Between You and Me by Jennifer Gracen
The Harrisons #4

Tess really wants a child and at 37 feels her time to fall in love and have one with a husband may be running out SO she decides to head to the family ski resort where she will resort to a sperm bank for insemination. Well, the house manager for the family home just happens to be a hunk and a half named Logan Carter and after spending a bit of time with him she decides he might be the perfect person to ask to donate to her project. It seems perfect to both of them because he doesn’t want a family and she doesn’t want a husband so getting together a few times in a month during her fertile period should be a piece of cake, right? And, making a baby without test tubes and such just doing what comes naturally should not impact things at all…

As the two get to know one another better, share their pasts, explore the ski slopes together, spend those fertile nights together and become friends they find that perhaps things are not as easy as they had hoped they would be but as neither wants to renege on the bargain they made…it becomes dicey.

I enjoyed the story and the interactions between Tess and Logan BUT from personal knowledge know that sex can lead to feelings even if you don’t think it will happen…they were setting themselves up for trouble and trouble they did get…true…it was trouble they overcame and a HEA was achieved once they communicated with one another but still…

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing-Zebra Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

It’s very easy to slip into a mindset of believing that the wealthy have an easy life. Certainly financial security can ease a lot of worries and burdens, but money isn’t everything. Tess may belong to a very wealthy family, who are, for the most part, happy and secure within themselves. She’s watched her brothers find love and welcomed their loves into her own heart as part of her family. But Tess hasn’t found her happy every after man and the time to fulfill her greatest, most important wish for herself is quickly fading away… at least in her mind. Tess wants a child, even children if life was very good to her. She’s well aware that the traditional way of love, relationship, family doesn’t happen for everyone, and she’s no longer willing to wait for that elusive happy ending to happen for her. She’s made her decision, her plan is well in place… now comes the complication in the form of one handsome man who sets off alarms and wishes for something different. The forever kind of different.

Between You and Me was a story that captured my emotions pretty much from the opening onward. Tess is a strong, kind woman who has always had her family’s back and now she’s looking for something for herself, something that she has the means to accomplish in a non-traditional manner. It’s her dream and she should be the driver of that dream. I appreciated that the misconceptions that Logan had about Tess didn’t last long. When two people can honestly talk about issues and resolve them they have a much better chance of engaging my empathy instead of dragging out something that could easily be resolved. That doesn’t mean that this couple didn’t give me some frustrating moments, but I “got” their reasons, even if I didn’t agree with them.

For me, Logan and Tess simply worked as a couple. I could believe in their situation, their reasons to stay apart and especially the moments when they allowed their hearts to rule their minds. If you’re looking for a friends to lovers romance then Between You and Me has you covered on that. Heartwarming and romantic, and at times a bit formal because of their initial decisions… no matter the emotions they were giving to me I understood them and waited impatiently for them to discover the truth behind the actions they did for each other. If you’ve followed The Harrisons series then you’ll be glad to see Tess finally join her brothers in that elusive happy ever after ending — and if this is your first glimpse into the world of the Harrison clan then you’ll be looking for the earlier books to get caught up for we aren’t quite finished with this series yet. I’d recommend this story or series to any Romance reader who believes that love matters most no matter the circumstances. It’s just that simple. I enjoyed this one, and I believe you will, too.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

4.5 star review of Between You and Me (The Harrisons #4) by Jennifer Gracen
Jennifer Gracen is a relatively new author to me and although I have not read the previous books in The Harrison series, I had no trouble diving in to Between You and Me.
Being the only girl, Tess tends to be a tad spoilt, never seeking the limelight, she is content to be in her brother’s shadows. Tess desperately wants a baby and with this in mind, turns to the man who has agreed to make her dream come true. Logan Carter is the manager of the Harrison ski house and he offers his services in exchange for her playing his girlfriend so that his dying mother is secure in the knowledge that he will not be alone when she dies. It’s a win/win for both of them ? Or is it?
Complications arise when the purely physical relationship evolves into so much more when intense feelings develop. Will Logan and Tess decide to take a chance on love or will they ignore their feelings? One click to find out as this book had me drawn in from the very first page.
This was a really enjoyable read, so much so that I am going to go and get the previous books in the series to read.
I received a copy of this book through the publisher via Netgalley.

It's not that this book was bad. But it was very, very slow (uneven pacing). I felt like the story execution was weak, which is extra disappointing since I so adored my first Gracen novel last month (Love in Dublin).


I talk about my thoughts on this book a bit more in my Whatcha Reading? podcast (episode: November 25th, 2017)

I have only read one other book by Jennifer Gracen and it wasn’t in this series so when I say this book can be read as a standalone I’m speaking from experience. I’m struggling to understand why I have not come across Jennifer Gracen before because now I need to go on a marathon read of The Harrison’s. Tess is the only girl of the family and yes she is spoiled but in a good way, she has always supported the family and taken a backseat so her brothers could have the life’s they wanted, it’s now her turn to get her life in order and with that order comes the baby she so desperately wants but with no man in her life she needs to look into other ways of conceiving. Logan has known Tess and her brothers for a few years as he is the property manager for the holiday home they own in partnership, he has always held Tess at arms length because he doesn’t do relationships but when Tess arrives at the house for an extended stay on her own they become friends, maybe Logan is the perfect man to help make Tess’s dreams come true...
This book captivated me and I was hooked from the first page, it’s a beautifully written love story that I couldn’t put down. I really recommend this book to anyone who loves romance and with that I’m mind I’m off to one click the rest of this series, great read, loved it.

I hate to see this series end but Tess Harrison's story was a fabulous way to wrapped it up. Being the only daughter of the Harrison Family has always made relationships for Tess difficult. While it makes for a lonely life what she really yearns for is a baby of her own. After making the decision to go the sperm donor route she heads to her family's Aspen villa to get away from everything and everyone so nothing can cause her any stress. Meeting Logan Carter was never part of the plan and she's determined to resist him and not let him derail her plans. When she explains why to him she's shocked when he agrees to a plan. A plan that will give them both pleasure and her the baby she so desperately wants.

Grab a copy of this one!! I think you'll really enjoy it

An intricately woven intense story of two damaged people who find each other, save each other through love.
I enjoyed it so much I wished it never ended. The plot was a bit unusual and very entertaining. The dialogue rang true and the characters came to life on the page. I hope to read more about them all.

4.25 “Tesstastic.” Stars

One thing you can always be certain of when you pick up a book by Jennifer Gracen is that she will bring you a strong, independent, smart lady and that’s why her books always work well for me. Book four in The Harrison’s series does just that, turning the spotlight on Tess—the girl amongst boys, the sister, confidante and cheerleader—and her HEA plan is a little less conventional.

”She didn’t want to spend another Christmas aching and wishing for a child of her own.”

Seeing her brothers settled and their families expanding brings home to Tess the fact that her biological clock is ticking. And with the means to make her dreams come true, she heads off to Aspen to relax and focus on herself and a list of possible sperm donors. She hasn’t always seen eye to eye with the gorgeous manager of her second home and her privileged upbringing and wealth has played its part, but when she and Logan Carter settle their differences and start spending time together, it’s not long before they both realise their new friendship could be mutually beneficial.

“Just friends. Friends with an agenda… that happens to include sexy time.”

Tess was a nice balance of fiercely independent and determined, kindhearted and grounded, supporting Logan through his own personal hell whilst making decisions that will change her life forever. And I loved Logan’s quieter, brooding nature—his past has resulted in a man with no intention of opening his heart to another, yet deep down he’s selfless and although he guards it well, he has a huge heart.

”All he knew was he was a lucky man, having fallen somehow into an ideal situation. He could help make this incredible woman’s biggest dream come true.”

Logan and Tess may have had a bit of a shaky start, but as they take the leap from friends to lovers, they bring everything from humour to heartache. And although at times they were a little frustrating and some of their liaisons came with a clinical feel, even that aspect played its part amongst the passion and crescendoing feelings.

”I’m here for you, Tess, however you need me.”

With many of the smiles created along the way by Tess’ brothers (Charles still remains my #1), I devoured Between You and Me pretty much in one sitting. But the cherry on top of this friends-to lovers-treat was discovering that this isn’t the end of the series and with a sneaky peek of the opening chapter of the next book, I have a feeling it may be an emotional one. In the meantime, if you’re fancying an easygoing, sexy romance to warm you up this winter, then this hits the spot.

WOW!!! Words cannot describe how much I loved Between You and Me by Jennifer Gracen, book four in her Harrison series. This is a story of two people who have chosen to live life by themselves, but for different reasons. Tess Harrison has everything but the baby she longs for. After not finding the perfect man for her, she escapes New York for the family retreat in Aspen, Colorado to research sperm banks and doctors. Logan Carter has been through hell and back after Katrina hit New Orleans. Leaving behind his social work career and his alcoholism he returned to Aspen to help his widowed mom and a new career as manager of homes for the rich and famous in the mountains around Aspen. In exchange for Logan agreeing to be her baby daddy, the old fashioned way, Tess will play his girlfriend to appease Mama Carter who is dying of cancer. The more time Logan and Tess spend together practicing their roles, the closer they get, becoming best friends and more. However, neither was looking for love or a soul mate. Could Tess and Logan get beyond the hurt and fears from their pasts?


I really loved reading this book and had trouble putting this book down. Ms. Gracen is a wonderful story teller drawing me into her books, making me forget the world around me and not letting me go until I turned the last page. I highly recommend this book to other readers

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Tess Harrison is the oldest child with 3 brothers & a stern, cold father. When their mother left, Tess stepped up & took over mothering all 3 boys as they grew up. Now, 2 out of the 3 have their own families & she's left with no significant other in her life. She's bored & tired of worrying about everyone else. She wants a child & is determined to have it by herself so she decided to head to the ski house for several months.

Logan Carter is the property manager for the Harrison's ski house. He's had a crush on Tess since he'd met her. She did manage to hurt him with a comment a year ago & he hasn't seen her in the same light since. Now she's in Colorado for several months. Will things change?

This story is one of learning to trust & let someone into your life. Tess has been hurt in the past & doesn't want to let any man into her life. Logan was hurt by a rich, selfish woman & he can't help putting some of that on Tess. It was interesting reading about the journey they each must take to get to each other & how they grow & develop from it. The banter is witty & sarcastic. You'll find yourself falling in love with them.

Tess was such a sweetheart, thinking of everyone else, I loved seeing her stand up for herself and take what she wanted, good for her! Logan god help him had it tough, I can’t even imagine what he went through, he needed a happy ending.

4.5☆
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: The Harrisons
Standalone
HEA

I look forward to reading more from Jennifer Gracen.

This was a really great read. I love how independent Tess is. She's not afraid to stand up to her overbearing father and brothers no matter what her age is. It is amazing to have a such a strong character not being afraid to take on starting a family on their own. Logan is strong in his own way and way sexy. He has a lot of growth in this when it comes to opening up and leaning on someone else other then his mom. This one pulls at the heart strings and is an amazing friend to lover read. I love how Tess and Logan come together. The chemistry is so strong. Between You and Me may be book number 4 in this series but can really be read as a stand alone. I will defiantly be going back for more books by Jennifer Gracen.

I have read this entire series and really enjoyed it. I was really looking forward to Tess's story because she was a favorite character in previous stories. But this story just seemed not as fun and exciting as the others probably because Tess is so lonely and sad, and well Logan is the same. They have known each other years and I just didn't really feel the HOTness between the two characters. I was kinda bored with this story and I hate to say that because I love the author and this series has been really terrific, but I was expecting more for Tess.

Tess is the only Harrison daughter and her brothers and their wives are happy married and having babies. The book opens at Christmas and Tess has decided to go away for a few months and have a baby using a sperm bank. Which is where we meet Logan, the guy who takes care of the Harrison house in Colorado. They have known each other for years and he has a crush on Tess, though he thinks she is out of his league.

I really did not feel the lust attraction with these two and that was my issue with the story. Beyond the chemistry, the story was well written.

I love he Harrison clan and have been looking forward to Tess's story.

Tess, being the only girl of the family and spoiled-in a good way- by her 3 brother, has always been there for her brothers' families. Always attentive, supportive and loving, Tess has inadvertently taken a backseat to her brothers' new lives. Tess realizes her happily ever after might not ever come and her desire to have children is what is most important and she isn't required to have a man in her life to have her heart's desire...her own child.

Heading to Aspen to her family home, Tess is moving forward with her dreams and seeking medical intervention via a Colorado fertility clinic and potential donors.

Logan Carter is the manager of the family home and dealing with his own difficulties with his mother's illness. A misunderstanding at a previous meeting has Logan holding Tess at arm's length as he feel she thinks he is less than her due to their socioeconomic status. Thankfully Tess is able to get Logan to confess to why he seems put out by her and they soon realize it's a misunderstanding and assume a great friendship.

Logan finds out Tess's plan for motherhood and her complete desire to have and raise a child alone- no relationship and no husband. Logan is staunch in his desire to never again get close to anyone as the vulnerability and loss is something he doesn't think he can handle ever again.

Seeing as they both have a strict view of what they foresee for their future life, it seems perfect for Logan to be Tess's sperm donor. What could make it even better- to have a no strings relationship to help Tess succeed the old fashioned way. How easy will it be for these two to remain unphased by entering into a purely physical relationship with an emotional goal as special as a child. When hearts cannot remain separate from lust each party is too stubborn to divulge their feelings for one another. With Tess's mission accomplished it's time for her to head back to New York. Are these two going to keep their true feelings hidden or be vulnerable and let the other one know how they feel.

I haven’t read the earlier books in Jennifer Gracen’s series on the Harrisons, but after reading Tess’s story, I’ll certainly search out the earlier books about this wealthy family. Tess is the oldest daughter and she’s facing the fact that she is not going to find the happily-ever-after that her siblings have found, yet she still would like a baby. She decides that she is going to get a sperm donor and have a baby on her own. She travels to the family’s Aspen lodge to ponder her decision and undergo treatment out there away from what she is certain will be the criticisms of her loving siblings.

While there she is attracted to the good-looking manager of her home, Logan Carter. The question becomes whether she can have a sexual arrangement with Logan to father her baby without Logan having any legal or emotional connection to the baby. Logan has his own personal demons that have convinced him that he can’t be a family man, but he’s attracted to Tess and is willing to help her out.

We all know how this is going to end, but it was still an enjoyable read to follow along as they get there.

I was given a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tess is happy her brothers have found the loves of their lives and that she is surrounded by her nieces and nephews. She can't shake the feeling, though, of wanting a child of her own.

Tess puts her plan into action by going to the family house in Aspen. There she reconnects with Logan their house manager. As they get to know each other better as friends she asks for his help. Even before he agrees, sparks are flying between them but could they make a real relationship work?

Logan is not perfect and that's refreshing. He feels relatable as his past is revealed throughout the book. Tess is smart and capable and she doesn't let anyone walk all over her. I appreciated the author writing such a strong female protagonist.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.