The Return of Brody McBride (McBrides, #1)

by Jennifer Ryan

[Cocktails and Books]

When I first read the synopsis of the book, I had my doubts about picking it up. There was a lot of speculation about Brody being a real jerk and I just wasn’t sure if I wanted to read about that type of hero. However, I can gladly say that I misjudged the book.

I really wanted to hate Brody but he ended up breaking my heart. Yes, he did a lot of terrible things when he was younger but he has returned home to find Rain, the girl whose heart he broke and abandoned, and beg her for a second chance. He was so sincere and completely had me forgiving him as well as Rain had.

Brody was medically discharged from the military and still has leg pain and severe PTSD which often leads to blackouts. But Brody doesn’t let that stop him from being a dad to his daughters and doing any and everything he can to win Rain back.

I really admired Rain’s character. She is an unbreakable woman. After being left behind and pregnant by Brody, Rain gives up her college aspirations to raise Brody’s daughters alone. And after all the heartache Brody caused her, she still has the strength to forgive him and love him regardless of time, distance, or damage. I wouldn’t have been able to do that.

I was so glad to see the new man Brody became and watching his and Rain’s relationship slowly begin to repair itself. The only thing that bothered me about the book was that I felt the story slowed a little every time the past was brought up. I would have liked to have read more scenes about Brody, Rain and the girls in the present, but many of those were glossed over in favor of the past. Although, I do understand why the author did that; Brody was gone for eight years leaving lots of things unaccounted for.

I enjoyed the secondary characters; Owen, Brody’s older brother, and Eli, Rain’s father. At the end of the story we got our first glimpse of Dylan, Brody and Owen’s cousin. Dylan is the sheriff in their small town and I am interested in learning more about him as well.

This is my first read from Jennifer Ryan and I can tell you she has a new fan. I really enjoyed the story, the characters and the writing and I’m looking forward to reading the entire McBrides series.

Read by Elizabeth for Cocktails and Books