Almost a Bravo by Christine Rimmer is a 2018 Harlequin Special Edition publication.

Five years ago, Aislinn Bravo worked at Martin Durand’s ranch, and developed a huge crush on his adoptive son, Jaxon.

After Martin dies, Aislinn, mysteriously enough, is called to sit in on the reading of his will. Curious as to why she was summoned, Aislinn agrees to attend. Unfortunately, the information she receives is devastating. She learns she was switched at birth, which is shocking enough, but one more added decree upends Aislinn’s life for better or worse.

Jaxon has been married and divorced, and now Wild River Ranch is his life. But, his adoptive father has thrown his inheritance into doubt by forcing him to marry Aislinn Bravo and stay married for at least three months. Although, Aislinn will get a cash payout, the inability to rob Jaxon of the ranch he loves, convinces her she must agree to the stipulations of the will. But, her guilt over her teenage machinations five years earlier, her sadness and disquiet over learning she is not a Bravo, and Jaxon’s announcement that he wants her in his bed, has her feeling confused and vulnerable.

Will Jaxon convince her to stay married, or will Aislinn pick up the pieces of her life and move on?

This is an emotional story, tender and poignant, but also very romantic. The Bravo’s rise to the occasion, which was one of the most awesome parts of this story and Jaxon turned out to be breathtakingly sexy, sweet and thoughtful.

The story also has some lighter moments, and I even enjoyed watching Burt, the curmudgeonly ranch hand, meet his match in Aislinn.

While Jaxon has been thrown a huge curve ball it is nothing compared to losing one's entire identity. So, in my eyes, Aislinn had a lot more to deal with emotionally, which was evident in the panic attacks she suffered at night. However, Jaxon was an Oak! Solid, patient and supportive when many men would have given up.

I will confess to getting choked up a couple of times while reading this one.

Jaxon made a big heartfelt speech to Aislinn, the added information about Martin, and of course the unconditional love of the Bravo family is heartwarming and sincere, proving that family is still family, even if they aren’t blood related. So, maybe you’ll want to keep some tissues close by, just in case.

Christine Rimmer touches all the right buttons with this one. It’s a deep, reflective story, with an amazing romance, topped off with a sweet and touching HEA!!
4.5 stars ( )

Captivating and emotional story. What do you do when you discover that everything you believed about yourself is a lie? Five years earlier, Aislinn had briefly worked as a ranch hand for Martin Durand, where she developed a huge crush on the man's adoptive son, Jaxon. Now she's been called to attend the reading of Durand's will. She is shocked and horrified to be told that she was switched at birth with his daughter, meaning that she doesn't have a drop of Bravo blood in her. To top it all off, Durand made it a condition of his will that Aislinn and Jax must marry or Jax will lose his inheritance.

The opening scene in the lawyer's office sucked me into the story and grabbed me by the heart. Aislinn's disbelief and pain at hearing the story of her birth was heart-wrenching. Her meltdown was understandable and believable. Getting the news that she also had to marry Jax was one more blow. Though she claimed that her crush was long over, it was obvious that something was still there. And as much as she hated the circumstances, she still likes and respects Jax and doesn't want to be the cause of him losing the ranch. She struggled over what to do, but the outcome was really never in question. Jax is just as stunned over the will's conditions. To lose the home that has been in his family for generations is unthinkable, and he'll do whatever he must to keep it. After all, it's only for three months.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Jax and Aislinn. The sparks between them were undeniable right from the start. Jax was a bit wary at the beginning, slightly suspicious that Aislinn had found a way to get to Martin and manipulate him. Those feelings didn't last long, as he got to know and like her. I loved the way that he did everything he could to make her feel welcome on the ranch. He's also a pretty straightforward man, and as his attraction to Aislinn grew he made it clear that he wanted her. Aislinn has a harder time of it. Spending time with Jax deepens her feelings for him. Giving in to the desire isn't hard, but believing in a future together is another matter. I ached for Aislinn and the panic attacks she would have each night, and for Jax, who tried to understand but was hurt by the way she pulled away. It was pretty clear that she was fighting against the feeling that she had no control over her life, but she didn't know how to fix it. When the three months are up, both Jax and Aislinn know that they are in love, but Aislinn is still fighting for identity. I loved Jax's patience with her fears and that he never gave up hope. I admit to being somewhat frustrated with her at the end, but I also could feel her pain. Her conversation with Percy and Daffy at the end finally helped her put her fears to rest. I loved seeing Aislinn and Jax come together at the end. There was a sweet little twist involving Martin, also.

I loved the importance of family. The love and care that Jax had received from Claudia and Martin made a great foundation for the love he had for Aislinn. For all the love he had for Martin, Jax was also well aware of Martin's faults, and tried hard to help Aislinn see the good side of the man. The closeness of the Bravo family is a huge part of Aislinn's identity, and the news about her birth threw her into a tailspin. She wasn't sure what the news would do to her relationship with her siblings, and that added to her stress. I loved the unquestioning support she received from all of them, especially as she tried to come to terms with her marriage. I really enjoyed seeing her sisters Haley and Harper playing devil's advocate, to get Aislinn to see the truth. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens when the family finally gets in contact with Madison. ( )