You all should know by now that I love Christine Rimmer. Just finished reading Switched at Birth which is the 4th one in this series and loved it. If you have not read this series, go get them as they are all different from the norm. Highly recommend it.

Switched at Birth by Christine Rimmer is a 2019 Harlequin Special Edition publication.

A light and lovely love story!

When Madison, a popular, well recognized movie star, discovers she was switched at birth, she needs time to process and adjust. She moves to Valentine Bay to be near the Bravos, but she keeps her distance from them, trying to screw up the courage to meet them face to face.

Meanwhile, Madison takes every precaution to keep her identity a secret. She also lusts after her buff neighbor, Sten Larson. She even devises clever ways get him to come over to her place. But, as nice and protective as Sten is, he keeps Madison at arm’s length, knowing that under the circumstances they couldn’t possibly have a future together.

I’ve been tapping my feet impatiently waiting for Madison’s story. I was curious to see how she would respond to the information about her birth family. This part of the story was handled beautifully, as most anyone would have felt intimidated by the Bravo’s and meeting a family you never knew you had. Sten’s gentle encouragement helps Madison make those first tentative steps towards her new family, which she definitely needed.

The romance is very light, sensual, and sweet. The chemistry between Madison and Sten is palpable, slowly building as they spend time together. The romance between an ‘ordinary guy’, with a blue-collar occupation, and the glamorous movie star might seem destined to fail in the long term- but when there is a will, there’s a way, and true love always conquers all.

This is a truly romantic story, but part of what makes this story so special, is the beautiful HEA, which has a touching long-term love story quality to it. I closed the book with a dreamy sigh and a big smile on my face.

This book is yet another reminder of why I never want to miss one of Christine Rimmer’s wonderful stories. ( )

Wonderful entry in the Bravos of Valentine Bay series. I have been looking forward to Madison's story ever since the switch was revealed in Almost a Bravo. Unlike Aislinn, who had her whole family there to support her and help her through the crisis, Madison was alone. The family had been trying for months to get in touch with Madison, but have been stonewalled by her agent and assistant. They finally reached out to their cousin Jonas (The Bravo Billionaire) who was able to gain access to Madison's home.

Madison woke up on her birthday, ready for her tradition of setting her goals for the next year. Though she thought she had no idea what to put down, she was stunned by the goals her subconscious revealed. Her contemplation of those goals was interrupted by Jonas's arrival. Her world was completely upended by the news of the baby switch and what it could mean for her. Within a week she found a beach cottage to rent in Valentine Bay, where she could lie low, think about her plans for the future, and work up the nerve to meet her unknown family.

Madison's next door neighbor and owner of the cottage was Sten Larson. Sten shares his home with his father, widowed sister, and her son and daughter. I loved his close relationship with them all. His sister's teasing and "guidance" are spot on, and received with the expected appreciation . I especially loved seeing him with his niece and nephew. They were adorable, and it's obvious that he'd make a great father.

I loved the development of the relationship between Madison and Sten. It was cute to see how Madison watched him from a distance at first, believing that he was married and a dad. She was drawn to him but thought he was off limits. Once she discovered he was available, however, she was determined to get to know him better. She was a bit creative in her method, but it did get him to her house. It was fun to see how amused he was, but he was also intrigued. Once he found out about her connection to the Bravos, he tried to encourage her to take that final step and get to know them. I ached for Madison because she was so nervous and stressed over the idea. It created a little strain between her and Sten because he would sometimes push a little too hard. I loved the time that she and Sten spent together doing ordinary things, and how it reinforced her decisions about the changes she wanted to make in her life. The more time they spent together, the more the attraction and connection deepened also. Madison fell hard and fast for Sten, but he fought his feelings all the way. He had been badly hurt in a past relationship, and it affected the way he looked at what he and Madison shared. I wanted to shake Sten at times because he refused to see that Madison was nothing like Ella. I hurt for Madison and loved how she didn't give up on him. The ending was sweet and emotional as Sten finally broke free of his fears. I adored the epilogue with the look at their future.

I loved seeing the other side of the switched babies story. Aislinn had such a hard time dealing with the news that I wasn't sure how it would go for Madison. Her initial shock was understandable. I liked that it didn't take her long to accept the truth. The hard part for her was taking that final step to get to know the family. Though Sten pushed a bit hard, he also believed that it was something she needed to face sooner rather than later. He offered her all the support she could want. I loved the first meeting between Madison and her siblings. It was especially neat to see the closeness between herself and Aislinn. There was an interesting twist involving one of her brothers that makes me very anxious to read his story. ( )