Crossing Promises is about building a legacy when the odds are stacked against success. What begins as a means to an end becomes a complication that Owen and Cate never counted on. His life is the land that he nurtures and the family that keeps him sane. Her priorities are moving past grief and debt to find happiness again. Simple is what they both want, but the heart has a way of shaking things up in the most surprising of ways. Kimberly Kincaid is a master at creating a reason to smile. Her stories proved that as long as there's faith, the heart will help a lost soul find it's way home. ( )

Oh, Owen. Even though I haven't read his brothers' stories (yet!) I warmed immediately to the strong relationship between him and his brothers and father (and half-sister). I really, really wanted him to get his own HEA, especially since everyone around him was pairing off and he was starting to feel the effects.

Enter Cate. The two of them worked really well together, both in the management of the farm and in the other ventures that Owen talked her into. I loved that Cate found such a great outlet in her baking, and thought that the two of them were fantastic together...except for Cate's issues with commitment, the reasons for which she initially only touched on briefly, with a fuller explanation coming later--much, much, much later. And that's where the story lost it a bit, I thought.

Cate's keeping something huge from Owen, and it comes out all at once at about the 94% mark. She's made a choice about her life--one that was totally hers to make, I'm not questioning that--but it's a major one, and she doesn't bring it up until that particular point in time? Then in about a hot minute, Owen has to decide that the compromising is going to be all on him, and he's okay with it? It all made the ending feel more than rushed--surely there could have been some further conversation and compromise there, at the very least? Honestly, Cate's "I'm not the woman for him, I can't possibly do commitment" attitude throughout was annoying, but it was at that point that she really lost a good chunk of credibility for me, and the story's rating slipped a bit. Still, Owen did get his HEA in the end, and I really enjoyed reading 90%+ of the book, so...

Rating: 3 1/2 stars / B-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. ( )

Do you agree with every choice your family or friends make? Of course not. Does it make you think? Of course. That's the basis of this story. Owen is the oldest & is working to reimagine the farm & make it the success his mother dreamed of before she died.

"Family and Farm, Owen. Never forget how important they both are. Never forget..."

The work is hard & never ending but he loves it. He's taking the farm in new ways but he has one large hang up - paperwork. None of them like to do it but aren't sure what to do about it.

Enter Cate McAllister. Cate is in debt up to her eyeballs through no fault of her own. The marriage everyone thought was perfect was a sham. After her husband & daughter were killed, Cate found out how deep of a hole her husband had put them in. Now, 2 years later, the town still looks upon her as "poor Cate" but they have no idea how poor she is. After she had a conversation with Owen at the dinner, she convinced him to hire her to be his bookkeeper.

Kimberly Kincaid has written a story with two exceptionally strong characters that know what they want in life & pursue it. The chemistry between Cate & Owen is intense & all consuming. The sex is hot & uncompromising. The supporting characters are all well defined from the heart of gold busybody Clementine to the snarky sarcastic half sister of Owen's, Marley. The plot allows the reader to learn everything Owen & Cate hold dear at a decent speed except one secret. This book is not for the person who dislikes sex in the open (definitely not behind closed doors!) or dirty language. However, I personally really enjoyed it. I hope Marley gets her own book. There's a story there begging to be told! ( )

Crossing Promises by Kimberly Kincaid
Cross Creek #3

Three brothers raised on Cross Creek Farm do their best to continue the family legacy. Not having read the first two books I did catch on to the fact that Eli met Scarlett and the two took off to work together as journalists but will return to work the farm in the future AND that Hunter and Emerson had a book telling their love story and will marry before the end of this book.

This is the story of Owen, the eldest brother. He is committed to the farm, runs it in most ways and has a vision for the farm that he is working hard to implement. His brother Hunter and he work hard with their father to get everything done even when the list of things to do is endless. Owen, with two brothers in committed relationships, begins to feel a bit jealous BUT doesn’t want to settle for just anyone so…he waits.

Cate McAllister was widowed three years before the story begins. She is holding down two part time jobs and when restless she bakes. The more troubled she becomes the more difficult the recipe is that she tackles. Baking is her release and acts to calm and settle her soul as it also inspires her. She has always dreamed of owning her own bakery but life happened and it never has come to pass. With her finances and life in turmoil after the loss of her husband and daughter she is working hard and on the lookout for a third job when she overhears Owen talking to a friend about needing a book keeper. And, she finds herself offering to tackle the job.

Owen is taciturn, curmudgeonly and has a tongue that seems to twist in ways that makes what he wants to say come out a bit harsh. Cate is all for honesty although I have to say that her omission of something big kind of left me questioning her honesty a bit. The two work together well, find they play together well and manage to enhance one another’s lives. That said…there is a could-be deal breaker once Cate tells Owen something she has not shared earlier in their growing relationship…in spite of how well they communicate and get along together previously. I have known some people who have felt like Cate and made the choice she did in this book but I was a bit surprised at how easily Owen fell in line with Cate’s wishes.

This is a story of family and just what family is and is not and suggests the idea that not all families are a husband, wife and 2.5 children. It is also about supporting rather than pulling down, communication, honesty, changing family dynamics, determining what is truly important…and so much more.

Thank you to the author who bequeathed me a copy of this book through NetGalley – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars ( )