Covet thy Neighbor

Granite Cove #2

by Denise Carbo

Single mom of twin boys, Olivia Banner, has her hands full juggling life’s demands. She doesn’t have time for her mysterious new neighbor or all the questions his presence conjures up, even if he is a handsome devil.

Toss in a complicated relationship with her ex-husband, meddlesome family members, and going back to school to provide a stable financial future for her and her boys and Olivia turns to her gal pals for guidance.

Sometimes playing it safe is the right choice, and other times leaping into the unknown can lead to all the dreams you never knew you had coming true.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2023

Reviews

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a single mom to her twin sons keeps Olivia Banner on her toes. Add in her ex-husband, her ex-mother-in-law, her parents, going back to school for her marketing degree while working, the last thing on her mind is love. But her sexy as sin neighbor, Luke, oozes mystery and intrigue. Her imagination takes over and she can’t quite help herself in thinking Luke might be a serial killer. They clash, which only makes her more protective of her sons. But as time goes by, they develop a sort of friendship. He remains aloof while her attraction only grows. Does he like her or is she reading too much in his signals? When her ex-husband drops a bombshell, Olivia must choose between the past and the future. Love can be rocky, especially when you covet thy neighbor.

Covet thy Neighbor is a contemporary romance I thoroughly enjoyed. From the beginning until the very end, we travel the rocky road of romance with all the drama and emotion that goes along with it. I connected with Olivia and I loved the fact that she’s a single mom yet tries to figure out dating and doing what’s best for her family. Her struggles are portrayed honestly which added to my enjoyment of the story. Olivia is such a caring woman and I kept rooting for her to go after what she wanted. The plot moves at a nice easy pace with a full cast of characters. The characters themselves are so well written, they became a part of me. The dramatic tension between Olivia and Luke was very realistic and I found myself yelling at my e-reader. There’re some good life lessons here, while understated, which gave me something to think about. If you love romantic fiction, you’ll love Covet thy Neighbor. Brilliant written, Denise Carbo is a must-read for romance and women’s fiction readers. If you love women’s fiction, you’ll want to read Covet thy Neighbor. If you like reading single mom romance, you’ll fall in love with Covet thy Neighbor. Highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.

My Rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by: Mrs. N

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Denise Carbo’s story of the small town, Granite Cove, will have everyone on their toes for the heart-warming connections, passionate kisses, hilarious gossiping, and one swoon-worthy Luke.

Read full review in the 2021 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Gina Rae Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covet Thy Neighbor is the first novel I have read by the author, Denise Carbo. It won't be the last. This is book two of the Granite Cove series but works well as a stand-alone novel.

Sometimes you need to sink yourself into a romantic novel with the power to take you away from your thoughts for a bit. This book certainly does that. With an everyday woman and a hunky mystery man as the leads, this book captivates from the opening pages.

When a single mom of young twin boys discovers her neighbor with a hoard of guns, what is she to think except ... serial killer! Now she has to worry about that, along with her complicated relationship with her ex, their families, financial troubles, and her work at the Sweet Shop Bakery.

Could her Mom radar be off on this one? Let's hope so because the chemistry between Olivia and Luke sizzles. Olivia's friends and book club cheer her on and provide an incredible system for her to lean on. Will Olivia open herself up to romance or play it safe? Read the book to find out!


I received this book as part of a Goddess Fish Promotions book tour. The review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written book with a cast of strong characters and an interesting and sometimes humorous story line. The author does a great job developing the story and brings it to life with her descriptive writing , showing everyday life in a small town. She pulled me into the story with all the people and happenings and moves the story fluidly delivering an enjoyable read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My neighbor is a serial killer.”

This line is a few pages into this book, and made me literally LOL. I knew I was in for a fun time, right off the bat. You know what I loved most about this book? The characters and the town. The writing is really easy and flows nicely and the dialogue is natural between all the characters (there are a LOT of people in this book). I’m a huge fan of character driven plots, and this one checks all the boxes.

It’s obvious this is part of a series (we have a couple getting ready to get married, for example, and I’m sure they were the H/h in the previous book) but I never felt lost. I do feel as if the whole experience would have been richer and more fun if I’d read the previous books, but I had no issues following anything.

The author shows a realistic version of a divorced family, the struggles they previous spouses go through, the difficulties splitting custody of children, etc. I have to admit I did NOT like Olivia’s ex, Ryan, in the least (one of the first things he does is “smirk” at her and MAN did my irritation level rise at that) and had a hard time believing she’d even try to reconcile, but I’ve actually talked to folks who never wanted to try everything to keep a marriage together.

There’s a lot of angst and issues to overcome on the parts of both Olivia and Luke and that, also, is handled well. Olivia’s twin boys are realistic and precocious and made me want to tear my hair out sometimes (…see?… realistic!). Secondary characters were well-written and well-rounded and everyone was three dimensional and unique. I only have a couple of complaints: there were SO many people, sometimes I had trouble keeping up (this might have been different if I’d read the previous book) and occasionally the book did tend to be a little cheesy, ala your favorite Hallmark Movie. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it did cause me to have an eye roll now and then.

Really, though, this is a nice, solid small-town, character driven romance. You’ll fall in love with more than the main characters here. You’ll fall in love with the whole dang town and its inhabitants. Looking forward to more from Granite Cove!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book two in The Granite Cove Series and it is Olivia and Luke's story. The characters and storyline pulled you in right from the first page and I couldn't put this book down as I had to see what would happen next and I definitely wasn't disappointed. The chemistry and connection between Olivia and Luke was so strong but they both had baggage and that was something that was something that had to be worked out especially with Olivia having children and having to take them into all the decision that she will have to make and was Luke really ready for a relationship well time will only tell. This is the first book that I have read by Denise Carbo but definitely not the last as she is a brilliant author and writer and I definitely recommend you read this book and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future as they are definitely worth it.

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

[Kat Doran · Rating 5 out of 5]

…leaping into the unknown can lead to all the dreams you never knew you had coming…

The above statement is never shown more clearly than with Denise Carbo’s contemporary romance, Covet thy Neighbor, the latest in her Granite Cove series.

Single mother of ten year-old twin boys Olivia Banner doesn’t know she’s worth having dreams—because no one has ever told her she deserved them: not her rigid mother who is governed by archaic gender roles, nor her bitter, over-protective ex-mother-in-law; and certainly not her ex-husband, a textbook mama’s boy with a Peter Pan complex. Then she meets the next-door neighbor, enigmatic writer Luke Hollister, and all of a sudden Olivia starts to question what she was never told, or shown, or given.
And the fun begins.

Covet thy Neighbor is chock full of varied characters from an intrepid, selfless heroine with a pack of witty, gutsy women pals at her back; and a man—who understands women and how they think—probably better than he thought he did—until he met the perfect one for him. This is one for the books. Brava, Ms. Carbo!

On a scale of 1-5 Covet thy Neighbor deserves a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

[Sandra Dailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is set in a small town. I love small towns, but they tend to have one problem – everyone knows your business and dives into the deep end of it. That problem is compounded when you have family nearby as well. Now, add in a narcissistic ex-husband and a set of precocious twin sons. Have I mentioned this single mom has gone back to school? Now, a hot hunk has moved into the house next door and he has the personality of Attila the Hun. This is Olivia’s life as the story opens.
It’s a sweet romance that takes place in a minefield of complications. I was a little lost at times. However, it was worth the read. I’m giving it four **** stars. I’d read this author again.

[Penny Leidecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy slow burn romance with a small town setting, Covet Thy Neighbor is the perfect read for you. Olivia is a divorced mom with twin sons, Timmy and Tommy. Luke is her neighbor. He moved to Granite Cove to be closer to his sister-in-law, Barbara, and his nephew, Joey. You’ll be guessing as to which woman will win his heart, but this isn’t a love triangle. When you read the book, you’ll understand this. I won’t leave any spoilers, but I will say I love the different characters I got to meet. I loved some of them more than others. Grab your copy and see what you think.

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

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia is a single mom to twins Timmy and Tommy so when she meets her new neighbor she thinks he is a serial killer with all the guns in his home but he is so rude she decides to ignore him. Luke is a single author writing thriller novels but has become a recluse since the accident that left him with a limp and the life of his brother Wyatt. There are a few things going on in the book that keeps you guessing as what will happen next and I loved Olivia and Luke and his interactions her sons was so cute.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She has a busy life with her twins and she has a sexy neighbour as well as an ex who wants to keep butting in. She decides to go back to school so she could provide for her family. Can a relationship form between the neighbour and her? What about her ex? Can her life get better? See what her future holds for her

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

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won the Ebook from Goodreads giveaway. This was a great read. It catches your attention within the first couple of pages. A divorced mom of ten year old twins decide that her next door neighbor is serial killer. But he also happens to be hot and sparks are flying. This a great easy to read book.

[Kathy Mccalmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the granite cove series. The characters are fun and comical. This storyline has humour, drama, and conflict.

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

[T.P. Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delightful read. I could completely sympathize with the main character at the same time I had to laugh. The characters and setting were real and engaging and perfectly done. I loved every moment of this book!

[Kathy Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I loved this book. If you are looking for a feel good romance book with a happy ending then look no further.

[Sydney Winward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divorce is hard. Divorce with kids is harder.

Single mom, Olivia Banner, is trying to make ends meet by taking on more hours at her job, going back to school, and taking care of her twin boys. But when a mysterious new neighbor moves in next door, she can’t help but be intrigued.

Covet Thy Neighbor takes on a lot of the struggles you will find in divorce, such as sharing the responsibilities of kids, moving on and finding love, and even doubting your self-worth. The author did a great job at showing the realities and difficulties of two households rather than one, and keeping a strong family unit despite the divorce.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covet thy Neighbor
by Denise Carbo

This book is a nice light romantic romp. It contains all the requisite parts - the divorced mother of two; the ex-husband;; the mysterious neighbor and a cast of friends and family. While the story is what I would call a "beach read", it was entertaining and had some interesting lesser characters and enough side intrigue to let the reader know that this book is one of a series.

I would recommend the book to anyone who is coming off of some deep reads and needs a breath of fresh air.

[LESLIE SANDERS KUYKENDALL · Rating 5 out of 5]

great beach read

I have loved both these books. They are quick beach reads!!! Can’t wait to finish the series! So glad I found Denise Carbo

[Barbara James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet love story

I really enjoyed this story. It was sweet to see Olivia come to understand she was worth more than she had given her self credit for. I love that the characters had to come to terms with who they are and what they had to offer each other. I would recommend this book.

[barbara shiver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book

This is a very good book to read it will keep you wondering an hoping for a change I recommend this book to everyone a wonderful book that keeps you turning the pages

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself relating to this book more than I thought I would. I admit than when I started it, I was annoyed with Olivia. She was hyper-protective of her children and had all kinds of crazy assumptions about her neighbor, Luke, such as he was maybe a serial killer. And the story was being told in the present tense in a way that is not my personal preference. I felt like every single little move was being narrated as it happened.

But I kept on going. Either I got used to the present tense narration or else it eased up a little bit. Olivia calmed down a lot, I felt, and we started to get to know her better. Plus the game between her and Luke got started. And man, was it a familiar one.

Quick rabbit trail, let's just say that I went through a similar relationship with a neighbor for a long time. It was that slow burn, "Does he or doesn't he?" sort of confusing for a while, and oh, the fun of the divorced ex. The only differences were no children were involved and ours was a fade-out and not a HEA. But I got Olivia's thoughts and perspectives on her relationship.

There are lots of other fun characters throughout amongst Olivia's friends. I had a feeling that Franny's story may have been the first one in the series, just based on how she and her relationship were presented in this book. I looked it up and I was right, so I'll be going back to the first one to read that pretty soon. I do enjoy Granite Cove and the people there and will be on the lookout for a third story.

And then there are the less than stellar people, such as the cousin whom I just want to smack. I have known people like her. And Olivia's ex-husband is no prize, either. I guess they just help to give a real feel to the story, because I could think of people who were similar to many of these characters as I was reading along.

Thank you to Goddess Fish and the author for providing me with a requested copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Christine Woinich · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read. Olivia's past derailed her plans, but she was doing what she needed to figure her new life out. She was a doting mother, a caring friend, and a conscientious neighbor. Luke had so much hurt in his past that he kept inside, it took a while to see past his hard shell. I loved how Olivia finally had the nerve to push him to figure out where they stood. I had tears at the end.

I received a copy of this story through Goddess Fish Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the kindle edition as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

I thought this was a good read. The characters were fairly well rounded although I found Luke's inability to communicate rather frustrating and hard to see why Olivia kept coming back to him. The story line was mostly internal "does he/doesn't he," with only mentions of some business ideas to mark personal growth. But the conversation and realistic characters save the story in this romcom.

[Linda Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is sweet Book this was to read

I really liked the main character was so persistent. Persistent in her going back to school and getting her education And being a good mother plus trying to make everybody like her. But she was also sad And had so much love to give which the author Quite aptly Has written into this story. I recommend this book Thinking it's Thinking it's a really good book a light easy and a quick read.

[Bette Stanek · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was entertaining, but I felt like something was missing. You have everything you’d expect, so I’m not sure why I think that way. It could be because Olivia is so insecure and imagines the worst in every situation. Luke seemed lukewarm to Olivia throughout most of the book. It was OK, but very predictable.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covet thy Neighbor is a sweet love story that will tug at your heart. We enter the lives of the characters and follow them as they navigate all the twists and turns of life and love. A perfect beach read. Thank you to Goodreads First Reads.

[Marcia Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great

The writing was good but the main character had no self esteem and needed to much reassuring and always jumping to conclusions I must say I did not like her . other characters were interesting but she was annoying.

[Jenny McGrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love

What a book thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish I hope there is more in this series Can't wait to see where they all end up

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

need something a little more

I think the male POV would have been really helpful in this book. It just felt more lacking than the first one.

[Feija · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️ I really really liked this book!!