An Unexpected Home (Cedarville, #1) by Bree Kraemer – Review by Moriah Venable
An Unexpected Home by Bree Kraemer
An Unexpected Home is the first novel in the Cedarville series by Bree Kraemer. This is my first novel by this author.
Leah Gibson, 28 year old accountant, moves to Cedarville, Ohio to help her friends Carly and Mel run their dance studio. After a little hesitation, Leah decides to start life anew to get away from the press and media after the betrayal of her father and uncle.
‘Home, she realized, was not just a place you slept or kept your things. It was more than that. It was a place that you felt comfortable and wanted. Even loved.’
When she arrives she meets Brandon who is not only Carly’s 33 year old cousin but also the local acting police chief after the former police chief had a heart attack and he was next in line. There is an instant attraction between the two but of course the two try to deny it.
The night Leah comes to town there is a break in and Brandon tries not to sound accusing when someone says they saw Leah’s car pass by during the time of the break in. Leah feels like she is being questioned because of her past, but answers the questions anyway.
The next day she goes to see him but leaves when she starts having a panic attack and leaves. She comes back to apologize and explains that she wants to sleep with him but Brandon refuses because he likes her and wants more than just that.
When an expected visitor comes into town, will they ruin the growing relationship?
While initially hesitant, I really enjoyed this story. The novel is told from alternative third person perspectives of Leah and Brandon.
Brandon is one of those types of guys who dates but wants nothing serious and the women he sees know that. But the moment he lays eyes on Leah, he likes her and wants more. He doesn’t like being called ‘boss’ or ‘sir’ but it protective of those he cares about.
“I will say this . I have women that I can go to when I want sex and they know that it is just sex. But I don’t sleep around.”“Why can’t I be one of those women?” He heard the words and he knew what she was asking but for some reason it made him angry. “You just can’t,” he said and turned putting his back to her so he could go sit back down.”
I love stories where people are starting over and making a new life for themselves.
Of course the path getting there, isn’t easy. But it’s great and makes me hopeful, when reading.
Leah and Brandon I felt had amazing chemistry, making the novel more fun to read.
With great romance, suspense and characters one can relate to, it’s a novel you don’t wanna put down.
I can’t wait for the next novel.
