Review: If You Were Mine by Carrie Ann Ryan

★★★ ½ #IfYouWereMine #CarrieAnnRyan #OutNow

Brutal to be the last woman standing. Harper is a survivor. Her childhood was idyllic until her parents passed. From that point on, it is one after another hit. At one point, she had to fight to live. I like Harper. For someone in her twenties, she has been forged under fire. The latest lost is the worst for her. What she doesn't know, is that she still has someone in her court.

I am mixed about this story because I am not thrilled with Dorian. He is Harper's brother's best friend. He made a "solemn" promise to Harper's brother and he totally flaked. I kind of understand why he flaked but it is no excuse in my book. He didn't have to be nasty about it. What is it with men in romance books being so nasty at first and then having to work their way to forgiveness? I'm not a big fan of this kind of plot. Still, Dorian aside, I enjoyed learning about Harper's past as well as how she integrates with Dorian's family. What pulls me into this story is not the romance as much as it is the family aspect. The fact that blood is not the only way to have a family. There are other ties to help a person not be so alone. And that is what happens for Harper. She finds out that she is not all alone and she has not only a community but a family to bond with.

Ms. Ryan is a must read author for me because she creates these great tales of community, support, and healthy familial relationship. They are not perfect and that is okay. That's the message - we all work together to become better. I love this example of hope and working for a better future. This best friend's sister contemporary romance is recommended to those who need to see, there is more to family than blood.

* I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.