Anything for You (The Blue Heron Series Book 5)

Ever since we learn of Connor's "mysterious woman" in Waiting On You, I really wanted his story.

Ever since Jessica Dunn was first on page in The Best Man, I knew I wanted her to get an HEA.

I should have put these two together in my mind a lot sooner than I did, but alas, I didn't. So when I first read the blurb for this book I thought two things: "Of course" and "Yay!".

The backstory: Connor O'Rourke has loved Jessica Dunn for years, first from afar and later in a secret boyfriend kind of way. Connor has determined that after ten years, it's time to make their relationship public and official. So he asks Jessica to marry him.

Jessica Dunn has way too much on her plate to even think about marriage. She has her brother to take care of, plus a lot going on at work. So she turns Connor down figuring things will keep going on as they have for ten years now. But this time Connor is not taking it. This time, it's all or nothing. But as these two quickly find out, fate keeps putting them together, but will it ever be enough?

I think Anything for You is right in line with Waiting on You as being my favorite of this series. Truly, this is very apt seeing as how Waiting on You is Colleen's book (Connor's twin). Those O'Rourkes.

Learning about Jessica's past was truly heart-breaking at times, but because we see what she's been through, her character stands out even stronger for getting to where she is today. Living in a house (as opposed to the trailer she grew up in), having a job she loves and excels at and, when she's with Connor, being happy. But her responsibilities also get in her way because she feels like there's only so much she can take for herself and the rest has to be given to other people.

I loved Connor through and through. Even though he doesn't deserve to be brushed off by Jessica, I still like that he sticks around. He understands what she has to deal with on a daily basis. I like that he never gives up on her, even though he might get frustrated at times.

Anything for You really caps off this series nicely. All the previously featured couples / characters are seen in some way, shape, or form and their lives are moving along nicely. When I finished I really felt like this was a send off. I have no idea if Kristan Higgins has any more stories to tell about Blue Heron or the people in Manningsport. If she does, I will gladly welcome more. I will take small updates about these characters any day of the week. But if she doesn't, I feel like all these characters and stories have been rounded out very nicely, and there has been no shortage of laughing and tears as I've read them, and Anything for You is no different.

I think if you've enjoyed other books by Kristan Higgins or other books in this series, you'll definitely enjoy this one.

But don't worry if you've picked this particular book up on a whim, you'll be able to follow along nicely. But hopefully, you'll feel just as drawn to these characters as I have felt over the course of this series and you'll pick up the rest of the books. They are all well worth your while.

Kristan Higgins never fails to tell a fresh story, as proved by the interesting beginnings to her novels. In the long-awaited tale of Connor O’Rourke, (twin of Colleen, who we met in Waiting on You) she begins with Connor getting his proposal of marriage denied rather bluntly. To say that Jessica Dunn is not a likeable heroine in that first chapter is an understatement—she utterly shatters the hero, Connor. At this point, I paused in my reading (an accomplishment, as I gobble down Higgins’ books like they’re candy) and wondered… how is she going to do it? How is she going to make me like this woman who walked coldly away from a man who clearly loves her so very much?

She manages this with a shockingly pleasing combination of flashbacks and flash forwards, a technique I’m not usually fond of, but it really works in this piece. Once we get a good look at the whole relationship, the line between good guy and bad guy blurs to the point of being invisible. Soon, I found myself rooting for them to work it out because, although they were human and both made their mistakes, they clearly needed one another in a way that no other would ever quite fit.

As with most of the books in the Blue Heron, (and a lot of her books, in general) the cast of secondary characters planted me comfortably back in the middle of small town life. From the familiar and beloved Holland family to the newly introduced Dunn family, each seemed like people you’d meet and known in your day-to-day life. Higgins did an especially good job with Jessica’s little brother—Davey—in presenting a realistic kid with special needs. As a parent of special needs kiddos, I can vouch for the fact they can drive you to distraction. Surviving meltdowns and so many doctor visits can leave a parent or caregiver worn down, tired, and not sure how they’re going to make it to tomorrow.

With Jessica being so young when she took on this burden, it isn’t surprising to see her have hollowed out moments when she’s not sure what to do next or if she’s mucking it all up, yet Higgins found the joyful moments, too. The fact that kids who see things in a different way share that unique view with their loved ones—tiny snippets of slowing things down and enjoying the truly little moments. The love for this sister had for her brother was heartrending and exceptionally well-written.

As to the romance? Sizzling. It is clear from very early on that Connor and Jessica share a fiery hot connection and that their friendship never took a back burner to that passion really cemented their bond for me as a reader. Connor is what we’d all like to find in a man—solid, sexy, smart, the heart of a marshmallow hidden in a gruff manly exterior, kind, and all in all just a GOOD guy. I fell madly and deeply in love with him and ugly cried when Connor said, “You’re gonna do great, sister mine.” I won’t spoil the scene as to why he said that to Colleen, but that scene… in Connor’s work kitchen?

Yeah, I bawled.

But that is the magic of a Higgins book. She’s never let me down. I laugh out loud. I bawl the kind of cleansing tears that actually make you feel better after they’re shed. I look at the whole world with a little bit of hope that maybe there is good out there.

We live in a dark and scary time, full of things that are upsetting and waken all those dark creeping thoughts in our minds and imaginations. This book, as with many of her stories, managed to bring light and a little bit of joy to me. I highly, highly recommend this book to those who like happy endings. To those who like falling in love. And to those who maybe need to be reminded that it isn’t where you come from, it is all about where you’re going and who you pick to make the trip with.

Simply said, I loved this book and I think you might, too.

I enjoyed this book. Overall, the characters are slight tropes and I got a little exhausted with how stunningly beautiful they both were, and how frequently it was repeated that they were both just so freaking drop-dead gorgeous (why are you poor then!? go model!) that no one could resist them, but I know that it comes with the territory. Particularly, what I liked about this was the angst and the chemistry. Jess and Connor have known each other all their lives, and while she has spent most of her time protecting her disabled younger brother and her "dark," trailer-park past, he is a wealthy kid with "only" divorced-parent drama. I found Jessica to be exhausting at times, mainly because the author hadn't picked a totally convincingly debilitating disease for her younger brother, so her obsession with the brother's care felt forced. However, the drawn-out drama between Jess and Connor was truly well done. The author teases the reader with some great sex scenes and emotions, and then weaves a merry web around the characters. I genuinely understood and felt the connection between Connor and Jess, and he seemed to admire her for facets other than her beauty. And though the sick brother was an overused plot-device, it served a nice purpose of fleshing out Jessica's character and giving her strength and resilience. With smart, snappy dialogue, some nicely backboned supporting characters, and an approachable, elegant prose, this book is definitely worth your time.

"Connor Michael O'Rourke fell in love with Jessica Dunn when he was twelve years old. The feeling was not mutual."

FINAL DECISION: Emotional and at times heartbreaking, this is the story of a man who is willing to wait and care for the woman he loves, even when she turns from him again and again. A story that spans decades, I love how Higgins brings to life this small town with all the complexities and relationships involved and gives readers a hero that is imminently loveable.

THE STORY: Connor O'Rourke has loved Jessica Dunn for years. She never looked at him until they were adults. Then they have been involved in a secret on again off again relationship. As the book begins, Connor asks Jessica to marry him and she says no. Finally, he has had enough of her pushing him away. But the truth is that he has loved her for so long that he doesn't know how to do anything else. At the same time, Jessica begins to realize that Connor has always been there for her. What will she do if he isn't there any longer?

OPINION: When I read a Kristan Higgins book, I am always surprised by how much I like them. The plots themselves tend to be straightforward and simple, but the execution and depth that she brings to the characters, the emotions and the relationships are incredibly moving.

As readers follow the story of Connor and Jess, it seems that they are destined to be star-crossed or cursed. Over and over again, they seem to be getting close and then events tear them apart. The beauty of the story is that ulitmately, Jess has to make the decision to trust in the future and not allow them to be torn apart.

I found Jess to be a frustrating heroine because she is difficult to get close to. The daughter of alcoholic parents, she had to handle things far too young and did it far too poorly at times. In a lovely manner, the motivations behind Jess's decisions become clear. There are no excuses here, merely understanding and compassion. Being the "slut" in high school, Jess has poor self-esteem and sacrifices herself again and again for those she loves. For years, she has been the parent of her mentally challenged brother in a relationship that is filled with love and guilt and selfish need. HIggins has thoughtfully set out this complex relationship. There are no simple answers here and that is what makes it great.

In compensation for the difficult heroine, Higgins has given readers one of the most adorable heroes ever. Kindhearted and caring, Connor has always been there for Jess -- even when she rejected him. He deeply cares for those around him and is incredibly patient with Jess. Friend, lover, companion -- Connor is willing to be whatever Jess will allow him to be in her life. Thankfully, Higgins has given Connor a complicated and difficult relationship with his father who has a new family of his own. This keeps Connor from being too perfect and also his neglectful father is part of the motivation for Connor being so dedicated to others.

This book spans decades and there is no single moment when things become perfect for these two. Instead, this book is about working through problems, believing in one another and taking the leap of faith even when things go wrong again and again.

WORTH MENTIONING: Fans of the series will enjoy the small updates on the locals including the couples from the previous books in the series.

CONNECTED BOOKS: ANYTHING FOR YOU is the fifth book in the Blue Heron series. Although this book is connected with the other books in the series, it can be read as a standalone as everything you need to know is in this book.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

I recently ‘discovered’ Higgins while looking for a book with a setting at a beach- and fell in love with her witty and charming way of telling a story. After the first read I went searching for my next Higgins book and found the Blue Heron Series— and fell more in love with her style of writing. I give five out of five stars for her writing style, her continuity of the family storyline. You will not be disappointed with any of the books in the series. We cant wait to read more Kristan Higgins books!

I do feel the need to be a little nit picky, though. We know the area of Keuka Lake and the Finger Lakes. I live less than 45 minutes from the town Manningsport is based on - at the end of the lake. The Finger Lakes are not in Western New York. They are their own area- The Finger Lakes Region. Keuka Lake is in fact the Crooked Lake- but I don't often hear it addressed as that as a name- just a description. Also, other lakes are not called Lake Canandaigua (as it was addressed in one of the books). All have lake at the end of their names. It was nice to read familiar names of nearby towns like Geneva and Corning. Please note the Finger Lakes are closer to Rochester and Syracuse than to Buffalo. New York City is a good four to five hours away…

Many won’t understand why I felt it necessary to bring these points up. I guess I am so excited to have the area promoted in the literary world and hope the portrayal of Finger Lakes Wine Country makes readers want to visit. There’s lots to do in the area and other great parts of New York State.

There's just something about Kristan Higgins' contemporary romances that make me smile. Actually, it's everything about her romances. They're filled with fun situations and characters. They always make me laugh and smile. Anything for You continued the tradition.

In Anything for You, we get a look at the secret romance that's been going on for years (I know! I couldn't believe it either!) between the town's favorite chef Connor O'Roarke and bad girl Jessica Dunn.

Connor's never wanted to keep their relationship a secret, but Jessica's had her reasons and he's respected that. Now, he's ready to take things to the next step. He's going to ask her to marry him and show her means forever.

But Jessica doesn't want to get married...or does she? She says no, but watching Connor's twin Colleen work her matchmaking magic has Jessica reconsidering her answer.

It was so much fun to go back in time and watch Connor and Jessica fall in love. I loved Connor's ability to see the good in Jessica and look past her high school bad reputation. The way he supported and stood up for her made me swoon. His patience with Jessica over the years was just so sweet!

Getting know Jessica was my favorite part, though. She's always just been the mean girl who slept around in most of the Blue Heron series. It was nice to see another side of her, the side of why she does what she does. Her relationship with her brother was so touching. I loved her want to protect him.

Anything for You was just so much fun to read! I absolutely loved it. There was just the right amount of humor mixed in with the more serious aspects of the story. I loved learning more about Connor and Jessica, while still getting to see some of my favorite characters from past books. I also loved meeting a few new characters, too. (Lady Fluffy might just be my favorite new character in the series!)

If you love contemporary romances, the Blue Heron series is one I highly recommend. All of them could be read as standalone romances, but they're even more entertaining when read in order.

Anything for You is another heartfelt installment in Kristan Higgins’ marvelous Blue Heron series. Beginning with Connor O’Rourke’s ill-fated marriage proposal to his on again/off again secret girlfriend Jessica Dunn, the novel follows the couples’ rocky relationship through its twenty year history.

Despite their ups and downs over the years, Connor’s love for Jessica has never waned. He has abided by all of her rules and although she is the one who puts the brakes on their relationship, he has never asked or expected more of her than she is willing to give. But all of that changes when she rejects his marriage proposal. Vowing this is the last time he will let Jessica walk away from him, Connor finally asks his twin sister Colleen to work her matchmaking magic for him. After suffering through a couple of miserable blind dates, Connor quickly reaches the conclusion that he would rather be single than live without the woman he loves and he eventually reunites with Jessica yet again. Will this reunion be their last? Or will Jessica’s fears continue to come between them?

Connor fell hard for Jessica when he was twelve years old but their lives took them in very different directions. He is a professional chef who co-owns a popular pub with Colleen and while his relationship with his father is distant, Connor is fairly well-adjusted and happy. Although he is a little gruff and sometimes grumpy, he is charming, kind-hearted and prefers to stay out of the limelight. He and Colleen are close but they hide their affection for one another behind sarcastic and witty banter. The only real problem in Connor’s life is his secret liaison with Jessica and he is hoping the marriage proposal will finally convince her to take their relationship seriously.

Jessica’s life is and, always has been, complicated. She is the sole caregiver for her mentally challenged younger brother, Davey (who just happens to HATE Connor). Their childhood was incredibly dysfunctional and she was forced to grow up way too fast since their alcoholic parents could barely care for themselves let alone their children. Jessica learned the hard way that she could not count on anyone else and she does not easily give her trust to anyone. Although she has finally left her trailer park roots behind her, she does not have any faith that her good fortune will continue and she is always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Davey comes first in her life and since he cannot stand Connor, Jessica is not even willing to consider Connor’s proposal and she is stunned when he tells her he is done being her secret lover.

Knowing that Jessica breaks Connor’s heart time and again, it is easy to assume she would be a difficult character to like. Fortunately, the flashbacks of their complex relationship offer incredible insight into her reasons for being unable to fully commit to him. The background information about her family explains her need to maintain an emotional distance. There is also residual guilt from her childhood that plays a major factor in her decision to always put Davey’s needs ahead of her own.

Anything for You is an emotional, poignant and heartwarming addition to the Blue Heron series. More than just a romance, the novel deals with serious issues such as alcoholism and fetal alcohol syndrome and Kristan Higgins deftly handles these sensitive topics with ease. The romance between Jessica and Connor is the perfect blend of heartache and hope and despite some frustration with both characters, seeing them finally find their happily ever after is immensely gratifying. An absolutely beautiful story of love and forgiveness that old and new fans of this outstanding series are sure to enjoy.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

Kristin Higgins’s books are always great reads for me. She has a knack for creating relatable characters and infusing her stories with a lot of humor and heart. This book has a little more depth than some of her other novels, though, and that moves it to my short list of favorites.

The leads in this book, Connor O’Rourke and Jessica Dunn, will already be familiar to readers of the other books in the Blue Heron series. Connor is a successful chef who has been in love with Jess for years. Jess, however, has never been able to really commit to being in a relationship with Connor, because of her past as a girl from the wrong side of the tracks and her need to protect her younger brother, Davey, who has fetal alcohol syndrome and who hates Connor because of something that happened when they were kids. When Connor pops the question during an on-again phase of their relationship, Jess panics and says no. But this time, Connor isn’t willing to accept the status quo and breaks their relationship off for good. With their long history, though, Connor and Jess are going to have a hard time giving each other up—and maybe they can find a way to work it out, after all . . .

I think whether or not readers like this book will depend on how they respond to Connor and Jess. Some readers might see Connor as something of a doormat. After all, he gives in to Jess when she insists that their relationship be a secret from everyone and keeps coming back every time she breaks it off with him. And Jess certainly does take advantage of Connor’s willingness to let her call the shots in their relationship, not a particularly nice thing to do.

I really sympathized with Jess, though. She had a hard childhood, and after basically raising herself, she has a difficult time trusting others, which I thought made her reluctance to trust in Connor and the strength of her relationship completely understandable. She lives for her brother, too, and a large part of her hesitation with Connor has to do with her inability to reconcile having both of them in her life. I also really didn’t see Connor as a doormat, either, but more of a man who was willing to accept the emotional problems that Jessica’s life has caused and to try to work with them. Or maybe I’m just a sucker for a hero who is willing to do anything for the woman he loves.

The one thing that didn’t quite work for me in this book was a sub-plot involving a new employee at the winery where Jess works. It just didn’t seem necessary to the story and was an odd distraction from the main plot. I wish Higgins had left that part out.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommended for fans of Higgins’s other novels or anyone who enjoys a contemporary romance with a rocky road to the HEA.

An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ms Higgins has a knack for comfy, cozy stories with truth and realism. And humor! This story about Conner O'Rourke and Jessica Dunn is no different. I really enjoyed it. Although they've loved each other since they were kids, life does get in the way. Jess' life has been all about raising her developmentally challenged younger brother, Davey. Her parents, both alcoholics. Her home, a dilapidated trailer. Her reputation.... well, her nick name is Jessica Does. Sounds funny, right?! Somehow, Ms Higgins can add humor to her stories without it feeling forced or inappropriate. I always LOVE this author's supporting characters. They are important to the storyline and all have defined personalities. At times, I could've strangled Jess. However, knowing and "feeling" her emotional background, I am sympathetic. You feel so badly for Conner. A man who could "have" any woman he chose, but who's heart belongs only to Jess. He has patience of a saint where Jess is involved. The only negative I can think of is I felt the book dragged just a bit towards the middle. (Minor!) While this can stand alone, I highly recommend reading the first 2 Blue Heron books. It will enhance your enjoyment. All in all, a lovely read that will stay with you.

Kristan Higgins' contemporary romances have been auto-buys for me for a long time, though it's been ages since I really loved one. However, they are always well-written, solidly entertaining, usually humorous, with likable characters and relate-able conflicts. <i>Anything for You</i> is in this same good-but-not-great vein.

Connor has been in love with Jessica since they were 12, when her dog bit his face. Unfortunately, Jessica has always had a lot of issues, some of which have followed her even into adulthood. Her parents were alcoholics, which kept their family dirt poor. Jessica's younger brother has fetal alcohol syndrome, and Jessica has always been the only one reliable enough to take care of him. Back in high school, Jessica slept around with the popular boys in order to get them to help look out for her brother, Davey, so he wouldn't be bullied. It's been almost 15 years since high school, and in all that time she's only ever slept with Connor, but her sullied reputation remains.

<i>Anything for You</i> begins with Jessica turning down Connor's marriage proposal. They've dated on the down low for ten years, but Connor wants to make it real, and Jessica doesn't want anything to change. Their on-again/off-again "friends-with-benefits" arrangement doesn't work for Connor anymore, and so when Jess turns him down, they split up. Connor briefly tries playing the field, but quickly comes to the realization that he doesn't want to be with anyone else, so he has to find a way to convince Jessica that she can have the white-picket-fence life he's offering.

Therein lay my problem with the book. I felt for Jessica, even as the whole story is set up that she's the one who needs to change, to come around to Connor's way of thinking. While reading, I'd get frustrated with Jessica's tendency to run hot-and-cold on Connor, to reject him when things get rough, to blow off his heartfelt proposal, and to get mad when he tries to win her over by winning over her brother, Davey. The reader is supposed to feel, and does, like Jessica's being unreasonable in not giving Connor a chance.

Stepping out of that romance-reader mindset where the ultimate goal is happily ever after, though, when I think about this book with a more liberal, feminist perspective, I'm more skeptical. Why should Jessica have to change? She's been saving to buy her own house for her whole life; why should she give up that dream just because Connor already has a house? Yes, their ten-year arrangement of sneaking around together is untenable, and something has to change, but is Connor's proposal of marriage and happy-ever-after in his house with the white picket fence really the only option?

In the end, I was happy enough with where the story ended up, but I was uncomfortable during the journey, because Jessica was being pushed into the marriage-and-picket-fence-lifestyle that is not necessarily right for her. I was not happy with the epilogue, but I often think books are better without that schmaltzy scene tacked on at the end.