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Candellanos #2
Knowing You
New York Times bestselling author Maureen Child welcomes you back to Chandler, California, where there's always an extra place at the Candellano family table--and where Mama Candellano is ready to offer lots of unsolicited advice, especially in matters of the heart...
Ever since Stevie Ryan was a young girl, she was in love with her best friend Carla's older brother, Nick Candellano. But Nick had to complicate things by growing up gorgeous--and breaking Stevie's heart. Now she's convinced that forgetting him is the way to go. And it's working out fine...until she and Nick's brother, Paul, spend one sultry night together. Has the right brother been under Stevie's nose all along?
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2015
71 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Maureen Child
1,151 books548 followersUSA Today best selling author Maureen Child is the author of more than ninety romance novels and novellas. Maureen is a five time nominee for the prestigious Rita award from Romance Writers of America.
One of her novels, A Pocketful Of Paradise, was made into a CBS-TV movie called The Soul Collector, starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis.
Over the years, she’s written under lots of different names and she prefers the term ‘pseudonym’ to ‘alias’. As Ann Carberry, she wrote western historical romances. As Kathleen Kane, she wrote not only Americana romances, but western paranormal romances as well. As Sarah Hart, she wrote one really spectacular western paranormal that is still one of her favorites. And once, Ann Carberry even wrote a Victorian historical which she absolutely loved doing.
Under her own name, Maureen writes short contemporary novels for Silhouette Desire—books she loves to write because of their fast pace and condensed story telling. Maureen is also writing funny, contemporary paranormal romances for NAL and darker paranormal stories for Silhouette Nocturne.
Maureen writes paranormal romance novels under the pesudonym of Regan Hastings
One of her novels, A Pocketful Of Paradise, was made into a CBS-TV movie called The Soul Collector, starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis.
Over the years, she’s written under lots of different names and she prefers the term ‘pseudonym’ to ‘alias’. As Ann Carberry, she wrote western historical romances. As Kathleen Kane, she wrote not only Americana romances, but western paranormal romances as well. As Sarah Hart, she wrote one really spectacular western paranormal that is still one of her favorites. And once, Ann Carberry even wrote a Victorian historical which she absolutely loved doing.
Under her own name, Maureen writes short contemporary novels for Silhouette Desire—books she loves to write because of their fast pace and condensed story telling. Maureen is also writing funny, contemporary paranormal romances for NAL and darker paranormal stories for Silhouette Nocturne.
Maureen writes paranormal romance novels under the pesudonym of Regan Hastings
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 16, 2018
This was nice emotional and angsty read even though there was one thing in the book that didn't sit well with me and made me uncomfortable. Stevie had been in love with Nick, had dreamed of marrying him, but then two years ago she caught him cheating on her with some woman and ended their relationship.
She runs a local barista and has been living alone --she lost her father two years ago-- in the tiny apartment above her barista . Her parents' divorced when she was very young and her mother had taken Stevie to live with her, but she ended up with a very unhappy childhood as her mother hopped from husband to husband. That's why, when she was twelve she told her mother she wanted to live with her father, who lived in Chandler, a coastal town in Northern California. Her relationship with her mother deteriorated even more thereafter, but she found happiness with her father, her best friend, Carla Candellando (h of book one Finding You) and the loud, crazy, but loving, Candellando family. Even after her break-up with Nick, she continued to be a part of the family, continued to be a part of that compulsory Sunday dinner that Mama C insisted her brood attend and all other events in the family.
Paul and Nick were both good looking hunks, but totally different in personalities. Nick was outgoing and a professional footballer whereas Paul was a quiet, reserved scientist and a computer genius --he even wore wire-framed glasses-- happy to build software and various other programs and games. Yet, despite their differences, they shared a very close bond that no one else could ever touch. A connection that couldn’t be broken. Paul had always been a good friend to Carla, a shoulder to cry on every time Nick hurt her. What she didn't know was that Paul was attracted to her and it killed him to stay away from her as she was his twin's girlfriend, later ex-girlfriend.
The book starts with Stevie taking a short-cut through the trees on her way home from Carla's wedding when her hair gets caught in a branch and in her attempt to pull her hair free, she ends up getting it more twisted. Paul then comes there and after teasing and ribbing her for a while, he rescues her. She then invites him over to her place for a movie and ice-cream, but they get caught up in a bet that has them kissing each other. The kiss short-circuits Stevie's brains and she can't believe the best kiss she'd ever experienced came from Paul -- her friend, Carla's brother and her ex's twin. That kiss then leads to mind-blowing sex. When they wake up the following morning, they can see repercussions of what they'd done and tell each other it shouldn't happen again. Stevie fears the family's hatred for her when they find out she'd gone from one brother to the other and she didn't want to lose the only family she loved. She also didn't want to lose her friendship with Paul. Paul also worries about the same, but his biggest fear was that Stevie was still half in love with his twin. He starts preparing a spreadsheet where he lists down all the reasons why he shouldn't get involved with Stevie.
However, no matter how much the two counsel themselves to stay away from each other, the moment they find themselves alone with each other everything gets tossed out of the window, bringing in fresh doses of guilt, which escalates every time they're with Nick or the family.
Nick has suddenly taken to excessive drinking having been told by the doctor his career as a footballer is over for good, which he hasn't told his family, who're very worried about him. Mama Candellando is of the opinion that the only person who could reach Nick and bring stability to his life was Stevie. She tells Paul to talk to Stevie about forgiving Nick and patching up with him, but Paul refuses though he cannot explain to his mother why. He is not liking the fact that everyone's sympathy is for his twin and no one knows what he's feeling, which in turn leads him into realizing that he was as much to blame for this as his family because while Nick was vocal about his achievements, Paul had preferred to fade into the background, preferred to keep his career separate from the family. They were under the impression he was an unpaid scientist and had no clue how well he was doing in life, how he didn't have to work a day in his life, how he was considered a genius in his world and various governments came to him for advice. Loved the moment when his mother visits him at his office and is stunned to see his achievements mounted on the wall. Paul's secretary was also fun. Loved how she bossed over him.
Be as it may, now that he and Stevie were involved, Paul is also realizing that he doesn't have to keep covering up for his twin's flaws, doesn't have to protect him all the time like he used to do before. Nick was a grown man and capable of taking control of his life if he tried. So when Nick suspects Stevie of seeing someone and asks Paul to find out who it was, Paul gives his twin a few home truths leaving Nick wondering what happened to the twin who used to always bail him out. Meanwhile, Tony, their older brother and town sheriff, suspects that something is going on between Paul and Stevie. I liked it when he asked Nick whether he wanted Stevie back because he was in love with her or because she would keep him out of trouble like she used to.
On her part, Stevie, is not in love with Nick. In fact, she's second-guessing whether she'd ever been in love with him. But, with Nick trying to woo her back and Paul not liking it, things get strained between her and Paul. She also doesn't like being treated like his dirty secret when with the family. Like the moment when Nick calls Paul just after he'd finished making love to Stevie and he cannot tell his brother she is with him or the one at the Sunday dinner when Paul is playing with Stevie's fingers, but stops when Nick says something to her which irks her. Later, after Nick visits her, they end up arguing which eventually up into a bout of hot sex in her office. However, the old ease and friendship was gone. In its place was only tension.
Meanwhile, Stevie discovers she has a seventeen year old half-sister, who has Down's syndrome, but her mother treating her as a retard has put her in a special home. Stevie visits her sister and sees she's happy at the home. Having always longed for a family of her own, Stevie asks the girl to go live with her, which only upsets the girl and Stevie continues with her lonely life and complicated on-and-off relationship with Paul. Yet, when her half-sister goes missing, it was Paul she immediately turns to and he too, unhesitatingly helps her in looking out for the girl. By then, Stevie is fully convinced she's in love with Paul. However, unfortunately, she discovers the spreadsheet he'd made on why he shouldn't get involved with her and is furious. I have to say I think she stretched her anger over it for too long. Nevertheless, by then Paul has also decided to tell the entire world he is in love with her and has no intention of giving up easily.
Even though, at times, things got very sensitive and complicated between the characters, I liked how the author handled it and how she managed to retain the love and caring between them all. For a reader like me, who's wasn't comfortable about the situation, to end up liking the book says it all. I also have to say Paul surprised me. I thought he would be a beta kind of guy. But, he wasn't. Yes, he could be quiet, reserved and loyal, as well as fun and witty, but he could also be very vocal when angry. For some reason, I couldn't fully warm up to Stevie although there was nothing really bad about her. The Candallendo family as usual were their awesome selves. Loved to see Carla and Jackson from book one happily married.
Overall, it was a sensitive, emotional and angsty read.
She runs a local barista and has been living alone --she lost her father two years ago-- in the tiny apartment above her barista . Her parents' divorced when she was very young and her mother had taken Stevie to live with her, but she ended up with a very unhappy childhood as her mother hopped from husband to husband. That's why, when she was twelve she told her mother she wanted to live with her father, who lived in Chandler, a coastal town in Northern California. Her relationship with her mother deteriorated even more thereafter, but she found happiness with her father, her best friend, Carla Candellando (h of book one Finding You) and the loud, crazy, but loving, Candellando family. Even after her break-up with Nick, she continued to be a part of the family, continued to be a part of that compulsory Sunday dinner that Mama C insisted her brood attend and all other events in the family.
Paul and Nick were both good looking hunks, but totally different in personalities. Nick was outgoing and a professional footballer whereas Paul was a quiet, reserved scientist and a computer genius --he even wore wire-framed glasses-- happy to build software and various other programs and games. Yet, despite their differences, they shared a very close bond that no one else could ever touch. A connection that couldn’t be broken. Paul had always been a good friend to Carla, a shoulder to cry on every time Nick hurt her. What she didn't know was that Paul was attracted to her and it killed him to stay away from her as she was his twin's girlfriend, later ex-girlfriend.
The book starts with Stevie taking a short-cut through the trees on her way home from Carla's wedding when her hair gets caught in a branch and in her attempt to pull her hair free, she ends up getting it more twisted. Paul then comes there and after teasing and ribbing her for a while, he rescues her. She then invites him over to her place for a movie and ice-cream, but they get caught up in a bet that has them kissing each other. The kiss short-circuits Stevie's brains and she can't believe the best kiss she'd ever experienced came from Paul -- her friend, Carla's brother and her ex's twin. That kiss then leads to mind-blowing sex. When they wake up the following morning, they can see repercussions of what they'd done and tell each other it shouldn't happen again. Stevie fears the family's hatred for her when they find out she'd gone from one brother to the other and she didn't want to lose the only family she loved. She also didn't want to lose her friendship with Paul. Paul also worries about the same, but his biggest fear was that Stevie was still half in love with his twin. He starts preparing a spreadsheet where he lists down all the reasons why he shouldn't get involved with Stevie.
However, no matter how much the two counsel themselves to stay away from each other, the moment they find themselves alone with each other everything gets tossed out of the window, bringing in fresh doses of guilt, which escalates every time they're with Nick or the family.
Nick has suddenly taken to excessive drinking having been told by the doctor his career as a footballer is over for good, which he hasn't told his family, who're very worried about him. Mama Candellando is of the opinion that the only person who could reach Nick and bring stability to his life was Stevie. She tells Paul to talk to Stevie about forgiving Nick and patching up with him, but Paul refuses though he cannot explain to his mother why. He is not liking the fact that everyone's sympathy is for his twin and no one knows what he's feeling, which in turn leads him into realizing that he was as much to blame for this as his family because while Nick was vocal about his achievements, Paul had preferred to fade into the background, preferred to keep his career separate from the family. They were under the impression he was an unpaid scientist and had no clue how well he was doing in life, how he didn't have to work a day in his life, how he was considered a genius in his world and various governments came to him for advice. Loved the moment when his mother visits him at his office and is stunned to see his achievements mounted on the wall. Paul's secretary was also fun. Loved how she bossed over him.
Be as it may, now that he and Stevie were involved, Paul is also realizing that he doesn't have to keep covering up for his twin's flaws, doesn't have to protect him all the time like he used to do before. Nick was a grown man and capable of taking control of his life if he tried. So when Nick suspects Stevie of seeing someone and asks Paul to find out who it was, Paul gives his twin a few home truths leaving Nick wondering what happened to the twin who used to always bail him out. Meanwhile, Tony, their older brother and town sheriff, suspects that something is going on between Paul and Stevie. I liked it when he asked Nick whether he wanted Stevie back because he was in love with her or because she would keep him out of trouble like she used to.
On her part, Stevie, is not in love with Nick. In fact, she's second-guessing whether she'd ever been in love with him. But, with Nick trying to woo her back and Paul not liking it, things get strained between her and Paul. She also doesn't like being treated like his dirty secret when with the family. Like the moment when Nick calls Paul just after he'd finished making love to Stevie and he cannot tell his brother she is with him or the one at the Sunday dinner when Paul is playing with Stevie's fingers, but stops when Nick says something to her which irks her. Later, after Nick visits her, they end up arguing which eventually up into a bout of hot sex in her office. However, the old ease and friendship was gone. In its place was only tension.
Meanwhile, Stevie discovers she has a seventeen year old half-sister, who has Down's syndrome, but her mother treating her as a retard has put her in a special home. Stevie visits her sister and sees she's happy at the home. Having always longed for a family of her own, Stevie asks the girl to go live with her, which only upsets the girl and Stevie continues with her lonely life and complicated on-and-off relationship with Paul. Yet, when her half-sister goes missing, it was Paul she immediately turns to and he too, unhesitatingly helps her in looking out for the girl. By then, Stevie is fully convinced she's in love with Paul. However, unfortunately, she discovers the spreadsheet he'd made on why he shouldn't get involved with her and is furious. I have to say I think she stretched her anger over it for too long. Nevertheless, by then Paul has also decided to tell the entire world he is in love with her and has no intention of giving up easily.
Even though, at times, things got very sensitive and complicated between the characters, I liked how the author handled it and how she managed to retain the love and caring between them all. For a reader like me, who's wasn't comfortable about the situation, to end up liking the book says it all. I also have to say Paul surprised me. I thought he would be a beta kind of guy. But, he wasn't. Yes, he could be quiet, reserved and loyal, as well as fun and witty, but he could also be very vocal when angry. For some reason, I couldn't fully warm up to Stevie although there was nothing really bad about her. The Candallendo family as usual were their awesome selves. Loved to see Carla and Jackson from book one happily married.
Overall, it was a sensitive, emotional and angsty read.
August 4, 2021
I can't believe the high rating this book got. I thought it was torture from beginning to end. I'm surprised I even finished it. The heroine, Stevie, is a stupid mess who over-reacts, fights for no reason, and has an endless loop of excuses why she can't love Paul. It is repeated over and over and over. I have no idea what Paul sees in her. She is beautiful and shapely, that's all she has going for her. She does take in stray animals, but so what? A lot of people do that. She needed more depth.
Stevie does have a tragic back story that is supposed to explain a few of her choices. However, I had a real problem with how Mama and Paul advised her to deal with her mom. They told her to stop wanting her mom to be anything else than what she is. Her mother is a narcissist who abandoned her. That requires some heavy-duty therapy to deal with successfully. It is not simply reframing her expectations.
It's not really a romance, it's a lust thing. The only reason I stuck it out was Paul. Give me a sexy, tall geek any day. Yes, please.
I'm not sure if I'll read book three. Nick is such a jerk, I don't know if I can reframe that.
Stevie does have a tragic back story that is supposed to explain a few of her choices. However, I had a real problem with how Mama and Paul advised her to deal with her mom. They told her to stop wanting her mom to be anything else than what she is. Her mother is a narcissist who abandoned her. That requires some heavy-duty therapy to deal with successfully. It is not simply reframing her expectations.
It's not really a romance, it's a lust thing. The only reason I stuck it out was Paul. Give me a sexy, tall geek any day. Yes, please.
I'm not sure if I'll read book three. Nick is such a jerk, I don't know if I can reframe that.
June 9, 2018
Another great story
Paul and Stevie, who would have thought?!! The Candellano family is something else. Love the closeness and the love they share no matter the circumstance!!
Paul and Stevie, who would have thought?!! The Candellano family is something else. Love the closeness and the love they share no matter the circumstance!!
August 13, 2020
I enjoyed this one better than the first one...although the first one was good too...but I love a "he's been in love with her for forever" story line
January 12, 2016
Good read, starting the next book
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews