4.5 stars.

Baby, It's You is a heartfelt and engaging addition to Jane Graves' delightfully charming Rainbow Valley series. In this outing, opposites attract when runaway bride Kari Worthington ends up at Marc Cordero's vineyard. Although they are at very different places in their lives, they find it impossible to resist their sizzling passion for one another. But with Kari deciding to put down roots and Marc equally determined to leave is there any chance of a future for this seemingly mismatched couple?

Kari is fun-loving and impulsive but there is a surprising amount of depth to her character. Growing up the only daughter of a wealthy businessman, Kari has subdued much of her vibrant personality in her efforts to gain her emotionally distant father's approval. She has a long history of taking the easy of way out, but once she runs away from her wedding, Kari is forced to not only stand up for herself, but also stand her own two feet for the first time in her life.

Following his father's death, Marc took on the responsibility of caring for his siblings while running the family business and raising his daughter Angela on his own. With Angela finally off to college, the carefree life he has been longing for is finally within his grasp. Marc is quite logical, viewing the world in black and white and Kari's arrival brings a bit of chaos to his well-ordered life.

With his new responsibility free life, Marc is very reluctant to have another person depending on him even for a short time, so he is eager for Kari to leave town. She steadfastly refuses to return to her former life and she eventually persuades him to help her out temporarily. Their relationship heats up fairly quickly and with neither of them looking for lasting commitment, Marc and Kari agree to a new strings fling. As Marc's departure date draws near, they are reluctant to end their relationship but unexpected complications quickly jeopardize their future.

Baby, It's You is an emotional journey of self-discovery for both Kari and Marc. Their romance is surprisingly sweet yet full of passion. The intriguing glimpses of Marc's siblings (especially his sister Nina) leave me hopeful that Jane Graves is planning to feature them in upcoming installments of the Rainbow Valley series.

Although Baby, It's You is the second book of the Rainbow Valley series, it can be read as a standalone. ( )

A bride running away at the alter is always a fun story and the ending was good but I didn't warm up to the heroine. I never felt she matured. Both heroine and hero's personalities were so deep rooted it's hard to imagine they changed so easily at the end. Runaway bride Kari ends up at Marc's door drenched and dirty.
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