Valentine Veto

Sycamore Mountain

by Claire Wilder

A STANDALONE SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE

I left Sycamore Mountain a broken man—one of the Malone boys, a family never spoken about without a sneer. But I didn’t just leave my past behind—I left Callie McIntyre, the good girl I was never good enough for.

Now Callie’s mayor of our town, and I’m back too, a European-trained chocolatier with a proposal for a new facility I need her approval on. One that will redeem my family name, and hopefully me, in her eyes.

But Callie still hasn’t forgiven me for breaking her heart. And if she vetoes this project, she’ll never know it was all for her.

Genres: Second Chance, Romance, Holiday, Novella, Contemporary, Short Stories, Small Town Romance

158 pages, Paperback

Published February 7, 2023

About the author

USA Today bestselling author of spicy small-town romance featuring

- Relatable women who always support each other
- Strong, sexy wounded men
- A sometimes rocky but always steamy road that always leads to a guaranteed HEA

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Where to find me:

Website: clairewilder.com
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TikTok: tiktok.com/@clairewilderbooks
Bonus Material: clairewilder.com/extras

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good

Sweet , they were in love , he was a jerk , he broke her heart , he had affairs all over the world , got engaged even though he was still in love with Callie, then decided to come home because everything he did in his whole life he did for her

[Lori R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short and sweet story by a new-to-me author. Not only was it quick and cute, but it also had some spice. It was exactly what I was looking for being so close to Valentine’s Day.

It was a well-written, second chance romance that kept me interested, gave me some feels, and left me with a smile on my face.

I will definitely be reading more from this author!

[Brayzen Bookwyrm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sweet, but Spicy, Romance

“Valentine Veto” by Claire Wilder is a second chance romance novella with beautifully developed characters, a wonderful storyline, and an HEA that will have you lovingly sighing into your hot cocoa. Wilder perfectly blends Nick and Callie’s backstories into the present narrative, providing the reader glimpses into their personal history while also allowing their current relationship to evolve without confusing or unnecessary flashbacks. The storyline is well-paced and did not feel rushed or contrived. It’s actually quite authentic, which is often difficult to achieve in a novella. The steam level is perfectly balanced with the emotional intensity of the story and the development of the plot. ”Valentine Veto” is a delightful and engaging novella; a perfect love story for Valentine’s Day, or any day really.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for second chance love stories and Valentine Veto was simply wonderful. A secret relationship when they were teens between the mayor’s daughter and the boy from the wrong side of the tracks who saved her and a friend one night when their car broke down and lasted for two years until he broke up with her and left town. Both are back in town, she is now mayor and he plans on building a chocolate factory that will hire people who have a record and just need a break. There were still a lot of hurt feelings on her side but she can’t deny how she feels in his presence. He has never forgotten her and wants a chance to prove he still knows her. There was a conflict involving his building permit and quite a few revelations. I loved this couple, their history, and the undeniable heat between them. This story moved quickly as it was a novella, but with their history and the way they were forced together it worked. A quick and sexy story I could not put down.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

[atomickitten · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars

DNFed somewhere around 35%



The heroine is 30, yet she can't go past the fact that 14 - 15 years ago her secret boyfriend of 2 months broke up with her and skipped town.
And so for the 14 - 15 years she kept thinking about him.
Even imagining him when she was shagging her boyfriend.
So, if that's not creepy and deranged, I dunno what is.



A woman like this has no place to be a mayor of any town, no matter what shit hole it is.

She should be locked up in a room with no handles with a 24/7 psychiatric supervision.



I wish I could say something positive about it, but I can't.
The heroine was just off.
The hero was no better.
They were supposed to be in their 30s and yet acted and talked as if they were stuck in ther middle teens.
The writing was clunky and tbh I just lost any interest in this story.

Plus, the author mentioned they were together when she was 15.
Then she said the heroine was 30 or 31 .
And then, she stated that they split up 14 years ago.
I dunno what kinda math this is but I don't want to be a part of any of this.
Hence the DNF.
And the rating.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

A long separation before being reunited in love.

I had a really hard time trying to decide how to rate this story. I liked it but it made me angry too. It was entertaining but there was plenty of angst. Both of the main characters had relationships with other people during their fourteen year separation. Communication between the characters sucked big time. Callie and Nick needed to have major discussions about their relationship both past and present. My decision was that I liked it ok but I didn’t love it. I liked that the way the story ended but I would have liked an epilogue further out. While I doubt that I will read the story again, I recommend giving this book a chance, you may like it more than I did.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Natasha Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really struggle with second chance romance as a troupe. I don’t like the wasted time and hurt caused. That being said, this was a good story, well written. The chemistry and love between Callie and Nick was amazing! His reasons for leaving her 14 years earlier were what he thought was best for her. There love for each other was beautiful , hot and steamy. They took the long road to their HEA but it was amazing in the end. I didn’t like the explanations of all the others they had been with in between then and now, I didn’t think it was necessary to the story as is the biggest reason for my lack of love for second chance romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! This novella was just perfect. We get just the right amount of history and background character information, which honestly, I don't usually find in novella's.

Nick Mallone is trying to change how people see his family. He left Callie 14 years earlier because he felt she would be better off and could pursue her dreams.

Callie has her own regrets on how everything went down with Nick 14 years ago. She's hurt understandably.

This was a great second-chance romance, with two people who never stopped loving each other.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Suzanne Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

C Wilder joins the wonderful multi-author Sycamore Mountain Man of the Month series with Valentine Veto. Back in small town Sycamore Mountain after fourteen years, Nick is out to prove himself and make good on the Malone family name as a chocolatier. He requires the approval of the town mayor, Callie McIntyre, to make his business work - the woman whose heart he just so happened to break when he left town all those years ago. An emotional, steamy, sweet second chance romance, Nick and Callie's love story is a fabulous Valentine's Day read and a wonderful addition to this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a terrfic short story! I don’t know how you tell such a complete romance, including history and a peek into a new book, in a such a compact package, but this is!

Callie and Nick dated as teens until he abruptly left with no way to contact him. Callie couldn’t even publicly mourn his departure; she never told anyone they were dating because of the checkered past of his family.

This is the perfect second-chance romance - heart, heat and history! Both characters are to blame for their long-ago separation and you hope that this Valentine’s Day they will be able to put their pain and distrust in the past.

As they get stuck together, let’s just say I’m a fan of the “need to stay warm” trope! Wilder never disappoints when it comes to steamy scenes!

Loved how Callie also addresses the prejudices of her Dad so that the mistakes of the past don’t keep repeating! Go girl!

Supremely satisfying short story!

[peggylovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A second chance romance book and it was what I needed to read!

Having Valentines Day as a story line makes anyone fall in love with this book.

Callie and Nick are from different backgrounds but they found love and lost it.

Love is in the air when Nick returns.

Chocolate Kisses

Snow Storms

Will these two come together...well you better read the book.

[Mari (Mystics & Metaphysics Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet second chance romance. Claire and Nick had past hurts to get through but I love that there’s no extra drama once they decide to call a truce. Their tree and the spot that’s theirs was so refreshing and cute that I think I was crying and smiling at the same time.

[Angie Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Wilder has written a 5-star book. This is the story of Callie and Nick. Callie and Nick had been a couple until Nick decided to leave town without telling Callie why. He feels like he is not good enough for her since he is from the wrong side of town. Now years later, Callie and Nick are back in town and she is now the mayor. Nick wants to open a chocolate factory in a place that is special to Callie. There is a tree on the property that Callie thinks Nick will remove and she is not happy about this, so she plans to veto his plans. When they meet before the meeting he has with the town planners, he tries to talk to her but she is still mad at him and doesn't want to hear him out. He tries to get her removed from the voting for his plant. There is a snowstorm that has blown in and Callie is at a bar with some friends when she sees what the weather is like, she wants people who have chains on their tires to take people home that don't have the chains. She takes a few people home and on her way back she ends up on the road that leads to the property with her and Nick's tree. She turns around and gets back on the right road. The snow is coming down so hard she can't see the road so she pulls off. She plans to stay where she is until the snow stops. She has her emergency kit in her vehicle. She is ready to get her kit when she sees what looks like a person coming toward her. When Callie sees that it is Nick, she wonders why he is there. When she gets closer to him, she sees he is not dressed for the weather and his clothes are soaked. She asked him "What are you doing out here?" He tells her that he was looking for her and that a tree was blocking the road. She gets him back in her vehicle and gives him some dry clothes. They have a talk and end up fooling around. They spend the night in her vehicle since the snow didn't stop. When they get back to town, they go their separate ways. She still hasn't heard from the town lawyer about her being part of the team that votes on his plans for the chocolate factory. She is leaving the office to go to a meeting when the town lawyer stops her and tells her that she can't find a reason why she can't be on the team that deals with Nick's plans. After hearing this, she tells her assistant to put Nick back on the docket which would be that Friday. At the meeting, something is said about her and Nick having a conflict of interest. She comes right out and tells everyone that she loves Nick and she is taking herself off the team. She has no clue what the vote will be
Will Callie and Nick get back together?
This was a wonderful book and I would recommend it to anyone.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nikki_Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous, I really love this one! It was a little longer of a book than I like to read, but I couldn’t put it down.

Nick and Callie meet when she was fifteen, she was with her best friend, Nora. Callie hid the relationship with Nick even from her parents. She hid the relationship from everyone because of Nick’s family. They created a special place that they would meet up at called Piccolo Bacio. Now Nick owns that piece of land and the tiny cabin, he wants to build a chocolate factory on it. Callie is now the mayor of Sycamore Mountain and she can veto him and all his plans. He meets up with her before the meeting and she tells him it’s a bad idea he came to see her. She tells him to leave the back way so no one sees him. During the meeting Nick’s people want Callie to recluse herself from his application. Nick meets his people at the only bar in town he sees Callie there with a few other women and her assistant. Callie gets a call from the town supervisor who says there’s a storm coming through. Callie closes down the bar and make sure everyone gets home safely. After Callie drops the people she helped at their home she heads to her apartment. She’s on the same road she met Nick, fourteen years ago, when she spots him up I head. He tells her there’s a tree down ahead and he’s been looking for her. They have no place to go so she grabs her supplies from her trunk and they both climb into her vehicle. They talk about what happy to them years ago and what they’ve done in between. Nick kisses Callie and they call a truce for the night. They begin to pleasure each other until they fall asleep. Callie wakes up to a snow plow coming by. A week later they are at another council meeting, this time Callie excuses herself from Nick’s application. The board approves Nick’s applications and he gets everything ready for the town parade. The last float is they mayors with Callie making a spea h after to introduce all the new and updates for the town. When Callie sees what Nick named his factory she goes silent with tears welling in her eyes. Nick gets interviewed by the local news and Callie comes over to him just in time, she tells him he can tell their story after a report ask Nick why Callie the mayor excused herself from his application. After the reporter least Callie tells Nick she loves him and he tells her he loves her. Late June Nick thinks it’s time to show Callie how he saves their tree that he carved their initials in. He blindfold her and take her to the factory. There he shows her almost completed C shaped building, and in the middle stands their tree. It has a new carving in it saying I’ll always be your Valentine.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author and/or publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. A positive review is not required.

This review can also be found in Currant7 Recommends.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Callie McIntyre: mayor of Sycamore Mountain, comes from a political background family. She keeps a big secret that still has her reeling with the loss and grief of two relationships even decades after.

Nick Malone: a man with a tainted family history in the small town of Sycamore Mountain, who needed to prove to himself that he is worthy of the one woman who he couldn't leave behind. He is now back to set right and claim the woman he left behind.

Valentine Veto is a short and fantastic read about healing and giving oneself a chance as part of The Man Of The Month Collection. Emotionally charged, this book tackles the realities of going through an awful heartbreak, like coping with loss then later rediscovering love again. It shows how much growth with that sad event transitioning into a beautiful second chance to grow and love.

This book ruined me!

I was crying my eyes out at Chapter 2!! Callie's recounting of loss and heartbreak of her past then further into the "now" was uber sad! Get those tissues ready before you read this book because the length is not an indicator that you will not feel so emotional upon opening the pages!
The secrets that both main characters had to keep were heartbreaking! If only they were honest with each other, then it wouldn't have suffered in silence for all these years. They had to be apart to find themselves and grow as individuals. Rest assured, this book has a HEA, and all their self-sacrifices later proved to be all worth it in the end.

Thought Points:
- beautifully and emotionally written
- soul-mates from the very start
- flawed yet growing characters
- undeniable magnetic attraction
- making essential and meaningful changes/improvements to their small home town; caring for their people

Tropes: second chances, flawed main characters, small country romance, tragic pasts, redemption

[Babara-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

SWEET STEAMY SECOND CHANCE LOVE STORY!

Callie and Nick were in love as young teens on the cusp of adulthood and use to meet on a property with an abandoned cabin and a giant sycamore tree of which he carved their initials into . Nick felt he wasn’t good enough for her being a high school dropout and his family lived on the wrong side of the tracks in a trailer….

He vowed he would make something of himself far away from Sycamore Mountain and Callie and so he broke her heart by leaving her with a final Piccolo Cacio- a little kiss he use to give her when they said goodbye for the evening…….

On their last night together he gave her a little kiss and said goodbye for the last time on the property they named Piccolo Cacio in their hearts …..

Now 14 years later Callie is back and won the Mayoral campaign of Sycamore Mountain and has been doing her mayoral duties for a year when she heard that Nick was back three years already and an established chocolatier and wants to build a Chocolatier Training Centre on that property with the sycamore tree….

Will she allow him to destroy the only place she had happy memories of?
Will Nick convince Callie he did everything for her and still is?

Claire Wilder grips your heart in a tight vice with this story of acceptance, forgiveness and self worth!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre/Tropes: Novella, Second Chance
POV: 1st, Dual
Standalone
STEAM LEVEL: 🔥🔥
🅁🄰🅃🄸🄽🄶: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
——————

This is how you do a second chance novella! Set in the small town of Sycamore Mountain, we’re thrust into a snowy world of heartbreak and second chances. Nick and Callie meet as teenagers and start a whirlwind romance. But Nick is from the wrong side of town and Callie feels like she has to his him. He breaks her heart and leaves for over a decade only to return to their hometown ready to open his own chocolate-making business. Callie is the mayor and lemme say, the sparks flew!

This was a quick, steamy little read. SO MUCH emotion was packed into this short romance and I loved every minute of it. My heart ached for Nick, who made his decisions to prove himself worthy of Callie, but Callie always just wanted him.

The side characters were memorable and that epilogue was so sweet! A perfect Valentine treat coming your way soon!

[Jo-Ann Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Callie is mayor of Sycamore Mountain and she wants to make a name for herself expect when it comes to Nick Malone, she is speechless and without any resources of her own. Nick and Callie secretly dated and after his brother's troubles with her father and his employees, she was told to stay away of the Malone's as they were the plague of the town existence. However, they met in an abandoned log cabin where the sycamore tree lay witness to their love story in piccolo baccios. Fast forward years later and Nick is back in town and bought the land where the log cabin stood and wants to build s chocolate factory. Since Callie is the mayor she can vetoed everything and since she is still pinning with a broken heart what will she do? This girl hates Valentine's day for many reasons, but will this Valentine's day be different and change her life forever??? This story is swoon worthy, with the perfect amount of sweetness and deceptions, just like a semi-sweet piece of chocolate. I loved the storyline and characters that will make you want to push them towards a future with each other and not dwell a past that can't be changed. I volunteered to review this story.

[Donise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fairly good girl, Callie fell for 'major bad boy' Nick in high school, but one day Nick up and left without a word and no way for Callie to contact him. It is because of this and then her mother's death that Callie dislikes Valentine's Day, but now that she is mayor of her hometown, she is part of the Valentine's Day parade committee. Also, on her agenda is the proposal that Nick has put before the town board to build a chocolate factory on the very piece of land that meant the most to his relationship to Callie. Callie knew that Nick was back but hadn't seen him, yet she also thought that she had put most of the hurt behind her until she finds out what Nick wants to do with Piccolo Bacio (Little Kiss). Perhaps with the help of Callie's inept office aide, a freak snowstorm and chocolate, these two will be able to find the future that they have been denied. I really enjoyed this story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Melenareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valentine Veto is an emotional and engaging read! It is part of a multi-author series, but can be read as a standalone. I have not read any of the other books but didn't feel lost at all.

Callie and Nick had a short and secret romance 14 years ago. He was from a family from the wrong side of the tracks and her parents would not have approved. When he left suddenly her heart was broken. Now they have a second chance, but can they heal and forgive in order to move forward?

The second chance romance trope can be hard to pull off. It doesn't work if the reader doesn't feel the connection was strong enough for them to still be in love years later. Callie and Nick, though, still had an undeniable connection. I could feel the emotion and heartbreak that they both experienced both in the past and now.

As this is a novella the story moved at a quick pace, but nothing felt rushed. I flew through the book in less than a day and I cannot wait for more from Claire Wilder!

Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.

[casvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valentine Veto is a second chance story that breaks your heart and warms it up all in with in the lines that pulls you in word by word.

Nick was not a bad guy, but due to his family just the mention of his last name would make some sneer. Callie comes from a family in town that was hurt by the dealings of Nick's dad and did not even want to hear the Malone name.

Nick and Callie dated for several years, before Nick understood that it took him leaving and having others help raise his brother, but to leave he had to break up with Callie.

Years later, Callie has taken after her mother and is Mayor of the town, Nick has returned and wants to start a business, but he needs to get approval and with Callie part of the decision, it might be harder than expect.

Callie and Nick have a deep connection that is shrouded in a vail of darkness due to the past and actions of others. With strength, determination and love Callie and Nick find the HEA they have been wanting.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alicia (theromanticbibliotheca) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Wilder’s Valentine Veto is the perfect novella as Valentine’s Day approaches. It’s set in the small town of Sycamore Mountain and has Mayor Callie McIntyre is struggling with facing her bad boy teen love, Nick Mallone, who left town without a word 14 years ago. Nick returns to his hometown after years of trying to prove that he’s a “better” person and worthy of Callie, and while his purpose is to get his town proposal approved, his main focus is to get Callie’s forgiveness and win back her love.

This second chance angsty novella works well in that Callie and Nick already had a past, so the book didn’t seem too rushed, making the HEA doable for a story this size. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it’s quite the build up to an amazing steamy scene; make sure no one is peeking over your shoulder to see why your cheeks are flushed.

Thanks to the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Dawnmarie Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful second chance novella featuring Nick and Callie's emotional love story. Nick and Callie dated as teenagers they were a couple until Nick suddenly left her without any way to contact him. Nick is now back in town trying to change the way people view his family who have a checkered past which is why he left Callie all those years ago. He really wanted her to chase her dreams and he felt she had a better chance without him. Callie has lived with her own regrets about Nick and how everything in their relationship went down like how she never told anyone that they were dating because of his family. Now that he's back will they both be able to forgive their past mistakes? Can they get back the love they had for each other? You really need to read this wonderful story to see what happens. I would recommend reading this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredibly heart-touching and sweetly sexy book! I loved Callie and Nick's story.  

Fourteen years ago Nick Malone tore her heart apart and left Sycamore Mountain. Now he's back, and Callie finds all the anger and hurt have resurfaced. Finding out his plan has just devistated her all over again. But she finally has the political career she always dreamed of and as mayor she will do whatever it takes to stop him. 

After traveling around the world, Nick spent six years studying under a master chocolatier so he could return to Sycamore Mountain and prove he was worthy to be there. He isn't going to let anyone stop his plan from going forward, not even the pretty girl he left behind fourteen years ago, that has grown into a stunningly gorgeous woman.

I received an ARC and voluntarily offer this review.

[Lisa Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Callie's heart has never been the same since Nick crushed her when he left Sycamore Mountain. Shortly after she found out her mother had cancer, she decided to postpone college. When her mother passed, she did leave town, not expecting to come back. When she runs for mayor and loses, she decides to go back to Sycamore Mountain, where she runs for mayor and wins. Her first love has been back for three and now he has a proposal to build a chocolate factory.

Nick left town to prove himself, as part of that Malone family nothing but trouble. When he and Callie were dating, they hid it from everyone. He has only loved Callie, hopefully she will give him a chance.

This a sweet story of first love that never let anything else blossom for either individuals.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piccolo Bacio – love it! This story is about second chances with Nick and Callie! These two have not seen each other for two decades, but their reunion is not as bittersweet as the chocolate-making! Nick is back after his family has left the worst name possible, but when he left, he vowed to make a change for himself in order to be good for Callie. Callie has been heartbroken ever since he left with no real goodbye, but she kept up with him and knew what was happening. After her mother passed, she couldn’t let anything happen to the only spot in town that meant something to her that is until Nick showed back up as the owner of it. Now as the Mayor, does she VETO his proposal just to get back at him and keep what she wants?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Wilder brings us a sweet second chance romance featuring Nick and Callie. He left town years ago, breaking her heart. She went on to conform to her family's expectations and eventually became Mayor of their small hometown. Her family scorned him for being part of a drug-selling family, so he sets out to prove them wrong. Neither found another love, so when he shows up to open a new chocolate factory, she has to deal with him again.
The writing is perfect! She manages to tell the whole story with enough detail that we know all we need to understand in a novella. The emotions feel real, and the plot is believable.
I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read from Claire Wilder!

This is a short, sweet and steamy short story set in the small town of Sycamore Mountain. Callie and Nick dated when they were younger but Nick broke Callie’s heart when he left. Now Nick is back in town wanting to build a chocolate factory and Callie is the mayor who has the power to veto his project. Can the two of them put their pasts behind them and rekindle their relationship? You’re going to have to read this to find out.

Claire has this amazing ability to make you care and invest emotionally in Callie and Nick’s relationship, even though this is short story. The characters are really realistic and I honestly love the idea of a main character who is a chocolatier.

If you haven’t read any of Claire’s books before this is a great place to dive in and I highly recommend this one.

[Kerry - Readkerryread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nick Malone was from the wrong side of town, with his family being full of troubles. He never felt good enough for Callie. He breaks her heart and leaves to try and give her the life she deserves.

He travels Europe and becomes a chocolatier, and decides to come back and try to win her back. He has to execute his plan first though so he can prove to himself that he deserves her.

This Valentine's Day just might be the one they both needed. With some steamy stuck on the side of the road due to a snowstorm sexy moments.

Overall a fun novella, where you can root for these two to get together and make it work because the tension is high.

I received an arc for review from the author. All opinions are my own and given freely.

[Amy Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Callie is the newly elected mayor of the small town of Sycamore Mountain. It's where she grew up, and where she came home to when New York didn't work out. Nick has a proposal for a new facility up before the city council. It looks great on paper, but will that matter to Callie when she finds out who is behind it, or where? Their past together may make it impossible for her to be impartial.

This is a sweet romance with a bit of spice thrown in. Broken hearts and lovers reunited make for a really good story. Callie and Nick have some serious chemistry, and a guaranteed HEA. While part of a series, this book stands alone. I definitely recommend this one, with five stars.

I received an advance reader copy of this book and am leaving my honest review.