Home with You

The Bradshaws, Book 1

By: Shirlee McCoy

Narrated by: Vanessa Daniels

The Bradshaw brothers never dreamed they'd return to their hometown. But tragedy has brought them back together in Benevolence, Washington, where they're finding generosity, surprising revelations - and unexpected love....

Sullivan Bradshaw is in way over his head. A car crash killed his brother, Matthias, and critically injured his sister-in-law. It's Sullivan's turn to care for the couple's six children and the ancestral farm, but the die-hard bachelor and art professor is hardly family-man material. What he needs is the perfect nanny/miracle worker/saint. What he gets is pretty Rumer Truehart, a free spirit who will change everything he ever thought he wanted....

Rumer learned the hard way that nothing is for sure, much less forever. And she certainly understands why Sullivan's unhappy childhood makes him a strictly no-commitments kind of guy. But she can't help being drawn to this thoughtful, gentle man. And when trouble strikes, she's determined to win his trust - and show him love can be a promise for keeps.

©2018 Shirlee McCoy (P)2018 Tantor

Cleverly Written, Funny, Touching

I really enjoyed the humorous look at family life. adoption, and fostering. Shirlee McCoy’s writing ranges from comical to poetic in this book which was preformed extremely well by the narrator.

The book is about a group of kids who were adopted at an older age. Most are grade school age with one middle school and one baby. They all have problems from their earlier losses. Their adoptive father and mother are in a car accident which kills the father and leaves their mother with TBI.

This story is tragic but also hopeful and humorous. McCoy writes about the characters in a tender, compassionate manner but doesn’t miss the humor in the crazy things kids do and the comical way the perplexed adults try to care for them. I adored these moments and scenes in the book; in fact, how the kids and adults interacted was my favorite thing about the book.

It is not just the kids and the adults who have some fun scenes, but the lead female and her family were entertaining as well. McCoy made some quirky, unique characters in this book. Rumor’s aunt and grandmother are both very interesting women.

I did not like the all too common romance trope, “I’d rather have nothing than get my heart broken again.” A lot of the book is taken up by phrases like this, and every time similar lines were repeated I groaned. What a waste when the rest of the book was unique and interesting! Dear romance writers, for the love of everything good and holy, STOP WRITING TROPES! Or, if you must, minimize how often you repeat the same lines!

The bottom line is that this book was a real delight when it wasn’t annoying me. Haha, that’s the truth about how I feel. I really think most people would enjoy it because so much of the story is so well written.

Wish there were more available

This story could be considered a love conquers all. Both the protagonists come from different horrific backgrounds. Each is afraid to get involved with someone in a long term relationship.
I like that Byron Lamont from the chocolate shop has a few appearances and gives out sage advice.
This is the only book available on Audible. The other two unfortunately aren’t available on Audible, but are available on Kindle and paperback.

Different. Enjoyed for the most part.

Would have been more enjoyable if the reader had any inflection in her voice. There wasn’t any feeling or change of vocal tone for the different characters.
However, the story was unusual and entertaining.

Way too much cussing.

The story is okay. Good characters. Storyline okay. Too much cussing, Not necessary. I don’t think I will continue with this author.

Foul language ruined this one for me

Shirlee McCoy had other clean and enjoyable books, so I was very surprised that she chose to use language of the worst kind in this one right from the beginning.