REVIEW BY: Christie
TITLE: Catching Heir
SERIES: Dreamspun Desires, Book 23
AUTHOR: Julia Talbot
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 250 Pages
RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2016
BLURB:
Is he in love with an old hotel—or its new owner?
Professional snowboarder Cullen Patrick is successful and kinda famous. So when he inherits an old Colorado hotel from an unknown relative, he really should leave well enough alone.
Matt Nathanson has been managing the Treeline Estates since college. He loved the elderly former owner, and he stands to inherit the place if no one claims it in the next week. Of course, Cullen shows up, and Matt thinks it’s time to move on. He doesn’t want to like Cullen, no matter how engaging the guy is, or how hunky.
Cullen has grand ideas for the Treeline, but he doesn’t want to implement them without Matt, and he’s not sure he’s ready to give up snowboarding. Can Matt convince Cullen that putting down roots is worth it… and maybe catch his heir at the same time?
REVIEW:
So, I really enjoyed Catching Heir. A lot more than I thought I would, in fact. At first, I thought the concept was interesting but was unsure how the story would pan out. Oh wow, am I glad I read the book! It was super sweet, and one that I will definitely reread again in the near future.
Cullen is a semi famous professional snowboarder, who travels all around the world and competes in extreme sports games and showcases. He has a team of people managing, training, and even scheduling appearances for him, his life is so busy. Hopping from one hotel to another, to yet another, there is no room in his life for a relationship with anyone, much less extra responsibilities.
Then, Cullen Patrick hears that his estranged grandfather passed away, just shy of a year after it happened via a lawyer who tracked Cullen down because he was mentioned in the will. Turns out that Cullen’s grandfather owned a hotel and left it to him, with the proviso that the manager never be terminated and must always be consulted in regards to any changes made to the building and property. Sounds all fine and dandy, if not a bit stilted, right?
Matt Nathanson grew up in the hotel business and went to college all while living in Texas. He then was recruited right away after graduation to manage and run the Treeline Estates hotel in Colorado, where Matt became fast friends with the owner. In time, the owner’s health failed and continued to decline rapidly, and Matt took on the job of being the owner’s caretaker on top of remaining the hotel’s manager. It was a devastating blow when Matt lost his best friend, family of his heart, and boss all in one day, when the owner passed. But, one thing that helped soften the blow was finding out that the owner’s will stated that the hotel go to Matt if no grandson was found within one year of his passing, to take on ownership.
Just one week shy of the one year anniversary of the Treeline Estates hotel’s owner’s passing, Cullen Patrick seemed to turn up out of the blue to claim his inheritance. So, even tho Matt knew he could not be fired, he figured Cullen would not want him there anyway because he may get in the way of any plans the snowboarder had in mind in regards to the hotel our dear manager loved and cared for. And, trust me, Cullen has some very lofty plans in mind.
What are these lofty plans? Can Cullen talk Matt into staying? Can Cullen continue being a semi professional snowboarder and be a hands on hotelier? Will Matt even approve any of Cullen’s ideas in the first place? Honestly, do get the book and find out. I highly recommend it!
Catching Heir is a story of two people from seemingly opposite lifestyles (Cullen calls Matt stodgy at first, and Matt thinks Cullen is way too laid back), learning to work with each other, becoming friends, and then eventually finding out that they simply cannot live without one another. It’s very sweet, heartwarming, and left me feeling quite content upon finishing the book. There is no big dramatic scene, or any anxiety inducing situation, which in many books I feel needs to be there. However, Julia Talbot did such a lovely job weaving this story that it did not need any such situation. Honestly, do give it a chance. Who knows? You may just like it as much as I did.
RATING: 
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