Love's Journey Home (Lincoln Love Stories) by Julie Coulter Bellon

Olivia Dalton has a reputation in the DA’s office—tough, thorough, and fierce when she’s closing a case. Those skills are essential in the courtroom, but not in the relationship department—until Mick Donovan crosses her path. Everyone thinks he’s a player, but when an unexpected situation arises, she glimpses an honorable man instead. Olivia is drawn to him, but he pushes her away, unable to shake the past that still haunts him.

Mick Donovan learned at a young age never to let anyone close because those you love never stay. Keeping people at arms-length has never been hard for him—until he meets Olivia Dalton. Mick is caught up in a case she’s prosecuting, and he can’t deny his attraction to her, but when she uncovers the past he’s kept carefully hidden, he’s sure she’ll turn away. Yet, even with all his secrets in the open, Olivia reaches out. Can he let his guard down long enough to let her in and take a chance on love?

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It's always a happy day when I get to read a new book by Julie Coulter Bellon!  She first hooked me with her military suspense books- which I absolutely love.  Now she's made a jump to straight up romance and I find it interesting that she's done it with no suspense or nail biting whatsoever.  I kept waiting for the proverbial ball to drop with this story- the big blow up, the major hurdle but nothing happened.  This was a sweet story from the beginning with no razzle or fluff.  It felt very realistic and I never doubted for a minute that everything that happened in this book could happen just this way in real life.

Olivia and Mick meet, are attracted and follow up on those feelings.  There are some minor glitches in communication while the couple finds their footing, especially in the trust department, but that is all completely normal.  Mick has a rough personal history that he guards well, but trust comes eventually.  Olivia and Mick are both great characters and easy to like.

I loved the added element of foster parenting.  There are so many good people out there, providing love and homes for so many children who need them.  I know a few personally and they really are the best sort of people.  This book brought out a bit of the bad that sometimes accompanies this, but mostly the good.  

This book was enjoyable, easy reading.  It made me happy.

Content:  Clean, some mention of child abuse and neglect, drug and alcohol addiction and abuse, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  All opinions expressed are my own.