Short Take Reviews: Small Town Romance Edition

 

Fall With Me

by Brooke Montgomery

Series: Sugarland Creek #3

Published: 5/29/2024

Goodreads

4.25 stars

✔ Grumpy x Sunshine (she's the grump)

✔ Frenemies to Lovers

✔ Six Year Age Gap

✔ She Can't Stand Him (but he's Obsessed)

✔ Family Saga Series

I've been loving the Sugarland Creek series since its prequel (Come With Me) and each book has focused on one of the close-knit Hollis siblings. In this instance, it was Landen and did he have a time with Ellie. Her outright hostility did nothing to diminish his feelings for her. When a barrel racing accident left her with some short term memory loss, and she showed interest in Landen, he was torn but ultimately saw his chance - and hoped that if/when her memory returned, her new feelings for him would override whatever animosity she once had. If you love a guy who falls first, you'll love Landen and his unwavering feelings (and patience!) for Ellie. It's worth mentioning that, as with the previous books in the series, the prologue is truly heartbreaking as it sets up a significant event in Landen's past. Montgomery provides trigger warnings and also notes that the prologue can be skipped. 

The One I Left Behind

by Piper Rayne

Series: Plain Daisy Ranch #1

Published: 5/14/2024

Goodreads

4 stars

✔ Second Chance Romance

✔ Single Mom

✔ Retired Football Player

✔ Return to Hometown

✔ Former High School Sweethearts

Ben and Gillian had plans for their future. Ben was headed to college on a football scholarship and once he was drafted by the NFL they would marry and start their life together. Instead, their relationship foundered under the strain of separation and the break-up had a lasting impact on them both. Gillian is now a single mother and Ben has returned to his small Nebraska hometown to help on the family ranch. It was obvious there was unfinished business between these two characters and Gillian was understandably hesitant to revisit the past and go down that road again. Even so, these two seemed to rekindle their relationship awfully fast for two people who had been apart for fourteen years. That could have been a stumbling block, but I found the characters to be so likable that I was willing to go with the flow and just enjoy the ride. A highlight for me was the side story with Gillian's son and his relationship with Ben. There was some animosity there (on the boy's side) and I appreciated the way Ben didn't push and eventually earned his respect. The great cast of secondary characters and a set-up for the second book has me more than ready to continue the series.

Do you enjoy small town romance?

Review: Always Only You by Chloe Liese

ALWAYS ONLY YOU

Chloe Liese

Series: Berman Brothers #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Released: July 25, 2020

Source: Hoopla Audiobook

Rating: 4.25 stars

Ren

The moment I met her, I knew Frankie Zeferino was someone worth waiting for. Deadpan delivery, secret heart of gold, and a rare one-dimpled smile that makes my knees weak, Frankie has been forbidden since the day she and I became coworkers, meaning waiting has been the name of my game—besides, hockey, that is.

I’m a player on the team, she’s on staff, and as long as we work together, dating is off-limits. But patience has always been my virtue. Frankie won’t be here forever—she’s headed for bigger, better things. I just hope that when she leaves the team and I tell her how I feel, she won’t want to leave me behind, too.

Frankie

I’ve had a problem at work since the day Ren Bergman joined the team: a six foot three hunk of happy with a sunshine smile. I’m a grumbly grump and his ridiculously good nature drives me nuts, but even I can’t entirely ignore that hot tamale of a ginger with icy eyes, the perfect playoff beard, and a body built for sin that he’s annoyingly modest about.

Before I got wise, I would have tripped over myself to get a guy like Ren, but with my diagnosis, I’ve learned what I am to most people in my life—a problem, not a person. Now, opening my heart to anyone, no matter how sweet, is the last thing I’m prepared to do.

Move over all you other book boyfriends, there’s a new man in town. Ren Bergman might very well top the list when it comes to sweet, sexy, humble, swoony, cinnamon rolls. Ren delivered the goods in Always Only You and I was so there for it.

This slow burn romance gave me all the feels. Ren was an absolute sweetheart. A guy from a big family, who still felt the scars from his nerdy high school years, and had been secretly pining for Frankie for three years. Past experience had Frankie keeping most people at a distance but she was far from cold or unfeeling. Frankie was on the autism spectrum and also dealt with chronic arthritis. It was interesting to see through Frankie’s filter, but this was not a story about an autistic character. It was about two people falling in love and one of them just happened to be autistic.   

These characters had such heart and, even when I didn’t agree with their choices, I pulled hard for them and wanted to see them get what they wanted and deserved. I loved the way Ren looked out for Frankie and tried to help without being overbearing. I loved the way Frankie called Ren Zenzero. I laughed every time Ren came up with another pet name for Frankie. I got teary over Frankie’s scenes with Ren’s sister, Ziggy. And I loved every minute with the big, boisterous Bergman clan.

HAVE YOU READ THE BERGMAN BROTHERS SERIES?

YOU CAN FIND ALWAYS ONLY YOU HERE:

GOODREADS | AMAZON