All I Want by Nicole Helm
Released: September 1, 2016
Contemporary Romance
Harlequin
Reviewed by Mandi
First I have to mention that the heroine is a goat farmer! I have three miniature goats who bring me joy and this made me so happy. She also has a goat tattoo – do I need one?
Meg is not only a goat farmer, but she also makes goat soap which she sells at farmers markets. As a young adult she got heavily involved in drugs, but now she is eight years sober and grateful to have her grandmother’s goat farm which has become her passion. Her parents put her through rehab, but her bad drug behavior and the fact she is covered in tattoos, has pretty much sent her relationship with her parents down the toilet.
To her parents, the tattoos were the visible slap in the face of all Meg had thrown away, all the shame she’d brought to their doorstep. In the world of her parents, appearances were everything.
When they kick her out of her grandmother’s funeral, Meg is devastated. She heads to the bar for drinks.
Charlie never much liked working on his family’s farm and left for college and to become a big-time financial guy. But after being pretty successful, his firm merges and he gets laid off. Charlie isn’t used to professional disappointment and doesn’t know what to do with himself. He ends up at a bar as well to drink down his sorrows. He recognizes Meg from the farmer’s market that his family attends, although he doesn’t know her name or anything. They start to have drinks together, a lot of drinks – a cab is called. There is very drunk dancing at her house – and all of a sudden it’s the next morning and they are in bed together. Ooopsie. With severe hangovers they awkwardly say goodbye to each other and go on with their lives. But one tiny/huge problem arises – Meg finds out she is pregnant.
I’m not always a huge fan of the “oops I’m pregnant” story, but this one worked well for me. I loved both Meg and Charlie. Meg has been shunned by her “looks are everything” parents and is fragile. With her grandmother passing, she is very alone in the world. She lost all her friends after going to rehab and just hangs out with her goats during the day. It’s not the most enriching life. When she is thrust into Charlie’s life due to being pregnant with his child, she is overwhelmed.
Charlie is the kind of guy who is serious, goal-oriented, success-driven. Getting laid off throws him for a loops. He moves back home and takes some time to decide what he wants to do with his life. He starts to realize, he likes being home. He likes repairing some distance he has with his siblings. He likes being an uncle to his young nieces and nephews.
He wanted his mother close enough to make him dinner and tell him he’d land on his feet. He wanted to watch his niece grow up. He wanted to be here.
He doesn’t necessarily like farming, but he tries the business side of farming and is content. When he learns Meg is pregnant, his responsible side comes out. He offers marriage and a family – something Meg is very hesitant to try. She is so afraid her appearance aka tattoos and unconventional lifestyle will immediately push away Charlie’s family. But she is strong. They welcome her and offer her support and it’s almost too much for Meg to handle.
This is a slow-burn romance done well. Charlie is very attracted to Meg and has to be patient as she lets down some of her walls and lets him in. It’s sexy and romantic and I rooted for them the entire book. He is not only there to court her and try to win her over in a romantic way, but he is also there to support her now that she is pregnant. T just be her friend.
“You could stay,” she whispered, feeling the weight of it. She was asking him for something, and a rejection would…
Oh, crap, it would really hurt. She thought she’d been chasing those feelings of importance, of being valuable, worthy, but maybe she’d been setting herself up for failure.
No. No. Because failure wasn’t allowed anymore.
“I’ll stay,” he murmured, dropping a kiss to her forehead.
Tears welled up again, but she blinked them back with a smile on her face.
This is cute and romantic and I love this family. For those that have read this series, Charlie is Dell’s brother aka the Naked Farmer. I recommend all three of these books.
Grade: B
This does sound good. Thanks for the review.