A review by theaccidentalromanceblogger
Brant's Return by Mia Sheridan

emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Brant Talbot left his home in his beloved farm in Kentucky 13 years ago and never looked back. Estranged from his father, whom he blames for the suicide of his mother, he's really not that interested when Isabelle Farris, his father's secretary, calls him to inform that his father is terminally ill. However, Brant decides to hop on a plane and see what's what, especially because there is something that belonged to his mother's family that he would very much like to keep.
Isabelle is very devoted to the cantankerous Mr Talbot, which leads Brant to believe that she is more than just his "secretary" while Isabelle on her side thinks that Brant is a "button-up blowhard". When one stormy night they go out together to try to rescue a foal, events of their pasts come to the surface and a relationship starts to build. 
Their worlds are so far apart. Will they able to make them merge? And with a secret from Isabelle's past looming and about to put her in danger, will they ever be able to be together?
I really like Mia Sheridan. One fo my favorite books ever is Archer's Voice. I can definitely see her talent here but this book had a few things that I particularly don't care for and they are intertwined. There are way to many plot lines and so many things happen that she has to resort to "tell not show" and that really doesn't work for me. It makes it harder to connect with the characters and root for them.
This reminded me a lot of the Nora Roberts romantic suspenses, but the suspense sub-plot was really obvious for me (I am notorious for figuring these things out...). Also, having so many plot lines makes it hard to flesh them out. I would have loved to see more of Isabelle's Amish upbringing in her character, as it seems to be something so defining. 
It IS a good book, but just not my favorite. Audiobook saved the day. 
Narration: Virginia Rose brings the south to your ear and Jacob...oh Jacob... give him an emotional story to read and you are in for a ride! Superb, as always! 
Possible triggers: death of spouse and child by violent act, suicide of a parent, bi-polar disorder, estrangement from parents, grief, terminally ill character  
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