Finding Liberty

B. E. Baker

Apr 2019 · The Finding Home Series Book 5 · Purple Puppy Publishing

About this ebook

★ There are some wounds time just can’t heal. ★

Brekka Thornton is headed for Olympic fame and glory until a car accident destroys all her plans. She redirects her efforts toward conquering the business world with her brother Trig, closing the door on her old life without a backward glance. She’s happy working with him—hacking up companies and rearranging the pieces becomes a new way of life.

Until Trig confesses that he’s moving to Atlanta.

For the first time, Brekka considers an experimental surgery that could restore the use of her legs. She doesn’t want to be left behind, not again, not by the one person she really loves.

But is it worth the risk for a chance to walk again? Can Brekka accept her past and embrace her future? Or will her fear cost her everything that matters?

Finding Liberty was a Quarter Finalist in the BookLife Prize.

And Publisher's Weekly said, that: 

[Finding Liberty] has a serious emotional core. The story of two individuals recovering from injury and trauma, and redirecting their lives, is memorable. Baker’s prose is warm, engaging, and fresh, and the voices of her protagonists are both distinctive and immediately captivating.

Baker brings a unique and welcome level of depth to her primary characters. As such, their romance carries greater meaning and momentum. The leads are immensely sympathetic, and their chemistry is undeniable.

Keywords: clean contemporary romance, romantic comedy, clean rom com, sweet contemporary romance, clean romantic comedy, billionaire romance, clean billionaire romance, hilarious romantic fiction, romantic women's fiction, clean love story, beach read, clean beach read, be baker, finding home series, complete romance series, binge a series, finding series, bridget baker, women's fiction, family saga, small town romance, wheelchair, wheelchair girl, wheelchair user, disability romance, romance, love story, book club fiction, robyn carr, pamela kelley, jan moran, lilly mirren, elin hilderbrand, rachel hanna, Danielle Steele, Julie Garwood, Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Carolyn Brown.

Ratings and reviews

This is the fourth book in this companion series, and I think it's the best one yet. I loved both Brekka and Rob. They are now my favorite characters in the whole series. Brekka dealing with her disability, and the things Rob went through as well, gave this book added depth and meaning that the other books didn't have. Don't get me wrong though, those books were good. I enjoyed them very much, and although they are escapism, they each had their own deeper meaning that is eventually revealed. This one however, was just special. I actually got emotional a couple of times while reading it. There were a few times where the characters don't communicate with each other as well as they should have, but I've come to accept that this is standard procedure for the romance genre, so it doesn't bother me as much as it used to. It may have been done fewer times here, but I felt like it worked to illustrate Brekka's insecurities, which I thought were very realistically written. I've read very few books that feature a main character who is disabled and reading this one made me want to find more of them. All the characters from the previous books are revisited in this book at some point, as they are all gathering for the wedding of Geo and Trig from book two, Finding Cupid. Trig, being Brekka's brother is in the book quite a bit. He is my least favorite character from the series, mainly because he has a lot to learn. I will say that he had me very annoyed at certain points in this book, but he also does end up learning a few things that make him more likable. And even though he annoyed me, I could also understand his misguided efforts where his sister is concerned. Sometimes it's easy to be too protective of the people we love. Overall this was a great read and I highly recommend it.

Brekka is different. While other girls worry over their bodies or what they’ll do with their lives, she has perfect confidence and a clear vision. As one of the best skiiers in the world, she’s headed straight to the top. Until she isn’t, thanks to a devastating car crash. Now she’s different, but not in the way she wanted. And while she has anything money can buy and is a respected businesswoman, she feels incomplete, like her life is on hold. She’s never met anyone who sees past the wheelchair and the money and the false confidence…until she meets Rob. Rob doesn’t stare at her handicaps with pity, or at her money with greed. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, he may just be her perfect match. But Rob loves nothing more than fixing broken things, whether furniture or people. Does he truly love Brekka, or does he just want to fix her? And can he overcome his own insecurities so that he can be there for her? This is a beautifully written book that skillfully touches on tough themes. Fear, feelings of inadequacy, difficult decisions, and ultimately acceptance of one’s self as whole and beautiful. Rob may be my favorite male lead of the series so far because of his consistent, loving pursuit of whatever is best for Brekka. He’s not pushy or overbearing or mindlessly devoted. He just loves her deeply, putting her first always and helping her work through her problems so that she can be her best self. His amazing creativity helps her navigate the world, but more importantly he helps her realize how much she can do and that she is still herself. As he tells her brother, “People aren’t stronger or weaker because they’re dealing with a disability. They’re who they are.”

So, I loved this story. It was more than just a feel-good romance. I really liked the characters (which were introduced in Baker's earlier books in the Finding Home series) and getting to see them as more three dimensional made me love them even more. A lot of depth in this book but it is still a romance story at the heart of it if that is what you are looking for. Rob is a marine veteran, still in amazing shape, not poor by usual standards, but Brekka could use $100 bills for toilet paper and never run out. A change from the usual man being the billionaire trust fund baby attraction. Brekka is actually brilliant with a spicy attitude to top it off. She is a wheelchair user due to an accident. Rob sees HER, not the chair, not a disability, not a sob story to be pitied, not a project to polish up and display. How can you not swoon? It's such a sweet story and the details well researched. So far my favorite of the series!

About the author

Bridget won her first writing contest in first grade with a story about a day in the life of a little spot of air. (Who says you need a good hook?)  

She hasn't stopped writing (or talking) since then, although she was briefly derailed by her pursuit of a legal career. Ultimately, boring words, well, bored her. She quit her job to spend less time counting gobs of ill gotten gains, and more time writing stories. 

She loves her husband and all five of her kids (most days). She has a yappy dog and a bouncy dog, three goofy horses, a demanding cat, two lion's head rabbits, and more chickens than she cares to admit. (Chicken math is REAL!) Every day is a battle between playing with kids, riding her horse Leo, and writing. If her publication speed has slowed down, you can blame the kids and the horse.

She makes cookies all the time, and thinks they should have their own food group. In a possibly misguided attempt at balancing the scales between overconsumption and exertion, she kickboxes every day. So if you don't like her kids, her cookies, or her books, maybe don't tell her in person.

Please sign up for her newsletter on her website at: www.BridgetEBakerWrites.com!