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Aiden's Bayou
Venturing out alone for a short boat ride on the Louisiana bayou hadn’t seemed like such a bad idea, not when it meant escaping the pressure her parents were putting on her to marry a man she didn’t love. But that was before the storm blew in, and the motor went out, and the boat took on so much water she’d been forced to row to land where hungry alligators milled around, hoping for a midnight snack. Rescued from certain death by the mysterious Quinten Hawke seemed like a Godsend…until he informed Aiden she would have to spend the night in his bed.
Quinten had spent the last two years trying to bury his past and he wasn't about to have it drudged up again, especially not by a smart mouthed, mule-headed woman who didn't have the sense to turn around and go back where she came from as soon as the storm threatened. Still, it was his house and his bed, so she could either sleep with him or take her chances outside with the alligators!
Quinten had spent the last two years trying to bury his past and he wasn't about to have it drudged up again, especially not by a smart mouthed, mule-headed woman who didn't have the sense to turn around and go back where she came from as soon as the storm threatened. Still, it was his house and his bed, so she could either sleep with him or take her chances outside with the alligators!
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 11, 2012
13 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Kimberley Reeves
33 books147 followersEighteen years of marriage to the same wonderful man who is and always will be the love of my life. He is the inspiration in my heart...
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
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June 21, 2012
I'm not 100% sure where to start with this. Overall, the premise was fine.
The story however . . .
So, here you have the only daughter - the youngest, with four older brothers - of an affluent family. The family thinks that the 24 year old girl, Aiden, is innocent and pure. The parents don't really appear to like her since she wasn't a son. The mother is very condescending and mean to her only daughter. Never pleased with what she is doing, plans to do, or has done. Mom (and apparently Dad) feel that Aiden is some type of hoyden (just a virginal one) and cannot find her own life partner, so they basically set up an arranged marriage.
The man they picked is nice enough, but for the story's purpose, he's kind of bland.
Our heroine, after a particularly trying encounter with her parents while her not-quite-yet fiance', decides to get in a boat and get away for a little bit in the bayou that is behind her family's home. She falls asleep in the boat, wakes up in the dark and a storm, gets lost and hurt, and finally finds her way to the porch or our hero - - who accuses her of being a tabloid reporter and refuses to give much information on himself (once he finally decides she's not a reporter and lets her in the house.)
So, she manages to find out his full name and social security number (while snooping in his wallet while he's asleep) and curiosity gets the better of her and she decides to research him (or better yet, get her 'research attorney' friend to research him).
Here's where I started scratching my head.
- Her friend tells her that she needs to go to some newpaper websites and try to see if there's any articles on him. Ummmm, why not just google his name and see if it comes up?
- She only finds a couple of articles on him, despite the fact that he apparently thought she was a tabloid reporter. Seriously?
- Later, her friend finds information that suggests that he may not be who he told her he is (after they track each other down due to their longing to see each other again and he confesses everything that he's been through). She kind of believes this, even though she was able to pull an article that had a picture of him. Really?
- Our heroine has her own business, a trust fund, and apparently her own house. So why the hell is she living with her parents and letting them continually put her down? Stay at your own damn house!
- The hero finds information that Aiden's friend dug up while waiting in her house for her. This includes evidence that his dear old mom has told the world that he was dead. And he's pissed at the heroine for this. Unbelievable.
- There's a confrontation at a charity auction, but the hero tells the heroine that they are okay. Then basically turns on her within the hour.
- Then we have six weeks of no contact, in which she decides to go through with the arranged marriage, and (at the heroine's brothers' urging) he finally shows up at the last minute to stop the wedding while, of course, at the same time she is breaking it off with the 'arranged' groom.
I kept reading because I felt it had to get better. Meh, not so much.
There were more issues that bugged me, but I think the points above hit most of the major ones.
The story however . . .
So, here you have the only daughter - the youngest, with four older brothers - of an affluent family. The family thinks that the 24 year old girl, Aiden, is innocent and pure. The parents don't really appear to like her since she wasn't a son. The mother is very condescending and mean to her only daughter. Never pleased with what she is doing, plans to do, or has done. Mom (and apparently Dad) feel that Aiden is some type of hoyden (just a virginal one) and cannot find her own life partner, so they basically set up an arranged marriage.
The man they picked is nice enough, but for the story's purpose, he's kind of bland.
Our heroine, after a particularly trying encounter with her parents while her not-quite-yet fiance', decides to get in a boat and get away for a little bit in the bayou that is behind her family's home. She falls asleep in the boat, wakes up in the dark and a storm, gets lost and hurt, and finally finds her way to the porch or our hero - - who accuses her of being a tabloid reporter and refuses to give much information on himself (once he finally decides she's not a reporter and lets her in the house.)
So, she manages to find out his full name and social security number (while snooping in his wallet while he's asleep) and curiosity gets the better of her and she decides to research him (or better yet, get her 'research attorney' friend to research him).
Here's where I started scratching my head.
- Her friend tells her that she needs to go to some newpaper websites and try to see if there's any articles on him. Ummmm, why not just google his name and see if it comes up?
- She only finds a couple of articles on him, despite the fact that he apparently thought she was a tabloid reporter. Seriously?
- Later, her friend finds information that suggests that he may not be who he told her he is (after they track each other down due to their longing to see each other again and he confesses everything that he's been through). She kind of believes this, even though she was able to pull an article that had a picture of him. Really?
- Our heroine has her own business, a trust fund, and apparently her own house. So why the hell is she living with her parents and letting them continually put her down? Stay at your own damn house!
- The hero finds information that Aiden's friend dug up while waiting in her house for her. This includes evidence that his dear old mom has told the world that he was dead. And he's pissed at the heroine for this. Unbelievable.
- There's a confrontation at a charity auction, but the hero tells the heroine that they are okay. Then basically turns on her within the hour.
- Then we have six weeks of no contact, in which she decides to go through with the arranged marriage, and (at the heroine's brothers' urging) he finally shows up at the last minute to stop the wedding while, of course, at the same time she is breaking it off with the 'arranged' groom.
I kept reading because I felt it had to get better. Meh, not so much.
There were more issues that bugged me, but I think the points above hit most of the major ones.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2018
This the story of Aiden, the only girl in a prestigious Louisiana family. She longs to be valued and loved like her four brothers but that is not happening. Her parents decide she needs to get married so she can give up her "little hobby" of running an antique shop and concentrate on being a good society wife. They set her up with James, who's a very nice guy but there's no spark. She takes off on a small boat to get away from her oppressive parents for a while. She falls asleep and wakes to find she has drifted and a storm is coming her way. She manages to spot a light in the distance and makes her way through swamp, rain, and gators to get to the front door of a house hidden in the bayou. When Quin Hawke opens the door he tells Aiden to go away. A love story begins anyway.
Aiden and Quin are not intentionally deceptive to each other but their respective parents have issues. Misunderstandings and secrets threaten potential happiness for the couple. They eventually get their HEA but I thought all the parents got off too easy so that's why I gave this 3 instead of 4 stars.
Aiden and Quin are not intentionally deceptive to each other but their respective parents have issues. Misunderstandings and secrets threaten potential happiness for the couple. They eventually get their HEA but I thought all the parents got off too easy so that's why I gave this 3 instead of 4 stars.
April 22, 2017
2.5 stars
April 18, 2012
A quick read through this.
It was ok although I found Aiden extremely frustrating. I'm not quite sure what the author was trying to achieve with her - at times she seemed very innocent and extremely weak but then at times the author seemed to be trying to make her a strong character. As for relationship with her parents and to a certain extent with her brothers - why she didn't just say to hell to them all I've no idea.
This was especially true towards the end - why she was going through with the marriage until the last minute I've no idea. And despite what Aiden kept on saying to herself I don't think she ever really stood up to her parents.
It was ok although I found Aiden extremely frustrating. I'm not quite sure what the author was trying to achieve with her - at times she seemed very innocent and extremely weak but then at times the author seemed to be trying to make her a strong character. As for relationship with her parents and to a certain extent with her brothers - why she didn't just say to hell to them all I've no idea.
This was especially true towards the end - why she was going through with the marriage until the last minute I've no idea. And despite what Aiden kept on saying to herself I don't think she ever really stood up to her parents.
February 6, 2012
More than a few eye-rolling moments, but sweet.
December 23, 2019
feel good book
November 20, 2022
Awesome
I loved this book from the very beginning. It is an awesome book. I recommend it to everyone who reads.
I loved this book from the very beginning. It is an awesome book. I recommend it to everyone who reads.
July 8, 2013
I got this book when it was offered as an Amazon freebie. After reading several of the posted reviews I wasn’t sure what to expect (and I wasn’t expecting the best I have to say). But good things do happen. I was pleasantly surprised at this book (yes there are typos, and some misused words – but it didn’t detract from my read though). The plot is simple enough, the H/h aren’t damaged souls, all parties come from money, and both our H/h have terrible, unloving, uncaring self centered parents.
I appreciated that Aiden stood on her own feet and was not dependant on her parents, but I was saddened that she felt she could never stand up to them and tell them how she really felt. Their disinterested attitude in their only daughter (especially her mother) made me angry, but some families do shun their daughters, and cherish their sons.
Quinten’s back story was just as sad, tricked into marriage, unable to divorce due to family social status, involved in an accident that killed his wife, and then living in self banishment in the bayou, wow what a way to spent your early thirties!
Our couple meets by accident, develops a touching relationship, and has to fight through several misunderstandings, and family issues (even an arranged engagement), and family betrayal just to be together.
The book had humor, tenderness, pain, and moments that made you just want to shake some of the characters. This short book/novella provide enough plot to keep me reading, even though there was room for expansion, I felt it was a complete story.
I appreciated that Aiden stood on her own feet and was not dependant on her parents, but I was saddened that she felt she could never stand up to them and tell them how she really felt. Their disinterested attitude in their only daughter (especially her mother) made me angry, but some families do shun their daughters, and cherish their sons.
Quinten’s back story was just as sad, tricked into marriage, unable to divorce due to family social status, involved in an accident that killed his wife, and then living in self banishment in the bayou, wow what a way to spent your early thirties!
Our couple meets by accident, develops a touching relationship, and has to fight through several misunderstandings, and family issues (even an arranged engagement), and family betrayal just to be together.
The book had humor, tenderness, pain, and moments that made you just want to shake some of the characters. This short book/novella provide enough plot to keep me reading, even though there was room for expansion, I felt it was a complete story.
September 23, 2012
So much about this book just left me scratching my head the biggest is I kept going back to the copyright date thinking this book had to be written before google. If this is the case I really suggest the author make it more of a historical book (yes I think the 90's might count) or update it. If not I am left to only scratch my head at the cluelessness of the characters. I had an issue with the lack of back bone all around here. From brothers that say they protect their sister but never (except one small time) tell their parents to knock off the aweful way they treat Aiden. Aiden who other then going to college has never really put her foot down. To James the sweet guy determined to save Aiden no matter how Aiden treats him, to Aiden's best friend who sees how Aiden treats James (who she loves) and doesn't nothing more then slap her hand. Finally to Hot hero who is a complete Mama's boy and never questions anything she tells him, not to mention stays in an aweful marriage as to not embarrass her. Enter three parents all up for worst parents of the decade.
All that being said I have read enough reviews on this author to know I want to give her another try, there was enough emotion and interest that I did finish the book and it gave me a glimpse of what this author can offer. Perhaps I will really enjoy another of her books. This one just didn't do it for me.
All that being said I have read enough reviews on this author to know I want to give her another try, there was enough emotion and interest that I did finish the book and it gave me a glimpse of what this author can offer. Perhaps I will really enjoy another of her books. This one just didn't do it for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2012
Aiden decided to take a boat ride in the swamp, only to be in an accident and stranded. So she went to the closest island available, jumped over alligators and made her way to a little house. Quinten opened the door, thinking it was a reporter and found Aiden. He told her she was a good faker and sh could sleep on his deck for all she cared. She said okay and passed out on his deck, almost half dead.
When Quin found her, he was shocked by her injuries, he took care of her and nursed her back to health. When she left the next morning Quin was disappointed, being in love with her almost instantly, he hunted her down.
After a lot of commotion about Quin's past and a whole lot of confusion, Quin and Aiden tied the knot.
It was pretty damn good. Just another simplistic love story but sometimes those are the best ones. I can't stop saying how impressed I am with Kimberley Reeves!
When Quin found her, he was shocked by her injuries, he took care of her and nursed her back to health. When she left the next morning Quin was disappointed, being in love with her almost instantly, he hunted her down.
After a lot of commotion about Quin's past and a whole lot of confusion, Quin and Aiden tied the knot.
It was pretty damn good. Just another simplistic love story but sometimes those are the best ones. I can't stop saying how impressed I am with Kimberley Reeves!
January 23, 2013
I must admit I found myself agreeing with another reviewer regarding the characters being "nitwits" when I started this book. But as I read the story and thought about the way the character was raised and how inexperienced she was I would say the author stayed true to her and how she would act/react. Some of the story did seem a bit far fetched... but I enjoyed it all the same. I would recommend this book.
July 3, 2018
“Even now, you can’t stand up for yourself and tell them all what you really think. Where’s the woman whose fighting spirit got her past half a dozen alligators and pounded on my door, demanding to be let in? That’s the woman I wanted to spend my life with, not this mousy little thing who trembles with fear every time her mommy and daddy issue a royal command.”
That sums up how I feel about Aiden, but Gage was perfect.
That sums up how I feel about Aiden, but Gage was perfect.
June 5, 2013
I thought this was a really good book. I enjoyed the story and the characters. There was a couple times I wanted to smack the both of them upside the head because of the way they were acting. But all in all....a good story. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
July 6, 2013
I was completely captivated from the start with this brilliantly sexy romantic mystery that was so well written I just read it flat out without a pause! Great characters, superb imagery & a book I would thoroughly recommend
January 11, 2015
Turely love
This was a delightful read.
The characters were blissfully engaging and the plot revolved around the ups and downs of family. Wicked to wickeder and all stages in between. Never-the- less true love prevails.
This was a delightful read.
The characters were blissfully engaging and the plot revolved around the ups and downs of family. Wicked to wickeder and all stages in between. Never-the- less true love prevails.
May 18, 2012
great read! loved it!
July 31, 2014
Not a bad story, but very short and the instant love between the 2 main characters was a little ridiculous.
August 17, 2012
I love anything in a bayou with a sexy Cajun. Really enjoyed this book looking forward to more by this author.
kindle-i-own-to-read
January 11, 2013Amazon Freebie 01/11/2013
April 30, 2013
The only thing I did not like was the scene and they spoke to one another in the beginning of the story. A little confusing a good read. Quick and easy
August 8, 2013
It was very good. Characters were likeable and it was very enjoyable and a very quick and enjoyable read.
October 6, 2014
An Amazon freebie and surprisingly enjoyable!
April 10, 2015
hero 4.5
heroine 4
supporting 3.5
story 4
editing 4
heroine 4
supporting 3.5
story 4
editing 4
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews