Book review: Worth it All ~ Claudia Connor

Title: Worth It All
Author: Claudia Connor
Series: The McKinney Brothers #3
Release date: April 19, 2016
(Sub)genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 272
Buy: Amazon US ~ Amazon UK
Rating:

She’s fighting for control.... Paige Roberts learned to fend for herself growing up. Now she’s doing everything possible to give her daughter, Casey, the stability she never had. But when the vivacious five-year-old decides she’s done wearing her prosthesis, Paige faces her toughest challenge yet: trusting a handsome, brooding stranger who simply wants to help.

He’s struggling to connect.... JT McKinney lost more than his leg in a car accident that stole his dreams of pro football. Eight years later, he's made a new life for himself far away from his old one. His business is developing cutting-edge prosthetics and he’s more than happy to turn his attention to machines instead of people. Still, he can’t shake the feeling that something’s missing.

Will they take a chance on love?... When JT gets the chance to help Paige’s daughter, he takes it. He never planned on the two of them tearing down his walls or teaching him to believe in himself again. Paige might not believe in happily ever afters, but JT wants more than anything to be her prince. They’ll both have to let go of the past if they want a future.

Worth It All is the third book in the ‘McKinney Brothers series’ by Claudia Connor and tells the story of the youngest brother, JT. In the previous books he was the absent brother, the brother who lived far away from the family. Worth It All tells his story.

“It was just looks and smiles and for some reason that was a lot. What did it say about him that just seeing a woman he had no intention of ever making a move on was the highlight of his week?”

JT is a driven man who works hard; designing futuristic prosthesis at his own research lab. As a teenager he was a promising football player, until a horrific accident leaves him with a permanent reminder. Missing his own left lower leg makes him passionate about his job, always wanting to improve their products so people can live their lives to the fullest. After a disastrous break-up with his high school sweetheart, JT isn’t a ladies’ man. He goes out on sporadic dates, but overall he isn’t interested in a relationship, not even a casual one. Meeting Paige – and her daughter Casey – changes everything.

“It was true, he wasn’t looking for serious for so many reasons, but he thought of spending time with Paige, listening to her without distractions, drinking in every detail without her rushing around, and suddenly for the first time in a long time, he felt like taking a leap.”

Paige is a young woman with a plan. Growing up with her party loving, not-to-serious mother has left its marks on her. Not knowing when there will be food, the fear for angry landlords; all things she doesn’t want for herself. Giving birth to her daughter Casey wasn’t part of the plan, but Paige is a great mother, doing the best she can to give Casey a different childhood then she had herself. Dividing all of her time between Casey, her studies and two jobs, men are complete of Paige’s radar. When she notices JT’s interest in her, she doesn’t know what to do.

“You’re not even going to look?” She finally did out of curiosity and… crap. It was the guy from the other day. The one that made her pulse beat faster. The one she’d thought was about to ask her out even if she could never say yes.”

From the moment Paige and JT finally talk to each other, they know something is there. But Paige is busy with work, with making her life – and Casey’s life – better. JT is a little shocked; not so much by the fact Paige has a daughter, but of the condition the little girl has. Like JT, she misses her left lower leg. Wanting to help Casey, JT invites Paige and her daughter over to his facility. Soon, JT and Paige spend a lot of time together, most of the time accompanied by Casey. The independent, organized Paige has strong feelings for JT, but has some problems of altering her plans. JT has to convince Paige they can be together, that they can have a future.

Worth It All is a sweet story, without angst and crazy situations. Just two people in love who are figuring out how they can have a relationship, without sacrificing their own dreams. Paige’s four-year-old daughter Casey is a sweetheart, JT doesn’t stand a chance against her. Besides the main couple, there are great side characters, real and honest friends/family to Paige and JT. The characters from the previous books in the series make an appearance. It’s is good to see little bits and pieces of their lives.

“I love you, Paige. I’m pretty sure I fell in love with you the first time I saw you help an old man read a menu. I want you. I want Casey. I want to be a husband and a father. I don’t want one day when we’re not together. I want to make your life a fairy tale.”

Sometimes – especially after a difficult read – I just need a story like Worth It All. I give it 4.5 stars.

~~ Worth It All was provided in exchange for an honest review ~~