Never Expected You by Jody Holford – a Review

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Description:
When Zach Mason, former army sergeant turned veterinarian for war-wounded animals, returns home, the decision to stay is easy. But convincing the only other vet in town to hire him is a good deal harder. It doesn’t help that the beautiful, intelligent, and stubborn Stella Lane is determined to make his life hell.

Stella doesn’t take outside help easily—she’s been let down in the past, most recently by her ex, just as she’d begun to plan their wedding. Trusting Zach with her animals is one thing, but trusting him with more is a hard pass. Too bad the handsome vet is nothing but temptation. And her new roommate…

Review:

Never Expected You is book two in the Love Unexpected series by Jody Holford. 

Dr. Stella Lane is a veterinarian that has returned home to the small town of Brockton, to work along side her father in his veterinarian clinic. But after her father passes away she is left with the task of trying to keep his practice and the farm afloat.  Her father left her with an awful lot of debt and customers who pay for services with casseroles. 

Stella is stubborn and prefers to do everything on her own.  Which doesn’t leave much time for anything other than work. And after the fiasco of her last relationship she has no desire to even think about men in a romantic way. She has a few close friends which she considers family but beyond that its just her and her well loved animals.

Zach Mason, left Brockton right after graduation and the loss of his best friend Travis in a tragic accident.  Running away, he joined the Army, did several tours of duty and became a veterinarian. He spent his Army career planning his return to Brockton.  Coming back as an adult and making this place his home. But Brockton already has a town vet.  A man that has spent his entire life caring for the towns animals.  A man that was a mentor to Zach when he was a teenager and bullied because he was poor and his dad was an alcoholic.  Zach’s plan was to return to Brockton and try and convince Dr. Lane to take him on as an associate.

But when Zach returns and finds Dr. Stella Lane the daughter of his mentor.  She was never what he expected. He decided to go ahead with his plan to convince Stella to take him on as an associate. But Stella is not so easy to persuade.  She is stubborn and although she feels like she is on a sinking ship, she knows that she probably can not do it alone anymore. After Zach explains to her just what her father meant to him she decides to give him a chance. And Zach comes up with some amazing ideas to change things for the clinic and Stella. When Zach’s efforts begin to turn the vet clinic and the farm around, Stella starts to open her heart to him.

But will she end up broken hearted just like the last relationship she was in?  Will Zach be able to convince her that everything between them is real?

I absolutely loved this story, first because there are so many animals involved and that both the main characters are veterinarians. I loved the setting, a vet clinic / home / farm.  Where everything in Stella’s life is contained.  Small town feel where there was so much love and admiration for her father. The fact that he accepted casseroles as payment for services he rendered made her father even more endearing to me.

It was like you were actually in the small town, experiencing everything along with them. The chemistry between Zach and Stella was palpable from the moment they laid eyes on each other. And it only built as they spent more and more time together.

I had no idea this book was part of a series when I started it. But everything was laid out so perfectly that it can definitely be read as a stand alone. But now that I know that it is part of a series I have bought the first book because this one was just that good.

This book is the perfect blend of hot and steamy romance along with an endearing small town story.

Highly recommend for a cool, autumn weekend that you want to spend cozied up on the couch reading!

Reviewed by Erin

Copy provided by Publisher