Review: Something to Prove by Shannyn Schroeder

Title: Something to Prove by Shannyn Schroeder
The O’Leary’s Book Three
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Word Count: 85,000
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Two ambitious people team up to prove themselves to their families–and find there may be more to their partnership than just business. . .

Elizabeth Brannigan is determined to show her father she’s capable of running the family business. Saving his struggling Chicago bar seems like the perfect project. But she’ll need a little help dealing with the rough crowd. Who better to assist her than the handsome co-owner of a thriving Irish pub? Of course, with so much work to do, there are bound to be a few late nights. . .

Colin O’Leary’s father passed away before he could prove to him that he wasn’t a screw-up. Now he wants to show his brother he’s responsible enough to own a bar of his own–and Elizabeth may be able to help him. But when their professional aspirations clash, tempers–and passions–flare. Are they mature enough to mix business with pleasure–or will they have to choose between the two?

85,000 Words

The Review:

Yay a new romance in Shannyn Schroeder’s fun and sexy O’Leary’s series! In Something to Prove oldest brother Colin finds love with Elizabeth Brannigan, but their road to happily ever after is anything but smooth.

Colin has been fighting to prove himself to his family since he returned to town after a three year absence. He has been steadfast and dependable working as a bartender in the family bar but earning his brother’s trust has been darn near impossible. While he has been content to work for Ryan, Colin’s dream is to someday purchase a bar of his own. So when Elizabeth Brannigan needs help renovating her family’s rough and tumble biker bar (!), Colin is eager to provide her with his expertise in exchange for a share of the profits. The fact that Colin is extremely interested in exploring their mutual attraction is added incentive to assist Elizabeth, but Colin is going to have to do some pretty fast talking to convince her to break her strict no mixing business with pleasure rule.

Elizabeth is all business, all the time. She and her brother Keith have been locked in fierce battle to secure the CEO position in the family’s business and with her father’s retirement looming, she is determined to come out on top. Seizing the opportunity to turn around the failing bar, Elizabeth undertakes the renovation on the sly with the hopes of impressing her father and winning the coveted position. Elizabeth has a take charge, no nonsense attitude and she butts heads with the more laidback, easy going Colin on more than one occasion. Working with a partner and taking his advice is difficult for Elizabeth, but if she is going to successfully revamp the bar, Elizabeth knows she needs to trust Colin’s judgment.

Colin regrets abandoning his family after his father’s death and he has been trying to make up for it ever since he returned to town. He has made great strides in restoring his relationship with his extended family but he still feels like he does not quite measure up to Ryan’s expectations. Helping Elizabeth revamp the bar will provide Colin with the money to buy his own place and hopefully show Ryan once and for all that he plans to stay in town for good. Colin is eager to help Elizabeth overhaul her business but he is also eager to loosen up his uptight, buttoned up business partner. An added bonus would be convincing Elizabeth that giving in to their attraction won’t affect their business arrangement.

Elizabeth and Colin’s professional relationship is anything but smooth in the beginning. Elizabeth is not willing to cede control and she is frustrated by Colin’s more casual approach to business. And of course there is also the matter of her attraction to her outgoing and flirtatious partner. The more time they spend together, the more difficult it is to resist giving in to their passion. Colin finally works past her defenses and presents a pretty convincing argument in favor of them indulging in their desire and although she still has reservations, Elizabeth agrees to a short term affair. When a health crises occurs, their casual fling begins to feel like a real relationship but will their personal insecurities tear them apart?

Elizabeth and Colin are appealing characters and their respective personal baggage brings a little bit more angst to the storyline than the previous novels. The O’Leary family dynamics are always compelling and their scenes together are always a joy. Elizabeth and Colin’s romance slowly simmers in the background as they wrestle with their personal demons but their conflicts are realistically and quickly resolved.

Something to Prove is another spectacular addition to Shannyn Schroeder’s O’Leary’s series and I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Please click HERE to read my reviews of other books in The O’Leary’s series.