Tag: #brendamargriet

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

CROSSROADS CORNER (Bendixon Sisters Book 3) by Brenda Margriet is the third book of the contemporary romance trilogy featuring the Bendixon sisters of Prince George and the men with whom they find their HEAs. I read the first two books in the series and was anxiously waiting for Camryn’s story. I was not disappointed. This romance can be read as a standalone, but the plotline overall arc of saving Bendixon and Sons starts in book one and is resolved in this third book.

Camryn Bendixon returns home to Prince George with no job, no self-esteem and under police suspicion. Her embezzling ex-boyfriend besides being the reason she had to leave her job, has run up all their credit cards, not paid rent on their expensive condo and refuses to clear her with the police of any knowledge of his crimes.

Camryn is determined to succeed at bring Bendixon and Sons back from the brink of closing. She wants to prove to her family she can help save the company, while getting back her own financial stability and self-esteem in the process.

Will Danson manages the Prince George division of the Kohlenburg Group. They are Bendixon and Sons major competitor and because of their size, they are able to win the majority of new construction jobs. Over the last year, since their move from Vancouver, Will and his young daughter have settled into Prince George and enjoy the city.

Camryn and Will meet as they are competing for a new, lucrative contract. Will is instantly attracted to the beautiful and smart Camryn Bendixon, but Camryn is not letting another good-looking man take advantage of her, no matter how nice he may seem. Can Camryn and Will keep their personal lives and hearts separate from their competitive business lives?

Camryn and Will are wonderful together, but it was definitely a bumpy road getting there. I loved how Ms. Margriet continually had the characters at a breaking point both personally and/or professionally and yet was able to find a compromise that was beneficial to both in the end. Will’s daughter was written realistically with empathy, not sympathy. Also, the ex-partner, Will’s daughter’s mother added a messy realism to the story which many deal with themselves in today’s society. The dialogue was realistic, the plot flowed smoothly right up to the climax and I finished the entire book in one sitting. As in the other books in this series, the sex scenes are explicit and steamy. I also enjoyed catching up with the other sisters, family and friends from the first two books.

I highly recommend this romance!

I can also recommend the whole trilogy for three entertaining and heartfelt contemporary romance reads.

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

GATEWAY CRESCENT (Bendixon Sisters Book 2) by Brenda Margriet is a contemporary romance set in British Columbia. This romance is the second in the trilogy and features the youngest of the three Bendixon sisters. It can easily be read as a standalone, but it does give you glimpses of book 1 as the timelines run simultaneously.

Josephine “Jo” Bendixon loves bright colors, singing and life in general. Her two older sisters believe she is flighty and never finishes projects she starts and this is hurtful to Jo. She does not share that she is teaching herself computer coding and she is working toward combining all of her interests into a career. When her volunteer job at the library is taken away, she gets the opportunity to work at Gateway Crescent teaching disabled children computer skills. At the same time she volunteers to work with Luke on the end of school year music concert in the park.

Luke Donwell is the music teacher at the local high school. He loves working with teenagers, but he has always had a deep faith and contemplated becoming a Catholic priest. He has set up a weekend away at the seminary to decide if the priesthood is what he truly wants to do with his life. When his friend’s younger sister, Jo volunteers to help with the end of the year concert and a new music therapy program at Gateway Crescent, he is glad for the help, but being with Jo makes him begin to question many of his long-held beliefs.

Jo and Luke work well together and both are surprised by the attraction each feels for the other. Luke is up front about his possible vocational change and Jo encourages him to keep his weekend obligation even as both have feelings of more than friendship. Luke has a major decision to make for himself, but it will effect all who love him.

I must admit that I do not usually read romances with religion as a major focus, but I loved the first book in this series and all of the Bendixon sisters. Luke is a complex character who pulled me in with his faith and beliefs and is an extremely caring and giving person, but also at times he demonstrated the intolerance of others’ beliefs that makes me dislike religious doctrines. Jo is a loving, free spirit who may not have found her true calling yet, but is open and searching. Jo and Luke’s story was a heartwarming romance with many realistic bumps in the road. The secondary characters all added depth to the storyline. There is one sex scene and I felt the author handled the emotions and dialogue in a realistic way that was true to the story.

I enjoyed Luke and Jo’s romance. I also enjoyed the glimpses of book one that remind you of that sister’s story. I am looking forward to reading the oldest Bendixon sister’s romance next.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

ALLEGRO COURT (Bendixon Sisters Series Book 1) by Brenda Margriet is a second chance contemporary romance set in British Columbia by a new to me author. The heroine is one of three sisters and I believe this will be the first book of a trilogy. This romance does stand on its own.

Matilda “Mattie” Bendixon has strong family ties and she grew up knowing she would work with her grandfather in the family construction company in Prince George. She loves her job and could not imagine doing anything else. Mattie lost the boy she always loved to his classical musical career, so the business is her life. Lately business has been very slow and Mattie is worried about the company, but her grandfather refuses to admit it is anything other than a slump that will change.

Marcus Temple is a world-class classical cellist living in Vancouver. He has always despised his home town and left as soon as possible. His beloved father, who taught him his love of music, died when he was 15 and his mother barely realized he was there. The only bright spot in his summers’ home was being with Mattie, but even that changed after high school. Now, he has been notified that his mother has had a stroke and he must return home to deal with his mother’s health and face once again the girl whose heart he broke.

Mattie believes she can save Bendixon and Sons. She makes a wager with Marcus to let her company do a rehab of his mother’s house over one month and in that month Marcus must stay in Prince George. While there is a financial incentive, it is really Mattie’s heart that is at risk. Marcus could leave again or he can face the fears and misconceptions of the young boy who lost his father.

Mattie and Marcus are both such wonderful characters. I really did not know how they could come together, but Ms. Margriet does a beautiful job writing realistic feelings and motivations that end with a HEA with both sides changing and growing. The secondary characters are fully fleshed out and the secondary plotline of Mattie’s grandfather and Marcus’ mother coming together is heartwarming. I got just enough information about Mattie’s two sisters to look forward to their stories, too. The sex scenes are explicit, but not overdrawn and I loved that the first one was included in the story (not everyone is always perfect). I can highly recommend this emotional second chance romance and I am looking forward to reading the sisters’ stories.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.