From The First

The Moorehouse Legacy #3

by Jessica Bird

All Alex could see was her long, thick, copper-colored hair. Pale smooth skin. Lipe that were naturally tinted pink. Eyes that were green like sea grass. He stopped himself. His best friend Reese might be dead. But in Alex's mind, Cassandra was still very much the man's wife. Cassandra. The forbidden woman Alex had yeared for from the first moment he'd laid eyes on her six years ago. The woman who'd been married to his best friend—the friend he'd lost to the sea. The woman who was rebuilding his family's bed-and-breakfast…and who just might, in the process, be rebuilding his anguished heart.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Harlequin, Category Romance, Adult, Enemies To Lovers

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Jessica Bird also writes as J.R. Ward

Jessica Rowley Pell Bird was born on 1969 in Massachusetts, USA. She is the daughter of Maxine F. and W. Gillette Bird, Jr. She began writing as a child, penning her thoughts in diaries as well as inventing short stories. She read her first Harlequin Presents novel in a rose garden when she was in her teens. She was hooked immediately. By the time she went to college, she had boxes and boxes of Harlequins and Silhouettes. Every year, her mother would ask why all those books had to live in the house and Jess would reply that if even one of them disappeared she would know. (She'd catalogued them.)

Jess finished her first romance manuscript the summer before her freshman year of college. She attended Smith College and graduated with a double major in history and art history. She then received a law degree from Albany Law School. Shortly after that, she began working in the healthcare industry in Boston. She spent many years as one of the premier medical center’s Chief of Staff. While working as a lawyer in Boston, she completed two novels more and started a number of partials. In 2001, Bird married John Neville Blakemore III. Both her mother and her new husband kept telling her to send something in to an agent, a publisher, the Tooth Fairy, anyone. She thought they were nuts, but eventually got her nerve up and bought a lot of stamps. Since getting published, she has written contemporary romances as Jessica Bird and paranormal romances as J. R. Ward. She has been a Rita Award finalist, received two Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice nominations and has been a HOLT medallion finalist.

New England born and bred, Jess is surprised to find herself living south of the Mason Dixon line. (But that's what happens when you marry a Southern gentleman.) She and her husband live with their golden retriever, who oversees her writing in a supervisory role.

Reviews

[Alp · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

It was weird. No, not the book. Me. Anyone who knows me knows that I hate continuous push/pull in characters' relationship, but for some unknown reason, I had no problem enjoying this one. This book just did me right in a way that I still can't believe it myself! There was a lot of push/pull from the beginning, and it took almost the whole story for Alex to finally pluck up courage to tell Cassandra his feelings for her. Normally, this kind of thing would really piss me off, but to my amazement, I never once got frustrated while reading this. See? Weird.

Honestly, I wasn't planning on reading this book, but just when I read its blurb and found that it was a secret love story, I jumped right into it with no hesitation. Plus, I know I can always count on this author to deliver such pleasant reads. I expected this one to be emotional and compelling, and I wasn't disappointed. There were many heartbreaking moments that made me feel strongly moved in some way, yet there were also plenty of delightful and sweet moments that made me feel like flying.

In this book, we meet Alex Moorehouse, a professional America’s Cup sailor, and Cassandra Cutler, an architect and a general contractor.

Alex fell in love with Cassandra since the first time he met her, but the problem was she was his best friend's wife. All these six years, he’d tried as hard as he could to avoid her, and had kept his feelings and desire for her to himself. Meanwhile, Cass had believed that he’d hated her so much, which she didn’t even know what she’d done to make him feel that way about her.

Then one day, the boating accident not only took her husband's life away, but it also left Alex with some severe injuries which nearly killed him. He felt guilty that she became a widow because he couldn’t save her husband’s life and he thought it was his fault. He knew that he didn’t deserve her, but his feelings for her grew even stronger with every passing day, and he couldn’t lose her. Every part of his mind told him to let her go, but his selfish heart said otherwise. Would she walk away from him if she knew the truth?

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this book. Despite the predictable plot, it held my interest the whole way through, and that says a lot about this one. I’m so happy I picked it up.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, sweet, and emotional read. I recommend this book for contemporary romance fans.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review:

I loved this book! Give me a good, strong, tormented hero and I’m in literary heaven. Toss in a heroine who is tormented for the exact same reason, and well… there are no words.

I fell in love with Alex back in Beauty and the Black Sheep and have found myself being pulled deeper and deeper into his heartbreaking story. Unable to save his best friend’s life during a storm at sea which pulled Reese from the boat they were sailing, Alex Moorehouse carries a heavy burden of guilt for Reese’s death and in many ways is convinced he caused it. Alex is sure that maybe on some subconscious level, that he didn’t try hard enough to save him because, in his own words “He had what I wanted. What I needed. Something I cherished…” That something was a someone; Cassandra, Reese’s young wife.

Cassandra is also a complex, tormented heroine. Her husband’s death was a shock, and while she missed him terribly, she didn’t truly mourn him. Their marriage had been slowing deteriorating, though Reese seemed unaware of it, probably because he didn’t know that his beautiful wife had learned about his many affairs with women all around the world. Even though she had already begun pulling back from Reese, both physically and emotionally, she now felt very alone and was struggling to understand her wide range of feelings – or lack thereof. She wanted to get close to Alex Moorehouse, her husband’s best friend, as a way to help put the past to rest and be able to move forward, but instead, she found herself drawn to him in ways that surprised her and in ways she didn’t understand.

Brought together by a series of unfortunate – or fortunate as the case may be – circumstances, they can no longer hide from the heartache life has thrown at them, but must now confront their feelings about Reese’s death and each other.

I love the emotional struggle born of integrity and honor that Alex goes through, fighting against his love for Cassandra, unwilling to betray Reese’s memory. Even though he spent day after day for years with Reese, he didn’t know that Reese was cheating on Cassandra. And the way his friend always talked about his wife, he assumed the 2 were very much in love which was one of the reasons he avoided Cass like the plague.

From the First is now one of my all time favorite love stories. Whether writing as Jessica Bird or J.R. Ward, this author knows how to write complex characters whose emotions run deep, pitting them against circumstances that would break most people but only serve to strengthen these truly amazing characters.

[Buggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opening Line: "Alex Moorehouse had no intention of answering the knock on the bedroom door."

I've absolutely fallen in love with this series and From The First is now included as one of my all time favourite romances ever. It is book 3 in the Moorehouse Legacy which I discovered through being a fan of JR Ward and her Black Dagger Brotherhood. Each book just gets better and with this instalment we finally get wounded and grief stricken brother Alex`s story and wow its smokin good.

Alex Moorehouse has been with us throughout as we watched his sisters find true love and I've always wondered about him. As the physically and emotionally injured sailing champion he was abrupt, harsh and distant. Spending time with a bottle while his shattered leg healed and his mood worsened. He reminds me of (for all you Ward fans) a delicious combination of Zsadist and Phury and how awesome is that!

Alex has been in love with his sailing partner and best friend Reese's wife for 6 long years and coveting her from afar is pure torture. On the rare occasions when he's forced to spend time with her, he's flat-out rude for fear that one of them will see the truth in his eyes. Ever since the accident Alex has been in a living hell because although Reese is now dead in Alex's mind his wife is still very much married and as much as he wants her he can never have her, she is forbidden.

Cassandra has just taken a new job overseeing the rebuilding of the Moorehouse B&B, she's looking forward to getting out of New York and spending some quiet time by the lake. Everything would be just perfect except for Alex. The eldest Moorehouse is still living on the property and as much as he unnerves her she's going to have to see him everyday. She just doesn't understand why he hates her so much? Why does he pull her closer one moment only to push her away in the next? And what secrets is he hiding behind those anguished yet yearning eyes? It's a winding road our couple face as the secrets pile up and one nights promise of passion spirals into a lifetime of wanting more. Will Cassandra still love him when she finds out the truth about the night her husband died? And will Alex ever be able to overcome the guilt and let her in if she does?

This is a great read that will have you will falling in love with Alex and through some clever writing on Bird's part be left wondering about the night Reese died until the very last chapter. There are also many familiar threads beginning here that were only brought to their full creation within the BDB and I can't recommend this series enough to Ward fans (and romance lovers alike) I would however recommend reading them in order. Cheers!

Here's the correct reading order
(The Moorehouse Legacy)
1-Beauty And The Black Sheep
2-His comfort and Joy
3-From The First
4-A Man In A Million

(The O'Banyon Brothers)Bird/Ward has never completed series
1-The Billionaire Next Door

[StMargarets · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unrequited love story. If you like action, nurturing alphas with an overgrown sense of honor and guilt as well as lots of bromance and misunderstandings, then this one is for you.

Since I don’t really enjoy the hyper-masculine heroes this author specializes in, I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy this as much as I did. I think because JB is such a smooth writer and the prose goes down easy and is never overdone.

This is the third book in a series. The author had already married off the H’s sisters and now was giving the America’s Cup captain his own angsty tale of being in love with his bff’s wife since the first time he met her. He blames himself for his bff’s death at sea, so he has some nice self-torture going.

Heroine thinks he hates her and it hurts her feelings. Especially since she didn’t have that great of a marriage with her womanizing much-older husband. It all works out once the architect heroine starts working on restoring the H’s family’s Bed and Breakfast and the hero begins to heal from his leg injuries.

It takes almost 300 pages and a pregnancy to clear up their misunderstandings. The author generously throws in the hero’s virgin navigator and his mysterious friend to hint at the next romance coming up in the series.

[Lady Jayne *~*The Beach Bandida*~* · Rating 5 out of 5]

(5 Stars)

Loved this!! From the First is the third book in Jessica Bird's (a.k.a. J.R. Ward) Moorehouse Legacy series. It was the first Moorehouse Legacy book I read, as it was the only Moorehouse book available from the library. I enjoyed this one so much that I went ahead and ordered the OOP copies of all the Moorehouse Legacy books and look forward to reading the series (in order now) and re-reading this one.

I'm not a big fan of Harlequin Romances (even though I read a ton of them in my late teens and early twenties) as they are too short for my liking, and while I certainly would have liked more of this story, it was a very satisfying read, and garners 5 Stars from me.

Alex Moorehouse is a professional competitive sailor. He was injured in a tragic storm at sea, which took the life of his best friend, Reese Cutler. Alex has been secretly, achingly in love with Reese's wife (now widow), Cassandra, from the first moment he saw her.

Cassandra wonders why Alex detests her so much, as he can't seem to bear being in her presence. In an attempt to reach out to the one person who was with her husband in his last moments, and who is also hurting, Cassandra is surprised by her growing attraction to Alex, when all he does is try to push her away.

This is a journey of two people who are hurting and riddled with their own guilt, who find an electrifying pull to each other so strong, that neither can deny it anymore. I love a good emotional romance with tortured heroes and heroines, who want someone they feel they cannot have, but are really meant to be together. And this one certainly delivered. Loved it!!

[Jacqueline J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one lived up to the hype I must say. The best of the trilogy. Unrequited love for 6 years - quite the angst fest. The writing was very good. The emotions were real. The characters were well developed. I loved how Alex had been so noble for 6 years. He had done such a good job shutting his feelings down that she thought he disliked her. And the plot was well thought out so that him not immediately going for her when she became a widow was realistic. He was an absolutely lovely hero. I'm glad I read the other two before this as it was a nice build up seeing him in the other books building toward his story here.

Loved it.

[Julianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for THC Reviews
I’ve very much enjoyed all of Jessica Bird’s (aka J. R. Ward’s) contemporary romances, but From the First is now my current favorite of the ones I’ve read so far. When it was first published by Harlequin, it was the last of the three-book Moorehouse Legacy series that follows the three Moorehouse siblings, two sisters and one brother, as they navigate life and find love. After the death of their parents, the three inherited the White Caps Bed & Breakfast on Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Mountains, the old Victorian home where they also grew up, but it’s mostly the two sisters, Frankie and Joy, who’ve been responsible for it’s running and upkeep. Their brother Alex had a taste for adventure and heard the call of the ocean long before their parents passed away, so he’s been sailing the world ever since. He captains his own boat, and he and his crew have won the America’s Cup several times. Then he experienced tragedy when his ship was caught in a hurricane that took the life of his friend, who was also one of his crew members, and left Alex too injured to continue sailing. He had no choice but to return home, where his sisters welcomed him with open arms while he recuperates, which is a lengthy process. In the previous book of the series, White Caps caught on fire, causing catastrophic damage that is being repaired in this book. There’s quite a bit going on in From the First to keep the reader engaged, but it’s the angst-filled, tender romance between the hero and heroine that really kept me glued to the pages.

Alex has had a rough time of it throughout the first two books of the series. He’s had to have multiple surgeries to repair the damage to his body from the sailing accident that killed his friend, Reese, and nearly took his leg. But it’s Reese’s death that really has him tied up in knots. Alex has a severe case of survivor’s guilt that was brought on by more than just his friend dying. Alex has been in love with Reese’s widow, Cassandra, since the day he met her and has spent the last several years trying to avoid her in order to avoid the temptation that she presents. He honestly believes that he somehow subconsciously allowed Reese to die because he wanted the other man’s wife so badly. Therefore, even though Cass is now free to be with whomever she chooses, Alex feels it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to pursue a relationship with her, but at the same time, he can hardly bear to be without her. His dilemma presents some very angsty moments, and he does spend a large part of the book fighting his feelings for her. This would normally irritate me, and I have to admit that Alex’s inability to give voice to his feelings did skate perilously close to making me drop a half-star from the rating. But every time I was getting to that point, something happened to appease me, just enough to keep the story moving instead of stagnating in a quagmire of repressed emotions like some other romances I’ve read. I also adored Alex for his utter devotion to Cassandra. He loves her so deeply that there was never a question in my mind that they were right for one another or that she was, without a doubt, his one and only for all time. He’s also very protective of her, in much the same way that the boys from Ms. Ward’s BDB series are toward their mates, which was a plus. Not to mention, I totally understood Alex’s introverted nature and dislike of social situations, and I also liked how much he cares for his family and realizes that he hasn’t been there for them in the way he should have. He was just an all-around great guy.

Little does Alex know that Cassandra never really loved her husband with an all-consuming, passionate sort of love and their marriage was far from the perfection he imagined. Cass came from nothing and married Reese more out of a sense of friendship and a need for financial security than true love. That’s why she turned a blind eye when she discovered her husband's infidelities. Although she’s sad that he’s now gone, she isn’t the grief-stricken widow. She also developed an attraction to Alex a long time ago, when she and Reese took a boat trip with him, but she never would have dreamed of cheating. Not to mention, Alex was spending so much time avoiding her that she believed he hated her, although she never understood why. Cass is a rather unique romance heroine, in that she’s an architect and general contractor, who’s been hired to restore White Caps. This, of course, places her in close proximity to Alex on almost a daily basis, making the temptation strong. Every time Alex opens the door just a crack, Cass finds herself eagerly stepping through it, but then he confuses her at every turn, leaving her thinking that he’s only biding his time with her while really being in love with someone else. Cass is a really sweet heroine who I liked a lot. She’s very patient with Alex, but doesn’t let him walk all over her when she thinks it’s not going to work out. She was also very understanding and had a lot of trust in him when he finally confessed what happened during the hurricane, never believing for a second that he could have allowed her husband to die.

As with the first two books of the series, there are a number of secondary characters who play key roles. It’s like Ms. Bird has turned all her contemporaries into a little world of their own, where all the books connect in one way or another. Not surprisingly, Nate and Frankie (Beauty and the Black Sheep aka The Rebel) and Gray and Joy (His Comfort and Joy aka The Player) are present, with Gray and Joy getting married. Then there’s Spike, Nate’s friend and business partner, who has also become a friend to Alex, working out with him and chauffeuring him around. I love Spike’s quirkiness and an unusual physical trait makes me seriously think he’s related to a couple of the Brothers of the BDB and probably doesn’t know it. Alex’s navigator, Madeline, comes for a visit, stirring up Spike’s interest. These two become the hero and heroine of A Man in a Million aka The Rogue, which became the honorary final book of the series. Sean O’Banyon, who was introduced in the previous book as Gray’s friend, also runs in the same social scene with Cassandra, so he’s friends with her as well. He wouldn’t mind making it more than friendship, but I have to give the guy credit for recognizing that she belonged with someone else and not interfering. Last but not least, Jack Walker (An Irresistible Bachelor) is mentioned as being in attendance at a party that takes place at Gray’s house.

Overall, Ms. Bird’s contemporary world has enthralled me almost as much as her BDB world. It’s populated with similar character types, alpha heroes with a heart of gold and relatable heroines I’d love to be friends with if they were real. As with her BDB books, her writing seems to keep getting better and better with each one, leaving me wondering if I’ll like the final two of her early contemporary stories even more than From the First, which is almost difficult to imagine, since I thoroughly enjoyed it. All I can say is that I’m going to have fun finding out. From the First was originally published as part of the Silhouette Special Edition line, but was recently republished as a stand-alone book that was retitled, The Renegade.

[Manisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

5" sexy and brooding Alex Moorehouse"stars.

Alex aka "The Sinner". Well what could be a greater sin than falling in love with with your friends' wife.
“I want you until I hurt. Until I sweat.
I love you with a raw, bleeding need that I've never understood.
And all I know for sure is that you can never be mine.”

Cassandra Cutler, widow of Reese Cutler had always thought that Alex hated her or why else would he go out of the way to avoid her at all costs. But why the hell was she attracted to him. He was sexy as hell and untameable. But he was also shy and as faithful as any man can be.
“He was raw and wild where other men were tame and bland.
No wonder he was drawn to the sea. It was probably the only thing on the planet big and mean enough to challenge him”

Circumstances make them come together and that's when Alex's torture starts. He can't be with Cass but his body doesn't want to stay away from her.
“He'd always known she was lovely and smart, but had never considered her tough. Naturally, the hard edge turned him on even more. He could appreciate lovely. He could respect smart. But strong made him tingle all over".

“God, he was a bastard. The poor woman was freezing cold; he could feel her trembling. And he was thinking about sex?
Men truly are pigs, he thought.”

So how are they gonna make it work?
You gotta read it first. ;-) This was my favorite book of all the series. I hope you love it too.
And lastly my favorite lines from the book:

“There once was a man on a boat,
Who had the whole ocean to float,
He went here and there, to find himself something at which to stare,
When all along what he needed was home.”

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, shocking! This is a J.R. Ward book and it's getting a 3.5 star rating. Not to say I didn't enjoy it, it just wasn't as wonderful as I was expecting it to be. Let's rewind a bit and say that I've read the first two books in this series and I've enjoyed them quite a bit (the second being my favorite so far). I love the small town feel of the books even though they are not the typical small town romance. They mix in a bit of the traditional Harlequin billionaire romance (some of them) and feature some hot alpha males.

I think that's what was lacking a bit with this one. Our hero Alex Moorehouse is all alpha gruffness. He's a sailor, spends most of his days out at sea and is a legend really in his own world. He's been in love with his best friend's wife since the first time he laid eyes on her. It eats at him, it almost makes him feel dirty. Then a storm and an accident leaves him badly hurt and not knowing if he will get to keep his leg, and his best friend dead.

Cassandra has dealt with some of the grief of losing her husband and has some unfinished business to settle with Alex. While visiting she ends up getting the job of reconstructing the Moorehouse bed & breakfast. That puts her in constant contact with Alex. The more she sees of him, the more she wants him. And he's never liked her. Or so he thinks.

I thought I was going to love Alex more than I did. I was really into the plot. I was really into the setting. I was really into the cast of characters and mostly on the romance. I just wished some of it would've developed differently. I'm not going to to into details and specifics as to not ruin the book, but things could've been dealt with better by Alex owning up to that alpha gruffness a bit earlier. He was just too soft in his interactions with Cassandra. Too much of putting a woman on a pedestal and not wanting to taint her. And on the other hand, they could've both done with some better communication.

But all in all, I really enjoy being in this world and I'm left actually itching to get the next few stories. The last book in this series will be about a couple that is introduced in this book, and then the spin off series will continue with the O'Banyons. I am very excited to read through all that!

It is safe to say this is not the BDB. Nor is it The Bourbon Kings, which still has a very Ward stamp to it. This is a contemporary romance written before Ward got into all that. Sweet contemporary romance with hot alpha males, but a bit more on the sexy than scorching scale. And while there still is a small glimpse to that writing style and the way she narrates this story is still a beautiful and complete picture, I think it's good to go in with the mindset that this is something completely different and not draw parallels. I've enjoyed all her old books I've read, but I've never gone in expecting the same.

Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay,this isn't a full-on review. The five stars is based on the wonderful H Jessica Bird had managed to create from her brilliant mind. There are two important factors (among others) that I consider important in romance fiction: the H's hotness and how the secondary characters are fleshed out. And just like what the title says, boy-oh-boy-- Alex was steaming hotness (phew) from the first adjective Jessica Bird described him. This is one H that had my toes curling. Who wouldn't want to read more about a 6' plus athlete who is intimidating, vulnerable,SHY, and commanded respect and awe from everyone around him looking the way he did (crutches and all). I've read several of Ms. Bird's fiction and--hands down--Alex remains my favorite. As to the secondary characters, it is also something Ms. Bird is good at. She doesn't just lay them out like papery characters fluttering about just to make the primary ones stand out. She writes them in a way that enhances the H and the h. One that stood out was when Alex and Spike were talking about Spike's Star Wars-themed pajamas. The scene was really cute and makes you see the real Alex with people he is comfortable with.

*One thing I don't get is the cover for this book.It has totally nothing to do with the story.

[Jane Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ½ stars. Not my kind of story. I was frustrated waiting for someone to be honest with the other.

A hurricane caused Reese’s death while he and Alex were sailing. Alex survived and feels guilty. Catherine is Reese’s widow. Alex has secretly loved her for years. Catherine secretly desires Alex.

For almost the entire book Alex wants her but pushes her away. He does it in ways that are insulting and hurtful. She thinks he hates her. She wants him badly and sadly. I was frustrated with Alex over and over again. He stupidly denies his own feelings - as if he’s making up reasons to stay away from her. Finally at the end they have an honest moment saying their feelings, and it’s over. Happy ending.

I want a story with more going on than this. It’s shorter than a regular novel.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 244 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 6. Setting: current day mostly Saranac Lake, New York. Copyright: 2006. Genre: contemporary romance.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex Moorehouse has always kept a safe distance from his best friends wife, even after he died. Convalescing and wanting to forget he ever laid eyes on the only woman to capture his heart, he continues his steely exterior when dealing with Cassandra as she begins work on restoring the White Caps B&B his family owns.

Cassandra has never understood what she has done to make Alex treat her so venomously, but she has lived through worse and plans to not let it stand in her way. As the work on the house progresses, she catches glimpeses of a softer side to Alex, but with each step forward there are two steps bsck when dealing with matters of the heart.

Probably my least favorite in the series so far. I had a hard time warming up to Ale who was so rigid half the time.

[ShoSho · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kate ✨ is a dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Angsty stars!!

This was the best Moorehouse book yet! You know I love a good strong, tormented hero. And Alex Moorehouse (brother to Frankie and Joy of books #1 and #2) was no exception.

We find out in book #1 that Alex was in a boating accident that killed his partner/best friend and left him devastatingly injured. For Alex, who has captained a competitive ship crew (I don't have too much knowledge on the book, forgive me) and who has an independent streak a mile wide.

He's also wracked with guilt after being in love with his best friend's wife for six years. But when she is the architect chosen to fix his sisters' house (where is staying for the duration of his injury), THINGS OCCUR and it's very sweet and angsty.

I don't typically like the back-and-forth, yes-no-yes-no books where the relationship is consistently hot and cold, but it really worked for this series. Alex was horribly injured after his accident, and although it didn't cause any lasting and debilitating damage, he was too stubborn to ask for help and pushed every one away. Emotionally, and physically. So to see him melt and harden (hehehe) against Cassandra didn't feel forced or angsty-for-angst's-sake, but ended up being thoroughly enjoyable and triumphant in the end.

[TinaMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Moorehouse is a three time American Cup winner who was injured after a deadly boating accident killed his partner. He's been hiding himself away full of guilt, believing he killed his friend and hoping he won't lose his leg. He's in terrible shape and he's a grumpy bastard. He's been in love with Cassandra since he met her and has done his best to alienate and avoid her to keep himself from temptation. Being in love with his best friend's wife was hell.

Cassandra Cutler is a well known architect and general contractor and is clueless as to why Alex hates her so much. When she takes on the job of restoring the family's bed and breakfast, she also ends up falling in love.

When they are together things heat up and get steamy. It's a sensual read even when things get interrupted. Their problem is they both make a lot of assumptions and have vivid imaginations as to what the other is thinking and feeling and it makes for a disjointed path to romance. Alex is so caught up in guilt, and self-castigation he hurts Cassandra repeatedly and I honestly wouldn't have minded if someone else came and swept Cass away. This story goes in fits and starts and Alex eventually redeems himself, but I wish he'd had to grovel a bit to win the girl.

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[Shaunesay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love Jessica Bird's (aka J R Ward) writing style. All the tough exterior and soft interior of the men and the strong women they can't live without. It's the same thing I fell in love with in her Black Dagger Brotherhood series and it's been fun to go back and read her older work in a non-vampiric setting but still have the same thing. She's got my number for sure! Must find the rest of the Moorehouse books!

[Cicera Pereira]

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

[Francesca the Fierce (Under the Covers Book Blog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars



Yes, shocking! This is a J.R. Ward book and it’s getting a 3.5 star rating. Not to say I didn’t enjoy it, it just wasn’t as wonderful as I was expecting it to be. Let’s rewind a bit and say that I’ve read the first two books in this series and I’ve enjoyed them quite a bit (the second being my favorite so far). I love the small town feel of the books even though they are not the typical small town romance. They mix in a bit of the traditional Harlequin billionaire romance (some of them) and feature some hot alpha males.

I think that’s what was lacking a bit with this one. Our hero Alex Moorehouse is all alpha gruffness. He’s a sailor, spends most of his days out at sea and is a legend really in his own world. He’s been in love with his best friend’s wife since the first time he laid eyes on her. It eats at him, it almost makes him feel dirty. Then a storm and an accident leaves him badly hurt and not knowing if he will get to keep his leg, and his best friend dead.

Cassandra has dealt with some of the grief of losing her husband and has some unfinished business to settle with Alex. While visiting she ends up getting the job of reconstructing the Moorehouse bed & breakfast. That puts her in constant contact with Alex. The more she sees of him, the more she wants him. And he’s never liked her. Or so he thinks.

I thought I was going to love Alex more than I did. I was really into the plot. I was really into the setting. I was really into the cast of characters and mostly on the romance. I just wished some of it would’ve developed differently. I’m not going to to into details and specifics as to not ruin the book, but things could’ve been dealt with better by Alex owning up to that alpha gruffness a bit earlier. He was just too soft in his interactions with Cassandra. Too much of putting a woman on a pedestal and not wanting to taint her. And on the other hand, they could’ve both done with some better communication.

But all in all, I really enjoy being in this world and I’m left actually itching to get the next few stories. The last book in this series will be about a couple that is introduced in this book, and then the spin off series will continue with the O’Banyons. I am very excited to read through all that!

It is safe to say this is not the BDB. Nor is it The Bourbon Kings, which still has a very Ward stamp to it. This is a contemporary romance written before Ward got into all that. Sweet contemporary romance with hot alpha males, but a bit more on the sexy than scorching scale. And while there still is a small glimpse to that writing style and the way she narrates this story is still a beautiful and complete picture, I think it’s good to go in with the mindset that this is something completely different and not draw parallels. I’ve enjoyed all her old books I’ve read, but I’ve never gone in expecting the same.

[♥ℳelody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the set up of this story. The whole secretly in love with my best friend's wife was too irresistible to pass up. I just wish the actual pay off and ending was more enjoyable. And I wasn't completely in love with the plot as I wanted to be. I found the ending lack-luster and falling a little short, especially given the whole 'yes no' song and dance the author puts Cassandra and Alex through through the entire book. I felt the couple's coming together was dragged out too long. A lot of unspoken assumptions, miscommunication kept getting in the way, which I wouldn't have minded as much if I felt the end conclusion was more satisfying.

We finally have the forlorn tortured hero in this Alex, confess he loves Cassandra at the very end....literally at the very end like the last 3-4 pages of the book, all neat and tidy. Not as dramatically fulfilling as I was hoping it would be. It was very frustrating and I just wasn't as blown away as I wanted to be. In some odd way it felt rushed and abrupt and left me wanting way more then I got.

And can I just say I absolutely loathed Cass's dead husband Reese. Ugh. And he just happened to be Alex's best friend. So did not understand the devotion & care for this guy. I thought there was a lot of unreasonable hero-worship over this guy who sounded like a overgrown child with a mid-life crisis and total slime ball to boot. It irritated the hell out of me how Cass would lament over the 'good times' they had together even after finding out he was cheating on her. Gag me and spare me. Sorry I find it unbelievable to find sympathy over a guy who was a chronic two-timer and sleaze. And Alex constantly berating and torturing himself over 'killing him' acting like the man was g-d's gift to the universe was a little too much for me to swallow. I was thankful at least that Cass told him about his adultery. Alex loved to put Reese on a pedestal and kept punishing himself because he happened to fall for the guy's wife. And I still struggled to understand how Cass ended up marrying Reese only because 'he asked her' and she didn't see why not. I mean...really? So depressing.

All in all, I did enjoy this story, really wish I read this before reading 'A Man in a Million' with the adorable Madeline and Spike (eeek! :D), seeing their first 'meeting' in here and how they interacted was too cute. Made me want to re-read their story. Alex and Cass were a complete angsty forlorn package. JB really knows how to write angsty couples with whole lot of sexual tension thrown in there. Alex's 'dream' that Cass walks in on?......*MELTS* Wow. It should be wrong, but it was sooo freaking sexy.

[Ne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desde Sempre é a continuação de Amor Feiticeiro. Aqui vamos rever e acompanhar a amiga de Gray e o irmão de Joy que pelos vistos eram caras-metade e não sabiam.
Tal como aconteceu no primeiro, e talvez porque os li seguidos e já ia lançada, este segundo volume acabou por ser devorado tão rápido como o primeiro, mas aqui porque a história me cativou muito mais. Adorei o carácter tímido, mas forte e protector de Alex em relação a Cassandra, tal como gostei dela ser uma personagem a recuperar de uma relação difícil com o melhor amigo de Alex. Mas como eles vão se relacionar, com todas as peripécias com a casa de Alex e o amigo deste, é que vai tornar este romance de bolso escorregadio na leitura, tanto que o terminamos em poucas horas.
Se o começo foi a 100 por hora então o final vai ser a 200, o problema é que não tive acesso ao quarto volume da saga e por isso nada feito.
no final de tudo, quem diria que J. R. Ward, aka Jessica Bird, tinha tanto jeito para o romance dramático como para o paranormal?

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this installment last (even though it was the third book in the series) for a silly reason: I tend to shy away from the widower/divorced plotlines because as a single girl I sometimes can't relate to them much.

However FROM THE FIRST came as a pleasant surprise. A fellow reader encouraged me to try it despite my reservations, and the nudge was greatly appreciated. The story is engaging and I felt a connection to heroine as well as a strong understanding of the hero.

A good read.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book lastnight and I totally loved it!! I loved our fallen hero Alex, and the struggle he was going through trying to get his life back on track after his accident. I liked Cassandra too and I enjoyed the story that was built between them. This was a nice quick, and enjoyable read for anyone who is looking for a nice journey to some sweet romance.

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Jessica Bird book I read even though it's not first in the series. After I read this I fell in love. I couldn't wait to read more from Jessica Bird. I loved this whole series. I like Jessica Bird better than J.R. Ward which I know isn't popular.

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Sagas, Contemporary Romance, Military Romance, Small Town & Rural Fiction
Miniseries
The Moorehouse Legacy

[Emilye · Rating 5 out of 5]

MoorehouseLegacy3

A dark presence in books 1&2, we finally focus on Alex. Badly injured in a boating accident during a hurricane that took the life of his sailing partner, Alex has been wracked by guilt and pain. The failure of the first rod put in his broken leg threatened his livelihood of captaining winning crews in yachting races.

But what really has Alex resisting improvement, is a two pronged condemnation - losing the life of his best friend and wanting the wife of his best friend. Reece Cutler’s third wife, Cassandra, was elegant, beautiful and talented. Alex fell for her at first sight. Coveting another man’s happiness didn’t sit well it’s Alex, and he worked really hard to keep his distance and his self respect. And he succeeded. Neither Reece nor Cassandra knew that secret.

Widowhood is a mixed blessing for Cassandra. She has her work, her friends and the knowledge that her husband was often unfaithful. It’s hard to mourn someone who was so careless with your heart. But, still she wants to check on Alex Moorehouse and make sure he knows she doesn’t blame him for Reece’s death. Even though Alex hates her and may not need her condolences. But Alex does need her help.

Unlike his younger sisters, Cassandra doesn’t have a history of following Alex’s directives. So when he tell her “Go away” or “I’m not hungry”, she doesn’t choose to listen. And that starts to pull Alex out of his funk.

He reconnects with life in ever widening circles, first in fighting with Cassandra, then participating in family milestones. It’s a time of self examination and reflection as well, because Alex left home long before his parents died. Yet that fundamental foundation is what he has available to build on now.

[The Sleeping Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 to 3.5 stars. There is a pattern developing in 'The Moorehouse Legacy' series, which is not something I am a fan of: the hero/heroine pushing each other away because they believe they are too flawed to deserve love. Maybe this is the result of reading the Moorehouses in a row. But, it was less irritating in book three.

Alex and Cassandra's story was more enjoyable than Joy and Gray's. Yes, there was back and forth pushing away and self-pity, but the plot was more interesting. Alex has always loved Cassandra from the moment he saw her; yet, she was his sailing buddy Reese's wife, so he never went there at all, to the point where Cassandra thought he hated her guts. Cassandra is a famous architect, whose marriage, we learn, was not as harmonious as Alex thought. From book 2, White Caps is in desperate need of repair, and Cassandra is commissioned to take over. Ensue close proximity and the revealing of secrets.

On the positive side, in the Moorehouse legacy series, we get to revisit characters which starred in, or were introduced to in earlier books. We get to see Frankie and Nate, Joy and Gray, meet Sean O'Banyon from "The Billionaire Next Door" (although it has me scratching my head as to the timeline / where his good friends have disappeared to in TBND - he is portrayed as very much a lone wolf without friends, and in the Moorehouse legacy series, there is no Lizzie), and of course meet Spike and Mad.
On to book 4!

[Mattie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, absolutely love that hero was celibate for 6 years (since he first seen heroine, she wasn't celibate but she was married, she didn't sleep with her husband after she learned he cheated on her for 2 years before start of book). I read this years ago and thought it was 4 or 5 stars back then, but with re-read it wasn't as great as I thought originally. This time around I can see how selfish hero was to just leave his sisters to fend for themselves after their parents died, especially with him being the oldest he just left to hardly if ever return til he was forced to. P.

***Also this wasn't in the book but I kind of Think that heroines dead husband Reese had a vasectomy. She couldn't get pregnant for 4 years and Reese over and over proved he was a liar so it makes sense with his character that he would do that.

[Veronica Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final Moorehouse book! Alex is happy for his sisters who have finally found peace and happiness with the men they love. If only he could find that for himself. In this book Alex has to fight to recover from an injury that could have killed him, a friend who died while at sea, and the woman he can't forget.

This final book was a quick read and was a great ending to the Morehouse trilogy. As Alex deals with his own demons, Cassandra has to deal with the fact that she may just be in live with Alex and come to grips about the reality of her marriage of convenience. Good thing that life has a way of putting people in the right places and maybe just maybe both Alex and Cassandra can find true happiness at the end.

[Martha Stellmach · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wedding should be a happy event. Sadly, many aren't and this one is no exception. Alex is the only brother of the family and is very unhealthy. He was injured and is not healing as well as everyone hopes. His younger sister is being married to a guy Alex approves of. The older sister approves as well and both sisters are worried that their brother is hiding in a bottle. Alex has some issues he's trying to work through but he is not doing it well. Alcohol helps him not have to think. This is the beginning of a classic romance! There are some interesting characters here. It is part of a series and several characters in the 4th book are included in this 3rd book of the Morehouse saga. It's frothy and fun and I enjoyed it. I recommend it 😉

[Jacqueline M · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third Moorehouse sibling finds love. Actually Alex has loved Cassandra since the first time he met her, hence the title of the book. Since she is married to his sailing partner, he has always considered her off limits. A sailing accident that leaves him badly injured and her widowed, seems to make their getting together an impossible dream for Alex.
There is a lot of soul searching on both their parts throughout this book. Alex regrets his past selfish behavior after his parents died, and Cassandra struggles with reconciling what was really happening in her marriage. Eventually and inevitably they work it out and get together. Not a 5 star book but not bad either.