Bella Andre – If you were mine

The fifth book in the Sullivans series, published May 9, 2012
Genre: contemporary romance
Cover: sweet but generic, my book has the white cover




Can two people who have both sworn off love find forever in each other's arms? Find out in IF YOU WERE MINE, the fifth book in Bella Andre's bestselling Sullivan family contemporary romance series.

The last thing Zach Sullivan wants is to take care of his brother's new puppy for two weeks. Until he meets the dog trainer, that is. Heather is bright, beautiful, and he can't stop thinking about her. Unfortunately, she just might be the only woman on earth who wants nothing to do with him. Heather Linsey can't believe she's stuck working with one of the city's top dogs, auto-shop tycoon Zach Sullivan. Especially when his focus is clear from the start - not only to learn how to deal with his temporary puppy...but also to make her his. Having sworn off love at seventeen when she realized it was nothing more than a pack of lies, Heather has stuck to her vow never to fall for a charming man. But as Heather's determination to push Zach away only fuels his determination to get closer - and the sensual and emotional connection between them grows more and more undeniable - will the biggest Sullivan bad boy of all tempt her into believing in love again?


To summarize, Bella Andre writes lovely hot contemporary romance, where two beautiful people are matched together and find their HEA in the end. Of course you can say that of almost all contemporary romances out there. Bella Andre just adds that little extra to the journey they take, to the characters and to the story that makes me want to read her books, and not others. The amazing Sullivan family perhaps, or in this story, the addition of two dogs that have fallen in love as well. The enormous Atlas, who is Heather’s dog, and the tiny puppy Cuddles, the dog Zach is saddled up with.

Cuddles needs training, and Heather is recommended to Zach as the perfect person for that job. Heather doesn’t trust men at all, thanks to her father, and a charmer like Zach who yells at his puppy, won’t do at all. But Zach won’t leave her alone. So many women are chasing him, and of course he wants the one that does not seem to want or even like him. A woman who hides her body instead of showing it off like everybody else. Who doesn’t mind getting muddy and who genuinely loves dogs.

In the end, Zach gains Heather’s trust, but he does not give her his own. And as Heather is strong enough to walk away from him and a chance at real love, Zach is not strong enough to let her go when he thinks it is for the best. After all, his whole live he has heard he is the spitting image of his father. The father who died so young and left his wife with 8 children to raise on her own. Isn’t he destined to do the same?

It is nice to witness the Sullivan’s family gatherings, and see the siblings and their spouses interact, and get caught up a little on the previous couples. Still, I did put this book away halfway through for a couple of weeks, as I was not all that interested anymore. They become friends, and friends with benefits, and promise not to fall in love, and of course you know they are doomed from the start. Add in Heather’s family coming over for a visit, and it became too predictable for me. Not even the dogs made me want to continue reading. But after some time I picked the book up again, was immediately back in the story, and now I am happy that I finished it. Heather did have more backbone than I gave her credit for, and the ending was really nice and well written.

So, give me the next book please, and the next gorgeous brother who will fall so very hard.

7 stars.

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian