Book Review: If You Were Mine by Bella Andre

If You Were Mine
Author: Bella Andre
Publication: Oak Press, LLC (May 24, 2012)

Description: Can two people who have both sworn off love find forever in each other's arms? Find out in IF YOU WERE MINE, the fifth book in Bella Andre's bestselling Sullivan family contemporary romance series.

The last thing Zach Sullivan wants is to take care of his brother's new puppy for two weeks. Until he meets the dog trainer, that is. Heather is bright, beautiful, and he can't stop thinking about her. Unfortunately, she just might be the only woman on earth who wants nothing to do with him.

Heather Linsey can't believe she's stuck working with one of the city's top dogs, auto-shop tycoon Zach Sullivan. Especially when his focus is clear from the start—not only to learn how to deal with his temporary puppy...but also to make her his. Having sworn off love at seventeen when she realized it was nothing more than a pack of lies, Heather has stuck to her vow never to fall for a charming man.

But as Heather's determination to push Zach away only fuels his determination to get closer—and the sensual and emotional connection between them grows more and more undeniable—will the biggest Sullivan bad boy of all tempt her into believing in love again?

My Thoughts: Zach Sullivan is really good at playing the field and at keeping his distance from any woman who might want to get close to him. After all, he is the spitting image of the father he loved and who died of a sudden aneurysm when Zach was young. He watched his mother and seven brothers and sisters grieve for their lost father. He is determined not to love anyone and leave them grieving when he follows in his father's footsteps and dies young.

Heather is also determined not to fall in love. Her trust in love was broken when she found out at seventeen that the father who seemed so loving to her and her mother had been having a series of affairs for years. She couldn't trust her father or any other charming man and she couldn't respect the mother who knew about the affairs and still loved her father.

It is inevitable that the two would come together and all because of a cute little Yorkie puppy. Heather runs a dog training business and Zach was asked by his brother Gabe, Gabe's wife Megan, and their seven-year-old daughter to puppysit for their new puppy Cuddles while they went on vacation. Three pounds of puppy can sure throw a well-organized life into chaos but no where near as much as a beautiful woman who doesn't fall at Zach's feet.

Zach is the most handsome Sullivan—though they are all eye candy. Heather first thinks that he is just like her father but getting to know him gradually changes her mind. Heather's beauty first draws Zach to her but he soon sees lots of other qualities that he comes to love. Both of these characters need to be dragged into love. They are strong, successful and determined people. Changing their views about love won't be easy or pain-free for either of them. 

I loved the relationships each of them had with their dogs and I loved the dogs relationships with each other. I also loved the strong family relationship between all the Sullivans. This was another excellent romance in a series filled with them.

Favorite Quote:

Heather slipped a finger beneath the sleeve of her long-sleeved shirt and traced over the fine lines of her old scars from cuts she'd put there herself night after night, when she hadn't known how to deal with her swirling, dark emotions. When all she'd wanted was to feel control over something. Over anything at all.

I am part of Novel Publicity's whirlwind tour for Bella Andre's Sullivan Series and received all seven books in ebook format in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here. You can also enter to win some great prizes here:
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