Bright Horizon: Pine Cove Book 4, HJ Welch

I was so excited for the premise of the story.  An adventure, a sassy and cute baker, a caring older man, a mystery inheritance announcement delivered via threat...there was a lot here to work with.  While I did like some aspects of the characters and the romance, I often felt bogged down in their individual inner turmoil and the lost backbone on Ben's part.  The promises given in the beginning fizzled in the middle while eventually working out in the end.

Ben began as an overwhelmed and slightly frazzled cutie working in a beloved bakery.  There were moments of steel in his spine and I was incredibly interested in his progress and growth.  He lost sight of himself at so many moments.  He also fell victim to over-thinking and doubting his feelings and Elias' more often than I cared to read about.  There were some common sense things and glaring inconsistencies in what many of the "villains" would say that I was sure he'd catch it out and find the fight inside himself to stand up and declare what was right and best.  Unfortunately, that only came after a dramatic moment organized by Elias and their new-found friends.

That dramatic moment was suitably awesome and sweet, but I wish the vehicle getting us there to that point wasn't so weighed down under all the miscommunications, making unilateral and unvoiced decisions for others, and so much self-doubt.

With only one clear "villain", there were many chances for others to set themselves up either for or against Ben and Elias.  I liked that almost no one else was as clear-cut in their side of the fence because it was a bit of mystery that kept me invested in the story.

The romance itself was a bit slow to start with so much hesitation that I grew bored.  There were big issues that were tackled with tenderness and tact and for that I was truly grateful.  It's clear that Ben and Elias were good for one another, it was just all the contrived angst that was over the top and decreased my enjoyment.  Their outcome was pretty wonderful though, and it was a great ending that suited the men, the situation, and the family they wanted so much to help.

Ben Turner is besotted with the handsome older man who’s always in his bakery. They have nothing in common…until one day Ben discovers he’s an overnight millionaire, and his customer could become his protector. But they hardly know each other. He’d be crazy to accept his help, right?

Lawyer Elias Solomon knows his crush on the beautiful young baker is ridiculous, but when he suspects Ben is being taken advantage of, he can’t help but step in. Elias’s upcoming fortieth birthday has made him adventurous, but he never imagined he’d accompany Ben all the way to England.

Ben has never even heard of his great-grandmother Nancy, his corrupt and bitter English family, their enormous home and orchard grounds, or the business they run from it. All of which he now apparently owns. It’s up to Ben to save the estate with Elias’s help, but does he want the responsibility? All he really wants is to fall into Elias’s bed and never leave, and soon the chemistry is too much to ignore. Elias can’t see how they’ll make it work when they’re from different generations. But when old rivalries take a dangerous turn, he soon realizes he’ll do anything to keep Ben safe from harm…and in his arms.