Always You (Bachelor Brotherhood, #3)

by Denise Grover Swank

Matt Osborne had always planned to get married and have a family. But at thirty-four, he's no closer to his goal, so he's decided to embrace his role as the remaining member of the Bachelor Brotherhood. He's only loved one woman-his college sweetheart-but she never shared his dream of a family, preferring to focus on her career and maybe get married someday. With neither budged on their decisions, they agreed it was best to part ways. Now nearly twelve years later, Matt is stunned when Anna shows up at his nephew's soccer practice-with her five-year-old son in tow.

Single mother Anna Field has returned home to care for her widowed and ill father. She never thought she'd run into Matt during the six months she's there, but now he's the coach of her son's soccer team. She'd move Toby to a different team, but his new best friend happens to be Matt's nephew, Ethan. As Anna and Matt spend more time together, the realize that their attraction-and love-are still there, just waiting for a spark to reignite. And once it's lit, Matt has no plans to let her go again.

• ISBN10: 1455539813
• ISBN13: 9781455539819
• Publish Date: 25 July 2019 (first published 28 November 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Forever
• Format: Paperback (A-Format (178x111 mm))
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[Lynn]

The third book in the Bachelor Brotherhood series, Always You is a standalone and a second chance romance novel.

Matt Osborn gets more attention than he wants as the coach for his nephew's soccer team. Since taking of the role, he's got used to the mothers eyeing him up at practice as they wait and watch their kids run around the pitch. When a new boy turns up for practice, he's shocked when the mother speaks to her son, because it's a voice Matt recognises and it belongs to a woman who broke his heart.

Back home in the US to look after her father, Anna Robins is also juggling life as a single mum, whilst working remotely for a UK finance company. When she takes her five-year-old son to soccer practice she's shocked to find her son's best friend Ethan is the coaches' nephew. He's also the man she walked away from to pursue her career in London.

It took a little while to get into the narrative. I was a little bit distracted in the beginning as I wondered if I'd read this novel before. Once I'd established I hadn't, the protagonists' back-story didn't keep my attention the whole time, especially the chaotic football practice scene. Yet, once I passed that mark, Matt and Anna's journey to a happy ever after begins earnestly.

With lots of feels, I was delightfully surprised by the emotion packed into the pages as the author reveals the depth of the issues that surround the protagonists. It's heartbreaking for the pair, but what really tugs at the heartstrings is the effect on the ones closest to them.

Much emotion and heartbreak are evident as two people who have always had feelings for each other, try and navigate the complexities of their current lives to try to find a way to be together. Love and sacrifice in equal measures, with unconditional love and devotion, Matt Osborn is every woman's dream and he has to convince this woman again, to take a chance on him. Anna, who has done the opposite of what she said she'd do and now living with the consequences, has to live up the reality that she can't have what she wants with the man she's always loved.

The secondary characters and fun, specifically the children. Their behaviour adds not only a fun element but a serious one too, as the little people have the most to gain and lose as the adults look for a compromise for all. The "villain" is played well too and while he's not a likeable chap, his portrayal was well done.

Overall, after a slow start Always You is an enjoyable novel with a heartfelt ending.

4 stars

***arc received courtesy of Forever via NetGalley***