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Rainbow Valley #2
Baby, It's You
"Irresistible. Jane Graves writes with charm, wit and heart!" --Carly Phillips, New York Times bestselling author
With only the wedding dress on her back and her honeymoon luggage in the car, Kari Worthington is running away. Determined to put her controlling father, her rigidly structured life, and the uptight groom she left at the altar in her rearview mirror, she escapes to the Texas Hill country . . . and lands on a tall, dark, and gorgeous winery owner's doorstep. All she needs is a job and a place to live until she can get back on her feet. So why is she fantasizing about losing herself in his powerful arms?
For Marc Cordero, freedom is so close he can taste it. He's devoted his life to managing the family business and being a single dad. Now with his daughter away at college and his brother taking over the winery, Marc is ready to hop on his Harley for parts unknown-until a runaway bride bursts onto the scene. Free-spirited and tantalizingly sexy, Kari excites him like no other woman has before. But when irresistible passion turns into something more, will Marc give up his future to take a chance on love?
(90,000 words)
With only the wedding dress on her back and her honeymoon luggage in the car, Kari Worthington is running away. Determined to put her controlling father, her rigidly structured life, and the uptight groom she left at the altar in her rearview mirror, she escapes to the Texas Hill country . . . and lands on a tall, dark, and gorgeous winery owner's doorstep. All she needs is a job and a place to live until she can get back on her feet. So why is she fantasizing about losing herself in his powerful arms?
For Marc Cordero, freedom is so close he can taste it. He's devoted his life to managing the family business and being a single dad. Now with his daughter away at college and his brother taking over the winery, Marc is ready to hop on his Harley for parts unknown-until a runaway bride bursts onto the scene. Free-spirited and tantalizingly sexy, Kari excites him like no other woman has before. But when irresistible passion turns into something more, will Marc give up his future to take a chance on love?
(90,000 words)
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
6 people are currently reading
755 people want to read
About the author
Jane Graves
37 books375 followersJane Graves is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty contemporary romance novels. She is a nine-time finalist for Romance Writers of America's Rita Award, the industry's highest honor, and is the recipient of two National Readers' Choice Awards, the Booksellers' Best Award, and the Golden Quill, among others.
Jane lives in the Dallas area with her husband and a beautiful but crafty cat who rules the household with one paw tied behind her back.
Jane lives in the Dallas area with her husband and a beautiful but crafty cat who rules the household with one paw tied behind her back.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
August 9, 2014
I'm a little conflicted about parts of this book, but still enjoyed it immensely. A big part of that is simply Kari. She's a flat-out delight and brightened every page she was on (and, since she is one of the main protagonists, that was a lot). She had a lot of growth to make, but she didn't hesitate (uh, for very long) to knuckle down and do what it takes to become who she wanted to be—all without compromising the generosity and joy she brought in to begin with.
Harder to take was Marc. He seems like he should be a lot further along, emotionally, because he's not only older, but seeing his daughter off to college (so he's had the life experience of successfully raising a kid to adulthood). Yes, he had the child young (very young), but he weathered it pretty well. That and the fact that he has obviously been a pillar of the community and is respected by all would lead you to believe he's doesn't have much to change, right? Only it turns out that he does, and that's disconcerting at first. Indeed, he has almost as far to go as Kari, just in a different direction.
Once I realized that both Marc and Kari had some serious growing to do, I felt a whole lot better about the story. Marc needs to internalize the joys he experienced in his service to others. He had allowed himself that teenage "poor me" attitude most of his life (which is reasonable as he was a teen when he "had" to take on so much responsibility). And his teen view of freedom has been holding him down all this time—to the extent that he cannot wait to take off for parts unknown with no responsibiliites to "hold him down". He doesn't even realize how that attitude is making the people he loves feel and the effect his emotional abandonment is having in advance of his planned physical abandonment. Fortunately for him, Kari shows up to help him see the joy he already has, even as she adds her own to his life.
And I love stories where the two main characters are such great extensions to each other—each providing exactly what the other needs to become complete.
Some of the weaknesses of the first book persist in this one. The town is even less well-populated than the previous book, though we get a different set of folks in this one. And some of the emotional storyline dragged on a bit long. And I thought the "big complication" that happened was kind of cheap (and clumsily forecast), even if it was a contrast through parallelism.
But the weaknesses were light, particularly when compared to my enjoyment of Kari. Seriously, she was just awesome and Marc was exactly the right man for her (and she the right woman for him).
A note about Steamy: I worried about this one because it got all its steam out up front. Two explicit scenes, all before the midway point and not short ones, either. There were two more fooling around bits that weren't insignificant, but altogether, it was still within the middle of my tolerance range. I think that's mostly because the scenes in question were deeply involved in the emotional arc of the main characters and thus were obviously in service to the broader story (and thus, not at all gratuitous).
Harder to take was Marc. He seems like he should be a lot further along, emotionally, because he's not only older, but seeing his daughter off to college (so he's had the life experience of successfully raising a kid to adulthood). Yes, he had the child young (very young), but he weathered it pretty well. That and the fact that he has obviously been a pillar of the community and is respected by all would lead you to believe he's doesn't have much to change, right? Only it turns out that he does, and that's disconcerting at first. Indeed, he has almost as far to go as Kari, just in a different direction.
Once I realized that both Marc and Kari had some serious growing to do, I felt a whole lot better about the story. Marc needs to internalize the joys he experienced in his service to others. He had allowed himself that teenage "poor me" attitude most of his life (which is reasonable as he was a teen when he "had" to take on so much responsibility). And his teen view of freedom has been holding him down all this time—to the extent that he cannot wait to take off for parts unknown with no responsibiliites to "hold him down". He doesn't even realize how that attitude is making the people he loves feel and the effect his emotional abandonment is having in advance of his planned physical abandonment. Fortunately for him, Kari shows up to help him see the joy he already has, even as she adds her own to his life.
And I love stories where the two main characters are such great extensions to each other—each providing exactly what the other needs to become complete.
Some of the weaknesses of the first book persist in this one. The town is even less well-populated than the previous book, though we get a different set of folks in this one. And some of the emotional storyline dragged on a bit long. And I thought the "big complication" that happened was kind of cheap (and clumsily forecast), even if it was a contrast through parallelism.
But the weaknesses were light, particularly when compared to my enjoyment of Kari. Seriously, she was just awesome and Marc was exactly the right man for her (and she the right woman for him).
A note about Steamy: I worried about this one because it got all its steam out up front. Two explicit scenes, all before the midway point and not short ones, either. There were two more fooling around bits that weren't insignificant, but altogether, it was still within the middle of my tolerance range. I think that's mostly because the scenes in question were deeply involved in the emotional arc of the main characters and thus were obviously in service to the broader story (and thus, not at all gratuitous).
January 5, 2016
A let down for me! :( Very predictable.
August 18, 2014
For me, Baby It’s You represents the “what you want is not always what you need” theme, and Ms. Graves has done a very good job in twisting my emotion and my thoughts about it. There were times that I wondered if the decision was the right one, and whether or not I should be upset with the outcome. However, after all was said and done, I realized that this story had a very good depth of facing tough choices in life and well, it just spoke to me greatly.
The characterization is wonderful here. I really adored Kari. Duly noted that Kari starts the story as the daughter of someone wealthy, who has never really done anything on her own (daddy pays for everything, even opening her bank account!) and easily quits when things get tough (like running away from her own wedding, rather than tell confronting her dad).
However, I saw how Kari slowly but steadily took her steps of independence. While she still gets help in doing so — and there’s one moment when Kari almost quit again after a grueling first day being a waitress at a local diner — but Kari is then able to work through the pain and actually learn to enjoy the job. Oh, Kari still makes mistakes, but she finds out how good she is with kids, she realizes that she can entertain people, and she ends up getting her tips worth. For someone who never really worked a day in her life, I thought that was quite admirable.
Meanwhile, Marc is one of those heroes whose actions definitely speak louder than his words. Being the oldest of three who have learned to take responsibility in life since a teenager, Marc thinks that it’s time for him to get his freedom. People have been relying on him for eighteen years. He basically takes care of that vineyard on his own too, since his younger brother and sister are not really into it.
Just when freedom seems to be waiting around the corner, life throws challenges again into Marc’s way. Marc’s brother doesn’t seem to know the best way to take care of the vineyard. Marc’s sister is suffering from heartache after losing her husband and her beloved dog. Then, his daughter doesn’t seem to be happy in university and wishes that Marc was there to be a safety net. The whole twist with Kari (I can’t really say without spoiling anything, but the ‘twist’ was definitely the point where I was having conflicting emotions the most!).
You see, I couldn’t help but think that Marc DESERVED the freedom after everything he was going through. So I wondered if that was fair for Marc. But then, I started to think that THIS was what the story wanted to say to us: sometimes you need to alter your dreams when life challenges you. And yes, like I said in the beginning of this review: “what you want is not always what you need”.
Because Marc finally realizes that freedom isn’t exactly what is best for him. Being with his family and the community who cares about him is. Even if it seems that Marc is back to where it all started, he isn’t really. This time, his siblings have grown up, his brother is a millionaire who can help financially, and his daughter also knows what she wants from life. Then there’s Kari … a woman who loves him and will stay with him, who understands Marc’s love for his vineyard and is willing to fight to save it when nature is threatening it. And Marc himself is not exactly a seventeen-year-old boy anymore.
So, in the end, Baby It’s You is a great story of self-discovery, for both Kari and Marc (and myself too in a way). I enjoyed it immensely. I hope Ms. Graves continues this series with either one of Marc’s siblings — their moments in this book make me want to read their stories of reaching happily ever after too.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The characterization is wonderful here. I really adored Kari. Duly noted that Kari starts the story as the daughter of someone wealthy, who has never really done anything on her own (daddy pays for everything, even opening her bank account!) and easily quits when things get tough (like running away from her own wedding, rather than tell confronting her dad).
However, I saw how Kari slowly but steadily took her steps of independence. While she still gets help in doing so — and there’s one moment when Kari almost quit again after a grueling first day being a waitress at a local diner — but Kari is then able to work through the pain and actually learn to enjoy the job. Oh, Kari still makes mistakes, but she finds out how good she is with kids, she realizes that she can entertain people, and she ends up getting her tips worth. For someone who never really worked a day in her life, I thought that was quite admirable.
Meanwhile, Marc is one of those heroes whose actions definitely speak louder than his words. Being the oldest of three who have learned to take responsibility in life since a teenager, Marc thinks that it’s time for him to get his freedom. People have been relying on him for eighteen years. He basically takes care of that vineyard on his own too, since his younger brother and sister are not really into it.
Just when freedom seems to be waiting around the corner, life throws challenges again into Marc’s way. Marc’s brother doesn’t seem to know the best way to take care of the vineyard. Marc’s sister is suffering from heartache after losing her husband and her beloved dog. Then, his daughter doesn’t seem to be happy in university and wishes that Marc was there to be a safety net. The whole twist with Kari (I can’t really say without spoiling anything, but the ‘twist’ was definitely the point where I was having conflicting emotions the most!).
You see, I couldn’t help but think that Marc DESERVED the freedom after everything he was going through. So I wondered if that was fair for Marc. But then, I started to think that THIS was what the story wanted to say to us: sometimes you need to alter your dreams when life challenges you. And yes, like I said in the beginning of this review: “what you want is not always what you need”.
Because Marc finally realizes that freedom isn’t exactly what is best for him. Being with his family and the community who cares about him is. Even if it seems that Marc is back to where it all started, he isn’t really. This time, his siblings have grown up, his brother is a millionaire who can help financially, and his daughter also knows what she wants from life. Then there’s Kari … a woman who loves him and will stay with him, who understands Marc’s love for his vineyard and is willing to fight to save it when nature is threatening it. And Marc himself is not exactly a seventeen-year-old boy anymore.
So, in the end, Baby It’s You is a great story of self-discovery, for both Kari and Marc (and myself too in a way). I enjoyed it immensely. I hope Ms. Graves continues this series with either one of Marc’s siblings — their moments in this book make me want to read their stories of reaching happily ever after too.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
February 7, 2020
4.5/5
A runaway bride wrecks her car in the pouring rain and walks to the nearest house for help. The house belongs to a single father who owns a successful local vineyard, but is fed up with his life. When Kari shows up at the front door in her ruined wedding dress, it totally upends all of Marc's plans to change his whole life.
There are several moving parts to this story: daughter has just grown up and left the house, stranger shows up on his doorstep looking for help, being only a few weeks away from a major change in his life. Marc feels for Kari when she has a tough time getting back on her feet. He helps her out quite a bit, and they get closer in the process. And the more his life gets tangled up with hers, the harder it is for Marc to proceed with his big life-changing plan.
I loved this one as much as the first book in this series (or maybe a little more). It is so super-swoony to me when a guy is a gentleman. I particularly loved that Marc had been carrying some big emotions about having to work so hard at his job and parenting on his own for so long, and I even loved that he felt like he was owed some time away to experience the world a little bit. Not that I agreed with him, but because it left him a lot of room to improve on the pages. He's such a complex guy, and it's so interesting. Because, on the surface, Marc reads as a little bit immature, but I think that more than anything: he feels the injustice of being left all alone with a new baby. And I think raising her alone while building a successful business just sat on his shoulders until his daughter grew up and went off to college.
Kari has some great life changes too, and they're remarkable, but I felt particularly excited to read Marc's story.
A runaway bride wrecks her car in the pouring rain and walks to the nearest house for help. The house belongs to a single father who owns a successful local vineyard, but is fed up with his life. When Kari shows up at the front door in her ruined wedding dress, it totally upends all of Marc's plans to change his whole life.
There are several moving parts to this story: daughter has just grown up and left the house, stranger shows up on his doorstep looking for help, being only a few weeks away from a major change in his life. Marc feels for Kari when she has a tough time getting back on her feet. He helps her out quite a bit, and they get closer in the process. And the more his life gets tangled up with hers, the harder it is for Marc to proceed with his big life-changing plan.
I loved this one as much as the first book in this series (or maybe a little more). It is so super-swoony to me when a guy is a gentleman. I particularly loved that Marc had been carrying some big emotions about having to work so hard at his job and parenting on his own for so long, and I even loved that he felt like he was owed some time away to experience the world a little bit. Not that I agreed with him, but because it left him a lot of room to improve on the pages. He's such a complex guy, and it's so interesting. Because, on the surface, Marc reads as a little bit immature, but I think that more than anything: he feels the injustice of being left all alone with a new baby. And I think raising her alone while building a successful business just sat on his shoulders until his daughter grew up and went off to college.
Kari has some great life changes too, and they're remarkable, but I felt particularly excited to read Marc's story.
August 1, 2014
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley
Hmmm, how to rate this one... This is definitely a tough one for me. There were parts of this book that I absolutely hated... a lot. But most of this book was just fine. Nothing amazing but nothing awful. I hate to say that but not all of them can knock our socks off.
I was poised and ready to L-O-V-E Kari, the heroine. I totally enjoy stories about brides who quit their weddings on the day (it seems so daring and ballsy) and I love stories about heroines who are getting away from a controlling man and learning to stand on their own two feet. Love it! But the more I read Kari, the less I loved her. What seemed like a daring and ballsy move -running away from her wedding- began to seem like the actions of a grown woman who has never had to deal with consequences in a very real way. Like, when you're 12 and you get a puppy. You never train the puppy and he poops and pees all over the floor so your parents give the puppy away as a consequence. But the REAL consequence was the money that was spent on getting the puppy, getting his shots, taking him to the vet, finding a new owner after you failed to care for the puppy. THOSE are real consequences. Not just losing your furry, breathing toy. I was glad that Kari ran from her wedding but I don't know that she did it for the right reasons and I don't know that she did it in the right way. But she wants to make decisions on her own and I'm all for that so I'm still on board with Kari. Then, she appears to be satisfied with her version of standing on her own two feet... that is, getting a job that was offered to her on a silver platter (or a plastic serving tray, as the case may be), getting a vehicle for free, getting some clothing for free and staying at a vineyard... also rent free. THIS is standing on your own two feet? Making your OWN way? Are you kidding me? She reminded me of people who grow up in small towns and think they know everything there is to know and they go from living with their parents to getting married and living with their husbands and still thinking they know what it's like to make your way in the world. They don't. And Kari couldn't make it even if she actually tried.
Marc is the vineyard owner and he becomes Kari's knight in muted burlap. He works his butt off, trying to keep the winery afloat. He's looked forward to taking a few years to himself on his motorcycle once his daughter that he had as a teenager starts college. He took her to the state college last week and he only has a few more weeks until the harvest and then he can go. I have to say that I felt like Marc had earned some time off. Running such a huge and finicky business like wine making has got to be tough. Running it while raising a teenage daughter? Next to impossible! Of course, as the time for Marc to depart draws nearer, more and more things make him not so sure that leaving is a great idea. I really felt angry that Marc was being tied down again by the same old obligations. It made me angry at his family, angry at Kari and I ended up being angry at Marc for not sticking to his guns and making a clean get-away.
On the downside, I felt like Kari and Marc had little to no chemistry until they did. To me, it felt extremely abrupt and false. I'm leaving out a huge section of the book because I'm trying to avoid a major spoiler but it makes it REALLY difficult to explain why I disliked this book so much if I can't talk about the spoiler. The spoiler was the main reason I disliked this book, disliked Kari and felt nothing but pity for Marc, the hero.
On the upside, as an animal lover, I really connected with the story behind the town this takes place in, Rainbow Valley. The Rainbow Bridge is the bridge that our pets cross after they die. They're restored to full health and wait at the other side of the Rainbow Bridge until we, their humans, cross the bridge and join them. It's on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge that humans are reunited with all of their pets and stay together forever. I just love that tale and it gets me all misty eyed whenever I hear it. It's told MUCH more beautifully in the book but that's the general idea. There's a chance that it's worth reading this book just for the Rainbow Bridge explanation.
I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light and fun romance. I thought the heroine was childish at best and the hero was a hot, pitiful mess. Anyone liking heroines who need to be kept may enjoy this and that is in no way an insult. I just can't imagine a way that Kari could take care of herself, let alone anyone else. So any relationship with her is going to be lopsided on the "taking care of each other" scale. But the writing is solid and I'm definitely going to give this series another shot!
Hmmm, how to rate this one... This is definitely a tough one for me. There were parts of this book that I absolutely hated... a lot. But most of this book was just fine. Nothing amazing but nothing awful. I hate to say that but not all of them can knock our socks off.
I was poised and ready to L-O-V-E Kari, the heroine. I totally enjoy stories about brides who quit their weddings on the day (it seems so daring and ballsy) and I love stories about heroines who are getting away from a controlling man and learning to stand on their own two feet. Love it! But the more I read Kari, the less I loved her. What seemed like a daring and ballsy move -running away from her wedding- began to seem like the actions of a grown woman who has never had to deal with consequences in a very real way. Like, when you're 12 and you get a puppy. You never train the puppy and he poops and pees all over the floor so your parents give the puppy away as a consequence. But the REAL consequence was the money that was spent on getting the puppy, getting his shots, taking him to the vet, finding a new owner after you failed to care for the puppy. THOSE are real consequences. Not just losing your furry, breathing toy. I was glad that Kari ran from her wedding but I don't know that she did it for the right reasons and I don't know that she did it in the right way. But she wants to make decisions on her own and I'm all for that so I'm still on board with Kari. Then, she appears to be satisfied with her version of standing on her own two feet... that is, getting a job that was offered to her on a silver platter (or a plastic serving tray, as the case may be), getting a vehicle for free, getting some clothing for free and staying at a vineyard... also rent free. THIS is standing on your own two feet? Making your OWN way? Are you kidding me? She reminded me of people who grow up in small towns and think they know everything there is to know and they go from living with their parents to getting married and living with their husbands and still thinking they know what it's like to make your way in the world. They don't. And Kari couldn't make it even if she actually tried.
Marc is the vineyard owner and he becomes Kari's knight in muted burlap. He works his butt off, trying to keep the winery afloat. He's looked forward to taking a few years to himself on his motorcycle once his daughter that he had as a teenager starts college. He took her to the state college last week and he only has a few more weeks until the harvest and then he can go. I have to say that I felt like Marc had earned some time off. Running such a huge and finicky business like wine making has got to be tough. Running it while raising a teenage daughter? Next to impossible! Of course, as the time for Marc to depart draws nearer, more and more things make him not so sure that leaving is a great idea. I really felt angry that Marc was being tied down again by the same old obligations. It made me angry at his family, angry at Kari and I ended up being angry at Marc for not sticking to his guns and making a clean get-away.
On the downside, I felt like Kari and Marc had little to no chemistry until they did. To me, it felt extremely abrupt and false. I'm leaving out a huge section of the book because I'm trying to avoid a major spoiler but it makes it REALLY difficult to explain why I disliked this book so much if I can't talk about the spoiler. The spoiler was the main reason I disliked this book, disliked Kari and felt nothing but pity for Marc, the hero.
On the upside, as an animal lover, I really connected with the story behind the town this takes place in, Rainbow Valley. The Rainbow Bridge is the bridge that our pets cross after they die. They're restored to full health and wait at the other side of the Rainbow Bridge until we, their humans, cross the bridge and join them. It's on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge that humans are reunited with all of their pets and stay together forever. I just love that tale and it gets me all misty eyed whenever I hear it. It's told MUCH more beautifully in the book but that's the general idea. There's a chance that it's worth reading this book just for the Rainbow Bridge explanation.
I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light and fun romance. I thought the heroine was childish at best and the hero was a hot, pitiful mess. Anyone liking heroines who need to be kept may enjoy this and that is in no way an insult. I just can't imagine a way that Kari could take care of herself, let alone anyone else. So any relationship with her is going to be lopsided on the "taking care of each other" scale. But the writing is solid and I'm definitely going to give this series another shot!
May 10, 2014
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I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book. I absolutely loved it. The characters Marc and Kari were wonderful. I enjoyed the setting in a vineyard and the supporting cast as well. There was just enough angst and drama to suck me right into their world. I loved the strength that both characters seemed to exude but I was happy by the subtle changes that Kari was able to make in Marc and the strength that Kari was able to finally grasp through this journey into a small town in Texas. Marc had so much responsibility thrust upon him his whole life. He took the role of father at a very young age not only to his own child but his siblings as well. I felt he had every right to want to do something for himself in life. I was scared for Kari when I realized she was pregnant. I thought about how he left her that night and I felt he had that right as well. He'd been through all that before.
I did like that everyone in town pulled together to help bring in the crop. It showed how much he'd given to his friends and the community. It was the perfect opportunity for Angela and Kari to work out their differences while Marc wasn't there to intervene. The dialogue was great and the romance was superb. Excellent story that I recommend for everyone!
P
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I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book. I absolutely loved it. The characters Marc and Kari were wonderful. I enjoyed the setting in a vineyard and the supporting cast as well. There was just enough angst and drama to suck me right into their world. I loved the strength that both characters seemed to exude but I was happy by the subtle changes that Kari was able to make in Marc and the strength that Kari was able to finally grasp through this journey into a small town in Texas. Marc had so much responsibility thrust upon him his whole life. He took the role of father at a very young age not only to his own child but his siblings as well. I felt he had every right to want to do something for himself in life. I was scared for Kari when I realized she was pregnant. I thought about how he left her that night and I felt he had that right as well. He'd been through all that before.
I did like that everyone in town pulled together to help bring in the crop. It showed how much he'd given to his friends and the community. It was the perfect opportunity for Angela and Kari to work out their differences while Marc wasn't there to intervene. The dialogue was great and the romance was superb. Excellent story that I recommend for everyone!
May 9, 2014
OMG...Jane Graves does it EVERY TIME....BABY IT'S YOU is a MUST READ for 2014...Hell...for any year, but I HIGHLY recommend you pre-order this one.
Full review coming around release day, but I just finished the book and I am still smiling, I LOVED it that much! Marc Cordero...OH MOMMA...and Kari, the heroine was simply perfect for him.
Just the right amount of emotion and steam to keep me turning page after page, and have me tearing up...sniff...
Definitely a Top Tasty Read...GRAB THIS ONE
Full review coming around release day, but I just finished the book and I am still smiling, I LOVED it that much! Marc Cordero...OH MOMMA...and Kari, the heroine was simply perfect for him.
Just the right amount of emotion and steam to keep me turning page after page, and have me tearing up...sniff...
Definitely a Top Tasty Read...GRAB THIS ONE
July 16, 2014
Funny thing happened to me at the library yesterday. I stumbled across this book in the New Releases section. They usually don't have many romance books, but that doesn't stop me from looking every time I'm there.
And boy am I glad I did. I absolutely LOVED this book...and now I plan to devour Jane Graves's backlist!!!
And boy am I glad I did. I absolutely LOVED this book...and now I plan to devour Jane Graves's backlist!!!
October 4, 2019
I've never hated a Jane Graves book before but I hate this one. The heroine is a spoiled little rich girl forced to tough it out but she can't do it and every time she turns around she manipulates the hero into taking care of her even though she's not his responsibility.
I hate his family. They're all whiny, selfish people who make it harder for him to do something for himself even after he's been sacrificing everything for 18 years. I think the author thinks they're supposed to be likeable but I can't stand them.
Her father is awful, but he's so one-dimensional, who cares?
And they have zero chemistry. (I can't believe this won a Rita.) Yuck.
So with 50 pages left, I'm DNFing this. Thank God it's over.
I hate his family. They're all whiny, selfish people who make it harder for him to do something for himself even after he's been sacrificing everything for 18 years. I think the author thinks they're supposed to be likeable but I can't stand them.
Her father is awful, but he's so one-dimensional, who cares?
And they have zero chemistry. (I can't believe this won a Rita.) Yuck.
So with 50 pages left, I'm DNFing this. Thank God it's over.
September 18, 2016
I loved this book. It was fun with a few little twists. Kari, one of the main characters, was a delight. She had so many levels to her personality. A quirky little ray of sunshine with wisdom thrown in. Marc, her counterpart, was interesting. He seemed to have a chip on his shoulder because he had a child at 17 and ended up raising her alone. He loved his daughter, Angela, and had raised a good kid, but was ready to have the life he felt he missed out on while raising her. He was an incredibly responsible man, very active in the community and the small town relied on him on a daily basis to fix this or make that right.
When their two worlds collide on a stormy night, neither of their lives will ever be the same. We get to watch them become the people they were meant to be. She from a wealthy family with an overbearing controlling father and no idea how to take care of herself and him from a position of forced responsibility for the last 18 years. She is exactly what he needs and he is exactly what she needs.
It's like the supporting cast was handpicked. They were also a treat .... a strange but loveable group of characters.
I will definitely recommend this book. It was such a fun read.
When their two worlds collide on a stormy night, neither of their lives will ever be the same. We get to watch them become the people they were meant to be. She from a wealthy family with an overbearing controlling father and no idea how to take care of herself and him from a position of forced responsibility for the last 18 years. She is exactly what he needs and he is exactly what she needs.
It's like the supporting cast was handpicked. They were also a treat .... a strange but loveable group of characters.
I will definitely recommend this book. It was such a fun read.
August 16, 2015
I bought this because it won the RITA, so maybe my expectations were unrealistically high.
I thought it was okay. The heroine was really annoying - totally flakey, and acting like it was a big deal for her to be "standing on her own two feet" when really she'd gone from being a dependent of her father's to being a dependent of a total stranger.
The writing was smooth, and the story was... okay.
I thought it was okay. The heroine was really annoying - totally flakey, and acting like it was a big deal for her to be "standing on her own two feet" when really she'd gone from being a dependent of her father's to being a dependent of a total stranger.
The writing was smooth, and the story was... okay.
August 7, 2015
Two and a half stars.
I liked the writing style and I skimmed along to find out what happens but I had trouble liking and connecting with the female character. Twenty eight and a spoiled, clueless "rebel". No sympathy from me.
I liked the writing style and I skimmed along to find out what happens but I had trouble liking and connecting with the female character. Twenty eight and a spoiled, clueless "rebel". No sympathy from me.
May 16, 2014
Omg I love this series!
September 19, 2017
It was... nice i guess. I did enjoy it, but it is not one of those books that leaves a lasting impression.
May 10, 2017
Not a bad continuation of the rainbow Valley series. I have to admit to liking the last book a little bit better but I still thought this one was very good. A good story about a girl who is able to finally figure out who she is away from her controlling father. The relationship between the two main characters was rather interesting. It was a rather fluffy little romantic book without a whole lot of substance to it as far as plot but I really enjoyed the character play. The writing style was also good at it was a nice little piece that made you feel good about spending some time to relax your mind. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
April 2, 2021
I’m in a book slump. I couldn’t get satisfied with any book that I read. I want to give this book 5 stars because it made me cry but there’s still that unsatisfying feelings. I want more angst between the hero and heroine because I felt like it was too easy. Kari was too forgiving, Marc was too easy to fall in love with someone who he hated at first meet. Will I ever found that satisfying book?
June 17, 2017
This is a good single-father romance - complete with requisite understandable baggage on both the daughter and the father's parts. Quick, charming read with emotional depth.
June 3, 2019
Adorable sweet fun listen.
March 23, 2021
I wish this writer was as talented as other authors she has been compared to. I adore Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Rachel Gibson and I wanted to adore Jane Graves but I didn’t.
July 29, 2023
Even though I figured out what would happen early on… this book was still a good sweet read! I did enjoy it from beginning to end!
September 7, 2025
It was a great book.
June 1, 2014
4.5 stars.
Baby, It's You is a heartfelt and engaging addition to Jane Graves' delightfully charming Rainbow Valley series. In this outing, opposites attract when runaway bride Kari Worthington ends up at Marc Cordero's vineyard. Although they are at very different places in their lives, they find it impossible to resist their sizzling passion for one another. But with Kari deciding to put down roots and Marc equally determined to leave is there any chance of a future for this seemingly mismatched couple?
Kari is fun-loving and impulsive but there is a surprising amount of depth to her character. Growing up the only daughter of a wealthy businessman, Kari has subdued much of her vibrant personality in her efforts to gain her emotionally distant father's approval. She has a long history of taking the easy of way out, but once she runs away from her wedding, Kari is forced to not only stand up for herself, but also stand her own two feet for the first time in her life.
Following his father's death, Marc took on the responsibility of caring for his siblings while running the family business and raising his daughter Angela on his own. With Angela finally off to college, the carefree life he has been longing for is finally within his grasp. Marc is quite logical, viewing the world in black and white and Kari's arrival brings a bit of chaos to his well-ordered life.
With his new responsibility free life, Marc is very reluctant to have another person depending on him even for a short time, so he is eager for Kari to leave town. She steadfastly refuses to return to her former life and she eventually persuades him to help her out temporarily. Their relationship heats up fairly quickly and with neither of them looking for lasting commitment, Marc and Kari agree to a new strings fling. As Marc's departure date draws near, they are reluctant to end their relationship but unexpected complications quickly jeopardize their future.
Baby, It's You is an emotional journey of self-discovery for both Kari and Marc. Their romance is surprisingly sweet yet full of passion. The intriguing glimpses of Marc's siblings (especially his sister Nina) leave me hopeful that Jane Graves is planning to feature them in upcoming installments of the Rainbow Valley series.
Although Baby, It's You is the second book of the Rainbow Valley series, it can be read as a standalone.
Baby, It's You is a heartfelt and engaging addition to Jane Graves' delightfully charming Rainbow Valley series. In this outing, opposites attract when runaway bride Kari Worthington ends up at Marc Cordero's vineyard. Although they are at very different places in their lives, they find it impossible to resist their sizzling passion for one another. But with Kari deciding to put down roots and Marc equally determined to leave is there any chance of a future for this seemingly mismatched couple?
Kari is fun-loving and impulsive but there is a surprising amount of depth to her character. Growing up the only daughter of a wealthy businessman, Kari has subdued much of her vibrant personality in her efforts to gain her emotionally distant father's approval. She has a long history of taking the easy of way out, but once she runs away from her wedding, Kari is forced to not only stand up for herself, but also stand her own two feet for the first time in her life.
Following his father's death, Marc took on the responsibility of caring for his siblings while running the family business and raising his daughter Angela on his own. With Angela finally off to college, the carefree life he has been longing for is finally within his grasp. Marc is quite logical, viewing the world in black and white and Kari's arrival brings a bit of chaos to his well-ordered life.
With his new responsibility free life, Marc is very reluctant to have another person depending on him even for a short time, so he is eager for Kari to leave town. She steadfastly refuses to return to her former life and she eventually persuades him to help her out temporarily. Their relationship heats up fairly quickly and with neither of them looking for lasting commitment, Marc and Kari agree to a new strings fling. As Marc's departure date draws near, they are reluctant to end their relationship but unexpected complications quickly jeopardize their future.
Baby, It's You is an emotional journey of self-discovery for both Kari and Marc. Their romance is surprisingly sweet yet full of passion. The intriguing glimpses of Marc's siblings (especially his sister Nina) leave me hopeful that Jane Graves is planning to feature them in upcoming installments of the Rainbow Valley series.
Although Baby, It's You is the second book of the Rainbow Valley series, it can be read as a standalone.
June 3, 2014
At First Sight: Half an hour before her wedding day Kari Worthington comes to the realization that she does not wish to go through with it, that she has never really loved her fiancée but stayed with him because her dad liked him, and that she needs to get out.
So she gets on her car and makes a run for it, still in her wedding dress, and ends up at Cordero Vineyards, in a little town called Rainbow Valley.
Marc Cordero, has managed his family's winery for the last 18 years while juggling his responsibilities as a single parent. But now his daughter Angela is off at college and his brother is coming in to take over the winery, and all Marc wants its to enjoy his free time while he waits for the last harvest before he can hop into his bike and ride into the sunset.
Until Kari shows up in his doorstep.
Marc doesn't want to get involved and he definitely doesn't want to start a relationship when he'll be leaving in a few weeks, but Kari's free spirit makes him feel young again, something he hadn't felt since becoming a parent as at 18.
Second Glance: I had never tried Jane Graves' books before but I have to say that I really loved Baby It's You, there is just something so lovely and fluid about her prose, and she got me to cheer for both Marc and Kari right from the get go.
I loved Kari's character, and how it was hard for her to adapt to living out from under her father's thumb - both for good and ill - and how she learned to stand on her own two feet. Marc was very rigid and sometimes even a little humorless, but he was very dependable and he moved heaven and earth for those he cared about; and I really appreciated that.
Plus, I found his whole side of the story very interesting, how he's only in his mid-thirties but empty-nesting like crazy because he's so used to putting his daughter's needs and moods ahead of his own.
There are other secondary plots as well, like about Marc's sister Nina who is struggling with personal loses - I really felt for her, by the way.
Even the final twist worked well on me, for a moment I didn't think the author was going to be able to pull it off in a way that satisfied me, but in the end I was totally okay with what happened.
Bottom Line: I definitely recommend Baby It's You, and I totally want to go read the previous book in the series (though this works perfectly well as an stand a lone) and look forward to reading more from Jane Graves in the future.
So she gets on her car and makes a run for it, still in her wedding dress, and ends up at Cordero Vineyards, in a little town called Rainbow Valley.
Marc Cordero, has managed his family's winery for the last 18 years while juggling his responsibilities as a single parent. But now his daughter Angela is off at college and his brother is coming in to take over the winery, and all Marc wants its to enjoy his free time while he waits for the last harvest before he can hop into his bike and ride into the sunset.
Until Kari shows up in his doorstep.
Marc doesn't want to get involved and he definitely doesn't want to start a relationship when he'll be leaving in a few weeks, but Kari's free spirit makes him feel young again, something he hadn't felt since becoming a parent as at 18.
Second Glance: I had never tried Jane Graves' books before but I have to say that I really loved Baby It's You, there is just something so lovely and fluid about her prose, and she got me to cheer for both Marc and Kari right from the get go.
I loved Kari's character, and how it was hard for her to adapt to living out from under her father's thumb - both for good and ill - and how she learned to stand on her own two feet. Marc was very rigid and sometimes even a little humorless, but he was very dependable and he moved heaven and earth for those he cared about; and I really appreciated that.
Plus, I found his whole side of the story very interesting, how he's only in his mid-thirties but empty-nesting like crazy because he's so used to putting his daughter's needs and moods ahead of his own.
There are other secondary plots as well, like about Marc's sister Nina who is struggling with personal loses - I really felt for her, by the way.
Even the final twist worked well on me, for a moment I didn't think the author was going to be able to pull it off in a way that satisfied me, but in the end I was totally okay with what happened.
Bottom Line: I definitely recommend Baby It's You, and I totally want to go read the previous book in the series (though this works perfectly well as an stand a lone) and look forward to reading more from Jane Graves in the future.
May 28, 2014
Posted on What I'm Reading
When I first read the synopsis of Baby, It's You by Jane Graves, the first thought that popped in my mind was "MUST READ." I have a soft spot for runaway brides. Usually, runaway bride stories tend to be fun and this was a fun read.
Now Kari Worthington felt at the last moment that marrying the guy her dad chose was a bad a idea, so the next best thing was to get out of town. Once she arrives to Rainbow Valley her life takes a dramatic toll. She finds herself in a crappy situation and the only advice she gets is to return back to Houston by Marco Cordero. Now Marc senses that his life his going to get turned upside-down by this little red head.
Marc is on the verge of experiencing freedom that he has been waiting 18 years for. So, when Kari steps on his porch he smells trouble. His natural tendency is to help those who are weak and in need, but he's a bit stubborn. I mean he has this plan to travel, take life as it comes, and to experience things he missed out when he was younger. After all, at the age of 17 he had his dreams put on hold to raise his daughter and his siblings, so he has been waiting a long time.
I thought Baby, It's You quite entertaining. Here's why: You have Kari who's a bit of a free spirit and kind of lives in the moment, then you have Marc who takes his life seriously. Marc is so wound up tight that when his plans get a little eschew he freaks out. I liked the story, but some might find the story predictable. Yes, there are some parts that I predicted would happen, but it didn't change my feelings about the story. I found myself laughing and crying throughout the book. So, if you are looking for a runaway bride and a white knight kind of story, you might give Baby, It's You a go.
On a side note, this is a book two, but can be read as a standalone, because the story focuses more on Kari and Marc's relationship.
Copy provided by Forever Romance via NetGalley
When I first read the synopsis of Baby, It's You by Jane Graves, the first thought that popped in my mind was "MUST READ." I have a soft spot for runaway brides. Usually, runaway bride stories tend to be fun and this was a fun read.
Now Kari Worthington felt at the last moment that marrying the guy her dad chose was a bad a idea, so the next best thing was to get out of town. Once she arrives to Rainbow Valley her life takes a dramatic toll. She finds herself in a crappy situation and the only advice she gets is to return back to Houston by Marco Cordero. Now Marc senses that his life his going to get turned upside-down by this little red head.
Marc is on the verge of experiencing freedom that he has been waiting 18 years for. So, when Kari steps on his porch he smells trouble. His natural tendency is to help those who are weak and in need, but he's a bit stubborn. I mean he has this plan to travel, take life as it comes, and to experience things he missed out when he was younger. After all, at the age of 17 he had his dreams put on hold to raise his daughter and his siblings, so he has been waiting a long time.
I thought Baby, It's You quite entertaining. Here's why: You have Kari who's a bit of a free spirit and kind of lives in the moment, then you have Marc who takes his life seriously. Marc is so wound up tight that when his plans get a little eschew he freaks out. I liked the story, but some might find the story predictable. Yes, there are some parts that I predicted would happen, but it didn't change my feelings about the story. I found myself laughing and crying throughout the book. So, if you are looking for a runaway bride and a white knight kind of story, you might give Baby, It's You a go.
On a side note, this is a book two, but can be read as a standalone, because the story focuses more on Kari and Marc's relationship.
Copy provided by Forever Romance via NetGalley
March 5, 2017
3.5. This was cute.
August 12, 2016
As I started to read this book, I ran into one of those situations in life that I think most people can relate to but usually don't mention. The heroine of the story, Kari, is a runaway bride and her groom-to-run-from is named Greg. The man she ends up running into is named Marc. I have a nasty history with both of these men's names. My problem was getting past my personal feelings about these two names to get to the wonderful story that was playing out in front of me. I am incredibly glad that the hero's name was the lesser of my two personal devils but I have to tell you, it was really difficult seeing past both of those names anyway. I realized as I was reading, that I unconsciously avoid books that use names that I have bad associations with. If I had avoided this one, I would have missed out on a wonderful, heartwarming story. I really enjoyed Kari's growth as a person, especially as she learned to stand up for herself and Marc's journey to finding out that 'home' is where he's been all along. My heart went out to Nina with her tragic losses and I'm hoping to see much more of Daniel and his bartender 'friend' Terri. And, even though this was the second book in the 'Rainbow Valley' series, and I haven't read the first one yet, I didn't feel that I was missing anything at all - but you can bet that I'll be reading the first book as soon as I can so I'll know a little more about how Shannon & Luke got to their happily-ever-after wedding in this book!
FTC Advisory: I won a copy of this book through the GoodReads First Reads program. No compensation for my review was given.
FTC Advisory: I won a copy of this book through the GoodReads First Reads program. No compensation for my review was given.
July 31, 2015
Kari and Marc. This was a cute enjoyable story. Kari was funny, she is used to being pampered and having all of life's luxuries, she then leaves it all behind to run away from her wedding. She then has to learn to fend for herself for a change. She gets a job, and marc helps her with a place to stay. Her journey is funny and cute. Marc was also a great character, he keeps helping Kari saying each time will be the last, but he keeps helping. Marc has one goal, to leave rainbow valley, he raised his daughter and wants a break to enjoy just himself. And Kari will do anything to stay in rainbow valley. all the supporting characters were great to read, I look forward to reading more from this series.
I did have a few issues, it did not ruin the book for me, most people would find this book excellent, I'm just a bit picky. When I read a book I like things to really be resolved, or explained more. The way Kari's best friend, fiancée and father treated her was horrible, you are left hanging a bit with that situation. And Kari's father, what an ass. He stole all Kari's money, from her own bank account, money she earned, leaving her stranded. I just wanted to see her get that back. One last thing is I like to see characters know each other longer, and when characters have a big fight I like it to have a lot of angst and some grovel time. Still it was good, but it could have been great. The ending was very cute, and closed up nicely, cant wait for the next installment.
I did have a few issues, it did not ruin the book for me, most people would find this book excellent, I'm just a bit picky. When I read a book I like things to really be resolved, or explained more. The way Kari's best friend, fiancée and father treated her was horrible, you are left hanging a bit with that situation. And Kari's father, what an ass. He stole all Kari's money, from her own bank account, money she earned, leaving her stranded. I just wanted to see her get that back. One last thing is I like to see characters know each other longer, and when characters have a big fight I like it to have a lot of angst and some grovel time. Still it was good, but it could have been great. The ending was very cute, and closed up nicely, cant wait for the next installment.
July 24, 2016
For the most part, I enjoyed this. The setting was nice, and I enjoyed the set-up. I agreed with the heroine's decision to bolt from her wedding, and this got it off to a decent start. The characters were all generally acceptable, even though the number of dogs were a bit much, and there was the obligatory (these days) series crap to wade through. One of my main concerns is that, despite her major breakaway, the heroine never really does learn to stand on her own two feet, at all, which was a disappointment. (They kept saying she was; I just never saw any real evidence of that.) I felt sorry for her, because of this. Marc was a very nice man, but he felt so chuffed by his own niceness, I'm sure he'll get way more out of supporting her than she will, in the long run. In the end, it was certainly worth reading, and had many good points, though I had some specific, personal-taste issues with the book, overall.
June 3, 2014
I received this book from Goodreads in exchange for a review, and I am so glad I did. Jane Graves hit it out of the park with her latest novel, “Baby, It’s You”. It is a fun book to read, filled with wonderful characters and touching moments.
As Kari Worthington prepares to walk down the aisle, she realizes she can’t say “I do”. Instead she bolts. With no destination in mind, she drives. Ending up on a stranger’s doorstep was not on her agenda. However an unexpected accident in the pouring rain, lands her at Marc Cordero’s house asking for help. Marc has just seen his daughter off to college, and he is just inches away from grasping the freedom he has sought for so many years. But getting Kari quickly taken care of isn’t so easy. When Marc discovers how controlling both her Father and future husband are, he reluctantly steps in to help Kari forge a life independent of them. He has no plans to become part of that life, but slowly the magic of Rainbow Valley wraps itself around the hearts of these two. Kari’s happiness with life helps to weave its way into the structured life Marc has built for himself. And Marc learns that running away from home isn’t where his happiness lies.
As Kari Worthington prepares to walk down the aisle, she realizes she can’t say “I do”. Instead she bolts. With no destination in mind, she drives. Ending up on a stranger’s doorstep was not on her agenda. However an unexpected accident in the pouring rain, lands her at Marc Cordero’s house asking for help. Marc has just seen his daughter off to college, and he is just inches away from grasping the freedom he has sought for so many years. But getting Kari quickly taken care of isn’t so easy. When Marc discovers how controlling both her Father and future husband are, he reluctantly steps in to help Kari forge a life independent of them. He has no plans to become part of that life, but slowly the magic of Rainbow Valley wraps itself around the hearts of these two. Kari’s happiness with life helps to weave its way into the structured life Marc has built for himself. And Marc learns that running away from home isn’t where his happiness lies.
July 10, 2014
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
Kari Worthington finds herself about to marry a man of her father's choosing, and she realizes it is a huge mistake. Unable to confront her fiance and afraid she'll be bullied by her father into going through with the wedding, she flees. She drives as far away as she can get and hits a bad storm. She has an accident and ends up at the door of Marc Cordero. Marc is a single father who just dropped off his daughter at college. He is looking forward to the freedom to enjoy his single and now unencumbered life after having taken care of everyone else for the past 2 decades. Marc tries to send Kari back to Houston, but he is unable to ignore her predicament and grudgingly agrees to help her. They clash but eventually give in to their mutual attraction. Just as Kari starts to feel comfortable in Rainbow Valley, Marc is ready to leave on the adventure he's been planning for 18 years.
For the first half of the book, I found this heroine somewhat annoying and immature. She does grow up as the story progresses, and I liked her by the end of the book.
Kari Worthington finds herself about to marry a man of her father's choosing, and she realizes it is a huge mistake. Unable to confront her fiance and afraid she'll be bullied by her father into going through with the wedding, she flees. She drives as far away as she can get and hits a bad storm. She has an accident and ends up at the door of Marc Cordero. Marc is a single father who just dropped off his daughter at college. He is looking forward to the freedom to enjoy his single and now unencumbered life after having taken care of everyone else for the past 2 decades. Marc tries to send Kari back to Houston, but he is unable to ignore her predicament and grudgingly agrees to help her. They clash but eventually give in to their mutual attraction. Just as Kari starts to feel comfortable in Rainbow Valley, Marc is ready to leave on the adventure he's been planning for 18 years.
For the first half of the book, I found this heroine somewhat annoying and immature. She does grow up as the story progresses, and I liked her by the end of the book.
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