Closer to You by Jill Sanders
Haven Montana #1

Wonderful beginning to what should prove to be an excellent series if this book is anything to go by. I am sure that brothers Trent and Trey will have books of their own BUT since the series is named after the location and not the brothers this could also include others who live in Haven.

The McGowan brothers are HOT and all the women in town seem to know it. However, when Kristen Howell shows up in her designer clothes and is “swept off her feet” it is not because she is immediately filled with lust by Tyler, the eldest McGowan. Nope…she assumes he is “the help” and not “the owner” she was sent to negotiate a deal with. Over time the two do become closer to one another and things heat up but with her living and working so far away there is little chance of a long term relationship, right?

This was a complex story with jealousy, kidnapping, embezzling, threats, fisticuffs, a taste of oil rigging rigors including life in an oil town, protestors and more. I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Tyler and Kristen and rooted for them to end up with a happily ever after ending – they were perfect for one another. The family dynamics of the McGowans were warm and loving and everything a close family of brothers should be.

Words that came strongly to mind while reading and as I finished were: priorities, values, family and community…and how important they are in making lifelong decisions.

This was my first book by Jill Sanders but I enjoyed it so much that I want to read more of her work whenever I find it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

This books looks to me to be the start of a new series. There are three McGowan brothers who own McGowan Enterprise which works with oil rigs, and finding new oil in Haven, Montana. Tyler is the oldest and when their father dies, he takes over as CEO. He meets Kristen when she works for a company that wants to buy McGowan Enterprise. She is from NYC and is a city girl through and through, that is until small town life and Tyler come into her life. An enjoyable read that actually had more of a plot that I expected. There is a bit of suspense, and although a couple parts of the mystery were never resolved, I did enjoy the plot. Tyler and Kristen were obviously attracted to each other, and there were the obligatory sex scenes, but this was really just a good story with an enjoyable couple.

Kristen is not used to the country style. Her expensive shoes and silky clothes sure don’t go along with all the mud around Montana. But she’s here to do a job: convince the McGowan brothers so sell McGowan Enterprises. It was supposed to be just one more job until she met the eldest brother: Tyler McGowan was definitely going to make her job harder and her life a lot more exciting.
Tyler McGowan won’t sell his family’s company and nothing will change his mind, not even the beautiful brunette JB Holding just send to Montana to convince him otherwise. The thing is, she was there only to change his mind, but she’s touching a lot more than his mind…
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So, I liked the book but it was not the kind of book that made my knees weak. This is basically a boss romance. Technically, she’s not working for him but it’s almost the same thing. The story is good and it flows nicely. I loved the part where things get really dangerous but the beginning of the book didn’t measure up to the rest of the book.
Then, what really threw me away were the sex scenes. It’s not that they’re bad but they’re not the hotness that I’m used to either. At first, I actually thought that the book was sexless because in the first sex scene, we basically know that it happened but there’s as far as it goes. Later they get more serious but still not to the point that I’m used to. But, again, they were good sex scenes, just not enough to make you blush.
Regarding the characters, I loved them both. Tyler is, basically, a hard man. Hard body, hard features! You know it! Coming back to Montana after his partying days in LA was definitely not an easy change. But it was one he had to make so he could take over the family’s company after his father passed away which was certainly not an easy task.
Kirsten is city girl but she’s not the kind of city girl who’s afraid to get her hands in the dirt. And I pretty much loved her. She’s the kind of woman I want to be: hardworking but not afraid to show her interest in fashion and good clothes.
All in all, the book is good. The end of the book was really intense and pretty much made me forget about the beginning of the book. Now, as I said before, you won’t find moan worthy sex scenes here, so if that’s something you’re looking for in a book, this is not the book for you. Other than that, this is a good story, with serious action towards the end and definitely lots of love involved!

How can anyone not enjoy Closer to You? A little sexual tension, a bit of small town gossip and the wisdom of the heart that Ms. Sanders is known to deliver, makes for habit forming entertainment. Tyler and Kristin are as cunning as they are clueless. Before I even realized what was happening they had laid a claim to my heart. Sizzling sweetness never hurt anyone.

**3.5 stars** Closer to You is the first book in the Haven, Montana series about 3 brothers who take over their late father’s oil business. This book focuses on the oldest brother, Tyler McGowan. As the brothers start to get the business going in the right direction again, offers start coming in from big businesses to buy them out, but these brothers aren’t selling. They want to keep their father’s dream alive.

Enter Kristen Howell, who has been sent to Haven by her boss to try and convince the brothers to sell. Kristen is a city woman and isn’t prepared for a place like Haven when she arrives. You could tell from the first meeting between Tyler and Kristen though, that sparks were going to fly between these two!

As Kristen spends more time with Tyler and trying to figure out why her boss and the company want to buy out the brothers’ business so badly, the two grow closer. She’s only in Haven for a short time and the feelings between them are growing stronger every day. Will they both be able to put their true feelings out on the line for something that could be a forever kind of love?

There are also people out to hurt them and the company’s reputation. Tyler, Kristen and his family, along with law enforcement try and find out who’s behind these bad things happening to them and the company.

I liked the slower build to Tyler & Kristen ‘s relationship, the mystery and suspense elements in the storyline and the family bond between the brothers and their mother. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Well, now after having read this, book 1 in this new series, all I can say is bring on more of the McGowan brothers. I really enjoyed this book, both the storyline and the growing romance between Tyler McGowan, the home town country boy and Kristen Howell the city slicker in the designer clothes.
I just love Tyler. He had me at hello. He works so hard and has so much responsibility on his shoulders he deserves to find love and happiness. After the death of his father, he now finds himself running the family oil business with his brothers in their small town of Haven, Montana and taking care of their mom.
Kristen is sent by the company she works for in NYC to try and get The McGowan's to sell their business.
She doesn't know why her company wants this, she is just doing her job. At first she and Tyler kind of clash but that tension turns to sexual tension and then all bets are off. Some pretty hot and sexy times ensue between them. I didn't really like her too much at first but then I was very happy to see the change in Kristen throughout the story as she falls in love with both Tyler and Haven, Montana.
Besides the romance aspect of the story, there is lots going on in this book with regards to The McGowan's company that also effects Tyler and Kristen personally and it kept me interested and invested throughout.
I really like all the brothers and their mom so I look forward to future books about them.

Such a wonderful heartfelt story! I couldn’t put the book down! Stories like this reminds me of why I love authors like Jill!

Tyler and his younger brothers Trent and Trey came home to run their father's oil drilling business in Montana, after he suddenly died. After months of hard work they were finally getting back In the black. That was when Kristen fell into Tyler's life ... trouble in high heels and fancy clothes. Kristen was send to Montana to make the McGowan brothers an offer they couldn't refuse. Her company wanted to buy their business and would stop at nothing to get it. The only thing that wasn't counted in the equation was the heated attraction Tyler and Kristen would have for each other.

This book has it all ... humour, romance, steamy love scenes and suspense. The twists and turns will have you turning the pages to find the answers. I sure hope that the other McGowan brothers will get their own books ... as their stories were hinted at in this book. Trey with Addy, the environmentalist and Trent with Crystal, a mother of two.

I received an ARC copy courtesy of Montlake Romance through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

A fabulous start to the Haven, Montana Series, Closer to you brings us Tyler one of three brothers running the oil company their father built and Kristen in all her designer glory who is sent by her employer to convince Tyler and his brother to sell. I really enjoy the chemistry between the main character as well as the all over interaction. I will be recommending this to other reads and I look forward to reading more

I loved the blurb of this book and I enjoyed the book. It was an enjoyable sweet romantic novel with a strong storyline and a hint of suspense and intrigue. The characters are well developed and I really liked the strong family bond between the brothers. I hope that there will be more books in the series.

Tyler thought he'd left the small town in the dust. The three brothers all left home & spread out to make their mark on the world. After their father's sudden passing, they are back & trying to run their father's company. Tyler is surprised when it turns out he has a knack for running the company.

Kristen works for a conglomerate that loves to buy up small companies that are doing well. She's been sent to make sure Tyler & his brothers sell out. Warning bells are starting to ring though. First, the chemistry between Tyler & Kristen was intense! If she gave in, would it go anywhere? Second, this job is beginning to seem like more than it was represented. The company she represents isn't taking no for an answer & is expecting her to use questionable tactics to get them to sell. Then the accidents start. What is going on?

Ms. Sanders has given her readers a good story with excellent well-developed characters. Several had motive & timing to perform the sabotage & the ending was a wonderful twist. Her descriptive prose makes it easy to envision the scenes in your mind as you are reading & gave me several chuckles.

Gad I loved this book! Totally took me by surprise and just wow'd me! The book has it all. I really mean that-all!

Kristen is sent to Montana to talk him and his family into selling their oil business to her boss.
The story opens when she gets off the plane in her red soled boots only to slip, slide and end up in the snow to boot! She has no appropriate clothing to wear and she's met by Tyler who is the boss and she treats him like he's lower than hired help. Tyler can't help but bait her. She's easy prey.
Tyler takes on the roll of running the company after their Dad dies, his two brothers each run an aspect of the company as well and look after Mom who is still grieving. It's so obvious they're a tight knit family.

Tyler rejects her proposal before she even sets foot out of his old pickup truck when he drives her to the only hotel in town which I think makes Kristen's skin itch. She sets up a meeting with Tyler and the brothers the next day at the office and again the answer is no. But Tyler also turns the tables on her, asking questions that she should have been asking herself, or known already and why her boss is nastily persistent in obtaining this company.

Meanwhile as time passes she and Tyler grow closer and she starts to get closer to his family and the people in town. She knows how to shut them down too. I loved her sass. I loved the steam and sexual tension between the two of them. That was just part of the story.

A series of events occur and just when you think you know who is behind it isn't, that second person you picked didn't do it either and then the story just keeps twisting and wow!! Didn't see that coming. I loved the plot line and the characters and every single thing. Great dialogue as well.
I am totally on board for book two! You should absolutely read this book!

**arc from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for a fair review**

Closer To You is a fantastic start to a new series by Jill Sanders. This book has everything I am looking for in a good boCloser To You is a fantastic start to a new series by Jill Sanders. This book has everything I am looking for in a good book: great friendships/families, humor, mystery and a bit of steam. The story and characters are well developed, well written, and unique. I definitely recommend. ok: great friendships/families, humor, mystery and a bit of steam. The story and characters are well developed, well written, and unique. I definitely recommend.

Loved this one!! A great small town romance that I couldn't put down.The story had a nice little bit of suspense in it to keep things interesting. Great writing, characters and story makes this a must read. I can't wait for the next story in the series.

After the death of their father, the McGowan brothers find themselves working hard to save and grow the family business just as their father wanted them to do. Tyler McGowan gave up his playboy lifestyle in LA to come home. Shocked when his father named him as his successor as head of the company. It takes a while but he finds himself fitting into the role.Now he's having to deal with city girl Kristen Howell sent to Haven MT to convince Tyler to sell the business. Not going to happen but having a little fun with Kristen while she comes to terms with that could be fun!

I highly recommend this one.

Kristen Howell is sent to cold-as-can-be Haven, to present the local family-owned oil business an offer they can't refuse. Except, they do...continuously.
Owner of said business is none other the ruggedly handsome Tyler McGowen and his two brothers, after the passing of their father.

We soon get see how very different these two characters are, but how they can't help but to be intrigued and infatuated by one another, despite those differences.


I really enjoy small-town romances. The perfect sense of community, and how you know that everyone has your back. This story was no different. The author did a great job of setting the scenes of Haven, Montana.

Now, for the not so good part. I struggled to *feel* the connection between Tyler and Kristen. There was just so much detail given to other storylines and mystery behind all the sketchy things going around town.
I needed more banter while they were getting to know each other. It felt like the internal monologues were more than any actual dialogue between them.

Overall it was a good read with interesting plot.

This book had both cursing (a handful of f-bombs but not a ton of them) and on-screen sex. If those things aren't your thing, you might want to skip this one.

***This review contains slight spoilers.***

As much as I wanted to like it, I really struggled with this book because it was way too formulaic. I pretty much knew what was going to happen from start to finish which was disappointing. Other than the baffling scene when Tyler took the very ladylike Kristen to a disgustingly named strip club for lunch (if I never read the words “The Wet Spot” in a book again it will be too soon), nothing that happened surprised me at all in this one. And Kristen drove me crazy. She was supposed to be a career driven woman who was there just to do her job and was horrified that her boss would make “sexist comments” about being “charming” - something she found horribly offensive, but then she stormed out of her hotel room in a feminist rage to...go sleep with Tyler. That made no sense to me. She *literally* went and did MORE than what she was furious at her “sexist” boss for implying she should do. While still technically working with Tyler...

Although I will not be seeking out the next books of this series, I very much appreciate the publisher so generously granting me the opportunity to read this story via NetGalley.

I can not be left wondering like this... Seriously? So many players in this game of takeover. Tyler and Kristen both, I just loved them. Their chemistry, partnership, and connected mind. Don't get me wrong, the entire McGowen family has me invested. The twist and turns in finding the answers have me want more like... NOW.

Wow this book is a must read and such a fantastic story. I couldn’t put it down at all. Hooks you right in and takes you on a ride the whole way through the story. Author totally deserves 5 stars for this book. I hope more people do give this book ago and this author coz she is amazing and rights such fantastic stories which I love and I have never been disappointed with any of her books so I would totally recommend this book to everyone

CLOSER TO YOU by Jill Sanders. book 1 in "Haven Montana "series
A new series that readers will love by Jill, this has to do with the three McGowan brothers. The partying is over, and seriousness now, if they want to keep the oil business afloat. In this story it deals with Tyler, and the tension between him and Kristen. Will it turn out to be anything more. The following books hopefully will deal with the other brothers. Readers will enjoy this new series, good plot, and three handsome guys. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

Book Info
Paperback, 284 pages
Expected publication: October 10th 2017 by Montlake Romance
ISBN 1542047382 (ISBN13: 9781542047388)
Other Editions (3)
Source:Netgalley EARC

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BOOK BLURB


New York Times bestselling author Jill Sanders strikes gold with a sizzling series about oil-rich playboys whose hearts are up for grabs.

No one’s more surprised than Tyler McGowan when he discovers he has a knack for running the family’s oil business—a role he took on after his father’s sudden passing. Now, to keep the old man’s legacy afloat, Tyler’s giving up his playboy ways and settling into small-town life. But his newfound resolve is tested when trouble strides into his office in five-inch heels.

Kristen Howell has spent the last five years working her way up the corporate ladder. And somehow it’s landed her smack-dab in the middle of nowhere: Haven, Montana. It’s her job to convince the head of McGowan Enterprises to sell. But the tall and rangy hunk is proving to be exceedingly stubborn—and overwhelmingly hot. When someone attempts to derail her negotiations, Kristen is ready to get down and dirty. But the sparks she and Tyler are throwing near the oil field may be dangerously combustible…

My Thoughts


Not sure which brother will turn out to be my favorite McGowan but right now Tyler is first in the running over younger brothers Trent and Trey, although they are pretty close behind him and hope to read their stories some day too.

Tyler McGowan could not wait to shake the snow of Haven Montana off his boots, now however he cannot fathom living anywhere in the city as his love for the clear air and slower pace of life has been rekindled now that he is head of his father's oil business.

Kristen Howell on the other hand is sure that city living is what she wants forever, coming to Haven Montana for her job was just another step on the way to fulfilling her desire for advancement.

The pair strike sparks from their first meeting but are both determined to keep the relationship strictly business as Kristen will only be in town for two weeks.

Somehow those good intentions are thrown out the window when the explosive chemistry that Tyler and Kristen share becomes too hard to ignore.

Do they stand a chance together or will Tyler and Kristen’s personal choices, both private and professional, keep them apart for good?

It is a good idea to read Closer To You and find out for yourself how it all works out for the small town man and the city girl.

[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.