I loved this book. Colin, the patriarch of the Brannigan family, died eight months earlier, after an illness he kept from his seven sons. Though he tied up his billions in a trust for five years, he left each of his sons unique legacies. James received ownership of a tiny winery on the Amalfi coast of Italy, a bequest that left him thoroughly confused. He never knew his dad owned a winery, and running a hedge fund is not conducive to winemaking. Besides, James doesn't drink wine or anything alcoholic because it can lead to a loss of control. The best thing he can do is unload it fast and get back to what he does best. With an offer already in hand, James heads to Italy to check the place out before signing on the dotted line. He doesn't expect to get blindsided by Kyra, the pretty and bubbly tourist liaison for the winery.

Kyra toured the winery during her world travels and never left. After moving from place to place for most of her life, something about Positano made her want to put down roots. She was embraced by the Sebastiani family who quickly made her feel like one of them. When they hear that the new owner is coming to visit, Kyra is determined to find out his intentions. She'll do anything to help her family.

I loved the development of the relationship between James and Kyra. It got off to a slightly rough start as laser-focused, business-only James was confronted by bright and cheerful Kyra, who refuses to be deterred by James's cold demeanor. I laughed out loud at Kyra's success at rolling right over James's attempts to avoid going with her, then at his reaction to riding the Vespa. James realized from the very beginning that Kyra was going to be trouble for him, and he was right. There was no denying the attraction between them, but worse than that was the way she got past his walls.

Both James and Kyra were raised by workaholic parents. James's dad buried his grief at his wife's death by immersing himself in work, leaving James to watch out for his younger brothers. It was Colin's influence that had James following in his footsteps, both in business and in choosing work to avoid his feelings. Kyra's mother was also a workaholic, leaving Kyra in the care of nannies most of the time. All Kyra wanted was her mother's attention, but all she got was watching her mother coldly destroy people's lives in the name of business. Instead of becoming like her mother, Kyra became the opposite. She left home at eighteen and traveled the world, getting to know people of all kinds, always in search of a sense of belonging.

It was so much fun to watch Kyra teach James how to relax and enjoy himself. The more time they spent together, the stronger the attraction became. They also developed a sense of trust in each other that enabled them to share painful parts of their pasts, and in that sharing began to heal. The attraction and trust deepened into stronger feelings. Kyra knew she was going to hurt when James left, but she couldn't stop what was happening. It took James longer to realize what he was feeling. I loved his moment of revelation and his determination to show Kyra the depth of his feelings. Who knew that stuffy old James had the capability for something so romantic? But fate threw them a curveball in the form of trouble at the winery. I ached for Kyra and her feelings of betrayal, and for James and his bewildered devastation. I loved the ending and how both James and Kyra found what they were looking for.

The winery itself was at the center of the story. In previous books we saw how James's father had his reasons for each bequest, each son learning something about himself and his parents along the way. At the beginning James was closed off and determined to sell the winery at the earliest opportunity. But as he got to know the Sebastiani family, the rush to sell began to fade and thoughts of keeping it began to grow. When the matriarch of the family shared her memories of James's parents and their visit there, it brought back memories of happier times. I loved seeing the effect it had on James and laughed a little at the confusion it caused him. His conversations with assorted brothers only confused him more. At the same time, James began to question some things about the winery itself. I had my suspicions long before James did and wondered if he would figure it out. I loved when the light went on and James realized what was going on. His reaction was fantastic and I loved seeing the combination of the old ruthless businessman James and the new and improved James with a heart. The confrontation at the hotel was great, followed by him riding to the rescue (on a Vespa, by himself, with no helmet!) at the winery. That scene was exciting and heartwarming and perfectly showcased the new James. The epilogue was great, and I loved the conversation with Finn, the last man standing in the Brannigan family - for now. ( )

The 7 Brides for 7 Brothers series has masterpiece written all over it. Not only does it spotlight a collage of great voices with it's variety of authors ranging from Ruth Cardello, Roxanne St. Claire, Melody Anne and Barbara Freethy. It encapsulates wise life lessons told in a fresh way and with a great deal of heart. With James the takeaway lesson is not to let life pass by, enjoy every precious moment. It takes a meddling father, an unwanted winery and a die hard free spirit to show this hard nose businessman the error of his ways. Ms. St. Claire adds her voice to an already stellar love story, the love of a father for his sons. Though not your average family, the enigmatic Brannigans are a captivating bunch. ( )

James by Roxanne St Claire (7 Brides for 7 Brothers)

A contemporary romance that pairs a couple on the extreme opposite ends of the business/money spectrum. She lives for the joy of life. His hedge fund company and his ability to make money defines his happiness. Soon he finds himself enamored by her bouncy effervescent life and questioning his lifestyle choices.

“How did that happen, exactly?”
He told himself that her story would help him understand this new property he owned, but the truth was he adored watching her talk. He loved the way her feminine hands flitted to underscore every point, like everyone who talked in this country, and how her cornflower-blue eyes mirrored her humor and lit up her whole face. If someone took this colorful, charming, seductive little town and turned it into a person, it would be Kyra Summers.”
Excerpt From: Roxanne St. Claire. “James.” ( )