Review: "Breath of Fresh Heiress" by Pru Warren

Breath of Fresh Heiress: Not Your Typical Romantic Comedy by Pru Warren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a student at Rowley University, Grace McReady briefly made the acquaintance of rare books librarian Miss Violet Coopersmith, who helped her through a difficult situation. Seven years later, Grace is invited to a mysterious meeting at an upscale Manhattan law firm, where she learns that Miss C. has passed away, leaving bequests to Grace and two other young women who attended Rowley. Grace's inheritance is a large tract of land in rural western Tennessee, which includes a derelict old mansion called the River House. If she accepts, the property is hers to do with as she wishes, though the will stipulates that she must live there for a full year before she can sell. If she refuses the inheritance or fails to fulfill the terms of the will, the property will be sold immediately and the proceeds donated to Rowley. Grace decides to accept the inheritance and travels to Tennessee to see the property with her overbearing fiance, Kennett. Even though it has fallen into disrepair, she falls in love with the River House at first sight and becomes determined to make it her home, which puts a quick end to her engagement. Before she can move in, she'll have to figure out how to finance the needed renovations and find qualified contractors, a problem when the closest town, Catlett, has been slowly dying since its last remaining furniture factory closed.

Meanwhile, deputy county commissioner Rem Jackson has a plan to bring Catlett back to life, and it hinges on the River House estate. He's offered to accept the property from its owner in lieu of what's owed in back taxes so that the county can turn it into an outdoor recreation center, creating jobs and generating tourist revenue. The one thing he didn't plan for is Grace, who's determined to stay and manages to find a way around every obstacle that's thrown in her way. Rem's not giving up without a fight, however; he needs a win, and so does Catlett. When he unexpectedly begins to develop romantic feelings for Grace, will Rem be forced to choose between saving the town - and his own reputation - and the possibility of a future with the woman he can't stop thinking about?

This was such a fun story and I enjoyed it tremendously. I adored Grace and Rem's witty banter, as well as Grace's gradual realization that she didn't need anyone else to make decisions for her. She was capable of accomplishing so much on her own, and I was just as proud as she was when she managed to do things like get the plumbing working in the River House! I also enjoyed the mystery behind Grace's inheritance and trying to figure out why Miss C. thought the property was so valuable. The answer was totally unexpected, though there were clues I should have seen along the way. The author did a fantastic job of dropping subtle hints without giving too much away.

I highly recommend "Breath of Fresh Heiress" for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I'm jumping directly into book 2 of the series!

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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