Customer Reviews

A Case for Love (Brides of Bonneterre)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this series. I really wish there was going to be a fourth book about Jenn. And then a fifth book that is about all 4 (Anne, Meredith, Forbes, and Jenn) and their happily ever afters. Anyway, this is about A Case for Love. I apologize for any spoilers, but there are some things I want to address that makes them necessary.

I've been a fan of Forbes since book one. I don't really find him as much of a control freak as he's made out to be. I think he just thinks he knows what is best for his siblings and wants to help them do what is best to be happy. I guess I just wish my sibling cared that much about me. Forbes really becomes human in this book, though. Before he was so much of a secondary character that he just seemed perfect and like he had it all together. I like him even more now than I did before when I thought he was perfect.

The only thing I don't understand is what happened with Forbes' parents and Evelyn Mackenzie's company. Where was the miscommunication or blame supposed to rest? I just didn't really feel clear on what happened. Also, since the Guidry's are doing Save the Mills now, what does that mean for Major's restaurant!?

I really liked that Forbes and Alaine got together a good 30 or 40 pages from the end. I liked seeing them as a couple instead of only getting to see it within the last few pages. Too many books put it off until the very end, so I loved that they got together sooner rather than later!

This is a great series well worth the read. I've already recommended it to a friend, and I actually don't do a lot of recommending to friends. Usually they're telling me what to read!

Forbes Guidry is well-known around town, both from family ties and the name he has created for himself as one of Bonneterre's best lawyers. He also happens to be one of the Bonneterre's most eligible bachelors.

Love literally walks into Forbes one evening in the form of Alaine Delacroix, a local tv news reporter. Before their relationship has a chance to develop, Alaine finds herself at odds with Forbes ~ his family owns a corporation that is threatening to demolish the community she grew up in, one where her family still resides and works. Alaine attempts to help her family by getting a pro bono lawyer ~ Forbes Guidry.

Forbes is put in a difficult position. He stands the chance of losing things that are precious to him ~ his lifelong ties with his family and his newly developed feelings for Alaine. Will God intervene and show him a way to keep both?

My Thoughts

From start to finish I thoroughly enjoyed this book ~ I even stayed up far too late in an attempt to read it in just one night. Dacus has created some wonderful characters that pull you into the story ~ from the immediate family members to the diverse ethnic community that is threatened with demolition.

Truthfully, I'm a little saddened that it is the last book in the series, because there are other family members that I would enjoy reading more about! A Case for Love is the third book in the Brides of Bonneterre series by Kaye Dacus, following Stand-in Groom and Menu for Romance.

If you enjoy historical fiction, Kaye also has another wonderful series set in the early 1800's ~ the Ransome Trilogy. The first book in that series, Ransome's Honor is currently available and the second Ransome's Crossing ~ I loved the first book so much I've already pre-ordered the second!

Be sure to visit Kaye's website where she shares writing tips and insights. Her site is one that I visit almost daily and really enjoy the various series that she has provided.

I have read all of the Brides of Bonneterre books and I have to say this is my favorite so far. The author does an excellent job of creating the characters so that you feel like you know them. I greatly enjoy the family as a whole and the fact that you stay in contact with the characters from the previous books. It is a light and enjoyable read while also dealing with real issues in the life of a Christian. I hope she is planning to continue the series with the rest of the siblings that are yet unmatched.
I didn't want to put the book down and definitely recommend it. If you haven't read the other two you will want to start with Stand in Groom, then read Menu for Romance before A Case for Love.

Kaye Dacus concludes her "Brides of Bonterre" series with a hit, "A Case for Love."

We meet Forbes Guidry way back in book one, "Stand-In Groom," and then again in "Menu for Romance," but we don't really get to know him until this installment. What happens when straight-laced, Mr. Perfect, "good son" lawyer of the wealthy Guidry family strikes out on his own because he thinks it's the right thing to do? Forbes has plenty of misgivings when he takes on a pro-bono case that may tear his family apart. Local television reporter Alaine Delacroix has already caught his eye, but to represent her family against his is almost more than he can bear. Will love prevail? What is right in the eyes of the law? In the eyes of God?

Read "A Case for Love" all the way to the break-neck conclusion. You will NOT be disappointed.

Alaine Delacroix has just been named Bachelorette of the Year and she isn't really taking it well, considering it as the Old Maid of the Year award. But when she went to the Bachelor of the Year banquet, she is seated next to Forbes Guidry, and he is named Bachelor of the Year for the third year running. Alaine had noticed Forbes before, they live in the same townhouse complex, but when he asks her out, she says no, because she doesn't believe anyone can say no to him. But she really didn't mean the "no" and left it open-ended.

When Alaine learns that a major chain store is thinking about buying property, she is excited at first. But then she learns that Guidry family is the ones buying up all the foreclosed property, and forcing other business owners out of business. This is included her family's business, and their home. Suddenly Alaine is glad she said no. How can she date someone who's family is destroying hers?

Alaine's only option to help her family is to hire Forbes as the lawyer, but she isn't sure she can trust him. After all, will he really go against his family to represent hers? Or will he have to choose between his job and family to take a chance at love?

A CASE FOR LOVE is the classic romance. Boy meets girl, boy and girl are on opposite sides of an issue and face losing it all, boy and girl are forced together. Ms. Dacus has a tiny bit more passion in this book than she has had in some of the others I read, and she obviously did her research about the television reporting world that Alaine worked in.

I enjoyed watching the sparks fly between the two mega-beautiful professional characters in this book, and to watch this romance struggle to survive. A CASE FOR LOVE is the third book in this series, but it easily stands alone. Readers may want to read Stand-In Groom, and Menu for Romance so they can read the romance stories of Forbes siblings.

A Case for Love by Kaye Dacus
Barbour, 2010
317 pages
Inspirational; Romance; Contemporary
Third in Brides of Bonneterre Trilogy
4.5/5 stars

Summary: Forbes Guidry has been the bachelor of the year three times in a row and he's sick of it. Although he's dated before, those women called him a control freak. So for now he's alone. Alaine Delacroix is a host of a television show who wants to move up to anchor. When they become entangled in a case that pits her family against his, sparks fly!

Thoughts: Now that's more like it! This was a fantastic book with a strong hero and heroine. Forbes, while definitely a control freak, really does care about his family and I would say he's the best hero of the trilogy. Funnily enough, his favorite book is Bleak House because he is interested in the law case. His one flaw seems to be a lack of appreciation for old movies because I can see how his controlling natures stems from being the oldest child and how it reflects his deep love for his family.

Alaine is a television show host who was introduced in the second book. After seeing Meredith's (Forbes' sister and heroine of Menu for Romance) happiness, she even more longs for a romantic relationship. But she is conflicted because the possible love interest Forbes is connected to the family that is bent on destroying a set of small businesses including the one that provides her family's livelihood. She is also grappling with appearances and the inner self, which she is able to settle.

As their relationship deepened, they both come to important conclusions about their careers that I think will lead them to great happiness. They had a lot in common and they seemed to make each other laugh. They also have strong relationships with their families and develop a good rapport with the other's family. As always, they have relationships with God and the prayers they pray were very consoling to me.

Two problems were I felt that a. their attractiveness was emphasized too much and b. the ending was wrapped up too quickly. Of course, I don't want to read about a law case that drags on for decades so it's probably for the best! I liked all the descriptions of food in this book even though as a very picky eater, I can't imagine eating any of it (for example I hate seafood).

Overall: The best of the trilogy and a satisfying conclusion to the Brides of Bonneterre trilogy!

Cover: While I have mentioned that I don't like the cut off heads, I really like this guy's suit and the blue on the cover.

I fairly swooned over Forbes Guidry from the moment I met him in Stand-In Groom, Kaye's first book in this series, so I was more than thrilled to find out he'd get a book of his own! He's handsome, loyal, charming...*sigh*

Friction and chemistry abound between Alaine and Forbes in both their personal and professional interactions which definitely send sparks to flying, but will a contentious lawsuit that tests the family loyalty of both Alaine and Forbes cause their blooming relationship to blow up? You'll definitely want to pick up this book to find out.

I loved how both Alaine and Forbes use a dating service to "meet", and their dating service encounter is quite entertaining. I enjoyed getting to know Shon, the owner of the dating service, as well, and I think he would make a great character for a book of his own.

A Case for Love by Kay Dacus is a contemporary romance that takes place in the town of Bonneterre, Louisiana. Alaine Delacroix is the moderator for a noon day television show (as she puts it, "fluff" pieces), trying to convince her boss that she is capable of the hard hitting news stories that will land her a spot on the evening news desk. As Alaine is looking for a hard hitting story, one lands in her lap in the form of her parents' loosing their business to an unscrupulous mortgage company working on behalf of the largest law firm and investment company in the city. Alaine decides to assist her parents in any way that she can, both to help them and to get the story she needs for her career.

Lawyer Forbes Guidry is a partner in the law firm that his parents own but he has gotten there on his own merits. Why then, is he feeling unfulfilled as an individual and feels like God has another purpose for him? Forbes likes the security his income brings him and enjoys working with the law but is jealous of his friend who runs a pro-bono firm (works for the underprivileged and unable to pay individuals). Not only is Forbes struggling with his own dissatisfaction, he has finally met a woman who interests him, only to find that she is standoffish because of a pending lawsuit against his parents' company.

When Alaine can't find an attorney willing to go up against the largest law firm in the city, she contacts Forbes and hires him to handle the case. Forbes risks everything by taking Alaine's case, his job, his relationship with his family and his heart.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters' concerns, reactions to the existing relationships and reactions to the new relationships were believable. I really related to Forbes because he is the oldest sibling in his family, used to taking care of his siblings and finds himself struggling to step back and let them handle things without him. The characters were empathetic and likable. The story moved quickly and kept me hooked until the end.

A Case for Love is the third book in Kaye Dacus' Brides of Benneterre, the first two being A Stand-in Groom and A Menu for Romance. I will be getting the first two books, some of the characters in the first two are in this book and I love books that have same characters, it is like visiting with old friends.

I just finished a charming book. Can a lawyer and his client fall in love and it not be a conflict of interests? Can said lawyer and client bring a suit against a company near and dear to the lawyer's heart? Can the client protect her professional image and rescue her family at the same time? Can two people learn to let go of the things they want to control and allow God's grace to work through all circumstances? Read A Case For Love to find out.

Kaye Dacus created two endearing characters from strong families in this book. You will find yourself routing for Alaine Delacroix's family not to lose everything, while hoping Forbes' family retains unity and their integrity. Both goals are lofty and clearly at odds with each other. Travel with Alaine and Forbes as they learn to let go of their control and turn everything over to God. Within the pages fo this book love story and faith story merge. Beware: When you get to the last one hundred pages, you'll not want to put it down until the end. º

I have read all three books in this series and truely loved them all. I couldn't put them down. I loved Learning more about Forbes in this book. He became someone believable and likeable when you didn't expect it. I will continue to read whatever Kaye Dacus writes..Love her books. Each book has something unexpected. I absolutely recommend them!