Short Take Reviews: The Coppersmith Farmhouse, Cake, Until the End


Three books that run the gamut from good to fantastic. :)

  

Devney Perry is one of those author’s I’d been meaning to read for quite a while. And when I finally picked up The Coppersmith Farmhouse, I was so glad I did. I easily fell into the story from the very first page and was charmed by the characters and by the small town setting. Gigi was starting over in a new town after a beautiful, fully restored farmhouse was left to her. While she and Jess, the town’s sheriff, got off to a rocky start it was obvious these two belonged together. Their approach was very different – Jess could be like a bull in a china shop (hello bossy alpha hero) and often spoke and reacted without pausing to think how it might come across – and that led to some arguments and hurt feelings. But there was also great banter and a lot of chemistry and Jess and Gigi were open and honest with each other. In addition to the romance there was also a subplot concerning drug trafficking in the town that added an element of suspense. I’m not usually a fan of kids in my romance books but Gigi’s four-year-old daughter, Rowen, was a doll and the relationship she and Jess formed melted my heart. I loved the push and pull between Gigi and Jess, their sweet but steamy romance, and the secondary characters in the small town. I can’t wait to continue the series and I consider Devney Perry a new favorite!

Where has this book – and this author – been all my life?! I had this one sitting in my Audible library for a solid year before I finally listened to it and now I’m kicking myself. Because I seriously loved it. Casey and Jake met when they were paired together at a wedding and their connection was quick and believable. In Casey, Jake found someone who saw past the rock star label and liked him for himself. And in Jake, Casey felt the freedom to be herself and Jake seemed to “get” her like no one else did. Casey was a down-to-earth girl who found herself falling for a guy who just happened to be a rock star. But Jake wasn’t just a rock star, he was also the guy who was known for being abducted as a kid and living to tell the tale. Except he doesn’t tell the tale – he shuts that part of his life out and refuses to talk about it. However, he carries scars from that experience, both physical and emotional, and they threaten any future he and Casey might have together.

I loved Casey and Jake’s journey and fell for their story hook, line and sinker. Bengtsson took the story deeper and darker than I expected and it made for an emotional reading experience, without ever dipping into melodrama. I shed some tears during this one, but it also provided plenty of humor and heart. The narration by Andi Arndt and Joe Arden was the icing on the cake (yeah, I went there). 

When it comes to my relationship with the Sea Breeze series the status would definitely be: it’s complicated. Because as many times as I rolled my eyes at the cheesy dialogue or railed at the character tropes that were repeated book after book, I was still hooked. These books are like crack and I kept coming back for more. In Until the End, I finally got Rock and Trisha’s story, which bounced between then and now chapters. They were the rock-solid couple all through the earlier books so it was great to get their back story and find out what they went through to finally become the steady married couple that everyone looked to as an example of a healthy, happy relationship. The fun part, though, was the epilogue that included a chapter for each couple in the series. Jax and Sadie were as obnoxious as ever (gag), but the others were entertaining snippets into how far the couples had come over the last few years.


Have you read any of these books?


27 comments

  1. I think when it comes to Glines' books in general, I accept them for what they are, and I enjoy just getting lost in their soapy goodness.

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  2. These are some pretty decent ratings for books. The Coppersmith Farmhouse sounds a touch drama filled (drug trafficking storyline?) but I can see the appeal of a small town and an alpha hero love interest. And Cake sounds interesting, I'm always a little wary of a rock star romance but the you mentioned he was kidnapped as a child and I'm like what? I need to read for the backstory alone.

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    1. The drug trafficking plot line could have felt over the top but it was worked in really well. And Cake didn't feel like a "typical" rock star romance at all. More like these two people were connecting and he just happened to be a rock star, if that makes sense. :)

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  3. I enjoyed Abbi Glines years ago and I've often thought about giving her another try. I'm sorry this one wasn't a win for you! Cake sounds amazing though!

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    1. I actually enjoyed the one by Abbi Glines (3.75 stars) but I still recognize when it's ridiculous. :)

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  4. Two out of three isn't too bad. Glines got to be a bit too eye rolling for me but I used to read her years ago.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. It's funny how even when I'm rolling my eyes during an Abbi Glines book, I'm still eating it up with a spoon. LOL

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  5. I've read all of these. Coppersmith Farmhouse is actually my least favorite book in that series, so you're going to love the rest of them. I also really enjoyed Cake. I ended up reading the entire series. I really loved book two, which I wasn't expecting. I really liked that Abbi Glines series. It wasn't earth shattering, but it was just summer fun. Great mini reviews!

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    1. Wow, interesting that The Coppersmith Farmhouse was your least favorite. That one just worked for me on almost every level. I've since read The Clover Chapel and while I still enjoyed it, it didn't make the same big impact as the first one. Nick drove me a little crazy sometimes. LOL

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  6. I haven't read any of these. But Cake sounds amazing! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. I can't really seem to get into audiobooks though. I've tried so many times but I just can't seem to find time to listen to those. So I definitely need to get my hands on a ebook version.

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    1. I'm sure the e-book version is every bit as good. :) I enjoy audio books and Cake happened to feature one of my favorite narrators so that made it extra special for me.

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  7. I have read Cake and I gave it 4.5 stars, too. But, it's been so long ago now that I don't remember it. I might have to go back and revisit it at some point. I never did read any of the rest of the series either.

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    1. I have a habit of forgetting to continue series (oops) but I definitely want to continue on with Cake.

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  8. I haven't read any of these, but Cake sounds really good!

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  9. Good to great is not a bad range! I've heard phenomenal things about Cake too, so I'm really happy to read that you loved it.

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    1. I'm excited to continue on with the rest of the Cake series but I find myself kind of wishing the whole series was about the same couple. :)

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  10. My pile of unread Devney Perry books is growing! I keep adding them to the kindle... One day, I'll even read them!

    I'm glad you enjoyed Cake! That's another one I have waiting for me to get around to reading it.

    Rock and Trisha got a book?! I remember them from the few Sea Breeze books I actually read and actually liked them as a couple. :)

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    1. I did the same with Devney Perry! LOL I bet I had at least 5 or 6 gathered on my Kindle before I ever read the first one.

      Yep, the final book in the Sea Breeze series was Rock and Trisha's story. I loved getting their background. The first half of the book was their story and the last half was epilogue chapters for each couple. :)

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  11. Bwahahahaha yes Jesse was like a bull in a china shop! I loved that one!

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    1. He was definitely alpha but I couldn't help but love him. :) He always meant well.

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  12. Coppersmith Farmhouse and Cake both sound really good!

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  13. I am so glad you loved Devney and J Bengtsson! I haven't read The Coppersmith Farmhouse yet, but I hope to get to it soon. Continue on with the Cake series - they are all brilliant!

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    1. I am so excited to continue with the Cake series. I seriously loved the first book.

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