Stirring Up Trouble (Pine Mountain #3) by Kimberly Kincaid

Book Blurb:

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Sloane Russo's turned a decade of crazy jobs and whimsical travel into a career writing steamy novels set in exotic places. Trouble is, Sloane's flat broke now—and she can't channel sun-drenched beaches in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The only fast cash in town comes with some seriously distracting temptation: Gavin Carmichael, hot, handsome and oh-so-hard-headed.

Gavin isn't the impulsive Don Juan of Sloane's novels. He's raising his thirteen-year-old half-sister, and he's pretty sure he's supposed to act like he's never heard of fun. Sloane is way too sexy and irresponsible to be his idea of a good tutor for Bree, but the unpredictable anti-nanny may be irresistible as well... 

My review:

I really enjoyed this visit back to Pine Mountain.  

Sloane and Gavin could not be more different personality wise, but that doesn't stop the spark between them from flaring!  Kimberly does a great job writing these two characters, building their relationship and smouldering a romance between them.  Sloane and Gavin are brought together in an unusual way...he hires her to 'babysit' his 13 year old sister Bree.  Gavin is not too sure about Sloane to start with, but he takes the chance.  Gavin and Sloane are both struggling with aspects of their lives, and neither of them has plans to settle down with anyone.  Sloane has never met the right person, and Gavin has no time for romance right now.  Sloane doesn't plan to stay in Pine Mountain, but while she's there the pull Gavin and her feel becomes impossible to resist.  There is great chemistry between them, but they have very different life plans.  What happens when it's time for her to move on?

I really liked how different Sloane and Gavin were and how they came together, complementing each other very well.  Sloane is doing what she loves to do - writing romance novels for a living.  Her heart hurts because her family is not supportive of her, but she does what is best for her.  I love that quality in a heroine!  Sloane is definitely her own person with her own ideas.  She is strong and independent, she tends to go with the flow of her life.  Gavin is not a man to go with the flow!  He is much more structured, has strong opinions, and is at times very rigid in his ideas/opinions.  This made their professional and personal relationship very tricky and interesting!  At times entertaining, but at other times serious, Kimberly gives us a great mix just like real life in Stirring Up Trouble, and I really liked Sloane and Gavin.  Their differences will either push them apart or help each other grow.

Bree is a very strong secondary character and I really, really liked how Sloane was with Bree...although she's never had kids, the connection she develops and the caring she has for Bree is so obvious and touching.  I enjoyed watching this relationship evolve as much as I enjoyed watching Sloane and Gavin's!  Bree's struggles are so sad at times and my heart broke for her.  I think Kimberly wrote all of her characters realistically, and I felt like they could be anyone I know.

Kimberly keeps a good balance between light hearted and serious issues in Stirring Up Trouble as she explores family dynamics, death and love and how it affects the lives of Sloane, Gavin, and Bree.

Stirring Up Trouble is part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone.  I love the small town setting of Pine Mountain, even if we didn't see a lot of it.  The focus is on the relationship of Sloane, Gavin and Bree, and it works well.

I'd recommend Stirring Up Trouble to any contemporary romance reader!

4/5 stars!

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