A Love Uncontainable

Under Kansas Skies #2

by Leah Brunner

Seven years ago I made a decision that would change my life forever... I’ve never told a soul.

Now I’m worried my past could ruin my future.

As a surgeon and single father, my life is chaotic. I barely have time to find a new babysitter or a new tenant for my income property, let alone think about dating.

Sophie Windell-Miller seems like the answer to all of my problems—renting out my income property and babysitting my daughter.

But now Sophie brings a whole new set of complications.

I can’t stop thinking about how gorgeous she is, and how her laughter fills the house with joy. Not to mention our daughters adore each other.

So, what’s the complicated part? Well, she’s still grieving the loss of her husband, and I work with her dad.

And then there’s the secret I’ve held for seven years. If I tell her, will I lose everything she’s brought into my life?

Or worse, will I hurt the woman I’m coming to love?


Trigger warning... this work of fiction contains vague descriptions of sexual assault and has themes such as, grieving the loss of a spouse. It also contains mild language and references to alcohol.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Clean Romance, Contemporary Romance, Rom Com, Chick Lit

Kindle Edition

First published November 20, 2021

About the author

Leah Brunner is an Amazon top 25 best selling author who writes romance filled with explosive chemistry and relatable, flawed characters. She loves writing character driven stories that will tug at your heart strings and also make you smile.

When she's not writing, she can be found spoiling her Maine Coon cats, or watching The Office with her kids.

Although she's a Midwestern girl at heart, Leah is a proud Air Force spouse and has moved all over the United States with her husband and three children.

You can find Leah on Instagram @leah.brunner.writes

Or join her Facebook reader group: Leah's Lit Lovers

Reviews

[Drache.... (Angelika)]

Dnf 15%.
I don't feel this.
The writing style isn't very smooth, the characters seem bland, and now the h's parents won't accept that she moves into the apartment her father's collegue is renting out?
Because she is their only daughter and they fear the surgeon/single dad lenting the apartment (since he had his child 7 years ago after a one night stand and hasn't been dating for years) is a danger to their daughter?
The same man is a coworker to the h's father, gets mentored by the h's father, he gets invited to all the holiday parties the family throws, gets invited to the family's monthly golf day.
The h is an adult widow, has a job and a child.
The way this conflict is crafted is ridiculous.

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A (double) single parent romance mixed with a fantastic dose of close proximity and forbidden tension. I adored this heartfelt romance between Drew and Sophie.

Widowed, single mom Sophie is thankful for the help her parents have provided, but she's ready to live independently with her daughter. Accepting an offer to rent the basement apartment from single dad and family friend Dr. Drew Reed, I loved seeing their relationship evolve through simple, domestic moments. There's something about kitchen scenes, am I right? Swoon!

The moments discussing grief really wrenched my heart. But throughout all the darkness, Sophie had such a brightness about her, doing everything she can to find happiness for herself and daughter. Drew was so patient, calm, and understanding, allowing Sophie to move their relationship at a pace comfortable for her. And the kids! It truly captured the innocence of children and their hilarious honesty.

There is a secret regarding Drew that is carried throughout the story, and although I predicted it immediately, I really enjoyed seeing it come to light. This romance was adorable!

[Rhonda 🌒🌕🌘 🐈‍⬛ · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS REVIEW IS FOR HOUSE MATE BY LEAH BRUNNER. NOT THE BOOK THAT IS PICTURED

5/5 🌟
5/5 ❤️‍🩹- 😭😭😭😭😭
5/5 🥰
1/4 🌶️
0/5 🔎
1/5 😰A
2/5 🎭C
.5/5 🎭T
0/5 👻

⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️

Death
Grief
Death of a Parent(s)
Mention of Rape
Bullying

🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️

Seven years ago I made a decision that would change my life forever... I’ve never told a soul. Now I’m worried my past could ruin my future. As a surgeon and single father, my life is chaotic. I barely have time to find a new babysitter or a new tenant for my income property, let alone think about dating. Sophie Windell-Miller seems like the answer to all of my problems—renting out my income property and babysitting my daughter. But now Sophie brings a whole new set of complications. I can’t stop thinking about how gorgeous she is, and how her laughter fills the house with joy. Not to mention our daughters adore each other. So, what’s the complicated part? Well, she’s still grieving the loss of her husband, and I work with her dad. And then there’s the secret I’ve held for seven years. If I tell her, will I lose everything she’s brought into my life? Or worse, will I hurt the woman I’m coming to love? (House Mate was previously published as A Love Uncontainable). Trigger warning... this work of fiction contains vague descriptions of sexual assault and has themes such as, grieving the loss of a spouse. It also contains mild language and references to alcohol.

🌎📖OVERALL REVIEWS📖🌎
Courtesy of Storygraph

COMMUNITY REVIEWS
SUMMARY OF 170 REVIEWS

Moods
lighthearted 81%
emotional 52%
hopeful 50%
funny 36%
inspiring 18%
relaxing 13%
reflective 10%
sad 5%
adventurous 2%
Pace
medium 63%
fast 34%
slow 2%
Plot- or character-driven?
Character: 68% | A mix: 28% | Plot: 4%
Strong character development?
Yes: 70% | No: 20% | It's complicated: 4% | N/A: 4%
Loveable characters?
Yes: 79% | It's complicated: 12% | No: 8%
Diverse cast of characters?
No: 78% | N/A: 10% | It's complicated: 5% | Yes: 5%
Flaws of characters a main focus?
No: 42% | Yes: 38% | It's complicated: 19%
Average rating
3.82


🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔

OMG!! I’m hardcore bawling my eyes out!!

I love Drew and Sophie together so much. Drew is a big ol’ Teddy bear that isn’t afraid to show his emotions and I love that about him. He’s not afraid to cry in front of anyone 😍😍!

I have to say that when Sophie got mad at Drew for keeping his sister’s secret. She really ticked me off. Like it’s not 100% his story to tell and I thought she was horrible to him for that! I was irked, big time!

But Emily revealed the secret to Sophie, Sophie was ashamed of herself and rightly so! Then she felt horrible and like an ass. She should! But then she went to try to find him during a hellacious storm and apologize! But he found her and it all worked out.

But the part that had me downright sobbing was the very end. It was beautiful! The perfect ending and it was touching and now that I’m done crying I’m going to reflect and think about this book that moved me to tears and probably cry myself to sleep.

*Side Note I cannot believe what a low rating this book has on StoryGraph. I’m literally appalled. It hit me in feels and deserves a 5 🌟 review in my opinion!


RATING KEY:

🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️‍🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy- based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
👻 Spooky/Creepy -based on if this had any occult or paranormal themes and if those elements creeped me out or gave me anxiety!

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had one major flaw. The story was about two people who fall in love and I wanted more of their story. More interactions, more conversations. They spent more time on dates with other people, in their friend groups and doing other things then being together. I feel like I missed all their talks, their interactions. I also thought the Heroine overreacted big time to something so minor. It felt forced.
This is a clean romance with some kisses.

[tahaslibrary]

the adults sounds like teenagers. the writing feels like a first draft.

1.5 stars - did not enjoy and started heavily skipping around 50%

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought there many not be a third-act breakup in this book and therefore would enjoy it more, but nevermind. :(

I literally do not see the big deal of Sophie freaking out over *Spoiler* Emily (Drew’s sister) being Penny’s biological mom; he legally adopted Penny and there’s reasons it’s been kept hush hush, so why was she making it all about herself? She calms down on her you-betrayed-me-by-keeping-a-secret emotions when she finds out Emily was raped and she didn’t want Penny to ever find out how she was conceived. But it felt ridiculous for Sophie to act that way.
I liked Sophie decent enough until she pulled that crud and then she got over it super fast (when I don’t think it should have been a problem at all) because the end of the book was quickly approaching. It felt like unnecessary conflict at the end of the book. That with some of the language and some suggestive comments made this book a bummer for me, but I do appreciate the author giving a heads up on the content.


Main Content:
Language like 'gosh', ‘freaking’, ‘crap’, ‘what the heck’, ‘what the hell’, 'd*mn', 'sh*t’, and ‘*ss’ are used; A man is called a slang term for a male body part; (God’s name is, however, not taken in vain.)

Sophie is grieving her husband (military-related death); Sophie & Drew both drink alcohol; Mentions of deaths, grieving, & a car accident (Drew for his parents and Sophie for her husband); Mentions of drinking & alcohol (and needing alcohol to relax and/or after being around kids).

Kisses and making out (lasting up to a few paragraphs each); Touches, Embraces, Noticing, Staring, etc (including both of them ogling the other, up to semi-detailed); Sophie sits in Drew's lap; Sophie & Drew decide not to share a bedroom until they're married; Mentions of one-night stands & flings; Mentions of a flirt & him always flirting with women; Mentions of a TV show being risqué and it getting paused at an intimate scene (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of a young woman being raped and getting pregnant ; Hints of sleeping together & taking off clothes (suggestive, including Drew trying not to think of taking off Sophie's top and a guy's shirt about "doing" his wife); A mention of a couple in her honeymoon phase (suggestive); ‘hot’ and ‘sexy’ are used frequently.

[Tejomai (bible_and_books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5💫
That was Beautiful 💜
Yeah, a story that gives you all the feels, pulls at the heart, and beats out the beauty & simplicity of loving and caring for a person with all your being..! A beautiful story!!

▶What I loved most was, how the author showed Sophie in light of reality...as widow's most ppl write about how much they are grieving or how many struggles they face but I haven't read how determined and strong they can be or how they try to move on and accept themselves and try to find real happiness, content.
Sophie's story and character drew me so close to heart, I adored her & Sammy girl( little tigress 😸)
After feeling how much she faced in life I desperately wanted a HEA for her!
She's so joyful and optimistic, fought through everything with a smile 😊
Can't blame her for falling head over heels over Drew 😁
DREW.IS.CINNAMON ROLL in a doctor's scrubs😉
My heart y'all!!
Leah is killing me with such amazing characters as book boyfriends..she's spoiling me 😆

▶Mark my words! You'll fall for Drew
He's just so caring, loving, funny, and realistic with muscles and hotness 😂

I highly appreciated the realness of some characters with plenty of humor, family values, and the story writingg💙

Well, can't leave without mentioning my other book boyfriends Madden, David & Brooks

David &Brooks..I'm already hooked on your stories
Can't wait to see my grumpy David falling for his charming sunshine next door 😉


*Thanks to the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Kat Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Idk how to explain it but I just know these characters voted for tr*mp and while this may usually be a 2 star, it’s the day after the election and I do what I want

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

WANTED MORE SHOW.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM

This was an enjoyable read, but I realized two things: it was too long, and there was a lot more telling rather than showing.

At 400 pages I expected a lot more moments between the two love interests. But that really wasn’t the case until after the halfway point when I was already pushing to get through. There was already a big forced proximity aspect and I think that could have been played into more initially.

I also got tired of long inner monologues about feeling the angst but not showing that on page. I want to feel it too!! Give me those scenes that make me ache for them to kiss already.

The romance is sweet when it finally gets there. I really liked Sophie and Drew as separate characters and together. There’s a lot of different types of love here and it’s emotional at times. I thought the two young girls in here were ADORABLE. They fit so well into the story. I can pick out plenty of scenes I definitely enjoyed, just needed more across the entire book.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: very little
- Romance: make-outs
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a spouse (off page, but many on page grief depictions), mentions of rape (off page, and briefly spoken of)

[Analisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. no quotes from this one either because honestly chloe said it best via text to me while reading it, “there just haven’t been any unique hard hitting lines.”

this one was better than the first one, but still didn’t really hit the way i wanted. i feel like im just at a point where maybe im looking for heart wrenching romance stories that make me feel so invested. these ones have stayed pretty surface level.

this one was a little more in depth but still didn’t really hit the mark in that realm. was it cute though? yes! was it also cringey? yes!

i suppose ill read the other two because i already own them but meh!

[Anna (The_Reading_Pantry) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super sweet!

Drew has my heart, 100%! He’s so dreamy and I love how protective he was of Sophie. Leah wrote such an adorable story and I was happy to read it.

[Suzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)
Trigger Warning: death of a spouse, brief mention of death of parents, and one other briefly mentioned that's a spoiler (DM me for details)

When Sophie Miller's husband is killed in Afghanistan she is overcome with grief, as well as the reality that their unborn baby girl will never know her father. Fast forward to three years later- Sophie has been living with her parents while raising her daughter and working as a teacher. It's finally time for her to move out and make a life for herself and her daughter. When Drew Reed- her father's young, handsome co-worker- offers Sophie the opportunity to move into his basement apartment, she jumps at the chance. But living with Drew and seeing him with his young daughter makes it hard for Sophie not to develop feelings for him. Now Sophie is torn between feeling like she's cheating on her late husband while also wanting to move on and start a relationship with Drew. Can Sophie finally find peace from her past and experience true love again?

After enjoying Running Mate, I went into this one very excited about getting single parent trope x2. Unfortunately, I was left with very mixed feelings. There were definitely some sweet moments where Drew and Sophie interacted with each others' children, and I liked the moments when they envisioned themselves in the future as a family of four. And there were some romantic moments- like the cooking lesson in Drew's kitchen- that brought the chemistry. But I felt like we were told about the sizzling chemistry between these two much more often than we were shown it on the page. It made it hard for me to believe that they were head over heels in love. I did appreciate the widows support group being part of the storyline, as well as the mentions of Sophie seeking therapy after her husband's death. It was beautiful to see her heal, especially after reading book 1 which gave much more detail into the first few months after the loss. Drew's secret was pretty easy to figure out, but I had mixed feelings about how the reveal played out. I wish there had been more conversation between Sophie and Drew about the entire situation, as well as some time to process everything. Despite my mixed feelings, I'm still looking forward to David's story next!

[Franzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a step-up from the first book! Sophie & Drew were just perfect for each other and seeing their little family come together so beautifully made me feel all the feels. They're both so respectful of each other, especially Drew with Sophie's past & grief and it was an all around feel-good book ❤

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

All imma say is that Penny was the star of the show in this book 😭😭😭
In all seriousness, good book. Always love a good single parent romance.

[Vibliophile]

Fun read with a few bumps

I really enjoyed this story! It's well written, immediately engaging & entertaining.

I was a little leery of the warnings about a character in the book who's raped, as I'm under a lot of stress right now & need to keep things light, but it's past tense & only discussed in a minimal, matter-of-fact way

A few annoyances that reduced my enjoyment & therefore rating
***SPOILERS ***
*I was puzzled by Diane's easy acceptance, as it was definitely out of character from the view we're given of her at the beginning of the story, & we never get an explanation
*I had a hard time believing Sophie would have decided that she had a right to know something that she should have immediately recognized involved more than Drew. The idea that she couldn't trust him was an unreasonable leap, & the whole thing seemed out of character for her. Felt too contrived.
*The idea that Sophie couldn't wait to talk to Drew & thought she'd be able to find him was also not believable, but provided a more Hallmarky denouement, I guess?
***END SPOILERS***

So not perfect, but nevertheless still very good! I like the Windells, & I'll definitely be checking out book 1 next!

*Romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic

*Language: a handful of the common swears

[Riella Cristobal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh! This was so cute! I was so excited to read Drew and Sophie's story after the first book. They really seemed so nice and my heart hurt so much for Sophie. Also the addition of kids for me is always amazing! They make a story so much more touching and this story was no exception! Sophie is ready to move on. After her husband's death three years ago, she has found a job and is going to move out of her parent's home. For Drew, Sophie is the answer to his problems, he needs a tenant and a babysitter. As a surgeon and single father, he can barely keep up. But Sophie brings new problems to his life, with how gorgeous she is and her laughter. Their daughters adore each other too, but he works with her father and is holding a secret. One that he has carried for seven years. Will they save their newfound life or just end up hurt?
    I really enjoyed reading this! Like A Love Unexpected, it is a sweet romance that will make you smile! I thought that Drew was so sweet! He was a great dad and brother. I loved his relationship with them! He was doing his best to take care of them, and do right by Sophie. He was falling for her so fast though! I also really enjoyed his interactions with Sophie’s brothers and his friends. Honestly, the side characters were some of the best! The Wonderful Widows were amazing and hilarious! They were so fun to read about and so great for Sophie! She did a lot of growing. Sophie had to continue to work through her grief. I thought that it was so lovely to watch her grow through it, and it wasn’t a linear process. I also really appreciated how she sought support. They were so cute together, from the mutual pining with the complete adorableness of their daughters!. Samantha and Penny were so fun as well. Kids are so fun to read about! 
    Overall, the story is light-hearted. However,  Sophie is still working through her grief. It is not extremely suspenseful or stressful, which was exactly what I needed! It was great to see Madden and Odette again, as well as their family. It also makes me excited, because I have a theory about the next book! I love interconnected series, so fingers crossed! There is a also a vague mention of sexual assault, mild language and alcohol references. I would suggest this to olders teens and up, because of these and the slight innuendos. 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

[Marilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was freaking adorable! You know a book is good when it can make you cry, laugh, and swoon all within just a few chapters.

Sophie is a widowed single mother trying to figure out how to move forward with her life when fate opens the door for her to rent the basement from family friend Drew, also a single parent.

As the two begin to spend time together, well, you can guess where this is going but you have got to read it for yourself to see just how cute Sophie and Drew are together. Sophie is vulnerable and still grieving but Drew is seriously the most understanding man on the planet.

Move over, Mr. Darcy. There is a new gentleman in town and his name is Dr. Drew Reed.

This is a book that every hopeless romantic needs to read. I loved all the thoughtful, every day gestures and the meaningful, flirty glances and of course, the swoony kisses. This is seriously one of my new favorite contemporary romances and I cannot wait for more books in the series. I am here for all of them!

(Note: I read this book after the cover and title change to House Mate).
CW: Does contain a few swear words and a vague mention of sexual assault as a past event

I received a complimentary copy of the book but a positive review was not required.

[Megan Crofton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does Leah Brunner know how to pull at my heartstrings or what?! She can evoke so many different emotions in her books. Laughing, crying, angst, shock, so many emotions! That prologue really got me.

I loved Sophie so much, she was so relatable for me and I really resonated with her character and her independence. Drew was wonderful as a single dad and a protective hero! He was so protective of Sophie, gotta love a jealous and protective hero! Drew and Sophie were both so down to earth. They are so comfortable with each, like they are instant best friends and I love that. Loved the tension between the two of them. There was so much depth in their relationship and there tension went much deeper than just attraction. Their love was patient, but gets serious fast. Such a heartfelt love story!

So many layers to this one, but I don't want to give spoilers, so you will just have to take my word for it. But just know... the Labor Day BBQ LOL!!! And I loved seeing so much of the Windell siblings in this one and meeting Drew's friends (I wish they could get their own stories).

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This book was an emotional read, the beginning had tears streaming down my face, but after that my heart felt happy.

This story was sweet, the duo were such loving and deserving people and you couldn't help but love them as individuals and as a couple. A pair who were truly meant to be.

Drew is the perfect gentleman, a doting father, a successful doctor and a considerate and compassionate partner - Sophie is a lucky girl!

Sophie was such a strong and sweet woman, a single mum who had gone through such turmoil but managed to remain such a positive and gentle person.

Penny and Samanatha were so sweet, their relationship and the family dynamic really built this book.

My heart hurt for Emily, I hope she gets her own story and HEA.

Different from my usual reads but I enjoyed the story and like how I feel having read it. I recommend this book, it was a heartfelt story with likeable and realistic characters.

I received a ARC in return for an honest review.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Wish there was more pages!

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This heartwarming love story had me melting Verified ARC Reat into their journey of falling in love after experiencing heartbreak and loss.

SOPHI AND DREW! If you haven not read Leah Brunner's first book of her Under Kansas Skies series, "A Love
Unexpected" go do that immediately. It is the perfect set up to this touching love story.
1 laughed. I cried (more than once to be honest). My heart was broken and then went on the healing process along with
the characters. By then end you are shown how love is not build in the over-the-top, larger-than-life moments some
would have you believe. True love build in the small everyday actions like stocking your fridge with caramel macchiato
creamer despite your supremely healthy lifesfyle, stolen glances in a crowed party and always being ready and willing
to help out. An ability to make the mundane life activities the ones you are most excited for is what makes this book a
winner for me. I love that Leah Bruner writes real, healthy and respectful relationships with communication and
understanding even during the conflicts of her stories. Her story telling and pace of book is always spot on. I love that
she writes relationships I would gladly aspire to. This sweet romance is one I will be coming back to when ever I need
those warm and fuzzy feelings and a good holiday read.
Drew is a kind and caring single father who puts everyone he loves above himself, even if it hurts him. The
thoughtfulness and respect he has shows is all you need to see to know he is one of the good ones. Always thinking
about the larger picture and the love he has for his family is swoon worthy. He definitely is at the top of my favorite book
boyfriend list.
Sophie is a character I fell in love with in the first book of this series but I didn't know I wanted more of her stories until
this book. Her heartbreak and strength makes her an amazing main character. The willingness she has to heal and live
life give her these admirable qualities that can't be beat. You can't help but cheer her on while reading book.
They bond over so much more than physical attraction or the fact that they are both single parents. They truly
understood each other's souls, pain and were willing to accept one another as they were. I had so much fun reading
their journey and I know you will too.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shreya Vijay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nobody can surpass Leah Brunner's 'Under Kansas Skies' when it comes to clean romances. A book stuffed with swoon-worthy kitchen moments, late-night conversations, and just a tinge of intrigue. Right from the prologue, I could gauge that I'd enjoy this book way more than I'd anticipated.

The way Leah has tackled a widow's life struggles is commendable. Certain scenes tugged at my heart's strings and made me weep silently, and then others made me laugh out loud, complete with snorting and giggles.

This book follows the story of Sophie, Madden's sister, who is grieving the loss of her veteran husband. She wants to get out of her parents' house, and hence, with her 3-year-old daughter Samantha, she agrees to move into the basement of a family friend, Dr. Drew Reed. Who, as fate would have it, is also a single parent.

The plot is captivating and light, nothing too intense. I particularly enjoyed the interactions between Sophie and the Widow's support group. The group was a fresh and humourous aberration to the otherwise romantic and domestic setting of the book. Drew was a total sweetheart and the interactions between her and Sophie were the icing on the cake.

The character arc of Sophie was commendable and shown with a sense of empathy and sensitivity that increased my liking of this book ten-fold. Clean romance books generally lack the lull that makes them enjoyable for readers. However, this book was an exception. I read it in about 2 sittings.

To sum it all up, I would definitely be recommending this book to all who like to read swoon-worthy Romance novels.

"Thanks to the author for providing a review copy of this novel in exchange of an honest review."

[MK · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Love Uncontainable by Leah Brunner is heartbreaking, joyful, and witty. I plowed through it because I couldn’t get enough. Ever super bummed when you know you’re coming to the end of a book? I tried to slow down to enjoy it longer, but that didn’t work.

Sophie is raising her 3 year old on her own after her husband has died in action as a soldier in Afghanistan. She has been living with her parents, but decides she needs to be on her own again. She takes up Drew’s offer to live in his basement apartment and watch his daughter after school. Perfect right? Even more perfect is how they and their daughters are so cute together. There are some secrets though, and family concerns, as well as the guilt that comes with moving on.

I loved so many things about this book. Leah took some pretty serious subjects and handled them sensitively, while also weaving in a very enjoyable swoony romance with lots of witty banter. Their first date was amazing. The family get togethers were often hilarious. I even got a birthday gag gift idea from the book for my husband. Let’s just say Madden’s shirt was hilarious and Etsy came through for me.

This book is the second in the series, but could be read on its own. It was fun seeing past characters, but they didn’t take away from the story. I’m really hoping the brooding brother or Emily gets the next book. I know Leah is a new author, but her books don’t have that new author feel. They are so well written with many layers.

Available November 20th!

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

Honestly I loved this I’m not gonna hold back with my rating. The premise had me sold from the beginning and it delivered.

After Sophie’s husband died in action, having to raise their daughter alone, 3 years later she decides its time to move on with her life and she decides to babysit for and live in the basement of Drew’s house. Drew knows Sophie’s off limits for multiple reasons but he’s also got a secret he’s been keeping for 7 years which could affect a lot.

This was a perfect romcom, the kind that makes you love love. I loved both Drew and Sophie. My heart went out to Sophie for everything she went through. How sweet were Sam and Penny? This was everything it needed to be.

Content: kissing only + mild language

[Caryn Block · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to force myself to finish this one. Parts of it were heartwarming, but the writing overall was the problem. There was so much telling and not a lot of showing, and the telling often was poorly written. There were MANY sentence fragments instead of complete thoughts, it really made it frustrating for me. Additionally, the thoughts of the male MC often read like an immature teen's - not a grown man in his mid 30's that's supposed to be a surgeon. So, while there were some cute moments and I liked the characters overall - I'm just not a good match for this author's writing style. I won't be continuing with this series.

[Kathryn Noorani · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Courtney Lyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet, slow burn romance.

[Aixa · Rating 5 out of 5]

❣️I felt like I was hanging out with friends the whole time I was reading House Mate by Leah Brunner. This book is funny while hitting some heavier topics like grief, personal growth, the nuances of parenthood, and independence without focusing too much on one aspect. Rather, all of these elements are beautifully balanced in this story.


❣️I fell in love with Drew the moment he played Yo-Yo Ma. Drew has some really sweet qualities, so it's no surprise that a work colleague is interested in him (and I think it's brilliant to have introduced him attempting a relationship with her before getting with Sophie).


❣️I'm a sucker for relatable inner dialogue, and Sophie is hilarious. It's cool to identify with someone that's just as quirky as you are.


❣️I like skimming through reviews after completing a book, and there is one review I couldn't disagree with more: the reviewer said it's unrealistic for two people in their 30s to live in close proximity without having sex. While this may often be the case in today's world, I don't think it's unrealistic for two parents that have gone through serious ups and downs in life and with major responsibilities to approach a relationship carefully rather than jumping into intimacy—plus, it's not like they lived together for five years. The fact that there's a clean romance community in the book world is just some evidence that there are people that have certain standards; in many cases, temptation is not non-existent, which adds to the realistic nature of such stories.


❣️I typically don't go for books that involve kids as a major part of the story, but this one was good. Super well done, realistic, and it doesn't feel like Drew and Sophie are shoving their girls down my throat. (That's huge for me, someone mostly uninterested in children and the way some parents parade their kids around.) The girls really add to the story meaningfully, observing the relationship between Drew and Sophie unfold and expressing their growing love for the new parental figure in their lives.


❣️I was a little worried about Sophie's dad (also Drew's boss) being a major obstacle to them getting together, but I was really happy Leah Brunner didn't make the possibility of her dad's disapproval a huge deal. It kills me to read about over-bearing parents that are a little too involved in their adult kids' lives.


❣️Another part of the story that's represented accurately is the way Drew's life as a surgeon affects his home life; he isn't just a surgeon for the sake of being an attractive romantic prospect. Rather, the surgeon's life of service is depicted accurately in his need for a dependable sitter, being on call, and even the simple detail about him showing up to get his daughter at school in scrubs. The minor details provided really make the story full.


❣️I was so moved by Sophie's loss, and I admire the way Leah describes her grieving process and how that affects her new relationship. Dealing with a recent loss, I find it therapeutic to learn about how a loss can change us and how we can move forward as someone new, in a sense.


❣️As we get older and mature, we should seek more out of relationships. Relationships, whether romantic or not, should add to our lives in a meaningful way, upbuild us, and make us better people. I loved reading about the qualities and actions Sophie and Drew admired about each other early on—these qualities reflected goals and needs that are different from those we have as a teenager or even in our early twenties, such as how Sophie melted when she discovered that Drew had tea parties with his daughter.


❣️Drew has a secret that is gradually revealed. At first, we're kept guessing, but eventually, you can pretty much guess what the secret is. Still, the delivery and details that accompany the circumstances bring the account to life.


❣️A lot of the stories I've read lately (I don't review everything I read) feature unbearable parents. Sophie's parents are annoying in some ways (as all parents are to an extent), but they are also super supportive and loving, wanting the best for their daughter and granddaughter.


❣️Check out House Mate if you're interested in clean romantic comedies about people with obstacles to overcome before getting their HEA. Read about Sophie and Drew as their relationship unfolds and they mesh their lives together.

[Jerrye Tellmeagreatstorylove · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Love Uncontainable by Leah Brunner

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

Return to Kansas with Leah as she tells a beautiful story about love, family, and learning to really live your life fully.

Gosh, I love stories like these! Stories that grab you in the first few pages and don’t let you go even after the last page. Leah’s newest grabs hold of your heart and invests you and all your emotions in her plot and then leaves you pondering, and swooning over, it for quite a while after you finish reading it. Sophie Miller is a young military widow who is looking for her freedom and purpose once again. It’s been three years since she lost her husband Sam, and, while she loves her family, she needs to be on her own again so she can reclaim her life. Her three-year-old daughter Samantha is the joy of her life and she is looking forward to teaching school again. An opportunity to move into a family friend’s basement apartment gives Sophie the chance she’s been looking for but she didn’t expect the attraction that also comes with her move. Drew has always been like another brother to her so why is she now noticing how attractive he is? Her heart isn’t quite ready for another relationship but pondering the possibility can’t hurt right? Drew Reed is an orthopedic surgeon who is perfectly content raising his daughter Penny and going on the occasional casual date. Offering Sophie the basement apartment is a win-win as she’s also agreed to babysit his daughter the rest of the summer and then after school during the rest of the year. But having Sophie in his house brings Drew a whole new awareness of her. Since when did her sweet personality and quiet beauty become so very attractive to him? As they become better friends over the weeks after she moves in, the possibility for a deeper relationship becomes more of a reality. But are they both ready to share the hurts of the past and dive in to a true relationship or will some secrets keep them apart? I’m not spoiling anything by telling you so you’ll just have to find out for yourself – but, trust me, that won’t be a hardship for you at all.
This book was so engaging to me that I read it all in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down until I found out ALL the details and read the last page. Sophie and Drew are wonderful characters who’s personalities just demand that you get invested in their story. The shared experiences, the awkward conversations, the sweet moments of real communication and the swoony kisses all add up to a fantastic story that I’m definitely adding to my shelves. Its the kind of story you could read over and over and still feel it all the way to your soul. I cried, laughed, cringed and swooned in turns as the story unfolded and definitely feel like I need to find me a Dr. Drew ASAP. Penny and Sammy were also a marvelous addition to the story and helped bring Drew and Sophie closer together. And seeing Madden and Odette again in several passages was a fun inclusion too. I loved how there was good connection to the previous story but not so much that you couldn’t read this one on its own (though, why you would only want to read this one is beyond me, haha!). I’m very excited to see where this series will go next – hopefully David and his snarky neighbor will be the next couple of focus. I can see that story being a riot with what was told in this one (lol, the cat!). You’ll certainly want to put this story on your TBR if it isn’t already there. It’s one that all readers of swoony, clean romance will not want to miss adding to their shelves.
I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Leah Brunner via Booksprout. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review but am very pleased to do so. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow I loved this book 👆
A Love Uncontainable by @leah.brunner.writes soo much!!

The prologue/first chapter basically BROKE MY HEART #iykyk 😭 BUT - it inspired me even more to keep reading because I just KNEW there had to be hope and healing and love in the future! And I was right!

Leah Brunner has written a beautiful, wonderful story about loss and love, and they way they are weaved together is perfection!

Sophie is an amazing character and her growth is inspiring! It was clear that she had, and was currently, putting in the work to find peace and healing, and so when she finally found happiness it was the best!!!!

And Drew... oh my gosh Drew! There's a reason he was immediately added to my 'book boyfriend' list! He is everything! The best dad! The best brother! And the best landlord Sophie could ever hope for! 😉 He is kind, patient, sweet, funny, and swoony!

This is a book that you will definitely want to read! It's got that "forbidden love/love off-limits" vibe - he is her landlord, and her dad is his boss. But they have so many cute and hilarious moments and meet-ups!

The paperback for this book is live on Amazon, go read it!!!
This book is ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Also, if you're thinking, "I can't read this one, I haven't read the first book" Never fear! I actually read this book first and it was just fine! So go ahead and read this book! Read both!