New Release Review ~ Finding Our Forever ~ Brenda Novak #2017NewRelease

Finding Our Forever by Brenda Novak
Silver Springs #1
Release Date: March 21, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received an eARC from the author. This did not affect my rating and I voluntarily provided a review.
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
The search for her birth mother brought Cora Kelly to the New Horizons Boys Ranch. Getting a job there was easy enough, but confiding in Aiyana, the ranch's owner, that she's really her daughter? Cora's not sure she can do that, not unless she's confident the news will be welcomed. And once she gets to know Elijah Turner, Aiyana's adopted son and ranch manager, that decision becomes even more difficult.

Although Elijah can't deny his deep attraction to Cora, he's always struggled with trust. Anyone with his past would, and there's something about the ranch's newest employee that isn't exactly as it seems. But if the feelings she awakes in his guarded heart are any indication, she might be just what he's long been waiting for.

The premise of Finding Our Forever really appealed to me - I mean, finally finding your birth mother only to fall for her adopted son? Good stuff, right? And for the most part, it was.

Cora has always felt not quite whole having been adopted and not knowing anything about her birth mother. She's finally found her - she founded and runs a school for troubled teen boys - and she's accepted a job working as an art teacher. This will, hopefully, enable Cora to get to know her birth mother and then she can decide whether or not to tell her who she is. But she didn't count on Eli.

Elijah "Eli" Turner is the adopted son of Aiyana - a boy rescued from a terribly abusive home. He's become an incredible man, working at the school, giving to the boys there...but he doesn't trust easily. There's something about Cora, though. He's enamored.

And then there's Aiyana - this compassionate, giving woman who works tirelessly to help these boys who wouldn't have a chance otherwise. Why would she have given up her own child?

I really enjoyed my introduction to this new series and the characters of Silver Springs. The romance between Cora and Eli was heartwarming to watch develop even if I was upset with Cora for keeping her secret. I did feel the story could've had more depth if Eli's story had been explored a little more. For someone who claimed he wasn't to be trusted with Cora's heart, he certainly showed no real signs of not wanting it. I suppose when it's the one there's no stopping the heart, but still...

I also felt the reveal was a little easy and therefore anticlimactic. The emotion I was expecting would be there wasn't. But overall, the story was pleasant and compelling. I look forward to spending more time in Silver Springs, getting acquainted with the town and its inhabitants.