Loving You

I'll admit it--I spent the first half of this book despising the hero, Nick Candellano. Although he makes appearances in Finding You/Knowing You: Two Brand-New Novels For One Wonderful Price! (Candellano Family Trilogy), the first two books in this trilogy, it's not until we get his story in LOVING YOU that we're introduced to how egotistical and self-centered he is. Fortunately, the man changes his ways by the middle of the story, and that's good for all of us. A former NFL running back, one bad play blew out Nick's knee--and ended his life as he knew it. For years, Nick had everything, including fame, money, and plenty of adoring fans, many of which were of the female persuasion. But now the only way he can stay in touch with football is by reporting about it for the local news station. He hates being cooped up in a cubicle, interviewing the coaches and players of girls soccer teams. How did his life come to this? To add insult to injury, he's been served by papers claiming that eleven-year-old Jonas Baker is suing him--for paternity. His late mother, Margie Baker, always claimed that Nick was his father, and now Jonas has taken matters into his own hands. His official foster mother has passed away, and although Tasha Flynn, his unofficial mother, loves and cares for him, Jonas is determined to get his father's attention. It's definitely got Nick's attention--and so does Tasha, the first time he meets her. But Tasha has secrets of her own (she spent two years on the street as a runaway, and she fails to mention to Nick that Mimi, Jonas's foster mother, is dead) and is scared to death that Nick will take Jonas away from her. LOVING YOU is a great story, once I got over my aversion to Nick. He doesn't change overnight, which gives the story credibility, and as he and Tasha develop feelings for each other the story really picks up steam. Fear of losing the only family she's ever known holds Tasha back from taking a chance on love, and fear of being a good father keeps Nick from being the man the reader knows he can be. Definitely a fine ending to the trilogy, Maureen Child has penned another winning story with true-to-life characters and situations. ***SPOILER*** ***SPOILER*** ***SPOILER*** The only thing I found hard to believe about LOVING YOU is that fact that Tasha is a twenty-seven year old virgin, especially since she spent two years living on the streats of Los Angeles. However, the author weaves it into the story seamlessly, as the only thing that Tasha had control over. Although it seemed improbable, it didn't distract from the story.

LOVED this book. It was a great ending to an awesome trilogy. I finished this book in a day. When I'm asked to recommend a romantic book I always say this trilogy. It's that good. Although,in every book I read I usually find at least one thing I dont like about each book,this book isnt any diffrent. I found it really hard to like Nick b/c of the way he was in the first two books. I found him very stuck up and just plain annoying. It wasnt till after half of the book was finished that I finally started liking him. Out of all three books, Knowing You was my favorite and Finding you was my least favorite. Anyways...go read them...you wont be dissapointed!!!

This was a great sequel to the other two stories she wrote of the Candellano family. Enjoyed it very much.

A knee injury ended Nick Candellano's professional football career. The former star misses the limelight as he starts over as a sports reporter with the ambition of working for ESPN, but currently locally covers a Chandler, California high school girl's soccer game. However, he is shocked when eleven years old Jonah Baker files a paternity suit claiming that Nick sired him based on comments his now deceased mom said.Though he has his brother-in-law the attorney handling the legal aspects of the case, Nick tries to see Jonah's foster mother because he firmly believes he practiced safe sex with a myriad of females in his early stardom days. However, Tasha Flynn refuses to allow Nick to meet Mimi Castle or the kid. Mimi died six months ago but Tasha hides the death from local authorities so they cannot take away her beloved Jonah who she raises as her own. Surprisingly, Tasha and Nick fall in love and when he meets Jonah he cannot help but be hooked by the lad. Nick wants Tasha and Jonah as part of his family if he can persuade her that he loves both of them regardless of the DNA findings.The sequel to the 2 in 1 novels FINDING YOU and KNOWING YOU, LOVING YOU is an entertaining contemporary romance that continues the adventures of the Candellano clan. The story line is fun though the audience will become a bit irritated with the pushiness of Nick's sister into his legal personal matters. Still the warm lead trio deserves a wonderful life together and the return of the warm-blooded Candellano brood (can anyone in Chandler survive this crowd?) make for a fine read.Harriet Klausner