGEST TREES FALL THE HARDEST
The story is the fifth in a new series, On A Manhunt, and has some funny and some out-of-character moments. This is a fun, fast-paced romance that includes embarrassing moments, age-gap romance, secrets, and resolutions. I liked the characters, and this one isn’t one of the James brothers—instead, it is Daniel Pearson and little Melly Harwood. The story is insta-lust, with a short-term, no-strings-attached, virgin librarian—growly lumberjack—May/December romance.
Daniel Pearson is a large man, 6’ 5”, and is making changes in his life, selling his business, Pearson Tree and Landscape Service, to his brothers, and going to Scotland to begin with. Getting the girl, he was involved with pregnant, becoming a father at nineteen, and raising his son, Danny, who is now twenty-one, Daniel is ready to do all the things he felt he missed when he had to leave college and become a responsible Dad.
Little Melly Harwood, a nerdy, shy, petite, librarian, has a mundane life. Preparing her food for a week, reading smutty books at home, and rarely even going on a date. She wants to avoid being associated with her hippie-free-love-homewrecker mother and the sleazy men she hooks up with. But that doesn’t mean Melly doesn’t want a man, she just wants a man she feels comfortable with—so that is why she is a twenty-four-year-old virgin.
“The test came back positive. You need to call me.”
“I told you this would happen, but no. You thought a little fun wouldn’t have consequences. Call me.”
“Where are you? What am I supposed to do, take care of this on my own?”
“Fine, fun was had. Now we face the consequences.”
The story’s plot will have Daniel being informed by his office manager that he got little Melly Harwood, a Librarian, pregnant. He doesn’t even know who she is—learns she is over at the vet's office and barges in like he owns the place. What a shock to learn it is her dog that is expecting and his son’s dog is the daddy. But, from the moment that Daniel and Melly meet, there is angst and chemistry, and yet, he is nearly twice her age. Daniel has plans, and they didn’t include Melly—until now. A verbal contract, a timeline, and almost anything goes, but no sharing and these two become insatiable when together. What a shock when they are caught by his brothers, and then his son. Three days, then Daniel is leaving for Scotland with no return date.
Both Daniel and Melly have parents who have altered their views on commitment and relationships. Melly’s Dad left, and her mother is into free love and tries to get Melly to be the same. There is no structure in a relationship, and she doesn’t want that kind of life. Daniel’s Dad left their family when he was eight because he got involved with his secretary. Then he moves across town and starts a new family with them. If this is family and relationships, count them out. Daniel raised his son Danny without Haven because she didn’t want the responsibility. He had the support of his mother and brothers, but now it is time for him.
Melly: Thank you.
Daniel: For what? Orgasms?
Melly: Definitely. Orgasms. I guess letting me do things I never would with, well, anyone else.
Daniel: Sweet girl, don’t you know?
Melly: What?
Daniel: It’s all inside of you. Who you are. You just had to let the real Melly Harwood out to be seen.
Melly: I’m not Dorothy and this isn’t The Wizard of Oz.
I loved the chemistry between these two and what seems like a quick solution to their situation, leads them to new issues. Will they be able to get past their past history with family members and acknowledge that they are great together? In the end, these two discover that they aren’t like their parents and that they really do want more with each other. The story is full of dirty talk and explicit sex scenes.
I haven’t read the ‘bonus scenes’ yet, but I always look forward to them (found in her newsletter.) This story, and what looks like several more, seem to revolve around the various men of Colorado and the town of Hunter Valley in Montana.