TLC Book Tours Book Review: Finding Our Forever

Author: Brenda Novak
Title: Finding Our Forever
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition
Publish Date: March 21, 2017
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: The search for her birth mother brought Cora Kelly to the New Horizons Boys Ranch. Getting a job there was easy enough, but confiding in Aiyana, the ranch's owner, that she's really her daughter? Cora's not sure she can do that, not unless she's confident the news will be welcomed. And once she gets to know Elijah Turner—Aiyana's adopted son and ranch manager—that decision becomes even more difficult.

Although Elijah can't deny his deep attraction to Cora, he's always struggled with trust. Anyone with his past would, and there's something about the ranch's newest employee that isn't exactly as it seems. But if the feelings she awakes in his guarded heart are any indication, she might be just what he's long been waiting for.

Review: Cora is a woman in search of her birth mother. I swear the adopted child storyline is being used an awful lot this year.

Aiyana is Cora's birth mother, but Cora isn't going to tell her that yet. Elijah is Aiyana's adopted son and his past is really unpleasant. It is really amazing that he's turned out to be a good man. He has instant chemistry with Cora.

If you aren't confused now...you are doing well. As much as I know that the only blood relation there is in this story is Cora and Aiyana, it still seems so not quite right to be attracted to the child your mother adopted.

I think that part keeps them from getting too close at first, but once they get together, you know that they are good for each other, though I didn't feel the relationship was well developed. They liked each other for superficial reasons. Elijah was good looking. He was a good man, despite haven't a rough childhood. He was good with kids. When Elijah and Cora were together, you didn't get much of them talking, just physical stuff, which is how they planned it, but they fall in love. (of course)

I have a hard time understanding why children that were adopted choose to hurt the family that gave them love. I almost felt like Brenda was trying to paint Cora's family in a slightly less than flattering light. Why wouldn't you tell them you were looking for your birth mother? I really found that Cora was trying to compare bother mothers. If I were Lily I would have been more than a little hurt by her actions. I think her family handled things more than well.

Then there was the situation with her ex, which left me wondering too.

The ending came with the proper closure, but it was wrapped up too nicely and with a happy little bow. I don't think real life would have been that perfect.

Overall, this was an OK read by Ms. Novak. I think its a little out of her comfort zone of writing. Special Editions are a shorter format than she's been writing lately. This story needed a bit more development to be on par with her other books.

Rating: 3 flowers