Finding Family

Title: Finding Family

Author: Connie Bailey

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Publishers URL: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

ISBN/BIN: 9781634771528

Genre: {M/M}, Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires        

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

Charles made his money the old fashion way.  He inherited it.  Much to his shock, he also inherited his three small cousins.  Knowing children won’t fit into his playboy life, Charles hires a nanny to care for the children.  Jon knows what it is like to be an orphan and has no trouble bonding with the kids; it’s the uncle he is worried about.

Finding Family is an interesting new book by author Connie Bailey.  It follows a well-used theme, yet there are some refreshing aspects to it as well.  Charles is a rich man who lived his life for himself until the day his parents died and he is named head of the family business.  Shortly after the death of his parents, his uncle and aunt pass and he finds himself the guardian of his three much younger cousins.  Charles now finds himself with a lot on his plate, yet he is not ready for all the responsibilities thrown at him.  I have to say that I spent a majority of the book not liking Charles.  He lost his family members, due to alcohol, and is following in their footsteps.  He also had no concern for his cousins and, more than once, I wanted to smack him and tell him to step up.

Charles’ assistant knows he needs a nanny and after the children have gone through several women, many of whom thought it would give them a chance with Charles, he hires a man.  Jon grew up in an orphanage, staying even after he ages out.  He knows that it is time to go out into the real world and when the offer to become a nanny comes up, he takes it.  Jon has no idea what to expect and he is shocked when he sees the life he has stepped into.  I liked Jon, especially the way he handles the children.  More than once, he had me laughing as he dealt with the kids and started to show them the love they had been missing. 

There is a relationship building between Jon and Charles, but while the relationship is in its infancy, the two men are faced with issues that cause problems in more than their relationship.  Money is missing from Charles’ company and Charles has been made the fall guy.  There is one point in this story, while Charles was working, when I thought “You idiot, that’s going to come back and kick you in the butt.”  While it was easy to see the problems come Charles’ way, the why and who behind them was surprising.  

The various little twists and turns keep the story moving nicely and I really liked a couple of the secondary characters. I think it would be interesting to see them get stories of their own.  The author did a great job wrapping Finding Family up and I think fans of this author are really going to like this new book.