Rowena’s review of The Best Man (Blue Heron #1) by Kristan Higgins.
Hero: Levi Cooper
Heroine: Faith Holland
Sometimes the best man is the one you least expect Faith Holland left her hometown after being jilted at the altar. Now a little older and wiser, she’s ready to return to the Blue Heron Winery, her family’s vineyard, to confront the ghosts of her past, and maybe enjoy a glass of red. After all, there’s some great scenery there .
Like Levi Cooper, the local police chief—and best friend of her former fiancé. There’s a lot about Levi that Faith never noticed, and it’s not just those deep green eyes. The only catch is she’s having a hard time forgetting that he helped ruin her wedding all those years ago. If she can find a minute amidst all her family drama to stop and smell the rosé, she just might find a reason to stay at Blue Heron, and finish that walk down the aisle.
It’s been a while since I’ve laughed this much while reading a book. When I was reading this book, I kept thinking back to long ago when I would read a Jennifer Crusie book and laugh my brains out. Kristan Higgins delivers a cute romance with little steam but loads of smiles, giggling and full out laughter. When the book first starts, I thought I wouldn’t like the heroine, Faith Holland because she was such a b word to Levi Cooper. And even though that changes, there were still times when I wondered why in the world Levi put up with her crap. Their first encounter together after years and years, he’s pulling her over to give her a speeding ticket (he’s the town chief of police) and she mouths off to him like he’s dirt under her $1,000 boots. I didn’t like it but I’m glad that I stuck it out because I came to like Faith (even if I never really loved her) and I absolutely adored Levi.
Faith grew up on a vineyard. Her family owns the Blue Heron Winery and each of her siblings and other family members are employed by the family business…except her. After she was left at the altar (by her fiance to turned to be gay), Faith fled to San Francisco to get her shit together and what was supposed to only be a few weeks turned into a few years. She’s made a life for herself in San Francisco, made friends but when her family calls and tells her that she needs to come home and help them with a gold digging old lady that is trying to snap up their father, Faith goes home to help any way that she can.
One of the first people Faith sees upon her return to town is the very last person she wants to see. Levi Cooper, best friend to man that who told her on their wedding day that he couldn’t marry her because he was gay. The same guy who knew all along that her fiance was gay and never said anything to her. She hasn’t quite forgiven him yet and well, that was the crux on my problem with Faith. She was such a b word to Levi because she held him semi-responsible for her wedding day turning out the way that it did and while I understood why she hated him, I didn’t understand how she didn’t think he’d keep his best friend’s secret. I mean, Jeremy was Levi’s best friend, not Faith. So when she comes back after years away, she immediately makes up with Jeremy but keeps Levi at arms length. That didn’t make sense to me but then I got over all of that because I was too busy laughing and loving the hell out of all of the characters in this book.
I adored Faith’s family and I loved Levi’s sister. I really enjoyed getting to know each of the characters in this book and I can’t wait for more. I’m super thrilled that this book is the first in this series and I’m kind of anxious to see who’s book will be written next. I’m curious to see who Colleen ends up with (Jack?) and who Honor will end up with as well…I’m thinking that Honor’s book will be next since she was seeing someone and she was excited to bring him to the anniversary party and then he didn’t show…there’s lots to look forward to and I’m excited.
Like I said, Kristan Higgins delivers a sweet romance between two people that didn’t even like each other in the beginning and the journey was great fun to be a part of. I enjoyed Levi, I came to like Faith and I loved the hell out of their families. For me, that makes this book a winner.
Grade: 4.25 out of 5
This book is available from Harlequin HQN. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Really enjoyed this one, too. <3 Levi