When his parents move to Silver Bay, California, Dominic Endicott, ever the dutiful son, packs up his life and heads to the small town. He sees it as temporary, appeasing his mother and making sure his dad’s health is stable while Dominic keeps the family business running. Dominic planned on keeping his head down, focused only on working and spending time with his family. Until a beautiful brunette forces him to look up.
Local Chaplain and community center employee Rachel Anderson loves her little town that she’s called home for the past year. Silver Bay is a far cry from her life growing up in LA, and that’s perfectly fine with her. When she mistakes newcomer Dominic for her friend, Chet, her simple, curated life becomes complicated.
Thrown together to work on raising money for the town’s community center, the sparks between Rachel and Dominic are too strong to ignore. But Dominic represents everything Rachel has been running from, while Rachel has Dominic rethinking his entire life plan. Can these two bridge the gap between their worlds and give love a chance?
I write books. I read almost all genres. I love sports, tea, books, and cookies. My faves are my Great Dane, my husband, & my 3 kids. (Not always in that order. :)
I'm an author with Tule Publishing. I am all about people and I love character driven stories. I love history and am a curious person who consistently wants to learn. I can't remember a time in my life where I wasn't writing or reading. I had journals as soon as I could write words. And I would get lost in books for hours as a kid. Stories and writing are how I process the world around me, what I see and experience as well as what I learn. I could talk books for hours and am happy to do so with anyone. I also love to sip tea and watch baseball.
"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." - C.S. Lewis Happy Reading Everyone!
I have never read Lara Van Huzlan before, but after reading UNTIL I MET YOU I will go back and find her previous books. Lara writes emotional, heartwarming stories about love, family, and friendships, that I can’t wait to read more of.
Chet’s brother, Dominic has just moved to Silver Bay. Actually, his whole family is moving there. He is only supposed to be there for a short time and then go back East to run the family business. That is until he meets Rachel. Rachel and Dom are both characters I was rooting for throughout UNTIL I MET YOU. They are meant to be together, but each has its own issues they must overcome first. But, UNTIL I MET YOU is so much more than Dom and Rachel, all the side characters are just as compelling as the main two!
UNTIL I MET YOU is a very emotional read. I was laughing at the witty banter one minute and the next I’m moved to tears along with the characters. I loved being on this roller coaster of emotions while reading UNTIL I MET YOU. Silver Bay is the perfect place to live and all of the characters seem very real and relatable. This is the third book in this series but it can easily be read as a stand alone. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters from page one and I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart tugging author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tule Publishing. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
“With one swoop of tenderness, he’d wrapped her up in his charm and there was no turning back.”
Until I Met You is my first introduction to Lara Van Hulzen’s writing, but it definitely won’t be my last. I fell in love with the town of Silver Bay, the Endicott family, and Rachel Anderson. I have not read the first two books, or the preceding Silver Bay series, but the author easily acclimated me to this fictional world so I didn’t feel lost. The cast of supporting characters – including a Great Dane and a Basset Hound with loads of personality – is warm and engaging, and you get the sense that Silver Bay is a town you’d never want to leave.
Rachel is exactly the type of person you would want to be a chaplain. She is compassionate, full of joy, smart, and friendly, and while the book doesn’t touch on her faith too much it also doesn’t completely ignore it. With a few simple sentences scattered throughout the story, we can tell she loves God, makes church a priority, and relies on prayer for wisdom. She also has a great sense of humor and a few surprising layers that are revealed as the story progresses. Dominic is the identical twin of Silver Bay resident Chet Endicott, but Rachel has only ever felt friendly feelings toward Chet – nothing like the instant zings of attraction she feels when she meets Dominic. And Dominic is definitely swoony, so I can see why. But even more than that, he is one of the good guys in life – steady, tender-hearted, easygoing, family-oriented, and humble (despite his family’s wealth and prestige). The chemistry between Dominic and Rachel sparks & sizzles but stays chastely passionate. I enjoyed their relationship from the entertaining meet cute to the sweet epilogue and all the flirting & kissing in between.
Bottom Line: Sometimes we all just need to escape the messiness and stress of this world by burrowing into a sweet story that doesn’t add to the drama. Until I Met You by Lara Van Hulzen is the perfect choice if you’re looking for such a read, one where you’ll feel the tension of life ebb away with only minor conflict and plenty of reasons to smile. Rachel and Dominic are a fun couple to follow through this story, and you’ll enjoy getting to know them and watching their romance blossom. And because dogs make everything even better, Dottie & Dantes bring lots of quirky personality and endearing love to the mix as well. I look forward to returning to Silver Bay in the next book!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
This was a very nice contemporary romance between a business man and a chaplain. They were on a festival committee and bonded big time. It was a g rated story that was well written and I enjoyed it.
I received an arc of Until I Met You in exchange for my honest review. This is the third book in Lara Van Hulzen’s series, The Endicott’s of Silver Bay. This story features Dominic Endicott, a twin with Chet who already lives in Silver Bay. Dominic has worked with his dad at the family company back East but has recently moved temporarily to Silver Bay at the request of his mom. She is worried about his dad’s health and wants him to slow down. As the book opens, Dominic is busy setting up his rental cottage, working and helping his parents. Silver Bay is a friendly community and he is meeting many of the residents. When he meets Chaplain and Community Center worker Rachel Anderson, he notices lots of chemistry. Rachel originally mistakes him for his twin Chet and feels embarrassed by the reactions she has to him.
Dominic is volunteered to work on a project to raise money for the community center with Rachel and a couple others. The two interact often and find themselves paired up when his family gets together. Initially Rachel resists acknowledging her feelings for him due to her past. We learn that she grew up having money and the people in her network were not anyone she wants to associate with in her present situation. She knows Dominic’s family is wealthy and she thinks he is like the people from her past. Eventually she learns he is genuinely nice and caring and she lets herself fall for him. Dominic originally planned his stay in Silver Bay to be temporary, just making sure his parents are settled and his dad’s health issues resolved. Then he realizes how much he likes the laid back atmosphere of the town and his feelings for Rachel have grown. When things come to a head for the company and his own situation, Dominic is forced to think about what he wants.
This is a terrific addition to Lara’s series. I’ve enjoyed all her books. Dominic and Rachel’s story is wonderful. They make such a sweet couple. As the two work through their baggage and current issues, I’m rooting for them. I love Silver Bay. It seems like a wonderful place to live. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next installment.
Until I Met You is part of The Endicotts of Silver Bay series. I haven’t read the first two books in the series, which must be Chet and Meg’s story, but didn’t feel I was missing any information. That’s always a plus when reading a series out of order—there can be a fine balance between boring readers by rehashing the first/previous books, vs. ignoring them and leaving the reader feeling like they’ve gatecrashed a private party.
I loved the initial meeting between Rachel and Dominic. So did Dominic … more than Rachel did, at least. There’s an initial attraction between the two (not my favourite trope), so I was happy to see their relationship was built on a growing friendship rather than on the initial attraction. I loved the dialogue and banter between the two as they work together on a fundraiser for the town community centre, where Rachel works.
Rachel also had a role as a volunteer chaplain for the local fire department and hospital. That sounded fascinating, and I would have liked to have seen more of her chaplaincy role—it’s not something I can recall seeing in Christian fiction, which feels like a gap.
Until I Met You is a fairly slow burn romance (my favourite kind) that hits all the right notes for a sweet, easy small-town romance read. Recommended for small-town contemporary romance fans, especially those who like opposites attract or billionaire tropes.
Thanks to Tule Publishing for providing a free ebook for review.
Lara van Hulzen writes beautiful, gentle romances with a strong emphasis on community, faith and family values. Her most recent Tule stories have been set in the small northern Californian town of Silver Bay and I’ve loved getting to know the people who live there. Many characters from previous books appear in this story too and I think it would enhance your enjoyment of the story if you had read one or two of the others first. That said, this book works beautifully as a stand alone romnce too. I love the main protagonists Rachel Anderson and Dominic Endicott. Rachel is a chaplain and has a strong faith ethic, though this is demonstrated through her thoughtful listening to those with something to unload and through her dedication to upgrading the facilities at the town’s community centre. Dominic is a dynamic and wealthy businessman, just the sort of man Rachel looks at with distrust and therefore, on paper at least, he is the least likely man that she would fall for. I loved the sizzle between these two and the way that Rachel began to see the good in Dominic. This story is one to make you smile and it left me feeling good once I had finished.
Until I Met You, the third book in The Endicotts of Silver Bay by Lara Van Hulzen has Dominic Endicott coming to Silver Bay to check on his parents, seeing them settled there. No plans to make Silver Bay is permanent residence until he meets the local Chaplain, Rachel Anderson. The Endicott family seems to be moving to Silver Bay so family and friends are also a part of this charming story.
A story of changing impressions, rethinking your goals and finding love with you least expected to do so. Likeable characters, community setting with a sweet romance storyline. Going to Silver Bay is like a breath of fresh air.
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Until I Met You (The Endicotts of Silver Bay Book 3) by Lara Van Hulzen In this story we find Rachel planning more events for the town to build new things, her pet projects. Also follows Dominic and he's come to Silver Bay to join the family that relocated from CT. The father has heart issues and the whole family is there to support them. During the event Dom gets a call and he has to leave before he can explain about the familys contribution monthly. Love girls night out and singing, dancing in the rain, getting dunked in the water and so much more. So very festive and fun. Things don't look good for Dom and Rachel as he heads off to be with his family.... he knows he will have to travel back to CT to handle the family business.... Super set of stories, can't wait to read more.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I was very impressed. This is the third book in this series but it can easily be read as a stand alone. I am definitely going to go back and read the first two. I loved the small town feel in this book. The story line was sweet and the characters were very well developed. I look forward to reading more by this author. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wynne was so good with the girls. It took me by surprise when Harriette and Gillian wanted to know if she was a divorce attorney and if they could get 12 year old Harriette a divorce.
If I have you curious then you should read the book you will not be disappointed I loved Wynne, Gwen, Harriette and Gillian.
This was a good read and I finished it in two evenings.
Rachel left LA to live in Silver Bay to get away from her wealthy family's lifestyle. She enjoys the more relaxed life as a Chaplin. When Dominic's father's health requires him to slow down he makes a temporary move to Silver Bay. He has no intention of staying long term. Rachel and Dominic have a very cute "meet cute". The sparks are there from the beginning. She tried to stay unattached emotionally because she know wealthy men like him. Can Rachel look beyond his family money and her preconceived notions of him? Can Dominic see himself settling down in a small town? Cute, clean romance. Great read!
I started this book and each chapter was the best. I have laughed out loud,teared up,and just couldn't stop reading! Tonight I finished it and was so emotional I thought I was going to cry, but I did not. Looking forward to reading Silver Bag book 4
2.75 stars bumped up to 3 stars. This story is so sweet, it sometimes made my teeth hurt. It is a quick story that had me skimming in parts because there was repetition. But, I did finish it!
Until I Met You was the first book I have read by Lara VanHulzen, but it certainly has not been the last. I’m very grateful to have been introduced to this writer, who consistently presents wonderful inspirational romance novels, filled with heart and relatable characters.
Until I Met You is the third book in The Endicotts of Silver Bay series, but it can easily be read as a standalone or out of series order, as I did. The Endicotts of Silver Bay also has a companion series, Silver Bay. All share the same setting and character crossover, but can each be read as individual novels.
Dominic Endicott has recently moved to Silver Bay. It’s a move he never would have predicted, to the quiet, laidback town from the bustling life in the city, but after his parents make the move for health reasons, he too joins them and his two siblings in Silver Bay. Rachel Anderson moved to Silver Bay a year ago and she’s never looked back. She loves the difference she can help to make at the community centre and by serving as a chaplain. It’s on just such a chaplain call that she first meets Dominic. Who she mistakes as her friend Chet. Did I mention Dominic is an identical twin? Their first meeting might have been … interesting, but Dominic and Rachel are soon thrown together in organising a fundraising event. The more time they spend together, the more they realise they might just be what each has been looking for, but Rachel has reasons for leaving her past behind her, a past Dominic closely represents, and Dominic might not be staying in Silver Bay. It leaves their future uncertain.
The small town setting, the close group of friends and family that surround our main characters really set the tone of this book and indeed the whole series. It’s a charming book, easy to read and enjoy. Dominic and Rachel might not seem like a match to start with, but they soon grow closer. Rachel has to work to see past all that Dominic represents, a world of money and power, and for his part, Dominic has to determine how much of his feelings for Rachel are worth changing his plans for the future.
A delightful romance. I look forward to reading more from Lara VanHulzen.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
We are back in Silver Bay, where the wealthy Endicott family members are slowly moving there , making it their new home, and the siblings are little by little finding love. Dominic Endicott, twin of Chet whom we met in a previous story, has always worked by his father in their investment company in CT. With his father’s health not what it was, Dominic decides to stay for a short time in Silver Bay, see his parents settled, and returned to the East Coast and the family business. What he never expected was to be instantly attracted to Rachel Anderson. Rachel the local chaplain and manager of the community center, moved to Silver Bay to find peace and leave behind her past, her emotionally draining family and follow her father’s footsteps in helping others. When these two first meet, Rachel , though attracted to Dominic, sees him as another entitled, wealthy individual, when in fact he is not. Time spent together deepens their feelings and makes them realize that they have more in common than they thought . But what happens when it appears that Dominic there is a possibility that his stay in town is coming to an end and he’ll need to take care of business in Connecticut. This is a story about family, or lack thereof . It’s also a story about letting go of the past and finding love. I was entrusted a copy of this book by Tule Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
This story is very sweet and seems low-stakes, so it was a relaxing read. It can easily be read as a standalone, so it’s a great vacation book. Easy to put down and pick back up without getting lost along with a guaranteed HEA.
Rachel and Dominic have a meet-cute that instantly displays their chemistry. Even while Rachel has preconceived ideas about Dominic and thinks he’s a bad bet, she cannot deny that she feels drawn to him. She also discovers quite quickly that he really is a nice guy.
Like I said, this story is low-stakes. There is some self-reflection and growth needed from both main characters, and that happens. Dominic makes a bad decision that triggers Rachel’s insecurities about people with money, but it’s resolved without any drawn-out angst. For the most part, both Rachel and Dominic are patient and understanding people who understand that humans are fallible.
Some editing was annoying, with sentences that didn’t seem complete and unfinished thoughts left dangling, which took me out of the story a few times. Yet overall I’d say I enjoyed this charming story.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Until I Met You. Even though this is the first book that I have read by this author, I had no trouble jumping into the series. Any characters from the previous stories set in Silver Bay were introduced in such a way that I got to know them along with Dominic, who was new to town.
I loved the meet cute for these two and the attraction that bloomed early on, even as Rachel worked at first to keep herself distanced emotionally from Dominic. Rachel had to learn to overcome some preconceived notions that she had about Dominic. I enjoyed seeing her begin to realize that he was a good man who was not consumed by the trappings of wealth.
This clean romance story left me feeling happy and eager to read more novels by this author in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Silver Bay is a lovely town to reside in as Dominic is learning-especially since Rachel lives there. He is finding her to be someone he never dreamed of. Rachel is smitten with him, too. Her past with a family only concerned with riches is putting a damper on her feelings for Dominic. He comes from a rich family and appears to value money, too. Will love win out? Charming story with lots of friends and family. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.